Food as Medicine for Pets: Healing Through Nutrition with Dr Susan Recker, DVM

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The Natural Animal

Ruth Hatten

37 episodes

4 days ago

Animal lover, animal advocate and animal naturopath Ruth Hatten shares thoughts and ideas about the nature of animals. Their preferences, their behaviours, their ways of being. To engender a greater understanding, respect, compassion and love for all animals - companion, farm and wild. More at https://www.ruthhatten.com.

Pets & Animals

Kids & Family

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Pets & Animals

Kids & Family

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Food as Medicine for Pets: Healing Through Nutrition with Dr Susan Recker, DVM

The Natural Animal

1 hour 45 minutes 40 seconds

3 months ago

Food as Medicine for Pets: Healing Through Nutrition with Dr Susan Recker, DVM

In this inspiring episode of The Natural Animal Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Susan Recker, an integrative veterinarian and nutrition consultant at Animal Diet Formulator. With over two decades of clinical experience and a deep passion for education, Dr Recker brings a grounded, compassionate approach to healing animals through the power of real food.

We explore what food as medicine really means in a veterinary context, how pet parents can use therapeutic nutrition to support pets with chronic disease, and why she believes nutrition is foundational - not supplementary - to long-term health.

Together we unpack nutritional strategies for:

Cancer support – using whole foods to address inflammation, immune function, nausea, weight loss, and oxidative stress.

Kidney disease – how to move beyond protein fear, support hydration naturally, and use food to nourish without overloading.

Heart health – including essential nutrients like taurine and CoQ10, plus her take on the grain-free/DCM debate.

The role of synthetic nutrients, anti-inflammatory herbs, detoxifying vegetables, and foundational foods like turmeric, ginger, omega-3s, and fibre.

Plus, Dr Recker shares the one simple food-based shift she believes every pet parent can make today to improve their animal’s long-term health.

This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the deeper role nutrition plays in disease prevention and healing - and how to make empowered, food-first choices for the animals you love.

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Additional Resources & Links:

Listen to our earlier chat on The Integrative Animal Health Collective 'Ruth Hatten: moving from law and journalism to animal naturopathy - and the magic of cats'.

🔗 Connect with Dr Susan Recker - Learn more about her work at Animal Diet Formulator and Instagram: @animaldietformulator

🍖 Learn how to feed your pet real food - Download the Real Food Diet for Dogs or Cats - or grab both in a discounted bundle. Available now at ruthhatten.com/realfooddietforpets

Follow Ruth on Instagram - Get daily inspiration, holistic tips, and behind-the-scenes updates @ruth.animalnaturopath

Connect with Ruth - Learn more about Ruth’s holistic animal care services, products, and teachings at ruthhatten.com

💬 Got a question, topic idea, or feedback?

Ruth would love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, ask a question, or suggest a future guest/topic here: https://forms.wix.com/f/7175712547398484519

🙏🏼 Big Thanks To Bella Abraham – for the beautiful podcast artwork and Michael Barry – for the divine theme music.

🎧 Subscribe to The Natural Animal Podcast on your favourite platform, and share this episode with someone who believes in the power of whole food healing.