In this episode of Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino, Angela is joined by Kate Mahoney, food-first dietary supplement expert and functional nutrition practitioner, for a deep dive into the pet supplement industry. They explore how even "natural" products often rely on synthetic ingredients and lab-made nutrients that don’t work with the body the way real food and herbs do. Angela and Kate break down how to spot red flags on supplement labels, why quality and sourcing can shift over time, and how trends and shortcuts dilute product effectiveness. From the risks of synthetic isolates to how transparency and education empower pet parents, this episode is your guide to making smarter choices for your pet’s long-term wellness.

Episode Recap:

• Becoming a supplement expert out of necessity (00:53)
• Turning to traditional medicine after conventional medicine failed (5:37)
• Supplement quality can vary, even within the same brand, how to spot red flags (12:57)
• How trends, shortcuts, and synthetic ingredients dilute supplement quality (22:39)
• Synthetic supplements and drugs can overwhelm the body, especially in older pets (31:44)
• Cannabis and mushrooms impact multiple cancer pathways (36:00)
•  Less than 15% of supplements worldwide are worth taking (44:08)
• Companies repackaging human supplements as pet products.(49:05)
• Always do your due diligence—even trusted brands can shift without warning (54:18)
• Transparency is the #1 sign of a trustworthy supplement company (58:17)
• Educating yourself is the only way to protect your pets and yourself (1:03:18)

Episode Resources:

• Download Angela’s Pet Supplement Buying Checklist and other resources at AngelaArdolino.com/podcast-downloads
• Supplement Quality Specialist Certification Waitlist 
• Learn more about The Supplement Academy
• Follow Kate & the Supplement Academy on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, 
• Have a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] 
• Visit Angela Ardolino’s website for more holistic pet health education: www.AngelaArdolino.com

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