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In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms, Erin and Kimberly sit down with Dr. Steve Marsden — renowned holistic veterinarian and founder of Gold Standard Herbs — to talk about what it really means to raise dogs naturally. Dr. Marsden blends Eastern and Western veterinary medicine, and his integrative approach has helped countless dogs thrive through herbs, nutrition, and a deeper understanding of how the body heals.

We dive into how herbs can support digestion, immunity, inflammation, skin health, and emotional balance — and why traditional formulas still have a place in modern pet care. Dr. Marsden also shares how Gold Standard Herbs came to be, why sourcing and energetics matter, and how pet parents can confidently use herbs alongside conventional care.

CHAPTERS:

• When did Dr. Marsden know he wanted to become a veterinarian? (2:00)
• The experiences that led Dr. Marden to learn homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (4:23)
• What led Dr. Marsden to create the first direct-to-consumer line of Chinese pet herbal formulas? (17:13)
• Should Pet Parents be concerned about Chinese herbs interacting with medications or other treatments? (27:13)
• How long does it take for Chinese herbs to start working and make an improvement? (32:02)
• How important is our dog's diet compared to other treatments? (33:08)
• Why does the veterinary profession have such a bias against feeding fresh food? (38:14)
• What can Pet Parents incorporate from Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in caring for our dogs? (46:21)
• How to search the Ask Dr. Steve DVM Facebook Group (1:01:04)

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Ask Dr. Steve DVM Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1158575954706282

OUR BLOG/PODCASTS...

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com

INSTAGRAM...

• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.