The Natural Animal

Caring for your pet’s health can feel overwhelming — itchy skin, gut upsets, sensitivities, anxiety, even more serious conditions. Where do you start, and how do you know what to focus on first?

In this episode, I share why healing doesn’t happen by trying to “fix it all” at once. Instead, lasting results come from creating a clear, step-by-step plan that works with your animal’s body at the right pace.

You’ll hear a real-life case study of a five-year-old Bordoodle with chronic gut issues, skin flare-ups, and anxiety — and how we’re supporting her with a phased approach that starts in the gut, builds in elimination and emotional support, and gradually moves into probiotics, skin and immune care. This story highlights why slowing down, rather than rushing in, creates the best outcomes.

I also share details about my newly refined programs — Holistic Foundations and Holistic Healing Journey — designed to take the overwhelm out of pet wellness and give you a personalised roadmap for your animal’s healing. Plus, a look at Cellular Compatibility Testing, the unique tool I use to identify which foods truly support your pet’s health at a cellular level.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why gut health is often at the root of skin, anxiety, and immune issues
• How liver and gallbladder function impacts fat digestion and overall wellbeing
• The importance of pacing healing steps rather than doing everything at once
• How my updated programs provide phased roadmaps and symptom tracking so you can see your pet’s progress

Links & Resources

Holistic Foundations (1-Month Program)

Holistic Healing Journey (3-Month Program)

Cellular Compatibility Testing

Gut Soothe Herbal Elixir (Three Rays Animal Apothecary)

Join the Animal Lovers Tribe → Sign up to get those special codes + other offers, resources, and updates emailed directly to you

Read my Substack reflection on managing energy in times of overwhelm.

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

Connect with Ruth to learn more about Ruth’s holistic animal care services, products, and teachings 👉 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.

✨ A special discount for the Healing Foundations and Healing Journey programs is mentioned in this episode — tune in to grab the details. Offer valid until 9 September ✨

If you’ve ever felt lost in your pet’s healing journey, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a reminder that pet wellness doesn’t have to mean overwhelm.

🎧 If you loved this episode…
 Please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow animal lover. Every listen and share helps grow our ripple of compassion, connection, and care — for all animals, companion, farm, and wild.

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Big Thanks To:


⭐️ Bella Abraham – for the beautiful podcast artwork


⭐️ Michael Barry – for the divine theme music

In this episode of The Natural Animal Podcast, I explore a topic that stirs up a lot of debate in the herbal and animal wellness world: Should we be using alcohol in herbal remedies for animals?

As an animal naturopath and herbalist, I’ve made the choice to avoid ethanol in my herbal preparations for pets. In this episode, I’ll share why - from both a physiological and energetic perspective - and explore what I choose to use instead.

We’ll discuss:

• Why alcohol (ethanol) is commonly used in herbal medicine


• The energetic and physical concerns of alcohol use for animals


• Why glycetracts are a gentler, energetically aligned alternative


• How alcohol-free herbal remedies can still be potent and effective


• A brief history of herbal medicine and the evolution of tinctures


• The importance of honouring the sensitivity of animals in our care

Whether you're a pet parent, herbalist, or holistic practitioner, this episode invites you to consider how the energy behind our remedies can matter just as much as their ingredients.

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Additional Resources & Links:

Read the article that inspired this episode: The Problem with Alcohol in Herbal Tinctures for Animals

Loved learning about herbs for animals and want to dive deeper? Learn more about herbs and how to use them to support your animal's health and wellbeing with The Herbal Sessions

Explore my alcohol-free herbal blends and elixirs: Three Rays Animal Apothecary

Learn more about holistic pet health: ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram: @ruth.animalnaturopath | @threeraysanimalapothecary

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.

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

🎧 If you loved this episode… Please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow animal lover. Every listen and share helps grow our ripple of compassion, connection, and care - for all animals, companion, farm, and wild.

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.

Are you exploring holistic healing for your animal’s chronic or complex health issues? In this episode, I’m joined by Elsa, a devoted pet parent who shares her powerful story of working with me to support her dogs through natural, holistic care.

We explore how her dogs’ health challenges led her to holistic support, the emotional and energetic transformations that followed, and how this path deepened her connection with her animals. Elsa’s experience offers insight, hope, and inspiration for anyone caring for pets with chronic illness or seeking a more conscious way to support their wellbeing.

Whether you're a dog (or cat!) mum or dad navigating health issues, an animal lover curious about natural healing, or someone longing to connect more deeply with your pets — this conversation is for you.

Resources & Links:

• Puppy Wellness Program: ruthhatten.com/puppywellnessprogram
• Connect with Ruth - learn more about Ruth’s holistic animal care services, products, and teachings at ruthhatten.com
• Follow Ruth on Instagram Get daily inspiration, holistic tips, and behind-the-scenes updates @ruth.animalnaturopath

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.

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

If you loved this episode… Please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow animal lover. Every listen and share helps grow our ripple of compassion, connection, and care — for all animals, companion, farm, and wild.

In this special Q&A episode of the Natural Animal Podcast, Ruth answers your most asked questions about holistic pet health and conscious pet parenting. From natural tick prevention and endocrine support for desexed pets to calming trauma in cats and finding a truly low tox cat tower—this episode dives deep into what it means to care for your animals in a mindful, informed way.

You’ll also hear Ruth’s experience navigating the minefield of pet water fountains, plastic off-gassing, whisker fatigue, and toxic scratching posts—plus what she’s done in her own home to reduce toxic load and support her kitten Matilda’s wellbeing.

Whether you're a devoted pet parent or a practitioner-in-the-making, this episode offers grounded guidance, gentle wisdom, and practical tools to support your animals - body, mind, and soul.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Natural alternatives for tick prevention (and why daily checks still matter)

• Endocrine support for desexed pets: whole foods, herbs & flower essences

• Why plastic pet products (like fountains and towers) may be harming your animal

• Low tox tips for choosing safer scratching posts and cat furniture

• What to know about your pet eating grass—and what kind is safe

• How to support a traumatised animal with gentle at-home energy practices

• The reality of raw feeding (and how Ruth works with it individually)

• Ruth’s study path and why practical experience your unique way of showing up matter too

Resources & Links:

• Holistic Animal Wellness Library

• The Guide to Natural Parasite Prevention
• Natural Tick Products

• Low Tox Pets Handbook

• Real Food Diet eBooks for Cats & Dogs

• Practitioner Mentoring Info
• Follow Ruth on Instagram: @ruth.animalnaturopath

Is your pet anxious, withdrawn, or struggling with chronic issues, yet nothing seems to help?

In this episode, we explore nervous system dysregulation in dogs and cats: what it is, how it shows up, and how to support your pet naturally. From subtle stress signals to deep emotional shutdown, many animals live with nervous system strain that goes unrecognised.

You’ll learn how to spot the signs of a dysregulated nervous system, including hyperarousal (like reactivity and restlessness) and hypoarousal (like shutdown or flatness). We’ll also talk about how stress and trauma are stored in your pet’s body, how their emotional responses are shaped by past experience, and what you can do to help them feel safe again.

I’ll walk you through gentle, holistic ways to support your pet’s nervous system, including calming herbs, nutrition, flower essences, energy healing, and daily practices that promote emotional regulation and resilience.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The signs of nervous system stress in dogs and cats

• What nervous system dysregulation is and why it matters

• How trauma and emotional memory shape your pet’s behaviour

• Natural ways to calm and support your pet’s nervous system

• How food, herbs, and energetic presence can create a sense of safety

• Why quiet pets might actually be deeply stressed—and how to recognise it

This episode will help you understand your pet’s behaviour through a more compassionate and scientifically grounded lens.

This is Part 2 of our nervous system series. If you haven’t yet, listen to Part 1 to learn the basics of how the nervous system works, why vagal tone matters, and how it connects to your pet’s overall wellbeing.

Additional Resources & Links 

Continue the conversation on Substack

Find the full transcript, references, and share your thoughts on this episode over on Substack. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation at ruthhatten.substack.com

Real Food Diet eBooks

Support your pet’s nervous system from the inside out with species-appropriate nutrition. Download the Real Food Diet for Dogs or Cats - or grab both in a discounted bundle. Available now at ruthhatten.com/realfooddietforpets

Three Rays Animal Apothecary

Discover handcrafted natural remedies for your animal’s health and wellbeing at threeraysanimalapothecary.com

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.

🎧 If you loved this episode… Please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow animal lover. Every listen and share helps grow our ripple of compassion, connection, and care - for all animals, companion, farm, and wild.

Your pet’s nervous system is foundational to their overall health — influencing everything from digestion and immunity to behaviour, emotional balance, and their ability to cope with stress. But despite its importance, it’s often overlooked in everyday animal care.

In this episode, I touch on a recent personal experience — the arrival of a new kitten into our home — and how it impacted one of our older cats. It’s a reminder of how easily the nervous system can become overwhelmed during big life changes. (If you’d like to hear the full story, send me a message and I’ll share the newsletter version.)

From there, we explore the basics of the nervous system: what it is, how it works, and why it matters so much for your pet’s wellbeing. I introduce the concept of vagal tone — a key indicator of nervous system health that’s becoming more widely discussed in the pet wellness space — and explain how it connects to physical and emotional symptoms you might be noticing in your animal.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How the nervous system works and why it’s essential to your pet’s overall health
• What vagal tone is, how it supports stress recovery, digestion, and immune function, and why it’s gaining attention in pet health
• The signs and symptoms of nervous system dysregulation — from subtle behavioural shifts to chronic physical issues
• Why supporting the nervous system is a foundational part of holistic animal care

This is part one of a two-part series designed to deepen your understanding of your pet’s nervous system and how to support it naturally. Whether you’re a devoted pet parent or holistic practitioner, this episode will help you see animal wellbeing through a new and empowering lens.

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✨ Additional Resources & Links 

📬 Continue the conversation on Substack

Find the full transcript, references, and share your thoughts on this episode over on Substack. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation 👉 ruthhatten.substack.com

🌿 Three Rays Animal ApothecaryDiscover handcrafted natural remedies for your animal’s health and wellbeing 👉 threeraysanimalapothecary.com

📸 Follow Ruth on InstagramGet 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 👉 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.

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

🎧 If you loved this episode…
Please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow animal lover. Every listen and share helps grow our ripple of compassion, connection, and care—for all animals, companion, farm, and wild.

Your pet is exposed to more toxins than you might realise—from flea treatments and processed food to plastics, cleaning products, and even their bedding. In this episode, we explore what toxic load really means, why it builds in our animals over time, and how it can silently affect their health.

You'll learn:

• What toxic load is (in simple, clear terms)

• The everyday sources of toxins in your pet’s life

• Why animals are more vulnerable than we are

• Gentle, practical ways to start reducing exposure

• How to support your pet’s detox pathways—naturally

This episode is designed to empower you to take small, thoughtful steps—aligned with your own pace and your pet’s needs. No pressure. No guilt. Just clear guidance, rooted in care and respect for your animal’s wellbeing.

✨ Additional Resources & Links

📘 Low Tox Pets Handbook


Explore the guide mentioned in this episode and take practical steps to reduce your pet’s toxic load.


📬 Subscribe on Substack

Reflections, guidance, and inspiration on animal wellness, energy, and the deeper connection we share with animals.

🌿 Three Rays Animal Apothecary


Discover handcrafted natural remedies for your animal’s health and wellbeing.


📸 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.

💬 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.

🙏🏼 Big Thanks To:


⭐️ Bella Abraham – for the beautiful podcast artwork


⭐️ Michael Barry – for the divine theme music

🎧 If you loved this episode…

Please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow animal lover. Every listen and share helps grow our ripple of compassion, connection, and care—for all animals, companion, farm, and wild.

🌀 Did you know your animal has an energy system just like you do? From chakras to meridians, auras to energy fields—your pet’s energetic blueprint plays a huge role in their health, emotions, and behaviour. But what does that actually mean, and how can you support it?

In this special bonus episode, we’re diving into the fascinating world of animal energy. You’ll learn:
✨ What an energetic blueprint is and why it matters.
✨ A simple breakdown of chakras, meridians, nadis, and the aura in animals.
✨ How energy imbalances can show up in physical, emotional, and behavioural ways.
✨ Practical ways to support your pet’s energy flow using awareness, touch, movement, and natural tools.

💫 Plus, if you’re curious to go deeper, I’ll be sharing details about my Animal Chakra Course, where you’ll learn how to work with your pet’s energy on a whole new level! Enrollment closes 25 Feb, and we start 26 Feb. Learn more here.

📢 Join me for a Live Q&A on Instagram! Have questions after this episode? I’ll be going live on Sunday, 23 February at 7pm Qld Australia time to chat all about animal energy and answer your questions—so mark your calendar!

🌿 Whether you’re brand new to energy work or already familiar with it, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on your pet’s energy, wellbeing, and deeper connection to the world around them.

🎧 Tune in now and enjoy!

👉 Listen now & subscribe for more insights on holistic pet care!

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🐾 Join the Animal Lovers Tribe to receive your free Holistic Guide to Caring For Your Pet plus other bonuses, exclusive offers and holistic animal wellness tips.

🔗 Learn more about Ruth and her holistic animal care offerings at ruthhatten.com

👉🏼 Follow Ruth on Instagram - @ruth.animalnaturopath

🌿 Explore natural remedies for your animals at Three Rays Animal Apothecary

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you! 💗

🙏🏼 BIG thank you to:

⭐️ Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork.

⭐️ Michael Barry for the divine theme music.

If you loved this episode, show your support by following the show and sharing and rating this episode 🙏🏼 Let's attract more listeners so they too can deepen their connection, love, understanding and respect for all animals - companion, farm and wild.

As we wrap up the final episode of the season (and the year), we’re diving into a thought-provoking question that has shaped so many of our conversations: “If there was one thing you could change about the human-animal relationship, what would it be?”

Over seasons 1 and 2, our incredible guests—animal experts, advocates, and visionaries—have shared their heartfelt answers to this question. In this special episode, we revisit these inspiring responses, each offering a unique perspective on how we can deepen respect, compassion, and understanding for the animals in our lives and beyond.

I also share my personal answer to this powerful question, reflecting on my own journey and passion for creating greater harmony between humans and animals.

We’ll also take a moment to celebrate the journey of the podcast so far with bite-sized summaries of each guest episode from seasons 1 and 2. Whether you're a long-time listener or tuning in for the first time, this recap is the perfect way to revisit the highlights or catch up on any episodes you missed.

There's also an invitation for you to answer the question: What is one thing that you would change about the human-animal relationship? Comment below, email me or send me a DM. I'd love to hear your dreams and wishes for a brighter and happier future for all animals 🙏🏼

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Additional Resources:

🐾 Receive your free Holistic Guide to Caring For Your Pet plus other bonuses, exclusive offers and holistic animal wellness tips when you join the Animal Lovers Tribe.

🎥 Unlock the secrets to holistic animal care with the Healthy & Happy Webinar - an empowering session designed to give you the tools and knowledge to ensure your animal lives a healthy and happy life. And it's free!

🔗 Learn more about Ruth and her holistic animal care offerings at ruthhatten.com.

🌿 Explore natural remedies for your animals at Three Rays Animal Apothecary.

👉🏼 Follow Ruth on Instagram - @ruth.animalnaturopath.

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you! 💗

🙏🏼 BIG thank you to:

⭐️ Our sponsor Frontier Pets - so excited to be partnering with them for Season 2!

⭐️ Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork.

⭐️ Michael Barry for the divine theme music.

If you loved this episode, show your support by following the show and sharing and reviewing this episode 🙏🏼 Your support matters because it helps to attract more listeners so they too can deepen their connection, love, understanding and respect for all animals - companion, farm and wild.