Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson explores the importance of meal plans, daily routines, hydration tactics for your pets. 

A Natural Path to Pet Health: Dr. Dennis Black’s Blueprint (and Why We Use RuffGreens®)

If you want your dog or cat to live longer, feel better, and thrive on real food—not marketing hype—Dr. Dennis Black’s new book, A Natural Path to Pet Health, is a gift. In it, the founder of RuffGreens® lays out a no-nonsense, low-cost plan any family can follow: what to feed, what to avoid, how to spot dehydration early, daily routines that extend quality of life, and when it’s time to call the vet. Below are the biggest takeaways from our conversation—and how a real-food topper like RuffGreens® VitaSmart can help support skin, digestion, and energy.

A veteran of natural health and the creator behind RuffGreens®, Dr. Black has spent decades helping people and pets build durable wellness habits: clean inputs, smart routines, and targeted supplementation. His mission is simple—make pet health practical, affordable, and natural.

Myth: “If the bag says ‘complete & balanced,’ I’m done.”

When you do read labels, scan for these three instant dealbreakers:

Chemical preservatives & dyes (e.g., BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, artificial colors)

Vague proteins (“meat meal,” “animal digest”) instead of named sources (chicken, salmon)

Added sugars & heavy fillers (corn syrup, sugar, wheat/corn as the first ingredients)

One ‘gotcha’ word: “Digest.” It often means ultra-processed flavoring from unspecified sources.

RuffGreens® VitaSmart is a real-food topper designed to add back living nutrition lost to high-heat processing:

Live probiotics & digestive enzymes to support gut health and nutrient absorption

Omega fatty acids to support skin/coat and normal inflammatory response

Vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients from a variety of whole-food ingredients

Easy compliance for picky eaters—sprinkle over current food

Plain-English benefit: You don’t have to overhaul your pet’s diet overnight. Keep the base food you trust and upgrade it with living nutrients.

(Always follow label directions and your veterinarian’s advice.)

Ditch free-feeding. Pre-measure meals.

Add warm water or low-sodium bone broth (no onion/garlic) to increase food volume and hydration.

Move daily: 30–60 minutes of age-appropriate activity (walks, fetch, nose work).

Use a real-food topper (like RuffGreens®) for micronutrients without overfeeding treats.

Always balance home-prepped meals with a complete vitamin/mineral source per your vet’s guidance.

Simple Turkey & Veggie Bowl (Dogs)

1 cup cooked lean ground turkey, drained

½ cup cooked brown rice

¼ cup steamed carrots, chopped

¼ cup steamed green beans, chopped

1 tsp fish/sardine oil (EPA/DHA)

Add a complete canine multivitamin/mineral topper (e.g., RuffGreens® per weight)

Never add: onions, garlic, grapes/raisins, xylitol, chocolate, alcohol, macadamias, excess salt.

Early signs of low hydration: tacky/dry gums, dark urine, low skin elasticity, lethargy, constipation, panting at rest.

One easy hack (today): Float kibble in warm water or no-onion/garlic bone broth. Consider a pet water fountain for cats/small dogs.

Movement: 30–60 minutes/day adjusted to age & breed

Teeth: daily brushing or dental chew; schedule cleanings

Grooming & ear checks: reduce skin/ear issues early

Sun + sniff time: enrich the brain, reduce stress

Sleep window: consistent bedtime/wake time for hormone balance

On a tight budget? If you can only choose one add-on, Dr. Black says a complete, real-food nutrient topper offers the best per-dollar impact.

See a professional now if you notice: repeated vomiting/diarrhea >24 hours (or blood), bloated/tense abdomen with unproductive retching, pale/blue gums, trouble breathing, seizures, collapse/weakness, heat stroke signs, or inability to urinate/defecate.

Keep on file at home: recent weight, vaccine dates, meds/allergies, heartworm/fecal tests, and baseline labs (CBC/chem/urinalysis, especially age 7+).

You don’t need a PhD—or boutique prices—to build real pet health. Feed cleaner, hydrate better, move daily, mind the teeth and skin, and upgrade with living nutrients. That’s the heart of A Natural Path to Pet Health—and why a simple topper like RuffGreens® can be a smart, practical tool in your kit.

Try RuffGreens®: Visit RuffGreens.com and follow label directions.

#pets, #ruffgreens, #dennis black  #joey hudson