The short answer is yes. You do. But understanding those options requires understanding what cruciate ligament disease actually is, why it happens, and what the body needs to heal.

In this post (and in the video above), I'll walk you through what cruciate ligament disease really is, why the rupture is never the beginning of the problem, the nutritional deficiency most vets never test for, the exact natural protocol I used with my own dog Finn, and what I would add to that protocol today.

I'm Dr. Katie Woodley, holistic veterinarian and founder of The Natural Pet Doctor. I help pet parents stop chasing symptoms and start working on root causes — especially with chronic conditions that aren't improving. Joint disease is one of the areas where I see the most reactive thinking, but also where ...

How to Choose the Best Supplement for Your Pet: A Holistic Veterinarian’s Guide

As a loving pet parent, you want the best for your pet, especially when it comes to their health. With the pet supplement industry booming, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the endless choices—probiotics, joint support, omega-3s, herbal blends, and more.

But how do you know which supplement is truly beneficial for your pet and not just a clever marketing gimmick?

As a holistic veterinarian, I’ve seen firsthand how the right supplement can transform a pet’s health. But I’ve also seen how the wrong choices can lead to wasted money and even worsening health issues. That’s why I want to walk you through a simple, holistic approach to choosing the best supplement for your pet—without the overwhelm.

Step 1: Identify Your Pet’s Specific Needs

Before adding a supplement, take a step back and assess your pet’s overall health.

Are they struggling with chronic digestive issues?

Do they have itchy skin o...

Did you know that there are numerous natural supplements for senior dogs to help them slow down the aging process?

Watching your pet slow down as they age is frustrating and can be overwhelming.  You want the best for them and to keep them feeling healthy and happy for as long as possible.

There are many areas that can be affected as your dog ages, from their cognitive function to pain and inflammation in their joints.

Fortunately, there are a lot of natural senior dog supplements and vitamins you can use to help your furry friend feel their best as they get older.  Keep reading to learn about some of the best supplements for your senior dogs.

When does your dog become a “senior”?

Let’s start with how to know if your dog is actually a senior.  

This will depend on their body size because smaller dogs tend to have longer lifespans than larger dogs.

But typically a large breed dog is a senior at 7 years of age, a medium-sized dog is a senior at around 8-10 years, and your sm...

Dogs can be affected by many different types of lower urinary tract problems. Fortunately, there are many home natural remedies to treat your dog's UTI.

First, it's important to know when your dog may have a UTI and what are dog UTI signs you want to be monitoring for before we start using natural home remedies for an infection.

What are common dog UTI signs and symptoms? 

It can be hard to tell if your dog is in pain, because they may not show any signs at all.  However, if you’re seeing bloody, cloudy or their urine has a strong smell, you dog may have a UTI.

You may also notice straining or crying during urination, accidents in the house, needing to urinate more frequently, increased water consumption, or licking around their back end excessively after urinating, you’ll need to get them checked out by your veterinarian to rule out a UTI.

Also, if you have a dog that's all of a sudden not house-broken, especially puppies, it's important to get them checked out for a bacterial...