I’m thrilled to bring you this episode of Healing Tails, where we dive way beyond kibble and bowls and into the neuroscience of feeding. I chat with feeding pioneer Dr. Carol Smeja, creator of the Original Mine Pet Platter, about how mealtime dynamics shape digestion, behavior, and emotional well‑being in our pets. You'll hear how a seemingly simple shift in feeding method can revolutionize your pet’s health. We explore the science behind why dogs and cats need to engage with their food—how sensory perception, visual territory, smelling, and slower eating can reduce anxiety, improve nutrient absorption, and even rescue feeding‑averse pets. We also guide you through actionable steps to enrich mealtime, whether you're feeding one pet or many.

Dr. Carol Smeja, a trailblazer in pet nutrition science, emphasizes that "HOW you feed your pet is just as important as WHAT you feed them." With a PhD in psychology and sociology, she initially studied human eating behaviors, collaborating with U.S. and global food companies and government agencies to enhance public health. Her passion for animals inspired her to apply her expertise to understanding the eating behaviors of dogs and cats. Through ancestral research on wolves and wildcats, combined with animal observational studies in zoos and wildlife habitats, Dr. Smeja developed The Original mine Pet Platter. She shares her groundbreaking insights through conferences, podcasts, and consultations, empowering pet parents to improve their pets' health and wellbeing through mindful feeding practices.

• Mine Pet Platter – Learn more or locate your platter at minepetplatter.com discount code: DRRUTH as a 10% discount code

Get your tickets to WholePetCon: https://wholepetcon.com/

• Want more support? Visit 👉 https://drruthroberts.com/ to learn more
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalHolisticPetHealthCoach
• Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts
• YouTube: @drruthroberts
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*DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this video is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. You‘re encouraged to do your own research and should not rely on this information as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Ruth and her guests express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Dr. Ruth Roberts neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here. 🐾 FIND a Holistic Vet ► https://www.ahvma.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Healing Tails, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Sara Paplham, one of our certified holistic pet health coaches, a seasoned dog trainer, and an energy healing practitioner who’s transforming lives with her unique approach. With over 15 years of experience specializing in fear-based behavior, Sara shares how combining traditional training with modalities like Reiki and the Emotion Code is helping pets move from fear to freedom.

We dive into her personal healing journey, how trauma affects both pets and people, and what signs might indicate that your furry friend could benefit from energy healing. If you’ve ever struggled to help your pet manage anxiety or reactive behavior, this conversation is a game-changer. You'll walk away with insights, hope, and tools you can use at home today.

Episode Timeline Highlights

[2:22] - Meet Sara Paplham: dog trainer, Reiki Master, and Emotion Code practitioner

[10:14] - How trapped emotions impacted Sara’s health — and her daughter’s remarkable transformation

[17:09] - Recognizing fear-based behaviors and how owners unknowingly reinforce them

[25:33] - How Reiki and Emotion Code work — explained simply for pet parents

[34:40] - Training meets energy healing: helping dogs open up on their own terms

[50:18] - How your household’s energy could be the root of your pet’s behavior

[1:10:02] - Why trusting your gut matters and how to become your pet’s healing partner

🔗 Links & Resources

Websites: https://koala-dahlia-byab.squarespace.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarasplayfulpals

Instagram: @sarasplayfulpals10

Want more support? Visit 👉 https://drruthroberts.com/ to learn more

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalHolisticPetHealthCoach

Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts

YouTube: @drruthroberts

TikTok:@dr.ruthroberts

Pinterest: @drruthroberts

💬 Enjoyed the episode?

Please rate, follow, and share Healing Tails and don’t forget to leave a review! Your support helps more pet parents find natural solutions for their fur babies.

*DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this video is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. You‘re encouraged to do your own research and should not rely on this information as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Ruth and her guests express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Dr. Ruth Roberts neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here. 🐾 FIND a Holistic Vet ► https://www.ahvma.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Healing Tails, I’m joined by my dear friend and brilliant holistic pet health coach, Melissa Knievel-Natanson, to explore one of my absolute favorite topics: gut health. Melissa is a professional canine nutritionist who specializes in gut and kidney health, chronic inflammation, and senior pet wellness. Her passion for healing from the inside out shines through every story and insight she shares.

Melissa opens up about her personal journey that began with her mom’s battle with a rare GI cancer and her rescue Yorkie, Darla, who faced severe IBD and food intolerances. Together, we dive deep into how antibiotics can disrupt the microbiome, why restoring gut balance is key, and how innovative approaches like fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can be game changers. We also discuss the powerful role of diet, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), and why supporting the gut is truly the foundation for lifelong health. You’ll walk away with actionable steps to help your pet heal and thrive.

Links & Resources

HolistiPaws Pet Health Coaching -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557491475519

Website:https://linktr.ee/HolistiPawsPetHealth?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Welcome back to Healing Tales! In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the incredible Dr. Chris Bessent, a true trailblazer in holistic veterinary medicine. With over 35 years of experience, Dr. Bessent has transformed the way we think about pet health, merging Eastern and Western medicine to create whole food-based therapeutic diets and herbal solutions that empower pets to heal naturally. We dive into her journey from clinical practice to founding Herbsmith and Medicus Veterinary Diets, and explore why using real, whole foods is so critical for our pets' long-term health.

If you’ve ever wondered how food can truly be medicine for your pets, or why so many traditional prescription diets fall short, you won’t want to miss this conversation. We discuss the challenges of formulating therapeutic diets with whole foods, the importance of species-appropriate nutrition, and how to support pets battling conditions like kidney disease, cancer, and more. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about pet nutrition!

Links & Resources

• Herbsmith: herbsmithinc.com
• Simple Food Project: simplefoodproject.com
• Medicus Veterinary Diets: medicusveterinarydiets.com
• Curate the Bowl Quiz: Available on Herbsmith’s website
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HerbsmithInc/
• Instagram: @herbsmithinc

👉 https://drruthroberts.com/ to learn more

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalHolisticPetHealthCoach

Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts

YouTube: @drruthroberts

TikTok:@dr.ruthroberts

Pinterest: @drruthroberts

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to rate, follow, and share Healing Tails with your fellow pet lovers. And please leave a review to let us know how Bridger's story inspired you!

• *DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this video is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. You‘re encouraged to do your own research and should not rely on this information as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Ruth and her guests express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Dr. Ruth Roberts neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here. 🐾 FIND a Holistic Vet ► https://www.ahvma.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartwarming episode of Healing Tails, I sit down with Sandy Reynolds, a Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach and proud pet parent of Bridger, a rescued Boxer with an unforgettable story. Sandy shares how she transitioned from a high-stress corporate life to a fulfilling journey in holistic pet care, and how Bridger became a living testament to the healing power of fresh food, patience, and love.

From emaciated and timid to vibrant and confident, Bridger's transformation is nothing short of miraculous. We talk through Sandy's immediate decision to skip kibble and nourish Bridger with fresh, home-cooked meals from day one, her step-by-step process in building his health back, and her valuable insights on how to ease rescue pets into a new home with grace and understanding.

Links & Resources:

• Sandy's website: Enlightened Mutt
• Email Sandy: sandy@enlightenedmutt.com
• Join our holistic pet parent community on Facebook
• Learn more about becoming a Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach

👉 https://drruthroberts.com/ to learn more

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalHolisticPetHealthCoach

Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts

YouTube: @drruthroberts

TikTok:@dr.ruthroberts

Pinterest: @drruthroberts

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to rate, follow, and share Healing Tails with your fellow pet lovers. And please leave a review to let us know how Bridger's story inspired you!

*DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this video is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. You‘re encouraged to do your own research and should not rely on this information as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Ruth and her guests express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Dr. Ruth Roberts neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here. 🐾 FIND a Holistic Vet ► https://www.ahvma.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode of Healing Tails, Dr. Ruth sits down with the brilliant Dr. Marlene Siegel, integrative and bioregulatory veterinarian, founder of Pasco Veterinary Medical Center, to dig deep into the true root causes of chronic disease in our pets.

They explore:

• The four key root causes of disease: deficiencies, toxicities, mitochondrial dysfunction, and trapped emotions.
• How our pets mirror our emotional patterns and what that means for their health (and ours).
• Why so many pets are "overfed but undernourished" and how to turn that around.
• The importance of daily detox and testing (not guessing) when it comes to nutrition.
• The surprising truth behind raw diets and why "one size fits all" doesn't work.
• How to move from helplessness and guilt into empowerment and gratitude for you and your furry family.

Key Takeaway:

Your pet’s health journey starts with you. When you heal, they heal too.

Connect with Dr. Marlene:

🌿 drmarlenesiegel.com

Links & Resources:

👉 https://drruthroberts.com/ to learn more

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalHolisticPetHealthCoach

Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts

YouTube: @drruthroberts

TikTok:@dr.ruthroberts

Pinterest: @drruthroberts

*DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this video is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. You‘re encouraged to do your own research and should not rely on this information as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Ruth and her guests express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Dr. Ruth Roberts neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here. 🐾 FIND a Holistic Vet ► https://www.ahvma.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Healing Tales! I’m Dr. Ruth Roberts, here to help you become the best pet parent you can be with simple, natural care that supports real life, real budgets, and real pets. In this heartfelt episode, I’m joined by the incredible Melissa Sherman, founder of Calming Creek. Melissa is an animal communicator, energy healer, and holistic pet health coach who helps guide both pets and their people through health challenges and those tender moments at the end of life.

We explore what animal communication really is (hint: it’s not as “woo” as you might think!), how it can help us understand our pets’ needs, and how it can transform the way we navigate aging and end-of-life decisions. We also discuss grief, guilt, and the deeply moving ways animals share their final wishes and memories with us. This conversation is filled with love, insight, and beautiful reminders to stay present and connected with our furry companions.

Links & Resources

• Connect with Melissa Sherman: calmingcreek.com
• 📲 Follow Melissa @calmingcreek Calming Creek on: Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

👉 https://drruthroberts.com/ to learn more

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalHolisticPetHealthCoach

Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts

YouTube: @drruthroberts

TikTok:@dr.ruthroberts

Pinterest: @drruthroberts

*DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this video is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. You‘re encouraged to do your own research and should not rely on this information as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Ruth and her guests express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Dr. Ruth Roberts neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here. 🐾 FIND a Holistic Vet ► https://www.ahvma.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.