In this episode of Pet Health Junkies, we sit down with Austin & Kat to talk about one of the hottest (and most confusing) topics in pet wellness: how to use CBD, functional mushrooms, and other botanicals thoughtfully for dogs and cats. With so many products on the market promising calm, immune support, and longevity, it can be hard to know what’s legit, what’s marketing, and what actually fits your individual animal.

We dig into how CBD really works in the endocannabinoid system, why full‑spectrum, well‑formulated products matter, and where mushrooms like reishi, turkey tail, lion’s mane, and cordyceps can support immune health, resilience, and aging. We also explore how smart botanical blends can complement diet and lifestyle changes instead of trying to replace them, and why “more” is not always better when it comes to dosing sensitive pets.

Throughout the conversation, we come back to practical guardrails: how to read labels, questions to ask brands, red flags to avoid, and how to partner with an integrative or open‑minded vet when you’re bringing CBD or mushrooms into your pet’s plan. If you’ve been curious about plant medicine for your animals but don’t want to fall for hype or overwhelm their systems, this episode will help you slow down, zoom out, and use these tools with intention.

In this episode of Pet Health Junkies, Jessica, Pam, and Janet sit down to unpack a huge shift we’re all watching in real time: big pet food companies muscling into the “fresh” and “better-for-them” space. With major players acquiring raw, freeze‑dried, and fresh brands and rolling out their own refrigerated lines, it’s getting harder than ever for pet parents to tell the difference between genuine innovation and well-funded marketing.

We talk about why the big companies have the money, distribution, and ad budgets to shape the narrative—and what that means for independent brands, local shops, and the people trying to read between the lines on the bag. You’ll hear our take on whether these “fresh” offerings are actually moving the needle on species‑appropriate nutrition, or just repackaging the same old thinking in shinier form.

Dr. Marlene Siegel joins us for a powerful cameo to bring it back to basics: what dogs and cats are biologically designed to eat, why carb‑heavy, ultra‑processed diets fall short, and how that mismatch drives inflammation and chronic disease over time. We also explore simple ways to make more aligned choices—whether you’re buying from a big box store, an independent retailer, or feeding raw at home—without getting paralyzed by all the noise.

If you’ve been watching the pet food aisles explode with “fresh,” “natural,” and “real” claims and wondering what’s real and what’s just a land grab, this conversation will help you see the bigger system at play and stay grounded in what actually serves your animal.

In this episode of Pet Health Junkies, we’re joined by holistic veterinarian and author Dr. Jeff Feinman to talk about why so many pets are still struggling—even when their families are “doing everything right”—and what needs to change in how we think about pet care. Dr. Jeff’s new book, Path to Pet Wellness, lays out a love-centered, science-informed framework that helps pet parents move beyond chasing symptoms and diagnoses toward true vitality and balance.

We dig into the paradigm shift he’s calling for: seeing symptoms as messages rather than enemies, focusing on BEAM (Behavior, Energy, Appetite, Mood) as everyday wellness markers, and integrating the best of conventional medicine with holistic, energy-based approaches. Dr. Jeff shares how this “whole-istic” lens changes decisions around chronic disease, acute flares, and those frustrating cases where tests look “normal” but your pet clearly doesn’t feel their best.

You’ll also hear practical ways to start shifting out of fear-based, urgent “fix-it” mode into a calmer, more trusting partnership with your pet and your care team—without abandoning diagnostics or necessary meds. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice and just want a grounded, hopeful roadmap for helping your animal truly thrive, this conversation will give you a new lens on what “wellness” can mean.