As Nature Intended

03/03/2026

Taking enrolments NOW. This course is restricted to qualified veterinarians and veterinary students, veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses.

CIVT provides world-leading education in natural medicine, including three accredited online post-graduate qualifications, industry-recognised certifications

02/03/2026


ZINC IN DOGS: One of the Most Common Deficiencies.
Here is what every pet parent should know:
Why Is Zinc One of the Most Common Deficiencies.
How It Works (and Why It Matters).
Why Dogs May Still Have Trouble Absorbing Zinc.
Tips to Support Better Zinc Absorption.

By Kimberly Styn Lloyd, PhD, BCHHP, CNHP, CHNP.
Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Doctor of Holistic Nutrition, Naturopath, Certified Canine & Feline Nutritionist, Certified Professional Holistic Animal Healer, and Certified Canine Raw Food Nutritionist. Kimberly holds a doctorate (PhD) in Holistic Nutrition and Naturopathy.

📌 ZINC IN DOGS: One of the Most Common Deficiencies 🐶✨

Zinc is one of the most essential micronutrients for dogs, yet it’s also one of the hardest for them to absorb. Understanding why this happens and what we can do about it helps support immune health, skin integrity, reproduction, and overall metabolism in our canine companions.

Here is what every pet parent should know: 👇

🧬 Why Zinc Is So Important for Dogs

Zinc plays crucial roles in:
▪️ Enzyme functions
▪️ Immune response
▪️ Cell growth and repair
▪️ Skin, coat, and wound healing
▪️ Hormone regulation

Without enough zinc, dogs can develop:
✔️ Poor coat quality
✔️ Skin lesions and infections
✔️ Diarrhea
✔️ Delayed wound healing
✔️ Immune dysfunction

Why Is Zinc One of the Most Common Deficiencies❓️
Even though zinc is found in many foods, dogs can still become deficient. Scientific evidence shows several reasons:

1️⃣ Diet Composition Matters
Zinc must be bioavailable, meaning the body can absorb it. Many common canine diets contain ingredients that bind zinc and prevent absorption, such as:

▪️ Phytates (found in grains and legumes)
▪️ High calcium levels
▪️ Excess iron or copper

These compounds form complexes with zinc in the gut that dogs can’t absorb.

2️⃣ Breed-Specific Absorption Issues
Certain breeds (ex., Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes) are prone to zinc-responsive dermatosis, a condition tied to impaired zinc transport and absorption.

3️⃣ High Metabolic Demand
Puppies, working dogs, and dogs recovering from illness may require more zinc than standard diets provide.

⚠️ Why Dogs May Still Have Trouble Absorbing Zinc
Unlike humans, dogs rely more on intestinal uptake mechanisms that can easily get overwhelmed or inhibited. Key factors that reduce zinc uptake include:

✔️ Excess Dietary Phytates
These plant compounds chelate (bind) zinc, making it unavailable for absorption.

✔️ Imbalanced Mineral Ratios
High calcium or copper can compete with or block zinc absorption in the gut.

✔️ Inadequate Enzymatic Support
Zinc needs to be released from food proteins and bound to transporters in the intestine. If digestion is poor, absorption suffers.

---
💡 Tips to Support Better Zinc Absorption

✅️ Balance Mineral Ratios:
Avoid excessive calcium, copper, or iron in the diet unless medically advised.

✅️ Feed a Whole, Fresh-Food Diet:
Foods lower in phytates (like animal-based proteins) reduce competition for absorption.

✅️ Consider Gut Health Support:
Healthy digestion and microbiome balance can indirectly improve micronutrient uptake.

✅️ Choose Highly Bioavailable Zinc Sources:
Zinc methionine, zinc bisglycinate, and zinc proteinate have better absorption than less soluble forms like zinc oxide.

✅️ Work with Your Vet
Blood levels of zinc can be measured, and deficiencies confirmed. Supplementation should be guided to avoid toxicity.

📌
Zinc may be a trace mineral, but it plays a major role in canine health. Because it’s hard for many dogs to absorb, especially from some commercial diets, it’s essential to feed zinc in forms that the body can actually use and to support overall digestive and metabolic health. This isn’t just “vitamin fluff;” scientific evidence shows that proper zinc intake and absorption matters for skin integrity, immunity, growth, and more.

True nutritional support begins where science, bioavailability, and individual physiology intersect.

— The Holistic Canine 🐾 theholisticcanine.us

👉 Fresh feeding, explained—finally.
"Fresh-Food Feeding Explained" eBook
https://theholisticcanine.us/ebook/ available NOW on my website.

02/03/2026

HORMONE RESTORATION THERAPY IN DOGS - AUSTRALIA

If I knew what I know now when I had my Missy desexed, I may have looked into hormone therapy. If/When you make the decision to desex your dog, please consider learning the benefits.
For a list of clinics and specialist services in Australia that do hormone/endocrine-related care for dogs (including internal medicine specialists capable of diagnosing/treating hormonal diseases like diabetes, Cushing’s, Addison’s, thyroid disorders), join our group for resources - You'll see the blue button on our page "VISIT GROUP"

01/03/2026

Did you know that many dogs struggle with health or behavior problems after traditional spay/neuter surgery because of the lack of natural hormones? Hormone restoration offers a promising path to help those pets feel more like themselves again.

From improved energy and behavior to better long-term health, hormone therapy may make a big difference for some dogs.
Learn about the research and whether it may be right for your pet.

Dogs that have been spayed or neutered may have health problems. Hormone restoration in dogs rebalances hormone levels and improves health.

22/02/2026

Titre testing is modern, evidence-based medicine.
It allows us to make informed, individual decisions… not blanket ones.
I’m also incredibly proud of the .by Dr Will team for leading the way with Australia’s first national titre testing roadshow.
This is about better care.�Better science.�Better outcomes.

20/02/2026

NEW LIVE WEBINAR.. "Like humans, dogs and cats are commonly affected by thyroid disorders -usually hypothyroidism in dogs and hyperthyroidism in older cats. In dogs, hypothyroidism often stems from heritable autoimmune thyroiditis, akin to familial Hashimoto’s disease in people. Join Dr Jean Dodds as she explains the importance of accurate diagnostic screening and regular testing as pets age, and why it's essential for successful management and treatment."

NEW LIVE WEBINAR - 'Current Issues in Thyroid Disorders' Presented by Dr Jean Dodds

Learn more here: https://civtedu.org/webinars/current-issues-in-thyroid-disorders
Like humans, dogs and cats are commonly affected by thyroid disorders -usually hypothyroidism in dogs and hyperthyroidism in older cats. In dogs, hypothyroidism often stems from heritable autoimmune thyroiditis, akin to familial Hashimoto’s disease in people. Join Dr Jean Dodds as she explains the importance of accurate diagnostic screening and regular testing as pets age, and why it's essential for successful management and treatment.

19/02/2026

🌿 Where Should Our Food Come From? 🐾

Real food doesn’t start in a factory.

It starts in nature.

Food is meant to nourish, heal, and sustain life — for both humans and our animals. When it comes from healthy systems, it supports healthy bodies.

There is no such thing as “dog food.” There is only real food. What makes it appropriate is a species’ ancestry and biological needs. This isn’t opinion. It’s science.

🧬 Biologically, food should come from whole, natural sources our bodies recognise.

🌱 Holistically, it should come from clean soil, ethical farming, and balanced ecosystems

🐕 For our pets, it should come from species-appropriate foods — real meat, organs, bones, and fresh ingredients — not heavily processed substitutes.

✨ The closer food is to its natural state, the more powerful it is.

✔ Grown, not engineered
✔ Raised with care, not chemicals
✔ Recognisable, not artificial
✔ Nourishing, not just filling

Healthy land → Healthy food → Healthy bodies

Let’s choose food that honours nature and supports long-term wellbeing — for ourselves and the animals we love. 💚

18/02/2026

DON'T JUST FEED YOUR PET, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING
Antiquated Risk Levels = Extremely High Levels of Lead, Mercury, Arsenic and Cadmium
Recent testing shows high levels of contamination in pet food.

Recent testing shows high levels of contamination in pet food.

18/02/2026

ADMIN BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Dr. Gary Richter wrote Longevity for Cats to give you a clear, practical roadmap to helping your feline companion live a longer, healthier life. Inside, I break down nutrition, supplements, common disease prevention, and holistic strategies you can implement right away.
Your cat depends on you to make informed decisions. This book is designed to help you do exactly that.
If you’re ready to take a more proactive approach to your cat’s health, this is for you.

Cats are masters at hiding illness — which means prevention and proactive care matter even more. 🐱

I wrote Longevity for Cats to give you a clear, practical roadmap to helping your feline companion live a longer, healthier life. Inside, I break down nutrition, supplements, common disease prevention, and holistic strategies you can implement right away.

Your cat depends on you to make informed decisions. This book is designed to help you do exactly that.

If you’re ready to take a more proactive approach to your cat’s health, this is for you.

13/02/2026

A new open-access study in BMC Veterinary Research compared dogs on a raw meat-based diet (RMBD) with dogs eating a standard commercial complete diet over at least 12 months. The key findings:

🐶 Lean body condition: Dogs fed raw had lower body condition scores (BCS) and were generally leaner than dogs on commercial diets, supporting one of the reasons many of us choose raw feeding.

🍽️ Energy intake differences: RMBD-fed dogs consumed slightly less energy overall, which likely contributed to their leaner condition.

🔬 Nutrient balance: The study also found differences in mineral intake and blood nutrient levels between the two groups. Some minerals (like calcium, phosphorus, iodine, zinc, copper, manganese) were lower in RMBD dogs compared to commercial-fed dogs, though the raw-fed dogs showed no clinical signs of deficiency.

📌 This research adds controlled evidence that RMBDs can be linked with healthy body condition in adult dogs — a result many in this community observe firsthand. At the same time, it highlights why balanced, well-formulated raw diets and ongoing health monitoring remain essential to avoid potential nutrient gaps.

Read more here:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-026-05283-4

Brand new study looked at whether dogs fed a raw meat-based diet (RMBD) were leaner or healthier compared to dogs eating regular commercial pet food. Researchers followed 104 healthy adult dogs about half eating raw diets and half eating commercial diets for several months. They checked body condition, activity levels, and ran blood tests to look at nutrient status.

Dogs eating raw diets were generally leaner and had lower body fat scores than dogs eating commercial food. On average, raw-fed dogs were eating slightly fewer calories and getting more of their energy from fat & protein, which may help with weight control. They were also more likely to participate in dog sports and higher-intensity activities.

However, the study also found nutritional concerns with raw diets. Many raw-fed dogs were getting lower amounts of important minerals like iodine, zinc, copper, and manganese. Some vitamins, especially vitamin D and vitamin E, were also lower compared to commercial-fed dogs. Although bloodwork did not show obvious signs of deficiency and all dogs appeared healthy, the nutrient imbalances raised concerns about potential long-term effects if diets are not carefully balanced.

13/02/2026

Another successful natural healing

Molly, an 8.5-year-old black Labrador, had a long history of recurrent ear infections. In January 2026, despite antibiotic treatment, Pseudomonas, known for rapid antibiotic resistance, was residing deep within Molly’s ear canal. She was referred to a specialist practice for definitive surgical removal of the diseased ear canal, a procedure used as a last resort when other treatments have failed.

Three days after surgery, Molly returned for evaluation, and it was found that the wound had broken down and reopened. It would ordinarily have been re-stitched; however, cultures from the middle ear confirmed the re-appearance of the multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas, which was resistant to all antibiotics tested. Re-suturing was impossible due to the infection.

The only remaining options discussed were euthanasia or wound management, which involved repeated anaesthesia for wound flushing, and manuka honey packing. By day nine post-surgery, there were serious concerns regarding her prognosis.

At this point I was asked in by the senior vet to help. Molly was offered oils with documented activity against Pseudomonas. She responded most strongly to garlic, and then to oregano. These were added to green clay and applied locally at regular intervals. Spirulina was also offered to support immune regulation.

The infection cleared within a week. In just over 2.5 weeks the wound was just about completely healed. Typically, final wound closure clear of infection takes (Weeks 6–12+). Some cases extend to 3–4 months. The senior vet is now going to start training in Applied Zoopharmacognosy.

See more details of this case and photos on my web with a timeline showing the wound healing: These pictures would not be able to be shown on Instagram as they are too graphic.
Link to full story: https://www.carolineingraham.com/canine-stories