Raw Paw Adventures Nutrition

09/06/2025

The incredibly talented Angela Ardolino was recently a guest on Raw Remedies podcast, and our conversation was just sublime!

We unpack the myths, science, and life-changing potential of full spectrum h**p extracts (FSHE) for pets and people alike.

Together, we break down:
-> The Endocannabinoid System (ECS): The “master system” that keeps the body balanced but is ignored in conventional vet schools.
-> Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum vs. Isolates: Why only full spectrum provides true healing synergy—and why isolates can even cause harm.
-> Safe & Effective Use: How bioavailability works (like applying h**p on the gums, ears, or paws) and why pets respond so well.
-> Conditions Supported Naturally: From allergies and arthritis to seizures, Cushing’s disease, anxiety, and even cancer—Angela shares real-life success stories.
-> Red Flags & Quality Checks: How to read a Certificate of Analysis (COA), what to look for in a trustworthy product, and why not all “CBD oils” are created equal.

And the most important takeaway for me: h**p and mushrooms are not “supplements,” but true food-based medicine. I hope you'll listen and learn from this powerhouse episode with CBD Dog Health's powerhouse founder! Link to listen is in the comments.

09/06/2025

such an important topic to be educated about, thanks Dr Cathy!

You know what a hotspot looks like right? It’s red, and probably wet because your dog has been chewing at it. And if you put your hand on it, it’s warm.

Thus, it’s called a hotspot.

But if you go to the regular Veterinarian, they’re going to say “oh my gosh there’s infection! Oh my goodness, we have to do antibiotics in the whole body, we have to do antibiotics on the spot, blah, blah blah!”

Note they hardly ever wonder, “Well, why is there a hotspot in the first place?”

These days they might give some of those medicines that stop itching, either an injection of c5t0p0in5 or a prescription of ap4q63l, or better both. (Can you say cha-ching?)

So, let’s first talk about what to do at the site of the hotspot. Then let’s figure out what could possibly have been causing it so you can get to the bottom of the scenario and hopefully avoid it in the future.

First, your vet is not 100% wrong when they say that there’s infection. It’s just that putting an antibiotic in the entire body when you have a little 3 in. area that is infected is excessive. Hot spots are typically a minimized, localized, and superficial infection.

And why is it infected? Because somebody has these tiny little nibbler teeth and gets a little itchy and goes nibble nibble nibble nibble nibble nibble, and they break open the skin. Think of a little kid with a really itchy mosquito bite. They can’t leave it alone. They self mutilate because pain is less annoying than itchiness.

And in all of that nibbling and scratching, we have broken open the blood vessels in the outer part of the skin. And there’s a tiny little bit of blood, with a big inflammatory reaction. This is how the body heals. It can heal itself, believe it or not.

So if your precious baby has a hotspot somewhere on the body, let’s clip the hair in the area. Wash it! Seriously, wash it with soap and water! “The solution to pollution (infection) is the dilution (soap and lots of water).”

If there’s a little local infection, wash it. Multiple times a day. Imagine if your two legged child fell down on the sidewalk and got a little bit of road rash. What would you do? You would wash it. Dry it. Then you might put a little bit of topical antibiotic ointment on it. Perfect.

Let’s put that on your dog.

Sure, you can use aloe, you can use coconut oil, you can use those antibiotic ointments that are made for humans that are totally safe for dogs as well. In most cases, it’s more a matter of keeping it clean and dry.

Sometimes you have to do something terrible like use a doughnut or a lampshade around your dog’s neck so he can’t get at it and itch it.

And this really does tend to be a dog thing. Very rarely do cats get hotspots. This is a dog thing.

In some cases, if you need it to dry out faster, you can do apply a powder of bentonite clay after washing. It’s actually sold as a face mask for women, but be sure the only ingredient is that: bentonite clay.

Like magic, most of these hot spots go away in a couple of days. Still, even with my approach, you’ll see that all we’ve done is treat the symptoms here. We haven’t done anything to figure out the cause.

There’s a list of things that could contribute and this is where I help people get to the bottom of ANY condition. For hotspots:
It could be pollen. Which means we need to be giving frequent baths. And if you’re worried about bathing frequency, I wrote a post about that.

It could actually be arthritis. So look at where the hotspot is. Is it over a hip joint? Or knee?

Could it be a bug bite or a bee sting? Dogs get those. They step on bugs. They find fleas.

Sometimes it’s a food problem. Usually it’s a kibble allergy. I would expect ear issues in most cases to go along with that.
Some dogs are quite easy. Fixing the diet and frequent bathing can go a long way to help with this situation.

OK, so there’s your overview of what a hotspot looks like, why your dog creates it and how to address it at home without spending literally hundreds of dollars at the veterinarian covering up symptoms. And a few things to think about that maybe underlying causes.

Still seeing patients in Tampa, Clearwater, and virtually.

09/04/2025

In this powerful podcast episode, I sit down with holistic health advocate and founder of , Angela Ardolino, to unpack the myths, science, and life-changing potential of full spectrum h**p extracts (FSHE) for pets and people alike.

Together, we break down:
🌱 The Endocannabinoid System (ECS): The “master system” that keeps the body balanced but is ignored in conventional vet schools.
🌱 Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum vs. Isolates: Why only full spectrum provides true healing synergy—and why isolates can even cause harm.
🌱 Safe & Effective Use: How bioavailability works (like applying h**p on the gums, ears, or paws) and why pets respond so well.
🌱 Conditions Supported Naturally: From allergies and arthritis to seizures, Cushing’s disease, anxiety, and even cancer—Angela shares real-life success stories.
🌱 Red Flags & Quality Checks: How to read a Certificate of Analysis (COA), what to look for in a trustworthy product, and why not all “CBD oils” are created equal.

I want to leave you with this message: h**p and mushrooms are not “supplements,” but true food-based medicine. Be sure to join us to learn and become empowered! 🔗 to listen in bio.

09/03/2025

First day in the office! I’m so excited for this next chapter and bringing functional care to people in my community. My coworker (a long time friend of mine) even printed some photos of me and put them on my board. Today is going to be a great day 🥰

08/28/2025

This week’s Raw Remedies episode is OUT and ready to be listened to on your favorite podcast platform!

Welcome Halle, the founder of , a canine nutritionist, and passionate advocate for holistic approaches to health.

We discuss her journey into the holistic pet space, how her store and brand elevates and empowers pet parents, and some of the cool treats she makes. Then we turn to a breakdown of Valley Fever- what it is, how it presents, and ways to manage it.

This is one you won’t want to miss so head to the 🔗 in my bio to catch the full thing. And be sure to use the discount code in my podcast show notes to get 10% off your order of LoneStar Pet Treats!

08/23/2025

Sooooo, it's possible that I celebrated attending the 75th anniversary of superzoo by getting a tattoo of a cute kitty trying to batt my existing thistle tattoo, but I cannot confirm nor deny…

Ok, ok, obviously this photo confirms it- said tattoo did happen! Now I need your help deciding what to name him! Do I go with…

1. Jackson
or
2. Lil' Elvis

Here are my arguments! I used to love watching Jackson Galaxy, the OG cat whisperer and behaviorist. He is obviously a huge cat advocate, and because my kitty is jumping above my galaxy tattoo, I feel like it's doubly appropriate. Plus, he visited superzoo last year (although I missed him which is too bad)!

On the other hand, I absolutely adore Elvis Presley. I was raised by my grandparents, and grew up learning to dance with my grandpa to his original Elvis records. I even have a full-on tattoo of Elvis doing his famous 'Elvis the Pelvis' on my thigh! People always think of Elvis when they think of Vegas, and I used to joke that if I ever got married, it would be by an Elvis impersonator at a chapel in Vegas (we eloped instead but Vegas was a close second!).

So you tell me! Answer in the comments to cast your vote. 🐈‍⬛🐈

08/22/2025

Hot topic #1- how often should we bring our pets to the vet?

My option: routeinly, every 12 months if no medical problems and/or younger, and every 6 months if there are chronic conditions present or seniors. Why? I'll tell you.

I have seen this over and over again- people and pets who don't see their GP for 'routine' check-ups often have missed peoblems or abnormalities, such as renal disease, heart disease or thyroid problems. These can often go undetected due to be asymptomatic until things are too advanced or it's too late. Having an established relationship with your vet and having at least yearly labs acts as an early detection system, and I strongly recommend it.

My thoughts on this has changed over the years, but now I'm all about prevention instead of reaction. Tune in to the full Raw Remedies episode (l!nk in bio) to learn more! I recommend watching over on YouTube for the full experience since this was filmed in-person with so many amazing guests