Empowered Pet - Nutrition & Holistic Care

05/30/2026

My gran-kitty Meeko is the cutest 🐾💙 I am cat sitting this week and decided to get her this catio, and I think she’s definitely enjoying it 🌞

It’s not always safe to let kitties roam freely, especially in big cities with lots of traffic. But there are ways to safely give them outdoor time and exposure to nature. Meeko wears a tracker while spending time in her catio, just in case she ever gets loose. I personally don’t believe in wearing something like that all the time due to the negative effects of radiofrequency exposure (especially around the sensitive neck area).

Safe supervised outdoor time can provide a lot of benefits:

🌞Sunshine and fresh air help regulate circadian rhythms.

🌱Exposure to grass and soil microbes supports a healthy immune system.

🐈 Encourages movement, which builds strength and confidence

🧠 Provides mental stimulation that may help reduce behavioral issues.

I purchased this catio from . The brand is , and I’m really happy with the design and quality.

What are your favorite safe ways to give indoor kitties enrichment and exposure to nature? Let me know in the comments 💙

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05/25/2026

I attended one of these classes and I highly recommend! Massage is a great way to calm and relax your pet and its also just a great way slow down, strengthen your bond and spend quality time together.

I am looking forward to sharing lots of tips to help your dog relax at this seminar at North Pittsburgh Animal Behavior.

Come join us this Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30.

Sign up at: https://northpittsburghanimalbehavior.com/start-training/. Scroll down and you'll find it under "Events."

05/24/2026

A new peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that 2 out of 3 dogs with lymphoma were exposed to benzene at DNA-damaging levels, and nearly 9 out of 10 were exposed to xylene. But here’s what most people miss: over half of healthy dogs had similar benzene exposure, and nearly all dogs had xylene exposure too.

This isn’t rare, it’s everyday life. These chemicals, released from products like cleaners, air fresheners, candles, paints, furniture, and even gas stoves, are commonly found in indoor air and can damage DNA in lab studies. Most dogs are living in a constant background of exposure we rarely think about.

The good news is you can reduce it.🙌 Focus on your indoor air, improve ventilation, use an air purifier with activated carbon if possible, avoid synthetic fragrances, switch to simpler low-toxin products, and eliminate smoke exposure. It’s not one big toxin that matters, it’s the constant low-level exposure over time.

And while reducing exposure is step one, supporting your dog’s ability to handle what they’re still exposed to matters just as much.

If you want a science-backed detox support option, Liver Lift™ is a daily, multi-pathway formula designed for pets living in today’s chemical world. It supports liver detox and bile flow, kidney filtration, lymphatic movement, gut binding, antioxidant regeneration, and nervous system regulation.

👉 Comment CLEANUP and we’ll send a link your way.

04/28/2026

Volunteered at today and had the best time. I’ve ridden horses a few times, but never had the opportunity to spend quality time with them like this. Wow, I didn’t know how much I needed this! I helped clean stalls, brushed the horses, gave them treats, and even got to hug one 🐴💙 Such a rewarding experience. Thank you for a truly wonderful morning.

04/10/2026

Whew... I have been busy! I'm so excited to finally share some new products I've been working on. You can find them tonight at the Bark for a Cause event at the Dog Penn in the Strip!

My personal favorite is the Paw Cleanse Spray, made with calendula hydrosol. I've been using it on my own hands and I'm obsessed, not only does it leave them feeling very clean but its also hydrating. It feels like you just put lotion on but without the greasy feeling. It also left my pups paws feeling soft and hydrated. It's perfect for after walks to wash away the yuck and allergens.

03/28/2026

This is just one of the many many reasons why I do NOT recommend kibble. Here are a few other things to note:
1. Our pets are supposed to get most of their hydration from their food. Kibble lacks the necessary hydration. My dogs rarely drink from their water bowl because
they are getting everything they need from their food.
2. Kibble is highly processed and cooked at a very high temperature. Just look at the ingredients. Most of the ingredients you cant even recognize as real food. It's loaded with low quality synthetic vitamins because all of the nutritional value was cooked out. I won't even get into the 4D meat that is used. Just watch the documentary "Pet Fooled" and your eyes will be opened.
3. Most kibble contain GMO ingredients and contain high levels of glyphosate. This causes cancer, kills gut bacteria, and blocks detox pathways. 80ish percent of the immune system resides in the gut. Gut health is everything.

This doesn’t mean you need to go all in with homemade food. There are better options at your independently owned pet stores.

If you are curious about the services I offer as a holistic pet health coach and nutritionist, you can book a free discovery call on my website. http://empoweredpet.com

A new study of 70 popular dry pet foods found that 97% contained mold toxins (mycotoxins) across all brands. Even at low levels, daily exposure can add up, potentially weakening the immune system, increasing inflammation, and stressing the liver, gut, and hormones over time. FDA data from the past five years shows over 60 million pounds of pet food were recalled due to toxic mold, all from dry kibble.

 If you feed dry pet food you should also feed NAC, Glutathione, and Chlorella for Mycotoxin Binding:
 
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione work as antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by mycotoxins. Studies show NAC can reduce oxidative stress and cell death in laboratory animals exposed to mycotoxins. Glutathione helps maintain normal cell function and energy production when cells encounter mycotoxins. Chlorella works by binding mycotoxins in the digestive tract before absorption. Animal studies found chlorella reduced mycotoxin absorption by 40-80% when given with contaminated food and decreased mycotoxin levels in tissues.

References and detox suggestions in the comments ⬇️

03/28/2026

Mushrooms 🍄 💙

03/23/2026

When our pets suddenly stop eating, it’s rarely just pickiness. Changes in appetite are one of the most important ways pets communicate that something may be off. It could be an issue with the food itself....causing digestive discomfort or even having gone bad.

Since they can’t tell us with words, we have to pay attention to the other ways that they communicate with us.

03/09/2026

Hey friends,
Ticks are out in full force right now. I took Scooby and Bella to a new park yesterday, and when we got home, I found six ticks on Scooby using a lint roller and flea/tick comb (caught them before they attached).😬

Tools like lint rollers and flea/tick combs can really help, but I always recommend using a layered approach for prevention. Yesterday is proof that it is time for me to start implementing those layers back into my routine to keep those nasty bugs at bay.

If you want to learn more, I cover exactly how to do this and what I personally use in my Natural Flea & Tick Prevention Guide. The guide also includes:
• What to do if you find a tick attached. I use an herbal/homeopathic formula if I find a tick attached to help avoid complications (I would use this on myself too if needed).
• What steps to take if you run into a flea issue
• The reasoning behind each recommendation, not just what to use

Even the harsh chemical preventatives aren’t foolproof, and they come with a high risk of adverse reactions.

Stay vigilant, tick season is definitely here. 🐕🌿
https://pay.empoweredpet.com/FleaTickGuide

03/01/2026

🌱 Wheatgrass for Dogs & Cats
Wheatgrass contains chlorophyll, antioxidants, and enzymes that can support digestion, detox pathways, fresh breath, and overall immune health in both dogs and cats.

There are also many studies that show Wheatgrass can help to prevent cancer.

🐶🐱 How to give it:
You can juice fresh, buy it in powdered form or allow your pets to graze on the grass itself.

Always start slow...I like to begin at about ¼ of the recommended amount and work up while observing your pets stools, appetite, and energy.
General daily guideline for juice:
• Cats: ⅛–¼ tsp
• Small dogs: ¼ tsp
• Medium dogs: ½ tsp
• Large dogs: 1 tsp

Your pet probably won’t love the taste at first so mix it into food. Freeze-dried food works great because it absorbs moisture, so you can pour it right over.

🌱 Grazing
It is important to note when both cats and dogs eat grass sometimes they will regurgitate, that’s often normal. It’s a natural way they help clear hairballs or soothe their stomach.

Repeated vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea = not normal.

Offer the grass for brief periods of time to prevent them from over doing it.

02/28/2026

This is great news. If we can get one state to allow titers then that paves the way for others. I am looking into how we can possibly get the ball rolling here in PA. If anyone has information or connections here in PA that may be able to help educate me on this proceas let me know.

See link in comments.