The Natural Animal Ruth Hatten

In this week's episode, we take a look at the kidneys, including their anatomy, functioning and signs of dysfunction. We then explore holistic strategies for helping to prevent and manage kidney dysfunction in animals.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

The Real Food Diet for Dogs and Cats eBooks

Ep #4 Natural Pet Diets: A Scientific Exploration

Low Tox Pets

Blog Posts on toxins:

Your Pet's Toxic Load: What It Is & Why It's Important

Does Your Pet Need a Detox?

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Join the Animal Lovers Tribe to receive your free Holistic Guide to Caring For Your Pet plus other bonuses, exclusive offers and holistic animal wellness tips.

Connect with Ruth Hatten at ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you!

***BIG thank you to Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork & Michael Barry for the divine theme music***

In this week's episode, I am joined by world renowned expert on animal behaviour and animal emotions, Marc Bekoff, as we embark on a fascinating journey into the intricate tapestry of animal behaviour and cognition.

We explore the very essence of sentience, emotions, and cognitive acuity among animals, and uncover the profound implications of compassionate conservation, where every individual life holds inherent value, simply because they are alive.

From the biodiversity of sentience to the ethical dilemmas surrounding animal research, we leave no stone unturned. Hear firsthand accounts from Marc, as he shares his daily rituals of teaching, writing, and pondering the depths of animal emotions and protection.

Join us as we unravel the emotional lives of animals, from the release of captive creatures back into the wild, the moral implications of breeding animals for scientific profit, to the intricate social structures of our beloved canine companions. Delve into the mysteries of dog ancestry, the enigmatic behaviours of cats, and the art of giving animals agency.

As we debunk myths and misconceptions, we invite you to ponder: How can we deepen our understanding of animals and redefine our relationship with them? Tune in as we navigate these profound questions and contemplate what changes we can make to nurture a more compassionate coexistence between humans and the animal kingdom.

Here’s a point by point summary of the topics we delve into:


Evolution of behaviour
Sentience, emotions and cognitive skills
Animal protection has to be based on what they’re feeling, what they’re thinking, not what they know
Compassionate conservation - the life of every individual matters because they have inherent value, because they are alive
Biodiversity of sentience
A day in the life of Marc Bekoff - teaching at university, living a solitary live, rising early, writing, cycling, reading, research projects
Do we need more data on animal sentience?
Use of animals in research, including discussion on the numbering of vs naming of animals
Human interests vs animal interests
Does anthropomorphism equal empathy or is it mere sentimentality?
Assumptions on why humans are more important than animals
Fighting for the lives of lab animals after the research on them is over
The relevance of using animal models in medical research
Alternatives to animal research
Law vs Science in terms of defining animals
The profits of breeding animals for research
Marc’s observations on the emotional lives of animals
The release of captive animals back to the wild
The ability of animals to express their natural behaviours
Natural behaviours of dogs and cats
Side effects of dogs and cats not being able to express natural behaviours
Rescuing moon bears from the bear bile industry
What does it feel like to be a dog / wolf / coyote
Dog ancestry and evolutionary change
Are dogs the same as wolves
Managing ‘frustrating’ dog behaviours
Imposing human standards on animals
Giving animals agency - the freedom to make choices
Social structures of dogs
Providing dogs and cats with opportunities to express their natural behaviours
Dogs DeMystified - Marc’s new book on dog behaviours
Cat behaviours
Debunking the myth that cats aren’t social
How can we get to know animals better
What Marc would change about the human animal relationship

Links:

Visit Marc’s website

Read Marc’s essays on Psychology Today

Follow Marc on Twitter

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Watch on YouTube

Join the Animal Lovers Tribe

Connect with Ruth Hatten at ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you!

**BIG thank you to Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork & Michael Barry for the divine theme music**

Grab a cup of tea as you join me this week for an eye-opening journey into the world of natural pet diets and a deep dive into the science!

In this episode, we look at a recently published review of natural pet foods, and dive deep into the benefits of feeding your cats and dogs a diet that aligns with their instincts and ancestral preferences.

From improved digestion to better overall health, discover why more pet parents are turning to minimally processed, whole food options.

We also consider commonly regarded pitfalls and risks associated with natural and raw diets and the importance of striking a balance between nutrition, sustainability, and safety. Enjoy 🐾

Read the review paper.

Read the blog post.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Want to nerd out some more on pet food and ingredients? You’ll love my Decoding Pet Food Labels masterclass. Get it here.

Want to learn more about natural pet food diets? Check out The Real Food Diet for Cats and Dogs eBooks here.

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Watch on YouTube

Join the Animal Lovers Tribe

Connect with Ruth Hatten at ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you!

BIG thank you to Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork & Michael Barry for the divine theme music.

A beautiful chat with Shatha Hamade, legal counsel of Animals Australia. We discuss:


Shatha’s journey - from a career in the investments sector to where she is and what she does today, her first exposure to the welfare of animals in food production which led to vegetarianism and a life of animal advocacy
Shifting of priorities from a conservative upbringing and life plan to one focussed on being of service to animals
Investigating live animal export with Animals Australia
The emotional toll of Shatha’s work, how she manages it and how it has softened her heart
An inside look into covert investigations into live animal export and Shatha’s role as “witness”
What holds and supports Shatha in the field
The “higher force” and how it shows up for Shatha in her work
Animals as “victims” or “teachers”
The purpose of animals
Animal consciousness
Lessons of kindness and compassion
Bearing witness without judgement
How our treatment of animals is informed by our inherited thinking
The sentience of animals
Emotions and being human
The most challenging location for Shatha when it comes to animal suffering
Shatha’s love for donkeys
Looking into the animals’ eyes and connecting to their hearts
Kuwait and the Festival of Sacrifice
Holding space and sending animals off with love
Shatha’s most difficult day in the field
A message of hope and assurance from a butterfly in Cairo
Witnessing miracles and beauty in contrast to witnessing suffering
Acknowledgement of the Gaza-Israel conflict and sending love
The power of collaboration
Do Australian animals have greater legal protections compared to animals from other countries
The covert abuse of animals in Australia
The power of the individual for informing your life and living a life that aligns with your values
What individuals can do to help animals - launching "rockets of desire”
Shatha’s hopes for the future
Will live export be banned?
What Shatha would change about the human animal relationship

This is a heart-centered and inspiring conversation, well worth the listen for anyone who loves animals.

Visit the Animals Australia website

Follow Animals Australia on Instagram

Follow Animals Australia on Facebook

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Watch on YouTube

Join the Animal Lovers Tribe

Connect with Ruth Hatten at ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you!

BIG thank you to Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork & Michael Barry for the divine theme music.

This episode covers various aspects of holistic animal care, emphasising the interconnectedness of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being in animals. Here's a summary of the topics discussed:


Introduction to Holistic Animal Care, emphasising the importance of treating the whole body rather than just focusing on symptoms.


The naturopathic approach to animal care involves considering the whole body and its interconnectedness.


Treating symptoms vs addressing the root cause of issues. How the "band-aid" approach of treating symptoms doesn't take into account the underlying cause of illness.


Understanding symptoms, which can be signals of an underlying imbalance in the body, like red flags indicating that something is not right.


Animal Sentience and emotions, and how this falls under the umbrella of holistic animal care.


Different and integral parts of holistic animal care, including diet changes, toxin reduction, mental enrichment, emotional support, and spiritual well-being, as integral parts of holistic animal care.


The importance of considering environmental factors, such as diet, toxin exposure, mental stimulation, and safe outdoor spaces, in promoting overall health and well-being.


The significance of the human-animal relationship, how it affects the animal's behaviour and well-being, and how animals may mirror human emotions and behaviors.


Resources for pet parents interested in learning more about holistic animal care, including guides, webinars, and workshops covering various aspects of holistic wellness.

In this episode I mentioned some resources if you would like to delve deeper into this topic:

The Holistic Guide to Caring For Your Pet

The Healthy & Happy Webinar

The Holistic Animal Care Workshop Series

Watch on YouTube

Join the Animal Lovers Tribe

Connect with Ruth Hatten at ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you!

BIG thank you to Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork and Michael Barry for the divine theme music.

Hello and welcome to the very first episode of The Natural Animal Podcast! How exciting!!
In this episode, Ruth shares:


Who is this show for
What you can expect from the show
How you can contribute to the show
A little about your host

Watch on YouTube

Join the Animal Lovers Tribe

Connect with Ruth Hatten at ruthhatten.com

Follow Ruth on Instagram

Do you have suggestions for guests or topics? Perhaps you've got questions you'd like answered on the show or you'd like to give some feedback? ⁠Complete this feedback form - Ruth would love to hear from you!

BIG thank you to:


Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork.
Michael Barry for the divine theme music.