Holistic Pet Care
Herbs for Pets: Free Holistic Pet Care Resources
Our pets are family, and they deserve the same informed, intentional care we want for ourselves. This page is my running collection of the best free resources I have found for raising dogs and cats naturally: herbal references, raw feeding guides, titer testing information, holistic vet directories, books, videos, and more.
Everything here is for educational purposes, not medical advice. Use it to ask better questions and make educated decisions alongside a vet you trust.
Books & Paper Media
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The Herbal Dog: Holistic Canine Herbalism Applications and Practice
By Rita Hogan, C.H.
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The Forever Dog
By Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, DVM & Rodney Habib
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Herbs for Pets
By Mary Wulff-Tilford & Greg Tilford
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Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats
By Diane Stein
*Amazon links on this page are affiliate links. IvyHerbal.com may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase a book using one of these links. We highly encourage purchasing these books locally and/or used if available.Raw Feeding Resources
A species-appropriate diet is the foundation everything else builds on. These sites will take you from total beginner to confidently formulating balanced raw or gently cooked meals.
Perfectly Rawsome
One of the most comprehensive free raw feeding sites available, covering species-appropriate diets for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Detailed BARF and prey model guides, nutrient breakdowns, recipes, and connections to certified canine nutritionists.
perfectlyrawsome.comRaw Fed & Nerdy
A science-based resource created to fill the gap in nutritional guidelines within the raw feeding community. Offers a free full course on raw and cooked home-prepared diets for dogs and cats, plus a supportive Facebook group. Founded by Savannah Welna, Cert. ACN.
rawfedandnerdy.comPrimal Pooch: Raw Feeding Guides
An extensive free library covering every aspect of a raw diet: proteins, organs, bones, supplements, transitioning, portion sizing, and sourcing.
primalpooch.comPrimal Pooch: Master Resource List
A curated directory linking to dozens of the best raw feeding websites, holistic vets, books, podcasts, and communities. A great one-stop jumping-off point.
primalpooch.comDogs Naturally Magazine
Run by holistic veterinarians and natural health experts, this is one of the most respected free publications covering raw feeding, natural healthcare, and integrative care for dogs.
dogsnaturallymagazine.comBella & Duke Raw Feeding Guides
Expert-written guides on transitioning, portioning, and preparing raw food for dogs and cats, contributed by nutritionists, vets, and vet nurses.
bellaandduke.comKeep the Tail Wagging
A long-running blog by raw feeder Kimberly Gauthier sharing first-hand raw feeding experience, beginner guides, sourcing tips, and integrative pet health topics.
keepthetailwagging.comHpathy Veterinary Q&A
A free newsletter and monthly Q&A with a homeopathic, holistic-minded veterinarian. I have found some excellent tidbits for both cats and dogs in the past Q&A archives.
hpathy.comFind a Holistic or Integrative Vet
Working with a vet who respects your approach makes everything easier, from titer testing to herbal protocols. These free directories help you find holistic, homeopathic, and botanically trained veterinarians near you, and many offer telehealth consults.
AHVMA Vet Finder
The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association's searchable directory of member vets practicing acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy, and more.
ahvma.orgAcademy of Veterinary Homeopathy
A directory of veterinarians trained in classical homeopathy, including many who offer remote consultations if there is no one local to you.
theavh.orgVeterinary Botanical Medicine Association
The VBMA maintains a find-a-vet listing of practitioners specifically trained in botanical and herbal medicine for animals. This is the directory I point people to when they want a vet who truly understands herbs.
vbma.orgChi University Practitioner Search
Find vets certified in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and food therapy.
chiu.eduHerb & Plant Safety for Pets
Natural does not automatically mean safe for animals. Dogs and cats metabolize plant compounds differently than we do, and cats in particular are sensitive to many essential oils. Bookmark these free databases before adding any new herb, plant, or oil to your home.
ASPCA Toxic & Non-Toxic Plants Database
A free, searchable database of hundreds of plants rated for toxicity to dogs, cats, and horses. I check this before bringing any new plant into the garden or the house.
aspca.orgPet Poison Helpline Poison List
A free A-to-Z reference covering plants, foods, medications, and household items that are toxic to pets, with signs to watch for.
petpoisonhelpline.comCatInfo.org
Dr. Lisa Pierson's free feline nutrition site. Cats are not small dogs, and this is the single best free resource I know of on species-appropriate feeding for cats, including transitioning stubborn kibble addicts.
catinfo.orgTruth About Pet Food
Consumer advocate Susan Thixton's long-running watchdog site covering pet food recalls, ingredient investigations, and regulatory issues the industry would rather you not read about. Free recall alerts are worth signing up for on their own.
truthaboutpetfood.comBark & Whiskers
Dr. Karen Becker's free daily articles on natural pet health, nutrition, and wellness. A huge searchable archive covering both dogs and cats.
barkandwhiskers.comWhole Dog Journal
A respected, ad-free publication with a large library of free articles on dog health, nutrition, and training, with a naturally minded editorial approach.
whole-dog-journal.comFree Articles from My Blog
Flea and tick meds are notorious for bad reactions, but here we are at the beginning of springtime, when ticks and fleas start waking back up. In this article, I go over the issues with these commonly prescribed meds, and what I do instead to prevent infestation.