108. Synthetic vs. Natural: What’s Really in Your Pet’s Supplements? with Kara Rose
In this episode of Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino, we dive deep into the hidden dangers of synthetic vitamins and minerals in pet supplements and food. Angela is joined by holistic health practitioner Kara Rose, founder of Raw Paw Adventures, who shares her personal journey from critical care medicine to natural healing for both pets and people. Together, they explore how synthetic additives can wreak havoc on your pet’s health, how to recognize misleading ingredient labels, and why “complete and balanced” pet food often isn’t what it seems. Get ready to question what’s really in your pet’s bowl — and learn how to choose nutrient-rich, species-appropriate foods and supplements that truly nourish from the inside out.Episode Recap:2:50 - Why “complete and balanced” is a misleading standard in pet food 5:00 - How synthetic nutrients can overwhelm the liver, disrupt mineral balance, and even lead to toxicity6:00 - The difference between whole food nutrition vs. lab-created isolates8:19 - How synthetic vitamins can cause vitamin deficiencies10:15 - Real food sources of key nutrients like Vitamin A, D, E, and K13:00 - Vitamin D toxicity in pet food 16:10 - Why sourcing matters19:50 - How to evaluate brands, ingredients, and what companies aren’t telling you21:10 - Natural sources of Vitamin D23:00 - Why it’s important to always read the label26:35 - Sourcing organ meat, and how that influences nutrients30:25 - Why pet parents must be their own advocates in an under-regulated pet industry35:00 - Kara and Angela’s resources to help pet parents avoid synthetic additivesEpisode Resources:Want to download the Synthetic Vitamins & Minerals chart and the Additives to Avoid in Pet Supplements chart? Visit AngelaArdolino.com/podcast-downloadsVisit Kara’s Website - Raw Paw AdventuresKara’s Podcast - Raw RemediesFollow Kara & Raw Paw Adventures on FB, IG, TT, and YTHave a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at
[email protected] Visit Angela Ardolino’s website for more holistic pet health resources & education: www.AngelaArdolino.comFollow Your Natural Dog on Facebook and Instagram and if you want to see what Angela is up to, follow her on Facebook