Proactive Paws

08/21/2026

🦴 CBD MAY DO MORE THAN EASE ARTHRITIS PAIN... IT MAY ALSO HELP SUPPORT THE JOINT ITSELF.

A new 2026 peer-reviewed systematic review and meta-analysis published in Pain Research and Management looked at 26 studies on cannabinoids and osteoarthritis, including five randomized placebo-controlled studies in dogs with naturally occurring arthritis.

When the dog studies were combined, CBD significantly reduced arthritis pain severity, with studies also reporting improvements in mobility and quality of life.

But what really caught our attention was what researchers found happening inside the joint. Preclinical research suggests cannabinoids may:

🔥 Reduce inflammatory signals
🛡️ Reduce cartilage-destroying enzymes
🦴 Support cartilage-building proteins like type II collagen
🐕 Support more comfortable movement

And type II collagen is especially interesting to us because it’s the primary collagen found in joint cartilage and the reason we included UC-II® undenatured type II collagen in Mobility Matrix™.

For pet parents who don’t have access to CBD, Dr. Karen Becker formulated Mobility Matrix™ to support joint health and mobility through multiple pathways, with ingredients including UC-II® undenatured type II collagen, eggshell membrane, creatine, glucosamine, MSM, and hyaluronic acid to support cartilage, connective tissue, muscles, and comfortable movement. 🐾

Comment MATRIX below and we’ll DM you more details!

08/15/2026

🥒 A Cool Summer Treat With Surprising Benefits
Looking for a healthy summer snack your dog will love? Reach for a cucumber.
Made up of about 95% water, cucumbers are one of nature’s best ways to help keep dogs hydrated on hot days. They’re low in calories, naturally crunchy, and make a refreshing alternative to highly processed, high-calorie treats.
And the benefits go beyond hydration. That extra moisture helps support healthy skin from the inside out, while nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants contribute to overall wellness. Better hydration also helps maintain a soft, shiny coat and supports healthy cells throughout the body.
Chill cucumber slices in the refrigerator or freeze them for a cool, crunchy treat your pup can enjoy after a walk or play session.
Sometimes the healthiest treats are also the simplest. 🥒💚🐶

08/14/2026

🧬 WHAT DOGS EAT MAY CHANGE HOW THEIR SKIN PROTECTS ITSELF... AT THE GENETIC LEVEL.

A peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a well-respected international veterinary journal, suggests that a dog’s diet can influence much more than the appearance of their coat; it can also affect how their skin functions from the inside out.

Researchers at DogRisk Research Group compared dogs eating a minimally processed raw diet with dogs eating an ultra-processed kibble and found that the raw-fed dogs showed greater activity of genes linked to healthy skin, natural immune defenses, and the body’s own antioxidant system, including glutathione. They also found that dogs with allergies had changes in hundreds of genes involved in skin barrier function, inflammation, and skin cell repair, highlighting how important a healthy skin barrier is for protecting against allergens and environmental irritants.

One possible reason is the food matrix—the natural structure of whole foods, where nutrients, fats, proteins, fiber, and thousands of naturally occurring compounds work together in ways that isolated nutrients or highly processed foods may not fully replicate. While this study wasn’t designed to determine why these gene changes occurred, the food matrix is one of several factors researchers believe deserves further investigation.

This study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that nutrition can influence health all the way down to gene activity. That’s one reason Dr. Karen Becker recommends feeding a balanced, fresh, minimally processed diet whenever possible. Whole foods provide nutrients in their natural form and may help support healthy skin, immune function, and overall well-being as part of a healthy lifestyle.

And remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you’re currently feeding kibble, simply starting with a teaspoon of fresh, whole food added to the bowl is a great first step. Small changes can be a simple way to start adding more fresh food to your dog’s diet.

08/13/2026

🐶 WHEN YOUR JOINTS ARE BARKING FOR SUPPORT...

We have some BIG news! 🎉

Since launching Mobility Matrix™, we’ve been blown away by the messages from pet parents telling us about the improvements they’re seeing in their dogs and cats, including better movement, less stiffness, and pets getting back to doing more of the things they love.

In fact, you loved the original bottle so much... it SOLD OUT! 🤯

The good news? It’s coming back soon, AND Mobility Matrix™ now comes in a NEW 90 SCOOP SIZE! 🙌

Mobility Matrix™ was formulated by Dr. Karen Becker to go beyond basic joint support by supporting the entire musculoskeletal system, including joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, AND muscles.

Its comprehensive formula combines clinically studied ingredients including:

🐾 UC II® undenatured type II collagen
🐾 Eggshell membrane collagen
🐾 Glucosamine sulfate
🐾 MSM
🐾 Hyaluronic acid
🐾 Creatine monohydrate

Because keeping pets moving isn’t just about their joints. Strong muscles, healthy connective tissue, and resilient cartilage all work together.

Same Mobility Matrix™ formula pet parents are raving about. Now in a BIGGER 90 scoop bottle. 💜

And don’t worry if you prefer the original 30 scoop size. It’s coming back soon!

👇 COMMENT “MATRIX” and we’ll DM you more details!

08/08/2026

🧬 CAN WHAT YOUR DOG EATS CHANGE HOW FAST THEIR BODY AGES?

A fascinating new peer-reviewed pilot study suggests it might.
Researchers followed pugs for 6 months, comparing dogs that stayed on extruded dry kibble with dogs switched to a cooked, minimally processed, human-grade diet formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Instead of just measuring weight or bloodwork, researchers looked at changes in the dogs’ DNA associated with biological aging — essentially, how old their bodies appeared compared with their actual age.

🥩 The surprising finding? Dogs switched to fresh food showed a nearly 1-year shift toward a younger biological age in just 6 months, while dogs that stayed on kibble did not show a significant change.

🥩 Fresh food: +2.75 years → +1.80 years
🥣 Kibble: +2.77 years → +2.46 years

Even more interesting, the dogs’ bodyweights remained stable, suggesting the shift wasn’t simply due to weight loss. Researchers also found significant changes involving KISS1R, a gene associated with metabolism and obesity, in the fresh-fed dogs but not the kibble-fed dogs.

Published in Veterinary Record Open, a peer-reviewed journal of the British Veterinary Association published by Wiley, the study adds to growing research on the potential benefits of balanced, minimally processed foods.

🥦 Want to add more fresh food to your pet’s bowl but aren’t sure where to start? That’s why Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib wrote The Forever Dog LIFE.

It includes 30+ complete and balanced fresh-food recipes that can be served raw, poached, slow-cooked, or baked, with versions for dogs and cats, different activity levels and life stages, plus hundreds of variations online.

Whether you feed fully fresh or simply want to add more fresh food, The Forever Dog LIFE helps you do fresh food right. 🐶🐱🥩🥦

08/07/2026

🔥 DOES THE WAY YOUR PET’S FOOD IS PROCESSED MATTER?

A new peer reviewed study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition compared 41 commercial dog foods, including fresh, wet, kibble, freeze dried, and cold pressed diets, to see how processing changes food at the molecular level.

The findings were eye opening:

🥩 Fresh food contained more than twice as much lysine as kibble. Lysine is an essential amino acid that supports healthy muscles, immune function, and tissue repair. Kibble also showed 53% more heat related lysine damage than fresh food.

🥫 Wet food contained the highest levels of heat created compounds (AGEs) that have been linked to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and cellular damage.

💰 One surprise? More expensive didn’t always mean better. Some premium kibble and wet foods had some of the highest levels of these unwanted heat created compounds.

The researchers conclude that both ingredients and processing matter. Food should be processed enough to ensure safety, but excessive heat may reduce nutritional quality and create unwanted compounds.

That’s one reason Dr. Karen Becker recommends feeding a balanced, fresh, minimally processed diet whenever possible. If fresh feeding isn’t realistic, don’t worry. Nutrition isn’t all or nothing. Choosing higher quality foods, rotating complete and balanced diets, and adding fresh whole food toppers like sardines, berries, or appropriate vegetables can all help improve your pet’s bowl over time.

Small changes, made consistently, can add up to a healthier future.

08/06/2026

Is this ok?

THIS COMMON SPICE COMPOUND MAY HELP PETS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE 🐾🫚

A new randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that cats with Stage 3 chronic kidney disease receiving oral curcumin alongside standard treatment showed improved kidney health markers, including lower SDMA, less protein loss in the urine, and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. Some benefits appeared in just 30 days.

Omega-3 fatty acids are another well-studied nutrient for kidney support. Research shows EPA and DHA may help reduce kidney inflammation, decrease protein loss, support healthy blood flow, and may help slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.

That’s why Dr. Karen Becker formulated Roe Mega™ with omega-3s from herring roe and sustainably sourced small fish, providing EPA and DHA in both phospholipid and triglyceride forms, plus naturally occurring astaxanthin, choline, and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs).

While no supplement can cure kidney disease, evidence-based nutrients like curcumin and omega-3s can be valuable additions to a comprehensive kidney-support plan.

🩸🐟🟠Comment ROE and we’ll send you the link via DM.

THIS COMMON SPICE COMPOUND MAY HELP PETS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE 🐾🫚

A new randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that cats with Stage 3 chronic kidney disease receiving oral curcumin alongside standard treatment showed improved kidney health markers, including lower SDMA, less protein loss in the urine, and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. Some benefits appeared in just 30 days.

Omega-3 fatty acids are another well-studied nutrient for kidney support. Research shows EPA and DHA helps reduce kidney inflammation, decrease protein loss, support healthy blood flow, and may help slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.

That’s why Dr. Karen Becker formulated Roe Mega™ with omega-3s from herring roe and sustainably sourced small fish, providing EPA and DHA in both phospholipid and triglyceride forms, plus naturally occurring astaxanthin, choline, and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs).

While no supplement can cure kidney disease, evidence-based nutrients like curcumin and omega-3s can be valuable additions to a comprehensive kidney-support plan.

Comment ROE and we’ll send you the link via DM.

08/05/2026

A NEWER “FOREVER CHEMICAL” IS NOW SHOWING UP MOST OFTEN IN PET FOOD

A new peer-reviewed study found 10 different PFAS (“forever chemicals”) across 39 commercial pet foods. Even more surprising, the most common wasn’t one of the older PFAS you’ve probably heard about. It was GenX, a newer replacement chemical linked to liver, immune, hormone, and developmental problems in animal studies. Researchers also found that pet food contributed far more PFAS exposure than tap water for most of the chemicals they measured.

What can pet parents do?

🐾 Choose brands that actively monitor for environmental contaminants.

🥦 Feed a balanced, minimally processed diet that contains adequate fiber, which helps reduce the reabsorption of some PFAS in the digestive tract.

💧 If PFAS contamination is a concern where you live, use clean, filtered drinking water for both you and your pets.

Addressing food-borne contaminants is another reason Dr. Karen Becker formulated Liver Lift™. It contains nutrients involved in the liver’s normal detoxification pathways, including N-acetylcysteine (NAC), glutathione, milk thistle, broccoli sprouts, glycine, and TUDCA, to help support healthy liver function and the body’s natural detoxification processes.

Every exposure may be small, but it can add up over a lifetime. Reducing unnecessary exposure is one practical step you can take.

👉🏼If you want a science-backed liver support option for dogs and cats, comment “CLEANUP” and we’ll send you the link.

08/02/2026

🐶💩 WHEN YOUR DOG HAS DIARRHEA, IT’S EASY TO BLAME “BAD BACTERIA.”

But a new peer-reviewed review suggests there’s often more going on.

Researchers explain that diarrhea and loose stools can also involve damage to the gut lining, inflammation, and an unhealthy gut microbiome, which helps explain why simply trying to “kill bad bugs” doesn’t always solve the problem.

Instead, certain probiotic strains can help by:

✅ Restoring a healthier balance of gut bacteria
✅ Supporting a healthy gut lining
✅ Producing beneficial compounds like butyrate that nourish intestinal cells
✅ Crowding out harmful bacteria
✅ Helping shorten the duration of diarrhea in dogs and cats, particularly strains like Saccharomyces boulardii that have been studied for digestive health.

That’s one reason Dr. Karen Becker formulated Primitive Probiotics™ differently.

Instead of relying on a few common human probiotic strains, it combines canine-derived probiotics, Saccharomyces boulardii, beneficial soil-based organisms, and LP815™ to support a healthier gut microbiome, digestive function, and immune health.

Of course, probiotics are just one tool in the toolbox. If your dog has ongoing diarrhea or loose stools, it’s also important to work with your veterinarian to rule out parasites, infections, food sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease, or other underlying conditions.

💚 If your dog struggles with a sensitive stomach, recurring loose stools, or digestive upset, supporting the gut may be one of the most important places to start.

👉 If you want to explore a science-backed probiotic option for your dog, comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll DM you the link.

07/31/2026

DOES SPAYING OR NEUTERING REALLY MAKE DOGS CALMER?

For decades, many people have been told that spaying or neutering helps reduce unwanted behaviors. But a new 2026 peer-reviewed review published in Animal Reproduction suggests the science is more complicated.

After reviewing decades of research, the authors concluded there’s not enough consistent evidence to recommend spaying or neutering solely to change behavior. In fact, several studies included in the review found some dogs showed more fear, anxiety, or certain forms of aggression after being spayed or neutered.

Why? The review explains that reproductive hormones don’t just influence reproduction. They also play important roles in brain function, learning, memory, stress responses, and emotional regulation. Removing those hormones may affect dogs differently depending on their genetics, age, s*x, breed, and individual temperament.

One of the most interesting parts of the review is that the authors discuss hormone-preserving alternatives that prevent breeding while allowing the body to continue producing its natural hormones. These include:

🐕 Vasectomy – prevents male dogs from reproducing while leaving the testicles in place, so testosterone production continues.

🐕 Ovary-sparing spay – removes the uterus but leaves one or both ovaries intact, preventing pregnancy while preserving ovarian hormone production.

The authors suggest they deserve more attention because they can help preserve some of the health and behavioral benefits associated with natural hormones while still preventing unwanted litters.

The review doesn’t argue that dogs should or shouldn’t be spayed or neutered. Instead, it encourages veterinarians and pet owners to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and make decisions based on each dog’s individual health, lifestyle, behavior, and risk of reproduction.