Great podcast on prolonging your pet's life click here 

The Darin Olien Show

Rodney Habib & Dr. Karen Becker want your pet to live forever.

The book Forever Dog by Rodney and Dr. Karen, is all about using science and research to help your canine companion live a long and healthy life. And of course, the main component to that is nutrition. We talk a lot on this show about the importance of healthy, natural food in the human diet, so it only makes sense that we would want that for our pets as well.

Both Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Becker are dog owners themselves and are passionate about prolonging the lives of pets everywhere. Rodney is a digital artist, filmmaker and award-winning content creator. He also founded Planet Paws, the world’s largest pet health page on Facebook. When establishing the non-profit organization Paws for Change Foundation, his research on animal nutrition and lifestyle shaped his focus.

Dr. Karen Becker, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, has spent her career developing a common-sense approach to creating vibrant health for companion animals. She is one of the most followed vets on social media! As the first veterinarian to give a TEDx talk on species-appropriate nutrition, you could say she knows what she’s talking about.

My dog Chaga is incredibly important to me, he’s my best friend. And from day one I have spent a lot of time and energy on making sure he gets the very best food for his specific nutrition needs. But I know that a lot of you listening may think you are doing the same, but don’t really know much about what’s in the pet food you’re buying. Rodney and Dr. Karen have dove headfirst into the scary facts of commercial pet food, and their knowledge on the subject is both enlightening and terrifying.

The simple truth is, your pets need more fresh food in their diet. We’ve been led to believe that “people food” is bad for them. But in reality, it’s the dry, processed kibble that’s leading to record high numbers of animal disease and digestive issues in pets. In this episode, Rodney and Dr. Karen explain you can begin to introduce fresh, healthy food into your pet’s diet. And you don’t have to break the bank doing it. 

But it’s not just nutrition- our pet’s health also depends on their well-being. The record number of people experiencing depression and anxiety weighs heavily on our pets, too. Our pets can sense when we’re stressed, sad or just “off”, and it makes them feel that way, too. I know this from experience! So if you have a furry friend that means the world to you, this is a great conversation to listen to. You’ll learn a lot about the inner workings of your pet, and how to make sure they live a long and happy life right by your side, where they should be.