Narelle Cooke – Page 2 – Natural Health & Nutrition

Episode 21: The link between diet and behaviour in dogs

Podcast October 2, 2021September 4, 2023behaviour, bell and bone, big dog, diet, dog health, dog nutrition, dogs, health, Narelle Cooke, neurotransmitters, nutrition, podcast, raw food diet

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:57 — 44.9MB)

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Although cliche, we are what we eat! Fundamentally, what impacts mood and drives behaviour are biochemical processes in the body. And what drives these biochemical processes are the nutrients that come in from the foods we feed our dog’s day in and day out.

In this episode, I talk about the role that diet and nutrition play in the behaviour of our dogs, as well as outlining some simple strategies that all pet owners can implement in order to improve the nutritional profile of a standard commercial kibble diet.

Lots of food for thought!

Episode 20: What happened to Ladybug – Part 2!

Podcast August 28, 2021August 15, 2023bellandbone, bigdogpetfoods, diet, dog health, dog nutrition, dogs, health, Narelle Cooke, nutrition, pancreatitis, podcast, raw food diet, supplements, surgery

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Like most dog health emergencies, Ladybug’s most recent drama started early on Sunday morning with repeated bouts of vomiting. This soon led to lots of blood tests, x-rays, emergency surgery and a weeks stay at the vets. So what happened to Ladybug????

In this episode, I share Ladybug’s most recent misadventure and use it as a case study for what you can do with your dog from a diet and supplement standpoint to optimise recovery from surgery and pancreatitis.

Episode 19: Interview with Sacha Packer

Podcast August 8, 2021September 4, 2023Big Dog Pet Foods, dog health, dog nutrition, Dog rescue, Fresh Food Feeding for Dogs - Kibble Feeders Welcome!, Narelle Cooke, Sacha Packer, The Balanced Canine

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In this episode I speak with Sacha Packer of The Balanced Canine in Sydney. Sacha is a multi-modality practitioner who mostly works with performance and show dogs and is qualified and accredited in the areas of nutrition, fitness and bodywork. Sacha is also a huge proponent of feeding our dogs a species appropriate fresh food diet, and is co-admin of the hugely popular Facebook page ‘Fresh Food Feeding for Dogs – Kibble Feeders Welcome!’, which currently has just over 56,000 members. So tune-in to hear how Sacha got into the industry and her journey to where she is today.

Episode 12: Nutrition & behaviour with Lauren Turner

Podcast February 4, 2021November 13, 2023behaviour, diet, dog health, dog nutrition, Dog training, dogs, Narelle Cooke, raw food diet, training

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:40 — 73.3MB)

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In this episode I’m joined by Lauren Turner, the owner and trainer of Ideal Dog in the United States, to discuss her work in the dog training industry and how she came to realise the importance of nutrition in behaviour modification.

Episode 10: Health risks of acid lowering medications

Podcast December 14, 2020November 13, 2023acid lowering medications, antacids, diet, dog health, Helicobacter pylori, lifestyle, Narelle Cooke, natural health, nutrient deficiencies, peptic ulcers, PPIs, reflux, side effects

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:23 — 45.6MB)

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An increasing amount of research highlights the negative health effects of acid-lowering medications for both people and pets when used long-term. Examples of potential adverse effects include the increased risk of bone fractures, pneumonia and other upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and dementia – just to name a few!

In this episode I explain what acid-lowering medications are, why a doctor or a vet might prescribe them, and ways that you can minimise the side effects or heal any damage already done via diet, lifestyle and targeted supplementation.

Episode 9: Histamine intolerance

Podcast November 21, 2020November 13, 2023allergies, antihistamine, diarrhoea, diet, dogs, gut health, histamine, histamine intolerance, hormones, mood, Narelle Cooke, nutrition, people, rash, skin, vomiting

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:59 — 37.9MB)

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Histamine is a chemical compound that’s naturally found in the cells of our bodies. Histamine plays an important role in our immune response, it supports digestion and gut health, and can even influence our moods via its role as a neurotransmitter. But when histamine levels get too high or when it isn’t broken down properly, it can affect our normal bodily functions, leading to a vast array of different symptoms.

In this episode I discuss the ins-and-outs of histamine as it relates to both people and dogs – what it is, what triggers it to be released in the body, dietary sources, and treatment approaches you can take if you suspect that you or your dog has is experiencing any degree of histamine intolerance.

Episode 8: Digestive enzymes

Podcast November 3, 2020November 13, 2023canine nutrition, digestive disorders, digestive enzymes, dog health, Food, health, Narelle Cooke, nutrition, podcast, supplements

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:59 — 40.7MB)

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Most people will have heard the saying – “you are what you eat” but in reality, you are what you absorb! Research suggests that at least 50% of Australian and US adults experience digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation. Unfortunately, our dogs are following in our footsteps, with digestive issues being the most common canine health problem that vets see.

In this episode I discuss the ins-and-outs of digestive enzymes for both people and pets – what are they, the different types, causes of enzyme deficiency, how to know if you need one, food and supplemental sources, along with applications for both people and dogs. But digestive enzymes may not be for everyone, so I also highlight who shouldn’t take them.

Episode 7: To fast or not to fast?

Podcast October 14, 2020November 13, 2023calorie restriction, diet, dogs, Fasting, health, Intermittent fasting, Narelle Cooke, nutrition, weight loss

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:40 — 34.9MB)

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Fasting dates back centuries and has played a central role in many different cultures and religions. Science has now revealed the many benefits of fasting – including improved weight loss and insulin sensitivity, reduced levels of inflammation and risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, improved cellular health and mental clarity, a reduced risk of neurodegenerative disorders, all the way through to slower ageing and increased longevity (just to name a few!). But did you know that the practice of fasting can also be highly beneficial for dogs?

In this episode I discuss the many benefits of fasting for both people and pets and outline simple strategies that you can use to get started. But fasting isn’t for everyone, so I also highlight who shouldn’t fast and when fasting your dog may not be a good idea.

Episode 6: Transparency in raw food feeding

Podcast October 2, 2020November 13, 2023Brittany Young, dog health, dog nutrition, Narelle Cooke, pet food industry, pet food manufacturing, raw food feeding, The Transparency Project

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:43 — 40.4MB)

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More than ever before, pet owners are thinking about their dog’s food – from how it’s produced, the quality of the ingredients, its safety and nutritional adequacy. For pet food manufacturers, this means that manufacturing transparency has become an even more critical area of focus to ensure both compliance and customer satisfaction. But just how regulated is the pet food industry? Today I speak with Brittany Young, certified dog trainer and canine nutritionist, about her own personal experiences with raw food manufacturing and her passion to educate pet owners about the pet food industry via her ‘Transparency Project’. Brittany is also co-admins the Facebook page Fresh Food Feeding For Dogs – Kibble Feeders Welcome, which is full of resources for pet owners wanting to learn more about raw food feeding.

Episode 5: Complete and Balanced

Podcast September 13, 2020November 13, 2023AAFCO, complete and balanced, dog health, dog nutrition, labels, Narelle Cooke, nutrient deficiencies, nutrient toxicities, nutrition, podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:39 — 30.3MB)

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We regularly hear the term ‘complete and balanced’ when it comes to dog nutrition, but what does ‘complete and balanced’ mean and can we trust that it’s providing our dogs with optimal health?

In this episode we explore what ‘complete and balanced’ really means, the methods companies can use to get that claim on their product label, and how feeding a food labelled as ‘complete and balanced’ is not a failsafe to keeping our dogs healthy long term.