What if understanding what dogs need begins with a much simpler question:
What is a dog?
In this revisited episode from the Mystic Dog Mama archives, I return to my very first conversation with veterinary surgeon and author Dr. Tom Lonsdale - a conversation that laid the groundwork for so much of my own thinking about canine nourishment.
Tom has spent decades challenging conventional approaches to feeding and caring for carnivores, and in this conversation we explore one of the foundations of his work: why he believes raw meaty bones are so important to canine health and wellbeing.
But this conversation goes far beyond what belongs in the bowl.
We explore the dog as a facultative carnivore and what that might tell us about nourishment, behaviour and physiology. Tom also introduces his thinking around cybernetics — the idea that living systems are interconnected and regulated through feedback — and how this framework led him to develop a hypothesis about the relationship between periodontal disease and the wider health of carnivores.
In this episode, we explore:
- Why Tom believes raw meaty bones are fundamental to the health of carnivores
- What it means to consider the dog as a facultative carnivore
- The relationship between food, behaviour, physiology and environment
- Why the mouth may be far more significant to whole-body health than we traditionally consider
Continue the conversation
Learn more from Dr Tom Lonsdale
https://www.thepetfoodcon.com/
Start your holistic journey
Download my free Mystic Dog Mama Nourishment Starter Kit for practical guidance on fresh food, energetics, targeted support, curiosity, and holistic health:
https://mysticdogmama.com
Join the waitlist for my Mystic Dog Mama Oracle Deck! https://mysticdogmama.com/oracle-deck
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Continue the conversation with like-minded dog guardians inside our free community:
https://facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpack
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Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.
