Helping Dogs Live Pain-Free Naturally with Naja Muller on Your Natural Dog Podcast

In this episode of Your Natural Dog, Angela Ardolino is joined by holistic pet health coach Naja Muller of Tonka’s Journey and Green Paws Holistic Pet Care. Naja shares how she’s helped her handicapped and chronically challenged dogs stay comfortable, mobile, and joyful using a holistic pain management toolkit, without relying on long-term pharmaceuticals. Angela and Naja dive into the five pain pathways, why conventional pain meds often lead to stacking multiple drugs with serious side effects, and how whole-plant cannabis, psilocybin, nutrition, and at-home therapies can work together to support dogs living with pain.

Episode Recap:

• Angela introduces Naja Muller, Tonka’s Journey and sets the stage for a deep dive into chronic pain, handicapped dogs, and holistic pain support. (00:00)
• They break down the five pain-signaling pathways and explain how conventional drugs usually target just one, while cannabis and other botanicals can influence multiple pathways at once. (03:13)
• Naja shares her dog Tripp’s osteosarcoma story, how conventional pain meds quickly caused severe constipation, and how switching to high-THC and CBD plus a wheelchair transformed his final six months. (05:17)
• Naja shares about her dog Tonka’s congenital deformities, and how she committed early to a holistic pain plan instead of cycling through combinations of dog pain meds and their side effects. (07:19)
• They discuss their shared experiences using full extract cannabis (THC-rich oil) and CBD for pain support in dogs, including why whole-plant cannabis works differently than pharmaceuticals and practical tips for balancing THC and CBD for comfort without heavy sedation. (09:45)
• Angela and Naja unpack the problem with NSAIDs, opioids, steroids, Librela and other popular pain drugs for dogs, highlighting issues like gut damage, liver and kidney strain, and long-term fallout. (13:50)
• Why the conversation should actually be about being proactive with food and lifestyle, rather than adding more synthetic supplements and pharmaceuticals. Naja shares her go-to foods for joint support and inflammation. (18:24)
• Angela discusses the need to reframe hemp, functional mushrooms and adaptogens as functional food, rather than “supplements”, stressing clean sourcing, COAs, and why real liquid mushroom extracts beat cheap powders with fillers. (21:02)
• Naja shares the at-home modalities she uses with her dogs, including light therapy, infrared and PEMF mats, cold laser, tuning forks, Reiki, ozone and bodywork, to support comfort and recovery. (26:49)
• Naja describes her own experience microdosing psilocybin, then using it with Tonka, and the subtle but noticeable shifts she saw in his mobility, reactivity and emotional balance over time. (32:42)
• They close by urging pet parents not to blindly trust every prescription, to learn the real risks of dog pain meds and steroids, and to build proactive, “do no harm” holistic pain plans that protect quality of life. (40:02)

Episode Resources:

• Download Angela’s Resources including Natural Alternatives for Arthritis Pain in Dogs and Cats & her Cosequin Ingredient Breakdown at AngelaArdolino.com/podcast-downloads 
• Follow Tonka’s Journey on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
• Looking for a Holistic Pet Health Coach – Green Paws Holistic Pet Care
• Have a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at Carter@yournaturaldog.com 
• Sign up for episode reminders and updates from Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino

Follow Your Natural Dog on Facebook and Instagram and if you want to see what Angela is up to, follow her on Facebook or join our CBD & Holistic Pet Advice Facebook Group.

 

About Angela Ardolino

Angela Ardolino, a certified cannabis and fungi clinician, brings over 20 years of expertise to the field of holistic pet wellness. As a graduate of the inaugural Medical Cannabis for Therapeutic Use program at the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she is a passionate advocate for safe, natural, and ethically-grown whole plant and fungi medicine tailored for pets.

Committed to the highest standards, Angela continues to educate and inspire pet parents through her popular podcast, Your Natural Dog, where she hosts experts to discuss holistic pet care, natural remedies, nutrition, and training. Follow Angela Ardolino on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to stay updated on her mission to educate and empower pet parents everywhere. 

About Naja Muller

Hi, I’m Naja—a Certified Holistic Pet Health Coach, lifelong animal lover, and the heart behind Green Paws Holistic Pet Care. But first and always, I’m a devoted pet parent—just like you. My journey as a pet parent began with Rudy, rescued from death row, and Tripp, my red-nosed pittie. Like so many, I followed every conventional recommendation—vaccines, flea/tick preventatives, ultra-processed kibble, prescriptions. I trusted the experts. Looking back, I see how Rudy’s health challenges—seizures, poor dental health, liver issues—were linked to choices I now know better about.

When Tonka came into my life, I was determined to do better. Prevention became my foundation—focusing on both lifespan and healthspan: ensuring every year is as vibrant, joyful, and comfortable as possible. Tonka, Summer, and Macy Tre were all born with severe skeletal deformities due to irresponsible and poor breeding practices. From the very beginning, I knew prevention would be absolutely key for them—I was determined not to add more problems to what they’d already inherited. The reality is that pain will always be a part of their lives because of these physical challenges. My job is to minimize that pain as much as possible, using natural approaches that avoid the side effects and long-term complications of pharmaceuticals. For them, it’s not about chasing a pain-free life, but about playing the long game: supporting their whole bodies from a young age, addressing root causes, and focusing on comfort, resilience, and quality of life. I strongly believe that this “whole body, long game” approach is best for all animals—not just those born with challenges.