The Hidden Harm in “Holistic” Supplements: What Pet Parents Need to Know
By: Angela Ardolino
Every day I hear from pet parents who are doing everything right — feeding fresh food, avoiding toxic medications, steering clear of chemical flea and tick preventatives, and using herbs and mushrooms to support their dogs.
But their dogs still aren’t well.
It doesn’t make sense at first — until you dig deeper.
And that’s exactly what I did.
And what I found shocked me.
The Truth I Uncovered:
Even the most well-meaning, educated, 2.0 pet parents are unknowingly giving their pets synthetic additives and isolated compounds — hidden in so-called “natural” or “holistic” supplements, treats, and even food.
These ingredients are not only ineffective — they can be harmful over time. And they’re everywhere.
Most Supplements Aren’t Actually Natural
Only 15% of supplements worldwide are considered effective. That includes the ones made by doctors and veterinarians.
Even many of the “top” brands seen at holistic conferences or endorsed by your favorite holistic vet contain synthetic isolates, lab-made vitamins, chemical preservatives, and inactive ingredients that the company never even lists on their website.
Why?
Because its an unregulated industry and they’ve been doing it this way for decades — and no one has called them out.
Even some companies that have been calling themselves “natural” for 30+ years are still formulating with:
- Synthetic isolates, vitamins and minerals
- Isolated compounds extracted and stripped from their plant, fungi, or food matrix
- Additives like flavorings, colorings, bulking agents, binders, and more
These ingredients are not holistic. They’re not natural. And they’re not safe.
Isolated Nutrients Are Just Like Pharmaceuticals
They might trigger the desired response — at first. But they often come with side effects. Just like drugs do.
Why?
Because the body doesn’t recognize these isolates the way it does real food. They’re foreign compounds. The body has to process, detoxify, and eliminate them. That puts a strain on the liver, kidneys, and digestive system.
And when you add these synthetic or isolated ingredients into an otherwise good, clean diet?
You disrupt the very balance you’re working so hard to restore.
Real, Holistic Supplements Don’t Have Side Effects
When a product is made with only clean, whole food, plant or fungi extracts — no synthetics, no fillers, no additives — the body recognizes every ingredient. It knows what to do with it. There’s synergy. There’s balance.
That’s what holistic really means.
How to Read a Label Like a Pro
Most people only glance at the “Active Ingredients” — but that’s just part of the story. The real red flags are usually hiding in the Inactive Ingredients section.
Here’s what to watch for:
❌ Ingredients to AVOID (click to see full list)
- Synthetic vitamin names (e.g. dl-alpha tocopherol acetate, niacinamide, pyridoxine HCl, thiamine mononitrate)
- Isolated compounds (e.g. L-carnitine, MSM, glucosamine HCl, chondroitin sulfate, zinc proteinate)
- Chemical preservatives (e.g. sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, citric acid)
- Flavorings (natural or artificial — if it’s not real food, skip it)
- Colorings or dyes (even “natural colors” are questionable)
- Binders and fillers (e.g. stearates, maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose)
✅ What to LOOK FOR
- Whole food or herbal names (e.g. Full Spectrum Hemp extract, dandelion root, turmeric, shiitake mushroom dual extract)
- Liquid extracts or tinctures with all of the medicinal compounds extracted and preserved safely.
- Clear list of both Active (should be able to understand each ingredient) and Inactive ingredients (no more that 3)
- Preservatives that are safe, like organic glycerin or apple cider vinegar
- Batch number or expiration date
- Transparent sourcing: organic, wildcrafted, or sustainably harvested
- QR code or link to the COA
What About COAs (Certificates of Analysis)?
If a supplement is truly natural and safe, there should be a COA from a third-party lab:
- It should be less than a year old
- It should test for purity and contaminants, for CBD it should also show potency.
- It should be easy to find on the company’s website
- If they won’t provide it — walk away.
🌱 What Does “Holistic” Mean, Really?
Holistic means whole.
Whole body. Whole plant. Whole food. Whole fungi. Whole system.
It means treating the root cause, not the symptom.
It means supporting the body’s natural ability to heal — not overriding it.
It means nothing synthetic, nothing isolated, nothing that causes harm.
If a supplement contains synthetic isolates, chemical preservatives, or unnecessary additives — it’s not holistic. Period.
I created these charts to help you identify additives, and synthetic isolates found in some of the most popular natural and holistic supplements and tinctures on the market.
DOWNLOADS:
ADDITIVES TO AVOID IN YOUR PETS.docx
SYNTHETIC AND VITAMINS SHOULD NOT BE IN FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTS