Proactive Paws

Proactive Paws Proactive Paws™ fills gaps in animal health with clean, science backed products that support prevention and resilience.

We collaborate with vets and pet parents to elevate care. Welcome to Proactive Paws where prevention meets purpose. Innovative veterinary solutions to help animals thrive.

🐕 DULL COAT? DRY, BRITTLE FUR? YOUR DOG’S GUT MAY BE PART OF THE PICTURE.A fascinating new peer-reviewed study looked at...
09/05/2026

🐕 DULL COAT? DRY, BRITTLE FUR? YOUR DOG’S GUT MAY BE PART OF THE PICTURE.

A fascinating new peer-reviewed study looked at what happened when senior dogs were given compounds made by the beneficial bacteria Bacillus subtilis for just 28 days.

And the changes weren’t limited to their gut.

🔬 Under an electron microscope, the dogs’ fur looked smoother, more intact and less damaged, with fewer particles stuck to the surface. Their coat also showed a trend toward improved shine.

But what was happening on the inside was just as interesting.

The dogs digested protein and fiber better, produced more beneficial short-chain fatty acids, had lower f***l ammonia, and experienced significant changes in their gut bacteria.

Why might the gut affect the coat? The researchers suggest the healthier-looking fur could be connected to better nutrient digestion and changes in the gut microbiome—although this study wasn’t designed to prove exactly what caused the coat changes.

🦠 And here’s why this caught our attention: Dr. Karen Becker’s Primitive Probiotics™ contains OptiBiome® BS50® Bacillus subtilis. This new study looked at beneficial compounds made by Bacillus subtilis and adds another fascinating piece to what we’re learning about this unique probiotic species, the gut and whole-body health.

Healthy gut. Healthy dog. And potentially healthier-looking fur. 🐕✨

If you want to explore a science backed probiotic option for your dog, comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll DM you the link.

09/04/2026

🫛 Green Beans: A Surprisingly Powerful Snack for Dogs 🐶 (and cats, if they’ll eat ‘em).

Looking for a simple, crunchy, low-calorie treat for your dog? Open the refrigerator. Green beans are one of my favorite whole-food snacks—and there’s a lot more packed into these little green pods than most people realize.

🫛 Low in calories, big on nutrition:
Green beans provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and an impressive collection of naturally occurring plant compounds, making them a great alternative to many highly processed treats.

🌿 Packed with protective polyphenols:
Green beans contain rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, catechins, and phenolic acids such as chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acid. These compounds help combat oxidative stress and have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

👀 Naturally rich in carotenoids:
Lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin add another layer of antioxidant protection and help support cellular and eye health.

🦠 Fiber + plant compounds = gut support:
Green beans provide dietary fiber that can help support healthy digestion and the gut microbiome. They also contain saponins, phytosterols, chlorophyll, polyamines, plant peptides, and other bioactive compounds researchers continue to investigate for their metabolic and cellular benefits.

🩸 Interesting metabolic research:
Compounds in green beans have demonstrated alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting activity in laboratory research—a mechanism that can slow carbohydrate digestion and moderate post-meal glucose responses. There are no published studies that beans are harmful

🐾 How I serve them:
Plain! Raw or lightly steamed, depending on your dog’s chewing ability and preference. Skip the butter, salt, sauces, and seasonings.

Green beans shouldn’t replace a nutritionally complete diet, but as a treat or topper, they’re a wonderful example of why I love using real food whenever possible. There are no published studies showing beans are in any way harmful for dogs or cats 🥳.

Sometimes one of the healthiest treats you can give your dog is already sitting in your refrigerator. 💚🫛

🐶🐱 OUR PETS ARE EXPOSED TO MORE THAN WE REALIZE.Every day, dogs and cats come into contact with substances their bodies ...
09/03/2026

🐶🐱 OUR PETS ARE EXPOSED TO MORE THAN WE REALIZE.

Every day, dogs and cats come into contact with substances their bodies have to process—from air and water pollutants to pesticides, household chemicals, medications, microplastics, PFAS, heavy metals and compounds found in their food and environment.

Thankfully, their bodies already come equipped with sophisticated detoxification systems. The goal isn’t to “flush toxins” with a miracle cleanse—it’s to support the organs, antioxidants and biological pathways the body already uses to process and eliminate unwanted compounds.

That’s why Dr. Karen Becker formulated Liver Lift™ as a multi-pathway daily detox support blend for dogs and cats.

It combines ingredients such as NAC, glycine, glutathione, milk thistle, broccoli sprouts, TUDCA, chlorella, SOD, carnosine, fulvic and humic acids—rather than relying on a single “detox” ingredient.

🌱 Because we may not be able to eliminate every exposure from our pets’ lives, but we can think about how we support the systems responsible for handling them.

👇 Comment “CLEANUP” and we’ll DM you more details about Dr. Becker’s Liver Lift™.

🐕🦴 IS YOUR DOG SLOWING DOWN ON WALKS?Maybe the walks are getting shorter. They’re slower getting up after a nap. They he...
09/01/2026

🐕🦴 IS YOUR DOG SLOWING DOWN ON WALKS?

Maybe the walks are getting shorter. They’re slower getting up after a nap. They hesitate before jumping into the car or climbing the stairs.

It’s easy to chalk these changes up to “just getting older.” But they can also be signs that your dog’s joints aren’t as comfortable as they used to be.

And new research is giving us another reason to pay attention to what’s happening inside the joint.

🥚 A new 2026 study looked at eggshell membrane peptides in canine cartilage cells and found something fascinating.

Eggshell membrane helped significantly reduce NF-κB, a major inflammatory pathway involved in joint inflammation and cartilage breakdown.

But researchers found it did more than that.

Eggshell membrane also:

🔥 Reduced inflammatory signals
🛑 Reduced MMP-13, an enzyme that breaks down cartilage
🦴 Helped restore type II collagen, a major structural protein in cartilage
💧 Helped restore aggrecan, which helps cartilage hold water and cushion the joint

But here’s the problem; you’d have to peel the membrane out of a dozen eggs everyday to get enough of it to make a meaningful difference in a small dog, which is why Dr. Karen Becker included concentrated sources of eggshell membrane collagen in her Mobility Matrix™ formula, alongside UC-II® undenatured type II collagen, creatine, glucosamine sulfate, MSM and hyaluronic acid—ingredients selected to support joints, cartilage, connective tissue and muscle as pets age.

👇 Comment MATRIX and we’ll send you more information about Dr. Becker’s Mobility Matrix™.

🦴 CBD MAY DO MORE THAN EASE ARTHRITIS PAIN... IT MAY ALSO HELP SUPPORT THE JOINT ITSELF.A new 2026 peer-reviewed systema...
08/21/2026

🦴 CBD MAY DO MORE THAN EASE ARTHRITIS PAIN... IT MAY ALSO HELP SUPPORT THE JOINT ITSELF.

A new 2026 peer-reviewed systematic review and meta-analysis published in Pain Research and Management looked at 26 studies on cannabinoids and osteoarthritis, including five randomized placebo-controlled studies in dogs with naturally occurring arthritis.

When the dog studies were combined, CBD significantly reduced arthritis pain severity, with studies also reporting improvements in mobility and quality of life.

But what really caught our attention was what researchers found happening inside the joint. Preclinical research suggests cannabinoids may:

🔥 Reduce inflammatory signals
🛡️ Reduce cartilage-destroying enzymes
🦴 Support cartilage-building proteins like type II collagen
🐕 Support more comfortable movement

And type II collagen is especially interesting to us because it’s the primary collagen found in joint cartilage and the reason we included UC-II® undenatured type II collagen in Mobility Matrix™.

For pet parents who don’t have access to CBD, Dr. Karen Becker formulated Mobility Matrix™ to support joint health and mobility through multiple pathways, with ingredients including UC-II® undenatured type II collagen, eggshell membrane, creatine, glucosamine, MSM, and hyaluronic acid to support cartilage, connective tissue, muscles, and comfortable movement. 🐾

Comment MATRIX below and we’ll DM you more details!

08/15/2026

🥒 A Cool Summer Treat With Surprising Benefits
Looking for a healthy summer snack your dog will love? Reach for a cucumber.
Made up of about 95% water, cucumbers are one of nature’s best ways to help keep dogs hydrated on hot days. They’re low in calories, naturally crunchy, and make a refreshing alternative to highly processed, high-calorie treats.
And the benefits go beyond hydration. That extra moisture helps support healthy skin from the inside out, while nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants contribute to overall wellness. Better hydration also helps maintain a soft, shiny coat and supports healthy cells throughout the body.
Chill cucumber slices in the refrigerator or freeze them for a cool, crunchy treat your pup can enjoy after a walk or play session.
Sometimes the healthiest treats are also the simplest. 🥒💚🐶

🧬 WHAT DOGS EAT MAY CHANGE HOW THEIR SKIN PROTECTS ITSELF... AT THE GENETIC LEVEL.A peer-reviewed study published in Fro...
08/14/2026

🧬 WHAT DOGS EAT MAY CHANGE HOW THEIR SKIN PROTECTS ITSELF... AT THE GENETIC LEVEL.

A peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a well-respected international veterinary journal, suggests that a dog’s diet can influence much more than the appearance of their coat; it can also affect how their skin functions from the inside out.

Researchers at DogRisk Research Group compared dogs eating a minimally processed raw diet with dogs eating an ultra-processed kibble and found that the raw-fed dogs showed greater activity of genes linked to healthy skin, natural immune defenses, and the body’s own antioxidant system, including glutathione. They also found that dogs with allergies had changes in hundreds of genes involved in skin barrier function, inflammation, and skin cell repair, highlighting how important a healthy skin barrier is for protecting against allergens and environmental irritants.

One possible reason is the food matrix—the natural structure of whole foods, where nutrients, fats, proteins, fiber, and thousands of naturally occurring compounds work together in ways that isolated nutrients or highly processed foods may not fully replicate. While this study wasn’t designed to determine why these gene changes occurred, the food matrix is one of several factors researchers believe deserves further investigation.

This study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that nutrition can influence health all the way down to gene activity. That’s one reason Dr. Karen Becker recommends feeding a balanced, fresh, minimally processed diet whenever possible. Whole foods provide nutrients in their natural form and may help support healthy skin, immune function, and overall well-being as part of a healthy lifestyle.

And remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you’re currently feeding kibble, simply starting with a teaspoon of fresh, whole food added to the bowl is a great first step. Small changes can be a simple way to start adding more fresh food to your dog’s diet.

🐶 WHEN YOUR JOINTS ARE BARKING FOR SUPPORT...We have some BIG news! 🎉Since launching Mobility Matrix™, we’ve been blown ...
08/13/2026

🐶 WHEN YOUR JOINTS ARE BARKING FOR SUPPORT...

We have some BIG news! 🎉

Since launching Mobility Matrix™, we’ve been blown away by the messages from pet parents telling us about the improvements they’re seeing in their dogs and cats, including better movement, less stiffness, and pets getting back to doing more of the things they love.

In fact, you loved the original bottle so much... it SOLD OUT! 🤯

The good news? It’s coming back soon, AND Mobility Matrix™ now comes in a NEW 90 SCOOP SIZE! 🙌

Mobility Matrix™ was formulated by Dr. Karen Becker to go beyond basic joint support by supporting the entire musculoskeletal system, including joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, AND muscles.

Its comprehensive formula combines clinically studied ingredients including:

🐾 UC II® undenatured type II collagen
🐾 Eggshell membrane collagen
🐾 Glucosamine sulfate
🐾 MSM
🐾 Hyaluronic acid
🐾 Creatine monohydrate

Because keeping pets moving isn’t just about their joints. Strong muscles, healthy connective tissue, and resilient cartilage all work together.

Same Mobility Matrix™ formula pet parents are raving about. Now in a BIGGER 90 scoop bottle. 💜

And don’t worry if you prefer the original 30 scoop size. It’s coming back soon!

👇 COMMENT “MATRIX” and we’ll DM you more details!

08/08/2026

🧬 CAN WHAT YOUR DOG EATS CHANGE HOW FAST THEIR BODY AGES?

A fascinating new peer-reviewed pilot study suggests it might.
Researchers followed pugs for 6 months, comparing dogs that stayed on extruded dry kibble with dogs switched to a cooked, minimally processed, human-grade diet formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Instead of just measuring weight or bloodwork, researchers looked at changes in the dogs’ DNA associated with biological aging — essentially, how old their bodies appeared compared with their actual age.

🥩 The surprising finding? Dogs switched to fresh food showed a nearly 1-year shift toward a younger biological age in just 6 months, while dogs that stayed on kibble did not show a significant change.

🥩 Fresh food: +2.75 years → +1.80 years
🥣 Kibble: +2.77 years → +2.46 years

Even more interesting, the dogs’ bodyweights remained stable, suggesting the shift wasn’t simply due to weight loss. Researchers also found significant changes involving KISS1R, a gene associated with metabolism and obesity, in the fresh-fed dogs but not the kibble-fed dogs.

Published in Veterinary Record Open, a peer-reviewed journal of the British Veterinary Association published by Wiley, the study adds to growing research on the potential benefits of balanced, minimally processed foods.

🥦 Want to add more fresh food to your pet’s bowl but aren’t sure where to start? That’s why Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib wrote The Forever Dog LIFE.

It includes 30+ complete and balanced fresh-food recipes that can be served raw, poached, slow-cooked, or baked, with versions for dogs and cats, different activity levels and life stages, plus hundreds of variations online.

Whether you feed fully fresh or simply want to add more fresh food, The Forever Dog LIFE helps you do fresh food right. 🐶🐱🥩🥦

🔥 DOES THE WAY YOUR PET’S FOOD IS PROCESSED MATTER?A new peer reviewed study published in the Journal of Animal Physiolo...
08/07/2026

🔥 DOES THE WAY YOUR PET’S FOOD IS PROCESSED MATTER?

A new peer reviewed study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition compared 41 commercial dog foods, including fresh, wet, kibble, freeze dried, and cold pressed diets, to see how processing changes food at the molecular level.

The findings were eye opening:

🥩 Fresh food contained more than twice as much lysine as kibble. Lysine is an essential amino acid that supports healthy muscles, immune function, and tissue repair. Kibble also showed 53% more heat related lysine damage than fresh food.

🥫 Wet food contained the highest levels of heat created compounds (AGEs) that have been linked to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and cellular damage.

💰 One surprise? More expensive didn’t always mean better. Some premium kibble and wet foods had some of the highest levels of these unwanted heat created compounds.

The researchers conclude that both ingredients and processing matter. Food should be processed enough to ensure safety, but excessive heat may reduce nutritional quality and create unwanted compounds.

That’s one reason Dr. Karen Becker recommends feeding a balanced, fresh, minimally processed diet whenever possible. If fresh feeding isn’t realistic, don’t worry. Nutrition isn’t all or nothing. Choosing higher quality foods, rotating complete and balanced diets, and adding fresh whole food toppers like sardines, berries, or appropriate vegetables can all help improve your pet’s bowl over time.

Small changes, made consistently, can add up to a healthier future.

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