What Are We Really Feeding Our Dogs? The Dog, the Bowl & the Stories We've Been Told, with Dr Tom Lonsdale

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities of dog nutrition and challenges common narratives around feeding practices.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Tom Lonsdale - veterinary surgeon, long-time advocate for raw meaty bones, and author of the new book, Spin Doctors. This conversation invites us to step back from the noise, the labels, and the often polarised debates around dog food—and instead, to look more closely at the foundations those conversations are built upon. Because this isn’t about kibble versus raw. It’s about understanding the animal in front of us… and the systems that have shaped how we care for them. We explore what it means to feed a dog in alignment with their biology as a facultative carnivore, and how modern feeding practices compare to that reality. From feeding trials and the origins of “balanced and complete,” to the rise of ultra-processed diets, and the growing conversation around vegan dog food, BARF, Prey Model Raw, etc—this episode gently but courageously questions the narratives many of us have inherited. We also speak about trust, how it is formed and outsources - and what it might look like to begin reclaiming it—not through fear or perfectionism, but through curiosity, observation, and discernment. At its heart, this conversation is not just about food. It’s…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Alexia Mellor

Guest: Dr Tom Lonsdale

Topics covered

• dog nutrition
• raw feeding
• pet care
• animal biology
• dog food debates
• trust in pet care

Keywords

• dog food
• raw meaty bones
• kibble
• vegan dog food
• BARF
• Prey Model Raw
• feeding trials

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Spin Doctors

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