109. Alcohol vs. Glycerin: Is Your Pet’s Tincture Doing More Harm Than Good? with Greg Tilford
In this episode of Your Natural Dog with Angela Ardolino, Angela is joined by renowned herbalist Greg Tilford, CEO and formulator of Animal Essentials. With over three decades of experience, Greg joins Angela to unpack the confusion around glycerin and alcohol in pet tinctures—explaining why glycerin is often misunderstood, how alcohol is sometimes necessary for proper extraction but is not the best option for finished pet products, and why palatability is key to effectiveness. Together, they explore the evolution of herbalism for pets, the importance of clean, simple formulations, and how truly holistic remedies support the body’s natural healing process. Learn why quality and intent matter when choosing herbal supplements for your pets.
Episode Recap:
Episode Recap:
- The confusion surrounding glycerin as a preservative in pet products (1:10)
- Clarifying glycerin grades: pharmaceutical (USP) vs. industrial (2:36)
- Benefits of glycerin-based tinctures for pets over alcohol-based tinctures (7:00)
- Understanding herbal remedies beyond chemicals: the importance of plant energetics (9:19)
- Debunking tincture myths: glycerin, alcohol, and proper extraction explained (12:32)
- Why alcohol in tinctures can be problematic for pets (16:57)
- Holistic herbalism: supporting rather than forcing the body (19:28)
- Misunderstanding the role of fevers and symptoms in natural healing (21:57)
- The rise of informed, discerning pet parents in the holistic pet care market (22:50)
- Hidden additives and inactive ingredients sabotaging pet wellness (26:56)
- Synthetic additives in supplements are often for human appeal, not pet health (29:20)
- How misleading labeling in pet products can harm pets (30:38)
- Prioritizing purity and integrity over profits leads to lasting success (31:26)
Episode Resources:
- Download Angela’s Glycerin Guide and more resources at: AngelaArdolino.com/podcast-downloads
- Visit Animal Essentials
- Greg Tilford’s Mentioned Book: Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life
- Follow Animal Essentials on Facebook and Instagram,
- Have a question about your pet that you want answered on the podcast? Email us at Carter@yournaturaldog.com
- Visit Angela Ardolino’s website for more holistic pet health resources & education: www.AngelaArdolino.com
Follow Your Natural Dog on Facebook and Instagram and if you want to see what Angela is up to, follow her on Facebook
Creators and Guests
Host
Angela Ardolino
Angela Ardolino is a holistic pet expert who has been caring for animals for over 20 years. Angela owns and operates Fire Flake Farm, her animal rescue farm, as well as her two locations of a natural pet salon and shop, Beautify the Beast, and is founder of CBD Dog Health, which offers high quality, all-natural medical cannabis products designed specifically for pets and MycoDog, a line of mushroom extract and adaptogen tinctures for dogs. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Angela also founded the House of Alchemy, LLC, Miami Children’s Theater, and Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. In 2013, Angela was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and knew that she needed to find alternatives to the toxic medications being offered to her. After hearing of the benefits of CBD oil and experiencing the life-changing results first hand, Angela set out to destigmatize medical cannabis and CBD oil so she could spread awareness around its holistic healing powers.
