In a recent conversation on the Pet Health Unlocked podcast, Alex Pearson and Dr. Keith Weingart spoke openly about how PetDomain’s supplements actually come together. A rare conversation in this space that moves past marketing language and into the day-to-day work of clinical observation, research, sourcing, and careful decision-making.
What follows is a closer look at that process, including the moment it all began.
Watch the full episode on the Pet Health Unlocked YouTube playlist or the Podcast page.
The Phone Call That Started It
Around 2019, not long after Alex and his team took over PetDomain, Dr. Keith’s wife Beth picked up the phone and asked where the BioCardio capsules had gone. At the time, the company was shifting toward chew forms for convenience. Beth was clear. She and Dr. Keith preferred the capsules.
That short conversation pointed to something larger. Chews work well for many dogs, but they are not right for every animal (cats in particular, or dogs who simply will not chew). The powder version also represents the cleanest expression of a formula, with fewer inactive ingredients standing between the active components and the animal taking them.
Dr. Keith had been thinking about this from a practitioner’s perspective. Powders make dosing adjustments more straightforward, especially when working with sensitive patients or trying to keep a formula as simple as possible. PetDomain responded. Within a few months, powder options began appearing across the line. Most products now come in both forms, with only a few exceptions where a chew remains the better delivery method for palatability.
That exchange also marked the beginning of Dr. Keith’s deeper involvement with the company.
Listening and Adapting
One of the things that stood out to Dr. Keith early on was PetDomain’s willingness to hear feedback and make changes when it made sense. He has said more than once that the team was genuinely open to input from veterinarians and from pet owners who were paying close attention to how their animals responded.
This matters in an industry where many companies operate with far less accountability. PetDomain was among the founding members of the National Animal Supplement Council, which holds members to stricter standards around quality and manufacturing. That foundation, paired with a habit of actually listening, shaped how the company approached formulation going forward.
Where the Ideas Come From
Dr. Keith’s approach to developing new formulas grows out of more than two decades of clinical work as an integrated veterinarian and herbalist. He sees, day after day, what animals in his care are actually struggling with. He also spends considerable time in the research literature, particularly in areas where human medicine has moved ahead of veterinary options (longevity support being one clear example).
The spark for something like the Longevity Complex came from noticing that gap and then spending years digging into what might actually move the needle for dogs and cats. At the same time, he draws from time spent with plants and from an herbalist’s way of thinking about how different botanicals interact with the body over time.
It is rarely a single “aha” moment. More often it is a slow accumulation of observations from the clinic, patterns in the research, and a sense of which combinations might offer meaningful support without unnecessary complexity.
How a Formula Takes Shape
When Dr. Keith begins shaping a formula, he thinks first about the specific system or concern he wants to support. From there he considers what additional nutrients or compounds help that system function well and what might protect it along the way. He pays attention to how ingredients interact with one another, looking for combinations that work better together than they would in isolation.
As an herbalist, he also thinks about the character of each plant (whether it tends to be warming or cooling, and whether it is suited to longer-term use). Safety comes first in every decision. He wants ingredients that are well-tolerated, that do not create problems when combined, and that he would feel comfortable using with his own patients.
Purity and bioavailability matter throughout. PetDomain tests for contaminants and solvents and chooses forms of nutrients that the body can actually take up and use. In some cases this means working with specialized versions of familiar compounds, such as Quercetin Phytosome or Curcumin Phytosome, which are designed for better absorption.
There is always a practical layer on top of the ideal formulation. Even a technically excellent combination can become unrealistic if the cost puts it out of reach for most pet owners. The work involves finding the right balance between quality and accessibility without cutting corners on what actually matters.
Testing That Happens in Real Life
Once a formula moves from paper to production, the testing continues. Ingredients are checked on arrival and again during manufacturing. Finished products go through third-party testing. Batches that do not meet the specifications do not ship, even when that creates inconvenience.
Beyond the lab, there is another layer of testing that happens with actual dogs. Dr. Keith and the team have used their own dogs and a circle of patient families to check palatability and how animals tolerate the formulas day to day. Because the products are designed to be used together, the dosing accounts for that overlap so animals can benefit from combinations without running into problems.
Alex has shared one example that stayed with him. His mother-in-law had an older dog named Brigam who was slowing down significantly. They added Canine Cognitive Support along with Canine Geriatric Basics and his regular multi. Within a few days Brigam was jumping in and out of the car again with noticeably more ease. It was not a miracle, just one animal responding to consistent support. Stories like that remind everyone involved why the details matter.
A Curious Mind and a Larger Team
Dr. Keith often describes himself as someone who enjoys going deep into research rabbit holes. That curiosity, paired with years of hands-on clinical experience, is part of what allows the formulas to keep evolving. He is not working in isolation. Formulation sits inside a larger effort that includes careful sourcing, manufacturing oversight, and quality control at multiple stages.
The result is not a single perfect product but a body of work that continues to be refined as new information and better ingredient options become available.
What Pet Owners Can Take From This
When you look at a bottle on the shelf, it is easy to miss how much observation, research, and practical problem-solving went into it. The process at PetDomain is shaped by clinical reality, by respect for how animals actually respond, and by a steady refusal to treat quality as optional.
If you are trying to understand whether a particular formula might be worth considering for your own dog or cat, the most useful questions are often the practical ones. What need is this meant to address? How was it put together? What kind of testing supports it? And does the company seem willing to talk about those things plainly?
PetDomain’s products, including the Heart Health Formula (formerly BioCardio) and its powder version, the Longevity Complex, Canine Cognitive Support, and Canine Geriatric Basics, are available here on our website if you want to look more closely at specific formulas. Many also have powder versions for animals who do better with that format.
The conversation between Alex and Dr. Keith is worth listening to if you want to hear these ideas in their own words. It offers a grounded view of what goes into building supplements that aim to be both thoughtful and useful.
