July 21, 2026
Updated on July 07, 2026
Background: Clara Juniper Hayes is a 38-year-old herbalist and small business owner based in Asheville, North Carolina, a hub for natural living and holistic wellness. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Clara grew up surrounded by lush forests and developed a deep love for plants and animals from a young age. Her grandmother, a folk herbalist, taught her the basics of foraging and crafting remedies, which sparked her lifelong passion for natural healing.
Profession: Clara is the founder of Herb and Fur, a blog and online shop dedicated to sharing knowledge about herbal remedies, sustainable living, and holistic pet care. She’s a certified herbalist with a degree in ethnobotany from the University of Oregon and has spent over a decade studying the medicinal properties of plants.
Personality: Warm, approachable, and a bit quirky, Clara is known for her down-to-earth writing style and knack for making complex herbal knowledge accessible. She’s an avid hiker, often accompanied by her rescue dog, Sage, and believes in the healing power of nature for both humans and their furry companions. She’s passionate about eco-conscious living and sources all her products ethically.
Hobbies: Foraging for wild herbs, tending her backyard apothecary garden, knitting pet sweaters, and hosting community workshops on herbal medicine. She’s also a self-proclaimed “tea nerd” who experiments with blending her own herbal infusions.
Why She Started Herb and Fur: After years of working in corporate wellness and feeling disconnected from her roots, Clara launched Herb and Fur to share her love for natural remedies and pet care. She wanted to create a space where people could learn to use plants to support their health and their pets’ well-being, all while fostering a deeper connection to the earth.
Fun Fact: Clara once spent a summer living off-grid in a tiny cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she perfected her recipe for a lavender-chamomile calming salve for anxious dogs.
If you’ve read our guide on turmeric’s health benefits for dogs, you already know curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is one of the most researched natural anti-inflammatories available. The challenge is that curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own. That’s where golden paste comes in — a simple preparation that dramatically improves how much of it your dog’s body can actually use.
Why Not Just Sprinkle Turmeric Powder on Food?
Curcumin is fat-soluble and poorly absorbed in water, and most of it passes through the digestive tract unused when given as plain powder. Golden paste solves this two ways: it’s cooked with a healthy oil to help with fat-soluble absorption, and it includes black pepper, which contains piperine, a compound shown to significantly increase curcumin bioavailability.
Golden Paste Recipe
- 1/2 cup turmeric powder
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup coconut oil or olive oil
- 1.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the turmeric powder and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Stir continuously for 7-10 minutes until it forms a thick paste, adding a splash more water if it becomes too dry.
- Remove from heat and stir in the oil and black pepper until fully combined.
- Let cool completely, then transfer to a glass jar with a lid.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
How Much Golden Paste to Give Your Dog
Start small. A common approach is to begin with 1/4 teaspoon per day for small dogs and gradually work up to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon for larger dogs over one to two weeks, watching for any digestive upset. Golden paste can be mixed directly into food.
What Golden Paste May Help With
- Joint stiffness and mobility support, especially in senior dogs
- General inflammation support
- Digestive comfort in some dogs
For dogs dealing specifically with joint pain, our guides to devil’s claw for arthritis and cat’s claw for joint and immune health cover complementary herbal options.
Precautions
- Introduce slowly — some dogs experience mild stomach upset when starting turmeric.
- Turmeric can interact with blood-thinning medications and shouldn’t be given to dogs on such medications without veterinary guidance.
- Avoid in dogs with a history of kidney stones, as turmeric is high in oxalates.
- Always check with your veterinarian before starting golden paste, especially for dogs with existing health conditions or on medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does golden paste for dogs last?
Stored in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator, golden paste typically stays fresh for about two weeks.
Can golden paste replace a dog's arthritis medication?
No. Golden paste can be a helpful complementary support, but it should never replace prescribed medication or veterinary treatment for diagnosed conditions without your vet’s guidance.
Why does golden paste need black pepper?
Black pepper contains piperine, which has been shown to significantly increase the body’s ability to absorb curcumin, the active compound in turmeric.
Background: Clara Juniper Hayes is a 38-year-old herbalist and small business owner based in Asheville, North Carolina, a hub for natural living and holistic wellness. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Clara grew up surrounded by lush forests and developed a deep love for plants and animals from a young age. Her grandmother, a folk herbalist, taught her the basics of foraging and crafting remedies, which sparked her lifelong passion for natural healing.
Profession: Clara is the founder of Herb and Fur, a blog and online shop dedicated to sharing knowledge about herbal remedies, sustainable living, and holistic pet care. She’s a certified herbalist with a degree in ethnobotany from the University of Oregon and has spent over a decade studying the medicinal properties of plants.
Personality: Warm, approachable, and a bit quirky, Clara is known for her down-to-earth writing style and knack for making complex herbal knowledge accessible. She’s an avid hiker, often accompanied by her rescue dog, Sage, and believes in the healing power of nature for both humans and their furry companions. She’s passionate about eco-conscious living and sources all her products ethically.
Hobbies: Foraging for wild herbs, tending her backyard apothecary garden, knitting pet sweaters, and hosting community workshops on herbal medicine. She’s also a self-proclaimed “tea nerd” who experiments with blending her own herbal infusions.
Why She Started Herb and Fur: After years of working in corporate wellness and feeling disconnected from her roots, Clara launched Herb and Fur to share her love for natural remedies and pet care. She wanted to create a space where people could learn to use plants to support their health and their pets’ well-being, all while fostering a deeper connection to the earth.
Fun Fact: Clara once spent a summer living off-grid in a tiny cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she perfected her recipe for a lavender-chamomile calming salve for anxious dogs.
