Most dogs that drown do so from exhaustion. This episode introduces an innovative collar, called HedzUpPets watercollar, that can save your dog from drowning, even if they lose consciousness. A typical doggie life vest cannot. Exhaustion can develop when dogs are unable to extricate themselves from a pool or they start swimming across the lake after those ducks. Sometimes the intention may not be for your dog to swim at all – they fall into the pool or out of a boat or off a cliff into a river w...
Jan 11, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 1
If you’re listening to PetAbility, then you’ve likely had a fantasy at some point in your life about having a rescue, likely for dogs, cats, or even farm animals. But I bet you never dreamed of having a fish rescue!! Dive in as fish rescuer extraordinaire, Gwendolyn Church of Friends of Philip Fish Sanctuary, tells us what it takes to properly care for fish while dispelling myths and bringing tons of compelling information about fish ownership to the surface. Her goal is that our fish not simply...
Dec 28, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Buddy’s downward dog stretch you see in the early morning is integral to his overall wellness. Stretching maintains or increases the flexibility of soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, etc.) and helps to prevent injury by prepping the body for activity. Proper flexibility makes any movement easier. Pets tend to lose flexibility as they age or as a result of an injury – both situations limit their ability to stretch on their own. As owners, we need to stretch our pets to hel...
Dec 14, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 25
What do you get when you take people and dogs of all shapes and sizes and ask them to race through an obstacle course? AGILITY! Of course, there's lots more to it than that, but agility is fundamentally about enhancing the relationship with your dog. Essentially, you learn to talk to one another! You learn how to read their signals, motivate them, and communicate your desired outcome through verbal and non-verbal cues. Agility is a very versatile sport that can accommodate any team that wants to...
Nov 30, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 24
So your dog has an injury? Lesson one: the nervous system is adaptable. Lesson two: don't be afraid to touch your pet! It does more than you might ever imagine. Whether it’s a neurologic or orthopedic injury, providing sensory input can help the body to heal faster and more fully. Sensory input is smell (a huge part of the dog's brain in devoted to this so give them something savory to smell), hearing (play a relaxing soundtrack), vision (bring them outside to watch the squirrels), taste (give t...
Nov 16, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 23
What do you mean you've never had a pet tortoise? Well, neither have we! Listen to pet parent, Kasey Kuchinski, talk all about what its like having a tortoise for a pet. There's lots to ensuring that a tortoise like Ethel thrives. For Kasey and her husband, Dan, having Ethel is a match made in heaven. Every aspect of Ethel's care is addressed from diet to habitat to enrichment activities. You will be astonished at the amount you learn in this episode, from plethora of fun turtle facts to one sho...
Nov 02, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Chiropractic for pets? Yup, it’s a thing. A really good thing! If you notice that your pet is not moving quite right or is holding themselves oddly, chiro may be the answer. And its not what you may think in terms of snap, crackle, pop. It’s a very gentle manual technique that our furry family members are surprisingly amenable to. Why? Because it makes them feels better! Listen to Linda Rogers, DVM, describe what it looks like to perform this holistic technique, share the broad spectrum of condi...
Oct 19, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Dogs navigate their environment through their amazing sense of smell. So why not utilize this natural gift through practicing nose and scent work with your canine companion? It doesn't have to be formal or fancy, although there are classes and competitions aplenty. This relatively new sport (~2007) uses the canine olfactory system to solve problems and instill confidence. Moreover, EVERY dog can - and should - do this because it's what they are born to do! And when it comes to enrichment and gen...
Oct 05, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Of course, none of us wants to think that we are actually punishing our pets! But in truth, punishment is simply anything that results in a decrease of a behavior either by adding something (positive punishment, perhaps a verbal reprimand) or removing something (negative punishment, maybe taking away a coveted toy). So we are all likely to be inadvertently punishing our pets without realizing it. This can result in unintended consequences. Listen as Ran, an expert in behavior analysis, helps Cat...
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Is Rover looking a little heavier than usual? Have you found yourself dipping into the treat jar more often – especially during COVID? Turns out that keeping your pet trim is directly correlated with quality and length of life. The equation for consistent weight is simple and familiar: calories in = calories out. But there are a host of items that can upset this balance. Listen to Cathy and Chris discuss factors leading to obesity, from breed disposition to diseases to lifestyle to medications. ...
Sep 07, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 18
There is a lot of "buzz" going around about the use of CBD to help our pets. Listen to Josh Sosnow, DVM, share his vast knowledge about CBD. We address what is known and unknown, but its potential use is immense and evolving. The use of CBD to help your pet’s osteoarthritis, anxiety, cancer, allergies, or seizure disorder is certainly worth exploring with your vet; however, the primary challenge today is accurate dosing. Another challenge is ensuring the product is high quality, free of heavy me...
Aug 24, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 17
To go from normal vision to completely blind within days is what happens to dogs with Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome or SARDS. This disease is extremely scary and confusing, for both dog and owner. Unfortunately, SARDS is a syndrome with more questions than answers, but Dr. Freya Mowat, BVSc. Ph.D DECVO DAVCO, dedicates her work to learning more about this disease and other eye issues that impact not only dogs, but people, too. Although SARDS can affect any dog, the disease is nei...
Aug 10, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 16
If you've ever had a sick or injured pet, you don't want to be scrambling around to find the items needed to provide immediate necessary care. Plan ahead by making or buying a first aid kit that includes everything that you might need in one place. Easy-peasy! Cathy and Chris share their ideas about what your kit should include and why. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Animal Poison Control ASPCA Animal Poison Control phone number (888) 426-4435; 24 hrs./day, ...
Jul 27, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 15
We all know what proper etiquette is, but have you ever thought about proper petiquette with your dog? Let's be real, it is an absolute privilege to partner with our pet in the community. Let's not blow it - manners really do matter!! Listen as Amy Campbell, certified professional dog trainer, shares her tried and tested tips and useful insights as it pertains to appropriate greetings with other dogs and people, dog body language (your dog's and other dogs), recognizing a dog's social intelligen...
Jul 13, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 14
You wince as you hear your vet tell you that your 2 year-old German Shepherd has hip dysplasia. You did nothing to cause it. The special x-ray he just got told you he was born with excessive laxity in his hip joints. You thought he was a little lazy because he didn't always want to follow you up the stairs or jump into the car. Sometimes, the morning after a big hike, he didn't even want to get up to go outside and then laid down to eat his breakfast. At times, he would snap his head around when...
Jun 29, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Whoever thought that raising backyard chickens could be such a hoot (sorry, owl friends!)? Listen to "The Chicken Lady" a.k.a. Gretchen Mufano as she shares her pearls (sorry, oyster friends!) of wisdom about the benefits of having a backyard flock, considerations before procuring your new chicks, proper housing for your ladies, and the nutritional requirements for your feathered friends. You will be so infinitely informed and thoroughly entertained that you will be cluckin' glad you did - you a...
Jun 15, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Pet owners constantly ask Cathy and Chris if they should apply heat or ice to their animal. Listen as Chris warms you up to using heat while Cathy tells chilling tales of using ice. They cover not only when to use each thermal agent (it can be a bit tricky), but also how it works in the body physiologically, what to use to heat or cool (commercial or homemade), how long to apply, precautions or contraindications, and suggestions for best pet buy-in. When you know how to properly use heat or ice,...
Jun 01, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This episode focuses on what environmental enrichment for our feline friends might look like, along with its many benefits, as we continue our discussion with cat expert, Tenara Kuznezov, CVT. A cat's inner dialogue might go something like this: Food in my bowl is boring - throw my kibble cuz I want to hunt it! And by the way, fresh water please - but not in that disgusting metal bowl those dogs use! The red dot is here! The red dot is here!! I love when it suddenly appears and I can chase it fr...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Listen to cat expert, Tenara Kuznezov, CVT, tell us everything about cats! We cover their amazing anatomy, wild side, predatory instincts, hunting stimulus hierarchy, eating habits (finicky vs. famished), territory, scratching, play, aggression, elimination behaviors (what's normal and how can we help to facilitate appropriate elimination), and common stressors. We all know cats are far superior beings with well-kept secrets, but now you will have a better understanding as to how and why this is...
May 04, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Essential, imperative, necessary, vital. These are just a few words to describe the importance of joint range of motion in your pet’s quality of life. Imagine if you had a stiff knee, how difficult it would be to squat down to get that pan out of the kitchen drawer. It hurts so bad as you struggle to rise again, that the next time, you choose simply to bend at the waist. Oh no! After doing that a few times, now your back is killing you. Your dog goes through the same thing when climbing the stai...
Apr 20, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Your dog is an athlete. You ask him to perform feats of athleticism on a daily basis whether you realize it or not: jumping into the back of your SUV from a stance, sprinting across the field for a ball, hiking up that steep trail, or running beside you for your morning jog. And then there’s the “squirrel’s revenge!” Yes, your dog always sees that squirrel taunting them as you open the door and takes off like a shot, leaping over the stairs, only to come to a dead stop at the base of the tree. C...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 7
That is the question! Tune in as Cathy and Chris hotly debate this subject. Cathy describes her “experiment” eating out of a bowl on the floor – try it! Is every dog a candidate? How high should the bowl be raised? What are the biomechanical advantages for your pet? What is a possible con to raising the bowl if you have a larger dog? What diagnoses and conditions benefit most? What about our cat friends? After listening, what will your verdict be? To raise or not to raise? Link to article refere...
Mar 23, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Vestibular what? You might not have ever heard of vestibular dysfunction, but according to veterinary neurologist, Gena Silver, MS, DVM, DACVIM, it is one of the top three neurological issues in dogs. Imagine suddenly feeling dizzy, nauseous, stumbling, and even falling over. That is what an animal with vestibular dysfunction might abruptly experience. You might see your pet's head tilted to one side, their eyes darting, and they can't walk without support. This can feel devastating and even sca...
Mar 09, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Raising your puppy should be FUN! From the little learning sponges in the neonate stage to the fantastic, mature, sound adults they become, and everything in between, it’s here! Join us as we discuss the world of puppies with trainer, Kristy Williams, CVT, CCFT! She’ll open your mind to puppy things that you never even considered. Did you know it’s actually appropriate to stress the puppy within two weeks after birth – just a little bit - so they can handle stress better later in life? Or that e...
Feb 23, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Why is my 13 y.o. dog seeming so confused by every day tasks? She doesn't seem to recognize me anymore and went to the window to be let outside. Then she seemed to get lost on our usual walk and became quite anxious. She is pacing all night long and then sleeps throughout the day. She's never had an accident, and now urinated on the dining room rug twice last week! Sound familiar? According to Bronwyn Riggs, VMD, DACVIM (Neurology), perhaps it's cognitive dysfunction that is responsible for chan...
Feb 09, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Just because we call it passive range of motion (PROM), we should be anything but passive about it! This episode describes why PROM is so vital to your pet's health and function. We detail how do a simple technique specifically with your pet's front limb joints. Listen to learn how to not only keep your pet well by maintaining its PROM for maximum comfort and function , but also restore crucial mobility if it is lost due to injury, surgery, or aging. · What is passive range of motion (PROM)? · W...
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Whether it's 10 degrees below or 110 degrees, there are plenty of easy, fun exercises that you can do with your pet in the comfort of your home. Cathy and Chris share some of their favorites: squats, walking backwards, high tugging, reaching, digging, front feet up, spinning, high 5s, tunnels, obstacle coursing, and happy trails!! They explain why each exercise is beneficial – maybe it strengthens your pet’s hind end or stabilizes their core or stretches their hips or makes them more aware of th...
Jan 12, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 1
“Humanity over vanity!” Grooming is much more important than just making sure your pet looks pretty or smells good. Grooming is vital to maximizing your pet’s overall health and well-being. No grooming or improper grooming can lead to pain, decreased mobility, skin and ear infections, issues with thermo-regulation, poor oral hygiene, and the list goes on. Most don’t realize that the groomer is in integral part of your pet’s care team. By bringing your pet to regular grooming appointments every 4...
Dec 29, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 24
It’s all about living with cancer, not dying from cancer. Dr. Erica Barron, owner of her mobile vet practice, wants the pets in her care to not just live longer, but live well. Listen as Dr. Erica describes how integrative veterinary medicine (in her case, acupuncture and herbs) aids pets with cancer to have improved energy, decreased pain, increased appetites, and overall better quality of life. Traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, can be augmented with Eastern medica...
Dec 15, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Gain additional insights into your hosts by listening to this fun and informative episode. Cathy and Chris ask each other questions that they didn't disclose to each other in advance. Chris brags about her rehab exploits with a 400 lb. sea lion named Baranov, while Cathy talks about getting punched in the face by a penguin and an unfulfilled dream of rehabbing sea turtles! Enjoy their candor and exploits in the animal world. Disclaimer VitalVet.org , a platform for all things related to pet reha...
Dec 01, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 22
