Bringing your pet to the vet can be a stress-inducing blur! Listen as Chris and Cathy share suggestions to best prepare for your pet's trip to the vet and get the most out of your visit. They cover everything from what to do before leaving your home, providing helpful tips to maximize efficiency and managing expectations during the visit, and helping to ensure that you remember not only what happened, but why tests or treatments were done when you leave the appointment. Bottom line is trust your...
Mar 07, 2023•54 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Listen as Phoebe Hart takes us on her journey with Hugo, her endearing, 12 y.o., mixed breed rescue that was diagnosed 1.5 years ago with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), a neurological disease with no known cure that causes progressive paralysis. Phoebe shares her reaction when she learned of Hugo's diagnosis. She stresses the importance of not panicking, but rather processing, as she assembled a care team that supports both Hugo and herself. Phoebe also discusses the resources, equipment and supp...
Feb 21, 2023•58 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Who has one of the coolest jobs ever? Our vote goes to Bethany Brown, founder of the Saco River Wildlife Sanctuary in Maine in 2015. Listen as Bethany shares tales of rehabilitating all kinds of critters, including racoons, foxes, opossums, skunks, porcupines, squirrels, coyotes, fisher cats and even bats! The Sanctuary takes in over 800 animals annually (and ever-growing) with the goal of setting them free in their natural habitat once healthy. Bethany educates us about what to do if we find an...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Dubbed by some as "The Mother of Canine Rehabilitation," it was an honor having Laurie McCauley, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVA, CVC, on our show to discuss how each of us has the ability to improve our dog's health and longevity through exercise. It's not hard as long as you know a few basics, like the type of exercise to use to achieve specific goals for your dog's body AND brain. Listen and learn: When is my dog geriatric? What happens to my dog's body and brain with aging? How can I positively prev...
Jan 24, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Returning guest, Beth Innis, DVM, CVA, CVCHM, CCRT, CVSMT, discusses how the use of Eastern and Western veterinary medicine complement each other to provide more treatment options for our pets. Dr. Innis gives examples of each philosophy and how the integration can enhance the effect of the other. She also takes us on her career journey to her current mode of practice. In the U.S. we often think of Eastern medicine as "alternative" and Western medicine as "conventional," but Dr. Innis explains t...
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 1
When it comes to itchy ears, this perceived annoyance can quickly turn into a veterinary emergency. Itchy ears caused by allergies, is a VERY common problem in our pets and one of the most frustrating issues to deal with. Left unaddressed, yeast, fungus, bacteria, parasites, debris, and water in the ear can lead to infections, severe pain, and diminished quality of life. As your pet's caregiver, you are left feeling helpless. Education is the answer. Listen to Jennifer Greene, vet tech and rep f...
Dec 27, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 26
Love of a pet inevitably turns to grief upon their passing. We each struggle to fill the hole in our hearts that they leave behind. This show discusses how an end-of-life photography session may help memorialize and celebrate our pet’s life. Listen as Lauren Kennedy shares the story of how her offer of taking photographs of a dog at the end of its life became a world-wide network of over 1,000 photographers offering these same services, often for free. The Tilly Project, named after Lauren’s cat...
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Do you think that your pet may have issues in their tissues? Listen as Samantha Hankey, CVT, describes the therapeutic value of massage for our pets for a variety of conditions, including anxiety. Although small animal massage is gaining much popularity, Sam shares the importance of credentialing and what to look for if you feel that massage may help your dog, cat, or even rabbit! She has gleaned many insights during her years of practice and reveals some of the unique and unexpected benefits of...
Nov 29, 2022•49 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Listen to expert Terri Bright , Ph. D., BCBA-D, CAAB, tell us stories of animal behavior analysis, its history and use in the veterinary clinic. She studies the "why" when it comes to animal behavior: what happened before the behavior (the antecedent), what does the actual behavior look like, and what is the consequence? She explains how this is different than behavior modification or training while using specific methodologies to change behavior, such as aggression. Dr. Bright shares many clini...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 23
Should my pet get a ramp or steps to help him onto the bed? This a question that Cathy and Chris get asked all the time. Listen as they debate the pros and cons of each option to help you determine what is best for your pet. They cover what specifications to look for and offer some suggestions for making your own. In the end, they agreed that what is ideal for one pet or situation may not be for another. Listen to Chris and Cathy hash out the factors that every pet owner should consider when fac...
Nov 01, 2022•38 min•Season 3Ep. 22
This is the hippest show we've launched to date! Why? Because it covers a very common type of hip surgery called an FHO (Femoral Head and neck Ostectomy) used to treat a variety of hip issues from traumatic injuries to severe arthritis caused by such conditions as hip dysplasia. Listen to Kechia Davis, DVM, DACVS, describe the anatomy of the hip, the surgery itself, the immediate post-op period and particular benefits of physical rehabilitation, and the ultimate goal of return to normal function...
Oct 18, 2022•58 min•Season 3Ep. 21
The only thing shocking about Shock Wave Therapy is how well it works! Listen as Jennifer Vitucci DVM, CCRP, tells us what Shock Wave Therapy is, how it works in the body, the candidates and conditions it is indicated to treat, and the results to be expected. Simply put, Shock Wave therapy is a painless, non-invasive, cost-effective modality that uses sound waves to help your dog or cat to feel better and heal in 1-3 treatments . To find Dr. Vitucci and learn more about ShockWave therapy for you...
Oct 04, 2022•47 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Have you ever wondered how dogs think or problem-solve? Listen as Dr. Emily Bray gives insights to these very topics! She researches canine cognition, or how dogs acquire, store, and use information. She explains how cognition is different from temperament or intelligence, yet each influences the other. Dr. Bray studies everything from impulse control to detecting warning signs of cognitive decline to the ability for dogs to read human cues to the influence of maternal styles on the future succe...
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 19
We've all been there... it's the middle of the night on the Friday of a holiday weekend and your beloved pet is suddenly very ill... and you're on vacation! You're worried sick that she won't make it through the night, you are stressed trying to console her, and you have no idea where the closest veterinary emergency center is or if it's even open. This scenario and others like it occur more often than we care to think. Did you know there is now an app called the Minson's Guide to Veterinary Hos...
Sep 06, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Chris Cranston, MPT, CCRP, as both a Physical Therapist and a Small Animal Rehabilitationist, often hears, "I didn't know there is Physical Therapy for dogs," quickly followed by, "What conditions do you treat? And how do you do it?" The truth is that the techniques used for people (manual therapies, therapeutic exercises, modalities, education) and expected outcomes (decreased pain, improved function, increased strength, restored motion) are very similar for animals. Practically anything that i...
Aug 23, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Pet birds need physical rehabilitation, too! Listen to Cathy Symons, CVT, CCRP, share her personal journey of rehabbing pet birds. You will be astounded at the skill and creativity it takes to perform avian rehab. Cathy delves into handling, gaining trust, and a variety of specific techniques that she successfully employs to rehabilitate both birds with injuries and those suffering the consequences of growing older. Cathy shares examples of safe food rewards, enrichment items, and activities whi...
Aug 09, 2022•58 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Is your senior dog sleeping the day away? Are you noticing “brain fog?” Have you given up on their ability to engage in family activities? Remember that aging is not a disease! You can help!! Listen along as Lisa Schmitt discusses fitness training with our seniors. Although there are certainly safety and health considerations, our older canines will benefit in mind, body, and soul from the attention and activity of fitness. A few minutes a day with your aging pet will enhance their strength, bal...
Jul 26, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 15
What is a wobbly cat, you ask? It is a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), an underdeveloped cerebellum in their brain. Because the cerebellum controls motor skills, these cats often appear a bit uncoordinated. It is a non painful, non-progressive, non-contagious developmental disorder that affects kittens that contract Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FVP.) The good news is that CH is preventable through vaccination. Although a wobbly cat may move differently, they have normal lifespans and make wo...
Jul 12, 2022•50 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Listen to our expert educator, Doreen Reynolds-Consolati, Vice President and Education Chair for The House Rabbit Connection, as we burrow deeper into rabbit care. Packed full of information, this episode addresses rabbit's specific medical concerns, elimination habits and marking territory, litter box training, the process of bonding bunnies, Easter holiday no-no's, how hormonal changes lead to behavioral changes, thumping as communication, rescuing rabbits up for adoption, and what to do if yo...
Jun 28, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Hop along with Doreen Reynolds-Consolati, Vice President and Education Chair for The House Rabbit Connection, as she discuss the commitment it takes to have a pet rabbit. This includes bunny-proofing your home, appropriate housing, proper diet, handling & bonding, and toys & enrichment. These endearing fluff balls may be too cute to resist, but it may surprise you to learn that these seemingly docile, quiet, cherubic critters can be willful, messy, destructive, vocal, and generally don't...
Jun 14, 2022•45 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Austin Roo is just like any other dog; he plays, he hikes, he swims, he only has hind legs, he stars in a national commercial... Wait, what? Yes, this rescue mutt's super power is his ability to inspire. He is fast becoming an Instagram sensation and you might have already seen him in his front-wheeled cart on the Bissell commercial. But according to his people, at the end of the day, he is just another dog that does dog things. Hear his owner Ed talk about Austin's story and what message they a...
May 31, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Ahhhh.... the laying on of the hands, therapeutic touch, massage - it's more powerful than you might think. Listen to Cathy and Chris describe preparing for a massage session with your pet, getting your pet's consent, the myriad of massage benefits, specific massage techniques, and generally how to get the most out of the time spent massaging your pet. Packed with information, your methods are bound to improve after listening to this show. And remember, practice makes perfect, so go forth with c...
May 17, 2022•59 min•Season 3Ep. 10
My dog is really fit because I take him for a walk EVERY day. False! According to founder, Rich Allen, true fitness requires attention to strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility. But what does this mean when it comes to your pet and how do you implement it? His creation, Pet.Fitness , a premier pet fitness website, does all the "heavy lifting" for you! Their programs don't require a lot of space and utilize items that we commonly have in our households. With over 50 exercises to choose fro...
May 03, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 9
Wink, is a beautiful pit bull aptly named due to her "perma-wink." She lost her eye at 5 weeks old and doesn't see far away or in low light very well with the remaining eye. She is also completely deaf, likely linked to her pure white coloring and unethical breeding practices. It is a miracle that Wink escaped euthanasia as a young pup. But according to Wink and her owner Anneliese, she is still a dog much like any other. An incredibully smart dog that participates in agility, nose work, bike jo...
Apr 19, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 8
Fear Free® is an educational company whose mission is to alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. Sounds simple enough, but it turns out that despite our good intentions, we've actually been doing things wrong, as veterinarians, pet professionals, and owners. By learning to listen to pets through their body language and putting ourselves in their place so as to see the world through their eyes, we are on our way to implementing the Fear Free principles. Founded in 2016 by America’s veterinar...
Apr 05, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Meet Dr. Schoenberg, a vet whose unique practice is solely dedicated to hospice and palliative care. To paraphrase her website, hospice is a philosophy that shifts the focus of care away from finding a cure and towards providing comfort, peace, quality of life, and freedom from pain when the pets we love are facing terminal illness or advanced aging. As our pets are living longer and surviving disease processes and injuries that they succumbed to in the not so distant past, hospice and palliativ...
Mar 22, 2022•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 6
Chris and Cathy talk often about enrichment in their podcast. But what exactly is enrichment for our pets? Listen to animal enrichment expert, Amanda Shyne, help us understand why enrichment is not simply a nice to have but a need to have . Enrichment is the action of improving the quality of something - in our case, an animal's life. Enrichment brings joy and makes our pets feel alive, a need that contributes to their sense of well-being beyond the basic requirements of food, shelter, and medic...
Mar 08, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Vital Vet is a comprehensive, online platform on a mission to eradicate the words, "if I had only known" from our vocabulary. The platform offers over 500 products, as well as physical rehabilitation consults, blogs, videos, online education, and so much more. Aimed at pet parents, physical rehabilitationists, and all veterinary professionals, this vast hub of information provides one-stop shopping designed to meet the needs of pet owners and rehab professionals striving to provide the optimal q...
Feb 22, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Did you know that there is good inflammation and bad inflammation? The good inflammation is your friend, necessary for healing from injury or recovering from illness. The bad inflammation is your enemy, it lingers too long, causing persistent pain, unhealthy compensations, and fatigue amongst other things. Listen to Chris and Cathy's lively banter about inflammation to learn how to control inflammation so your friend does not morph into your enemy. Great for not only your pets, but you, too! Dis...
Feb 08, 2022•38 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Prepare to be inspired as you learn about pets living with three limbs. The thought of your beloved pet losing a limb is devastating and scary. Bringing them home after amputation is often overwhelming and a bit shocking. Turning to a community of pet owners for support and resources who have traveled this path before you can make all the difference. You will find this and more at Tripawds.com - the largest online community for 3-legged pets and their people. All the resources that you can imagi...
Jan 25, 2022•56 min•Season 3Ep. 2
