Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer North American Veterinary Community, talks about the giant VMX veterinary conference and takes pet parents behind the curtain. What’s new for pets in 2025? Mostly, the latest and greatest will fall into two buckets, individualized medicine and AI, and we go deep talking about each. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7155531/PetCast_Jan_2025_Bonus_2025-01-18-055631.64kmono.mp3 Recent Posts Steve Dale’s Pet World Chicago River Ride 2025 Cruise for Dogs is co...
Jan 21, 2025
Dr. Adam Christman, chief medical officer DVM360, whips out his crystal ball offering his predictions for what you will all experience regarding pet care for 2025. At the start of this list is artificial intelligence, it’s here from helping diagnostics to smart collars to training tools to new ways to discover pain recognition. How veterinarians continue to work with pet parents will continue to transition to both being a team for pet care, it’s no longer solely up to veterinary professionals. O...
Jan 14, 2025
This is the time of year when organizations such the Pet Poison Helpline (PPH) receive the most calls. Steve talks with veterinary toxicologist Dr. Renee Scmid, director of veterinary medicine and a senior veterinary toxicologist at PPH. Lilies are fragrant for us but very toxic to cats. And chocolate is never a good idea. She warns about products with an artificial sweetener called Xylitol or birch sugar. The discussion is wide-ranging, and includes dispelling Internet jokesters and disinformat...
Dec 12, 2024
Human Animal Bond Association ’s International Human Animal Bond Day is November 8. Dr. Marc Bekoff , professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society has authored so many important books about dogs. His most recent is Dogs Demystified: An A to Z Guide to All Things Canine with a forward by his friend Dr. Jane Goodall. Dr. Bekoff dispels several myths, such as if dogs always love us conditionally? And are dog...
Nov 14, 2024
Dr. Ernie Ward , is a world-renowned expert and advocate for pet health and nutrition. He’s the founder and President of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention . He explains just how many pets are overweight or obese. He says we need to stop playing the blame game. Yes, feeding too much and feeding the too many human treats, definitely a part of the problem. But the explanation for so many overweight/obese pets is far more complex. He also offers the truth about pet treats, and what to watch...
Oct 16, 2024
Dr. Ian Dunbar is arguably the most influential dog trainer, ever. He’s done so much, from supporting professionalization of what is now considered a legitimate profession to defining puppy classes, not to mention authoring many books. His most recent book is Barking Up the Right Tree: The Science and Practice of Positive Dog Training . In this discussion, Dr. Dunbar – always with strongly held views – discusses Fear Free, puppy socialization, and even prevention of what is likely now the most c...
Mar 06, 2024
Dr Marty Becker is the most influential veterinarian on the planet. Several years ago he said “why aren’t we paying attention to the emotional well-being of pets?” and founded the Fear Free initiative to minimize fear, anxiety and stress at veterinary visits. This notion has not only caught on around the world with veterinary professionals, but also dog trainers, dog groomers and pet sitters. Fear Free has been and continues to be transformational. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4485945/Petcas...
Feb 01, 2024
Dr Adam Christman, chief veterinary officer DVM360, and Steve Dale in a wide-ranging discussion about how veterinary medicine continues to evolve and what the pet parents’ role is today. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4475637/Petcast_1-3-24_2024-01-03-182737.64kmono.mp3
Jan 03, 2024
Dr. Mary Gardner can apparently foretell the future, as today the notion of euthanizing at home or a dog’s favorite place, or providing hospice is something pet parents are seeking. Lap of Love is a network of over 300 veterinarians around the country with the goal of empowering every owner to care for their geriatric pets including at-home euthanasia. What she says about the right time to euthanize may be surprising. We do have more geriatric pets than ever, and to answer questions about their ...
Nov 27, 2023
Dr. Debra Horwitz, world renowned veterinary behaviorist and co-editor Decoding Your Dog , discusses why dog bites may be on the rise. For starters, she says hugging your dog isn’t likely a good idea. We may call them our fur babies, but treating dogs like human babies doesn’t benefit the dog. Also, discussed are dog bite prevention tips as well as how the Fear Free initiative is transforming veterinary medicine. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4449101/Petcast_10-26-23_2023-10-24-210301.64kmono...
Oct 26, 2023
Pilley Bianchi , who is the author of For the Love of DOG , and her late dad, professor John W. Pilley, Jr. trained Chaser, the smartest dog in the world. How did they do it? How smart was Chaser? How smart are dogs really? Are we not tapping into what all dogs are capable? Pilley has a way to open minds and dispel myths. Ear infections are among the most common complaints heard by veterinarians, which makes ZYMOX a savior for pet parents, ZYMOX Ear Cleanser combines protein, enzymes to gently c...
Sep 26, 2023
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos , lead veterinarian at Merrick Pet Care, joins Steve Dale on this Merrick Pet Care Five Star Interview. “Doggy breath” isn’t necessarily something we should ignore. Listen in while Dr. Lobos talks about what causes “doggy breath” and how it can be prevented. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4024367/4024367_2022-10-28-171307.64kmono.mp3 Merrick Pet Care Far Star interview is brought to you by Merrick Pet Care ....
Dec 09, 2022
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos , lead veterinarian at Merrick Pet Care, joins Steve Dale on this Merrick Pet Care Five Star Interview. We love to offer our dogs and cats treats and they love to take them. Listen in while Dr. Lobos breaks down the usage of treats, how many is too many and which ones are the most appropriate. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4024363/4024363_2022-10-28-171403.64kmono.mp3 Merrick Pet Care Far Star interview is brought to you by Merrick Pet Care ....
Nov 04, 2022
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos on how to keep pets out of the pet ER over the holidays, and it begins with being safe rather than sorry when it comes to tinsel and a special hint for preventing cats from toppling Christmas trees. Discussed are foods to keep pets away from and an idea to offer appropriate holiday food and treats so the pets aren’t begging for turkey or ham from the Christmas table. Also, Steve Dale’s dramatic reading, “A Pet’s Night Before Christmas” https://serve.castfire.com/audio/3903502/3...
Dec 13, 2021
Arguably the most important non-profit in the cat world is the EveryCat Health Foundation (formerly Winn Feline Foundation). Guests on this Merrick Pet Care Petcast are Vickie Fisher, president of the Board of Directors at EveryCat and Past President International Cat Association and EveryCat Executive Director Jackie Ott Jaakola discuss the rich history and impact this organization as nearly all we know about all cats was once funded over the past 53 years by this non-profit. I too am involved,...
Dec 02, 2021
Cats are living longer than ever before, and now the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP ) has created Guidelines for Senior Cats called Senior Cats Have Special Needs . My guest in this Merrick Pet Care Petcast is Dr. Hazel Carney, feline practitioner and Co-Chair of the AAFP Guidelines Committee. We cover LOTS of ground in this Petcast, from rattling off lots of very subtle signs of pain in cats you might not be aware of to defining feline cognitive dysfunction (sometimes dubbed...
Nov 18, 2021
Talk about heavyweight guests, In this Merrick Pet Care Petcast, Dr. Mark Johnston, chairman of the trustees of Our Special Friends and VP World Small Animal Veterinary Association Foundation with Dr. Patrick Flynn, president elect of the Human Animal Bond Association and Professional Services Veterinarian at Zoetis. This Petcast features the very first announcement: International Human Animal Bond Day is November 8. And Dr. Johnson and Dr Flynn both explain that indeed it’s all about celebratin...
Oct 28, 2021
Arguably, there’s an epidemic of overweight and obese cats. Dr. RuthAnn Lobos , lead veterinarian Merrick Pet Care feels so strongly about this topic because, though we love them more than ever before, our cats are suffering more as a result. As one example, diabetes in cats is at an all-time high. We discuss other repercussions of cats being overweight or obese. Dr. Lobos offers tips on both prevention – so the cat isn’t overweight or obese in the first place. And we absolutely talk about how t...
Sep 09, 2021
Dr. Danielle Conway is residency trained in veterinary nutrition and certified in veterinary acupuncture, herbal medicine and chiropractic medicine. In this Merrick Pet Care Petcast, she offers our aging pets the fountain of youth. Dr. Conway is all about integrating traditional and what was once termed non-traditional or alternative medicine. However, today we know these are merely different modalities and what works best for most pets is a multi-modal approach, using the best of what is most a...
Aug 12, 2021
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos , lead veterinarian Merrick Pet Care discusses disaster preparedness. Thing is everyone thinks, “I can plan sometime” but really it’s not going to happen to me. Dr. Lobos explains that increasingly disasters are happening. She also offers information how to create a disaster preparedness emergency kit. Dr. Lobos also offers the secret to tell if your dog is overheating. We explain that indeed dogs overheat far more easily than people, and some breeds in particular. Dr. Lobos sa...
Jul 22, 2021
Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lisa Radosta discusses separation anxiety in dogs. She says due to adopted pandemic puppies not being appropriately socialized and dogs adopted who have been rehomed previously several times, and a sudden big change in lifestyles for so many families, there indeed may be more separation anxiety happening right now. Dr. Radosta talks on this Merrick Pet Care Petcast about what to do about separation anxiety in dogs. And even offers brilliant ideas which may prevent sepa...
Jul 08, 2021
Some experts feel that half or more of all indoor only cats live day to day at least slightly dehydrated. So, I found an expert, Dr. RuthAnn Lobos , lead veterinarian Merrick Pet Care. Dr. Lobos explains just how complex this issue of dehydration is, but there’s little doubt that at least some – a significant percent of cats – may indeed be dehydrated. So now, what? She describes how pet parents might determine if their kitty isn’t getting enough water. We talk about behavior changes pet parents...
Jun 13, 2021
The pandemic has been great for no one – except for dogs and cats at shelters in the U.S. As the pandemic hit, adoptions and fostering in so many cities hit record numbers. I chat with Dr. Ellen Jefferson , president and CEO Austin and American Pets Alive . So, why have adoptions and fosters in so many cities hit new highs? Dr. Jefferson offers many helpful tips on acclimating dogs or cats into any new setting, whether it’s the White House or your house. And tips on how to successfully introduce...
May 16, 2021
Dr. RuthAnn Lobos , lead veterinarian at Merrick Pet Care, instructs you to pay attention to your dog’s tongue to discern if your pup may be doing overdoing the physical exertion, particularly in hot weather. We discuss how to choose the right amount of exercise for the right dog or cat. Yes, cat. And the notion of exercise is important for so many reasons, including the fact that over half of our pets are overweight or obese. And Dr. Lobos describe how this may impact their general health and w...
Apr 25, 2021
Appropriate to kick off the first ever Steve Dale Petcast with a conversation about the human animal bond. Without that bond, none of us would have pets. What would be the point? Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Maggie O’Haire , associate professor Human Animal Interaction Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine . Dr. O’Haire agrees with my belief that dogs may understand us better than we understand them. And she reveals results of her studies to support the notion that ve...
Apr 11, 2021
