If your dog or cat is part of the family and you want to know how to best care for them then be sure to head over to The Call The Vet Show - the number one podcast for all pet lovers! Remember to subscribe, and I cant wait to see you there.

Listen on your favorite podcast app here - https://ourpetshealth.com/listen

Once the shock of a new litter of puppies arriving on the scene has passed (and it always takes some adjustment no matter how prepared you are!), chances are you’re going to start thinking about starting to wean the puppies. It is however vital not to wean your puppy too early, and instead have a clear step-by-step plan. After all, proper nutrition is vital for growth, immunity and all-round development. It couldn’t be more important in the first few months of a puppies life. Full show notes

Free guide to keeping your pet as healthy as possible - get it now

Being a veterinarian is not just about cuddling puppies and kittens all day. There is a dark side to the profession. There are some really difficult, challenging, and at times upsetting parts to being a part of this profession. I think it is important that everyone is aware that being a vet is not all the sunshine and rainbows it’s portrayed to be on popular TV shows and glossy Instagram posts.

Full show notes: the pros + cons of being a veterinarian

Heatstroke can be a rapid killer so learning how to cool a dog down quickly and prevent heatstroke might just save your dogs life. Learning how to cool a dog down quickly can be life saving. Heatstroke is a true dog emergency but it has been shown that if an owner cools their dog down before taking them to the vet then the chance of dying is greatly reduced. show notes: https://ourpetshealth.com/disease/how-to-cool-a-dog-down-quickly check out Aprils podcast "why does my dog do that?": https://anchor.fm/dogmetor

The sun's out and the temperature is getting warmer.  What better thing is there to do then than invite some friends over and fire up the BBQ.  Take a minute though to watch this video to the end though as I answer can dogs eat corn cobs and discuss 3 other BBQ dangers for your dog and cat. Show notes: https://ourpetshealth.com/health/can-dogs-eat-corn-cobs

If the sun is out and it's hot think again about taking your dog out in the heat of the day. It might not be ideal for your dog. They might even get burnt feet! We definitely need to learn how to protect dog paws from hot pavement. Save your dog from painful, agonizing burns. Show notes: https://ourpetshealth.com/health/how-to-protect-dog-paws-from-hot-pavement

How hot does a parked car get?  How long can you leave your dog in the car before it gets too hot for them?  It doesn't need to be that hot outside for a car to become a deadly oven for your dog. The risk is not just in the summer and you don't have to live in the tropics. Show notes: https://ourpetshealth.com/health/dog-in-hot-car-facts

Preventing Lyme disease in dogs is preferable to your dog developing a painful infectious arthritis or other serious complications associated with Lyme disease in dogs. Because Lyme disease is spread by ticks, the main way to prevent Lyme disease in dogs is to prevent tick bites + kill ticks. Show notes: https://ourpetshealth.com/health/preventing-lyme-disease-in-dogs

After 6 months and 61 episodes its time to take stop and say thank you to everyone who has joined me along the way. Links mentioned can be found here: https://youtu.be/-YKoTXRP9gE

When it comes to finding a dog pain killer that works, what about giving your dog gabapentin? Is it a true pain killer and replacement for the more commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killers like rimadyl? Or is it like tramadol which works well in people but not in dogs? Show notes: https://ourpetshealth/drugs/can-you-give-your-dog-gabapentin

Are natural products safe for pets? Are they actually better than drugs in some cases? well in this episode I'm going to discuss what natural remedies for pets are, how they are different from drugs and whether they are safe and can be used instead of pharmaceutical drugs. Show notes: https://ourpetshealth.com/drugs/pet-supplements-vs-drugs

Tramadol is a pain killer that is sometimes used in dogs. It might be used for short term pain relief after surgery or is could be used long term to treat something like arthritis. Does it actually work though and is it safe? Show notes: https://youtu.be/BENIQm8D5TM

You want to change your pets diet but how can you make sure they will eat it? How much should you feed your pet? What if your cat or dog is really fussy, is it even possible to get them to eat something different when you've tried to change their food in the past? Well, follow these tips and your pet should happily accept whatever you want them to eat! Show notes: https://youtu.be/5b4cpe3nS14

Being a veterinarian can be an incredibly rewarding job. Let me take you into my world as a companion animal GP vet as I discuss the five things I enjoy best about being a veterinarian. Full show notes at ourpetshealth.com/info/being-a-veterinarian

If your cat is peeing outside the litter box or spraying everywhere then these 9 steps will help you get to the bottom of the problem and help you stop your cat peeing everywhere. Show notes: https://youtu.be/a2focn8st9Y

This episode discusses how to look after a dog having a seizure. What to do when your dog has a seizure, signs to look out for that may predict a seizure, as well as care after a seizure. Show notes: https://youtu.be/XX6swq1IIMI

Dog seizure causes are numerous so what causes seizures in dogs? Here I run through the top 5 groups of conditions causing dog seizures and fitting. Show notes: https://youtu.be/Lbqtxhuo9CM

New puppy training is an essential step for any new puppy owner. 2 essential puppy skills to concentrate training straight away are simple puppy recall and how to get your puppy used to handling. Today I've got 2 puppy training experts to teach you these essential puppy skills. I'm really excited to introduce you to Ken and Kayal from the YouTube channel McCann dogs. Not only have McCann dogs trained over 80,000 dogs but Kayl is also 21 times world champion in dog agility so what they don't know about new puppy training isn't worth knowing! Check out McCann Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/user/McCannDogs Show notes: https://youtu.be/1IO9TGwAPF0

When should you castrate or spay your kitten or cat? Are there any side-effects to early neutering or is early age desexing the best thing you could do for your cat? Show notes: https://youtu.be/SMsFm_nECoA

Cats are great at hiding their pain. Make sure you know all of the signs of pain to look out for so that your cat is not suffering from untreated arthritis. https://youtu.be/Npbrk0Rp9A4

Is titre testing dogs one of the true alternatives to dog vaccination, especially for those concerned about vaccination side effects in dogs? Can it really predict immunity and save your dog from needless vaccination? Show notes: https://youtu.be/2L7yKk4bshA

What is the best dog for your family? What breed will suit you best? In this episode I discuss how to choose the right dog breed for your family and the 4 vital questions you need to answer. Show notes: https://youtu.be/vAk955aWWSI

One of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to make is deciding to euthanize your dog or cat. Just how do you know that the right time to euthanize your pet is now? Of course we don't want make the decision too early but far worse would be to leave our pet's suffering too long. Show notes: https://youtu.be/t89YSkM-Z2o

Join me as I go through 3 quick Easter pet safety tips to help your pet avoid a trip to the emergency vet. Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/123ieJ2Z3u4

If you are dealing with a sick pet then there is a real chance you might be becoming stressed, depressed, anxious or even angry.  All of these will affect YOUR quality of life so it is important you look after YOU!  The syndrome known as "caregiver burden" is well recognized in people who care for chronically ill family members, but it has only more recently been recognized in owners who have to look after sick pets.

Show notes - ourpetshealth.com/info/caregiver-burden

The slugs and snails are out, eating your plants and you want to poison them.  Don't kill your pet in the process.  Slug and snail bait poisoning in dogs and cats can definitely be deadly. Show notes: https://youtu.be/8k8Z8EZ_4f8

Pugs, French Bulldogs and other brachycephalic (squashed nosed) breeds are becoming more and more popular but they often have significant health problems. For their own welfare should they be banned or is there another way to improve their health?

There are many easy steps we can take to reduce stress in cats and help them relax at home. Stress can play a big role in your cats life. It reduces quality of life and can result in serious conditions such as cystitis. It can even start to affect the well being of you, their owner. Show notes: https://youtu.be/FncqZ8C-Q-k

If you are dealing with a sick pet then there is a real chance you might be becoming stressed, depressed, anxious or even angry.  All of these will affect YOUR quality of life so it is important you look after YOU! The syndrome known as "caregiver burden" is well recognized in people who care for chronically ill family members, but it has only more recently been recognized in owners who have to look after sick pets. Join Dr Alex and Chris Boutte from The Rewired Soul (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfURmLbv0Sq4miJ3DzlZhA) as they discuss 3 tips to look after Your mental health. Show notes: https://youtu.be/4N3DyUZvGfE

Is your cat stressed or depressed? Find out the causes of stress in cats as well as the simple signs your cat is stressed. Show notes + video: https://youtu.be/R7YTAEzkIiA

Cat cystitis is more than a simple infection. The most common cause is stress. It also generally requires long term management. A holistic approach is key. Join me for a complete rundown of this common disease. Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/W6QeHzFzNpI

Our houses, garages and gardens are full of potential deadly pet poisons and toxins that our dogs and cats would just love to eat. If you know what they are you can better take measures to ensure an emergency trip to your vet isn't needed! Show notes: https://youtu.be/zTYdU9V-5RI

Arthritis comes on slowly and it is easy to miss the clear signs that your dog is in pain. Don't dismiss slowing down as a normal aging problem. By knowing what to look out for you can be certain your dog has the best quality of life possible! Show notes: https://youtu.be/E1UrICC7et0

There are many reasons why your cat might need to drink more. Kidney failure, diabetes and general illness to name a few. Here are my top 10 techniques to make sure your cat doesn't get dehydrated. Show notes: https://youtu.be/OehD3s8vIgU

Join me in a guest post I did for Chris on the YouTube channel The Rewired Soul all about stress in our pets discussing what stresses them out and how we can help them calm down and relax. Head over to Chris' channel for the show notes and video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7YUSR9Jyac (the audio quality is better there too!) and make sure you check out his other content for some amazing advice and discussion about any mental health issue you may be struggling with.

If your dog enjoys swimming, or if you're going on long hikes and they're drinking from lakes and from streams, then at this time of year you really need to know all about blue-green algae poisoning in dogs. Blue-green algae can kill a dog within 15 minutes. It produces toxins that stop the nerves working or destroy the liver. The main risk period is late summer and early autumn when water levels are low and warm - perfect for blue-green algae growth.

Check out my complete guide to blue-green algae poisoning in dogs

This common sweetener is found in a huge number of products and it only takes a tiny amount to be deadly. Find out how much is dangerous for your dog or cat and just what you need to do about it. Show notes: https://youtu.be/ocU1KG42UjA

A common thought if a pet suddenly becomes unwell is that they may have been poisoned. Well, if they are showing any of these common symptoms they just might have. If there is ever any question that your pet has been poisoned make sure your vet is the first person you call and don't delay. Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/Wsgd9KB2Qdo

Some people feed their dog grapes and raisins all the time. Others say they are deadly! What is the truth? Will raisins or grapes kill your dog or cat? Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/S0fbSIx2HxU

There are risks and benefits to most procedures and treatments. What then are the true pros and cons of getting your female dog spayed. And if you decide to go ahead with this common surgery just what is the best age? Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/cKWpUu-GNo0

Join me as I go through my top tips for getting your fussy dog eating the food you want them too. Our dogs are very good at training us to give them nothing but treats. With a little bit of planning thou we can make sure they eat the food we feel is best for them. Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/vzQDFzg6N4U

Metacam is a popular pain killer in cats but in some parts of the world it can only be used once where as other parts commonly use it long term to manage diseases such as arthritis. Doe this improve a cats quality of life and is it actually safe? What can you do to reduce the risk of serious side effects? Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/Lb9p7iIOask

Anti-inflammatory medication is so important to keep our dogs pain free and enjoying life. They do come with a risk of side effects which any owner should really know about as well as how to reduce the risk of any serious problems. Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/6EwDGAzsi_w

The use of pet pain killers is essential in keeping our dogs and cats comfortable after injury, surgery or with long term conditions like arthritis. Find out how they work, what side effects to look out for and how we can avoid problems. Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/KOgfxzDNMJA

There are many places you can buy a puppy but which is the best? What do you need to watch out for and which puppies likely come from puppy mills? Video and show notes: https://youtu.be/gupb-MlvsQU

If you have an entire female dog then you must know about this dangerous, potentially fatal condition. There's a 1-in-4 chance your dog will be affected... Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/Fuvq-QSx6Fo

Just how similar are dogs to their closest relation - the gray wolf? The evolution of dogs from wolves is not as straight forward as you might believe. Just how similar are dogs and wolves? Are they really such close relatives that your dog could easily revert back to their ancestral form, or are the differences more than skin deep?

Full show notes: ourpetshealth.com/info/dog-evolution

If you've decided to bring a dog into the family you may be considering buying a puppy from a pet shop. Is this a good idea though? Video and show notes: https://youtu.be/dY5QRdgvmdQ

There are some seriously deadly poisons around the home. Chances are you have several of them. Learn all about the most common so you can take measures to prevent your dog and cat from ever being poisoned and needing an emergency vet visit. Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/d7XBOcGaD0s

With the ready availability of technology can you expect a vet to diagnose your pet remotely? The options are many, forums, email, phone, video call (soon to be VR?!). If none of these are any good then why? Show notes and video: https://youtu.be/ePsMU-jFVOQ