Explore every episode of the podcast AnimaldocRea

Overview of the current law suit and DOJ investigation in to Darwin Pet food.

Is your dog or cat slowing down… or actually in pain?

The truth is, most pets don’t show pain in obvious ways—and it’s often dismissed as “just aging.” But age is NOT a disease.

In this video, I break down how to recognize subtle signs of pain in dogs and cats, where pain commonly hides (especially in senior pets), and what you can do right now to help them feel better.

We’ll cover:
• Early signs of pain most pet owners miss
• Behavior changes that actually signal discomfort
• Where pain hides in dogs vs cats
• Safe, effective pain management options
• What you can start doing at home today

This episode is based on concepts from my book Age Is Not a Disease, where I go deeper into helping pets live longer, more comfortable lives.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your pet is “just getting older” or actually struggling—this is for you.

Joint supplements are one of the most commonly used products in pets—but what’s actually new, and do they really make a difference?

In this episode, Dr. Amber Rea reviews the latest updates in pet joint supplements, including what ingredients are being used, what the current evidence suggests, and how to choose a product that may actually benefit your pet.

You’ll learn:

• which joint supplement ingredients are most commonly used

• what current research says about their effectiveness

• how to evaluate different products

• when supplements may or may not be helpful

If you’re considering joint supplements for your pet or wondering if they’re worth it, this episode will help you make a more informed decision.

The idea that dogs are strict carnivores is everywhere—but is it actually true?

In this episode, Dr. Amber Rea breaks down the ongoing debate around canine nutrition, including what it really means to be a carnivore and how dogs have evolved alongside humans.

You’ll learn:

• whether dogs are true carnivores or something else

• how digestion and evolution play a role in diet

• why this debate matters when choosing a pet food

• what actually matters most for your dog’s nutrition

If you’ve ever been told your dog should eat like a wolf, this episode will help you understand what’s fact—and what’s oversimplified.

Food allergies are one of the most commonly misunderstood issues in pets—and in many cases, they’re overdiagnosed by pet parents.

In this episode, Dr. Amber Rea breaks down what a true food allergy actually looks like, why many symptoms are mistaken for food-related issues, and what might really be going on.

You’ll learn:

• what people often mistake for food allergies

• the difference between food allergies and other conditions

• when diet changes are actually necessary

• what to do if your pet is showing symptoms

If you’ve ever wondered whether your pet really has a food allergy, this episode will help you separate fact from myth.

If your pet refuses food, is it true picky eating or a medical problem? In this episode, Dr. Amber Rea explains why picky eating in dogs is usually behavioral, why cats are different, and what owners should do before repeatedly changing foods.

In this episode, Dr. Amber Rea answers questions from pet owners about some of the most common and controversial topics in veterinary medicine.

This Q&A episode covers pet nutrition, vaccine schedules, neutering decisions, and the risks of anesthesia-free dentistry.

Topics discussed include:

• calcium and phosphorus levels in puppy diets
• whether corn and soy in dog food are actually harmful
• when loose stool in puppies is diet-related vs medical
• whether dogs should take multivitamins
• common causes of dry skin in dogs
• the best age to neuter male dogs
• the truth about anesthesia-free dental cleanings
• why some dogs refuse food but eat treats

If you enjoy these Q&A episodes, let me know and I’ll share more discussions from our live sessions.

In Episode 8 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea reviews new research examining copper levels in pet food and the potential relationship between dietary copper and liver disease in dogs.

Concerns about copper-associated liver disease have received increasing attention in recent years, leading to questions about whether modern pet foods may contain excessive copper. In this episode, Dr. Rea examines the latest research and explains how veterinarians interpret these findings.

Topics discussed include:

• how copper functions in canine nutrition
• what the latest research suggests about copper levels in pet foods
• how copper-associated liver disease develops
• how veterinarians evaluate claims about copper toxicity in pet diets

Understanding the science behind trace minerals like copper helps place current concerns about pet food formulation into proper context.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.

For listeners who prefer the video format, the full discussion is available on the AnimalDocRea YouTube channel.

A dog presents with what looks like a simple eye issue—but as the exam unfolds, the case takes a different direction.

In this Mic’d Up episode, you’re hearing the case exactly as it happened—no script, no edits, just real-time clinical decision-making.

These episodes are designed to show what veterinary medicine actually looks like in practice—how we think through cases, rule things in or out, and make decisions on the spot.

🎧 Real cases. Real decisions. Real time.

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Follow AnimalDocRea for weekly episodes and more behind-the-scenes veterinary insight.

In Episode 7 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea discusses supplements that may support long-term health in dogs and cats.

While supplements are often marketed specifically for senior pets, many of these products are intended to support biological processes that affect animals throughout their lives. Understanding when supplementation may be beneficial—and when it may not be necessary—is an important part of evidence-based pet care.

In this episode, Dr. Rea discusses:

• common supplements used to support aging pets
• when younger pets may also benefit from certain supplements
• which supplements have scientific evidence behind them
• how to evaluate supplement claims for pets

This discussion focuses on how veterinarians approach supplementation as part of a broader strategy for supporting lifelong health in dogs and cats.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.

For listeners who prefer the video format, the full discussion is also available on the AnimalDocRea YouTube channel.

A routine anal gland issue turned into something more complicated.

In this mic’d up episode, I walk through what started as a common problem and what we discovered during treatment—real cases, real decisions, in real time.

In Episode 6 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea discusses one of the most common questions pet owners face: Is pet insurance actually worth it?

Veterinary medicine has advanced significantly in recent years, allowing for more diagnostics and treatment options than ever before—but these advances can also come with significant costs.

In this episode, Dr. Rea explains:

• how pet insurance typically works
• the types of coverage most plans offer
• common misunderstandings about pet insurance policies
• situations where insurance can be helpful for pet owners
• factors to consider when deciding whether a policy makes sense for your pet

Understanding how pet insurance works can help pet owners make informed financial decisions while planning for their pet’s long-term care.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.

For listeners who prefer the video format, the full discussion is also available on the AnimalDocRea YouTube channel.

Bonus Episode: Mic’d Up with AnimalDocRea

In this bonus episode, Dr. Amber Rea takes listeners inside a real veterinary surgery as she removes a suspicious growth from a dog’s leg using a bowtie closure technique.

Skin masses are common in dogs, but some — including mast cell tumors — can be more serious and require surgical removal and evaluation.

In this Mic’d Up with AnimalDocRea episode, you’ll hear Dr. Rea’s real-time commentary as she walks through the procedure and explains her thought process during surgery.

Topics discussed include:

• evaluating suspicious skin growths in dogs
• when surgical removal is recommended
• the bowtie closure technique
• why early evaluation of lumps and bumps matters

If you enjoy these behind-the-scenes veterinary cases, let me know and I’ll share more Mic’d Up with AnimalDocRea episodes in the future.

In Episode 5 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea discusses the long-standing recommendation to feed chicken and rice for dogs with gastrointestinal upset—and why that advice may not always be the best approach.

For years, chicken and rice has been widely recommended as a bland diet for dogs experiencing vomiting or diarrhea. But newer understanding of veterinary nutrition and gastrointestinal disease has led many veterinarians to rethink this common recommendation.

In this episode, Dr. Rea explains:

• why chicken and rice became the standard bland diet
• potential nutritional limitations of this approach
• situations where chicken and rice may not be ideal
• alternative dietary strategies veterinarians may recommend for gastrointestinal recovery

Understanding how diet supports gastrointestinal health can help pet owners make better decisions when their dog is recovering from illness.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.

For listeners who want to watch the full video discussion, the video version is available on the AnimalDocRea YouTube channel.

Bonus Episode: Mic’d Up with AnimalDocRea

In this bonus episode, Dr. Amber Rea takes listeners inside a real veterinary surgery as she removes an intestinal foreign body from a dog that swallowed something it couldn’t pass.

Foreign body obstructions are one of the most common surgical emergencies in dogs and can quickly become life-threatening without treatment.

In this Mic’d Up with AnimalDocRea episode, you’ll hear Dr. Rea’s real-time commentary as she walks through:

• evaluating the intestines during surgery
• locating and removing the obstruction
• surgical decision-making in emergency cases
• what pet owners should know about intestinal blockages

This case was especially memorable because the patient happened to be Dr. Rea’s sister’s dog, who managed to eat something he definitely shouldn’t have…again.

If you enjoy these behind-the-scenes veterinary cases, let me know and I’ll share more Mic’d Up with AnimalDocRea episodes in the future.

In Episode 4 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea explains one of the most important — and most overlooked — factors in pet longevity: proper caloric intake.

Research has shown that maintaining an appropriate caloric intake and healthy body condition can significantly extend the lifespan of dogs. Yet many pets are unintentionally overfed, increasing the risk of obesity and shortening lifespan.

In this episode, Dr. Rea discusses:

• the research behind calorie restriction and longevity in dogs
• why body condition matters more than most pet owners realize
• how overfeeding impacts long-term health
• practical ways to determine the right amount to feed your pet

Understanding how calories influence longevity can be one of the most powerful tools for helping dogs live longer, healthier lives.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.

For listeners who want to watch the full discussion, the video version is available on the AnimalDocRea YouTube channel.

In Episode 3 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea takes a closer look at the claims made by the Clean Label Project about contaminants in pet food and explains what the data actually shows.

Reports from the Clean Label Project have raised concerns among pet owners by suggesting that many pet foods contain high levels of toxins or contaminants. But how should these claims be interpreted, and do the numbers actually represent a safety risk for dogs and cats?

In this episode, Dr. Rea breaks down:

• what the Clean Label Project report claims
• how contaminant levels are measured and interpreted
• how these numbers compare to established safety thresholds for pets
• why toxicology data can easily be misrepresented without proper context

If you’ve seen alarming headlines about toxins in pet food and wondered whether they reflect real risk, this episode explains how veterinarians and toxicologists evaluate the data.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.

For listeners who want to see the charts and data discussed in this episode, the video version is available on her YouTube channel AnimalDocRea.

In Episode 2 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea breaks down how dog foods are actually evaluated using evidence-based veterinary nutrition standards and shares her picks for some of the best dog foods for 2025.

With so many marketing claims and ingredient trends surrounding pet food, it can be difficult for pet owners to know what really matters. In this episode, Dr. Rea explains how veterinarians assess diets based on factors that go far beyond the ingredient list.

Topics discussed include:

• how veterinarians evaluate pet food formulation
• the role of nutritional standards and feeding trials
• manufacturer transparency and quality control
• why marketing claims can be misleading

If you’ve ever wondered how to determine whether a dog food is truly well-formulated, this episode provides a practical framework veterinarians use to evaluate diets.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.

For listeners who want to see the full visual breakdown of the foods discussed, the video version of this episode is available on her YouTube channel AnimalDocRea.

Episode 1: Inside Medicus Diets — Therapeutic Nutrition in Veterinary Medicine

Welcome to Episode 1 of The AnimalDocRea Podcast.

In this first episode, veterinarian Dr. Amber Rea sits down with the team behind Medicus Diets to discuss the science behind therapeutic pet nutrition and how diet can play a role in managing disease in dogs and cats.

We discuss:

• How veterinary therapeutic diets are formulated
• The research behind disease-targeted nutrition
• How these diets differ from standard pet foods
• The challenges of developing evidence-based nutrition for pets

This conversation offers an inside look at how veterinary nutrition research is translated into practical diets used in clinical medicine.

Dr. Amber Rea is a practicing veterinarian and the author of Reasons We Feed and Age Is Not a Disease, where she focuses on evidence-based approaches to pet health and nutrition.