Explore every episode of the podcast Senior Pet Talk | for dogs + cats
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to Senior Pet Talk! | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:03:46 | |
Welcome to Senior Pet Talk! Your whole-medicine approach guide to becoming the most prepared and informed advocate for your senior pet. Bring what you learn here into every vet visit, every care decision, and every stage of the journey ahead. Today, Dr. Amanda Steffen, integrative veterinarian and founder of Floyd's Tale Mobile Veterinary Services, shares why the show exists and opens up about her personal why: her experience with her own senior dog, Floyd. That experience is what led her to start an in-home senior pet practice, and eventually, this podcast, so other pet parents wouldn't have to face it without support. She walks through the medical philosophy behind the show, and looks ahead to what's coming — topics that rarely get enough airtime during a short vet visit, like pain, nutrition, dementia, mobility, cancer, and end-of-life care. Everyone is doing the best they can with the information they have. This show is here to give you more of it. So listen in if you're ready to better understand the aging process, walk into vet appointments prepared, and advocate for your pet with more confidence. Follow Senior Pet Talk and find Dr. Amanda on Instagram at @dr.amanda.vet. CHAPTERS
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| 9. How to Choose a Good Supplement for Your Pet | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:23:13 | |
How do you choose a good supplement for your pet? Today, Dr. Amanda talks about why pet supplements can be so confusing for senior dog and cat parents, especially since many products make big claims without much behind them. She covers:
Listen in if you're curious about what to look for and what to ask for when it comes to pet supplements. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Understanding the confusion around pet supplements Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 8. What to Ask at Your Senior Cat's Vet Visit | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:35:45 | |
What should a senior cat vet visit include? Today, Dr. Amanda is back with another vet visit episode, but this time all about cats and what to ask for during your appointments. She discusses:
Listen in so that when you go in for a veterinary visit with your cat, you'll know what to ask, what to advocate for, and what tests you should be running. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Senior cat care basics Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 7. How to Prepare for Your Senior Dog's Vet Visit | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:40:08 | |
What to bring with you and your dog to the vet. In this episode, Dr. Amanda talks all about what to expect at a senior dog veterinary visit and how to prepare for one. She discusses:
Remember that senior pet care should be a shared plan between you and your veterinarian, based on your pet's needs and your family's budget. If you have questions on what to bring, listen in! LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Preparing for your senior pet vet visit Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 6. Weight Loss in Senior Cats Is Never Normal | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:23:07 | |
My cat's losing weight. Should I be worried? That's exactly what Dr. Amanda focuses on in this episode - senior cat weight loss and why any unexplained changes should be taken seriously. She covers:
Cats are pros at hiding illness, muscle loss matters even when weight looks normal, and catching things early gives your cat the best shot at a long, good life. Listen in now! LINKS
TIME STAMPS 0:00 - Senior cat weight loss (why it matters and monthly weigh-in tips) Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 5. What Integrative Veterinary Medicine Actually Means (And What It Doesn't) | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:38:26 | |
What does integrative veterinary medicine actually mean? That's what Dr. Amanda digs into today, including the buzzwords you'll hear that don't really mean much in the world of medicine, and how to make sure whoever you're seeing is practicing evidence-based care. She covers:
Listen in if you're ready to ask the right questions when choosing a practitioner for your senior pet. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to integrative veterinary medicine and Fonzie the senior cat Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 4. How Do I Know If My Pet Has Dementia? | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:24:55 | |
How do I know if my dog or cat has dementia? Today, Dr. Amanda is talking all about how to recognize the early signs of cognitive decline in senior dogs and cats. She gets into:
Dementia signs do not mean nothing can be done; listen in for more ways to support your senior pet. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Pet dementia and why it matters 01:47 - Understanding dementia in pets 03:16 - Why early recognition and intervention matter 04:34 - Common signs of dementia in senior pets 05:32 - DISHAALV protocol for recognizing signs 06:33 - D: Disorientation 07:35 - I: Interaction changes 09:22 - S: Sleep-wake cycle changes 11:32 - H: House soiling 13:23 - A: Activity changes 16:13 - A: Anxiety in senior pets 18:20 - L: Learning and memory changes 19:34 - V: Vocalization signs 20:28 - Treatment options and hope for senior pets Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 3. Is My Pet in Pain? Managing Arthritis in Senior Dogs and Cats | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:44:03 | |
Is my pet in pain? It's one of the hardest questions to answer because pets are so good at hiding it. In this episode, Dr. Steffen dives into pain management in senior dogs and cats, with a focus on arthritis and how it quietly shows up through changes in movement, behavior, grooming, and daily routines. She gets into:
Senior pets aren't helpless, and even with arthritis, there are still so many ways to improve their comfort and quality of life - listen in to learn how. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to senior pet pain management Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 2. What's Normal vs. Abnormal: Subtle Signs of Aging in Senior Pets | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:53:41 | |
Trust your intuition when something feels off with your pet; it's often the first clue that matters most. In this episode, Dr. Amanda Steffen focuses on 10 different body systems and what's normal versus abnormal in senior dogs and cats, and why the subtle signs of aging are so easy to miss — they tend to develop slowly, over weeks or months, rather than all at once. She discusses:
If you're a pet owner who wants practical tips for spotting the early signs of aging and knowing when it's time to act, get out your paper and pencil; this episode is for you. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to subtle aging signs in pets Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 1. Is My Pet a Senior? Meet Your Vet & What Defines a Senior Pet | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:31:18 | |
When does a pet become a senior? Welcome to the very first episode of Senior Pet Talk! In this episode, veterinarian Dr. Amanda Steffen breaks down one of the questions pet owners ask most: when does my dog or cat actually become a "senior" — and why does it matter so much? This episode gets into:
This is where to start if you're ready to understand what senior pet care really looks like and how to improve your pet's quality of life in their golden years. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Intro to senior pet care 02:53 - What actually makes a pet a "senior" 05:46 - Why proactive care matters more than you think 09:07 - My personal journey with senior pets 12:06 - How size and breed change when seniorhood starts 17:47 - Why regular vet visits and blood work matter so much 24:47 - Recap and encouragement for pet owners Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 11. Are You Exhausted as a Senior Pet Parent? | 06 Aug 2026 | 00:42:44 | |
Caregiver burden and exhaustion are real, even for pet parents. Today, let's talk about the impact caregiving has on you, not just your pet. Dr. Amanda covers:
Caregiving is hard, but no one has to do it alone, and that support can make the process more manageable. Listen in if you want to feel less alone and more understood in what you're going through. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - The emotional impact of caring for senior pets Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 10. Why Your Senior Pet Might Need More Protein, Not Less | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:28:37 | |
How much protein should my senior pet get? In this episode, Dr. Amanda discusses a common misconception: that protein should automatically be reduced as pets age. In reality, a lot of the time we actually need to be giving our seniors more protein, not less. She covers:
Listen in to learn more about senior pet protein needs, and how muscle loss can be improved through diet changes, easier-to-digest protein sources, and other supportive care. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Introduction to senior pet nutrition and common misconceptions Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 12. 5 Common Senior Cat Emergencies Every Owner Should Know | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:39:24 | |
How do I know if my cat is having a medical emergency? In today's episode, Dr. Amanda Steffen walks through 5 common senior cat emergencies. If you've ever found yourself wondering whether you needed to rush to the emergency hospital or get to your family vet urgently because something felt off with your cat, this one's for you. She covers:
This is a great way to know what to watch for and what to expect if you ever end up at the emergency vet with your senior cat. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Why senior cats need their own care considerations Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||
| 13. Is My Senior Dog Having an Emergency? What to Watch For | 13 Aug 2026 | 00:38:24 | |
How do I know if my dog is having a medical emergency? Last week was all about common cat emergencies, and today we're focusing on dogs. Dr. Amanda walks through 5 common emergencies she sees and the signs to watch for, so you can feel more prepared as a pet parent. Including:
Listen in for practical tips, warning signs, and why proactive care matters so much so that you can prepare and respond effectively for your pet. LINKS
TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Senior pet emergencies and why they matter Disclaimer: Senior Pet Talk is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or the clinical judgment of a licensed veterinarian. This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or make medical decisions for your pet. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet's specific health needs. | |||