The Family Pet Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, host Michael Shirley discusses the journey of writing and illustrating the children's book 'Dear My Favorite Human' with author Amy Rhodes and illustrator Susan Ogburn. They explore the importance of teaching children about dog safety, the collaborative process of creating the book, and the significance of relatable illustrations. The conversation also touches on consulting dog training experts, the publishing process, and future plans for a book series.

Takeaways

The book 'Dear My Favorite Human' is a love letter from a dog to a child.
Teaching children about dog safety is crucial for harmonious pet relationships.
The collaborative effort between the author and illustrator was key to the book's success.
Illustrations play a significant role in making the book relatable to children.
Consulting with dog trainers can help families navigate pet ownership with kids.
The book aims to educate children on how to interact safely with dogs.
The authors hope to support local businesses by distributing the book in their community.
The book is self-published and available on platforms like Amazon.
Future books in the series will address themes of friendship and loss in pet ownership.
The authors emphasize the importance of rhyming in children's literature for memory retention. 


Keywords

pet care, children's books, dog safety, parenting, veterinary medicine, family pets, book publishing, dog training, pet education, children's literature

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, hosts Michael and Stephen Shirley interview veterinary cardiologist Dr. Eric Owens, Cardiology DVM | DACVIM
. They discuss various aspects of pet heart health. They explore common heart diseases in pets, including mitral valve disease in small dogs and dilated cardiomyopathy in large breeds. Dr. Owens shares insights on surgical interventions, the importance of early detection, and tips for maintaining heart health in pets. The conversation also touches on the emotional aspects of heart health, including the phenomenon of broken heart syndrome in humans.

Keywords

pet health, veterinary cardiology, heart disease, pet care, pet surgery, mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pet heart health, veterinary specialist

Takeaways

The more you know about pet healthcare, the better pet parent you can be.
Pet Heart Month is celebrated in February.
Common cardiac surgeries are often performed on young dogs with congenital heart diseases.
Without treatment, certain heart conditions can be fatal for pets.
Mitral valve disease is the most common heart disease in small dogs.
Dilated cardiomyopathy primarily affects large and giant breed dogs.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a significant concern in cats.
Monitoring breathing and signs of distress is crucial for pet heart health.
Early detection of heart disease can lead to better outcomes for pets.
Broken heart syndrome in humans is known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, hosts Michael and Stephen discuss the importance of being prepared for pet emergencies, especially during the holiday season when regular veterinary offices may be closed. They are joined by Dr. Matt Mink from VEG Murfreesboro, who shares insights into the differences between emergency veterinary care and general practice, including wait times, costs, and communication strategies. The conversation emphasizes the need for pet owners to trust their instincts when it comes to seeking emergency care and provides practical tips for navigating the experience.

Takeaways

The more you know about pet healthcare, the better pet parent you can be.
Pet emergencies often occur when regular vet offices are closed, especially during holidays.
Emergency clinics operate differently than general practices, with no appointments and potentially longer wait times.
If you're worried enough to call an emergency vet, you should probably go in.
Emergency care can be more expensive due to the need for 24/7 staffing and specialized equipment.
Communication with the veterinary team is crucial during emergencies.
Pet owners should bring snacks and entertainment for potentially long wait times.
Emergency clinics often have open concept treatment areas, allowing pet owners to see care in real-time.
Pets cannot communicate their issues, so trust your instincts as a pet owner.
Emergency clinics are prepared for a wide range of urgent situations, from foreign bodies to critical care.

It is mid-July and it is hot outside. The excessive heat presents challenges to exercising and playing outdoors with our pets and can lead to potentially life threatening conditions. Dr. Renee Dupree joins the podcast today to discuss the two most common heat related conditions – heat exhaustion and heat stroke. She explains the signs to watch for as well as the steps to take if your pet begins to get too hot.

Here are links to information we talked about today:

• How Hot Is Too Hot: Heatstroke in Dogs from the American Kennel Club
• Heat Health Tips for Your Pets from the Family Pet Health blog

Got a question for Michael and Stephen? Run across something interesting you want to share with the show? Do you have a topic idea for a future episode? Send it to us at thefamilypetpodcast@gmail.com. 

Here are links to the information we talked about today:

• Heartworm Life Cycle video from the American Heartworm Society
• Heartworm Incidence Map from the American Heartworm Society
• Microfilaria Under a Microscope video
• Heartworm Extraction Surgery video *Warning: Graphic video*

Got a question for Michael and Stephen? Run across something interesting you want to share with the show? Do you have a topic idea for a future episode? Send it to us at thefamilypetpodcast@gmail.com. 

The two guests on today’s episode have walked the path from being a child interested in being a veterinarian to having finished their first year of veterinary school. Join us as Elizabeth Whitt and Alyssa Howell recount the steps along their path and provide a glimpse into the life of a vet student. They will also share advice to others interested in applying to veterinary school.

Here are links to information we talked about today:

• Becoming a Veterinarian via the AVMA website
• VMCAS 2023 Application Guide 
• Compare schools and check out admission requirements at VMSAR

Got a question for Michael and Stephen? Run across something interesting you want to share with the show? Do you have a topic idea for a future episode? Send it to us at thefamilypetpodcast@gmail.com. 

The July 4th holiday season is upon us. Backyard firework celebrations will be a common practice throughout much of America in the coming days. Unfortunately, these celebrations can often be anxiety inducing events for our furry family members. It is often reported that more pets go missing on July 4th than on any other day of the year.

Dr. Jennifer Nunnery joins the podcast to talk about why are pets are so sensitive to fireworks and what we can do to help prepare them for the firework season.

Here are links to information we talked about today:

• Fireworks and Your Pet blog post from Family Pet Health
• Don't let your pet become another 4th of July runaway from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Anxiety Medication for Dogs from Whole Dog Journal
• Could a Thunder Shirt help your pet’s firework anxiety?

Got a question for Michael and Stephen? Run across something interesting you want to share with the show? Do you have a topic idea for a future episode? Send it to us at thefamilypetpodcast@gmail.com. 

Our previous episode focused on the most common blood panels. This week’s follow-up episode focuses on the other common diagnostic tests that can be bundled with blood panels or as a stand-alone test. ZoeySmith, LVMT, joins the podcast today to explain what pet parents can expect from a fecal test and urinalysis at the veterinary clinic.

Here are links to the information we talked about today:

• Zoonosis: What Is All the Fuss About? From Today’s Veterinary Nurse
• Zoonotic Diseases and Pets FAQ from the American Veterinary Medical Association
• Fecal Testing in Cats & Dogs from Essentials PetCare
• Why Does My Pet Need a Urinalysis? from FirstVet

Got a question for Michael and Stephen? Run across something interesting you want to share with the show? Do you have a topic idea for a future episode? Send it to us at thefamilypetpodcast@gmail.com. 

Will Rogers is famously quoted as saying “personally, I have always felt that the best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter...he's just got to know.” 

While veterinarians can’t simply ask the family pet what is the matter, one helpful tool in diagnosing the problem is blood work. Regular lab work provides the veterinarian a glimpse inside the pet and allows them to assess organ functions, compare to previous readings and diagnose issues. 

Stephanie Adams, LVMT, joins the podcast today to explain what pet parents can expect from blood work at the veterinary clinic.

Here are links to information we talked about today:

• Reading the Blood Chemistry Panel: An Art and Science from PetMD shares examples of the importance of regular blood work
• Lab Values for Dogs and Cats from Veterinary Partner describes each facet of a standard blood panel

Got a question for Michael and Stephen? Run across something interesting you want to share with the show? Do you have a topic idea for a future episode? Send it to us at thefamilypetpodcast@gmail.com. 

While the concept of telehealth has become a frequent topic of discussion in the veterinary industry in recent years, the concept still remains a murky one for veterinarians and pet owners alike. Telemedicine, teletriage, telemonitoring, teleconsulting, telecommunications— all of these “tele”s are various components of telehealth. But what does it all mean?

Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, an industry leader in the field of telegraph, joins us to discuss exactly what is telehealth and how pet parents can best utilize it for the care of their pets. 

Here are links to information we talked about today:

• Learn more about Dr. Vogelsang at pawcurious.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram
• Veterinary telehealth: The basics from the American Veterinary Medical Association
• Find your state’s VCPR laws using the Veterinary Telemedicine Regulatory Map from the Veterinary Virtual Care Association

Got a question for Michael and Stephen? Run across something interesting you want to share with the show? Do you have a topic idea for a future episode? Send it to us at thefamilypetpodcast@gmail.com.