The Family Pet Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, hosts Michael and Stephen Shirley and guest Aileen Cronin discuss how to prepare your home and your dog for the arrival of a new baby. Aileen , the owner of Baby Pack Leader, shares her expertise as a dog trainer and offers valuable tips for introducing dogs to babies. The conversation covers topics such as crate training, establishing boundaries, and teaching dogs the difference between their toys and the baby's toys. Aileen emphasizes the importance of starting early and being intentional about building a positive relationship between the dog and the baby.

Check out Aileen's website at: Baby Pack Leader

Takeaways

Start early and be intentional about preparing your home and your dog for the arrival of a new baby
Establish a crate training routine to give your dog a safe space and a break from the baby
Remove access to the baby's sleeping areas and teach the dog the difference between their toys and the baby's toys
Focus on parallel play and side-by-side interactions between the dog and the baby to build a positive relationship
Be patient and take your time in introducing the dog and the baby at each stage of the child's development

Keywords

family pet podcast, preparing home for baby, introducing dogs to babies, crate training, establishing boundaries, dog and baby relationship

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, the hosts interview Michael Leung, the co-founder and chief product developer of SleepyPod, a pet carrier and safety products manufacturer. They discuss the importance of pet safety during car travel and the innovative products SleepyPod has developed to keep pets secure. They also talk about the crash testing process and the need for standardized regulations for pet products in cars.

Sleepypod Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@sleepypod
Center for Pet Safety

Takeaways
Pet safety during car travel is crucial to protect both the pet and the occupants of the car.
SleepyPod offers a range of innovative products, including carriers and harnesses, that are designed to keep pets secure during car travel.
The crash testing process is used to ensure that SleepyPod products meet safety standards and can withstand impact forces.
There is a need for standardized regulations for pet products in cars to ensure consistent safety measures.

pet safety, car travel, SleepyPod, pet carriers, harnesses, crash testing, standardized regulations, trivia

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, host Stephen and guest Dr. Holly Brown discuss the importance of lab work in pet healthcare. They cover topics such as the complete blood count (CBC), fecal testing, and urinalysis. They also explore the differences between in-house testing and reference labs. Dr. Brown emphasizes the value of baseline lab results and provides a fun fact about the origin of the word 'leukemia'. The episode concludes with a preview of Part 2, where they will delve deeper into specific aspects of lab testing.

Takeaways

Lab work is an essential part of pet healthcare and can provide valuable insights into a pet's overall health.
The complete blood count (CBC) is a comprehensive test that examines red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Fecal testing helps detect gastrointestinal parasites and is crucial for both the pet's health and public health.
Urinalysis provides valuable information about kidney function, hydration status, and various metabolic processes.
Choosing between in-house testing and reference labs depends on factors such as urgency, convenience, and the range of available tests.
Performing lab work at different stages of a pet's life can establish baselines and detect abnormalities early on.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Funny Skits
01:24 Introducing the Family Pet Podcast and Guest
03:23 Lab Work and Its Importance
06:19 Understanding the Complete Blood Count (CBC)
09:09 Fecal Testing and its Significance
13:01 The Urinalysis and its Role in Diagnosis
16:31 In-House Testing vs. Reference Labs
19:24 When to Perform Lab Work
23:45 The Value of Baseline Lab Results
24:30 Fun Fact: The Origin of the Word 'Leukemia'
26:14 Conclusion and Preview of Part 2

Working alongside veterinarians in clinics across the country are a host of support staff. Chief among them are veterinary technicians. The role, and accompanying title, is an often misunderstood one that requires formal education, training, testing and annual recertification.

In this episode, Michael and Stephen talk to Stephanie Adams, an LVMT at Family Pet Health, about her journey to becoming a veterinary technician. She explains what a veterinary technician is, what role they perform in the clinic and the importance of protecting the title.

Here are links to information we talked about today:

• The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America annual report on “Title Protection”
• Stephanie’s blog post about her journey to LVMT
• Veterinary Technician Schools by State
• Video Interview: Three Questions with Stephanie

There are more than 135 million dogs and cats in the United States and their owners spent more than $100 billion on petcare in 2020. While only a fraction of that spending was on pet insurance, the number of covered pets has been rising by more than 20% a year for the past five years. In 2020, more than 3 million pets were insured and owners paid more than $2 billion in premiums.

In this episode, Stephen and Michael discuss pet insurance and what pet owners should keep in mind when considering purchasing pet insurance.

Here are links to information we talked about today:

• Our blog post about Pet Insurance

• These are three pet insurance companies we recommend at Family Pet Health

• North American Pet Health Insurance Association State of the Industry 2021 report

In the inaugural episode of The Family Pet Podcast, Dr. Shirley shares life-saving information for rabbit owners related to the discovery of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) recently detected in Tennessee. RHDV2 is an often fatal disease that affects both wild and domestic rabbits. It was first detected in the United States in 2018 and has been spreading across the country ever since. Following widespread outbreaks in the Southwestern states like California, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, RHDV2 began appearing in the Southeast in 2021. Incidents were reported in Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida in 2021. Now, Tennessee has been added to the list of states with confirmed cases of RHDV2. The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with infected rabbits or carcasses, meat or their fur, feces, bodily fluids, contaminated bedding materials or other materials that have been contaminated. People can inadvertently spread the virus into new areas by moving infected live rabbits, carcasses or parts from infected animals, as well as on clothing and shoes. The virus can persist in the environment for an extended time, which makes it difficult to control the disease once it affects wild rabbit populations. A new vaccine developed by Medgene Labs has shown to be 100% effective in the prevention of this deadly disease.

In this episode, Justin Wallen teaches us the basics of keeping bugs and spiders as pets!

Check out his business Justin's Critters located in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, Dr. Christine Garrett discusses chronic kidney disease in pets. The kidneys act as filters, removing waste and maintaining electrolyte balance in the body. Chronic kidney disease is characterized by irreversible loss of kidney function. Common signs and symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, vomiting, and weight loss. Diagnosis involves physical exams, blood work, urinalysis, and imaging. Prevention strategies include maintaining hydration and avoiding toxins. Treatment options include dietary changes, fluid therapy, and medication. The life expectancy and quality of life for pets with chronic kidney disease vary depending on the cause and treatment.

Takeaways

Chronic kidney disease in pets is characterized by irreversible loss of kidney function.
Common signs and symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, vomiting, and weight loss.
Diagnosis involves physical exams, blood work, urinalysis, and imaging.
Prevention strategies include maintaining hydration and avoiding toxins.
Treatment options include dietary changes, fluid therapy, and medication.
The life expectancy and quality of life for pets with chronic kidney disease vary depending on the cause and treatment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:00 Preventive Medicine and Chronic Kidney Disease
03:18 Function of the Kidneys
04:29 Electrolyte Balance and Kidney Function
06:05 Chronic Kidney Disease in Pets
08:30 Irreversible Loss of Kidney Function
09:26 Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease
11:10 Diagnosing Chronic Kidney Disease
12:31 Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease
15:11 Chronic Kidney Disease in Dogs
17:40 Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease
19:41 Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease
23:02 Life Expectancy and Quality of Life
25:13 Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Family Pet Podcast, we talk to Dr. David Levine and Ashley Wheeler LVMT to discuss rehabilitation for pets. They explain the purpose of rehab, which includes reinforcing post-operative surgeries and maximizing function in cases of arthritis or neurological conditions. The guests also highlight the importance of assessment and individualized treatment plans. They discuss various rehab techniques such as underwater treadmills and balance tools. Additionally, they provide tips for preventing the need for rehab, including maintaining a healthy weight and incorporating regular exercise. The episode concludes with fun facts about otters and the evolution of ear sizes in animals.

Takeaways

Rehabilitation for pets aims to reinforce post-operative surgeries and maximize function in cases of arthritis or neurological conditions.
Assessment is crucial in determining the progress of rehab and making necessary adjustments to the treatment plan.
Various techniques, such as underwater treadmills and balance tools, are used in pet rehabilitation.
Preventing the need for rehab can be achieved by maintaining a healthy weight and incorporating regular exercise.
Fun facts: Otters hold hands when they sleep, and the size of an animal's ears can vary based on its habitat.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Experiences
02:19 Rehabilitation for Pets
05:23 The Purpose of Rehab
07:04 Comparison to Human Occupational Therapy
08:20 Rehabilitation Techniques
10:00 Prescribing Rehab Exercises
13:00 Duration of Treatment
14:12 Homework for Pet Parents
15:24 Assessing Improvement
17:16 Canine vs. Feline Rehabilitation
20:20 Exercise for Cats
23:02 Advancements in Animal Physical Therapy
25:58 Preventing the Need for Rehab
28:12 The Importance of Activity
29:21 Fun Facts
31:51 Closing Remarks

Dr. Christiane Massicotte, a boarded veterinary neurologist with Veterinary Care and Specialty Group in Chattanooga, TN, joins the podcast to discuss various neurologic diseases in pets. She explains the role of a veterinary neurologist, which includes diagnosing and treating brain, spinal cord, nerve, and muscle diseases. One common condition she discusses is intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), which can cause herniated discs in pets. Dr. Massicotte emphasizes the importance of early intervention and proper diagnosis for successful treatment. She also highlights the signs that indicate a trip to the neurologist is necessary, such as seizures, abnormal behavior, and difficulty walking. Dr. Massicotte explains the treatment options available, including surgery, medication, and radiation therapy. She reassures pet parents that advancements in technology and treatment options have greatly improved outcomes for neurologic diseases. Dr. Massicotte concludes by providing hope and emphasizing the importance of improving the quality of life for pets with neurologic conditions.

Takeaways

A veterinary neurologist diagnoses and treats brain, spinal cord, nerve, and muscle diseases in pets.
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common condition that can cause herniated discs in pets.
Signs that indicate a trip to the neurologist is necessary include seizures, abnormal behavior, and difficulty walking.
Treatment options for neurologic diseases include surgery, medication, and radiation therapy.
Advancements in technology and treatment options have greatly improved outcomes for pets with neurologic conditions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:38 What does a veterinary neurologist do?
03:02 Herniated discs in pets
05:11 Understanding intervertebral disc disease
07:13 Signs that a trip to the neurologist is needed
10:23 Referrals to a neurologist
12:59 Treatment options for neurologic diseases
16:22 Advancements in technology and treatment options
18:30 Treatment options for seizures
20:37 Providing hope and improving quality of life
23:21 Fun fact: 25% of blood is in the brain
25:00 Closing remarks