Scratching the Itch
Each episode ends with a segment highlighting something that provides relief or just makes you feel good, hence, “scratching the itch.” This post contains all the feel goods in one place.
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Hospice and End of Life
Preventing and relieving suffering in pets is important all life stages, but particularly during end of life care. Hospice veterinarian, Dr. Mary Gardner, co-founder and chief information officer of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, joins this episode to tell us about a sweet golden retriever named Bogey, bucket lists, palliative care, and euthanasia or “good-byes.” If your dog or cat is an older animal, your geriatric pet could benefit from this discussion on how to identify ways to improve your final time together, and what to expect when it’s time.
Anxiety and Allergies
Many pet owners may think their pet licks its paws because of anxiety. While anxiety may play a role in how itchy an allergic pet feels, when dogs lick their paws to the point of causing damage to the skin, anxiety it not the only problem. Dr. Lindsey McAuliffe, veterinary dermatologist, set out to study the role of anxiety in dogs with allergies. She found a fascinating change in many behaviors, including aggression, fear, touch sensitivity and trainability. If your allergic dog struggles with behavior problems, this is a fascinating conversation looking at what the research tells us.
Ear Cleaning
Ear cleaning can be incredibly important for dogs with ear infections and allergies. Pet owners may struggle with ear cleaning if the dog is fearful or painful. In this episode, Dr. Amy Pike, veterinary behavior specialist, discusses cooperative care techniques for low stress ear cleanings for your dog with ear infections. This episode is a great resource if your dog has ever had an ear infection and you are looking for a method that decreases pain and anxiety for everyone involved.
Anesthetic and anesthesia free Dental Cleanings
As part of National Pet Dental Health Month, veterinary dentist and oral surgeon, Dr. Amy Thomson joins the show to talk teeth. Wondering if your dog needs a dental cleaning? Does your dog need anesthesia for dental care? Does your pet need x-rays of their teeth? In this episode, Dr. Thomson explains why your veterinarian recommends a COHAT, comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment, to keep your pet’s mouth healthy, as well as the risks associated with cosmetic, nonanesthetic dental cleanings.
Symmetric Lupoid Onychitis
Symmetric lupoid onychitis (SLO) is a rare autoimmune disease of dogs. In this disease, the immune system, which usually keeps the body safe from germs and cancer cells, decides the connections between the claws and the skin should be attacked. This leads to easily damaged and ripped off claws in affected dogs. In this episode, veterinary dermatologist Dr. Brittany Lancellotti discusses why this occurs, what treatments may be recommended, and what to expect during the treatment process.
Chronic Vomiting in Cats
If you have a cat who is vomiting a hairball more than two times per month, there is a problem. In this episode, Dr. Chris Byers, veterinary internal medicine specialist and critical care specialist, joins us to explain:
How much puke is too much?
Is your cat vomiting or coughing too hard?
When should you take your cat to the vet?
What tests are recommended for vomiting and why?
What treatments are available?
Itchy Pet Awareness Month – Stella and the Allergic Cat
August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. When it comes to itchy cats and dogs, the pets are not the only ones suffering. Caregiver burden is directly related to treatment complexity and treating allergies can be very complex. Dr. Meagan Painter, veterinary dermatologist, founder of The Allergic Dog and The Allergic Cat, and pet owner of her own allergic cat, talks about Stella and how managing her cat’s allergies has been a learning process for them both.
Itchy Pet Awareness Month – Dog Allergies Information and Support
August is Itchy Pet Awareness month. Many pet owners are not aware of veterinary dermatologists who can help. There are about 300 board certified veterinary dermatologists in the American College of Veterinary Dermatology who have undergone extensive training and completed research after veterinary school in order to specialize in the study of skin and ear disease, as well as allergies, immunology, and internal medicine. Petra Lee, of the Dog Allergies Information and Support Group, joins us to talk about how she discovered a veterinary dermatologist for her dog, Olive, and how she is advocating partnership between owners of allergic dogs and veterinarians.
Ringworm
No, it’s not actually a worm. This fungal infection of the skin is most commonly seen in young kittens and puppies. Certain breeds, such as Yorkshire Terriers and Persian cats, and older animals whose immune systems are compromised can be at risk for ringworm. This infection can be spread to people who come in contact with these animals. Join Dr. Nellie Choi, veterinary dermatologist, to find out more about this skin infections, including what to watch for, how your veterinarian might test for it, and what they can do to treat it.
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease that can affect all mammals, including humans and their companion dogs and cats. While rabies deaths are rare in the United States, tens of thousands of people die each year from rabies, primarily in Africa and Asia. Almost 99% of rabies cases in humans are transmitted by dogs. The rabies vaccine is safe and effective against this fatal virus. In this episode, Dr. Jess Torok joins us to discuss this preventable disease in pets and her work with Mission Rabies in Tanzania.