Thinking about adding a dog to your family? Bringing a dog into a home with young children can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with important considerations. In this episode, we explore how to choose the right breed or temperament, prepare your home and kids for a new pet, and ensure a smooth introduction.... more
This episode offers a compassionate exploration of how regenerative medicine, particularly biologics, can bring relief to our beloved pets suffering from osteoarthritis (OA). With warmth and expertise, David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, discusses treatment options like platelet-rich plasma, stem cell therapy, and joint... more
Imagine undergoing surgery without understanding why, and then returning home only to be confined to bed with no explanation. You're deprived of all activities and stimulation—no television, books, phone, computer, or any form of entertainment—for weeks or even months. It would drive you CRAZY! This is exactly how your... more
Meet Naja Muller, the devoted "Mom" to a pack of incredible handi-capable rescued bullies and the heart behind the inspiring social media presence, Tonka's Journey. As a kindred spirit to PetAbility Podcast's mission, Naja shares our commitment to normalizing differently-abled pets by highlighting the journeys of her t... more
Buckle up as Caroline (Carrie) Adrian, PT, PhD, tCPT™, Fellow, IAVRPT, shares her story as a true pioneer in the discipline of small animal physical rehabilitation. In turn, get glimpses of how far this field has come in the past 25 years. Thanks to her grit, determination, and admittedly, even a little bit of luck, Ca... more
Let's dispel some misconceptions about rats! Rats are VERY smart, super snuggly, clean, social creatures. Historically, due in large part to media and negative idioms, rats have gotten a bad rap. 11 year-old Kylie Wilson is here to tell us about what it's like to live with four domestic pet rats, why she loves them and... more
Gratitude can be a wonderful healer after we experience the loss of a beloved pet. Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mindy Meiering, created the Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck after she lost her own dog, Ellie, as a resource for others experiencing similar emotional pain. The Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck is a therapeutic ... more
In this episode, Cathy and Chris discuss the relatively common condition of bicipital tendinitis in the dog or inflammation of the biceps tendon at the shoulder joint. This comprehensive overview covers the following:Anatomy of the forelimb, specifically the shoulder and biceps muscle/tendonCauses from overuse/repetati... more
Listen as guest, Nancy Denier, professional dog trainer, dog multi-sport participant, and past Flyball judge, takes us into the action-packed world of Flyball, the ultimate team canine competition, that involves speed, strategy, and commitment. In this episode, you'll learn about:The basics of Flyball Training regimenC... more
Historically, dogs with a missing front leg had few options but to hop along. If a "fake leg" could be made, the process was costly and cumbersome. Enter 3D Pets, a company whose mission is to bring animal mobility devices into the 21st century by incorporating 3D printing. Listen to cofounder, Alex Tholl, describe how... more
Is your cat eating messily? Does your dog have bad breath? According to Beth Innis, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVCHM, CVSMT, these could be signs of dental or periodontal disease. This episode covers our pet's oral health, from what you can do at home (Hint: brush, brush, brush!) to the role of professional dentistry. If you've e... more
What is something that 80% of dogs get after the age of 8, that cats are crafty at hiding, and that prevents birds from perching? It's arthritis: arth (= joint) + itis (= inflammation) and it's no joke! Just ask anybody who has undergone a total joint replacement due to this debilitating disease, a disease that can bec... more
Fascia: connective tissue that literally surrounds every cell of all bodies that has a huge impact on comfort, movement, and well-being, but very few talk about it. Dr. McCauley is changing that in the vet world. Listen as Laurie McCauley, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVA, CVC, also known as the Mother of Canine Physical Rehabi... more
Just because we call it passive range of motion (PROM), we not be passive about it! This episode describes why PROM is so vital to your pet's health and function. We detail how do a simple technique specifically with your pet's front limb joints. Listen to learn how to not only keep your pet well by maintaining its PRO... more
"You can't change the past, but you can rescue the future" as quoted by the founder of Marley's Mutts, Zach Skow seems to say it all. Listen as Torie Beck, the coordinator of Miracle Mutts, takes us on a deep dive into Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue and her own experiences with her therapy dogs, Sully, her blind dog, and R... more
This is the hippest show we've launched to date! Why? Because it covers a very common type of hip surgery called an FHO (Femoral Head and neck Ostectomy) used to treat a variety of hip issues from traumatic injuries to severe arthritis caused by such conditions as hip dysplasia. Listen to Kechia Davis, DVM, DACVS, des... more
PetAbility Podcast hosts, Cathy and Chris, once again lend their experiences and expertise to the show - this time discussing Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.Who gets it?What is it?Why should we care?With the popularity of Frenchies and other smoosh-faced dogs exponentially increasing world-wide, caretakers... more
If you’ve ever had the profound pleasure of loving a pet, you’ve undoubtedly experienced grief when they pass. But the loss of a pet is distinctive because our relationship with our pets is unique: non-verbal, ever-present, physical in nature, and full of unconditional love. We often have long-term and intense relation... more
Horses are majestic beings that are uniquely equipped as highly intuitive, non-judgmental prey animals, to help humans be in the moment, less anxious, and even break through obstacles that may be holding us back in life. Kelly Dukarski, Certified Equine Gestaltist, explains Equine-Assisted Gestalt Therapy, which incor... more
One of the most agonizing questions for any pet owner is how do we know if our beloved pet is in pain? And if they are experiencing pain, how much pain is it and where is it coming from? PainTrace can help to answer all of these questions and more. It is a non-invasive, wearable monitoring system that quantifies pain s... more
The Handicapped Pets Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to provide wheelchairs (Walkin' Wheels) for pets in need whose caregivers demonstrate financial hardship. Suzi Langer brings us through her personal story of receiving a wheelchair from this charity for her pug, Maxwell, to becoming president of the ... more
Listen as Christina Powell tells us the story of Special Needs Animal Rescue League (SNARL). This SNARL is bound to make you smile! What started as a personal rescue of one wobbly German Shepherd became a multi-organization, multi-state/province, two-country machine that takes "red list" dogs from other shelters and fi... more
Join us as we rewind to one of our most popular shows. Should my pet get a ramp or steps to help him onto the bed? This a question that Cathy and Chris get asked all the time. Listen as they debate the pros and cons of each option to help you determine what is best for your pet. They cover what specifications to look ... more
Our pet's are living longer, surviving illnesses and traumas that were unthinkable in the past. Couple this with our ever-growing attitudes that pets are full-fledged members of our families, then the fields of palliative care and pet hospice become vital. Cathy Symons, CVT, CCRP, deftly explains the integral role that... more
A healthy pet starts with healthy nutrition, naturally! After all, “you are what you eat." That same adage applies to both us and our pets. Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT emphasizes that food is food - there should be no need to qualify what we eat as "people food,” nor what we feed our dogs and cats as “pet food.” ... more