Short Leash Podcast

Does your dog really need another vaccine? And can a simple blood test change how we approach their health? In this episode of Short Leash , Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart break down the latest veterinary research before welcoming Dr. Jean Dodds , pioneering veterinary hematologist and founder of Hemopet, to explore vaccines, antibody titers, diagnostics, and personalized veterinary care. PART 1:...

Is your dog's food providing everything they need to thrive, or simply meeting minimum nutritional requirements? In this episode of Short Leash , holistic veterinarian Dr. Chris Bessent , founder of The Simple Food Project, joins Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart to discuss whole food dog nutrition, fresh vs. processed dog food, nutrient absorption, and how everyday feeding choices may influence long...

What does it really mean to treat the whole dog? In this episode of Short Leash , Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart, RVT, CPCN, look beyond isolated symptoms to explore factors that can influence health—from sleep and movement to stress, environment, lifestyle, and the human-animal relationship. They begin with three stories from the latest Short Leash newsletter: a study examining how women perceive...

Dog parents are being told to feed better...but what does “better” actually mean? With pet food marketing, social media advice, veterinary recommendations, homemade recipes, and supplements all competing for attention, making a better choice can quickly feel overwhelming. In this episode of Short Leash , Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart, RVT, CPCN, are joined by Ruby Balaram, Director of Feed Real I...

What does it really mean to care for the whole dog? In this episode of Short Leash, Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart explore how movement, cognition, nutrition, pain, and healthy aging are connected. They first break down new research on canine rehabilitation, physical activity and cognitive health, and TCVM food therapy. Then, integrative veterinarian Dr. Tejinder Sodhi joins the conversation to di...

Medicinal mushrooms are everywhere right now...but what does the science actually say? In this episode of Short Leash , Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart, RVT, CPCN are joined by medical herbalist and educator Lee Carroll to explore medicinal mushrooms, herbal medicine, and the science behind natural dog health. Lee breaks down lion’s mane and cognitive health, the gut-brain connection, mushrooms vs....

Can red and near-infrared light therapy help dogs heal? In this episode of Short Leash, Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart sit down with Jackie Jolie of AnimaSOL to explore photobiomodulation (PBM), current veterinary research, and what dog owners should know about light-based therapies. The episode begins with a review of three recent articles highlighting the growing interest in non-invasive therapi...

Is healthy aging just about joints...or is everything in your dog's body connected? In this episode of the Short Leash Podcast , Dr. Madeline Yamate explains how inflammation, the nervous system, mobility, nutrition, and whole-body health are connected—and why understanding these connections may help dogs live healthier, longer lives. We also discuss three recent headlines making waves in the dog...

Functional Foods: Are We Asking More From Our Dog's Food? Dog nutrition has evolved beyond simply providing calories. Today's dog owners want food that supports gut health, immunity, mobility, healthy aging, and more. But are we asking too much from our dogs' food? In this episode of Short Leash , Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart discuss three major trends shaping canine nutrition: • Why digestive h...

Is dog anxiety becoming more common...or are we missing the bigger picture? In this first episode of Short Leash, Rita Hogan joins Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart for an honest conversation about what may really be driving anxiety in dogs. Rather than viewing anxiety as simply a behavioral problem, they explore how stress, nutrition, movement, the nervous system, and the human-animal bond all influ...