Pete the Vet's Podcast

Trap Neuter Release (TNR) is the best way to control feral cat populations. When the management of a local apartment complex informed residents that they had employed a pest control company "to remove the cats", many of the residents felt that this was inappropriate, so they contacted local cat enthusiasts for their support in finding an alternative answer. Listen to this podcast to find out more.

In this week's broadcast on East Coast FM, we started with a listener who had a problem with unwanted rats in her garden, and we moved on to talk about the timing of spaying kittens, then the issue of pets watching tv.

This week on East Coast FM, we discussed the importance of spaying and neutering pets: in most cases, it's good for pets' health, and it is the best way to deal with Ireland's big problem with pet overpopulation

This is the SpayAware radio advert for our 2015 campaign, to be broadcast nationwide in Ireland on Newstalk during SpayAware Week - from 24th to 31st May 2015.

Rabbits are misunderstood creatures and are often accidentally neglected as pets. In this week's podcast, four ways of improving rabbits' lives are discussed.

This week, a case of sheep being massacred on a local farm was discussed, followed by the complex subject of dog parks

Dog bites have increased in Ireland by 20% on a per capita basis in Ireland in the past 15 years. Why is this, and what can be done to prevent dog bites?

A court in Donegal has just taken the first prosecution under the new Irish Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which came into law in March 2014. The case involves a dog that was abandoned, an event which happened in March 2014, but it has taken until now to come to court.

This week on East Coast FM, Pete the Vet discusses why some dogs enjoy eating soil, and others enjoy chewing grass. Does it indicate a nutritional deficiency? Can it cause any harm?

In this week's podcast, Pete discusses puppy farming in Ireland, following up the RTE Consumer Show investigation that was shown last week (you can watch this on RTE Player here http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10388623/)

Crufts, the world's biggest dog show, ran into controversy this year, with rumours of poisoning and the "best in show dog" being lifted in a way that upset British dog lovers. And not forgetting cats: why do cats scratch furniture? To find out more, listen to the podcast

Many dog owners have a simple question: how often should they be washed? This podcast gives a useful overview of this subject.

Cats are far more likely to be harmed by humans compared to dogs. This podcast discusses the reasons for this and tries to suggest alternative, kind ways for people to deal with cats that may be causing problems.

On East Coast FM this week, I answered a listener's query about a gerbil with a runny eye & then we went on to discuss a local issue that's going on at the moment about dogs chasing sheep in the countryside

Pete the Vet Podcast: by Pete Wedderburn

This week, we review the important issue of overweight and obese pets. Why does it happen and what can be done to help? This ties in with TV3's Project Pet Slimdown which is happening on Ireland AM during the spring of 2015.

This week, we discuss the issue of pets wetting their beds, and also other aspects of "house training". We go on to discuss the animal welfare issues around geese being used to produce "foie gras"

Many owners swear that their dogs look guilty if they misbehave: now scientists have investigated this using some carefully controlled experiments. To find out the results, listen to this podcast.

Pete the Vet does the "news and natter" section with Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk: from animal rights to cold weather topics (including hens wearing home knitted jerseys)

Pete the Vet (wearing an elf costume) discusses various Christmas related issues for pets, as well as answering listeners' general queries (such as a terrier with a nose-licking obsession).

On East Coast FM this week, we discussed the ISPCA's decision to stop running local authority dog pounds in some areas, and the DSPCA's news story about their call to have online advertising of animals banned in Ireland

It's easy to spoil pets at Christmas time, but it's easy to create problems by giving the wrong foods or too much of the right foods. To find out more, listen to this podcast

This week, Pete reports on the London Vet Show, discussing some of the new information that he gleaned while attending.

In this week's podcast, courtesy of East Coast FM, we discuss the recent deaths of eleven greyhounds in transit to the European continent from Ireland, and we go on to talk about the wider picture of export of live farm animals

This week Pete discusses black cats, Halloween and fireworks.