Pete the Vet's Podcast

Do you ever wash your dog or cat? This is one of the routine parts of pet care which many people wonder about. How often should a pet be washed? What sort of shampoo or soap should be used? How long should it be left on? To find out, listen to this podcast.

Some pet owners have lost their trust in vaccinations, and as a consequence, they are refusing to have their pets vaccinated according to their vets' recommendations. As a result, epidemics of diseases like Parvovirus are starting to happen again. This podcast runs over the history and background to this topic.

Puppy farms tend to produce pups that grow up to be adult dogs with behavioural problems, and the UK has been very progressive in tackling these issues. The UK has just passed "Lucy's Law" which bans the sale of puppies by third parties such as pet shops, on the internet etc. This podcast explains the background to this ban, plus the likely impact on the Irish dog exports.

After a brief mention of "bee rescue", this week's talk focusses on the truth about animal cruelty legislation and enforcement in Ireland.

Pedigree cats need to be bred with care, choosing only healthy individuals without extreme conformation (such as flat faces or odd-shaped ears), and health testing should be done to prevent inherited diseases. To find out more, listen to this podcast.

A swan in a local harbour was attacked by a dog and badly injured. To find out what happened, listen to this podcast.

Every summer dogs die in cars, whether parked or being driven by the owner. So everyone, please be very very careful. Listen to the podcast to find out more.

Bonnie suffers from itchy skin: this podcast discusses food allergy, and in particular the possible benefits of a raw meat diet for dogs that are itching.

During this long hot summer, it's more important than ever to care for your pets carefully to make sure that they stay safe and comfortable.

In this warm weather, it is NEVER ok to leave a dog in a vehicle. At the Groove Festival in Bray last weekend, a dog had to be removed from the back of a van by the police after it was found to have been left there. Listen to this podcast to find out more about why dogs cannot be left alone in cars in the summer.

Heatstroke is a big risk to dogs and owners need to be aware of how to keep their pets cool. And Pugs, like all flat faced dogs are more prone to this. The new Disney movie Patrick features a Pug and many vets are worried that this may make the breed even more popular, with new owners not realising the possible health challenges in the breed.

This is SpayAware week in Ireland, highlighting the importance of spaying and neutering dogs and cats for health reasons as well as for population control. To find out more, listen to the podcast.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to human health. The veterinary profession uses antibiotics as much as the human medical profession. So how much of a role can vets play in dealing with this problem? Listen to this podcast to find out more.

At their annual conference this weekend, Irish pet vets urged members of the public to “think twice” before buying a flat faced dog like a pug, bulldog or French bulldog. This podcast discusses the issues in detail.

This week, Pete talks about alpacas, as well as emotional support animals being transported in airlines

Spot, Rover, Tibbles and Pickles may be traditional pet names, but these days people are calling their pets by human names. This podcast considers why this is happening, and discusses pets' names in more detail

Six out of ten vets have to treat dogs for chocolate poisoning over Easter. This podcast explains why chocolate is so bad for dogs.

Emotional support animals have been in the news recently, after a hamster and peacock were refused permission to bring their pets onto aeroplanes.

Diabetes mellitus is a common problem in dogs and cats: to find out more about it, listen to this podcast

Many people have chosen to be vegan for the month for January, taking part in Veganuary. Some pet owners would like their pets to be vegan too, but is this possible? Pete the Vet explains the possibilities in this podcast.

Considering Christmas presents for your pets? What sort of indulgences are appropriate and which are just a bit of fun? To find out more, listen to this podcast.

From reflective collars to illuminated leads: there are different ways of making pets more visible in the winter months. Listen to this podcast to find out more.

Fireworks come out every year at different times - from Halloween to Guy Fawkes to New Year. Many animals are terrified of these noisy, bright creations. Listen to this podcast to find out how you can help them.

Why do dogs use their facial expressions to plead with their owners? Listen to this podcast to find out more.

In disaster zones, human life is at risk and unfortunately, animals also suffer. In this podcast, we discuss this topic, as well as moving on to discuss the concept of "parental leave" for owners whose pets are unwell.