The Family Pet Podcast

For centuries, humans have bred certain dog breeds to perform specific tasks. Deep within those dogs is the drive to perform   Nikki Ivey joins the podcast today to talk about how some dogs are genetically predisposed to act a certain way. Whether it is a golden retriever who just loves to play fetch or a border collie who can’t stop chasing cars, certain breeds just like to do certain things. Her...

Ep. 64 - Aggressive Dogs – Show Notes “Why do dogs act aggressively?” That one question posed to Dr. Amy Pike opens up a full conversation about “distance increasing behaviors” in our canine companions. We explore some of the causes of canine aggression and some steps for how pet owners can address the behavioral issues. Dr. Amy Pike is a board certified veterinary behaviorist and is co-owner of t...

Veterinary student Elizabeth Whitt is back with us today to talk about heartworms. She walks us through what heartworms are, the impact they have on our pets and how important prevention is. We get a little carried away with the discussion and we go a bit longer than our average episode, but we feel passionately about this topic. Here are links to information we talked about today: Heartworm Life...

Ep. 66 - Pet Photography  – Show Notes Every pet parent loves a good picture of their family pet. But getting that perfect picture can sometimes be quite a challenge. This week, we invited Patricia Drach, a professional pet photographer, to talk about her experiences with snapping those perfect shots and to give us advice on how we can be better pet photographers ourselves. Here are links to infor...

Ep. 65 - My veterinarian has an app for that.  – Show Notes As we come to live more and more of our lives through our mobile phones, the veterinary industry has begun offering apps that allow pet owners to keep track of their pet’s health records and stay connected to their veterinary providers. Using client engagement apps, pet parents can schedule appointments, submit prescription refill request...

Ep. 64 - Why is my cat peeing outside the litter box? – Show Notes I nappropriate elimination is one of the leading causes of calls to the veterinarian from cat owners. Most often, this is caused by medical issues like urinary tract infections or urinary stones. However, there are times that the problem is a behavioral issue rather than a medical one. Dr. Amy Pike is a board certified veterinary b...

Ep. 63 - Help! My puppy pees EVERYWHERE!!! – Show Notes Still time to register for the 4th Annual #WalkMyDog challenge ! Potty training your new puppy is one of the most important, and sometimes difficult, aspects of acclimating a new furry family member into the home. Stephen is experiencing this first hand as his new puppy, Winston, is not taking well to potty training.  So we brought Heather Mo...

Ep. 62 - Socializing Your Dog – Show Notes One of the most important steps a dog owner can take is to properly socialize their dog. Whether as a puppy meeting the world for the first time or as an adult canine learning about new aspects of life outside the home, the process for socializing a dog is critical to an enjoyable ownership cycle. Heather Moore of Wag It Better Dog Training joins the podc...

Show Notes are coming!

Ep. 60 - Rutherford County PAWS (Part 2) – Show Notes Rutherford County Pet Adoption & Welfare Services (PAWS) is working in partnership with the community to create a safe, healthy and caring environment for both our citizens and animals through education, adoption and courteous, effective enforcement of the Tennessee Codes annotated relating to animals in Rutherford County. Michael Gregory i...

Ep. 59 - Animal Control Laws and Enforcement with PAWS – Show Notes Rutherford County Pet Adoption & Welfare Services (PAWS) is working in partnership with the community to create a safe, healthy and caring environment for both our citizens and animals through education, adoption and courteous, effective enforcement of the Tennessee Codes annotated relating to animals in Rutherford County. Mic...

Ep. 58 - The Canine Review – Show Notes The U.S. pet industry saw more than $135 billion in spending last year. However, there are few journalists covering the “pet industry beat.” From issues surrounding government regulations of the industry to the business financials of giant corporate entities providing for pet care, consumers regularly encounter a void of information. Trying to fill that repo...

Ep. 57 - Five things every cat owner should know – Show Notes Owning a cat can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. As you spend time with your feline companion, you may feel a sense of joy and companionship as you learn their unique personality and quirks. You may also feel a sense of responsibility, knowing that you are responsible for their well-being and for providing the right food, toys...

Ep. 56 - Early Alert Canines – Show Notes Long time listeners to the podcast know Michael is diabetic and Episode 49 talked about diabetes in our pets. But today’s episode focuses on how some specially trained dogs are helping protect their human handlers who have diabetes. Carol Edwards is the Executive Director of Early Alert Canine. She shares information about how dogs are trained to detect da...

Ep. 55 - Walk My Dog 2023 – Show Notes The 4th Annual Walk My Dog Program (Murfreesboro version) is set to run from May 1 through June 30, 2023. It’s simple, fun and good for you and your furry family members. The concept is similar to a library’s summer reading program, but instead of reading books, participants are walking miles with their dogs. Halie Cameron makes her first appearance on the po...

Ep. 54 - Canine Flying Disc Sports – Show Notes Ashton Bemis is back to educate Michael, Stephen, and all of our listeners about her favorite canine activity - disc sports. Hang tight as we jump right into the topic and run through more information than just about any previous episode.  Here are links to information we talked about today: UpDop SkyHoundz K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch US Disc Dogs Na...

Ep. 53 - Multi-Cat Issues – Show Notes If one cat in the home is good, then two cats are twice as great. But have you considered the needs of a multi-cat household? From multiple litter boxes and separate feeding dishes to enrichment focused on individual pet preferences, understanding your cats’ needs is the first step to ensuring their highest quality of life. Thankfully, Pam Johnson-Bennett joi...

Ep. 52 - Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 one year later Dr. Amanda Jones joins the podcast to give an update on Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2). She is the owner of Central Texas Rabbit Herd Management in Killeen, Texas and an associate veterinarian for Animal Emergency Services of Killeen. Dr. Jones also serves as a consultant for Medgene Labs, the maker of the only USDA authorized...

Ep. 51 - My pet just injured wildlife; how do I help? Spring has sprung and wildlife of every variety are entering the reproduction season. With all of the various nests, burrows and warrens, encounters between our family pets and wildlife babies are not uncommon. So what do we do when our pet discovers or disturbs local wildlife? Devon Blackburn joins our podcast to describe her role as a state p...

In recent years, dog sports have become increasingly popular among pet owners and their furry companions. These activities offer a fun and engaging way for dogs to stay active and stimulated while also providing an opportunity for them to bond with their human companions. Ashton Bemis joins our podcast to talk about many of the exciting options for dog owners to engage in fun bonding activities wi...

Much like their human owners, many pets suffer from diabetes. This disease, in which the body is unable to process glucose for cellular energy, can develop as a result of a failure of the pancreas to produce insulin or when the body is unable to process the insulin (often because of inhibitors in excessive fat.)  Dr. Sarah Wooten is a veterinarian, author, speaker, and game creator who has a passi...

Have you shopped for pet insurance lately? There are more than 30 companies today offering plans and navigating their respective websites to obtain policy quotes and compare premium options is an absolute time suck. Thankfully, there are resources available to help make the process MUCH less stressful. Edwin Plotts is the Marketing Director for PawlicyAdvisor, an online comparison tool that helps...

Dental care is an important aspect of pet healthcare, yet it can be easily overlooked. Just like humans, pets can suffer from dental problems that can lead to serious health issues if not addressed in a timely manner. As pet owners, it is our responsibility to make sure that our furry friends receive proper dental care to keep their teeth and gums healthy. We have two experts joining the podcast t...

Losing a pet can be hard. The grief from the loss can hit you right in the feels. Finding support and encouragement following the death of a beloved companion is helpful when processing the emotions surrounding that death.   Dr. Lynn Hendrix literally wrote a book about palliative care and is an expert on helping pet owners deal with grief surrounding the death of a pet. She joins the podcast toda...

You might never know your pet has ear mites simply by looking for them. The tiny parasites, about the size of a pin head are incredibly difficult to see without a microscope. But you will have no trouble spotting a pet who has an infestation of ear mites. The pet will constantly scratch at their ears and shake their head about in an attempt to alleviate the intense itchiness resulting from the mit...