The Family Pet Podcast

Dr. Jennifer Nunnery rejoins the podcast to discuss pet allergies. We talk about what causes the allergic reactions in our pets, how we diagnose the issue and treatment options.  As a peek behind the curtain, we recorded this episode (Ep. 20) on  May 23, one month before veterinary students Elizabeth Whitt and Alyssa Howell joined us in the studio for Episode 17. Michael wasn’t paying attention to...

It is mid-July and it is hot outside. The excessive heat presents challenges to exercising and playing outdoors with our pets and can lead to potentially life threatening conditions. Dr. Renee Dupree joins the podcast today to discuss the two most common heat related conditions – heat exhaustion and heat stroke. She explains the signs to watch for as well as the steps to take if your pet begins to...

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 the information we talked about today: Heartworm L...

The two guests on today’s episode have walked the path from being a child interested in being a veterinarian to having finished their first year of veterinary school. Join us as Elizabeth Whitt and Alyssa Howell recount the steps along their path and provide a glimpse into the life of a vet student. They will also share advice to others interested in applying to veterinary school. Here are links t...

The July 4th holiday season is upon us. Backyard firework celebrations will be a common practice throughout much of America in the coming days. Unfortunately, these celebrations can often be anxiety inducing events for our furry family members. It is often reported that more pets go missing on July 4th than on any other day of the year. Dr. Jennifer Nunnery joins the podcast to talk about why are...

Our previous episode focused on the most common blood panels. This week’s follow-up episode focuses on the other common diagnostic tests that can be bundled with blood panels or as a stand-alone test. ZoeySmith, LVMT, joins the podcast today to explain what pet parents can expect from a fecal test and urinalysis at the veterinary clinic. Here are links to the information we talked about today: Zoo...

Will Rogers is famously quoted as saying “personally, I have always felt that the best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter...he's just got to know.”    While veterinarians can’t simply ask the family pet what is the matter, one helpful tool in diagnosing the problem is blood work. Regular lab work provides the veterinarian a glimpse insid...

While the concept of telehealth has become a frequent topic of discussion in the veterinary industry in recent years, the concept still remains a murky one for veterinarians and pet owners alike. Telemedicine, teletriage, telemonitoring, teleconsulting, telecommunications— all of these “tele”s are various components of telehealth. But what does it all mean? Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, an industry leade...

With the summer vacation season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to begin preparing your pet for travels. Whether it is preparing your pet for a flight to another country, a road trip across the state or even just a stay at a local boarding facility, proper prior planning is key for a good pet experience.    Kacey Troup drops by the Spread the Positive studios to share about her ow...

Heather Moore joins the podcast again to discuss issues related to canine behavior and training. One particular focus is helping COVID pets adjust to a new normal of pet owners being back in the office during the workday. We also talk about loose leash walking, and gauging if your pet is a good candidate for playing at the dog park, and crate training.   Here are links to information we talked abo...

Almost half of all American adults are overweight. The percentages for our pets are even worse with 54% of dogs and 59% of cats classified as overweight or obese. This is especially troubling news considering obesity is a leading contributor to so many pet health issues including arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease and cancer.   Thankfully, there is arguably no simpler and che...

The lifespan of a cat can stretch two decades. Horses can live to 30 years of age. But what happens to those senior animals if their owners can no longer care for them?   Cindy Myers of Ferrell Hollow Farms joins the podcast to talk about her animal sanctuary designed to provide a well-deserved retirement. Cindy also shares about ways listeners can help support her foundation.   Here are links to...

There simply is no way to describe today's episode. When you get two of the biggest personalities in the veterinary industry together on the phone, you simply sit back and enjoy the ride.    Having Dr. Adam Christman join us on the podcast was a goal from Day 1. He is one of the most recognizable leaders in the veterinary industry and his social media presence is second to none. While Dr. Chr...

Every spring sees the return of ticks to our area and the warm bodies and soft fur of our pets is a parasite paradise. Left unprotected, our pet companions are at risk for a host of tick-borne diseases and complications. Some of the diseases are also a risk to humans. In this episode, Zoey Smith, an LVMT at Family Pet Health, drops by the studio to gross us out with more information about ticks an...

The veterinary industry is facing a crisis in mental wellbeing with burnout, compassion fatigue and alarming high suicide rates. For Jamie and Bryan Adams, this status quo was not acceptable. They started Shiner’s Pizza Salute as a way “to celebrate the amazing veterinary professionals who care for our pets (and yours!) like their own....” Join us for this emotional celebration of “the best good b...

The 3rd annual Walk My Dog Program (Murfreesboro version) is set to run from May 1 through June 30, 2022. 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. In this episode, Heather Moore, owner of Wag It Better Dog Training, drops by the studio...

Working alongside veterinarians in clinics across the country are a host of support staff. Chief among them are veterinary technicians. The role, and accompanying title, is an often misunderstood one that requires formal education, training, testing and annual recertification. In this episode, Michael and Stephen talk to Stephanie Adams, an LVMT at Family Pet Health, about her journey to becoming...

There are more than 135 million dogs and cats in the United States and their owners spent more than $100 billion on petcare in 2020. While only a fraction of that spending was on pet insurance, the number of covered pets has been rising by more than 20% a year for the past five years. In 2020, more than 3 million pets were insured and owners paid more than $2 billion in premiums. In this episode,...

In the inaugural episode of The Family Pet Podcast, Dr. Shirley shares life-saving information for rabbit owners related to the discovery of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) recently detected in Tennessee. RHDV2 is an often fatal disease that affects both wild and domestic rabbits. It was first detected in the United States in 2018 and has been spreading across the country ever since...