The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again

Behavioral euthanasia is one of the hardest and most misunderstood decisions a pet parent may ever face. While most people think of euthanasia as something reserved for pets who are elderly, sick, or physically suffering, serious behavior problems can also become quality-of-life and safety issues. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lore Haug expla...

If you’ve ever said, “We tried training, and it didn’t work,” this episode is for you. This week, Amy talks with Em Breslin, host of the podcast The Dog Who Asked for More , about why dog training sometimes fails and what pet parents may be missing when they feel stuck. Em is a dog trainer, Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist, and retired veterinary technician with more than 20 years of exp...

What do you do when the life you built around your pets, your purpose, and your plans no longer fits the life you're actually living? In this raw, personal episode, Amy talks about leaving the seven-acre Texas property she bought with her husband less than two years before he died of COVID. What once felt like a dream built around rescue, animals, space, and a future together eventually becam...

Most pet parents see veterinarians during some of the most stressful moments of pet ownership: when a pet is sick, injured, aging, or facing an expensive medical decision. But what many people never see is the pressure veterinarians themselves are carrying into those conversations. In this episode, Amy sits down with equine veterinarian, stand-up comedian, and author Dr. Matt Evans to talk about t...

Most people who find tiny kittens think the shelter is the safest place to take them. But when kittens are newborns or bottle babies, the shelter may not have the staff, fosters, supplies, or overnight care needed to keep them alive. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy talks with Deborah Felin-Magaldi of Helen Sanders CatPAWS about what really happens during kitten season when neonatal...

Is your pet suddenly acting clingy, anxious, restless, messy, or just “off”? Before you decide they’re being difficult, ask one better question: what changed? In this quick Pet Parent Power-Up, Amy walks through the first things to check when your pet’s behavior changes, especially during stressful seasons like moving, schedule changes, renovations, visitors, or household disruption. BY THE TIME Y...

Do you love your pet, but secretly feel worn out by the constant responsibility Pet-parent fatigue can sneak up on you when every decision, routine, behavior issue, vet concern, or guilty feelings start to feel like one more thing you have to carry. And the harder you try to be a “good” pet parent, the easier it is to lose sight of your own needs. In this episode, Amy walks through 7 questions to...

Thinking about adopting a pet, or already wondering if you made the right decision after bringing one home? A lot of people think the hard part of adoption is choosing the pet. But, that’s usually the easy part.  The hard part often starts a few days or weeks later, when routines get disrupted, resident pets are stressed, the new dog suddenly has endless energy, or the cat that hid under the bed s...

Does your dog whine at the door, your cat climb on you, or all your pets suddenly demand attention the second you sit down at night? You are not imagining it, and your pets probably are not plotting against your peace. In this episode, Amy breaks down why pets, especially dogs and cats, often get needier at night, why evening pet behavior can feel so overwhelming, and how a simple routine can help...

If your pet suddenly seems “off,” how do you know whether it’s a true emergency or something that can safely wait until morning (or Monday)? That decision is one of the most stressful parts of being a pet parent, especially when emotions, cost, uncertainty, and fear of overreacting all collide at once. In this episode, veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins joins me to talk about how pet parents can think...

If your pet needed emergency care tonight, would you be ready to get out the door quickly? When something goes wrong with your pet, the medical issue may not be the only thing slowing you down. Sometimes it’s the missing carrier, the dead phone, the leash you can’t find, or the panic of trying to decide whether things are getting worse. In this Pet Parent Power-Up, you’ll learn simple ways to prep...

After losing a pet, how do you know when it’s time to get another one, if at all? For some people, opening their heart to another pet feels like part of healing. For others, waiting feels right. And for many, the hardest part is not knowing whether the hesitation means they are not ready, they are being thoughtful, or they are just afraid of what it might mean. That is what makes this decision so...

Thinking about getting a tattoo of your pet, or wondering why so many people do? For some, it’s a way to celebrate a pet they love right now. For others, it’s about holding onto a memory, a moment, or a bond that changed their life. But what are people really trying to capture when they make something like that permanent?   In this episode, tattoo artist Bailey Hyde shares what she sees every day...

Feeling like you’re not doing enough for your pet, no matter how much you try? You’re buying the toys, reading the advice, trying to do everything “right”… but it still feels like something’s missing. Here’s the truth most pet parents don’t hear: better results don’t come from doing more. They come from doing the right small things consistently. In this episode, I break down 7 simple pet care tips...

What does a peaceful goodbye at home actually look like, and what should you know before you ever need to make that call? If the idea feels scary or overwhelming, this will help you understand what really happens and why many families choose it. Hospice and end-of-life veterinarian Dr. Jack Murray explains how in-home euthanasia works, how it differs from a clinic or ER setting, and why many famil...

How do you know when it’s time to let your pet go, especially when you keep hoping for one more sign? If you’re waiting for absolute certainty, your pet may pay the price for that delay.   In this episode, hospice and end-of-life veterinarian Dr. Jack Murray shares a candid, pet-centered perspective on why this decision so often feels impossible, why certainty may never come, and what it can cost...

Does your house smell like your pets, and you’re the only one who doesn’t notice it anymore? If the smell keeps coming back no matter how much you clean, you may be treating the wrong problem. If you have ever left home for a few days, walked back in, and immediately noticed a funky smell, you are not imagining it. And you are not alone. One of the biggest frustrations for pet parents is thinking...

Do friends and family assume you’ll watch their pet just because you’ve said yes before? What starts as a favor can quickly turn into an expectation that’s hard to undo. In this episode, I break down how to figure out your limits, why too much explaining usually backfires, and how to respond in a way that is clear, respectful, and hard to argue with. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:...

If your cat is biting, swatting, attacking another cat, or suddenly having litter box issues, it may not be happening out of nowhere. In many cases, cats show warning signs long before things escalate. In this episode, certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger joins me to break down the real causes of cat aggression, what different aggressive behaviors can mean, and how to spot the subtle...

Bringing home a new cat and hoping your pets will just figure it out? That’s one of the fastest ways to create tension, hissing, and fights. A lot of cat introductions fail before they even start, and a bad first impression can take weeks or months to undo. In this episode, we walk through what your cats are reacting to, how to set up your home before they ever meet, and the step-by-step process f...

If you’re panicking and wondering whether your dog or cat has to go because someone at home seems to be allergic, take a breath before you make a heartbreaking decision. In this episode, I’m joined by board-certified pediatrician Dr. Tori Niemynski to talk about what pet allergies can look like, what symptoms may point to something else, what to track before you jump to conclusions, and what steps...

Does walking your dog feel like you’re on high alert every second, bracing for the next blow-up? If Spot's behavior looks like dog aggression on walks, but doesn’t feel that simple, you’re not alone. Many dogs labeled as aggressive are actually dealing with leash reactivity, and that’s a very different problem. If you’re dealing with leash reactivity, you’re not failing, and you’re not “doing...

Wondering if it’s time to leave your vet, and you want to do it without making it weird? You don’t need a dramatic breakup. You need a calm, reasonable plan that protects your pet’s care, keeps things simple, and helps you move on without stress. In this Pet Parent Power-Up monthly bonus episode, I’m walking you through five practical steps to make the call and switch clinics the right way, includ...

Are you about to choose a new vet? Because the worst time to realize you picked the wrong one is when your pet is sick, you’re scared, and no one is clearly explaining what’s happening. In this episode, I’ll walk you through seven things to look for that reveal whether a clinic is truly the right fit, with strong leadership, a healthy team culture, and communication you can rely on, so you feel he...

Are you dealing with “normal puppy behavior,” or early warning signs of a bigger problem?  Some of the most common puppy behaviors, like fear reactions, growling over a toy or food, and mouthiness, can look harmless. But the way they’re handled early can be the difference between a phase and a serious problem, like reactivity or resource guarding that escalates into a bite. In this episode, I’m jo...