The Space Coast Pet Podcast

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss a recent investigation launched by the FDA (prompted by a group of veterinary cardiologists) regarding a troublingly credible link between the deadly heart disease in dogs, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and the feeding of grain free dog food.  Our veterinary co-hosts also delve into the deceptive marketing engaged in by grain free pet food manufacturers to attract c...

Dr. Roger & Dr. Karen discuss the difficult topic of euthanasia in aging and sick pets and the difficulty of knowing when it is time for owners to make the difficult decision to elect humane euthanasia.  Based a listener e-mail question, our veterinarian co-hosts try to add perspective to the decision for euthanasia that can be in a very grey area and surprisingly challenging for pet owners to rea...

Inspired by a listener e-mail sent in by a veterinary technician student, veterinarian co-hosts Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis talk about their veterinary school experiences and how it related to the realities of general practice in the “real world.”  They touch on common aspects of general veterinary practice that are barely touched in veterinary school, and common topics covered in veterin...

Co-hosts Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis talk about the deadly disease parvo (in cats it is called panleukopenia virus.    This is a must listen for pet owners to learn about this very common and preventable disease. Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen also answer listener e-mail comments on the air.  For consideration to have your questions or comments addressed by our veterinarian co-hosts, e-mail them...

Because pets cannot speak for themselves, veterinarians are highly reliant on pet owners for medical history and all information that is necessary to build a clinical case to best meet the health needs of dogs and cats.  Tonight, Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss the frustrating times when owners lie to veterinarians in the course of providing the history and the consequences of the lies that lead t...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss their opinions on administration of the 2 strain Canine Influenza vaccine although outbreaks in Florida and the Midwest have fizzled out minus a few reported isolated cases.  To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? This episode is sponsored by Ecosia.com, the search engine that uses their ad revenue to plant trees around the world for to protect and restore our environmen...

Pet owners often have serious concerns about anesthesia in in dogs and cats, especially for non-life-threatening procedures such as dentistry.  Veterinarian co-hosts, Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis, discuss the risks based on the most recent research and their own clinical experience.  They discuss circumstances in which the risk for anesthesia in dogs and cats may be increased due to the co...

Heart murmurs are abnormal heart sounds that are caused by various types of structural defects of the heart valves and or muscular wall of the heart.  Recognizing heart murmurs early and having them checked regularly for progression and initiating proper diagnostics to know when to begin treatment before there is advanced disease. Veterinarian co-hosts Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis delve in...

Most pet owners are aware of the existence of puppy mills, their cruel practices driven by greed, and the typical outlets where the puppies they produce are sold.  Yet puppy mills have not missed a beat and are generally doing as well as they ever have, if not better.  Why does the abysmal puppy mill industry thrive in the United States? Our veterinarian Co-hosts, Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Lo...

Veterinarian co-hosts co-hosts Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen share their top New Year resolution for pets and pet owners: preventative pet wellness care and regular wellness blood work.  Both Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen share case anecdotes where preventative wellness care could have extended the lives of patients by years through early disease detection, early intervention, and nutrional management.  A mod...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen raise the increasingly problematic issue of fake service dogs.  Service dogs play a unique in special role in the human-animal bond in going beyond companionship to dogs helping people with disabilities have the assistance necessary to improve and maintain their independence and quality of life.  Our veterinarian co-hosts highlight why it is morally/ethically wrong, a feder...

Veterinarian co-hosts Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis discuss the statistical increases in the incidence of certain infectious and parasitic diseases in dogs and cats during prolonged periods of standing water following major storms.  Our co-hosts detail risk, prevention, and treatment of these diseases, one of which is also contagious to people.  E-mail comments or questions for consideratio...

In the wake of the tragic disaster in Houston and surrounding communities from Hurricane Harvey, Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss preparedness for pets.  As we witnessed in the aftermath of Katrina and sheer numbers of lost and deceased pets that resulted, family pets are common casualties of natural disaster events.  The simple steps highlighted by our veterinarian co-hosts in this episode, both o...

Veterinarian co-hosts Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen talk about blood work diagnostics and how useful they are in diagnosing disease in dogs and cats and…how useless they can also be.  Listen in as the doctors talk about who they work through cases of dog and cat (especially cat) patients that are obviously sick but show completely normal blood work. E-mail questions or comments for consideration to be d...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen cover the common and potentially dangerous condition of heat stress (also known as heat exhaustion) and heat stroke in dogs.  Dr. Karen discuss risk factors and signs of heat stress versus the more dangerous progression of heat stroke, when to manage them, and when your dog’s life may depend on getting him to the vet ASAP.  Our veterinarian co-hosts also focus strongly on p...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss some commonly seen veterinary medical and conditions and negative mental states in un-neutered or intact male dogs.  These conditions range from being a nuissance to to being outright dangerous for intact male dogs, chief among them being verious forms of prostate disease..  E-mail our cohosts for consideration have your comments or questions addressed on the air to...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen talk pheromone therapy for stress and anxiety in dogs and cats.  Using pheromone treatment as a means to safely and without side effects help to relieve canine and feline stress (whether situational or chronic) as an opening to a broader discussion of stress management, our veterinarian co-hosts explore other proven holistic and pharmacological therapies for anxiety relief....

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen take on outrageous holistic veterinary internet “publication” claims that heartworm disease can be effectively prevented “naturally” without the actual administration of canine heartworm preventive medication.  In addition to debunking these false and dangerous claims, our practicing veterinarian co-hosts expose these publications for fear mongering by grossly over exaggera...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss various conditions that commonly lead to hacking, gagging, coughing, and compromised breathing in dogs.  The conditions they highlight - laryngeal paralysis, brachycephalic syndrome, collapsing trachea, allergic tracheitis, and canine upper respiratory infection disease complex - may be inherited or acquired.  Whether inherited or acquired, they are common, clinical...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss one of the most common and frustrating feline diseases: feline lower urinary tract disease.  This disease often is first noticed when cats start urinating in the home outside of the litter box.  Listen in as our hosts discuss what causes this disease and what treatments are available to manage it.  Veterinary Advice, Animal News and Views welcomes a new sponsor, aut...

Veterinarian hosts Dr. Karen Louis and Dr. Roger Welton discuss perhaps the most common veterinary visit this time of year: seasonal skin allergies.  From varying presentations, short term therapies, long term therapies and how they contrast in terms of effectiveness, cost, and safety, this episode is a must listen for owners of dogs and cats that suffer from seasonal skin allergies.  Veterinary A...

Hosts Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis discuss the most common injury of the canine rear leg: Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture.  Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture or Tear in dogs is a common injury of the major stabilizing ligament of the knee.  Injury of this ligament more often than not requires surgery to effectively treat.  Our hosts delve into recognition of the injury, confirming a diag...

Dr. Karen and Dr. Roger delve into the very common parasite infestation of tapeworms in dogs and cats.  Our hosts discuss the different types of tapeworms that may infect dogs and cats, how to treat them, how to prevent them, and the risk they pose to people.  E-mail comments are welcomed to be selected to be addressed by our hosts on the air at comments@web-dvm.net.  For more content from Dr. Kar...

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss parasites that people can catch from their pets.  Our co-hosts also delve into some pet parasites that are widely believed to be contagious to people but in real life are rarely transmitted from pets to people and generally pose little risk. Send e-mail comments to be chosen to be addressed on the air by our veterinarian co-hosts to: comments@web-dvm.net.  For more...

Co-hosts and practicing veterinarians kick off their first 2017 episode prioritizing their top 2017 New Year Pet Resolutions that they believe should be in the forefront of every pet owner’s mind.   If you want your dogs, cats and pet friendly homes set up and well prepared for 2017, this episode is a great start in the right direction.  For more content from Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen, visit their r...