In this episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus is joined by her AMC colleague Dr. Renee Alsarraf for a heartfelt and informative conversation about cancer in pets. Dr. Alsarraf brings a unique perspective, not only as a board-certified veterinary oncologist, but also but also as a cancer survivor and pet parent to dogs who have faced cancer. Together, they discuss:

• The types of cancers commonly seen at AMC
• How radiation therapy works and when it’s used
• AMC’s use of linear accelerator technology for targeted treatment
• What’s changed in oncology over the years and what hasn’t
• How Dr. Alsarraf helps clients navigate difficult treatment decisions
• Insights from her memoir Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Can Teach Us About Living Well
• What to expect from her upcoming webinar, Navigating a Pet’s Cancer Diagnosis
• How she stays hopeful doing emotionally challenging work

Also on this month's show:

• Viral trending animal story featuring Buford, a 150-pound ranch dog in Arizona who helped lead a toddler to safety
• Animal news, including a biotech company that claims to have brought back dire wolves, a new study showing that dogs understand meaningful words even in monotone speech... and the oldest known domestic cats in history, found in a 1559 shipwreck.
• Pet Health Listener Q&A, where Dr. Hohenhaus answers questions about what a giardia-positive test means in a newly adopted cat, managing inconsistent dog-to-dog reactivity, and whether gabapentin side effects in dogs are normal or worth reevaluating.

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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Parasites are a year-round threat to pets, and some can pose risks to human health as well. In this episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus speaks with veterinarian Dr. Craig Prior, former president of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), about what every pet owner should know. From tapeworms, hookworms, and roundworms to giardia and ticks that transmit diseases like Lyme and ehrlichiosis, they cover the most common and most concerning parasites. Tune in as they discuss:

• What are parasites and how do they affect animals?
• The upcoming parasite forecast
• CAPC's parasite risk maps
• Ways to keep animal companions (and humans) safe from parasites
• Why ticks are formidable 
• Do dog parks harbor parasites?
• How people traveling with animals is spreading parasites
• Are indoor cats at risk?
• The increasing problem of hookworm resistance and how it was exacerbated by the greyhound racing industry
• Do any natural cures work against parasites?

Also on this month's show:

• Viral trending animal story of the month featuring Aggie the cat, who went missing after the palisades wildfire destroyed her family home
• Animal news, including the newly identified genetic mutation causing blindness in Labrador retrievers
• Pet Health Listener Q&A, where Dr. Hohenhaus answers listener questions about giving a cat chemotherapy drugs, next steps for a dog with a persistent cough, and ideas for reducing a cat's severe anxiety in carriers.

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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For our special 50th episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus welcomes Dr. Vanessa Spano—AMCs first-ever veterinary behaviorist and the only board-certified veterinary behaviorist in New York City. Dr. Spano’s expertise spans a wide range of behavioral challenges, including anxiety, aggression, trauma recovery, and compulsive disorders. Tune in as they discuss:

• The difference between veterinary behaviorists, trainers, and general veterinarians 
• What are the most common behavior issues among pets?
• How Dr. Spano determines if a behavior issue is medical or psychological
• Body language clues for dogs and cats
• How anxiety in pets can be managed
• The role of medication and training in treating animals with behavioral issues
• Managing aggression in animals
• Are shelter pets different from other animals?
• Dr. Spano's advice for pet owners struggling with behavior issues
• How to make an appointment with Dr. Spano

Also on this month's show:

• Viral trending animal story of the month featuring the opossum who ate an entire Costco tuxedo chocolate mousse cake
• Animal news, including how the birdwatching app eBird is helping protect vulnerable species from bird watchers
• Pet Health Listener Q&A, where Dr. Hohenhaus answers listener questions about urine crystals, different types of diagnostic imaging, and how to effectively apply ear drops

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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Dr. Ann Hohenhaus welcomes zoologist and best-selling author Bill Schutt to discuss the fascinating history and function of teeth. His latest book, Bite: An Incisive History of Teeth, from Hagfish to Humans explores how teeth evolved, what they reveal about survival, and why they matter for both wild animals and our pets. Tune in as they discuss:

• How scientists identify extinct species by their fossilized teeth
• Why teeth originated in the animal kingdom
• How teeth shaped the course of evolution, from ancient species to modern pets
• What fossilized teeth reveal about the diets of extinct species
• Why small dogs have more dental issues than large dogs
• The science behind bite force—and why mammals can’t match crocodiles
• The importance of continuously growing teeth in certain species
• The surprising ways animals use their teeth beyond chewing

Also on this month's show:

• Viral trending animal story of the month featuring Tracker, the diabetic alert dog who detected his young owner’s emergency from five houses away!
• Animal news, including a story on how researchers track honeybees with QR codes as well as the hidden function of manta ray tails
• Pet Health Listener Q&A, where Dr. Hohenhaus answers listener questions on heart disease, pet allergies, and feline vocal changes

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Rachel Herman, Founder and Executive Director of PAWS NY. This organization is dedicated to supporting vulnerable New Yorkers and their pets, preserving the human-animal bond during challenging times. Tune in as they discuss:

• What is the mission of PAWS NY?
• Rachel's inspiration to establish this organization
• How PAWS NY helps New Yorkers having difficulty caring for their pets due to illness, disability, mobility limitations, and finances, among other issues
• The poignant story of a man and his dog that PAWS NY helped for over ten years
• How individuals, veterinarians, and other organizations can partner with and support PAWS NY
• What does the future look like for PAWS NY?

Also on this month's show: 

• Viral trending animal story of the month about how heroic firefighters saved a dog that fell through ice on a river in Ottawa
• Animal news, including updates about bird flu and tips for protecting your pet
• Pet Health Listener Q&A

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Dr. Monica Murphy, a veterinarian and co-author of "Our Kindred Creatures: How Americans Came to Feel the Way They Do About Animals" — a fascinating book that looks at how America’s attitudes toward animals were transformed in the late 19th century. Tune in as they discuss:

• Why Dr. Murphy found this particular time period intriguing
• The effectiveness of Henry Bergh, founder of the ASPCA, in advocating for animals
• The impact the book "Black Beauty" had on animal welfare
• Why an outbreak of horse flu in 1872 highlighted the need for veterinary care
• The role of veterinarians advocating for animal welfare
• How the cruel transport of sea turtles destined for New York dinner tables inspired Henry Bergh to advocate for the welfare of wildlife
• Why PT Barnum was a lightning rod for reformers 
• Does the physical and emotional distance humans have from certain species impact animal welfare?
• Dr. Murphy's ideas for a new book

Also on this month's show: 

• Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring the couple who used their wedding fund to rescue and treat a dog who had been injured in a hit-and-run
• Animal news, including the discovery in Siberia of a 37,000-year-old saber-toothed kitten with its fur, flesh, and tiny whisker tufts intact
• Pet Health Listener Q&A

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Dr. Scott Weese, a leading expert in veterinary infectious diseases and creator of the must-read Worms & Germs blog. Tune in as they discuss:

• Insights into the 2023 “mystery” canine respiratory disease
• The impact of social media and lifestyle trends on the perception of pet health
• How the social network of dogs influences the spread of disease
• The tragic situations that can arise if pets don’t receive vaccinations on time or at all
• Emerging challenges and threats that will impact the future of veterinary medicine, including climate change and antibiotic resistance

Also on this month's show: 

• Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring the raccoons who invited close to 100 guests to a Washington woman’s garden buffet
• Animal news, including the contagious smile of dolphins
• Pet Health Listener Q&A

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Dr. Kwane Stewart, a veterinarian who provides free veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness through his nonprofit, Project Street Vet. Dr. Stewart was named CNN’s 2023 Hero of the Year for his outstanding efforts. Tune in as they discuss:

• What inspired Dr. Kwane Stewart to become a veterinarian
• The origin of Project Street Vet and how the organization has evolved
• Common health problems of dogs living on the streets in California
• The rewards of doing this work
• How being named CNN's Hero of the Year has affected his mission
• The diverse ways veterinarians can utilize their professional skills and expertise
• What are some misconceptions about people experiencing homelessness?
• How companion animals can be a lifeline to their humans

Also on this month's show: 

• Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring Rainbow, the siamese cat who travelled more than 800 miles in search of his family after going missing in Yellowstone National Park
• Animal news, including a groundbreaking new surgery: the first-ever c-section on a North American porcupine
• Pet Health Listener Q&A

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Jamie Cohen, LCSW, AMC's new Veterinary Social Worker. Jamie brings more than a decade of experience in supporting trauma survivors and helping individuals and families navigate grief. At AMC, Jamie leads our Pet Loss Support Program and our Caregiver Support Group, offering both practical and emotional support to pet owners facing the loss or illness of their beloved animal companions.

Tune in as they discuss:

• How Jamie came to work at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center
• Jamie's biggest adjustment to working at an animal hospital
• Helping clients when they are making decisions about treatments
• The influence of Jamie's dogs on her work
• How the Pet Loss Support Programs and Caregiver Support Group at AMC help pet parents
• How the loss of a pet compares to, and differs from, the loss of a human
• Jamie's suggestions for people coping with the death of an animal companion
• How friends and family can support someone who has experienced pet loss

Also on this month's show: 

• Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring Sphen, one half of the famous “gay penguin power couple” at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, who has died at the age of 11
• Animal news, including Dr. Hohenhaus' concerns about Fefé, a new perfume designed for dogs by Dolce & Gabbana
• Pet Health Listener Q&A

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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AMC's Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, a certified cat behavior consultant, animal behavior scientist, and author of the new book Play With Your Cat: The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline.

Tune in as they discuss:

• Dr. Delgado's career path in feline behavior
• "Catios," and indoor vs. outdoor cat recommendations
• Common feline behavior issues, including litter box avoidance and inter-cat conflict
• Cats' sense of smell and its importance in their social interactions
• Cats' innate solitary nature and heightened stress response
• Litter box best practices: placement, hygiene, and choice of litter
• The importance of play in cats' wellbeing and the origins of Dr. Delgado's book
• How play mimics hunting, which is considered a "species-specific natural behavior" for cats
• Play in kittens vs. adult cats
• Guidelines for feline play: make it an interactive hunting experience
• Dr. Delgado's 5 Golden Rules of Play

Also on this month's show: 

• Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring a helpless baby bird saved by a warm tortilla
• Animal news, including: a miniature poodle saved by NYPD, AMC, and the ASPCA; new research on dogs' response to human emotions; "cocaine sharks" off the coast of Florida
• Pet Health Listener Q&A

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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