The Collaborative Vet Podcast - Michael Dr.T Tokiwa

To make vet visits easier for cats, consider choosing a feline-friendly certified vet, as they specialize in gentle handling and environments that suit a cat’s needs, like quieter waiting rooms and cat-specific techniques. Stay calm, as your cat senses your energy, so relax before the visit with calming music or breathing exercises. Practice short car rides to reduce stress and break the association of car trips with vet visits. Use pheromone sprays like Feliway to soothe your cat, and bring a familiar item, like a blanket, for comfort. Keep the carrier cozy and familiar by leaving it out at home with treats, and reward your cat with toys and treats before, during, and after the visit. If anxiety is a major issue, ask your vet about medications like gabapentin to help make the experience smoother.

"Empowering new graduates in veterinary medicine begins with embracing mentorship, where the guidance of experienced veterinarians provides the essential tools and emotional support to navigate the complexities of referrals. Clear communication is critical for building client trust; by explaining the referral process in simple terms, new graduates can ease client concerns and foster confidence in their recommendations. Developing strong relationships with specialists through professional respect and collaboration ensures patients receive the best care, enhancing the reputation and capability of the practice. Showing empathy and understanding toward clients, especially when they feel uncertain, transforms a potentially anxious experience into one of trust and reassurance. Preparing clients with clear instructions and addressing potential concerns upfront enables them to navigate the referral process confidently, strengthening their trust in you as their veterinarian. Together, mentorship, clear communication, collaboration, empathy, and preparation empower new graduates to create a positive and fulfilling referral experience for clients and their pets."

"Pets bring joy to our lives, but they can also carry zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread from animals to humans. Common parasites like roundworms, hookworms, Giardia, leptospirosis, and ringworm can affect both pets and people. Pets often pick up these parasites from contaminated soil, water, or other animals, and once infected, they can pass them to us, especially through contact with their stool or skin. Children under 5 are at a higher risk because they’re still building their immune systems and may not follow strict hygiene practices. But with routine vet visits, regular deworming, and basic hygiene habits—like handwashing and picking up pet waste promptly—pet parents can protect their families and keep everyone healthy and happy."

In this segment, we’ll cover tips on making sure your pet’s Halloween costume is safe and comfortable. While costumes can be adorable, it’s important to choose designs that aren’t too tight, restrictive, or made from materials that could irritate your pet’s skin. We’ll go over ways to check if a costume is truly comfortable and safe for pets, including looking for secure fastenings without loose parts that could be swallowed. Reflective elements or glow sticks are great additions to ensure your pet is visible if you’re outside during trick-or-treat hours. We’ll also share how to spot signs of discomfort, like cowering or pawing at the costume, so that you know when to remove it. Halloween should be fun for everyone, pets included, and a safe costume goes a long way in making sure they’re as comfortable as they are cute!

Halloween candy might be delightful for us, but it can be extremely dangerous for pets. In this segment, we’ll explain why chocolate and xylitol, a common sugar substitute in sugar-free candies, can pose severe health risks. Chocolate toxicity varies by type, with dark and baking chocolates being the most dangerous, leading to symptoms ranging from vomiting to heart complications. Xylitol, meanwhile, can cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure in dogs. We’ll discuss symptoms to watch for if your pet accidentally ingests these substances and what steps to take if that happens. Additionally, candy wrappers can create choking or blockage hazards if swallowed, so we’ll give some tips on pet-proofing your candy stash to avoid any Halloween mishaps.

For many pets, Halloween can be a stressful night filled with unfamiliar sights and sounds. In this segment, we’ll explore strategies for reducing your pet’s anxiety, from managing doorbell ringing to creating a quiet “safe room” for them. Constant trick-or-treating can be overwhelming, so setting up a calm space away from the action with soothing music and familiar toys can help pets feel more secure. We’ll also discuss the importance of keeping doors secure to prevent escape, as frightened pets may try to bolt outside. Finally, we’ll suggest calming aids, like anxiety vests or pheromone sprays, that can help keep pets relaxed in the face of holiday chaos. Keeping pets calm and safe will ensure Halloween is a treat for them too.

During the summer heat and humidity, two common issues can occur in your pets, namely Hot Spots and Ear Infections.  This episode discusses what they are, how your veterinarian treats them, and what you can do to prevent these issues. 

A brief synopsis of heatstroke signs, diagnoses treatment and Prevention

In this episode we talk about tick and flea preventatives, what they are and why we recommend year round use.  

Even though pets get older, it should stop your veterinarian from recommending vaccinations if they are healthy.  In this episode we touch upon 5 things for senior pets,  ranging from nutrition to cancer screening.