The Consult Room

The Consult Room

By The Consult RoomKids & FamilyPets & Animals
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The Consult Room episodes

  • Ukraine the Abandoned Pets of War

    In today’s episode, Dr Paul Manktelow talks about another shocking reality about the war in Ukraine. As well as the huge humanitarian crisis, the sheer number of innocent pets abandoned in Ukraine could also lead to a looming public health and animal welfare crisis.

    To explore these less-reported consequences of the war and the work of the animal charities involved, Paul speaks with Greg Tully, Country Director of Save the Dogs & Other Animals. The discussion includes talking about animals in desperate circumstances that some listeners may find upsetting. 

    Listen along to learn:

    • How the hard work of animal charities supports not only the pets but the people of Ukraine.

    • Why fleeing Ukrainian families have had to abandon their pets inside Ukraine and at the border and how Save the Dogs is helping.

    • The risks of an unfolding public health health and animal welfare crisis if action and prevention of disease can’t be funded.

    • About the type of help needed by pets and the people of Ukraine who are remaining in war zones in order to look after them.

    • Heartwarming examples of why pets are prioritised by people living in war zones.

    • About the difference donations can make to people and pets by funding the projects put in place to help them. 


      • The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people, offering information and sharing support for pet-lovers and owners. Join us at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected] 

      41 min
    • Pet Care in a Cost of Living Crisis

      In today’s episode, Dr Paul Manktelow talks about something which affects most of us in some way: the costs of living crisis. 

      As a professional vet, Paul’s contacted on a daily basis by pet owners who are concerned by costs and the affordability of keeping their pets. He’s also recently spent a lot of time in pet food banks around the UK, speaking to the charities which run them and to the pet owners from all walks of life who are really struggling to make ends meet. 

      In this podcast, Paul pulls together all of these experiences, along with questions from The Consult Room listeners, to respond to pet owners’ concerns with some really practical suggestions on how to cut costs in pet care without compromising on pets' health and wellbeing.

      Topics include:


      • Ideas to support the pet food budget.

      • Planning cost-effective pet care.

      • Getting the best value out of vaccinations.

      • Ideas about pet insurance and meeting the costs of treatment.

      • Tackling the cost of toys - with free play.

      • Alternatives to doggy daycare.

      • Ways to make pet ownership affordable for everyone.


        • The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people, offering practical pet support even when times are tough. Join us at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]

        22 min
      • The Growing Need For Pet Food Banks in the UK

        What would you do if you were forced to make the decision to feed your pet or feed yourself? As the UK remains gripped by a cost of living crisis, this is the reality facing many pet owners right now. It’s also the reason why, up and down the country, teams from the animal charity Blue Cross are urgently setting up pet food banks in areas of need. 


        In today’s episode, Dr Paul Manktelow chats with Clare Robertson, Community Project Coordinator with the Blue Cross, to find out more about this initiative. Clare shares her stories and details about this amazing initiative, including:


        • How it all began.

        • The other organisations collaborating with Blue Cross to support logistics and distribution.

        • The reasons why Blue Cross support animal food banks.

        • Advice about making a donation which helps pets and their owners to stay together.

        • Tips on how to find food banks and use local pet food bank services.

          • If this topic is particularly relevant for you, please know that help is out there and the Blue Cross website, your local food bank and this podcast are great places to start.


          The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people, offering practical pet support even when times are tough. Join Dr Paul Manktelow at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected] 


          28 min
        • When Is It Time To Let Them Go?

          In today’s episode we are talking about a subject that nobody wants to talk about but that all pet owners will eventually have to face. We all want our pets to live forever but the reality is that at some point most of us will have to make the difficult decision as to when to let our pets go.

          In today's episode Dr Paul Manktelow is joined by Annie Clark, a veterinary nurse with over 15 years of experience in emergency critical care. Annie also works with Paul at Home Goodbye, a home euthanasia service in London where she also offers support and compassion to pet owners facing end of life decisions for their pets.

          Just a heads up this episode contains discussions around grief and pet bereavement which some listeners may find upsetting

          Topics in this episode: 


          • What it is about this decision that pet owners struggle with.

          • Why, we as pet owners, feel such responsibility and guilt.

          • Is it harder for first time pet owners to make this decision vs those that have had pets before?

          • How vets face the decision for their own pets.

          • Facing loss and death for what it is.

          • The different types of grief experienced in pet loss.

          • How grief differs for pet loss after an accident vs a long term illness.

          • How to identify and assess changes to your pets quality of life.

          • The role personal circumstances can play when making that difficult decision.

          • The benefits of home euthanasia.

            •  

            The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people. 


            Join us at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]

            40 min
          • Grief, loss & bereavement. The UK helpline for heart-broken pet owners
            In today’s episode we are talking to the phenomenal Diane James, who heads up the Pet Bereavement Support Service at Blue Cross, leading a team of volunteers who help over 28,000 pet owners a year, supporting them through their grief following the loss of a pet.
            As a leading UK expert on bereavement, Diane is able to explain the huge impact that the loss of a pet can have on us, and give some really practical advice on how to deal with our grief. This vital service is literally life-saving and supports people who are often at their lowest ebb.
            On this episode of The Consult Room we would like to advise caution as some listeners may find conversations about pet grief difficult or upsetting. However, you are not alone, and hearing about this great service and the people behind it, may indeed help you with your own personal experience.
            Topics in this episode:
            The evolution of the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service
            The different types of bereavement pet owners can face from death, rehoming and the unresolved loss of theft.
            Why people pick up the phone to the helpline
            The grief cycle and the emotions experienced that are unique to pet loss
            How the pandemic and cost of living crisis has changed the the calls to the helpline
            Real life stories and experiences of callers to the helpline
            How can vets help pet owners with loss after euthanasia
            The services that Blue Cross offer to support professionals dealing with pet bereavement
            Managing the feelings of guilt surrounding pet euthanasia
            Insight into the volunteers of the pet bereavement service.
            The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people. Join Dr Paul Manktelow at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]
            If you are struggling with the loss of a pet you can contact the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service from 8.30am until 8.30pm either on the phone on 0800 096 6606 or via their webchat support service on the Blue Cross website, www.bluecross.org.uk
            36 min
          • The Dog Guardian

            Today’s episode is all about dog behaviour and I am super excited to reintroduce Nigel Reed. Nigel was our first ever guest on The Consult Room podcast with our most popular episode ever ‘Is the UK heading for a Dog Behaviour Crisis?'.  Nigel has dedicated his whole life and career to improving the lives of dogs through better communication, and by helping owners to understand the language that their dogs speak.

            Nigel is also known as 'The Dog Guardian' and he regularly appears on TV, radio and Youtube where his channel has had millions of views. His book titled ‘The Dog Guardian’ was an instant Amazon best seller.

            Nigel was founder of the hugely innovative Wolf Within Project and over the years he’s worked with 1000’s of owners, including some very high profile celebrities.

            Topics in this episode:

            • Nigel’s fascinating career and how he became The Dog Guardian.
            • What dog behaviour can tell us about our own behaviour?
            • Why the relationship with our dogs should be nurturing and parenting.
            • The need to get to the root cause of dog behaviour is better than simply training it out...
            • Lessons in leadership from working with dogs.
            • The Wolf Within Project : What teenagers with problem behaviours can learn from training problem dogs.
            • Why failure in dog behaviour is more about the people than the dogs.
            • Are dog behaviour training camps a good idea?
            • Common dog behavioural problems.

              • The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people. Join Paul Manktelow at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]

              If you want to find out more about Nigel and his incredible work check out https://www.thedogguardian.com or check out his YouTube channel 

              41 min
            • Life as a zoo vet: With Dr Justine Shotton

              Being a vet is cool, but being a zoo vet is another level! I have a huge passion for wildlife and conservation so I’m really excited to have Dr Justine Shotton back on the show to talk about her career path into her role as Head Vet at Marwell Zoo.  This area of work is so interesting and so important so I knew it would make a great episode.

              Topics in this episode:

              • Volunteering at wildlife centres in Guatemala
              • The race to protect the turtle eggs
              • The illegal meat trade and trafficking of endangered species
              • Work experience at Bristol Zoo
              • Working in  Botswana with  Cheetahs and Leopards
              • Global threats to conservation
              • The differences between being a GP vet and a zoo vet.
              • The debate and objections to keeping animals in zoos
              • Interesting zoo cases
              • Advice for people considering a career in conservation or zoos

                • You can also find out more about Justine here

                The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people.

                Join Dr Paul Manktelow at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]

                39 min
              • Why we need to DNA test our dogs… and Rodney’s big reveal!

                In today’s episode we are exploring the world of dog DNA, genetics and canine ancestry.  I’m practically bursting with excitement as in this show we do a live reveal with Rodney’s DNA results. These results have been fiercely guarded by Georgina Richardson the Head of UK for Kinship, the innovation division of Mars Petcare. One of their products is Wisdom Panel™, the world's most accurate DNA test for dogs.

                Despite being so excited we still manage to explore the science of DNA testing and how it can help us all to be better and more informed pet parents.

                Topics in this episode:

                • The history of DNA  and how the human genome project has paved the way for dog DNA mapping.
                • Why are dogs so fascinating to us as humans?
                • Understanding your dog's breed mix and how this can help you to care for your dog.
                • The importance of genetic diversity within dog breeding.
                • Ancestry.com! Connecting with long lost doggy relatives within the wisdom database of over 3 million dogs. Success stories!
                • Looking at genetic health risks and complications which could impact on your dogs health and how you can help treat or even prevent these.
                • Your dog's traits; what you can expect from your dog's physical appearance and demystifying some of what you might already know. How can this information help you care for your dog?
                • What is the biggest motivation to get a DNA test for your dog?
                • The science behind the methods for doggy DNA testing!
                • Rodney's BIG DNA reveal!
                • The future of dog genetics at Wisdom and what this could mean for our dogs.

                  • The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people. Join Paul Manktelow at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]

                  If you want to find out more about Wisdom DNA or reveal more about your own dog's roots and genetics check out https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-gb

                  45 min
                • Why Are Vets Fighting About Vegan Diets For Pets?
                  In today’s episode we are diving into the explosive debate that has been playing out in the veterinary media around vegan diets for pets. At the centre of this debate is Andrew Knight who is the Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics at the University of Winchester. Professor Knight is leading the field in research around plant-based pet diets, climate change and a number of other animal welfare issues.
                  Despite being a vet himself, you are about to hear how Professor Knight is going head to head with the veterinary profession on its current views around this emerging field of research.
                  Topics in this episode:
                  The most recent studies relating to vegan pet food diets.
                  Yes! Cats can be vegan!
                  Why are animals on plant-based diets living longer?
                  The undeniable facts and limitations of the recent studies on plant-based diets.
                  Why is there controversy within the veterinary profession?
                  The philosophy around veganism.
                  Are pet guardians disconnecting with vets for welfare advice?
                  The reporting of veganism in pets in the media and the impact of those headlines.
                  Vegan diets as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option to conventional pet foods.
                  The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people. Join us at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]
                  For more information on Professor Andrew Knight’s work go to https://sustainablepetfood.info/
                  41 min
                • Can Ultrasonic Toothbrushes for Dogs Be A Game Changer in Canine HealthCare?
                  In this episode I am joined by Anastasia Waugh, aka ‘The Dog Tooth Fairy’ who began offering a teeth cleaning service using the world's first ultrasonic toothbrush for dogs.  Anastasia has had so much success, she has since made it her mission to improve the dental health of the nation's dogs by offering educational services on this ground breaking technology.
                  A recent study has discovered that 1 in 8 dogs in the UK will suffer from dental disease this year so this lesson in dental health couldn’t have come at a better time.
                  Topics in this episode:
                  What the common dental issues are for dogs and why they are often missed
                  The truth behind the research and why so many dogs are predicted to suffer from dental disease
                  Anastasia’s background and her passion behind dental health in dogs
                  Why it is important for your dog to have daily teeth cleaning
                  The technology and innovation behind the world’s first ultrasonic doggy toothbrush
                  To find out more about The Dog Tooth Fairy please click here
                  The Consult Room is a space that celebrates pets and people.
                  Join us at www.theconsultroom.co.uk or reach out at [email protected]
                  35 min

                About The Consult Room

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                The Consult Room is the podcast that explores the evolving world of modern pet care.