I must admit that the YouTube videos of cats versus dogs, cats taunting other cats and even tormenting their humans can make me laugh. But it is no laughing matter if it is YOUR cat who is biting you, stalking you, ambushing you when you come around the corner or is blatantly aggressive towards your guests. You’ve rationalized this unsavory behavior to the fact that is is a rescue and must have abused or for being feral, being a Calico, being a long haired….fill in the blank. 

Are felines just unbalanced and inherently untrustworthy? Or are we setting them and us for failure because we don’t understand the feline mind? They really aren’t just little dogs.

To help us unravel the ball of yarn that is a cat’s unique psyche is my guest board certified veterinary behaviorist and author, Dr. E’Lise Christensen. When she is not lecturing in the U.S and internationally, you can find her practicing at Behavior Vets of Colorado at Animal Care Center of Castle Pines.

The Pet Doctor - Episode 278 Are Cats Really Evil or Just Psycho?

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We are all familiar with the life stages of cats…kittens – frenzied bundles of fur and fun and rare medical problems, adult – sometimes playful, usually sleeps a lot and no health issues.  And then we have our seniors – sleep, more sleep, eat, poop and sleep some more.  Health concerns tend to erupt overnight without warning.  But on closer examination, the life stages for our felines are much more complex and with a healthy dose of proactive veterinary care your cat can live a longer health filled life and you can have reduced veterinary bills.

My guest is Dr. Jessica Quimby.  She is board certified in small animal internal medicine and completed a PhD studying feline chronic kidney disease (CKD). She is currently an associate professor at the Ohio State University. Her research includes improving supportive care and quality of life in cats with CKD. Dr. Quimby has received the International Renal Interest Society Award and an AVMF/Winn Feline Foundation Research Award.

The Pet Doctor - Episode 317 What Are The Different Life Stages Of Cats?

Were you one of those folks that resisted getting a pandemic pet?  Thought there was enough craziness in this world and adding a pet to the mixture was more than you could handle?  But recently you have been toying with the idea of having a baby in the house?  Dog…might take too much time and not sure if you have the room.  Cat…you’ve had them in the past, they are pretty easy…litter box, food, water, occasional trip to the vet.  Yeah, easy peasy.  Maybe not. 

My guest is Dr. Ellen Lindell.  As a board certified veterinary behaviorist, she is a firm believer that when a pet owner understands how kittens grow physically, mentally and emotionally, you greatly increase the chance that they will thrive, behavioral issues can be minimized and the bond between human and feline will be strong and nurturing.

The Pet Doctor - Episode 316 Decoding What is Going On Between a Kitten’s Ears

Wooohoooo…it is finally winter.  Hot sticky weather is behind us.  Winter sports and cozy days wrapped in layers of fuzzy warm clothing and snuggling with our pets.  And finally an end to having to worry about all those pesky parasites that our veterinarians continue to nag us about…fleas, ticks, internal and external parasites.  What a pain in our budgets having to give those preventives.  Besides, you haven’t noticed any issues and are beginning to feel as though your vet is just trying to sell you medications you and your pet don’t really need.

My guest is Dr. Craig Prior.  He is veterinarian and past president of the Companion Animal Parasite Council and currently serves on their board of directors.  We will discuss some of the myths of winter health risks for your pet from inside and outside of the home.

The Pet Doctor - Episode 315 Winter Health Myths

GI issues are one of the most common reasons why pets are presented to veterinarians.  Dogs love to eat first and think later…one of the reasons why our canine companions are prone to the heartbreak of diarrhea.  Cats however are more prone to becoming constipated. 

Occasional slow down of our bowels happens to all of us but chronic constipation can be life threatening.  How do you know if your cat is constipated?  What can you do to prevent it?  How do you treat a cat that is full of it?  My guest is Dr. Anthony Carr, Board Certified in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Professor of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The Pet Doctor - Episode 314 Is Your Cat Full of It?  The Constipated Cat, Causes and Care

According the Nationwide Pet Insurance claims data for 2019, the most common reason why dogs were taken to the veterinarians was for allergic dermatitis with ear infections coming in a very close second place.  I reality the allergic dermatitis probably led to many of the ear issues.

Why do dogs get these pesky, painful and pricey problems?  And why do they seem to keep coming back?  What can you do at home to decrease the likelihood that your dog will be affected?  My guest is Dr. Darren Berger.  His a board certified veterinary dermatologist and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, IA.

The Pet Doctor - Episode 278 Are Cats Really Evil or Just Psycho?

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