Pet Care Basics Episodes
Every pet parent starts somewhere. These episodes cover the everyday essentials of caring for your dog, cat, or other pets—so you can build confidence, create healthy routines, and avoid common mistakes. Whether you’re a new pet parent or just want to refresh your knowledge, you’ll find simple, practical advice to keep your pets happy and healthy at home.
Topics included: feeding routines, grooming, litter box setup, crate training, cleaning and odor control, introducing new pets, daily care, and first-time pet parent tips.
Topics included: feeding routines, grooming, litter box setup, crate training, cleaning and odor control, introducing new pets, daily care, and first-time pet parent tips.
Aug. 23, 2026
A New Home With Pets: I Need Your Help!
What happens when the person who usually answers the Pet Parent Hotline needs help from the listeners? Amy is finally in her new house (new to her, but built in 1957), but "moved in" might be a generous description. Most of the furniture and pet gear are still in storage, the floors and painting aren't done, she needs a new roof, and she's currently recording from an echoey bedroom furnished with a semi-deflated air mattress. More importantly, the pets are adjusting too. So this week, Amy is t...
Aug. 16, 2026
Before Fall Gets Busy: Get Your Pet Care in Order
Summer has a way of knocking routines loose and pushing pet care tasks to “later.” Before fall gets busy, this is a good time for dog and cat parents to catch up on the things that have quietly slipped down the list. In this solo episode, Amy covers the pet care tasks worth handling now, from vet appointments and grooming to pet boarding, pet sitting, holiday travel, and changing routines. The goal isn’t to create another giant checklist. It’s to take care of a few things now that could save you...
Aug. 5, 2026
Do Special Pet Diets Do What They Claim? | Pet Parent Power Up
Sensitive stomach. Weight management. Hairball control. Urinary care. Pet food labels make these diets sound highly specific, but not every claim on the package means the same thing. In this Pet Parent Power Up, Dr. Angie Boyer explains the difference between formulas built around certain ingredient choices and claims that require more testing and scientific support. You’ll learn: What makes sensitive skin and stomach foods different How weight-management foods reduce calories Why hair...
March 22, 2026
New Cat? Stop Rushing Introductions Before It Turns Into A Fight
Bringing home a new cat and hoping your pets will just figure it out? That’s one of the fastest ways to create tension, hissing, and fights. A lot of cat introductions fail before they even start, and a bad first impression can take weeks or months to undo. In this episode, we walk through what your cats are reacting to, how to set up your home before they ever meet, and the step-by-step process for introducing them the right way. If you’ve been guessing, rushing, or hoping for the best, this wi...
March 1, 2026
Don’t Choose A New Vet Until You Know These 7 Things
Are you about to choose a new vet? Because the worst time to realize you picked the wrong one is when your pet is sick, you’re scared, and no one is clearly explaining what’s happening. In this episode, I’ll walk you through seven things to look for that reveal whether a clinic is truly the right fit, with strong leadership, a healthy team culture, and communication you can rely on, so you feel heard, understand the plan, and can make confident decisions when it matters most. Most pet parents ...
Jan. 11, 2026
Do Pets Grieve After a Loss? A Pet Loss Doula Explains
Do pets actually grieve, or are they reacting to routine changes and stress in ways we don’t recognize? And how much of what we label as “grief” is really our own emotion spilling over into the way we interpret their behavior? In this episode, Amy talks with Kate LaSalla, a pet behavior consultant, companion animal end-of-life death doula, and certified pet loss and grief companion, about what pet grief can look like, what might just be pet care routine disruption, and what to do when your dog ...
Jan. 7, 2026
One Question That Stops You From Wasting Time on Pet Care | Pet Parent Power-Up
Ever feel like you’re doing a ton for your pets, but nothing actually feels easier? If you’re stuck repeating the same corrections, overcomplicating routines, or carrying a low-grade stress cloud all day, this Pet Parent Power-Up is for you. In this episode, I’m sharing the one question I use to snap out of autopilot and stop pouring time and energy into pet care that isn’t paying off: “Is this the best place to put my time and energy?” It sounds simple, but this question helps you spot what...
Jan. 4, 2026
Why Your Pet Resolutions Fail By Week 2
Ever hit January 10 and realize your pet routine resolution is already sliding? If you’ve promised yourself you'll focus on pet care - you’ll walk your dog more, train your cat, brush your pet’s teeth, or finally get consistent, and then real life blows it up, this episode is your reset. It’s not laziness, it’s a plan that was never realistic for your actual mornings. In this solo New Year kickoff episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, I’m sharing what 15 years in rescue taught me about why pet car...
Dec. 28, 2025
Make Your Home Pet-Friendly Without Looking Like A Kennel
Love your pets but hate what they do to your house? In this episode, award-winning designer Pamela O’Brien shares smart, practical pet-friendly home design tips to help you create a space that looks good, feels organized, and stands up to real life with pets. We cover everything from pet proof flooring and durable furniture fabrics to pet odor, clutter control, feeding station design, and the small upgrades that make your home easier to live in every day. If you are tired of fur, mess, scratc...
Dec. 21, 2025
10 Rescue-Tested Pet Essentials We Can’t Live Without
Stop Buying Useless Pet Care Supplies. Here’s What You Actually Need. Most “must-have" pet care supply lists focus on gimmicks and generic basics, missing the pet-care essentials that actually make daily life easier and safer. You probably have the basics for pet care, like bowls and a bed, but in this episode, Amy Castro and Bev Brooks share 10 rescue-tested pet essentials they can’t live without, five dog essentials and five cat essentials, plus a few bonus items pulled from decades o...