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.
Nov. 16, 2025
My Pet's Microchip Brought Her Home After 5 Years, But Yours Might Not
When my cat disappeared suddenly, I thought I’d never see her again. Five years later, a microchip brought her home to me, but your pet's chip might not. In this episode, I share the incredible story of my barn cat, Puti, and how she found her way back to us after vanishing for five years, even though she had gone completely blind. I’ll also reveal the hard truth most pet parents don’t realize: a microchip only works if it’s registered correctly and kept up to date. You’ll hear how this tiny dev...
Nov. 9, 2025
Pet Guardianship: Who Takes Your Pet If You Don’t Make It Home?
Most pet parents never think about creating a pet trust or naming a pet guardian in case something happens to them. But every week, rescues like mine get heartbreaking calls from families scrambling for pet rehoming options after a death, move, or medical emergency. The pets are left confused, grieving, and suddenly homeless, ending up in shelters that never should have entered their story. And this is not just a problem for seniors and pets. If you think you’re too young to worry about this, th...
Nov. 2, 2025
Choosing a Dog Boarding Facility? Watch for These Red Flags
Great dog boarding facilities can be hard to find and leaving your dog (or cat) in someone else’s care can be nerve-racking, especially when you’re not sure what goes on behind those kennel doors. In this episode, Amy sits down with Carmen Rustenbeck, Founder & CEO of the International Boarding & Pet Services Association (IBPSA), to talk about what safe, professional pet care really looks like and how to choose a boarding facility (for your dog OR cat) that meets your standards for quality and c...
Oct. 5, 2025
Dog Training: Crate Training Without The Stress
Think crate training is as simple as putting your dog in the crate and calling it a night? That’s the biggest reason it fails. Crate training isn’t instant. It’s a step-by-step process that builds your dog’s trust and confidence over time. Rush it, and you’ll end up with whining, accidents, or full-blown crate panic. In this episode, I’m joined by Ruth Hegarty, multi-certified dog training and behavior expert, to share real pet parenting advice that actually works. Together, we’ll walk through ...
Sept. 21, 2025
Cat Won't Use the Litter Box? 6 Rules You’re Probably Breaking
Understanding cat litter box issues is one of the top problems cat owners face. You think your litter box setup is fine, yet your cat is still peeing on the bath mat or worse, on your bed! In this episode, I share expert pet advice and reveal the six “everybody knows” rules cat parents accidentally break and how small, practical changes in cat care can stop cat anxiety and outside-the-box accidents for good. You’ll learn why health issues always come first, what “clean” really means to a cat, h...
Aug. 31, 2025
Dog Training Isn’t Working? Find The Right Trainer
Are you at the end of your rope with your dog’s behavior, but not sure if it’s time to hire a professional dog trainer, or worried about picking the wrong one? You’re not alone. The dog training world can feel like the Wild West. With no regulations, conflicting advice, and plenty of flashy websites, it’s hard to know who’s truly qualified to help. Choosing the wrong dog trainer can waste your money, make your dog’s behavior worse, escalate dog aggression problems, and damage the trust between y...
Aug. 24, 2025
Bringing Home a New Cat? Build Trust Fast With the CATS Method
That friendly, purring shelter cat you fell in love with can sometimes turn into a ghost or even a hissy ball of nerves the moment you get them home. It’s not rejection. It’s survival mode. And how you handle those first few days sets the tone for your entire relationship. Even if you don't have a cat, many aspects of these steps toward acclimating a new pet to your home would apply to dogs, birds, and other species of pets to reduce stress and make their transition easier on them. In this epis...
Aug. 10, 2025
Pet Cost Hacks: 6 Guilt-Free Pet Food Savings Ideas That Work
Are you tired of feeling like you need a second job just to buy pet food? And do the “pet food savings” ideas you’ve tried so far leave you feeling guilty, like you’re short-changing your pet’s nutrition? You’re not alone. With vet costs rising and everyday expenses adding up, budgeting for pets is getting harder than ever. If you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle doing mental math and wondering what bill to skip this week, this episode is for you. In this Pet Cost Hacks episode, I’m sharing...
Aug. 10, 2025
The Truth About Year-Round Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Meds
You’re staring at another $200 vet bill and wondering if skipping a month of flea, tick, or heartworm meds will really matter. Your dog barely goes outside. Your cat’s never seen a flea. And those preventatives are not cheap. But what if that one skipped dose turns into a $3,000 emergency—or worse? In this episode, I’m joined by veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins to cut through the fear, guilt, and confusing pet care advice about parasite prevention. We’re talking flea meds, tick risks, heartworm ...
Aug. 10, 2025
Benadryl, Tylenol, Pepto: What’s Safe for Your Pet?
When your dog’s limping or your cat won’t stop scratching, it’s tempting to reach into your medicine cabinet, but should you? In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. Zoo, my vet and the veterinarian for Starlight Outreach and Rescue, to tackle one of the most Googled questions in pet parenting: “Can I give my pet human over-the-counter meds?” We’re breaking down what’s safe, what’s dangerous, and what might help when the vet is closed and your pet needs relief now. BY THE TIME YOU F...