Pet Health And Wellness Episodes

Most pet parents see veterinarians during some of the most stressful moments of pet ownership: when a pet is sick, injured, aging, or facing an expensive medical decision. But what many people never see is the pressure veterinarians themselves are carrying into those conversations. In this episode, Amy sits down with equine veterinarian, stand-up comedian, and author Dr. Matt Evans to talk about the human side of veterinary medicine and why communication between pet parents and vets can sometime...

Most people who find tiny kittens think the shelter is the safest place to take them. But when kittens are newborns or bottle babies, the shelter may not have the staff, fosters, supplies, or overnight care needed to keep them alive. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy talks with Deborah Felin-Magaldi of Helen Sanders CatPAWS about what really happens during kitten season when neonatal kittens enter an already overwhelmed shelter system. This conversation picks up after the “wait a...

If your pet suddenly seems “off,” how do you know whether it’s a true emergency or something that can safely wait until morning (or Monday)? That decision is one of the most stressful parts of being a pet parent, especially when emotions, cost, uncertainty, and fear of overreacting all collide at once. In this episode, veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins joins me to talk about how pet parents can think through those moments more clearly, what situations tend to get worse fast, and why “waiting and se...

If your pet needed emergency care tonight, would you be ready to get out the door quickly? When something goes wrong with your pet, the medical issue may not be the only thing slowing you down. Sometimes it’s the missing carrier, the dead phone, the leash you can’t find, or the panic of trying to decide whether things are getting worse. In this Pet Parent Power-Up, you’ll learn simple ways to prepare before there’s a crisis, so you can stay calmer, move faster, and make better decisions when yo...

Feeling like you’re not doing enough for your pet, no matter how much you try? You’re buying the toys, reading the advice, trying to do everything “right”… but it still feels like something’s missing. Here’s the truth most pet parents don’t hear: better results don’t come from doing more. They come from doing the right small things consistently. In this episode, I break down 7 simple pet care tips that can instantly improve your pet’s life, support better dog behavior and cat behavior, and help...

What does a peaceful goodbye at home actually look like, and what should you know before you ever need to make that call? If the idea feels scary or overwhelming, this will help you understand what really happens and why many families choose it. Hospice and end-of-life veterinarian Dr. Jack Murray explains how in-home euthanasia works, how it differs from a clinic or ER setting, and why many families find it calmer and less stressful for both pets and people. We also talk about why it helps to ...

How do you know when it’s time to let your pet go, especially when you keep hoping for one more sign? If you’re waiting for absolute certainty, your pet may pay the price for that delay. In this episode, hospice and end-of-life veterinarian Dr. Jack Murray shares a candid, pet-centered perspective on why this decision so often feels impossible, why certainty may never come, and what it can cost a pet when families wait too long. We talk about the signs people misread, the emotional reasons they ...

Wondering if it’s time to leave your vet, and you want to do it without making it weird? You don’t need a dramatic breakup. You need a calm, reasonable plan that protects your pet’s care, keeps things simple, and helps you move on without stress. In this Pet Parent Power-Up monthly bonus episode, I’m walking you through five practical steps to make the call and switch clinics the right way, including what to say, what order to do things in, and how to handle records and prescriptions so nothing...

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 ...

Have you ever walked out of the vet thinking, I should’ve asked more… but it happened so fast? This episode is for the moment you’re sitting in the exam room, your brain goes blank, and the vet is moving on to the next step before you’ve processed what you just heard. In this episode, I’m giving you real, usable phrases to ask about priorities, timing, options, and cost, plus what to say when you need to pause or say no, without sounding rude, cheap, or like you don’t care. You’re not “being ...