Speaking of Pets Podcast

12/26/2024

Northwest Naturals is recalling a line of its pet food after authorities linked the death of a cat to a batch of food contaminated with bird flu.

12/25/2024

🎄🐾 **Merry Christmas from Speaking of Pets!** 🐾🎄

We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you! Your support and love for our podcast have made this year truly special.

May your days be filled with joy, laughter, and lots of furry cuddles! Here’s to celebrating the love we share with our pets and the happiness they bring into our lives.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas, Happy Holidays and a pawsitively fantastic New Year! 🎉❤️

12/25/2024

I hate to post bad news on Christmas, but this is an important safefy announcement for pet parents.

Northwest Naturals, a Portland, Oregon-based company, is voluntarily recalling its Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food. The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. The product was sold nationwide through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is alerting pet owners that samples of Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food tested positive for a H5N1 strain of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus. Testing conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USD...

12/24/2024

Am I wrong Dr. Jeromin? Alice Jeromin 🤣🤩

12/20/2024

FOOD ALLERGY IN PETS---Let’s dispel the myths!
A few days ago, I checked a Golden Retriever with skin problems where the owner had a blood test for food allergies performed before seeing me. Please, everyone remember—there is no blood, skin, hair, or saliva test for food allergies in pets that is valid! Please do not spend your money on these tests! There is something about a printed laboratory result that leads people to believe the results-just because a laboratory offers a test does not mean it is valid. In fact, when you question the lab about the validity of blood testing for food allergy in pets, you often don’t get an answer! THE ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE IF YOUR DOG OR CAT IS FOOD ALLERGIC IS TO FEED A PRESCRIPTION OR HOME-COOKED HYPOALLERGENIC DIET FOR 8 WEEKS. The definition of a hypoallergenic diet is feeding a protein that your pet has never been exposed to previously. Another option is a protein hydrolysate diet (prescription) which consists of a soy, chicken, or fish protein that has been hydrolyzed or cut down in size so that the body doesn’t recognize it as soy, chicken, or fish. If performing a home-cooked diet it should be done under the supervision of your veterinarian.
Clients think that food dyes or additives are often the culprit for allergies. But it is most commonly the protein source that the pet is allergic to such as beef, chicken, or dairy but some carbohydrate sources such as wheat and corn contain protein as well.
Another frequent question is about using “limited ingredient” over-the-counter (OTC) diets. Studies show that 80% of them are contaminated with other proteins so the “limited ingredient” is not solely that protein that is listed on the bag. The difference between “limited ingredient” OTC diets and prescription (Rx) hypoallergenic diets is that the prescription diets have a DNA test during manufacturing and upon completion to be sure they are not contaminated with other proteins. This is why Rx diets tend to cost more than OTC diets…and for good reason!
If your veterinarian has suggested your pet could be food allergic (symptoms can include itching, ear infections, recurrent skin infections, diarrhea, vomiting, belching) and they have started your pet on a prescription diet please do not give any other foods, treats, bones, rawhides, pig ears, flavored supplements, or dental chews. One mistake such as a treat given by the mailperson will set the pet back a good 2 weeks! We want to do this 8-week diet trial correctly and want to only have to do it once! If you have multiple pets, sometimes it’s easier to put all the pets on the Rx diet for the 8-week trial so that the affected pet doesn’t get any of the other pets’ food.
Always consult your veterinarian as to whether your pet could be food allergic and which diet is best for them-they know your pets’ history and can make a good recommendation!

12/19/2024

We had TWO brand new episodes of Speaking of Pets drop yesterday. We were joined by guests Kathy Deptola from Kathy Deptola Cat Rescue and Bill Bookout, president of the National Animal Supplement Council. Two fantastic episodes for your week heading into Christmas

Give them a listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

12/19/2024

Keep your kitties safe out there! 🐾🐦‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈

The document offers tips for minimizing the risk of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in felines and highlights the virus' growing threat to these animals

12/18/2024

And THAT is why we love Alice Jeromin and why you should follow Speaking of Pets Podcast!

12/18/2024

Read this great story about our very own Dr. Alice Jeromin

12/18/2024

12/18/2024

Episode TWO in our TWO EPISODE special release is here!

We're thrilled to welcome Bill Bookout, the president and founding member of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), to this week's episode of Speaking of Pets!

Join us as Bill dives deep into the world of animal supplements and shares his expertise on ensuring the safety and effectiveness of these products for our beloved pets. Did you know that the FDA doesn't review supplements? That's why organizations like NASC are so crucial! Bill explains what pet owners need to know when selecting supplements and highlights the importance of quality ingredients and reputable manufacturers.

From the complexities of h**p and CBD to the red flags to watch out for when shopping, this episode is packed with invaluable insights for every pet parent.

Watch: https://youtu.be/UD3hnjhIHi0
Listen: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speakingofpets/episodes/Insights-on-Animal-Supplements-from-NASC-President--SOP-ep--43---Bill-Bookout-e2sf7eu

12/18/2024

In the first of our very special TWO EPISODE release today, we have Kathy Deptola!

Join us for a heartwarming and informative chat with the Kathy Deptola Animal Rescue founder! In this episode of Speaking of Pets, we dive into the world of animal rescue, discussing creative ways to enrich the lives of our furry friends, tips for finding lost pets, and the importance of thoughtful adoption practices.

Kathy shares her inspiring journey, offers invaluable advice for pet owners, and highlights the joys and challenges of fostering animals in need.

Whether you're a seasoned pet parent or considering adopting, this episode is filled with essential insights and touching stories that will inspire you to make a difference in the lives of animals.

Watch: https://youtu.be/YT932gCfYvQ
Listen: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/speakingofpets/episodes/Enriching-Lives-and-Finding-Lost-Pets--SOP-ep--42---Kathy-Deptola-e2sf784

12/16/2024

DermaZoo's GlycoZoo Otic Ear/Skin Cleaner is great as a mantienence cleaner to keep your pets ears clean and healthy. It has antibacterial boric acid, glycolic acid to keep the skin smooth and supple, and ceremides. It's a solution that's safe AND effective!

Ask your veterianarian about DermaZoo's GlycoZoo Otic Ear/Skin Cleanser. Let's keep those ears healthy and infection free!

12/16/2024

From our host, Dr. Jeromin!

TREATS!! WHO DOESN’T LOVE ‘EM?
By Alice Jeromin, B.S. Pharmacy, DVM, DACVD

In 2022, pet parents in the United States spent $11 billion on treats with 75 percent of that spent on dog treats. Recently, cat treat sales have been growing faster than dog treats. Cats must be doing something right…or we’re BEGGING them to do something right!!

Interestingly, treats are not held to the same standard of nutritional adequacy as pet diets because the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feels their primary role is not to provide complete and balanced nutrition. Treats are meant to be SUPPLEMENTAL ONLY and should not make up more than 10% of the pet’s diet. When we give more than 10%, the diet can become unbalanced nutritionally and create nutritional deficiencies and obesity. Treats are not meant to replace a complete and balanced diet. Part of this problem is that labeling of treats is not consistent as far as their calorie content/ingredients and we as pet parents are often left uninformed.

Pet parents should look for high-quality treats that provide essential nutrients without adding excessive calories. Common dog treat biscuits average 329 calories/100 Grams and soft treats average 294 calories/100 Grams. Sugar content is also a factor. Some dog biscuits contain 51.7 Grams of sugar/1,000 kcal. My personal experience with treats resulted in my own dog having increased thirst and urination due to the high sodium content of a certain treat!

Treats are great—we ALL love them! Our pets love us and yearn for treats! But, use your head and read the package before purchasing. I prefer to use fruits and veggies (no grapes or raisins) or the dog’s current food as treats. Always consult your veterinarian about which treats are appropriate for your pet. Who knew sugar, increased calories, and sodium in a treat could adversely affect your pet?!!

Speaking of Pets Podcast

12/15/2024

Magic traveled from NC to find her forever home. She is only about two years old, and found herself in a small, animal control facility with no family. She is a sweetie who just wants a home for the holidays. Visit Magic at our adoption center today until 6pm.

12/15/2024