Veterinary Advice, Animal News & Views With Hosts, Dr. Roger Welton & Dr. Karen Louis

Diabetes is a common endocrine disease seen in dogs and cats that is often very preventable.  Tune in and listen to our veterinarian co-hosts, Dr. Karen Louis and Dr. Roger Welton cover every aspect of canine and feline diabetes including life style predisposition to the disease, early signs of disease, and treatment for diabetes in dogs and cats.  E-mail questions comments to our hosts to be chosen to be addressed on the air to comments@web-dvm.net.

A spay is the surgical removal of the female reproductive organs called an ovariohysterectomy.  An ovariohysterectomy requires and abdominal incision and tying off of major abdominal blood vessels.  Despite the spay for dogs and cats being a very serious procedure, Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss why pet owners often seem to not take the procedure seriously. Whether it is calling around to price shop for basement bargain pricing for dogs and cat spays, or failing to restrict activity or keep an Elizabethan collar on the pet to prevent chewing the incision,  pet owners have a tendency to minimalize the overiohysterectomy with regard to value and seriousness. Our veterinarian co-hosts delve into the culpability of the veterinary profession, per owner perceptions, and even the naming of the procedure to get down to what has led to the perception of a spay as anything less than a serious intra-abdominal surgery.  For more content from Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis, please visit their respective blogs at

Co-hosts Dr. Karen Louis and Dr. Roger Welton discuss vaccines in dogs beginning with recent experiences with immunizations and the diseases they protect against (that they have both also recently blogged about), and discussing all of the major diseases that veterinarians vaccinated puppies and dogs against.  Part of their discussion involves the anti-vaccine movement that is as prevalent in veterinary medicine as it is in human medicine, how they feel about it, and how it affects their practice of veterinary medicine.  This is a must listen for puppy and dog owners that would like to sift through vaccine recommendations and why veterinarians recommend them. For more content and interactive commentary from Dr. Karen and Dr. Roger, visit their respective blogs at VetChick.com  and Web-DVM.net.

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen had the amazing privilege to interview Jan Knoche, director of Love a Golden rescue in St. Louis, part of a national rescue network that fosters and finds forever homes for Golden Retrievers.  As part of their rescue efforts, Love a Golden and other like rescues around the country, also focuses on rescuing Golden Retrievers in Turkey.  Turkey has major cultural differences from the U.S., where dogs are not as revered as household pets and it is common for families to adopt pure bred Goldens as puppies and as they reach adulthood, they are let go and become strays.  The strays are rounded up in very crowded shelters, spayed and neutered, and re-released, as euthanasia is not done in Turkey.  Many wander in communities throughout towns, cities, or live in the woods.  Jan's organization and others collect and transport these dogs from Turkey back to the U.S. and Canada for adoption.   This is an incredible interview that brings awareness to an amazing program!  Please listen and consider

Co-hosts Dr. Karen Louis and Dr. Roger Welton, both licensed/practicing veterarians dive into seizure disordersin pets.  Seizures disorders are far more common in pets, especially dogs, in aomparison to people.  Learn how to recognize when your pet is having a seizure, what do do if your pet is having a seizure, what causes seizures in dogs and cats, and how to treat different causes for seizures in dogs and cats.  E-mail questions or comments to be concerned to be addressed on the air by our co-hosts.  For more content from Dr. Karen and Dr. Roger, visit their respective blog at VetChick.com and Web-DVM.net respectively.

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss a little known but common liver disease in dogs that can be present for months to years without a dog showing outward signs.  This condition, known as Idiopathic Canine Vacuolar Hepatopathy, may not show outward signs, but could significantly predispose an affected dog to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.  E-mail questions or comments to possibly be adressed on the air by Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen to comments@web-dvm.net.   What to see more content from our hosts?  Visit Dr. Roger's and Dr. Karen's respective blogs at Web-DVM.net and VetChick.com.

Co-hosts Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis indepthly discuss the all too often unrecognized disease canine cognitive dysfunction, otherewise known as dog dementia.  Canine cognitive dysfunction commonly affects senior age dogs and because of poor awareness of the disease, it all too often goes unrecognized by dog owners and even veterinarians.  Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss the signs of dementia in dogs, why it is important to recognize the disease as early as possible, and what treatment options are available to manage the disease.  E-mail comments to be shared on the air to: comments@web-dvm.net.  For more content from Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen, visit their respective blogs at Web-DVM.net and VetChick.com.

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen talk about Dr. Roger's recent root canal procedure and the impact it has had on the manner in which he practices veterinary medicine.  Send e-mail comments or questions for consideration to be addressed by our veterinarian co-hosts on the air.  For more content from Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen, visit their blogs respectively at Web-DVM.net and VetChick.com.

Dr Roger and Dr. Karen talk about 5 facts about heartworm disease in dogs that most pet owners are not aware of.  The facts they bring to light about heartworm disease are not only very interesting, but offer listeners a better understanding of the disease and a subsequent better ability to prevent it.  E-mail comments are welcomed and may be picked to be addressed on the air by our hosts.  E-mail all comments to: comments@web-dvm.net. For more content from Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen, please visit their respective blogs at Web-DVM.Net and VetChick.com, respectively.

Dr. Karen and Dr. Roger weigh in on a unique case of a listener's cat that e-mailed a question about her 3 year old cat's insatiable appetite.  Kristi's (from Madison Wisconcin) feline will stop at nothing to eat anything and everything in site, including raw potatoes!  With she and her veterinarian at a loss as to what the cause of her kitty's ravenous appetite is, Kristi has turned to our hosts to offer their take on what could be at play in this case.  The answers are so varioable and involved that Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen decided they had to dedicate an entire episode to Kristi's questions!  Send listener e-mail questions/comments to be address on the air to comments@web-dvm.net. For more content from Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen, please visit their respective blogs at Web-DVM.Net and VetChick.com, respectively.

Veterinarian hosts Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen weigh in on the merits - or lack thereof - of feeding pets home cooked diets versus commercially prepared canine and feline diets.  E-mail comments to be discussed on the air by Drs Roger and Karen to comments@web-dvm.net.   For more content from Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen, please visit their respective blogs at Web-DVM.Net and VetChick.com, respectively.

Drs Roger and Karen discuss the differences of chemotherapy for dogs and cats that have cancer in comparison to chemotherapy in humans.  Drs Karen and Roger discuss that consideration for choosing chemotherapy should be taken under consideration with the ultimate goals of chemotherapy in veterinary medicine, the subsequent side effects and effectiveness of chemotherapy as the result of these goals.  Cancer is the number one killer of dogs and the number two killer of cats, so the probability that your pet may contract cancer and are one day faced with important treatment decisions is high, so this is a very important episodeto listen to even if your pet is currently perfectly healthy.   E-mail any comments or questions for Drs Roger and Karen to discuss on the air to comments@web-dvm.net. Read more of Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen at their respective blogs, Web-DVM.Net and VetChick.com.

Dr.'s Roger and Karen debate the merit of controversial catch, spay/neuter release  (TNR) programs for feral cat populations.  Tune in to hear multiple points of view from the effectiveness of these feral feline programs, to the negative impact on the environment, wildlife, and even public health.  Send comments to be discussed on the air by Dr.'s Karen and Roger to comments@web-dvm.net.

Food allergies in dogs and cats can manifest in disease of the gastrintestinal tract, skin and ears, and respiratory systems.  Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss how a hypoallergenic food trial is correctly implemented, why they commonly fail, and why food trials are a common sourse of frustration for pet owners and veterinarians alike.  For more content from Dr. Roger Welton and Dr. Karen Louis, visit their respective blogs at Web-DVM.Net and VetChick.com.  E-mail comments for our co-hosts to address on the air to comments@web-dvm.net.

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen expand on Dr. Karen's recent article on the necessity for vaccinations for indoor only cats.  What are the real disease risks for cats that spend their lives inside?  Are vaccinations necessary at all?  Tune in and find out what our veterinarians think.  Send comments to be discussed by our hosts on the air in upcoming episodes to comments@web-dvm.net.  For more content from Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen, see their respective blogs at Web-DVM.Net and VetChick.com.

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen make the case for why it is a better choice to have your pet spayed or neutered in Dr. Roger's AAHA Accredited veterinary hospital instead of choosing low cost dog and cat spay/neuter clinics.  Dr. Karen shares her insight on the world of discount spay/neuter clinics and advises pet owners to make the right choice if low cost is the only possible option due to financial constraints.  See more of Dr. Roger 's and Dr. Karen's content at their blogs, Web-DVM.net and VetChick.com, respectively.  Send listener e-mails to be addressed on the air to comments@web-dvm.net.

Dr. Roger and Dr. Karen discuss Ice Melt and other possible winter dangers for your pets.  Is Ice Melt as hazardous as it is often made out to be?  What is pet safe Ice Melt and is it worth the added cost to purchase it?  Is frost bite a serious concern?  How long can a pet be out in the cold before frost bite is a risk? Tune in to find out to the answers to these and other questions.  E-mail our hosts at comments@web-dvm.net to have your e-mails discussed on the air.  Read Dr. Roger's and Dr. Karen's blogs resepctively at Web-DVM.Net and VetChick.com.

Dr. Roger introduces his new co-host, Dr. Karen Louis, practicing veterinarian and blogger (VetChick.com) highlighting one of Dr. Karen's recent articles about coconut oil therapeutic uses in dogs and cats.  The veterinarians discuss whether coconut oil has the therapeutic potential it is commonly hyped to have for pets. or if there is any possible harm that can come from feeding or applying coconut oil.  Tune in and find out!

As has been his tradition since 2010, Dr. Roger has his yearly year's end wrap up show, this one for calendar year 2015.  From the evolution of the Trifexis and Convenia "controversies," to the fading of the veterinary pharmacy, to the increasing difficulties of average pet owners being able to afford quality veterinary care, Dr. Roger covers all of the major themes and pet trends (from a veterinary medical perspective) for 2015.

Doctor Roger educates about the benefits of vitamin C in the prevention/treatment of chronic recurring urinary tract infections in dogs.  Tune in to find out how this natural approach to mananagent of canine health can reduce the incidence and severity of urinary tract infections in dogs.