Off Leash with Dr. Pete

On this episode of Off Leash with Dr. Pete, Molly brings in her friend Ben for a very honest conversation about something every dog owner can relate to: are we actually doing everything we should be doing for our pets? What starts with questions about fatty tumors and supplements quickly turns into a crash course on responsible dog ownership. Dr. Pete explains why lumps and bumps should be checked rather than assumed to be harmless, whether supplements like turkey tail mushrooms really have evidence behind them, and how to tell if your dog is eating the right amount of food. They also talk about dogs that inhale their meals, slow feeders, exercise, seasonal calorie needs, and why simply being able to feel your dog’s ribs can tell you a lot about body condition. The conversation gets especially practical when Ben admits his dogs don’t get regular veterinary checkups. Dr. Pete breaks down why preventive care matters, including vaccines, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, Lyme disease testing, and catching problems before your dog ever appears sick. They also get into table scraps, food allergies, raw fish and venison, water intake, diabetes, and why annual veterinary visits become even more important as dogs age. Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or you’ve had dogs your whole life, this episode is a funny and useful reminder that good pet care isn’t just about reacting when something goes wrong, it’s about preventing problems before they start. Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to subscribe and review!

On this episode of Off Leash with Dr. Pete, Molly brings another round of listener questions to Dr. Pete, covering everything from dog treats and vaccines to skin problems, digestive issues, liver enzymes, and senior dog health. It’s a wide-ranging Q&A filled with practical advice for pet owners dealing with some of the most common and confusing health concerns. Dr. Pete starts by discussing treats for dogs with copper storage disease, including why owners need to look closely at ingredient labels and how even treats can contribute additional copper. He also answers a question about old dog vestibular syndrome, explaining why senior dogs can suddenly become dizzy, unsteady, or nauseous and why many improve significantly with time and supportive care. The conversation also covers elevated liver enzymes in Scottish Terriers, whether senior dogs still need vaccinations, and what antibody titers can and can’t tell pet owners about immunity. From there, Dr. Pete dives into dysbiosis and fecal transplants, severe dermatitis and possible scabies, environmental allergies, and why the location and timing of a dog’s itching can offer important clues about what’s causing the problem. They wrap up with a question about bilious vomiting syndrome and why some dogs vomit yellow bile early in the morning, along with practical ideas for managing medications and diet. Whether you’re caring for a senior dog, dealing with allergies, or simply trying to better understand your pet’s symptoms, this episode offers useful veterinary insight you can take into your next conversation with your veterinarian. Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to subscribe and review!

On this episode of Off Leash with Dr. Pete, Molly and Dr. Pete take a closer look at a new concern surrounding raw pet food: avian influenza, or H5N1. As bird flu continues to affect poultry, dairy cattle, cats, and other mammals, they discuss why uncooked animal ingredients are getting more attention from veterinarians, pet food companies, and the FDA. Dr. Pete explains why cats appear to be more vulnerable to bird flu than dogs, how exposure can happen around farms and infected animals, and why cooking or pasteurization dramatically changes the risk. They also discuss the FDA’s response to H5N1 and why manufacturers using raw or unpasteurized poultry and cattle ingredients are being pushed to take a closer look at their food safety practices. The conversation expands into the broader risks and benefits of raw feeding, including bacteria like Salmonella and Listeria, ingredient sourcing, testing, and why transparency matters when choosing a pet food company. Rather than simply labeling raw diets as good or bad, Molly and Dr. Pete explain why pet owners should understand the added food-safety risks and ask better questions about how their dog or cat’s food is produced. Whether you currently feed raw, have considered making the switch, or simply want to understand how changing infectious diseases can affect pet nutrition, this episode offers practical information to help you make a more informed decision for your pet. Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to subscribe and review!

On this episode of Off Leash with Dr. Pete, Molly and Dr. Pete talk about something many pet owners don’t think about until moving day: how changing homes can affect your dog or cat. A new house means unfamiliar smells, a different yard, new neighbors, and an entirely new environment for your pet to figure out. Dr. Pete explains why pets that were perfectly house-trained in one home may suddenly have accidents in another, especially if previous animals left behind scents in carpeting or flooring. They also discuss checking fences, electrical cords, unfamiliar hazards, and why limiting a dog’s access to the entire house at first can make the transition easier and safer. The conversation also covers some less obvious concerns, including moving a blind dog into an unfamiliar floor plan, new exposure to ticks and parasites when moving from the city to the country, and why your new neighborhood can completely change your pet’s daily risks. Molly and Dr. Pete even discuss what to look for when choosing a home with dogs in mind from flooring and fenced yards to pet-friendly neighbors. Whether you’re buying your first home, moving across town, or relocating with several pets, this episode offers practical advice to help make the transition safer and less stressful for everyone involved. Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to subscribe and review!

On this episode of Off Leash with Dr. Pete, Molly and Dr. Pete dive into a growing concern in veterinary medicine: drug-resistant hookworms. Hookworms themselves aren't new, but some strains are becoming harder to treat with the dewormers veterinarians have relied on for decades. Dr. Pete explains where this resistance is showing up, why certain dogs may be more at risk, and what veterinarians are doing when the usual treatments stop working. From there, the conversation turns into a crash course on the different parasites dogs can pick up. Dr. Pete breaks down hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and even some lesser-known stomach worms. Dr. Pete explains how dogs get them, what symptoms owners might notice, and why some parasites can be surprisingly difficult to diagnose. They also discuss how puppies can acquire worms from their mothers, why black or tarry stools can be a warning sign of hookworms, and how modern heartworm and parasite preventives have dramatically reduced the number of intestinal parasites veterinarians see today. Dr. Pete even explains why some routine fecal tests can miss certain worms and when additional testing may be necessary. Whether you have a new puppy, recently adopted a dog, or simply want to better understand parasite prevention, this episode offers practical information to help keep your dog healthy and explains why staying ahead of worms is much easier than dealing with them after they become a problem. Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to subscribe and review!