Nine Lives Are Not Enough by Dr. Mary Gardner: Episodes 156 & 157, December 2022
Hot off the press! Our friend Dr. Mary Gardner has published a book called Nine Lives Are Not enough: A Practical Guide to Caring for Your Geriatric Cat. We can’t think of anyone better for this topic as Dr. Gardner’s day job is being the Co-Founder and CIO of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice & In-Home Euthanasia. This is a purrfect book to start the new year – you can find it on Amazon.
New journal articles with Dr. Kelly St. Denis: Episode 155, December 2022
The wonderful Dr. Kelly St. Denis returns as guest host for this episode dicussing recent journal articles:
- Evaluation of the Attitudes and Confidence of Veterinary Undergraduates toward Working with Cats in the Veterinary Hospital Environment.
- Variability in non-core vaccination rates of dogs and cats in veterinary clinics across the United States.
AAFP launches The Feline Practitioner magazine: Episodes 153 & 154, November 2022
The American Assoc. of Feline Practitioners has launched a quarterly magazine for members called The Feline Practitioner. In these two episodes, we discuss the wonderful articles and resources in the first issue.
>> Listen to episode 153
>> Listen to episode 154
Dr. Leslie Lyons on pharaohs, felines, and DNA: Episodes 151 & 152, October 2022
Dr. Lyons runs the Feline Genetics and Comparative Medicine Laboratory at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She returns to give us an update on what’s happening in feline genetics. We talk about the 99 Lives Cat Initiative, the ethics of cloning and gene editing, and she sorts out our CRISPR confusion.
World Small Animal Association Hereditary Disease Committee
>> Listen to episode 151
>> Listen to episode 152
Interesting journal articles: Episode 150, Sept 2022
Scientists are still trying to create hypoallergenic cats – now a new technology called CRISPR is being used. More importantly, scientists tried to figure out if cats know the names of the cats they live with – listen to learn the answer!
US biofirm plans to make hypoallergenic cats using CRISPR gene editing (NewScientist)
Cats learn the names of the cats in their daily lives (Nature Scientific Reports)
Catching up with Jolle and Susan: Episode 149, Sept 2022
Learning how to travel again – do we have travel imposter syndrome? Travel tips, passport issues, and more.
Replay: our most popular episodes were in October 2020 with Dr. Panos Xenoulis on pancreatitis in cats
Summer Cat Bites
Jolle and Susan are taking a break from recording podcasts episodes this summer. We’ll be back in September, so until then, enjoy these short cat bites that Jolle recorded at the ISFM Feline Congress in Rhodes, Greece in July 2022:
>> Claire Bessant of ISFM and Cat Friendly Practices
>> Dr. Kelly St. Denis and what was learned at the Congress
>> Dr. Hillary Noyes and cat behavior
>> Dr. Sarah Heath on the interplay of emotion, cognitive, and physical health for cats
>> Dr. Panos Xenoulis and the cat population on Rhodes
The ABCs of critical care for cats: Episodes 147 & 148, May 2022
The great Dr. Tony Johnson is joining the PurrPodcast this week. Do you know your critical care ABCs? Dr. Tony starts with these for every emergency case. We also discuss fluid therapy, emergency critical care drugs, and many other topics. Dr. Tony is a blast, and did you know he is a virtuoso mandolin player? Follow @DrTonyJohnson
AAHA/AAFP Fluid Therapy Guidelines for Dogs and Cats: open access
>> Listen to episode 147
>> Listen to episode 148
Managing community cats: Episodes 145 & 146, Apr & May 2022
Association of Shelter Vets
Alley Cat Allies
Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
>> Listen to episode 145
>> Listen to episode 146
Obstructive lower urinary tract disease: Episode 144, Apr 2022
Beeston D, Humm K, Church DB, Brodbelt D, O’Neill DG. Occurrence and clinical management of urethral obstruction in male cats under primary veterinary care in the United Kingdom in 2016. J Vet Intern Med. 2022 Mar;36(2):599-608. Open access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8965234/
Flying trampolines & falling cats: Episode 143, Apr 2022
Girol-Piner AM, Moreno-Torres M, Herrería-Bustillo VJ. Prospective evaluation of the Animal Trauma Triage Score and Modified Glasgow Coma Scale in 25 cats with high-rise syndrome. J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Mar 16:1098612X221080903.
Self-care and wellness with Dr. Mia Cary: Episodes 141 & 142, Mar 2022
>> Listen to episode 141
>> Listen to episode 142
Temporomandibular joint problems & lower airway disease with Dr. Kelly St. Denis: Episode 140, Mar 2022
Mestrinho LA, Sebastião SS, Zwierucho MA, et al. CT characterisation and classification of feline temporomandibular joint trauma: a case series of 79 cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Jan 31:1098612X211066654.
Paulin MV, Caney SM, Cosford KL. Online survey to determine client perceptions of feline chronic lower airway disease management: response to therapy, side effects and challenges encountered. J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Feb 7:1098612X211070988.
Does feline hypertension raise your blood pressure? with Dr. Kelly St. Denis: Episode 139, Feb 2022
Navarro I, Summers S, Rishniw M, Quimby J. Cross-sectional survey of non-invasive indirect blood pressure measurement practices in cats by veterinarians. J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Feb 3:1098612X211067015.
Social media and pet insurance with Dr. Adam Christman: Episodes 137 & 138, Feb 2022
>> Listen to episode 137
>> Listen to episode 138
Making the holidays safe for cats with Dr. Kelly St. Denis: Episodes 135 & 136, Dec 2021 & Jan 2022
>> Listen to episode 135
>> Listen to episode 136
Feline ophthalmology with Dr. Christine Lim: Episodes 133 & 134, Nov 2021
>> Listen to episode 133
>> Listen to episode 134
Are you allergic to cats? Episode 132, Oct 2021
Sparkes AH. Human allergy to cats: A review for veterinarians on prevalence, causes, symptoms and control. J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Jan;24(1):31-42. Open access: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X211036793
Sparkes AH. Human allergy to cats: A review of the impact on cat ownership and relinquishment. J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Jan;24(1):43-52. Open access: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X211013016
Talking to grade school students about cats: Episode 131, Oct 2021
Check out Skype A Scientist to help bring veterinary medicine to schools.
How to manage feline sialocoeles: Episode 130, Oct 2021
Bobis-Villagrá D, Rossanese M, Murgia D, et al. Feline sialocoele: clinical presentation, treatment and outcome in 19 cases. J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Sep 20:1098612X211046197. Open access: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612×211046197
Artificial intelligence comes to feline medicine: Episode 129, Sept 2021
In this episode, Drs. Jolle and Susan discuss a litterbox that uses AI to record data on your cat and an app that claims to analyze your cat’s face to determine if it is in pain. The internet of things has arrived for your cat! Will these gadgets help veterinarians and cat owners? Time will tell.
Inguinal hernias in cats: Episode 128, Sept 2021
In episode 128, Drs. Jolle and Susan discuss an interesting case that is being treated by Dr. Susan’s team. A cat with chronic diarrhea is now presented for straining in the litter box. Radiographs reveal a hernia! We discuss inguinal hernias in cats – how to manage and treat them.
Feline blood transfusions: episodes 126 and 127, Aug & Sept 2021
The first ever guidelines on blood transfusions for cats have been published by the International Society of Feline Medicine and published in the Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery. Be sure to check out these guidelines – they are open access. In these episodes, Drs. Jolle and Susan discuss some of the topics in the guidelines such as feline blood types and why they are important, blood donors, and how to give transfusions. And we answer an important question – can you give canine blood to cats?
>> Listen to episode 126
>> Listen to episode 127
Remembering Dr. Alexander de Lahunta and our mentors: Episode 125, August 2021
August was a sad month as the death of Dr. Alexander de Lahunta at age 88 was announced. Pretty much all veterinarians know his name because he is the legendary founder of veterinary neurology and an award-winning teacher. This got Jolle and Susan thinking about the people who have been influential in their careers – friends, family, colleagues, mentors. Who has influenced your career in vet med?
Dr. Rick Sanchez: Episode 124, August 2021
Dr. Rick Sanchez is a European Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology with a long list of career achievements. Feline ophthalmology was the purrfect topic for Jolle to record on International Cat Day. In this episode, Rick and Jolle discuss common eye diseases in cats, including how to make a diagnosis. Rick also explains the differences between cat and dog eyes so it’s a great review of a fascinating topic. You’ll want to keep your eye on this episode!
Dr. Gert ter Haar: Episode 123, July 2021
Dr. Gert ter Haar is an ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist and was the head of the ENT departments at the University of Utrecht and the Royal Veterinary College in London. Jolle really enjoyed recording this episode because 1) it was recorded in Holland, and 2) Dr. ter Haar is a board-certified surgeon (EVCS). In this episode, the focus is on nasopharyngeal polyps in cats.
Dr. Dave Twedt: Episodes 121 and 122, July 2021
Dr. Dave Twedt joined the Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978 and has a distinguished professional career. In addition to many other honors, Dave was the recipient of the 2020 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine/Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence. He helped pioneer use of minimally invasive technques such as endoscopy and laparoscopy. Since Jolle loves those topics too, they had a lot to talk about! If it can be done with a scope, Dave knows how to do it.
>> Listen to episode 121
>> Listen to episode 122
Every Cat Health Foundation: Episodes 119 and 120, June 2021
This week we have a special guest co-host, the famous Steve Dale. Steve and Jolle interviewed Jackie Ott Jaakola, the executive director of the Every Cat Health Foundation (ECHF), previously known as the Winn Feline Foundation. Jackie talks her background and explains her passion for feline health and welfare. Check out some of the amazing studies in feline medicine and surgery that ECHF has helped fund.
>> Listen to episode 119
>> Listen to episode 120
Dr. Caitlin DeWilde, DVM: Episodes 117 & 118, June 2021
I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to have Dr. Caitlin DeWilde on our podcast! You may know her as The Social DVM. We love Caitlin for her skills as a veterinarian who is also an entrepreneur and social media wiz. She calls herself a ‘nerdy marketer.’ Social media is often a tough place for veterinarians but the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have made it even harder. Caitlin chats with Jolle about how to market yourself, how to create safe spaces for your mental health, and how to deal with crabby clients. She also gives us some great tricks for using social media and explains how she increased her feline patient list by 30%. Meow-wow!! Follow her on social media @TheSocialDVM.
>> Listen to episode 117
>> Listen to episode 118
Dr. Kelly St. Denis, DVM, MSc, DABVP (Feline): Episodes 115 & 116, May 2021
Our favourite guest host is back! Dr. Kelly St. Denis takes over hosting from Susan for these episodes. She really needs no introduction, but to remind you, Kelly is a board-certified feline specialist and the 2020-2021 President of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. In these episodes, Kelly and Jolle tackle some current topics in cat news and some types of feline trauma. Do cats always land on their feet?
>> Listen to episode 115
>> Listen to episode 116
Dr. Kelly Diehl: Episodes 113 & 114, May 2021
Dr. Kelly Diehl is the Senior Director of Science and Communications for the Morris Animal Foundation. In case you haven’t heard of this organization, it has been funding research to improve the lives of animals for over 70 years. The Foundation is currently funding research into many feline diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, feline infectious peritonitis, and oral cancer, among many others. Kelly tells us how important the role of this research is in the lives of cats and discusses some of the research projects.
>> Listen to episode 113
>> Listen to episode 114
Dr. Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MSc, DABT, DABVT: Episodes 111 & 112, April & May 2021
Dr. Ahna Brutlag is one of those amazing people with a lot of letters after her name. In fact, she’s one of the few people who are board-certified by the American Board of Toxicology and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. She is the Director of Veterinary Services for the Pet Poison Helpline and has managed thousands of toxicity cases so she’s the right person to chat with us about the unique feline toxicities. Do you know which human medication cats seem to love? How do you know whether or not to induce vomiting? Have a listen for the answers!
>> Listen to episode 111
>> Listen to episode 112
Dr. Liz O’Brien, DVM, DABVP (Feline): Episodes 109 & 110, April 2021
Dr. Liz O’Brien is a legendary feline specialist in Ontario, Canada. Liz is the creator of the Cat Healthy initiative and the Feline Preventive Healthcare Protocols which are used around the world. In 2014, she received the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Small Animal Practitioner of the Year award. Susan is busy trying to get her veterinary clinics through the COVID-19 pandemic, so Jolle talks with Liz about Cat Healthy and about adopting shelter cats. Liz tells us how to get off on the right paw with effective communication to new cat owners, especially cats adopted from shelters.
>> Listen to episode 109
>> Listen to episode 110
Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn & Dr. Susan Little: Episodes 107 & 108, March & April 2021
It’s the time of year when many people celebrate Easter but unfortunately for some cats, it means a trip to the veterinarian or emergency clinic. Easter lilies are the culprit. In episode 107, we talk about this serious toxicity in cats. In episode 108, we review the corrigendum (what’s that?) to this article:
Petrucci G, et al. Metastatic feline mammary cancer: prognostic factors, outcome and comparison of different treatment modalities – a retrospective multicentre study. J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Jun;23(6):549-556.
>> Listen to episode 107
>> Listen to episode 108
Dr. Kelly St. Denis, DVM, DABVP (Feline): Episodes 105 & 106, March 2021
Dr. Kelly St. Denis was our first (and so far, only) guest podcast host a few months ago. She is the current president of the American Assoc. of Feline Practitioners and we couldn’t wait to have her back to talk about a new initiative: the Cat Friendly Certificate program. The program allows veterinarians and other veterinary team members to achieve certification though an education program that is done online. We also talk about the various toolkits that AAFP is creating. And we tackle a difficult subject – declawing. Find out why so many veterinarians want to keep the ball rolling to ban this surgery throughout Canada and the United States.
>> Listen to episode 105
>> Listen to episode 106
Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn & Dr. Susan Little: Episodes 103 & 104, February and March 2021
We’re only a few episodes late, but this is our ‘we made it to 100 episodes and we’re still talking’ celebration. We had planned to record our 100th in Rio de Janeiro (where it all began), but COVID-19 had other ideas. We decided to talk about feline hypertension in these episodes and to help introduce the American Assoc. of Feline Practitioners feline hypertension toolkit. We reviewed the progress made in diagnosing and treating hypertension in cats over the last decade, including the ISFM Consensus Guidelines. And we chat and laugh, of course!
>>Listen to episode 103
>> Listen to episode 104
Robin Saar, RVT, VTS (Nutrition): Episodes 101 & 102, February 2021
We’re always pleased when we have the chance to talk with a veterinary technician and Robin was no different. She is an excellent example of the growing number of veterinary technicians with specialty training – in Robin’s case, it’s nutrition. We talked about how one becomes a technician with a specialty and how veterinary hospitals can take advantage of the skills of technicians. Robin is passionate about nutrition of course, but especially about preventing and treating obesity. She has some great tips on having that difficult conversation with the owner of an obese cat. And because Robin is Canadian, we talked about how to survive the Canadian winter!
>> Listen to episode 101
>> Listen to episode 102
Mikel Delgado, PhD: Episodes 99 & 100, February 2021
Who doesn’t love kittens? Dr. Delgado is a PhD and a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. Her research has been on the health and behavior of kittens (what a great job!) and the effects of environment on cat behavior. She’s been a postdoctoral fellow at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and has recently joined GoodDog. Of course we talked about kittens – especially raising orphans. And what a joy to have her for our 100th episode! Check out her blog, What Your Cat Wants.
>> Listen to episode 99
>> Listen to episode 100
Dr. Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, DACVD: Episodes 97 & 98, January 2021
As we get closer to our 100th episode, we are thrilled to have dermatologist Dr. Ashely Bourgeois with us. You may know her as DermVet if you follow her on social media (@thedermvet). And she has a podcast! Do you think she’ll ask us to be a guest? We had fun chatting with Dr. Bourgeois and we learned a lot too. Especially Dr. Susan, who thinks you can boil feline dermatology down to flea treatment and corticosteroids (not!). Dr. Bourgeois fills us in on dermatology problems unique to cats. And we discuss how her name would be pronounced in Canada. Have a listen and try not to get itchy!
>> Listen to episode 97
>> Listen to episode 98
Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn & Dr. Susan Little: Episode 96, January 2021
Happy 2021! Yay, we made it and we’re happy to present the first episode of the new year. Since both of us have written and edited textbooks, we decided to chat about veterinary textbook are created. We both are in the midst of editing new textbooks and it always looks more fun at the beginning than at the end. It truly is a labour of love. And we discuss the press release announcing a company intends to make a COVID-19 vaccine for cats – is that a good idea?
>> Listen to episode 96
It’s the holidays and your hard-working podcast hosts are taking some time off. For your pleasure, we are re-publishing two of our most popular podcast episodes.
>> Listen to episode 94, our most down-loaded podcast for 2020: Dr. Serge Chalhoub and feline kidney disease
>> Listen to episode 95, our most down-loaded podcast EVER: Dr. Sarah Boston and feline oncology
Paulo Steagall, DMV, MSc, PhD, DACVA: Episodes 92 & 93, December 2020
Dr. Paulo Steagall is one of the most amazing people in veterinary medicine (and he has a lot of letters after his name!). His lab at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal has revolutionized recognition and management of pain in cats through their research projects. They developed and validated the Feline Grimace Scale – a fast, reliable, and easy to use tool to assess pain, something that we’ve needed in feline medicine for a long time! You can find out about this cool tool on the Feline Grimace Scale website. These two episodes with Dr. Steagall are chock full of information such as drug options to manage pain (what if you don’t have opioids?) and local anesthetic techniques every vet should use. And we congratulate Dr. Steagall on becoming a Canadian citizen!
>> Listen to episode 92
>> Listen to episode 93
Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn & Dr. Susan Little: Episodes 90 & 91, November & December 2020
One of our favourite things is to record a podcast where we just chat about cat news. Just us. Just talking cats. So that’s what we did for episodes 90 & 91. Of course, the first thing we talked about was famous cats in government because President Elect Biden says a cat is coming back to the White House. Check out these feline social media stars – Larry, the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office in the UK (@Number10cat) and Gladstone, the mouser at the Treasury office in Whitehall (@TreasuryMog). We also chat about cats in Peru and Egypt, the new MeowTalk app, what was found in the permafrost in the Yukon, and more. We also talk about some more serious stuff, like new ways to monitor glucose in diabetic cats and melanocytic tumours. So it’s not all fluff!
>> Listen to episode 90
>> Listen to episode 91
Serge Chalhoub, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (Internal Medicine): Episodes 88 & 89, November 2020
Dr. Serge Chalhoub is one of our few repeat guests. He has been at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Dept. of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services) since 2012 and he practices internal medicine at the C.A.R.E. Centre Animal Hospital. He has received awards for teaching excellence and we can see why as he’s an excellent communicator. In these episodes, he tells us about veterinary education before, during, and after COVID-19. The pandemic has forced universities to develop new education plans for veterinary students that combines virtual with on-site learning. We talk about how students and faculty are coping and what changes may be worth keeping after the pandemic. At the end of episode 89, Serge gives us an update on chronic kidney disease in cats.
>> Listen to episode 88
>> Listen to episode 89
Prof. Leslie Lyons, PhD: Episodes 86 & 87, October/November 2020
Dr. Leslie Lyons is the world’s leading expert on feline genetics. She earned her PhD in human genetics from the University of Pittsburgh. She has worked at the National Cancer Institute where her interest in feline genetics was born, and then at the University of California, Davis. Her Feline Genetics and Comparative Medicine Laboratory is at the University of Missouri. We talk about her 99 Lives Cat Genome Sequencing Initiative and the important link between her work and human diseases. She tells us why an Abyssinian named Cinnamon is a famous cat and reveals her little secret. Then we talk genetics (of course), ketogenic diets, cloning cats, and tomb cats. Best of all, Leslie shares her to-do list and the content may surprise you. What a great episode!
>> Listen to episode 86
>> Listen to episode 87
Panos Xenoulis, DVM, Dr.med.vet, PhD: Episodes 84 & 85, October 2020
Dr. Panos Xenoulis is one of the world’s leading veterinary experts on diseases of the pancreas, especially when we talk about cats (and that is all we do!). Panos lives in Greece and did most of his graduate work in the US, including the GI Lab at Texas A&M. We discuss how cats are different from dogs in showing signs of pancreatitis and discuss the most common tests to diagnose this disease. We discuss how to do pancreatic biopsies and dive into the therapy options for acute and chronic pancreatitis. Did you know that corticosteroids may not be bad for cats with pancreatitis? If you think that pancreatitis is not common in the cat, listen up!
>> Listen to episode 84
>> Listen to episode 85
Sheri Ross, DVM, PhD, DACVIM: Episodes 82 & 83, October 2020
Dr. Sheri Ross graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island (yay Canada!) and pursued her interest in nephrology first at the University of Minnesota and then at UC Davis where she now works. We were excited to talk with Dr. Ross about chronic kidney disease (CKD) which is so common in cats. And these episodes feature our first guest host, Dr. Kelly St. Denis, who filled in for Susan. Listen for lots of great advice about diagnosis and management of CKD in cats from Dr. Ross.
>> Listen to episode 82
>> Listen to episode 83
Karen Perry, BVM&S, MRCVS, DECVS: Episodes 80 & 81, September 2020
Dr. Karen Perry is an orthopedic surgeon and associate professor at Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Perry is particularly interested in feline orthopedics. She often posts the stories of her patients on Twitter – follow her @KarenLPerryK. In these episodes, we talk about the difficulties of recognizing chronic pain in cats, tips on treating feline arthritis, and the top 5 orthopedic conditions she sees in cats. She tells us about some of her most memorable patients – don’t miss these great stories!
>> Listen to episode 80
>> Listen to episode 81
Jessica Vogelsang, DVM: Episodes 78 & 79, September 2020
Dr. Jessica Vogelsang is one of those people you can’t help but admire for her energy, her creativity, and the many ways she contributes to the veterinary profession. You may know her as a communications expert, as the author of All Dogs Go To Kevin, or as the founder of Pawcurious. Oh, and she has her own podcast, What the Woo, about busting medical myths. We talk about how her career developed, how her book came about, the importance of story telling in veterinary medicine, and how to deal with bad reviews on social media. We know you’ll enjoy these episodes as much as we did!
>> Listen to episode 78
>> Listen to episode 79
Nicole Ehrhart, VMD, MS, DACVS: Episodes 76 & 77, August 2020
Dr. Nicole Ehrhart is a board-certified surgical oncologist and professor of surgical oncology at Colorado State University. She is also the director of the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Ehrhart has a passion for surgical oncology, especially for limb-sparing techniques. Her work on treating osteosarcoma in dogs helps improve treatment of that disease in humans, especially children. In these two episodes, we discuss the potential for stem cell therapy in veterinary medicine, multimodal treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma and injection site sarcoma in cats, and how communication training helps us relay difficult news to our clients.
>> Listen to episode 76
>> Listen to episode 77
Phil Fox, DVM, MS, DACVIM-ECVIM (Cardiology), DACVECC: Episodes 74 & 75, August 2020
Dr. Phil Fox is a cardiologist at the Animal Medical Center in New York where he sees patients and researches cardiac disease. In 2019, Dr. Fox and a group of international colleagues published a landmark paper about feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In these episodes, we talk about the findings from this project that help us understand how to manage asymptomatic cats with HCM. We also talk about the 2020 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Consensus Statement Guidelines for the Classification, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiomyopathies in Cats. These guidelines introduce a staging system for feline cardiomyopathies with recommendations for management. Both episodes are packed full of useful information topped off with a bit of humor.
>> Listen to episode 74
>> Listen to episode 75
Dean Michael Lairmore, DVM, PhD: Episodes 72 & 73, July/August 2020
Dean Michael D. Lairmore from the University of California, Davis is the first dean on our podcast. Yes, we have a real Dean on our podcast! He is famous for being an excellent academic leader but also for his activity on social media (@LairmoreDVMDean). We had a wide-ranging talk with Dean Lairmore – about how proud we are to be veterinarians, wicked viruses (his research career focused on viral causes of cancer), and what it’s like to be a Dean. He is an inspiration for people that work around him by creating an environment that is supportive and where creativity is key. Behind all the success is good strategic planning. Dean Lairmore also talks about one of the worst situations he had to deal with and how he can focus on being thankful. We also chat about the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges as he is the Past-President and we recorded the podcasts at the AAVMC 2020 Annual Conference.
>> Listen to episode 72
>> Listen to episode 73
Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Oncology): Episodes 70 & 71, July 2020
We recorded these episodes with Dr. Ann Hohenhaus several months ago, but the subject of our chat never gets old – senior cats! Dr. Hohenhaus is board certified in oncology and small animal internal medicine and is a staff doctor at the famous Animal Medical Center in New York city. She’s the host of her own weekly radio show on SiriusXM Stars called Ask the Vet. In these two episodes, we talk about the many problems commonly seen in senior cats, such as chronic kidney disease, pancreatitis, and diabetes. Oh, and let’s not forget lymphoma. Dr. Hohenhaus talks about the art of designing treatment plans that won’t create an undue burden for the cat and the owner. We also talk about the challenges of medicating cats and how prioritize the most necessary drugs.
>> Listen to episode 70
>> Listen to episode 71
Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB: Episodes 68 & 69, June & July 2020
Dr. Debra Horwitz is one of our few repeat guests. We’re excited to have her for these episodes because her new book called Decoding Your Cat is finally published. This eagerly anticipated book is from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and is edited by Dr. Horwitz, Dr. Meghan Herron, and Dr. Carlo Siracusa. Since all three of us are survivors of the tribulations of publishing books, we chat about how a textbook is created. And of course, we talk about the chapters in Decoding Your Cat and put to rest some common misconceptions about cat behavior. Want to decode your cat’s secrets? Have a listen!
>> Listen to episode 68
>> Listen to episode 69
Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine): Episodes 66 & 67, June 2020
Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida, Gainesville is one of our heroes. She obtained her DVM from the University of California at Davis and her PhD from North Caroline State University. She is board certified in small animal internal medicine and in shelter medicine. She’s won more awards than we have space to list. Clearly one of those underachieving people! She is responsible for an amazing amount of research in feline infectious diseases, the health and welfare of cats in shelters, and humane options for cat population control. Not to mention countless scientific articles and book chapters. We’re especially happy to have her on these episodes because Dr. Levy is a co-chair along with Dr. Little of the 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Management Guidelines and we had a great chat about them.
>> Listen to episode 66
>> Listen to episode 67
Michael Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM: Episodes 64 & 65, June 2020
Dr. Michael Lappin is one incredible veterinarian. He is a professor of infectious diseases, director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies, and the director of Shelter Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Colorado. Whew! We feel tired just listing his jobs. Dr. Lappin has been internationally recognized for his research into infectious diseases, especially those that can be transmitted from cats to people. As part of his interest in zoonotic diseases, he is the Chair of the One Health Committee of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and is also involved with the International Society of Companion Animal Infectious Diseases. So we had no problem finding things to talk about! The best part is our chat about animal poop. Do you know what animal has square poop? Listen and find out!
>> Listen to episode 64
>> Listen to episode 65
Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (Feline): Episodes 62 & 63, May 2020
We have been waiting a long time for a chance to chat with Dr. Margie Scherk. Thousands of vets around the world have been helped by her leadership and teaching. She opened one of the first cat only clinics in Canada and has been promoting feline medicine ever since. Dr. Scherk is also the North American editor for the Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, the official journal of the International Society of Feline Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Our time with Dr. Scherk is full of interesting stories about how she became a veterinarian (did you know she used to be a llama expert?) and lots of laughs.
>> Listen to episode 62
>> Listen to episode 63
Steve Dale & the Winn Feline Foundation: Episodes 60 & 61, May 2020
Journalist and media personality Steve Dale is an amazing advocate for the physical and behavioral health of cats. He brings reliable information to cat owners through his radio show, articles, and presentations. Steve has also been on the board of the Winn Feline Foundation for many years. In these episodes, he discusses the work of Winn with a focus on advances in treating the devastating disease, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
>> Listen to episode 60
>> Listen to episode 61
COVID-19 and cats: Episode 59, April 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has swept around the globe, leaving devastating people’s lives and the economies of many countries. Veterinarians have a key role to play as we have many excellent researchers into coronaviruses in animal species, including our guest for episodes 57 & 58, Dr. Severine Tasker. Susan and Jolle are certainly practicing physical distancing as they recorded this episode almost 2,000 (over 1200 miles) km apart! We discuss the emerging information about cats and SARS-CoV-2 and what everyone needs to know. The good news is that cats are not particularly susceptible to this virus, they don’t seem to suffer severe disease, and they are no risk to people.
>> Listen to episode 59
Severine Tasker, BSc, BVSc, DSAM, PhD, DECVIM FHEA: Episodes 57 & 58, April 2020
Dr. Severine Tasker has a lot of impressive letters behind her name! She’s a well known and respected feline infectious disease researcher with a special interest in hemoplasmas and coronavirus. She is a professor at the University of Bristol Veterinary School in the UK and sits on the board of the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases. These episodes were recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic but Dr. Tasker gives us background information on feline coronaviruses in general and feline infectious peritonitis in particular.
>> Listen to episode 57
>> Listen to episode 58
Chris Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM): Episodes 55 & 56, March 2020
We’ve wanted to have Dr. Chris Byers on our podcast for some time because we’re a fan of his work on social media. Dr. Byers is the founder and editor-in-chief (which we think means he does everything) for the Critical Care DVM blog. You can also find him on Facebook, and follow him on other social media platforms with @criticalcaredvm. When he’s not on social media, Dr. Byers is an internal medicine specialist at VCA MidWest Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center and an Adjunct Professor at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He talks to us about his path to becoming a criticalist and how crazy it is to become double-boarded. Dr. Byers also gives us some insight on managing cats with urethral obstruction, using chest tubes, and other emergency procedures.
>> Listen to episode 55
>> Listen to episode 56
Serge Chalhoub, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): Episodes 53 & 54, March 2020
We welcomed Dr. Serge Chalhoub to Purrpodcast which made Dr. Little happy since he is a fellow Canadian. Dr. Chalhoub has been at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Dept. of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Services) since 2012 and he practices internal medicine at the C.A.R.E. Centre Animal Hospital. He has received awards for teaching excellence and we can see why as he’s an excellent communicator. His main interests are nephrology and urology especially in cats. Dr. Chalhoub was a panel member for the ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Feline Chronic Kidney Disease. We chatted about a wide range of topics including managing cats with chronic kidney disease, the role of hypertension, and assessing quality of life.
>> Listen to episode 53
>> Listen to episode 54
Caroline Mansfield, BSC, BVMS, PhD, MANZCVS, DECVIM: Episodes 51 & 52, February 2020
We were fortunate to talk with Australian Dr. Caroline Mansfield while she was on our side of the pond during the Hill’s Global Symposium and WSAVA congress in Toronto. She completed a residency in small animal medicine at University College in Dublin and after receiving her internal medicine specialist qualifications, she returned to Australia to earn a PhD at Murdoch University, her alma mater. She is now at the University of Melbourne where she is the Director of the university’s U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital. Her main interest is gastroenterology which gave us the chance to chat about the effects of stress on gastrointestinal health and what happens to our microbiome throughout life. It seems everything is about the microbiome these days! She also has some fascinating things to say about the similarities between human infants and kittens. If nothing else, listen for her lovely accent!
>> Listen to episode 51
>> Listen to episode 52
Our 50th Episode! February 2020
Can you believe we made it to episode 50? We can hardly believe it ourselves. A huge shout out to our loyal listeners (please recommend us!), our generous expert guests, and to Ben (our hard-working assistant). In this episode, we reminisce about our humble beginnings in Brazil in 2018 and we chat about our favorite episodes. Can you believe our little podcast has been downloaded over 40,000 times? Can you guess which countries are we most popular in? Find out our plans for the future and what we will do to celebrate episode 100 (if we get there). But first we have to figure out how to connect the microphone to the computer……
>> Listen to episode 50
Adronie Verbrugghe, DVM, PhD, Dip ECVCN: Episode 49, February 2020
Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe is an Associate Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, ON and finally she is back with part 2 of her chat with us on feline nutrition (part 1 has great tips for encouraging weight loss in obese cats). In this episode, we discuss how weight management programs for pets mean lifestyle and habit changes for owners (and that can be hard). Listen for more tips on weight management and dietary approaches for your feline patients. And if you’re interested in veterinary nutrition, check out the Global Animal Nutrition Summit at the University of Guelph, August 12-14, 2020.
>> Listen to episode 49
Jessica Quimby, DVM, PhD, DACVIM: Episodes 47 & 48, January 2020
Dr. Jessica Quimby is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University and her passion for feline medicine is well known. She is especially interested in helping cats with chronic kidney disease. In these episodes, we had the chance to chat about managing appetite and weight loss in feline patients. Which drugs are best? What are the potential side effects? How does Mirataz (transdermal mirtazapine) work and why does Dr. Quimby like to prescribe it? Listen to find out!
Thanks to KindredBio for supporting these episodes with an educational grant.
>> Listen to episode 47
>> Listen to episode 48
Cat tech trends at the Consumer Electronic Show: Episodes 45 & 46, January 2020
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV is huge! It attracts over 175,000 attendees, more than 4,500 exhibiting companies, and at least 1,000 speakers. Whew! We get tired just thinking of it. We spent 2 days getting our steps in at CES this year to find all the newest and best tech in veterinary medicine. Didn’t get there yourself? Listen to our summary of the cat robots, litter boxes, activity trackers, and feeders we saw. And find out who won the PurrPodcast Cat Tech Award 2020!
>> Listen to episode 45
>> Listen to episode 46
Adronie Verbrugghe, DVM, PhD, Dip ECVCN: Episode 44, January 2020
Dr. Adronie Verbrugghe is an Associate Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, ON. At OVC, she is the service chief for the Clinical Nutrition Service, she teaches small animal clinical nutrition to veterinary students, and she supervises graduate students. Did you know that obesity is the most common nutritional disease seen in pet cats in Canada and the USA? Dr. Vergrugghe shares some tips on how to slim down kitty such as making feeding fun with food puzzles. A good weight management diet alone isn’t enough – we have to get our kitties moving! If you’re interested in veterinary nutrition, check out the Global Animal Nutrition Summit at the University of Guelph, August 12-14, 2020.
>> Listen to episode 44
Megan Brashear, CVT, VTS (ECC): Episodes 42 & 43, December 2019
Megan Brashear is the Small Animal Hospital Veterinary Nursing Manager at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University. She is only the second veterinary technician/nurse we’ve had on our podcast. We had such an interesting chat with her about her profession that we clearly need to talk with more technicians/nurses! Megan chatted with us about the positives and negatives of her profession, the rise of palliative care for pets, and how we should always assume our clients have the best of intentions. And you’ll hear about her ‘loosely domesticated’ cats!
>> Listen to episode 42
>> Listen to episode 43
Dr. Sue Ettinger: Episodes 40 & 41, December 2019
Dr. Sue Ettinger may be better known as Dr. Sue Cancer Vet. Dr. Ettinger has been bringing her messages (Why Wait, Aspirate and See Something, Do Something) to veterinarians and pet owners alike to encourage early cancer detection. She is active on social media with @DrSueCancerVet and she has a vlog on YouTube. She talks with us about myths and misconceptions about cancer in cats, how social media can be used to educate about cancer in pets, and what’s new in treating cats with cancer. And there’s a laugh or two in there!
>> Listen to episode 40
>> Listen to episode 41
Eric Garcia: Episodes 38 & 39, November 2019
If you haven’t met Eric Garcia yet, you are in for a treat! Eric is an amazing speaker, consultant, and digital marketing expert and the founder of SimplyDone Tech Solutions. Even better, he specializes in veterinary medicine. Eric worked in a veterinary practice for about 10 years, so he certainly knows his subject. Eric talks about some of the challenges in getting more feline patients in veterinary practices (did you know many of us neglect to have pictures of cats in our clinics and on our websites?). We also get advice on how veterinarians can get started on social media with tips on using Facebook and YouTube.
>> Listen to episode 38
>> Listen to episode 39
Dr. Apryl Steele: Episodes 36 & 37, November 2019
Dr. Apryl Steele is one of our heroes. She is the current President of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the President and CEO of the Dumb Friends League in Denver, CO. You’ll learn how the Dumb Friends League got its name in 1910, why veterinary clinics need the AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practice program, how AAFP helps educate cat owners with Cat Friendly Homes, and how important ethics are when we must cope with difficult situations.
>> Listen to episode 36
>> Listen to episode 37
Dr. Justine Lee: Episodes 34 & 35, October 2019
Finally we had the chance to chat with the famous Dr. Justine Lee of VETGirl! Our conversation covered some interesting poison emergencies (what do you do if your cat eats 200 vitamin D capsules?) and how Dr. Lee manages her life as a busy mom, veterinarian, and the founder and CEO of VETGirl. Oh, and she’s and author and speaker too!
>> Listen to episode 34
>> Listen to episode 35
Dr. Susan Little: Episodes 32 & 33, September 2019
What fun we had with the ‘other’ Dr. Susan Little, a veterinary parasitologist at Oklahoma State University. Tune in to learn all about feline parasites as well as some awesome factoids to entertain your vet friends.
>> Listen to episode 32
>> Listen to episode 33
Dr. Joe Bartges: Episodes 30 & 31, August 2019
Urine luck! (Get it?) We have two episodes with Joe Bartges, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVN of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia. Joe says urine is liquid gold – discuss! We chat about idiopathic cystitis, a frustrating disease that most vets know all too well. We also manage to talk about chronic gastrointestinal disease, diabetes mellitus, bladder and kidney stones, and even more importantly – who is the world’s most cunning cat? Why won’t Jolle eat octopus? Tune in and find out – are cats aliens or gods?
>> Listen to episode 30
>> Listen to episode 31
Steve Dale, CABC: Episodes 28 & 29, July 2019
We finally get to chat with Steve Dale, famous pet journalist. If Steve’s voice sounds familiar, it’s because he is our podcast announcer! Steve tells us how he got his start in pet journalism and why he once got fired in an elevator. Steve’s newspaper columns and radio shows talking about pet behavior reach many thousands of pet owners. What are the most common questions cat owners ask Steve? It might surprise you! Steve also talks about the Winn Feline Foundation and how a cat named Ricky with heart disease got him involved.
>> Listen to episode 28
>> Listen to episode 29
Dr. Debra Horwitz: Episodes 26 & 27, June 2019
We love Dr. Debra Horwitz, a board-certified behaviorist who is the author/editor of many books and book chapters and a member of the Fear Free team. In episode 26, we learn why cats would make good bomb detectors, why black cats get a bad rap, and how to determine if problem behaviors are abnormal or just unwanted. Are cats spiteful? Listen and find out! In episode 27, we discuss some important cat questions. Why don’t all cats respond to catnip? Are cats really social? How is cat society organized? Dr. Horwitz explains it all!
>> Listen to episode 26
>> Listen to episode 27
PurrPodcast Live with Dr. Sue Ettinger: Episodes 24 & 25, May 2019
Our first PurrPodcast Live! event was at VMX 2019 with special guest Dr. Sue Ettinger. Listen to hear all about feline gastrointestinal disease and find out how to tell if a diamond is fake!
>> Listen to episode 24
>> Listen to episode 25
Dr. Terry Curtis: Episode 23, April 2019
Our first feline behavior podcast is with Dr. Terry Curtis of the University of Florida. We chat about the most common feline behavior problems, the top mistakes owners make with litter boxes, how many cats are too many, and how much we still have to learn about feline behavior and communication. She also tells us how she helped the famous cats of the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida.
>> Listen to episode 23
Dr. Mary Gardner: Episodes 21 & 22, March-April 2019
Dr. Mary Gardner is all about love, laughter, and learning! In between laughs, we talk about our careers before vet med. Dr. Gardner talks about the origins of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and In-Home Euthanasia , now offering compassionate in-home euthanasia and hospice care with 130 vets in 60 locations. And she explains how she designed the first Lap of Love website with an Excel spreadsheet! In episode 22, we get into the details of providing this important aspect of veterinary care. Mary discusses whether to sedate pets before euthanasia (she’s a strong proponent) and the different routes for euthanasia drugs and how to choose. Did you know one of her signature tools for a compassionate euthanasia is a cupcake? We also discuss how emotionally taxing performing euthanasia is for veterinary team members and how to deal with it.
>> Listen to episode 21
>> Listen to episode 22
Dr. Dave Nicol: Episodes 19 & 20, February 2019
Dr. Dave Nicol is one of the inspirations for our own podcast because we love his Blunt Dissection podcast. In episode 19, we hear how he became a leader and successful practice owner, the true story behind his accent, and how he started lecturing. In episode 20, Dr. Nicol talks about success in veterinary medicine. We talk about burnout in our profession, why it happens, and what veterinary team leaders can do to meet emotional needs. Dr. Nicol talks about his VetX program and how it can help vets overcome fears, develop resilience and tenacity, learn how to have conversations with pet owners, and develop leadership skills. And you’ll hear what Jolle thought VetX meant!
>> Listen to episode 19
>> Listen to episode 20
Tom Bohn: Episode 18, February 2019
Tom Bohn is the CEO of the North American Veterinary Community. Listen to the episode where we discuss innovation in veterinary conferences, what the future holds for VMX, and we take an irreverent look at Tom’s Swedish origins.
>> Listen to episode 18
Elizabeth Green: Episode 17, February 2019
Elizabeth Green, CEO/Founder of Brief Media, says her job is to dream of new things to do. She does that very well! Listen to our chat about Clinician’s Brief, the future of veterinary educational publishing, and how millennials are shifting the veterinary practice paradigm.
>> Listen to episode 17
Dr. Katie Tolbert: Episodes 15 & 16, January 2019
We sat down with Dr. Katie Tolbert for two podcasts about the newly published ACVIM consensus statement on gastrointestinal protectants in dogs and cats. In episode 15, we talk about use of these drugs in cats with kidney disease, and how to prioritize medications for cats with chronic disease to increase compliance and protect the human-animal bond. Episode 16 is about how and when to use gastrointestinal protectants in cats and her research project with the Winn Feline Foundation.
>> Listen to episode 15
>> Listen to episode 16
Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS, VTS-H: Episode 14, December 2019
Veterinary technicians rock! We spend time with NAVTA president, Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), VTS-H (Internal Medicine, Dentistry).
>> Listen to episode 14
Dr. Stan Marks: Episodes 12 & 13, December 2018
Get the scoop on feline poop with Dr. Stan Marks. We discuss gastrointestinal disease in cats and the ins and outs of fecal transplants.
>> Listen to episode 12
>> Listen to episode 13
Dr. Bryden Stanley: Episode 11, November 2018
Dr. Bryden Stanley tells us everything we need to know about soft tissue surgery in cats, with some interesting discussion about treating abscesses.
>> Listen to episode 11
Dr. Sheilah Robertson: Episodes 9 & 10, October 2018
Get your update on feline anesthesia with Dr. Sheilah Robertson. Be sure to check out the AAFP’s 2018 Feline Anesthesia Guidelines – it’s free and full of practical advice.
>> Listen to episode 9
>> Listen to episode 10
Drs. Little & Kirpensteijn discuss enteroplication in cats: Episode 8, September 2018
We decided to discuss a new article on enteroplication in cats with intussusceptions. Is enteroplication a good idea? Do you know your intussuscipiens from your intussusceptum? Find out which is which, and the best treatment options.
Haider G et al. Enteroplication in cats with intussusception: a retrospective study (2001-2016). Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2019.
>> Listen to episode 8
Drs. Little & Kirpensteijn discuss surgical approaches to feline mammary tumors: Episode 7, September 2018
Time to discuss a new article on the best surgical approach for cats with mammary tumors. Since most mammary tumours in cats are malignant, surgery is the preferred treatment. But should we do bilateral mastectomy, unilateral mastectomy, or a staged approach?
Gemignani F et al. Association of surgical approach with complication rate, progression-free survival time, and disease-specific survival time in cats with mammary adenocarcinoma: 107 cases (1991-2014). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Assoc, 2018.
>> Listen to episode 7
Drs. Little & Kirpensteijn discuss GDV in cats (yes, it happens): Episode 6, August 2018
Did you know that cats can get gastric dilatation/volvulus (GDV) too? Jolle and I discuss a new article on two cases of GDV in cats.
Leary ML & Sinnott-Stutzman V. Spontaneous gastric dilatation-volvulus in two cats. Journal of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care, 2018.
>> Listen to episode 6
Dr. Sarah Boston: Episodes 4 & 5, July & August 2019
Fuss about FISS – feline injections-site sarcomas are a feared tumour. We discuss the best treatments with Dr. Sarah Boston, a surgical oncologist. Dr. Boston stresses that the surgery for this tumour must be done by someone experienced if the patient is to have a chance at long-term survival.
>> Listen to episode 4
>> Listen to episode 5
Our first podcast episodes – everything you need to know about bladder stones in cats! Episodes 1-3, June & July 2018
We kick off our shiny new feline medicine podcast with 3 episodes on bladder uroliths. Listen and find out how to diagnose bladder stones, the best treatment options for different stone types including minimally invasive options as well as surgery. Take the Pledge Against Struvite in Pets
>> Listen to episode 1
>> Listen to episode 2
>> Listen to episode 3