Advertise on podcast: The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Cut The Costs, and Love Life With Your Pets Again

Could your dog's or cat's collar actually put their life in danger? A collar that's too loose can slip right over your dog's head, dangling ID tags can become deadly traps, and even a collar that fits perfectly can have a buckle that fails when you least expect it. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy shares frightening close calls with her own dogs and lessons learned from many years working in rescue. You'll discover common dog and cat collar safety hazards, along with practical ways to prevent injuries, escapes, and dangerous entanglements. YOU'LL LEARN: How to choose the right type of collar for your pet based on whether it's used for identification, walking, or everyday wear.How to check collar fit properly, including the two-finger rule and why loose collars can be just as dangerous as tight ones.When a martingale collar might make sense, how they help prevent escapes, and why they shouldn't be left on unsupervised dogs.What to know about plastic buckles, ID tags, and collar hardware before something breaks or gets caught.Why cat breakaway collars aren't all created equal, especially when it comes to kittens and release mechanisms.When you should take collars off, including situations involving crates, rough play, and other entanglement hazards.Don't wait until something goes wrong to discover a problem with your pet's collar. Listen now, then take a few minutes to check their collar for your peace of mind and their safety. It's a simple step that could prevent a serious accident. Have you ever experienced a collar-related close call? Share your story at petparenthotline.com, and send this episode to another pet parent who might benefit from hearing it. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Ever spent good money on a pet product that promised to make your life easier, only to discover it created more work, more expense, or more aggravation? Some of the most popular pet gadgets and accessories look terrific in advertisements but fall flat once you bring them home. After fostering more than 4,000 animals, Amy Castro has learned which pet products are worth the investment and which ones might leave you regretting your purchase. In this episode, you'll discover: Why automatic pet toys and ball launchers aren't always the enrichment or exercise solution they promise to beThe hidden costs and cleaning hassles of pet water fountainsWhat to look for in a dog or cat bed so you're not throwing it away after the first major messHow decorative litter box furniture can create problems for your catWhy subscription toy boxes and complicated food puzzles may not be worth the moneyWhat actually works for controlling pet odors instead of just covering them upAmy also shares simpler, budget-friendly alternatives and the questions she wishes she'd asked before spending money on products that eventually ended up in the garbage or gathering dust. What's the biggest waste of money you've ever bought for your pet? Or is there a product on this list that you absolutely love? We'd love to hear about it! For more rescue-tested recommendations, check out our episodes on pet care essentials and pet technology that's actually worth buying. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Before you get another pet, don't just research the animal. Research the life that comes with it. In this Pet Parent Power Up, Amy shares a simple way to make a better decision before bringing home a new pet: picture an ordinary Tuesday six months from now, after the excitement has worn off. What will that animal actually need from you? How much time, training, cleaning, exercise, enrichment, money, and daily attention will be involved? And what are the parts longtime owners find frustrating, expensive, or harder than they expected? You'll also hear why it's worth talking to people who've lived with a particular breed or species for years, including people who decided they wouldn't have that type of pet again. Because sometimes good research leads you to say, “I love that animal, but I don't want that life.” And making that decision before bringing an animal home isn't failure. It's responsible pet parenting. In this episode: Why basic breed and species research isn't enoughThe “ordinary Tuesday” test for choosing a petWhy you should research the annoying parts tooWhat longtime pet owners can tell you that social media won'tWhy your real lifestyle matters more than your idealized oneHow to know when loving an animal doesn't mean you should own one.Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Choosing the right pet isn’t just about finding an animal you love. Sometimes the mistaken beliefs you bring into the decision can steer you toward a pet that isn’t actually a good fit for your life, your family, or your ability to meet that animal’s needs. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy challenges six common beliefs that can lead to bad pet choices, including the idea that getting a puppy or kitten means you can “raise it right,” that small animals make good starter pets for kids, and that wanting a particular breed or species is reason enough to bring one home. Drawing on a lifetime with animals, years in rescue, and experience fostering more than 4,000 pets, Amy also shares some of her own bad decisions, including getting an iguana before she truly understood what caring for one would require. You’ll hear why: A baby animal isn’t a blank slate you can shape into exactly the pet you want“Starter pets” can require far more care than families expectAlways wanting a certain animal doesn’t necessarily mean you should own oneLegal and available for sale doesn’t automatically mean appropriate as a petFalling in love with an animal can make it easier to overlook a bad matchLove alone can’t fix every mismatch between a pet and your homeThis episode isn’t about making people feel guilty for wanting a pet. It’s about slowing down long enough to ask a better question: Not just “Do I want this pet?” but “Can I give this particular animal the life it actually needs?” Sometimes the right pet is a different pet. And sometimes the right decision is walking away. If you know someone who’s thinking about bringing an animal home, send them this episode before they decide. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Cats are incredibly good at hiding pain, and sometimes the first clue that something is wrong doesn't look like pain at all. It looks like a change in behavior. Maybe your cat suddenly stops hanging out with you. They're less tolerant of another cat. Their eating or litter-box habits change. They start biting when touched somewhere they never minded before. Or they're simply acting a little... off. In this episode, Amy talks with Certified Cat Behavior Consultant Amanda Caron, founder of Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling, about how pain can show up through behavior and why knowing what's normal for your individual cat matters so much. Amanda shares what changes to watch for, how to track patterns without turning pet parenting into a full-time data-collection project, ways to figure out what's happening in a multi-cat household, and when a behavior change warrants a call to your veterinarian. They also discuss the Feline Grimace Scale, a science-based tool that helps cat parents recognize facial changes associated with acute pain and gives them useful information to discuss with their veterinarian. In this episode: Why cats are so good at hiding painSubtle behavior changes that may deserve a closer lookWhy your cat's individual “normal” matters more than a generic checklistSimple ways to track changes and patternsMonitoring eating, litter-box habits and behavior in multi-cat homesWhen to involve your veterinarianHow pain can be mistaken for a behavior problemHow the Feline Grimace Scale can help you recognize signs of acute painResources: Amanda Caron and Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling Visit Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling Feline Grimace Scale Visit the Feline Grimace Scale website Important: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Behavior changes can have many causes. If you're concerned about a change in your cat's health or behavior, contact your veterinarian. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Would you dump somebody because your pet didn’t like them? A new survey found that nearly one in four pet parents say a pet’s negative reaction to someone they’re dating would be an immediate deal breaker. Which sounds pretty reasonable... until you meet Nash, the Golden Retriever who recently greeted a burglar inside his house by bringing him toys. So how much should we really trust our pets’ reactions to people? In this episode, Amy looks at what your pet’s behavior can tell you, what it probably can’t, and why the more revealing clue may be how the other person reacts to your pet. Because whether you’re dating, moving in together, getting a roommate, or combining households, loving animals isn’t necessarily enough. Differences over sleeping arrangements, house rules, vet bills, daily pet care, future pets, and even what happens if the relationship ends can turn into much bigger issues than people expect. In this episode you’ll learn: Why a pet’s reaction to someone is information, not necessarily a verdictWhat Nash the Golden Retriever can teach us about dogs as “judges of character”Why respecting your pet’s boundaries may tell you more about a person than whether your pet likes themWhen fear, growling, snapping, or escalating behavior warrants help from a qualified behavior professionalWhat a recent survey reveals about pets and dating relationshipsWhy “I like dogs” or “I like cats” doesn’t necessarily mean two people are pet-compatibleThe house rules couples should discuss before moving in togetherHow different attitudes toward veterinary spending can create major conflictWhy “I’ll help with the dog” needs a clearer definitionWhat couples should discuss before adopting a pet togetherWhy pet ownership can get complicated when a relationship endsWhat do you think? Would you end a relationship because your pet didn’t like someone? Have you ever had a pet react badly to somebody and later thought they were onto something? Or is your dog more like Nash and likely to welcome a burglar with a tennis ball? Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Getting a dog to take a pill can turn into a ridiculous battle of wills, especially when they somehow eat everything except the medication. In this episode, Amy shares 10 tricks she’s learned from years of owning, fostering, rescuing, and medicating dogs of all shapes, sizes, and ages. The key isn’t finding one magical food that works for every dog. It’s figuring out how your dog approaches food and choosing a strategy that fits. You’ll learn why a tiny, soft pill package may work better than a big chunk of something delicious, how to use decoy treats and momentum, why your dog may be reacting to your medication-prep routine before the pill even appears, and what to do when a trick that worked for months suddenly stops working. Amy also covers when it may be time to stop hiding the pill altogether and ask your veterinarian about a "pill popper", liquid or compounded medication, or another appropriate way to give it. And cat people, you’re not forgotten. Some of these tricks translate, but cats can present a whole different pill-giving challenge, so Amy also talks about when liquid, compounded, transdermal, or direct-pilling options may be worth discussing with your veterinarian. In this episode you'll learn: How your dog’s eating style affects which pill tricks may workWhy small, soft, easy-to-swallow bites can beat bigger treatsThe decoy-treat trick for slipping medication into the sequenceHow dogs learn our medication routinesUsing timing, momentum, and safe competition in multi-dog homesWhat to do when your dog figures out your favorite trickPill poppers and other direct-pilling optionsWhen to ask your vet about another medication formulationWhy pilling cats sometimes requires a completely different approachImportant: Always follow your veterinarian’s instructions for your pet’s specific medication. Don’t crush, split, open, dissolve, or otherwise alter medication unless your veterinarian has confirmed that it’s safe to do so. Got a pill trick that works on your dog or cat? Amy wants to hear it. Share your weirdest, sneakiest, or most successful strategy, and you might see it featured in a future Pet Parent Hotline episode or post. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

You see your pet every day, which means you’re in the best position to notice when something starts to change. The problem? Seeing them every day can also make gradual changes surprisingly easy to miss. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy walks through eight simple at-home pet health checks you can do about once a month to get more familiar with what’s normal for your pet and spot changes that may be worth mentioning to your veterinarian. This isn’t about diagnosing your pet at home or replacing regular veterinary care. Think of it as a 10-to-15-minute monthly check-in where you slow down, actually look at your pet, put your hands on them where it’s safe to do so, and pay attention. You’ll learn to check: Body condition, weight, and muscle changesLumps, bumps, swelling, and sensitive areasSkin, fur, hair, or feathersEyes, ears, teeth, gums, and mouthFeet, nails, claws, and paw padsMovement, stiffness, and mobilityEating and drinking habitsBathroom habits, energy, and behaviorAmy also shares how accidentally discovering a badly broken tooth in one of her own dogs made her realize just how much pet parents can miss when we’re not deliberately looking. The goal isn’t to catch everything. It’s to know your pet well enough that when something changes, you’re more likely to recognize that it’s new and give your veterinarian useful information about when it started. In This Episode Why everyday petting isn’t the same as deliberately checking your petHow gradual weight and muscle changes can sneak up on youA simple way to keep track of your pet’s lumps and bumpsWhy teeth and gums deserve a closer lookSmall mobility changes that may be easy to dismiss as “just getting older”Eating, drinking, and bathroom changes worth paying attention toHow to turn a monthly pet check into an easy habitWhat to ask your veterinarian so you can personalize the routine for your petStuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

This month’s Pet Parent Power Up is a little different: no intro music, minimal editing, and recorded on the fly to follow up on an important question from Sunday’s episode. What should you do when you notice your pet doing something differently? Maybe your dog suddenly hesitates before jumping into the car, your cat starts sleeping somewhere new, or a pet who used to love a certain activity seems less interested. Before you panic or write it off as “just getting older,” Amy shares three questions that can help you decide whether you’re seeing a simple preference, a pattern worth watching, or a change that deserves a conversation with your veterinarian: Is this actually new for my pet?Is it happening consistently?Is it interfering with something my pet normally wants or needs to do?You’ll also learn why knowing your individual pet’s normal matters, how videos and a few simple notes can help your veterinarian, and why aging, moving, stress, or other life changes shouldn’t automatically be used to explain away new behavior. This episode builds on Sunday’s conversation about treating pets as individuals and paying attention to what each animal actually needs. Veterinary Disclaimer: The Pet Parent Hotline is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or another qualified pet-care professional about questions or concerns related to your individual pet’s health, behavior, diet, mobility, or care. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Treating your pets fairly doesn’t mean treating them all the same. In this episode, Amy looks at how age, health, mobility, personality, behavior, and even personal preferences can mean very different needs for pets living under the same roof. From secret extra meals for a skinny senior cat to different exercise, rules, accommodations, and attention, the goal isn’t perfect equality. It’s paying attention to the individual animal in front of you. And this isn’t just for people with a houseful of animals. Whether you have one pet or six, it’s about recognizing what that pet needs instead of comparing them to other animals or even to who they used to be. She also tackles a harder question: Are you giving your pet what they actually enjoy and need, or trying to turn them into the pet you imagined having? Plus, try this week’s simple Pet Parent Hotline challenge to learn something new about your own pet. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

What happens when the person who usually answers the Pet Parent Hotline needs help from the listeners? Amy is finally in her new house (new to her, but built in 1957), but "moved in" might be a generous description. Most of the furniture and pet gear are still in storage, the floors and painting aren't done, she needs a new roof, and she's currently recording from an echoey bedroom furnished with a semi-deflated air mattress. More importantly, the pets are adjusting too. So this week, Amy is turning the tables and asking fellow pet parents for the practical, real-life solutions they've discovered through experience. In this episode, Amy wants to hear from you about:  Helping senior pets safely handle stairs  Acclimating a blind pet to a new house, especially a multi-level one  Helping pets settle in and recognize a new place as home  Cheap, temporary pet-friendly fixes that work while you're waiting on permanent solutions  Managing contractors, noise, renovations, and escape risks with pets in the house Bonus: finding the fun pet-friendly places and activities when you're new to an area This isn't about replacing expert advice. It's about those little things another pet parent figured out because they were standing in the exact same situation. Amy really does want your help. If you've dealt with even one of these challenges, share what worked, what didn't, or what you wish you'd known sooner. Comment on the episode if your listening platform allows it, find The Pet Parent Hotline on Facebook or Instagram, or reach out at PetParentHotline.com. If enough of you respond, Amy may share the best listener advice in a follow-up episode. Because sometimes the answer you need is already sitting in another pet parent's house. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Summer has a way of knocking routines loose and pushing pet care tasks to “later.” Before fall gets busy, this is a good time for dog, cat, and other pet parents to catch up on the things that have quietly slipped down the list. In this solo episode, Amy covers the pet care tasks worth handling now, from vet appointments and grooming to pet boarding, pet sitting, holiday travel, and changing routines. The goal isn’t to create another giant checklist. It’s to take care of a few things now that could save you time, money, and stress later. In this episode: Pet health issues and appointments you’ve been meaning to handleGrooming, gear, and basic maintenance that may have gotten away from youWhy now is the time to think about boarding, pet sitting, and holiday travelHelping pets adjust as fall routines changePlanning pet care around your real life before something becomes urgentNeed help figuring out what your pet needs, what to prioritize, or how to make it all work with your life? Learn more about a Pet Parent Hotline consultation at petparenthotline.com/consult. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Pet food labels are packed with reassuring words like real chicken, high protein, complete and balanced, and superfoods. But what do those words actually tell you about the food inside the bag? Dr. Angie Boyer, founder of Grain & Grace Consulting and a trained multi-species nutritionist, returns to help us work through a pet food label from front to back to identify what's really in our pet food. In this episode, we cover:  What “complete and balanced” means and where AAFCO fits in  How words like “with” and “may support” can change the meaning of a front-of-package claim on pet food How to use the guaranteed analysis when comparing foods  What meat, meal, byproducts, and meat-and-bone meal actually tell you  How to identify protein, fat, fiber, vitamin, and mineral sources  Why pet food feeding guidelines are only a starting point  How treats and other foods affect your pet’s total daily intake  What to consider about where pet food is produced and ingredients you may want to investigate  Why the “best” pet food also has to work for your individual pet, budget, and real life The goal isn’t to find one perfect pet food. It’s to understand enough of the label to make a more informed choice for the pet in front of you. Guest: Dr. Angie Boyer, founder of Grain & Grace Consulting And if you missed our August Pet Parent Power Up on specialty diets like sensitive stomach, urinary care, and hairball control, listen to that episode for even more help interpreting what pet food packaging is promising. As always, talk with your veterinarian about your individual pet’s medical and nutritional needs before making changes to their diet. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Sensitive stomach. Weight management. Hairball control. Urinary care. Pet food labels make these diets sound highly specific, but not every claim on the package means the same thing. In this Pet Parent Power Up, Dr. Angie Boyer explains the difference between formulas built around certain ingredient choices and claims that require more testing and scientific support. You’ll learn: What makes sensitive skin and stomach foods differentHow weight-management foods reduce caloriesWhy hairball-control and urinary-care claims are treated differently on pet food labelsWhat phrases like “may support” really promise on your pet food labelHow to check whether the ingredients support the claim on the front of the packageNote: Always talk with your veterinarian about your individual pet’s medical and nutritional needs before changing foods, especially when managing a diagnosed health condition. Dr. Angie Boyer is the founder of Grain & Grace Consulting and a trained multi-species nutritionist whose work spans livestock, companion animals, and horses. Angie returns in the next full episode to help us read a pet food package from the claims on the front to the label on the back. Learn more about Dr. Angie Boyer and Grain & Grace Consulting: Website: Grain & Grace ConsultingContact: Submit an inquiryLinkedIn: Grain & Grace ConsultingGet Your Free Pet Food Guides! Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro

Doggy daycare can give dogs exercise, enrichment, social time, and a much-needed outlet for their energy. But a dog coming home exhausted does not automatically mean they had a great day, and not every dog enjoys or benefits from a group daycare environment. In this episode, Amy talks with pet care professional Rich Schlatter, CPACP, about how to tell whether your dog truly likes daycare, what a proper evaluation should look like, and how to choose a facility that is equipped to keep your dog safe. They discuss the difference between healthy tiredness and signs that daycare may be overwhelming your dog, why group size and play style matter more than simply separating dogs by size, and what pet parents should notice during facility tours. You’ll also learn: What your dog’s drop-off and pickup behavior may be telling youWhich dogs may not be a good fit for traditional group daycareQuestions to ask about staff training, supervision, emergencies, and dog-to-staff ratiosHow reputable facilities introduce dogs to a new groupWhy dogs need rest and recovery during and after daycareWhen day boarding or individual enrichment may be a better optionHow often your dog should attend daycarePractical tips for your dog’s first dayDoggy daycare should offer more than a place to leave your dog while you work. The right program should match your dog’s temperament, age, health, energy level, and social needs. The goal is not simply to bring home a dog who is too exhausted to move. It is to give your dog an experience that leaves them happy, comfortable, and able to return to their normal life at home. Connect With Rich Schlatter Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Rich Schlatter, CPACP Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro