Ask the Vet

In this episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus welcomes Victoria Schade, a professional dog trainer, author, and longtime lead puppy trainer/wrangler for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl. With decades of experience helping dogs and their families thrive, Victoria shares behind-the-scenes insights from one of television’s most beloved animal events — and offers practical advice pet parents can use every day.
Topics include:
What goes on behind the scenes to keep Puppy Bowl puppies safe, comfortable, and happy
How Victoria’s training approach creates positive, low-stress experiences for puppies on set
Why she decided to adopt Boris ("Mr. Pickles") after last year's Puppy Bowl
How dog training has evolved over the years
What new puppy parents should focus on in the first few months at home
The most common mistake new pet parents make and how to avoid it
Simple training tips that can make an immediate difference
Victoria's journey from dog trainer to novelist
Her newest novel, Fated Skates
Also on this month's show:
Trending animal story about a rare case of adoption in the wild, where a young orangutan stepped in to raise her sister
Animal news, including a pair of endangered owls who accidentally traveled by cruise ship from Florida to Spain; a funeral for a beloved train station cat that drew hundreds of mourners; and new research showing how our own emotions can influence the way we interpret a dog’s feelings
Pet Health Listener Q&A: Persistent eye discharge in a kitten; a dog who won't go outside when it's raining; and when shedding becomes a health concern for pet rabbits
Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.
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In this episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus is joined by Dr. Donald Sturz, President and Show Chairman of the Westminster Kennel Club, as they celebrate a historic milestone: the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. With decades of experience as a handler, judge, and leader in the dog show world, Dr. Sturz offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most iconic events in American sporting history.
Topics include:
Why the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is historically significant
What happens behind the scenes at Westminster
The role of junior showmanship and why it’s vital to the future of the sport
How dog breed standards are developed
Why dog shows should honor dogs as companions, not just competitors
The history of Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
How Dr. Sturz's background as a clinical psychologist informs his approach to leadership at Westminster
How dogs, handlers, judges, and spectators experience the event
Also on this month’s show:
Trending animal story about the heartwarming rescue of a lost sea otter pup 
Animal news, including research showing urban raccoons may be showing early signs of domestication
Pet Health Listener Q&A: Whether anesthesia is necessary for dental cleanings and x-rays; enrichment ideas for senior cats on prescription diets; and whether dogs should wear collars at all times
Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.
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In this episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus is joined by her longtime colleague Dr. Alexandra van der Woerdt, Department Head of Ophthalmology at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. Together, they explore how veterinary ophthalmologists help keep pets’ eyes healthy — from everyday eye issues to advanced surgery.

Topics include:
What veterinary ophthalmologists do and when your pet should see one
Common eye problems in pets, including corneal ulcers, dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts, and conjunctivitis
The types of eye surgeries pets may need, from eyelid procedures to cataract removal
How to clean eye discharge at home — and when it’s a red flag
How dogs and cats see the world differently (including why yellow and blue toys are easier for dogs to see)
Early warning signs of eye issues
How pets adapt to vision loss
How eye changes can signal systemic disease, like diabetes or high blood pressure
Also on this month's show:
Trending animal story about Bombi, a young zebra in Kenya whose mother was killed by lions — and how rescuers helped her feel secure by wearing black-and-white striped coats to mimic a zebra’s pattern
Animal news, including research into whether dogs can become addicted to playing fetch; “chemical fossil” evidence that ancient sponges — and early animals — existed far earlier than once thought; and a study showing that New York City cats caught COVID-19 from their owners during the early days of the pandemic (and why they likely weren’t a risk to people)
Pet Health Listener Q&A: A Bombay cat struggling with chronic hairballs; a young Siberian Husky who eats everything in sight; and a cat with spinal lumps accompanied by vomiting and lethargy.
Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.
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In this episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus speaks with Dr. Dennis Slade, Department Head of Internal Medicine at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, about what veterinary internal medicine really means, and how specialists like him help pets with complicated or chronic health issues.

Topics include:

· What veterinary internal medicine treats
· How AMC’s collaborative care model improves patient outcomes
· The surprising things pets swallow and how endoscopy helps get them out
· How veterinarians address multiple diseases in the same patient
· Ways pet owners can prepare for a specialist visit
· The future of veterinary medicine, from artificial intelligence to microbiome research

Also on this month’s show:

· Viral trending animal story about twin eastern box turtles successfully separated after hatching conjoined in Virginia
· Animal news including the dogs guarding endangered penguins, “gifted word learner” dogs that understand toy categories, and the rats trained to detect landmines and tuberculosis
· Pet Health Listener Q&A: Managing pets with both heart and kidney disease, preventing feline stomatitis after calicivirus infection, and understanding inflammatory bowel disease in dogs
Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.
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In this episode of "Ask the Vet," Dr. Ann Hohenhaus welcomes Dr. Philipp Schott, veterinarian, bestselling author, and storyteller, to discuss his new book Heal the Beast: A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts. Together, they explore surprising and quirky stories of animal healers across cultures and centuries, while reflecting on what these traditions teach us about the bond between humans and animals.
Topics include:
Why caring for animals has been universal throughout human history
How wars and plagues helped spark the foundations of modern veterinary medicine
The scourge of rabies from ancient Egypt to today
Superstitions, misguided cures, and the return of alternative approaches
The emotional, practical, and spiritual reasons people treat animals
What the history of veterinary medicine reveals about its future
Also on this month’s show:
Viral trending animal story featuring Maple, the retired police dog who now protects honeybees
Animal news, including radioactive rhino horns to fight poaching, U.S. cities ranked by pet-friendliness, and TSA warnings about transporting pets
Pet Health Listener Q&A on moving cross-country with cats, managing recurring ear infections in dogs, and knee problems after a common orthopedic surgery in dogs
Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.
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