In this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast, Dr Carra chats to Nikki Husted, a renowned backyard chicken keeping author from Ohio, USA, about the eggstraordinary benefits of keeping chickens at home.

With her master’s in education and a decade of teaching experience, Nikki uniquely blends her knowledge to guide fellow chicken enthusiasts.

Nikki shares:

• The surprising emotional health benefits of keeping chickens.
• ⁠ ⁠Tips for setting up your own backyard chicken haven.
• ⁠ ⁠Insights into choosing the right breeds and avoiding common pitfalls.

Whether you’re a seasoned keeper or a curious beginner, Nikki’s expert advice will inspire you to spread your wings and discover the joys of backyard chickens.

Connect with Nikki Husted:
Linktree Options: Linktree
Instagram: @purelychickens
Facebook: /PurelyChickens
Website: www.purelychickens.com

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: drcarra.com
Instagram: @UltraPetVet
LinkedIn: /drcarra
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: hillcrestvets.co.za

THIS EPISODES SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet: This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet premium pet food, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet premium pet food a try.

Just for Pets is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that’s why we offer a wide ran.

In this episode of The Paws and Effect podcast, Dr Carra welcomes the brilliant Dr Courtney Deer, a veterinary surgeon with a passion for emergency and critical care to discuss sterilisation in pets.

Her sharp insights and dynamic energy create a captivating episode where the two delve into the complexities of pyometra and why it’s a life-threatening risk for intact female dogs.

They explores the diverse perspectives on castration, discussing it from medical necessity to aesthetic preferences. You could say these two have got the ‘balls’ to tackle this controversial topic!

Dr Deer uncovers how scientific data impacts the timing of spaying and castration procedures, carefully squeezing out the myths versus reality when addressing behavioural and health concerns in both male and female pets.

Listen to the facts and feelings behind one of veterinary medicine’s most debated topics. Whether you’re a pet owner or a veterinary professional, you’ll find this episode wonderfully engaging and informative.

Connect with Dr Courtney Deer:
Website: www.maggiedogtraining.com
Instagram: @er.dvm
Facebook: /erdvm

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: drcarra.com
Instagram: @UltraPetVet
LinkedIn: /drcarra
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: hillcrestvets.co.za

THIS EPISODES SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet: This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet premium pet food, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet premium pet food a try.

Just for Pets is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that’s why we offer a wide ran.

In this episode of the Paws and Effect Podcast, Dr Carra chats about the fascinating world of short snout dogs (brachycephalic) with Dr. Inke Helm, Veterinary Surgeon at Hillcrest Vets.

With her extensive experience and expertise, Dr. Helm unveils the truth behind owning these adorable, squishy-faced companions that we all find irresistible and sheds light on the myriad struggles that brachycephalic pets face due to their unique anatomy.

These short-nosed breeds, such as bulldogs, pugs, and Persian cats, often encounter a range of health challenges including respiratory difficulties, heat regulation issues, and dental problems brought about by their compressed facial structure.

Dr. Helm provides insightful advice for managing these unique needs, offering practical tips to improve their quality of life and discussing surgical procedures that can make a profound difference in their day-to-day comfort, such as widening their narrowed nostrils and addressing elongated soft palates.

Connect with Dr Inke:
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: hillcrestvets.co.za

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: drcarra.com
Instagram: @UltraPetVet
LinkedIn: /drcarra
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: hillcrestvets.co.za

THIS EPISODES SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet: This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet premium pet food, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet premium pet food a try.

Just for Pets is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that’s why we offer a wide ran.

In this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast, Dr Carra is joined by expert guest Dr Derisha Reddy. They explore crucial aspects of pregnancy in pets and give valuable insights for pet owners and enthusiasts.

Highlights of the discussion include:

• Understanding post-birth behaviours in mother dogs, such as umbilical cord care and placenta consumption.
• The importance of minimal interference during the birthing process to reduce stress and trauma.
• Recognising and managing pyometra in older female dogs, a potentially life-threatening condition.
• Safe spaying practices, including the ideal time to spay and the benefits of early spaying in reducing mammary tumours.
• Effective deworming strategies for pregnant and lactating pets to ensure the health of both mother and offspring.
• Nutritional needs during pregnancy to prevent complications like milk fever and calcium deficiency.
• Handling common birthing complications, such as umbilical hernias and excessive bleeding, and ensuring smooth weaning for puppies and kittens.

Whether you're a seasoned pet owner or a new pet parent, this episode is filled with practical tips and expert advice to help you navigate pregnancy, delivery, and lactation in cats and dogs.

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: drcarra.com
Instagram: @UltraPetVet
LinkedIn: /drcarra
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: hillcrestvets.co.za

THIS EPISODES SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet's Special Diet Metabo-Lite: Is your cat overweight? Extra weight can harm your cat's health, increasing the risk of illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Ultra Pets Special Diet Metabo-lite diet food is expertly formulated for weight management while maintaining lean muscle mass. It contains lean fresh meat for protein. Ideally, it should be used with a weight-reduction plan that includes exercise. Learn more about UltraPet’s Metabo-Lite here:

Ultra Pet: This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet premium pet food, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet premium pet food a try.

Just for Pets is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that’s why we offer a wide ran.