Rosie is our Black and Tan Miniature Dachshund, and she means the world to us. As dog trainers, we’ve worked with Dachshunds for years, so we’re very aware of the health challenges that can affect the breed. Even so, nothing prepares you for the moment it happens to your own dog.

In October 2024, Rosie underwent surgery for Stage 2 Intervertebral Disc Disease (also known as IVDD, a neurological spinal condition that can cause pain, weakness and paralysis).

One day, she was absolutely fine, and the next, she had lost the use of her back legs. It was terrifying. We rushed her to the out-of-hours vet, who immediately referred her back to the Veterinary Specialists in Cambridge. Rosie was taken straight for an MRI and then emergency surgery. The days that followed were incredibly difficult.

The reality is that modern veterinary medicine can do incredible things, but those treatments come at a cost. Without being prepared, owners could find themselves facing impossible decisions during what is already one of the most stressful periods of their lives. Today, Rosie continues to make progress, but if there’s one message we’d like people to take away from Rosie’s story, it’s this:

Be prepared before you need to be.

Today I’m joined by Dr Mark Lowrie. An internationally recognised neurologist and Director of veterinary specialists, Movement Referrals. Together, we’ll discuss what IVDD is, how it’s treated, and the key information every dog owner should know.

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This episode was brought to you by Petgevity. If you'd like to find out more about how we can help your pet live a longer and healthier life, visit Petgevity.co.uk

This episode was produced by Flamingo Media

As a vet, I’ve worked with a huge variety of unruly animals. Tarantulas, iguanas and a whole host of sharp beaked troublemakers. If it’s got a mouth and likes to bite, chances are I’ve treated it.

However, in all my years in practice, there’s one animal, one creature that strikes more fear into me than any other. Cats.

And I’m not alone in this. A recent viral video from a South African vet takes it a step further, suggesting that the main culprit of veterinary terror is in fact, ginger cats.

Today I’m joined by animal behaviourist and the founder of Veterinary Behaviour Support, Dr Sophie White. Together, we’ll explore whether certain breeds are more prone to aggression, why pets can turn troublesome at the vet, and what can be done to make your next vet visit calmer and more comfortable for everyone involved.

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This episode was brought to you by Petgevity. If you'd like to find out more about how we can help your pet live a longer and healthier life, visit Petgevity.co.uk

This episode was produced by Flamingo Media

This wasn’t my idea of a fun road trip. The truth is, I’d hired a company to transport my dog so he could join me on holiday in the Czech Republic. But he’s a nervous traveller, and I was worried about how he would cope on the road. So instead of flying ahead and meeting him there, I climbed into the van to keep him company.

When it comes to holidaying with your pet, the anxiety starts long before the trip begins. There’s the paperwork, vaccinations, transport, pet-friendly accommodation, and figuring out what you can actually do together once you arrive. Because a dog-friendly holiday isn’t just about getting there, it’s about making sure both you and your dog enjoy the trip once you do.

Today I’m joined by one of the leading experts on travelling with your dog. Lottie Gross is a best-selling author who has spent years exploring the UK and beyond to uncover the very best pet-friendly accommodations, activities and destinations. Her upcoming books include guides to Scotland and the Cotswolds. Today, we’ll explore the practicalities of travelling with pets and how to plan holidays that work for you and your four-legged friend.

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This episode was brought to you by Petgevity. If you'd like to find out more about how we can help your pet live a longer and healthier life, visit Petgevity.co.uk

This episode was produced by Flamingo Media

So you grab a towel, walk to the lido and dive into the water. However, when you surface, you realise something’s not quite right. Your fellow swimmers seem hairier than normal, and one stroke is proving particularly popular. Doggy paddle? As your eyes adjust, you slowly notice that the lido is packed full of floating dogs!

But this isn’t some strange dream. In fact, you’ve just stumbled into one of Saltdean Lido’s Dogtember events, a day when the lido’s swimming facilities are opened up to our four-legged friends.

Today, I’m joined by Dr Julia Mewes, founder of The Mewes Vets, and provider of veterinary support during all the Dogtember events. Together, we’ll explore the benefits of swimming for dogs, the role hydrotherapy can play in mobility and recovery, and how owners can help their pets take risk-free dips.

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This episode was brought to you by Petgevity. If you'd like to find out more about how we can help your pet live a longer and healthier life, visit Petgevity.co.uk

This episode was produced by Flamingo Media

Across social media, podcasts and workplaces, people are questioning themselves in ways they never really did before. Traits once dismissed as lazy, oversensitivity, or lack of discipline are now being revisited through the lens of neurodivergence. Somewhere in the middle of that, I also found out I was affected by it, too. For me, it was a watershed moment, and I stopped seeing traits as personal failings and started to learn to work with my brain, not against it.

After getting my diagnosis, I started to wonder. Could this new way of thinking also be applied to my dog? Could he experience something similar to ADHD? Or are these behaviours just part of being a dog?

Today, I’m joined by Dr Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University. Together, we’ll explore the science behind animal neurodiversity, how it may present through behaviour, and why understanding your pet’s mental world could help you become a better companion to them.

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This episode was brought to you by Petgevity. If you'd like to find out more about how we can help your pet live a longer and healthier life, visit Petgevity.co.uk

This episode was produced by Flamingo Media