Top 10 2013 Pet Resolutions; Final Thoughts 2012

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Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers,

Thank you for another great year helping me fulfill my dream of bringing my vision and message to pet owners all over the world.  It is beyond amazing to me that what started as a pipe dream to act on my extroverted and opinionated demeanor to start talking and see if anyone would listen - starting with just under 50 listens/views per episode the first year - could lead to attracting an audience of 2000-3000 listeners per episode by BlogTalkRadio podcast/15,000-20,000 views per episode by YouTube webcast and growing each week.  It is such a privilege to talk to you week in and week out.

Tonight will be my last broadcast of 2012, an episode where I will share with you my top ten list of things pet owners should strrive for in their day to day lives with their pets.  This list is based on my experiences and lessons learned throughout the year that may serve to provide insight into how you may better your relationship with your pets, feed and care for them, maximize your mutual enjoyment and companionship, and avert unnecessary injury, illness, and even tragedy.  

Always bear in mind that we "practice" the science and art of veterinary medicine, not master it, because our knowledge is always changing based on insights that research, scientific advances, technology, and personal experience brings us.  We need to always be learning and evolving, and for veterinarians that begin to refuse to evolve or allow themselves to stay in modes of practice and philosophy that are dated and archaic...it is time to hang up the stethoscope, retire, and move on to other pursuits. 

In case you haven't noticed, I am far from that point in my career and look forward to coming to you week in and week out to share what I learn for a long time to come...11 years of practice has gone by like a flash, and I feel like I am just getting started.

Enjoy tonight's episode, have a happy holidays, and may God bless you and your families (furry ones too!).  I'll be with you again in early January 2013!

Sincerely,

Dr. Roger

Top 10 2013 Pet Reslutions:

10.) Increase exercise, curb portions, minimize table foods, and be judicious with treats to prevent OBESITY.

9.)  Keep up with regular wellness visits.

8.)  Avoid discount spay/neuter clinics and SHOT WAGONS.  :(

7.)  Do not get duped by anesthesia free dentistry and the unlicensed charlatans that offer it,

6.)  Resist becoming a "cornphobic."

5.)  Choose your trusted veterinarian - not internet pet forumsm groomers, and breeders - for nutrition advice for your pet.

4.) Engage in regular senior wellness screening starting at 5 years for large to giant breed dogs, 7 years for cats and small/medium dog breeds.

3.)  Give to local rescue organizations: money, volunteering, opening your home to foster care.

2.)  Take dentistry seriously as an integral component to pet health and wellness.

1.)  Carry reputable pet insurance or engage in $50 rule (having a health care account where $50 per pet is faithfully desposited monthly) to be financially prepared for costly unexpected serious injury or illness.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net. 

Disease preventive nutrition

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Dear Listeners, Readers, and Viewers:

Tonight I will be talking about an important - and way overdue - trend in veterinary medicine, disease preventive nutrition.  To segue into this topic, I have made my best effort in recent episodes to dispel myths about certain unsubstantiated notions about diets in pets, that grain free, preservative free, and expensive does not necessarily translate to a well balanced, species appropriate, and life stage appropriate diet (see my Looking for the Right Pet food episode) and that corn is not the root of all disease in dogs and cats (see my Cornphobia episode).   Once pet owners are able to let go of these erroneous but frustratingly prevalent notions about pet nutrition and accept an approach to pet nutrition that is based in intensive scientific research and quantifiable and closely scrutinized feeding trials, then they will be poised to really digest what I have to offer  them in this episode.  To the rest that reject a practicing veterinarian's views on pet nutrition and quantifiable scientific research with strict oversight, in lieu of pet forum fodder and unsubstantiated claims made my people with no animal medical background, there is no amount of convincing I can do to change their minds.  Despite high powered telescopes clearly showing footprints, the lunar rover, and a planted American flag on the Moon, there are still those that insist on believing that the Moon landing was faked.  :(

For those of you ready to feed diets that are geared toward preventing the 5 most common health concerns of dogs and cats, this may be the most important episode of your pets' lives.  So please tune in so that you can be poised to start 2013 by putting your pets on the path of wellness through nutrition. 

Thanks as always for caring about what I have to say. :)

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM 

Episode talking points:

1)   Pet wellness and health all starts with nutrition.
2.)  The Hills Corporation has identified the 5 most prevalent health concerns in dogs and cats, and formulated diets to address these concerns before they arise.
3/)  This new approach to pet nutrition is known as disease preventive nutrition.
4.)  The diet is a veterinary exclusive line of diet called Science Diet Healthy Advantage.
5.)  Healthy Advantage for cats supports optimal health with regard to teeth, immune system, GI, skin and hair coat, and urinary tract.
6.)  Health Advantage for dogs supports optimal health with regard to teeth, immune system, GI, skin and hair coat, and mobility (joint health). 

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.