Anti-vaccine sentiment is on the rise among pet owners and consequently, so are preventable deadly infectious diseases. Whereas the anti-vaccine ilk were once occasional outliers, with public anti-vaccine sentiment on the rise in human medicine, veterinarians experience now experience refusal of recommended core vaccines almost daily. In this episo…

Spring is a time of renewal, longer daylight, flowers and leave blooming, and wildlife reawakened and active. The tease of warmer days after we have tired of the cold winter bring us the hope of summer to look forward to and more time with our human and furry loved ones spent outdoors. In this episode, Dr. Roger invites you to embrace the joy that …

Coprophagia is a fancy word for a very unpleasant habit some dogs exhibit: eating poop. Whether it is their own, other dogs, other specie, or all of the above, some dogs seem to enjoy the taste of feces. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses this habit, why some dogs do this, and what can be done to stop dogs from doing it. Send listener emails for …

Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as just "arthritis," is the most common chronic disease that dogs and cats suffer from. Thankfully, there are many safe options for prevention and treatment of arthritis that can add years of life with good quality for our pets. In this episode, Dr. Roger details a proactive approach to arthritis management in d…

Avian influenza strain H5N1 is far more concerning than high egg prices. The virus has managed to jump species primarily in cats with cases rising and carrying a high mortality rate. In this episode, Dr. Roger breaks down the risk of avian flu to your cats, how to protect them from infection, and how to recognize symptoms of disease for the earlies…

About 13% of pet owners feed their pets raw meat based diets. There are strong opinions about the practice of feeding pets raw, both from the pet parents that believe in it health benefits, and a majority of veterinarians that are against it. In this episode, Dr. Roger examines all available raw feeding studies dating back to 1993 to offer solid, s…

They are America's most popular dog breed 3 plus years running and their popularity is showing no signs of slowing. Many new French Bulldog parents, however, quickly become shocked about all that comes with caring for a Frenchie. The dedication it takes to raise and care for the average dog is a major commitment, but the French Bulldog takes it to …

Tune in to learn about a key aspect of a pet's general wellness care that can significantly affect the incidence of systemic disease. Overlooking this key health concern can increase the incidence of kidney failure, congestive heart failure, and liver disease by 150%, as well as significantly increase the incidence of certain type of cancers. Send …

Ticks cause direct irritation to the skin of dogs leading to itch, rashes and skin infections. In addition to this, ticks can potential spread life threatening infectious diseases to dogs. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses the risks of different risks of tick born infectious diseases to dogs around the country. Learn to minimize your dog's risk …

Happy New Year from the Space Coast Pet Podcast Team! In this inaugural episode of 2025, per his yearly New Year tradition, Dr. Roger discusses his top pet resolution wish list. Send listener emails for consideration to be addressed by Dr. Roger on the air to [email protected]. Follow Dr. Roger's Facebook posts (including new podcast episodes) b…

Depending on dog breed and gender, there are increases, and decreases in certain orthopedic conditions and cancers that are affected by the timing of sterilization procedures. Dr. Roger reports on the latest spay/neuter recommendations by breed based on the most current research. Below is the link for the latest UC Davis spay/neuter recommendations…

As per yearly tradition dating back to 2009, Dr. Roger has a pre-holiday episode dedicated to hidden dangers that unexpectedly lurk around the holiday season. For long time listeners, you may have heard some of this before, but new things come to Dr. Roger's attention year in and year out, so please still tune in, as you may hear something new. At …

Dr. Roger recalls his recent trip to attend the West Indies Veterinary conference in the British West Indies on the island of St. Kitts. Dr. Roger discusses how the experience took him back to the very early stages of his veterinary career and the wave of powerful emotional and spiritual fulfillment it brought him. Kirk Herbstreit tribute to his do…

The term holistic as it pertains to veterinary medicine has moved away from its original meaning and intent. In this episode, Dr. Roger explains what it is means to be a holistic veterinarian and what a holistic veterinary health care regimen for pets looks like. Dr. Roger selects listener emails to be addressed on the air, so if interested in havi…

Having just endured Hurricane Milton, Dr. Roger highlights dangers unique to pets in the aftermath of a major natural disaster like Milton and Hurricane before it. Natural disaster are not always storms, so even in areas not prone to major storms, having a disaster/emergency plan in place for your pets is essential. From pre-event preparation to po…

In the last episode, Dr. Roger detailed some of the main reasons for disproportionate increases in veterinary care during the last few years versus previous eras of the pet health care industry. While there are indicators that cost increases are cooling off, they still remain high and there are no guarantees. Dr. Roger dedicates this episode to off…

Inflation has hit the veterinary industry as badly (if not worse) as others in the post COVID19 world. Still, inflation is not the only driver of increased veterinary health care costs. Many of us can look back to a time when well care and sick visits set us back maybe a few hundred dollars per year, but now one visit with a significant illness or …

There is a growing distrust of the safety of heartworm preventative medications in pets that is leading many pet owners to question whether the risk of the medication rivals, or is worse than, the risk posed by heartworm disease itself. In this episode, Dr. Roger addresses this and separates fact from fiction, true science from opinion, and real in…

Dr. Roger discusses using cancerous tumors to develop vaccines that program the dog's immune system to attack the cancer. This is a great alternative to there are mitigating factors that make chemotherapy prohibitive (concurrent disease, age, cost, etc.). Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinarian and media personality, CEO/attending veterinaria…

Inspired by a listener email, Dr. Roger dips into his post-doctoral orthopedic surgical certifications and vast hind limb surgical experience to discuss hind limb lameness in dogs. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses the most common causes for hind limb lameness in dogs, and options for medical, supplemental, lifestyle, and surgical intervention f…

Dr. Roger pet owner concerns about the potential for the newest generation of flea and tick preventatives - in a class of compounds called isoxazolines - to cause seizures. While products Nextgard, Bravecto, and Simparica Trio have gained in popularity due to their effectiveness, there is a growing concern among pet owners for the potential of neur…

Based on the most current research, Dr. Roger discusses what diseases pet owners should be vaccinating their dogs and cats against and with what frequency. Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinarian and media personality, CEO/attending veterinarian at ⁠⁠⁠Premier Veterinary Care⁠⁠⁠, and author of the top selling book, ⁠⁠⁠The Man In The White Coat…

Dr. Roger talks about a unique superpower dogs possess, a scent of smell 30-60 times greater than that of humans! In fact, their primary source of sensory input comes from their nose, with their keen sense of smell believed to create entire landscapes of information in their minds...what Dr. Roger calls "smell-o-vision." Exercising their sniffer is…

Dr. Roger brings to light the alarming statistic about veterinarians having the highest rate of suicide among professions, making them 2-4 times more likely to die by suicide than the general populations. Dr. Roger discusses the reasons behind this crisis and what measures pet owners can take to help diffuse the emotions that can bring a veterinary…

Dr. Roger discusses an increasingly common issue where pure breed enthusiasts are driven to purchase new puppies over denial by rigid dog rescue vetting standards. Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinarian and media personality, CEO/attending veterinarian at ⁠⁠⁠Premier Veterinary Care⁠⁠⁠, and author of the top selling book, ⁠⁠⁠The Man In The Wh…

The summer season is a wonderful time of year, especially for temperate areas of the country looking forward to a break from the cold temps of winter and fun in the sun. Kids are off for the summer from school, beaches and boardwalks are open, pools are open, and life is teaming all around us. With all the joy and splendor of summer, it does some w…

Librela is a monoclonal antibody treatment for arthritis in dogs, administered by monthly injection. With great reported success, Librela is taking the industry by storm in becoming the gold standard for successful and safe treatment for dogs suffering from arthritis. In this episodes, Dr. Roger reacts to a recent Wall Street Journal article that r…

Dr. Roger reacts to a recent article posted in The Atlantic about what is the cause for the rapid rise in the cost of veterinary health care for pets. Below is the link below to access the article: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/vet-private-equity-industry/678180/?utm_source=apple_news Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinaria…

Dr. Roger showcases the American Kennel Club the nation's most popular dog breed of 2024. Dr. Roger offers insights into the booming popularity of this breed, and highlights health concerns common to the breed. Like any breed that becomes popular, unscrupulous/unethical breeders abound, so Dr. Roger offers helpful tips in shielding your family from…

Pictured here is a real patient recently seen at Dr. Roger's clinic that is the direct result of this canine patient, now 9 years of age, not having been neutered. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses what these lesions are, and also discuses other poor health circumstances that can arise from choosing to not have a male dog neutered. Dr. Roger Wel…

In the midst of having to have his Labrador Retriever, Nacho (pictured on the show page), in an Elizabethan collar for an an extended period of time, Dr. Roger shares his empathy with pet owners whose pets and households that have to endure the cone. There is a reason refusal to leave the collar on as directed is one of the top - and one of the mos…

Households that have at least one cat as a pet increase each year, yet an alarmingly low number of cats receive regular well care (39.8% of cats compared to 81.8% of dogs). In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses the reasons for this phenomenon common misconceptions regarding feline wellness, and common barriers to cats owners opting to have their cat…

Veterinarians diagnose and make treatment recomendations, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the pet owner to implement the treatment. The success of the outcome is intrinsically tied to the owner's "compliance" in implementing the treatment. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses barriers to successful compliance, what species presents the b…

There is an unfortunate enduring mythology that dogs are essentially pack animals like their ancient ancestor that they evolved from, the wolf. Thousands of years of evolution through cohabitation with humans and selective breeding have elapsed, making dogs very different from their ancient ancestor. They are far more complex than that, and trainer…

Arthritis is the most common chronic disease in dogs and cats. Arthritis in pets can be debilitating and commonly reaches levels of severity where quality of life diminishes to the point of humane euthanasia. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses the latest cutting edge therapy for dogs and cats with arthritis that is not only restoring quality of l…

February is Animal Dental Health Month! Dental disease is the second most common chronic disease in dogs and cats, yet it remains one of the most overlooked aspects of maintaining good health in pets. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses the most common roadblocks in convincing pet owners to comply with his dental treatment recommendations, and the…

Each New Year, Dr. Roger hosts an episode about certain resolutions he feels would be best for veterinary medicine and the pet loving world. In this episodes, Dr. Roger highlights a few of his top pet resolutions for 2024. Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinarian and media personality, CEO/attending veterinarian at ⁠⁠⁠Premier Veterinary Care⁠⁠…

Dr. Roger discusses hidden holiday dangers for that lurk in the home during this time of year. Tune to learn how to keep your pets safe and healthy through the holiday season. Below is the link for the Merck chocolate toxicity calculator Dr. Roger discusses on the air: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/clinical-calculator/chocolate-toxicity…

In this episode, Dr. Roger addresses a supposedly novel respiratory infectious disease that has yet to be identified, having been seen thus far in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Washington. What is true, what is not true, and how concerned should dog parents be? Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinarian and media personality, …

Dr. Roger discusses some often little known consequences of flea infestations in dogs and cats that can make them sick far beyond just being itchy. Fleas can also pose health risks to the human family, so a safe, comprehensive flea prevention plan in place in households with pets is an essential component to keeping all members of the house healthy…

In this episode Dr. Roger discusses the optimal times of the day that dogs and cats by their nature prefer to be active and engaged with. He stresses that we should not feel guilty when we have to leave our pets at home when we go to work, but make up for daytime absence by maximizing attention and exercise during the times of day our pets like to …

Class IV LED therapy lasers are expanding treatment capabilities with unprecedented power to stimulate tissue regeneration in veterinarian medicine. Commonly called "cold laser," class IV therapy laser has expanded to treat an ever growing list of diseases and injuries in dogs and cats. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses the science behind therap…

"Breeder knows best," is becoming a common theme that veterinarians are having to contend with. This episode was inspired by a long season of new puppy and kitten visits with new pet owners refuting Dr. Roger's health recommendations based on contrary (and bad) medical advice provided by breeders that have zero qualifications to be making. Dr. Roge…

With few exceptions, Dr. Roger has resisted recommending pet food manufactuers on the air because of the dogma that pet discussions have taken on in recent years. Encouraged by a listener email, Dr. Roger finally breaks his silence and delves in-depth about pet foods that he recommends feeding, and recommends avoiding. Dr. Roger Welton is a practic…

Despite "designer" dog breeds resulting from crossing traditional AKC recognized breeds with Poodles being technically little more than very expensive mutts, it seems these days everyone in the market to puchase is new puppy is opting for these so called "Doodles." Whether it is a Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Maltipoo, Yorkiepoo, Shih-poo, Bernadoodl…

Whether legal in one's state or not, Americans love our time honored tradition of blowing off fireworks every July 4th. Unfortunately for some dogs, July 4th (and New Year's Eve in my home state of Florida) can take a serious mental toll on them and triggere serious anxiety. Levels of sound anxiety vary in dogs from mild to being so severe that it …

In his most emotional podcast to date, Dr. Roger opens up about his recent unexpected loss of his beloved 5-year-old Labrador Retriever, Stella. He recounts how she went from a perfectly healthy dog to losing her just 12 hours later in order to passs along the invaluable - albaeit painful - lessons he learned has a veterinarian, as a pet parent, an…

Dr. Roger has recently been asked by several of his veterinary clinic clients his thoughts on a Dog Naturally Magazine dismissing the necessaity for the administration of heartworm, flea and tick preventatives in favor of natural alternatives and creative diagnostics the author deems effective. Dr. Roger delves into the article and reacts to each p…

When adopted by dog owners that understand the breed, what unique training they require, and are prepared to put in the leadership, time and energy these breeds require, they can be wonderful dogs. Dr. Roger has unfortunately observed all too often that people purchase working dog breeds for the wrong reasons and are grossly unprepared to deal with…

Parasite infections in pets are on the rise, including emerging resistant parasite variations. In this episode, Dr. Roger discusses these parasite threats to your pets, why they are on the rise, and how best to protect your pet and human family from their consequences. Dr. Roger Welton is a practicing veterinarian and media personality, CEO/attendi…