Welcoming a new cat into your home can be a wonderful experience — it also has the potential to stir up some drama.

On today’s show, certified feline trainer and behavior consultant, Dr. Marci Koski, from Feline Behavior Solutions, is back and talking about how to add another cat to your family in a way that makes your new cat and your established cat feel safe and comfortable.

We go over things to consider on behalf of your existing cat before choosing your new kitty, Marci’s preferred method for introductions step by step, how ease into it, and what to do if things aren’t going as well as you hoped.

The current coronavirus pandemic means that children are being homeschooled and many parents are working from home. The entire family, including your dog, is spending non-stop quality time together.

Does your dog seem more stressed with all the extra hubbub going on all day? Are you wondering what you can do to make sure the kids and dogs both stay safe while you get some work done in the office? Want to learn how to get your kids involved with caring for and training the family dog?

We know many pet owners have questions about whether the coronavirus affects their dogs and cats — and are also worried about the implications of veterinary clinics needing to change the way they provide care due to social distancing rules.

There's also a lot of new puppy owners left scratching their heads wondering how to socialize their puppies while social distancing.

I sat down (virtually, of course) with Paws & Play host, Mia, to talk about what pet owners need to know about coronavirus and their cats and dogs, including awareness around everyday hazards that are potentially even more dangerous now that everyone is home all the time. Listen to the podcast below and let us know what questions you have in the comments!

Are you thinking of adding a second dog to your family?

Whether you're getting a puppy or adopting an older dog, adding another furry friend to your life means a lot of change — especially for your current dog.

In this episode we walk through what you should consider when wanting to add another pup, along with how to find the right fit for your first dog.

Separation anxiety is a heartbreaking condition that effects 1 in 7 dogs (that's 13 million dogs in the United States alone).

My own dogs suffer from separation anxiety and it has made it very difficult for me to leave the house. When I am away, I stress out thinking about how they're doing, which makes me a lot less fun to be with at social gatherings. Heck, it's even put the kibosh on most vacation dreams.

Thankfully, there is hope! On today's show, Preventive Vet's own certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, Cathy Madson, and I are joined by special guest, Dr. Judy Korman, veterinarian and Chief Business Officer for Assisi Animal Health. Dr. Korman is a part of the development team, along with engineers and neurobiologists, that created a breakthrough drug-free therapy to help dogs with separation anxiety.

Winter hasn't even technically begun but the temperatures are dropping and some places around the U.S. have already seen some heavy snow. While it's easy for us to bundle up and ensure our comfort and safety, our dogs and cats are relying on us to help do the same for them.

On this episode of the Paws & Play with Dr. J podcast, we talk about the different steps you can easily take to help keep your pets healthy and safe. Check out the resources below for tips and tricks for 

After recording the first podcast in our senior pet series, on the benefits of senior pet adoption, my wife and I went ahead and dove headfirst into that challenge and picked up our newest 10 year old family member just a month or so later.

Before picking up, Mabel (formerly Peanut, who you will hear more about on a future episode), we knew she was dealing with a few health issues, including Pug Myelopathy (weak rear) and we would have to be making some adjustments around the house to ensure her safety.

Our French Bulldog, Marshall, while blessed with very few serious issues, has developed some IVDD over his 11 ½ years, so we had already made some adjustments to the house prior to her arrival.

Unfortunately, Marshall's sight isn't what it used to be and it's hard to tell whether they are both hearing impaired or just ignoring me (I think a combo of both), but it's safe to assume there will need to be more adjustments in the near future.

This episode I ask Dr. J and certified dog trainer and behavior consultant Cathy Madson for advice, tips, and tricks for making sure I am doing everything I can to provide my senior pups, and my cat who will eventually be a senior, with the best quality of life as they grow older and their needs change.

We're back with certified feline trainer and behavior consultant, Dr. Marci Koski, to do a deeper dive into cat spraying.

We know cat spraying is one of the most frustrating — and stinky — issues cat owners deal with, and it's also a major contributor to cat relinquishment, and even euthanasia.

So, to avoid the stress and anything else that may potentially come with it, Marci provides some great ideas for doing your own sleuthing to figure out the underlying issues as to why your cat is spraying, and then gives some great suggestions for helping stop this unwanted behavior.

Cats peeing outside of the litter box is one of the most frustrating (and stinky) issues a cat owner can face.

Contrary to what many people think, kitties aren't spraying on the walls, peeing on clothes, or eliminating outside of the litter box just for vindictive funsies. But, they are trying to tell you something.

Feline trainer and behavior consultant, Dr. Marci Koski, is back to talk about the many reasons your cat could be spraying or having litter box issues.

Choke collars, and bark collars may seem like the perfect investment to train your dog to stop unwanted behavior — after all, that's exactly how they are marketed.

But just like those super long prescription drug commercials, the unwanted side effects of these products are often much worse than the original problem.

On today's show, PV's certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, Cathy Madson, teaches us all about aversives, the four quadrants of operant conditioning, and better methods for training your dogs to listen to you.