Episode Details

Have you ever brought a rescue dog home expecting life to finally calm down… only to discover the hardest part was still ahead of you?

Heartworm treatment can feel overwhelming for dog parents very quickly. Between strict activity restrictions, medical appointments, emotional stress, and trying to keep an energetic or anxious dog calm during recovery, many people quietly feel exhausted and unprepared.

In this episode, Em and Josh sit down with Molly to share Polo’s heartworm recovery story and the emotional reality of helping a rescue dog heal through months of treatment and confinement.

Together, they unpack how heartworm recovery affects more than the body — influencing nervous systems, dog behavior, stress levels, enrichment needs, and emotional well-being for both dogs and the people caring for them.

Because healing isn’t just medical.
It’s emotional too.

Listeners will learn:

• what heartworm treatment and recovery actually look like day to day
• how recovery restrictions can affect dog behavior, stress, and emotional regulation
• practical ways enrichment, nutrition, and routine can help support healing

Press play for an honest conversation about rescue dogs, heartworm recovery, and how to support your dog through one of the most emotionally challenging healing processes many pet parents never expect.

Guest Info:

Follow Molly & Polo: @polothepittie (Instagram + TikTok)

Learn more about heartworm disease: heartwormsociety.org

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This podcast explores real life with dogs — including dog behavior, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training problems. It's for dog parents who feel overwhelmed navigating life with dogs and want a clearer understanding of their dog and a calmer daily life together. Episodes also cover dog nutrition, canine nutrition, pet nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, and dog communication — connecting behavior, health, and daily routines to help you better understand your dog and reduce stress. We're now taking this conversation on the road, bringing honest support directly to dog parents across the country.

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