Episode Details

Dr. Debra Horwitz and Dr. Amy Pike, veterinary behaviorists and co-authors of Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior, 3rd Edition, explore topics in pet behavior. They discuss whether there is ever a justified use for shock collars—even as a last resort to protect a dog’s life—while addressing widespread misconceptions about how cats behave. They also explain why, if given the chance, they’d require larger litter boxes for cats everywhere, and how often sudden behavior changes in pets are actually rooted in pain or underlying medical issues.

Plus, new research suggests pet owners should be mindful of what they say around their dogs—some are capable of learning simply by eavesdropping.