Shows / The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
You love your pets. But sometimes, living with them is a lot.From behavior and training struggles to pet health, nutrition, vet decisions, rising costs, constant mess, and the everyday chaos of sharing your home with animals, The Pet Parent Hotline helps you figure out what actually matters and what to do next.You got a pet to make life better, not to lose sleep, drain your bank account, second-guess every decision, or feel like you’re failing at something that was supposed to bring you…
Episodes
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
A New Home With Pets: I Need Your Help!
What happens when the person who usually answers the Pet Parent Hotline needs help from the listeners?Amy is finally in her new house (new to her, but built in…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Before Fall Gets Busy: Get Your Pet Care in Order
Summer has a way of knocking routines loose and pushing pet care tasks to “later.” Before fall gets busy, this is a good time for dog, cat, and other pet…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
What Your Pet Food Label Is Really Telling You
Pet food labels are packed with reassuring words like real chicken, high protein, complete and balanced, and superfoods. But what do those words actually tell…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Do Special Pet Diets Do What They Claim? | Pet Parent Power Up
Sensitive stomach. Weight management. Hairball control. Urinary care. Pet food labels make these diets sound highly specific, but not every claim on the…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Is Doggy Daycare Helping or Hurting Your Dog?
Doggy daycare can give dogs exercise, enrichment, social time, and a much-needed outlet for their energy. But a dog coming home exhausted does not…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Buying a House With Pets: What I Never Thought to Check
I thought buying a house with pets meant finding enough space, a decent yard, and hopefully a fence. Then I started walking through houses with three dogs and…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
What Really Happened Moving 2,200 Miles With Six Pets
What Really Happened Moving 2,200 Miles With Six PetsMoving six pets from Texas to Massachusetts in an RV sounded manageable on paper. Then came the delayed…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Moving Cross-Country With 6 Pets: Lessons From 2,200 Miles
Moving cross-country with pets is not the same as taking your dog for a quick ride around town.In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy shares the…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
When a Pet Is Loved, But Not Safe: Understanding Behavioral Euthanasia
Behavioral euthanasia is one of the hardest and most misunderstood decisions a pet parent may ever face. While most people think of euthanasia as something…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Why Isn't Training Working for My Dog?
If you’ve ever said, “We tried training, and it didn’t work,” this episode is for you.This week, Amy talks with Em Breslin, host of the podcast The Dog Who…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
When the Life You Built No Longer Fits: Pets, Grief, and Moving Forward
What do you do when the life you built around your pets, your purpose, and your plans no longer fits the life you're actually living?In this raw, personal…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
What Your Vet Wishes You Understood About Them
Most pet parents see veterinarians during some of the most stressful moments of pet ownership: when a pet is sick, injured, aging, or facing an expensive…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Found Kittens? Don’t Assume the Shelter Will Save Them
Most people who find tiny kittens think the shelter is the safest place to take them. But when kittens are newborns or bottle babies, the shelter may not have…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Pet Acting Different? Ask This Before You Blame Them | Pet Parent Power-Up
Is your pet suddenly acting clingy, anxious, restless, messy, or just “off”?Before you decide they’re being difficult, ask one better question: what changed?In…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
When Pet Parenting Feels Like Too Much
Do you love your pet, but secretly feel worn out by the constant responsibilityPet-parent fatigue can sneak up on you when every decision, routine, behavior…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
6 Reasons Good Pets Get Returned After Adoption
Thinking about adopting a pet, or already wondering if you made the right decision after bringing one home?A lot of people think the hard part of adoption is…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Stop Nighttime Pet Chaos With the SETTLE Routine
Does your dog whine at the door, your cat climb on you, or all your pets suddenly demand attention the second you sit down at night? You are not imagining it…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Should You Go to the Emergency Vet or Wait?
If your pet suddenly seems “off,” how do you know whether it’s a true emergency or something that can safely wait until morning (or Monday)?That decision is…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Get Out The Door Faster in a Pet Emergency | Pet Parent Power-Up
If your pet needed emergency care tonight, would you be ready to get out the door quickly? When something goes wrong with your pet, the medical issue may not…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
After Pet Loss, When Is It Time To Get Another Pet?
After losing a pet, how do you know when it’s time to get another one, if at all?For some people, opening their heart to another pet feels like part of…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Pet Tattoos: Tribute, Celebration, or Something More?
Thinking about getting a tattoo of your pet, or wondering why so many people do? For some, it’s a way to celebrate a pet they love right now. For others, it’s…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
7 Simple Things That Instantly Improve Your Pet’s Life
Feeling like you’re not doing enough for your pet, no matter how much you try? You’re buying the toys, reading the advice, trying to do everything “right”… but…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
In-Home Pet Euthanasia: What to Know Before You Need It
What does a peaceful goodbye at home actually look like, and what should you know before you ever need to make that call? If the idea feels scary or…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Are You Waiting Too Long to Let Your Pet Go?
How do you know when it’s time to let your pet go, especially when you keep hoping for one more sign? If you’re waiting for absolute certainty, your pet may…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Remove Pet Smell: Why Your House Still Smells Like Pets After Cleaning
Does your house smell like your pets, and you’re the only one who doesn’t notice it anymore? If the smell keeps coming back no matter how much you clean, you…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Say No to Family Pet Sitting, Set Boundaries Without Guilt | Pet Parent Power-Up
Do friends and family assume you’ll watch their pet just because you’ve said yes before? What starts as a favor can quickly turn into an expectation that’s…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Cat Aggression Signs: Why Cats Swat, Bite, and Lash Out
If your cat is biting, swatting, attacking another cat, or suddenly having litter box issues, it may not be happening out of nowhere. In many cases, cats show…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
New Cat? Stop Rushing Introductions Before It Turns Into A Fight
Bringing home a new cat and hoping your pets will just figure it out? That’s one of the fastest ways to create tension, hissing, and fights. A lot of cat…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Is Someone At Home Allergic to Your Pet? Now What?
If you’re panicking and wondering whether your dog or cat has to go because someone at home seems to be allergic, take a breath before you make a heartbreaking…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Leash Reactive Dog? Stop Feeling Guilty, Understand It
Does walking your dog feel like you’re on high alert every second, bracing for the next blow-up? If Spot's behavior looks like dog aggression on walks, but…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
5 Steps to Break Up With Your Vet | Pet Parent Power-Up
Wondering if it’s time to leave your vet, and you want to do it without making it weird? You don’t need a dramatic breakup. You need a calm, reasonable plan…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Don’t Choose A New Vet Until You Know These 7 Things
Are you about to choose a new vet? Because the worst time to realize you picked the wrong one is when your pet is sick, you’re scared, and no one is clearly…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
5 Puppy Raising Mistakes That Backfire Later
Are you dealing with “normal puppy behavior,” or early warning signs of a bigger problem? Some of the most common puppy behaviors, like fear reactions…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Should You Get A Dog For Your Dog, Or Is It a Big Mistake?
Should you get a dog for your dog… or are you about to double your stress, noise, behavior issues, and vet bills?Many pet parents see a bored, clingy, or…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Ask These Questions Before You Say Yes At The Vet
Have you ever walked out of the vet thinking, I should’ve asked more… but it happened so fast?This episode is for the moment you’re sitting in the exam room…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
One Question That Helps You Speak Up at the Vet | Pet Parent Power-Up
Ever walked out of the vet with a receipt and regret because you didn't ask about options, priorities, or cost? You are not the only one. Most pet parents do…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
$10 And 2 Minutes To Help Your Pet Live Longer?
Every pet parent needs a realistic pet care plan, and what if a $10 purchase used 2 minutes a day could help your pet live better and longer? Most pet parents…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Pet Tech: How to Tell What’s Actually Worth It
For many pet parents, their pet care plan includes pet tech and a lot of it looks amazing right up until you’re the one charging it, cleaning it…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Seniors With Pets: The Crisis You’re Not Ready For
Are you caring for aging parents with pets, or aging with pets yourself, and hoping it will all just work out when something changes? Because the biggest risk…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Do Pets Grieve After a Loss? A Pet Loss Doula Explains
Do pets actually grieve, or are they reacting to routine changes and stress in ways we don’t recognize? And how much of what we label as “grief” is really our…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
One Question That Stops You From Wasting Time on Pet Care | Pet Parent Power-Up
Ever feel like you’re doing a ton for your pets, but nothing actually feels easier?If you’re stuck repeating the same corrections, overcomplicating routines…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Why Your Pet Resolutions Fail By Week 2
Ever hit January 10 and realize your pet routine resolution is already sliding? If you’ve promised yourself you'll focus on pet care - you’ll walk your dog…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Make Your Home Pet-Friendly Without Looking Like A Kennel
Love your pets but hate what they do to your house?In this episode, award-winning designer Pamela O’Brien shares smart, practical pet-friendly home design tips…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
10 Rescue-Tested Pet Essentials We Can’t Live Without
Stop Buying Useless Pet Care Supplies. Here’s What You Actually Need. Most “must-have" pet care supply lists focus on gimmicks and generic basics, missing the…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
How to Get Through the Holidays When Facing Pet Loss
Why do the holidays feel so much heavier when you’ve lost a pet, or when you know a goodbye is coming soon? If you’re finding yourself dreading traditions…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Holiday Hazards 2.0: The Risks You Didn’t See Coming
Are you sure your home is holiday-ready, or are there hidden dangers that could land your pet at the emergency vet? Most pet parents prep for the obvious…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Set Boundaries With Pet-Complaining Guests | Pet Parent Power-Up
Do your holiday guests expect your pets to be quiet, invisible, or perfectly behaved on command? If you have friends or family visiting who are not big pet…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Is Your Child Really Ready for a Pet? 6 Signs You Can’t Ignore
Are you wondering whether your child is actually ready for a pet, or are they just deep in the “please please please” phase? Most parents hear “Can we get a…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Pet Bills Keep Surprising You? Here’s How to Plan
Every pet parent needs a realistic pet care plan, especially when pet care costs keep rising and surprise bills can blow up your budget fast. In this episode…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
My Pet's Microchip Brought Her Home After 5 Years, But Yours Might Not
When my cat disappeared suddenly, I thought I’d never see her again. Five years later, a microchip brought her home to me, but your pet's chip might not.In…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Pet Guardianship: Who Takes Your Pet If You Don’t Make It Home?
Most pet parents never think about creating a pet trust or naming a pet guardian in case something happens to them. But every week, rescues like mine get…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Choosing a Dog Boarding Facility? Watch for These Red Flags
Great dog boarding facilities can be hard to find and leaving your dog (or cat) in someone else’s care can be nerve-racking, especially when you’re not sure…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Stop Your Pet Care Guilt Spiral For Good
Ever feel guilty for working too much, missing walks, or not giving your pet enough attention? You’re not alone. Pet parenting struggles like guilt, burnout…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Stop Trusting Pet Care Advice on Social Media
Ever searched online for pet care advice and ended up more confused than when you started? One post about your dog throwing up turns into 60 conflicting…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Stop Overpaying for Grooming: What You Can DIY vs Leave to the Pros
Trying to save money on grooming? Whether you’ve got a dog or a cat, this episode will give you DIY dog grooming tips for beginners, and help you figure out…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Dog Training: Crate Training Without The Stress
Think crate training is as simple as putting your dog in the crate and calling it a night? That’s the biggest reason it fails.Crate training isn’t instant…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Dog Training: Stop Buying The Wrong Crate
Confused about which crate is right for your dog? With so many sizes, styles, and price points, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to end up wasting time and…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Cat Won't Use the Litter Box? 6 Rules You’re Probably Breaking
Understanding cat litter box issues is one of the top problems cat owners face. You think your litter box setup is fine, yet your cat is still peeing on the…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Pet for Your Child Under 5
Thinking about getting a puppy or kitten for your preschooler? It might look adorable on social media, but in real life it’s often a recipe for stress, safety…
- The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Spend Smarter, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
Is Crating Cruel? 5 Surprising Benefits for Your Dog
Is crating your dog cruel, or could it actually be one of the kindest things you do for them? Many pet parents picture their pup feeling trapped or lonely, so…