Your Vet Wants You to Know

Latest Episodes:

Outside the Box 4: Urinary Crystals and Stones in Cats Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

Finding crystals in your cat's urine can sound terrifying, but crystals and bladder stones aren't the same thing and not every crystal is dangerous. In this episode of Outside the Box, veterinary internal medicine specialist, Dr. Amy Oberstadt, explains what urinary crystals actually mean, how struvite differs from calcium oxalate, and why some bladder stones can be dissolved while others cannot. She also breaks down the role of diet and hydration and tackles common myths about dry food, urinary diets, and the risk of a blocked cat.

Episode page with pictures: Outside the Box 4 Urinary Crystals and Stones in Cats for more on this episode.

Scratching the Itch feature: Wild Inside Documentary

Find a veterinary internal medicine specialist near you: Specialist Search Here

Our vision is for Your Vet Wants You to Know to be a resource for veterinarians to improve client communication by introducing a discussion about a common topic during the vet visit, then directing the client to a reliable source of engaging, understandable, and accessible information.

By doing so, we strive for: 1) increased pet health literacy among pet owners, 2) improved partnership between clients and the veterinary team, 3) improved medical outcomes for pets, and 4) improved quality of life and efficiency for veterinarians.

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Outside the Box 3: Feline Idiopathic Cystitis Stressing Your Cat Out? Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Your cat is straining, peeing outside the litter box, or even passing bloody urine, but your veterinarian says it may not be a UTI. In Episode 3 of Outside the Box, internal medicine specialist, Dr. Amy Oberstadt, explains feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), one of the most common causes of lower urinary tract problems in cats. This episode dives in to how stress can create real physical changes involving the nervous system and bladder, why FIC can keep coming back, how to recognize urinary pain, and why treating the whole cat, not just the bladder, is so important.

Episode page with pictures: Outside the Box 3 Feline Idiopathic Cystitis for more on this episode.

Scratching the Itch feature: Let's Make Art

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One Health Heroes: Four Months of Screwworm in the USA, Avian Influenza Surges Amid Migration Season Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

It's been almost four months since New World Screwworm has crossed into the United States. Dr. Mandy Sorensen of the American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians joins the show to explain how surveillance, animal movement controls, and releases of sterile male flies are being used to respond to screwworm detections, and what pet owners should do if they notice a suspicious wound. With fall bird migration in full swing, avian influenza continues to devastate poultry operations, as well as numerous wildlife species, including endangered birds, dolphins, and even polar bears, highlighting immense challenges in controlling the spread of this highly pathogenic virus.

Key Takeaways:

Screwworm continues to be detected in new parts of the Southern United States.
Any suspicious wound needs veterinarian attention, especially in areas affected by New World Screwworm.
Sterile male flies help to slow the reproduction and spread of screwworm.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza remains a significant threat to commercial poultry operations and backyard flocks.

Scratching the Itch features the Rooster and Squid series by veterinarian, Dr. Jen Cole.

Become a One Health Hero: American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians (AAFSPHV)

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Outside the Box 2: Creating a Healthy Cat Home to Reduce Stress Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

A cat can live safely indoors and still experience environmental stress that affects their health. In Episode 2 of Outside the Box, presented in partnership with Royal Canin, internal medicine specialist Dr. Amy Oberstadt explores the connection between stress, the nervous system, bladder inflammation, and recurrent feline urinary problems. Using her own wonderfully particular "basement cat," Marvin, as an example, Dr. Oberstadt explains how litter-box placement, finding sutble household stressors, improving multi-cat dynamics, incorporating play, increasing hydration, creating predictable routines, and providing safe spaces can all contribute to a healthier indoor environment. Most importantly, owners learn why there isn't one perfect setup for every cat and why gradual, individualized changes are more useful than trying to overhaul everything overnight.

Episode page with pictures: Outside the Box 2: Creating a Healthy Cat Environment

Find a veterinary internal medicine specialist near you: Specialist Search Here

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One Health Heroes: Rabies Cases On the Rise, CDC Health Alert Network Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Reports of animal rabies activity and potential human exposures increased across the United States during the summer of 2026. Dr. Mandy Sorensen of the American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians joins the show to examine recent cases involving rabid baby goats at a North Carolina petting zoo and unusually aggressive beavers in Maryland. She explains why rabies can be difficult to recognize, what to do immediately after a possible exposure, and why veterinarians, healthcare providers, and public health officials must work together.

Key Takeaways:

The CDC has released a statement on increased animal rabies activity and human exposures
Rabies Aware is a state-by-state resource for navigating the complex laws governing rabies vaccination and exposure management.
North Carolina petting-zoo rabies exposure notice and event locations can be viewed here.
Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus by Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy is a fascinating look at the cultural impact of rabies throughout generations.

Become a One Health Hero: American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians (AAFSPHV)

Pet owners and veterinary professionals, sign up for our newsletter here: https://www.yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/newsletter

Help support our mission through BUY ME A COFFEE: https://buymeacoffee.com/yourvet

Outside the Box 1: Why is My Cat Peeing Outside the Box? Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

When your cat pees outside the litter box, don't assume bad behavior or spite. They may be saying something important.

Finding cat urine on your bed, rug, or laundry is frustrating, but is your cat actually mad at you? In the first episode of Outside the Box, presented in partnership with Royal Canin, veterinary internal medicine specialist Dr. Amy Oberstadt joins us to explain why urinary disease, pain, stress, and environmental factors can all contribute to litter box problems. Learn what normal urination looks like, which subtle changes deserve attention, why very different urinary diseases can look nearly identical at home, and when your cat needs emergency veterinary care.

Episode page with pictures: Outside the Box 1: Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Box

Find a veterinary internal medicine specialist near you: Specialist Search Here

Help support our mission through BUY ME A COFFEE: https://buymeacoffee.com/yourvet

One Health Heroes: West Nile Mystery Uncovered by a Zoo Pathologist Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The birds were dying, people were getting sick, and one veterinary pathologist refused to accept that it was a coincidence.

In the summer of 1999, Dr. Tracey McNamara was investigating an extraordinary wave of bird deaths at the Bronx Zoo just as people in Queens were being hospitalized with a mysterious neurologic illness. When the human outbreak was initially attributed to St. Louis encephalitis, Dr. McNamara knew the diagnosis didn't explain what she was seeing in the birds. She kept pushing even when public health officials dismissed the veterinary evidence. Her persistence, along with testing performed by the USDA and U.S. Army, helped connect the animal and human outbreaks and identify the arrival of West Nile virus in the Western Hemisphere. More than 25 years later, her story remains a striking example of both the power of One Health surveillance and what can happen when animal and human health systems fail to communicate.

Key Takeaways

Animals can provide an early warning. Dead birds became an important sentinel for West Nile virus surveillance and human risk. CDC West Nile surveillance and ArboNET
Veterinary laboratories matter. The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories isolated the virus from the zoo birds after testing ruled out other major avian pathogens. USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Data only help when they are shared. Today's National Wildlife Disease Database is designed to bring wildlife health information together for earlier detection of emerging threats. National Wildlife Disease Database
One Health surveillance is still evolving. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is working to integrate human, animal, environmental and other health data for earlier warning and better decision-making. PNNL AI-Driven One Health Security

Become a One Health Hero: American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians (AAFSPHV)

Pet owners and veterinary professionals, sign up for our newsletter here: https://www.yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/newsletter

Help support our mission through BUY ME A COFFEE: https://buymeacoffee.com/yourvet

One Health Heroes: Cape fur seals and a rabies outbreak, AVMA position on raw feeding, Screwworm travel restrictions Aug 15, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of One Health Heroes, Dr. Mandy Sorensen returns to explain changing requirements for pets traveling between the United States and Mexico and what owners should discuss with their veterinarians before a trip. She also shares the fascinating epidemiologic investigation that uncovered rabies circulating among Cape fur seals in southern Africa and discusses why active disease surveillance is so important. Finally, the episode looks at guidance from the American Veterinary Medical Association discouraging raw animal-source foods for pets and raw milk because of infectious disease risks, updated to include highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Key Takeaways:

Pet travel rules are changing because of New World screwworm. AVMA travel update
A rabid dog helped uncover rabies circulating in Cape fur seals. Emergence of Rabies in Cape Fur Seals, South Africa
Raw meat and milk carries infectious-disease risks to pets and people. AVMA raw diet policy
One Health connects animal, human, and environmental disease surveillance. AAFSPHV

Pet owners and veterinary professionals, sign up for our newsletter here: https://www.yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/newsletter

Help support our mission through BUY ME A COFFEE: https://buymeacoffee.com/yourvet

One Health Heroes: Ebola Lessons from the Frontlines Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

When most people think of Ebola, they picture hazmat suits and frightening headlines. In this episode of One Health Heroes, we are joined again by Dr. Laura Rothfeldt, a veterinarian and public health leader who was deployed to Sierra Leone during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak as part of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service. Dr. Rothfeldt shares powerful firsthand stories from the field, explains how Ebola is transmitted and why many common misconceptions persist, and discusses how One Health collaboration was essential to controlling one of the largest outbreaks in history. The conversation concludes with an update on the current Ebola outbreak, highlighting how advances in vaccines, treatments, surveillance, and global preparedness are changing the response while reminding us that emerging infectious diseases remain a worldwide concern.

Key Takeaways

Ebola spreads through direct contact, not through the air.
The 2014 West Africa outbreak transformed how the world responds to Ebola.
One Health collaboration is essential for detecting, containing, and preventing outbreaks.
Limited resources, regional conflict, and difficulty tracking people in remote areas are key barriers.
New vaccines and treatments offer hope, but rapid detection and community trust remain critical.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

CDC Ebola Information & Current Outbreak Updates
Arkansas Department of Health
CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)
JAVMA article: Bentley the Ebola Dog
Rooster & Squid by Dr. Jen Cole (children's books)
Microbial Mystery Series by Dr. Millicent Eidson
American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians (AAFSPHV)
Pet owners and veterinary professionals, sign up for our newsletter here: https://www.yourvetwantsyoutoknow.com/newsletter

Help support our mission through BUY ME A COFFEE: https://buymeacoffee.com/yourvet

Our vision is for Your Vet Wants You to Know to be a resource for veterinarians to improve client communication by introducing a discussion about a common topic during the vet visit, then directing the client to a reliable source of engaging, understandable, and accessible information.

By doing so, we strive for: 1) increased pet health literacy among pet owners, 2) improved partnership between clients and the veterinary team, 3) improved medical outcomes for pets, and 4) improved quality of life and efficiency for veterinarians.

Connect with Your Vet! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourvetwantsyoutoknow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourvetwantsyoutoknow Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourvetwantsyoutoknow

One Health Heroes: New World Screwworm in the United States Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

New World screwworm has officially been detected in the United States, transforming what had been a looming public health concern into an active One Health response. In this episode, Dr. Mandy Sorensen, communications specialist for the American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians, explains what makes this parasite unique, why it poses such a serious threat to pets, livestock, wildlife, and occasionally people, and how coordinated surveillance is helping slow its spread. She explains how the fly's life cycle fuels outbreaks, why early recognition is critical, and the role veterinarians, pet owners, producers, and public health officials all play in protecting animal health. The conversation also addresses what this means for travelers, livestock producers, and consumers—and why there's good news when it comes to food safety.

Key Takeaways