Paws and Effect

You’ve wrestled a cat into a carrier. You’ve chased a dog around the house with the nail clippers. Now imagine having to give a monkey a daily injection, or getting a tiger to walk up and present its shoulder for one.

Zookeepers do it every day. Not by force, they can’t force an animal that size, but by teaching it to take part willingly. And the same thing works on the cat under your bed.

Carra sits down with Nicky Plaskitt, who spent over twenty years training zoo and aquarium animals to cooperate in their own care.

In this episode:
⁠Why your pet isn’t being difficult, and what the resistance is actually telling you
The two-minute exercise you can start tonight
How to stop the carrier being a warning sign
What to do when there’s no time to train, and the care can’t wait

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: https://drcarra.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_carra
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarra/
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: https://hillcrestvets.co.za/

Connect with Nicky Plaskitt:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickyshapingbehaviour
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shapingbehaviour/
Website: http://shapingbehaviour.com/

Podcast Production:

This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative and filmed on-site at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital.
Kythe Creative: https://kythecreative.co.za/

THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet:
This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet a try. Check them out here at www.ultra-pet.co.za

Just For Pets:
Justforpets.co.za is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that's why we offer a wide range of products to help keep your furry friend happy and healthy - Check them out at https://www.justforpets.co.za/

FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND GUEST APPEARANCES, email us at drcarra@pawsandeffect.co.za, and we'll get in touch with you.

Don't forget to LIKE this if you found it helpful, SUBSCRIBE for more episodes and content like this.

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00:00 Challenges of Daily Animal Injections
03:14 Training a pet for insulin injections
08:02 Communicating with animals during training
11:33 Understanding Animal Behavior
13:39 Training animals with positive reinforcement
17:59 Training pets with treats
20:25 Teaching animals target training
24:53 Teaching animals to wait
30:04 Optimizing pet training environment
32:22 Observing animal behavior signals
35:31 Training dogs in new environments
37:28 Emergency care for uncooperative animals
40:51 Building trust with animals
47:19 Deciding on pet care routines
49:09 Discussing pet medication challenges
55:14 Training Techniques and Qualifications
57:53 Observing animal behavior cues
59:58 Animal care expertise discussion

You’ve cut the treats. You’re walking them more. They still haven’t lost weight, so you assume you’re doing something wrong.

You’re probably not. Dr Ernie Ward has spent over twenty years on pet obesity, and his message is blunt: this was never simply about feeding less and exercising more. It’s biological, it’s medical, and “try harder” is why most weight-loss plans fail.

In this episode:
Why “feed less, exercise more” doesn’t work for most pets
The at-home check that tells you more than the scale ever will
What excess weight is quietly doing to joints, and the link to diabetes
⁠Why treats aren’t the enemy, and how to keep them in the plan
The one change this week that makes the biggest difference

Dr Ernie Ward founded the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. This conversation will change how you think about your pet’s weight, and take the guilt out of it.

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: https://drcarra.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_carra
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarra/
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: https://hillcrestvets.co.za/

Connect with Dr Ernie Ward:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drernieward
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drernieward/
Website: https://www.drernieward.com/

Free Tools mentioned in this episode: http://petobesityprevention.org/ & http://worldpetobesity.org/

Podcast Production:
This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative and filmed on-site at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital.
Kythe Creative: https://kythecreative.co.za/

THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet:
This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet a try. Check them out here at www.ultra-pet.co.za

Just For Pets:
Just For Pets is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that's why we offer a wide range of products to help keep your furry friend happy and healthy - Check them out at https://www.justforpets.co.za/

FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND GUEST APPEARANCES, email us at drcarra@pawsandeffect.co.za, and we'll get in touch with you.

Don't forget to LIKE this if you found it helpful, SUBSCRIBE for more episodes and content like this.

Your old dog is slowing down. Sleeping more. Taking the stairs carefully. He’s just getting old, right?

Maybe. Or maybe he’s in pain, and “he’s just getting old” is one of those pet myths that sounds completely reasonable, right up until it costs your pet something.

Vet Cat Henstridge joins us to take apart the pet advice that sounds sensible but isn’t, the stuff you’ve half-believed for years:
“Bad breath is normal in dogs and cats”, what it’s actually telling you
“He’s still eating, so he can’t be in pain”, why that’s not true
The “natural remedy” trend that’s landing dogs at the emergency vet
Are vets really paid off by “Big Kibble”? Cat answers straight
How to tell good pet advice from dangerous advice, before you act on it

Cat the Vet is a practising vet and one of the most trusted voices in UK pet care. This one will change how you read your feed.

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: https://drcarra.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_carra
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarra/
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: https://hillcrestvets.co.za/

Connect with Cat Henstridge:
Instagram: @cat_the_vet
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-henstridge

Podcast Production:
This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative and filmed onsite at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital.
Kythe Creative: https://kythecreative.co.za/

THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet:
This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet a try. Check them out here at www.ultra-pet.co.za

Just For Pets:
Justforpets.co.za is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that's why we offer a wide range of products to help keep your furry friend happy and healthy - Check them out at https://www.justforpets.co.za/

FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND GUEST APPEARANCES, email us at drcarra@pawsandeffect.co.za, and we'll get in touch with you.

Don't forget to LIKE this if you found it helpful, SUBSCRIBE for more episodes and content like this.

She trained to deliver babies. She ended up delivering goats, treating zebras, and running one of the busiest mixed animal clinics around, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

In this candid episode, veterinarian and practice owner Dr Christine Staten shares the unconventional path from aspiring obstetrician to veterinary clinic owner, and what it actually takes to build a veterinary business from scratch.

She’s honest about the parts most people don’t talk about: the weight of practice ownership, imposter syndrome, and how she protects work-life balance in a profession known for burnout.

Key topics:
The leap from obstetrics dreams to large animal medicine
What no one tells you about owning a veterinary practice
Treating the unusual patients, from goats to zebras
Imposter syndrome and protecting your wellbeing in vet med
Building and leading a team that lasts

Whether you’re dreaming of owning a clinic, leading a team, or you just love the animals behind the medicine, Dr Staten offers a refreshingly hopeful take on where the veterinary profession is heading, and the flexibility, community, and passion that make it worth it.

SPONSOR: Ultra Pet

Check out Ultra Pets' new range here: https://ultra-pet.co.za/product/optimal-balance-adult/

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: https://drcarra.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_carra
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarra/
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: https://hillcrestvets.co.za/

Connect with Dr Christine Staten:
Instagram: @dr.christinestaten
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christine-staten

Podcast Production:
This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative and filmed onsite at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital.
Kythe Creative: https://kythecreative.co.za/

THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:

Ultra Pet:
This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet a try. Check them out here at www.ultra-pet.co.za

Just For Pets:
Justforpets.co.za is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that's why we offer a wide range of products to help keep your furry friend happy and healthy - Check them out at https://www.justforpets.co.za/

FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND GUEST APPEARANCES, email us at drcarra@pawsandeffect.co.za, and we'll get in touch with you.

Don't forget to LIKE this if you found it helpful, SUBSCRIBE for more episodes and content like this.

Dog pulling, biting, lunging, or just flat-out not listening?

In this raw and honest episode, dog trainer Tom Davis tears down the myths keeping owners and their dogs stuck.

Tom exposes why so many “hopeless” and reactive cases land at his door after training failed elsewhere, and reveals the uncomfortable truth: the real breakdown is usually in the human–dog relationship, not the dog.

He doesn’t sugarcoat it. Tom explains why “balanced training”, using clear boundaries and accountability, not just treats and praise, transforms dogs that “positive only” methods leave behind.

He unpacks what socialisation actually means (hint: it isn’t letting your puppy greet every dog in sight), why neutrality beats excitement, and when avoiding a trigger quietly makes things worse instead of better.

Then Tom says the part most trainers won’t: the industry’s egos and tribal warfare are costing dogs their lives. Owners get pushed toward one rigid ideology, the dog doesn’t improve, and the leash gets handed to a shelter. His message cuts through it, no dog is beyond help, but the help you choose matters more than you think.

Whether you’ve got a new puppy or a serious behavioural case you’re on the brink of giving up on, this episode will challenge what you thought you knew and show you how to become the leader your dog actually needs.

Key topics:
Why most trainers fail difficult and reactive dogs, and what to do instead
The pitfalls of trend-driven training (and why “positive only” might not be so positive)
What “socialisation” really means, and why neutrality matters
Avoidance vs. real behavioural change: when to face triggers head-on
How to pick the right dog trainer for your situation
The hope, and the responsibility, every owner needs to hear

Like, comment, and subscribe for more unfiltered expert insights into dog behaviour and training.

SPONSOR: Ultra Pet
Check out Ultra Pets' new range here: https://ultra-pet.co.za/product/premium-recipe-adult/

Connect with Dr Carra:
Website: https://drcarra.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_carra
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarra/
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital: https://hillcrestvets.co.za/

Connect with Tom Davis:
Instagram: instagram.com/tomdavis
YouTube: youtube.com/user/AmericasCanineED

Podcast Production:
This Podcast is produced by Kythe Creative and filmed onsite at Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital.
Kythe Creative: https://kythecreative.co.za/

THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:
Ultra Pet:
This episode is sponsored by Ultra Pet, who has been scientifically formulating premium pet food for over 25 years. If you want to take the guesswork out of feeding your furry friends, give Ultra Pet a try. Check them out here at www.ultra-pet.co.za

Just For Pets:
Justforpets.co.za is proud to sponsor this episode of the Paws and Effect podcast. Visit their website for all your pet needs and find everything from toys to food and much more. The team over at Just For Pets believe that every pet deserves the best care possible, and that's why we offer a wide range of products to help keep your furry friend happy and healthy - Check them out at https://www.justforpets.co.za/

FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND GUEST APPEARANCES, email us at drcarra@pawsandeffect.co.za, and we'll get in touch with you.

Don't forget to LIKE this if you found it helpful, SUBSCRIBE for more episodes and content like this.