The Mella Moment Pet Health Podcast

Natalie Ball from Bark Balls joins us to talk about the inspiration behind this up-cycled tennis ball company, how Natalie is helping environmental and community initiatives, and of course, how this can help your furry friend!

Gone are the days of choosing the closest veterinarian! Dr. Bonnie Bragdon joins us to talk about finding the right veterinarian for your pet, why vet care is so expensive, what you can do to alleviate some of those costs and what future predictions are saying about vet care. 

Jessica Williams, a pet-focused content strategist and blogging coach, joins us to talk about dachshund health. If you want to dive into dachshund-specific tips (even if you don’t have one!), listen to Jessica’s discussion about stereotypes, health concerns, and hiking tips! You'll learn so much about small dog breeds and all that they can accomplish. Read her blog here: https://youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com/

Dr. Jessica Allen - an emergency veterinarian - joins us to talk about keeping your pet safe and happy during the summer. We discuss heatstroke, water danger, creepy crawlies, and how to avoid potential risks this season!

Dr. Rachel Siu - a small animal and exotic veterinarian - joins us to talk about how to take care of ferrets! If you are thinking of bringing a ferret into your life, or just want to learn more about the furry friends, listen to Dr. Rachel’s tips and tricks.

Dr. Addie Reinhard from MentorVet joins us to discuss the immense amount of stress and burnout present in the veterinary industry and how you as a pet parent can be a star client and help your veterinarian out. Plus, we talk about the amazing work that MentorVet is doing to support vets! 

Dr. Stevie Aitken - an emergency veterinarian - joins us to talk about common pet emergencies, how to prevent them, when to go to the vet, and so much more. Listen to Stevie's tips to make sure that your pet stays happy, healthy, and safe! 

Hector Ocasio from Pet Connect Business joins us to talk about the importance of small-market pet care businesses connecting with Millennial and Gen Z pet parents. Improving how they engage with these clients not only increases small business economics but saves pet lives.

Dennis Chmiel from ClueJay joins us to discuss the future of pet wellness and illness diagnostics and how you, as a pet parent, can help your pet from the comfort of your own home before even going to the vet.

Michael Caldwell, the founder and CEO of Petworks, joins us to discuss his connected platform for all pet cares that serves to unite pet parents with pet pros in just about every category you can think of.

Wendie Patrick - from Dogs of Pride and Finnessiam Health - joins us to talk about her network of purveyors of professional products for pampered pets and their people that does a whole lot to support pet health from the creation of safe products to education about pet grooming and safe practice.

Dr. Joana Babo from Maven joins us to discuss her company that provides you with a personal vet to track your pet’s safety and health 24/7, including location alerts and early-stage illness detection.

Janet Marlow, the founder of Pet Acoustics, joins us to discuss her company that uses both passion and science to create a revolutionary product that provides ideal sonic conditions — a natural and profound method that minimizes stress for health, which is clinically proven and repeatable.

Seda Bolulu the founder of PackHire, joins us to talk about her company: an employment recruiting service and search engine specific to the pet industry. Listen to Seda's tips and advice if you're interested in finding a job and joining us in this wonderful industry.

Seda says:

“Today, over 65% of US households own pets.”

“There’s been a 300% increase in how much we spend on our pets today than 20 years ago.”

“As of 2018, there were just about 2 million jobs in the pet industry.”

“Nowadays, pet parents are really looking for affordable health care that they can also control in their home.”

Dr. Barr Hadar and Dr. Ken Lambrecht join us to talk about a weight loss research project with cats in private homes, evaluating technology, and bringing these ideas forward to create Healthy Pet Connect - a company that connects your pets’ home health data to your veterinarian to prevent problems.

Dr. Barr says:

“The idea with the study was how can we leverage technology as a tool to increase our effectiveness of weight-loss strategies.”

“It [pet health and wellness]  means longer years of quality, healthy life for our pets.”


Dr. Ken says:

“I think it [weight management practices] starts with veterinarians doing it with their own pets.”

“I think we need to find a better way to deliver veterinary medicine.”

Dave Comiskey, the entrepreneur in residence of Purina’s Pet Care Innovation Prize, joins us to talk about the pretty self-describing award. If you are a pet entrepreneur - or a budding one -  and are interested in opportunities in the industry, take a listen! 

Dave says:

“That’s what really shapes these pet entrepreneurs - they always start with a love of their own pets.”

“There’s just a massive opportunity to take what is this loosely knit ecosystem and bring it all together and make the totality of pet tech truly an ecosystem.”

“Pet health and wellness to me, today, means improving the life of my dog, and the dogs around me, and all of the other dogs out there.”

Sam Schopler from PetDesk joins us to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of bringing technology into the pet industry for pets, pet parents, and vets alike. 

Sam says:

“The shift that we’re feeling now is a transition from a place where veterinarians were the sacred truth for pet health, to now needing to be more facilitators of information and the appropriate dispersal of that information to pet owners.”

“The amount of information that we’re compiling in terms of veterinary medicine is growing exponentially.”

“The idea that we’re [veterinarians] going to be the shepherds of every single piece of information is a concept that is fading quickly.”

“We need to make sure that the pets are always at the focus of benefit for this new wave of technology and that the pet care providers are having an easy experience as well.”

Lizz Whitacre, the founder and CEO of Pawlytics, joins us to talk about her cloud-based software for animal shelters and rescues who want to save more animals and love their database while doing it - and how technology is impacting the future of this industry! 

Lizz says:

“What an electronic health record is, is basically this digital record that includes every medical event that has happened to an animal dating back to when we started capturing information on that pet.”

“The main value that animal shelters need from software is to maximize the human capital that they have.”

“The animals are just going to get better care because they have that full record with them.”

“That’s a conversation that the Mella team and I have been working on - how do we make data transferability more streamlined from database to database?”

“Pet health and wellness really comes down to the idea of being able to give animals truly the individualized care they need.”

Dr. Lauren Pagliughi joins us to talk about sustainability, the steps you can take to reduce waste in your daily life, and how to help the planet out. If it seems like a daunting task to you, listen further, and you’ll see that there are easy tasks for both vets and pet parents!

Dr. Lauren says:

“Whether you’re a veterinarian, or you are the owner of Mella, or you are a teacher, whoever you are or whatever your job is, you have the choice every day to do something better.”

“The majority of the best ways to give to your pets do not entail buying them lots of stuff.”

“The consumer has a loud voice, and if they can use that voice for the right reasons, they can really make a difference.”

“Pet health and wellness is a mindset - it’s the way that you’re living your life.” “It’s not just one thing, it’s everything.”

Luisa Ruge, an animal center designer who is passionate about animals, joins us to talk about the future of art, animal's place in society, and how she can improve their wellbeing as a designer. 

Luisa says:

“As a designer, you do have a responsibility to be very purposeful in how you use design to change the world.”

“It [Animal Centered Design] is a more focused approach to considering the animal as a legitimate user of products and services, which they are, and designing based upon that.”

“The Animal Centered Design approach raises awareness and contextualizes how our interactions with animals happen.”

“Our vision was to increase dogs’ wellbeing by empowering pet partners to make better decisions on their behalf throughout their lives.”

Dr. Elisa McAfee, a veterinarian at California Animal Rehabilitation, joins us to talk about the benefits of acupuncture for your pet - and why it's such a breeze! 

Dr. Elisa says:

“A lot of acupuncture points are located near nerve bundles, so by modulating those nerves by placing needles next to them, you can affect the nervous system.”

“I think pet health and wellness is really doing everything that we can...to keep animals happy.”

“Doing things that help animals in both their physical health and emotional health.”

Ryan Schoop joins us to talk about his company Bully Bundles which takes chemical-free, 100% all-natural, low odor dog treat sticks and delivers them to your doorstep every month.

Ryan says:

“A bully stick is a hard, dehydrated beef chew that dogs go crazy for.”

“It’s a great treat to keep your dog busy when you’re busy.”

“For me, it’s [pet health and wellness] about keeping them [dogs] healthy and keeping them happy.”

Lorien Clemens joins us to discuss PetHub, a modern pet identification that links your tag to a free and secure pet profile and ensures that your best friend is always by your side.

Lorien says:

“96% of pets that are recovered with a PetHub ID tag are home in 24 hours or less, and less than 2% of those pets ever hit a shelter door.”

“We recommend that at the very least pet parents also have an ID tag that has their contact information on it - it should be a digital ID tag.”

“52% of microchips are actually out of date, and that’s according to the microchip industry.”

“If we’re really sharing all this incredible data and incredible technology, it means longer, healthier, and less stressful lives for our pets.”

Julie Hill, a fellow podcaster and host of DogCast radio, joins us to talk about training your dog, how to stay active during the pandemic, and other tips from dog parent to dog parent to help your four-legged friend live their fullest and happiest life.

Julie says:

“If you reward the behavior that you want, they’ll keep trying.”

“We want to keep our companion animals happy - that’s why we have them, they keep us happy.”

“Giving your dog the stimulation they need - making life fun and interesting.”

“They [dogs] have the right to say no.”

Carol Novello, the founder of Mutual Rescue™ and author of “Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too” joins us to talk about Mutual Rescue, a national initiative that highlights the connection between people and pets in order to inspire and support life-saving efforts in communities across the nation and world. 

Carol says:

“A lot of people don’t really understand just how transformative it is to welcome a rescue animal into your life.”

“Changing perceptions from ‘people or animals’ to ‘people and animals'.”

“Pet health and wellness is about health and wellness for pets and people, and I think it’s about connection - the bond we generate with our pets.”

Michael Bevis from KoolSkinz Pet Performance Wear joins us to talk about his innovative company whose first product is a patented vest that helps keep your dog warm in the winter & kool during the summer.

Michael says:

“Our mission as an organization is to educate pet owners on how to treat their animals better.”

“Heat is absolutely crucial to monitor and measure, especially in a dog.”

“I really love companies that make it easy and convenient for pet owners to monitor and regulate the health of their animals.”

Kelly Bauer joins us to talk about the importance of pets and mental health. Special thanks to Lisa Wirth, who was on the podcast earlier to discuss a similar topic, but given that it is incredibly relevant and we wish to help destroy the stigma surrounding it, we are excited to continue this conversation with Kelly.

Kelly says:

“As we know in the animal welfare world, legislation is incredibly important - how we maintain laws and proper treatment of animals.”

“Approximately 3,000 more steps a day are taken by someone who owns a dog or walks a dog.”

“There is absolutely a direct correlation between owning an animal and taking care of one and your mental and physical health.”

“When you take on ownership of an animal, you are creating a sense of purpose for yourself.”

Dr. Simuel Hampton from Guardian Mobile Veterinary Services joins us to talk about the nuances of an on-the-go pet health business seeking to bring care right to your doorstep. 

Dr. Simuel says:

“I think we’re going to see a big expansion in the types of care that people can get.”

“Pet health and wellness to me just means ensuring that every animal has a home, and every animal has access to basic care.”

Dr. Joy Fuhrman from Harmony Holistic Veterinary Care - a unique practice that provides an integrative system of Eastern and Western medicine techniques - joins us to talk about veterinary practice management advice.

Dr. Joy says:

“The biggest challenge of managing a veterinary practice, and certainly any business, is the staffing, recruiting, training, and retaining of high-quality, dependable staff.”

“If you have that growth mindset, you can accomplish anything that you wish.”

“As the industry evolves, it’ll become a lot more specialized to meet the demands of clients.”

“The meaning of pet wellness is treating them as if they were part of our family.”

Lynn and Gideon Marks join us to talk about their new app DogLog, which helps pet parents track and analyze their dog’s activities, eating habits, vet appointments, and much more.

Lynn and Gideon say:

“We know how important it is to really keep them as healthy as possible, and to make sure that their behavior isn’t changing.”

“Bringing pet ownership into the digital age.”

“Our mission is really to make pet ownership easier while making pets live longer and healthier.”

“We want to use the data to help pets live healthier lives.”

Emily Dong from Snout ID joins us to talk about her new digital, touchless check-in system that implements safe and efficient curbside operations for your veterinary practice.

Emily says:

“Our mission is, in simplest terms, to make the vet less scary.”

“Pet health and wellness just means being able to make that decision for your pet - whatever’s best for them.”

Peter Weinstein, the executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, joins us to discuss dental health in pets, a topic that is often overlooked!

Dr. Peter says:

“If you have a puppy or kitten, start young, getting them comfortable having your fingers in their mouth.”

“80% of the pets over the age of three have some level of dental disease.”

“Please work with your veterinarian to identify the most appropriate products based upon the size, the age, and the severity of the dental disease that your pet is having.”

“Pet health and wellness means appropriately taking care of your pets, being a responsible pet owner. Doing everything you can to give your pet a long, healthy, happy, pain-free life.”

Dr. Cat Angle joins us to discuss the future of the veterinary industry and the ways in which we are moving towards a more virtual, telehealth-based pet healthcare system. 

Dr. Cat says:

“Telehealth allows us to get all the information in front of the veterinarian before they reach back to the owner.”

“I think that the process is getting easier, so that everything is more streamlined, and that makes it easier for veterinary clinics to adopt.”

“There’s a very different thing to understanding and feeling helpless - petcare is a wonderful opportunity for us to be empowered.”

Dr. Marty Becker, known as “America’s Veterinarian”, joins us to talk about what it means to be Fear Free and how to implement these safe practices in your veterinary clinic.

Dr. Marty says:

“Fear free - no fear would be the best thing.”

“It [Fear Free] was born in an instant, took five years to develop, and was an overnight success.”

“I think you’ve got a really good company...and I really appreciate the fact...that what you’re doing is [about] both health and emotional well-being.”

Shawn Wilkie, the CEO of Talkatoo and the co-host of the Veterinary Innovation Podcast, joins us to talk about (not surprisingly) innovation in the veterinary industry!

Shawn says:

“Talkatoo - we are a dictation company for medical professionals, so if you spend a lot of time doing medical records you’ll love our software.”

“We wanted to reimagine the way voice recognition worked for people in the animal health industry.”

“We want to just let the industry grow and mature through the dissemination of information.”

“I think artificial intelligence is going to play a big role in every different sector and every different industry, but it’s already starting to weasel its way into veterinary medicine.”

“If we adopt the right technology, it can save animals’ lives.”

Dr. RuthAnn Lobos from Merrick Pet Care joins us to talk about how physical rehabilitation is evolving and necessary for all of our pets, regardless of the state of their health.

Dr. RuthAnn says:

“It’s [physical rehabilitation for pets] an area of veterinary medicine that has been growing over the last ten years.”

“It [physical rehabilitation] can be used in all phases of life from puppyhood all the way through seniors."

Rachel Herman, the founder and executive director of Pets Are Wonderful Support (also known as PAWS NY), joins us to talk about how the organization seeks to help NYC’s most vulnerable residents remain with their pets by delivering critical programs and services through a community of partners and volunteers. 

Rachel says:

“We really try to provide a well-rounded, comprehensive approach to eliminating the barriers that our clients are facing in providing day-to-day care for their animal companions.”

“Our goal as an organization is to make sure that those critical and important relationships can be maintained for as long as possible.”

“My definition of pet health and wellness is making sure that that animal can be at home with the person that loves them in a safe and healthy environment.”

“For me, it’s all about making sure that the humans have everything they need to make sure that their pets can be loved in the comfort of their home.”

Dan Schachner, the referee of the Puppy Bowl (the dog equivalent of the Super Bowl), joins us to discuss their mission to raise awareness of pet adoption and showcase the vital work of shelters and rescues, with an 100% adoption rate.

Dan says:

“It’s my job to keep order and to basically be their spokesperson because these dogs don’t have a voice.”

“According to experts, visual identification is only right about 25% of the time when trying to ID a dog.”

“I think that pet health is essential because now pets are more a part of our family than ever before.”

“We help them, but they help us probably more than we help them.”
 

Dr. Ashley Assémat joins us to discuss the changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought upon the veterinary industry and what the future has in store for pet parents and vets alike.

Dr. Ashley says:

“I love a good [pet parent] note - it helps us stay on track and ensure we address all of your concerns. That’s probably my number one tip.”

“Be open and up front with us - let us know what your pet does [behaviorally].”

Dr. Vernard Hodges, one-half of the Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital in Georgia, joins us to talk about how he is the star of his hospital’s very own TV show on Nat Geo Wild.

Dr. Vernard says:

“What makes us unique is it’s like a family. What you get is the energy, the laughs, the smiles.”

“If you got this pet, I don’t care what it is, we’ll treat it. If you got a camel, bring it. If you got a spider, bring it. If you got a mole…”

“Technology, and those things, are helping medicine become better.”

Daniella from Mella Pet Care is joined by Jessica Schleder, the CEO and founder of Adoptimize, an animal shelter technology that automates great pet photos to increase adoptions.

Jessica says:

“Adoptimize - an animal shelter technology that automates great pet photos to increase adoption rates.”

“A world shifting towards virtual interactions is aiming to change the way we actually adopt our pets.”

“We’re pioneering a new type of paid ad pet adoption listing that matches the right type of available pet with people in the channels they’re already on.”

Rachel Sheppard joins us to talk about senior dog care and shout out the unique traits of her two fur-babies: Newfoundlands and Corgis.

Rachel says:

“They’re [senior dogs] so well trained - there’s not a whole lot you have to do.”

“They love routine, so they’re amazing for people who work a lot.”

“I can’t recommend senior dogs enough if you’re adopting.”

“Keeping up with your vet visits is super huge and just knowing your dog.”

Debbie Boone, a veterinary consultant with 23 years of experience as a certified veterinary practice manager, joins us to talk about how she believes our Mella thermometer will positively impact vet workspaces.

Debbie says:

“When we make the pet happy, we make the client happy.”

“Anything that we can do to make the experience more comfortable for the pet actually makes it more comfortable for the client.”

“Mella has provided us a tool. We can take these temperatures without having to do anything that’s negative.”

“This [Mella Axillary Thermometer], to me, is such a game-changer.”

Tom Van Winkle, the executive director of the Hinsdale Humane Society, joins us to discuss his shelter, that is dedicated to transforming the way animal shelters operate.

Tom says:

“What really makes us unique is how we view ourselves in the whole animal welfare dynamic - we look at ourselves as part of a bigger organism.”

“We want our shelter to be a destination spot, whether you’re looking to adopt or not.”

“We’re trying to become part of the community, we’re trying to give back, and we’re trying to welcome the community in to see what we have to offer.”

“A normal family can, on a normal means of income, still actually take better care of their pet.”

Dr. Ross Bernstein joins us to debunk common myths about pet health.

Dr. Ross says:

“Preventative medicine is always something that’s really important.”

“Dental care is very important for our pets, just like you and I.”

“Keep your eye out on signs that they might be sick, such as vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, and some other things.”

“A lot of aggression can come from the way that the dog was raised, their environment, if they were neglected or abused as a puppy, the way that they were growing up, and it can be trained out of them.”

Eliza Burr, the founder of Preferred Pet Partners, joins us to discuss her team that provides stress-free care for pets at home when their parents are away.

Eliza says:

“Preferred Pet Partners is a small team of dedicated pet care specialists, and we do in client's home pet-sitting and dog-walking.”

“We really do consider ourselves partners with our clients in their pet’s health. We work very closely with them to figure out what’s normal for their pet and what’s not.”

Emily T Gail, the founder of Say Nice Things About Detroit, joins us to talk about her movement which spreads positivity about the city, and now, is invested in her journey towards understanding pet health.

Emily says:

“I didn’t ever think about how much we can take upon ourselves as pet parents.”

“There can be more kindness in pet care.”

“You’re [Mella Pet Care] leading all of us pet owners into being more caring about our pets.”

Lisa Wirth, a behavioral health social worker (and the proud parent of Bruder the Happy Hound!) joins us to discuss how pets have a wonderfully beneficial impact on our mental health.

Lisa says:

“They [pets] can provide that extra companionship – someone to just be there and to be around.”

“Animals are great because they force us to have to take care of something. It forces us to do some caring, which hopefully transitions to us taking care of ourselves.”

“I’m a behavioral health social worker, and I have seen the great benefits that having a pet can have for many of the patients that I’ve worked with over the years.”

“I think it’s really important to keep in mind if you’re going to get a pet that it fits in with your lifestyle.”

Dr. Mira Tabet, the proud owner of the Dr. Paw Veterinary Clinic in Lebanon, joins us to discuss the responsibilities and commitments of being a new pet parent.

Dr. Mira says:

“The most important thing that I would ask people just before getting any pet is if they can actually commit. Commitment, financial commitment, and patience.”

“I think that there are so many dogs and cats that need homes, so I’m always advocating for them and adoption.”

“I have so many clients of mine that adore saving senior dogs, especially those that have been abandoned because the look of gratitude that you get from a senior dog is priceless.”

“We do our best, but it’s not always easy. We have found pretty amazing homes for lots of dogs and cats.”

Tennille Teague, the founder of JUST FRED, joins us to talk about an emerging dog accessories brand from Brooklyn that sits (+ stays) in the intersection of freedom and alternative self-expression.

Tennille says:

“We are a cruelty-free pet accessories brand that really focuses on helping the underdogs.”

“Our focus is on inclusion and community - almost like a rebellious creative spirit that we’re trying to harness.”

“There is this really special way that we live with our dogs these days, and it’s evolving more and more, that Just Fred encompasses.”