🐾 Ever been told, “You’re just imagining it” when you feel like something’s not quite right with your pet? Well, I recently faced that with my own cat, Chewie. 🐱
A few subtle changes caught my eye—he’s lost a bit of weight despite being on the same diet, his once-shiny coat is looking a little less glossy, and he’s had some unusual eating patterns. Little things, maybe, but they didn’t sit right with me.
As you probably remember, we had a recent trip to Harmony Animal Hospital for labwork. 🩺 His blood work and urinalysis came back mostly normal, but a couple of “yellow flags” popped up. His thyroid levels are creeping up, and there’s a bit of protein in his urine. Nothing alarming yet, but he’s at an age where hyperthyroidism could become a real concern.
So, what’s next? No immediate treatment for now, but we’ll check back every six months to keep an eye on things and catch any issues early. 🔍
Bottom line: if your instincts tell you something’s off with your pet, trust them! You know them best. Getting tests done isn’t overreacting—it’s about being proactive and giving your pet the best care possible. 🐾❤️
#cathealthtips #behaviorismedicine #cathyperthyroidism
🦴🐱 Does your furry friend struggle with anxiety, fear, or phobias? Let’s talk about two popular options: gabapentin and pregabalin. 💊🧘♂️
Both are used to ease anxiety and provide pain relief in pets and humans alike. But what’s the difference? 🤔 Gabapentin is the OG, while pregabalin is its newer cousin. This doesn’t mean one is better, just that they’re different generations of the same drug family.
📝 Key points to consider:
Both help with anxiety and pain, but not by acting directly on GABA.
Common side effects: sedation 💤, wobbly walking 🚶, and increased appetite 🍽️.
Gabapentin is typically taken 3x daily ⏱️, pregabalin 2x.
Pet health (kidney, liver) and dosage timing 🕒 matter!
Both meds can be given with meals 🍖.
Pregabalin is controlled (🪪 DEA license required), while gabapentin is easier to get.
⚠️ Watch your pet closely for any mood changes. And if your vet isn’t familiar or you need extra help, reach out to a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist. 🌐💻 Many offer telehealth options, so care is just a call or Zoom away!
Link to watch: https://youtu.be/zZMY9SjtAv4 Also in comments.
#VeterinaryBehavior #behaviorismedicine #DogAnxiety #catanxiety #veterinarian #veterinarytechnician #DogNoisePhobia
👩⚕️ Back in scrubs today! A little strange at first, but also pretty awesome. Spent the day shadowing my friend, Dr. Zafiris, the head of the emergency department at Access Specialty and Emergency Hospital here in West Palm Beach.
I loved my visit to Access. They have basket muzzles in all sizes for all face shapes instead of just the nylon and leather ones. There are Fear Free body language and restraint posters in the ICU. The culture here is great and of course...kittens!
Big thanks to Access and Dr. Zafiris for a fantastic day. 🌟
#veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #veterinarytechnician
🐈⬛ Today was the big day--Chewie's long awaited visit for bloodwork and urinalysis.
🐈⬛ Unfortunately, he didn't take the Bonquat near as easily on this day as he did for the test dose. No matter how I tried-food, bowl, location-he was not going to eat that medication.
🐈⬛ Finally, I just squirted it in his mouth and waited two hours. Either he didn't get enough of the medication or he was onto me and he fought the medication neurochemically. Either way, he was not near as calm as he was for the test dose. Most cat pet parents have been through this in one way or another.
🐈⬛ I was committed to walking away with no testing done if he got too stressed.
🐈⬛ Dr. Clines and his team-Anne, Christin and Angie agreed to all of my requests-staying in the car until the time of the appointment, letting me stay with him for all tests, bringing the test to him if possible and using low stress restraint. We got the bloodwork and urinalysis done! Yea. Good thing because he needed it. More on that later.
🐈⬛ Next time, I will give a bit more and give the Bonquat 3 hours prior to the appointment.
#fearfree #fearfreevet #fearfreevetvisit
Harmony Animal Hospital
When was the last time your pet had a urinalysis?
🐾 You have heard me again and again talk about the importance of a good work up on your pet especially if they have behavior problems. In my experience, pet parents most often overlook the urinalysis. They associate it with infection screening but it is so much more important than that.
A urinalysis can give us *essential* insights into your pet’s health! 🩺
A urinalysis doesn’t just check for infections—it also tells us how well your pet's kidneys are working, if there’s protein in the urine (there shouldn’t be!), and if glucose or ketones are present, which could indicate diabetes. It even checks for crystals, which could mean bladder stones 🐶💧.
The best time to catch your pet’s urine is in the morning 🌅. Keep it cool in the fridge and bring it to your vet during their visit. Running it alongside blood work gives the most complete picture of your pet’s health.
Remember, skipping this test means you could miss vital information. So, if your pet hasn’t had a urinalysis in the past year, now’s the time to ask your vet about it! 😊
#petparent #petparents #behaviorismedicine #doganxiety #catanxiety
Pregabalin/Gabapentin post #4
🐾 Pregabalin and gabapentin are mostly used in pets for acute fears, anxieties and phobias.
They can help ease those moments when your pet is afraid of storms ⛈️, vet visits 🏥, or traveling 🚗. These medications work fast—usually within 1.5 hours—and their effects last 8 hours for gabapentin and 12 hours for pregabalin ⏳.
Every pet is different! While some may respond better to pregabalin, others might do well with gabapentin. Your vet will work with you to find the best fit based on what your pet can tolerate and how often the meds need to be given. Both options are widely used in veterinary medicine and are very safe 💊.
Talk to your veterinarian about whether pregabalin or gabapentin might be right for your pet, and make the choice together 🤝🐶.
#veterinarybehaviormedicine #veterinarian #behaviorismedicine #doganxiety #catanxiety
Post #3 Gabapentin/Pregabalin
When your pet is prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin, the effects change based on the dosage. That means, if your veterinarian adjusts the dose, you'll likely see a difference in how your pet responds 🐾.
Both medications have similar side effects, like mild gastrointestinal upset or sedation 😴. The sedation is usually the most noticeable, but here’s the good news: it’s temporary! Gabapentin’s sedation wears off in about 8 hours, and pregabalin in about 12 hours ⏳.
If your pet is doing well on one of these meds but the sedation seems too much, your vet can adjust the dose to help keep them comfortable without the drowsiness 🐶💤.
#doganxiety #catanxiety #behaviorismedicine #veterinarian #veterinarymedicine
I'm Coming Back!!
It may be January before I am back in the clinic seeing cases. I am actively working on getting back to see you all in person!
Pet parents have said that they need help and vets said that there was too much friction with the current system.
So, there is now one link for everyone, new clients, vets, and previous clients of FVBS.
https://tidycal.com/drlisaradosta
Federal and State laws dictate how veterinarians can practice medicine so there are some things that will feel different so that we can follow those laws:
If your pet hasn't seen Dr. Radosta in the past 12 months in person, your pet's plan will be sent to your veterinarian and they will send it to you and if they feel comfortable, prescribe for your pet.
I cannot prescribe for your pet if I haven't seen them in the past 12 months. It isn't legal so please don't ask me to do it.
If I haven't seen your pet in person in the past 12 months, I can legally offer 2 weeks of follow up. Follow up after that must go through your veterinarian.
Even though you may feel that your pet needs a 15 minute appointment, follow the guidelines at the link as to the length of the appointment that your pet needs. If you aren't sure which appointment your pet needs, reach out by email and I can help you figure it out.
#veterinarian #veterinarytechnician #behaviorismedicine #veterinarymedicine
One of the most common and repeated questions that I get in the exam room is...WHY???!!! 🤔
No matter how many times I explain all the factors, people still ask again at the next appointment.
The thing is that behavior problems FEEL different. Basically, there are lots of FEELS surrounding the behavior of our pets. It’s easy to feel guilty especially when the neighbors, your friends and even your own family is blaming you—but the truth is, it's more complicated than that.
From your pet’s genetics 🧬 and health 🩺 to the environment around them 🏠, there are so many factors at play. And yes, even the way you interact with them can shift the balance between calm and chaos. 🐶🐱
If you've ever thought, "Why does my pet do this?" you’re not alone—and the answer isn’t always as clear as we want it to be. The good news? You can make changes that will help your pet feel more relaxed and confident, even if the reasons behind the behavior remain a mystery.
It's time to stop overthinking and start focusing on what can make a difference. ❤️
Watch full video here: https://youtu.be/wicpzchUgW8
Link also in comments...
#dogbehavior #dogbehaviorist #dogbehaviorproblems #catbehavior #catbehaviorist #catbehaviorhelp #behaviorismedicine
🎉 Big news and a huge accomplishment to celebrate! 🎉
Dr. Alison Gerken passed her board exam and is now officially a Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist! 🙌
It’s no small feat, but we always knew she’d crush it on her first try. 💪✨
Dr. Gerken has worked hard to earn her place as a veterinary behavior specialist, and we couldn’t be more proud! This achievement is a testament to her dedication, knowledge, and passion for helping animals. 🐶🐱
Join us in congratulating her on this amazing milestone. Welcome to the club, Dr. Gerken! 🎉🎊 You deserve all the applause! 👏
#veterinarybehaviorist #behaviorismedicine #veterinarian #veterinarybehavior
When I brought my daughter home, I already had my Rottweiler, Peanut. 🐾 Peanut had a very small social group (like 5 people) but had a history of being aggressive toward all other adults and other dogs, so I knew she wasn’t going to be safe around children.
It can be tough when we feel like our dog’s behavior is a reflection of us. But the truth is, your dog’s fear or aggression is most likely due to things beyond your control, like genetics or past trauma. It doesn’t define you as a pet parent. 💛
What *does* reflect on you is the decision to prioritize safety and give your dog the best life possible, even if that means managing their environment. For Peanut, it meant keeping her separated from my child 100% of the time and ensuring she had an enriching, happy life. And guess what? Both Peanut and my daughter thrived. 😊
Monica Crowley shares how she is doing the same with her dog Moki now. She has her own safe space, gets plenty of walks and enrichment, and still lives a great life. 🏡 Sometimes, that means she has to be separated from the family, but Monica makes sure she’s happy and fulfilled before that happens. It’s just about doing the best we can with the reality we have.
At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure everyone is safe, happy, and loved. That’s what matters most. 🌟
#kidsanddogs #kidanddogsafety #veterinarybehaviorist
Let’s talk about two medications that can make a big difference for our pets: pregabalin and gabapentin. 🐾
While they’re both used to help reduce stress, they work a little differently in terms of dosing. Gabapentin is typically given every 8 hours, but sometimes we might need to give it every 6 or even 4 hours, depending on the case. Pregabalin, however, is a bit more straightforward and is usually dosed every 12 hours. ⏰
Interesting fact: Pregabalin has been approved for use in cats under the brand name Bonqat by Zoetis! 🐱 While gabapentin isn't officially approved for dogs or cats, vets have been using it successfully for decades. 📚
Research on both medications has picked up in the past few years, especially when it comes to cats. And let’s face it, cats often get pretty stressed about going to the vet! 🏥
These medications have shown promise in reducing stress, making travel easier, and helping cats stay calmer during vet exams.
I will be posting more about these drugs in the coming weeks. #fearfreevet #fearfreevetvisit #doganxiety #doganxietyhelp
