The Pet Parent Hotline | Pet Parent Advice & Support for Overwhelmed Pet Parents
You thought a pet would be the perfect addition to your life. Instead, your bank account’s drained, your dog won’t stop barking, your cat’s peeing everywhere, and your house is such a disaster you can’t have friends over. You’ve shelled out for trainers and followed your vet’s advice, and you’re still up at 2 a.m. scrolling for answers and wondering how long you can keep trying to meet your pet’s needs while ignoring your own.
Many pet podcasts dish out advice like you’ve got endless time, money, and a perfectly behaved golden retriever straight out of a Disney movie. This one doesn’t. It’s for real pet parents who love their pets and need help managing the behavior, the budget, and the mayhem without losing their minds or giving up on their pets.
I’m your host, Amy Castro, pet industry pro, animal rescuer, and trusted advisor to thousands of pet parents who’ve been exactly where you are.
After personally fostering more than 4,000 pets and helping their pet parents go from overwhelmed to capable and confident, I’ve learned one thing: you’re not a bad pet parent; you just haven’t gotten the right advice, tailored to your real life. So, this podcast brings you pet parent education with no-fluff tools, real talk, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to help you feel seen, supported, and back in control of your life – and your pets.
Every week, I’ll answer your pet care questions and break down expert advice on everything from dog training mistakes and cat litter box problems to pet cost hacks for saving money at the vet and at the pet store on pet food and pet supplies. You'll walk away with bite-sized, doable steps that really work for your budget, your schedule, and your perfectly imperfect pets.
So you can stop chasing your tail . . . and finally, enjoy your pets and your life again.
Episodes
126 episodes
Hiring a Dog Trainer? Don’t Make These Mistakes
Are you at the end of your rope with your dog’s behavior, but not sure if it’s time to hire a professional dog trainer, or worried about picking the wrong one?You’re not alone. The dog training world can feel like the Wild West. W...
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38:54
Bringing Home a New Cat? Build Trust Fast With the CATS Method
That friendly, purring shelter cat you fell in love with can sometimes turn into a ghost or even a hissy ball of nerves the moment you get them home. It’s not rejection. It’s survival mode. And how you handle those first few days sets th...
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18:59
How I Keep My Home Fresh and Fur-Free… Even With 8 Pets
Do you feel like no matter how much you clean, your home still smells like pets and looks like a fur factory? You’re not alone!In this episode, I’m joined by Tracy Fosterling, pet foster mom and social media favorite, to break dow...
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44:18
6 Hacks to Save Money on Pet Food Without Guilt
Are you tired of feeling like you need a second job just to buy pet food? You're not alone. Prices keep climbing, and if you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle at the pet store doing mental math and wondering what bill to sk...
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19:51
Dreading the Vet Bill? 5 Ways to Afford It Without Stress
Does a single vet visit feel like it could wipe out your bank account?You're not alone and you're not doing anything wrong. Too many pet parents walk into the clinic hoping for a quick checkup and walk out hundreds of dollars poor...
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19:39
Before You Say Yes: 4 Gut Checks for Adding Another Pet
Thinking about adding another pet to your family? Before you give in to those puppy-dog eyes or kitten purrs, hit pause. Because while one more pet can be wonderful, it can also turn your home upside down if the timing or reason isn’t ri...
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14:33
Are You Rewarding Your Dog’s Bad Behavior Without Realizing It?
Feel like the more you try to fix your dog’s behavior, the worse it gets?If you’re dealing with barking, leash pulling, jumping, or flat-out ignoring commands, the problem might not be your dog: it might be what you’re accidentall...
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42:40
Benadryl, Tylenol, Pepto: What’s Safe for Your Pet?
When your dog’s limping or your cat won’t stop scratching, it’s tempting to reach into your medicine cabinet, but should you?In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. Zoo, my vet and the veterinarian for Starlight Outreac...
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41:10
Do Pets Really Need Year‑Round Flea, Tick & Heartworm Meds?
You’re staring at another $200 vet bill and wondering if skipping a month of flea, tick, or heartworm meds will really matter.Your dog barely goes outside. Your cat’s never seen a flea. And those p...
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43:37
New Here? Start With Real Pet Parenting Solutions: The Pet Parent Hotline Trailer
Think getting a pet would make life better? Instead, you’re staring at sky-high vet bills, a dog that won’t stop barking, a cat refusing the litter box, and endless late-night searches for solutions.That’s why I created The Pet Parent...
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2:07
Why You're Still Doing All the Pet Care (and How to Get Your Family to Step Up)
Ever feel like you're the only one who remembers to feed the dog, clean the litter box, or refill the water bowls? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep doing all the pet care yourself.This bonus summer episode gives you a ...
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26:39
Why the “No Kill” Movement Hurts More Than It Helps
What if the no-kill movement isn’t saving animals but failing them?It promised to end unnecessary euthanasia and revolutionize sheltering. But behind the glowing stats and feel-good slogans lies a much messier reality, one most pe...
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53:09
When Rescue Breaks You: The Cost of Saying Yes Too Much
When Saving Animals Almost Broke MeWhat happens when the thing you love the most is the very thing that pushes you past your breaking point?I found out in the middle of a hurricane—soaked, sobbing, and clinging to my...
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9:28
Heartworm Prevention Myths That Could Cost Your Pet’s Life
Heartworm Truths Every Pet Owner Needs to Hear with Dr. ZooThink skipping heartworm prevention just this once is no big deal? It only takes one mosquito bite to change your pet’s life forever.Heartworm disease is slow, pain...
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37:24
Turn Pet Hunger Into Hope for Families in Need
What if feeding your pet meant you had to skip dinner yourself?For thousands of families, that’s not a hypothetical—it’s a heartbreaking daily decision. And when the bills pile up, surrendering a beloved pet can feel like the only...
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45:31
Still Feeling Guilty After Losing a Pet? Here’s Why
Did I wait too long? Did I do the right thing? What if I failed them? If you’ve lost a beloved pet, you’ve probably asked yourself these same painful questions. Grief is hard enough, but guilt can make healing feel impossible. I’...
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53:13
Are Hairballs Normal? What Most Cat Parents Get Wrong
Think hairballs are just a normal part of life with cats? Think again. If your cat is coughing up hairballs weekly or even monthly, it’s not just gross—it’s a red flag. Frequent hairballs can point to stress, food allergies, digestiv...
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34:55
Make Your Pet Happier by Meeting Their Real Needs
Is calling your pet your “fur baby” harmless fun or actually harmful to your pet’s well-being? If you’ve ever wondered whether treating your pet like a child is helping or hurting them, you’re not alone. The truth is, humanizing pets...
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43:23
Thinking About Getting a Dog? Listen to This First
Thinking about getting a dog? Hold that thought. Too many rescue dog adoptions fail because people fall for a face or a story without understanding what they’re signing up for. Choosing the wrong dog, whether it's a rescue dog or not...
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49:50
Is Your Dog Getting Too Much Exercise or Not Enough?
Is your dog getting the right amount of exercise, or are they overdoing it without you realizing? Whether your pup is high-energy, low-key, or somewhere in between, knowing how to safely meet their physical needs is crucial to keepin...
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39:38
Want Goats? What You Need to Know Before You Regret It
Thinking about getting goats? Don’t let Instagram fool you. Goat ownership isn’t just cute photos and fresh milk. It’s daily work, specific care, and a long-term commitment that catches a lot of new owners off guard. In this epis...
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50:50
Pet Emergencies Happen Fast. Will You Know What to Do?
Would you know how to save your pet if they started choking or collapsed from heatstroke? Pet emergencies can happen in seconds, and knowing what to do could be the difference between life and death. Most pet parents aren’t prepared—...
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40:50
Traveling With Cats? Here’s How to Make It Stress-Free
Worried your cat will freak out in the car? You’re not alone. Whether you’re planning a move or just need to get your cat to the vet without a meltdown, cat travel can feel overwhelming. But with the right preparation, it doesn’t hav...
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57:28
From the Vault: Pet Vaccination 101: Expert Insights from Dr. Jeff Grognet
Bonus Episode From the Vault: The #1 Most Downloaded Episode of 2024!While we’re on a break until Feb 4, we’re bringing back one of your all-time favorite episodes from 2024!In this episode, holistic veterinarian Dr. Jeff G...
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41:31
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From the Vault: Solve the Five Biggest Dog Behavior Problems with Expert Trainer Ruth Hegarty
Bonus Episode From the Vault: The #2 Most Downloaded Episode of 2024!While we’re on a break until Feb 4, we’re bringing back one of your all-time favorite episodes of 2024 from the vault!This episode focuses on addressing the ...
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54:23
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