The Dr. Molly Says Podcast

How To Help Your Dog or Cat Lose Weight with Dr. Molly Brinkman

This week on Dr. Molly Says… it’s just us!!! New season, new podcast setup, new vet clinic building (!!)… and an uncomfortable conversation we probably need to have about pet obesity. Because… statistically? A LOT of our dogs and cats are overweight. And before you get defensive — hear me out. This isn’t about aesthetics. We’re talking about real health consequences, chronic disease, arthritis, diabetes, mobility loss, and yes… shorter lifespans. We’re breaking down how veterinarians actually evaluate weight (hello body condition score), why so many pets gain weight without owners realizing it, and some hot takes about treats, free feeding, “active lifestyles,” and why your dog maybe doesn’t need a snack every time they pee. We also get into: * How to tell if your dog or cat is actually overweight * Why body condition score matters more than the number on the scale * The surprising diseases linked to obesity in dogs and cats * Why labs, beagles, and indoor cats can be especially prone to weight gain * Free feeding vs meal feeding (yes… we’re doing this debate) * Why treat calories count WAY more than you think * How spay/neuter changes metabolism * The real math behind feeding recommendations * Weight loss strategies that actually work in real life PLUS: we discuss Solo cup measurements pretending to be “one cup,” chunky cat culture, why your veterinarian is not trying to offend you, and my slightly controversial opinion about potty treats. LOVE YOU GUYS 💛 Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back! Season 2, podcast updates & the new clinic build 00:02:45 Why pet obesity is uncomfortable to talk about 00:04:00 Hot take: your dog doesn’t need a potty treat forever 00:05:00 The shocking number of overweight pets in the U.S. 00:06:00 Why weight matters beyond “looking chunky” 00:07:00 Body Condition Score explained (4–5/9 is the goal) 00:09:00 How to actually tell if your pet is overweight 00:13:00 Diseases linked to obesity in cats 00:15:00 Arthritis, mobility & obesity in dogs 00:17:00 How pets become overweight in the first place 00:18:00 Labs, beagles & genetics of appetite 00:19:00 Why your pet probably isn’t as “active” as you think 00:20:00 Feeding guides vs actual calorie calculations 00:21:00 Free feeding vs meal feeding debate 00:23:00 Treat calories add up FAST 00:26:00 Spay/neuter, hormones & metabolism changes 00:28:00 Helping pets lose weight realistically 00:30:00 Measuring food correctly (the Solo cup problem 💀) 00:32:00 Treat rules, exercise & muscle mass 00:34:00 When weight loss isn’t working: thyroid & medical causes 00:35:00 Multi-pet household struggles 00:36:00 Exercise ideas for indoor cats 00:38:00 Why vets keep bringing up weight (even when owners hate hearing it) 00:39:00 Fresh food, calorie density & marketing myths 00:42:00 Weight loss diets, supplements & final thoughts 00:43:00 Outro --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple: https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod [https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod]  https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1]  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028] --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Dr. Molly: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays [https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays/] TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays [https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays] Follow the podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/] TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod [https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod]

Inside Emergency Vet Medicine with a Veterinary Nurse with Ashley Farmer

This week on Dr. Molly Says (and on round 2 of my world tour LOL), we’re coming to you LIVE from Vegas with veterinary nurse and chaos coordinator extraordinaire, Ashley Farmer (aka @ashleythevetnurse 💛). Ashley and I are diving into the world of veterinary technicians, emergency medicine, and what actually happens behind the scenes at your vet clinic… because trust me, it’s a LOT more than people realize. We talk about how Ashley went from dreaming of working with animals to feeding sharks at the Pittsburgh Zoo, becoming a licensed veterinary technician, working emergency medicine, and eventually helping run hospital operations at VEG (Veterinary Emergency Group). We also get into: * What veterinary technicians/nurses actually do all day (spoiler: basically everything) * The difference between vet techs, assistants, and veterinary nurses * Why the “vet nurse vs vet tech” debate is way more complicated than people think * How emergency vet hospitals really work behind the scenes * Why open-concept ERs are changing veterinary medicine * The relationship between pet owners, vets, and veterinary nurses during emergencies * Why efficiency and teamwork matter so much in emergency medicine * The emotional reality of caring for hospitalized pets * How veterinary assistants can grow into long-term careers in vet med PLUS: Ashley shares her hottest takes in veterinary medicine (including owners helping restrain pets 👀), we discuss the absolute chaos of emergency rooms, favorite and least favorite dog breeds in the ER, and why veterinary nurses are truly the backbone of every hospital. And of course… we end with important conversations about Pomeranians, doodles, Great Danes pooping everywhere, and what dog breed Ashley would be if she had to choose. LOVE YOU GUYS 💛 Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome from Vegas + why we’re recording from a hotel room 00:01:00 Ashley’s journey into veterinary medicine 00:03:00 Working at the Pittsburgh Zoo + feeding sharks 00:05:00 What it takes to become a licensed veterinary technician 00:07:00 Vet tech vs veterinary nurse explained 00:11:00 Why people don’t realize how advanced vet med really is 00:12:00 Inside VEG emergency hospitals + open-concept ERs 00:17:00 Why collaboration between ERs and general practice matters 00:19:00 Dr. Molly’s new “open-ish” hospital concept 00:20:00 Hot take: should owners help restrain pets? 00:22:00 What veterinary nurses actually do during ER shifts 00:26:00 Surgery techs, inpatient care & emergency teamwork 00:28:00 Why Ashley moved into operations & leadership 00:30:00 Veterinary technician specialists (VTS) explained 00:34:00 The complicated relationship between vet assistants & licensed techs 00:38:00 Advice for assistants considering tech school 00:39:00 Favorite pets, breeds & ER patients 00:42:00 Emergency cases Ashley actually loves treating 00:44:00 The adrenaline of emergency medicine 00:45:00 Meet Ashley’s pets: Miss Kitty Meow Meow & Linda 00:46:00 Outro --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple: https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod [https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod]  https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1]  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028] --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Dr. Molly: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays [https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays/] TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays [https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays] Follow the podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/] TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod [https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod]

When to See a Vet Specialist (+ Why Your Pet Isn’t Getting Better) | with Dr. Nicole Fein

This week on Dr. Molly Says, we’re coming to you LIVE(ish) from a very not-fancy hotel room in Orlando… I’m joined by my friend and internal medicine specialist, Dr. Nicole Fein, and we’re diving into everything from what internists actually do to the reality of specialty vet care (plus a few unhinged tangents… obviously). We break down how someone becomes a board-certified veterinary internist (spoiler: years of chaos + 16-hour exams), the types of cases they see all the time (yes… so much poop), and a hot take you might not expect: more diagnostics ≠ better medicine. We also get into: * When it’s actually time to see a specialist * The relationship between pet owners, general practitioner veterinarians, and specialists (it’s a throuple, not a love triangle) * Why some cases should be referred sooner (and what can go wrong when they’re not) * The real cost conversations that need to happen in vet med * Why internal medicine is basically the “everything that doesn’t make sense” specialty PLUS: Dr. Nicole explains her viral “baby talking patients” videos (yes, including “mouth meat” 💀), we discuss cuteness aggression, and share what really happens behind the scenes at the vet. And of course… we end with Global Pet Expo chaos: piglet parades (aka Frenchies in wagons), influencer pets, and why veterinarians are just trying their best out here. LOVE YOU GUYS 💛 Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome + recording from a hotel bed 00:02:00 What is Global Pet Expo? 00:03:00 Meet Dr. Nicole Fine (internal medicine specialist) 00:07:00 How you become a veterinary internist (aka years of torture) 00:14:55 What cases internal medicine actually sees 00:18:30 Favorite cases (Addison’s, immune disease & emergencies) 00:21:00 What a typical day looks like (and why it’s so communication-heavy) 00:23:00 When should you ask for a specialist referral? 00:26:00 GP vs specialist dynamics (the “throuple” conversation) 00:33:50 Cases that should be referred sooner 00:37:00 Cost conversations & setting expectations 00:39:00 Making specialty care more accessible 00:42:30 Trends in cases + city vs rural vet med 00:46:00 IVDD, surgery vs medical management 00:49:00 Viral baby talk videos explained (yes… really) 00:55:00 Global Pet Expo chaos (piglet parade, influencer pets) 00:59:00 Outro --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple: https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod [https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod]  https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1]  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028] --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Dr. Molly: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays [https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays/] TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays [https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays] Follow the podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/] TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod [https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod] ---------------------------------------------------------------

EP39 - Christmas Tea Break (Q&A)

Text me your question or inquiry here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458240/fan_mail/new] Hey friends! This week on the pod, I'm answering YOUR questions... prescription food for allergies, treatment for lipid deposits, tick fever management in dogs, and so much more. Do you have a question or inquiry for me? Send me a text from the link above, ask me on any social media platform, or email drmollysayspod@gmail.com! Episodes of The Dr. Molly Says Podcast are on all podcast services along with video form on YouTube! Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/5d574928 TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2p9kjd9d YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/mr3jradc TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 03:35 Prescription Food for Allergies 11:00 Treatment for Lipid Deposits 14:07 Tick Fever Management in Dogs 18:42 How to Know if a Supplement is Working Properly 24:13 When Will My Puppy Be Fully Grown 26:37 Tips for Finding a Holistic Vet 31:04 Outro

EP38 - The Truth About Veterinary Dentistry w/ Dr. Amy Thomson

Text me your question or inquiry here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458240/fan_mail/new] Hey friends! This week on the pod, we’re digging into one of the most important — and often overlooked — areas of veterinary medicine: dentistry. From why dental care still makes so many vets hesitant, to what actually happens during a COHAT, to everyday things like brushing, chews, and dental wipes, we’re breaking it all down in clear, practical, real-world language. We’re joined by Dr. Thomson, who shares insights from her residency, mobile practice experience, and years in veterinary dentistry. Do you have a question or inquiry for me? Send me a text from the link above, ask me on any social media platform, or email drmollysayspod@gmail.com! Episodes of The Dr. Molly Says Podcast are on all podcast services along with video form on YouTube! Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/5d574928 TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2p9kjd9d YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/mr3jradc TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 01:20 Dr. Thomson 04:25 Hot Take 04:53 Dr. Thomson’s Residency 09:30 Why Vets Are Hesitant Of Dentistry 11:53 Dr. Thomson’s Current Practice 14:18 Mobile Practice 20:10 Why Veterinary Dentists Are Needed For 23:10 Endodontics in Pets 25:55 Fourth Premolar Tooth 29:02 What Are Good Things for Dogs to Chew On 32:18 Brushing Your Pets’ Teeth 42:09 Using Dental Wipes 43:49 COHAT Basics 52:06 When Should COHAT Start 58:05 COHAT in Cats 1:01:55 Dentistry and Orthopedics 1:03:46 Rapid Fire Questions 1:11:27 Dr. Thomson’s Biggest Advice 1:15:53 Outro