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Animal House

WAMU

The Animal House is a weekly discussion that explores the latest in animal science, pet behavior, and wildlife conservation.

Location:

Washington, DC

Networks:

WAMU

Description:

The Animal House is a weekly discussion that explores the latest in animal science, pet behavior, and wildlife conservation.

Language:

English

Contact:

1-877-610-3647


Episodes

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Gary Weitzman

11/15/2014
Dog Ear Dilemma: In Washington, D.C., the owner of a 13-week-old pit bull wants to know if the puppy is too old to have his ears cropped. Sound Affect: A schnoodle named Midnight has a severe fear of the sound of her caretaker's burps. Music: “Purus River” by Uakti; “Wild Horses” by Tim Reis Production Assistance:: Natalie Yuravlivker, Meghan Modafferi, Alex Drewenskus, Tim Olmstead, Nick Warren

Duration:00:16:00

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Gary Weitzman

11/15/2014
Grassy Toll: In Charlotte, NC an 11 year old chocolate lab appears to have severe allergies to grass, which causes him to chew at his paws because of the irritation. Dr. Gary Weitzman of the San Diego Humane Society offers advice. Treating a Tabby’s Teeth: A cat named Abby has been diagnosed with feline tooth resorption. What can be done to slow the progression or prevent it? Music: “Purus River” by Uakti.

Duration:00:14:59

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Gary Weitzman

11/8/2014
A Neutering Nightmare: In Ocean City, Maryland, a 5-year-old golden retriever was on the receiving end of an inadequate neuter procedure, resulting in a $1,200 surgery bill. Dr. Weitzman helps the dog's companion with the next step. Trouble For a Not-So-Picky Eater: A Washington, D.C. cat named Reginald eats string and other things off the ground, causing him to have uncomfortable intestinal issues. What's the best way to help Reg be more selective about his diet? Vet Phobia: In...

Duration:00:15:59

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Gary Weitzman

11/8/2014
Winding Up When the Sun Goes Down: In Vienna, Virginia, a rescue dog named Missy becomes anxious and fidgety, but only at night. Dr. Gary Weitzman of the San Diego Humane Society has suggestions for winding Missy down. A Surprise Visitor to the Bird Feeder: A wild turkey is regularly eating the food a Virginia woman puts in her garden feeder. We asked The Nature Conservancy’s Greg Meade to offer advice. Music: “Purus River” by Uakti. Special Thanks to Natalie Yuravlivker

Duration:00:15:00

Age of The Sloth

11/1/2014
Its digestive tract is like a cow’s; its body temperature is like a reptile’s and it moves like a primate. Among the more than 5 thousand species of mammals on earth, the sloth is the slowest and one of the most complex. They have lived, largely ignored, in the forests of Central and South America for millennia. Now the furry, tree dwelling creature has gone global, the result of recent scientific discoveries and a new PBS documentary called A Sloth Named Velcro. We spoke with the film’s...

Duration:00:09:59

Bionic Pets

10/25/2014
The use of prosthetics has a long history of human application but now caretakers of pets and wildlife are turning to prosthesis as an option for animals who suffer debilitating injuries or a severe lack of mobility. The new PBS/Nature documentary My Bionic Pet chronicles this growing trend. We speak with the film’s award-winning director, Kevin Bechar. Feline’s Fable – We hear the story of a lost cat and its surprising and heartwarming effect on public radio journalists – WAMU’s Ally...

Duration:00:09:29

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Katy Nelson

10/25/2014
“Is There a ‘Chill Pill’ For My Cat?” 93 year woman in Arlington, VA adopted a rescue cat a year ago and shortly afterward the pet began to periodically bite her feet and has broken the skin a couple of times. The woman’s concerned son wants advice on how to address this sudden behavioral shift. A woman with mobility issues in San Diego, CA wants to calm down her aggressive 14 month old cat. Music: “Purus River” by Uakti. Special Thanks to Natalie Yuravlivker

Duration:00:15:00

Wildlife CSI

10/25/2014
Endangered species are big business. The illegal global trade in protected animal products is likely well into the tens of billions of dollars. But fighting illegal poaching is a difficult job and resources dedicated to the effort are slim. In fact there is only one laboratory dedicated to wildlife crime forensics in the world. Murray Carpenter of PRI’s The World visited the facility. Dinosaur Detectives The recent discovery of bones from what is being called the biggest dinosaur on the...

Duration:00:09:59

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Katy Nelson

10/18/2014
Finding The Proper Footing For A Feline: A 6-year-old rescue Siamese cat named Pi has trouble standing on its front paws. Her caretaker asks Dr. Katy for a possible explanation. A Cat Habit That’s Hard To Break: In Maryland, a 13-year-old male tabby named Bear is repeatedly rejecting the litterbox, preferring instead to use the same spot on the floor in another room of the house. Music: “Purus River” by Uakti; “Beetles” by Warpaint. Production Assistance: Natalie Yuravlivker, Meghan...

Duration:00:15:59

Avian Assistance For Alzheimer Patients

10/18/2014
Bird Tales is a revolutionary effort that uses interactions with birds to provide therapy for people suffering from various forms of dementia. The program is rapidly migrating from its Connecticut roots to cities across the country. We speak with its administrator, Ken Elkins of Audubon Connecticut. Lawn Mooing: The town council in Havering, England, recently decided to turn to cows instead of lawnmowers to keep parks and other green spaces neat and trim. The council estimates it can milk...

Duration:00:09:28

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Katy Nelson

10/18/2014
CAT Scan For A Canine? A San Diego dog named Comet is behaving normally, but has a mysterious lump on its body. The pet’s caretaker asks Dr. Katy Nelson if a CAT scan should be considered. Searching For the Proper Treatment: A family’s recent to move to the Washington, D.C., area means finding a new place to get the right medication for their sick feline. Dr. Katy has a few suggestions. Bird Note: The Ring-Necked Pheasant is profiled. Music: “Purus River” by Uakti.

Duration:00:14:59

Crustacean Invasion

10/18/2014
The Red Swamp Crayfish is a common ingredient for gumbo and jambalaya that was moved from its natural habitat in the Southeastern U.S. to the waters of the Pacific Northwest a decade ago, most likely to be used as fish bait. But the species has thrived there and scientists are concerned that its increasing presence is seriously upsetting the region’s ecological balance. Ashley Ahearn of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Earthfix project has details. Dr. K’s Exotic Animal E.R.: Dr. Susan...

Duration:00:10:00

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Katy Nelson

10/11/2014
A Dog That Likes To Rock and Roll: In Springfield, Virginia a 5 year old black Lab named Indi has developed a bizzare habit of looking in the woods and pushing rocks. Would find the biggest rock 5 times the size of his head and push it as far as he can, at least 20-25 ft. Cat Tale: An 8 year old feline in Charlottesville, Virginia had her tail bitten off as a kitten. Her caretaker wants advice on getting it bobbed.

Duration:00:15:59

The Perilous Life Of A Professional Honeybee

10/11/2014
There are two types of honeybees – those you see playing among the flowers in your yard and those that have to work for a living, in commercial beehives. For them it is a life full of many hazards. Cassandra Profita of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s EarthFix project tells a story about the perilous life of a professional honeybee. New Bird Book Leaves The Nest: It’s a book that bird lovers across the country have waited for with great anticipation; National Geographic’s 743 page guide to the...

Duration:00:09:29

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Katy Nelson

10/11/2014
Helping a Feline Find the Box: Dr. Katy helps a Baltimore, Maryland cat named Johnny who is disregarding the litterbox when seeking relief. Using Flea Preventative For Bedbugs? A man in Norwich, NY recently discovered he had a bed bug infestation and he wants to know if Frontline will protect his cat. Bed bug expert Dr. Catherine Loudon of the University of California, Irvine offers advice.

Duration:00:14:59

Fruit Bats and Ebola

10/11/2014
Scientists tracking the aggressive spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa have uncovered a relationship to common species of bat. Marco Werman of PRI’s The World learns more about the connection from Dr. DeeAnn Reeder, a professor of biology at Bucknell University. More than 100 years ago, the world said goodbye to its last passenger pigeon. But this year, a new global art project is using origami to memorialize the lost species and encourage new conservation efforts by . We find out more...

Duration:00:09:59

Pets And Wildlife With Dr. Gary Weitzman

10/4/2014
A Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On: In Nashville, Tennessee, a 16-month-old bloodhound puppy named Turbo shakes when it is standing still. What’s In a Nose? Linus, a 2-year-old cat in Laurel, Maryland, has recently moved past simple sneezing to the blowing of his nose, followed by pawing and shaking his head violently. Dr. Gary becomes a detective to find the cause of this unusual behavior. Difficulty with Domestication: A Maryland woman rescued a cat from the side of a road. Despite living...

Duration:00:15:59

Animals And Their 'Amazing Grace'

10/4/2014
Animal House producer Natalie Yuravlivker visits St. Luke's Episcopal in Bethesda, Md., one of thousands of churches around the world that take part in an annual ceremony known as the “Blessing of the Animals." The ceremony honors St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Salmon in the waters of the Pacific Northwest may soon have a safer way to spawn thanks to a new technology that’s helping to transport hatchery fish in the state of Washington . Courtney Flatt...

Duration:00:09:29

Pets and Wildlife with Dr. Gary Weitzman

10/4/2014
Urban Wildlife Rescue: A Washington, D.C. woman wants to know what she should do after seeing an injured wild animal in her neighborhood. Scott Giacioppo, vice president of external affairs at the Washington Humane Society, joins Dr. Gary Weitzman of the San Diego Humane Society to offer assistance. Curtailing the Energy of an Injured Canine: A recently adopted Dachshund in the nation’s capital has Luxating Patella (floating kneecap) which means he's not supposed to run around much.The dog,...

Duration:00:14:59

Losing Numbers

10/4/2014
A new, 180 page study of our planet’s biodiversity, ecosystems and natural resources reveals a dramatic shift in the world’s wildlife populations. The findings of World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet report, hit scientists and conservationists like a worldwide seismic shock. We asked WWF’s Keya Chatterjee for an overview. Falling Leaves, Pet Allergies Rising: The change in weather delivers an increase in health concerns for pets. Veterinary allergy expert Dr. Heather Loenser tells you what to...

Duration:00:09:59