Donna Spector, DVM, DACVIM, is The Expert Vet! This show is for dog and cat owners as well as vet techs and other veterinarians, who need help diagnosing, understanding and treating complicated medical conditions and nutrition issues. The show offers detailed explanations of medical conditions and Dr. Donna’s opinion about chronic, complicated or unusual problems, advice about pain management, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and even how to avoid unnecessary vaccinations.
Dr. Donna Spector is a board-certified veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist who is also an active member of the Association of Holistic Veterinarians, knowledgeable about traditional Western medicine as well as alternative therapies and points of view. Dr. Donna is widely recognized for her role as consulting veterinarian and her widely-quoted dog and cat health advice in print and on radio. Dr. Donna practices Internal Medicine in the Northern Chicago area.
Hosted by Tracie Hotchner, Dr. Donna Spector
The Expert Vet (02-01-2016) #5056: A warning tale (with a happy ending) about jumping to conclusions about an old dog with a tumor on the spleen. It may not be life-threatening! Many vets assume it is cancer and way too many dogs get euthanized “on the spot”. Dr. Donna tells the story of a 12 […]
The Expert Vet (01-04-2016) #5055: Reproductive issues: Dr. Donna talks about changes in thinking about spaying and neutering at six months because of scientific evidence about the increased incidence of orthopedic disease and cancer in spayed/neutered dogs. She discusses when to consider hysterectomy in females vs. tubal ligation, or vasectomy in males as opposed to […]
The Expert Vet (11-23-2015) #5057: Allergy and immune testing specialist Mervyn Levin from SPOT Platinum describes how allergies occur in dogs and how immuno-therapy works to reduce allergic reactions, be it in one of the 49 countries for which they have developed an allergy panel, or in one of the 12 geographic regions of the […]
The Expert Vet (10-26-2015) #5056: Have an older dog with a tumor on his spleen? Do not despair! And do not rush to that conclusion. Many vets assume these tumors are cancerous, but many are not — they are benign tumors that are treatable! Dr. Donna tells a story with a happy ending about Rocko, […]
The Expert Vet (10-12-2015) #5044: Is your cat fat? Very likely! Dr. Donna says that 88% of owners of overweight cats do not think their fat cats are fat! 8 to 10 lbs. is the ideal weight for a cat — which describes so few cats and improper feeding is the cause! Cats are obligate […]
The Expert Vet (09-14-2015) #5043: Diabetes in cats are a man-made problem. Cats have gone from the barnyard to the backyard to the bedroom — and they have gone from eating mice to eating “kitty crack,” as Tracie calls all dry cat food. Some cats are naturally at risk for diabetes — Russian Blue, Siamese […]
The Expert Vet (08-17-2015) #5042: How common are adverse vaccine reactions like the one Tracie’s Maisie suffered that put her in the ER for 24 hours? Breeds like Weimaraners and Akitas are at-risk for a bad reaction to vaccination and the 12 to 16 week age period is the most reactive. It is often other […]
The Expert Vet (07-20-2015) #5041: Taking a pet’s blood pressure should be part of every annual exam. High BP is a silent killer in dogs and cats, just as in people. High BP is an early indicator of disease which can be managed with the very same medications as used for people. MP3 Audio [14 […]
The Expert Vet (06-22-2015) #5039: Dr. Donna discusses chronic diseases — which are those that are manageable but not curable — and how easy it is to miss other treatable illnesses because you get tunnel vision with the main problem. She discusses Toffee the Yorkie with a liver shunt, who developed cancer that went undetected […]
The Expert Vet (05-25-2015) #5040: Teresa wrote in to ask about elevated liver enzymes (high ALT) in her standard poodle and whether he needed a biopsy. Dr. Donna says Yes! and explains why elevated liver enzymes really matter in a blood test. If the levels remain high over time, you have to consider a liver […]
