Tracie's Team of Experts
Official Veterinarian - Phil Padrid, DVM
Official Veterinarian - Elizabeth Hodgkins, DVM, J.D.
Official 2nd Opinion Veterinarian & Veterinary Nutrition Consultant - Dr Donna Spector
Official Behavior Consultant - Sally E. Bahner, aka "Dear Sally"
Official Veterinary Dentist - Dr Jan Bellows
Oncologist - Dr. Alice Villalobos
Official Dog Trainers
Resident Animal Communicator - Ann Marie Sawicki
Official Veterinarian
DOG TALK’S VERY OWN “DR. PHIL” – Philip Padrid, DVM, our Official Vet
Tracie's Note: Dr. Phil has just moved to New Mexico and is no longer in private practice. However, he will continue to be the Official vet of DOG TALK® andhe remains the world's leading authority on feline asthma.
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Our own Dr. Phil (Padrid) has recently become the Southwest Regional Medical Director of the Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) and now lives North of Albuquerque New Mexico with his new wife.
As the world's leading feline asthma specialist, Phil Padrid is sought-after around the world fro his expertise.
He is also Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine (adj) at the University of Chicago and Associate Professor of Small Animal Medicine (adj) at The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine
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We are so lucky at Dog Talk to have the informational back-up and frequent presence of Dr. Phil on the show. He lives and practices in Chicago but has generously made himself available to us on Saturdays, right after playing his favorite sport, basketball.
Once you’ve heard his warm, kind and wise opinions and advice you may find yourself thinking that Chicago isn’t that far away! But instead of moving to the Windy City to get his help, you can just stay connected to Dog Talk.
Dr. Phil graduated from Cornel University in 1985, where he received an award in cardiology, then completed his internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital, his residency at UC-Davis Veterinary School and then finished a fellowship at UC-Davis Medical School in 1990.
For 10 years he was an Associate Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He joined Family Pet Animal Hospital full time in 2003 as a general practitioner with a specialty in respiratory medicine.
Dr. Phil will generously consult with you or your vet regarding any asthma or other breathing related issues with your dog or cat. He feel it is a public service to share his knowledge - I would ask that if you do take advantage of his kindness that you make a donation to the ASPCA, his favorite charity, in his honor.
Want to see our own Dr. Phil be a TV star?
Want to see our own Dr. Phil be a TV star? And learn something cool in the process? Click on these links to become a more proficient pet parent.
Links to AnswersTV
The Pet Channel on AnswersTV
Dr. Phil & Brushing Your Dog's Teeth
Dr. Phil & Treating Diarrhea in Puppies
Dr. Phil & Trimming Your Dog's Nails
Dr. Phil & Giving Your Dog a Pill
Dr. Phil & Treating Arthritis in a Cat
2nd Opinion Specialist &
Veterinary Nutrition Consultant:
Donna Spector, DVM, DACVIM
Tracie's Official Second Opinion Specialist and Official Veterinary Nutrition Consultant
Tracie is delighted to introduce the newest member of her team — the beautiful,brilliant and multi-talented veterinarian Dr Donna Spector, who will wear two hats here and on the air on Tracie's shows. Besides being a board-certified Internist, Dr. Spector is a member of the association of holistic vets, so she is knowledgeable about traditional Western medicine as well as alternative therapies and points of view. Tracie and Donna met as like-minded professionals who are big fans of HALO Purely for Pets. Tracie was impressed with Donna's honesty and intelligence in giving answers for HALO customers online.
With her extensive training and certification as a veterinary Internist, Dr. Spector is uniquely suited for a role in Tracie's universe and in your pet's life as a reliable and objective professional to give you a second opinion on any medical problem your pet is facing. THE DOG BIBLE and THE CAT BIBLE can give you essential advice and information about the importance of getting a second opinion for medical decision-making, but also in how to manage the discomfort of bringing in another professional opinion when you like and respect your own vet. By having a long-distance consultation with Dr. Spector — based on telephone or email communication and transference of medical records — both you and your original vet can get skilled advice that may not be available locally and also does not threaten your primary veterinary relationship.
In addition, Dr. Donna can give excellent advice about nutrition because she has unconventional attitudes about commercial pet food and unlike many other veterinarians, she does not have an unquestioning belief in the theory and practice espoused by much of her profession of using only dry pet food. In fact, her advice about medical problems as they relate to nutrition can be invaluable in creating a diet for your pet that is appropriate for wellness and managing illness or solving physical issues.
In any of these cases you can schedule an appointment with her and get another medical perspective and professional advice.
In any of these cases you can schedule an appointment with her and get another medical perspective and professional advice. You can reach Dr. Spector by:
Email: DrDonna@SpectorDVM.com
Phone: 847-607-8416 Fax: 847-521-4960
Address: SpectorDVM Consulting, 655 Deerfield Road, Suite 100-163, Deerfield, IL 60015
Website: www.SpectorDVM.com
Bio: Credentials (PDF, 254KB)
Official Oncologist
I am really honored to welcome the world renowned veterinary oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos, DVM as Our Official Cancer Specialist. She is not just brilliant in her diagnosis and treatment of cancer in dogs and cats, but she is an award-winning humanitarian who honors the human-animal bond in her life and in her work in a way that is an inspiration to everyone.
To those who have heard me interview Dr. Alice on the show, you know what I am talking about. You also heard me talk about her very readable textbook with the serious title: Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology: Honoring the Human-Animal Bond. (in simple language, it means cancer in old dog and cats and what that means for us). Yes, it's a textbook for vets but it's also accessible to the rest of us who want to understand more about what causes cancer, how to catch it in the early stages, what treatment options are available, and how to deal with some of the emotions it brings up for us when we get a cancer diagnosis in our four-legged family members.
There's a link here to the book and the gracious offer by Dr. Alice to extend her discount to all CAT CHAT™ and DOG TALK® followers.
Resident Animal Communicator - Ann Marie Sawicki
Meet Ann Marie Sawicki, the Official Animal Communicator of Dog Talk®, where she appears once per month.
If you've been lucky enough to call into the show when the amazing Ann Marie was there to tell you what your pet was thinking or feeling, then you've heard her extraordinary gift of communicating with animals.
If you want to contact her to schedule a private session, you can call her at 914-494-5925 or email her at teaqueenam@comcast.net.
Visit Ann Marie Sawicki's on the Web at SessionsWithSpirit.net.
Please note: As much as she might like to give her time freely to those wanting a session, the economic reality of life is that Ann Marie has to charge for her time spent in sessions with individuals.
Official Dog Trainer
Meet Allison Denlea, the Official Dog Trainer Dog Talk®
Long Island ~ www.paws4positive.com
The Official Training Advisor for Dog Talk® is Allison Denlea of Paws 4 Positive Training. She helps me figure out the more complex training and behavior issues that people bring to me. She is available for private lessons anywhere from Montauk at the far Eastern tip of Long Island all the way into New York City. You can reach her at Paws4Positive@aol.com or 631-368-8046
Official Veterinary Dentist
Meet Official Veterinary Dentist Jan Bellows
I am really honored to have such a luminary in the veterinary dental field as my new Official Veterinary Dentist, Jan Bellows. He has already taught me so much (all three of my dogs teeth are looking better already with his recommendation of daily DentAcetic Wipes from DermaPet) but he'll be available regularly on both radio shows and on my blog to help with the big issues, too. And his gorgeous German Short Haired Pointer Dylan is one of FOUR dogs in the Bellows household. More photos to follow!
BIO: Dr. Bellows received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University and after completing a small animal internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, worked as a small animal practitioner at Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Weston, Florida. In pursuit of his goal to make greater contributions to his patients and the veterinary profession, Dr. Bellows became board certified as a feline and canine companion animal specialist, a Fellow of the academy of veterinary dentistry, and became a Diplomate of the college of veterinary dentistry in 1990.
Dr. Bellows also authored of three dental texts- The Practice of Veterinary Dentistry …. A team effort (1999), Small Animal Dental Equipment, Materials, and Techniques (2005), and Feline Dentistry (2010) all published by Blackwell Press and the four Smile Books ( Dental Overview (1998), Dental Radiology (2001), Periodontal Disease (2003), Oral Pathology and Charting 2005) He also is a frequent contributor to DVM Newsmagazine, Veterinary Forum, and Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bellows is a charter editor of Veterinary Information Network’s (VIN) dental board and has retained that role since 1997. Dr. Bellows was also chosen as one of the dental experts to formulate the American Animal Hospital’s Small Animal Dental Guidelines published in 2005.
Dr. Bellows practices at All Pets Dental, 17100 Royal Palm Blvd, Weston, Florida 954-349-5800
