134. Wild Tails: Veterinary Adventures, Costa Rica & Caring for Pets in an Emergency

In this special episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine go behind the scenes with members of DOGTV’s *Wild Tails* for an unforgettable look at life in veterinary medicine. Geoffrey van Zijl, Peter Carlos and Sarah Parsons share stories from their recent veterinary mission to Costa Rica, where the team provided spay and neuter procedures, wellness care and treatment to hundreds of animals in communities with limited access to veterinary services. Plus, the episode explores preparing for unexpected veterinary expenses, pet first aid, emergency warning signs and some unique products for reptiles and small pets. Story Time features: Kristen discusses the financial reality of unexpected veterinary emergencies and why pet parents should plan ahead for potentially significant medical expenses through emergency savings, pet insurance or other financial resources. Chris highlights Ollie’s *State of Dogs 2026* report, which found encouraging improvements in several measures of canine health among dogs in its data, including weight, activity, dental health and overall wellness. Special Guests: Geoffrey van Zijl, Veterinary Professional & *Wild Tails* Cast Member Peter Carlos, Veterinary Professional & *Wild Tails* Cast Member Sarah Parsons, Veterinary Professional & *Wild Tails* Cast Member The *Wild Tails* team takes listeners behind the scenes of its veterinary mission to Costa Rica, including performing more than 100 spay and neuter procedures, providing wellness and medical care, treating tick-borne illnesses, working alongside local veterinary professionals and adapting to challenging conditions in remote communities. They also share some of the funny, emotional and unforgettable moments from the journey—and explain how the experience renewed their passion for veterinary medicine. Pet Product Recommendations: Zylafen Topical Spray for Reptiles – https://zymox.com/zylafen-topical-spray/ Full Cheeks Small Pet Top Entry Travel Carrier – https://www.petsmart.com/small-pet/harnesses-and-travel-carriers/travel-carriers/full-cheeks-small-pet-top-entry-travel-carrier-68150.html Q&A Topics: Every pet owner hopes they’ll never need it, but if something happens at home before we can get to the veterinarian, what are some basic first-aid steps every pet parent should know? And are there things people commonly do that can actually make the situation worse? (Submitted by David from Denver, CO) My dog has gotten into things a couple of times, and it’s always difficult to know what’s a true emergency and what can wait until our regular veterinarian opens. What are the biggest warning signs that mean, “Don’t wait—go to the emergency vet right now”? (Submitted by Jennifer from Columbus, OH) Related Links: Wild Tails on DOGTV: https://watch.dogtv.com/wild-tails Ollie – State of Dogs 2026: https://www.ollie.com/obsession-overview/ ZYMOX / Zylafen: https://zymox.com PetSmart: https://www.petsmart.com American Pet Products Association (APPA): https://www.americanpetproducts.org DOGTV: https://www.dogtv.com Pets Add Life: https://www.petsaddlife.org Social Channels: DOGTV (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/dogtv Pets Add Life (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/petsaddlife Pets Add Life (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/PetsAddLife Pets Add Life (TikTok): https://www.tiktok.com/@petsaddlife Pets Add Life (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@petsaddlife Subscribe & Listen: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts! Submit a question to the podcast: https://www.petsaddlife.org/podcast Presented by: American Pet Products Association (APPA) & DOGTV