Steve Dale Pet World
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Steve Dale Pet Expert | Certified Animal Behavior Consultant | Public Speaker Book Steve About Steve Dale Steve Dale is a certified animal behavior specialist who has been a trusted voice in the world of pet health for over 20 years. You have likely heard him on the radio, seen him on TV, read him…
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Pet owners are doing more than just feeding their dogs and cats—they’re increasingly looking for ways to boost their pets’ health, prevent disease, and even extend their lives – as a result nutraceutical market projected to double by 2033 according to a story in PETFOOD Industry. That shift is helping fuel rapid growth in the… The post The New Pet Menu: Probiotics, Supplements and a Side of Longevity appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Keeping cats indoors may be one of the simplest decisions owners can make to improve both feline health and wildlife conservation—and the benefits can be dramatic. Though I understand that for some cats keeping them indoors only can be challenging as they’ve been outdoors for their entire lives. But when there’s a choice the argument… The post The Case for Keeping Cats Indoors Has Never Been Stronger appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
It was about 30 years ago when French veterinarian and animal behavior specialist Dr. Patrick Pageat introduced a then-transformational idea: using synthetic versions of animals’ naturally occurring pheromones to help reduce fear, anxiety, and stress—and ultimately help pets feel more secure. That concept has since become an important tool in veterinary behavioral medicine. After all,… The post A Scent of Security: How New Pheromone Products Help Pets Cope appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Dr, Niels Pedersen, professor emeritus University California, Davis who has contributed to so much to veterinary medicine, and therefore to the health of our dogs and cats. Listen HERE to Steve Dale’s Pet World, and my discussion of how things really came about with the one man who was there for it all, Dr. Pedersen… The post FIP Breakthrough: The Science, the Struggle, Hear Dr. Niels Pedersen’s on FIP and His Legacy appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
A survey of 6,500 pet owners found that 43 percent reported their pets had been infected with parasites, and one in five cases occurred within the past year. Nearly all these pet owner experiences would likely have been preventable, and people aren’t happy about that as 75 percent of respondents said they would like clearer… The post Parasite Protection Can Be Accomplished But It’s Not Happening appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Pets may be beloved members of the family, but a new survey suggests they are also responsible for a surprising amount of household chaos. According to the Omni Calculator Pet Mishaps 2026 Survey, to celebrate National Pet Owners’ Day, April 26, most pet owners report their dogs or cats cause two to three mishaps per… The post Lucky They’re Cute: Survey Finds Pets Cause Chaos appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Listen HERE to WGN Radio’s Booth 46 live from Petterino’s Chicago native and distinguished actor of the stage not to mention TV and in the movies, Harry Lennix returns to his hometown as associate director and music director of The Goodman Theatre’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (extended through May 3rd). He says this is the best… The post Booth 46: Distinguished Actor Harry Lennix appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Earth Day (April 22) is meant to focus attention on the health of our planet. Yet somehow, acknowledging that the very world we depend on is in trouble has become politicized. No matter what Donald Trump and a few others (who are decidedly not scientists) contend, the evidence is overwhelming and measurable: the planet is… The post Protecting Our Planet is No Hoax appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
You don’t care about rainforests around the globe disappearing or our oceans’ coral reefs dying? It turns out that you or your pets may have used a pharmaceutical product discovered in rain forests or derived from ocean plants in the past 10 years alone. This drug is from the Amazon rainforest, the sap of the… The post The World’s Hidden Pharmacies Are Disappearing appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
For years, opossums have enjoyed a glowing reputation on social media as nature’s tick-vacuum cleaners, often credited with eating thousands of ticks each season. But while these North America marsupials may provide ecological benefits, scientists say the story is more complicated than the viral myth suggests. Opossums, the only marsupials native to North America, are… The post Opossums Are Tick Terminators (Though Not As Much As Advertised) appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Listen HERE on Steve Dale’s Other World, WGN Radio, to Joan Colletta, founder of The Creative Conservancy and from the Commission of Chicago Animal Care and Control, but also has lent her expertise and muscle to saving the rhinoceros, and now just prior to Earth Day the right time to hear this. She explains why the… The post She Defended Rhinoceros Up Close and Personal appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
It’s not a topic not often written about but one lots pet owners want to discuss—anal sac problems. This is common and can potential become serious or at least stinky if ignored. Veterinarians say what often begins as a minor issue—such as a dog scooting across the floor—can develop into painful inflammation or even infection… The post Anal Sac Secrets Revealed appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
If your cat allergies seem to flare up in May and June, you’re not imagining it. Allergies are cumulative. That means even if your reaction to cats is usually mild, the added burden of seasonal triggers—like tree pollen and mold spores—can push your immune system past its threshold. The result: sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, and… The post Living Clear of Cat Allergies appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Adrian Galante arranger, orchestrator and music director of Going Bacharach at the Apollo Theater, 2450 N. Lincoln Ave., from April 21st to May 17th. Of all the Bacharach (typically with lyricist Hal David) songs – including Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, What the World Needs Now Is Love, I Say a Little Prayer, Walk… The post Going Bacharach appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Listen here on Steve Dale’s Other World, an interview with Jason Alexander, who directs the wickedly dark new comedy stars leading film and television actor Enrico Colantoni (English Teacher, Galaxy Quest, Veronica Mars), Chicago’s own Rebecca Spence (Jeff Award winner; now starring in The Madison, opposite Michelle Pfeiffer), and Nick Marini (Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Dropout TV). Emmy and Tony Award… The post Whose Fault Is It? Jason Alexander Talks Dark Comedy appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Listen HERE Steve Dale’s Pet World, WGN Radio to Boarded Surgeon Dr. Aaron Jackson of Midwest Veterinary Surgical Services on the most concern for pets when considering surgery, which is anesthesia Dr. Jackson has operated all sorts of surgeries over the years – but what is the most common one? We also discuss spectrum of care or… The post Secrets of a Veterinary Surgeon; Revealing a New Product for Dog Dental Health appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
If not for a school of porpoises, Dick Van Dyke might never have made it to 100. In his book Dick Van Dyke: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life, the beloved entertainer recounts how he was surfing on a 10-foot board off Virginia Beach in the 1940s when calm seas and gentle swells lulled… The post Porpoise Pushes Saved Dick Van Dyke’s Life appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Be careful what you say around your dog. It turns out that they do have an ability to eavesdrop. At least some dogs have this superpower, according to this study in Science. Takeaways from the study: Researchers studied 10 “Gifted Word Learner” dogs (dogs known to recognize many toy names). 7 of 10 dogs successfully… The post Is Your Dog a Sneaky Gifted Learner? appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
The world celebrated when the Atermis II astronauts splashed down safely….but few celebrated with the pure joy of Sadie, the four-legged member of mission specialists Christina Koch’s family. And I do think pure joy is the only way to describe this scene – on both sides. The post A Hero’s Canine Welcome appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
The FDA has granted full approval to verdinexor tablets (Laverdia; Anivive Lifesciences) for the treatment of dogs with lymphoma. The approval gives veterinarians a promising new oral avenue for managing the disease in dogs. Cancer cells can disable normal cellular growth regulation by driving tumor-suppressing proteins out of the nucleus. Verdinexor tablets target this system… The post New Medication for Lymphoma in Dogs appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Love doing radio with legendary John Landecker talking HERE on WGN Radio about Dog Bite Prevention Week. I talk about how dog bite numbers are on the rise. And why that is the case. Since dog bites are mostly preventable, what are we missing? I suggest that the answer is that we often forgete to… The post Talking Dog Bite Prevention to Co-Evolving with Dogs with John Landecker appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
A newly published review in Animals, The Use of Structured Professional Judgement: A New Way to Understand and Assess Bite Risk from Dogs offers guidance for a framework to assess potentially dangerous dogs. As dog bite numbers increase there’s a concern that breed bans might make a comeback. Researchers agree that breed doesn’t matter; breed-specific… The post Researchers Propose New Framework for Evaluating Potentially Dangerous Dogs appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Dog bites remain a common and often preventable injury among children, with new data from the National Institutes of Health underscoring both the frequency of these incidents and the gaps in prevention and treatment. Dog Bite Prevention Week is now through April 18. An analysis of pediatric emergency department cases found that while most dog… The post Children Are Victims in About Half of All Dog Bites: It’s All About Prevention appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Hear a “sit-down” discussion about Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) with Executive Director, Sue Cappello from Steve Dale’s Pet World, WGN Radio. It is a sad reality of today that all over the country municipal facilities are experiencing a shocking number of people seeking to relinquish their animals. We discuss the reasons for that which includes… The post Honest Sit Down Discussion with Executive Director Chicago Animal Care and Control appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
From the time we’re children, we’re taught a simple rule: If you see a dog you don’t know, ask the person, “Can I pet your dog?” That’s good advice. But it’s only half the conversation. We also need to ask the dog, which happens to be the name of my most recent book, called Ask… The post Dog Bite Prevention Week: Ask the Dog appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Award winning Community Cat Podcast host Stacy LaBaron calls this “a powerful and emotional episode of the Community Cats Podcast,” as I spoke with her about my own story with a cat named Ricky. As a result of losing him to feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – which is incidentally very common – Over 20 years ago… The post Cat Health News: Community Cats Podcast appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
David Byrne has done it does it all, including hearing him in this appearance on Booth 46, from Petterino’s Restaurant, talking abut his newly opened show Theatre of the Mind (333 N. LaSalle) produced by the The Goodman Theatre. Of course, Byrne is the co-founder of the Talking Heads, He’s an Academy, Tony and Grammy… The post Conversation with David Byrne Booth 46 appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
April 10 is National Hug Your Dog Day, but this is an awful message. In general dogs don’t love being hugged. – in fact, sometime dog hugs lead to dog bites. Instead of National Hug Your Dog Day, it ought to be changed to National Love Your Dog Day. Hugging dogs is not innocuous. It’s… The post End National Hug Your Dog Day appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Just because a cat ages doesn’t mean the need for enrichment dissipates. A 14-year-old cat’s prey drive isn’t different than a four-year old cat. I’ll be talking about this issue at the April 11-12, as a 2026 symposium, Health Breakthroughs for Every Cat: Healthy Feline Aging, presented by EveryCat Health Foundation and NC State College… The post Are Enriched Environments A Fountain of Youth for Aging Cats? appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Pet insurance in the U.S. now provides coverage for about 3.9 percent of dogs and cats per North American Pet Health Insurance Association 2025 State of the Industry report.. While over seven million pets are insured, I am less a proponent of pet insurance than I have been in the past. For our healthy now… The post Pet Insurance: Is That Safety Net Increasingly Unaffordable? appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Friday April 3 would have been Dr. Jane Goodall’s 92nd birthday, and to celebrate it was International Jane Goodall Day. From Steve Dale’s Other World, WGN Radio, listen HERE to my conversation with Anna Rathmann, executive director Jane Goodall Institute USA. Anna discusses behind-the-scenes of this intimate conversation, recorded before she passed away, but not… The post Celebrating Jane Goodall Day with Executive Director of Jane Goodall Institute appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
The cost of tuition for veterinary schools is not cheap. Having said that – depending on the school and whether in-state or out of state, the tuition average may have declined just a bit compared to last year. Depending on in-state or out-of-state, the tuition over four years is about $180,000 to over $300,000. That’s… The post Top Veterinary Schools in the U.S. and Costs appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Listen HERE to Steve Dale’s Pet World, WGN radio as Certified Animal Behavior Consultant and dog trainer Mikkel Becker, who also co-founded Fear Free, has a fascinating take on shock collar use in dogs compared to how people with psychiatric issues were once routinely treated similarly with electro-shock therapy like her grandpa Bob. Becker says that… The post Shock Collars vs. Shock Therapy: Mikkel Becker Challenges How Some Train Dogs and Takes on Affordability of Vet Care appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Animal control facilities, including Chicago’s, far too often get a bad rap. This little pup was missing for eight years! Luna was stolen nearly a decade ago from her family in Indianapolis, IN. But her family, although heartbroken, never gave up. Her microchip remained registered and flagged as missing all these years… just waiting for… The post Two Families Connected by One Dog (Warning, this reunion video might make you cry) appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Chicago’s own Dr. Anne Beall, award-winning multi-book author, joins me on Steve Dale’s Other World, WGN Radio, to talk about her latest book titled The Compassionate Writer: Find Your Voice, Enhance Your Story, and Touch Lives. Beall says “everyone has a story” reminds listeners to write with courage, edit with kindness, and share their stories with… The post Anne Beall: The Compassionate Writer appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
It’s a wonder Dr. Jane Goodall was never awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and she may still be named a patron Saint by Pope Leo. No one in my lifetime is more deserving. Today (April 3 – what would have been her 92nd birthday) is Jane Goodall Day. She passed away in October 2025. After… The post Celebrating Jane Goodall Day: “We Can Never Lose Hope” appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
April 2 is World Ferret Day. The idea is to highlight ferrets as companion animals, promote proper care and enrichment, and raise awareness about their behavior and welfare needs. Many shelters, rescue groups, and exotic-animal veterinarians also use the occasion to encourage adoption and education about responsible ownerships and as a reminder that California continues… The post Shocking That Ferrets Remain Illegal in California: April 2 is World Ferret Day appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has released its latest list of the nation’s most popular dog breeds, and for the fourth consecutive year, the French Bulldog remains America’s top dog (all based on 2025 registration numbers). However, AKC numbers increasingly don’t come close to telling the real story. For one thing, even people who purchase… The post French Bulldogs Are Top Dog Again (Or Are They?) appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
True pet stories that sound like April Fools but these are real. And the animals played April Fool’s joke on us: At about three in the morning the doorbell at their home kept ringing, night after night. This was before the days of doorbell cameras. And by the time family members made it to the… The post April Fools: Who’s Fooling Who? appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
An undercover investigation at an international cockfighting tournament in the Philippines is renewing calls for stronger Federal enforcement against the illegal trafficking of fighting birds from the United States and the broader infrastructure that supports horrific animal-fighting networks worldwide. Investigators with the Center for a Humane Economy attending the six-day World Slasher Cup in Manila… The post U.S. Supporting Cockfighting Overseas and Equipment for the Barbaric Events Sold Online appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
After years of dramatic decline, wild rabbit numbers across Arizona are showing encouraging signs of recovery, according to naturalists and local residents. Beginning in 2018, desert cottontails and other lagomorphs (rabbits) began succumbing to a highly lethal outbreak of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2), which spread rapidly through domestic and wild populations in Arizona… The post Wild Rabbit Numbers Are Hopping Back in Arizona appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Doodle dogs or designer cross breeds are no walk in the dog park, according to a new study published in Plos One, Comparing undesirable behaviours between ‘designer’ Poodle-cross dogs and their purebred progenitor breeds. The study analyzed behavior reports from over 9,400 dogs and found that designer crossbreeds or better known as “doodle dogs” did… The post Doodle Dog Dilemma: New Study Finds Behavioral Challenges appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Ravinia Festival is a Chicago institution and wonderfully picturesque place to see a concert outdoors, and take your own dinner with you and picnic. On Steve Dale’s Other World, WGN Radio, hear Erik Soderstrom, senior director of programming make a very special announcement – not even published quite yet, Snoop Dogg and Erika Badhu have… The post Ravinia 2026 appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
From Steve Dale’s Pet World, Listen HERE as Certified Veterinary technician and specialists in nutrition Kara Burns who announces a fund she’s launching to support studies for improved treatment for diabetic cats and other endocrine issues with the non-proifit EveryCat Health Foundation. The fund, named for one her beloved cats, O’Malley and is the center EveryCat Springing… The post O’Malley Fund: Solutions for Feline Diabetes and Hyperthyroid Disease appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Listen HERE to former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn live from Petterino’s in the heart of Chicago. He’s an affable guy – but you’ve not heard him like this before Pat Quinn served as Illinois’ governor from 2009-2015. During that time, the Chicago native abolished the death penalty, made Illinois one of the first states in… The post Booth 46: Former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
There’s no question (based on multiple sources) that animal hoarding cases are on the rise. Also, Based on interviews with animal control and shelter professionals, researchers have estimated there are roughly 700–2,000 new cases of animal hoarding in the United States each year. If all I did was report on animal hoarding – that’s all… The post Animal Hoarding to the Max appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Orphans of the Storm is the most impactful animal shelter for many North Shore and North Chicago suburbs. Since it’s founding in 1928, over 150,000 dogs and cats have found forever homes. And in recent years the release number is well over 90 percent, positioning the shelter well into “no-kill” territory. However, since the facility… The post Important Event for Chicago Area Orphans of the Storm appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
In 1985 I traveled halfway around the world to participate in Bornean orangutan field research under the guidance of Dr. Birute Galdikas. With Dr. Dian Fossey and Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Galdikas was one of Louis’ Angels (named for the popular TV show from the era, Charlie’s Angels), as primatologist Dr. Louis Leakey hired these… The post Passing of a Friend and Pioneering Primatologist appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
They’re still sold at Easter and people continue to buy real bunnies impulsively at Easter. And as a result estimates are that about 80,000 rabbits die in shelters annually. That’s not to mention how many are literally dumped outdoors, which is a sure death sentence. Rabbits are a wonderful pet but also commitment, no different… The post Rabbits Are Pets Not Easter Props appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Cases of Feline Diabetes Mellitus are climbing nationwide – near epidemic proportion. While feline veterinary visits are on the rise – cats remain under medicalized. The problem is pet parents can’t diagnose diabetes at home. And even more significant challenges are providing insulin on a consistent basis While there are various ways to administer insulin,… The post New EveryCat Fund to Raise Money to Treat Feline Diabetes appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.
Dr. Rustin Moore Dean of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine on his most recent book, Unlocking the Bond: The Power and Paradox of Human-Animal Interactions. Listen HERE to Steve Dale’s Pet World, WGN Radio as he explains what people mean by this, “I rescued the dog but the dog actually rescued me.” Dr. Moore… The post Unlocking the Bond: The Power and Paradox of Human/Animal Interactions appeared first on Steve Dale Pet World.