Should You Treat Your Pet Like a Child? A Veterinary Psychiatrist on Finding the Right Balance for a Happy, Healthy Pet
I used to worry about people who consider their pets their “children”. Was treating them like humans harming them? Were they making them anxious or frustrated by expecting them to be something they’re not?
I still worry a little, but this episode helped me (and hopefully you!) understand how to find a balance that meets both your needs and your pet’s, so you can truly live happily ever after.
Veterinary psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Malamed joins me to break down:
🔹 Why treating pets like family isn’t the problem—misunderstanding their needs is
🔹 How to respect your pet as an individual rather than forcing them to fit your expectations—or those of friends and family
🔹 How we often misread pet body language (wagging tails ≠ happiness!)
🔹 Why forcing pets outside their comfort zones can backfire
🔹 The real connection between emotional and physical well-being in pets
🔹 How to enrich their lives in ways that truly fulfill them—not just ourselves
This episode will challenge the way you think about your relationship with your pet—and help you build a stronger, healthier bond based on understanding, not assumptions.
📢 Love this episode? Share it with a fellow pet parent and help more animals live their best lives!
