Bark N Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk

This week on Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk podcast we are talking to Nicole Scherer, VP of Labrador Connection in Woodstock, IL, about how you can get involved and volunteer with a rescue near you. Please like and subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio and YouTube.

Rabies is a virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs, cats and humans. Though preventable, there is good reason that the word “rabies” evokes fear in people. The disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii, and everywhere throughout the world except for Australia and Antarctica. Annually, rabies causes the deaths of more than 50,000 humans and millions of animals worldwide. Once symptoms appear, the disease results in fatality. How Would My Dog Get Rabies? Since animals who have rabies secrete large amounts of virus in their saliva, the disease is primarily passed to dogsthrough a bite from an infected animal. It can also be transmitted through a scratch or when infected saliva makes contact with mucous membranes or an open, fresh wound. The risk runs highest if your dog-or any pet-is exposed to wild animals. The most common carriers of the rabies virus in this country are bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. In the United States, rabies is reported in cats more t

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5 Steps to Animal Communication Workshop   EARLY BIRD PRICING UNTIL JULY 31st- DON'T MISS OUT!!   Learn to communicate with animals! Enjoy a day of communicating and learning to listen to animals with Cindy Myers, author of 5 Steps to Animal Communication and Alpacas Don't Do That, and intuitive energy healer for animals and humans.  No alpaca experience is neccessary. These techniques work for all species. Aug 19, 2017  7660 bradley Rd Somis, CA 93066 9am-4pm Lunch provided Visit: http://www.beananimallistener.com/august2017/ to get tickets!

This podcast is sponsored by Rover.com. For  $25 off your first booking, visit rover.com/vettalk and use promo code vettalk during checkout!  Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, trainer at Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, NC on tips on having your dog come when they are called. Welcome Kersti...... When dogs fail to come when called their behavior falls into one of two categories: active or passive disobedience. With passive disobedience, the dog doesn’t come and it isn’t doing much else besides. Instead it simply stands, sits or lies down and watches its owner call. Either the dog is apprehensive of approaching (a major temperament emergency), or it fails to see the relevance of the owner’s request and simply can not be bothered (a minor trainingemergency). With active disobedience, however, not only does the dog not come, but also, it has a darn good time not coming. This is a major training emergency. Why dogs don’t come: Apprehen

Welcome Cindy..... In Alpacas Don't Do That, Cindy Myers describes how her relationship with alpacas and other animals in her life, provided a new career path and lifestyle. She went from suburban life with steady career in engineering to owning and operating an alpaca farm. Alpacas opened up not only a new lifestyle, but Cindy developed and adapted positive reinforcement, Clicker Training methods and using Reiki to work with alpacas. While training her animals and using these techniques, her life has been transformed by her interaction with the animals that have crossed Cindy's path. This book shares those life changing lessons and stories.   http://www.beananimallistener.com/contact/

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in Dogs   Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst (herniate) into the spinal cord space. These discs then press on the nerves running through the spinal cord causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis.   Breeds of dog that are predisposed to IVDD include the Dachshund, Beagle, Basset Hound, and Shih Tzu.   Symptoms and Types   Made up of a gelatinous substance surrounded by a thick outer layer, intervertebral discs are basically the shock absorbers of the spine. There are two types of disc herniation seen in dogs: Type I and Type II, of which Type II generally has less severe signs and symptoms.   Symptoms of IVDD may include:   Unwillingness to jump Pain and weakness in rear legs (lameness) Crying out in pain Anxious behavior Muscle spasms over back or neck Hunched back or neck with tense muscles Reduced appetite and activity level Loss of bladder and/or bowel control

Dr. Jeff Werber has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 30 years and is one of a select few actively-practicing veterinary medical journalists in the U.S. He serves on the advisory board of Veterinary Economics Magazine.   Known to the world and his clients as “Doc Hollywood,” Dr. Werber has frequently appeared as an expert guest on Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Rachael Ray, Fox & Friends, Inside Edition, CBS’ The Early Show, CNN, and Fox News, among others. Many people may also remember him from his days hosting Petcetera on Animal Planet and Lassie’s Pet Vet on PBS. He also cares for furry friends of many of Hollywood's biggest stars.   Dr. Werber dedicates his time to several animal welfare and rescue organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society, Last Chance for Animals, Hounds and Heroes, Angel City Pits, Forever Fido, Wags and Walks, Eloise, Bichons and Buddies, and Bill Foundation. Itching is the number one reason for veterinary visits, yet millions of dogs continue to suffer b

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk, I am your host Polly ReQua. Today we are talking to Cindy Myers, Animal Listener and Intuitive Coach. Welcome Cindy..... I would like to share a little about what I do and how I got here working with both animals and two-leggers (humans...you will understand that terminology in a few minutes;) One of the frequently asked questions I get from my clients and workshop attendees is if I have always been able to communicate intuitively with animals and have empathic energy skills. The answer to that question is no, not really. I’ve always loved animals, but I was not aware of having any intuitive senses or that I could do healing energy work until I was an adult. I’ve always been a good listener. But, if twenty years ago, someone told me I’d be living on a farm with about 30 alpacas, 3 dogs, and 2 barn cats working as an intuitive energy healer and animal communicator, I would have laughed and thought that was the craziest thing I ever heard! Why I call mys

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to Stacy Pursell, CEO/Global Executive Recruiter for Animal Health & Nutrition, Animal Science, Pet Product Industry and a Veterinary Recruiter from The Vet Recruiter.  The VET Recruiter -thevetrecruiter.com E-mail Stacy at stacy@thevetrecruiter.com or call at 918-298-7025 or 800-436-0490.      

  MOOSE CAN BE AGGRESSIVE. Moose have evolved defenses to keep them from becoming easy prey. Unfortunately for humans, moose sometimes perceive us as threats. When a moose feels threatened it has only two choices, either to flee or attack. Normally it will flee, and we can feel glad or apologetic, but when a moose decides to be aggressive, we can find ourselves in a dangerous situation. Moose can become aggressive in winter when they are hungry, tired of walking in deep snow, and being harassed by dogs and people. During mating season bull moose may be aggressive towards other bulls and humans. Each year in Alaska more people are injured by moose than by bears. In the past ten years two people have died from moose attacks in the Anchorage area. Each year there are at least 5-1O moose-related injuries in the Anchorage area alone, with many reports of charging moose in neighborhoods or on ski trails. AVOlD CONFRONTAT1ONS. First and most important to avoiding confrontations is to give moose plenty of room. D

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss vitamins. Do you need to give your dog vitamins? Welcome. Let’s start with puppies…. Do I need to supplement my puppy's diet? Should I supplement my adult dog's diet? Talk with your veterinarian to determine which supplements may be beneficial for your dog. What if my dog is super active? What if my dog is on a diet? High quality light foods should contain adequate vitamins and minerals. If you are only feeding your pet less of his regular food to cut down, you may want to supplement with a multivitamin. Should I give my senior dog supplements? Aging dogs have special nutritional needs, and some of those can be supplied in the form of supplements. A large percentage of older dogs suffer from arthritis. We recommend a daily supplement containing glucosamine, for dogs suffering from arthritis, hip dyspla

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to Stacy Pursell, CEO/Global Executive Recruiter for Animal Health & Nutrition, Animal Science, Pet Product Industry and a Veterinary Recruiter. Welcome Stacy….. I am excited to have you on the podcast today to talk about employment in the animal field.   Please tell us about The Vet Recruiter and your roll?   How did your career lead you to become an animal recruiter?   If listeners are interested in any positions on your website, should they send you their resume?   The VET Recruiter -thevetrecruiter.com E-mail Stacy at stacy@thevetrecruiter.com or call at 918-298-7025 or 800-436-0490.      

You are listening to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking with Chris Wallen, Volunteer with LEARN, Labrador Education and Rescue Network servicing Northern Illinois and Wisconsin.   Welcome Chris….. First – thank you for all that you do for Labs. As a volunteer for LEARN it is such a pleasure to have you on the podcast. Two weeks ago we talked with Dr. Meredith Rives about Puppy Mills. Opening our eyes on this terrible practice. In January LEARN rescued 14 dogs from a backyard breeder. This is the second time you had rescued Labs from this breeder. The first rescue saved 11 Labradors. You dedicated the mission as Stop the Madness – Operation Sunday Labs.  Please tell us what is a backyard breeder? Backyard breeder is a term used to describe amateur animal breeders whose breeding is considered substandard, with little or misguided effort towards ethical, selective breeding. ... Larger commercial operations of a similar type that breed dogs are usually termed a

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, Trainer at Dog Training Camp USA, in Raleigh, NC on how to potty train your puppy. Welcome Kersti House training your puppy is about consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. The goal is to instill good habits and build a loving bond with your pet. It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside. Your puppy's previous living conditions are another predictor. You may find that you need to help your puppy break old habits in order to establish more desirable ones. When to Begin House Training Puppy Experts recommend that you begin house training your puppy when he is between 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. At that point, he has enough control of his bladder and bowel movements to learn to hold it. If

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss fish oil supplements for your pet. Fish oil for dogs and cats can greatly improve skin, coat, joint, and heart health, and more, in dogs and cats. The benefits of fish oil for dogs can be surprisingly far-reaching. Fish oil for dogs and cats supports the health of the skin, coat, joint, kidneys, heart, and immune system. It’s even been shown to aid in more serious problems, like cancer. Here’s what you need to know about what fish oil can do for your pet, and what to expect. WHAT’S IN FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS? Fish oil supplements contain two essential fatty acids: EPA and DHA (or eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). Both are omega-3 fatty acids that can only be made in a limited capacity in dogs and are even more poorly synthesized in cats. These two fatty acids come straight from fish like sa

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, trainer at Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, NC on how to crate train. Welcome Kersti….. First of all, understand that crate training is not cruel. In spite of what some people may have told you, breeders and veterinarians recommend using a crate for your dog from a young age. For thousands of years, dogs in the wild have sought out small “dens,” where they can feel safe and sheltered while resting, caring for puppies, or recovering from an injury or illness. Giving your puppy his own personal bedroom can help him feel more secure. This method is also extremely effective for house training while you're not keeping a hawk eye on them—dogs won’t want to soil their bed, but will have little issue with sneaking into another room of the house to go if they’re not yet fully trained. Finally, crate training can help prevent anxiety. For puppies, overseeing a big house when no one is with them can be overwh

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL about seizures. What do you do if your dog has a seizure?   What Are the Symptoms of Seizures? Symptoms can include collapsing, jerking, stiffening, muscle twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth. Dogs can fall to the side and make paddling motions with their legs. They sometimes poop or pee during the seizure. Some dogs may look dazed, seem unsteady or confused, or stare off into space before a seizure. Afterward, your dog may be disoriented, wobbly, or temporarily blind. He may walk in circles and bump into things. He might have a lot of drool on his chin and could be bleeding in his mouth if he bit himself. He may try to hide. What Are the Types of Seizures? The most common kind is the generalized seizure, also called a grand mal seizure. A dog can lose consc

Welcome to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to Dr. Meredith Rives, Owner of Natural Touch Veterinary Care in Evanston, IL about puppy mills and what we can do to stop the madness. Welcome Merry…..Please tell us about puppy mills and how we can stop this awful business. Buyer Beware: The Problem with Puppy Mills Choosing to bring a new canine companion into your life is an exciting but involved decision-making process, especially when deciding where to get one. You might have concerns about "puppy mills"  and want to know how to steer clear of them. Perhaps you don't even know what these are and need more information. As you begin your research, here are some things to consider: Puppy mills Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce dogs (and cats in cat mills) for sale through pet stores, or directly to consumers through classified ads or the Internet. Roughly 90 percent of puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. Many retailers wh

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL, about spaying or neutering your pet and when is the best time to do it. By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets) your animals. Here are some of the medical benefits: Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate proble