Animal Radio® Show #665

DEVO Guests on Animal Radio®
The group responsible for introducing new-wave to Generation X is our special guest. Founder Gerald Casale has a brand new song that was written about Seamus, the infamous dog haunting Mitt Romney's campaign.

Do Dogs Dream?
World renown scientist Stanley Coren is answering all the questions we pondered about our dog. Do they dream? If so, what about? Do they know who is in the mirror? Can they see TV? Can dogs hear better than humans? Is it true that a dogs vision is horrible. What colors can our dogs see? So many questions, plenty of time for answers.

Rabid
Rabies is one of the only unconquered fatal diseases both humans and animals have to deal with. While it's mostly in third-world countries, we still have lots to fear in the U.S.! Wired Magazine's Senior Editor Bill Wasik and Veterinarian Monica Murphy fill us in on the world's most diabolical virus.

On the Lighter Side
One man's hopes of selling bird droppings he says bore a resemblance to the late King of Pop have been washed away. Brandon Tudor of Oswego, Illinois says he immediately noticed the likeness to Michael Jackson when the droppings hit the windshield of his 1996 Cadillac Seville. The 29-year-old father of three put the windshield up for sale on eBay with a starting bid of $500,000, but his hopes of turning a profit disappeared when rains washed away the windshield art.

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Animal Radio® Show #664

Bob Barker Makes 10th Guest Shot
The legendary TV host and Animal Advocate Bob Barker is proud that he's the most frequent guest on Animal Radio® and vows to protect that record. He's visiting this time to debunk the myth that the end of movie credit "No Animals Were Harmed" is true. He says Hollywood is in the American Humane Association's pocket, and that money is to blame for most animal cruelty.

Get Your Licks on Route 66
Victoria Stilwell is the spokesperson for this year's cross-country adoption tour, sponsored by Fido Friendly and Animal Radio®. She shares her plans for this tour and what TV show she's working on now.

Over The Top Pet Owners
There should be no shortage of potential profile subjects for this show: Nat Geo has just ordered a new series called Spoiled Rotten Pets, hosted by Howard Stern's wife, Beth Stern. As the nicely self-explanatory title suggests, the series is about pet owners who go over the top when taking care of their animals.

Cheetah Cubs Named After American Sprinters
Two of the planet's fastest land mammals now have names fitting their status. Washington, DC's National Zoo has teamed up with USA Track & Field to name two new cheetah cubs after Justin Gatlin and Carmelita Jeter, who were the fastest American sprinters in the 100-meter dash in the London Olympics.

Your Dog's Golden Years
Jennifer Kachnic has compiled the works of 20 veterinarian's and experts to help prepare you for dealing with an older dog. Everything from supplements to anticipatory grieving, she shares all.

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Animal Radio® Show #663

Funny Lady Jo Anne Worley Guests
Known for her antics on Laugh-in, Jo Anne Worley is an unforgettable voice speaking out for the animals as part of the celebrity group Actors and Others for Animals. She shares the details of her life with a small breed dog and how she sneaks him everywhere.

A Real Life Pet Entertainer
Can you imagine someone devoting their life to entertaining pets, chaperoning them on dates, and performing marriages and Bark-Mitzvahs for the four-legged. Bring your pets around the radio€¦.Lee Day is gonna sing to them.

Mouse Retribution
When a senior complained that a mouse was out to get him, everybody laughed. But when his dentures went missing, who could explain why they were found inside a wall. Did a vengeful mouse really steal this man's teeth?

Michael Vick Wants A Puppy
It seems like it was only a few years ago that football player Michael Vick was convicted of animal cruelty in his involvement with dogfighting. Now he wants to get a puppy for his kid. This evokes emotions on both sides of the fence. Hear what everybody is saying about this.

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Animal Radio® Show #662

M*A*S*H's "Klinger", Jamie Farr Guests
Known for his outlandish role on the long-running series M*A*S*H, Jamie Farr started his career cleaning the cages of chinchillas. Animals have always been a part of his life and he's proud to share his story.

What Are The Chances Your Pet Will Be Lost?
The ASPCA did a survey of pet owners to find out if they ever lost their pets. A Whopping 15% misplaced their furry companion in the last 5 years. What is the best technique for keeping track of your dog or cat, or even iguana? ASPCA's Dr. Emily Weiss explains.

Man Breaks No Laws Dressing As A Goat
The Utah photographer who spotted a person dressed like a mountain goat on an Ogden hillside is describing his encounter. Coty Creighton says the photos showing a costumed human mingling with real wild goats on Ben Lomond Peak. State officials say mountain goats can become aggressive and inflict serious harm. They also worry the individual dressed as a goat could be mistaken for wild game by hunters.

If You Want To Put More Playtime Into Your Life, Get A Dog!
A recent poll shows that adults who have a dog are 30% more likely to carve out opportunities several times a week to play. And for 61%, the play companion they enjoy the most is their dog. By comparison 48% would rather play with their spouse or significant other.

Don't Toss The Cat In With The Laundry
A Scottish woman will most likely sort her laundry a little more carefully after she accidentally tossed her cat in the washing machine. Emma Lothian says her family's ten-week-old tortoiseshell, was apparently sleeping in the laundry basket with a pile of dirty clothes, and wound up going through the hot-water wash cycle before she was discovered.

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Animal Radio® FREE Pets & People Drug Discount Card
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You may already know how expensive pet medication can be. Especially when pet insurance doesn't cover drugs.

All of us at Animal Radio® are doing our best to help out. After all, we're all in the same financial boat and don't want the pets to suffer because a medicine's cost is prohibitive. We made a deal with the top pharmacy benefits managers. Here's what we came up with:

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Or, if you would like us to mail you a free card, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

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Please help spread the word. Your friends will thank you.

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Coming Soon on Animal Radio®

Don't miss our yearly New Pet Product Special LIVE from SuperZoo Mandalay Bay in Vegas. We'll be showcasing all that is fun and new for you and your pet. We'll have giveaways of everything featured. Be listening for more details this September.

Animal Radio® Headlines

Pet Lifestyle Expert Wendy Diamond Joins Animal Radio®

(Los Angeles CA., August 20, 2012) Founder, Chief Pet Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Animal Fair, Wendy Diamond, will join America€™s most-listened-to pet talk, Animal Radio® on September 22, 2012.

Wendy Diamond is an Entrepreneur, Humanitarian, Endangered Animal and Rescue Advocate, World€™s premiere Pet Lifestyle expert, Best Selling Author and TV Personality. Wendy was born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and now resides in New York City with her furry children, Hope Diamond and Pasha. As the tireless voice of disenfranchised animals, Wendy Diamond looks to improve the quality of lives for all animals homeless, sheltered, endangered, or otherwise.

The Animal Radio® Family is comprised of a highly-visible Dream Team of experts, including Dog Trainer Alan Kabel, Veterinarian Dr. Debbie White, News Director Stacey Cohen, Groomer Joey Villani, Animal Communicator Joy Turner, Comedian Vinnie Penn and Reporter Britt Savage.

Animal Radio® Host Hal Abrams stated, "Wendy will be doing a segment on animal charities and participate in the provocative and sometimes irreverent banter between the Dream Team. This completes what has to be the best team on radio!"

Wendy will fit right in and stated she is, "Excited to promote animal rescue and welfare to the world of radio - where we can just blame a pig for my snorts!"

Animal Radio® airs noon eastern on XM Satellite Radio channel 166 and also airs on 102 incredible AM-FM stations across the nation. Visit http://AnimalRadio.com to find a local affiliate. Animal Radio® can also be heard on the animal radio app for iPhone and Android.

Pets Reduce Stress At Work

(BY KYLE PEVETO) Stephen Babcock's dog watches what the Baton Rouge attorney wears every morning.

Tré Dog, a 9-year-old yellow lab, will sulk away if Babcock appears in a suit and tie, realizing the attorney must appear in court or some other place canines aren't allowed.

But if Babcock, 39, puts on a polo shirt or a dress shirt without a tie, Tré Dog "throws a fit to get noticed."

He wants to go to the office.

"It's amazing that by how I'm dressed, he knows if he's going to have a shot at getting to make the ride in the morning or not," Babcock said.

Since he was a puppy, Tré Dog has accompanied Babcock to his office. He naps in front of his master's desk, greets clients and stares out the window at traffic.

Having man's best friend in the office lessens the stress level for pet owners and contributes to a more collegial atmosphere, a recent study by Virginia Commonwealth University found. Babcock agrees.

"As a general rule, when dogs are in the office, it doesn't matter how stressed out you are," he said. "When a Labrador retriever walks up and puts a cold nose on you, it's a different day."

The study, led by VCU business professor Randolph Barker, studied a North Carolina company that has allowed all employees to bring pets to work for 17 years. Over a week, Barker's research aides took saliva samples multiple times each day in search of cortisol, a hormone that indicates stress levels. They also administered a questionnaire so employees could self-report stress.

His study found that pet owners who brought their dogs to the office had less stress than those who did not own pets or left their furry friends at home. Barker found that pet owners who left their pets at home actually experienced greater amounts of stress in the afternoon, possibly reflecting an "increase of concern" about the animals, Barker wrote.

Worry about his 2-month-old Chihuahua puppy led Clyde Lawrence, 59, to bring Pepper to work with him two years ago. His boss at Militello's Shoe Repair, 7474 Corporate Blvd., never told him to stop bringing the dog.

"He's just so small to leave at the house," Lawrence said.

Pepper lies behind the counter on a towel and watches each customer. He interacts more with females, Lawrence said, and he emits a small growl every time he sees the black work boots of shop technician Van Porter trudge past. When thunder begins to rumble outside, Pepper abandons his towel for a small blue cabinet in the shoe repair area.

"You can't have Militello's without Pepper now," Porter said.

On a tough day Lawrence will find himself returning to Pepper, the first dog he's had since he was a child.

"I'll just go pet Pepper," he said. "He enjoys the attention."

The staff and customers of Sprint Print, 4343 Government St., say they have noticed a change in their work lives without a dog nearby. They became accustomed to seeing Lulu Belle the bulldog patrolling the print shop and peeking out from the office of boss Lanny Daigle to watch traffic.

In February the 10-year-old dog was euthanized because of chronic health problems.

"She became such a staple in our lives coming to work every day, it really is a void," Daigle said. "I miss having her. Just knowing she was here was so comforting."

Lulu Belle is memorialized in a mouse pad used at computers around the office, her jowly face peeking up above the Sprint Print logo. While Lanny Daigle's wife would like another dog, he said it was too soon to find another.

The benefits of bringing a pet to work are clear to Dr. Wendy Wolfson, an instructor of veterinary medicine at LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine. However, Wolfson advises pet owners to honestly consider whether their dogs can handle the office.

New people, new smells and new locations can stress some dogs. Also, Wolfson said, conquering stairs and elevators can present quite a challenge to some canines.

"It depends on their personality," she said. "Some dogs, new things don't bother them at all."

Attending work with their owners can definitely benefit pets, Wolfson said. Dogs can receive more stimulation and exercise when otherwise they would be sedentary, waiting at home for the master to arrive.

Before dog owners decide to bring their pooches to the office, they should seriously consider the dog's personality and quirks €” something most pet owners don't do.

"You're so willing to overlook issues with your dogs because you love them," she said.

At Babcock's office, many workers on the fifth floor €” employees of the law firm and other companies €” keep Milk Bones at their desks to feed Tré Dog as he makes his rounds, something Barker's study calls "unique dog-related communication."

"They'll see him running around or come over and visit. Sometimes I take him to visit with them," Babcock said. "Even in those offices where they aren't used to having animals in the office, it's amazing how everybody's eyes light up with a friendly Labrador retriever, and everybody breaks out their chew toys like he's a part of the family."

These interactions create an opportunity for brief exchanges between humans, too, that create a more collegial atmosphere, Barker wrote. When top management at the North Carolina company featured in the study walked their dogs around the office, it seemed to create a "more relaxed climate for interaction with dog owners."

In the 12 years since Babcock has been an attorney, Tré Dog €” or his predecessor, Deuce €” has been a fixture.

"In those 12 years I've never seen a commercial lease that ever had a no-pets provision in it," he said. "You see them in residential leases all the time, but you never see them in commercial leases. Nobody in their right mind would believe that you would take a dog to work with you."

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House calls a growing trend among animal doctors

(AP)LOS ANGELES (Sue Manning) €” Two kids, two pets, two jobs, too much.

That's how it felt to Erin McCarthy when it came time to drag her cat and puppy to the veterinarian. So she jumped on a growing trend among veterinarians and called the vet to her.

House calls are a growing trend among the country's 85,000 veterinarians, said Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a professor at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

It's been a life-saver for McCarthy, whose cat Duke was so afraid of the vet he had to be tranquilized to get there. When he was joined by a Shih Tzu puppy, Pooch, they found a vet who makes house calls, Elisabetta Coletti. McCarthy has made liberal use of text-messaging when a house call isn't necessary.

"When Pooch ate a peppermint patty last week, she was there with instant advice that got us through the night," said McCarthy, a teacher in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The trend is a return to tradition, Beaver said: "We used to call them farm calls." While the vet was taking care of cows and horses and other livestock, he would take care of the family dogs and cats too, she said.

"House calls used to be the bread and butter part of our business," agreed Dr. Margarita Abalos, a relief and concierge vet in Los Angeles.

Then clinics and hospitals, where X-rays could be taken and surgeries performed, became the norm.

Now house calls are making a bit of a comeback, at least in bigger cities and higher income areas, said Abalos, who handles several ranch pigs, goats and sheep in addition to smaller animals.

Seeing an animal at its home enhances the bond between vet, pet and owner, the veterinarians say.

It starts with less stress, said Lisa Beagan in Severna Park, Md., the Mobile Pet Vet. There is no waiting, driving, loading or getting hot and cranky for kids or pets, she said.

"For a lot of animals, it's stressful to go into a strange hospital with all kinds of smells. Cats and dogs are so smell-sensitive, it's like getting bombarded with a kaleidoscope of colors. At home, they don't realize they are having an exam or shots," she said.

House calls help vets solve behavior problems, too.

Beagan had a client who couldn't figure out why her cat was urinating outside its box. Seems the litter box was next to the cat's pet door and when it came through the door and went to the box, the flap on the door would hit it on the behind. Removing the flap solved the problem, she said.

Other pet owners may need a reality check.

"I had a client who, bless her, had these fat, fat cats. I had been at her for years to deal with their weight. She kept saying they were only getting a certain measured amount of food each day," Abalos said. So she made a surprise house call. "There were bowls of food everywhere. I caught her red-handed." They were able to start working on the problem together.

Beagan said many of her pets and owners are geriatric and have trouble getting in and out of cars, so house calls help them all.

House calls can cost twice as much as an office visit, but every vet is different. Charges have to be higher because sometimes the vets can only make it to three or four homes in a day and they have to limit client numbers.

In New York, house calls may be as necessary as they are convenient, Coletti said, because many cab drivers won't stop for someone with a dog or cat and many New Yorkers, including Coletti, don't have cars.

Coletti makes her house calls on bicycle, with her cocker spaniel Milo in the front basket and supplies and equipment in a rear trailer.

Coletti helped Carrie Dirks Amodeo through the death of her cat, Delphi, several months ago. At the same time Delphi got sick, Dirks Amodeo had her second son. She had to leave Delphi's care to Coletti.

"She would come after the kids went to bed and take care of the cat, then she'd let herself out," Dirks Amodeo said.

When Delphi had to have surgery, Coletti went with Dirks Amodeo and the boys.

And when the time came, Coletti put Delphi down.

Vets who make house calls say home euthanasia is one of the most important parts of their practices.

Flying can be deadly for some pets, reports show

A dog named Cup Cake was flying American Airlines from New Jersey to Florida via Texas when it ended up dead on an airport runway.

Shipped as cargo Jan. 17 from Newark to Orlando with a transfer in Dallas, the pet was in a snap-together kennel, contrary to American Airlines policy, according to a report filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

While being unloaded in Orlando, the kennel fell apart, allowing the dog to escape, the report stated.

According to incident reports, shipping animals as cargo is usually safe, but every year in the United States two to three dozen pets die in transit.

Some cases are due to airline negligence and some are due to animals' preexisting health conditions, the federally mandated reports indicate.

In a case the Houston Chronicle reported last week, a woman flying United Airlines from Korea to Charlotte, N.C., with a stop in Houston, learned that her dog suffered apparent heat stroke after becoming entangled in its harness inside the carrier.

Houston employees with the airline's PetSafe program took the 14-pound terrier mix to a local veterinarian, who determined that the animal's death was not transit-related, United said.

Airlines are required by federal law to report incidents of injury, loss or death. The reports can be seen at airconsumer.dot.gov/reports.

35 deaths in 2011

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 17 animals died in the first six months of this year during transit as cargo with a U.S. airline. This figure is on a similar pace to the 35 deaths recorded in 2011, 39 in 2010 and 23 in 2009.

These figures represent tiny fractions of the animals shipped. More than 2 million pets and other live animals are transported by air each year in the United States, according to an estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Proper precautions

Marc Morrison, president of Animal Land Pet Movers, a pet shipping service that flies or drives animals according to client's wishes, said the number of pet deaths related to air shipment is "exceedingly small."

To fly animals, the company uses commercial airlines, Morrison said.

"As long as there are proper precautions in place, with 95 percent of them being common sense, it's still exceedingly safe," Morrison said. "We fly well over 1,000 pets a year, and in 12 years, we've had two incidents (deaths)."

One local veterinarian, Dr. Cynthia Rigoni, who specializes in cats, said she has assisted many clients in preparing cats for shipment and travels often with her own cats to shows.

"I've helped people ship cats all over the world," she said. "I don't think a week goes by here when I'm not doing some form of a health certificate (required for air travel). Our pets are traveling a lot these days."

Anyone planning to ship an animal by air should check requirements with the airlines and also research tips from such organizations as the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

Ask the Animal Radio® Dream Team

Listen to Animal Radio® LIVE every Saturday at noon eastern and Sundays at 5pm eastern on XM ch. 166 (America's Talk) or on any of the 102 AM-FM radio stations. Call with your questions toll-free 1-866-405-8405 or email yourvoice@AnimalRadio.com

Dry Skin

Mark: What would be a great lotion or oil to use on my dachsund she has real dry skin and constantly biting and itching.also would like to put her on a diet shes a little over weight any ideas or suggestions on what and best way to feed her.

Dr: Debbie: Any dog that has skin issues really should be on an omega fatty acid supplement, often known as fish oils. I prefer the high potency formulas that designate the amount of EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) and that don't just say milligrams of fish oil. Buy US made, not China derived products. Look for products such as Eicosaderm liquid or 3V caps, both are very good. Some folks ask about Flax oil and corn oil- but they are richer in linolenic acids and not very useful for dogs.

You might also try using a topical ceramide spot on. Ceramides are important parts of the skin's protective barrier and often deficient in pets with allergies or other skin conditions. These are liquids that are spotted on skin and applied weekly to monthly. Ask your vet for Allerderm spot on or Duoxo spot on.

When we talk about weight loss there is a lot to consider- daily activity, current diet, treats, multiple dogs in home and method of feeding (open bowl or meal feeding). If she isn't on a low calorie formula at this time, then that would be step one. Make sure you limit her treat items...meaning no table scraps and switch treat items to low cal snacks like the dry biscuits, or offer baby carrots instead. Amp up her activity with walks, runs or playtime.

While I do watch the number on the scale, I prefer to make weekly adjustments on feeding amount based on the dog's body condition. Check out this article on how to score body condition: http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2009/may/body-condition-scoring-fat-pets-and-case-one-hefty-dog

Dogs and Broccoli

Jose: I was wondering if it was okay to feed my dog broccoli?

Dr. Debbie: Broccoli is typically safe to feed to dogs as the occasional treat. But broccoli does contain Isothiocyanate, a toxin that can cause stomach upset when eaten in large amounts. Problems arise when over 10% of a dog's diet is broccoli....a situation most pet owners would never achieve.

Broccoli does offer useful nutrients - vitamin A, C and antioxidants so it is a healthier treat than many other pet treat options.

Funny how some dog's really enjoy the crunch of broccoli!

Fall Discounts and Promo Codes
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