Animal Cancer Foundation
Dr. Gerald Post

Cancer is no longer a death sentence for dogs or cats. Amazing breakthroughs in technology allow vets to treat cancer fairly effectively. Dr. Gerald Post from the Animal Cancer Foundation is back to answer questions.

Cancer is the most common disease we see in our aging animals. However, it is also one of the most treatable. While it might not be curable in many cases, it is still incredibly treatable.

Dogs and cats are very similar to people when it comes to what keeps cancer at bay. What keeps our tissue healthy and what keeps our cells healthy is exercise. So a good amount of exercise for our pets absolutely helps. A good diet is also beneficial to warding off cancer. Good nutrition should include balanced carbohydrates and fat.

Is there a connection with pets in a household with smokers contracting cancer? Just like in people, secondhand smoke does increase the risk of cancer in animals. Unlike people where smoking causes an increase in lung cancer, in cats, because they are such fastidious groomers, they have a higher increase of gastrointestinal lymphoma. This is because they lick their fur clean and ingest the smoke. So if you are not going to stop smoking for your own health, think of your pet!

There are some breeds that are predisposed to either one or multiple cancers. Here is a list of some of those breeds:

Golden Retriever: Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma
Rottweiler: Osteosarcoma, Histiocytic Sarcoma
Flat-coated Retriever: Lymphoma, Histiocytic Sarcoma
Scottish Terrier: Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Greyhound: Osteosarcoma
Large and Giant breed dogs: Osteosarcoma
West Highland White Terrier: Transitional Cell Carcinoma
Boxer: Lymphoma, Mast Cell Tumor, and Brain Tumor
Chow Chow: Gastric Carcinoma

By knowing what breed you have and what to look for, sometimes you can catch diseases, as well as cancer, at an early enough stage so that you can potentially cure them. When your dog reaches age 5 or so, you should routinely do ultrasounds, x-rays and physical exams every 6 months to a year. These tests are not necessarily expensive, and can cause you and your dog a lot less pain and suffering, as well as save you money in the long run.

There are things you can do to help prevent cancer in your pets. Give them a good balanced diet, keep them at a good weight and keep them active. Also, have them seen regularly by a vet, so if something does show up, you can find it early.

Best Destinations to Please Your Pet and You
Kelly Carter, The Dog Lover's Guide To Travel

Kelly Carter has traveled the world with her Chihuahua, Lucy. Now she's telling us the best places to take your pet. She even has tips for making the journey more pet friendly and comfortable.

New York Times bestselling author and pet parent Kelly E. Carter, and her beloved longhaired Chihuahua, Lucy, give you the inside scoop on pet-friendly hotels and restaurants, beaches, parks, and dog runs, plus the lowdown on events for four-legged visitors and dog-friendly attractions. From Sanibel Island, FL, to Whistler, BC, from Montreal, QC, and Nantucket, MA, to San Francisco, CA, The Dog Lover's Guide to Travel showcases 75 of the best pet-friendly vacation destinations across the U.S. and Canada.

Along with great places to visit with your pet, Kelly also has some great tips, which include how to determine if your pet is really ready for a trip. She says not every dog likes to travel and, unfortunately, you usually don't find out until you are already on the road together. It is important that your dog likes to travel just as much as you do. We all know that there are people who are happy to just stay home and our pets are the same way.

While Kelly hasn't seen a certain breed of dog that likes to travel more than others, she does state that it is easier to travel with a small dog when it comes to places like airplanes. She also says not to take a dog like a Husky to Arizona in the middle of the summer.

While all airlines have their own rules, Kelly tells us that the only thing that is standard when traveling with a dog is that they must be at least 8 weeks of age, set by the Animal Welfare Act. After that, each airline sets their own policies. Some allows a combined weight of dog and carrier to 18 pounds, while others will allow up to 22 pounds. But one rule across the board is that the dog must be able to fit in the carrier and be able to turn around while in the carrier. Be aware that airlines will check this upon check-in. They will ask to see the pet. Kelly tells us of instances where people have shoved huge dogs into small carriers, because they don't want to check them as baggage. However, these people have been denied boarding.

Kelly found out the hard way about special rules when traveling with Lucy on a plane. She was carrying a 16-ounce can of unopened dog food. TSA wouldn't allow her to take it on the plane, as they classified it as a liquid. Kelly argued and asked them if they would allow a jar of baby food on board, to which they replied yes. She then said that Lucy was her baby and that was her food. Lucy was on a special prescribed diet and Kelly was afraid she wouldn't be able to obtain it right away at her destination. Kelly then mentioned she was a reporter, pulled out a tape recorder and said she wanted names and wanted to record the conversation. They finally relented and let her through with the food.

When asked what Kelly and Lucy's favorite place to travel was, Kelly said Vienna, Austria. Everyone knows that the French fawn over pets and allow them in restaurants, but who knew that Vienna treats dogs the same! Kelly was staying at the Ritz Carlton Hotel with Lucy and was visiting one of their restaurants alone. She was then asked where her dog was and that she should bring her down. They already had everything set up for her, including a bowl, water and even a bed. This isn't just for small dogs, but large dogs as well. Kelly doesn't feel that we will ever get to this point with our pets in the United States because of our health laws, but it's nice to know that this does go on elsewhere.

Remember to always check the country where you are taking you dog for any quarantine laws.

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Paint A Memory and Keepsake
Aimee Cecil, EASY 123 ART

Amy Cecil is bringing back the fun of paint-by-numbers to the pet world. You can easily create a masterpiece painting of your pet with Amy's "Easy 1-2-3 Art" system.

Did you ever do a paint-by-numbers kit as a child? They were so much fun and made you look like you knew what you were doing. Well, it's not just for kids any more!

While there are many companies that still produce paint-by-numbers kits, including Easy 123 Art, Aimee Cecil has taken it one step further. She will take any picture that you send in and turn it into a paint-by-number kit.

It's so easy. All you have to do is choose and upload your favorite photo. Next, select your canvas size, frame and color. The color palettes include vintage, color and even black and white. You will then receive everything you need to paint your own personalized picture, including paintbrushes, paint and frame. Lastly, all you have to do is paint!

When you are done, you will have an original painting that you can then hang in your home or give as a gift. This is also a great way to memorialize a pet that has passed.

Aimee tells is that about 50-percent of the photos she receives are for pets. Other pictures have been of couples, kids, babies, cars, weddings, etc.

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Vegas Bats Positive for Rabies - What's the Risk? - Dr. Debbie

Think your pet doesn't need a rabies vaccine because it lives indoors? Think again. Bats have been known to fly through open windows or chimneys. Dogs and cats that go outdoors are at risk for rabies exposure through wildlife. Felines that hunt and bring "presents" have added rabies risk.

What is Rabies?
Rabies is a viral disease causing encephalitis (brain inflammation) that affects all mammals including humans. The disease is almost always fatal. Over 70,000 people worldwide die of rabies every year, but fortunately U.S. human deaths are fewer than 10 per year. Pet and farm animal rabies cases do occur in the U.S. though, usually after tangling with wildlife.

How is Rabies Passed?
Rabies is passed in saliva through the bite of a rabid animal. Less common exposures to rabies include aerosol transmission, mucous membrane contact, or rare cases of organ transplant in humans.

What Are Symptoms of Rabies?
Excessive drooling, aggression, staggering and seizures are symptoms of rabies in animals. Wild carnivores, like coyotes, that avoid people are suspect if lacking fear and approaching humans. Nocturnal species like bats that are found out during daylight are also suspect for rabies.

What Kind of Animals Carry Rabies?
Although pet and human rabies cases in the U.S. are rare, the infection still abounds in wildlife reservoirs. In the Las Vegas area, bats are most commonly carriers, but other wildlife carriers include raccoons, skunks and foxes.

What Do You Do If You See a Sick or Dying Bat?
Avoid contact with sick or dying bats. Do not take sick bats to the veterinarian. Call Animal Control if any human or pet exposure to sick bat.

Despite the rabies concern, bats do have an important role in our ecosystem by consuming insects and pollinating plants. Not every bat has rabies, and there are other reasons bats die.

What Do I Do If a Person or Pet is Scratched or Bitten By a Bat or Other Wildlife?
If your pet gets into a fight with a skunk or raccoon, or plays with a dying or dead bat, there is potential for rabies exposure and a report should be made. Call animal control to have the bat or other wildlife picked up.

Possible rabies exposure is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Because rabies is fatal, any humans with suspect rabies exposure should make a report to the local health department. Fortunately post exposure treatment for people is very effective in preventing disease, and doesn't involve painful stomach injections reported of long ago.

What Happens to Pets After Exposure to Suspected or Known Rabies?
Ultimately local rabies ordinances dictate how each case is handled. Pets with current or late rabies vaccinations may be quarantined for 10 days. A pet that never has had a rabies vaccine may be promptly euthanized and tested for rabies. In other cases of unvaccinated pets, extended quarantine periods up to 6 months may arise.

What Can I Do to Protect My Pets and Family From Rabies?
- Vaccinate animals for rabies - this includes dogs, cats, ferrets and select farm animals.
- Teach children never to handle bats.
- Do not keep wild animals as pets.
- Spay and neuter your pets to decrease the desire to roam.
- Maintain control of your pets when outdoors or hiking to avoid accidental exposure to wildlife.
- Bat-proof your home and garage to avoid nesting sites and close encounters with bats.
- Report human bites from pets or wildlife to public health and animal control authorities.

Vaccination is key to protecting pets from rabies and offers peace of mind to pet owners. Rabies vaccine is typically inexpensive.

Rabies vaccination…Just do it!

Featured veterinarian known as "Dr. Debbie" on national pet radio program, Animal Radio. Ebook author of "Yorkshire Terriers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Pugs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Mini Schnauzers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; and "Shih Tzu: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend." Dr. Debbie's books.

Animal Radio News - Tammy Trujillo

One Million Pibble March 10-Year Anniversary
There's a Million Man March, Million Mom March and a Million Pibble March on Washington. What's a Pibble? It's a name for Pit Bulls. Thousands of pit bull advocates convened on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on May 3rd, 2024 for the 10 Year Anniversary of the One Million Pebble March. The message was to create stronger laws against dogfights and stop legislation that restricts ownership of certain breeds of dogs. The march was organized by comedian and pit bull advocate Rebecca Corey. No Pibbles were allowed, a decision that Corey took a lot of heat for, but she says there are always dangers in bringing many dogs of any breed together in what could be a stressful situation. Anyway, she says that dogs cannot change laws, only people can do that. Corey's Pit Bull advocacy group is called Stand Up for Pits.

Pet Ownership Requires Completing Training Course
If you want to own a dog or a cat in Turkey, take a course. Pet ownership has been exploding in that country and the government is making sure animals are protected. Amendments to the Animal Rights bill lay down criteria to own animals and set standards for their comfort and well-being. Future pet owners even have to undergo training first and graduate with an animal-care certificate. The committee also considered a requirement to take any animal hurt in a traffic accident to a vet for treatment.

Vet Tells Guardians Dog Was Euthanized - Dog Later Found Alive in Cage For Months
This is an absolutely horrifying story! A veterinarian in Fort Worth, Texas, faced animal cruelty charges for allegedly keeping a dog that he was supposed to euthanize alive and using him for months as a blood donor. The family of the 4-year-old Leonburger was tipped off by a vet tech that had resigned. The family stormed the vet's office and there was their dog. Court records reportedly showed that their dog was not the only one that the veterinarian kept alive after telling owners they had been euthanized. Unfortunately, criminal charges against the vet were dropped. None of these families opted to stay with their pets during their final moments.

Do you sleep with your pet? Should you sleep with your pet?
That's been debated for years. So what do vets think? Vetstreet.com did a poll and of the 255 vets asked, 75-percent said they let their pets share the bed with them. Some people are more likely to let a cat in the bed because they take up less space, but 52-percent of those vets let both cats and dogs in. What about being a disruption to sleep? According to the poll, 13-percent of doctors say they think pets help them sleep, 28-percent say their pets hinder their sleep and more than 50-percent say they see no difference.

Red Panda Complete With Custom Made Tree House
If you're going to be stopping by the San Francisco Zoo, you might want to check out a special resident. He's a red panda and his home comes complete with a custom-made tree house built by the crew from the Animal Planet show "Tree House Masters." Red pandas are native to the eastern Himalayas and western. If you've never seen one, they are noted for their distinctive bushy tail and pointy ears and they're usually not much bigger than a domestic house cat, about two feet long and between 8 and 12 pounds.

Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1286)