2017 "SUPERZOO - NATIONAL SHOW FOR RETAILERS" SPECIAL

Since 2003, Animal Radio has been showcasing the latest toys, gadgets and technology available for your pet. Our 2017 SUPERZOO SPECIAL is no different. We will be featuring the latest gadgets as well as cutting-edge technology for your pets. And the best part? We have giveaways for you!

This week's pick is the GoPure Water Purifier Pod. The pod will enhance your pet's water, encouraging them to drink more.

GoPure Pod keeps your dog or cat healthy by providing them with plenty of fresh, clean water. Your tap water may contain lead, fluoride or other chemicals proven to be dangerous for pets. GoPure Pet will remove these impurities and other contaminants. Designed to attach to most bowls, the pod is protected from inquisitive pets. GoPure works continuously all day long to purify and enhance your pet's water, which ensures their water remains healthy and fresh. At Animal Radio all we did was place it in a clean bowl (there are suction cups to keep it attached) and filled it with water. We don't understand the science behind it, but we do know that both the studio cats and dogs were attracted to the bowl. They were a little curious as to what was in the bowl, but they ignored it and drank more water than usual.

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Taking The Fear Free Movement Home
Dr. Marty Becker, Fear Free

Many veterinarians are practicing "Fear Free." Pets that like going to the veterinarian are generally healthier. Now, the Fear Free movement is coming to your home with ideas for enriching your pet's life everyday. Dr. Marty Becker is back to explain how your pets can live an improved lifestyle.

We have always been concerned with out pets physical well-being. Now we need to also look at their mental well-being. This is where "Fear Free" comes in.

For far too long the veterinary professional has just been focused on physical well-being. This included thinks like vaccinations, parasite control, clean ears and short nails. When an animal was sick or injured, a vet would take care of them.

However, the emotional distress that an animal had was treated like collateral damage. Yes, the owner might have had to literally drag them in; and yes, the cat might fly out of the carrier like a furry jack-in-the box, but they got the job down not matter what it took. In other words, the end justified the means.

Now there is the "Fear Free Movement," which currently is an advisory group of about 175 people. There are only 73-boarded veterinary behaviorists in the country and 53 of them are part of this advisory group. Other people on the board include icons like Temple Grandin, the head of animal cognition at Duke, the head of animal cognition lab at Columbia, the head of animal cognition at Barnard and people that know about the non-human mind.

What they are trying to do is make veterinary care more like pediatric dentistry or pediatric medicine. This has changed so much from when we were younger and many of us were manhandled and manipulated, threatened and abused. Now, these offices are geared towards children to make them comfortable and relaxed to where they actually enjoy going. This is what they are trying to do for our pets.

For veterinarians, there is an online training program that veterinarians can take to make themselves and their office more fear free for their patients. When the Fear Free Movement started, they had hoped to get 1,000 veterinarians and veterinarian technicians the first year. Now fifteen months later, they already have 18,000 signed up.

Dr. Becker tells us a story about a Cur Hound named Clyde. It was Clyde's last day, as he was set to be euthanized. However there is a group back east called the Underhound Railroad, who took Clyde from the south to the north, to a shelter in Pennsylvania. When a police officer, who was severely injured during an arrest and was on full disability saw Clyde, she fell in love with him an adopted him on first sight. This woman then took Clyde through the necessary training to become an assistance animal, like picking things up from the floor, answering the door and bringing her the phone. She also went though the training to have Clyde become a certified therapy dog. So now Clyde is both an assistance animal for her and a therapy dog for others.

However, as part of animal assisted therapy, before going in to nursing homes and hospitals, the animal must have a freshly groomed coat and short nails. The woman then took Clyde to her veterinarian, who she has been with for ten years, and asked them to trim Clyde's nails. She told them that it was very hard for her to do and they assured her that they could do it very easily.

They then took Clyde in the back while she waited. All of a sudden, she hears Clyde screaming, a scream she had never heard before. A few minutes later a technician came out drenched in sweat and looked shell-shocked. She handed her the leash and said Clyde does not like to have his nails trimmed and that it took four of them to do the job. She was then told that Clyde needs to go to a trainer. When she took Clyde to the car, he was covered in urine, feces, anal gland secretions along with the sweat of the people who held him down.

When she got home she called a trainer who had gone through the Fear Free Certification. She then decided to go to a local veterinarian who had also been Fear Free Certified.

Clyde went to the new vet office hungry, because they had really high value food rewards. They had turkey and cheese as well as bacon. Clyde got to go in and had a treat, while lying on a yoga mat infused with pheromones.

Since they could gauge his weight, they gave him a small amount of sedative and he was perfectly relaxed. While they gave a pretzel stick with peanut butter on it, they trimmed his nails, and he never stopped wagging his tail. His owner couldn't believe it!

This shows you the difference. A veterinarian office that continues to treat animals like their feelings don't matter and that they need to restrain them with whatever it takes, needs to either change or go out of business.

The Fear Free Movement is being practiced in many veterinary offices, but you can also practice this at home. There is now the "Fear Free Happy Homes" movement.

If you visit a Fear Free veterinarian and even though your dog or cat has a great visit at their office, unfortunately they can still go home and have fear and anxiety. "Fear Free Happy Homes," is reducing fear, anxiety and stress at home and also increasing enrichment activities.

For example, for cats, carriers can be left out around the house to become a natural part of the landscape, perhaps sitting out near inviting food or with the top off so that it becomes an intriguing box to investigate. This way, the carrier doesn't suddenly appear as a menacing object that's inevitably associated with a trip to the vet. For dogs, it may be things like basic training, daily walks and food puzzles to challenge their minds.

Visit their website for tips on making your home fear free and to locate a Fear Free Veterinarian near you.

Trapped In A Hot Vehicle
Steve Burdo, Contra Costa County Animal Services

Your dog doesn't need to be in a hot car to suffer from heat exhaustion. Temperatures above 82 degrees are enough to cause a fatal reaction. Steve Burdo from Contra Costa Animal Services sat inside his Acura as temperatures soared about 115 degrees. He did this to bring attention to the new California law that allows people to break into cars to rescue hot animals.

The new California law that went into affect on January 1, 2017, basically allows people to take more direct action if they see an animal that is in distress in a car with very poor ventilation, windows barely cracked, on a very hot day. Essentially the law says you can take action to rescue that animal from the car.

There was a lot of confusion around this law. Some people thought you could just go up and break a window and they've satisfied the requirements. However, there are steps you have to take both before and after you take any action.

Steve wanted to build awareness about the law, because as an animal control agency for a county of over 1.3 million people, they were getting a lot of calls about animals that were locked in hot cars. Some people stated that they had already taken action. In some cases officers had to go out to either rescue or retrieve animals that died as a result of being in a hot car.

The protocol for the new laws is that would-be rescuers must meet several conditions, such as:

They must verify that the owner is not around and make a good faith effort to find them
- They must have reason to believe the animal is in imminent danger
- They must confirm that the vehicle is actually locked
- They first must notify local police, fire personnel or animal control officers
- They may not use more force than necessary to open the vehicle
- They need to also protect themselves in case an animal is frightened
- They must stay with the animal until emergency help arrives

Steve wanted to make a public service announcement by demonstrating what an animal experiences when trapped in a hot car. So he locked himself in a hot car on a hot day for about 20 minutes. He believes at it's hottest it got up to around 118 degrees inside the car, with about 99 degrees on the outside. Steve had plenty of rescue personal on hand in case something went wrong.

The idea behind the whole demonstration was to promote education and awareness that is going to save pet's lives. Steve said there have been celebrities and athletes that have done similar stunts. However, while you were getting that they were in the car for a period of time and it was hot, he wanted to go above and beyond that. He wanted to tell people what they could do to keep an animal safe if they see it in that situation, as well as knowing what kind of affect it has on an animal's body.

Steve believes that his demonstration was successful and received a good response. His main hope is that people actually took away the educational elements from it and that his office will receive fewer calls about animals in hot cars as a result.

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If It Walks Like A Duck And Talks Like A Duck, Its Probably A Duck
Shellie Powell & Diva Duck

Shellie Powell has an unusual pet. She is the proud guardian of "Diva," a pet duck that wears a diaper and shoes. Diva goes with Shellie everywhere, including Walmart, Target and PetSmart. Shellie is training Diva the Duck to be a Therapy Pet.

Shellie Powell's daughters were graduating from high school and would soon be off to college, making her an "empty nester. " She decided it would be fun to hatch some duck eggs upon their graduation, which would give her something to look forward to.

She was fully prepared and already had homes for the ducks before they even hatched. She said you should never hatch duck eggs unless you already have homes for them or are going to keep all of them yourself. After hatching the duck eggs, Shellie became attached to one and decided to keep her and named her Diva Duck.

Diva is Shellie's first and only duck. She claims unless you can spend a lot of time with your duck, you shouldn't have just one. She says they're social animals like dogs are. That's why when you see ducks; you always see a group of ducks. Fortunately Shellie does not work outside her home, she is in and out all day and spends a tremendous amount of time with Diva.

Diva goes many places with Shellie in a pet stroller. Most people think she has a baby or maybe even a dog. But when they walk by her, they usually take a second look. They then want to find out about her and pet her.

Diva's been to Barnes & Noble, PetSmart, Target, Walmart and to the mall. Of course Shellie prepares Diva for an outing by using a harness made for a duck, believe it or not, which holds a baby diaper. Diva also wears shoes. She doesn't wear them all of the time, they just help out if she is walking on a slippery surface. These shoes are made specifically for ducks to give them traction.

Shellie makes sure that she gets Diva out at least once a week in the public. This is because Shellie is raising Diva to be a therapy duck. Unfortunately there are currently no certification programs for therapy ducks. There was a national certification program for ducks that was in place until 2010, but was dropped because they stated there wasn't enough research. However, there is still one place in the nation that was certified under this old program (they were "grandfathered" in). Shellie has been talking to them regularly, finding out what she needs to do so her duck is ready to be a therapy duck.

Diva has her own Instagram page. Shellie has also made her own photo book, called Diva's Rules, so when she takes her around kids she can read the book to them about different thing that Diva has done. Some of the things she's done are visiting a fire station. Shellie took a picture of Diva with a fire truck and fireman, and one of the rules from this is, "Diva says don't play with matches."

Her family also thinks she is a little "quacky." Her husband is now on board, but was a little concerned when she wanted a pet duck that she could take out in public and that would live in the house. Fortunately her husband and Diva get along! Shellie tells us that while Diva does come in the house, she does not sleep with her, but sleeps in a baby playpen.

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It's Not Doggie Asthma - It's a Reverse Sneeze - Dr. Debbie

What dog owner hasn't heard that frightening sound that dogs make - part cough, part sneeze and often described as a dog being unable to catch his breath. But it really isn't asthma, or some kind of bone stuck in your dog's throat - it's a reverse sneeze. So before you panic and run into the veterinary office on emergency, ensure you know what a reverse sneeze is.

Meet the Reverse Sneeze
A reverse sneeze is a respiratory sound in a category all its own. Also known as a pharyngeal gag reflex or backwards sneeze, the reverse sneeze is a commonly observed respiratory sound in dogs, and less commonly in cats. While a true sneeze occurs on the exhale, the reverse sneeze occurs as the dog inhales. The result is a reverberating snorting, wheezing, episodic sound that lasts for a few seconds to a minute or two. A reverse sneeze is a completely harmless sound and dogs do not suffer any immediate health threat from these episodes.
How can you tell it's a reverse sneeze?

There is no easy explanation of the sound - you just have to hear it and you'll recognize it. Click to see and hear an example of a dog's reverse sneeze episode.

Part of my enjoyment on the weekly national radio program, Animal Radio®, is describing the peculiar smells, sounds and essences of veterinary medicine with our listeners. On many an occasion when speaking to callers, I have re-created the sounds of reverse sneezing. I'm no Rich Little, but I do take pride in my impersonation of a canine reverse sneeze, which is admittedly better in person with the visuals to complement the throaty sound.

Characteristics of a dog displaying a reverse sneeze include:

- Vibrational coughing/wheezing sound
- Stiff, extended neck
- Facial grimace
- No discharge from nose
- Not followed by coughing or vomiting up material
- Not involving collapse episodes
- Animal is completely normal after event

What causes a reverse sneeze?
Some reverse sneeze episodes occur when a dog gets very excited or pulls against a leash. Brachycephalic breeds (short faced breeds) like Pugs and Boston terriers commonly display reverse sneezing due to their upper airway conformation.

Allergies, respiratory infections, nasal mites, inhaled foreign bodies and masses can also trigger reverse sneezing. Dogs with inflammatory conditions such as lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis can also display bouts of reverse sneezing. And sometimes reverse sneezing occurs in the wee hours of the night, while a dog is sleeping, for no apparent reason. In fact, many veterinarians receive panicked phone calls at 2am from pet owners, concerned of impending asthma attacks or respiratory arrest, only to have it turn out just to be a typical case of reverse sneezing.

What to Do?
There is no required treatment for a reverse sneeze episode. However, I recommend stroking a dog's throat while gently speaking to him in a calm manner until the episode subsides. Some advocate closing/pinching the nostrils off, which forces a dog to swallow and curtails the reverse sneeze episode. Whatever the approach, reverse sneezing episodes are over within minutes, so no emergency treatment is indicated. Antihistamines may be prescribed to minimize reverse sneezing episodes.

When to Worry?
If all of a sudden your dog is having repeated bouts of reverse sneezing, evaluation by your veterinarian is indicated. Consult with your veterinarian if your dog is reverse sneezing along with other symptoms such as facial rubbing, nasal bleeding, nasal discharge, coughing, or significant sneezing episodes.

Nasal mites are a common cause of reverse sneezing and may be noted after a recent boarding visit, especially if multiple dogs in a household are involved. Nasal mite treatment is easily pursued with anti-parasite injections of ivermectin (or in collie breeds - the alternative Milbemycin.) If reverse sneezing is excessive and prolonged, the nasal and pharyngeal areas should be evaluated by a veterinarian through rhinoscopy - a procedure performed under anesthesia in which the nasal passages and pharyngeal areas are visualized with an endoscope, a micro camera. This is how foreign objects and masses are typically identified. In other cases, further tests may be needed including a CT scan or with biopsy samples from sinus passages.

Final Thought
The good news is that most of reverse sneezing episodes are harmless, and do not indicate any serious illness. Arm yourself with information by learning what a reverse sneeze looks like and you may save yourself an unwanted emergency veterinary visit over this peculiar but non-life threatening occurrence.

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."

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Animal Radio News - Lori Brooks

Do You Know How Much Do You Spend Every Year on Your Pets?
You may not realize how much you spend on your pets every year, but collectively, early estimates predict Americans' spending on pet food, other supplies and vet visits could top $69 billion this year, according the American Pet Products Association. Around $28 billion of that is spent on just pet food, with that number expected to continue soaring. According to new research from GlobalData, half of all pet owners are opting for more "clean eating" options, of plainly put, higher quality/more natural pet food. But, it's not just food that we spend on; another hefty expense is vet care. The average dog owner spends $551 a year on surgical vet visits plus and extra $235 a year on routine check-ups. Now, if you are an average spender, your yearly boarding fees run about $333, you likely spend another $83 on grooming, $62 on vitamins and supplements and close to $50 a year on toys.

Supermodel Gets Into The Pet Business
Supermodel Christie Brinkley is sort of getting into the booming pet business. She is now a spokesperson for Purina's new dog and cat food line targeting aging pets.

Can Kissing Your Pet Make You Fat?
We know pets help people get outside to play or walk them, which increases our physical activity. But what about other physical health benefits? In one ongoing study at UC San Diego, researchers are working with 17 lucky senior citizens who agreed to a chance to receive a dog - or not. The ones that chose a dog are undergoing months of regular health checkups in which their fecal samples are being studied to determine the difference in everyone's gut microbes. They are looking for microbiome changes in response to less stress or decreased cortisol levels. They will have some results from this study in the next year. Meanwhile, other researchers are looking into the connection between having a pet and obesity. They too are interested in gut health and trying to find out if certain microbial swaps (such as a kiss or a lick with your pet) might help or hurt when it comes to weight problems in both pets and people. Current evidence actually suggests heavier people have heavier pets, which some scientists believe could be due to microbial swaps from a human to a dog. It may sound far-fetched but there are some early hints that "fat" microbe transfers are possible: Studies in the past few years suggest we can make mice fatter or thinner by transferring microbes from fatter or thinner people to them.

Calf Looks Like Gene Simmons
Have you heard about the calf born in Texas that looks like reality star Gene Simmons from the 70's band KISS? She's a dead ringer for the singer in his KISS stage makeup! She's been named Genie as a tribute to Simmons.

Scammer Targets Lost Pets
The number of pet related fraud cases is on the rise. The latest is Texas where a woman's cat mysteriously disappeared from the front porch where he would take his afternoon nap every day. He was named Romeo because he was so loving. The day after he vanished, she put up fliers all over her neighborhood, with Romeo's picture and her phone number. Less than a week later, she received a call from a man who left a message asking if there was a reward for Romeo's return and then another call from a man who claimed to have the cat. If you know this scam, they began texting or emailing over the next several days. Romeo's owner thought there was something odd and asked to see a picture of him. The man sent a photo of two cats and neither looked like her Romeo. More than suspicious at this point, she Googled the pictures and found they were generic images on the Internet. He then said she could get Romeo back for $300 and offered to finance the payments for 8 months! She believes Romeo is lost forever or at least knows that the scammer doesn't have him. Police say the owner did everything right by asking questions and not sending any money.

Cat Becomes Surrogate Mom To Hedgehogs
An unusual rescuer at a zoo in Russia has saved eight orphaned newborn hedgehogs. At first, humans stepped up and tried feeding them. They tried bottles, syringes, everything, but the baby hedgehogs refused to eat until Muska the cat took a turn. She was nursing her kittens at the zoo but would sneak over to feed the hedgehogs. Muska's milk was enough to ensure all eight babies survived and they can now feed on their own. Still, Muska continues to treat the hedgehogs as her own kittens, even when they accidentally prick her.

Your Pet Will Not Become Autistic From Vaccinations
Veterinarians in Brooklyn, N.Y., are reporting a growing resistance to vaccinating pets, which may be rooted in the anti-vaccine movement that claims the life-saving vaccines, may cause autism in children, a theory that has been proven to be false. Some people even thought their pets could become autistic from getting their recommended shots. Hopefully this thinking is localized in New York, because nearby in Pennsylvania and New Jersey there haven't been any widespread reports of this fear to veterinarians who say a dog has never been diagnosed with autism. However, there was a study a few years ago by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists who said they had found a similar condition in dogs. The study said it was 'autism like' but never said it was the same disorder.

NEWS UPDATE brought to you by Fear Free. "Take the 'pet' out of 'petrified'" and get pets back for veterinary visits by promoting considerate approach and gentle control techniques used in calming environments.

Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#925)