KSCO Pet Radio

PODCAST (22:14) -- Taking your pets to visit their veterinarian during shelter-in-place can be a troublesome and perplexing event -- even for an experienced vet tech!

Listen to how regular guest, Wide Open Pets blogger, and Certified Veterinary Technician Christy Caplan explained the experience on our 5/3/2020 program.

Christy had to take her dogs in for a well-pet visit as well as necessary dental work. She talks about everything from making the appointment, to preparing for the visit, planning for curbside pickup and delivery, and what notes to bring for the vet team. Perhaps medicating the animals to prepare them for the visit? They will be separated from their owners in a stressful environment. Drugs can help.

Lots of good stuff here that you will want to know become a vet visit becomes necessary during the COVID pandemic.

Dr. Kelly Diehl, Morris Animal Foundation

PODCAST (21:25) -- Dr. Kelly Diehl of Morris Animal Foundation explained Sunday (4/26/20) about how research into Feline Infectious Perontinitis may lead to a COVID-19 vaccine for humans. (But there's more).

FIP is a most-deadly cat disease. I've lost at least one beloved animal to it. It is, like COVID-19, a coronavirus. This explains how a researcher who has often worked with Morris was chosen for a $1-million research grant from the National Institutes of Health.

No, there is not yet a FIP vaccine, but here is hope that all the new interest in corona viruses will lead us in that direction.

New Hope for Common Cat Cancer

Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is one of the most common and devastating pet cancers, and currently has no effective treatment. The canine version of this rapidly growing cancer killed our beloved dog, Alice, a few months ago.

Morris-funded research has found a new chemo-theraputic agent that shows great promise against this terrible disease. We talk with Kelly about this during the podcast.

Virtual Dog Walk

We also discuss how, instead of in-person events, Morris plans to hold virtual dog walks to help fund its cancer work and other research. I'd like to hold a socially-distanced dog walk as well as a virtual walk, sponsored by KSCO. This is probably a May event and I will report back as soon as I know more.

Cat behaviorist Dr. Rachel Geller

PODCAST (22:06) -- KSCO Pet Radio has failed cats. This is one way we hope to do more for cats going forward. Dr. Rachel Geller, EdD., is a certified cat behavior expert and joined us for the 4/26/20 program. She has agreed to appear for a full-hour again soon.

We began by talking about cat behavioral issues likely to show up while we are all staying home. We migrated to why you should not use a laser pointer as a cat toy. And then demystified the danger cats (young kittens really!) pose to pregnant women.

Rachel does all her work for free and donates proceeds from her book to animal welfare organizations. 

About Rachel Geller

Rachel Geller, Ed.D. is a certified cat behaviorist. Before moving into that role, she was on The Cat Connection board from 2017 to 2020. Previously, she was on the Board of Directors in the role of vice-president at the Gifford Cat Shelter for 7 years. Rachel is a certified Cat Behavior and Retention Specialist through the Humane Society and a certified Humane Education Specialist through the Academy of Prosocial Learning. She is also a certified Pet Chaplain® through the Association of Veterinary Pastoral Education. She is currently a cat behaviorist/consultant for Here Today Adopted Tomorrow Animal Sanctuary and Baypath Humane Society and provides cat behavior help both locally and throughout the country to her clients, including cat owners and shelters.

Rachel was a panelist for the Humane Society in an educational webinar that teaches shelters how to set up cat behavior programs. She has presented for the Massachusetts Animal Coalition and the New England Federation of Humane Societies on topics involving cat behavior, cat behavior & retention programs, and surrender prevention. She was also a presenter for the Online Behavior Day sponsored by the Community Cats Podcast. Rachel’s cat behavior program has been recognized by HSUS as a model program.

As a humane education specialist, Rachel is the author of the webinar “Activities for Inclusion” for the Association of Professional Humane Educators, and was a contributing author to “The Ark Project – Jewish Initiative for Animals.” She is also certified as a RedRover Reader, which is a reading-based program to develop empathy for animals in children.

Rachel was a panelist for a webinar on pet chaplaincy for the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab through Brandeis University.

Rachel’s book, “Saving the World, One Cat at a Time” was written to help with resolving cats’ behavioral and emotional problems with the goal of creating harmonious relationships between cats and their owners. Amazon link below.

Rachel was a Behavioral Specialist for grades K-8 in the Waltham Public Schools for over 20 years. She has lived in Newton since 1992 with her husband and two cats, both adopted from TCC. An avid runner, she has run (and finished!) 11 Boston Marathons. Rachel is the author of a Massachusetts state law, “An Act Protecting Nursing Home Residents” which was signed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2011.

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PODCAST (20:07) -- On this podcast, recorded 4/19/20, vet tech and blogger Christy Caplan discusses important home grooming tasks that your dog requires, COVID or not. They are trimming toenails and ear cleaning, both of which she describes in detail.

We also talk about how to trim your cat's claws.

PODCAST (19:57) -- On our 3/19/2020 program, Laura Pakis discussed avoiding infections with Technical Veterinary Advisor and Ogena Solutions', Dr. Lucas Pantaleon. He is a Board Certified Internal Medicine Veterinarian with a special interest and expertise in infection prevention.

Serving the veterinary industry since 2005 as a clinical veterinarian and consultant, Dr. Pantaleon has led the Ogena Solutions team as the veterinarian technical advisor for the past 9 years.

Dr. Pantaleon retains a boundless passion for animal biosecurity and enjoys researching, advising, teaching, speaking, and writing about infection prevention and One Health for varied sectors within the veterinary industry.

Dr. Pantaleon and Laura discussed keeping our pets clean and protected during the efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Do we need to bathe pets that are in a high-risk home situation? How can we prevent exposing pets to the virus? What measures pet owners need to implement to keep their pets healthy in these challenging times?

 

PODCAST (21:34) -- "When the time comes" is something most pet owners should spend more time thinking about. On the 4/5/20 program, we discussed home euthanasia with a local vet for whom caring for hospice pets has become a specialty.

Dr. Jeni Goedkin works for Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and In-Home Euthanasia in San Jose. LoL is a for-profit veterinary group operating in 34 states.

We discussed both how to arrange for in-home euthanasia and the process involved. Making plans early can save a lot of heartache when the time comes. You never know when you made need this service -- and it is not inexpensive. Please listen and be better prepared.

Dr. Jeni Goedkin, Lap of Love in-home euthanasia

About Jeni Goedken

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs as the daughter of a veterinarian and nurse, compassion for animals and the art of medicine surrounded me. I knew from a young age that my life’s desire was to be a veterinarian. After obtaining my undergraduate degree in Biology, I remained at the University of Illinois and graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine. Several years later, I moved to the San Jose area with my family.

Throughout my veterinary career, I have worked in a wide variety of disciplines.  I have been a general practitioner in a traditional clinical setting, a solo shelter veterinarian, a curriculum developer for a veterinary assistant program, a state veterinary board inspector and expert witness, and a house-call veterinarian.

When it was time for my beloved cat, Bogie, to gain his angel wings, I didn’t want to stress him out by bringing him into the clinic. Instead, I helped him pass in our backyard on a beautiful summer night on my husband’s lap, gobbling down as many treats as he wanted. While there is nothing that can take away the heartbreak of letting him go, I grieve with a feeling of serenity because I know I gave him a transition free from fear and anxiety.

I find it rewarding to guide families through providing comfort and quality of life to their pets in the security of their homes. Giving a grieving pet parent a final peaceful memory of their loved one is a sacred honor. It is a privilege to witness the strongest instance of the human-animal bond during one of the most delicate moments of life.

Not a very frightening picture of Marc and Arya, huh?

PODCAST (20:27) -- 1:08 PM -- Author Marc Benevenga is often asked whether his Czechoslovakian Wolfdog or Vlcak, named Arya, is well, a wolf or a dog?

During this interview, from our 4/5/20 program, Marc talked about how he fell in love with the Vlcak dog breed -- he pronounces it on the podcast and I don't -- while visiting Italy. And how that whenever he walks her, someone asks whether Arya -- which he also pronounces -- is a wolf or a dog.

Not a spoiler, but she is a dog and a sweet, if challenging one, too. The Czechs, back in the 1950s, wanted something tougher/meaner than the German Shepherd Dogs they used for guard and other police/military duties.

Someone decided that in-breeding a Carpathian Wolf might accomplish that goal. It did not work, as the resulting animals, which have physical, mental, and emotional qualities of both breeds quickly formed a strong attachment to only one handler. Since the wolfdogs could not be easily passed around, the hoped-for assignments became impossible.

Mark has written a children's book, entitled "Is That a Wolf or a Dog?" obviously enough, to explain Arya to her many admirers. You can purchase the book at Marc's Wolf or Dog? website or here from Amazon.

You'll find "wolfier"-looking pics of Arya on Marc's site, as well.

If you are interested in the breed, Marc recommends the Czechoslovakian Vlcak Club of America as a great resource. He says they also do meet-ups for people interested in the dog breed across the country. The interview took place on Arya's second birthday.

PODCAST (8:19) -- Our good friend, Sabrina Ashjian, California state director of the Humane Society of the United States, is always a great guest and recently asked to come back on the show to discuss her organization's work on COVID-19 help for people and pets in our state.

We talk about:

* People's wonderful response to the need for fosters and adopters* How pets and people are great sources of love and support for each other during this crisis* Innovative work by shelters and rescues to make animals available to new homes during social distancing and closures* My concern that as time goes on the current enthusiasm may wane* The need of special help for people who are sick, or old, or have no money* Free HSUS COVID resource kit at hsus.org* Her program to deliver "care packages" to animal workers and first responders (you can help!) and support for shelter wish lists* Pairing pet and human food banks for one-stop client support and building no-contact deliveries where needed

Her email is [email protected] if you can offer help, need help, or want to volunteer. HSUS is an important partner in producing our program. Please support them.

PODCAST (25:57) -- Dr. Jim Ha's book, Dog Behavior: Modern Science and Our Canine Companions is a bit of a mind-bender, bringing hard science against what we think we know about our canine friends.

He was a great interview on our 3/22/20 program, and he and I agreed to vaguely disagree on the question of whether dogs love humans. We both say "yes" after he started with a more literal "no."

The book provides readers with a better understanding of canine science, including evolutionary concepts, ethograms, brain structures and development, sensory perspectives, the science of emotions, social structure, and the natural history of the species.

You do not have to read this book to be a dog lover. But you will know and better understand canine behavior if you do.

The book also analyzes relationships between humans and dogs and how the latter has evolved. Readers will find this to be an ideal resource for researchers and students in animal behavior, specifically focusing on dog behavior and human-canine relationships. In addition, veterinarians seeking further information on dog behavior and the social temperament of these companion animals will find this book to be informative.

PODCAST (14:09) -- Leonor Delgado is Education Manager for the Palo Alto Humane Society and on 3/29/20 she was interviewed by co-host Josh Stephens about community humane education, creating humane kids, and what an advocacy organization founded in 1908 does besides run a shelter -- which her group gave up in 1970.

They discussed three focus areas for the group. These are operating what amounts to a pet advice hotline, paying for vet care and spay/neuter for needy animals, and a range of community education programs that she would be happy to share with other groups and communities.

PAHS has a number of interesting, well-proven, and repeatable programs that can be adopted by other animal advocacy and welfare groups and even individuals. One of these is a writing contest for 7th and 8th graders that is currently underway.

The group supports many cat programs and is often called upon to help with orphan kittens, trap-neuter-return, and other feline challenges.