PetAbility Podcast

Pet owners constantly ask Cathy and Chris if they should apply heat or ice to their animal. Listen as Chris warms you up to using heat while Cathy tells chilling tales of using ice. They cover not only when to use each thermal agent (it can be a bit tricky), but also how it works in the body physiologically,  what to use to heat or cool (commercial or homemade), how long to apply,  precautions or contraindications,  and suggestions for best pet buy-in. When you know how to properly use heat or ice, you will quickly realize how empowering, safe, and simple it is.

Check out Thermal-Aid for great heating and cooling products!

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

This episode focuses on what environmental enrichment for our feline friends might look like, along with its many benefits, as we continue our discussion with cat expert, Tenara Kuznezov, CVT.

A cat's inner dialogue might go something like this: Food in my bowl is boring - throw my kibble cuz I want to hunt it! And by the way, fresh water please - but not in that disgusting metal bowl those dogs use! The red dot is here! The red dot is here!! I love when it suddenly appears and I can chase it from room to room - vroom up the wall it goes!! Whew, I'm a bit tired now from all that exercise. Will you give me  a soft stroke from head to tail? Purr thanks. I think I'll nap on the top of my cat tree. I really like being up high because I feel safe and can survey my domain from above. Now that I've rested, I think I'll saunter to my perch in the window to see if there are any birds out there at the feeder. Yay butterflies!!! Time to sharpen my nails on my nifty rope post. Can I  please have a new fuzzy mouse or crinkly ball to chase around since I've been such a good girl today? No? Wait, you are bringing me grass and leaves from outside instead?!?! You are the best pet parent ever! You know I need to do so much more than sleep all day!! I love you.

Click here for Doc & Phoebe's Cat Co. hunting feeders and other great info.
Click here for Superb Snuffles.
Click here for a list of poisonous plants to cats.
Click here for awesome information from the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
Click here to find Tenara Kuznezov, CVT.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Listen to cat expert, Tenara Kuznezov, CVT, tell us everything about cats! We cover their amazing anatomy, wild side, predatory instincts, hunting stimulus hierarchy, eating habits (finicky vs. famished), territory, scratching, play, aggression, elimination behaviors (what's normal and how can we help to facilitate appropriate elimination), and common stressors. We all know cats are far superior beings with well-kept secrets, but now you will have a better understanding as to how and why this is so!

Click here for awesome information from the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
Click here for Feliway products.
Click here to find Tenara Kuznezov, CVT.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Essential, imperative, necessary, vital. These are just a few words to describe the importance of joint range of motion in your pet’s quality of life. Imagine if you had a stiff knee, how difficult it would be to squat down to get that pan out of the kitchen drawer. It hurts so bad as you struggle to rise again, that the next time, you choose simply to bend at the waist. Oh no!  After doing that a few times, now your back is killing you. Your dog goes through the same thing when climbing the stairs, squatting to eliminate, or simply sitting. How can we help? By doing passive range of motion (PROM), which is having someone, like the pet owner, move their joints through their normal motion for them. PROM aids function by protecting the joint cartilage, increasing blood flow, decreasing swelling, and ensuring all tissues are at their ideal length. Arthritis from injury or aging is one of the top diagnosis for which pet owners seek veterinary care, and the first step in treatment should be PROM.  As we perform PROM, we can assess not only the quantity of the motion, but also the quality of the motion. Is there crepitus (crackling in the joint), warmth, swelling. Getting our hands on our pets provides all this information and more. Listen to Cathy and Chris to learn the mechanics of how to perform PROM on your pet’s pelvis, hip, knee, ankle, and toes. Your pet will thank you!

Links mentioned in the show:
Through a Dog's Ear e-book: Using sound to improve the health & behavior of your canine companion.
Though a Dog's Ear music purchasing options.

Check out our video tutorial on passive range of motion of the hind limb. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npf-EuVNBz0

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Your dog is an athlete. You ask him to perform feats of athleticism on a daily basis whether you realize it or not: jumping into the back of your SUV from a stance, sprinting across the field for a ball, hiking up that steep trail, or running beside you for your morning jog.  And then there’s the “squirrel’s revenge!” Yes, your dog always sees that squirrel taunting them as you open the door and takes off like a shot, leaping over the stairs, only to come to a dead stop at the base of the tree. Can you imagine if you did this upon waking in the morning? You might think you’d injure your knee and that is exactly what happens to your best friend. He suddenly comes up lame in the hind leg. It doesn’t get better so you take him to the vet and sure enough, he’s torn his cranial cruciate ligament or CCL (ACL for us humans).  Then you find out, it doesn’t heal on its own so your vet recommends surgery! Believe it or not, this scenario plays out all the time because tearing the cranial cruciate ligament is THE most common orthopedic diagnosis seen by veterinary surgeons. 

Listen as we talk with Mary Ann Nieves, DVM, MS, DACVS, about everything cranial cruciate ligament:

• Anatomy of the dog’s knee and why does slope matter?
• The function of the CCL and why it’s so important?
• The complicated and multifactorial reasons that lead to CCL tears.
• Does this injury happens in all species, even our cat friends? 
• Can we do anything to prevent these injuries?
• Surgery vs. conservative management: pros and cons.
• What is a TPLO, TTA, and lateral suture?
• Arthritis and chronic pain after a CCL tear, especially if no surgery is performed.
• What is the role of prehab and rehab for CCL injuries?

Find Dr. Nieves at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

That is the question! Tune in as Cathy and Chris hotly debate this subject.

• Cathy describes her “experiment” eating out of a bowl on the floor – try it!
• Is every dog a candidate?
• How high should the bowl be raised?
• What are the biomechanical advantages for your pet?
• What is a possible con to raising the bowl if you have a larger dog? 
• What diagnoses and conditions benefit most?
• What about our cat friends?

After listening, what will your verdict be? To raise or not to raise?

Link to article referenced in podcast:
Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs - PubMed

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

 Vestibular what? You might not have ever heard of vestibular dysfunction, but according to veterinary neurologist, Gena Silver, MS, DVM, DACVIM, it is one of the top three neurological issues in dogs.  Imagine suddenly feeling dizzy, nauseous, stumbling, and even falling over. That is what an animal with vestibular dysfunction might abruptly experience. You might see your pet's head tilted to one side, their eyes darting, and they can't walk without support. This can feel devastating and even scary. But according to Dr. Silver, don't judge a book by its cover! Depending on the source of the problem, signs can disappear over time as with "old dog vestibular." A  correct diagnosis, through an MRI, determines prognosis and treatment plan.  However, a "wait, watch, and see" approach with supportive care at home may work as well. Listen as Dr. Silver explains why all pet owners should be familiar with signs related to 8th cranial nerve issues.  Although vestibular dysfunction is common, signs may vary from the very subtle and difficult to recognize to the more overt where the dog is alligator rolling and vomiting. Let’s all learn the signs together because timely and accurate diagnosis determines prognosis.

Helpful links:
You can find Dr. Gena Silver at Mass Vet Referral Hospital.
Vestibular Disease Support Group for Dogs and Cats
Vestibular Disease in Dogs Support Group

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Raising your puppy should be FUN! From the little learning sponges in the neonate stage to the fantastic, mature, sound adults they become, and everything in between, it’s here! Join us as we discuss the world of puppies with trainer, Kristy Williams, CVT, CCFT! She’ll open your mind to puppy things that you never even considered. Did you know it’s actually appropriate to stress the puppy within two weeks after birth – just a little bit - so they can handle stress better later in life? Or that early play with littermates contributes to bite inhibition as they age so your dog knows when to let go? What are the fabulous consequences of  teaching our pups that nothing in life is for free, that they must earn it?!? Have you thought that you may be accidentally reinforcing undesired behaviors and then failing to provide positive options? You need to establish clear rules immediately as everything becomes much harder when your dog is 60+ pounds. The early days, weeks, and months are so important. Everything matters!

These are just of few of the pearls of wisdom heard in this episode. We also discuss:

·       What a good breeder does before we get our puppy.

·       The three physical stages of development and how this is determined based on growth plate closure and sexual maturity.

·       Picking a puppy that’s right for you.

·       The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our puppies.

·       Fear periods – what are they and when are they?

Link:
Canine growth plate closure chart

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Why is my 13 y.o. dog seeming so confused by every day tasks? She doesn't seem to recognize me anymore and went to the window to be let outside. Then she seemed to get lost on our usual walk and became quite anxious. She is pacing all night long and then sleeps throughout the day. She's never had an accident, and now urinated on the dining room rug twice last week! Sound familiar? According to Bronwyn Riggs, VMD, DACVIM (Neurology), perhaps it's cognitive dysfunction that is responsible for changes in her behavior, disorientation, and confusion. The brain experiences age-related degenerative changes just like muscles. Impairment of memory and learning with age exists across all species. Factors such as genetics, diet, environment, lifestyle, and metabolic diseases contribute to susceptibility. Although there is no cure, cognitive decline can be managed with enrichment, behavior modification, targeted nutrition, medications, and certain supplements. To exercise their brain, you can teach your old dog new tricks! 

Links:
Found out more about Thundershirts to decrease your pet's anxiety.
For some great puzzle toys and brain games, check this out!!
To learn more about Dr. Riggs and her place of employment, click here.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Just because we call it passive range of motion (PROM), we should be anything but passive about it! This episode describes why PROM is so vital to your pet's health and function. We detail how do a simple technique specifically with your pet's front limb joints. Listen to learn how to not only keep your pet well by maintaining its PROM for maximum comfort and function , but also restore crucial mobility if it is lost due to injury, surgery, or aging.  

·       What is passive range of motion (PROM)?

·       What are the benefits of PROM?

·       Why is PROM important?

·       How do you do PROM?

·       What are some tricks to get  your pet's buy in?

Check out our tutorial on how to perform passive range of motion of the front limb.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QLoLWjcuQ&t=2s

Links mentioned in the show:
Through a Dog's Ear e-book: Using sound to improve the health & behavior of your canine companion
Through a Dog's Ear music purchasing options.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...