A special celebration of therapy dogs and the human animal bond kicking it off with Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller (6th district) proclaims April 30 Pet Partners National Therapy Animal Day in Cook County. Annie Peters, president/CEO of Pet Partners discusses National Therapy Animal Day and who what Pet Partners does changes and even saves lives.

Steve Dale’s Pet World honored to make the announcement, the winner of the Pet of the Year, named Rye Guy.

Johanna Siegmann, author of In Good Company (Notable People and their Pets). She notes these are not your typical pet portraits, they are relationship portraits of love. Proceeds benefit the APEX Protection Project.

Rabbit joins the police force, a bunny with a badge.

Dealing with pets who have allergies: This is the time of year when seasonal allergies, so common in people, also begin to happen in dogs. You might be surprised at the most common allergies among dogs, as explained by Dr. Adam Christman, Chief Medical Officer DVM360.

A fascinating conversation with veterinary behaviorist Dr. Leanne Lilly of the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, as she notes there are more variables among individuals than between breeds. Dr. Lilly explains how characteristics in dogs occur. While breed may certainly make a difference, other impacts include socialization and the individual genetics of the dog, also even before-birth diet and the amount of stress the mom is under before she gives birth.

Humans aren’t the only species that swear.

Operations Manager at Chicago Animal Care and Control Angela Rayburn, and Founder of Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control Charlie Propsom talk about how an abused dog named Sweetie was recently saved. Rayburn talks about prosecuting the abuser to the full extent of the law, and Propsom explains what the After Hours Veterinary Crisis Care Program is all about and how you can help.

Dr. Lori Teller, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association kicks off National Dog Bite Prevention Week and agrees that nearly all bites can be prevented. So, what are we missing?  Maybe there’s something else that can be done that we’re not doing, and that’s to ask not only the dog’s handler “Can I pet your dog?” Let’s also ask the dog.

For the first time in 31 years, there’s a new number one dog in America.

Jackie Ott Jaakola, executive director of 55-year old non-profit EveryCat Health Foundation. She explains how this organization has had it’s paw in pretty much everything we know about cat health, most recently changing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) from fatal to treatable. Also, about how EveryCat Health and especially a legendary researcher Dr. Niels Pedersen made it possible for the U.S. government to consider Remdesivir to treat COVID-19, contributing to saving countless human lives around the globe.

Boarded veterinary dentist Dr. Jan Bellows explains there are alternatives to brushing your pet’s teeth. And in cats, there’s a new and cutting-edge genetic test from Basepaws to predict and potentially protect against all sorts of dental problems, called Oral Microbiome testing.

Dr. Renee Schmid is manager of professional services and senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline.  Discussed are sometimes surprising hazards for pet birds, from Teflon toxicity to avoiding Guacamole.

Former National Football League star Rob Gronkowski at the Western Veterinary Conference celebrating his dog Ralphie and awareness for a new Valley Fever vaccine with Anivive Animal Health. “I’m all in for my dog,” he says.  And he talks about working on the movie 80 for Brady.

Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Chris Pachel talks about aging cats and dogs, and the correlation to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. He talks about signs to watch out for, and what you can do both help your pet and help family members to live with this impaired pet. 

Fear Free and pain and a swine on the lamb.

Registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor on ticks and tick diseases, and most important, prevention and where to get that prevention from. Lyme and other tick diseases combined are an epidemic in the U.S. in dogs and in people, yet lifelong preventable diseases.

Dr. Mike Petty explains that cats are masters of masking pain, and so many behavior problems in cats occur because of a medical explanation, very often arthritis. Dr. Petty explains how cats offer subtle signs of pain. There’s now a medication – specifically approved for arthritis in cats, called Solensia, which Dr. Petty calls “a game changer.” 

Professor Small Animal Clinical Veterinary Medicine Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Mike Lappin notes he is among many millions allergic to cats. And now there’s a cat food, called Purina ProPlan LiveClear which as a result of neutralizing a protein on the saliva that creates cat allergies, all that sneezing and wheezing in people goes away. It’s incredible technology, which Dr. Lappin explains.

Seven reasons to adopt a dog or cat.

Dr. Gerald Bell makes a surprising announcement about an “international canine welfare crisis” concerning some of the most popular dog breeds. He is the chair of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Heredity Disease Committee and adjunct professor Tufts University.

Credentialed Dog trainer Steve Frost, President of A Sound Beginning Chicago on an unfortunate trend in dog training. Discussed are board and train facilities and related concerns about this type of dog training. Should dog trainers who abuse dogs actually be prosecuted for animal abuse?  

And football and pets, including Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady.

Dr. Jeffrey Bloomberg, medical director Veterinary Diagnostic Centers in Chicago explains what this new ultrasound facility will be, offering an option for the lack of availability for ultrasounds at 3114 W. Irving Park Road. Unfortunately, the current shortages in the profession and a record number of pet parents combine for a sometimes unreasonable wait to get the ultrasound, which may be necessary for a diagnosis.

Continuing a discussion regarding the increase in the number of pets combined with a decrease of veterinary professionals and how telemedicine may fill some of that void with Dr. Brian Hurley, National Medical Director AmeriVet.

Veterinary nutritionist Dr. Jason Gagne, Director of Veterinary Communications at Purina with a wide-ranging conversation including problems associated with 60 percent of all cats being overweight or obese and about half of all dogs, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. So what’s going on? For dogs one solution is a new prescription diet from Purina which encourages fat loss and raises protein, called OM. This diet also increases joint mobility. 

Steve says the Super Bowl commercial Saving Sawyer is misleading.

Kara Burns, board member EveryCat Health Foundation and a veterinary technician specialist in nutrition discusses how medically urgent it may be if a cat goes 24 hours without eating. And the “finicky” cat might be finicky, but often there is a medical explanation. And she explains how important the texture of food is for cats. And the big question: Moist cat food or dry food?

Illinois State Representative Rita Mayfield is sponsoring House Bill1049 which will prevent insurance companies from discriminating against breeds or certain mixes regarding homeowners or renters insurance. And her bill will also prevent landlords or HOA’s from discriminating against certain dog breeds or dogs of a certain size. This bill will save pet lives! 

Are some cats left or right pawed?

Lincoln State Cat Club Show Manager Jeremy Basterash on the 61st Annual Benefit Lincoln State Cat Show, February 25-26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DuPage County Fairgrounds Building One, 2015 Manchester Rd, Wheaton, IL. 

Basterash explains what happens at a cat shows (beginning with explaining that cat shows are nothing like dog shows). Steve is speaking in the Education Ring, 1 p.m. Saturday Feb. 25, on “For Cats to Know And You to Never Find Out: How Cats Hide Pain, And What to do About It.”

Monique Feyrecilde, veterinary technician specialist in behavior explains what Fear Free is and Fear Free handling. Discussed are why cats are so often terrified at the veterinary clinic, and how veterinary professionals and pet parents can best deal with this fear, anxiety and stress at the vet clinic or in their homes. 

Dr. Rick Marrinson on arthritis in dogs, and how an injectable called Adequan Canine can help, and do so proactively. And why this is so important regarding arthritis.