http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/getFeed.kickAction?quantity=25 New blogs from minval on Veterinary Community Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:28:06 GMT Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:28:06 GMT meisler@advanstar.com (VetWeb) meisler@advanstar.com (VetWeb) KickApps Feed Builder 2012-04-06T19:28:06Z 12 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?as=30809&sortType=recent&tags=null 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Ren-and-Stimpy/blog/5942367/30809.html If you started reading this blog because you thought I might discuss the finer points of the '90s cartoon series on Nickelodeon, sorry! This blog is about two precious and precocious cats that found their way into my parents’ loving home—or, I guess I should say, outside their loving home. [image] Ren and Stimpy were wreaking havoc with indoor behavioral elimination issues where they lived previously. Their owner could no longer tolerate the misplaced spots of urination and worse that had become nearly daily occurrences. So my Mom and Dad, eternal animal lovers, intervened and said they would take them in, only if they could keep the cats outside. So Ren and Stimpy, two sisters from the same litter—not boys, despite their names—began to live in my parents’ garage after being strictly indoor cats for about 14 years. How did they handle this drastic change? My parents say that at first Ren (pictured above) and Stimpy (pictured below) were a bit disoriented. They hid out in the garage, wedging themselves between walls and cabinets and avoiding that strange pet door that led outside. Or they sheltered themselves in the soft dirt under the chimney outside. Eventually, they began wandering about the great outdoors, usually confining themselves to my parents’ property and always coming back for food and caresses. Stimpy, especially vocal, would tell my parents all about her day. When my parents were out doing yard work, Ren and Stimpy were constant companions. On occasions when invited into the house, they would come in briefly, but almost immediately wanted to go back outside where they were more comfortable. [image]I bring up Ren and Stimpy because a debate has been bubbling in the pages of Veterinary Medicine since we published an article in our November 2011 issue that discussed letting cats with severe behavior problems—usually elimination-related—live outside instead of euthanizing them. See dvm360.com/outdoorcats for links to the original article and several letters we’ve received from readers on the topic. Some think it would be too traumatic to cats used to living indoors to suddenly have to confront the outside world and its dangers. Others think, why wouldn’t you try any solution before turning to euthanasia in these cases? What are your thoughts on this sensitive subject? We’d love to hear them. See the reader discussion started by Dr. Heather Lewellen, our medical editor, here. You can probably tell where I lean on the issue because of Ren and Stimpy. Stimpy lived until she was 17, and Ren lived two more years, dying at the age of 19 just this past January. They made my parents’ days when they arrived home from work, greeted by these two sweet girls. They lived happy, healthy lives outdoors. Of course, not all owners are my Mom and Dad and not all cats are Ren and Stimpy—four loving souls who found each other at a time of need. If you started reading this blog because you thought I might discuss the finer points of the '90s cartoon series on Nickelodeon, sorry! This blog is about two precious and precocious cats that found their way into my parents’ loving home—or, I guess I should say, outside their loving home. [image] Ren and Stimpy were wreaking havoc with indoor behavioral elimination issues where they lived previously. Their owner could no longer tolerate the misplaced spots of urination and worse that had become nearly daily occurrences. So my Mom and Dad, eternal animal lovers, intervened and said they would take them in, only if they could keep the cats outside. So Ren and Stimpy, two sisters from the same litter—not boys, despite their names—began to live in my parents’ garage after being strictly indoor cats for about 14 years. How did they handle this drastic change? My parents say that at first Ren (pictured above) and Stimpy (pictured below) were a bit disoriented. They hid out in the garage, wedging themselves between walls and cabinets and avoiding that strange pet door that led outside. Or they sheltered themselves in the soft dirt under the chimney outside. Eventually, they began wandering about the great outdoors, usually confining themselves to my parents’ property and always coming back for food and caresses. Stimpy, especially vocal, would tell my parents all about her day. When my parents were out doing yard work, Ren and Stimpy were constant companions. On occasions when invited into the house, they would come in briefly, but almost immediately wanted to go back outside where they were more comfortable. [image]I bring up Ren and Stimpy because a debate has been bubbling in the pages of Veterinary Medicine since we published an article in our November 2011 issue that discussed letting cats with severe behavior problems—usually elimination-related—live outside instead of euthanizing them. See dvm360.com/outdoorcats for links to the original article and several letters we’ve received from readers on the topic. Some think it would be too traumatic to cats used to living indoors to suddenly have to confront the outside world and its dangers. Others think, why wouldn’t you try any solution before turning to euthanasia in these cases? What are your thoughts on this sensitive subject? We’d love to hear them. See the reader discussion started by Dr. Heather Lewellen, our medical editor, here. You can probably tell where I lean on the issue because of Ren and Stimpy. Stimpy lived until she was 17, and Ren lived two more years, dying at the age of 19 just this past January. They made my parents’ days when they arrived home from work, greeted by these two sweet girls. They lived happy, healthy lives outdoors. Of course, not all owners are my Mom and Dad and not all cats are Ren and Stimpy—four loving souls who found each other at a time of need. Sat, 12 May 2012 00:41:44 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Ren-and-Stimpy/blog/5942367/30809.html minval 2012-04-06T19:28:06Z Feline Veterinary Community If you started reading this blog because you thought I might discuss the finer points of the '90s cartoon series on Nickelodeon, sorry! This blog is about two precious and precocious cats that found their way into my parents’ loving home—or, I guess I should say, outside their loving home. [image] Ren and Stimpy were wreaking havoc with indoor behavioral elimination issues where they lived previously. Their owner could no longer tolerate the misplaced spots of urination and worse that had become nearly daily occurrences. So my Mom and Dad, eternal animal lovers, intervened and said they would take them in, only if they could keep the cats outside. So Ren and Stimpy, two sisters from the same litter—not boys, despite their names—began to live in my parents’ garage after being strictly indoor cats for about 14 years. How did they handle this drastic change? My parents say that at first Ren (pictured above) and Stimpy (pictured below) were a bit disoriented. They hid out in the garage, wedging themselves between walls and cabinets and avoiding that strange pet door that led outside. Or they sheltered themselves in the soft dirt under the chimney outside. Eventually, they began wandering about the great outdoors, usually confining themselves to my parents’ property and always coming back for food and caresses. Stimpy, especially vocal, would tell my parents all about her day. When my parents were out doing yard work, Ren and Stimpy were constant companions. On occasions when invited into the house, they would come in briefly, but almost immediately wanted to go back outside where they were more comfortable. [image]I bring up Ren and Stimpy because a debate has been bubbling in the pages of Veterinary Medicine since we published an article in our November 2011 issue that discussed letting cats with severe behavior problems—usually elimination-related—live outside instead of euthanizing them. See dvm360.com/outdoorcats for links to the original article and several letters we’ve received from readers on the topic. Some think it would be too traumatic to cats used to living indoors to suddenly have to confront the outside world and its dangers. Others think, why wouldn’t you try any solution before turning to euthanasia in these cases? What are your thoughts on this sensitive subject? We’d love to hear them. See the reader discussion started by Dr. Heather Lewellen, our medical editor, here. You can probably tell where I lean on the issue because of Ren and Stimpy. Stimpy lived until she was 17, and Ren lived two more years, dying at the age of 19 just this past January. They made my parents’ days when they arrived home from work, greeted by these two sweet girls. They lived happy, healthy lives outdoors. Of course, not all owners are my Mom and Dad and not all cats are Ren and Stimpy—four loving souls who found each other at a time of need. behavior, feline, medicine, outdoor cats nonadult false Ren and Stimpy text blog behavior,feline,medicine,outdoor cats 1120 11 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 Feline 0 5942367 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_A-back-and-forth-day-in-Florida/blog/3544122/30809.html Another wee small hours of the morning wake-up call for the Becker Bus Tour. Although the crew was staying in Tampa, Fla., Dr. Becker had to get up early for the drive to nearby Sarasota, Fla., for an appearance on WSSB-ABC's morning news show.[image]He performed a quick examination on news anchor Linda Carson's dog Murphy, emphasizing the importance of dental health (which Murphy excelled at), good body condition (Murphy had a little extra around the middle), and good nutrition to keep her coat healthy (it was a little dry). Then a return drive to the hotel in Tampa for the VIP presentation. A good crowd showed, which latched on to Dr. Becker's advice for connecting to clients and pets so those same clients don’t connect to the web first. As one of today’s VIPs Boyd Harrell, DVM, the Medical Director of the Lakeland SPCA in Lakeland, Fla., said, "I don't know how many clients come in and say, 'This is what my dog has, and the only reason I didn’t treat it myself is because I needed a prescription.' More often than not, the information they are finding online is wrong. And even if the information in the article is accurate, there still has to be follow-up." He said Dr. Becker's tips and tricks generously dosed throughout the presentation will really help. "Relating to clients to keep then bonded—that's what it's all about," Dr. Harrell said.[image]Next up for the crew was a return to a Sarasota area Petco for the meet and greet. (Laura, the officially proclaimed voice of the GPS unit for the crew, must have experienced several episodes of déjà vu today.) People drove from as far as 100 miles away to see Dr. Becker and pick up an autographed copy of his book. Plus, three adoption groups came to help deserving pets find homes—a greyhound rescue, a dachshund rescue, and the local shelter. McKenzie, the official tour dog, made lots of friends.Dr. Becker is thrilled with how the tour has gone so far. "On this type of thing, you have to begin with the end in mind," said Dr. Becker. "What's my goal? To put veterinary medicine in a warm light. To cast a halo around the profession in a national and in a local way. This is the first time veterinarians have been personally invited to an event like this. I hope the novelty and mystery of it keeps them coming. And it's an audacious thing to do 30 cities in 45 days. I look at it like a campaign tour—but I'm campaigning for the profession."He's already personally received positive reviews from VIP attendees, such as "I needed a dose of Dr. Becker again," and "Thanks for representing us on this tour."dvm360.com leaves Dr. Becker and his crew as they carry on to Miami and many, many, many points distant. We've enjoyed the chance to capture the excitement of the first days of the tour. We'll pick it up again at various points down the road such as the CVC in Washington, D.C. But never fear, Dr. Becker himself will continue to provide blogs here in the Veterinary Community, so don't stop tuning in every day to check the progress. And if he's coming to your town, you must see the bus and meet Dr. Becker in person. For a map of the stops, visit dvm360.com/beckerbustour. Another wee small hours of the morning wake-up call for the Becker Bus Tour. Although the crew was staying in Tampa, Fla., Dr. Becker had to get up early for the drive to nearby Sarasota, Fla., for an appearance on WSSB-ABC's morning news show.[image]He performed a quick examination on news anchor Linda Carson's dog Murphy, emphasizing the importance of dental health (which Murphy excelled at), good body condition (Murphy had a little extra around the middle), and good nutrition to keep her coat healthy (it was a little dry). Then a return drive to the hotel in Tampa for the VIP presentation. A good crowd showed, which latched on to Dr. Becker's advice for connecting to clients and pets so those same clients don’t connect to the web first. As one of today’s VIPs Boyd Harrell, DVM, the Medical Director of the Lakeland SPCA in Lakeland, Fla., said, "I don't know how many clients come in and say, 'This is what my dog has, and the only reason I didn’t treat it myself is because I needed a prescription.' More often than not, the information they are finding online is wrong. And even if the information in the article is accurate, there still has to be follow-up." He said Dr. Becker's tips and tricks generously dosed throughout the presentation will really help. "Relating to clients to keep then bonded—that's what it's all about," Dr. Harrell said.[image]Next up for the crew was a return to a Sarasota area Petco for the meet and greet. (Laura, the officially proclaimed voice of the GPS unit for the crew, must have experienced several episodes of déjà vu today.) People drove from as far as 100 miles away to see Dr. Becker and pick up an autographed copy of his book. Plus, three adoption groups came to help deserving pets find homes—a greyhound rescue, a dachshund rescue, and the local shelter. McKenzie, the official tour dog, made lots of friends.Dr. Becker is thrilled with how the tour has gone so far. "On this type of thing, you have to begin with the end in mind," said Dr. Becker. "What's my goal? To put veterinary medicine in a warm light. To cast a halo around the profession in a national and in a local way. This is the first time veterinarians have been personally invited to an event like this. I hope the novelty and mystery of it keeps them coming. And it's an audacious thing to do 30 cities in 45 days. I look at it like a campaign tour—but I'm campaigning for the profession."He's already personally received positive reviews from VIP attendees, such as "I needed a dose of Dr. Becker again," and "Thanks for representing us on this tour."dvm360.com leaves Dr. Becker and his crew as they carry on to Miami and many, many, many points distant. We've enjoyed the chance to capture the excitement of the first days of the tour. We'll pick it up again at various points down the road such as the CVC in Washington, D.C. But never fear, Dr. Becker himself will continue to provide blogs here in the Veterinary Community, so don't stop tuning in every day to check the progress. And if he's coming to your town, you must see the bus and meet Dr. Becker in person. For a map of the stops, visit dvm360.com/beckerbustour. Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:59:10 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_A-back-and-forth-day-in-Florida/blog/3544122/30809.html minval 2011-04-30T00:59:10Z Veterinary Community Another wee small hours of the morning wake-up call for the Becker Bus Tour. Although the crew was staying in Tampa, Fla., Dr. Becker had to get up early for the drive to nearby Sarasota, Fla., for an appearance on WSSB-ABC's morning news show.[image]He performed a quick examination on news anchor Linda Carson's dog Murphy, emphasizing the importance of dental health (which Murphy excelled at), good body condition (Murphy had a little extra around the middle), and good nutrition to keep her coat healthy (it was a little dry). Then a return drive to the hotel in Tampa for the VIP presentation. A good crowd showed, which latched on to Dr. Becker's advice for connecting to clients and pets so those same clients don’t connect to the web first. As one of today’s VIPs Boyd Harrell, DVM, the Medical Director of the Lakeland SPCA in Lakeland, Fla., said, "I don't know how many clients come in and say, 'This is what my dog has, and the only reason I didn’t treat it myself is because I needed a prescription.' More often than not, the information they are finding online is wrong. And even if the information in the article is accurate, there still has to be follow-up." He said Dr. Becker's tips and tricks generously dosed throughout the presentation will really help. "Relating to clients to keep then bonded—that's what it's all about," Dr. Harrell said.[image]Next up for the crew was a return to a Sarasota area Petco for the meet and greet. (Laura, the officially proclaimed voice of the GPS unit for the crew, must have experienced several episodes of déjà vu today.) People drove from as far as 100 miles away to see Dr. Becker and pick up an autographed copy of his book. Plus, three adoption groups came to help deserving pets find homes—a greyhound rescue, a dachshund rescue, and the local shelter. McKenzie, the official tour dog, made lots of friends.Dr. Becker is thrilled with how the tour has gone so far. "On this type of thing, you have to begin with the end in mind," said Dr. Becker. "What's my goal? To put veterinary medicine in a warm light. To cast a halo around the profession in a national and in a local way. This is the first time veterinarians have been personally invited to an event like this. I hope the novelty and mystery of it keeps them coming. And it's an audacious thing to do 30 cities in 45 days. I look at it like a campaign tour—but I'm campaigning for the profession."He's already personally received positive reviews from VIP attendees, such as "I needed a dose of Dr. Becker again," and "Thanks for representing us on this tour."dvm360.com leaves Dr. Becker and his crew as they carry on to Miami and many, many, many points distant. We've enjoyed the chance to capture the excitement of the first days of the tour. We'll pick it up again at various points down the road such as the CVC in Washington, D.C. But never fear, Dr. Becker himself will continue to provide blogs here in the Veterinary Community, so don't stop tuning in every day to check the progress. And if he's coming to your town, you must see the bus and meet Dr. Becker in person. For a map of the stops, visit dvm360.com/beckerbustour. tour nonadult false A back and forth day in Florida text blog tour 1289 11 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 3544122 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Meet-the-bus-tour-dream-team/blog/3524504/30809.html Wednesday was mostly a travel day for the Dr. Marty Becker and his tour crew. They spent Tuesday night in Tallahassee, Fla., and got up to drive to Tampa, Fla., to tape an episode of "The Animal House," a weekly program on NPR. He also did a live radio Q&A with pet owners on the Allan Handelman Show on WZTK in North Carolina. During the show, he helped a pet owner deal with fighting dogs within a household, discussed the amazing stories of cancer-sniffing dogs, and much more. Callers were waiting for over an hour to get their questions in. But the official tour events—the VIP luncheon and meet and greet at Petco—won't happen until Thursday in Tampa. So Wednesday was a chance for the crew to catch their respective breaths and take stock of how things are going so far. So just who is this crew? [image]Gina Spadafori, Dr. Becker's writing partner, is handling the tour's PR, including blogging and Tweeting at almost every moment to keep Dr. Becker's many followers up-to-date on the goings-on. She has known Dr. Becker for two decades, and together they've written more than a dozen books, including Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual. She is also the author of the best-selling Dogs for Dummies and Cats for Dummies, among many others. She started her career as a reporter for The Sacramento Bee. Spadafori's and Dr. Becker's working partnership is a match made in heaven. "We are the perfect combination of an expert on knowing people and communicating and a trained reporter and editor," said Spadafori. "Our skills just dovetail so wonderfully. The most important thing is that we're very adaptable and nimble. We have to stay on top of the curve." She equates this flexibility with how all veterinarians must adapt to the new reality of vets vs. the net, the theme of Dr. Becker's presentation to VIP veterinarians (see Becker Bus Tour: Everything's bigger in Texas). [image]Jimmy Searl, the tour manager, has arranged the tours of countless performers including Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and many more. Searl is always ready to relate fabulous tales of his adventures on tour and off in his eloquent speaking style. Searl is usually found on his laptop or phone making sure all goes smoothly, from hotel bookings to the logistics of getting Dr. Becker where he needs to be every day—basically being responsible for everything. And anything may be thrown at him at any time. His unflappable and down-to-earth nature quickly smooths any wrinkles that come along. He's enjoying the Big Bus Tour and working with Dr. Becker. "Even though it's only been a short time, it's very easy to see why Dr. Becker is as noted as he is—as well-covered as he is in the media," said Searl. "More than anything, Dr. Becker's personality allows him to relay his expertise in a way that makes you want to listen. He's just a cool guy." [image]Chris Binnall (as in "Been all over the place," as he says) the assistant tour manager, is the man to get things done. Whether chauffeuring Dr. Becker to media events while arguing with Laura, as he has named the voice of the GPS device that barks at him from the dashboard, or carrying out any other of a whole slew of essential tasks, Binnall uses his easy charm and gentlemanly manner to make everything come out just right. Dr. Becker brought Binnall on board himself after meeting him in Dr. Becker's home town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where Binnall is a building contractor. And he's having a great time so far. "Lovin' it!" Binnall said enthusiastically. "These are all great people." [image]Phil Stewart, the tour bus driver, has driven tons of stars in his past 16 years as a driver, including David Copperfield, Eminem, Hootie and the Blowfish, Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones—the list goes on and on. With his sly grin and quick laugh, he makes fast friends with all who enter his bus doors, resulting in repeat business (he has driven David Copperfield for 13 years). So how does the Big Bus Tour compare with previous tours? "It's like a vacation tour," said Stewart. "I don’t have to deal with groupies. It's a lot less stressful." And Stewart has obtained a few groupies of his own since, while driving Dog The Bounty Hunter around on a book-signing tour about six months ago, he ended up appearing frequently in the show, resulting in people recognizing him and asking for his autograph. But Stewart shuns such attention and takes it all in stride. In fact, Dog's wife, Beth, started calling him "Mr. Cool Breeze." To see a clip of Mr. Cool Breeze in action, click here. [image]Last, and most important, is McKenzie, the official tour dog. Convinced that the tour is truly all about her, and not Dr. Becker, McKenzie is a flat-coated retriever that belongs to Spadafori. She steps in when demonstrations such as tooth brushing are needed for media events. Otherwise, she can be found napping on her tour bus, making sure to get enough beauty sleep. She must be ready for her closeup! The Becker traveling team also has Christie Keith and David Greene, associate editors at petconnection.com—the online home of Dr. Becker—keeping them grounded. Keith and Greene have been helping with research not easily conducted while rolling around on four wheels as well as with posting online and arranging media events. They have been lifesavers more than once. Thursday, a more typical tour day commences quite early once again for an appearance on a Tampa, Fla., morning show. Stay tuned!   Wednesday was mostly a travel day for the Dr. Marty Becker and his tour crew. They spent Tuesday night in Tallahassee, Fla., and got up to drive to Tampa, Fla., to tape an episode of "The Animal House," a weekly program on NPR. He also did a live radio Q&A with pet owners on the Allan Handelman Show on WZTK in North Carolina. During the show, he helped a pet owner deal with fighting dogs within a household, discussed the amazing stories of cancer-sniffing dogs, and much more. Callers were waiting for over an hour to get their questions in. But the official tour events—the VIP luncheon and meet and greet at Petco—won't happen until Thursday in Tampa. So Wednesday was a chance for the crew to catch their respective breaths and take stock of how things are going so far. So just who is this crew? [image]Gina Spadafori, Dr. Becker's writing partner, is handling the tour's PR, including blogging and Tweeting at almost every moment to keep Dr. Becker's many followers up-to-date on the goings-on. She has known Dr. Becker for two decades, and together they've written more than a dozen books, including Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual. She is also the author of the best-selling Dogs for Dummies and Cats for Dummies, among many others. She started her career as a reporter for The Sacramento Bee. Spadafori's and Dr. Becker's working partnership is a match made in heaven. "We are the perfect combination of an expert on knowing people and communicating and a trained reporter and editor," said Spadafori. "Our skills just dovetail so wonderfully. The most important thing is that we're very adaptable and nimble. We have to stay on top of the curve." She equates this flexibility with how all veterinarians must adapt to the new reality of vets vs. the net, the theme of Dr. Becker's presentation to VIP veterinarians (see Becker Bus Tour: Everything's bigger in Texas). [image]Jimmy Searl, the tour manager, has arranged the tours of countless performers including Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and many more. Searl is always ready to relate fabulous tales of his adventures on tour and off in his eloquent speaking style. Searl is usually found on his laptop or phone making sure all goes smoothly, from hotel bookings to the logistics of getting Dr. Becker where he needs to be every day—basically being responsible for everything. And anything may be thrown at him at any time. His unflappable and down-to-earth nature quickly smooths any wrinkles that come along. He's enjoying the Big Bus Tour and working with Dr. Becker. "Even though it's only been a short time, it's very easy to see why Dr. Becker is as noted as he is—as well-covered as he is in the media," said Searl. "More than anything, Dr. Becker's personality allows him to relay his expertise in a way that makes you want to listen. He's just a cool guy." [image]Chris Binnall (as in "Been all over the place," as he says) the assistant tour manager, is the man to get things done. Whether chauffeuring Dr. Becker to media events while arguing with Laura, as he has named the voice of the GPS device that barks at him from the dashboard, or carrying out any other of a whole slew of essential tasks, Binnall uses his easy charm and gentlemanly manner to make everything come out just right. Dr. Becker brought Binnall on board himself after meeting him in Dr. Becker's home town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where Binnall is a building contractor. And he's having a great time so far. "Lovin' it!" Binnall said enthusiastically. "These are all great people." [image]Phil Stewart, the tour bus driver, has driven tons of stars in his past 16 years as a driver, including David Copperfield, Eminem, Hootie and the Blowfish, Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones—the list goes on and on. With his sly grin and quick laugh, he makes fast friends with all who enter his bus doors, resulting in repeat business (he has driven David Copperfield for 13 years). So how does the Big Bus Tour compare with previous tours? "It's like a vacation tour," said Stewart. "I don’t have to deal with groupies. It's a lot less stressful." And Stewart has obtained a few groupies of his own since, while driving Dog The Bounty Hunter around on a book-signing tour about six months ago, he ended up appearing frequently in the show, resulting in people recognizing him and asking for his autograph. But Stewart shuns such attention and takes it all in stride. In fact, Dog's wife, Beth, started calling him "Mr. Cool Breeze." To see a clip of Mr. Cool Breeze in action, click here. [image]Last, and most important, is McKenzie, the official tour dog. Convinced that the tour is truly all about her, and not Dr. Becker, McKenzie is a flat-coated retriever that belongs to Spadafori. She steps in when demonstrations such as tooth brushing are needed for media events. Otherwise, she can be found napping on her tour bus, making sure to get enough beauty sleep. She must be ready for her closeup! The Becker traveling team also has Christie Keith and David Greene, associate editors at petconnection.com—the online home of Dr. Becker—keeping them grounded. Keith and Greene have been helping with research not easily conducted while rolling around on four wheels as well as with posting online and arranging media events. They have been lifesavers more than once. Thursday, a more typical tour day commences quite early once again for an appearance on a Tampa, Fla., morning show. Stay tuned!   Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:45:32 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Meet-the-bus-tour-dream-team/blog/3524504/30809.html minval 2011-04-28T03:45:32Z Veterinary Community Wednesday was mostly a travel day for the Dr. Marty Becker and his tour crew. They spent Tuesday night in Tallahassee, Fla., and got up to drive to Tampa, Fla., to tape an episode of "The Animal House," a weekly program on NPR. He also did a live radio Q&A with pet owners on the Allan Handelman Show on WZTK in North Carolina. During the show, he helped a pet owner deal with fighting dogs within a household, discussed the amazing stories of cancer-sniffing dogs, and much more. Callers were waiting for over an hour to get their questions in. But the official tour events—the VIP luncheon and meet and greet at Petco—won't happen until Thursday in Tampa. So Wednesday was a chance for the crew to catch their respective breaths and take stock of how things are going so far. So just who is this crew? [image]Gina Spadafori, Dr. Becker's writing partner, is handling the tour's PR, including blogging and Tweeting at almost every moment to keep Dr. Becker's many followers up-to-date on the goings-on. She has known Dr. Becker for two decades, and together they've written more than a dozen books, including Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual. She is also the author of the best-selling Dogs for Dummies and Cats for Dummies, among many others. She started her career as a reporter for The Sacramento Bee. Spadafori's and Dr. Becker's working partnership is a match made in heaven. "We are the perfect combination of an expert on knowing people and communicating and a trained reporter and editor," said Spadafori. "Our skills just dovetail so wonderfully. The most important thing is that we're very adaptable and nimble. We have to stay on top of the curve." She equates this flexibility with how all veterinarians must adapt to the new reality of vets vs. the net, the theme of Dr. Becker's presentation to VIP veterinarians (see Becker Bus Tour: Everything's bigger in Texas). [image]Jimmy Searl, the tour manager, has arranged the tours of countless performers including Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and many more. Searl is always ready to relate fabulous tales of his adventures on tour and off in his eloquent speaking style. Searl is usually found on his laptop or phone making sure all goes smoothly, from hotel bookings to the logistics of getting Dr. Becker where he needs to be every day—basically being responsible for everything. And anything may be thrown at him at any time. His unflappable and down-to-earth nature quickly smooths any wrinkles that come along. He's enjoying the Big Bus Tour and working with Dr. Becker. "Even though it's only been a short time, it's very easy to see why Dr. Becker is as noted as he is—as well-covered as he is in the media," said Searl. "More than anything, Dr. Becker's personality allows him to relay his expertise in a way that makes you want to listen. He's just a cool guy." [image]Chris Binnall (as in "Been all over the place," as he says) the assistant tour manager, is the man to get things done. Whether chauffeuring Dr. Becker to media events while arguing with Laura, as he has named the voice of the GPS device that barks at him from the dashboard, or carrying out any other of a whole slew of essential tasks, Binnall uses his easy charm and gentlemanly manner to make everything come out just right. Dr. Becker brought Binnall on board himself after meeting him in Dr. Becker's home town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where Binnall is a building contractor. And he's having a great time so far. "Lovin' it!" Binnall said enthusiastically. "These are all great people." [image]Phil Stewart, the tour bus driver, has driven tons of stars in his past 16 years as a driver, including David Copperfield, Eminem, Hootie and the Blowfish, Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones—the list goes on and on. With his sly grin and quick laugh, he makes fast friends with all who enter his bus doors, resulting in repeat business (he has driven David Copperfield for 13 years). So how does the Big Bus Tour compare with previous tours? "It's like a vacation tour," said Stewart. "I don’t have to deal with groupies. It's a lot less stressful." And Stewart has obtained a few groupies of his own since, while driving Dog The Bounty Hunter around on a book-signing tour about six months ago, he ended up appearing frequently in the show, resulting in people recognizing him and asking for his autograph. But Stewart shuns such attention and takes it all in stride. In fact, Dog's wife, Beth, started calling him "Mr. Cool Breeze." To see a clip of Mr. Cool Breeze in action, click here. [image]Last, and most important, is McKenzie, the official tour dog. Convinced that the tour is truly all about her, and not Dr. Becker, McKenzie is a flat-coated retriever that belongs to Spadafori. She steps in when demonstrations such as tooth brushing are needed for media events. Otherwise, she can be found napping on her tour bus, making sure to get enough beauty sleep. She must be ready for her closeup! The Becker traveling team also has Christie Keith and David Greene, associate editors at petconnection.com—the online home of Dr. Becker—keeping them grounded. Keith and Greene have been helping with research not easily conducted while rolling around on four wheels as well as with posting online and arranging media events. They have been lifesavers more than once. Thursday, a more typical tour day commences quite early once again for an appearance on a Tampa, Fla., morning show. Stay tuned!   tour nonadult false Meet the bus tour dream team text blog tour 1057 21 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 3524504 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Letting-the-good-times-roll-in-New-Orleans/blog/3515477/30809.html The Big Bus Tour had a bright-and-early start Tuesday so that Dr. Marty Becker could appear on Good Morning New Orleans at the ABC affiliate WGNO-TV. The bus tour crew got to the studio at 5:30 a.m. Dr. Becker was featured in a live segment in which he assessed the body condition scores of Lucy, who belongs to co-anchor Jocelyn Lockwood, and Huxley, who belongs to one of the producers of the show.  [image] Although both dogs were in pretty good condition, Dr. Becker had a few tips to attain and then maintain ideal body weight, including the idea of "less food in their bowl, more miles on their feet." For example, feed fewer treats—treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a pet’s caloric intake. See the segment here. The Becker bus tour crew then ventured to the can't-miss New Orleans eatery Cafe du Monde to experience their famous cafe au lait and beignets. After the powdered-sugar-laden feast, everyone went back to the hotel for a quick break (and nap, if possible) before the VIP presentation to New Orleans-area veterinarians. A fun and easy recommendation that generated much interest was Dr. Becker's declaration that they could increase client satisfaction by one-third and make themselves "seem brilliant" with one question: Ask pet owners the genesis of their dogs' names. Dr. Becker said this will get pet owners involved as they tell their stories but also illustrate your interest and investment in their pets. Some of the best pet names Dr. Becker has come across? M.C. Hamster, 11:30 (since the pet wasn't quite dark enough to be midnight), and Nobody. Why Nobody? When Dr. Becker asked the client to explain that one, the owner replied in a sad, sing-songy voice, "Nobody loves me." Next, off to a Petco meet and greet in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans. In addition to being interviewed by a reporter from the New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune, Dr. Becker heard about Petco General Manager Denis Breaud's Hurricane Katrina adventure. Breaud was a zookeeper at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans at the time of the hurricane and was part of the "A" team that was assigned to stay with the animals throughout the storm. The zoo had ample warning, so they were able to stock up on food and supplies before Katrina hit. Luckily, the zoo is located on higher ground, so no flooding occurred. The Houston and Baton Rouge zoos also sent food and supplies afterward to help maintain the animals. Breaud says that only two otters died as a result of Katrina—both from stress. [image] The weirdest part of the ordeal for Breaud (pictured left with Dr. Becker) was the first days after the storm when he said it was like the movie "28 Days Later." He would walk around outside, and there was no one in the streets—no cars, nothing. It's an experience that will stay with Breaud for the rest of his life. Wednesday is a travel day as the crew heads to Florida, so be sure to check back in for a behind-the-scenes look at the Becker Bus Tour crew. The Big Bus Tour had a bright-and-early start Tuesday so that Dr. Marty Becker could appear on Good Morning New Orleans at the ABC affiliate WGNO-TV. The bus tour crew got to the studio at 5:30 a.m. Dr. Becker was featured in a live segment in which he assessed the body condition scores of Lucy, who belongs to co-anchor Jocelyn Lockwood, and Huxley, who belongs to one of the producers of the show.  [image] Although both dogs were in pretty good condition, Dr. Becker had a few tips to attain and then maintain ideal body weight, including the idea of "less food in their bowl, more miles on their feet." For example, feed fewer treats—treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a pet’s caloric intake. See the segment here. The Becker bus tour crew then ventured to the can't-miss New Orleans eatery Cafe du Monde to experience their famous cafe au lait and beignets. After the powdered-sugar-laden feast, everyone went back to the hotel for a quick break (and nap, if possible) before the VIP presentation to New Orleans-area veterinarians. A fun and easy recommendation that generated much interest was Dr. Becker's declaration that they could increase client satisfaction by one-third and make themselves "seem brilliant" with one question: Ask pet owners the genesis of their dogs' names. Dr. Becker said this will get pet owners involved as they tell their stories but also illustrate your interest and investment in their pets. Some of the best pet names Dr. Becker has come across? M.C. Hamster, 11:30 (since the pet wasn't quite dark enough to be midnight), and Nobody. Why Nobody? When Dr. Becker asked the client to explain that one, the owner replied in a sad, sing-songy voice, "Nobody loves me." Next, off to a Petco meet and greet in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans. In addition to being interviewed by a reporter from the New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune, Dr. Becker heard about Petco General Manager Denis Breaud's Hurricane Katrina adventure. Breaud was a zookeeper at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans at the time of the hurricane and was part of the "A" team that was assigned to stay with the animals throughout the storm. The zoo had ample warning, so they were able to stock up on food and supplies before Katrina hit. Luckily, the zoo is located on higher ground, so no flooding occurred. The Houston and Baton Rouge zoos also sent food and supplies afterward to help maintain the animals. Breaud says that only two otters died as a result of Katrina—both from stress. [image] The weirdest part of the ordeal for Breaud (pictured left with Dr. Becker) was the first days after the storm when he said it was like the movie "28 Days Later." He would walk around outside, and there was no one in the streets—no cars, nothing. It's an experience that will stay with Breaud for the rest of his life. Wednesday is a travel day as the crew heads to Florida, so be sure to check back in for a behind-the-scenes look at the Becker Bus Tour crew. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:31:42 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Letting-the-good-times-roll-in-New-Orleans/blog/3515477/30809.html minval 2011-04-27T03:50:22Z Veterinary Community The Big Bus Tour had a bright-and-early start Tuesday so that Dr. Marty Becker could appear on Good Morning New Orleans at the ABC affiliate WGNO-TV. The bus tour crew got to the studio at 5:30 a.m. Dr. Becker was featured in a live segment in which he assessed the body condition scores of Lucy, who belongs to co-anchor Jocelyn Lockwood, and Huxley, who belongs to one of the producers of the show.  [image] Although both dogs were in pretty good condition, Dr. Becker had a few tips to attain and then maintain ideal body weight, including the idea of "less food in their bowl, more miles on their feet." For example, feed fewer treats—treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a pet’s caloric intake. See the segment here. The Becker bus tour crew then ventured to the can't-miss New Orleans eatery Cafe du Monde to experience their famous cafe au lait and beignets. After the powdered-sugar-laden feast, everyone went back to the hotel for a quick break (and nap, if possible) before the VIP presentation to New Orleans-area veterinarians. A fun and easy recommendation that generated much interest was Dr. Becker's declaration that they could increase client satisfaction by one-third and make themselves "seem brilliant" with one question: Ask pet owners the genesis of their dogs' names. Dr. Becker said this will get pet owners involved as they tell their stories but also illustrate your interest and investment in their pets. Some of the best pet names Dr. Becker has come across? M.C. Hamster, 11:30 (since the pet wasn't quite dark enough to be midnight), and Nobody. Why Nobody? When Dr. Becker asked the client to explain that one, the owner replied in a sad, sing-songy voice, "Nobody loves me." Next, off to a Petco meet and greet in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans. In addition to being interviewed by a reporter from the New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune, Dr. Becker heard about Petco General Manager Denis Breaud's Hurricane Katrina adventure. Breaud was a zookeeper at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans at the time of the hurricane and was part of the "A" team that was assigned to stay with the animals throughout the storm. The zoo had ample warning, so they were able to stock up on food and supplies before Katrina hit. Luckily, the zoo is located on higher ground, so no flooding occurred. The Houston and Baton Rouge zoos also sent food and supplies afterward to help maintain the animals. Breaud says that only two otters died as a result of Katrina—both from stress. [image] The weirdest part of the ordeal for Breaud (pictured left with Dr. Becker) was the first days after the storm when he said it was like the movie "28 Days Later." He would walk around outside, and there was no one in the streets—no cars, nothing. It's an experience that will stay with Breaud for the rest of his life. Wednesday is a travel day as the crew heads to Florida, so be sure to check back in for a behind-the-scenes look at the Becker Bus Tour crew. tour nonadult false Letting the good times roll in New Orleans text blog tour 1081 11 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 3515477 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Becker-Bus-Tour-Everything39s-bigger-in-Texas/blog/3512860/30809.html Here’s the tour bus: [image]  Pretty impressive! It’s transported the likes of Kid Rock, Lady Gaga, and, appropriately, at least nominally, Dog the Bounty Hunter. And now it’s the lifeline of the Big Bus Tour. Humming with WiFi access, flat-screen TVs, black leather seats, wood paneling, and black faux marble countertops trimmed with neon blue lights, it’s a true sensation.  Before jumping on the bus on the first day of the tour, Dr. Becker and crew began what will become their normal schedule for their 45-day tour. First, he spoke at a VIP luncheon attended by Houston-area veterinarians. The overall theme was “Vets vs. Net”—how veterinary practices must take control of delivering information to pet owners so they don’t head to websites that may contain questionable information.  Just in time, and completely coincidentally, Monday’s USA Today ran an article in its Life section featuring Dr. Becker and this same message—pet owners should visit their veterinarians and not rely on “Dr. Google.”  After the presentation, the bus got on down the road to a Petco in a suburb of Houston—Spring, Texas. Here, Dr. Becker took his message directly to pet owners and signed copies of his latest book, Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual. Among the attendees were Susan Cragg and Peter Cragg, DVM, MS, from The Woodlands Veterinary Services in The Woodlands, Texas. They came expressly, Susan Cragg says, because they knew the book held the answers to increasing veterinary visits, which have been on the decline as shown in January’s Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study.  “Dr. Becker is one of the leaders of the progressive movement,” Dr. Cragg says. “Change is coming, and we need to be the leaders, or it will be dictated by others.” Dr. Cragg bemoans the fact that some pet owners and veterinarians still haven’t figured out that a visit isn’t just for a vaccine anymore. This is just the reason that this tour is taking place—it’s all about how healthy pets must visit vets.  At Petco, Dr. Becker also met enthusiastic pet owners (pictured below) and was interviewed by KTKR-TV. He discussed ways to save money without skimping on your pet’s health, such as taking inexpensive preventive measures when it comes to dogs’ oral health. McKenzie, the tour's official dog-on-the-road, got to help out with the interview by having her teeth brushed by Dr. Becker. McKenzie belongs to Gina Spadafori, Dr. Becker’s writing partner. The tooth brushing went extremely well, considering it was McKenzie’s first time and the fact that she wasn’t so sure about that minty taste.  [image] Next stop: New Orleans—which is about a six-and-a-half hour drive. Unfortunately, after such a long day and the daunting reality of such an early morning on Tuesday (the crew has to be at a TV studio at 5:45 a.m.), the dinner specially arranged by Emeril Lagassse for late evening was bypassed for a quicker bite on the road at Chicken on the Bayou, which reportedly has the best po’boy oyster sandwiches you can find. The Becker crew agreed they were pretty good. Stay tuned for Tuesday’s adventure, New Orleans style! Here’s the tour bus: [image]  Pretty impressive! It’s transported the likes of Kid Rock, Lady Gaga, and, appropriately, at least nominally, Dog the Bounty Hunter. And now it’s the lifeline of the Big Bus Tour. Humming with WiFi access, flat-screen TVs, black leather seats, wood paneling, and black faux marble countertops trimmed with neon blue lights, it’s a true sensation.  Before jumping on the bus on the first day of the tour, Dr. Becker and crew began what will become their normal schedule for their 45-day tour. First, he spoke at a VIP luncheon attended by Houston-area veterinarians. The overall theme was “Vets vs. Net”—how veterinary practices must take control of delivering information to pet owners so they don’t head to websites that may contain questionable information.  Just in time, and completely coincidentally, Monday’s USA Today ran an article in its Life section featuring Dr. Becker and this same message—pet owners should visit their veterinarians and not rely on “Dr. Google.”  After the presentation, the bus got on down the road to a Petco in a suburb of Houston—Spring, Texas. Here, Dr. Becker took his message directly to pet owners and signed copies of his latest book, Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual. Among the attendees were Susan Cragg and Peter Cragg, DVM, MS, from The Woodlands Veterinary Services in The Woodlands, Texas. They came expressly, Susan Cragg says, because they knew the book held the answers to increasing veterinary visits, which have been on the decline as shown in January’s Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study.  “Dr. Becker is one of the leaders of the progressive movement,” Dr. Cragg says. “Change is coming, and we need to be the leaders, or it will be dictated by others.” Dr. Cragg bemoans the fact that some pet owners and veterinarians still haven’t figured out that a visit isn’t just for a vaccine anymore. This is just the reason that this tour is taking place—it’s all about how healthy pets must visit vets.  At Petco, Dr. Becker also met enthusiastic pet owners (pictured below) and was interviewed by KTKR-TV. He discussed ways to save money without skimping on your pet’s health, such as taking inexpensive preventive measures when it comes to dogs’ oral health. McKenzie, the tour's official dog-on-the-road, got to help out with the interview by having her teeth brushed by Dr. Becker. McKenzie belongs to Gina Spadafori, Dr. Becker’s writing partner. The tooth brushing went extremely well, considering it was McKenzie’s first time and the fact that she wasn’t so sure about that minty taste.  [image] Next stop: New Orleans—which is about a six-and-a-half hour drive. Unfortunately, after such a long day and the daunting reality of such an early morning on Tuesday (the crew has to be at a TV studio at 5:45 a.m.), the dinner specially arranged by Emeril Lagassse for late evening was bypassed for a quicker bite on the road at Chicken on the Bayou, which reportedly has the best po’boy oyster sandwiches you can find. The Becker crew agreed they were pretty good. Stay tuned for Tuesday’s adventure, New Orleans style! Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:46:31 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Becker-Bus-Tour-Everything39s-bigger-in-Texas/blog/3512860/30809.html minval 2011-04-26T20:46:31Z Veterinary Community Here’s the tour bus: [image]  Pretty impressive! It’s transported the likes of Kid Rock, Lady Gaga, and, appropriately, at least nominally, Dog the Bounty Hunter. And now it’s the lifeline of the Big Bus Tour. Humming with WiFi access, flat-screen TVs, black leather seats, wood paneling, and black faux marble countertops trimmed with neon blue lights, it’s a true sensation.  Before jumping on the bus on the first day of the tour, Dr. Becker and crew began what will become their normal schedule for their 45-day tour. First, he spoke at a VIP luncheon attended by Houston-area veterinarians. The overall theme was “Vets vs. Net”—how veterinary practices must take control of delivering information to pet owners so they don’t head to websites that may contain questionable information.  Just in time, and completely coincidentally, Monday’s USA Today ran an article in its Life section featuring Dr. Becker and this same message—pet owners should visit their veterinarians and not rely on “Dr. Google.”  After the presentation, the bus got on down the road to a Petco in a suburb of Houston—Spring, Texas. Here, Dr. Becker took his message directly to pet owners and signed copies of his latest book, Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual. Among the attendees were Susan Cragg and Peter Cragg, DVM, MS, from The Woodlands Veterinary Services in The Woodlands, Texas. They came expressly, Susan Cragg says, because they knew the book held the answers to increasing veterinary visits, which have been on the decline as shown in January’s Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study.  “Dr. Becker is one of the leaders of the progressive movement,” Dr. Cragg says. “Change is coming, and we need to be the leaders, or it will be dictated by others.” Dr. Cragg bemoans the fact that some pet owners and veterinarians still haven’t figured out that a visit isn’t just for a vaccine anymore. This is just the reason that this tour is taking place—it’s all about how healthy pets must visit vets.  At Petco, Dr. Becker also met enthusiastic pet owners (pictured below) and was interviewed by KTKR-TV. He discussed ways to save money without skimping on your pet’s health, such as taking inexpensive preventive measures when it comes to dogs’ oral health. McKenzie, the tour's official dog-on-the-road, got to help out with the interview by having her teeth brushed by Dr. Becker. McKenzie belongs to Gina Spadafori, Dr. Becker’s writing partner. The tooth brushing went extremely well, considering it was McKenzie’s first time and the fact that she wasn’t so sure about that minty taste.  [image] Next stop: New Orleans—which is about a six-and-a-half hour drive. Unfortunately, after such a long day and the daunting reality of such an early morning on Tuesday (the crew has to be at a TV studio at 5:45 a.m.), the dinner specially arranged by Emeril Lagassse for late evening was bypassed for a quicker bite on the road at Chicken on the Bayou, which reportedly has the best po’boy oyster sandwiches you can find. The Becker crew agreed they were pretty good. Stay tuned for Tuesday’s adventure, New Orleans style! tour nonadult false Becker Bus Tour: Everything's bigger in Texas text blog tour 1144 11 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 1 0 3512860 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Big-Bus-Tour-gets-a-head-start/blog/3503926/30809.html Dr. Marty Becker’s Big Bus Tour kicked off a little early yesterday in Houston, Texas. Although the 30-city, 45-day "Healthy Pets Visit Vets" tour didn't officially begin until today, yesterday he headed over to KTRH NewsRadio in Houston for a live segment on the weekly Sunday evening show "Your Pet's Health" hosted by Brian Beale, DVM, DACVS, a surgeon at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston. [image]Dr. Becker (pictured during the show, right) gave listeners a peek at the hundreds of tips featured in his book Your Dog: The Owner's Manual--including the fact that we can prevent common poisonings in dogs by being more aware and preventing accessibility (i.e. keeping human prescriptions, the most common poisoning in dogs, off kitchen or bathroom counters; restricting access to our purses, which often feature sugar-free gum that contains xylitol, the second most common poisoning).Dr. Becker even helped Dr. Beale (pictured below) with his most pressing pet problem--dog hair all over the house. Dr. Becker's advice for these "hairy hand grenades" is to bathe and brush them weekly with an appropriate tool, or even prevent heavy shedding problems in the first place by getting a small, long-haired dog. Why? Smaller dogs have less hair to shed; long-haired dogs shed less often, and you can trim their hair to further alleviate the shedding situation.[image]The tip to bathe dogs once a week surprised me. I had always been told that this frequent of bathing would cut down on the natural, necessary oils on a dog's skin. But Dr. Becker countered exactly this old advice, saying that dermatologists he's talked to now recommend weekly bathing to eliminate environmental allergens on your dog, which have been attributed to causing, among other things, 80% of ear problems in dogs as well as anal gland problems. One of my dogs has frequent bouts of both, so he may start getting weekly scrubbing sessions when I get home. He'll love me for it.Speaking of bathing, did you know that to stop a dog from shaking right after a bath in an inopportune place, you just have to hold the dog's nose and, voila, instant shake cessation. Then just move the dog to a more appropriate area and allow it to shake away. Dr. Becker says this simple secret has astonished and delighted even seasoned veterinarians and veterinary staff he has met.On tap today, a VIP breakfast and presentation, a community event at Petco, a TV appearance on KTKR in Houston, and then a long drive to New Orleans where we may get a chance to eat at one of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants by special invite of Dr. Becker's good friend, none other than Emeril himself.Details on these events and more from the road to come...And to read all about the 30-city, 45-day tour, go to dvm360.com/beckerbustour. Dr. Marty Becker’s Big Bus Tour kicked off a little early yesterday in Houston, Texas. Although the 30-city, 45-day "Healthy Pets Visit Vets" tour didn't officially begin until today, yesterday he headed over to KTRH NewsRadio in Houston for a live segment on the weekly Sunday evening show "Your Pet's Health" hosted by Brian Beale, DVM, DACVS, a surgeon at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston. [image]Dr. Becker (pictured during the show, right) gave listeners a peek at the hundreds of tips featured in his book Your Dog: The Owner's Manual--including the fact that we can prevent common poisonings in dogs by being more aware and preventing accessibility (i.e. keeping human prescriptions, the most common poisoning in dogs, off kitchen or bathroom counters; restricting access to our purses, which often feature sugar-free gum that contains xylitol, the second most common poisoning).Dr. Becker even helped Dr. Beale (pictured below) with his most pressing pet problem--dog hair all over the house. Dr. Becker's advice for these "hairy hand grenades" is to bathe and brush them weekly with an appropriate tool, or even prevent heavy shedding problems in the first place by getting a small, long-haired dog. Why? Smaller dogs have less hair to shed; long-haired dogs shed less often, and you can trim their hair to further alleviate the shedding situation.[image]The tip to bathe dogs once a week surprised me. I had always been told that this frequent of bathing would cut down on the natural, necessary oils on a dog's skin. But Dr. Becker countered exactly this old advice, saying that dermatologists he's talked to now recommend weekly bathing to eliminate environmental allergens on your dog, which have been attributed to causing, among other things, 80% of ear problems in dogs as well as anal gland problems. One of my dogs has frequent bouts of both, so he may start getting weekly scrubbing sessions when I get home. He'll love me for it.Speaking of bathing, did you know that to stop a dog from shaking right after a bath in an inopportune place, you just have to hold the dog's nose and, voila, instant shake cessation. Then just move the dog to a more appropriate area and allow it to shake away. Dr. Becker says this simple secret has astonished and delighted even seasoned veterinarians and veterinary staff he has met.On tap today, a VIP breakfast and presentation, a community event at Petco, a TV appearance on KTKR in Houston, and then a long drive to New Orleans where we may get a chance to eat at one of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants by special invite of Dr. Becker's good friend, none other than Emeril himself.Details on these events and more from the road to come...And to read all about the 30-city, 45-day tour, go to dvm360.com/beckerbustour. Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:09:33 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Big-Bus-Tour-gets-a-head-start/blog/3503926/30809.html minval 2011-04-25T14:09:33Z Veterinary news Veterinary Community Dr. Marty Becker’s Big Bus Tour kicked off a little early yesterday in Houston, Texas. Although the 30-city, 45-day "Healthy Pets Visit Vets" tour didn't officially begin until today, yesterday he headed over to KTRH NewsRadio in Houston for a live segment on the weekly Sunday evening show "Your Pet's Health" hosted by Brian Beale, DVM, DACVS, a surgeon at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston. [image]Dr. Becker (pictured during the show, right) gave listeners a peek at the hundreds of tips featured in his book Your Dog: The Owner's Manual--including the fact that we can prevent common poisonings in dogs by being more aware and preventing accessibility (i.e. keeping human prescriptions, the most common poisoning in dogs, off kitchen or bathroom counters; restricting access to our purses, which often feature sugar-free gum that contains xylitol, the second most common poisoning).Dr. Becker even helped Dr. Beale (pictured below) with his most pressing pet problem--dog hair all over the house. Dr. Becker's advice for these "hairy hand grenades" is to bathe and brush them weekly with an appropriate tool, or even prevent heavy shedding problems in the first place by getting a small, long-haired dog. Why? Smaller dogs have less hair to shed; long-haired dogs shed less often, and you can trim their hair to further alleviate the shedding situation.[image]The tip to bathe dogs once a week surprised me. I had always been told that this frequent of bathing would cut down on the natural, necessary oils on a dog's skin. But Dr. Becker countered exactly this old advice, saying that dermatologists he's talked to now recommend weekly bathing to eliminate environmental allergens on your dog, which have been attributed to causing, among other things, 80% of ear problems in dogs as well as anal gland problems. One of my dogs has frequent bouts of both, so he may start getting weekly scrubbing sessions when I get home. He'll love me for it.Speaking of bathing, did you know that to stop a dog from shaking right after a bath in an inopportune place, you just have to hold the dog's nose and, voila, instant shake cessation. Then just move the dog to a more appropriate area and allow it to shake away. Dr. Becker says this simple secret has astonished and delighted even seasoned veterinarians and veterinary staff he has met.On tap today, a VIP breakfast and presentation, a community event at Petco, a TV appearance on KTKR in Houston, and then a long drive to New Orleans where we may get a chance to eat at one of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants by special invite of Dr. Becker's good friend, none other than Emeril himself.Details on these events and more from the road to come...And to read all about the 30-city, 45-day tour, go to dvm360.com/beckerbustour. News, tour nonadult false Big Bus Tour gets a head start text blog News,tour 1395 21 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 2 Veterinary news 0 3503926 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_NOVAs-smart-dogs/blog/3307255/30809.html   Did you catch NOVA Science Now last night on PBS? It investigated how smart animals are and started off with a segment on dogs--my favorite subject. We got to meet a Border collie that can distinguish between 1,000 different stuffed animals by name and see how dogs are smarter than primates in certain areas. Here's a link to the segment: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/how-smart-dogs.html Other segments featured dolphins, octopuses, and Alex, the talking parrot. If you caught the show or watched this segment just now, what do you think? I was thoroughly impressed, though not surprised. One of my dogs is a genuine genius, I'm sure. I think I need to start buying more stuffed animals and giving them names just to test him, if he doesn't tear all of the stuffing out of them first. That would be the real trick.     Did you catch NOVA Science Now last night on PBS? It investigated how smart animals are and started off with a segment on dogs--my favorite subject. We got to meet a Border collie that can distinguish between 1,000 different stuffed animals by name and see how dogs are smarter than primates in certain areas. Here's a link to the segment: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/how-smart-dogs.html Other segments featured dolphins, octopuses, and Alex, the talking parrot. If you caught the show or watched this segment just now, what do you think? I was thoroughly impressed, though not surprised. One of my dogs is a genuine genius, I'm sure. I think I need to start buying more stuffed animals and giving them names just to test him, if he doesn't tear all of the stuffing out of them first. That would be the real trick.   Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:58:29 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_NOVAs-smart-dogs/blog/3307255/30809.html minval 2011-02-11T01:11:03Z Veterinary Community   Did you catch NOVA Science Now last night on PBS? It investigated how smart animals are and started off with a segment on dogs--my favorite subject. We got to meet a Border collie that can distinguish between 1,000 different stuffed animals by name and see how dogs are smarter than primates in certain areas. Here's a link to the segment: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/how-smart-dogs.html Other segments featured dolphins, octopuses, and Alex, the talking parrot. If you caught the show or watched this segment just now, what do you think? I was thoroughly impressed, though not surprised. One of my dogs is a genuine genius, I'm sure. I think I need to start buying more stuffed animals and giving them names just to test him, if he doesn't tear all of the stuffing out of them first. That would be the real trick.   nova, smart dogs nonadult false NOVA's smart dogs text blog nova,smart dogs 1564 10 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 3307255 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_OK-go-doggies/blog/2673187/30809.html Watch this amazing video from the group Ok Go, featuring mostly rescue dogs. It will definitely brighten your day. Watch this amazing video from the group Ok Go, featuring mostly rescue dogs. It will definitely brighten your day. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:30:45 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_OK-go-doggies/blog/2673187/30809.html minval 2010-09-24T17:13:54Z Veterinary Community Watch this amazing video from the group Ok Go, featuring mostly rescue dogs. It will definitely brighten your day. nonadult false OK go doggies! text blog 1805 1 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 1 0 2673187 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Fur-A-sign-of-a-good-heart/blog/2337138/30809.html I remember when my husband and I thought that our older dog, Cooper, shed a lot. (That's Cooper curled up on the couch.) Then we adopted another dog, Oliver--and this dog is a hair factory. (There's Oliver perched underneath my desk.) Needless to say, we have a nice layer of dog fur on top of our carpet and, yes, furniture. They're human, so they can sit on the couch, right? [image]We have one of those fancy fur removers, and it looks like it's been snowing outside when we have a good loose-fur-removing session. But, I swear, we could brush their co[image]ats, especially Oliver's, every day all day long, and there would still be plenty of loose hair to grace the interior of our house. OK, I exaggerate a bit. But you know what I mean. How many of you plan your outfits according to your pets' hair? How many have different sets of clothes for in the house vs. out of the house? I often change my clothes to go out in the world because I'm just too full of hair. For us, black is banned from being worn in the house since both Coop and Ollie have light-colored fur. For my parents, it's the opposite since their dog has black hair. However, when I do venture out to the grocery store or wherever, I'll often end up in line behind people with telltale hairs decorating their clothes. Do I get judgmental about this? Absolutely! I suddenly know that these are good people. They have invited some sort of four-footed creature into the homes and hearts. So I guess I need to stop worrying about all that hair. It's just a sign that I have a good heart, too. I remember when my husband and I thought that our older dog, Cooper, shed a lot. (That's Cooper curled up on the couch.) Then we adopted another dog, Oliver--and this dog is a hair factory. (There's Oliver perched underneath my desk.) Needless to say, we have a nice layer of dog fur on top of our carpet and, yes, furniture. They're human, so they can sit on the couch, right? [image]We have one of those fancy fur removers, and it looks like it's been snowing outside when we have a good loose-fur-removing session. But, I swear, we could brush their co[image]ats, especially Oliver's, every day all day long, and there would still be plenty of loose hair to grace the interior of our house. OK, I exaggerate a bit. But you know what I mean. How many of you plan your outfits according to your pets' hair? How many have different sets of clothes for in the house vs. out of the house? I often change my clothes to go out in the world because I'm just too full of hair. For us, black is banned from being worn in the house since both Coop and Ollie have light-colored fur. For my parents, it's the opposite since their dog has black hair. However, when I do venture out to the grocery store or wherever, I'll often end up in line behind people with telltale hairs decorating their clothes. Do I get judgmental about this? Absolutely! I suddenly know that these are good people. They have invited some sort of four-footed creature into the homes and hearts. So I guess I need to stop worrying about all that hair. It's just a sign that I have a good heart, too. Thu, 13 May 2010 20:23:39 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Fur-A-sign-of-a-good-heart/blog/2337138/30809.html minval 2010-05-13T20:23:39Z Veterinary Community I remember when my husband and I thought that our older dog, Cooper, shed a lot. (That's Cooper curled up on the couch.) Then we adopted another dog, Oliver--and this dog is a hair factory. (There's Oliver perched underneath my desk.) Needless to say, we have a nice layer of dog fur on top of our carpet and, yes, furniture. They're human, so they can sit on the couch, right? [image]We have one of those fancy fur removers, and it looks like it's been snowing outside when we have a good loose-fur-removing session. But, I swear, we could brush their co[image]ats, especially Oliver's, every day all day long, and there would still be plenty of loose hair to grace the interior of our house. OK, I exaggerate a bit. But you know what I mean. How many of you plan your outfits according to your pets' hair? How many have different sets of clothes for in the house vs. out of the house? I often change my clothes to go out in the world because I'm just too full of hair. For us, black is banned from being worn in the house since both Coop and Ollie have light-colored fur. For my parents, it's the opposite since their dog has black hair. However, when I do venture out to the grocery store or wherever, I'll often end up in line behind people with telltale hairs decorating their clothes. Do I get judgmental about this? Absolutely! I suddenly know that these are good people. They have invited some sort of four-footed creature into the homes and hearts. So I guess I need to stop worrying about all that hair. It's just a sign that I have a good heart, too. nonadult false Fur: A sign of a good heart? text blog 977 10 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 2 0 2337138 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_The-dangers-and-delights-of-being-a-nonveterinarian-veterinary-editor/blog/139177/30809.html Like most magazine journalists, I've ended up learning a lot about a field I never studied in school. You see, a lot of editors end up at trade magazines as opposed to consumer magazines. Trade magazines cater to a specific field trying to further the readers' education and keep them on top of what is happening in the field. So instead of being a lowly editorial assistant at a Vogue-like magazine, cowering at the feet of a severe editor-in-chief but getting to wear fabulous shoes, you end up editing articles about the internal workings of the latest commercial crane. (Personally, being at a fashion magazine never was appealing to me--I am appallingly fashion-sense-less.) I was fortunate in that my first job was right here in the veterinary world, not crane physics. OK veterinarians, how many times has someone gushed, "Oh, I always wanted to be a vet!" once you've revealed your chosen profession? I admit that I have expressed just this phrase to the veterinarians I've known--but I mean it! I chose to concentrate on literature and words in my undergraduate and graduate work, but I do regret that at times. Science is so amazing because you can have a big impact on the world. (Now, how much am I going to help people by getting rid of that unnecessary comma?) And veterinary science is particularly appealing to me because I am an absolute animal enthusiast. However, just by editing veterinary medical literature every day, I feel like I do pick up a lot--and here comes the danger. I think I actually know things, and I try to apply them to my world. It's like medical students who think they have every new disease they study--I think my dogs have everything. At the moment, I'm sure that my pup Oliver has hip dysplasia. I really need to check that out! So here's the delight of being a veterinary editor--I know the signs of when something is wrong. Oliver has weak hindlimbs and bites at his back legs at times (might this indicate pain?). It may be nothing and his back legs just need more time to develop strength. But I'm watching it--and I'll mention it to my veterinarian. Most pet owners aren't exposed to the warning signs of disease. My parents have an ancient cat, Stimpy, that had become emaciated and was drinking and peeing a lot. Of course, their veterinarian just diagnosed diabetes, and Stimpy is responding already--improved appetite and weight gain. My parents didn't mention these signs to their veterinarian right away (or to me--I've been known to try and formulate diagnoses, here comes the danger again). But my parents are extremely conscientious about their pets, so as soon as they realized there really might be a problem, they talked with their veterinarian. Your clients may just not know that they are supposed to mention that something is wrong, because it may not even seem like a problem--That crazy dog! He just keeps chasing his tail! This all highlights the importance of getting a good history. One of our Practitioner Advisory Board members, Dr. David Robbins, wrote a great sidebar about how his good history taking helped save a dog in Veterinary Medicine's October issue. Are you asking all the questions in the exam room that you should be? Not everybody is a dog hypochondriac like me. Like most magazine journalists, I've ended up learning a lot about a field I never studied in school. You see, a lot of editors end up at trade magazines as opposed to consumer magazines. Trade magazines cater to a specific field trying to further the readers' education and keep them on top of what is happening in the field. So instead of being a lowly editorial assistant at a Vogue-like magazine, cowering at the feet of a severe editor-in-chief but getting to wear fabulous shoes, you end up editing articles about the internal workings of the latest commercial crane. (Personally, being at a fashion magazine never was appealing to me--I am appallingly fashion-sense-less.) I was fortunate in that my first job was right here in the veterinary world, not crane physics. OK veterinarians, how many times has someone gushed, "Oh, I always wanted to be a vet!" once you've revealed your chosen profession? I admit that I have expressed just this phrase to the veterinarians I've known--but I mean it! I chose to concentrate on literature and words in my undergraduate and graduate work, but I do regret that at times. Science is so amazing because you can have a big impact on the world. (Now, how much am I going to help people by getting rid of that unnecessary comma?) And veterinary science is particularly appealing to me because I am an absolute animal enthusiast. However, just by editing veterinary medical literature every day, I feel like I do pick up a lot--and here comes the danger. I think I actually know things, and I try to apply them to my world. It's like medical students who think they have every new disease they study--I think my dogs have everything. At the moment, I'm sure that my pup Oliver has hip dysplasia. I really need to check that out! So here's the delight of being a veterinary editor--I know the signs of when something is wrong. Oliver has weak hindlimbs and bites at his back legs at times (might this indicate pain?). It may be nothing and his back legs just need more time to develop strength. But I'm watching it--and I'll mention it to my veterinarian. Most pet owners aren't exposed to the warning signs of disease. My parents have an ancient cat, Stimpy, that had become emaciated and was drinking and peeing a lot. Of course, their veterinarian just diagnosed diabetes, and Stimpy is responding already--improved appetite and weight gain. My parents didn't mention these signs to their veterinarian right away (or to me--I've been known to try and formulate diagnoses, here comes the danger again). But my parents are extremely conscientious about their pets, so as soon as they realized there really might be a problem, they talked with their veterinarian. Your clients may just not know that they are supposed to mention that something is wrong, because it may not even seem like a problem--That crazy dog! He just keeps chasing his tail! This all highlights the importance of getting a good history. One of our Practitioner Advisory Board members, Dr. David Robbins, wrote a great sidebar about how his good history taking helped save a dog in Veterinary Medicine's October issue. Are you asking all the questions in the exam room that you should be? Not everybody is a dog hypochondriac like me. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:00:52 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_The-dangers-and-delights-of-being-a-nonveterinarian-veterinary-editor/blog/139177/30809.html minval 2008-11-15T01:47:30Z Veterinary Community Like most magazine journalists, I've ended up learning a lot about a field I never studied in school. You see, a lot of editors end up at trade magazines as opposed to consumer magazines. Trade magazines cater to a specific field trying to further the readers' education and keep them on top of what is happening in the field. So instead of being a lowly editorial assistant at a Vogue-like magazine, cowering at the feet of a severe editor-in-chief but getting to wear fabulous shoes, you end up editing articles about the internal workings of the latest commercial crane. (Personally, being at a fashion magazine never was appealing to me--I am appallingly fashion-sense-less.) I was fortunate in that my first job was right here in the veterinary world, not crane physics. OK veterinarians, how many times has someone gushed, "Oh, I always wanted to be a vet!" once you've revealed your chosen profession? I admit that I have expressed just this phrase to the veterinarians I've known--but I mean it! I chose to concentrate on literature and words in my undergraduate and graduate work, but I do regret that at times. Science is so amazing because you can have a big impact on the world. (Now, how much am I going to help people by getting rid of that unnecessary comma?) And veterinary science is particularly appealing to me because I am an absolute animal enthusiast. However, just by editing veterinary medical literature every day, I feel like I do pick up a lot--and here comes the danger. I think I actually know things, and I try to apply them to my world. It's like medical students who think they have every new disease they study--I think my dogs have everything. At the moment, I'm sure that my pup Oliver has hip dysplasia. I really need to check that out! So here's the delight of being a veterinary editor--I know the signs of when something is wrong. Oliver has weak hindlimbs and bites at his back legs at times (might this indicate pain?). It may be nothing and his back legs just need more time to develop strength. But I'm watching it--and I'll mention it to my veterinarian. Most pet owners aren't exposed to the warning signs of disease. My parents have an ancient cat, Stimpy, that had become emaciated and was drinking and peeing a lot. Of course, their veterinarian just diagnosed diabetes, and Stimpy is responding already--improved appetite and weight gain. My parents didn't mention these signs to their veterinarian right away (or to me--I've been known to try and formulate diagnoses, here comes the danger again). But my parents are extremely conscientious about their pets, so as soon as they realized there really might be a problem, they talked with their veterinarian. Your clients may just not know that they are supposed to mention that something is wrong, because it may not even seem like a problem--That crazy dog! He just keeps chasing his tail! This all highlights the importance of getting a good history. One of our Practitioner Advisory Board members, Dr. David Robbins, wrote a great sidebar about how his good history taking helped save a dog in Veterinary Medicine's October issue. Are you asking all the questions in the exam room that you should be? Not everybody is a dog hypochondriac like me. nonadult false The dangers and delights of being a nonveterinarian veterinary editor text blog 1203 21 4.04762 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 0 0 139177 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Socialize-those-pups/blog/107751/30809.html Last weekend my parents were in town, and they calmly handled our fear-aggressive dog, Cooper, as usual: Ignore him, don't make any sudden movements, and in a few minutes he'll get used to you being around and won't bark and growl.We've had Cooper about six years now. We adopted him when he was about three months old from a local shelter. He's intelligent and perfect with my husband and me. He can sit, turn circles, shake, speak, go backwards, roll over, stand on his tippytoes, and more with a verbal or hand signal. He never chews anything he's not supposed to, never eats anything he's not supposed to, never does his "business" anywhere he's not supposed to. But he is terrible around other people. (He's actually pretty good around other dogs.) After this current episode and everyone was calm and almost happy, my Mom said, "What did somebody do to him for him to be so afraid like that?"Having Veterinary Medicine's August cover article on behavior myths fresh in mind, I knew that previous abuse was not likely the cause of his problems. One of the myths covered in the article was the leap that people make when they adopt a fearful dog. They think it must have been abused before. And it's true that it's easier to say this because then you don't have to accept as much responsibility. But I don't think Cooper was abused--at least physically. He is suffering from a complete lack of socialization when he was younger. My vague recollection of what we were told when we adopted him was that he had been kept pretty isolated when he was a pup. So now any new thing is terrifying. And repeated exposure to that terrifying thing is still terrifying.We worked with a behaviorist in Kansas City and will try to do so here in Texas as well. We need to work to habituate him to these things, but it's not easy and it's so easy to be lazy. We've recently adopted another dog, Oliver, that is already six months old, but he appears to be well-socialized. He's not fearful, and he is sweet with strangers. My parents loved him! But we're still taking him to an obdience class just to reinforce his socialization and let him be around other pups.I wish I could go back in time and really expose Cooper more to different situations when we first got him. I didn't know the importance of socialization at the time. Maybe if we had tried harder at that point we could have lessened some of his problems. But we are dealing with it a day at a time. And he is a good dog. Now, I wonder what behavior problems Oliver is going to develop... Last weekend my parents were in town, and they calmly handled our fear-aggressive dog, Cooper, as usual: Ignore him, don't make any sudden movements, and in a few minutes he'll get used to you being around and won't bark and growl.We've had Cooper about six years now. We adopted him when he was about three months old from a local shelter. He's intelligent and perfect with my husband and me. He can sit, turn circles, shake, speak, go backwards, roll over, stand on his tippytoes, and more with a verbal or hand signal. He never chews anything he's not supposed to, never eats anything he's not supposed to, never does his "business" anywhere he's not supposed to. But he is terrible around other people. (He's actually pretty good around other dogs.) After this current episode and everyone was calm and almost happy, my Mom said, "What did somebody do to him for him to be so afraid like that?"Having Veterinary Medicine's August cover article on behavior myths fresh in mind, I knew that previous abuse was not likely the cause of his problems. One of the myths covered in the article was the leap that people make when they adopt a fearful dog. They think it must have been abused before. And it's true that it's easier to say this because then you don't have to accept as much responsibility. But I don't think Cooper was abused--at least physically. He is suffering from a complete lack of socialization when he was younger. My vague recollection of what we were told when we adopted him was that he had been kept pretty isolated when he was a pup. So now any new thing is terrifying. And repeated exposure to that terrifying thing is still terrifying.We worked with a behaviorist in Kansas City and will try to do so here in Texas as well. We need to work to habituate him to these things, but it's not easy and it's so easy to be lazy. We've recently adopted another dog, Oliver, that is already six months old, but he appears to be well-socialized. He's not fearful, and he is sweet with strangers. My parents loved him! But we're still taking him to an obdience class just to reinforce his socialization and let him be around other pups.I wish I could go back in time and really expose Cooper more to different situations when we first got him. I didn't know the importance of socialization at the time. Maybe if we had tried harder at that point we could have lessened some of his problems. But we are dealing with it a day at a time. And he is a good dog. Now, I wonder what behavior problems Oliver is going to develop... Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:18:11 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_Socialize-those-pups/blog/107751/30809.html minval 2008-09-25T21:18:11Z Veterinary Community Last weekend my parents were in town, and they calmly handled our fear-aggressive dog, Cooper, as usual: Ignore him, don't make any sudden movements, and in a few minutes he'll get used to you being around and won't bark and growl.We've had Cooper about six years now. We adopted him when he was about three months old from a local shelter. He's intelligent and perfect with my husband and me. He can sit, turn circles, shake, speak, go backwards, roll over, stand on his tippytoes, and more with a verbal or hand signal. He never chews anything he's not supposed to, never eats anything he's not supposed to, never does his "business" anywhere he's not supposed to. But he is terrible around other people. (He's actually pretty good around other dogs.) After this current episode and everyone was calm and almost happy, my Mom said, "What did somebody do to him for him to be so afraid like that?"Having Veterinary Medicine's August cover article on behavior myths fresh in mind, I knew that previous abuse was not likely the cause of his problems. One of the myths covered in the article was the leap that people make when they adopt a fearful dog. They think it must have been abused before. And it's true that it's easier to say this because then you don't have to accept as much responsibility. But I don't think Cooper was abused--at least physically. He is suffering from a complete lack of socialization when he was younger. My vague recollection of what we were told when we adopted him was that he had been kept pretty isolated when he was a pup. So now any new thing is terrifying. And repeated exposure to that terrifying thing is still terrifying.We worked with a behaviorist in Kansas City and will try to do so here in Texas as well. We need to work to habituate him to these things, but it's not easy and it's so easy to be lazy. We've recently adopted another dog, Oliver, that is already six months old, but he appears to be well-socialized. He's not fearful, and he is sweet with strangers. My parents loved him! But we're still taking him to an obdience class just to reinforce his socialization and let him be around other pups.I wish I could go back in time and really expose Cooper more to different situations when we first got him. I didn't know the importance of socialization at the time. Maybe if we had tried harder at that point we could have lessened some of his problems. But we are dealing with it a day at a time. And he is a good dog. Now, I wonder what behavior problems Oliver is going to develop... nonadult false Socialize those pups! text blog 2693 1 5.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 4 0 107751 2526649 Member 0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_An-unexpected-addition/blog/94699/30809.html [image]I moved to Lubbock, Texas, in August because my husband accepted a position as a professor at Texas Tech University. About the second night we were in town, my husband and I went shopping late at night to pick up a few things to stock the frig. Sitting right outside the door of the shopping center was a puppy. He had no collar, but he didn't look in too bad of shape--a little skinny but no evidence of fleas or other visible unwanted guests. My husband and I walked on into the store, trying not to think about the little abandoned dog too much. We had a dog at home, and we weren't sure how he would ever take to a new dog in the house. But, of course, the pup was still there when we left the store. And, of course, we decided that we couldn't leave what was an apparently sweet-natured pup all on his own. We took him home, and, in the meantime, called Animal Control and left our phone number in case anyone called about the missing pup. Our dog, Cooper, reacted pretty well on the first meeting in our backyard. They played and sniffed around a lot. When we took the him to a veterinarian the next day, we discovered that Oliver, as we've come to call our new kiddo, is about 6 months old and in great health. We had him neutered about a week after we took him in, which has taken out not a bit of his spunky puppy ways. Cooper and Oliver get along relatively well. Cooper has been the only doggy for about six years, so there are definitely some adjustments to made--on top of the fact that we just moved him into a strange house in a different city. Lots of changes! Not long ago, Veterinary Medicine ran a series of articles about how to stop unnecessary euthanasias. And Oliver would have been put down in three days if we hadn't adopted him. He is apparently part pitbull, and the Lubbock shelter will not adopt out any dogs with pitbull in them. If no one had claimed him in three days, his life would have been forfeit. I find this unbelievable because Oliver is such a good dog. He was already housetrained (yay for us!), and he has been learning basic commands quickly. He is the perfect pet for anyone. So this situation was a chance to practice what we were preaching in our euthanasia articles. Sadly, I see quite a few other strays running around here. You can't take them all into your home, so you end up feeling helpless and bitter toward those who would abandon such sweet creatures. It's definitely time for everyone to do what they can to stop overpopulation and subsequent euthanasia. Otherwise, perfect pups like Oliver will never get a chance for a full, happy life. [image]I moved to Lubbock, Texas, in August because my husband accepted a position as a professor at Texas Tech University. About the second night we were in town, my husband and I went shopping late at night to pick up a few things to stock the frig. Sitting right outside the door of the shopping center was a puppy. He had no collar, but he didn't look in too bad of shape--a little skinny but no evidence of fleas or other visible unwanted guests. My husband and I walked on into the store, trying not to think about the little abandoned dog too much. We had a dog at home, and we weren't sure how he would ever take to a new dog in the house. But, of course, the pup was still there when we left the store. And, of course, we decided that we couldn't leave what was an apparently sweet-natured pup all on his own. We took him home, and, in the meantime, called Animal Control and left our phone number in case anyone called about the missing pup. Our dog, Cooper, reacted pretty well on the first meeting in our backyard. They played and sniffed around a lot. When we took the him to a veterinarian the next day, we discovered that Oliver, as we've come to call our new kiddo, is about 6 months old and in great health. We had him neutered about a week after we took him in, which has taken out not a bit of his spunky puppy ways. Cooper and Oliver get along relatively well. Cooper has been the only doggy for about six years, so there are definitely some adjustments to made--on top of the fact that we just moved him into a strange house in a different city. Lots of changes! Not long ago, Veterinary Medicine ran a series of articles about how to stop unnecessary euthanasias. And Oliver would have been put down in three days if we hadn't adopted him. He is apparently part pitbull, and the Lubbock shelter will not adopt out any dogs with pitbull in them. If no one had claimed him in three days, his life would have been forfeit. I find this unbelievable because Oliver is such a good dog. He was already housetrained (yay for us!), and he has been learning basic commands quickly. He is the perfect pet for anyone. So this situation was a chance to practice what we were preaching in our euthanasia articles. Sadly, I see quite a few other strays running around here. You can't take them all into your home, so you end up feeling helpless and bitter toward those who would abandon such sweet creatures. It's definitely time for everyone to do what they can to stop overpopulation and subsequent euthanasia. Otherwise, perfect pups like Oliver will never get a chance for a full, happy life. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:36:19 GMT http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/_An-unexpected-addition/blog/94699/30809.html minval 2008-08-29T17:36:19Z Veterinary Community [image]I moved to Lubbock, Texas, in August because my husband accepted a position as a professor at Texas Tech University. About the second night we were in town, my husband and I went shopping late at night to pick up a few things to stock the frig. Sitting right outside the door of the shopping center was a puppy. He had no collar, but he didn't look in too bad of shape--a little skinny but no evidence of fleas or other visible unwanted guests. My husband and I walked on into the store, trying not to think about the little abandoned dog too much. We had a dog at home, and we weren't sure how he would ever take to a new dog in the house. But, of course, the pup was still there when we left the store. And, of course, we decided that we couldn't leave what was an apparently sweet-natured pup all on his own. We took him home, and, in the meantime, called Animal Control and left our phone number in case anyone called about the missing pup. Our dog, Cooper, reacted pretty well on the first meeting in our backyard. They played and sniffed around a lot. When we took the him to a veterinarian the next day, we discovered that Oliver, as we've come to call our new kiddo, is about 6 months old and in great health. We had him neutered about a week after we took him in, which has taken out not a bit of his spunky puppy ways. Cooper and Oliver get along relatively well. Cooper has been the only doggy for about six years, so there are definitely some adjustments to made--on top of the fact that we just moved him into a strange house in a different city. Lots of changes! Not long ago, Veterinary Medicine ran a series of articles about how to stop unnecessary euthanasias. And Oliver would have been put down in three days if we hadn't adopted him. He is apparently part pitbull, and the Lubbock shelter will not adopt out any dogs with pitbull in them. If no one had claimed him in three days, his life would have been forfeit. I find this unbelievable because Oliver is such a good dog. He was already housetrained (yay for us!), and he has been learning basic commands quickly. He is the perfect pet for anyone. So this situation was a chance to practice what we were preaching in our euthanasia articles. Sadly, I see quite a few other strays running around here. You can't take them all into your home, so you end up feeling helpless and bitter toward those who would abandon such sweet creatures. It's definitely time for everyone to do what they can to stop overpopulation and subsequent euthanasia. Otherwise, perfect pups like Oliver will never get a chance for a full, happy life. nonadult false An unexpected addition text blog 1700 0 0.0 http://veterinarycommunity.dvm360.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2526649&as=30809 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/30809/photos/PHOTO_2714244_30809_2526649_ap_160X120.jpg false 3 0 94699 2526649 Member 0