The Sara Ondrako Show

Efficacy and Welfare - with recently released research on Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs, Jason Toy and I sat down to discuss what we got from this paper. Much of our conversation flowed into how research, among other things, can be misused as vindication. How we've gotten away from understanding what the scientific process is about and how we can extrapolate information from research. It's also been a while since I've recorded a podcast, and I was slightly overcaffeinated, so there are more words from me than needed in this one (sorry, Jason!). Furthermore, the general public needs to be better informed about how to interpret research, making it even more challenging for pet parents to decipher what it all means if anything at all. Whether fully engrossed in the scientific community or not, influencers (generally not) form and spread their opinions on what Jason and I discuss as "both sides of the fence"—the training divide between force-free dog trainers and balanced trainers. Jason and I may differ in our practices, as do many behavior and training professionals, and even in interpreting some of the information presented in the study. Still, we both respect one another professionally, and I feel comfortable speaking for both of us when I say there's something to be said for common ground. In a sea of grey that represents individual training practices and methodologies, forcing people into one of two camps of black or white, in my opinion, is detrimental to the industry as a whole. The labels have muddied the water. We can at least agree on the extremes to start. Jason is a balanced trainer, but he's not a shock jock causing dogs to turn on their owners. I'm a positive reinforcement behavior professional, but I don't just throw food at dogs to fix all the things. These are just two examples of the mislabeling that comes along with being associated with "sides." Dare I say, there's a cock on either side of the fight, and perhaps we let the hens solve this issue for once? You can read my extended thoughts on this topic HERE. You can find Jason HERE at Canine Scholars or on Insta HERE You can find me HERE at Whole Dog Behavior and Wellness or on Insta HERE. Thanks for listening!

Dr. Amy Pike is a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist who owns and operates the Animal Behavior Wellness Center. In this episode we dive into a couple of hot topics that Dr. Pike and I both feel need to be more openly discussed in the dog training and behavior space. What I love the most about having this conversation with Dr. Pike is that we don't necessarily agree on everything but we both have a shared respect for each other's professional perspective and we both came to the table to listen. I also came to the table to learn, given that Dr. Pike is an expert as it pertains to animal behavior, I have utmost respect for her, and I value her perspective. I hope this episode gives you the courage to talk with colleagues and other professionals openly to listen and learn from one another as legislation looks to regulate animal behavior and training. The professionals in the industry need to be a part of the conversation. I also hope this episode opens you up to the wonderful things that you can do for your clients and their dogs when you collaborate with other professionals, whether you are a veterinarian, a dog trainer, a behavior consultant, a veterinary behaviorist, or other pet professional. We discuss diagnosing disorders, the important reasons only veterinarians truly diagnose, the challenges encountered with that, and how collaborations may help navigate the slippery diagnosis slope. We dive into dog trainer and behavior consultant regulations as more conversations are happening to help pet parents safely navigate the training and behavior world when their pets need help. We talk about challenges with higher education and how bridging the gap for professionals could present significant opportunities to elevate the training and behavior industry. Dr.Pike talks CBD, nutrition and how relying on the right professional for direction making nutritional and supplemental decisions is crucial for the pet. I hope you enjoy the episode! Feel free to comment once you've listened to share your perspective and please share this conversation with other professionals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Master's program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida in the UF Canine Cognition and Behavior Lab and her Master’s in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas in the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.👇 Check This Out: Online Master's in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare in Fall 2020 particularly designed for behavior professionals.https://www.cals.vt.edu/academic-programs/online/concentrations.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/aabvt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Monica Tarantino is the Founder of the Senior Dog Revolution, a resource for pet parents and professionals to navigate age-related challenges, help senior dogs live happy, healthy lives, and make the most of the short time we have together with our senior companions. Dr. Tarantino is a veterinarian that practices in the Greater Charlotte, NC, area with a special interest in caring for dogs during the final years, weeks, and days of their lives. Dr. Tarantino co-authored a book to help new veterinarians as they embark on their professional journey after graduation with 20 common case reviews. With regular postings of senior dog content on her Instagram feed and her involvement with the Pet Loss Community she co-founded, Dr. Tarantino is the go-to for relatable, empathetic, helpful information regarding all things "old dog."You can find Dr. Tarantino on Instagram (@seniordogdoc of course!) here: https://www.instagram.com/seniordogdoc/○ New Veterinary Grads or interested technicians, grab her case study book for new vets here: https://amzn.to/3JCPcFD○ Senior Dog Revolution: https://www.seniordogrevolution.com/about○ Pet Loss Community: https://www.petlosscommunitysupport.com/🐶 Helpful Senior Dog Products○ CBD/CBDA Glucosamine and Chondroitin Mobility Chews: https://saraondrako.com/product/ellevet-cbd-cbda-mobility-chews-large-over-50lbs/○ Limited Ingredient PUFA Omega Oil: https://saraondrako.com/product/omega-oil-native-pet/○ Washable Rugs by Ruggable: https://bit.ly/3jzUXZZ○ Enrichment for Seniors: https://amzn.to/3HzqQKj Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Greg Echols is a practicing relief veterinarian in North Carolina who has helped bring #vetlife and #vettechlife, as they say, to the forefront through his social media channels, particularly TikTok. Dr. Echols brings relatable humor in a time of staff shortages, shelter crises, pandemic puppy backlash, and a need to bridge the communication gap between pet parents and pet providers. I really enjoyed getting to know Greg a bit more and hope you enjoy our conversation primarily centered around social media as an influence for client and public education, not just on all things pertinent to pets but to the human relationship dynamic that often gets lost under the umbrella of business. Dr. Echols veterinary journey began in 2007, pursuing his bachelor’s in animal care and Management. After receiving an associates degree, he went after his bachelor's degree in lab animal science at NC A&T State University. During this transition, he gained significant experience by working at an animal hospital as a veterinary assistant for 7.5 years. Echols went on to obtain his DVM from Virginia- Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. He completed a one-year emergency and surgery internship and then transitioned to an associate for one year. Watch the Podcast with Dr. Echols on YouTube HERE. You can find Dr. Greg Echols and share some very relatable laughs here:Website: https://www.dogterecholsrelief.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dogter_echolsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogter_echols/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Dr. Mariana Pardo is a board-certified emergency and critical care specialist at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island. Dr. Pardo earned her veterinary degree in 2009 from Universidad Mayor in Santiago, Chile. She came to the United States wanting to pursue an Emergency and Critical Care specialization. She worked as an ICU technician for 4 years in Miami while she worked on validating her degree in the states. She then finished two emergency and critical care internships at the University of Georgia and the University of Florida and completed her emergency and critical care residency at Cornell University in 2018. She is bilingual and merges her love of traveling with being an international speaker. Her greatest passion is teaching and has made it one of her missions to give back to the Latin American community as much as possible by participating in numerous continuing education programs. She is passionate about advocating diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine and is the mentorship director of the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association and is a member of the ACVECC Diversity and Inclusion Committee.IG: https://instagram.com/criticalcareveterinarianFB: https://www.facebook.com/criticalcareveterinarianLatinx Veterinary Medical Association: https://latinxvma.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, Dip ACVD, is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist passionate about providing practical knowledge to general practitioners to help itchy pets! She completed her bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University and graduated from the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She then completed a one-year small animal internship at Purdue University. Upon finishing her internship, she accepted a residency position with the Animal Dermatology Clinic’s Tustin, California location in 2011. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2014. Dr. Bourgeois moved to Portland, Oregon in 2016 to help expand the company. She is an owner within the company and on the board of directors. She has a strong interest in autoimmune skin diseases, allergies, cytology, and otology.In her leisure, Dr. Bourgeois enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and watching sports. She and her husband stay busy with their daughter, son, and rescue Lab/Boxer/Pit mix. Dr. Bourgeois is passionate about educating veterinarians in dermatology and work/life integration through her podcast, lecturing, and social media presence (The Derm Vet).The Derm Vet on IG and Facebook, The Derm Vet podcast, The Derm Nerds online communitythedermvet.comhttps://www.instagram.com/thedermvethttps://www.facebook.com/thedermvet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman - Professor Emeritus, Tufts University; President and CEO of the Center for Canine Behavior StudiesDr. Nicholas Dodman attended Glasgow University Veterinary School in Scotland where he received a BVMS (DVM equivalent). He is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.In 1981, Dr. Dodman immigrated to the United States where he became a faculty member of Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. Shortly after his arrival, Dr. Dodman became interested in behavioral pharmacology and the field of animal behavior. After spending several years in this area of research, in 1986 he founded the Animal Behavior Clinic—one of the first of its kind—at Tufts. Since 1990 he has devoted his time to the specialty practice of animal behavior. He received board certification in animal behavior from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 1995. Dr. Dodman is currently Professor Emeritus at Tufts University and President of the Center for Canine Behavior Studies.Dr. Dodman is one of the world’s most noted and celebrated veterinary behaviorists. He has written five acclaimed bestselling books and has authored two textbooks and over 300 articles & contributions to scientific books and journals. He also holds several U.S. patents for various inventions related to the control of animal behavior. Dr. Dodman appears regularly on radio and television as a behavioral expert.Dr. Dodman is a member of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists, the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, and he is a Leadership Council member of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and is HSVMA co-state representative for Massachusetts and Maryland.BooksThe Dog Who Loved Too Much: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0553375261The Cat Who Cried for Help: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0553104535WebsiteCCBS: https://www.centerforcaninebehaviorstudies.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Narda G. Robinson is the country’s leading authority on scientific complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM). With more than two decades of practicing, teaching, and writing about holistic approaches in both veterinary and human osteopathic medicine, Dr. Robinson delivers straight talk on CAVM to help healthcare professionals and owners sort fact from fiction.A scholar, researcher, and widely read author on evidence-based approaches to CAVM, Dr. Robinson holds the only professorship at a veterinary college designed specifically to investigate the legitimacy of CAVM. In 1988, she launched Colorado State University’s first integrative medicine service, and she now heads the Colorado State University Center for Comparative and Integrative Pain Medicine.Dr. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard/Radcliffe, a doctorate in osteopathic medicine (DO) from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and both a doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM) and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences (MS) from CSU.She has also earned the highest membership status of fellow within the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (FAAMA) and serves on the American Board of Medical Acupuncture (DABMA). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Retired Lieutenant James W. Crosby BS, MS, CBCC-KA (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville, FL, USA) is an internationally recognized authority and court-accepted expert on canine attacks and aggression. Jim’s specialty is investigating dog bite-related fatalities, especially evidentiary and behavioral factors involved in these deaths. Jim’s on-scene investigation of over 30 fatalities and post-attack evaluation of over 50 subject dogs has been essential in numerous successful prosecutions. He assists prosecutors and agencies facing these cases and was recently on-scene for a homicide investigation in Central Georgia.Jim assists in dogfighting investigations and was the expert on the Polk County, GA case wherein Devicio Rowland was sentenced to fifty years for dogfighting, the longest sentence for that crime in US history. Jim serves as an expert consultant regarding the use of deadly force by police officers against companion animals. Jim earned his Master’s Degree in Veterinary Forensics from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida and is completing his Ph.D. studies there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Benger is the expert dog trainer for Amazon Prime Video's The Pack TV series. He is also the host of the Dog Talk with Nick Benger podcast. In his hometown of Bristol, England where Nick specializes in helping aggressive dogs he has been an independently top-rated trainer four years in a row. He has appeared as an expert in publications such as the American Kennel Club, The Dodo, Variety, and many more.https://www.nickbenger.comDog Talk Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ilvuKxa8wGCgyBKRIOBVD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS, winner of the 2020 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Impact Award, the 2019 Ceva Vet of the Year, and finalist in the 2019 Petplan Vet of the Year, is a first opinion veterinary surgeon in the UK. Recognized for her tireless work on Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) an online education and support service for owners of arthritic dogs and professionals that care for them.CAM began as a simple Facebook page in 2015 where Hannah would promote earlier identification and thorough multimodal management plans. Now it boasts a flourishing service run by a team of veterinary professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to help owners. CAM has become an unstoppable force. A respected website is full of downloads, like the unique Home Safe tool (#itsmyhometoo), a large social media presence through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. An online shop stocking awareness merchandise, owner education, and other canine essentials. An education provider for first opinion practices, as well as dog groups, paraprofessionals, and owners. An inspirational campaign group to raise awareness of the serious nature of this disease (#yourdogmoreyears)CAM has worked with numerous industry partners but is especially proud of recent work with Hills Pet Foods creating a 12 part webinar series that had 1300 sign-ups within the first 3 weeks of release.Canine Arthritis Management: https://www.caninearthritis.co.uk**New** CAMadvocate Level 1 Course: https://www.cameducation.co.ukOnline Shop: https://www.camonlineshop.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Dale is a certified animal behavior consultant, host of two nationally syndicated radio shows--Steve Dale’s Pet World and The Pet Minute (together heard on over 100 stations) —and is a special contributor at Chicago’s WGN Radio where for 23 years he’s also hosted Steve Dale’s Pet World.Dale has contributed to and authored many books, including Decoding Your Dog and Decoding Your Cat, both authored by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. He also contributed to The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management, (edited by Dr. Susan Little), Treatment and Care of the Geriatric Veterinary Patient (edited Dr. Mary Gardner and Dr. Dani McVety), among many others. His TV appearances range from Oprah to Good Morning America to National Geographic Explorer and many Animal Planet shows. He’s a regular on syndicated HouseSmarts TVCurrently, a writer and contributing editor for CATster, and authors Steve Dale’s Vet World for Veterinary Practice News. He’s also a columnist for the Journal of National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and DVM 360, where he serves on their Editorial Advisory Board.He formerly hosted the nationally syndicated Animal Planet Radio, wrote a syndicated column for the Chicago Tribune, and was a contributing editor for USA Weekend.Steve speaks at conferences around the world. His blog is www.stevedale.tv.Steve’s involved in many legislative efforts, from preventing breed bans to creating a law to protect animals from kennel fires; the first law of its kind which was signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2019.He serves on the Boards of the Winn Feline Foundation and the Human Animal Bond Association and is certified Fear Free and speaks on Fear Free and Cat Friendly Practices.Dale’s been honored with many awards, including the AVMA Humane Award in 2002, and he’s in the Dog Writers’ Hall of Fame.His website is www.stevedale.tvSteve's Newsletter: https://www.stevedalepetworld.comDecoding Your Cat Book: https://smile.amazon.com/Decoding-Your-Cat-Ultimate-Behaviors/dp/1328489906/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=decoding+your+cat+steve+dale&qid=1617455619&sr=8-2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Chris Pachel (DVM, DACVB, CABC) is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and the owner of the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Pachel lectures extensively both domestically and internationally teaches annual courses at multiple veterinary schools in the United States and has authored multiple articles and book chapters for veterinary and pet-owning readers. He is a sought-after expert witness for legal cases and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for dvm360, a veterinary publishing, and education company. He is also a Vice-president of Veterinary Behavior on the leadership team for Instinct Dog Behavior and Training, as well as co-owner of Instinct Portland, which opened in the fall of 2020.https://www.drpachel.comhttps://www.limabeings.comhttps://www.instagram.com/chrispachelhttps://www.facebook.com/drpachel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Greger Larson is the Director of the Palaeogenomics & Bio-Archaeology Research Network at the University of Oxford in the UK. His focus is on the use of ancient DNA to study the pattern and process of domestication. He received his bachelor's degree in 1996 from Claremont McKenna College, a small liberal arts college in California. He then studied at Oxford and the University of Colorado before receiving his Ph.D. in Zoology in 2006.Palaeo Barn: www.palaeobarn.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Janet Cutler is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She has an MSc and PhD, both specializing in animal behavior and welfare, as well as epidemiology. She's been working in the animal industry for 20 years; as a veterinary technician, behavior researcher, dog trainer, and behaviorist.Janet is passionate about helping families and their pets as well as providing education about the science of animal behavior. She spends her time at home with her family, including her three daughters, husband, and their dog Marmalade, cats Basil and Thyme, and their chickens.Check out Dr. Cutler's new program that delivers the latest in behavior science to professionals in the veterinary, training, and behavior fieldInstagram: https://instagram.com/janetcutler.phdWebsite: https://landmarkbehaviour.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cynthia Bathurst is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Safe Humane. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. through the English Department at The University of Iowa. She co-founded D.A.W.G. (Dog Advisory Work Group) in 2000 and Safe Humane Chicago in 2007. During a 25-year-long career in mathematics consulting, she was led to community organizing, prompted by crime and violence in Chicago communities, and to working with government agencies (City of Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois) and neighborhood groups on community welfare issues, including sharing public spaces wisely with people and animals. Cynthia has joined with others to build an extensive alliance of partners, all working toward creating safe and humane communities for people and animals alike by engaging them in programs using the positive, transformative power of the human-animal bond to help each other, to heal, and to build skills. Cynthia also serves as advisor on the National Canine Research Council, serves on the steering committee of the Chicagoland Humane Coalition, and is the appointed chair of Chicago’s Commission on Animal Care and Control.**********Safe Humane has been selected by Magnolia Pictures to hold a special online screening in Chicago of the incredible new film "STRAY" directed by filmmaker Elizabeth Lo, premiering March 5, 2021. STRAY has won coveted awards at Hot Docs and Tribeca this year and is garnering great reviews. It's a powerful film for dog lovers... Variety Magazine says the film is “both the ultimate love letter to dogs and a multifaceted moral inquiry into humanity.” Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC38BqP2_fI“I am deeply moved by the idea that the story of Zeytin - the street dog from Istanbul depicted in the film STRAY - will be used to bring awareness to the lives of rescue dogs in Chicago through this remarkable collaboration with Safe Humane Chicago,” said Elizabeth Lo, Director of STRAY.This film comes at a perfect time for Safe Humane, when we need to raise funds for our 2021 program initiatives. Our goal is to grow and enhance two interconnected programs, Safe Humane Court Case Dogs and Lifetime Bonds, as well as programming in individual communities by promoting compassion, facilitating social justice, and celebrating unity, diversity, and participation. This enhancement and replication of the programming beyond Chicago is motivated by seed money we received in a grant from the Mental Insight Foundation.When the film is released on March 5th, 2021 ticket holders will have seven days to start the film and 72 hours to complete viewing (the film is 72 minutes long). For every ticket sold, Safe Humane will receive $5 of the $12 and 100% of any donations. The first 200 tickets sold for the event will be matched by anonymous donors.Plus, Safe Humane's CEO and Co-founder Cynthia Bathurst has organized a compelling panel to accompany Safe Humane’s screening, including panelists Elizabeth Lo, Director of STRAY; Chris Green, Executive Director of Harvard Law School's Animal Law & Policy Program; and Cliff Froehlich, Executive Director of Cinema St. Louis and Co-founder of the Metro East Humane Society; and facilitated by Jeanne Sparrow, a Chicago TV and radio celebrity and media consultant.Tickets ordered here allow ticket holders to view the film and the special panel from the comfort of their homes:https://watch.eventive.org/stray/play/6019bd36bc4fec004c8ab462/602d89f43efbf10069c48dde**********Safe Humane: https://safehumanechicago.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SafeHumaneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/safehumanechicagoTwitter: https://twitter.com/SafeHumaneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/safe-humane Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I talk with Dr. Amy Pike, DVM, DACVB, and Dr. Amy Learn, both board-certified veterinary behaviorists and our topic is behavior medications for primary care veterinarians. Some of the things that we discuss include common [behavior] dosages, potential mistakes to avoid, and expertise from both doctors to help you in choosing the right medications to treat the target behavior. Often access to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist can be a challenge for clients, especially if they are already paying for a trainer or behavior professional as well as your services. Having access to DACVBs for vet to vet consultations can be considerable assistance to you in deciding how to move forward with medical intervention on a behavior case. The following is a checklist for important considerations prior to using a psychopharmaceutical with a patient. If you have any questions regarding any of the items listed, please feel free to drop your question in the comment section.Starting Checklist For Pyschopharmaceuticals:○ Normal labwork (CBC, Chem, Urinalysis)?○ Concurrent medical disorders?○ Appropriate Diet?○ Pain score?○ Generalized or event-specific behavior?○ Appropriate behavior professional on board for b-mod?○ Breeding animal?○ Competition animal?○ Target neurotransmitters?○ Contraindications (pharmaceutical/medical)?○ Consulted a veterinary behaviorist?The days of handling the job of multiple professionals as a single veterinarian are thankfully in the past. With the help of the right behavior professional to work through a behavior modification plan and the assistance of board-certified veterinary behaviorists, you can offer your clients a team approach in solving behavioral problems with their dog or cat. With all of the information packed into this video, the greatest takeaway from my conversation with these two lovely ladies is that veterinary behaviorists are often underutilized and should not be the last resort but rather a first step in deciding the best course of action to help both your client and their beloved pet when considering behavior medications. Some quick additional takeaways:○ Prozac is not a silver bullet for behavior problems and is not a PRN or BID drug (based on the half-life of the active metabolites)○ Drugs alone DO NOT solve behavior issues○ Gabapentin used for anxiety is dosed much higher than when used for pain (pain = 5-10mg/kg and anxiety = 20-50mg/kg)○ Unless symptoms specific to hypothyroidism are present, there’s no need to check the thyroid just for behavior-related problems○ Considering the target neurotransmitter coupled with the severity of symptoms should drive medication selection. For example, a dog who is shut down and unable to enjoy experiences may benefit from increasing dopamine (in addition to serotonin) which is our pleasure neurotransmitter with a starting dose of Sertraline at 1mg/kg BID. A dog that is impulsive and over-aroused may benefit from a starting dose of Venlafaxine at 1/2-1mg/kg BID. Venlafaxine regulates serotonin and norepinephrine and with a dog that is hyperaroused and impulsive, regulating norepinephrine (again, in addition to serotonin) can help those types of symptoms the best.○ Involve owners in the feedback cycle to determine the efficacy of treatment choice. You can use subjective scales (i.e. 1-10) during bi-weekly check-ins with clients, have clients drop off fecal samples for testing fecal cortisol levels, and ask them how their pet is responding to behavior modification with a professional. ○ Be aware of seemingly benign ingredients that may be contraindicated in your patient, for example, maltodextrin in Zylkene capsules with diabetic patients. Don’t be afraid to consider psychopharmaceuticals in young puppies where behavior may actually be cured versus if treated as an adult can only ever really be managed. ○ Be aware of the risk for serotonin syndrome when coupling medications ○ When switching medications, there may or may not need to be a significant washout period. For example, a direct switch may happen in going from one SSRI to another but when switching Fluoxetine to Selegiline, there needs to be a 5 week period in between the two drugs in the system.○ Use your PVPs!○ Post-COVID dogs are going to need extra support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ken Ramirez is the EVP and Chief Training Officer for Karen Pryor Clicker Training where he helps to oversee the vision, development, and implementation of training education programs. Previously, Ken served as EVP of animal care and training at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. A 40+ year veteran of animal care and training, Ramirez is a biologist and behaviorist who has worked with many zoological organizations and dog programs throughout the world. He helped develop and has been an instructor for, AZA’s Animal Training Applications course. He is past president of the International Marine Animal Trainers Association and has been active in various leadership positions within IMATA for over 30 years. He hosted two successful seasons of the TV series Talk to the Animals. Ramirez authored the book ANIMAL TRAINING: Successful Animal Management through Positive Reinforcement in 1999 and most recently The Eye of the Trainer in 2020. He taught a graduate course on animal training at Western Illinois University for 20 years. He currently teaches at ClickerExpo every year, offers hands-on courses and seminars at the Karen Pryor National Training Center (the Ranch), and teaches online courses through Karen Pryor Academy. Ken is active in conservation projects where he focuses on behavior solutions to challenges animals face in the wild and his projects have included species as diverse as sea turtles, polar bears, chimpanzees, elephants, and butterflies.The Eye of The Trainer Book: https://amzn.to/3dAqXIeFollow Ken on IG: @ken_ramirez_kpctHands-on courses at The Ranch: https://theranch.clickertraining.comMonthly broadcast "Live from the Ranch": https://theranch.clickertraining.com/liveKaren Pryor Clicker Training: https://www.clickertraining.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I love when really smart people talk nerdy to me 😎 I'm really excited to share this interview featuring Microbiologist Dr. Ryan Honaker and Head of Bioinformatics, Dr. Aashish Jha at the Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food Company. They break down the important things that you need to know about your dog's nutrition, how it affects your's dog's microbiome (gut bacteria ecosystem), and why that's important to you - the pet parent. Take a science dive with me as we tackle some seemingly complex topics in a way to simplify how microbiology and nutrition interface and affect everything from your dog's behavior to their likelihood of acquiring diseases. I know you'll enjoy all of the wonderful and helpful information that came out of this interview as much as I did!If you'd like to try Nom Nom Fresh Food (my dogs are on it and absolutely LOVE it), you can use my link to get 50% off a trial for your dog: HTTP://trynom.com/SaraO Raw diet, good bacteria, bad bacteria, probiotics, prebiotics, and even poop sequencing 💩 all get discussed. Want to get your dog's microbiome tested? You can have that done here: https://www.nomnomnow.com/site/products/microbiome/Get your read on about the gut microbiome here: https://www.nomnomnow.com/learn/pet-microbiomeQuestions about anything discussed or not discussed on this topic can be popped in the comments below. If you'd like to reach the Nom Nom team directly (ask how you can help with the science!!) you can email them at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Scott Campbell BVSc (Hons) M.A.C.V.Sc, D.A.C.V.NVeterinarian Dr. Scott Campbell is a senior lecturer in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Queensland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Shikashio, CDBC, is the past president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and provides private consultations working exclusively with dog aggression cases through his business AggressiveDog.com. He also hosts the popular podcast show “The Bitey End of the Dog.”Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World.Michael is a featured speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars around the world, and offers a variety of workshops, webinars, and online courses on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course - visit for https://aggressivedog.com for more information.For Professionals Who Want to Help Dogs With Aggression: https://aggressivedog.thinkific.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/AggressionInDogsIG: https://www.instagram.com/michaelshikashio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To breed or not to breed? To spay or neuter or not to spay or neuter? These are questions that Dr. Jessica Hekman, DVM, Ph.D. a veterinary genetics researcher at Karlsson Lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard contemplates, studies, and discusses on the regular. Dr. Hekman studies behavioral genetics in pet and working dogs using a citizen science approach. She teaches at the Virginia Tech online MS program in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. She is also the founder of the Functional Dog Collaborative, which supports the breeding of healthy, behaviorally resilient dogs.In this episode, Dr. Hekman discusses why genetic diversity matters, why outcrossing is supported, what inbreeding coefficients can tell us, and how she is using genetic technology to help better determine the likelihood that individual dogs will make great service dogs. Dr. Hekman is absolutely brilliant and does a wonderful job of opening one's mind up to think outside of the norm to help find answers from a genetic perspective. I highly encourage you to check out Dr. Hekman's work below:The Darwin's Ark citizen science project: https://darwinsark.orgThe Functional Dog Collaborative: http://functionalbreeding.orgThe Functional Breeding Podcast: https://functionalbreeding.podbean.comThe Functional Breeding Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/groups/functionalbreeding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Sally Foote, DVM is the past president of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, is an author for the Fear Free Certification Program, and provides continuing education with a focus on Low-Stress Veterinary Care. Dr. Foote and I discuss a startling statistic - 73% of new dog owners are considering surrendering their dogs to the shelter once the stay at home order is lifted. In this podcast, we talk about how the veterinary community plays a crucial role in helping with in-home pet retention to avoid this looming problem. We also converse about how to be more inclusive of behavior with triage, the importance of behavior baselines in your practice, and effective medical note keeping. Additionally, Dr. Foote discusses an excellent staff tool, the Puppy Behavior Consultant Certification, that can help with client rapport, building trust, and keeping puppy services in-house for a lifetime of better behavior in the clinic setting and at home for the owners. Continuing education (for RACE) available on Dr. Foote’s website: https://www.drsallyjfoote.comFoote and Friends for low-stress care support: https://www.facebook.com/FooteandFriendsDVMDr. Foot's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrSallyJFooteLearn more about the Merck study here: https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/newsroom/merck-animal-health-survey-reveals-first-time-dog-owners-need-support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather Sidari is a credentialed veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia meaning that she’s advanced academically, and in practice in both anesthesia and analgesia. She is currently the ICU Supervisor at NC State University. In this episode, Heather talks with me about pre-anesthesia treatments for a more comfortable experience for the patient, a smoother recovery, and tips that reduce the likelihood of complications during anesthesia. Heather covers extremely helpful topics such as what a patient's fasting time really should be, how to avoid the most uncomfortable part of anesthesia - the nausea and vomiting, easier catheter placement, better timing with your pre-meds, when to recover in sternal NOT lateral recumbency, and standards for adequate hydration during surgical procedures. This episode is jam-packed with valuable information that makes patient care front and center. You'll want to listen to this one twice to catch all of Heather's wonderful tips that make such a difference for your patients' anesthetic events. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.