In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from June 16, 2018, Kate and Don answer questions from their listeners. Topics addressed include:
At what age should I start training my dog?
What are the most important things to teach my dog?
Can my kids be involved in training our new dog?
Will all cats do well being indoor-only cats?
What are the best ways to bond with a new cat?
What is the best way to get a dog used to being bathed and how often should I bathe my dog?
My dog hates having their nails trimmed? What can I do?
You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://www.wzonthepulse.com or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show and can be downloaded at www.woofmeowshow.com and the Apple iTunes store.
In this blog post from June 19th, 2018, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses the importance of socializing and habituating a kitten between 8 and 15 weeks of age, a critical developmental period. If you are adopting a kitten from an individual, shelter, or rescue, you want to make sure they have been doing this, and you should ask for detailed specifics on what they have done. If they are not socializing the kittens, you may want to look elsewhere. –
You may have noticed that the use of marijuana and hemp-based products are being promoted for medical and health reasons for
Muppy & Don 2017
both people and pets. Research indicates that phytocannabinoid nutraceuticals can be very useful in helping with allergies1, anxiety2,11, arthritis3,4,11, behavioral issues5,11, depression2, epilepsy and seizures5,6,11, inflammation7, joint health3,4, digestion, joint mobility11, nausea8,9, and pain relief and management10,11. Anecdotal evidence indicates cannabinoids may also be useful in increasing appetite, improving digestion, slowing tumor growth, and providing end of life comfort. A scientific report in the Spring 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) reviewed how 631 pet owners used cannabinoids with their pets12. Commonly reported benefits of cannabinoids were; provided pain relief, aided with sleep, helped relieve anxiety, offered nervous system support, reduced inflammation, reduced seizures or convulsions, reduced vomiting or nausea, helped suppress muscle spasms, aided digestion, helped with thunderstorm or fireworks phobia, inhibited cell growth in tumors and cancer cells, and helped with skin conditions.
What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?
While hemp and marijuana are both plants in the Cannabis family, they are not the same. The appearance of these two plants are very different, as is how they are cultivated. Most importantly, the chemical makeup of marijuana and hemp is very different. Marijuana is probably best known for containing a cannabinoid called THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana which can cause one to “get high.” Marijuana has a high THC content (5 to 35%) while the THC content of Hemp is less than 0.3%. THC content is critical as THC can be moderate to severely toxic to dogs13,14. Common signs of THC toxicity are: severe depression, walking drunk, lethargy, coma, low heart rate, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, dilated pupils, coma, hyperactivity, vocalization, and seizures.
What are phytocannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are substances that occur naturally in both hemp and marijuana. There are 66 different types of cannabinoids. One is THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. Cannabidiol (CBD), is the most abundant of the cannabinoids and can make up as much of 45% of the resin extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD is believed to have anti-anxiety effects and may counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. Since there is now a CBD based drug undergoing clinical trials, the term PRO (Phytocannabinoid Rich Oil) is being used for phytocannabinoid nutraceuticals instead of CBD.
How do phytocannabinoids work?
All animals have an endocannabinoid system that works with the bodies physiological, neurological, and immunological systems. Our bodies produce endocannabinoids which fit into specialized receptors throughout the body. In the dog, CB1 receptors are found in the brain, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, muscles, reproductive organs, and vascular system. CB1 and CB2 receptors are found in the bone marrow, brain stem, gall bladder, liver, and pancreas. CB2 receptors are found in parts of the brain, bones, skin and the spleen. Cannabinoid receptors in your dog’s brain play a role in the Cerebral Cortex (memory, thinking, awareness, and consciousness), the Hypothalamus (metabolic processes, appetite), the Amygdala (regulation of emotions), the Hippocampus (memory and recall), the Basal Ganglia (motor skills and learning), the Cerebellum (muscle control and coordination), and the Brain Stem (reflexes, heart rate, blood pressure, pain sensation and muscle tone). Producing adequate numbers of endocannabinoids is essential to good health. When the body does not produce enough endocannabinoids due to poor health, we can supplement them with phytocannabinoids derived from hemp.
Are phytocannabinoids right for your pet?
Whether or not phytocannabinoids are right for your pet is something that only you can decide, and I would suggest you do so only after discussing their use with your veterinarian. At the end of 2017, the World Health Organization issued a report15 indicating that CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential, and in several clinical trials has been shown to effectively treat seizures. Research suggests that CBD/PRO nutraceuticals may be useful in treating a number of other medical conditions and have a good safety profile.
Buyer Beware!
The buzz over CBD/Pro products is enormous, so it is a “seller’s market.” Whenever that happens, it is not uncommon for some unreliable companies to get into the business. Before adding these products to our offerings at our store, we did a great deal of due diligence to select a company with a known track record and a commitment to quality and education. I would advise you to spend some time doing your own research before you buy a product or, talk to your veterinarian or a pet care professional you trust. Whatever you do, do NOT use marijuana you are growing yourself or that you buy from the couple down the road. You could kill your dog.
3 The nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an oral anti-arthritic therapeutic in murine collagen-induced arthritis – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10920191
8 Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component of cannabis and its synthetic dimethylheptyl homolog suppress nausea in an experimental model with rats – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11973447
9 Cannabidiol, a non-psychotropic component of cannabis, attenuates vomiting and nausea-like behaviour via indirect agonism of 5-HT(1A) somatodendritic autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21827451
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Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) in Bangor. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). He produces and co- hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Pulse AM620 WZON and streamed at http://www.wzonradio.com/ every Saturday at 9 AM. A list of upcoming shows and podcasts of past shows can be found at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com. He is committed to pet care and pet training that is free of pain, force, and fear. The opinions in this post are those of Don Hanson.
When Everything Clicks: The Power Of Judgment-Free Learning – broadcast on NPR on June 4th, this podcast discusses how clicker training helps people and animals learn. It includes an interview with Karen Pryor and how she became involved with operant conditioning and clicker training. –
Clicker Training For Dogs Is Adapted To Help Surgeons Learn Quickly – broadcast on NPR on June 12th, this podcast discusses how clicker training is being used to help surgeons improve their skills.
The decision of whether or not to spay or neuter a dog, and when to spay and neuter, was much simpler a few years ago. New research discussed in this article from Today’s Veterinary Practice outlines why this decision is no longer straightforward. The authors conclude “Unfortunately, there is no clear answer when deciding whether one should spay or neuter an individual dog.”
Kate and Don offer several tips on keeping your pets safe during the hotter and more active summer months. They discuss the heat and the sun, water safety, bug bites, parasites, allergies, herbicides, pesticides, and holiday gatherings.
You can hear The Woof Meow Show on The Pulse AM620, WZON, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://www.wzonthepulse.com or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show and can be downloaded at www.woofmeowshow.com and the Apple iTunes store.
Mighty Dog Graphics ( https://www.facebook.com/mightydoggraphics/ ) is located in Dublin, Ireland. They create some excellent educational posters for pet parents and pet care professionals. They have graciously allowed us to share some of these posters with you.
This month I am including two graphics, both dealing with the effect higher temperatures can have on our pets.
This is the time of year when you need to seriously consider leaving your dog at home if you there is any chance you will need to leave them in the car. If it is only 72 degrees outside, the temperature inside of a car can reach 117 degrees in just 60 minutes. Our pets are very susceptible to heat and it seems like reminding people should be unnecessary, but the fact is pets die in cars every year. < Click to download this poster >
Dogs love their walks, and hopefully you do so as well. As the temperatures rise you need to give careful though as to when and where you walk your dog. The best times are early in the morning or early evening, when the temperatures are lower. As for places, avoid asphalt/black top. I suspect we all know how effectively blacktop absorbs the suns rays and becomes extremely hot. Before walking your dog on any surface check its temperature by placing the back of your hand against the surface and holding it there for 5 seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog’s paws. < Click to download this poster >
In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from May 19th, 2018, Don learns about the Eastern or Chinese Medicine approach to nutrition from Dr. Michael Munzer from All Creatures Acupuncture. Last year Dr. Munzer completed a certification program in Chinese Food Therapy from the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. He discusses the critical differences in the Chinese Medicine approach to nutrition as compared to what he learned in veterinary school where the approach was what is the bare minimum of nutrition necessary to sustain life. Chinese medicine looks at food more deeply for each individual patient. This can make the method better suited for treating specific health issues. Tune in and learn about this interesting approach to feeding your pet for optimal health from Dr. Michael Munzer.
You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://www.wzonthepulse.com or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show and can be downloaded at www.woofmeowshow.com and the Apple iTunes store.
In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from May 12th, 2018, Don talks with Rachael Pelletier and Giselle Bridges about essential oils and there use with pets. We start off with an overview, describing what essential oils are and how they are used. The question of the safe use of essential oils with pets is addressed as well as how they can be used with pets. Rachael and Giselle share stories about animals they have helped with essential oils as well as ways you can use essential oil in your home that will benefit both you and your pets.
You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://www.wzonthepulse.com or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show and can be downloaded at www.woofmeowshow.com and the Apple iTunes store.
