Dear Humans

30/12/2024

Is your dog’s back hurting?💥🐶 The top signs every pet parent should know.

Back pain and IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) are some of the most common issues that can affect our canine companions, especially as they age or if they're a predisposed breed.

Whether it's a sudden limp, difficulty jumping, or general discomfort, identifying the warning signs early is crucial for helping your dog avoid serious injury and improve their quality of life.

IVDD occurs when spinal discs become damaged or degenerate, causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis. While breeds like Dachshunds and Cocker Spaniels are especially vulnerable, back pain can affect dogs of any size. Left untreated, it can lead to chronic pain and reduced mobility, making effective management crucial.

From supportive bedding and non-slip surfaces to rehab, mobility exercises, and harness support, there are many ways to help manage your dog’s back pain at home.🦮 Working closely with a qualified rehab professional and veterinarian will ensure the best approach to managing their condition and improving their quality of life.

On this week's Inside Scoop podcast, licensed Physiotherapist and Canine Rehab Therapist, Sarah MacKeigan discusses:

💥 How to recognize different types of back pain.
💥 The causes and symptoms of IVDD.
💥 Practical home care for dogs with back pain or IVDD
💥 Comparing surgical versus conservative treatments.

Plus in the group files, download an 18-page PDF with a screening tool, a checklist for home care with IVDD, and recommendations for supplements beneficial for IVDD, DM, and other neurological conditions.

To watch today's podcast comment SCOOPERS and I'll message you the link to join the Inside Scoop, a Planet Paws monthly subscription community. All live podcasts are recorded and available to watch later. You’ll also be able to watch over 5 years of content including: past live podcasts, interviews, ebook downloads, and more!

30/12/2024

27/12/2024

Heralded as the king of Ayurvedic herbs🫚, Ashwagandha is one of most revered adaptogenic herbs in the world and is best known for reducing cortisol levels 🌡️ and stress responses in humans. But did you know when it comes to your dog🐶, cat🙀, or horse🐴, it has also been clinically proven to reduce stress from:

🏠 separation anxiety
🏘️ relocation stress
🧨 noise induced stress (like firecrackers)
🚘 travel stress

According to the new Dog Aging study there ‘may be no such thing as a well-behaved dog, with over 99% of U.S. dogs reported to have moderate to severe behavior issues’, often with increased tension and stress during the holidays. Ashwagandha may help!

Join our Facebook Live here on my Dr. Karen Becker page, Sunday at 10am ET, where we’ll cover the latest science surrounding Ashwagandha’s health benefits in dogs and cats, including increased calmness, cognition, immune function, gut and joint health. We’ll cover how get this mighty herb into even the finickiest of pets (with optimal dosing🥄 recommendations, and what pets should not take this herb). See you LIVE, Sunday!

21/12/2024

Remember no one is arguing the need for sterilization, it's the surgical technique that should be reevaluated. Hysterectomy and vasectomy achieve the same goal but leave important hormones intact according to science.

"The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract
Objective - To determine if gonadectomy in dogs is associated with the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease (CrCLD) and to quantify the magnitude of the association.

Study design - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sample population - Comparative studies with gonadectomized and entire dogs, with CrCLD as an outcome measure.

Methods - A systematic search of the primary and gray literature was performed. The effect size of the outcome measure was defined as the OR and 95% CI. Subgroup analysis was performed with s*x, breed, and age at gonadectomy. A pooled OR (95% CI) was generated from meta-analysis of relevant studies. Certainty in the body of evidence was rated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.

Results - The literature search yielded 1398 results and 24 relevant studies were included for synthesis. Gonadectomized female (pooled OR = 2.293, 95% CI = 1.768–2.945) and male (pooled OR = 2.117, 95% CI = 1.665–2.691) dogs were both at increased odds of developing CrCLD in comparison with entire female and male dogs, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that gonadectomy at 1 year or less was consistently associated with an increase in odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes. Overall certainty in the evidence was rated as moderate. All included studies were observational and no controlled trials were available.

Conclusion - In data with moderate certainty, gonadectomy is associated with increased odds of developing CrCLD in both s*xes, particularly in dogs gonadectomized at 1 year of age or less.

Clinical significance - This study provides an estimate of the true effect size of gonadectomy on the odds of developing CrCLD, which may be useful for clinical decision making surrounding gonadectomy and the timing of gonadectomy."

20/12/2024

A good service to keep in mind

Pet Cremation NZ // Truly Treasured offer sympathetic Animal Cremation, Burials & Keepsakes to remember your beloved pets - from guinea pigs to horses.

18/12/2024

Amazing pics by Caroline

15/12/2024

Your Dog Is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves by Kevin Behan explores the deep emotional connection between humans and dogs, proposing that dogs act as mirrors for their owners' emotions, often reflecting feelings we may not even realize we have. Behan, a dog trainer with decades of experience, dives into the idea that dogs’ behavior and emotional responses are profoundly linked to their human companions’ internal states.

Here are 10 lessons from the book:

1. Dogs Reflect Human Emotions: Behan argues that dogs instinctively tune into their owners' emotions and often mirror these feelings through their behavior. When we experience stress, anxiety, or joy, our dogs sense it and may act accordingly, showing behavioral changes that reflect our own emotions.

2. The Concept of “Emotional Projection”: The book introduces the idea that dogs respond to our projected emotions rather than simply following training or cues. Behan suggests that dogs feel compelled to react to the emotions we may unconsciously project, impacting their behavior in unexpected ways.

3. Bond Beyond Training: Unlike traditional dog training, which emphasizes obedience, Behan emphasizes understanding the emotional dynamics between dog and owner. He believes that behavior issues often have roots in emotional disconnect rather than just a lack of discipline or training.

4. Recognizing Your Influence on Your Dog: According to Behan, self-awareness is crucial for dog owners. By recognizing and understanding our own emotional states, we can gain insight into why our dogs act a certain way and address behavioral problems at their root.

5. Dogs as Healers: The book highlights that dogs often have a calming, therapeutic effect on their owners. Behan suggests that this ability comes from their capacity to absorb and reflect emotions, often helping people deal with stress or unresolved feelings.

6. Understanding Behavior as Communication: Behan encourages viewing a dog’s actions not as “good” or “bad” behavior but as a form of emotional communication. Instead of merely correcting behavior, he advises interpreting what the behavior might reveal about the dog’s emotional state or its owner’s feelings.

7. Embracing Vulnerability and Connection: Dogs encourage their owners to access vulnerable emotions and foster authentic connections. Behan explains that by being open to emotional honesty, owners can deepen their bond with their dogs and see improvements in the relationship.

8. Shared Emotional Energy: The book describes the idea of “emotional energy” that dogs and humans share. This energy transfer allows dogs to pick up on subtle cues and respond in ways that can be surprisingly intuitive, even beyond what humans can consciously recognize.

9. Re-evaluating Traditional Discipline: Rather than relying on discipline alone, Behan suggests that dog owners take a more compassionate approach, addressing underlying emotions that may influence behavior, leading to a more harmonious relationship with their dogs.

10. Dogs as Emotional Guides: Behan proposes that dogs guide us through our own emotional journey, teaching us empathy, patience, and self-reflection. By understanding their responses, owners can learn more about their own needs, fears, and emotional landscape.

BOOK: https://amzn.to/3BlEe5D

You can ENJOY the AUDIOBOOK When you register for Audible Membership Trial) using the same link above.

13/12/2024

Lady Popcorn, by Caroline

13/12/2024

Pics by Caroline

13/12/2024

Great advise for dog owners with anxious dogs

09/12/2024

07/12/2024

Incorporating eye health supplements and antioxidant-rich foods into your pet's diet can help support long-term vision and even enhance eye health over time.

Certain dog breeds are genetically predisposed to conditions that can lead to age-related vision loss, including blindness. While vision loss tends to progress gradually, you can slow down this process by adding supplements and foods that promote eye health.

Consider rotating eye supplements into your pet’s routine and offering antioxidant-rich foods like spinach, pumpkin, carrots, and summer squash to help protect against genetic or age-related eye degeneration.

These simple dietary changes can help preserve their vision for longer.

To learn more on protecting your pet’s eye health, check out our recent Inside Scoop episode - Anti-Aging and Stress-Relieving Supplements - where we also discuss diabetes, early-spay urinary incontinence, anxiety and more!

Comment SCOOPERS and we'll message you the link to join Inside Scoop, a Planet Paws monthly subscription group. Join us every Sunday at 12pm ET for our Live podcast plus get access to over 5 years of content including: past live podcasts, interviews, ebook downloads, and more!

06/12/2024

Pomegranate!

The Forever Dog - "Pomegranate has been shown to help protect cells and, especially, the heart. Cardiac diseases are considered to be
the second-­ most-­ prevalent cause of death for dogs. Valvular endocardiosis and dilated cardiomyopathy are the most common of these and are known to be more prevalent in aged dogs.

Oxidative damage leading to cell death may constitute one of the most proximal of the cascade of events that results in heart failure. In a study published in the Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, scientists found that feeding pomegranate extract to a dog has incredible protective heart and health benefits.

Pomegranates also contain molecules called “elligantans,” which our gut microbes convert to urolithin A. Urolithin A has been shown to regenerate mitochondria in worms­ increasing their life span by more than 45 percent. These encouraging results prompted scientists to test their findings in rodents, and the effects proved similar. Older mice showed signs of increased mitophagy (self-destruction of damaged mitochondria) and demonstrated better running endurance compared to the control group.

You’d be surprised how many dogs will eat these tart, crunchy little jewels mixed in with their food, about a teaspoon for every ten pounds."