Your Dog Wants You To Know This!

For many episodes, I have been able to share the voices, thoughts, stories, and research of some of the most respected and inspiring individuals in the veterinary community. I am so thankful and honored that I had that opportunity, and I highly encourage you to listen to all previous episodes you might have missed or skipped.   This episode is the last one on my calendar (at least for now) as I shift to focus my time and energy on my new online oncology consulting service called Vet Cancer Consultants!   This is a decision that I had a hard time with because I love being able to learn alongside you through each episode. I hope to return to it at some point, but in the meantime, I’d love for you to keep the podcast alive by sharing it!   I encourage you to check out my new consulting service, www.vetcancerconsultants.com, reach out to me with any questions you have, and as always, continue learning! Full show notes for all episodes are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/your-dog-wants-you-to-know-this Don’t forget to stay connected with me on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy.

Today on the show we’re going to be talking about a difficult but important topic: the high frequency of suicide in the veterinary profession.    This might come as a bit of a surprise to you if you’re not in the veterinary field, so I wanted to make this episode to increase awareness and talk a little bit about what's being done in the community to support vets and vet staff, talk about why this is happening, and give you some resources that might be helpful.    To help us navigate this topic, we are joined by Dr. Carrie Jurney.    Dr. Jurney is a board-certified veterinary neurologist and owner of Jurney Veterinary Neurology, providing neurology services to the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also the current president of NOMV (Not One More Vet), a 501c3 organization that provides financial and professional mental health support to veterinarians and veterinary staff in need.   Dr. Jurney cares so much about this topic, as you’ll hear in the episode, so I knew she would be the perfect person to help us understand what’s going on.    If you need to know that you’re not alone, or you want to help someone else feel less alone, please join us for this episode.    Resources Mentioned:  www.nomv.org www.jurneyvetneuro.com www.facebook.com/groups/NOMVet www.qprinstitute.com National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255   Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-42   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

What does diabetes look like in dogs? How does it compare to humans?    These are some of the questions that we are going to address today as we talk all about diabetes in dogs with Dr. Ayeley Okine.    We’ll be covering what a diabetic dog looks like, what canine diabetes is, what predisposing risk factors are, how we make a diagnosis, how we monitor to make sure treatment is working, what treatment looks like, and what the prognosis is.    Diabetes takes up about 25% of Dr. Okine’s caseload, so it's pretty common and definitely important to talk about.    Dr. Ayeley Okine is a board-certified veterinary internist. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she practices at Sage Veterinary Centers in the San Francisco Bay Area, and she has a strong professional interest in immune-mediated blood disease and gastrointestinal disease.    Join us to find out what to do if your dog gets a diabetes diagnosis!   Resources Mentioned: Dr. Okine's YouTube Channel    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-41   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Do you worry about how to handle the emotional challenges that come with losing a pet?    Today we have Dr. Katherine Goldberg back for a second episode, and you are in good hands when it comes to discussing these issues.    We’re covering some heavy topics today but ones that I think are really important to talk through. These are things like end-of-life decision making, preparing for the loss of a pet, how to talk to a child about it, how to support another dog in the household when a pet is dying, and how to support yourself after the loss of a pet.   I know it’s not the most fun to talk about, but I do feel that the more you can prepare for it properly, the better you can handle the difficult experience when it comes.    Dr. Katherine Goldberg, DVM, LMSW, is a veterinarian and social worker. She pursued her LMSW at Syracuse University after recognizing the significant human needs that arise in medical environments – for both family members of seriously ill patients, and medical team members themselves. A 2004 graduate of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she has been instrumental in developing the field of palliative medicine in veterinary environments. She is grateful to have found a “home” in the social work profession, where social justice and the dignity and worth of each individual are core values.   If you need some help dealing with the loss of a pet, or preparing for it in the future, this is a great episode for you.    Resources Mentioned: www.petcaregiverburden.com Dr. Dan Siegel's Healthy Mind Platter UTenn Veterinary Social Work UTenn Veterinary Social Work Helpline The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Dr. Goldberg's Website and Book Recommendations www.childdevelopmentinfo.com  How To Talk To Kids About The Death Of A Pet   Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-40   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

How do you deal with taking on the role of pet caregiver?   We are lucky to have Dr. Katherine Goldberg who is a veterinarian and social worker with us for two episodes.  On today's episode we are talking about caregiver burden and pet owner self-care.   When a dog is diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness, the focus is typically on them. What can we do to make them feel better? What can we do to help them? What can we do to extend their life?    Amongst all of that, we often forget about ourselves. We are not taking care of our emotional health or even our physical health sometimes. That can really take a toll on a pet parent.   We're going to cover how to care for yourself so you can take the best care of your dog, how to deal with guilt, how to deal with the stress of the illness and more.   If you are suffering from this now or know someone who is, this is a really helpful episode.   Resources Mentioned: www.petcaregiverburden.com Dr. Dan Siegel's Healthy Mind Platter UTenn Veterinary Social Work UTenn Veterinary Social Work Helpline The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Dr. Goldberg's Website and Book Recommendations www.childdevelopmentinfo.com  How To Talk To Kids About The Death Of A Pet   Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-39   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Do you know what to do if your dog gets nauseous?   In this episode, we are covering everything that you need to know as a pet parent about nausea. This episode is helpful whether or not your dog is going through chemotherapy.    Any dog is likely to experience nausea at some point in their life, so there’s a lot you should know even if your dog is healthy.    We're covering signs, causes and best treatments for nausea as well as what you need to know about chemotherapy related nausea.   This is a really valuable episode, so don’t miss it.    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-38   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

What is a seizure? What does a seizure look like? What are the most common causes of seizures? How do we treat each one?   There are a lot of questions around this, so neurosurgeon Dr. Ane Uriarte is here to answer them!   Dr. Ane Uriarte Dip ECVN MRCVS DVM is a neurosurgeon and neurologist who treats neurological conditions in dogs, cats, and other animals at Foster Hospital for Small Animals.    First, we are breaking down the difference between a seizure and a fainting episode because they are very commonly confused.    Then we are talking about Dr. Uriarte’s app that not only helps owners keep track of their dogs medications but it keeps track of their dog seizures and allows owners to get their dog seizures on video. It is also being used for research purposes so we are able to learn more about epilepsy in dogs.    At the end of the episode, we talk about how she recently repurposed a surgical technique which relieves pain from Chiari-like Malformation in dogs.    Whether your dog has seizures or you want to know the signs, tune in to this episode.    Resources Mentioned: www.canineseizures.org   https://www.southfields.co.uk/our-team/neurology-team Follow @ane.neuro on Instagram Subscribe to Ane Uriarte's YouTube Channel   Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-37   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

You might have heard about a link that has been found between certain diets and a type of heart disease in dogs called DCM or dilated cardiomyopathy.    Despite the fact that this link has been found across at least 7 publications and 1,100 cases, pet food companies still want us to believe that these diets are safe for dogs.    Dr. Josh Stern is here to explain the controversy and share his research findings. He’s also sharing some of his new research with pharmacogenetics.   Dr. Josh Stern DVM, PhD (Genetics), DACVIM (Cardiology) is chief of the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital's cardiology service and has authored or co-authored more than 80 publications. He runs the Stern Cardiac Genetics lab at Davis, where he's already had significant breakthroughs and contributions to science.   If you want to know more about what to feed your dog be sure to tune in!    Resources Mentioned: Stern Translational Cardiac Genetics and Pharmacogenomics Laboratory  UC Davis Veterinary Medicine: UC Davis Investigates Link Between Dog Diets and Deadly Heart Disease  FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy  WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee: Recommendations on Selecting Pet Foods    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-36   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

We're always looking for easier ways to detect cancer earlier. It gives our patients the opportunity for better prognoses.    Today we're talking about one of the new ways to detect cancer early. It's called the Nu.Q Cancer Screening Test, and it was developed by a joint effort from a company called Volition and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.   Joining me today is Dr. Heather Robles, who led the research at Texas A&M in order to make this test possible.    Dr. Heather Robles is a board-certified veterinary oncologist and Chief Medical Officer of Volition Veterinary Diagnostics Development. She is also the Professor of Oncology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, along with the Assistant Department Head of Research and the Dr. Fred A. and Vola N. Palmer Chair in Comparative Oncology.    Join us as we spread the word about this test and answer as many questions as we can in this episode.    Resources Mentioned: Volition Veterinary - Nu.Q Cancer Screening Test  Texas A&M GI Lab - Sample Processing/Collection Information    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-35   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy

I know how important it is to you to be prepared with the best tools for your pets, so today I am equipping you with some of the resources that I believe will help you with that.   This episode is going to be a little bit different than usual because I am sharing eight different resources that I think you should know about as a dog owner!   Some of these will be helpful if you have a healthy pet without any diseases or conditions, and some of them will be helpful if your pet has been diagnosed with a disease or condition.    There is something for everyone in this episode, so I am sure you will learn something new!   Resources Mentioned: PubMed - Search scientific studies  Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Browse By Breed - See what genetic diseases/conditions your breed should be screened for Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Breed Statistics - See how likely each condition is for each breed Memorial Sloan Kettering: Search About Herbs - Research interactions and uses of different herbs  Canine Cancer Academy: Finding Clinical Trials For Your Dog - Search for available clinical trials  www.vetspecialists.com - Find a veterinary specialist Colorado State Argus Institute Counseling and Support Services - Get support after a difficult diagnosis  Podcast Episode 27: Raising Our Standards For Your Dog's Quality of Life w/ Dr. Page Yaxley - Get information about hospice and palliative care www.pethospice.com - Get information about hospice and palliative care The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement - Get support after pet loss  The Canine Cancer Academy - Access canine cancer and health articles, podcasts, and guides   Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-34   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Remember back in Episode 2 when we talked about the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study? Well, today I have some more golden retriever goodness for you.    My guest for you today is Dr. Erin Hales. She has a PhD in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis, and she is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Morris Animal Foundation where she is leading their Golden Oldies study.   The Golden Oldies Study is a sister study to the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study with the goal of trying to figure out why some golden retrievers live to old age (more than 12 years old) and why some succumb to cancer at an earlier age.    She's going to talk all about the study, refresh your memory about the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, tell you how you can participate in the Golden Oldies Study if you'd like to and share her passion for research. She is also reviewing all the ways that the Morris Animal Foundation is helping animals all around the world.   Tune in to find out how these studies are helping us to understand cancer and so much more in Golden Retrievers.   Resources Mentioned: Apply for your dog to be a Golden Oldie - Golden Oldies Contact Form | Morris Animal Foundation  Join the Newsletter - Stay Connected | Morris Animal Foundation    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-33 Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Today we are talking about diarrhea.   I know it isn’t the most glamorous topic, but it is an important one. We don’t want our dogs to get it, but when they do, we want to get to the bottom of what’s causing it.    Here to share her knowledge on the subject is Dr. Ayeley Okine, a board certified veterinary internist. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she practices at Sage Veterinary Centers in the San Francisco Bay Area, and she has a strong professional interest in immune-mediated blood disease and gastrointestinal disease.    Dr. Okine is going to talk us through different causes, different treatments, how we make a diagnosis, and when we should or should not be concerned for our dogs.    Whether you have a dog with diarrhea or you just want to be prepared, this episode for you.    If you're interested in learning more about canine cancer, you can get a free canine cancer fact guide over on my website, www.caninecanceracademy.com. Scroll to the bottom and you can download your free guide right there! I hope you enjoy it.    Resources Mentioned: Dr. Okine's YouTube Channel  SAGE Veterinary Centers    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-32   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Did you know that there are multiple variations of lymphoma and leukemia?    Today we’re talking about the many faces of lymphoma and leukemia. These diseases can look like many things. Some are more aggressive than others, so having an exact diagnosis is key.    To walk us through that and help us understand it, we are joined by Dr. Anne Avery.    Dr. Avery received her V.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Cornell University. She was a post-doctorate fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and is currently a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology at Colorado State University as well as the Director of the Clinical Immunology Laboratory.   We’re covering things like what variations exist, what they look like, how they might be diagnosed and why an accurate diagnosis is so important.   Tune in to find out more about these diseases!   Resources Mentioned: CSU Clinical Immunology Laboratory    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-31   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Have you ever felt like you didn’t know exactly what to ask your care provider when your dog got sick? If so, you are not alone.    This is a common concern that I hear over and over again, so I made a question list for you!   In this episode, we’ll first cover questions about diagnosis and treatment. We will also go over how to express your desires and expectations to your care provider so you have a better chance of getting the outcome that you are looking for.    Most of these questions can be helpful no matter what condition your pet is going through, so I really hope you find this helpful whether your pet has cancer or any other diagnosis.   If you want to feel more confident and prepared after a diagnosis, this episode is for you.    Resources Mentioned: www.caninecanceracademy.com/25-questions   Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-30   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

What would happen if your general practitioner or oncologist had an emergency and you couldn't get in touch with them?   If your dog was feeling sick or really needed a medication refill, would you know what to do or where to go?   Some oncology clinics or general practitioner offices actually had to close for two weeks during COVID.   These are the types of things that we’re dealing with more frequently right now, so I want to make sure that you are as prepared as possible for a similar scenario.   In this episode, I’m walking you through a four-step plan and a list of recommendations that will help you prepare in the case that you don’t have access to your general practitioner or oncologist.    I’m also sharing some questions for you to ask your care provider so that your dog can receive continuous care throughout that time.   If you don’t have an emergency care plan for your dog, this episode is for you.    Full show notes and links mentioned in the episode are available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-29   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Does our environment increase our risk of cancer?    This is the question that today’s guest, Dr. Lauren Trepanier, is working to answer and understand more fully.    I’m very excited to have her on the podcast to talk all about translational medicine.   Dr. Trepanier will be helping us to learn more about how to decrease cancer risk or why our dogs might have gotten cancer in the first place.   Dr. Trepanier is a professor of internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.  She’s assistant dean for clinical and translational research, has a PhD in pharmacology and she is board certified in both veterinary internal medicine and clinical pharmacology.    Stay tuned for a fascinating episode about how we hope to reduce the risk of cancer for dogs and people.    Show notes available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-28 Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Have you ever considered hospice care for your pet? Did you even know that's an option?    Today we're going to be talking all about palliative and hospice care. And even if you think you might know what it is, I can assure you there will be at least one or two surprises in today's episode.    It's an important and growing area of veterinary medicine, with the goal of helping your dog have more good days. Today's guest, Dr. Page Yaxley, talks about what makes a palliative and hospice care specialist different from your veterinarian or oncologist.    Dr. Page Yaxley is a board-certified criticalist and an assistant professor in the small animal emergency and critical care department at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Page is a founding member and the co-president of the Veterinary Society for Hospice and Palliative Care, the first hospice organization exclusively for veterinarians. She also teaches end-of-life care and communication and has received many teaching awards.   If you're interested in learning more about how we can make our pets more comfortable at the end of their lives, tune in to this special episode.    Show notes available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-27 Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Do you worry about what would happen if your dog were to get a cancer diagnosis?    I want to try to make it a little less scary and help you understand your options in certain situations.    It can be incredibly difficult to figure out if you should treat your dog's cancer or another serious disease. And if you decide yes, how do you even begin to determine what treatment is best for your dog or your family? It's a lot to think about.    This episode is all about thinking through those decisions and how an oncologist can help you through that process.    If you want to feel a little more empowered to handle a difficult diagnosis, I've got your back.    Show notes available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-26   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Today we’re talking about how epigenetics could be used to prevent cancer.    We’re not there yet, but the hope is that with enough research, it’s something that we can expect in the future.    We are in good hands today with Dr. Jeff Bryan, Professor of Veterinary Oncology and Faculty Research Lead in Nex Gen Precision Health at the University of Missouri. Dr. Bryan’s specialty is epigenetics.    That word might sound familiar to you, or it might sound completely foreign. In a nutshell, epigenetics is how our experiences affect our DNA. That could be stress, emotional events, foods, environment, exercise, toxic exposures, etc.    What makes this topic so incredibly interesting is that if we can capture, test, and identify some of the epigenetic changes that are associated with specific types of cancer, like lymphoma, then we might be able to reverse them with certain medications or supplements and prevent that cancer from occurring in a specific dog.    That is the focus of a lot of Dr. Bryan’s research, and he’s breaking it all down for us in this episode.    Show notes available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-25   Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy 

Do you worry about knowing when to call your vet and when it’s nothing to worry about? Should you call your vet right away or wait and see if things continue?    Today we are talking about 10 early signs of cancer. By the end of this episode you’ll have a better idea about what symptoms you might want to get checked out to help you make an early diagnosis.     The earlier we catch cancer, the better prognosis we can give our dogs which is why it's so important that we know what we’re looking for.    I'll go through 10 signs of cancer and tell you how you can make an early diagnosis.   This episode will open your eyes so you can understand what changes to look for in your dog and when it might be time to call your vet.  The best thing you can do for your pet is to be knowledgeable and proactive should something ever come up. I hope you enjoy today’s special solo episode!    Show notes available at www.caninecanceracademy.com/podcast-ep-24 Don’t forget to say hello on Instagram @thecaninecaneracademy and on Facebook Canine Cancer Academy