[♪♪] HELLO, AND WELCOME TO CONVERSATIONS LIVE.

I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON.

WE'RE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE DR. KEIKO MIWA ROSS WPSU PRODUCTION STUDIO.

CARING FOR A PET IS A REAL COMMITMENT REQUIRING TIME, PATIENCE, AND TENDER LOVING CARE.

IT CAN SOMETIMES BE CHALLENGING TO KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR ANIMAL AND WHO TO TURN TO FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.

PERHAPS YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS ON EXERCISE AND DIET, OR HOW TO TRAIN THAT DOG YOU ADOPTED.

WELL, TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING WITH TWO LOCAL VETERINARIANS WHO WILL GIVE US INSIGHT ON CARING FOR PETS.

AND YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK OUR GUESTS THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS.

DR. ANDREA LOAR IS THE OWNER AND VETERINARIAN AT CPVETS, AN EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE FACILITY IN STATE COLLEGE.

A GRADUATE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, DR. LOAR ALSO RAISES BEEF CATTLE WITH HER HUSBAND IN CLEARFIELD COUNTY, AND ENJOYS CARING FOR HER 3 HORSES, 5 CATS, AND 2 DOGS.

DR. DEB SMART IS THE CO-OWNER AND A VETERINARIAN OF CENTRE ANIMAL HOSPITAL.

ORIGINALLY FROM LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, SHE GRADUATED FROM PRINCETON UNIVERSITY AND THEN EARNED HER DVM AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY.

DR. SMART HAS SPECIAL INTERESTS IN DENTISTRY AND FELINE MEDICINE, AND SHE ALSO TREATS POCKET PETS (GUINEA PIGS, GERBILS, AND HAMSTERS) AND RABBITS.

AND WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING US ON TV, STREAMING US ONLINE OR LISTENING ON THE RADIO, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AT 1-800-543-8242 OR EMAIL CONNECT AT WPSU DOT ORG.

SO LET'S GET STARTED.

WELCOME BACK.

IT'S BEEN ON AND OFF YEARS WE HAVE HAD THIS WONDERFUL SEGMENT ASK THE VET AND YOU'VE HELPED US FOR MANY YEARS AND WE UNDERSTAND YOUR PRACTICES HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT POST COVID AND GROWING AND NEWER FACILITIES.

SO LET'S START THERE QUICKLY AND TELL US WHAT IS UP Dr. LOAR WITH CP VETS?

>> SO WE HAVE PURCHASED A NEW BUILDING AND WE ARE GOING TO BE MORE THAN DOUBLING OUR SPACE HOPEFULLY IN FEBRUARY.

WE WILL OPEN UP TO MORE CLIENTS AND PATIENT ANDS AND MOVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS BACK IN THE BUILDING AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> CAN YOU TELL US WHERE IT'S AT?

>> IT IS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE TEXAS ROADHOUSE HERE IN STATE COLLEGE.

>> SO IT WILL BE EASY AND VENTS OFF OF I-99 AND HAVING ACCESS FOR THOSE.

>> EASIER TO FIND.

>> VERY GOOD.

I DRIVE BY YOUR FACILITY IT'S REALLY CHANGED QUITE A BIT, Dr. SMART?

>> YES, THE CENTRE ANIMAL HOSPITAL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1986 AND THE DOCTOR BUILT THE BUILDING AND WE PRACTICED THERE FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS.

AND IT WAS A GREAT FACILITY, BUT IT NEEDED UPDATING.

SO WE STARTED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO TO WE BROKE GROUND TO DOUBLE OUR SPACE.

INCREASE TO A COUPLE OF SURGERY SUITES, HAVE A DEDICATED DENTAL SUITE, AND YOU WILL STRA SOUND ROOM AND NEW ULTRASOUND ROOM AND A DEDICATED SPACE FOR CATS WHO HAVE TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND WE ARE NOT QUITE MOVED IN.

WE ARE PROBABLY A WEEK OR TWO AWAY FROM MOVING INTO THE THIRD PIECE OF THE RENOVATION THEN IT SHOULD BE ALL DONE.

BUT OUR PARKING LOT IS DONE AND SAFE OUR CLIENTS HAVE BEEN GREAT.

IT WAS QUITE AN ADVENTURE TO GET THROUGH THIS AND WORK IN THE SAME HOSPITAL SPACE BUT WE ARE NEARING THE FINISH LINE.

>> THAT IS GREAT.

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF THE ANIMALS AND YOUR WONDERFUL STAFF THAT FOLLOWED YOU THROUGH THE YEARS.

YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT WITH COVID AND YOUR PATIENTS HUMAN AND THOSE FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS THAT YOU CARE FOR.

WE ARE LOOKING AT POST COVID AND THE CHANGES AND THE NUMBER ONE CHANGE THAT YOU BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION IS NATIONALLY 15,000 VETS ARE UNDER THE NUMBER THAT WE NEED TO PROPERLY CARE FOR.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT HAS BEEN THE INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR MORE VETERINARIANS AND THE TAXING POSITIONS THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE DEAL WITH DAILY, Dr. SMART?

>> PART OF IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER OF PETS.

PEOPLE GOT MORE PETS WHEN THEY WERE HOME DURING THE COVID YEARS.

SO AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PETS.

VETERINARIANS LEAVING THE FIELD THERE WAS STRESS DURING COVID.

VETERINARIANS CHOSE TO RETIRE.

THERE IS A A LITTLE MORE SPECIALIZATION IN THE VETERINARY FIELD PROCEDURES THAT A GENERAL PRACTITIONER MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO, THEY MIGHT BE MORE RELUCTANT TO DO SO FOLKS END UP AT MORE SPECIALTY HOSPITALS FOR THOSE THINGS.

I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO MORE PRESSURE AND ALSO FEWER HANDS ON POURED TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> MENTAL HEALTH FOR VETERINARIANS WE NEED TO BE KIND TO YOU GUYS YOU ARE HELPING OUR LOVED ONES, RIGHT?

>> YES.

WE UNDERSTAND IT'S STRESSFUL TO HAVE A SICK OR INJURED PET.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE AT THE EMERGENCY CLINIC IT'S NEVER AN EXPECTED EXPENSE OR EXPECTED INJURY.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS STRESSFUL BUT WE DO ASK THAT YOU BE KIND TO US BECAUSE WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO HELP ALL OF THE PETS HERE WITH US.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH ON A LOT OF THINGS.

WE WANT YOUR CALLS.

WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS POSED FROM YOU OUT IN THE AUDIENCE TO HAVE OUR WONDERFUL EXPERTS HERE ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

1-800-543-8242.

OR E-MAIL US AT CONNECT AT WPSU.ORG.

AND WE WILL START ON THE SUBJECT OF THE HOLIDAYS WE HAVE TO START BECAUSE WE HAVE THANKSGIVING AROUND THE CORNER AND CHRISTMAS THOSE HAZARDS, IDEAS, WITH THE NUMBER OF PETS AND THE TYPE OF PETS.

Dr. LOAR WHAT DO YOU SEE, I GUESS N. PAST HOLIDAYS OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE AVOIDING AND HELPING US?

>> IN GENERAL AVOIDING HUMAN FOODS.

BOTH THAT WE FEED OUR PETS DELIBERATELY THAT YOUR PETS MAYBE GETTING INTO.

A LOT OF DOG RESPECTABLE TO SNUFF OUT CHOCOLATE AND WHILE WE LOVE CHOCOLATE THEY DO, TOO.

IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM.

THE FOODS THAT WE FEED OUR PETS CAN BE HARMFUL AS WELL.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR HIGH FAT FOODS LIKE TURKEY, AND STUFFING AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT HAVE A LOT OF FAT CAN MAKE OUR PETS SICK.

>> WE HAVE A GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS OVERALL HOLIDAY HAZARDS AS WE LOOK AT THIS, Dr. SMART DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THOSE THAT TEND TO BE MORE PREVALENT OR CAN BE MORE TOXIC THAN OTHERS?

>> DEFINITELY AGREE WITH Dr. LOAR ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH CHOCOLATE THAT IS A HUGE AND COMMON THINGS.

PEOPLE BAKING COOKIES AND SEMI SWEET CHOCOLATE ON THE COUNTER AND THE DOGS WILL GET INTO IT.

THE DARKER THE CHOCOLATE THE MORE TOXIC IS TO OUR DOGS.

BUT YOU GET THE DARK CHOCOLATES AND THE DOGS LOVE THEM AND THEY CAN GET VERY, VERY SICK.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE COMMONLY SEE AROUND THE HOLIDAYS WE'RE VISITING FAMILY AND SOMETIMES TAKING OUR PETS WITH US, IS NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN OUR PETS AND OTHER'S PETS.

SO WE DO SEE A LOT OF DOG FIGHTS AND CAT INJURIES FROM VISITING ANIMALS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

JUST BEING COGNIZANT OF KEEPING PETS THAT MAY NOT LIVE TOGETHER SEPARATE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE VISITING YOUR FAMILY.

>> GOOD POINT.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST CALLER.

LET'S TAKE THAT CALL FROM GARY FROM ROCK HILL FURNACE.

DPARRY YOUR QUESTION FOR OUR VET VETERINARIANS TONIGHT?

CAN WE HEAR YOU, GARY?

I APOLOGIZE I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION LATER.

GIVE US A CALL BACK IF YOU ARE WATCHING WE'RE GETTING OUR FIRST CALL AND YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS AND MIXING PETS.

PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR PETS WITH THEM MANY PLACES, RIGHT?

THIS IS A PRETTY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE NOW?

ON VACATION, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

>> INTERSTATE TRAVEL, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF FOLKS TAKING THEIR PETS ALL KINDS OF PLACES, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE FLYING OR TRYING TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY THEY CAN TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO SETUP AHEAD OF TIME.

FOLKS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT.

THE USDA REGULATES THAT.

AND THE REGULATIONS OF OTHER COUNTRIES DICTATE WHO THEY WILL ADMIT AND SO SOMETIMES THAT CAN TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO PLAN OUT.

FOLKS WILL COMES TO US TWO OR THREE WEEKS IN ADVANCE AND WANT TO TAKE THEIR DOG TO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND OFTEN IT IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE TESTING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL WITH YOUR PET, MAKE SURE YOU TALK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN AND SETUP THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AHEAD OF TIME SO YOUR PET IS CURRENT ON VACCINES AND THE RABIES VACCINES HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE THEY CAN GET THE PAPERWORK THEY NEED TO TRAVEL.

SOMETIMES PETS NEED MEDICATIONS THEY GET ANXIOUS WHEN THEY TRAVEL.

HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN.

SOMETIMES THEY GET CAR SICK AND THERE ARE MEDICATIONS WE CAN GIVE TO DECREASE THE NAUSEA.

WE HAVE SUGGESTS FOR -- SUGGESTIONS FOR DOGS AND CATS THAT ARE TRAVEL.

>> WE HAVE FRED FROM HARRISBURG ON THE PHONE.

FRED, WE'RE HERE WITH OUR VETERINARIANS AND YOUR CALL TONIGHT.

>> HI.

HEY, THE REASON WHY I'M CALLING IN IS I'VE HAD ANIMALS ALL MY LIFE, AND VETERINARY BILLS OVER THE YEARS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF VETERINARIANS AND ALL THE SPECIALTY STUFF BUT WHAT MAKES ME SAD IS THE PEOPLE WHO NEED PUPPIES AND PETS THE MOST ARE UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN HOW CAN THEY AFFORD TO HAVE ANIMALS AND PROPERLY TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> THAT IS A HARD QUESTION.

I'M SURE YOU ARE FACED WITH THAT.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO START?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO RECOMMEND THAT CAN HELP WITH THESE UNEXPECTED EXPENSES IS PET INSURANCE.

AND SO FOR A SMALLER MONTHLY OUTLAY, YOU MAY HAVE SOME BENEFIT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.

THERE ARE ALSO LOW COST CLINICS THAT CAN HELP WITH SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND GETTING VACCINES DONE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE REALITY IS THAT PETS COST MONEY AND CARE FOR PETS COSTS MONEY.

SO IT IS A DIFFICULT PLACE FOR US ALL TO BE IN, TRUST US WE DON'T WANT TO CHARGE A LOT.

WE WOULD PREFER TO GIVEAWAY OUR SERVICES FOR FREE BUT WE HAVE TO PAY OUR STAFF AND PAY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY AND THE RENT AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS WHICH GO UP EVERY YEAR.

>> YOU'RE PROFESSIONALS YOU HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL AND INVESTED YOUR CAREERS INTO THIS.

BUT Dr. SMART, DO YOU HAVE THAT FIRST CONVERSATION WHEN YOU ESTABLISH A NEW PATIENT PERHAPS A NEW CUSTOMER, HOW DOES THAT WORK THAT CONVERSATION TAKE PLACE?

>> WHEN YOU BRING IN A NEW PUPPY OR KITTEN OR NEWLY ADOPTED PET, WE ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CONSIDER PET INSURANCE FOR THAT PET.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL OPTIONS FOR PET INSURANCE.

>> A LOT MORE THAN IN RECENT YEARS WE'VE SEEN IT INCREASE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT IT, TOO, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND PEOPLE WANT TO BE PREPARED FOR THOSE THINGS.

AND SOME PET INSURES COVER THE HIGH-END COSTS AND OTHER PET INSURES WILL COVER WELLNESS CARE INCLUDING DENTISTRY AND VACCINES.

AND IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHETHER THE COMPANIES ARE IN THIS TO MAKE MONEY THEY ARE FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO SAVE SOMEBODY NECESSARILY SAVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY FOR THOSE WELLNESS PACKAGES.

BUT THEY DO PROVIDE COMPLETE CARE.

THERE ARE ALSO LOW COST OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO FOR US, WE DO WELLNESS CARE, WE SPEND TIME WITH EDUCATION, WE SCHEDULE LONG APPOINTMENTS TO TALK WITH PEOPLE TO HAVE TIME AVAILABLE TO GO OVER THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PETS.

AND ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO GET TO KNOW US.

WE CAN GET TO KNOW THEM SO WE CREATE THAT RELATIONSHIP SO WE CAN HELP THEM EITHER IN-PERSON OR OVER THE PHONE, E-MAIL, WE DO LOTS OF THINGS LOTS MORE THINGS THAT ARE TELEMEDICINE AS LONG AS WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CLIENTS.

WHEN FOLKS HAVE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY THERE ARE VACCINATION CLINICS THAT COME UP.

PAWS HAS VACCINATION CLINICS THEY PROVIDE COUPONS FOR SPAY AND NEUTER.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOND WITH OUR PETS AND TRYING TO MAKE IT AS AFFORDABLE AS WE CAN.

>> LET'S LOOK AT AN E-MAIL WE RECEIVED TONIGHT.

ANGELA, ANGELA WRITES HOW CAN I GET FLEA AND TICK METHOD SIP FOR FERAL CATS THAT I CANNOT CATCH BUT LET ME PET THEM?

THAT IS DIFFICULT.

>> THERE ARE FLEA AND TICK MEDICATIONS AVAILABLE OVER-THE-COUNTER.

A MEDICATION USED TO BE FRONTLINE THAT IS AVAILABLE AND THAT IS A DECENT FLEA AND TICK MEDICATION AND PRETTY SAFE FOR MOST CATS.

THERE ARE MEDICATIONS THAT CAN BE MORE TOXIC THERE IS A HART'S FLEA AND TICK MEDICATION THAT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE ADVERSE REACTIONS IT'S BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR LOTS OF YEARS.

I WOULD GO WITH A FRONT LINE THAT IS OVER-THE-COUNTER THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF FELINES WE HAVE TO LOOK AT YOURS YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHO THEY ARE AND SOME OF THE HEALTH FOR THE FELINE CATEGORIES USING YOUR TWO AS EXAMPLES HERE.

>> SO WE HAVE HERE JASMINE IN THE CHAIR AND JASMINE, I ACQUIRED AS A KITTEN ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO.

SHE COMES TO WORK WITH ME.

THAT IS HER MENTAL STIMULATION.

AND JUST ENJOYS SEEING ALL OF THE TECHNICIANS AND OTHER PETS THAT ARE AROUND.

AND THEN WE HAVE JUNIPER WHO IS IN THE DOUGHNUT.

AND THAT IS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT WE OFFER AT HOME.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CATS TO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT THINGS TO PLAY WITH.

PLACES TO SLEEP THAT ARE COMFORTABLE AND SECURE FOR THEM.

AND SHE AND JASMINE PLAY IN THAT DOUGHNUT ALMOST CONSTANTLY.

I THINK Dr. SMART HAS REALLY GREAT EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR CATS.

>> ONE OF YOUR SPECIALTIES.

>> I LOVE DOING FELINE MEDICINE AND I LOVE THE DOUGHNUT THAT Dr. LOAR HAS.

THAT IS A SAFE PLACE FOR HER KITTY AND WE TALK ABOUT THE FIVE PILLARS OF A HEALTHY FELINE ENVIRONMENT.

THE SAFE PLACE FOR THE CAT TO BE AND MULTIPLE AND SEPARATE RESOURCES FOR CATS.

CATS EVEN IF THEY LOVE EACH OTHER MAY NOT ALWAYS WANT TO SLEEP NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

THEY MIGHT WANT A SEPARATE LITTER BOX THEY CAN HAVE PRIVACY.

THEY CAN HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY AND SOMETIMES THAT WILL BE PLAY WITH ANOTHER CAT BUT PLAY WITH A LASER POINTER OR A FEATHER TOY.

AND THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT.

>> AS MUCH FUN FOR THE HUMAN, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CATS HAVE A REALLY SENSITIVE SENSE OF SMELL.

SO THINGS THAT MIGHT SEEM APPEALING TO US SCENTED CANDLES AND ODORS WESTBOUND REALLY OFF PUTTING TO CATS.

WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THOSE THINGS AS WE CREATE THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT.

AND I THINK THE OTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT IS CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE.

IN MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW, MY KIDS ARE GROWN-UP AND GONE AND LIVING THEIR LIVES IT'S MY HUSBAND AND I AND WE ARE CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE.

BUT THERE WERE YEARS THAT WE HAD TODDLERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS RUNNING IN AND OUT AND BIGGER DOGS THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CATS WASN'T AS CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE AS IT NEEDED TO BE.

SO I THINK ABOUT THAT NOW AND SORT OF TALK WITH FAMILIES ABOUT THIS AS WE CREATE ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE COMFORTABLE FOR CATS.

MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE ASKING THAT OUR CATS ARE INDOORS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH CATS WHO LIVE OUTDOORS.

THOSE CATS CAN BE AT RISK FOR ILLNESSES AND ACCIDENTS BUT THEY CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR BIRD AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS.

IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CATS WE TRY TO KEEP THEM INDOORS AND SAFE AND CREATE THE ENRICHED ENVIRONMENTS FOR THEM.

>> LET'S GET ANOTHER CALL.

SHERRY FROM DUBOIS YOU ARE ON THE LINE WITH OUR VETERINARIANS YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY QUESTION IS THIS: I HAVE A 15 INCH BEAGLE SIX-AND-A-HALF YEARS OLD.

SHE IS NOT A TRIM BEAGLE SHE IS ALWAYS ON THE STALKY SIDE BUT SHE HAS BEEN WEIGHT QUITE A BIT OF WEIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OFF FIVE TO SIX POUNDS GRADUALLY.

SO THAT SHE REMAINS AS HEALTHY AS SHE IS.

SO MY QUESTION IS REGARDING HOW MUCH CAN I DECREASE HER FOOD AM AND P.M.

SO SHE REMAINS HEALTHY.

SHE GETS A DAILY WALK AND RIGHT NOW SHE IS IN THE BACKYARD CHASING RABBITS SHE DOES GET ACTIVITY.

BUT WHAT WOULD BE YOUR GUIDELINE SO I KEEP HER HEALTHY AND SO THAT SHE IS COMFORTABLY FED.

>> WE CAN TELL YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR PET THERE.

AND SHERRY THANKS FOR YOUR CALL.

WHICH DOCTOR MIGHT WANT TO RESPOND.

>> I CAN DO THAT.

SO I THINK THE FIRST THING TO THINK ABOUT IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE QUANTITY OF FOOD TO FEED YOUR PET ON THE FOOD BAGS ARE VERY EXAGGERATED.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN CREATED BY FEEDING PETS THAT ARE IN RESEARCH FACILITIES AND SHOWING THAT THOSE PETS DON'T LOSE WEIGHT OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME ON THAT DIET.

THE AMOUNT THAT THEY FEED IS TYPICALLY ABOUT TWICE WHAT PETS WOULD NORMALLY NEED TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT.

SO PEOPLE HAVE TO READJUST THEIR EXPECTATIONS WHEN THEY START READING THE PET FOOD BAGS.

THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE FEEDING NOW SHERRY, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD YOU ARE GIVING YOUR BEAGLE NOW?

>> I'M NOT SURE SHE IS NOT THERE.

>> WHAT I WOULD FIRST RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO IS MEASURE WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING.

DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

JUST MEASURE WHAT YOUR DOG EATS EVERYDAY.

IF YOU WILL A FULL BOWL OF DOG FOOD THAT IS SITTING OUT THERE EVERYDAY FIGURE OUT IN A WEEK HOW MUCH THEY EAT AND DIVIDE IT BY SEVEN AND START AS YOUR BASELINE.

THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS LOOK AT YOUR DOG'S WEIGHT AND IF YOUR DOG IS 25 POUNDS AND YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE 20, INCREASE WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING BY 20% -- DECREASE, SORRY.

DECREASE BY 20%.

DON'T INCREASE.

BUT YOU WILL WANT TO DECREASE IT.

AND USUALLY I DON'T MAKE JUMPS BIGGER THAN 15-20%.

SOME DOGS ARE EATING WAY TOO MUCH.

IF YOU ARE FEEDING IT BY FOOD GUIDELINES ON THE PET FOOD BAG THEY ARE WAY TOO HIGH.

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR PET IS EATING AND LOOK AT THE IDEAL BODY WEIGHT YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE AT AND DECREASE BY 15-20% TO GET THERE.

>> Dr. LOAR WE WILL HAVE YOU COMMENT ON THAT.

FIRST IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON THIS IS CONVERSATIONS LIVE.

ASK A VETERINARIAN TWO RIGHT HERE ON WPSU AND JOINING US WE HAVE Dr. ANDREA LOAR THE OWNER AND VETERINARIAN AT CP VETS AND Dr. DEB SMART.

THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242.

AND WE'RE READY TO TAKE MORE CALLS.

YOU CAN SEND US QUESTIONS BY E-MAIL AT CONNECT AT CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

YOU WORK WITH THE EMERGENCY TYPE OF OVERFEEDING DO YOU SEE THOSE KIND OF SITUATIONS?

AND I'M IGNORANT TO NOT KNOW HOW THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

>> WHAT WE OFTEN SEE PETS OVERFED THAT ARE STARTING TO HAVE ORTHOPAEDIC PROBLEMS AS THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OLDER.

SO THAT'S ON THE EMERGENCY SIDE OF THINGS.

WHERE WE SEE THAT PROBLEM.

AS OUR CALLER WAS TALKING ABOUT, KEEPING YOUR PET AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR INCREASING THEIR LONGEVITY, INCREASING THEIR COMFORT AS THEY AGE.

ANOTHER THING THAT CAN CAUSE THEM TO HOLD EXCESS WEIGHT IN A DOG IS THYROID DISEASE.

SO IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT ALSO MAYBE TO HAVE YOUR VETERINARIAN JUST DO A GOOD CHECK ON HER, CHECK HER THYROID LEVEL AND MAKE SURE IT'S APPROPRIATE BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK AGAINST YOU AND YOU COULD DECREASE HER FOOD AND NOT HAVE HER LOSE WEIGHT IF THE THYROID IS UNDER ACTIVE.

>> THAT NEXT PET THAT MIGHT ENTER SOMEONE'S FAMILY, DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE LIFESTYLE THAT THAT PET WILL NEED AND MATCH THAT WITH YOUR OWN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE?

I ASSUME IF YOU ARE NOT A RUNNER, WALKER, HIKER AND YOUR PET IS GOING TO WANT TO GO OUT EVERYDAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT FIT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAD BREEDS OF DOGS FOR YEARS.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY SPECIFIC DOGS THAT ARE BRED FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES.

A HUSKEY FOR EXAMPLE THEY ARE BRED TO RUN FOR HOURS AND HOURS A DAY PULLING A SLED AND YOU PUT THAT HUSKEY IN YOUR LIVING ROOM IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WHERE IT'S 80° IN THE SUMMER AND THAT DOG HAS A REAL DIFFICULT LIFESTYLE THAN WHAT THEY WERE BRED FOR.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

DON'T GET A DOG THAT NEEDS HOURS OF RUNNING OR WORK TO DO IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR DOG.

IT'S PART OF THE REASON SOME OF THE BREEDS LIKE THE FRENCH BULLDOGS THEY HAVE ISSUES HAVE BECOME POPULAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NICELY INACTIVE DOGS AND RELATIVELY SOCIAL.

>> LIKE OUR SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE.

>> AND THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES IN TERMS OF BREATHING AND ALLERGIES AND ISSUES THAT EACH BREED HAS THEIR OWN CONCERNS.

BUT THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFESTYLE AND PICK A BREED THAT FITS IT.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE THAT WE HAVE A CALL FROM SUSAN FROM STATE COLLEGE YOU ARE ON THE LINE WITH OUR VETERINARIANS YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT?

>> YES.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS CONCERNING MY 11-YEAR-OLD DOMESTIC SHORT HAIRED CAT, MARTY.

I HAVE HAD HIM FOR 11 YEARS.

AND HE AFTER ABOUT SEVEN YEARS IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS NOW HE DEVELOPED THESE SKIN ALLERGIES WHERE HE GETS VERY ITCHY AND BREAKS OUT AND SCABS OVER AND THEN SO I VETTED HIM FOR THIS.

AND HE'S BEEN ON MEDICATION AND TRIED OTHERS, AND TRIED THE HYPER ALLERGENIC FOODS I WANTED TO CALL TO SEE IF YOU HAD OTHER SUGGESTIONS TO HELP THIS PROBLEM?

>> SUSAN, HAS MARTY SEEN A DERMATOLOGIST FOR THIS?

>> NO.

>> OKAY.

SO Dr. SMART MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION, MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT WOULD BE YOU HAVE TRIED THE COMMON THINGS THAT WE DO FOR CATS WITH ALLERGIES.

AND IT MAYBE TIME TO TALK WITH YOUR VET ABOUT A REFERRAL TO A VETERINARY DERMATOLOGIST TO SEE THEIR THOUGHTS AND IF THERE'S ELSE THEY MAYBE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO HIM.

>> THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

A LOT OF TIMES TO MANAGE CATS WITH THE ALLERGIES YOU ARE DESCRIBING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TRIED WHICH ARE MANY OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD TRY.

THOSE THINGS ALL MAKE GOOD SENSE.

SOMETIMES WE NEED TO STICK WITH THOSE THINGS OR FIND WAYS TO WEED THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AND DO A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT CLINICAL SAVVY CAN OFTEN COME FROM A DERMATOLOGIST THEY DEAL WITH THESE KIND OF SKIN ISSUES DAY NON-DAY OUT.

IT MAYBE THAT THIS IS SOME SPECIAL AUTOIMMUNE PROBLEM AND THEY MIGHT RECOMMEND A SKIN BIOPSY OR DO ADDITIONAL TESTING AND COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS.

THE THINGS YOU ARE DOING NOW WOULD TYPICALLY TREAT AND CONTROL TYPICAL ALLERGIES.

IF IT'S NOT WORKING, I THINK IT MIGHT BE TIME TO THINK ABOUT SEEING A DERMATOLOGIST.

>> SUSAN WE HOPE THAT HELPS.

AND THERE ARE THE SPECIALTIES NOW THAT ARE WITHIN REACH OF PEOPLE IN OUR REGION.

YOU CAN REFER PEOPLE TO DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES.

>> YES.

>> WE HAVE AN E-MAIL QUESTION.

CHRISTINE WRITES, TWO QUESTIONS HERE.

NUMBER ONE, IF MY OLD DOG DIES AT HOME WHAT DO I DO?

I WORRY ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.

AND NUMBER TWO, HOW CAN I DISCOURAGE MY NEW KITTEN FROM RUNNING UP MY LEG?

THOSE ARE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

AGAIN, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS IN ALL OF OUR PET CARE.

AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK BROADER ABOUT GRIEF.

WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST FOR CHRISTINE, ESPECIALLY?

>> ON THE FIRST QUESTION.

I REALIZE IT'S VERY HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO OUR PETS AND TO SEE THEM COMING TO THE END OF LIFE.

WE DO CP VETS IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BRING THEIR PETS TO US IF THEY PASS AT HOME.

WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE CREMATION OPTIONS.

SO THAT IS CERTAINLY AN OPTION.

IF IT'S DURING THE DAYTIME AND YOUR PRIMARY CARE VET IS OPEN MOST HAVE THE SAME OPTIONS.

THE MAKING THAT PHONE CALL TO SOMEONE WHO YOU KNOW AS FAR AS THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY IS CERTAINLY A GOOD WAY TO GET HELP.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS SAD THAT PEOPLE NEED US.

BUT WILLING TO HELP IN THAT SITUATION.

>> THAT'S Dr. SMART THAT IS DURING YOUR HOURS OF OPERATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HOW ABOUT THE CAT QUESTION?

A NEW KITTEN RUNNING UP THE OWNER'S LEG?

>> SO WHEN I HAVE A NEW KITTEN I LIKE TO PLAY A LOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE HUGE PLAY DRIVE.

I WOULD MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TOYS AND MULTIPLE TOYS THAT ARE A FOOT OR MORE AWAY FROM YOUR FINGERS OR FEET.

YOU WANT THE KITTENS TO LEARN TO PLAY WITH THINGS THAT ARE NOT FINGERS AND TOES.

FROM THE MINUTE YOU BRING THEM IN THE HOUSE PLAY WITH A FEATHER OR SOMETHING ON A STRING OR PLAY WITH A LASER POINTER OR THROW A BALL.

LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY FROM YOU.

TWO KITTENS IS ALWAYS NICE.

SO IF YOUR KITTEN HAS ANOTHER KITTEN TO PLAY WITH, A LOT OF TIMES THEY WERE LEARN TO BE MORE INHIBITED IN THEIR BITING AND SCRATCHING THAN IF THEY ARE TRYING TO PLAY WITH YOU.

I GIVE THEM THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT.

IF THEY ARE CLIMBING UP YOUR LEG I TRY TO DISTRACT THEM WITH THE LASER POINTER OR THAT TOY.

AND I LET THEM DO IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

TRY HARDER TO DISTRACT THEM.

BUT THEN IF THEY ARE PERSISTING IN CLIMBING UP YOUR LEG OR DOING SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSING YOU INJURY, YOU MAY NEED TO PICK THEM UPTURNING THE BITING PARTS AWAY FROM YOU DON'T GRAB THEM BY THEIR CLAWS AND GENTLY PUT THEM IN A ROOM TO BE QUIET FOR A LITTLE BIT.

A LOT OF TIMES WITH THE YOUNG PETS THEY WILL BE OVERLY STIMULATED AND THEY NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE QUIET AND TAKE A NAP.

AND THEN THEY WILL BE READY TO COME OUT AND LEARN HOW TO PLAY CORRECTLY.

>> A LARGER ISSUE THAT I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE IS THE WHOLE GENERATION OF THE COVID ERA AND PETS.

YOU KNOW, NOT TRAINING THE DOGS PROPERLY AND MAYBE THE CATS ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR THING.

THAT IS PERPETUATING TO BE A PROBLEM NOW IN THE POST COVID WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN?

AGAIN, THOSE PETS WERE INTRODUCED MAYBE FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS AND WE LOVE THEM DEARLY BUT MAYBE THE ENVIRONMENT'S CHANGED AND TRAINING MAYBE WASN'T A NORM BACK DURING COVID?

>> IT WAS VERY HARD TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE SOCIALIZATION AND TRAINING FOR ALL OF THE NEW PETS THAT WE ACQUIRED DURING COVID BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAD.

SO THINKING ABOUT THAT NOW, WE'VE GOT A GENERATION OF PETS THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE PUPPY HOOD AND KITTEN HOOD THAT WOULD HAVE PREPARED THEM TO BE GOOD PETS AND CANINE CITIZENS OUT IN THE WORLD.

SO STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND WORKING ON THOSE SOCIALIZATION AND TRAINING, EVEN IN YOUR THREE OR FOUR GRORLD DOG IS IMPORTANT.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> THEY CAN LEARN IT.

NEUROPLASTICITY THE ABILITY TO LEARN THINGS WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG IT'S SO EASY TO TEACH DOGS TO BE SOCIAL WHEN THEY ARE LITTLE.

AND EASY TO TEACH CATS WHAT THE RIGHT THINGS ARE TO BITE AND SCRATCH IF YOU START AND ARE CONSISTENT WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG.

IT'S EASY TO TEACH THEM THE WRONG THINGS AND EASY FOR THEM TO BE SCARED.

BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THAT SOCIALIZATION DOESN'T MEAN IT ALWAYS GOES WELL FOR THEM.

AND ONCE THEY ARE PAST FOUR MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR OF AGE, THE LEARNING SLOWS DOWN.

BUT THEY CAN STILL LEARN.

AND IF WE'RE GENTLE AND CONSISTENT AND PROVIDE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THEY WILL LEARN TO BE SOCIAL.

THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE GIVE THEM AND CONTINUE TO LEARN.

>> THAT'S ENCOURAGING.

THAT IS GREAT.

AGAIN IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON THIS IS CONVERSATIONS LIVE ASK A VETERINARIAN RIGHT HERE ON WPSU YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

AND JOINING US IS Dr. ANDREA LOAR AT XP VETS DEB SMART CO-OWNER AT CENTRE ANIMAL HOSPITAL.

THE PHONE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242 AND WE'RE READY TO TAKE YOUR CALLS YOU CAN SEND US AN E-MAIL AT CONNECT CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

LISA HAS WRITTEN TO US AND WRITES YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH VETS IN THE AREA AS A PEDIATRICIAN, I MEET MANY KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A VET.

THIS IS GOOD.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND THE OLDER KIDS DO TO RAISE VETERINARY CAREERS AND DO YOU ALLOW TEENS TO VOLUNTEER OR WORK IN YOUR OFFICES?

>> I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL CAREER.

BUT IT IS ALSO VERY CHALLENGING AND MANY TIMES VERY SAD.

SO I RECOMMEND THAT KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED AS THEY GET INTO THEIR TEENAGER YEARS AND WORKING TOWARDS COLLEGE SPEND TIME IN A VETERINARY HOSPITAL.

GET A JOB CLEANING CAGES.

>> THAT IS PART OF THE WORK.

>> IT IS PART OF THE WORK.

I STILL CLEAN CAGES SO THAT YOU GET EXPOSURE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND START TO LEARN THINGS.

I STARTED AT 14 CLEANING CAGES.

AND WORKED UP FROM THERE.

>> AND VOLUNTEERING IN ANIMAL SHELTER TYPE OF FACILITY WHEREVER THAT MIGHT BE.

>> WHEN APPROPRIATE AT AN APPROPRIATE AGE, YES.

>> SO I THINK WE HAVE SIX OR SEVEN PENN STATE STUDENTS WHO WORK FOR US RIGHT NOW.

THREE OF THEM MAYBE FOUR.

THREE FOR SURE APPLIED TO VET SCHOOL THIS YEAR.

WE'RE GROWING NEW VETERINARIANS THEY ARE OUT THERE.

VETERINARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS ARE INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTSES INCREASES EVERY YEAR AND THE NUMBER OF SPACES HAS NOT INCREASED NEARLY AS MUCH.

WE SEE KIDS WHO HAVE GREAT RESUMES EVERY YEAR WHO DON'T GET INTO VET SCHOOL.

THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE THINGS AS AN UNDERGRAD.

THEY HAVE TAKEN FOUR YEARS OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION.

THEY HAVE A THOUSAND PLUS HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK AND CONTACT TIME.

THEY HAVE A GREAT PASSION FOR THIS WORK AND RIGHT NOW, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO VETERINARY SCHOOL.

>> THAT IS THE LARGER ISSUE IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> AND THERE ARE NEW VETERINARY SCHOOLS COMING ON-LINE.

THERE ARE A FEW EVERY YEAR AND THREE OR FOUR THAT ARE CLOSE TO COMING OUT.

I'M HOPING SOME OF THIS COMES INTO BALANCE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

I THINK PEOPLE, ALSO, CAN LOOK AT THE VETERINARY CAREER WITH ROSE COLORED GLASSES AND THINK IT'S ALL PUPPIES AND KITTENS AND LOTS OF FUN.

AND IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK.

IT'S SURGERY TIME.

IT'S STRESS.

IT'S ANXIETY IT'S DINNERS AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING TO PEOPLE AND PEOPLE ARE WORRIED.

SO AND NOW IT'S Dr. GOOGLE.

SO EVERYBODY LOOKS UP SOMETHING ON-LINE AND THINKS THEY HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OR THINK THEY HAVE AN ANSWER.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN WHY THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE CASE WHAT IS GOING ON ISN'T WHAT YOU READ ON-LINE IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CLIENTS THAT ALLOWS YOU TO EXPLAIN THAT AND IT CAN BE STRESSFUL.

AND ESPECIALLY AS A NEW GRADUATE IF YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE SEEING YOU HAVE NOT SEEN AS MANY THINGS TO COME AGAINST SOMEBODY THAT THINKS THEY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, IT CAN TAKE A BACKBONE AND BE DIFFICULT.

AND SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY PROFESSION.

>> WORKING WITH YOU AND THE TIMES WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION YOU CAN SEE THE DEDICATION AND THE PASSION AND THE LOVE FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> A CALL FROM MARJORIE FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

YOU ARE ON THE PHONE WITH OUR VETERINARIANS YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT?

MARJORIE?

>> MY QUESTION IS I HAVE A DOG THAT SUNDOWNS FROM MORNING TO NIGHT EVERYDAY.

I UNDERSTAND THEY DO THIS TOWARD EVENING BUT THIS DOG DOES IT EVERYDAY.

AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP HER?

>> SO I THINK AN EXAMINE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.

SOMETIMINGS OUR ANIMALS WILL HAVE COGNITIVE DIFFICULTY RELATED TO INFECTIONS OR METABOLIC DISEASE IT CAN BE RELATED TO LIVER, KIDNEY.

>> AND IT'S MANIFESTING.

>> WITH CONFUSION, CONFUSION, LACK OF AWARENESS WHERE THEY ARE.

>> TIME OF DAY.

NIGHT, DAY.

ALL OF THAT.

THAT HAPPENS IN HUMANS, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> AND I THINK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN IN THE BRAIN ARE REVERSIBLE IF WE GET ON TOP OF THE REASONS THEY ARE HAPPENING SOONER.

IF THERE ARE NOT OBVIOUS REASONS WITH BASELINE BLOOD WORK AND TESTING FOR MAYBE A URINE SAMPLE IF THERE AREN'T OBVIOUS REASONS THERE ARE MEDICATIONS THAT HELP.

WE HAVE LONG-TERM MEDICATION FOR ANIMALS WITH COGNITIVE PROBLEMS WE DON'T START WITH THE MEDICATIONS WE TREAT THE UNDERLYING ISSUES IF WE CAN.

>> DO YOU GET PATIENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FOR REASONS LIKE THIS?

>> OFTENTIMES WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS AN ACUTE CHANGE A PATIENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO SETTLE DOWN FOR SOME REASON.

AND IT CAN BE A VARIETY OF REASONS BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S PAIN.

IN OUR CLINIC A GOOD PHYSICAL EXAM FREQUENTLY GIVES US THE REASON FOR THE PATIENT NOT WANTING TO SETTLE DOWN AND MANY TIMES THERE IS A FAIRLY REASONABLE FIX FOR IT.

>> SO MARJORIE WE HOPE THAT HELPS YOU IN YOUR LOVED ONES NEXT STEPS.

WE'RE GETTING COLD WEATHER, OF COURSE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN STORE FOR US TONIGHT AFTER THIS SHOW AIRS.

GUIDELINE FOR CARE FOR PETS IN THE COLD.

DO WE NEED TO PUT COATS ON THE PETS?

YOU SEE THAT MORE HAPPENING, FOOTIES?

WHAT ARE THERE GENERAL GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS?

>> IF YOUR COLD, THEY'RE COLD.

NOT SPECIFICALLY ACTUALLY.

SO OUR DOGS THAT HAVE SHORTER HAIR COATS OR MORE SLEEK HAIR COATS I DO THINK THAT COATS ARE HELPFUL AND SWEATERS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A DOG WITH A NORMAL HAIR COAT WHO IS IN GOOD BODY CONDITION YOU ARE GOING OUT FOR A 30-MINUTE WALK FOR EXERCISE AND POTTY YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED COATS AND BOOTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BEING CAREFUL WITH THE SALT IF THERE'S SALT ON THE SIDEWALKS, MAYBE WIPING THE PAWS WHEN THEY COME IN TO AVOID BURNS FROM THE ROCK SALT.

>> I THINK MANY OF OUR DOGS WHO HAVE A LONGER COAT OR SLIGHTLY FULLER COAT, THAT HAIR WILL STAND UP AS LONG AS IT'S NOT TANGLED.

IT STANDS UP AND TRAPS A CIRCLE OF WARM AIR AROUND IT.

I WOULD TEND TO NOT PUT COATS ON MY FUZZY DOGS BECAUSE THEY KEEP THEMSELVES WARM WITH THEIR HAIR COATS.

AND I THINK YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE SALT LIKE Dr. LOAR SAID AND ALSO WITH MOISTURE ON THE GROUND.

IF IT IS SORT OF THE SLUSHY, WET TIME SOMETIMES GOING FOR A LONGER WALK, YOUR DOGS GET THEIR FEET WET IT CAN WEAR DOWN THEIR PAW PADS AND FEET CAN GET COLD.

TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR FEET.

DON'T TAKE THEM ON LONG WALKS IF IT'S SLUSHY OR COLD AND DON'T RUN THEM WHEN IT'S WET OUT IF THEY ARE NOT USED TO THAT ACTIVITY.

GRADUAL CHANGES YOU KNOW WITH ACTIVITY WATCH THEIR FEET AND I DON'T THINK THEY NEED A COAT UNLESS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY COAT OF THEIR OWN.

>> SUPER.

LET'S HEAD TO ANOTHER E-MAIL QUESTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN AND WRITING TO US HERE.

PAM WRITES MY STANDARD POODLE IS TWO YEARS OLD.

I'VE READ THEY HAVE BEEN PRONE TO PLOT.

I FEED TWICE A DAY AND I MINIMIZE WATER AND PLAY FOR A AN HOUR AFTER DINNER.

I WILL LEAVE THE QUESTION UP.

ARE WE FOLLOWING THE RIGHT PROTOCOL FOR PAM AND HER TWO-YEAR-OLD.

>> IN GENERAL, YES AND THOSE OF YOU THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE BLOAT IS WHEN THE STOMACH FILLS WITH GAS OR FLUID THAT TWISTS ON ITSELF.

MARLY AND ME THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MARLY.

THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING ALREADY ARE RECOMMENDED.

SO THOSE ARE GOOD STARTING POINTS.

THE OTHER THING TO KNOW IS THAT THERE IS SURGERY THAT CONDITION DONE PREVENTATIVELY ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, IF A PET SHOWS UP WITH THIS CONDITION WE SURGICALLY ROTATE THE STOMACH AND TACK IT TO THE SIDE OF THE BODY.

THAT PROCEDURE CAN BE DONE BY YOUR PRIMARY CARE VETERINARIAN WHEN IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.

CERTAINLY LESS EXPENSIVE, LESS DANGEROUS FOR YOUR PET THAN WAITING UNTIL THEY ARE IN THIS CONDITION AND A BETTER POSITION FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE ABLE TO PLAN FOR THIS SURGERY.

Dr. SMART?

>> SOMETHING WE DO ROUTINELY.

AND I AGREE STANDARD POODLES ARE A CULPRIT IT'S CORRELATED WITH BODY SIZE AND DEEP CHESTED DOGS BUT STANDARD POODLES HAVE THAT DEEP CHESTED CONFIRMATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE REASON.

ON THE SMALLER END OF OUR BIG DOGS THEY ARE A BREED THAT I SEE BLOAT GDV AND THE STOMACH DILATES AND TWISTS AND WE DO THAT SURGERY OFTEN LIKE WITH OUR SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERY.

>> ON AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IT IS A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION.

IF AT ANY POINT YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR DOG HAS BLOAT IT SHOULD BE EVALUATED IMMEDIATELY.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO WAIT UNTIL YOUR PRIMARY CARE VETERINARIAN OPENS OR THEY ARE ABLE TO GET YOU IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TAKE A CALL FROM DICK FROM JOHNSTOWN, DICK YOUR QUESTION FOR OUR VETERINARIANS THIS EVENING?

>> THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO ASK THE VETERINARIANS I AM A BIT LONELY I HAD TO PLACE MY WIFE IN AN EXTENDED CARE HOME.

WE'VE HAD CATS FOR MOST OF OUR MARRIED LIFE WHICH IS ABOUT 57 YEARS.

I'M A LITTLE LONELY AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH CATS BUT NOT WITH DOGS.

GENERALLY, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE AN EASIER ANIMAL TO TAKE CARE OF A CAT OR A SMALL DOG?

>> DICK, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

AND OUR PRAYERS AND CONCERNS FOR YOUR WIFE AND YOUR LOVED ONE.

THAT IS CAN BE AN ISSUE.

AND YOU WANT THAT COMPANIONSHIP.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SUGGESTIONS?

>> IN GENERAL, I FEEL LIKE AN ADULT CAT IS ABOUT THE EASIEST PET TO TAKE CARE OF.

>> AND MAYBE AT THIS AGE I WOULD BE WITH YOU, DICK, THE OLDER YOU GET THE MORE YOU MIGHT WANT TO LEAN TOWARDS THAT.

AN ADULT CAT WOULD BE MANY ADULT CATS WOULD BE HAPPY IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH A SINGLE PERSON WHO IS THERE WITH THEM A LOT OF THE TIME.

AND HAPPY TO HAVE A LAP BUDDY AND SOMEBODY TO SIT AND WATCH TV AND DO OTHER THINGS WITH.

I THINK A CAT WOULD BE THE BEST TYPE OF PET FOR YOU.

>> Dr. SMART, WE DID SAY THERE ARE SOME DOG BREEDS THAT COULD BE A LITTLE EASIER?

>> I THINK I WOULD AGREE BUT I LOVE CATS, TOO AND THEY LOVE TO BE INSIDE.

THEY LOVE A LAP.

THERE ARE SO MANY CATS THAT NEED GOOD HOMES.

THERE ARE DOGS OUT THERE, TOO, THAT NEED TO BE RESCUED BUT THERE ARE SO MANY CATS IN OUR SHELTERS.

IF YOU LOVE CATS THEN I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT REASONS TO HAVE A CAT.

>> OR TWO.

>> OR TWO.

>> I LOVE TWO CATS.

>> THE PAIR.

>> TWO CATS IS WONDERFUL.

>> IF YOU WANT TO GET OUT AND EXERCISE THAT IS A GREAT THING ABOUT HAVING A DOG.

SO IT CAN BE A BUDDY TO GO FOR A WALK WITH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK IF YOU ARE USED TO CATS, DOGS ARE MORE INTENSE IN THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION THEY NEED.

YOU CAN'T GO AWAY OVERNIGHT WITH A DOG.

YOU PROBABLY CAN LEAVE A CAT WITH WATER AND FOOD AND COME BACK THE NEXT DAY OR SOMEBODY VISIT ONCE A DAY AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR KITTY.

BUT OUR DOGS NEED MORE CONSTANT ATTENTION.

THE LEVEL OF CARE THEY REQUIRE IS GOING TO BE HIGHER.

>> GOOD POINTS.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE QUESTION IN.

WE CAN ALL AGREE CERTAIN MEASURE ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE OLDER AND NEED OF COMPANIONSHIP.

THAT IS GREAT.

WE HAVE 10 MINUTES LEFT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR CALLS IN.

CONTINUE TO CALL 1-800-543-8242.

AND TALK TO Dr. LOAR AND Dr. SMART WE'LL GET IN AS MANY AS WE CAN.

BETWEEN CALLS I DID WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT DO WE STILL NEED TO WORRY ABOUT FLEAS AND TICKS THAT THE WEATHER IS GETTING COLDER?

WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS FOR THE DIFFERENT PETS THAT YOU SEE.

>> FLEA AND TICK PREVENTION HERE IN 12 MONTHS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA OUR DOGS ARE PRONE TO ANAPLASMOSIS AND LYME DISEASE.

AS SOON AS THE WEATHER GETS ABOVE FREEZING IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, THE SNOW WILL MELT AROUND OUR BUSHES OUTSIDE AND THE TICKS ARE QUESTING FOR THEIR NEXT MEAL.

WE SEE LOTS OF TICKS IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL.

MAYBE FEWER IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S REALLY, REALLY HOT.

BUT I WOULDN'T RELY ON A FEW WARM DAYS TO KEEP THE TICK NUMBERS DOWN.

I HAVE MY DOGS ON TICK PREVENTION 12 MONTHS OF YEAR AND I RECOMMEND THAT TO MY CLIENTS.

>> HOW CAN IT GET SERIOUS TO WHERE THEY HAVE TO BRING THEIR PETS TO SEE YOU?

>> SURE.

SO LYME DISEASE IS ONE OF THE MORE COMMON ONES PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

IT CAN RESULT IN FEVER, AND JOINT ISSUES JOINT PAIN.

BUT IN THE LONGER RUN, WE CAN HAVE SOME DOGS THAT END UP WITH KIDNEY FAILURE AS A RESULT OF LYME DISEASE.

ANAPLASMOSIS, THE OTHER DISEASE THAT Dr. SMART MENTIONED CAN RESULT IN AUTOIMMUNE PROBLEMS THAT END UP WITH ANEMIA OR BLOOD PROBLEMS AND CAN BE VERY SERIOUS.

>> AND WE JUST SAW PICTURES THERE OF TICKS AND ESPECIALLY CHECK YOUR PETS RIGHT.

>> DON'T COUNT ON THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE NOT FOUND A TICK TO THEY ARE NOT IN DANGER.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TICKS THAT CAN TRANSMIT THIS ARE SO SMALL YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THEY HAVE BEEN ON YOUR DOG OR CAT.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO PET HAZARDS AND THAT IS CERTAIN COMMON TOXINS.

WE TOUCHED ON THE HOLIDAY TOXINS BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING WE HAVE A GRAPHIC HERE THAT THE TOP 10 TOXINS CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND GIVE US INSIGHT AS TO WHAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO GOING FORWARD IN OUR HOMES AND OUT IN OUR ENVIRONMENTS?

>> SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE HOLIDAY, THE FOODS.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS THERE ARE SOME PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS THAT ACTUALLY ARE ATTRACTIVE TO OUR PETS.

IEITHER THE TASTE OR THE SMELL AND MAKING SURE YOU HAVE MEDICATIONS UP AND OUT OF THE PET'S REACH.

ALSO IF YOU ARE ON TROPICAL MEDICATIONS MAKING SURE YOUR PETS DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN APPLIED THEY CAN BE EXPOSED THROUGH YOUR SKIN.

>> AND Dr. SMART WERE YOU CITING THAT.

THAT DOES HAPPEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YES.

>> THAT IS FRIGHTENING.

>> WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF DOGS EXPOSED TO MARIJUANA OR THC PRODUCTS.

TELL US IF YOU SHOW UP AT THE EMERGENCY CLINIC AND WE SAY THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN EXPOSED TO MARIJUANA OR THC IF YOU HAVE IT IN THE HOUSE THAT IS FINE TELL US THEY MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED BECAUSE THAT IS A MUCH EASIER THING TO TREAT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE THE SAME SIGNS.

>> A PHONE CALL.

DON FROM ST.MARY'S GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND TALKING WITH OUR VETS YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT?

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE CALL.

MY CAT WHO IS 16 POUNDS A NICE BIG BLACK AND HE IS NOT OVERWEIGHT HE IS A BIG CAT.

HE HAS AN ALLERGY WHICH HE IS TAKING ATOPIEA AND EYE DROPPER.

AND ALSO HE HAS DIABETES AND HE'S TAKING HERE WE GO.

TAKING NEXACAT.

EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

HOW DO I TAKE TO GIVE HIM THAT PILL IN THE MORNING A LOT EASIER AND HE IS GETTING SMART AND HE HIDES.

[LAUGHTER] >> THEY ARE SMART.

>> YES, THEY ARE.

>> THANK YOU DON FOR THAT CALL AND WE CAN LAUGH BUT THAT IS SERIOUS.

>> DIFFERENT TIMES NOW BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING, THAT CAT EVAPORATES.

YOU CANNOT FIND HIM ANY PLACE.

>> OH, BOY, TIPS?

>> AND I CATCH HIM AND GIVE HIM THE PILL IT'S HARD AND THEY SHOWED ME AT THE VETERINARIANS HOW TO GIVE THE PILL.

BUT MAYBE YOU HAVE GRAB AHOLD OF HIM I WRAP HIMTH A TOWEL AND I COME AROUND WITH MY LEFT HAND AND I OPEN UP HIS JAW BY PRESSING IT IN THE BACK.

LIFT HIS LIP WITH MY FINGER AND POP THE PILL WAY BACK IN.

IF I'M LUCKY AND HOLD HIS MOUTH SHUT AND RUB HIM AND IF I'M LUCKY IT GOES DOWN THE FIRST TIME.

>> WOW.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

I THINK YOU CAN THINK ABOUT WAYS TO DECREASE HIS STRESS AND ANXIETY THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PILLING.

EVERYBODY GETS AMPED UP WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET THIS DONE.

SO THERE ARE SOME FELINE PHEROMONES FEEL AWAY SPRAY THAT YOU MIGHT PUT ON THE TOWELS AND THAT MAY HELP TO DECREASE THIS ANXIETY A LITTLE BIT.

AND YOU CAN USE PILL POCKETS WHICH ARE COATINGS OVER THE PILL.

YOU CAN GET THOSE A LITTLE WET OR USE THE POCKETS GET LIKE A SALMON FLAVORED POCKET.

SOME CATS WILL EAT THE PILLS IF YOU COVER THEM WITH A POCKET AND GET THE POCKETS AND START FEEDING THE POCKETS AS A TREATED AND HIDE THE PILL IN IT.

IT MIGHT HELP YOU TO GET THE PILL DOWN.

THE WHAT ARE YOU USING FOR THE ALLERGIES THAT MEDICATION HAS A PRETTY NASTY TASTE TO IT.

AND SO A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE TROUBLE GETTING IT DOWN.

SOMETIMES WE GET IT COMPOUNDED AS A FLAVORED LIQUID AND THAT CAN HELP.

YOU CAN GET IT COMPOUNDED AS A FISH OR CHICKEN FLAVOR OR BACON FLAVOR AND THE CAT MAY LIKE THAT BETTER.

SO THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

I THINK USING THE NEWER ORAL MEDICATIONS TO TREAT DIABETES IN CATS ARE SOMETHING THAT HAVE COME OUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THEY ARE AMAZING.

WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO TREAT OUR DIABETIC CATS WHEN OUR CATS ARE DIAGNOSED EARLY ENOUGH TO TREAT DIABETES WITH THE ORAL MEDICATIONS, IT CAN DECREASE THEIR RISK FOR KETOACIDOSIS AND AS THEY ARE MANAGED IT DECREASES THE RISK FOR LOW BLOOD SUGAR IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO TREAT A CAT WITH AN ORAL MEDICATION ONCE A DAY RATHER THAN GIVING INSULIN INJECTIONS.

IT'S HARD TO MEASURE BLOOD SUGAR IN CATS AS REGULARLY AS PEOPLE DO IT.

WE RUN THE RISK OF LOW OR HIGH BLOOD SUGAR.

THE NEW ORAL MEDICATIONS FOR DIABETES IN CATS ARE GREAT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.

I MIGHT TRY PILL POCKETS AND SEE IF THAT MIGHT HELP.

>> WE HAVE THREE MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO HAVE A FINAL TAKEAWAY FROM EACH OF OUR DOCTORS ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND IN OUR LOVE AND PET CARE THAT IS OUT THERE.

Dr. LOAR WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR PROFESSION AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO LOVE OUR PETS EVEN MORE?

>> I'D LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE ALL LOVE ANIMALS AND WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE LOVE ANIMALS.

ESPECIALLY AT OUR CLINIC WE GIVE UP OUR NIGHTS AND HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS TO BE THERE FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS.

SO KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY.

ADDITIONALLY, WE TALKEDDER ABOUT THE BUDGET AND COST ISSUES IF YOU COME TO A ANY VETERINARIAN AND YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC BUDGET THAT WE NEED TO STAY WITHIN, IT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW THAT ON THE FRONT SIDE.

BECAUSE THEN WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT COMPROMISES WE MAYBE ABLE TO MAKE AND WHAT THE PROS AND CONS OF THOSE ARE WHILE TRYING TO REMAIN IN YOUR BUDGET.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO EMPTY YOUR WALLET, BUT DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR PET AND KNOWING AHEAD OF TIME CAN BE HELPFUL.

>> GOOD POINT.

A MINUTE LEFT Dr. SMART.

I WOULD LIKE YOU COULD RECAP THAT TAKEAWAY.

>> FIRST LIKE TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO PRACTICE IN A COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE WONDERFUL EMERGENCY SERVICES IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO US ON THE FRONTLINES.

CREATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH US.

COME ON IN.

BRING YOUR HEALTHY PET IN AND LET US GET TO YOU YOU AND YOUR PET.

LET US GET TO DO A GOOD EXAMINE AND LET US HELP YOU FIGURE OUT THE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR PET HEALTHY.

ALLOW US TO EDUCATE YOU ABOUT OPTIONS FOR GOOD DIET AND EXERCISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT FOR YOUR PET.

AND LIKE Dr. LOAR SAID WE'RE DOING IT BECAUSE WE LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

MY STAFF WE LOVE THE WORK WE DO.

WE ARE ALL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND THAT IS WHY WE DO IT.

>> THAT'S PROOF AND YOU CAN TELL THE PASSION AND WHY YOU ARE IN THAT BUSINESS.

BE KIND TO YOUR VETERINARIANS WHEREVER THEY ARE.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH Dr. ANDREA LOAR FROM CP VETS AND Dr. DEB SMART THEY ARE HERE AND THEY WILL BE BE IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND YOUR PETS IN THE FUTURE.

SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU AND ON BEHALF OF THE VETERINARY WORLD WE HOPE THAT WE TREAT OUR VETERINARIANS IN A NICE WAY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW AND EXPANDED FACILITIES, TOO.

VERY NICE.

I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON OUR NEXT EPISODE OF CONVERSATIONS LIVE AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US ON JANUARY 9TH WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT AVOIDING SCAMS.

AND THEY ARE PREVALENT IN OBVIOUSLY FORUMS.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT WPSU WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

[♪♪]