>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO CONVERSATIONS LIVE I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON.

WE ARE LIVE FROM WPSU PRODUCTION STUDIO TONIGHT.

AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES, ANIMALS CONTINUE TO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN OUR LIVES AND VETERINARIANS ALSO CONTINUE TO BE LARGELY IMPACTED BY THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC AS CASES UNFORTUNATELY CONTINUE TO SURGE IN SOME PLACES.

TONIGHT, WE ARE TALKING WITH TWO LOCAL VETERINARIANS WHO WILL GIVE US INSIGHT ON CARING FOR THOSE PRECIOUS PETS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK OUR GUESTS ABOUT THE QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

PERHAPS YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO TRAIN AT THAT DOG YOU'VE JUST ADOPTED.

OR YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS ON EXERCISE AND DIET.

WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU FIND THE ANSWERS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS.

DR. ANDREA LOO IS ANIMAL DIRECTOR.

GRADUATE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARIAN MEDICINE RAISES BEEF CATTLE WITH HER HUSBAND AND ENJOYS CARRYING FOR HER THREE HORSES, FIVE CATS AND TWO DOGS.

WELCOME DR. LOAR.

DEB SMART IS CO-OWNER OF CENTER ANIMAL HOSPITAL.

ORCHLLY FROM LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA GRADUATED FROM PRINCETON UNIVERSITY AND EARNED HER DOCTOR OF VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL COLORADO STATE.

A WHITE FLUFFY MIXED BREED DOG, TWO CATS AN THREE MORGAN HORSES.

DR. SMART HAS SPECIAL INTEREST IN DENTISTRY IN FELINE MEDICINE AND TREATS THOSE POCKET PETS, GUINEA PIGS AND GERBILS AND HAMSTERS AND RABBITS.

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

PLEASE CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PETS AT 1-800-543-8242.

YOU SEE IT AT THE BOTTOM OF SCREEN.

WE'LL KEECH SAYING THAT FOR OUR LISTENERS ON THE RADIO.

EMAIL US IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THAT WAY THE connect@wpsu.org.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT DOCTOR LOAR AND DR. SMART.

I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE OUR PETS PROBABLY MEAN MUCH TO US COMING THROUGH THERE PANDEMIC IN COVID THAN EVER BEFORE.

NOW ONE 1/2 YEARS LATER IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, THE PANDEMIC HAS LITERALLY CHANGED THE WAY WE LIVE, WE WORK AND WE CARE FOR OUR PETS.

THAT CERTAINLY RINGS TRUE FOR THOSE OF WHO ARE HELPING US CARE FOR THOSE PETS IN THE VETERINARY MEDICINE WORLD.

I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE FACING SUPPLY SHORTAGES AND BAND ANDS AND MEDICINES LIKE THE OTHER SUPPLY CHAINS OUTS OUT THERE.

THEY'RE A SHORTAGE THIS STAFF I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT.

ALSO, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE WAY YOU SEE YOUR PATIENTS AND THEIR OWNERS NOW.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO START TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION WITH A LOOK AT HOW YOUR PRACTICES HAVE CHANGED AND WHAT YOU SEE WILL HAPPEN GOING FORWARD.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

DR. LOAR, AGAIN HELPING HEAD THE EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE FACILITY, I UNDERSTAND HAVE SEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THT WAY YOU TREAT YOUR PATIENTS.

>> YES, WE HAVE.

COVID CERTAINLY HAD US RE-EVALUATE HOW WE WERE DOING THINGS AND BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.

WE MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR CASELOAD WITH OFTENTIMES FEWER STAFF MEMBERS ON DUTY AT A TIME.

IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR OUR STAFF WE MOVED TO ZERO CURBSIDE MODEL SO OUR PATIENTS ARE BROUGHT INSIDE BY OUR TECHNICAL STAFF AND EXAMINED AND THEN WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE OWNERS EITHER OUTSIDE OR BY TELEPHONE.

IT HAS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY THE NUMBER OF CASES WE CAN SEE IN A SHORT TIME PERIOD.

HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL A VERY LONG WAIT AT TIMES AND WE'VE EVEN HAD TO CLOSE TO INTAKE AT TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TOO MANY CRITICAL CASES IN THE HOSPITAL ALREADY.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

DR. SMART, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING WITH YOUR PRACTICE?

>> WE WERE CURBSIDE FOR ALMOST 15 MONTHS, MEANING THAT PEOPLE DID NOT COME IN UNLESS THERE WAS A EUTHANASIA.

THAT WAS THE ONLY SITUATION WE WOULD LET PEOPLE COME INTO THE HOSPITAL.

AT THE END OF JUNE WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO OPEN ENOUGH TO ALLOW ONE PERSON TO COME IN WITH A PET.

I LOVE HAVING THE CLIENTS BACK IN THE CLINIC.

IT'S EASIER TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR PATIENTS AND IT'S LOVELY TO SEE THAT PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS.

THEY'RE USUALLY VERY GOOD WITH OUR STAFF BUFF SOMETIMES THEY ARE BETTER WHEN THEIR OWNERS ARE THERE.

THAT'S NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE BACK IN.

I MISS HAVING FAMILIES IN.

I STILL REALLY MISS HAVING CHILDREN IN AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, COUPLES BRING THEIR PETS IN TOGETHER.

IT SOMETIMES SEEMS A LITTLE LONELY SEEING ONE PERSON COME IN WITH A PET.

I THINK FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO YOUR CLINIC, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

WE DID CLOSE BRIEFLY.

WE HAD A FLARE-UP OF SOME COVID CASES AMONG YOUR STAFF.

AS CAREFUL AS EVERYBODY HAS BEEN OVER THIS YEAR, WE HAD VACCINATED STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE SICK.

SO WE DID CLOSE TO BRING IN NEW PEOPLE IN FOR A FEW WEEKS.

YOU DO YOUR BEST.

AT THAT POINT WE DECIDED IT WAS SAFER FOR EVERYBODY IF CLIENTS WITH BACK IN THE CAR.

WE'RE OPEN TO HAVING CLIENTS BACK IN THE CLINIC RIGHT NOW.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME IN.

WE HAVE ELDERLY CLIENTS OR PEOPLE CARING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE IMMUNOSUPPRESSED OR IMMUNOSUPPRESSED THEMSELVES WHO DO NOT COME IN.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO SICK WHO THANK GOODNESS CHOOSE NOT TO COME IN.

WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR STAFF SAFE AND HEALTHY AS WE CAN.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE.

I APPRECIATE THE NOTES AND MESSAGES THAT PEOPLE WILL SEND US, THEY DETAIL THEIR PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS.

I DON'T HAVE TO GUESS.

OR PLAY TELEPHONE WITH A TECHNICIAN WHO TELLS ME ONE THING AND MAYBE MISS A MAJOR CONCERN.

THE WRITTEN NOTES HAVE HELPED US WHEN PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME IN WITH THEIR PETS.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

WE TALK ABOUT OUR HOME TOWN HEROES AND HERE HE IS ZERO ON THE FRONT LINES.

YOU TRULY HAVE BEEN THE HEROES ON THE FRONT LINES WITH THE PETS WE LOVE DEARLY.

CLAIRE HANG ON HERE.

I DO WANT TO ASK OUR DOCTORS, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE PET OWNERS AS WE GO THROUGH THESE CHANGES?

I GUESS PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE WE SHU CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH CARE FOR THOSE THAT WE LOVE.

>> PATIENCE, KINDNESS TO OUR VET VETERINARY STAFF.

IF YOUR PET DOES SOMETHING WEIRD, VIDEOTAPE T OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T DO WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CLINIC AND SOMETIMES HAVING A VIDEO GIVES US THE ABILITY TO GET A BETTER HANDLE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON AT HOME.

>> OUR TECHNOLOGY, WE CAN WORK WITH US AND GET MORE CLOSER TO OUR PETS IN FINDING OUT THEIR NEEDS.

THAT'S GREAT.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE OUR FIRST CALL ARE WE'RE HERE ON CONVERSATIONS LIVE ASK THE VET.

YOU WERE LIVE WITH OUR DOCTOR'S CALL CAN I ASK YOUR QUI?

>> YES, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE VETERINARIANS.

WE HAVE A GERMAN SHEPHERD AND SHE IS CONSTANTLY WHAT I CALL TWIRLING.

SOME PEOPLE CALL TAIL CHASING.

SHE HAS AN OPEN AREA ON THE END OF HER TAIL FROM DOING THAT, AND JUST FOR YOU KNOW, HER DIGNITY AND I KNOW IT'S PAINFUL FOR HER AND SHE KEEPS HITTING IT ON DIFFERENT APPLIANCES AND OUR KITCHEN.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THEY HAD ANYTHING AS FAR AS MEDICATION OR BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION THAT THEY WOULD SUGGEST, RECOMMEND?

>> OKAY.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT.

>> I CAN START, I THINK.

WE CALL THIS HAPPY TAILS SOMETIMES OR POTENTIALLY A VARIETY OF THAT.

DOGS HAVE REALLY LONG TAILS AND THEY LOVE TO WAG THEM WHEN THEY'RE HAPPY AND HAVING FUN AND THEY SMACK INTO THINGS AND THERE CAN BE A LOT OF FORCE AT THE ANSWERED END OF THAT RAPIDLY FLAILING TAIL.

WE CAN SEE INJURIES TO THE SKIN UNDER THE TAIL.

SOMETIMES THOSE ARE JUST INJURIES OF THE SKIN THAT CAN HEAL IF THE TAIL IS BANDAGED AND PROTECTED.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED MEDICATIONS LIKE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY OR EVEN ANTIBIOTICS TO TRY TO GET THAT WOUND TO HEAL.

SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE SOME NERVE DAMAGE THAT CAN LEAVE THE DOGS TO PERSISTENTLY CHEW OR SELF-TRAUMAIZE.

IN THAT CASE SOMETIMES DECREASE NERVE INFLAMMATION WOULD BE HELP.

YOUR VETERINARIAN WILL HAVE INFORMATION TO HELP.

AT TIMES WE HAVE DOG'S WHOSE TAILS OR SO HAPPY THEY DON'T HEAL.

THEY START TO HEAL AND DOG ALSO SMACK THEM ON SOMETHING OR CHEW THEM AGAIN.

WE MIGHT AMPUTATE EITHER A FEW VERTEBRAE TO SHORTEN THE TAIL A LITTLE BIT OR SOMETIMES EVEN A LITTLE MORE OF THAT TAIL SO THAT THERE ISN'T A LONG FLAILING TAIL FOR THE DOG TO SMACK ON THINGS.

SOMETIMES THESE HAPPY TAILS CAN REQUIRE A SURGICAL INTERVENTION IF THEY GET INFECTED OR PAINFUL.

MY BASIC ADVICE WOULD BE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DEAL WITH THIS.

TALKING WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN AND HAVING THEM EXAMINE YOUR SPECIFIC DOG'S TAIL TO GIVE YOU SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE WHERE I WOULD PROBABLY START.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, CLAIRE, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN TONIGHT.

AGAIN, WE'RE TAKING CALLS HERE ON CONVERSATIONS FROM PENN STATE.

WE WEL COME YOUR CALL NEXT.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU AS VETERINARIANS TO OUTLINE TO YOUR PATIENTS, OWNERS BOTH IN THE CARE THAT DR. SMART'S OFFICE DOES AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY WORK THAT DR. LOAR DOES.

I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF OPTIONS NOW COME WITH BALANCING THAT CARE AND LONGEVITY ISSUES WITH THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT HEIGHT INS OF COURSE PEOPLE'S ANXIETIES AND NERVES AND AGAIN IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC AND TIMES WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS KIND OF THAT HEIGHTENED AWARENESS.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH KIND OF SOME BEST DECISION MATRIXES YOU HAVE COME UP OR YOU GUIDE YOUR PATIENTS OR IDEAS THAT MAYBE THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF SEEKING HELP WITH?

MAYBE AS PROACTIVE MEASURES AHEAD OF EMERGENCY CARE AND CRITICAL CARE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PLANNING AHEAD IS KEY.

EMERGENCIES ARE EMERGENCIES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PLANNED.

HAVING BOTH THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY CLINIC IS BUT ALSO WHAT FINANCIAL OPTIONS YOU HAVE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND PET INSURANCE.

WHEN YOU BRING THAT NEW PUPPY OR KITTEN HOME, YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SIX YEARS DOWN THE LINE WHEN YOUR PET HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

PET INSURANCE WHEN BOUGHT AS A YOUNG ANIMAL CAN PROVIDE AN ABILITY TO PAY FOR A LARGE EMERGENCIES OR LARGE PROCEDURES WHEN THEY ARISE WITHOUT THAT WORRY ABOUT THE COST.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE INTO PET INSURANCE AND TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT FROM A PROACTIVE MEASURE FROM DR. SMART'S OFFICE, TOO.

FIRST, WE HAVE TWO CALLERS ON THE LINE.

MARISA FROM DuBOIS.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> HELLO.

AND I WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN KEEPING OUR PETS HEALTHY AND SAFE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

MY QUESTION IS FOR ALLERGIES THAT WE ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT ARE NOT FOOD ALLERGIES, ARE THERE ANY HOLISTIC OR MORE NATURAL REMEDY TO SAY HELP WITH THE SKIN IRRITATION OTHER THAN USING A STEROID?

STEROIDS ARE KIND OF SCARY TO ME TO GIVE TO MY PETS BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG AND IT'S JUST STEROIDS ARE SCARY.

I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO USE FOR SKIN IRRITATIONS THAT ARE ALLERGY RELATED?

>> ALL RIGHT.

DR. SMART?

>> YEAH, I LOVE SKIN PROBLEMS.

WE DO A LOT OF SKIN PROBLEMS IN DAY PRACTICE.

THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO WHEN WE ADDRESS A SWIN PROBLEM IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET WHATEVER SECONDARY INFECTIONS ARE PRESENT IN THE SKIN UNDER CONTROL.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN AN AN MA'AM COMES IN THE UNDERLYING CAUSE MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE AN ALLERGY BUT YOU'RE PRESENTED WITH A BACTERIAL INFECTION OR FUNGAL INFECTION OF THE SKIN OR OFTEN THOSE THINGS MIXED TOGETHER.

THE FEET CAN BE INFECTED, THE EARS CAN BE INFECTED, THE ARMPITUITARIES OR INSIDE THE BACK LEGS.

YOU WANT TO IDENTIFIED THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE'S INFECTION AND YOU WANT TO TRY TO TREAT THAT INFECTION TO START.

THEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE INFECTION UNDER CONTROL YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF INFLAMMATION.

IS IT A FOOD ALLERGY?

IS IT A CONTACT ALLERGY?

OR INHALED ALLERGY?

WE SEE A LOT INHALE ANLT AND LOT OF CONTACT ALLERGIES IN DOGS AND CATS.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CATS, THE OPTION, ARE SOMETIMES A LITTLE MORE LIMITED.

CATS ARE SUPER TOLERANT OF STEROIDS.

WE DO USE A LOT OF STEROIDS IN CATS FOR ALLERGIES.

DOGS TEND TO HAVE A SIDE EFFECTS WITH STAIR ROITDZ.

OVERDRINK, GET POT BELLY, LOSE MUSCLE TONE, GAIN WEIGHT.

LONG-TERM WE TRY TO AVOID THE USE OF STEROIDS.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL NEWER MEDICATIONS TO TO HELP AVOID USE THE STEROIDS.

ANT HIS AT THAT MINIMUMS HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE AND PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT MONOCLONAL ANTIBIOTICS FOR PEOPLE WHO GET COVID VIRAL INFECTIONS.

WE HAVE MONOCLONAL ANTIBIOTIC SPECIFIC FOR DOGS FOR ALLERGIC SKIN DISEASE AND IT IS AN AMAZING MEDICATION WITH ALMOST NO SIDE EFFECTS AND IT CAN BE GIVEN BY INJECTION.

USUALLY, EVERY MONTH TO START BUT THEN OFTEN EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS AND IT CAN DECREASE ALLERGIES THAT ARE INHALED ON CONTACT.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEDICATIONS OUT THERE.

SIMILARLY THERE'S AN O ARE,AL MEDICATION AT THAT WORKS SPECIFICALLY TO INHIBIT ITCH RECEPTORS IN THE SKIN.

THAT MEDICATION IS -- THAT MEDICATION IS GIVEN TWICE A DAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND ONCE A DAY ON AN ONGOING BASIS FOR ALLERGIES.

AGAIN, DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY OF THE SIDE EFFECTS WE SEE WITH STEROIDS.

IT'S TARGETED FOR ALLERGIES IN DOGS.

WE HAVE GREAT SUCCESS WITH THESE MEDICATIONS.

IT'S NOT A HOLISTIC TREATMENT.

TARGETED MEDICATION IS SORT OF EXACTLY THE RIGHT TOOL FOR MOST INHALANT AND CONTACT ALLERGIES.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A HOLISTIC TREATMENT, MEDICATED SHAMPOOS AND SOME SPRAYS, TOP SCAL TREATMENTS ARE ALSO ONE THE CORNERSTONES OF DEALING WITH ALLERGIES AND SKIN INFECTIONS.

ONCE YOU SORT OF GET THAT BACTERIAL OR FUNGAL INFECTION OF THE SKIN UNDER CONTROL, YOU CAN OFTEN DO BATHING ON A REGULAR BASIS.

YOU CAN DO SOME SPRAYS AND A LOT OF TIMES JUST THAT PROTECTION OF THE SKIN BARRIER CAN REALLY HELP YOUR DOG TO FEEL BETTER.

I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A DOG.

>> DR. SMART, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT ADVICE FOR MARISA THERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CALLERS ON THE LINE.

IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US THIS IS CONVERSATIONS LIVE, ASK A VETERINARIAN OR IN THIS CASE TWO JOINING TONIGHT OR DR. ANDREA LOAR AND DR. DEB SMART CENTER ANIMAL HOSPITAL.

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-800-543842 -- IF YOU CALL WE'LL GET YOU IN THE CUE AND TRY TO GET TO AS MANY CALLERS AS WE CAN.

SEND BY EMAIL AT connect@wpsu.org ONLINE.

ON AIR OR ON THE RADIO.

RIGHT NOW LET'S GO TO CHERYL FROM DuBOIS.

WE'RE GOING TO GO IN ORDER HOW THEY WERE RECEIVED.

GOOD EVENING.

YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT.

>> WELL, MY QUESTION IS, I HAVE A CAT ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD AND SINCE I'VE GOTTEN HIM, HE ALWAYS WANTS TO ATTACK MY ARM.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE HE JUST PECKS AT THEM, I MEAN, HE ATTACKS THEM.

HE WILL SIT WILL AND GET THIS GLARY GLASSY LOOK IN HIS EYES AND HE WILL ATTACK THEM.

I TRIED PUTTING DIFFERENT THINGS ON MY ARMS BUT IT DOESN'T STOP HIM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANOTHER BEHAVIORAL ISSUE.

DR. SMART?

>> SHOULD I TAKE THAT ONE ANDREA?

>> YOU KNOW, I HANDLE THIS ON OCCASION.

DR. SMART MAY HAVE MORE IDEAS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO IS IF YOU HAVE SOME CUES THAT IT'S COMING, DEFLECT BEING THE BEHAVIOR.

AS SOON AS HE GETS THAT WEIRD LOOK IN HIS EYE, GETTING A TREAT OUT OR A TOY THAT HE LIKES, SOMETHING THAT GETS HIS ATTENTION AWAY FROM YOU SO THAT YOU'RE STOPPING THE BEHAVIOR BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS.

DR. SMART?

>> YEAH, THAT ACTUALLY WOULD BE A LOT OF WHAT I WOULD THINK ABOUT WITH THIS.

I WOULD THINK ABOUT LOOKING AT THE SITUATION WHERE IT HAPPENS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE OTHER CUES THERE'S A WAY OF CATS REACT WILLING YOU KAW TRANSFERRED REGRESSION.

SOMETIMES THERE WILL BE SOMETHING HAPPENING OUTSIDE A WINDOW OR OUT OF THE HOUSE THERE'S ANOTHER CAT THAT'S TOO CLOSE OR PERSON TOO CLOSE OR SMELL OR A CAT THEY'RE SEEING THROUGH THE WINDOW, CATS CAN REACT IN AGGRESSIVE AND SUDDEN WAYS.

I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR OTHER CUES.

IF THIS CAT WERE MY PATIENT, WE MIGHT BE TRYING SOME MEDICATIONS FOR ANXIETY.

BUT THOSE KIND OF THINGS AREN'T GOING TO WORK IN A VACUUM.

I'M NOT GOING TO FIX YOUR CAT WITH A PILL.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, CHANGE THE SITUATION.

IF YOUR CAT IS SITTING NEXT TO YOU ON A COUCH AND YOU'RE RUBBING HIS TUMMY AND HE BITES YOUR ARM, DON'T DO THAT.

DON'T RUB HIS TUMMY.

COVER HIM WITH A BLANKET, TALK TO HIM BUT DON'T PET HIM THERE.

IF YOU'RE SCRATCHING HIM ON HIS BACK OR ABOVE HIS TAIL, THOSE ARE COMMON PLACE, WHERE CATS CAN BECOME A LITTLE MORE AROUSED OR AGITATED.

THEY MIGHT BE MORE LIKELY TO JUMP ON YOUR HAND OR ARM.

IF YOU SEE THAT KIND OF WILD LOOK IN THEIR EYE, GET UP AND LEAVE OR USE A LASER POINTER TO ENCOURAGE THE CAT TO CHASE THAT OR A TOY THAT'S MORE THAN 12 OR 18 INCHES FROM YOUR HAND TO PLAY WITH THAT CAT.

YOUNG, ACTIVE INDOOR CATS HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY.

SO CREATING VERTICAL SPACES AND PLACES FOR THOSE CATS TO PLAY AND PROACTIVELY PLAYING WITH THEM SO YOU DON'T WAIT FOR HIM TO SORT OF HAVE ALL THIS BOTTLED ENERGY BUT SET UP PLAY TIMES FOR HIM.

THOSE THINGS CAN REALLY HELP A LOT.

THERE'S A WONDERFUL RESOURCE CALLED THE INDOOR PET PROJECT THROUGH THE VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

THAT IP DOOR PET PROJECT HAS A WHOLE SECTION ON ENRICHMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDOOR CATS.

I THINK THAT THAT CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL.

SORT OF LIKE PINTEREST FOR CATS.

YOU LOOK AT THIS -- AT THE PICTURES AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT FITS MY CAT AND HOW I MIGHT ENRICH THE ENVIRONMENT FOR MY CAT.

SOMETIMES MEDICATIONS CAN HELP.

BUT ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT AND AVOIDING PROVOKING THOSE BEHAVIORS.

THE MORE THE BEHAVIORS ARE PROVOKED, THE MORE THEY'RE LEARNED AND BECOME A PATTERN.

CHANGE THE PROVOKING SET UP AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE CAT HAS MORE STIMULATION GO FROM THERE.

>> ONE MORE THING.

YOU MAY WANT ZERO GET YOUR CAT A KITTEN.

SOMETIMES HAVING ANOTHER CAT TO PLAY WITH ACTUALLY DOES HELP THEM REGULATE THOSE BEHAVIORS AND REALIZE THAT, OFFICE CONSULTATION, IT HURTS WHEN I BITE.

WE CAN'T SEND THOSE SIGNALS NEARLY AS EFFECTIVELY AS ANOTHER CAT CAN.

>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> GOOD IDEAS.

INDOOR PET PROJECT IS THAT WEBSITE DR. SMART MENTIONED.

LET'S MOVE ON.

WE'RE GETTING LOTS OF CALLS.

JOAN FROM STATE COLLEGE, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT, JOAN?

>> HI.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO DISCUSS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ON MY MIND AND I HAVEN'T DISCUSSED WITH MY OWN VET YET.

MY DOG IS A RESCUE AND 14 1/2 YEARS IS HOW OLD SHE IS AND SHE HAS TO PEE MORE FREQUENTLY THAN SHE USED TO AND I'VE TRIED PUTTING, YOU KNOW, PEE PADS AND SOMETIMES SHE GOES ON THE PEE PAD BUT THAT'S RARE.

USUALLY SHE CHOOSES SOME PLACE ON THE RUG AND I CAN'T SEEM TO BREAK HER OF THIS HABIT, AND SHE WAS RAISED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.

SHE'S A RESCUE, SO I DO NOT KNOW HOW SHE WAS EVER TRAINED, IF SHE EVEN WAS, TO LET HER OWNER PREVIOUS OWNER KNOW THAT SHE HAD TO GO OUT.

SHE DOESN'T LET ME KNOW IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND.

>> SURE.

>> AND I'M WONDERING IF I NEED SOME KIND OF BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION OR WHETHER THERE'S SOME MEDICATION.

I KNOW A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE DO TAKE MEDICATION SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET UP FREQUENTLY AT NIGHT, FOR INSTANCE, TO HAVE TO PEE.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT DIRECTION TO TAKE IN TRYING TO STOP THIS BEHAVIOR BUT WHAT I'M DOING ISN'T STOPPING IT.

THAT'S WHY SPRAY ONE PLACE WITH VINEGAR OR PUT A THROW RUG OVER IT.

SHE JUST FIND ANOTHER PLACE IN ANOTHER ROOM.

>> RIGHT.

>> I'VE TRIED SWATTED HER WITH A NEUP NEWSPAPER WHEN SHE DOES THAT.

IF SHE'S CORNERED SHE'S GOING TO GROWL AND SHOW HER TEETH OR TRY TRY TO NIP.

THAT SEEMS TO MAKE THE SITUATION EVEN WORSE.

>> ALL RIGHT'S LET LET OUR DOCTORS RESPOND TO AN OLDER DOG.

THANK YOU, JOAN FROM STATE COLLEGE.

YOUR ANSWERS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S STILL ON THE LINE ONE THE QUESTIONS WOULD BE, WAS THIS DOG HOUSE TRAINED WHEN SHE GOT IT?

AND THIS IS A NEW BEHAVIOR?

OR HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON THE ENTIRE TIME SHE'S HAD THE DOG.

>> IT'S GETTING A LOT WORSE.

SHE OCCASIONALLY WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT HER.

NOW, IT'S MUCH WORSE.

SHE HAD A MALIGNANT TOWM R REMOVED FROM HER FOOT.

SINCE THAT HAS HAPPENED, THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BECOME MARKETEDLY WORSE, ALTHOUGH SHE'S BACK TO HER OLD LIVELINESS AND OLD PERSONALITY SINCE THE TUMOR WAS REMOVED.

THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BECOME MORE PROMINENT EVER SINCE THEN.

THAT WAS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

>> OKAY.

>> >> SO THERE ARE A LOT OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT OCCUR IN OLDER DOGS THAT CAN LEAD TO EITHER MORE FREQUENT URINATION, INABILITY TO HOLD THE URINE.

THE FIRST THING THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE WARRANTED WOULD BE A WORKUP BY HER VETERINARIAN.

BLOOD WORK, URINALYSIS TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S MEDICAL REASON THIS IS HAPPENING.

MAYBE DR. SMART CAN TALK MORE TO THE BEHAVIORAL SIDE OF THINGS.

IN A 14-YEAR-OLD DOG I WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT A MEDICAL PROBLEM CAUSING THIS.

>> DEB?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH DR. LOAR.

I WOULD THINK THAT IF SHE WAS MORE HOUSE BROKEN FOUR YEARS AGO, EVEN IF SHE WASN'T PERFECT, I WOULD THINK THAT THERE'S SOME UNDERLYING MEDICAL REASON AT 14 1/2 WHY SHE'S HAVING TROUBLE HOLDING HER URINE.

IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A BACTERIAL INFECTION OR COULD BE SOME UNDERLYING DISEASES THAT CAUSE HER TO DRINK MORE AND URINATE MORE.

I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMEND SWATTING HER OR CORRECTING HER IF SHE'S HAVING AN ACCIDENT IF SHE PHYSICALLY CAN'T HOLD IT BECAUSE THAT'S JUST CAUSES HER TO BE MORE FEARFUL AND LESS LIKELY TO ASK YOU TO GO OUT.

SO IF SHE IS AFRAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HER URINATE, THEN HAD YOU TAKE HER OUTSIDE SHE MAY BE RELUCTANT TO URINATE AND THE HOUSE BREAKING ISSUES MAY BECOME WORSE.

SO I WOULD PRAISE HER WHEN SHE PEES OUTSIDE, MAYBE EVEN GIVE HER A COOKIE OR TREAT IF THERE'S SOME HIGH VALUE ITEM SHE LIKES.

I WOULD DEFINITELY BE ASSUMING UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE THAT THIS IS A MEDICAL PROBLEM FOR HER.

THERE ARE SO MANY MEDICAL THINGS WE SEE IN OLDER DOGS THAT KA CAUSE THIS.

MANY ARE MUCH MORE EASILY TREATED THAN PEOPLE THINK SO I WOULD DEFINITELY BE APPROACHING IT FROM A MEDICAL POINT TO START.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO LINDA FROM DuBOIS.

YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT?

LYNN DARKS ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR US.

YOU HAVE TO TURN DOWN THE VOLUME ON YOUR TV.

I THINK WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH THE FEEDBACK ON THAT CALL.

LYNN DARKS WE'LL TRY TO GET -- ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME NOW?

ARE YOU ABLE TO ASK YOUR QUESTION?

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON BECAUSE WE HAVE SRG IN THE QUEUE HERE.

HOW ABOUT PAUL FROM STATE COLLEGE.

PAUL, YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT FOR OUR VETERINARIANS?

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL.

I HAVE A 14-YEAR-OLD RUSSIAN BLUE CAT WHO WAS GIFTED TO ME FROM A CO-WORKER.

I GOT HIM WHEN HE WAS PROBABLY EIGHT YEARS OLD.

ONE THING THAT HE LIKES TO DO IS IN THE MORNINGS WHEN HE WANTS FOOD OR IF HE IS LOOKING FOR ATTENTION, HE LIKES THE WALLS IN OUR HOUSE.

HE LIKES PAINTED WALLS, HE LICKS THE BRICK FIREPLACE, HE LIKES WALLPAPER.

IT'S INCESSANT UNTIL HE IS PETTED, PAID ATTENDS TO OR FED.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A CAT DO THIS BEFORE.

I'M CONNED DID HE GOER IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

>> WHO WOULD LIKE TO TACK M AT THAT THAT ONE.

>> THANKS PAUL.

WE SOMETIMES SEE BEHAVIORS LIKE THIS THAT JUST SEEM LIKE THEY'RE HARD WIRED IN SOME CATS.

THEY CAN PICA WHERE THEY EAT THINGS UNUSUAL, LICKING BEHAVIORS THAT ARE UNUSUAL.

THEY CAN BE RELATED TO STRESS OR ANXIETY.

IF HE'S AING SUT AND -- AING SUES AND WORKED -- THIS MAYBE THE WAY IT MANIFESTS.

SOMETIMES THEY LIKE THEMSELVES, SOMETIMES THEY LIQUOR BITE A FAMILY MEMBERS.

SOMETIMES THEY WILL DO SOMETHING LIKE LIKE THE WALL.

SOMETIMES CREATING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THINGS ARE VERY STRUCTURED CAN BE HELPFUL SO SOMETHING LIKE AN AUTOMATIC FEEDER THAT GOES OFF AT A TIME HE CAN PREDICT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR HIM.

HE WOULD KNOW FOOD IS GOING TO COME OUT AT THIS TIME AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOU OR DO THESE WEIRD BEHAVIORS.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN REDIRECT THEM WITH SOME PLAY.

YOU COULD ALSO LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT LIKE I TALKED ABOUT WITH AN EARLIER CALLER.

WHEN WE HAVE INDOOR CATS, WE KEEP THEM SO MUCH SAFER.

OUR INDOOR ONLY CATS LIVE YEARS AND YEARS LONGER THAN CATS THAT GO OUTSIDE.

BUT CATS NATURALLY ROOM PRETTY ROAM LONG DISTANCES.

WE HAVE INSIDE IN SPACES.

THEY CAN DEVELOP ANXIETY AND ANXIETY-RELATED ISSUES.

I WOULD TRY SOME ADDITIONAL BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

HIGH SPACES FOR HIM, DO PROACTIVE PLAY.

SOMETIMES ANXIETY MEDICATIONS MIGHT BE WARRANTED.

IF THIS IS A NEW BEHAVIOR FOR HIM AT 14 YEARS AFTER AGE, I WOULD BE LOOKING A LITTLE BIT AT THINGS LIKE KIDNEY FUNCTION AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT IS WEIGHT IS STEADY TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE A NEW UNDERLYING DISEASE THAT'S EITHER METABOLIC OR GASTROINTESTINAL THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING HIM TO HAVE THIS BEHAVIOR.

IF IS A LONG-STANDING BEHAVIOR I WOULD DO GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT.

>> WE ARE GETTING MORE CALLERS CALLING IN.

IF TOUR' JUST JOINING US THIS IS CONVERSATIONS LIVE, ASK A VETERINARIAN.

ON WPSU.

JOINING US TONIGHT OR GUESTS DR. AN DRY WRA LOAR MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF CP VETS IN STATE COLLEGE AND DR. DEB SMART CO-OWNER OF CENTER ANIMAL HOSPITAL ALSO THIS STATE COLLEGE.

TOLL FRE NUMBER.

1-800-543-8242.

WE'RE READY TO TAKE YOUR CALLS.

WE'RE GET PG SOME BACKED UP HIRE AND WE CAN TAKE YOUR EMAILS AT connect@wpsu.org.

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A LITTLE LESS THAN A HALF OUR LEFT.

LET'S GET BACK TO THE CALLERS.

WE HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS WANTING LOTS OF ANSWERS FOR OUR BELOVED PETS.

MARGARET FROM WEAREN GOOD EVENING.

YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT FOR OUR VETERINARIAN.

>> CAROLYN, I'LL TURN DOWN THE VOLUME ON MY TV HERE.

AND BE ABLE ABLE TO ASK MY QUESTION, I HOPE.

>> YES.

>> I'M CALLING ABOUT MY 12-YEAR-OLD POODLE, AND SHE HAS HAD TWO TOOTH CLEANINGS IN HER LIFE.

SHE HAS POODLE TEETH.

THEY'RE NOT GREAT.

I'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I'VE FED HER, AND I'VE TAKEN ALL THE ADVICE OF THE BREEDER.

SHE GETS EVERY DAY A DROP IN HER WATER, WHICH IS AN ANTIBACTERIAL-TYPE DROP THAT IS CALLED A WATER ADDITIVE BY OXI-FRESH.

IT CERTAINLY KEEPS HER BREATH NICE AND DOES SOME GOOD FOR HER TEETH.

I DO CLEAN HER TEETH AND USE DOG TOOTHPASTE PERIODICALLY BUT SHE HAS LOST A COUPLE OF TEETH AT THIS POINT AND SHE HAS SOME THAT ARE LOOKING VERY BAD.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S TOO OLD TO UNDERGO THE FULL ANESTHESIA FOR ANOTHER TOOTH CLEANING AND I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF HER KIND OF WEAK TEETH OR A FEW OF THEM THAT ARE WIGGLY SHOULD WE SAY BUT THEY'RE STILL THERE AND SHE EATS KIBL EVERY DAY FOR HER MEALS AND IS A HAPPY CAMPER, NO OTHER PROBLEMS BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER I COULD GET THESE TEETH CLEAN CLEANER AND IF THAT WOULD BENEFICIAL AND THEIR ENDURANCE AND HAVING THEM LAST LONGER OR WHAT?

GIVE ME SOME ADVICE BY MY LITTLE POODLE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING IN.

I KNOW DR. SMART YOU HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS AREA OF VETERINARY CARE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I REALLY ENJOY VETERINARY DENTISTRY A LOT.

I THINK IT WAS REAL IMPORTANT WHEN OUR PETS GET OLDER THEIR TEETH ARE ARE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF.

APPLAUD WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

FIND WATER ADDITIVES ESPECIALLY IF PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE BRUSHING THEY CAN BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL.

I THINK GETTING THEIR TEETH CLEANED IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IN MY OPINION, IT'S NOT REAL IMPORTANT HOW MANY TEETH THEY HAVE BUT IT'S IMPORTANT HOW HEALTHY THOSE TEETH ARE.

THOSE TEETH CAN BE A SOURCE OF BACTERIAL INFECTION IN THEIR BLOODSTREAM.

THAT CAN I AFFECT ESPECIALLY IN POODLES THE HEART VALVES AND IT CAN ALSO AFFECT KIDNEYS AND LIVER AS OUR PATIENTS GET OLDER.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE GET AT THAT BACTERIAL INFECTION CLEANED OUT OF HER MOUTH.

IF BLOOD WORK LOOKS GOOND SHE SOUNDS GOOD WHEN YOU LISTEN TO HER NOW AND YOUR VETERINARIAN IS COMFORTABLE WITH ANESTHESIA FOR YOUR DOG, I WOULD DEFINITELY GET THOSE TEETH CLEANED.

I WOULD GET THEM CLEANED UNDER ANESTHESIA AND I GET ANY TEETH THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND ARE LOOSE OR WIGGLY, I WOULD GET THOSE REMOVED.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE A SOURCE OF BACTERIAL INFECTION.

THEY GET IT UP BETWEEN THE TEETH AND GUMS.

PEOPLE WITH SEVERE BEGINNING GINGIVITIS ROOT PLATING, TEETH CLEANED THAT STUFF IS NOT REALISTIC FOR OUR OLDER DOGS.

WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THEM UNDER ANESTHESIA TWO O THREER TIMES A YEAR TO CLEAN THEIR TEETH.

ANY TEETH THAT MIGHT BE A SOURCE OF INFECTION OR PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD SHOULD BE PULLED.

I WOULDN'T BE TRYING TO KEEP THEM.

THEIR TEETH ARE DESIGNED FOR GRABBING AND HOLING THINGS THAT ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM THEM.

THEY'RE POINTY AND SHARP.

MOSTLY WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEIR FOOD COMES IN A BOWL THEY HAVE TO CHEW IT AND OFTEN THEY SWALLOW IT WHOLE.

WHAT WE FIND TIME AND TIME AGAIN PEOPLE BRING IN DOGS WITH PAINFUL MOUTHS AND WHEN WE PULL THOSE TEETH THAT ARE LOOSE AND WIGGLY AND HURT EVERY TIME THEY TOUCH OR EVEN EVERY TIME THEY CLOSE THEIR MOUTH, WHEN HE GET THOSE PAINFUL TEETH OUT OF THEIR MOUTH, THE DOGS WILL ACT YEARS YOUNG ARE.

PEOPLE WILL COMMENT HOW COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY THEY ARE.

I WOULD TAKE HER IN, HAVE THE VET LOOK AT HER AND HAVE THEM COME UP WITH A PLAN.

MAKE SURE WILL HE A COMFORTABLE WITH THE ANESTHESIA.

WHEN WE DO THESE PROCEDURES, WE HAVE VETERINARIAN ANESTHESIOLOGIST, A TECHNICIAN WHO MONITORS THE PROCEDURE FROM BEGINNING TO END, THEY ARE DEDICATE TODAY THAT PATIENT THE THE VETERINARIAN IS MONITORING THE PROCEDURE.

I MAY BE DOING DENTAL SURGERY BUT THAT TECHNICIAN IS WATCHING EVERY BREATH THAT DOG TAKES AND HEART BEAT.

BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS AND PULSE OXIMETRY AND CO2 MEASUREMENTS EVERY FEW MINUTES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ANESTHESIA.

IF ANYTHING STARTS TO GO WRONG, WE ARE ADJUSTING DRUGS AND FLUIDS AND WAKING THEM UP IF WE HAVE TO WE DO A THE WILL ZERO OF ANESTHESIA ON OLDER PATIENTS.

WE'RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT IT.

I KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER VETERINARIANS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO PRACTICE VETERINARIAN MEDICINE AT THIS STAND AND.

THEY ARE ATTENTIVE WITH ANESTHESIA WITH OLDER PETS.

WANTING TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PAIN AND INFLAMMATION TO PETS CAN LIVE LONGER WITH UT PROBLEM.

>> ON THAT CRITICAL SIDE OF CARE, DOES -- YOU DON'T WANT TO TO LEAD WHERE THEY HAVE TO COME TO YOU WITH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION I WOULD UNDERSTAND.

>> CORRECT.

WE DO SOMETIMES SEE TOOTH PROBLEMS ON EMERGENCY EITHER ABSCESSES OR TEETH THAT GOT SO LOOSE THAT THEY BECAME DISPLACED AND WE HAVE TO HANDLE IT ON EMERGENCY.

I WILL ALSO PUT IN A PLUG FOR IF YOUR VETERINARIAN FEELS THAT YOU ARE PET IS HEALTHY ENOUGH FOR ANESTHESIA, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE.

OFTEN TIME WE ON THE EMERGENCY SIDE OF THINGS ARE DOING ANESTHESIA ARE IN SICK OLD PETS AND WE HAVE A VERY, VERY GOOD TRACK RECORD AS DR. SMART POINTED OUT, WE HAVE NURSES THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THOSE PATIENTS WHEN THEY'RE UNDER AND THEY'RE VERY WELL TRAINED IN HOW TO HANDLE ANESTHESIA AND PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR DURING ANESTHESIA.

>> THANK YOU.

LINDA FROM DuBOIS.

GOOD EVENING, YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT?

>> YES, I HAVE TWO DOGS.

I HAD TWO DOGS AND TWO WEEKS AGO WE LOST ONE OF THE DOGS AND THEY WERE LIKE THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> I NOTICED THAT MY DOG -- THEY HAD BEEN TOGETHER LIKE FOUR YEARS.

BOTH ARE RESCUES.

I NOTICE THAT THE DOG THAT'S STILL WITH US IS SEEMS VERY LETHARGIC AND JUST NOT HERSELF DO DOGS GRIEVE?

AND IF SO, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP.

>> LINDA, FIRST, WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

I'M SURE YOUR DOCTORS HAVE SOME IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO START?

>> I'LL START.

WE ARE SO VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

IT'S ALWAYS HARD WHEN WE LOSE A PET.

I DO THINK THAT DOGS GRIEVE.

SPENDING EXTRA TIME WITH HER AND MAKING SURE SHE GETS EXTRA WALKS, EXTRA CUDDLES ON THE COUCH, THE THINGS THAT SHE LOVES TO DO SO THAT SHE CAN FEEL SECURE IN HER RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

ONE OTHER THING I HAVE SEEN THOUGH OCCASIONALLY IS THE DEATH OF A FRIEND CAN BE ENOUGH STRESS TO UNMASK UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES, SO IF THIS IS NOT IMPROVING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE WORTH AT LEAST AN EXAMINATION, MAYBE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE VETERINARIAN TO MAKE SURE THAT ISN'T THE CASE WITH HER.

>> AND DR. SMART, ANY ADDITIONAL?

>> THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT I THINK OUR DOGS AS PACK ANIMALS ARE VERY IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER BUT THEY'RE ALSO VERY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR OWNERS.

THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE SUCH FABULOUS PETS.

WHEN WE'RE HAPPY, THEY WAG THEIR TAILS AND RUN AROUND US AND CELEBRATE AND WHEN WE ARE SAD, THEY SIT WITH THEIR HEADS ON OUR LAP AND SIT THERE AND DON'T MOVE.

I HEARD A LOT OF SADNESS IN YOUR VOICE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOSS OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBER.

I THINK THAT YOUR OTHER DOG PROBABLY KNOWS THAT.

SO, I THINK IT'S NORMAL FOR BOTH OF YOU TO GRIEVE.

AND THAT'S FINE.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE SAD, YOUR DOG WILL BE WORRIED ABOUT YOU AND WILL PROBABLY BE SAD WITH YOU.

SO BOTH OF YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GET UP AND GO FOR A WALK, IF YOU CAN IN THIS BEAUTIFUL FALL WEATHER ON A SUNNY DAY OR PUT ON A WIND JACKET AND GO OUT WHEN IT'S A LITTLE COLD AND JUST ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD DO TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES WHEN WE ARE SAD, YOU SHOULD DO THAT WITH YOUR DOG FRIEND.

>> GREAT ADVICE.

AGAIN, LINDA, WE'RE SORRY ARE FOR YOUR LOSS.

WE HOPE THAT HELPS A LITTLE BIT IN YOUR GRIEVING PROCESS.

WE HAVE DICK ON THE LINE TONIGHT.

DICK, YOUR QUESTION FOR DID -- I GUESS WE WAITED TOO LONG.

DICK, IF YOU ARE LIST HE CAN FOR US, CALL US BACK.

WHILE WE HAVE BETWEEN CALLS, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LET OUR TWO VETERINARIANS TELL ABOUT THEIR OWN PETS AND THEIR OWN LOVE OF THEIR LIVES.

I WILL DR. LOAR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START AND SHOW OFF YOUR PETS TO WANT SO OUR VIEWERS AND LISTENERS CAN HEAR HOW YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS ARE A PART OF YOUR LIFE?

>> ABSOLUTELY WE HAVE TWO DOGS.

WONDERFUL PAIR TOGETHER.

MASTIFF THINKS SHET'S LAP DOG.

WE HAVE SEVEN INDOOR CATS AND A COUPLE OF BARN CATS AS WELL.

THAT IS CHARLOTTE OUR MASTIFF WEARING DADDY'S SHIRT BECAUSE SHE LIKES TO GRAB HIS CLOTHES.

WE PUT THEM ON HER.

THAT'S HEMINGWAY.

HE IS ONE OF OUR SIX -- SIX-YEAR-OLD CAT LOVES PLAYING WITH THE DOG TOYS ACTUALLY.

WE DRESS OUR KITTENS UP.

THESE TWO ARE OUR YOUNGEST AND THEY WERE BAT CATS FOR HALLOWEEN.

GERTRUDE AN BEATRICE AND THESE ARE MOST OF MY COWS OUT IN THE WONDERFUL GRASS THIS UM ISER REALLY HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH ALL THE BABIES ADD ONE -- >> THAT'S GREAT.

LET'S GET TO DR. SMART'S PETS AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOUR CALLS.

DEB?

>> SO, THESE ARE MY -- THERE'S CALL PETITE -- TWO PUPPIES THAT I HAVE.

ALLEY AND JUNIE.

THEY ARE SO FUN.

THEY ARE KNOWN AS SILLY DOGS.

PETITE MEANS GR FISHINGON MEANS SPHIEKY HEAR AND BASON IS FRENCH FOR BASSET.

THEY ARE LITTLE HOUND DOGS.

MISCHIEF YEAHS AND SILLY.

WE DO AGILITY WITH ALLY ONE OF HER PUPPIES AND HER MOM.

THEY RUN OVER LIKE TEETER TO THERS AND UP OVER DOG WALKS, OVER JUMPS AND THROUGH TUNNELS.

WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH THEM.

WE CAN NEVER EVER LET THEM OFF THE LEASH.

THEY WILL PUT THEIR NOSE TO THE GROUNDED AND CHASE RABBITS AND NEVER COME COME BACK.

I HAVE THREE MORGAN HORSES.

THIS IS REGGIE M ONE OF MY VETERINARIAN TECHNICIANS ARE IS RIDER HER.

THIS IS LAST FALL.

SHE IS 22.

I HAVE HER SON WHO IS TEN.

I HAVE ANOTHER MORGAN WHO IS MY FAVORITE TRAIL PARTNER IS LEO.

WE CALLED HIM THAT BECAUSE HE'S SO BRAVE.

>> I NOTICE YOU HAD YOUR ORANGE ON.

WE HAVE TWO CALLERS WE'LL GET TO THOSE IN A SECOND BUT WE UNDERSTAND HUNTING SEASON WELL UNDERWAY AND UFS TO BE CAREFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR DOG OUT IN THE WOODS WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE WOODS PUT THAT ORANGE ON.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER I WEAR IT ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE FUN FOR DOGS AND HORSES AND MYSELF TO GET OUT IN THE WOODS AROUND HERE BUT DEFINITELY WEAR YOUR ORANGE.

DICK FROM JOHN'STOWN HAS BEEN ABLE TO CALL US BACK IN.

CAN YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION?

>> I AM AND I WANT TO THANK THE VETERINARIANS FOR TAKING THEIR TIME TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS, VERY KIND.

ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, WE RESCUED A CAT FROM PET CO- THE CAT WAS DOING WELL BUT THE HER O ARE,AL HEALTH FAILED SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND WE HAD TO HAVE FULL MOUTH EXTRACTION.

SHE CONTINUES TO DO WELL.

WE ARE VERY CAREFUL IN BRUSHING THEM AND FEEDING THEM PROPERLY.

WE GIVE THEM ALL THE LOVE NECESSARY HELP THEY NEED.

BUT MORE RECENTLY, SHE HAS LOST BEGINNING TO LOSE HER HAIR, PARTICULARLY ON HER UNDER BELLY.

I WAS WONDERING WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THIS AND WHAT TREATMENTS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO ALEVIATE THIS CONDITION?

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THAT CONVERSATION?

>> DR. SMART, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE?

>> SURE.

SO SOMETIMES OUR OLDER CATS WILL START TO OVERGROOM.

SOMETIMES IT IS A MEDICAL ISSUE AND SOMETIMES IT'S A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE.

WE CAN SEEOVER GROOMING ON THE BELLY BETWEEN THE BACK LEGS RELATED TO URINARY TRACT ISSUES.

DOES YOUR CAT DRINK MORE THAN NORMAL?

DOES THE LITTER BOCTS MORE WET THAN NORMAL?

IS THE CAT USING THE LITTER BOTION REGULARLY?

WEIGHT TRENDS.

IS YOUR CAT STARTING TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT?

ANY VOMITING?

NIE DIARRHEA, THOSE SORTS OF THINS.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE SKIN ISSUES THAT CAN CAUSE THEM TO OVERGROOM.

MOST OFTEN THEY ARE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR ISSUES OF PAIN AND DISCOMFORT.

I WOULD LIKE FOR CAUSES OF PAIN AND DISCOMFORT.

MAYBE FOR BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DETECTIVE TASK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THEY'RE LOSING HAIR ON THEIR ABDOMEN.

SOMETIMES WE WILL DO A DIET TRIAL, OTHER TIME PAIN MEDICATION.

I WOULD DO A GOOD EXAM AND GETTING BASELINE AND GETTING X-RAYS HE IS SPECIAL OF THE BLADDER.

>> DO YOU SEE THAT RECEIVING CRITICAL MASS THEY HAVE TO COME IN BECAUSE OF SEVER CONDITIONS?

>> HOPE NOT IF THEY'RE PROACTIVELY ABOUT IT.

SOMETIMES WE WILL SEE SKIN INFECTIONS RELATED TO THAT.

DEPENDING WHETHER SHE IS A LOSING HAIR OR OVERGROOMING.

I DO AGREE WITH DR. SMART OFTEN TIMES PAIN IS THE REASON WE SEE THIS.

IN AN OLDER CAT CERTAINLY THINKING ABOUT ARTHRITIS OR BLADDER CONDITIONS OR OTHER PROBLEM WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY BE WISE.

>> RHONDA IS CALLING IN TO ASK HER QUESTION OF OUR VETERINARIANS.

RHONDA, YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE?

>> YES.

I HAVE A SIX-YEAR-OLD DOG.

HE IS PART TER YEAR, PART DACHSUN.

HE IS A SUPER GREAT.

HE HAS SUCH A PERSONALITY.

PLAYFUL GUY.

I NOTICED THE PAST YEAR HE HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS HIPS AND NOW HIS LITTLE KNEES.

HE HAD A WEIGHT ISSUE, AND I'M JUST NOT SURE IF -- I WAS TOLD TO CUT HIS FOOD BACK SO I DON'T GIVE HIM TABLE SCRAPS AND I FEED HIM A SMALL BREED DOG FOOD.

THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES IS SMUCKER'S AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S DRY FOOD.

HE DOESN'T GET WET FOOD AND I TROO I TO WALK HIM EVERY DAY, AND HE HAS LOST THREE POUNDS.

NOW, HE IS EATING ONLY TWICE A DAY.

I GIVE A QUARTER CUP OF THIS DRY FOOD AND PUT WATER IN IT.

HE'S ONE OF THESE DOGS FOR SOME REASON DOESN'T THINK HE NEEDS WATER ALL THE TIME AND IT CONCERNS ME SO I MAKE SURE HE HAS WATER IN THE DRY FOOD SO HE GETS ENOUGH WATER AND STUFF.

BUT WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING?

SHOULD I BE TRYING TO FEED HIM THREE TIMES A DAY A QUARTER CUP?

I MEAN IS THAT ENOUGH NUTRITION FOR HIM?

AND WHEN HE STARTS LIMPING, THEN HIS KNEES AND HIPS BOTHER HIM, IS THERE SOMETHING OVER THE COUNTER THAT I CAN GIVE HIM?

OR SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO FOR HIM?

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

RHONDA.

WE'RE GOING TO GET ON THAT TOPIC OF FOOD BROADLY AFTER YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION TALK GENERALLY ABOUT THE TYPES OF FOOD I THINK AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES AVAILABLE AND WHAT'S TRENDY AND WHAT'S GOOD.

DR. SMART, PERHAPS YOU START THIS TIME?

>> SO WE SEE A LOT OF LAMENESS IN DOGS.

SIX YEARS OLD IS A LITTLE BIT YOUNG FOR ARTHRITIS BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE IT.

I WASN'T QUITE SURE HOW BIG YOUR DOG IS.

I'M ASSUMING HE'S A RELATIVELY SMALL DOG FROM THE FACT YOU'RE FEEDING I AM HAD QUARTER OF A CUP.

YOU'RE USING AN ACTUAL EIGHT-OUNCE MEASURING CUP.

SOMETIMES I HAVE TEM TELL ME THEY'RE EATING HALF A CUP A DAY BUT THEY'RE BIG GULP.

IF IT'S GETTING A QUARTER OF AN EIGHT-OUNCE A DAY I'M ASSUMING HE'S PRETTY SMALL DOG.

WE SEE HIP PROBLEMS IN LITTLE DOGS.

THEY CAN SOMETIMES HAVE PROBLEMS THE OF BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE HIP JOINT THAT CAN RESULT IN NECROSIS OF SOME OF THAT HIP JOINT.

SOMETIMES THEY CAN TEAR THEIR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENTS.

THEY CAN PLANT AND TWIST LIKE FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

THAT CAN LEAD TO ARTHRITIS AND INTERMITTENT LAMENESS.

SOMETIMES KNEECAP CANS SLIP IN AND OUT.

THAT'S VERY COMMON IN SMALL BREED DOGS.

ANY OF THOSE CAN LEAD TO LAMENESS THAT MIGHT THEN LEAD TO ARTHRITIS.

THE THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS DO A GOOD PHYSICAL EXAM AND EVALUATE WHICH JOINTS ARE AFFECT AND PROBABLY GET SOME X-RAYS SO AT SIX YOU HAVE A BASELINE TO START TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MANAGE THIS GOING FORWARD.

THERE ARE REALLY LOVELY NONSTEROIDAL MEDICATIONS THAT ARE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS THAT CAN BE GIVEN THAT CAN HELP OUR DOG TO SAY RUN AND PLAY AND BE ACTIVE FOR YEARS LONGER THAN THEY USED TO BE.

THOSE MEDICATIONS CAN BE A HUGE BOOM TO DOGS WHO ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ARTHRITIS.

IN YOUNGER DOGS IF THE ARTHRITIS IS NOT THAT SEVERE, SOMETIMES WE CAN USE OVER THE COUNTER SUPPLEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WOULD FIRST WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT MAY ALSO BE THERE'S AN UNDERLYING CONDITION THAT'S ACTUALLY SURGICAL AND YOUR DOG IS GOING TO DO BETTER IN THE SECOND PATH HALF OR TWO/THREE OF HIS LIFE IF WE ADDRESS THAT UNDERLYING ISSUE.

IF IT'S A KNEECAP THAT'S SLIDING, LET'S GET IT FIXED IF IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

>> I'M SORRY I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.

I WANT TO ASK DR. LOAR.

>> I WILL STOP TALKING.

>> BLESS YOUR HEART.

DR. LOAR IT COULD LEAD TO EMERGENCY CARE IF YOU DON'T GET IT CORRECTED IN THE PROACTIVELY MEASURES, I GUESS, RIGHT?

>> IT COULD.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN THAT BRIEF PROFILE I WOULD ALSO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THIS AN UNDERLYING BACK ISSUE THAT'S LEADING TO NERVE PAIN REFERRING DOWN THE LEG.

THEY ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BACK ISSUES.

DR. SMART POINT OF FIGURING OUT WHERE THE PAIN COMING FROM IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT VERY WELL MAY GIVE YOU A CLUE AS TO THINGS YOU CAN DO.

THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY AT HOME IS REST RESTRICTION.

AS SOON AS WE START TO BE A LITTLE BIT LAME, NO RUNNING, NO JUMPING, THOSE TYPES OF THINS TO ALLOW THE BODY TO HEAL WHEN THERE'S INFLAMMATION THERE.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE AN EMAIL QUESTION AND WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES LEFT.

LET ME GET TO THAT QUICKLY.

IT'S CONNECTED TO THAT.

MARE ANNE SAID I HAVE FOUR DOGS DIFFERENT TIMES FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.

WHY DOES MY HEALTHY DOG OCCASIONALLY EAT GRASS IS THAT GOOD OR BAD?

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, DOCTORS?

>> DR. SMART?

>> YES.

LOTS OF DOGS EAT GRASS.

SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRING TIME.

IT CAN KIND OF BE A SALADND IT'S NOT A BAD THINGS IF THEY GO OUT AND EAT A LITTLE BIT OF GRASS.

WE SOMETIMES HAVE DOGS WHO WILL EAT GRASS AND VOMIT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FEELING WELL.

THEN THAT EATING GRASS IS A SIGN OF UNDERLYING GASTROINTESTINAL UPSET OR OTHER REASON FOR NAUSEA AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AND FIGURE IT OUT.

IF LE HE INDICATION L WHAT I SNACKING ZEROENEN A LITTLE GRASS, I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT.

THEY'RE THROWING UP AND WANTING TO EAT A LOT OF GRASS AND VOMITING, THAT COULD INDICATE A PROBLEM THAT'S SERIOUS.

>> LET'S GET TO A GRAPHIC I KNOW DR. LOAR HAS BROUGHT AND THAT'S ABOUT TOXINS AND POISON CONTROL MEASURES.

DR. LOAR, DO YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT THAT IN LIGHT OF HOFL DAYS AHEAD?

WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LEFT.

I KNOW THIS IS IMPORTANT WITH THOSE HOLIDAYS WE HAVE TO PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO WHAT OUR PETS MIGHT BE GETTING INTO AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, RIGHT?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE OUR PETS PROBLEMS THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD LIST WHEN WE'RE CHOOSING FOODS TO FEED OUR PETS FROM THE TABLE GO WITH LEAN FOODS, THINGS THAT DO HAVE SPICE OR ADDITIVES.

WHITE MEAT TURKEY JUST A LITTLE IS FINE.

NO BONES, NONE OF THE DARK MEAT.

NOTHING THAT MAY UPSET THEIR STOMACH.

AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE THINGS, SEE WHAT YOU HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE SEE AROUND THE HOLIDAYS IS WE HAVE FAMILY VISITING WHO ARE NOT USED TO HAVING PETS.

THEY MAY HAVE THINGS IN THEIR BAG ARE PRESENTS UNDER TREE THAT HAVE THINGS THAT MAY BE TOXIC R I CAN TO THE PETS.

THAT BOX OF CHOK LAST, I GUARANTY YOUR DOG WILL FIND IT IT.

OR EVEN MEDICATIONS THEY HAVE IN THEIR BAGS IN THE BEDROOMS THAT THE DOG OR KA COAT COULD GET INTO THAT COULD CAUSE A SEER SERIOUS PROBLEM.

>> AND THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH THE WINTER SEASON AHEAD, REAL QUICKLY DR. SMART, CAN YOU TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WINTER COATS, WINTER SUGGESTIONS AND ARE TICKS STILL A PROBLEM?

DO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT WITH THE OUTDOORS AND CHANGING TEMPERATURES WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW?

>> WE SEE TICKS ALL YEAR AROUND IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO COME OUT IN FORCE IN THE FALL.

EVERY DAY IN THE WINTER IF YOU'RE OUT IN THE WOODS WITH YOUR DOG YOU'RE GOING TO FIND DEER TICKS.

AS SOON AS IT STARTS DO GET ABOVE FREEZING SNOW WILL MELT AND DEER TICKS WILL BE OUT LOOKING FOR A DOG OR PERSON OR DEER.

SO WE SEE TICKS ALL THE TIME.

TICK DISEASES WITH HE DIAGNOSE THEM AND SICK ANIMALS EVERY MONTH AND EVERY WEEK WE HAVE ANIMALS COMING IN WHO ARE SICK WITH LYME DISEASE OR AN I PLASMOSIS.

DEFINITELY, TICKS ALL YEAR AROUND.

I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF COATS.

I LIKE ORANGE COATS.

I LIKE ORANGE SCARFS FOR DOGS OUT IN THE WOODS TO PRETECT THEM FROM THE HUNTER.

OUR DOGS HAVE AMAZING COATS THAT KEEP THEM INCREDIBLY WARM AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT BUNCHED OR TANGLED.

IF YOUR DOG HAS A MATTED COAT, GET THEM GROOMED, BRUSHED OUT.

GET THOSE MATS OUT OF THEIR COAT ENEACH INDIVIDUAL HAIR WILL STAND UP AND TRAP -- WARM AIR AROUND IT LIKE A FLUFFY DOWN JACKET THEY WEAR.

I THINK THAT DOGS WITH HAIR THAT STANDS UP, THOSE DOGS ARE GENERALLY NICE AND WARM WHEN YOU'RE OUGHT WALKING WITH THEM AND PARTICULARLY IF IF THEY'RE ACTIVE.

IF YOU HAVE A THIN-COATED DOG AND YOU WANT TO PUT A COAT ON THEM AND THEY LIKE IT, THAT'S FINE.

MOST OF OUR DOGS ARE JUST FINE WITHOUT A JACKET ON.

SOMETIMES WE LIKE TO DRESS THEM UP AND THAT'S OKAY BUT THEY DON'T NEED THAT JACK ET NECESSARILY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BOY, MY GOODNESS TIME FLIES M I'M GOING TO GIVE DR. LOAR THE LAST CHAN TO TALK THIS EVENING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A LOOK AT WHAT'S AHEAD AND LAST MINUTE SUMMARIES OF WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR THEIR PETS, THE LOVE OF THEIR LIVES THAT WE HAVE TODAY IN OUR LIVES.

DR. LOAR?

>> WELL, MY THREE TAKE AWAYS WOULD REALLY BE GET PET INSURANCE OR SOMEHOW PLAN AHEAD FINANCIALLY FOR EMERGENCY.

ALWAYS CALL YOUR VET BEFORE YOU GIVE YOUR PET ANYTHING THAT PETS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE.

ANYTHING OTHER THAN DOG OR CAT FOOD AND MEDICATIONS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED TO THEM BY THEIR VETERINARIAN, CALL AND ASK.

AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, WE'RE THERE WHENEVER YOUR VET IS CLOSED.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER CALLS AND TRY TO HELP YOU TREAGE WHETHER OR NOT YOUR PET NEEDS TO BE SEEN.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING SO MANY OF OUR CALLS.

WECH TALKING ABOUT DR. ANDREA LOAR, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF CP VETS RIGHT IN STATE COLLEGE AND DR. DEB SMART, THE CO-OWN ARE OF CENTER ANIMAL HOSPITAL ALSO IN STATE COLLEGE.

I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR NEXT EPISODE OF CONVERSATION CANS LIFE WILL BE DECEMBER 16.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT GAMBLING IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A HOT ISSUE WITH M SOF GAMBLE INSTITUTION COME CLOSER TO CENTRAL AND PENNSYLVANIA.

FROM ALL OF US AND FOR OUR VETERINARIANS DON'T WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BEST WISHES FOR HAPPY, HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON WITH YOUR PETS.

THANK YOU.