A little introduction is warranted, on our first meeting. 

Hi, my name is April, and I am a Veterinarian.

Wow, that felt like my first day at an Animal´s Anonymous meeting. 

I may not practice veterinary medicine in a clinic any more, but when you become a veterinarian, it seeps into your soul and it becomes a big part of your identity. 

 A lot of other things seep in when you are a vet too, if you don't wash your hands well enough, but those are stories for when we know each other better.

I worked for 17 years as a small animal veterinarian in Canada. I always worked for someone else, and never started my own practice. I was too afraid to venture into business. I told myself that I was comfortable and happy as an employee, and didn't need the difficulty and complication of running a business. 

Then I read Robert Kiyosaki´s book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad¨ ,the world turned upside down with a pandemic, and I started to think differently. Or maybe I just started looking outside my boring, safe little life, and I realized I didn't want to live bound by limitations that I placed on myself because of fear.  

So did I buy a vet clinic? Did I start a new hobby? Buy a fancy new car? A Peloton? 

No, of course not. 

Instead I quit my job, sold our absolutely beautiful acreage in Canada, packed the whole family up ( husband, two boys, two cats and a dog) and moved to Nicaragua, a country we had never even visited before. 

“Are you nuts? Then what happened?  Is it amazing there? Do you work as a vet there? Why are you writing a newsletter?  Come on man, don´t leave us hanging like this…¨

Be sure to subscribe to the weekly newsletter. I will fill you in on the two and a half year journey from there to here, and sprinkle in little things I have learned along the way about breaking out of the mould, and trying new things.  

I will always be a vet. 

Even if I never see another patient. 

The need to make pet´s lives better will always be a big driving force in my life.

 But I also want to help those that care for their furry friends. 

This newsletter will help me do that.  I will share my knowledge and nearly 20 year experience as a veterinarian, to empower pet owners to make their pets´ lives better.  And we might just have a little fun doing it too!

After a 31 year reign of supremacy, the French have conquered the Labradors. French Bulldogs that is. The most popular breed in America for the last two years is now the French Bulldog, according to the American Kennel Club. 

The history: their roots go back to Ancient Greece and Rome and the Molossian Hounds used in bull baiting gladiator sports , ancestor to Mastiffs. Over many centuries a “toy bulldog” version was developed in England and then brought to France by workers returning from the Industrial Revolution. 

Characteristics: 

• Bat ears 

• Built like a little tank

• Short stubby face

  

But what are they really like? 

• Fun and active but not a great running companion

• Very friendly and affectionate 

• Minimal barking but they do snort and snore

 Any health problems? 

• Respiratory problems and heat intolerance due to the short face (brachycephalic airway syndrome)

• Hip dysplasia- abnormal development of the hip joints

• Skin and ear problems from allergies

• Usually require Cesarian section for birthing due to their body structure

Tidbits

•  Frenchie registrations at the AKC have increased 1000% in the last decade

• They are one of the most expensive breeds of dog

• Celebrities love them- Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson all own Frenchies

  

What other breeds make up the top 5? 

2. Labrador Retriever

3. Golden Retriever

4. German Shepherd

5. Poodle

The popularity of puppy yoga is on the rise 100 % over last year, with 32, 000 online searches per month, fueled by viral social media videos.

What is it?   

• The combination of yoga and letting puppies run all over the room and chew on your hair when you are in awkward poses

• It is the most popular of the Yoga with Animals trend that involves goats, cats, rabbits, horses, llamas

• The pups can be purebred litters or shelter dogs, puppies or adults

• The purpose is stress relief and relaxation, and socialization for the pups

But not everyone is Namaste with puppy yoga. Italy recently banned the use of puppies in yoga classes due to concerns over animal welfare and exploitation. The Netherlands and UK are considering similar actions. Critics argue that puppies are often deprived of adequate water and rest and can become mentally stressed by the experience. However, Italy still permits adult dogs to participate in yoga classes. 

What do the pro-Dogi’s say? 

Done properly, with healthy puppies over 8 weeks, and not forced to entertain the attendees, it provides a chance for pups to socialize with willing people. Often these are rescue pups that need homes. 

Perhaps this is a trend that could benefit everyone involved, with a little regulation to ensure the wellbeing of the furry participants.

Check out our light-hearted Instagram take on the dangers of Puppy Yoga.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-chia! 

Anyone that dates back to the 80’s likely remembers chia pets, those little pottery animals that grow green chia “fur”. Now chia seeds are a superfood, not just for growing pets.

I didn’t see that one coming as I watered my Chia Pup to life!

Chia seeds are tiny, round seeds that come in black, brown, and white colors. They are harvested from Salvia hispanica, a flowering plant in the mint family that's native to Mexico and Guatemala.

Chia seeds were used by ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations for their nutritional and medicinal benefits. More recently, they have gained popularity as a superfood in health-conscious communities around the world since the 2000s.

Why Chia? 

• high content of omega-3 fatty acids

• high in fiber

• high in protein

• various essential minerals and vitamins

• antioxidants

Omega 3 FA’s have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and are great for heart, brain, immune system, skin and eye health. 

But here’s where it gets tricky.

Omega 3’s come in 3 main forms;

•  ALA from plants like chia, flax and walnuts

•  DHA and EPA produced in marine algae and then found in the fish that consume the algae. 

ALA must be converted in the body to DHA or EPA to have the amazing health benefits but this process is inefficient in people, with only 5-15% of the ALA converted, and less so in dogs and cats. 

What does this mean for our pets? 

Chia and flax seeds are definitely a superfood and offer the benefits of fiber , protein, vitamins ect, BUT…

They are not the best source for the amazing Omega 3 benefits that are so useful for inflammatory conditions like arthritis, allergic skin disease and cognitive decline.  

A better option for these benefits is the oil from the marine microalgae or the fish that feed on them.  Many supplements are available for pets. 

So what can we use chia for in pets? 

A 2020 study showed chia useful for treating high calcium levels in cats (idiopathic hypercalcemia). This is the only study of chia use in pets that I could find, though there are a few in rats and mice. 

Many owners and vets are feeding chia for antioxidant support and as a fiber supplement in the diet, and for the omega 3 FA benefits.

We can take what we know about chia in people, and extrapolate it to pets. We do this commonly in Veterinary Medicine because there is nowhere near the same volume of studies and knowledge about pets, and if we had to wait until we had certainty on every supplement or treatment before trying it, we’d never advance!

Chia is quite safe and I think it is reasonable for owners and vets to try this superfood in pets. 

Summary: Chia  is a great little superfood seed that can be safely fed as a supplement, but our knowledge is limited about the true extent of the benefits in pets. The one area where it does not live up to the marketing hype is the Omega 3 Fatty Acid benefit. Consider marine microalgae or cold water fish oil to get the most bang for your Omega buck.

“Doc, he nearly pulls my arm off every time I walk him…” 

Does your dog turn a relaxing walk into a stage of the Iditarod sled-dog race? 

You are not alone! It is one of the most common concerns of dog owners. 

The goal can be teaching a dog to perform the more formal “heel”, where the dog is only on one side and the shoulder is in line with the person’s leg. An alternative method is to teach loose-leash walking, where the dog can walk and sniff where it likes, but is not pulling on the leash. I will focus more on the loose leash walking as a way to get more enjoyment for pet and walker.

First, if you can, let your dog run and let off a little steam before attempting a calm walk or a training session:  

Choose the right equipment: 

• Regular 4-6 foot leash

• Avoid retractable leashes

• Consider a harness or head halter. Great examples are:

   Freedom Harness by 2Hounds Design,

   Easy Walk Harness by Pet Safe,

   Gentle Leader head collar 

   Halti head collar

• Small but high value treat for positive reinforcement

Set the stage:

• Exercise your pet first for a few minutes to release some energy

• Train with treats when your dog is hungry

• Start in an area with few distractions, like your backyard

• Only train for a few minutes at a time (10-15) to start 

• Practice every day

• Be patient and consistent

Keep it PAW-sitive! 🐾

Reward the behavior you want by offering a small treat and praise when your dog is walking without pulling. This form of positive reinforcement encourages the pet to repeat the behavior that won them the reward. 

Positive reinforcement is the cornerstone of training pets and works better than punishing unwanted behavior.  Harsh punishment tends to increase fear and anxiety and doesn’t actually show the pet what you want. 

Stop and go:

• the owner stops walking as soon as the dog pulls, and will not move until the leash is slack

• combine with praise and treats when the dog is walking with a loose leash 

Change direction:

• When your dog starts pulling, abruptly change direction 

• This teaches your pet to pay attention to you and stay close

• Reward attention and a slack leash with a treat or praise 

  

Kick it up a notch: 

Once you have a few training sessions under your belt and your pup is improving, you can start to move forward.

• Gradually increase length of training sessions

• Visit areas with more distractions, like parks

• Try a clicker at the same time as a treat to reinforce the reward

• Gradually increase the duration of good behavior before the reward is given

• Slowly phase out the reward, giving it intermittently, while using praise

• Add voice commands like “heel’ or “walk nice” when starting out

Bonus tip:

Teach focus and attention to improve any type of training:

• Use a command like “Look” or “Watch” 

• Teach your dog to maintain eye contact by bringing a treat up to your face

• Reward the pup after a few seconds of attention

• Another is “Touch” : hold a treat in the palm of your hand and give the treat when your dog touches his nose to your hand

Why teach focus? 

Your dog can’t be sitting looking into your eyes and running across the street to chase a squirrel at the same time! Or barking at another dog… or eating the sofa… 

Grizzly Bears are the iconic North American predator, beautiful and awesome. Here are some little known facts:

Hibernation Misconception: Grizzly Bears do not hibernate in the traditional sense. They go into a state called "torpor" and can wake up to eat before returning to sleep. The females actually give birth during this time!

Speed and Strength: 

• Grizzlies run at speeds of 35 mph, making them the fastest bears in the world. The fasted human can sprint at 28 mph.

• They can move rocks weighing hundreds of pounds

• They can take down large prey like elk, moose and caribou

Sense of Smell:

• Grizzly Bears have a sense of smell that is 200 times better than most dogs and 2000 times better than people.

• This gives them the ability to smell food 20 miles away.

Intelligence: Grizzly Bears are considered the smartest land mammals in North America, aside from humans. What makes them so intelligent?

• Excellent memory and spatial navigation skills: They can remember specific locations of food sources over large areas and even recall these locations after several years

• Problem-Solving Skills: Grizzly Bears have been known to figure out how to open bear-proof containers designed to keep them out. In areas where fish are plentiful, grizzlies use various fishing techniques to catch them, such as standing still and waiting for fish to come close, using their paws to swipe fish out of the water, or diving into the water to catch them. Bears have even been known to use tools 

  

Behavior Towards Humans: Grizzly Bears generally have no interest in harming people unless they feel threatened.

• Preventing attacks involves making noise to alert them of your presence.

• If attacked : lay down, curl into a ball and protect your neck. Once the bear has left, wait 15 to twenty minutes before moving and calling for help

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Thank you for your time! I hope you enjoyed the newsletter. You can reply to this email anytime with questions or comments.

Take care,

April