PetVet December 2022 / January 2023

“I have worked in many areas of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology over the last thirty five years, and it is amazing how far our profession has grown and paved the way for the betterment of animals' lives and happiness, as well as improving public health issues. It is an honor for me to be a part of this advisory board to offer additional education and opportunities to grow in our profession.”

“I have had the privilege of working with a variety of animals in my career and my passion has allowed me to be involved in teaching veterinary students, interns, residents and other veteri narians. I continue to enjoy going to work every day to help critically ill dogs and cats, and love the client interactions as well. I am proud to be a part of this advisory board to help teach and spread my love for this profession to others in the veterinary community.”

STAFF Publisher Barkleigh Productions, Inc. President Todd Shelly Vice President Gwen Shelly Chief Operations Officer Adam Lohr Executive Editor Rebecca Shipman Art Director Laura Pennington Sr. Graphic Designer Brandi Aurelio Web Master Luke Dumberth Marketing Consultant Allison Smith Social Media Coordinator Cassidy Ryman Digital Media Evan Gummo Director of Marketing & Client Relations James Severs Administrative / Marketing Assistant Karin Grottola

“Animals mean so much to the human condition. It is my privilege to make lives better every day! I cannot imagine myself in any other career.”

Meet

our EDITORIAL

Lisa Powell DVM, DACVECC

“My passions ultimately drove me towards becoming a veterinarian, but when I was growing up I briefly flirted with the idea of becoming a magician. As a veterinarian, the ability to save lives, keep animals healthy, and strengthen the human–animal bond makes me realize there’s nothing more magical than that.”

Julie Legred CVT

ADVISORY BOARD

“People should be so lucky as to get to be a veterinarian. The broad-based

– Jonathan Stockman, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)

and owners are looking to their vets for this important input.”

Answering the Age-Old Client Question:

What Should I Feed My Pet?

By Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition)

Our clients are becoming more aware of the importance of nutrition in their own health, and thus are demanding the same high standard of nutritional care for their pets. It is important that the veterinary healthcare team be the preferred, expert source of the best nutritional information for pets. In fact, nutrition has been recognized as the fifth vital assessment and a cornerstone of pet health through all life stages.1,2

Veterinary teams which understand and promote clinical nutrition and demonstrate in-clinic behaviors consistent with this conviction will benefit their clients, their practices and, most importantly, their patients. Proper nutritional management is one of the most important factors in maximizing pet health, performance and longevity, in addition to managing disease conditions.

Most veterinary healthcare teams recognize that nu trition is important to their patients’ health and want

to make the best food recommendations. Additionally, clients want what’s best for their pets and for them to live long, healthy lives. Then why is communication around pet foods so difficult?

Add ressing a Di f f ic u lt Topic opic

The pet food category is a multi-billion-dollar industry with an overwhelming selection of pet foods available. The healthcare team may feel uncomfortable or lack confidence in having a conversation about spe cific pet food choices. Food can be a touchy subject, and clients may have very strong emotions about the food they prefer to feed and what they think is best for their pets. Additionally, there are multiple pet food myths and nutrition trends that have muddied the realm of pet food. There are massive amounts of information on pet foods on the internet, and it can be very difficult to discern fact vs. myth vs. trends, which can be dangerous to a pet’s health.

Making a pet food recommendation that best supports that particular pet’s health should not be a quarrel between what the veterinarian knows will support their patient’s health and what their client wants or believes is the best food for their beloved pet. Through consistent use of core communication skills and involvement of the entire healthcare team, you can connect with your clients, overcome some of the more challenging pet food barriers, build nutritional confidence in your entire team, and make the nutritional recommendations that you feel best support that pet’s health and respects your client’s preferences.

From every media outlet, as well as family members, pet stores, etc., clients are inundated with information about foods for their pets. So, when they come to the veterinary healthcare team with the question, “What should I feed

my pet?” how does one answer? The healthcare team should embrace this question and be open to and encourage dialogue. The fact that this question is asked shows the owner is interested in proper nutrition for their pet and wants a recommendation from the veterinary team.

Know Your Resources

In 2011, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) published Nutritional Guidelines. 2 And, in 2021, The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) published updated Nutritional Assessment Guidelines for veterinary practices. 1 These guidelines were developed to support veterinary healthcare teams in the development and implementation of nutritional management protocols tailored to the individual needs of the patient.

Both associations, with the assistance of veterinary nutritionists, veterinarians, veterinary technician specialists in nutrition and credentialed veterinary technicians, have developed tools to help healthcare teams educate clients on what they should feed their pet. These tools were developed to assist the veterinary team in determining what the pet should eat as well as offer ing a resource to help make a specific nutritional recommendation.

As with any recommendation, the veterinary healthcare team must do the research. When investigating the question, “How do I distinguish one food from another?” look for answers to the following:

• Is the pet food manufacturer’s contact information available on the product for the veterinary team and pet owner?

• Does the pet food manufactur er employ full-time veterinary nutritionist(s), veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians?

• Where are the foods produced and manufactured?

• What are the specific quality control measures to guarantee product consistency and quality?

• Will the manufacturer provide a complete nutrient analysis for the pet food in question—above and beyond the guaranteed analysis?

• Has the product undergone research? And are the results pub lished in peer-reviewed journals?

These initial questions aid the team in determining if the product is made by a reputable and knowl edgeable company. They also help determine if the manufacturer follows strict quality control measures.

Nutritional Adequacy Statement by AAFCO

In addition to researching the quality behind products, the team should research the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)3 nutritional adequacy statement included on pet food labels to help determine the following important facts:

1. Is the diet complete and balanced? All wellness foods should be complete and balanced.

2. If the food is complete and balanced, for which life stage is the food intended?

• Nutrient profiles and feeding trial requirements for growth, reproduction and adult maintenance are provided by AAFCO.

• The healthcare team should be aware that foods listed as formulated to meet the AAFCO profiles for all life stages must meet the minimum nutrient levels for both growth and adult maintenance.

3. What method was utilized to substantiate that the food is complete and balanced?

The healthcare team should be educated and proactive when discussing nutrition with clients. There are differ ences amongst manufacturers, products and life stages, and veterinary team members should not be afraid to ask the questions. This will allow the team to present a researched and educated nutri tional recommendation, and be prepared to provide the best recommendation for each specific patient that visits the veterinary hospital.

References:

1. Cline M., Burns KM., Coe JB., et al. (2021) AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. JAAHA 57:4, 153-178.

2. Nutritional Assessment Guidelines. (2011). WSAVA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines Task Force. J SMALL ANIM PRACT 52:385-396.

3. Association of American Feed Control Officialss, AAFCO Official Publication 2022.

Resources: www.petnutritionalliance. org www.wsava.org/nutrition-toolkit www.AAFCO.org

• AAFCO feeding trials:

º Were the products fed to the intended species and intended life stage?

º Does the product label state, “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate [Product Name] provides complete and balanced nutrition for [life stage(s)]”?

• AAFCO nutrient profiles:

º Do the foods meet AAFCO nutrient profiles by formulation or by analysis of the finished product?

º Does the product label state, “[Product Name] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO (Dog or Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stage(s)]”?

Formulated foods are manufactured so the ingredients meet specified levels, either based on the recipe or on ana lytical testing of the finished product, without testin

Kara Burns is a licensed veterinary technician with a master’s in physiology and in counseling psychology. She is also Founder and Past President of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians, and teaches nutrition courses around the world, is an independent nutritional consultant, the Director of Veterinary Nurse Development for WellHaven Pet Health, and Editor in Chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse. Ms. Burns has authored many articles, textbooks, and textbook chapters. She was also named the North American Veterinary Conference Technician Speaker of the Year in 2013, 2016, and in 2021, and was granted an honorary VTS (Internal Medicine) in 2011 and an honorary VTS (Dentistry) in 2012.

PHOTO BY PETCO

The number of grain-free, fresh and other commercial pet food options leaves more questions than answers for pet owners and veterinary professionals alike. As premiumization and humanization are two popular trends driving the ever-expanding pet food market, more pet owners are turning to their veterinarians for recommendations.

One veterinarian professional who is dedicating his career to pet nutrition is Jonathan Stockman, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition). His experience includes stints as a senior researcher at the Waltham Center of Pet Nutrition in Walham, England and establishing a new clinical nutrition service at the James L.

Dr. Jonathan Stockman

Dedicated to Dispelling Myths & Revolutionizing Pet Nutrition

By Jen Phillips April

Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University.

Dr. Stockman is presently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences at Long Island University where his current projects include studying the effect of grain-free diets on cardiac function and health biomarkers in dogs; explor ing the benefit of fish oil supplementa tion in dogs with cancer; and valuating the urine amino acid composition in ferrets to understand further why some ferrets develop urinary stones.

In addition, he aims to dispel the myths and misinformation that surround pet nutrition: “I feel that many pet owners have a strong interest in nutrition but are led astray by

misinformation that is so widely avail able on the internet and other media,” Dr. Stockman shares.

For example, one common misconception many pet owners have is that commercial pet food is less healthy than natural food. In response to this, he says, “The perceived benefits of natural/less-processed foods do not outweigh the importance of having nutritionally complete and balanced foods and providing all the needed es sential nutrients in sufficient amounts.

“Furthermore,” he continues, “the desire to avoid processed foods may lead owners to choose foods that are less safe for their pets, such as raw foods that may be contaminated by harmful pathogens.”

Dr. Stockman chose to specialize in pet nutrition because he saw the interaction of food and health in the animals he encountered in his training. “During my specialty training,” he says, “I worked with many exotic pets (birds, reptiles, small mammals), as well as dogs and cats, and found that often medical problems in these ani mals had much to do with husbandry, and specifically with nutrition. This connection inspired me to learn more about nutrition and physiology.”

When asked what he wished pet parents knew about commercial pet food, his reply was, “I wish pet parents understood that that grains are not harmful to pets, nor are they indicators of low-quality foods or used as ‘fillers.’ Most pets tolerate grains well and don’t show any adverse effects from grain consumption. The desire to avoid grains and maximize animal protein intake is not based on scientific data and is not environmentally sustainable

“The desire to avoid grains and maximize animal protein intake is not based on scientific data and is not environmentally sustainable in the long run.”

– Dr. Jonathan Stockman

Photos by William A. Cotton/CSU Photography

in the long run.”

Dr. Stockman explains that there are parallels between the nutritional needs of different animals; some species rely on their gastrointestinal microbiota to produce several nutrients, whereas others require these nutrients in their diet. Dogs and cats need Vitamin D in their diet, but rabbits, horses, cows, sheep, etc. rely on both the diet and the gut microbiota for many nutrients. As a result, he says you can’t make assumptions about one species based on a different species.

“For example, I would caution pet owners not to give dogs and cats human supplements without veterinary super vision as dogs have a narrower safety margin for Vitamin D than people,” Dr. Stockman advises.

Commercial pet food ingredients and marketing materials often mention that they contain needed vitamins and minerals, but Dr. Stockman has this say on that subject: “There are a few

minerals presently being investigated for their potentially harmful effects on pet health if their intake is high. One example is copper; Labradors who eat a diet high in copper are highly suscepti ble to liver disease.

“Unfortunately, pet owners have limited ability to evaluate products for the content of these minerals as these are not always declared on the label,” he continues. “And if they are, they may be listed as minimums. The change should be done on a regulatory level.”

As more studies are done to find connections between pet health and nutrition, the discoveries will better equip veterinarians and pet parents to feed their pets a diet that best supports them to endure a long, healthy life.

“I see teaching veterinary nutrition as a huge contribution to the readiness of recently graduated veterinarians for clinical practice. Having meaningful and well-informed discussions with pet own ers about nutrition is a vital skill for any

veterinarian, and owners are looking to their vets for this important input. Where vets fail to provide helpful advice, owners opt to use other less reliable sources of information, and may ultimately make nutritional decisions that may not help, or even harm, the health of their pet,” Dr. Stockman concludes.

A web writer since 2005, Jen’s written over 1,000 articles on pet-related topics. She works with veterinarians and pet professionals around the world to help them attract and retain customers through effective content marketing practices. Passionate about both pets and digital marketing, you can find out more at jenphillipsapril.com. When not working with her fabulous clients, you can find her eating tacos and practicing her Spanish in her adopted home of the Riviera Maya.

impact of the env i r o nmental sou r ces

By Elycia Degenhardt, BA, CVT

As pet parents and professionals, we know pets are part of the family. Unfortunately, while sharing our homes, they also share the burden we place on our planet. By eating diets consisting of animal protein, our companion animals contrib ute to environmental degradation and compete for food resources desperately needed by the expanding human population. So, how do we give our pets the best while still being mindful of the sustainabil ity of our planet?

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is just one com ponent of general sustainability of a product or practice. The American Public Health Association defines an environmentally sustainable food system as “one that provides healthy food to meet current

food needs while maintaining healthy ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment.”

The specific factors measured when determin ing environmental sustainability include land and water use, waste production and management, and greenhouse gas emissions (including trans portation). When thinking about animal-derived pet food protein, manufacturers and consumers concerned with sustainability should investigate a number of questions, including, but not limited to:

• How much land/water was used to grow crops to feed the production animals used in this food?

• How much land/water was used to raise these production animals directly?

• What percentage of the production animal was

utilized in this food system?

• What type and volume of greenhouse gasses do these production animals release?

• What is the energy cost of housing, processing and shipping these production animals?

Agriculture associated with animal consumption has a notoriously negative environmental impact when compared with other forms of agriculture. Livestock are estimated to be responsible for 14.518% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Some production animals are more environmentally ex pensive than others. Cattle comprise approximately 48.5% of livestock emissions, while poultry are more sustainable at 0.6%. Farmed fish, an increas ingly popular source of protein in pet foods, have low greenhouse gas contributions but a significant negative environmental impact in the areas of water use, eutrophication and water acidification.

It is important to realize, in the context of pet food, that much of this production is for human consumption. However, with more consumers feed ing pets human-grade animal protein, companion animals are an important part of the food system sustainability discussion.

The Pet’s Role

We live on a planet with limited resources, and the ever-increasing human population already exceeds our ability to produce sufficient food. The United Nations State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 estimated between 720 and 811 million people globally suffered from hunger in 2020. The UN currently estimates the global human population is growing by around 80

million people each year and, if current agricultur al and food systems remain in place, predicts food insecurity will increase to over 840 million people living with hunger by 2030.

And while the effects of the COVID-19 pan demic were likely responsible for some degree of food unavailability, many of the issues leading to lack of food access are cited as escalating problems rooted in decades of unsustainable practices.

As the human population grows, so does that of our companion animals. According to World Population Review, there are approximately 70 million dogs and 74 million cats being kept as pets in the United States in 2022. As of 2017, dogs and cats in the U.S. were estimated to be responsible for 25-30% of the environmental impact related to animal protein consumption. This impact is related both to the high number of pets and the shift in consumer preferences regarding pet food proteins.

As more pet parents select foods with a high percentage of premium animal proteins previously reserved for humans, the carbon footprint of pet care increases. Protein sourcing has the highest environmental cost of any macronutrient, therefore it is critical to explore sustainable protein options for both humans and their animal family members.

More Sustainable Protein Options

Fortunately, environmentally conscious consum ers have options when looking for sustainability in pet food. One sustainable protein source has been used by pet food manufacturers for decades: meat by products. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a non-profit regulatory organiza tion for animal feed and pet food, defines byproducts

as of 2017, dogs

related to animal protein consumption.

were estimated to be responsible for and cats in the us

25-30% of the environmental imp ac t

as “secondary products produced in addition to the principal product.”

Where animal protein is concerned, the principal product is the cut intended for human consumption and the byproduct is not intended for human consumption. Meat byproducts that are often used as a source of protein in pet food can include organs, blood, bone or any non-meat tissue suitable for use in animal feed.

While they may seem unappetizing, meat byproducts can offer a lot of digestible nutrition while reducing

and safety regulations are met, they are a viable source of protein in pet food.

There are some protein pioneers in the field of pet food exploring non-tra ditional, environmentally friendly options. One potential protein is in a class of its own; “Insecta,” to be precise. Insects are part of the normal diet of many wild canids and felids, and some easily farmed species show promise as a component in pet food diets.

Insect farming has a much smaller ecological footprint than traditional livestock farming, boasting few green house gas emissions and low water and land use. Insects also do not require large amounts of resources to be spent raising them, converting feed to con sumable protein much more efficiently than animals higher up the food chain. In fact, insects can utilize biomass considered “waste” at an incredible rate,

meaning they can help clean up after other industries.

Black Soldier Fly Larvae has pre liminary approval from AAFCO as an ingredient for use in dog food. These larvae provide an average of 40-44% crude protein and are already extensively used for livestock feed worldwide.

Crickets are also of growing interest to pet food manufacturers looking to reduce their environmental impact. With an amino acid profile comparable to those of egg, chicken, pork and beef, crickets have a high nutritional value. Pet food producers are also exploring insects as an alternative, novel protein for dogs with food sensitivities.

Another potential protein source is located off the production line. Some pet foods are using invasive species as a primary protein. Silver Copi, formerly known as Asian Carp, have been wreaking havoc on the waterways of the United States. Their population has exploded since being introduced in the 1970s, and efforts to control it have been largely ineffective. They are rapidly growing, large fish with a high reproductive rate, traits that make them ideal for their role as intentionally farmed species in western Asia. Despite being edible, they are not generally consumed by humans in the United States.

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This abundant protein source is now the target of pet food manu facturers looking to help relieve the environment of a pest while providing a quality fish protein. Using invasive fish nearly eliminates the footprint of aquaculture and potentially reduces overfishing of native species.

Insects are part of the normal diet of many wild canids and felids, and some easily farmed species show promise as a component in pet food diets.

Two nonprofit organizations offering comprehensive sustainability accreditation are are Pet Sustainability Coalition 1 and B Lab. 2

Identifying Sustainable Pet Food

There are a number of certifications that help a consumer identify a sustainable product. Two non profit organizations offering comprehensive sustain ability accreditation are Pet Sustainability Coalition 1 and B Lab. 2 Both offer a list of companies that have met their sustainability standards.

Additionally, there are certifications whose process includes monitoring of environmental impact. These include:

• USDA Organic

• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

• Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)

• Food Alliance

• USDA Process Verified Program

• Regenerative Organic Alliance

• Rainforest Alliance

• Savory Institute Ecological Outcome Verification

By working to make excellent pet nutrition more sustainable, we can help ensure animals and humans have a bright future to share together. 

References:

1. Pet Sustainability Coalition. https://petsustainabili ty.org/psc-accreditation/

2. B Lab. https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/ find-a-b-corp

Resources:

• Bosch G., Swanson KS. (2020, Nov). Effect of using insects as feed on animals: pet dogs and cats. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. 1-12. doi:10.3920/ jiff2020.0084

• Ingredient Definitions Committee Report Midyear Meeting via Webinar. Accessed September 18, 2022. https://www.aafco.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Meetings/ Annual/2021/Committee-Reports/Ingredient_ Definitions_Minutes_2021_Midyear.pdf

• Kępińska-Pacelik J, Biel W. Insects in Pet

Food Industry—Hope or Threat? Animals. 2022;12(12):1515. doi:10.3390/ani12121515

• Okin GS. Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats. Crowther MS, ed. PLOS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0181301. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0181301

• Pet Sustainability Coalition. (n.d.). An Introduction to the 4-Factor Framework for Sustainable Protein Evaluation in Petfood. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from www.petsustainability.org.

• Swanson KS, Carter RA, Yount TP, Aretz J, Buff PR. Nutritional Sustainability of Pet Foods. Advances in Nutrition. 2013;4(2):141-150. doi:10.3945/ an.112.003335

• United Nations. (n.d.). Food. United Nations. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www. un.org/en/global-issues/food

Elycia Degenhardt is a certified veterinary technician in Wisconsin. She joined the veterinary profession after four years as a high school teacher and remains passionate about education. Elycia earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and Madison College and continues to learn new things every day through her career and life experiences. Elycia currently works in a general practice and as an instructor in the Veterinary Technician program at Madison College.

PLANT-BASED DOG FOOD

MYTHS debunked

THS debunked

By Dr. Tiffany Ruiz Dasilva

In my research, education and experience in working with dogs—in particular those that experience excessive itching, skin redness and irritation, scratching, chewing paws and other symptoms related to food allergies—I’ve discovered that a plant-based diet can help to alleviate these symptoms. This is because plant-based diets are devoid of the top three most common food allergens in dogs, which are beef, dairy and chicken. Additionally, recent evidence has shown that plant-based diets have other benefits, such as improving

overall health, increasing lifespan and helping with maintenance of optimal weight, leading to longer, healthier and happier lives for dogs (and their parents).

But I did not arrive at this finding lightly… Since beginning the role as the Professional Services Veterinarian at a plant-based pet food startup, I have gained several certifications in animal nutrition, with plans to pursue my Masters in Animal Nutrition. I have worked tirelessly to com pile the evidence for plant-based feeding in

dogs, have spoken to leading experts in the field, and have come to see the benefits of a plant-based diet for longevity and symptom relief.

Through my work, my passion for education has extended past pet parents to include veterinarians as well. As a profession, we are all taught to be open-minded (as science is ever-evolving) and to think critically about the evidence presented. Yet, many of us will shut down when we hear the words “plantbased.” I was once in your shoes, and I first had to unlearn the myths that surround a plant-based diet for dogs—and there are a lot of myths out there!

As veterinarians, we need to think critically and adjust our mentality based on the overwhelming weight of evidence on the side of nutritionally sound plant-based diets. It is interesting to think that we will recommend a dog food whose protein source is feathers for food-allergic dogs, yet hesitate to recommend a nutritionally complete and bal anced plant-based diet devoid of the most common food allergens for that same dog.

It is my goal to provide evidence-based data to those who seek it, and to be a reliable source of infor mation to help dogs live longer, healthier and happier lives…and what I have found in my unlearning was that some dogs live longer, healthier and happier lives on a plant-based diet.

So, let’s bust the four most common myths about vegan diets for dogs:

Dogs need meat for protein.

Not exactly…Dogs don’t need to eat meat, but they do need high-quality protein. And you know what’s loaded with protein? Plants and fungi—which dogs can eat because they are scavenging omnivores that evolved alongside humans over tens of thousands of years. During all those years of evolution, dogs have been a man’s (or woman’s) best friend, eating table scraps like bread and potatoes, so it’s no wonder that they have developed gut enzymes that allow them to digest a wide variety of foods; not just meat. That brings me to the next myth...

Dogs are carnivores.

From a biological perspective, dogs actually lack most of the metabolic adaptations to a strict diet of animal flesh that is seen in true carnivores, such as cats. Compared to true carnivores, dogs produce more of the enzymes necessary for starch digestion and can easily utilize vitamin A and D from plant sources, just as people do.

The truth is, the digestive system

of a dog doesn’t care where the protein comes from—what matters is that the protein is complete, high-quality, bioavailable and highly digestible. In fact, one recent study conducted by Professor Andrew Knight 1 found that “the pooled evidence to date indicates that the healthiest and least hazardous dietary choices for dogs are nutritionally sound vegan diets” when compared to conventional and raw meat diets.

Nope. More and more studies continue to come out proving that vegan food can be healthier for some dogs than conventional diets, and promote longevity for our best friends. Another study which surveyed dog owners2 found that dogs who were fed plant-based diets “reported fewer health disorders, specifically with respect to ocular or gastrointestinal and

hepatic disorders. Dog longevity was reported to be greater for dogs fed plant-based diets.”

As I mentioned earlier, the most common culprits involved in cutaneous adverse food reactions in dogs are beef, chicken and dairy. I’ve found firsthand that when dogs who are experiencing food allergy symptoms like skin irritation and itching switch over to alternative protein sources, like dried yeast, they experience symptom relief.

Additionally, the study results by Prof. Knight1 indicate that when looking at specific health issues, the vegan diet-fed dogs were shown to be significantly less likely to fall prey to common disorders, with 36% of vegan-fed dogs suffering from health issues, compared to 49% of processed meat-fed dogs.

On its face, this is a myth. Vegan diets for dogs can be nutritionally complete and balanced, they just need to be carefully formulated. Veterinarians have rightfully been very skeptical of alternative diets, including plant-based diets for dogs, be cause many past studies found that, historically, these were nutritionally deficient. The reason for this was that most people were formulating their own vegan diets and these, of course, were not nutritionally complete and balanced.

In the last several years, however, there has been an explosion in evidence-based research that supports

A vegan diet for dogs can be balanced and nutritious, help dogs live healthier and longer lives, and be a diet that dogs love. However, this is not to say that all plantbased diets are created equal, and careful evaluation of the diet must always be completed. As with all commer cial diets, it’s important to look carefully at the guar anteed analysis, ingredient list and AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement to begin.

As a veterinarian, I know that nutrition is the corner stone of health. But as a veterinarian who backs plant-based diets for dogs, I also know that the work I’m doing improves the lives and health of dogs—and in a sustainable and cruelty-free way. 

References:

1. Knight A, Huang E, Rai N, Brown H. (2022) Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health. PLoS ONE 17(4): e0265662. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0265662

plant-based food in dogs, and now we have many commercial companies manufacturing these foods on an industrial level, most of which are taking good steps to ensure that products meet a high standard and are nutritionally complete and balanced.

Plants and fungi are wonderful sources of the essential nutrients dogs need. For example, microalgae is a great source of DHA, an essential fatty acid that dogs need for cognitive health. Flaxseed, soybean oil and sun flower oil provide even higher amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than animal sources such as chicken fat and fish oil. Amino acids, taurine, choline and L-carnitine are also commonly added to most commer cial dog foods, whether plant-based or animal-based, to ensure a well-rounded diet.

2. Dodd S, Khosa D, et al. (2022) Owner perception of health of North American dogs fed meat- or plant-based diets. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/ pii/S0034528822001345?via%3Dihub#ac0005

Dr. Tiffany Ruiz Dasilva has a passion for nutrition, behavior and pain management, with the overarching goal of improving the hu man-animal bond. Dr. Dasilva attended Brown University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and later attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She has worked in general practice, on telehealth platforms, and received her Fear Free certification. In 2020, she created an affordable, multilingual telehealth platform in an effort to make veterinarians more easily accessible, and is now channeling her passion for pain management, behavior, and pet parent education into pursuing her certification in acupuncture, and began working at a rehabilitation practice.

A dog’s health will decline on a vegan diet.

A plant-based diet is not nutritionally sound.

Dogs are deeply woven into the fabric of our society and families. As the canine solidifies his position as “man’s best friend”, it’s more important than ever for man to understand dog’s complex social language.

THE Decoding Canine Social Dynamics

BY KHRIS BERRY & JOSH AARON

“Wow, this book goes into and explores the mind of canine behavior like I have not seen before. I found this hard to put down once I started to read it. Kudos on a great read!” — Joey Villani, The “Dogfather”

ARE YOU A

THE SECRET TO P R A C TICE S U C CESS

By Louise Dunn

You have reached that stage in your professional career where it is time to run your own hospital. You sat in on those seminars, read every article about practice ownership and listened to advice from colleagues. But do you remember all those tips you learned?

So often, we forget, ignore or are just plain confused about the secrets of running a successful business. Some of us think practice success is only for those who hire advisors and consultants, and others believe it is due to the correct alignment of the stars and planets (aka luck).

For a new practice owner, having a successful practice hinges on not only being smart, but being a SMARTE (No, not a smarty-pants or a smart aleck…), which can be achieved by following these six tips:

HARE THE VISION S

You cannot expect to have a successful practice if no one has any idea what the mission or vision really is. Your employees need to work as a cohesive unit; a collective intelligence, if you will, on everything from talking to clients on the phone to exam room consultations to discharge instructions. They cannot function as a high-performance team if they do not know the practice's strategic tenets. In addition, they can’t help build the practice's success if they have no clue what differentiates the practice from the competition.

When connected to a shared core principle, team behavior and performance enhance business performance. This link between behavior and core principles ranks higher than any other factor for business success. 1

So, how does one get to this high level of shared principles?

With leadership; your leadership as the practice owner, as well as the leadership of your management team. And leadership must focus on a few critical areas to spur business success:

• Help team members understand the business strategy, mission and vision.

• Help team members understand how they contribute to achieving goals.

• Share information relative to goals and strategy. 2

Share the vision, share information and lead the way—after all, your employees cannot help drive business success if they don't know your goals or the practice strategy.

ANAGE YOUR SYSTEMS M

Running a business entails managing your business systems (e.g., financials, operations, human resources, etc.). And business success hinges on being profit able, which is enhanced when you watch the numbers. What numbers you watch and who watches them depend some what on your unique practice, but there are some standard industry benchmarks to monitor regularly.

Develop scorecards and track Key Performance Indicators (KPI) such as the number of transactions, net income, cost of goods sold, payroll as a percentage of income, income-to-expense ratios, new client numbers, client retention, client satisfaction and net promoter scores. Keeping information like this at your fingertips lets you see how your practice measures up to published benchmarks of well-managed practices and how your practice is performing compared to pre vious quarters or years. Then, kick it up a notch and present information to your team using Open Book Management (OBM) techniques.

Harvard Business School leaders have said OBM has been the most significant business management idea in the last 75 years. OBM gives practice leaders a stepby-step way to measure performance. Team members better understand finan cial strategies and goals and how they play a role in achieving those goals.

In addition to KPI Scorecards, having some form of documented processes will benefit the management of your operations and human resource management. For example, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can be as detailed as having scripted phrases for communicating to clients or generalized listings of points to cover regarding a topic or procedures. In ad dition, employee handbooks, training manuals, and medical protocols are necessary for job performance clarity and even mitigating legal risks.

DAPT AN D LEARN A

Differentiation from competitors will give you a competitive advantage; however, rapid learning and adaptation will be necessary for continued success.1 Change is inevitable.

Do you learn and adapt when cir cumstances present themselves? Do you view obstacles as opportunities? How do you monitor obstacles and opportunities? Do you look beyond your immediate four walls for opportunities and threats?

An easy way to keep your fingers on the pulse of change is to request feedback from your clients. Surveys such as the Net Promoter Score are a great way to determine what your clients think, say and value. Remember to also survey your team, as they often hear praises and complaints from your clients that you may not.

Once you learn of changes, determine if your services meet your client, patient,

team and business needs. Differentiate yourself from your competitors (both local and on the internet). Manage change initiatives with careful, organized planning. Do not ignore the power of your culture and recognize when you need to have a cultural change before implementing strategic changes. Culture trumps strategy every time.

ELATIONSHIPS R

NEED BUILT

Client service means building relationships and trust. Building rela tionships requires a strategic plan which includes listening to what your clients are saying. Then, use what your clients love about your practice to develop a plan to convert “shoppers” into “regulars” and, ultimately, "advocates" for your practice.

Positive relationships in your commu nity are also essential for business success. They affect your brand recognition as a good community citizen and your

Creating your winning team starts before you even hire someone. It starts with job descriptions, talent needs of the practice and the culture you want to have.

employees’ loyalty and pride in being associated with such a great practice. If you think about it, certain aspects of vet erinary medicine are the same at any practice; easily dupli cated, but (as stated by Jerry Fritz, Director of Management Institute) a strong customer service culture can't be copied and is uniquely yours. So, start paying attention to relation ships and build a culture in your practice that focuses on the client experience.

E AMS FOR GREATNESS T

Hire right, train right and get the right people in the right seats on your practice “bus,” thereby building a great team.

Still not convinced about the power of building a great team? Consider that Michael Jordan once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

Your championship goal is having a successful practice. But, you cannot get there alone; you need a winning team with talent and intelligence working together.

Creating your winning team starts before you even hire someone. It starts with job descriptions, talent needs of the practice and the culture you want to have. Once hired, training is paramount not only to the individual's success, but also to the business’s success.

Finally, there is no end to learning and development within your team. Instead of viewing learning and growth as once and done, look to career development as ongoing, even making it a part of the annual business SWOT analysis of talent and what the practice plans to offer in patient care and client services.

So much is written about bonding with clients and building client relationships. Do not ignore the workplace team and the bonds that enable the team to deliver excep tional medical care and outstanding client service seamlessly.

E VERY CLIENT, EVERY PATIENT, EVERY RECORD, EVERY TIME

Lack of consistency kills client service and patient care. Worse yet, it may result in the death of a pet. Do you see “every” when you perform a chart audit? What prevents

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the team from achieving “every”? When you achieve "every," you will demon strate to clients that you are trustworthy, thus building trust and client loyalty.

Some practices say they achieve “every” until they get busy or someone calls off. Some team members ignore “every” just because of their position in the practice (e.g., the owner, the longest employed person, the newest person). Should they be permitted to ignore “every”?

Consider a few helpful tips for achieving “every” in your practice:

• Identify your culture and if a change is needed to accept “every” as a goal.

• Choose specific targets where you need to achieve “every” and create SOPs.

• Designate a team member/s to monitor the specific targets and report to the team.

• Develop a scorecard to monitor the targets and if the team is achieving “every.”

Successfully changing the culture and behaviors to achieve “every” means working with your team to identify val ues, beliefs and actions. It is not an easy change, but the rewards are enormous for your successful practice. Perhaps it is time to adopt the mantra of “Every pa tient, Every Client, Every record, Every time by Every team member.”

It can be difficult to change old habits. Perhaps you never discussed your vision or mission with the team. Or maybe you are paralyzed by all the data you feel you need to monitor, so you fail to monitor any KPIs. Whatever the old habit, you can easily choose one of the tips and tackle it. Instilling new habits can dramatically affect practice success. After all, success begins with being a SMARTE. 

References:

1. Zook, C. and Allen, J. November (2011). The Great Repeatable Business Model. Harvard Business

Review, 107-114.

2. Sugars, B. May (2008). 10 Principles of Leadership. Action Coach – Business Coaching. Retrieved from http://www. actioncoach.com/Ten-Principles-ofLeadership?pressid=665

Louise Dunn is a renowned award-winning speaker, writer and consultant. She brings over 40 years of inthe-trenches experience and her business

education to veterinary management. Louise is founder and CEO of Snowgoose Veterinary Management Consulting.

SVMC works with veterinarians who want to develop a strategic plan that con sistently produces results. Most recently Louise received many awards including the WVC Educator of the Year numerous times and VetPartner’s The Life Time achievement Award in January 2016.

to Help You Take Charge of Your Health

By Renee Machel

We all want to be able to play with our pets, friends, kids or grandkids, right? In this article, I’m going to share with you three of the most powerful hacks that I’ve learned over the years to transform your health and your life.

Hack #1: The Power of Journaling

You’ve all heard the cliché “you are what you eat,” and in some ways it’s true! Here is a short example…A farmer sprinkled paprika on his chickens’ feed, and the yolks came out red. This was not a problem for the farm-to-table chef; in fact, they did it on purpose. But it clearly demonstrates how frequently and grossly we overlook the impact our diets (often highly processed) have on our health since the effects may sometimes be less obvious.

It is for this reason I have kept two types of food journals. One is a retrospective journal, meaning a record of adverse reactions or symptoms to something I ate. Usually the cause ended up being a poor food choice, but sometimes it was what I thought was a good choice at the time. Symptoms, such as increased fatigue or sluggishness,

typically occurred up to 24 hours later, maybe a bit longer. Other times it could be a matter of months before an intolerance was noticed.

Tip: This type of journaling I did by sending a quick email to myself that I could easily reference later. It helped me to make better decisions the next time about what to eat.

The second type of journal is a proactive journal, inspired by The Wahl’s Protocol , which you can find in bookstores. Here I logged sys tematically what I ate every day and went in-depth on how I felt each day, quickly noticing higher levels of positive changes and more easily picking out the negative reactions to certain foods. This could include physical manifestations, mental

clarity, or even moods and cravings. This was majorly helpful in reducing unwanted symptoms and the need for intervention.

Over a lifetime, your body will require varying degrees of specific vitamins, minerals and so forth. And because of these changes, you can de velop an intolerance to certain foods and even spices or ingredients in processed or boxed foods as an adult. The symptoms may be apparent right away, like GI issues, or you could experience an accumulation effect where the occurrence or worsening of symptoms of an existing physical or mental health condition present. So, it’s worth gaining clarity around what your current needs are and checking in with those needs regularly to better manage your quality of life.

Tip: Some notes are better than none, so don’t be discouraged if you forget to log. The more you do it, the more likely you are to see patterns and the easier it will become!

Hack #2: The Whole-Person Approach

With a new sense of clarity, you can begin to customize a whole-person approach to your specific needs, both genetically and lifestyle based. Nutrition absolutely has to be semi-customized. Blanket recommendations are meant to be guidelines, but mainly are marketing tactics and, as you’ve probably recognized, a moving target. These are recommenda tions that the government and food or supplement companies can’t make for you because they don’t know you!

This is very empowering because you get to own the trajectory of your health and how you feel each day! The more you practice this approach, the less you’ll fall victim to those marketing tactics designed to get you to buy a product.

The foods you thought were healthy may disagree with you, like when I learned that I am mildly sensitive to the protein casein. Here I thought “protein is good,” but it goes deeper than that, as with most subjects in life. So, I encour age you to keep leveling-up your knowl edge base as it relates to understanding how your body functions optimally when you put certain foods in it; kind of like your car requiring a certain type of fuel.

Tip: There are now at-home test kits where you can gain insight into your food sensitivities. Also consider consulting, even just annually, with a holistic nutritionist or an acupuncture specialist who is trained to take into account your whole person, major past and recent factors (that you may have overlooked), as well as lifestyle and goals.

Hack #3: Awareness & Connections

Honing your awareness to the cues of your body is a practice and a process, and one that you will get better at over time. But I guarantee that you will un lock optimal living if you do this well.

Recognizing bio feedback and chang es in your body, mental state and emo tional balance will require intentional focus, and the journaling can prompt you to tune in to these shifts. As you chart the patterns, you will make connections that you didn’t know where there.

Inflammation is the source of many of the problems in the body, but it’s often hard to recognize. However, once you do, you can easily see how eating problematic foods can lead to discomfort or disease. You can also reverse discom fort and disease by overhauling your nutrition habits.

I myself have been able to mitigate restless legs and neuropathy symptoms by tuning into my body and foods that aggravate my nerves. I also eat to support my nervous system and brain health since I am prone to symptoms like anxiety and depression.

If you take away one thing, I want it to be this: Have the mindset to

challenge the norm, the popular, the convenient or the easy. Pick just one of these and do it for seven days, and then 30, and so on. If you do, you’ll find your tribe and new habits that make it just as easy to eat and experience the extraordi nary life you deserve! 

Renee Machel is a nationally recognized wellbeing speaker, certified life coach, CYT 200 yoga instructor, mindfulness, and meditation guide. As the co-founder of Get MotiVETed she aims to provide a positive impact on people’s wellbeing and enhance the culture within organi zations of vetmed. She has spent nearly 20 years in the veterinary industry as a hospital leader and technician. She shares her personal story of overcoming wellbeing struggles along with key teachings in managing both personal and professional development.

By Jen Phillips April

Animal Care

for the support community

Chosa, DVM

Photos Provided by Elizabeth

This combination creates a perfect storm for depression and even de spair. According to a study from AVMA, 1 one in six veterinarians has considered suicide, and they’re three times more likely to die by suicide than the general public.

For those in the veterinarian com munity, it’s personal. Elizabeth Chosa, DVM, knows of three classmates and numerous colleagues who have taken their lives since 2005. Then, a year into the pandemic, four veterinary professionals died by suicide within a few weeks.

Following this devastation, Dr. Chosa and her friend and colleague Blair McConnel, VMD, MBA, put their heads together on ways to make a positive impact.

“It’s no secret there’s a mental health crisis in the profession. Many veterinarians say, ‘I don’t know if I can stay in this profession. I’m miser able. This is all I ever wanted to do, and now I don’t know what to do.’ So we talked about what we could do about it,” Dr. Chosa shares.

They learned more about pro grams offered by Not One More Vet (NOMV), 2 whose mission is to support the animal care community through education, peer-to-peer support and grants. NOMV focuses primarily on those in crisis, which

led to Drs. Chosa and McConnel to consider a different approach based on early intervention.

Dr. Chosa says, “We wanted to know how we could PREVENT crisis.”

The duo hit upon the idea of peerto-peer support groups led by licensed mental health professionals. These would be a safe place for the veterinari an community to discuss concerns and build community before a crisis.

“We spoke to a mental health pro fessional who shared data on support groups and how they help people feel safe and connected to others like themselves. They suggested we could offer support groups on relevant top ics like building emotional resiliency and stamina, communicating with bewildered and upset pet parents, and much more,” Dr. Chosa shares.

Upon their research, they found a program at the University of Tennessee that offers social work training geared toward animal care teams.

“These Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) work specifically with veterinarians. Additionally, some veterinarians have gone through the training too,” adds Dr. Chosa.

It was then that the idea for the Veterinary Hope Foundation (VHF) was born. Drs. Chosa and McConnel decided to pursue the idea of offering support groups, but they

Veterinarians go into the profession out of love for animals. Yet, they learn that the day-to-day reality is difficult.

needed funding to cover the costs of market research. Fortunately, IDEXX Foundations offered to fund both qualitative and quantitative research.

The qualitative research consisted of focus groups with 19 veterinarians and vet techs who either felt they have personally had their mental health im pacted by their job or have witnessed their colleagues’ mental health be negatively impacted by their job.

The quantitative research included an online survey where 395 respon dents had to qualify by agreeing to statements that indicated they have experienced issues related to mental wellbeing or are improving. Ninety-six percent of veterinarians who were screened qualified.

They then decided to test the waters with a few pilot groups to see if their time and effort was worthwhile.

The very first group proved the value of the concept: “The feedback has been really meaningful. Participants share statements like, ‘I feel seen for the first time.’ And, ‘I feel like the therapist understands me better than anyone.’

If we can help one person, that’s a win,” Dr. Chosa shares.

The live group sessions are held virtually, so people can participate from anywhere and enjoy the benefits of connecting with others in their profession.

“Most of our sessions are on weekends and evenings,” Dr. Chosa continues. “And people can register to participate in an upcoming support group. We ask for their role within the practice, year graduated from veterinary school, availability, and type of practice. When we start a new group, they receive an email offering them the chance to participate.”

The six-week program features a weekly meeting for 60-75 minutes. The goal is to create a safe space for

peers to share concerns and build a support network. To support this goal, they group participants by prac tice focus (Equine, Small Animal, etc.) and their role in the practice.

As part of that communi ty-building, VHF includes chat groups for people to share thoughts and ideas in between sessions: “Chat groups build connections and rela tionships. One of the most reward ing parts is seeing the community being built,” Dr. Chosa adds.

As of the time this article was written, nine participating mental health professionals led groups.

“There have been 12 groups so far with almost 100 participating veterinarians. We plan on two to three sessions a month for now.

Participants share statements like, ‘I feel seen for the first time.’

And, ‘I feel like the therapist understands me better than anyone.’

If we can help one person, that’s a win.

– Elizabeth Chosa, DVM

A web writer since 2005, Jen’s written over 1,000 articles on pet-related topics. She works with veterinarians and pet profes sionals around the world to help them attract and retain customers through effective content marketing practices. Passionate about both pets and digital marketing, you can find out more at jenphillipsapril.com. When not working with her fabulous clients, you can find her eating tacos and practicing her Spanish in her adopted home of the Riviera Maya.

We’re growing slowly so we don’t outpace our resources,” Dr. Chosa continues. “As we get more sponsorships, we’ll be able to offer more groups. We also want to support technicians, practice man agers, and everyone on the animal care team.”

If you’d like to participate in future VHF sessions or want to learn more about the program, visit veterinaryhope.org for details. 

References:

1. Tomasi, S., & Fechter-Legett, E. (2019). Suicide rate among veterinarians from 1979 through 2015. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 254(1), 104–112.

2. Not One More Vet (NOMV). https://www.nomv.org/

Need a little extra

See how many PETVET TOp 10 wellbeing

Project WAG (Wellbeing and Growth) by Zoetis provides all industry professionals—from the front desk to the treatment room—with easy ac cess to resources and tools designed for self-care to help set healthy boundaries at work, connect with the community and create more joy in your day-to-day work. www.projectwag.org

December 27th is

Dr. Doug Mader’s The Vet at Noah’s Ark: Stories of Survival from an InnerCity Animal Hospital is a stirring account of his fight to protect his animal patients and human staff amid the dangerous realities of inner-city life and the Los Angeles riots.

With the recently launched Hill’s Veterinary Academy, animal health professionals can access important resources, including free RACE approved CE, to help them best support and counsel their clients, and provide the best care possible to the pets in their care. www.hillsvet.com

Visit the Zoo Day!

Take some time to unwind from the holiday madness with a trip to the zoo (if your weather and climate allow for it).

The Restore from Hatch is an all-in-one sleep aid device with sleep content and soothing sounds, gentle sunrise alarms, pre-loaded wind down and sleep routines, and mind/body exercises. www.hatch.co

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and Petabyte Technology have launched the AAHA Benchmarking platform which features standardized data, live metrics, and easy-to-interpret analytics to guide veterinary teams towards better business and medical decisions. www.aaha.org

Wallpaper is making a comeback! Outdated in recent years, manufacturers now offer even more trendy and modern models that are suitable for all rooms. Floral and nature-inspired designs continue to be the most popular.

Learn,

some Vegas-style fun

at Western Veterinary Conference 2023! Head to Las Vegas February 19-22 for exciting keynote speakers, continuing education sessions, workshops and symposium that offer something for everyone—from students to seasoned vets looking to brush up on their knowledge.

Put together some pet travel safety tips to share with your clients on social media or in a newsletter to ensure they are prepared for a new year of safe traveling.

Butter boards are basically the low-effort (and more affordable) alternative to charcuterie boards. Simply slather some softened butter on a cutting board, top it with seasonings and other garnishes, and serve it alongside crudité and crusty bread for dipping. 

By Kathy Hosler

SafeHaven

Ourpetsofferusunconditionallove andacceptance,inspiteof whatlivinginourworld doestothem.Butthereis somethingwecandoforour petsinreturnforallthey doforus.Wecanprovide themwitha“safehaven.”

ByMaryOquendo

By Kathy Hosler

Asafehavenisaplaceofrefuge orsecurity.It’saplacetoretreatto whenlifehasbecomeoverwhelming orstressful.Sortofa“mancave” or“sheshed,”butforpets. WhyWouldaPetBecome StressedintheFirstPlace? thunder,•Noisessuchasfireworks,certaintypesofmusic, andvacuumcleaners.Animal hearingisfarmoresensitivethan ours.Petshaveaparticularlyhard timewithfrequenciesatboththe extremelowandhighends. •Toomuchstimulation fromchildren,otherpets,loud householdnoises,andscents.•Overwhelmingholidaystress andbustle,changesinroutinessuch asmoving,vacations,births,friction betweenfamilymembers,aswellas anysituationthatcausestheirpeople tostress.Whenpeoplearestressed, hormonessuchasadrenalineflood ourbodies.Ananimal’ssenseofsmell issogreat,theyrecognizetheodorof thehormoneasasituationinvolving

theflight,fight,orfreezesyndrome. Evenhappyevents,suchasthebirth ofababycanstillbestressful. stemming•Aftereffectsoffearfromdanger fromfire,smoke,natural disasters,andevenofbeingleftalone. Ifyoudonotprovideyourpet withtheirownsafehaventhat theycangotowhenneeded,your petwillfindoneontheirown. HowCanYouProvideYour PetwithaSafeHaven?Theeasiestwayistocreateaden.A denisaplaceofconcealmentthatis quietandcomfortable.Denningisa naturalinstinctamongstanimals.To start,allyouneedisacrate,blanket orsheet,andpetbed.Placethecrate inacornerofyourhomethatdoes

nothavealotoftraffic.Coverthe crateonallsideswiththeblanketor sheetexceptforthedooropening. alwaysPlaceacomfypetbedinsideand leavethedooropen.Oneof thereasonsIlikecratestocreatedens isintheeventofanevacuation,it iseasytosimplyclosethedoorand transportthepettothecarandleave. Neverusetheirdenaspunishment. Theirdenshouldalwaysbeassociated withpositiveexperiences.Afterall, itistheirsafehaven,notyours.Place theirfavoritetoysinside.Ialsolike tokeepanold,unwashedshirtin theircrate.Itsmellsliketheirfavorite personandcanactasacalmingagent. Asafehavendoesnothavetobea crate,itjustneedstobeaspotyour petfeelssafeandyouknowwhereitis.

Afterathoroughrinsingandtowel drying,ahighvelocitydryerseparates the hairs and helps remove even more of the loose undercoat. When the coat isdry,yourgroomergoesthroughthe coatinch-by-inchandusesspecialized hair removal tools to complete the de-sheddingprocess.Remember,desheddingisnotaone-timeprocedure. Becauseeveryhaironyourpetdoesnot loosen and fall out at the same time, sheddingcanbeaconstantproblem. Youcanhelpkeepyourpet’s unwantedhairundercontrolby continuingtoremovetheexcess loosened hair at home. Our salon Continued inside

Thisprocesshelps tofurtherloosenthesheddinghair.