Fuzzybutts and Friends: Recent Episodes
Luke Robinson
Me and my Fuzzybutts have backpacked thousands of miles and met a whole cast of cool and curious characters. As the founder of The Puppy Up Foundation and Fuzzbutt Studios and the father of 5 Infamous Fuzzybutts, 3 of which I've lost to cancer, we'll talk to guests that relate to our travels and inevitably to dogs. Join us for our crazy adventures on the road and on the air every Tuesdays! Puppy Up and Talk Soon. Grayson, Indiana & Luke (aka Yer Big Dog)
Hey everyone we apologize for the radio silence this past month but if you've been following either me or Ginger or social media well you know Indiana Jones was given rest June 13th and it was a tough and tragic loss. The past 6 months have been hard.
As a memorial to my son I'm camping out in Austin for 47 days to do art and comedy through which I hope to heal. Ginger and I are going to try to do a few podcasts when I can but we just wanted you to know we're still here and should return to our weekly drops mid September.
Puppy up and talk soon! And thanks for all of the love and support - Yer Big Dog
Postscript: Disclaimer - if you want to watch a grown Big Dog cry, well this is your episode. Sorry but even after a month I'm still so busted up.
When Indiana and Yer Big Dog walked the length of the west coast on the PCH we were sponsored by a startup company that made a GPS tracking system for dogs. Unfortunately it didn't really work but I always knew a company would perfect the technology.
Andrew Bleiman joins us for this episode to present Tractive, a cutting edge technology that tracks your pet's location, health and activity in real time! And it's for dogs and cats! They have over a million users and Tractive is collecting tons of critical data.
Although YBD hasn't road tested Tractive yet, it's an exciting, promising new tool for pet parents! Learn more at https://tractive.com/
A note from YBD. My apologies for the missed episode. My Indiana Jones was given rest last week.
Thank you for this episode's sponsor - Genie's Therapeutics -https://geniestherapeutics.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #fuzzybutts #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #Tractive #AndrewBleiman #dogtracker #GPS #pettracker #caninecancer #puppyup
We're excited to have one of the most esteemed and accomplished veterinary oncologists on our podcast this week. Doug Thamm is a professor and researcher at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University and the head of countless studies on novel cancer therapeutics.
It's a good thing Ginger couldn't join us for this episode so Dr. Thamm and Yer Big Dog could nerd out and we cover a wide berth of topics. Including a lengthy discussion about the ongoing development of a universal cancer vaccine!
Thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Genie's therapeutics
FuzzybuttsandFriends #fuzzybutts #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #dougthamm #CSU #FlintAnimalCancerCenter #caninecancer #universalcancervaccine #puppyup #dogcancer #cmpanionanimals
Dr. Shadi Ireifei joins Fuzzybutts & Friends for an update on several great products and platforms Vet Triage has recently launched! From a platform for Spanish speaking people to equine services to Veterinarian mentoring they are doing great things for veterinary medicine!
Learn more at https://vettriage.com/
Thanks to our sponsor for this episode for the best hemp oil based CBD please visit Genie's Therapeutics at: https://geniestherapeutics.com/
ffuzzybuttsandfriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #VetTriage #ShadiIreifei #puppyup #caninecancer
Yer Big Dog has always said we need more dudes doing great things for dogs! A few weeks ago I met Brett Simon by virtue of our work for Fetch Petcare.
His mom didn't let him have a dog when he was a kid so the first job he signed up for was as a K9 officer and that changed his life. Brett then worked on a military service dog program in Iraq after which he founded K9 for Warriors which has placed over a thousand service dogs with wounded veterans.
Brett then founded Service Dogs 4 Vets, a consortium of 19 organizations that sets high standards for its members. And he works with Fetch Petcare which is how I came to know him. It's a dudes that help dogs episode!
https://servicedogs4vets.org/
https://fetchpetcare.com/
And our sponsor for this episode - https://geniestherapeutics.com/
Fuzzybutts #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #BrettSimon #ServiceDogs4Vets #servicedogs #K9sforwarriors #Fetchpetcare #Fetch #belgianmalinois #caninecancer #puppyup
It's time for another edition of Fuzzybutts in the News and this episode is both freaky, funny & frightening. If you haven't met Sparkles check out this video first! https://youtu.be/MG4PPkCyJig?si=NycSUPHRKZSPysEF
The addition of fur to Boston Dynamics famous robot dog Spot changes the game and Ginger and I discuss it to silly lengths. And then our talk turns to a more serious matter - the business practices of some veterinary clinics.
Thanks to our sponsor for this episode - the best CBD formulation in the biz - https://geniestherapeutics.com/
Ffuzzybutts #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #Sparkles #BostonDynamics #veterinarians #veterinaryclinic #caninecancer #puppyup
Our good friend and veterinary oncologist extraordinaire stopped by to talk about new and exciting tools to beat cancer in our canine companions!
But before we talk data and exciting tech, Craig shares a wonderful story about his family and fuzzybutts. It's a powerful and poignant example of the bond between companion animals and their human mates!
Our main focus for the conversation in this episode is a promising drug that's still under conditional approval for canine lymphoma but the data points for Laverdia are exciting! Lots of reasons to check out this episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends!
Fuzzybutts #FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #CraigClifford #bluepearl #Laverdia #caninecancer #caninelymphoma #lymphoma #dogcancer #puppyup
Dr. Chris stops by Fuzzybutt Studios today to talk about his life's work as a veterinary behaviorist and wow what an episode!
We talk about everything from instinct dog training, to enriching environments for your fuzzybutt, to Neuralink for pets! And even the pathology of humping dogs!
Learn more about the important work of Dr. Pachel at his website https://www.drpachel.com/
And alleviate your fuzzybutt's inflammation with Yer Big Dog's recommended CBD formulation! https://geniestherapeutics.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #ChristopherPachel #VeterinaryBehaviorist #Animalbehavior #InstinctDogTraining #DogTraining #Neuralink #BehavioralEuthanasia #HumpingDogs #Hudson #PuppyUp #caninecancer
In this powerful episode Dr. Jaime Modiano joins us from his lab at the University of Minnesota to talk cancer technology amongst many other timely and important topics: diagnostics, AI in cancer detection, evolutionary genetics and metastasis, and even the economics of veterinary medicine.
It's our second conversation with Dr Modiano and he will undoubtedly be a regular guest on the show!
Please consider supporting Modiano Labs at https://modianolab.org
And for the best hemp oil and CBD formulation on the market choose Genie's Therapeutics for your fuzzybutts! https://geniestherapeutics.com
fuzzybuttsandfriends #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #yerbigdog #jaimemodiano #ModianoLab #caninecancer #puppyup #hemangiosarcoma #cancerdetection
In this episode we introduce another tool in the increasingly growing box of new therapeutics for treating cancer in your canine companions! This one, Stelfonta, targets specifically Mast Cell Tumors (MCT) although its plant based small molecule compound may hopefully become a platform technology for treating other types of cancer.
Dr. Pamela Jones, Chief Veterinary Officer of QBiotics, joins us to discuss Stelfonta, a relatively new drug that has demonstrated a success rate in treating MCT almost as high as surgery. Given that MCT is one of the most common cancers in dogs, this episode is a must listen!
To learn more about MCT and this exciting new therapeutic from QBiotics, please visit https://stelfonta.com/
And if you're fuzzybutt has chronic inflammatory issues like my Indiana Jones, Genie's Therapeutics is a highly effective CBD hemp oil and the one Yer Big Dog uses for his fuzzybutt! https://geniestherapeutics.com/ (Sponsored)
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #QBiotics #PamelaJones #MastCellTumors #MCT #MastCellCancer #smallmolecules #caninecancer #puppyup
We most often discuss scientific and quantifiable topics but this episode delves into things unseen and perhaps unknowable. Brought back to life by her dog Smokie when she was 10 years old, Julie Louther has devoted her journey to understanding the spiritual world and the energy that connects all things.
Julie practices shamanism and interspecies telepathy through her company, Infinite Joy Now which you can learn more about at her website https://julieannmarie.com/
Thanks to this episode's sponsor and provider of legit hemp oil: https://geniestherapeutics.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #JulieLouther #interspeciestelepathy #neuralink #shamanism #reiki #reincarnation #puppyup #caninecancer
The second episode of stories and photos celebrating the 16th anniversary of Yer Big Dog's Walk 1 from Austin to Boston!
Please consider making a donation of $16 to the Puppy Up Foundation in honor of our 16th anniversary to support our work on companion cancer: https://www.puppyup.org/
Thanks to our sponsor for this episode and maker of great hemp oil: https://geniestherapeutics.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #caninecancer #puppyup #Walk1 #Austin #Boston
Our second installment on the tragic systemic problem of puppy mills in the United States. Mindi Callison is the founder and Executive Director of the amazing and inspiring nonprofit dedicated to putting an end to what Yer Big Dog is calling the big business of dog trafficking. It's a candid, compassionate and solution driven discussion and Mindi is the go to source for all information regarding puppy mills.
Please consider supporting the important work at Bailing Out Benji at https://bailingoutbenji.com/
Thanks to our sponsor of this episode and the maker of magical Hemp Oil for dogs: https://geniestherapeutics.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #BailingOutBenji #MindiCallison #puppymills #dogtrafficking #dogrescue #dogbreeders #breeders #PuppyUp #caninecancer
It's time for outdoor adventuring with your fuzzybutts and as it gets hotter across the northern hemisphere, properly hydrating and maintaining electrolytic balance becomes crucial to companion animal health and safety.
Julia Lauria is the CMO of Brutus Bone Broth an inspiring company with an impressive product line of broth based products for a whole host of applications and uses other than as a delictable topper!
Yer Big Dog is a believer in broth combined with kibble as a better way to ensure your fuzzybutts have a balanced diet and as a necessity for those with health certain health conditions and geriatric dogs as well.
The bone broths come in chicken, beef & pork flavors and are supplemented with glucosimine for joint health and their vegetable broth has salmon Omega 3 oils in it for hypoallergenic dogs as well. Brutus has also compiled a recipe book which Chef Big Dog is excited to try out for Grayson & Indiana!
You can find Brutus Bone Broth at over 10,000 retail locations, on Social Media - @BrutusBroth or at their website - https://brutusbroth.com/
Disclaimer: Brutus Bone Broth is a 2024 Puppy Up Slobber Saloon Sponsor
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #BrutusBoneBroth #JuliaLauria #BrutusBone #bonebroth #doghealth #hydration #pethealth #dogrecipes #PuppyUp #SlobberSaloon #caninecancer
We've flipped the switch with this episode for the upcoming 16th anniversary of Puppy Up. Instead of being the host of the show this time Yer Big Dog is the guest!
It's the first in a series of specials we're recording for our March 16th celebration and in this one we talk about YBD's origin story and more importantly the story of Malcolm which is where it all began.
Please consider supporting The Puppy Up Foundation at https://www.puppyup.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Fuzzybutts #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #PuppyUp #caninecancer
We've had Dr. David Haworth on our show before and he's back again this time working with another innovative vet tech company, Embark. The leader in breed and genetic health testing, Embark has launched a new series of tests specifically designed to give pet parents more data about health and disease risks.
Embark's gut and oral health tests provide crucial information about dog diet and nutrition as well as epigenetic data for future patient screening. Embark is creating critical healthcare tools for pet parents and you can learn more at https://embarkvet.com.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #Embark #DavidHaworth #EmbarkVet #dogbreed #genetictesting #DNAtesting #guthealth #PuppyUp #caninecancer
If we had to pick a theme for this week's fun and funny episode it's enriching your relationship with your fuzzybutts. We're joined by a dear friend and part of the Puppy Up family, Sheri Throop.
Sheri has also been a big part of Dog Scouts of America for almost 2 decades! The mission of DOA is making responsible pet parents through thier 144 educational, recreational and physical activities from which dog scouts earn badges. And along with community involvement through their hundreds of troops found across the country.
We also talk about the two beautiful dogs Sheri has lost to cancer, Ricky and Lucy and how Yer Big Dog met them during Walk 1. It's an endearing and inspiring episode with a friend and true lover of fuzzybutts!
Join the closest Dog Scouts of America troops near you at: https://dogscouts.org/base/
This episode sponsored in part by the wonderful CBD formulation that my very own fuzzybutt Indiana is taking: Genie's Therapeutics: https://geniestherapeutics.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #SheriThroop #DogScoutsofAmerica #petparents #dogscouts #dogactivites #puppyup #caninecancer #dogcancer
We've had Dr. Andi Flory on our show before but she is back on to talk about some wonderful new developments with PetDX's cancer detection technology!
And since our last conversation with Dr. Flory PetDX has published 6 new research papers one of which studied the average age of cancer diagnosis according to specific breeds. This research became the basis for PetDX's new tool for pet parents - SAFE: Screening Age For Early detection.
Also PetDX has introduced a lower cost screening tool for asymptomatic dogs - OncoK9 Screen - to be used with your dog's annual wellness examination.
Learn about OncoK9 DX and OncoK9 Screen here: https://oncok9.com/
Find out when it's time to start screening your dog for cancer here: https://cancersafe.petdx.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #AndiFlory #PetDX #OncoK9 #cancerdetection #cancerscreening #caninecancer #cancer #dogcancer #PuppyUp
Starting in Season 3 is our news feature in which Ginger and Yer Big Dog discuss current topics affecting our fuzzybutts, cute animal stories, pics and videos of cross species companionhip and much more!
In our first episode of Fuzzybutt News we cover the mysterious and sometimes fatal dog illness that's concerning veterinarians across the country, legislation in Indiana passing permitting puppies being sold in pet stores, behavioral problems with pandemic dogs, top dog breeds in the US, a new company using AI predictive models in targeted cancer therapy, pets in memoriam and the upcoming Puppy Bowl!
Also the Puppy Up Foundation is hosting a 16 year anniversary celebration of its founding with YBD's first walk on March 16th with an art auction and more! https://www.puppyup.org/
We also want to thank our first podcast sponsor Genie's Therapeutics! https://geniestherapeutics.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #GeniesTherapeutics #CanineNews #AnimalHealth #CompanionAnimals #PuppyBowl #Imprimed #AI #Lymphoma #ArtAuction #NFTs #PuppyUp #caninecancer
We love talking to guests who are fiery and fiesty about the welfare of our fuzzybutts! Karen Eckert has been taking care of client's kids through her doggie daycare - Karen's K9 Petcare LLC - for years. But the prevalence of puppy mills in her home state of Wisconsin inspired her to launch a line of merchandise to bring awarenes to the problem of retail pets.
Talk Dog to Me is Karen's line of apparel and pet products that supports Bailing Out Benji, a nonprofit dedicated to putting puppy mills out of business.
Learn more at: https://www.talkdogtome.com/
and https://bailingoutbenji.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #TalkDogtoMe #puppymills #KarensK9Petcare #KarenEckert #BailingOutBenji #puppyup #caninecancer
Welcome back for the start of Season 3 of Fuzzybutts & Friends! We hope you had a warm and wonderful holiday with your family. For ours, it was very stressful and worrisome as YBD's 12 year old Great Pyrenees, Indiana fell ill with an infection.
Indy is much better now as we treated his infection aggressively both systemically and topically but it has prioritized 2024 for Yer Big Dog. It's time to get back on the road with Indiana for his last adventure. Plans are already underway for a 160 mile walk from Chicago to Milwaukee to Madison WI later this year.
In this episode Ginger and I discuss plans for Walk 4 and other upcoming events for The Puppy Up Foundation to start out Season 3!
https://www.puppyup.org
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #caninecancer #puppyup #IndianaJones #Walk4
It's the end of Season 2 and Ginger and YBD have some Fuzzybutts & Friend Favs - stocking stuffers and gift ideas and suggestions for your kids. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to our audience see you next year! Season 3 starts January 16th 2024!
https://geniestherapeutics.com/
https://bowserbeer.com/
https://www.puppyup.org/shop/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #gingermorgan #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #puppyup #caninecancer #happyholidays #merrychristmas #geniestherapeutics #bowserbeer
It's the holiday travel season when some pet parents must leave their fuzzybutts at home. Having to rely on strange people to take care of their kids is a frightening situation for some and the tough economy has produced no shortage of side hustling dog walkers.
Fetch Pet Care provides local, thoroughly vetted and trained professionals and a whole range of services for pet parents from overnight care to taxi rides. Pretty much anything your fuzzybutts need including medication administration or just changing the TV channel to your fuzzybutts's favorite show, the professionals at Fetch can accomodate.
Carolyn Alonzo and Karen Ambrosh are two Fetch franchise owners from the Chicago and Milwaukee areas who join us this episode to share funny fuzzybutt sitting stories and talk about the pride of being a part of the Fetch franchise family.
To schedule a visit from a Fetch Pet Care professional please visit their website https://www.fetchpetcare.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #FetchPetCare #dogwalking #pettaxi #petsitting #PuppyUp #caninecancer
The holiday season can be sad and lonely for some and our special guest this episode has spent decades learning about the psychology of grief and mourning as well as the importance of celebrating life.
Colleen Ellis founded Two Hearts Pet Loss Center for not only parents of fuzzybutts but for veterinary care providers who have such a critical role in the life cycle of our companion animals. Colleen has also authored several books about loss and life celebration including two for children.
Colleen has a resourceful website for pet parents and care providers: https://twoheartspetlosscenter.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #petloss #ColleenEllis #TwoHeartsPetLoss #caninecancer #puppyup
A powerful, poignant episode about caring for our companion animals after they have left us. But it's more than that. It's about family and the love of our fuzzybutts as well as honoring and remembering them well.
Daniel Russom joins us from Dixie Memorial Pet Gardens where Yer Big Dog had Hudson and Murphy cremated and Ginger many of her kids as well. It's a tough but heartfelt conversation that none of us want to have or listen to but it really became a beautiful one about family and love.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #DixieMemorial #DanielRussom #Petloss #bereavement #petcemetary #cremation #PuppyUp #caninecancer
Our Fuzzybutts & Friends Special Thanksgiving Day Episode will drop on November 23rd! In this brief update we also share foods your fuzzybutts both canine and feline can and can't eat this holiday. It was a new list for us and a couple of items were unexpected and require further research!
Safe travels this holiday week! Puppy Up see you Thursday!
We love providing you with as many tools in the proverbial toolbox to take exceptional care of your fuzzybutts. And Dr. Robert Silver came with many for you in this episode.
We start with an important discussion of the differences or more precisely lack of them between conventional or Western veterinary medicine versus Eastern. It's different data sets and oftentimes, sample sizes but similar methodology.
So we encourage skeptics to listen Dr. Silver's vast knowledge of therapeutic mushrooms from his time in the field, formulating complex CBD remedies for more effectively treating inflammation and even pain and even cannabis in its many applications.
You can find Dr. Silver's many products and research at the following sites:
https://www.wellpetdispensary.com/
https::/realmushrooms.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #DrRobertSilver #realmushrooms #wellpetdispensary #holisticvet #CBD #Cannabis #caninecancer #puppyup
Imagine a pet hospital at which you take your companion animal for a routine non life threatening procedure and the unthinkable occurs. A unexpected complication turns potentially fatal and yet this hospital has a cryopet satellite that can biologically pause the life of your pet until medical technology has developed sufficiently enough to save it.
I think every parent Yer Big Dog knows would choose that hospital for their fuzzybutt over a hospital without cryopets promising technology. Kai Micah Mills is a serial entrepreneur and founder who doesn't like the finiteness of living yet understands that we are now scientifically reevaluating aging, death and our relationship to it.
In this fascinating episode we discuss the tech of cryonics, the process, reviving an intact whole organism, and when parent can anticipate its availability. As Cryopets launches its preservation services, parents can already sign up their companion animals on a wait list at www.cryopets.com
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #Cryopets #cryogenics #cryopreservation #KaiMicahMills #caninecancer #PuppyUp
If you've listened or watched Episode 39, Yer Big Dog interviewed Trey Cercone about his beauty Sammie who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The conversation was unintentionally interrupted by the band at the walk so I promised to have Trey back on.
And it also gave us a unique opportunity to do a podcast about the profession of Veterinay Technicians or Assistants, a distinction we discuss, and the important relationship they have with pet parents. And veterinarians. It's a long awaited episode and Ginger and I think Trey represented the profession well!
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #VetTechs #veterinarytechnician #TreyCercone #caninecancer #puppyup
In this first of a kind episode, Yer Big Dog spent some time talking to parents who have all been touched by cancer at this year's Puppy Up walk in Memphis. This episode truly reinforces the One Cancer approach to our foundation and each story is powerful and packed with personal experiences and information.
Interview 1: Chris and Lucky
Interview 2: Brenna and Lima Bean
Interview 3: Trenta and Sammie
Interview 4: Lindsey, Harper, Luke & Caleb
My apologies to the audience and the parents for the production quality but YBD didn't have time for a more professional setup at the walk. But I will next time as our policy at Puppy Up, every n of 1 counts!
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #caninecancer #PuppyUp #comparativeoncology #onecancer
Stef Michaels is a girl who's gone on many, many adventures and with a penchant for French named fuzzybutts: Dexter, Beaujolais and Guillaume, the stars of this episode!
Stef is the founder, the brand of Adventure Girl, her platform for global living, and she is a passionate believer in Threads, Meta's competitor to Twitter/X. Unintendedly, Stef and YBD venture down the social media rabbit hole but it turned out to be a fascinating discussion since pet nonprofits heavily depend on them for broadcasting their message.
Stef is also a tireless advocate for animal causes and an all around FoF (Friend of Fuzzybutts) and you can follow her awesome adventures at: https://adventuregirl.com/ and @adventuregirl
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #StefMichaels #AdventureGirl #animalrescue #animaladvocacy #puppyup #caninecancer
It's tough to talk about senior dogs without getting a little sad. But our guest today has made caring and homing our geriatric mates her passion and the joy that it has brought her for decades shines through in this episode.
Sherri Franklin founded Muttville in 2007 and has rescued over 11,000 dogs in the Bay area but they do more than find forever homes for our eldery companions. Muttville provides critical health care and even compassionate hospice services because no dog should pass alone.
It's an inspirational yet teary-eyed episode and you can support Muttville's wonderful organization at https://muttville.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #Muttville #SherriFranklin #seniordogs #rescue #animalrescue #pethospice #hospice #puppyup #caninecancer
We've explored the natural medicinal power of the cannabis plant in previous episodes but this time we're focused on one specific cannabanoid that everyone's hearing about these days: CBD. Alex Kozushin adopted an Airedale named Genie who was diagnosed with cancer at 7 and like some pet parents couldn't afford traditional therapy.
Driven by love and entrepreneurial ingenuity, Alex took an existing, proven formulation for CBD called Rick Simpson oil which was also developed for a cancer patient, and made it for dogs. You can read about Genie's response and inspiring story on their website but Yer Big Dog has personal experience with their anti-inflammatory therapeutic.
As some of you know, YBD's fuzzybutt Indiana is having mobility issues and currently using Genie's Therapeutics and he's shown demonstrable improvement. And while the science hasn't caught up with nature yet and we lack empirical data for both its clinical and quality of life benefits, CBD works!
Read more about Genie's story and CBD at https://geniestherapeutics.com/
Disclosure: Genie's Therapeutics is a sponsor of The Puppy Up Foundation. Yer Big Dog still recommends it 100%
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #GeniesTherapeutics #CBD #Inflammation #AlexKozushin #Cancer #caninecancer #PuppyUp
Well we didn't know how this episode would turn out with two tremendous opposing emotional forces: comedy and cancer. Trying to find humor in the face of tragedy is a tough tough thing. But as a cancer survivor herself, Sarah Boston balances both expertly in her profession as a board certified veterinary surgical oncologist and as a rising Canadian comedy star.
In addition to doing standup, Sarah publishes satirical newsletter similar to The Onion for veterinarians and techs that has become a must read in the industry. And as if that wasn't enough funny business Dr. Boston she recently launched a comedy podcast for health professionals called Comedicine. Cancer has been a constant theme in Dr. Boston's life affecting her personally and inspiring her to write her biography, Lucky Dog, and a pursuit of comedy. Dr. Boston currently consults with other veterinary oncologists via Telemedicine and pursues clinical research as well.
You can find all of her inspiring exciting adventures at her site: https://drsarahboston.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #SarahBoston #comedy #caninecancer #veterinarymedicine #surgicaloncology #podcasts #Comedicine #TheCageliner #DrSarahBoston #PuppyUp
For the past year Yer Big Dog has been doing art and exploring the world of NFTs as a means of helping with the loss of Hudson and creating art to raise money for cancer research. And, for the past many many months, YBD has been trying to get an NFT artist to come on F&F and talk art! It's an honor to finally have a legit Artist, Mark Kelly, joining us today from across the Pond.
Mark was an early adopter in NFTs and AI Art as an artist, curator and collector and we nerd out on crypto, AI art, challenges of the NFT space, new tools for artists, and we talk about his two Yorkies! Okay, okay, maybe that's a justification for doing an entire episode on art but Mark and I have a lovely, engaging discussion and just like NFTs, if you stick with it, you'll see the beauty!
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #MarkKelly #AIArt #NFTs #NFTArt #Art #PetPortraits
Pet Partners has been training therapy pets around the world for over 40 years and its current Chief Mission Officer, Mary Margaret Callahan, joins us this episode to talk all about the importance of the human-animal bond and enriching the lives of your companions.
Pet Partners is also the current host of the World's Largest Pet Walk which is being held this September 23rd, 2023 and any pet anywhere can participate in. To learn more about the walk or if you think your fuzzybutt is therapy pet material, go to Pet Partner's website at https://petpartners.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #PetPartners #MaryMargaretCallahan #TherapyPets #humananimalbond #animalhumanbonding #companionanimals #caninecancer #PuppyUp
We're back this week exploring the complex world of pet insurance. But rather than from the perspective of an industry executive, we've invited a veterinarian and fellow podcaster Dr. Doug Kenney who's been helping out pet parents for over a decade.
From his expertise, Doug developed the Pet Insurance Toolkit for comparing insurers and policies based on the family's individual needs. You can find that at www.PetInsuranceToolkit.com.
Dr. Doug Kenney's podcast is: https://www.petinsuranceguidepodcast.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #PetInsurance #DougKenney #PetInsuranceToolkit #PetInsuranceGuide #PetPodcast #puppyup #caninecancer
Hey everyone, Yer Big Dog has been a sick dog for the past couple of weeks but he's feeling better now and will back next week! Puppy up talk soon!
August is Itchy Pet Awareness so we've invited a Veterinary Dermatologist on the show to talk about all things allergies. Dr. Andy Hillier leads Zoetis Petcare's Dermatology Strategy and was involved in launching their revolutionary drug: Oclacitinib
Oclacitinib is a monoclonal antibody therapy for treatment of canine allergic dermatitis in either in oral (Apoquel) or injectible (Cytopoint) form and its efficacy has been thoroughly established over the past 10 years in the US. We discuss causes of allergic dermititis in dogs as well as other skin topics in this episode!
To find out if your fuzzybutt is a candidate for Oclacitinib, visit the webpage: https://itchingforhelp.com/
Apparently Yer Big Dog is suffering from Itchy Dog Month, too, so apologies for sneezing and coughing throughout the episode.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #lukerobinson #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #veterinarydermatology #AndrewHillier #Zoetis #Cytopoint #Apoquel #allergicdermatitis #itchypetawareness #PuppyUp #caninecancer
In this power packed episode, Phil Bergman is back again on the show this time talking about exciting developments in veterinary medicine and oncology. We had Dr. Bergman on Season 1 as his role as Director of Clinical Studies for VCA and back then he wanted talk about a ground breaking trial underway. Gilvetmab is a game changer and a new class of cancer drugs called Checkpoint Inhibitors.
Phil also shares his excitement for the upcoming launch of Librela, the monoclonal antibody therapy from Zoetis for canine osteoarthritis.
FuzzbuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #PhilBergman #VCA #Gilvetmab #MerckAnimalHealth #caninecancer #Librela #Zoetis #osteoarthritis #PuppyUp
Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 40% of geriatric dogs and while NSAIDs are effective in mitigating the inflammatory process, they don't help with pain. Dr. Sharon Campbell, Medical Lead for Canine Chronic Pain, has been working on that for over a decade at Zoetis Animal Health. Hope is on the way with their revolutionary product, Librela, is slated to hit the US market this fall (the specific date has yet to be determined).
Librela is a monthly subcutaneous monoclonal antibody therapy, the second of its kind available for dogs, that targets Nerve Growth Factors (NGFs) thereby inhibiting pain receptors. Already in use in Europe, Librela has demonstrated considerable success in osteoarthritic patients in extending their quality of life. Yer Big Dog is anxiously awaiting to try it out for his fuzzybutt, Indiana Jones!
To find out if your canine kid is a candidate for Librela, Zoetis has a interactive webpage for pet parents: http://www.DogOAChecklist.com
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #SharonCampbell #canineosteoarthritis #osteoarthritis #monoclonalantibodies #Librela #Zoetis #caninecancer #puppyup
This episode we're outdoors enduring the brutal summer heat so your fuzzybutts don't have to. Exercise for your kids is critical to their health, happinesss and longevity but there are so many situations where it's almost impossible. Just over a year ago, Peyton Pugh founded Zoomies Mobile Dog Gym to solve a problem that affects millions of dog parents and she brings it to you.
Her mobile gym is a simple, safe and exciting way for your fuzzybutts to get the exercise they need. Whether walking or running off anxiety or a few extra pounds, Peyton has two non-electric slat belt dog powered treadmills that have harnesses to prevent accidents. And it was awesome watching her Golden Retriever, Penny, demonstrate it for us!
It's a fun first for Fuzzybutts & Friends and this one, you'll have to watch! And although Zoomies (we love the name!) is only available in the Memphis area, we bet this time next year, Peyton will be franchising the concept.
Find out more about Zoomies Mobile Dog Gym at https://zoomiesmobiledoggym.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #lukerobinson #ZoomiesDogGym #PeytonPugh #dogexercise #doghealth #puppyup #caninecancer
We've had lots of guests on our podcast from oncologists to dentists, CEOs, rescuers, world renown authors, and even a livestock guardian trainer so it's a tremendous treat to talk to our first Pet Detective. Babs Fry with A Way Home For Dogs doesn't like that title for her life's work and instead prefers her business be known as Dog Tracking and Recovery.
And though she has lost count over the decades, Babs has bought hundreds of fuzzybutts back home. We talk about why pet parents' instincts are almost always the opposite of the proper steps to take they lose their dogs. The first step is contacting Babs who has generously made her cell number available to our audience: 619.249.2221.
She's a true believer so please check out the website and help Babs out in her mission: https://www.awayhomefordogs.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #PetDetective #BabsFry #AWayHomeForDogs #lostpets #PuppyUp #caninecancer
We had to reschedule our planned episode for this week because Yer Big Dog's boy, Indiana, has had mobility problems that we're trying to diagnose and treat.
Back next week & Have a happy & safe Fourth of July!
Have your fuzzybutt be a part of this year's 'Dogs Helping Dogs' Calendar at https://puppyupwalk.org/calendar/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #lukerobinson #caninecancer #puppyup #Indiana #peripheralneuropathy
For decades now we've read about a future where stem cell technology could regenerate entire organs. And while we're not quite there yet, it seems from our inspiring discussion with Drs. Angie Zinkus and Robert Harman we're reaching critical mass and much closer to realizing its therapeutic potential.
Dr. Harman is the CEO of Vet-Stem and has been treating companion animals with stem cells since 2008 and his method harvests the regenerative cells from the patient's own adipose tissue or fat cells as opposed to other methods like bone marrow. It's safer, costs less to extract and has similar success rates. Dr. Zinkus, a veterinarian from Memphis, has been successfully treating her patients with Vet Stem and introduced us to Dr. Harman.
Stem cell therapy has demonstrated significant success in treating osteoarthritis and is also being developed for liver and kidney disease as well as other inflammatory diseases.
Also discussed of considerable importance to every pet parent is Vet Stem's service, Steminsure, which enables you to store your fuzzybutt's stem cells for future need. We didn't talk about cost or insurance coverage but we highly recommend researching Steminsure for your kids.
Find out more about Stem Cell therapy and Steminsure at their website: https://vetstem.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #AngieZinkus #RobertHarman #VetStem #StemCellTherapy #osteoarthritis #stemcelltreatment #regenerativemedicine #PuppyUp #caninecancer
It's the 13th anniversary of Yer Big Dog's walk from Austin to Boston and we wanted to celebrate this special occasion with very good friends of ours as it was 13 years ago to the day we met Rhondda and Owen Atlas. As I walked the final mile with my two Great Pyrenees companions, Hudson and Murphy, they saw us from the crowd at Boston Common. Being a Pyrenees family themselves, Owen recognized the breed and had to meet the Infamous Fuzzybutts after their 2,300 journey.
Like all great stories, our fuzzybutts brought us together and the Atlas' have been lifelong friends of ours and supporters of the Puppy Up Foundation since. Owen has gown quite a bit since then and has embarked on a journey of his own becoming a successful young actor.
Owen has starred in several feature films including Little Evil alongside Adam Scott, and I'm very proud of his promising career. Yer Big Dog also had an ulterior motive for inviting them on the show! I have Owen in mind for a role in the movie I'm developing inspired by Walk 3 and since he met Hudson, it would bring the story round.
It's a special episode; enjoy and give Owen a follow on Instagram. He's on the fast track to stardom but his Pyrenees will always keep him humble! @owen.atlas
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #gingermorgan #lukerobinson #OwenAtlas #RhonddaAtlas #GreatPyrenees #caninecancer #PuppyUp
It's always heartwarming to meet a fellow warrior on a mission. Marshall Williams is the founder of Project Pet on the front lines of underserved communities with marginalized pet families. And his battle cry is one we scream often on Fuzzybutts & Friends, 'One Health'.
You can't help and heal communites that need it the most without companion animals. Marshall triages with other organizations to provide complete support and care for families including humane pet parenting, training, healthcare and food.
Project Pet is a great cause and you help support their inspirational work at https://projectpet.org/ and on social media @_Project_Pet
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #ProjectPet #MarshallWilliams #animalwelfare #OneHealth #PuppyUp #caninecancer
At Fuzzybutt Studios, we want parents to have the biggest toolbox possible when it comes to taking care of their fuzzybutts and it amazes us that the practice of chiropractic still has skeptics and critics. A few of our veterinarian friends suggested we shouldn't do a show on the topic.
Dr. Clara Medalen makes a solid case for taking your fuzzybutts to an animal chiropractor not only for corrective procedures but wellness, too. There's still so much not clearly understood about the central nervous system and she is achieving measurable results at her practice, Cloudberry Lane. It's an informative and inspiring discussion such that Yer Big Dog has already scheduled an appointment for his Pyrenees, Indiana.
Learn more about animal chiropractic at Cloudberry Lane's website: https://www.cloudberrylanechiropractic.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #animalchiropractic #chiropractic #ClaraMedalen #CloudberryLane #PuppyUp #caninecancer
We talked to Dr. Kristen Weishaar earlier this season in Episode 4 and immediately invited her back on not only for the wealth of information she has but because of her position as the Director of Clinical Trials at the CSU Flint Animal Cancer Center.
The Puppy Up Foundation has funded several clinical trials and it's important for pet parents to not only understand the process for developing novel cancer therapies but the many challenges in conducting these trials. Finding enough enrollees for a study of a reasonable sample size of say, 100 dogs, takes considerable effort. And money. Science is costly and unfortunately does not always yield expected outcomes. Still, veterinary oncology is a couple of decades behind its human counterpart and resources are always scarce.
The business of science is not easy yet very necessary and we hope our conversation with Dr. Weishaar is a worthwhile listen for you! Puppy Up. Talk Soon.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #KristenWeishaar #FlintAnimalCancerCenter #coloradostateuniversity #clinicaltrials #caninecancer #petcancer #veterinaryoncology #PuppyUp
With another first this season, it's the Cooking for Pets & People Show! Chef Big Dog is planning on a series of culinary shows & Roanna Sabeh-Azar, the fabulous founder of Neo Paws, is here for our first with her delicious Beef Bourguignon recipe. And she's a legit chef with her own cooking show @HEALTHYCOOKINGWITHRO
Ro has been a part of the Puppy Up family since Walk 1 donating her sexy high performance shoes to my fuzzybutts and we had tremendous fun shooting this episode with her!
Apologies for the production quality - we had 2 cameras in the kitchen with 2 different image settings and my camera was way above my screen which looks weird. We'll get that fixed for the next cooking epsiode and until then, Puppy Up & Chow Down!
https://neopaws.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #HealthyCookingWithRo #NeoPaws #cookingfordogs #healthycooking #dogrecipes #PuppyUp #caninecancer
Dr. Kelly Diehl, Senior Director of Science and Communications at Morris Animal Foundation, is here with Ginger and Yer Big Dog this week to talk about their monumental research project that's been ongoing for over a decade. The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is a game changer in veterinary oncology as well as comparative science with over 3,000 enrollees who have been followed and studied throughout their life.
It's an expensive, ambitious effort that Yer Big Dog played a minor part in during Walk 1 and the history here is important. Having talked to hundreds of parents at the time who lost their canine companions to cancer, the folks at Morris wanted to know what I learned. I conveyed to them that what I heard most is people want to know what's causing cancer, that is, what are the major risk factors so they could take better preventative measures.
I knew even back then the challenge would be herculean and I'm extremely proud of the work Morris Animal Foundation has done with it! In addition to what they're learning with over 500 cancer cases, the Girls (GRLS) Study (Insider's joke!) has become a platform for further research with other partners looking at disease states beyond cancer. Morris has open sourced their samples at no cost and this is critical for a new model of collaboration.
Morris hopes to make the initial phase of the study available to the public in 2024 so we look forward to having Dr. Kelly Diehl back on Fuzzybutts & Friends!
It's an exciting episode and we hope you take some time to learn about and support all the incredible work Morris Animal Foundation does for fuzzybutts of all kinds - https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #MorrisAnimalFoundation #KellyDiehl #GoldenRetriever #GoldenRetrieverLifetimeStudy #caninecancer #comparativeoncology #PuppyUp
On this week's episode we talk about predators & protectors! Jan Dohner has been studying and writing about this fascinating natural dynamic for decades. Her book, Farm Dogs: A Comprehensive Breed Guide covers 93 herding and guard dogs, the work they do, and personality types for prospective parents.
Predators are fuzzybutts, too, and Yer Big Dog loves that Jan promotes a proper coexistence between the two. We also discuss the importance of conserving rare breeds of farm animals and many more fascinating topics!
Learn more about farm dogs from Jan's many books on the subject at her website: https://www.jandohner.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #livestockguardiandog #livestockguardian #JanetDohner #JanDohner #animalpredators #GreatPyrenees #herdingdog #PuppyUp #caninecancer
Yer Big Dog has met many people struggling to fight cancer only to have their fuzzybutt tragically diagnosed with the disease. But rather than resigning themselves to a terminal fate, their fuzzybutts gave them the fight they both needed for survival. Teresa Rhyne and her incorrigible beagle, Seamus, were partners in their battle against cancer and their story has been told beautifully in Teresa's book, The Dog Lived (and so Will I).
Seamus had 3 more good years and after he passed, Teresa continued her mission to rescue beagles from the terrors of animal testing, motivating her to write two follow on books, The Dogs Were Rescued (and so Was I) and Poppy in the Wild. Teresa's fuzzybutt tales have won her worldwide acclaim and are an inspiration for all of us pet parents.
Teresa Rhyne's website is https://teresarhyne.com/ and you can follow her amazing adventures on social media @TeresaRhyne
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #TeresaRhynes #CancerSurvivor #caninecancer #beagles #beaglerescue #BeagleFreedomProject #PuppyUp
Dr. Shadi Ireifej spent many years as a traveling emergency veterinarian and one invaluable lesson about pet parents he's learned is: when there's a crisis with their fuzzybutts, they just need an expert there with them. He's discovered that 80% of companion animal emergency cases don't necessitate a trip to the emergency clinic and that frees up resources for other sick pets and saves parents unnecessary vet expenses.
VetTriage is part of a growing sector within telehealth that gives patients a broader spectrum of care when they need it. Average wait time for the service is just a few minutes and they do a complete video exam of your fuzzybutt (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and even exotic animals).
For Yer Big Dog, VetTriage is another important tool in the giant toolbox pet parents need to take proper care of their kids. Learn more about VetTriage on their site https://vettriage.com/or on social media @vettriage
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #VetTriage #ShadiIreifej #PetEmergencies #veterinarycare #Teletriage #Telehealth #caninecancer #PuppyUp
Yer Big Dog is flying solo this week as our co-host of the show is out with laryngitis. And Ginger missed a big one! Dr. Jamie Modiano is Director of The Animal Cancer Care and Research Program at the University of Minnesota and founder of Modiano Labs where he's driven by a simple yet powerful vision: a world in which pet parents no longer fear cancer. Dr. Modiano's lab has been conducting groundbreaking research for 15 years to extend the quality of life for our fuzzybutts in canine cancer which discuss at length as well as hemangiosarcoma and the importance of the immune system in fighting cancer.
Yer Big Dog is definitely taking a road trip to tour Modiano Labs which you can learn more about at: http://www.modianolab.org/index.shtml
FuzzybuttsandFriends #yerbigdog #lukerobinson #gingermorgan #JaimeModiano #ModianoLabs #hemangiosarcoma #caninecancer #PuppyUp #dogcancer #petcancer
It's great to have back again for Season 2 fellow travelers on a lifelong mission for our fuzzybutts. Jim and Rene Agredano, founders of Tripawds, set off on their journey after their dog Jerry was diagnosed with bone cancer. Their adventures with Jerry are world renown and inspired Jim and Rene to build the largest online community for mobility impaired companion animals.
Jim and Rene also started a foundation that helps parents afford medical medical for their limb afflicted fuzzybutts and established TriDay, March 3rd or 3/3, as an international day of awareness for tripawds.
You can learn more about Tripawds and access their tremendous library of content on their YouTube channel or website: https://tripawds.org/
FuzzybuttsandFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #Tripawds #JimAgredano #ReneAgredano #3leggedpets #3leggeddogs #bonecancer #PuppyUp #caninecancer
Back in August 2022 for Episode 30, we interviewed Krista Karpowich, founder of Wag Out Loud and fellow podcaster, and her passion for and knowledge of canine health, wellness and diet and nutrition is so inspiring, we wanted to repost her episode.
Krista has produced over 170 podcasts on broad ranging topics for fuzzybutts that can be found on the Wag Out Loud website: https://www.wagoutloud.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #KristaKarpowich #WagOutLoud #PetWellness #PetDiet #PetNutrition #CompanionAnimals #Fuzzybutts #PuppyUp #CanineCancer
In our second installment on importance our fuzzybutt's teeth, we're delighted to have Dr. Naomi Hoyer with Colorado State University. We discuss a ton of topics like dental disease in companion animals, the impact of diet, and oral cancers.
You can find a board certified veterinary dentist at AVDC's website: https://avdc.org/find-a-veterinary-specialist/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #NaomiHoyer #PetDentalCare #ComparativeOdontology #DogDentalCare #CatDentalCare #OralCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer
Canine Companions has been training service dogs for people with special needs since the 1970s graduating over 7,500 companions since then and Michelle Williams is on this episode sharing the wonderful work they're doing. And with her is Jeanette Kaliska and her awesome companion, Fiji, to speak about their partnership and her powerful, personal connection with Canine Companions throughout the years. It's an inspiring and heartfelt episode.
Learn more about Canine Companions and how you can volunteer to help their mission at their website: https://canine.org/ or on social media @canineorg
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #CanineCompanions #ServiceDogs #MichelleWilliams #JeanetteKaliska #CanineOrg #PuppyUp #CanineCancer
For Dachshund lovers all over, this episode is for you! Back during Walk 2: The West Coast Walk, Yer Big Dog met Jessica Williams, a Doxie mom who takes her smol fuzzybutts on epic adventures! It all started with her roomate's Dachshund, Chester, which she later adopted, taking him on long hikes in the mountains of Washington state. Jessica created a blog that has grown into a worldwide community and her journeys forge on with Gretel and Summit.
Read inspiring stories and discover incredible photography on Jessica's website: https://youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com/
FuzzybuttsandFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #Dachshund #Dachshunds #doxiesofinstagram #EpicHikes #YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner #JessicaWilliams #PuppyUp #CanineCancer
So far we've discussed lots of parts on your fuzzybutts and how to take care of them. It's time we talk about teeth. Modern research links dental health to other systemic problems like cardiovascular disease in your dogs.
Dr. Stephanie Lynne Goldschmidt is an oral surgeon with UC Davis the School of Veterinary Medicine talking with us this week about comparative odontology, differences between canine and feline dental care, oral cancers, and many more topics!
https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/
FuzzybuttsandFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #VeterinaryDentist #OralSurgeon #dentalcarefordogs #StephanieLynneGoldschmidt #UCDavis #oralcancer #caninecancer #PuppyUp
So far in Season 2, we've spoken with a couple of medical oncologists and in this episode, we cover the second type of cancer treatment: surgery. Historically it's the first, preceeding both chemotherapy and radiation as for decades the only medical intervention available was cutting out the cancer.
Surgical oncology has advanced exponentially since then and Dr. Arathi Vinayak joins us from Colorado State University to talk about innovations in her specialty and diagnostics as well as her research in bone cancer, liver lobectomies, and soft tissue sarcoma. As a clinician, teacher and scientist, Dr. Vinayak has lots case studies and critical data on this episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends.
FuzzybuttsandFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #DrArathiVinayak #ColoradoStateUniversity #SurgicalOncology #VeterinaryOncology #BoneCancer #Osteosarcoma #LiverCancer #CanineCancer #puppyup
If you've never listened to a veterinary toxicologist, today is the day! The greatest joy of putting on this show next to educating our audience is learning and this episode does not disappoint. It's crammed full with critical data you can put to use today!
Yer Big Dog learned things like the lethal toxicity of the lily plant as well as the catastrophic effects of Xylitol, an increasingly useful sugar substitute for people. Dr. Renee Schmid with Pet Poison Helpline has devoted her entire professional career to researching toxins and treating fuzzybutts exposed to them. Also crucial to know in this episode are the steps to take and NOT to take if you suspect your fuzzybutt has been poisoned.
The first step is always talk to an expert and the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline not only walk you through what to do, they work with yours to ensure the best care and outcome for your fuzzybutt.
The Pet Poison Helpline contact number is 1.855.764.7661 and you can access their entire database on toxins at their website https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #ReneeSchmid #PetPoisonHelpline #petpoisons #pettoxicity #PuppyUp #caninecancer
Taking a break from heartbreaking stories of canine cancer and cruelty to animals, on this episode we're talking about beer for dogs. Jenny Brown is the founder and CEO of Bowser beer which unlike its counterpart for people, is actually quite beneficial for fuzzybutts.
Find out where you can buy brewskis for your fuzzybutts on their website https://bowserbeer.com/ or @BowserBeer on social media.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #BowserBeer #JenniferBrown #BeerforDogs #PuppyUp #caninecancer
Welcome to the second installment in our Canine Cancer series and this episode primarily focuses on one of the most common types of cancer in dogs: Lymphoma. Dr. Kristen Weishaar has trained with the top veterinary oncologists in the country and as a cancer survivor, has made caring for our fuzzybutts her life's passion and mission.
From disease manifestation and presentation to breeds susceptible and standard of care, we take a complete look at Canine Lymphoma. Dr. Weishaar also maintains an interest in Canine Mast Cell Cancer and we have just enough time in this episode to discuss the disease that killed Yer Big Dog's fuzzybutt, Hudson.
There's loads of useful data for pet parents in this episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #KristenWeishaar #veterinaryoncology #lymphoma #caninelymphoma #caninecancer #dogcancer #petcancer #PuppyUp
In Season 2 we're launching an entire series on canine cancer and our first episode features a friend of ours as well as a recipient of research funds from the Puppy Up Foundation.
Dr. Debbie Knapp is a researcher, teacher, and medical oncologist at Purdue University with a particular interest in canine bladder cancer. We discuss which dog breeds are affected most commonly and how disease presents, manifests, and spreads as well as standard of care and outcomes. It's a data intense episode and the start of an informative series on canine cancers.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #DebbieKnapp #PurdueUniversity #bladdercancer #caninecancer #dogcancer #PuppyUp #PuppyUpFoundation
Painful but of paramount importance, in this episode we talk with Shannon Kieth, Founder and Executive Director of the Beagle Freedom Project, about medical testing on dogs and the overseas meat trade. A fair warning to our audience about the content of this episode. It's a tough tragic reality that affects far too many fuzzybutts but fortunately the tide is turning.
Recently, Shannon scored several major legislative victories at the federal and state level and the Beagle Freedom Project is educating people worldwide about these ongoing atrocities. It's an inspiring story about how one person's love of fuzzybutts can change the world.
For more information about the wonderful work BFP is doing, their website is https://bfp.org/ and on social media as @beaglefreedomproject
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #BeagleFreedomProject #ShannonKieth #AnimalAbuse #MedicalTesting #PuppyUp #caninecancer #dogcancer #fuzzybutts
It's the Season 2 Opener and Ginger and Yer Big Dog are honored to start 2023 off with a world reknown author who lost a fuzzybutt to cancer who then also became an author telling her story worldwide. Dean's Golden Retriever, Trixie, changed his life and became the inspiration for the book, A Big Little Life. Dean also penned two books in the voice of Trixie, his nom de canine, Life is Good and Christmas is Good.
You can find Dean Koontz''s work on his website https://www.deankoontz.com/ and his social media @DeanKoontz
It's a great start to 2023 and an exciting Season 2 of Fuzzybutts & Friends. Puppy Up & talk soon!
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #DeanKoontz #ABigLittleLife #Authors #caninecancer #PuppyUp #dogpodcast #petpodcast
In this episode, Ginger and Yer Big Dog thank our guests and audience for a successful Season 1 and talk about what's in store for 2023! Happy Holidays and we'll be back January 17th!
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
Yer Big Dog is turning many years old very soon in a few weeks and while we all have a general understanding of the universe's entropy, it's how we age that determines quality of life. Dr. Lizzy Pearson, spokeperson for the Project is on this episode to talk about this incredible undertaking that's been 15 years in the making.
With about 50,000 dogs already enrolled in this massive study, the Dog Aging Project is acquiring giant data sets and analyzing senescense in all systems of our canine companions. And already, their existing corpus of research is impressive: from correlations between physical activity and cognition in elderly dogs to diet and nutrition as well as cancer development.
Equally important and unlike most others, pet parents have access to these studies and the terabytes of data The Dog Aging Project is accumulating has tremendous downstream significance for comparative science benefiting people as well.
Both Ginger and YBD are enrolling our fuzzybutts in this groundbreaking scientific endeavour and we highly recommend you do, too! You can do so on their website: https://dogagingproject.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #DogAgingProject #DrLizzyPearson #Aging #ComparativeBiology #senescence #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
It's the start of the holiday season and there's stress already in the air. And your fuzzybutt can feel it, too. But not only are massages soothing for the canine soul, they're therapeutic, too, and there's science behind it. On today's episode, we're talking to the owner of Feel So Good Canine Massage, JoAnne Dykhuizen, and she has a ton to talk about. For years, JoAnne has made the art of the massage her passion and intellectual pursuit and is here to show you how to make your fuzzybutt feel better with just your hands!
Learn more about Feel So Good Canine Massage http://www.feelsogoodk9massage.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #JoAnneDykhuizen #FeelSoGoodCanineMassage #CanineMassage #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
Yer Big Dog is back in Fuzzybutts Studios for a powerful, important and for Ginger and I, very personal episode.
Earlier in June this year we had Dr. Andi Flory on to discuss PetDx's Mutli Cancer Early Detection test. Ginger and I were very eager to try it out on our aging fuzzybutts and the fine folks at PetDx made that happen. Four tests came back negative but for Sadler, the result was positive indicating cancer.
In this emotional follow up episode, we discuss in detail the results, the outcome, and why every pet parent should begin budgeting an annual cancer screening using Onco K9.
Learn more about how you can get your fuzzybutts tested at https://petdx.com/
IMPORTANT NOTE: Since there are no other tools of this kind currently available and given that it's a game changer for early canine cancer screening, I am a passionate advocate for Onco K9. But in our experience there were a few delays throughout the screening process that cost us some time. PetDx assured us that was due to the unique nature of our beta testing the technology and that pet parents typically get their results in 2 weeks.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #PetDx #OncoK9 #AndiFlory #CancerScreening #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
With Walk 3 complete, it's time for some new and exciting episodes and this week is a powerful one. Dr. Terri Rosado is the Medical Director of the Animal Hospital at Chi University and we discuss Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) and its modalities: Accupuncture, Food Therapy, Chinese Herbs and Massage. As well, Dr. Rosado talks about the roles each play in cancer diagnosis and treatment and the critical importance of a complete patient history.
Dr. Rosado is a wealth of information and we look forward to having her back on F&F after the opening of their new animal hospital in 2023 to discuss how we can help her push integration of TCVM into all veterinary practices.
You can find a veterinarian that's board certified in TCVM at Chi's website: https://chiu.edu/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #ChiUniversity #ChiInstitute #TerriRosado #TraditionalChineseMedicine #TCVM #TraditionalChineseVeterinaryMedicine Accupuncture #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
We're in the final miles of Walk 3 and it has been a journey! Enjoy some stories from the road and updates to Hudson's Hope and the fund we're raising to treat dogs with cancer!
https://hudsonriverwalk.org/hudsons-hope/
Part 2 of this discussion was scheduled this week but Ginger's dog Sadler, one of the dogs tested a few months back with PetDx's diagnostic technology was both diagnosed with cancer after a positive result but passed away this week. Part 2 will be coming soon.
From Episode 1: "Today we talk about the Holy Grail of cancer detection... PetDx has the technology to detect multiple cancers with a simple blood draw and it's a game changer.
This is Part 1 of 2 episodes and a first for Fuzzybutts & Friends. Dr. Andi Flory, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder, joins us to tell the story of how liquid biopsy, a technology being commercialized for humans, has successfully been translated for our canine companions. And by successful, the numbers are staggering for their diagnostic technology - OncoK9.
According to their clinical trial of over 1,000 client owned dogs in over 40 international & US sites - the detection rate for OncoK9 of the top 3 cancers (lymphoma, hemangio & osteosarcomas) is 85.4%. The percentages drop for the ADDITIONAL 27 types of cancers they also detect but for me as a pet parent, worth the investment.
We are so excited about these numbers that Yer Big Dog and his occasionally trusty co-host, Ginger Morgan, couldn't wait to sign their Fuzzybutts up for the OncoK9 tests. VIP Test kits are currently being shipped to us!"
So, Part 1 sets the story and the technical stage and Part 2 after Indiana and Sadler are tested, we'll have Dr. Flory back on to discuss the results and their incredible clinical trial data. Puppy Up and we'll talk very soon - YBD
PetDx website - https://petdx.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #CanineCancer #ComparativeOncology #PetDx #AndiFlory #OncoK9 #CancerDiagnostics #LiquidBiopsy
This episode is a replay as Yer Big Dog is finishing up Walk 3 and since the number of practicing board certified veterinary oncologists is restricted, it's an important one. Back in Fuzzybutt Studios soon - YBD!
"For two big reasons, it's important having Dr. Rachel Venable on Fuzzybutts & Friends so early in our show's inception. First is history. Dr. Venable was Murphy's resident veterinarian at Colorado State University where he underwent IMRT radiation therapy for nasal adenocarcinoma in 2010 and that was a very hard, sad time on our journey.
After she completed her residency with CSU and spent some time in private practice, Dr. Venable saw the disparity between board certified oncologists and the millions of new cases of pet cancer every year and this is the second reason I wanted her on the show so soon. She founded Pet Cancer Care Consulting as a stop gap solution and is providing teleconsulting to parents who don't have access to quality care for their fuzzybutts.
That some states in America still don't have board certified cancer vets is a topic I intend to continue to cover with both haste and purpose. It's a complicated issue and I know most of the aspects to it but it affects pet parents significantly and that includes me. Could this type of teleconsulting helped Hudson?
This is a must listen to episode for all pet parents because time is of the essence with cancer. And Dr. Venable's teleconsulting service could give you access weeks faster than the current wait times at clinics and vet schools. "
Learn more about Pet Cancer Care Consulting at https://petcancercareconsulting.com/about-us/
As some of you know, Yer Big Dog is on a 300 mile walk for #caninecancer so this week is an encore presentation of an early but great episode with Dr. Phil Bergman, veterinary oncologist and head of Clinical Trials at VCA. We'll have a new episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends for you next week. Puppy Up, Talk soon.
"It's a tremendous honor to have one of the top people in veterinary oncology both in research and as a practitioner, and a personal friend and unofficial thought leader for me in my journey in understanding cancer in our companion animals - Dr. Phil Bergman. In this episode we start the discussion as to the challenges to finding a board certified oncologist for pet parents as well as exciting technologies in cancer therapeutics, diagnostics and so much more!
Dr. Bergman is the Director of Clinical Studies for VCA. He is the principal veterinary investigator for the fully licensed canine melanoma vaccine (Oncept). Dr. Bergman is an adjunct faculty member of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Prior to Dr. Bergman joining VCA, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for BrightHeart Veterinary Centers from July 2007 to August 2011; from 1999 to June 2007 he was the head of the Donaldson-Atwood Cancer Center at AMC. After finishing veterinary school from Colorado State in 1990, he was an intern at Kansas State (90-91) and returned to CSU for his medical oncology residency (91-94) and then completed a PhD Fellowship in human cancer biology from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (94-99). He was previously Chair of the ACVIM Board of Regents and President of the Veterinary Cancer Society."
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #CanineCancer #GingerMorgan #PhilBergman #VCA #PuppyUp
Jeff Sutherland CEO of Canine Biologics is back to discuss an exciting new product line: Nutridapt. Patients with critical conditions require constant nutritional care based on changing data and although it's only available to veterinarians, parents of fuzzybutts should learn about Nutridapt.
As some of you know, we're big fans of the work Canine Biologics is doing for canine cancer patients and we talked to Jeff in Episode 6 of Fuzzybutts & Friends.
https://www.nutridapt.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #CanineBiologics #Nutridapt #JeffSutherland #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
In this episode we are focusing on ticks, fleas, and mites… oh my! Daniel Kiss is here to tell us there are alternatives to spot and oral parasite prevention. At Puppy Up we love a non-chemical solution to all problems.
Daniel Kiss is the founder and CEO of ProtectOne Ltd, the manufacturer of a 100% chemical-free and odorless ultrasonic tick, flea, and mite repellant, TICKLESS. Kiss started his career in the Pet market 10 years ago, selling dog houses from there he met a professor in Italy. The professor developed an idea, an ultrasonic device, based on science, which repels ticks, fleas, and dust mites.
After 10 years TICKLESS is one of Europe’s No.1 chemical-free parasite repellents, represented in more than fifty countries on five continents, and has won six international awards for its safety and innovative way to prevent parasitic problems.
Daniel was so fascinated about the product and the parasites that he obtained a degree in parasitology. This man knows his ticks! Once you listen to this podcast you will never see a crowd doing the wave without thinking about ticks!
Luke and Grayson are wearing Tickless Devices on Walk 3 and so far, they have been… tick less!
Check out their website to order or for more information https://ticklessusa.com/
Fuzzybutts & Friends,Luke Robinson, Yer Big Dog, Ginger Morgan,T icks, Tickless.com, Daniel Kiss, Protect One Ltd, Tick Diseases, Lyme Disease, Canine Cancer, Puppy Up
In this special edition of Fuzzybutts & Friends, it's all about Hudson, Yer Big Dog's Fuzzybutt 3, and Walk 3 for Hudson's Hope. A bit about him from his Papi:
"Hudson was no bigger than a rolled up hand towel when I rescued him from a farm in Waco TX and once I got him home to Murphy, they immediately became eternal mates. For Hudson, a big brother. And for Murphy, a chance to become one after he lost his, Malcolm, six months earlier.
The two became known as the Infamous Fuzzybutts and together we started an incredible adventure still underway that began with our first walk from Austin to Boston for canine cancer awareness. Over 2 years and 2,300 miles on the road together, we became a family and Hudson’s loss last year as the last of the two, devastated me.
Hudson lived to 15 which is a marvel of veterinary medicine since he was a 10 year cancer survivor. I can’t recall how many mast cell tumors we took off him but there were many throughout the years. Cancer never stopped or slowed down Hudsy from always being entirely himself.
Always sweetly smiling and up to something, Hudson lit up the lives of the thousands of people he met on our travels together. Oh, but he had his peccadillos and his stubbornness was as famous as his smile. And as I prepare to walk for him as I have for Malcolm and Murphy, I carry a simple message with me, Hudson was my son and I heart Hudson always."
Of the 6 million new cases of cancer in our canine companions, the vast majority of them remain untreated or receive only palliative care.
We all have a Hudsy and his hope is that every dog with cancer has access to the best care. The goal of Walk 3 is $100,000 for the Hudson's Hope fund that will give grants for treatment and diagnosis up to $7,500.
Learn more about Walk 3 at https://www.hudsonriverwalk.org
and Hudson's Hope at https://www.hudsonshope.org
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #Hudson #HudsonRiverWalk #Walk3 #HudsonsHope #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #DogPodcast
In this episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends we meet author Rita Hogan a Western Herbalist with a particular focus on healing our canine companions. We discuss the differences between Eastern and Western practices as well as holistic medicine and how diet and nutrition play a critical part in your dog's health.
It's an educational episode and you can learn more about Rita Hogan the Canine Herbalist and sign up for her upcoming book, The Herbal Dog here https://www.canineherbalist.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #RitaHogan #CanineHerbalist #WesternHerbalism #EasternHerbalism #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
This episode cuts deep and covers a wide swath of emotional topics like loss and grief and the devastating wake it can leave in one's life. Sandi Grossman survived the loss of her beloved Mozel Tov and has spent the last decade and a half understanding the science underlying bereavement and has made a business out of it with Pet Loss Partners.
Around the 20 minute mark we discuss the critical importance of the rapport between pet parents and their veterinarian especially at the time of antcipatory grief or loss and bereavement.
This episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends runs long cutting out our opportunity to discuss compassion fatigue but we'll have Sandi back on Fuzzybutts & Friends because of the importance of this topic.
Learn more about the services and support available for pet parents and veterinary practitioners at https://petlosspartners.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #PetLoss #SandraGrossman #PetLossPartners #Bereavement #Euthanasia #DogCancer #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
This year in particular seems struck with more brutally high temps than most summer seasons. Heat exhaustion and strokes in dogs are not uncommon in the U.S. And while I could not find data on annual deaths, the statistic that should concern pet parents the most is this: it can take only 15 minutes for a dog to die after exposure.
The Coolvio bArctic Light Therapy shirt has cutting edge cooling technology woven into the fabric that not only protects your fuzzybutts from heat stroke, but has healing properties as well. Based on scientific understanding of Red and Near Infrared light, the shirts convert UV and visible light into therapy for your dog.
Ginger and Yer Big Dog talk to the two founders and friends of Coolvio, Linda Coad and Remi Haygood. Moms to Audrey (the inspiration behind Coolvio) and Taco respectively, the two dynamic entrepreneurs are on a mission to heal your companion animals!
Learn more about the Coolvio bArctic Light Therapy Shirt for dogs (shirts for horses coming soon) at https://coolvio.com/
Show Notes: This is the best site I found about the risks of heat exposure in dogs: https://animalemergencyservice.com.au/blog/heat-stroke-in-dogs/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #LukeRobinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #Coolvio #bArcticTherapyShirt #LindaCoad #RemiHaygood #HeatStroke #Dogs #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Fuzzybutts
We always ask guests of Fuzzybutts & Friends who they'd like to hear on the show and today's episode was the pick of Old Earl of Frunk Puppy fame. And it's a great one because it combines several important themes: PTSD and the power of puppies to heal humans as well as helping out veterans who were charged with protecting our great country.
Lindsey Kay founded Paws and Stripes for those two purposes and for over 12 years has been training shelter dogs for for therapy, specifically for veterans suffering from either or both Post Traumatic Brain Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Unlike other organizations, Lindsey partners with local shelters to train therapy dogs who are also looking for a good home.
We also met Milo, a recent success story of Paws and Stripes, and talked about their partnership with mental health organizations as well. Its a positive, patriotic episode this week on Fuzzybutts & Friends!
You can support the good works of Paws and Stripes via their website: https://www.pawsandstripes.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #PawsAndStripes #LindseyKay #PTSD #TBI #Veterans #ShelterDogs #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
There's alot to this episode. I mean, alot alot, so I recommend listening to it in its entirety. We cover some tough, exceedingly important topics with Dr. Pierce and she was so very generous and gracious for coming on the show on spec.
For Yer Big Dog, this is the breakout episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends as it's the start of something I've been working on for some time. It's not only the first of many episodes but also what I think should be the standard for intellectually honest and completely transparent conversations about the future of companion animals in our society and who gets to make those decisions. Pet parents aren't really a part of those conversations and that's something we aim to change here at Fuzzybutt Studios.
Please NOTE a few things. This is a professional discussion and although seemingly contentious at times, it's academic in intent - that only through debate can the best decisions be made (No hurt fuzzybutt feelings in the filming of this!) I am so very grateful to Dr. Pierce for being an integral part of this new chapter and look forward to continued episodes with her here.
There are tons of of topics we explore, one of them is the vegan diet for dogs. Another important note that I want to make certain doesn't get taken out of context. I imply that a strictly vegan diet can be deadly for dogs and that requires explanation. At an early age or under specific health conditions that may be undiagnosed it can be but I was speaking more at the population level. It seems pretty evident to me if we were to immediately mandate the vegan diet, a cascade of unseen and unintended consequences would occur. There are groups that believe climate change will force the issue and while I'm entirely for discussions about the accuracy of their models, etc., they aren't disclosing their interests and intents. Everyone has ideology but if the future of dogs isn't first among them, just saying so should be the standard.
As the author of Run, Spot, Run, Dr. Pierce discusses with us both the moral concept and legal construct of agency and companion animals. As in how much freedom do we want our fuzzybutts to have? It's such a fascinating and increasingly relevant topic that we barely bandied about.
Also, from Dr. Pierce's loss of her companion, Ody, she was inspired to write The Last Walk, sharing with us her lessons learned on pet loss and grief. For those who know the story, my mother was still alive at the time of this recording. She passed from Alzheimer's July 18th.
Powerful, poignant and the start of many episodes about the future of fuzzybutts, please read the engaging essays about these issues Dr. Pierce's blog on Psychology Today - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-dogs-go-heaven
At Dr. Jessica Pierce's website you'll find all of her many published works on some of the subjects covered - https://www.jessicapierce.net/books
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #DrJessicPierce #AllDogsGoToHeaven #RunSpotRun #TheLastWalk #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast #CompanionAnimals
As we are a little over 5 weeks from Walk 3, protecting dog pads is very much on Yer Big Dog's mind. Known as the Nike to the Dog World, Neo-Paws has the best shoes on the market for fuzzybutts.
And I would know since they've protected the paws of my fuzzybutts for thousands of miles. We've known founder and CEO, Roanna or Ro as I refer to her, since Walk 1 when she donated booties to my boys. Already hundreds of miles into it, Ruffwear - the booties we started with - were insufficient for the task and that's how we connected with Ro.
Ginger and I not only talk to Ro about their award winning shoes but the increasingly important trend of the active pet and Neo-Paws' other lines of sportswear and gear. Dogs are skydiving, cats are surfing and more pet parents are finally realizing the value of enrichment for their fuzzybutts.
As Ro is a fount of information driven by her passion for pets, we also delve deep into diet and nutrition for dogs and a whole host of other topics, YBD lost track of time and this episode runs a little longer than usual. But we had a ton of fun catching up with Ro, a true friend of the fuzzybutt, and plans are already underway for a cooking for pets and people episode with Ro and Chef Big Dog.
To purchase the best shoes, boots, and active wear for pets, visit their website https://neopaws.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Luke Robinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #NeoPaws #RoannaSabehAzar #DogBooties #DogShoes #PetApparel #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetPodcast
This is the time of year when mosquitoes swarm in large swathes over the country spreading crippling and sometimes fatal diseases. Heartworms is chief among those and as a small percentage of pet parents experience, a serious problem that can have a lethal outcome.
Dr. Chris Duke has volumes of both academic and empirical experience with this parasite and the havoc it can wreak and as both the President of American Heartworm Society and a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Duke enlightens us on its every aspect.
There's more here than even I learned this past year through the crash course imposed on me with my adopted fuzzybutt, Grayson; and Dr. Duke is a thorough and enjoyable teacher and storyteller that takes us through it all. Also, check out their website for the great infographics and resources available for pet parents.
Website for American Heartworm Society: https://www.heartwormsociety.org/
*Show Notes 1: Audio - at around the 1:03 mark my audio takes on static. The new Lumina 4k AI Camera is having problems we hope to resolve soon so the next few episodes are affected by it.
Show Notes 2: As some of you know, Yer Big Dog's boy Grayson had heartworms upon adoption and while we thought it was resolved, just went through the 3 injection treatment after an echocardiogram revealed otherwise. Gray was among the relatively small percentage (25% was the data I read) that can have vomiting and GI upset as a side effect.
Though not definitively correlated, there's sufficient linkage in my mind although I cannot stress enough - there is no alternative. Grayson is an L5 and slow treatment does not kill that stage of adult heartworm. After a night in the ER in Memphis TN, Grayson has healed 100% and I detect no after effects.
Grayson's case should be a cautionary tale and warning to pet parents who for any of the exhaustive self justifications discussed in this episode, don't give their dogs heartworm prevention. But this it's also to educate prospective parents who are fostering heartorm positive dogs. Test and re-test before you adopt. That would not have changed my decision to adopt Grayson nor should it yours since in the vast majority of all cases and in Grayson's it seems so far, heatworm treatment has a successful outcome.
Hope this may be of some help to some - YBD*
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #CanineCaner #Heartworms #AmericanHeartwormSociety #DrChrisDuke #Dogs #DogCancer #PuppyUp
I love tough customers and the CEO of Hollywood Feed has been my toughest interview yet. Probably as it should be. Between vertically integrating a nationwide pet business, ensuring suppliers consistently provide quality products, and training and inspiring a workforce for the future, Shawn doesn't have much time for yapping.
And although it took Yer Big Dog some persistent pawing, Shawn opens up intimately and extensively about the challenges of taking a startup from a pitch sheet to 180 locations in a decade and a half, supply chain problems, the future of pet retail, and why Hollywood Feed was ranked #1 in pet care by Newsweek.
Success starts at the bottom, which for a business means its founder. And after finally speaking with the man I've known about for years, I've reduced it down to this: Shawn cares. About pet parents and the products they depend on for their care. And the support system needed to deliver them without fail in this increasingly dysfunctional economy.
He may not be the fuzziest of our guests on Fuzzybutts & Friends so far but that's because Shawn is solving problems for pet parents at high levels. Kind of like someone else we all know. Who is hosting a podcast. That has two Great Pyrenees that start with the lett...
The future for our fuzzybutts is a direct function of the strength, determination, and clarity of the vision of today's leaders. Without that, there isn't any institutional trust and for pet parents, trust is the thing.
For Yer Big Dog's fuzzybutts, Hollywood Feed is 100% and if you're in the Memphis area, check out their awesome Bakery on Union Ave. Hudson absolutely loved the cinammon rolls and they were made egg free just for him (or that's what I told Hudsy).
They deliver to pet parents now and you can order at www.HollywoodFeed.com
*Show Notes: Yer Big Dog has been too busy to figure out how to make money off this podcast business yet so even if this sounds like a promo, it ain't. I don't think I get paid for anything. In the spirit and letter of disclosure though, Hollywood Feed has been a generous supporter of The Puppy Up Foundation throughout the years. Over that time, I've become a believer in their brand and an equal supporter and after speaking with Shawn, my confidence was confirmed.
However, Shawn, if you're reading this, if you could kick in a bag or two of the Fromm purple for Grayson for Walk 3 we're doing for canine cancer treatment, much gratitude! Also, my apologies to Jean as I mistakenly referred to her as Jane in the podcast.*
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #CanineCancer #HollywoodFeed #ShawnMcGhee #PetRetail #PuppyUp
In thinking about it, all 3 of my Fuzzybutts have undergone all 3 types of cancer treatment: radical surgery for Hudson's mast cell tumors and long before him, Malcolm's amputation followed by chemotherapy; and then Murphy received the two main types of radiation both IMRT and SRT.
And while it's tempting to wonder which treatment type out of all of them had a more successful outcome, that kind of thinking drives a Big Dog mad. Radiation's use is multipurpose; sometimes it's the only tool available given a tumor's size or location. Such was the case with Murphy's nasal adenocarcinoma.
But radiation can also be the tool with the most promising outcome. Advanced diagnostics and imaging along with precision medicine have made radation therapy a promising area of cancer research. And with 8 locations around the country, PetCure Oncology is a leader in providing cutting edge radiation therapy to our companion animals. Here this week to breakdown both the science and the business are their Chief Medical Officer, Neal Mauldin, and their Vice President of Growth and Operations, Ben Chiswick.
It's been 11 years since I was at CSU with Murphy and not only has the technology improved vastly, the accessibility of treatment has expanded exponentially. At that time, I think CSU was one of only three locations in the country offering IMRT and SRT.
Improvements have also significantly reduced the cost of treatment making radiation well within the range of the other therapies. There's lots to unpack in this episode for fuzzybutt parents. For more information, visit the website of PetCure Oncology - https://petcureoncology.com/
........
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #LukeRobinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #CanineCancer #PuppyUp #FuzzybuttStudios #PetCureOncology #NealMauldin #BenChiswick #RadiationTherapy #Radiation #PetCancer #DogCancer #ComparativeOncology
TWO-THIRDS... 67% of all pets euthanized are done so prematurely because of MONEY. Something that is fungible and ubiquitous; a commodity that's transactional and easily accessible for some yet makes the difference between life and death for others. That statistic is absolutely unacceptable to Yer Big Dog.
And as the crippling cost of inflation from this administration worsens the situation for pet care, this episode couldn't be more timely. When fuzzybutts aren't getting the medical care they need, everyone should be seriously concerned and stepping up.
With the recent launching of Hudson's Hope Fund for canine cancer treatment, the Puppy Up Foundation is, well, puppying up and helping out pet parents. As is Matt Martin and the great company he co-founded to solve this disparity, CoFundMyPet.
Their model is simple: The money you raise through family and friends of your fuzzybutt is loaded onto a debit card that can be used to pay for their veterinary bills. There isn't a limit as to the length of the fundraiser or amount which is ideal for pet parents of cancer kids cause that tab just keeps on running. And as it should. Cancer is a lifetime diagnosis.
With 6 million new cases of canine cancer every year, we have to become more efficient with capital allocation. CoFundMyPet is a critical step in that direction and as I say it in this episode, if we can't pay for treatment we don't get the care.
And part of our job here at Fuzzybutts & Friends is making sure pet parents get the latest & greatest tools.
If you have a Fuzzybutt that needs care, sign up at www.CoFundMyPet.com
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #PuppyUp #CoFundMyPet #MattMartin #CanineCancer #Dogs #PetCare #VeterinaryCare #VetBills
The characteristic we value most about our canine companions perhaps is their absolute ability to live in the moment or how we translate that it in the human world by saying, 'Eff It'. Both the past and the future are entirely unimportant since one has already happened and the other is largely incapable of being both determined and controlled.
Since I started tracking Dogecoin back in winter 2021, it was hovering around 0.12 and saw it rise as high as 0.18 per US Dollar. $Doge now trades down at 0.05 as the US economy is driven further into darkness by ineptitude. Thank Dog the Doge community lives in the moment too or there would be widespread panic and weeping amongst them like with the Crypto Bros and Bitcoin Maximalists.
So long as we have our dogs, the world can pretty much fall apart and that's the sentiment, too, with the Doge community. One dogecoin is and will always be one dogecoin so long as you hold onto it. It's a simple yet powerful metaphor and the reason why I find kinship with the new friends I've been making in the Doge world.
Sir Doge of the Coin is one such newly minted friendship and our guest this episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends. We talk to Barry from across the pond about the speculative aspects of Dogecoin as financial instrument but more importantly, the community of Doge and its utility as a means of a trade.
If you follow on Twitter some of the characters of the Doge world we mention in the podcast, you'll discover a mostly responsible and protective community that's filled with gratitude and eagerness to share their motto of 'Do Only Good Everyday'.
My twitter name reflects my belief in Doge and as we make final preparations for #Walk3, and start our $100,000 fundraiser for #HudsonsHope to treat dogs with cancer, Dogecoin will be integral to it. And we've set up a wallet with MyDoge.com for tipping - D7yavQhGapBi3ngado4v1bpTE9DL6ACAQd)
Sir Doge of the Coin is also an aspiring NFT artist, another area of expansion for Yer Big Doge as a way of both raising funds for Hudson's Hope and expressing my love of Fuzzybutts.
Crypto is getting crushed right now, no dogdamned doubt about it but as everyone who listens and loves Fuzzybutts & Friends knows, the Power of Dog abides... and the world is meant for those who hodl it.
To follow this proper Irish lad on Twitter - @dogeofficialceo
www.HudsonsHopeFund.org
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #PuppyUp #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #HudsonsHope #HudsonsHopeFund #caninecancer #dogs #Doge #Dogecoin #NFTs #NFTArtist #dogcancer #SirDogeofTheCoin
Dogvergnügen
Don’t worry, YBD screwed up every attempt at pronouncing it. But you know what it is. It's the difference between your life with and your life without dogs. A side by side comparison: One meaningless and made cynical by man; the other glimmers with love and laughter. That's a bit much but the joy of being in the presence of dog is life changing as most of us know.
That’s what Dog Is Good promises to deliver. And with a wicked sense of humor. Gila and John Kurtz are the founders of DIG and their 'flagship' motto could as well be my own, 'Never Walk Alone'. Together they've built an international brand and an inspirational business that both gives back to animal charities and also encourages entrepreneurship.
We walk through some of their awesome line of pet apparel and products. And we hit a ton of talking points in this episode including pet fashion and humanization of companion animal to collaborating with Dog Is Good on apparel for Hudson's Hope.
www.DogIsGood.com
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #Dogs #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #CanineCancer #GingerMorgan #PuppyUp #DogIsGood #GilaKurtz #NeverWalkAlone #DogCancer #HudsonsHope
We’ve been announcing for a few weeks an upcoming ‘Mystery Guest’ for Fuzzybutts and Friends and there are two things that preoccupy Yer Big Dog’s mind the most – dogs and the future. For some time now, I’ve been thinking about what that future might look like and this episode is a glimpse of just that.
The emergence of Electric Vehicles brings significant lifestyle changes that affect how we interact with our canine companions. And if you’re like me, that raises some questions. My past two transports have been one size short of a cargo van which means plenty of room for YBD to travel with fuzzybutts plus gear.
But engineering and design challenges necessary for electrifying vehicles have changed up their shapes and sizes a bit, perhaps the most interesting of which is the trunk - now called a ‘Frunk’ from its newly found front end location. I suppose it was only a function of need and time that pet parents would discover novel uses for the Frunk and build a community around it. One of the first of which is Earl Banning. He’s the father of Norman and Wilson and founder of Frunk Puppy, a wonderful lot of EV owners and dog moms and dads round the world.
I’ve been following Earl for a while now and he’s a legend for good reason. Not only is he helping EV adoption along the S curve with pet parents but he’s also the host of Frunk Puppy Friday. Every week, the top 4 dogs (or cats) pictured in a Frunk are selected and voted on and the winner gets rich with 1 MILLION $Floki!
But that’s a big job for any one person and perhaps the reason I refer to him affectionately as ‘Old Earl’ even though I think he’s 2/3rds my age. I also respect his sense of adventure in testing the limits of electric vehicles with his fuzzybutts. Their family unit has traveled far in Teslas and Earl assures me EVs can accommodate big fuzzybutts!
And then we turn our talk to Dogecoin. Most people know it as a cryptocurrency but it’s more than that. It’s DOGE. Or what I understand it as - the ‘Way of Dog’ or the ‘People of Dogs’.
Doge is a community mostly found on Twitter it seems & tho I’m not yet a holder of the coin (I will be in time for our upcoming episode exclusively on Doge), I’ve spent many months following the their top people.
Their motto and the coin’s acronym is ‘Do Only Good Everyday’, & whether you’re an early adopter of cryptocurrencies or not, it’s just a good life philosophy to uphold. The people of Puppy Up know that! And, the people of Doge act on that principle as well with ‘Tipping’ as a central way of expressing gratitude and recognizing value.
I’ve become a true believer in Doge not only as a way of life but as an exchange of respect and value and for those reasons, the Puppy Up Foundation will be accepting Dogecoin as part of the $100,000 for Hudson’s Hope Fund for canine cancer treatment. Learn more about that here - https://hudsonriverwalk.org/hudsons-hope/
Buckle up for this new episode about dogs and the future but before you do, follow the Frunk Puppies if at least for their Friday photo competition. Ginger tried to game the system by submitting a pic of her Kelly in a Miata trunk, but Old Earl figured it out and banned her from the group (j/k).
Also, follow Earl on Twitter @28delayslater. Disclaimer: he’s probably going to upsell you on a Super Follow. That was the cost of getting him on the show (also kidding) but I’m enjoying every second of it and the folks with Frunk Puppies are some of the funniest, furriest on Twitter.
We’re excited about the potential of fundraisers with Dogecoin and Floki and definitely look forward to following the adventures of Norman, Wilson and Old Earl on future episodes of Fuzzybutts and Friends!
www.FrunkPuppy.com
Though it's the talk of the country these days, cannabis as a critical, precision tool used in veterinary medicine is still extremely new to the point that in many states, veterinarians are prevented from even having a discussion about it with pet parents. That's unacceptable to Yer Big Dog so this is the first of many episodes on cannabis for our canine companions!
In this episode, we meet the great team behind Veterinary Cannabis Education and Consulting. Dr. Casara Andre is the founder and she is joined by veterinary oncologist, Dr. Trina Hazzah to talk about their first of its kind practice and the magic, medicine and the myths of cannabis.
It's a good start to a complex and surprisingly still controversial topic you can't possibly miss...
Show Links:
VCEC Website: https://www.veterinarycannabis.org/
Veterinary Cannabis Society: https://veterinarycannabissociety.org/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #VeterinaryCannabis #VeterinaryCannabisSociety #CasaraAndre #TrinaHazzah #CanineCancer #Dogs #DogPodcast #Cannabis #Marijuana #THC
During my first cross country walk from Austin to Boston for #CanineCancer awareness, I was introduced to another mad crazy man inspired to do the same. Although Jonathon Stalls was headed in a different direction and backpacking for a different cause, I shared lessons learned about long distance walking with dogs and advised Jon on safe routes that I'd traveled. And thank god he and his traveling companion Kanoa made their 3k mile trek safely.
Jon has since hiked some 10,000 miles around the world including Camino de Santiago which is a pilgrimage for Pyrenees parents that's on my walk list. I often joke that Jonathon is what most people expect to get when they pay to see me but interestingly enough like me, Jonathan started out not knowing a thing about walking cross country.
Jon and I share some wild stories from the road, discuss life lessons derived from giving oneself completely unto a cause, and why when things get tough, he turns into Cate Blanchett and I into Doc Holliday.
Tales from his adventures are coming out this fall to bookstores: Walk: Slow Down, Wake Up and Connect. And it should be the definitive guide and source of inspiration for fuzzybutt parents to get out and walk with your mates!
A righteously and rightfully so self-described 'Walking Artist', Jon shares his poetry and artwork on his website - Intrinsic Paths. It's trail magic that our paths met back in 2010 and that we continue to connect over the years.
Apologies this episode runs long and we didn't even get through all of my talking points, but we hope to have Jon back on Fuzzybutts And Friends when his book comes out. And when he gets into NFTs...
And our love and support go out to Jon and Kanoa who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer recently but still an adventurer...
Website -https://www.intrinsicpaths.com/
Pre-order - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706314/walk-by-jonathon-stalls/
FuzzbuttsAndFriends #LukeRobinson #YerBigDog #GingerMorgan #CanineCancer #PuppyUp #JonathonStalls #IntrinsicPaths #Walking #Walk3 #Fuzzybutts #NFTs #Art
Today we talk about the Holy Grail of cancer detection. We talk about what Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes promised for people yet couldn't deliver...
PetDx has the technology to detect multiple cancers with a simple blood draw and it's a game changer.
This is Part 1 of 2 episodes and a first for Fuzzybutts & Friends. Dr. Andi Flory, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder, joins us to tell the story of how liquid biopsy, a technology being commercialized for humans, has successfully been translated for our canine companions. And by successful, the numbers are staggering for their diagnostic technology - OncoK9.
According to their clinical trial of over 1,000 client owned dogs in over 40 international & US sites - the detection rate for OncoK9 of the top 3 cancers (lymphoma, hemangio & osteosarcomas) is 85.4%. The percentages drop for the ADDITIONAL 27 types of cancers they also detect but for me as a pet parent, worth the investment.
We are so excited about these numbers that Yer Big Dog and his occasionally trusty co-host, Ginger Morgan, couldn't wait to sign their Fuzzybutts up for the OncoK9 tests. VIP Test kits are currently being shipped to us!
So, Part 1 sets the story and the technical stage and Part 2 after Indiana and Sadler are tested, we'll have Dr. Flory back on to discuss the results and their incredible clinical trial data. Puppy Up and we'll talk very soon - YBD
PetDx website - https://petdx.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #GingerMorgan #CanineCancer #ComparativeOncology #PetDx #AndiFlory #OncoK9 #CancerDiagnostics #LiquidBiopsy
BEFORE you start: Advance to 38:17 of the podcast and begin listening there because the music sets the ambience so beautifully for the entire episode. And then BACK to the beginning as I didn't want my yammering and stammering to detract from the truly unique and magical music of our guest this week, Lisa Spector.
A concert pianist from a very early age and graduate of Julliard, Lisa has transformed and translated classic music to that of a calming and therapeutic experience for our canine companions (alas it does not seem to have the same effect on cats).
I know this from personal experience when I played Lisa's music for Murphy as he was dying from cancer. Trail magic connected us again during Walk 2 - the west coast walk when I was very fortunate to spend time with her in Half Moon Bay, CA and it was there, she seranaded Indiana and me. And with memories of Murphy, it was such a magical experience that Lisa and I reflect on in this episode.
And as in each episode, Yer Big Dog slogs through the science but Lisa teaches me on how dogs hear differently than humans and why that's so important to a dog's well, sanity. Ambient sounds and noises in your household matter.
The science is sound on this although in a different trial setting. Lisa Spector's music calms canines in over 1,500 shelters worldwide and we discuss her successes and new ventures. My Zen Pet is the place you can find her podcast by the same name and her music under the label - Dog Gone Calm, which can be listened to on podcast platforms everywhere.
Thank you, Lisa, for being a true friend of the fuzzybutts!
https://myzenpet.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #MyZenPet #PuppyUp #CanineCancer #DogGoneCalm #LisaSpector #Dogs #DogMusic
Parents - if you want your puppy dog to be a 10 year cancer survivor, listen to this podcast.
Hudson, Fuzzybutt #3, was diagnosed with a Mast Cell tumor when he was just 5 years old, the first of over a dozen masses I removed from him throughout his life. Early on in his cancer, I learned about additional diagnostic tests that looked at genetic mutations specific to Mast Cell cancer. These markers help pathologists understand things like Mitotic Index, which measures the rate of tumor growth. That additional data is then used for a more precise treatment plan for the type of cancer specific to your dog.
And in Hudson's case, the test indicated that Hudson's MCT was slow growing and removal of the tumor with clean margins alone was recommended. No chemotherapy. This was medical advice I followed in every single subsequent case when another cancerous mass emerged. And in every instance, surgery alone was sufficient. We got the best possible outcome...
So if you think about what that means, just doing additional diagnostics saved Hudson from the damage that unnecessary chemotherapy can do And because I'm the stay-awake-til-the-kids-come-home kind of parent, I would've chosen chemo every time if it wasn't for those additional diagnostics. There is a little known interesting phenomenon called autophagy that should always factor into treatment decisions which I'll get into more another time. But if I had chosen chemo, I am completely convinced Hudson would not have lived to 15, surviving cancer for 10 years.
With Searchlight DNA, Vidium Animal Health is taking advanced diagnostics to the next level and their diagnostic technology identifies mutations in 120 different cancer genes. And while in Hudson's case the recommendation was no further treatment, their diagnostic data can also indicate which therapy more accurately targets that type of cancer. In either case, the chances of a longer survivable life with cancer almost always increases with additional data.
David Haworth, the CEO of Vidium, does a terrific job of explaining their cutting edge technology to Yer Big Dog and Miss Morgan in this episode, and as the former head of Morris Animal Foundation and PetSmart Charities, we share lots of tantalizing stories, too.
Listen to this action packed episode and while you're doing so, learn more about Searchlight DNA and Vidium at https://vidiumah.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #CanineCancer #GingerMorgan #PuppyUp #ComparativeOncology #VidiumAnimalHealth #SearchlightDNA #Dogs #DogCancer
Very few companies have so fundamentally changed the lives of our companions like our guests this week, Ed and Leslie Grinnell the founders of Eddie's Wheels. Ed's health took a turn recently so Leslie took the mic to tell their story which, like so many of ours, began with a dog. But this one was a girl named Budda.
After losing her ability to walk but not her will to live, Ed designed a contraption that not only gave Budda's body time to heal but 3 more years of life. Cart 1.0 became the prototype for Eddie's Wheels, a unique yoke based cart system that has changed the lives for disabled animals worldwide over 20 years later!
And for some odd reason I didn't know, Eddie's Wheels is also famous for inventing the front wheel cart for rear limb amputees and companions with cancer. Leslie shares some of those stories and we also discuss Walk 3 and getting a cart for Grayson, my 3 legged Great Pyrenees. It's fun, funny and full of good informative stuff for our fuzzybutts!
Check out Eddie's Wheels site for cool pics & fascinating stories: https://eddieswheels.com/
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #CanineCancer #LukeRobinson #YerBigDog #EddiesWheels #PuppyUp
Show Notes: Apologies for seemingly talking over everyone in this episode. In the video, you'll notice I'm using a Shure SM7B microphone now & without headphones, couldn't hear very well. Making adjustments while trying to avoid head gear...
For show sponsorships, email jlucas@FuzzybuttStudios.com
We all know that traditional cancer treatments - radical surgery, chemotherapy & radiation - all come at a cost to our companions. But doctors prescribe and we administer them because the outcome is more promising than the risk in most cases. Such was not the case with Hudson but statistically, you choose treatment every time.
But when will a day come when we don't have to calculate such potentially tremendous costs? Some of us know of the promise that immunotherapy has for specific targeted cancer treatment but has it arrived?
This week, it's exciting to have the CEO of Elias Animal Health to talk about their cutting edge technology, the ECI platform, which is part cancer vaccine and part therapy. And because bone cancer is one of the top 3 most common, ECI is target for that type first and the results are very promising.
Pet parents with canine kids of bigger bones should give this episode a listen!
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #CanineCancer #BoneCancer #Osteosarcoma #EliasAnimalHealth #TammieWahaus #YerBigDog #Immunotherapy
Arden Moore is to the animal world as Mr Rogers was to neighborhoods. She's been around, man, and we couldn't be happier to have an old friend for our TENTH Episode!
Arden was with us since Walk 1 from Austin to Boston and since then, she has built a vast brand of all things animals that includes books and her own podcast show that boasts 500k people a week. That's like just double what we're doing... Well, double that. Then double double but we'll be there soon!
Anyway, Oh! Behave - a great name for a show in the league of F & F - is Arden's flagship show on Pet Life Radio. Arden Moore also is the owner of https://www.petfirstaid4u.com/ where she created and teaches the Gold Standard for First Aid Care for animals around the world.
Arden's a crazy kid and a dear friend to our Fuzzybutts and can learn more about all of Arden's animal endeavours at https://www.ardenmoore.com/.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #ArdenMoore #CanineCancer #CompanionCancer #YerBigDog #LukeRobinson #PuppyUp
Wow is all I can say about this week's guest! Dr. Hohenhaus is a practicing veterinary oncologist at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in NYC and she's got a CV that's packed full of research and writing but also as a third generation veterinarian, she's a wealth of information and wisdom about our companion animals.
Dr. Hohenhaus is also a part of WSAVA's oncology working group and asked us to share their link in our show notes: https://wsava.org/committees/oncology-working-group/
On the bottom of this webpage, you'll find a link to a veterinary oncology glossary.
My occasional co-host is off in the weeds somewhere so I'm driving solo in this episode of Fuzzybutts & Friends. So Buckle Up & Puppy Up! YBD
CanineCancer #CompanionCancer #CompanionAnimals #Dogs
In this unexpected and unplanned episode, your host & co-host Ginger Morgan discuss in detail the damaging and entirely misleading article published in Bloomberg Economics on March 13th by @tghilarducci:
“If you’re one of the many Americans who became a new pet owner during the pandemic, you might want to rethink those costly pet medical needs. It may sound harsh, but researchers actually don’t recommend pet chemotherapy — which can cost up to $10,000 — for ethical reasons.” - Author: @tghilarducci Editor: @AlexisLeondis
This is the first of many episodes on Fuzzybutts & Friends in which we explore all aspects of this topic from - why, in every possible case, we treat companion animals with cancer despite the ethical issue of not having their ‘informed consent’ - to the other ludicrous assertions from the research upon which the article was based.
The author and its editor have a political agenda and are willing to sacrifice your pets for their purposes and they used an obscure discussion among academics about the ethics of administering cancer therapy to animals as a justification.
Yer Big Dog & the folks at Fuzzybutts & Friends intend to get to the source of this & stop it before it goes any further. PLEASE watch & share as this is not going to stop. And Yer Big Dog & the folks at Fuzzybutts & Friends intend to get to the source of this & do our part in stopping it.
FuzzybuttsAndFriends #YerBigDog #CanineCancer #DogCancer #CatCancer #PetCancer #ComparativeOncology #PuppyUp @PuppyUpOrg
Show Notes:
Links: Original article: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-03-13/inflation-stings-most-for-those-earning-under-300-000?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-economics&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=economics ‘Research’ Paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6681408/
Resources for Cancer Treatment: FETCH a Cure, the Magic Bullet Fund
Joanne Silverman has been a friend of Yer Big Dog's Infamous Fuzzybutts since Walk 1 so it's quite a treat to have her in our first 10 episodes. With their Companions in Crisis Program, Fetch a Cure helps treat animals with cancer in the VA-MD area. And they do this in part through their Steel Dog Fundraiser which you should check out at https://fetchacure.org/.
Joanne and FETCH brought a much needed radiation oncologist into the Richmond VA area as well as crucial infrastructure for diagnosing and treating our kids with cancer. Joanne's a visionary and she and Ginger Morgan and I talk with her about the scourge of cancer in dogs, how they help pet parents with treatment costs, and the importance of education and awareness.
Show Notes: F & F is streaming at 300 mbps now that we have fiber. But Joanne had mic issues on her end. We're trying to provide the highest quality production we can but we're not sure how to solve that yet. Technical suggestions and help always appreciated at jlucas@fuzzybuttstudios.com
Canine Biologics is working on one of the most complex challenges to our companions with a cancer diagnosis and that's diet and nutrition. From tumor specific needs to inappetence and cachexia a dog's dietary requirements change drastically and Canine Biologics' Integrated Nutrition System was developed as a kit to make it easier for pet parents to get nutritional support for their companions.
Jeff Sutherland has spent years thinking about diet and nutrition in cancer dogs and it was great to talk to him about his company and the story of Canine Biologics. With an expanding product pipeline to provide additional nutritional care for our canine companions, we look forward to having Jeff back on Fuzzybutts & Friends.
Diet and nutrition for our canine companions both as cancer support and preventative is an extensive topic to tackle and this episode is just the start.
Canine Biologics website: https://caninebiologics.com/
And if you order use the Promo Code: PuppyUp and they make a donation to the foundation.
Show Notes: We have fiber at Fuzzybutt Studios now streaming at 300 mbps!
For two big reasons, it's important having Dr. Rachel Venable on Fuzzybutts & Friends so early in our show's inception. First is history. Dr. Venable was Murphy's resident veterinarian at Colorado State University where he underwent IMRT radiation therapy for nasal adenocarcinoma in 2010 and that was a very hard, sad time on our journey.
After she completed her residency with CSU and spent some time in private practice, Dr. Venable saw the disparity between board certified oncologists and the millions of new cases of pet cancer every year and this is the second reason I wanted her on the show so soon. She founded Pet Cancer Care Consulting as a stop gap solution and is providing teleconsulting to parents who don't have access to quality care for their fuzzybutts.
That some states in America still don't have board certified cancer vets is a topic I intend to continue to cover with both haste and purpose. It's a complicated issue and I know most of the aspects to it but it affects pet parents significantly and that includes me. Could this type of teleconsulting helped Hudson?
This is a must listen to episode for all pet parents because time is of the essence with cancer. And Dr. Venable's teleconsulting service could give you access weeks faster than the current wait times at clinics and vet schools. Learn more about Pet Cancer Care Consulting at https://petcancercareconsulting.com/about-us/
Puppy Up. Talk Soon. Grayson Indiana & YBD
It's only appropriate that for Episode 4 of Fuzzybutts & Friends that we talk about Fuzzybutts. And who better than the folks at National Great Pyrenees Rescue. I fostered Grayson from them in fall 2020, fell in love with him, and for reasons that still elude me, adopted King Ding-a-Ling and that's how he became Fuzzbutt 5.
Barbara and Denise from NGPR & Ginger and I share some stories, discuss their adoption process and look at some fine looking Great Pyrenees up for adopton. We also discuss the risks of early spay/neutering in large/giant breed dogs. It's one of the most important issues surrounding preventable cancers and having talked to heads of shelters and rescues all across the country, it's going to be a seriously controversial one.
But it's time that we collectively discuss it as a companion animal community and we're going to keep it front and center at Fuzzybutt Studios. Puppy & Talk Soon - Yer Big Dog
National Great Pyrenees website - https://www.nationalpyr.org/
It's a tremendous honor to have one of the top people in veterinary oncology both in research and as a practitioner, and a personal friend and unofficial thought leader for me in my journey in understanding cancer in our companion animals - Dr. Phil Bergman. In this episode we start the discussion as to the challenges to finding a board certified oncologist for pet parents as well as exciting technologies in cancer therapeutics, diagnostics and so much more!
EPISODE NOTE: In this episode, Dr. Bergman mentions a few times that cancer is on the decline. I understood him to mean in the human population which is the case as a result of many factors and he verified that. We do not have large and long term data in the companion animal population to the best of my current knowledge that indicates the same trend.
However, Dr. Bergman's optimism in this episode reflects his belief that many of the factors contributing to the decline of cancer in human population will translate to the companion animal population downstream. To an extent I share this optimism.
In future episodes with other guests we'll take a hard look at the the numbers we do have, what they mean, and what the future looks like. Thanks again to Dr. Bergman and we hope to have him back on Fuzzybutts & Friends as Phil truly is a friend to all our Fuzzybutts. Puppy Up. Talk Soon. YBD
Here is Dr. Bergman's bio:
Dr. Bergman is the Director of Clinical Studies for VCA. He is the principal veterinary investigator for the fully licensed canine melanoma vaccine (Oncept). Dr. Bergman is an adjunct faculty member of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Prior to Dr. Bergman joining VCA, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for BrightHeart Veterinary Centers from July 2007 to August 2011; from 1999 to June 2007 he was the head of the Donaldson-Atwood Cancer Center at AMC. After finishing veterinary school from Colorado State in 1990, he was an intern at Kansas State (90-91) and returned to CSU for his medical oncology residency (91-94) and then completed a PhD Fellowship in human cancer biology from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (94-99). He was previously Chair of the ACVIM Board of Regents and President of the Veterinary Cancer Society.
This week I'm excited to bring to you more than just a podcast but a partner in Walk 3 and the potentially in a game changing project for some pet parents.
Alex is co-partner of Dive Design an awesome Concept Company whose early work with over 200 canine amputees and several other types of companion animals inspired them to spin off a new business, 3 D Pets. Their site is not yet live so check back to the show notes for updates but in this episode we talk about Project 3 Legged Pyrenees.
While all of their commercially available although custom designed and fitted prosthetics are for front limb dog amputees, Grayson represents a unique challenge one that 3 D Pets has been working on in the early stages.
Alex and I talk about what a prosthetic might look like for him for Walk 3 and through extensive road testing and potential clinical trials, make it available to a larger population.
Show Notes: It's a day late and I've been beating myself up about not keeping to a strict Tuesday drop but I've been climbing out of Covid for the past two weeks and had to reschedule a few interviews. But it was the best I could pull off. Next week we'll be back on our Tuesday drop and I'll record an update if'n we're ever tardy again. Puppy Up. Talk Soon. Indiana, Grayson & Yer Big Dog
Welcome to our first edition of Fuzzybutts and Friends, our new podcast celebrating companionship with our canine mates! It's just a tremendous delight to have with us on this special occasion a couple of friends who have been with since nearly the beginning of our travels, Jim and Rene of Tripawds.
It was both of our first tripawds, Malcolm and Jerry, that brought our paths together and while Malcolm took me on Walk 1 from Austin to Boston, once Jerry was diagnosed with osteosarcom, they got on the road and started their adventures.
According to the pair, "Jim and Rene live and work from the road in their RV. Their nomadic life began in 2007 when they sold their home, business and nearly everything they owned to travel the country full-time with their terminally-ill dog, Jerry.
Given just a few months to live after his leg amputation due to bone cancer, Jerry defied the odds and loved life on three legs for two years. That bittersweet journey inspired the couple to create Tripawds.com, the world’s largest online support community for three-legged pets and their people."
The Tripawds Foundation recently launched their National Awareness Campaign: TRIDAY - on March Third (3/3) 2022!
https://tripawds.com/2022/01/20/tripawd-awareness-day/
I just can't say enough about the goodness of Jim and Rene and how grateful the Fuzzybutts -all five of them now - are that our respective journies continue on a greater mission for the welfare of our companions.
Puppy Up. Talk Soon. Grayson, Indiana & YBD
(Show Notes: The video says 'Episode 2'. Technically that is correct but the first was sort of a pilot between me & my occasional co-host and Director of the Puppy Up Foundation, Ginger Morgan. It's available at FuzzybuttStudios but for now, not available here.