The Good Dog Pod

About Leader Dogs for the Blind: Leader Dogs for the Blind is a philanthropically-funded service that provides guide dogs to the blind and visually impaired. Read more about Leader Dog here.Laura talks with Beverly Blanchard, Manager of Canine Development at Leader Dog, about how Leader Dog produces effective guide dogs. Specifically, how are dogs taken from puppy to certified guide dog? It’s a long and difficult process that requires a whole lot of effort from both the trainers AND the dogs!Leader Dog is in a unique position where their guide dogs come from family homes that whelp and raise the puppies specifically for their guide dog program.Bev then discusses the important differences between guide dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, since those three categories of dogs are often blurred together.

About Dr. Marty Greer: Dr. Greer is a renowned author, speaker, veterinarian, and canine reproduction specialist. In addition to being the Director of Veterinary Services at Revival Animal Health, she is on the board of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics, American Veterinary Medical Law Association, and the Society for Theriogenology.About Sheryl Bradbury: Sheryl Bradbury is the Owned Brands Manager at Revival Animal Health, where she oversees the Breeder’s Edge, Doc Roy’s, and Vet Basics brands. Sheryl grew up falling asleep in the whelping box and has bred champions from several breeds. Today she raises Grand Basset Griffon Vendeens and Lancashire Heelers. She is the president of the United States Lancashire Heeler Club and also holds board positions in various dog clubs and animal health foundations. In addition to her breeding experience, Sheryl brings 30 years of product management experience in the veterinary industry to her role at Revival.Reproduction is a luxury for a dog’s body, and can only happen if the body is already able to take care of its vital organs. We can’t overlook the nutrients that are often missed by the main pet food companies that are important to making a dog as healthy as possible for breeding. Thus, supplements are critical for keeping breeding dogs healthy for reproduction.Dr. Greer gives some specific examples of the nutrients required for healthy breeding dogs and what they do for the reproductive system, as well as what they do for the puppies’ health.Dr. Greer also talks about the importance of getting the right nutrients to stud dogs for breeding, in addition to the more commonly-talked about health of the bitch.Sheryl talks about some of the products Revival Animal Health offers, and how they support dogs’ reproductive health. She goes over the extensive research and development Revival Animal Health goes through to develop their products - making sure that they are created based on current reproductive and nutritional science and are reviewed by experts.As part of a new partnership, Revival Animal Health is offering Good Breeders $10 off everything in their online store!Dr. Greer talks about the recent research surrounding folic acid and its benefits. Check out some current research about folic acid and cleft palate in brachycephalic dogs here.

About Dr. Lori Cesario: Dr. Lori Cesario is a Board-Certified Veterinary Oncologist who is dedicated to providing families with high quality information about dog cancer. Dr. Cesario runs the Canine Cancer Academy (https://www.caninecanceracademy.com/)Laura and Dr Cesario discuss the common myths and misconceptions surrounding canine cancer. Dr. Cesario busts some common myths such as: can you tell if a tumor is benign just by looking at it? Can you tell if a cancer has spread without proper tests (x-rays, samples, ultrasounds, etc.) from a vet? Is cancer transmissible? Are certain breeds more or less prone to cancer? Can diet affect the prevalence of cancer?They talk about how important it is to realize that dogs express pain differently than humans might expect. As owners, we want our dogs to be as healthy and happy as possible. We have to understand that dogs are really good at hiding their pain, and should therefore take any subtle signs of discomfort seriously (especially with symptoms such as limps). It’s also important to understand the earlier signs of nausea, including things like decreased appetite, increased drooling, and lip-smacking.Dr. Cesario explains how dogs process chemotherapy different than humans do, which is important to keep in mind as humans decide how to treat their dogs for cancer.Dr. Cesario then talks about the effect of early spay/neuter on different types of cancer.