Pet parents postpone annual health exams for their dogs and cats for all manner of reasons. For some, it’s a fear of what your veterinarian will find during the examination. Others worry about the expense of the exam itself. And some seek only to avoid the stress a vet visit causes their pet kids. Regardless of the rationales behind not going in, the benefits far outweigh the more immediate costs of inaction.

The advantages of a yearly check-up are so vital, Dr. Sarah has devoted an entire episode of Pet Talk to the topic, providing all the motives why you shouldn’t put it off. In her clear and no-nonsense style, our good doctor walks you step-by-step through a typical annual wellbeing examination, revealing exactly what veterinarians are thinking when they’re investigating your pet kid’s health … and, why each step is vital to the long-term health and happiness of your companion animal.

Don’t miss this month’s episode of Pet Talk, and be sure to pin, tweet and share to Facebook share this important message with friends and family!


ByDr. Sarah

Peace & Calming® is a gentle, fragrant blend. When diffused, it helps calm tensions and uplift the spirit, promoting relaxation and a deep sense of peace. When massaged on the bottoms of the feet, it can be a wonderful prelude to a peaceful night's rest. Peace & Calming may be especially calming and comforting to young children after an overactive and stressful day. EarthKosher Certified


How to UseFor aromatic use. Diffuse in bedrooms, living areas and office. Apply to bottom of feet, wrists and outside of ears. Blend with V-6™ Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex for a calming massage.

Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Dilution not required; suitable for all but the most sensitive skin. Generally safe for children over 2 years of age.
Product Tips

• Massage Peace & Calming essential oil blend on the reflex points of the feet and back of the neck for a soothing and relaxing effect.
• Rub Peace & Calming essential oil blend on feet to release tension and promote a good night’s rest.
• Rub Peace & Calming essential oil blend behind overactive pets’ ears after an afternoon of playing with the kids.

IngredientsTangerine (Citrus nobilis), orange (Citrus aurantium), ylang ylang (Cananga odorata), patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) and blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum).

Use sponsor code #1183216 to become a member. Membership is FREE for retail customers. Should you choose to become a wholesale customer there is a small fee.

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Imagine walking down the road. Suddenly, you are confronted by a large, snarling dog heading directly for you. Try to imagine your level of fear. If you were once terrorized by a dog earlier in life, multiply that fright by a factor of ten. Your heart would race, your body would start to shake and your breathing would become shallow and rapid. These reactions are caused by a surge of hormones, such as adrenaline, often referred to as the ‘fight or flight response’. It’s how your body reacts to a perceived threat, and it’s totally normal.

Some people, however, have an abnormal reaction to dogs, even if the dogs in question aren’t doing anything threatening, much less actively frightening. They feel frozen in fear and utterly helpless just walking past a well-behaved dog. Some are panicked only of certain breeds. At the far end of the spectrum are folks who are so terrified by dogs that they cannot even speak about canines without experiencing sheer terror. This irrational fear of dogs is termed cynophobia. Although spider and snake phobias are more prevalent, cynophobia is probably more common than most people think. In fact, this condition affects tens of millions of Americans.

Like many phobias, the fear of dogs is typically triggered by a negative experience, often during childhood. Some people may even block the precipitating event from their memory … all that remains is an overwhelming fear of dogs.

Many of us have been jumped on by an exuberant puppy or growled at by a protective watchdog. When this happens to a child during their formative years, the impacts can be long-lasting. The relatively large size of dogs compared to children, combined with an overactive imagination and a general lack of knowledge about canine behavior, can be fertile breeding ground for a full-blown phobia later in life.

The risk of cynophobia is higher if a relative or friend was attacked by a dog, or if a parent exhibited an unhealthy fear of canines.

Sufferers of this phobia experience fear that is very much out of their control. That is because when a person suffering from cynophobia thinks about, much less sees a dog, the fear system in the sub-brain (the automatic part of your brain that runs the show) takes over and secretes chemicals that alert the nervous system that there is DANGER! The threat feels so real that the brain treats the mere presence of a dog as an imminent peril, even though the perceived threat is not congruent with reality. People who suffer from cynophobia can live in constant fear, limiting their lives as a result.

Fortunately, cynophobics generally respond very well to treatment. In fact, some people actually report just ‘growing out of it’, especially after positive experiences with dog.

If you suffer from cynophobia, take heart - you are not alone! I recommend working with a psychological professional with expertise in dealing with phobias to help remove the fear and encourage helpful coping skills. With a bit of work and the right assistance, you can overcome this debilitating phobia.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals.

Very few would argue that our country suffers from an inordinately high population of homeless pets. Current estimates put the number of pets entering shelters between 6-8 million. Less than half of these animals are adopted.

For the last few years, we’ve published monthly reports about small-to-medium size rescue groups doing their utmost to deal with the crisis. Which is why it brings us great pleasure to announce funding for an innovative rescue start-up that seeks to change the future.

Founded by Margaret Choi, Furry Foster's goal is to put a stop to the practice of euthanizing homeless pets, which currently number in the many millions every year. Through ardent educational campaigns, they aim to enlist legions of new fosterers. By significantly increasing the number of people willing to foster, stress on traditional shelters can be alleviated and untold numbers of companion animals saved from an untimely fate.

According to their research, every year approximately 17 million Americans consider adopting a dog or cat but don’t follow through. Reaching out to just a small percentage of this group could result in a massive decrease in the needless killing of pets whose only crime is not having a home.

Established at the end of 2011, Furry Foster has already achieved significant steps toward their goal. Through their online efforts, they now maintain the largest online database of foster pets available in San Diego. Working with a newly established network of local rescues, they’ve streamlined the temporary-adoption process by creating a universal foster application, making it easier than ever before for people to find a perfect match.

Unlike large web presences, such as Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet, Furry Foster provides much-needed services, too. Their volunteers personally connect with each potential fosterer to review their application. The flip side of this service is that each candidate is pre-screened, meaning less work for the rescues in their network.

Thanks to their groundbreaking model, fifty animals were fostered in 2012 who would otherwise have languished in shelters. That number doubled in 2013.

Our grant was used to fund another of Furry Foster's initiatives … on-campus events co-hosted by student organizations to promote fostering and volunteerism by young adults. Our financial assistance subsidized an event on the campuses of the University of California – San Diego in association with the pre-business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. While on campus, workers did not waste any time, recruiting a significant number of new volunteers and folks interested in opening their homes - and their hearts - to foster animals.

Joining them in their activities were two canine ‘ambassadors’. One is named Bodhi, a three-year-old, Pitbull-Lab mix who was rehabilitating from a broken leg and seeking a foster family. Also in attendance was Choi’s own foster pup, a five-year-old Chihuahua mix named Sunny, who has since been adopted.

Their on-campus activities attracted a bumper crop of new recruits to their cause - 46 new event volunteers and 20 potential foster guardians! Two students each fostered two kittens and another fostered a dog.

The true measure of their success is in attitudinal changes, opening minds to the idea of becoming a foster parent to a homeless dog or cat. Before leaving campus, they also gave an inspirational presentation to 40 students about the vital role of animal rescues. That’s 40 people who will adopt new attitudes about fostering that they will likely remember for the rest of their lives, sharing this important message with countless other people. It’s easy to see how a small rescue can affect real change in a few short years.

Not content to rest on their laurels, Furry Foster has already begun planning outreach to other collegiate organizations for the upcoming spring and fall semesters. With valuable feedback from UCSD students, they are also developing brochures, flyers, and event materials targeted at college and graduate-school students, improving the chances that they’ll be even more successful at future recruiting events.

If you or someone you know lives in or near San Diego and would be interested in helping shape the future of fostering in America, we encourage you to contact Furry Foster (furryfoster.com). You never know … you could end up finding your new best friend!

Dr. Jane’s Foundation has provided funding to animal rescue groups all over America since 2007. Our non-profit wing could not have achieved what it has without the continued patronage of our customers and the contributions of individual donors. On behalf of the animals who are now living in new forever homes thanks to Furry Foster, we thank you for caring enough to make a difference.

If you’ve had experience with an animal rescue organization worthy of special recognition and financial support, please forward this post, to let them know that our non-profit is actively seeking grant applications for 2014. We encourage interested parties to email [email protected] for details.

If you would like to make a donation to the Dr. Jane's HealthyPetNet Foundation, you can do so by clicking the above logo and complete at checkout or you can send a check to The Dr. Jane's HealthyPetNet Foundation, Inc. at P.O. Box 1425, Palm City, Florida 34991. Or, if you would like more information about the foundation, please email [email protected] 

As required by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, we furnish our Registration Number CH22693 and the following statement: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

Listeria Monocytogene causes listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria. Listeriosis has been recognized as an important public health problem in the United States. The disease affects primarily pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems and can also affect pets.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

However, healthy cats and dogs rarely become sick from Listeria. Animals ill with Listeria will display symptoms similar to the ones listed above for humans. People who have concerns about whether their pet has Listeria should contact their veterinarian.

The recalled items are as follows :

1) These products are being recalled because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes
Product Numbers: 52-102, 52-105, 52-110
Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier

PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes
Product Numbers: 52-102, 52-105, 52-110
Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier

2) These products are being recalled out of an abundance of caution because while they did not test positive for pathogens, they were manufactured in the same manufacturing facility or on the same day as products that did test positive.

PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes
Product Numbers: 42-102, 42-105, 42-110
Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier

PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BASIC FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
2lb. tubes
Product Number: 42-202
Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier

PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF & BEEF HEART FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
5lb. tubes
Product Number: 53-130
Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier

PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! 100% PURE & NATURAL PREMIUM GRASS-FED BUFFALO FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT)
NET WT 2LBS (32 OZ) .91KG (Tubes)
Product Number: 72-222
Best Used By Date: 1/7/16

PRODUCT: BRAVO! TURKEY BALANCE FORMULA (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT)
NET WT 2 LBS (32 OZ) .09KG, Chub (tube)
Product Number: 31-402
Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16

NET WT 5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube)
Product Number: 31-405
Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16

PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT)
5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube)
Product Number: 42-105
Best Used By Date: 2/11/16

The company has received a limited number of reports of dogs experiencing nausea and diarrhea. They’ve received no reports of human illness as a result of these products. Please see the full FDA recall notice here.

The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners who have the affected product at home should dispose of this product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle). They can return to the store where purchased and submit the Product Recall Claim Form available on the Bravo website www.bravopetfoods.com for a full refund or store credit. More information on the Bravo recall can also be found at www.bravopetfoods.com, or call toll free (866) 922-9222.

FREE Weekly Wag Webinar tonight at 9 pm EST . 

This live webinar will feature our professional trainer, Scott Cook.

Do you want to teach your dog to fetch? Though most people think training your dog to fetch is as easy as throwing a ball, this is NOT the case!  Join us for this fun and informative webinar as professional trainer Scott Cook trains YOU the right way and the wrong way to teach your dog to fetch!  Command your dog's love, obedience and respect with this extremely effective strategy! 

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