K9 Partnership

10/13/2026

Enrichment
What enrichment do you offer your animal?

10/13/2026

Great!!!

10/13/2026

Hm
A wash but not a wash.
What say you?

10/13/2026

My Doberman Jazmine Zela of Ilsencohn had mast cell tumors 😞

✂️🥜🐶 WHAT IF WHEN YOU SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS WHETHER YOU DO IT?

Preventing unwanted litters matters. But is it time to rethink HOW we sterilize dogs? Hormone-sparing procedures, including hysterectomy and vasectomy, can prevent reproduction while preserving natural s*x hormones.

🔬 NEW 2026 PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH

Over 10 years, researchers reviewed records from 56,254 veterinary patients, including 313 dogs with mast cell tumors and 638 tumor-free comparison dogs. The study was accepted for publication in The Veterinary Journal.

🤯 1. TIMING MATTERS!

Dogs spayed or neutered before age 2 had 343% higher odds of a mast cell tumor diagnosis compared with intact dogs. Dogs sterilized after age 2 showed no statistically significant increase.

🐕 2. SIZE MATTERS!

Compared with small dogs, medium dogs had 2.6 times the odds and large dogs 5.2 times the odds.

⚖️ 3. WEIGHT MATTERS!

Overweight dogs had 80% higher odds than dogs at an ideal weight.

🧬 4. BREED MATTERS!

Compared with mixed-breed dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers had 7.5 times the odds and Boxers 3.9 times. Some breed groups were small.

❤️ 5. WHAT ABOUT SURVIVAL?

Neutering status wasn’t significantly associated with survival after surgery. Tumor grade and size were more important predictors.

🔬 WHY MIGHT HORMONES MATTER?

S*x hormones influence immune function and development. Researchers propose that early hormone removal and changes in luteinizing hormone (LH) may play a role, but this remains unproven.

🐾 THE BIG TAKEAWAY

Preventing unwanted litters doesn’t always mean removing hormone-producing organs. It’s time for individualized conversations with veterinarians about WHEN and HOW we sterilize dogs.

📄 Download the FREE PDF with the latest research surrounding Spay & Neuter Syndrome. Link in comments!

10/12/2026

Long story…. Hanna wasn’t well last night and spent most of it outside. This started at 9pm. Well between 3:45 am and 5am she got skunked in the mouth.

My dog just got sprayed by a skunk lightly in the mouth. She won't drink any water, and she is starting to foam at the

10/09/2026

Where you deliver the reinforcer matters.

10/07/2026

Local veterinary hospital.

Cooperative care.

I can teach you as well.

Cooperative Care: Helping Pets Feel Safer at the Vet

As a veterinary team, we know that even routine care can be stressful for some pets. Exams, nail trims, ear cleaning, injections, medications, and other necessary handling can become challenging when a dog is fearful or uncomfortable.

That’s why we’re excited to host a Cooperative Care Seminar with Kaniksu Canine.

Cooperative care gives us another way to approach veterinary handling…one that focuses on communication, trust, and teaching dogs to actively participate in their care rather than simply tolerating it.

You’ll learn practical skills you can practice at home to help your dog become more comfortable with handling and better prepared for veterinary visits.

Our goal is simple: to create calmer, safer experiences for your pet and a better experience for everyone involved in their care.

📅 November 8, 2026
⏰ 12-2pm
📍 VCA North Idaho Animal Hospital
💲 $175 for a working spot, $75 for an audit spot

Spots are limited. Contact [email protected] to reserve your spot.

10/05/2026

Want to live with more than just one dog? Maybe 2….maybe more? Check out this playlist from Susan Garrett.

If we live with more than one dog or want to live with more than one dog, we need to be intentional about creating harmony for multi-dogs in our homes for ev...

10/03/2026

Target training is so useful in animal care. I can teach you.

09/29/2026

FREE Q&A
Are you prepared and ready?
Have you trained your dog(s) for any kind of husbandry care/treatment?

This webinar is a chance to dive into everything about hunting dog health: your questions, our experiences, and the insights Dr. Joe Spoo has gathered over years in the field and in the clinic.