Hello, Martha! Hi GMA! Dr. Becker heads east for TV time
By Mikkel Becker Shannon
March 17, 2008
Gina has asked me to keep track on my dad, Dr. Marty Becker. She says she can’t do it — it’s too hard! So I called home and got the low-down on his upcoming appearances on “The Martha Stewart Show” and “Good Morning America.”
The “Good Morning America” appearance is March 19 (this Wednesday), showing his top pics for new pet products from Global Pet Expo. It’s a fun mix of the practical — such as the soft Elizabethan collar for post-op pets — and the just plan fun, such as a microwavable cake for dogs. Gina has posted previously on this, I know.
After “GMA,” he’ll be taping two segments with Martha, the first of which is tentatively scheduled to air on March 24. In that one, he’ll be addressing the critical issue of home health care for your pet, and what steps to take to save your pet in an emergency.
He’s going to stress that being prepared for accidents and emergencies can save your pet’s life. Even though most people should take their pet immediately to their vet in the event of an illness or accident, sometimes help cannot be reached in time. He’ll be talking about life-saving measures you can take while en-route to the veterinary facility. Also: Common household items that your vet may ask you to use in the event of an emergency.
And what about giving medicine to pets? That’s the subject of the other “Martha” segment. A recent marketing study revealed that only 10 percent of cat owners and 30 percents of dog owners succeed in medicating their pets correctly. Watch to see the tricks and tips of getting the medicine in your pet instead of on you.
Wow! My first blog post. I promise it won’t be my last. I grew up a veterinarian’s daughter and have spent my whole life around animals. I’ve picked up some tips myself, and I’ll be sharing them, along with some observations on people and pets.
“A recent marketing study revealed that only 10 percent of cat owners and 30 percents of dog owners succeed in medicating their pets correctly.”
Wow! That’s a little scary! Although it does remind me of the time - while I was renting an upper duplex - that the guy downstairs was letting his St. bernard’s raging ear infection go untreated because he couldn’t figure out how to get the dog to let him at his “owie” ears. So twice a day for two weeks I went downstairs, straddled the dog with a pocketful og Q-tips and “rode” him around the apartment - flinging each soiled Q-tip aside as I finished with it and then putting in the medicine once I’d gotten all the “gunk” out of the way.
Poor dog! Who knows what would have happened if the guy wouldn’t have happened to have a former vet tech living on the floor above him!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — March 18, 2008 @ 8:21 am
Those numbers are very surprising to me, I wonder more about this marketing study, who it was done by, who they studied, etc. One area that Im wondering too is it says they failed to medicate their pets successfully, what does that mean? Did they not choose meds in favor of some alternative type treatment or were they unable to get the meds down them or did they just not give them the meds? These numbers, only 10% and 30% seem very high to me…
Comment by Sandi K — March 19, 2008 @ 11:07 am
I meant to say the numbers that were able to successfully medicate seem low, the number that werent able to seem high…
Comment by Sandi K — March 19, 2008 @ 11:10 am