Mentee Session monday 1st dec 2025

0:00 Discussion revolved around vets, use of antibiotics, the vast amount of information available to clients and challenges
0:02 Discussion on Pain Relief for Young Dogs
Danielle Beck and Hannah Pollard discussed challenges of advocating for pain relief in young dogs. Hannah shared concerns about a specific case and plans to meet with her supervisor about publishing her dissertation and approaching the vet regarding pain management. Danielle provided resources, including a forthcoming book on pain and behavior in dogs.
8:38 Discussion on Pain Management in Young Dogs
Hannah Pollard expressed concern over veterinarians’ reluctance to prescribe pain relief for young dogs despite evidence of pain. Danielle Beck highlighted the importance of gathering supporting evidence from various professionals to advocate for necessary treatments.
15:00 Discussion on Antibiotic Use and Microbiome Testing
Lucy W and Hannah Pollard explored antibiotic use in veterinary practice, noting many practices still adhere to outdated starvation protocols. They raised concerns about microbiome testing validity and potential for misleading results. Danielle Beck highlighted the need for baseline data in diagnostics.
29:55 Discussion on Arthritis and Pain Management in Animals
Danielle Beck and Hannah Pollard discussed arthritis-related inflammation and its impact on young dogs. They considered pain relief’s role in improving quality of life and managing aggressive behaviors, touching on challenges of finding relevant studies and importance of holistic approaches.
40:00 Progress Update on Client Interactions
Lucy W provided updates on Luna, a cat adapting well to environmental changes including a new scratch post. Luna is engaging in free work and no longer hurting her nose. The conversation also touched on a dog’s training progress.
44:18 Assessment and Training Plan for a Labrador
Lucy W described an anxious Labrador at the RSPCA with a difficult past. The training plan emphasizes helping him feel safe around people without pressure to socialize. Lucy is considering introducing him to calm, social dogs as positive role models.
50:14 Discussion on Social Support for Dogs
Lucy W and Danielle Beck emphasized social support’s role in dog training, noting stable dogs can significantly improve reactive dogs’ comfort levels. Danielle shared success using Kipo’s brother as a buffer. They acknowledged group classes’ effectiveness and dogs’ potential to transition from reactive to supportive.
58:18 Discussion on Cat Behavioral Issues
Lucy W reflected on her nursing experience compared to ongoing behavioral learning, while Danielle Beck presented a case of a cat exhibiting unusual toileting behavior. Discussion included potential medical causes and need for detailed stress audit of the cat’s environment.
1:11:49 Discussion on Psychometric Tools for Animal Welfare
Hannah Pollard discussed exploration of psychometric tools for measuring animal welfare, noting limitations of existing scales. She found a quality of life scale from the American ASPCA that she plans to seek permission to use. Danielle Beck encouraged creating new tools and suggested involving students for validation.
1:21:13 Development of Open Access Resources for Veterinary Care
Lucy W highlighted development of a website being enhanced to provide useful resources for veterinary professionals. Danielle Beck mentioned significance of quality of life assessments for clients, while Hannah Pollard expressed interest in preventative medicine.
1:28:42 Upcoming Animal Training Courses
Lucy W inquired about Hannah Pollard’s upcoming animal training event at Jimmy’s Farm, which Hannah confirmed. Hannah also mentioned plans to attend a workshop at Tilly Farm with her dog Lyra. Danielle Beck noted the workshop would be led by Sarah Fisher.
1:32:31 Discussion on Personal Interests and Upcoming Events
Hannah Pollard and Danielle Beck reminisced about “Buffy,” with Danielle sharing a memorable encounter with an actor from the show. The conversation shifted to Danielle’s upcoming webinar on dog behavior covering arousal regulation and coping skills, requiring a two-part presentation