CONDITIONING AND PROTECTION HELP YOUR DOG PUT HIS BEST FOOT FORWARD
Your dog's paws are the foundation of his anatomy. He depends on them not only to take him places, but also to provide traction on snow, ice or other slick surfaces and to help protect him from pain when he's walking on rocky terrain or hot asphalt.
For good reason, then, paw maintenance is one of the most important aspects of grooming your dog. That includes trimming the nails regularly, trimming the hair between the toes or on the bottom of the feet, and protecting the pads from injuries such as burns and bruises.
It's also one of the more neglected areas of grooming. Most dogs dislike having their paws handled, and put up a fuss about it. And at one time or another, just about everyone has accidentally quicked a dog -- cutting into the vein supplying blood to a dog's toenail -- and the screaming and blood flow aren't something that anyone wants to repeat: neither you nor the dog. It's all too easy to throw up our hands and beat feet for something more fun to do, but the following tips will help you get a handle on your dog's paw care.
-- If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on the floor or ground, they are too long, and are at risk of getting snagged in the carpet or breaking off. To get them back in shape, trim just a little bit every day or so. Each time you trim, have someone feed your dog treats as a distraction. Wait a day or two and trim a little more. Continue this process until they are back at an appropriate length and then make sure they stay that way. Use a nail file to keep them smooth.
-- If your dog is undergoing surgery or having his teeth professionally cleaned, have the nails trimmed while he's under anesthesia. This only works about once a year, if that, but if the nails are overly long, it's a good way to get them trimmed without anguish on your part or the dog's.
-- To help your dog walk more comfortably, trim excess hair around and under the paw. That ensures that it doesn't pick up stickers or even small rocks, which can cause pain or lameness. Leave a little extra hair on the foot when it's icy or snowy out; it insulates the paw pad and helps to prevent ice balls from forming. A slightly furry foot is also advantageous if your dog frequently walks over rocky areas because it improves traction.
-- If you're out of paw wax and your dog is facing a slick surface, pour a little soda pop on the ground and let him walk through it. The sticky liquid will help keep him from slipping or sliding. This works best if the hair on his feet has been trimmed. You'll need to clean his feet afterward, but it's a useful trick in a pinch.
-- Toughen pads gradually by walking your dog on different types of surfaces. If all he ever walks on is soft carpet and grass, his tootsies will be aching after a hike over rocky trails.
-- Soothe paws during a hike by having your dog soak them in a stream if one is available. At home, give him a "spaw" soak by brewing a strong batch of tea and soaking his feet in it after it cools. (Plain teabags are fine; you don't have to use Earl Greyhound.) The tannins in the tea help to toughen the pads.
Happy hoofing!
Q&A
Cat's mystery illness
may be pancreatitis
Q: My cat has lost his appetite, and he's not as active as usual, but the veterinarian can't find anything wrong with him. We are wondering if it might be pancreatitis. -- via email
A: Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is a frustrating disease because it's so difficult to diagnose and treat. Your cat's vague symptoms could signal any number of problems, but pancreatitis should certainly be under consideration.
The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon -- hormones that help to maintain the level of glucose in the blood -- as well as digestive enzymes that break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins so the body can use them. Normally, the pancreas goes about its business without causing any problem, but inflammation brings out its angry side.
In more than 90 percent of cases, we don't know what causes pancreatitis in cats. Some theories suggest it's caused by infection, trauma, or individual reactions to certain drugs.
Worse, no exam, test or procedure can provide a definitive diagnosis. Abdominal ultrasound can provide clues, such as an enlarged pancreas, or help rule out other problems, but it can't necessarily pinpoint the condition. Certain blood tests can offer guidance, but they aren't always reliable, and the results may not be available for seven to 10 days.
Sometimes, the best you can do is to treat the signs. Your veterinarian may prescribe antiemetics if the cat is vomiting. If the abdomen is tender, pain-relief medications can help. A suspected bacterial infection of the pancreas is treated with antibiotics. Cats who are too sick to eat may need to be hospitalized so they can be tube-fed.
No matter what the signs, the cat needs intravenous fluids to make up for any fluid loss caused by vomiting or diarrhea and to keep the blood flowing through the pancreas. And remember, any time a cat won't eat, it's serious. -- Dr. Marty Becker
THE BUZZ
Surgery puts broken animals
back together again
-- Thanks to technological advances and an increasing number of veterinary specialists, pets are undergoing reconstructive surgery for disfiguring tumors, burns, severed paw pads and other injuries, according to an article last month in The New York Times. Other procedures that can improve their lives include joint replacements, skin and bone grafts, and ligament repairs. Beyond putting animals' bodies back together surgically, veterinarians are working with an experimental compound that stimulates bone growth to help animals with facial cancers or broken jaws.
-- Wealthy collectors pay tens of thousands of dollars for rare and endangered turtles and tortoises. Conservationists hope to deter them and fight back against poachers by marking shells with notches, paint, laser inscriptions, tattoos and engraving. The marks will also make it easier for authorities to trace and identify stolen animals. Marks are placed at the top of the shell so they don't interfere with an animal's growth. The Turtle Conservancy and Behler Chelonian Center says to avoid purchases from reptile dealers who import wild-caught animals and to check the IUCN and CITES status of a species before buying.
-- Four kittens broke into a prison in upstate New York and made themselves at home, reports the Post-Star of Glens Falls. They were flea-ridden and hungry when discovered inside Great Meadow Correctional Facility, but baths and bottle-feeding have them in much better shape. Staff and inmates are caring for the kittens until they can be placed in adoptive homes. The furry inmates live in a kitty condo in the building's maintenance area, where head electrician Bruce Porter cares for them. Their names? Doc (Department of Correctional Services), Comstock (the location of the prison), Annie (for Fort Ann) and Meadow (for Great Meadow). -- Kim Campbell Thornton
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are joined by professional dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.