BULLDOGS, PUGS NEED PROTECTION FROM THE HEAT

By Dr. Tony Johnson

Mother Nature usually does things pretty economically, trying to get genes passed on from one generation to the next with a minimum of fuss.

When people step in and start mucking about is usually when the troubles begin. When we breed for a particular look (rather than for a purpose intended to maximize the chances of passing on genes), function gets tossed out the window at the expense of form, and things can get bogged down pretty quickly.

Lots of different dogs suffer from problems because of fad breeding, but perhaps none so much as the short-nosed, or "brachycephalic" breeds such as pugs, English Bulldogs and the like. As the weather turns warmer, we see a lot more of these dogs suffering from heat stroke in our emergency unit at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dogs are largely unable to sweat. Maybe a little around the feet (sometimes my more nervous patients will leave cute little paw-shaped sweat prints on the exam table), but not through their skin as people can. They regulate their body temperature largely though panting, which dumps heat from their bodies through evaporation of water from their tongues rather than their skin.

In order to keep cool through panting, dogs need a good airway. Brachycephalic dogs almost all have narrower windpipes relative to other dogs of comparable size -- a condition known as "tracheal hypoplasia." Bulldogs often have a trachea that would keep a Yorkie quite happy, but for the bulldog, it must be like breathing through a coffee stirrer. When we have to intubate brachycephalic dogs for surgery (which involves placing a soft, plastic tube into their trachea to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gases), they will often wake up with the tube in place after the procedure and seem quite happy to have an open and bigger airway for the first time in their lives. Most other dogs can't wait to get the dang tube out!

Brachycephalic dogs can also have little blobs of tissue in the back of their throat (known as "laryngeal saccules") that can turn inside out and block the airway, and they often have teensy-weensy little nostrils that look cute but don't move too much actual air. Together, tiny tracheas, lumps of flesh and wee nostrils are called a "brachycephalic airway syndrome," and while surgery can fix a few of the problems and provide for a better life for some of these dogs, the threat of heat exhaustion always remains.

When they try to dump excess body heat through panting, brachycephalics have to work so hard to move enough air through their tiny tracheas that they actually end up generating (BEGIN ITAL)more(END ITAL) heat and making things worse. It would be like having a coal-fired air-conditioner in your house; when the house gets warm, the A/C kicks on, but the heat from the coal fire would make the house warmer.

When the weather turns warm and humid, these dogs need to stay in a carefully controlled and cool environment to avoid overheating.

Signs of heat exhaustion -- the last step before heat stroke -- include bright red gums, an inability to get up and loud, raspy panting. Dogs that are going into full-on heat stroke often vomit, become severely lethargic and can have explosive diarrhea. Once heat stroke develops, cooling them down is the top priority but it often is not enough. Some dogs will go down the slippery and tragic slope into multi-organ failure and be unable to be saved, even with days of ICU-level care.

Prevention is the key with this condition, so remember to keep these dogs in a cool environment and always watch out for heat exhaustion.

If you think your dog is suffering from heat stroke or exhaustion, douse them in cool water, get them out of the heat and calmed down, and head for the nearest veterinarian without delay. Even a few minutes can make all the difference in the world.

Dr. Tony Johnson is a board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care and a professor at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is on the Pet Connection advisory board.

Q&A

Back to basics for

dog who messes home

Q: My dog is no longer a puppy, but he keeps having accidents in the house. I think he does it on purpose, but punishing him doesn't help. I'd like to replace the rugs, but can't until this problem is resolved. Ideas? -- via email

A: Punishing your pet isn't fair, and it isn't the answer: You have to go back to square one and teach him properly. Before you start training, though, you must be sure that what you have is really a behavior problem and not a physical problem. You won't be able to train your pet if he's struggling with an illness. So check with your veterinarian first for a complete checkup.

If you've ruled out medical problems, house-training an adult dog uses the same principles as house-training a puppy, except you have to be even more diligent because you need to do some untraining, too. And a lot of cleaning: You must thoroughly clean any soiled area with enzymatic cleaner (available through pet supply outlets) to eliminate the smell that invites repeat business.

You'll need to teach your dog what's right before you can correct him for what's wrong. To do this, spend a couple of weeks ensuring that he has nothing but successes by never giving him the opportunity to make a mistake.

Here's how:

Leash him to you in the house so you can monitor his every move during his training period. If he starts to mess, tell him "no," take him outside, and give him a command for going ("go now" or even "let's hurry"). Then praise him for doing right, so he starts to understand what you want.

Put him in a crate whenever he's not on leash with you. It's not unfair during training to leave him in a crate for four or five hours at a stretch -- assuming, of course, that he's getting his regular daily exercise.

Take him outside first thing in the morning, as soon as you get home from work and just before you go to bed (when you put him in his crate for the night). Always remember to give your "go" command, and praise him when he does as you wish. People never seem shy about punishing their dogs, but too often forget to praise them -- they take it for granted the dog should do the right thing. Never, ever forget the praise!

If you've been consistent, your dog likely will get a good idea of what's expected of him within a couple of weeks. If you continue to have problems, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist. One-on-one assistance can pinpoint the problems in your training regimen and get you both on the right track. – Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

People still spend

on cherished pets

-- Americans spent $55 billion on their pets last year, according to Packaged Facts, a market research firm. Fewer people acquired pets, however, in part because fewer people purchased houses, which has been linked to the addition of pets. There was some decline in "hard goods" such as leashes and bowls, but other categories showed strong sales. Brand-name products and high-end goods continued to do well, attracting lines from Martha Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Fisher-Price and General Nutrition Center.

-- The American Kennel Club has added three new breeds for a total of 173 breeds and varieties. Now eligible for championship status are the American English Coonhound, Finnish Lapphund and Cesky Terrier.

-- If your dog is limping, part of the problem may well be excess weight. A study of dogs at least 20 percent more that their ideal body weight evaluated their degrees of lameness. Then the dogs' caloric intake was reduced to prompt them to lose weight while maintaining exercise at the pre-study level. By the end of the study, the dogs had not only lost weight but 82 percent of the dogs were less lame. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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 Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

By Phyllis DeGioia

A rescued adult dog needs patience while adjusting to his new home. In the beginning, he will be on his best behavior, but at some point -- a few weeks or months, sometimes a year -- you will see that he has become comfortable and knows he's home.

Dogs who have lived only outdoors or were neglected or abused will typically take longer to adjust than rescues who have already lived the good life in a home. And some dogs may take six months or even a year before they begin to bark or engage in other common canine behaviors.

"It takes some time for a dog to understand that this is not a halfway house, this is not a stopping point, and it's a real deal," said Betsy Banks Saul, founder of PetFinder. "It's a miraculous moment if you catch it."

Saul fostered a "polite" dog who had screaming nightmares once a week. After the dog went to her new home, the owner called two weeks later to say that there hadn't been any nightmares. But she also said that for the first week the dog was perfect. Then all of a sudden, the behavior of a 6-month-old puppy came out, and the dog ate all of the kids' toys, all of the woman's shoes, and chewed the leg of the dining room table.

"She was behaving well because she didn't know her place," Saul said, and then "she got into a good place and realized she was here for good, and she was going to come out."

Another dog Saul had for six months just whined once in a while but was otherwise silent.

"Then, suddenly, I heard a funny noise. The dog was on the landing looking at a squirrel. I said, 'Oh, good boy! Good boy!' and he suddenly let loose with this ear-deafening roar and kept barking. Somewhere he'd gotten the idea that he shouldn't make a peep. I disavowed him of that."

If a rescued dog has baggage, usually it's from anxiety issues or because he has spent years living in the backyard. It's confusing to a dog to start living inside, where people use the toilet while he must go outside.

"Now he's in the house, and he's not going to know the rules. He may be tentative and apprehensive. He'll watch for rules, but he'll figure it out quickly," Saul said. "Or he will think rugs are porous like grass and are good to pee on, but that's a smart dog who has never had exposure. There's great hope for that dog."

To decrease the number of pets surrendered for behavioral issues and to help new adoptees in their new home, PetFinder launched its Train FurKeeps program. It involves using positive rewards to train a dog so that a bond is created.

"Our belief is that a bond will determine whether you go back or not," Saul said. "Even if the dog came with some baggage, if there's a bond, people will work through it. You learn to converse with each other and teach life skills. You'll adjust more quickly."

All dogs need mental stimulation, and they need to have fun during training. It shouldn't be only basic obedience. If you're spending time learning fun tricks, the rest of the relationship will fall into place.

"If you've trained a dog to turn and look at his butt when you go, 'Phhht,' that's a bond. People won't return that dog."

Phyllis DeGioia is a member of the PetConnection team and the editor of VeterinaryPartner.com.

Q&A

Short-nosed pets at risk

for travel by air cargo

Q: I'm moving cross-country, and I need to figure out the best way to transport my two Persian cats there. Is it safe to ship them by air cargo? -- via email

A: Because Persian cats have short noses and can be prone to breathing difficulties, they should not fly in the belly of an airliner. Travel in the cargo bay is not only extremely stressful for any pet, it also exposes your pets to extremes of heat and cold, both of which can affect their ability to breathe comfortably. Animals with flat faces, like your Persians, as well as Pugs, Boston Terriers and Bulldogs, to name just a few, are less tolerant of temperature extremes than other breeds.

And no matter what type of animal you are shipping, there is always going to be some risk involved. Pets get lost or escape from their cages and become injured or even killed if their kennel overturns or falls off the conveyor belt as they are loaded or unloaded from the plane. Some pets become frantic and hurt themselves trying to get out of their shipping crates.

The best solution is to take a flight in which you can carry your cats on board. If that's just not feasible, look into shipping them with a company that transports pets in the cabin of the plane, with attendants on hand to care for them, or a company that specializes in shipping pets and can ensure that your cats are properly cared for.

If there is no alternative to flying your cats in cargo, choose a direct flight, an overnight flight or one at off-peak times. Take your cats to the veterinarian for a complete checkup beforehand to ensure that they don't have any underlying health problems that could be affected by the flight. Do not tranquilize your cats beforehand. Tranquilizers can blunt an animal's ability to pant or to deal with temperature extremes he may encounter in the cargo area. Make friends with the cargo personnel and ask for a phone number that you can call to follow your cats' progress. Make sure they have your cell phone number so you can be reached immediately if they have any questions or problems. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Dogs put a bite

on insurance costs

-- Medical expenses from dog attacks on mail carriers cost the U.S. Postal Service $1.2 million annually, said the Insurance Information Institute, which noted that in 2010, dog attacks accounted for more than one-third of homeowners' liability insurance claims, totaling about $413 million.

About 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, with the majority being kids. Last year, 5,669 postal employees were attacked in more than 1,400 cities. Houston tops the nation in dog-bite incidents involving postal carriers, with 62 attacks last year alone.

-- All cats are born with blue eyes, with the transition to their adult eye color beginning at around 5 weeks of age.

-- Does a bear eat in the woods? Yes, if you're there and he's hungry. Researchers say the most dangerous bear to run into isn't a mother with cubs -- it's a hungry one. A study by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Brigham Young University shows the greatest risk to humans are solitary male black bears hunting for food. From 1900 to 2009, statistics showed 63 people were killed in 59 incidents in Canada, Alaska and the lower 48 states. In all, 88 percent of fatal attacks involved a bear exhibiting predatory behavior, and 92 percent of the predatory bears were males.

Other findings: Bears involved in attacks were not usually familiar with humans; bears who have killed humans were likely to attack again; people in groups of two or more were less likely to be attacked; and human food and garbage does attract bears and increases the chance of an attack. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker and Ed Murietta

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 Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

By Arden Moore

Who says that exercise must be limited to sweating at the gym, fighting for an elliptical machine or failing to keep pace in a spinning class? Can't seem to muster the motivation to remove the clothes draped on the stationary bike in your bedroom to pedal a few miles?

The solution to staying in shape -- and having fun -- may be just a tail wag away. Check out the latest fitness trend: people-dog workout classes that focus on strength, flexibility and aerobics while unleashing plenty of fun for you and your dog.

By teaming up with your best workout buddy -- your dog -- both of you can shed pounds, tone muscles and strengthen your connection.

"Regular exercise provides people and pets with physical and mental benefits," says Dr. Christine Zink, a veterinarian and professor of pathology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "Exercise releases endorphins -- feel-good chemicals that provide a sense of well-being. Exercise helps maintain proper weight, improves coordination and balance, and stabilizes joints to prevent arthritis and acute injuries."

These special workout programs also reinforce good doggy manners. They bring out play with a purpose, offering dogs the chance to master basic commands such as sit, stay, down and come in positive settings. For the past two years, I've regularly attended Leash Your Fitness classes in San Diego with my two dogs: Chipper, a 60-pound golden retriever/husky mix, and Cleo, a 12-pound terrier-poodle mix.

Our "gym" is a huge fenced grassy field. Certified personal-fitness trainer Dawn Celapino credits Jack, her energetic cairn terrier, for inspiring her to create Leash Your Fitness.

"I hated having to leave Jack at home while I went to a gym to teach or work out," says Celapino. "He loves running, hiking and swimming with me. I discovered a lot of other dog people looking for new ways to work out with their dogs."

During each hour-long class, people sprint, skip and even hop while their leashed dogs match their strides. Together, they leap over hurdles or weave through agility poles. At any time, Celapino will call out for people to drop into squats and get their dogs to maintain a down stance. Or we'll heed the command to do pushups, and then get our canine pals to perform doggy pushups -- a series of quick sit-downs.

Since enrolling, I've shed 20 excess pounds and canceled my gym membership. My veterinarian has deemed my 8-year-old dogs to be at ideal weights.

Before you enroll, get a physical examination from your physician and book a head-to-tail checkup for your dog with your veterinarian. Go at your own pace and set your goals to gradually get better.

Exercise fortifies your body against a host of medical woes, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. It can also save money on doctor and veterinary bills. Regular workouts can provide your dog with a perfect setting to unleash pent-up energy and reduce the amount of doggy destructiveness in the home that's often due to sheer boredom.

Try one of these classes -- or work out with your dog on your own -- and together you will give a welcomed, new meaning to the expression "dog tired."

To learn more about people-pet workouts, check out Leash Your Fitness at leashyourfitness.com.

Sidebar

Heed These Cautionary Signs

Be careful not to overexert your dog during workouts. Stop the activity and allow your dog to rest if he displays any of these signs:

-- Drooping tongue

-- Rapid panting -- an early sign of overheating

-- Hesitation -- taking a few extra seconds before retrieving a tossed ball

-- Weight shifting -- using different muscle groups to offset soreness

-- Staggered walking

-- Muscle tremors

-- Limping -- check footpads for cuts and bruises and legs for sprains or muscle pulls

Arden Moore is the founder of Four Legged Life (fourleggedlife.com), the author of 20 pet books and host of the "Oh Behave Show" on Pet Life Radio (petliferadio.com).

Q&A

Automotive coolant

a deadly pet poison

Q: My two dogs lapped up some antifreeze that had spilled in the garage. I saw on the container that it was toxic, so I took them to the veterinarian right away. They needed dialysis, and I was told my dogs could have died. Why is antifreeze so poisonous to pets?

A: You are very lucky that you saw your dogs drinking the antifreeze and were able to get them to the veterinarian so quickly for treatment. Too often, people don't realize their pets have drunk the stuff, and by the time they realize something is wrong, it's too late for treatment to be effective.

Antifreeze, or ethylene glycol, has a sweet flavor that is attractive to pets and children. It is not toxic on its own, but as the body breaks down the antifreeze, it creates metabolites that are toxic to kidney cells. Those metabolites form oxalate crystals that damage and block the kidney tubules. The animals act drunk and become dehydrated. Then kidney damage sets in.

That's dangerous because the job of the kidneys is to remove waste products from the body by way of the urine. When the kidneys are damaged, toxins build up in the bloodstream and aren't eliminated from the body. Dialysis does the work of the kidneys until they regain normal function. Unless pets are treated quickly, they usually don't recover from the damage done to the kidneys.

In the future, choose a brand of antifreeze that contains bittering agents. It may cost a little more and it is just as toxic, but because it is unpleasant to drink, your dogs are more likely to leave it alone. It's also a good idea to store antifreeze in a closed cabinet that is out of the reach of your pets and to wipe up spills or leaks immediately.

THE BUZZ

Dogs ease MRI worries

-- A study has found that patients who interacted with therapy dogs prior to MRI procedures suffered fewer anxiety symptoms than those patients in the study who did not. Researchers said therapy dogs could be a viable substitute for anti-anxiety medication normally given to patients before their MRI and would have fewer side effects.

Science Daily reports that the project was conceived by a 15-year-old high school student, Allison Ruchman. During the course of her MRI, she experienced anxiety and claustrophobia. She relieved her tension by creating a mental picture of her dog, Wally, and believed that her experience could be applicable to other patients who often need anti-anxiety drugs in order to complete the examination.

Allison became a certified dog therapist, and conducted the research on this project, assisting physicians who compiled and analyzed data, and prepared an abstract of the study at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J.

-- Money bet on greyhound racing nationally has declined from $3.5 billion in 1991 to $1.1 billion in 2007, according to numbers released by Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas. Ten years ago, there were 50 tracks in 15 states, but today there are only 25 tracks in seven states.

-- An 8-year-old Clydesdale-thoroughbred cross named Maggie recently put her best nose forward in her bid to become the Guinness Book Of World Records' smartest horse.

Maggie learned to identify numerals as they were spoken aloud. She identified numerals 21 times in one minute without making a mistake.

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 Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.