SIMPLE STEPS NOW MAY SAVE YOUR PET IN A DISASTER

Disaster preparedness is so easy to let slide. We get all worked up after something like Hurricane Sandy and decide it's time to "do something." We read up, we make plans, we stock up, we move on. And then, we forget.

We take the can opener out of the emergency kit and don't replace it. We use the food and water we've stored, but we don't buy anything new to rotate into the disaster supplies. We mean to, of course. And yes, we'll get to it ... next month.

The good news is that in recent years, disaster experts have pushed people to prepare for their pets as well -- a 180-degree change in attitude, driven by the risks people have taken with their own lives to protect their pets when disasters strike. And public planning for disaster relief includes temporary housing for pets.

The bad news? Most people aren't as ready. But it's not hard to start, and step one is checking your pet's ID.

Most animals will survive a disaster, but many never see their families again because there's no way to determine which pet belongs to which family if pets and people get separated. That's why dogs and cats should always wear updated identification tags, and preferably be microchipped, too. Take some clear, sharp pictures of your pet as well, to help with any search.

What next? Get a big storage bin with a lid and handles to prepare a disaster kit for your pet.

Then it's time to shop. Keep several days' worth of drinking water and pet food as well as any necessary medicines, rotating the stock regularly. For canned goods, don't forget to pack a can opener and a spoon. Lay in a supply of empty plastic bags, along with paper towels, both for cleaning up messes and for sealing them away until they can be safely tossed. For cats, pack a bag of litter and some disposable litter trays.

Hard-sided crates and carriers are among the most important items to have on hand. Sturdy crates keep pets of all kinds safe while increasing their housing options. Crated pets may be allowed in hotel rooms that are normally off-limits to pets, or can be left in a pinch with veterinarians or shelters that are already full, since the animals come with rooms of their own.

Leashes for dogs and harnesses and leashes for cats are important, too, because frightened animals can be difficult to control. Pack a soft muzzle for each pet to keep everyone safe if a frightened or injured pet starts lashing out in fear or self-defense. And finally, put a first-aid kit in the bin, along with a book on how to treat pet injuries.

Make a note on the calendar to check on supplies and rotate food and water a couple of times a year. You may never have to pull out your disaster kit, but it's always good to be prepared. For more guidelines, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has tips for pet owners at Ready.gov/animals.

Q&A

Get veterinary help

for dog's discomfort

Q: I've read that prescription pain medications are deadly for my dog. Can you suggest an alternative? -- via Facebook

A: There are indeed things you can do to treat your dog's arthritis without using a prescription pain medication from your veterinarian, such as providing soft beds (warmed in the winter), glucosamine supplements and regular moderate exercise, and getting your pet down to a proper weight. But if these measures are not enough, you do need to discuss effective prescription pain control with your veterinarian.

I know a little something about chronic pain, thanks to a chronic neurological condition, and I can tell you it's a miserable way to spend a life. And yet so many pets are in such misery because their owners have "heard" that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are deadly.

While no medication, however helpful, is without the potential for side effects (including very serious ones), the NSAIDs available from your veterinarian have high marks for safety as long as recommended precautionary protocols are followed, including diagnostic tests to spot possible problems with internal organs.

Your veterinarian wants to help, but can't unless you do your part by making an appointment. Discuss all your options and all the precautions, and work with your veterinarian to ease your pet's suffering while minimizing the potential for side effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an excellent free publication on NSAIDs (tinyurl.com/petpainmeds), and I encourage you to download it and discuss the subject with your veterinarian.

Don't let fear keep you from easing your pet's pain. Work with your veterinarian to find what's best for your pet, while keeping the risks as low as possible. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Feral cat advocates

bash predation study

-- A report asserting that free-roaming cats have a devastatingly large impact on populations of birds and small mammals has conservationists calling for an end to the live management of feral cat colonies, while feral cat advocates argue that the study is based on flawed research and that its authors are known to be anti-cat. The report in the journal Nature Communications drew the conclusion that cats kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds and between 6.9 billion and 20.7 billion small mammals every year.

Alley Cat Allies argues that the study's methodology is inadequate and that the researchers are attempting to make scapegoats of feral cats, while ignoring factors such as deforestation, climate change and habitat destruction.

Veterinary and animal welfare experts have long argued that keeping pet cats from roaming is safer for cats as well as birds and small mammals, but that doesn't address the issue of unowned cats, whose U.S. numbers are estimated to be in the tens of millions. Advocates for these cats argue that caring for altered communities in place is the answer, while wildlife and wild bird groups typically recommend removal of the cats entirely.

-- How smart is your dog? You can get an idea with a smartphone app developed by a Duke University researcher. Dognition uses questions and simple games to rate the intelligence of dogs. The release of the app coincides with the publication of "The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter Than You Think," co-authored by the app's developer, evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Brian Hare. Information on both is available at Dognition.com

-- When a cat rubs against a person, it's accepted that it's a sign of friendliness and affection. Which, of course, it is. But rubbing also performs a very important feline function: scent-marking. Cats want everything in the world to smell like they do, and they spend their lives trying to accomplish that feat. When cats rub against people or furniture, they're depositing material known as sebum from glands on their heads to spread their own trademark scent. -- Gina Spadafori

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 affiliated with Vetstreet.com and 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.

DENTAL CARE IS KEY TO KEEPING YOUR PET'S TEETH IN PLACE

Let me get this out of the way up front: Yes, I do brush my pets' teeth. I really do.

I believe the task is too important to ignore, and so, too, are regular veterinary dental examinations and cleanings as recommended under anesthesia. That's why one of my own older dogs went under recently, coming out of anesthesia safely with a couple fewer teeth, but healthier teeth and gums overall.

Does this make you feel guilty? That's not my intent. My goal is to show that I practice what I preach because I believe good dental care is essential not only to your pet's health, but also to his quality of life. Broken, rotting teeth and infected gums make pets miserable, and I can't tell you how many times I've opened a pet's mouth in an exam room to see gums so inflamed they look as if a blow-torch had been passed over them.

A situation like that is what should make someone feel guilty. But the problems -- and the guilt -- are easily avoided. Your veterinarian is ready to get you on the right track.

First thing to remember: Foul-smelling breath from your dog or cat is never normal. It's a symptom of disease that you need to heed.

Second thing: Brushing is easier than you think it will be. Approach the task with a positive attitude, take it slow and easy, and then follow with something the pet likes -- a play session or a food treat.

For kittens and puppies, the focus is on training and prevention, but adult pets will likely need veterinary attention before a preventive-care program can help. Your veterinarian should check your pet's mouth, teeth and gums as part of the regular examination, and make recommendations based on what he or she finds there. For many pets, the next step will be a complete dentistry under anesthesia. The procedure takes 45 minutes to an hour, and involves not only cleaning and polishing the teeth, but also checking for and treating broken or rotting teeth, cavities, abscesses and periodontal disease.

This is a medical procedure, not a cosmetic one, which is why it's absolutely not the same as those "no-anesthesia" cleanings offered by non-veterinarians. I recognize that people worry about anesthesia, but the benefits outweigh the risks. Today's anesthetics are dramatically safer than those of even a few years ago, making the dangers and pain of untreated dental problems the bigger risk to health, even with older pets like my own dog Quixote.

After the problems are treated, at-home care can keep things in good shape. Here are some tips:

-- Brush regularly. Use a toothpaste designed for dogs or cats a couple of times a week at least, although daily is better. If you absolutely cannot brush, ask your veterinarian about dental rinses that can help prevent dental problems. They're usually not as good as brushing, but they can and do help.

-- Discuss your pet's diet with your veterinarian. Some pet-food companies offer kibble with a mild abrasive texture to help keep teeth clean, or with ingredients that help keep plaque from forming.

-- Offer tooth-safe toys to help with oral health. Again, talk to your veterinarian. You'll want to avoid chews so hard they can break a tooth, and you may want to consider those impregnated with enzymes to help prevent plaque buildup.

Once your pet's teeth are in good shape, you'll notice an end to bad breath. The true benefits of dental care go far beyond a better-smelling mouth, however, making what seems like an aesthetic issue one that is in fact a cornerstone of a preventive-care program.

February is Pet Dental Health Month. During the month, your veterinarian may be able to provide special information on your pet's dental care or have special offers on services.

Q&A

'Dry nose' may mean

nothing much at all

Q: In one of your books you said a dry nose on a dog isn't a reliable sign of illness. I'd always thought it was. What changed? -- via Facebook.

A: The link between a dry nose and a fever never really was reliable, but that's not the whole story, because sometimes it can be. Confused? Let me explain.

Tears are constantly produced to lubricate the movement of the eyes. Because this lubrication is so critical to eye health, the dog's body routinely produces more tears than are needed. These excess tears flow through the nasolacrimal (literally "nose-tears") duct and out the base of the nose. (People also experience this when crying.)

As the tears drip down into the dog's face, the dog licks her nose, spreading the tear fluid over the nose, which wets it. Then, evaporation causes the nose to be cool. The moistened nose is better equipped to dissolve airborne chemicals, which contributes to a better sense of smell.

When a dog is sick, the body uses up more internal water in the process of fighting disease. This increased water use, especially with a fever, causes relative dehydration, even if the dog is drinking a normal amount of water. This dehydration results in decreased tear production, and hence a dry nose.

The same dry nose, however, could be because of fluid loss from panting on a hot day. And some dogs (such as poodles) are prone to blocked tear ducts, so there is less fluid flowing through the ducts to moisten the nose. The bottom line is that the dry nose may be an indicator of dehydration, but it indicates illness only if it's coupled with lethargy and other symptoms.

In other words, a sick dog may have a dry, warm nose, but a dry, warm nose can also be the result of something other than illness. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Tomcats: The look we

don't really miss

-- The overwhelming majority (nearly 90 percent) of owned cats are spayed or neutered, which means that many people no longer recognize the look of a mature tomcat on the prowl for a mate. What biologists call "secondary sex characteristics" in unneutered male cats includes the development of heavy jowls (called "shields") and a heavier, more muscular build. It's a good thing we don't see it so often, since cats capable of breeding add to the burden of finding homes for the homeless.

-- Additional dog treats have been withdrawn from sale, as the Hartz Mountain Corp. cited concerns with the use of unapproved antibiotics in the Chinese-sourced chicken. China is not allowed to export chicken for human consumption in the United States, but the ban does not include chicken products intended for pets, according to DVM360.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been unable to pinpoint any problem with the pet treats, even though pet owners have reported more than 3,000 sick dogs to the agency, with more than 500 deaths.

-- Four new veterinary schools are in the works -- two of them in Arizona. But the question of whether there will be enough jobs for these graduates is hotly debated in the veterinary community, according to VIN News (news.vin.com). While there's an acknowledged shortage of rural, large-animal veterinarians, most newly minted graduates prefer the hours and lifestyle of companion-animal veterinarians in more urban settings, and competition for these jobs is already keen. Not so keen? Relatively low salaries for these medical professionals, many of whom graduate with a crushing burden of student debt. -- Gina Spadafori

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 affiliated with Vetstreet.com and 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.

FIVE VETERINARY PRODUCTS TO WATCH IN THE NEW YEAR

Every year, I go to as many veterinary conferences as I can. I have always loved to learn and I need to stay on the cutting edge for my work in the media.

Last year, several veterinary products caught my attention. They'll be worth watching as they roll into veterinary practices this year. In random order:

-- Zeuterin: A few years ago, I made the decision to return to practice. I missed it, so now I see pets and their people at two north Idaho veterinary hospitals whenever I can.

Recently, I was able to participate in the staff training for a product that will revolutionize the way we neuter dogs. Zeuterin is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved non-surgical product injected directly into the testicles. It's fast, it's easy on everyone and it has already proven its value in neutering overpopulations of dogs in third-world countries and in the abandoned area around the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. (ArkSciences.com)

-- Kerdog by SophiaDog: I first saw this product last summer at the American Veterinary Medical Association's annual conference. It had quite the buzz on the trade-show floor, and with good reason. It's a wheeled cart for dogs that does more than support an animal undergoing rehabilitation. The product has pedals for the rear paws that teach the animal to use his legs while strengthening the muscles. Eventually, the pedals are removed and the dog walks with support from the cart, and then on his own. (SophiaDog.com)

-- OraStrip Quick Check: Your veterinarian can tell in minutes if your dog has periodontal disease with OraStrip Quick Check, a diagnostic strip that tests a pet's saliva and color when active disease is present. Treatment options can then be explored in time to reduce the suffering caused by this painful and harmful condition. (Orastrip.com)

-- IDEXX VetConnect Plus: I love my tablet computer, and I love seeing all the ways we're starting to use these in veterinary medicine. With this system from IDEXX, my patient's laboratory reports show an easy-to-read interactive format and can be viewed on a desktop, laptop or tablet. They're all in one place, and I can use my tablet to go over the Cloud-based results with the pet's owner. The company says more than 3,000 veterinary practices in the United States are already using the system since it was launched last July. (IDEXX.com/vetconnectplus)

-- Royal Canin Veterinary Diets' CALM: With proven links between illness and behavior problems to the increased levels of stress caused by anxiety, there's a need for food to soothe anxious pets. New from Royal Canin Veterinary Diets is CALM, the first product of its kind, available through veterinarians. CALM includes three proven ingredients to relieve stress and anxiety without the use of medication. (Royalcanin.us/calm)

These are the five products that really caught my attention last year, but I easily could have listed a couple dozen more. Changes and innovations are a constant in medicine, which is yet another reason to work with your veterinarian to stay on top of pet care breakthroughs. Your pet will benefit, and so will you.

Q&A

Abscess requires taking

cat to the veterinarian

Q: My cat got into a fight again and now he has an infection. I just can't afford another trip to the vet. What can I do at home? -- via Facebook

A: You need to take your cat to the veterinarian, since cat bites can be very serious indeed. After this issue is resolved, you can save money through prevention -- and that means keeping your cat inside. Why? Because this common feline health problem is often the result of a puncture wound, specifically a bite from another cat during a fight over territory or mates.

Nearly every free-roaming cat needs to see a veterinarian from time to time to have an abscess treated -- and by "treated," I mean surgically opened, flushed clean of debris, and sometimes temporarily held open by drains to let the wound heal with the help of time and some strong antibiotics.

A cat's mouth is a nasty mix of bacteria, and once that bacteria gets punched into another cat's body, the result will probably be an abscess. Think about it -- bacteria being injected with two bacteria-laden hypodermic needles (the cat's fang teeth) into a perfect incubator (another cat's 101-plus-degree body). The only possible outcome is infection.

The bacteria in a cat's mouth is also why even relatively minor cat bites can become serious medical issues for humans, leading to hospitalization in some cases. Anytime you're bitten or scratched by an animal, you should wash the area immediately with soap and water and have the wound checked out by your doctor. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Landmark study looks

at dogs' health for life

-- A landmark study of a popular breed of dog is expected to produce information that will likely help set medical research priority in pets and people. The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study was developed by the Morris Animal Foundation, the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University and the Golden Retriever Club of America, will track the health status of goldens as they age and the environment in which they live. This includes everything from food and exercise to exposure to pesticides to the water they drink. The study will also collect data on cancers, diabetes, arthritis and epilepsy, among other health issues common in pets and people both. Golden retrievers under the age of 2 are being sought, with more information available at caninelifetimehealth.org.

-- Search-and-rescue dogs don't need to be worrying about their jobs. Researchers at the University of Dortmund in Germany are working to determine reliable scent markers to help find people who are lost or caught in collapsed buildings after a disaster. The study identified 12 chemical compounds that could be identified by a machine for the purpose of finding someone. That's a long way from having a machine that works with the speed, agility and highly developed scenting ability of a dog under difficult and ever-changing conditions in the field.

-- Keeping dogs and cats continues to be very popular, according to the findings of the American Veterinarian Medical Association in its newly released "U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook." The survey of 50,000 households puts the number of cats in the United States at 74.1 million and the number of dogs at 70 million -- both figures down slightly from the last survey five years ago. The most dramatic drop has been in the number of horses, down 2.4 million in the same period to 4.8 million in 2012. -- Gina Spadafori

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 affiliated with Vetstreet.com and 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.