SIMPLE CHANGES CAN IMPROVE A SENIOR PET'S QUALITY OF LIFE

When I started writing about pets for a living almost three decades ago, I had one middle-aged dog and one young one. When I sat down to write this article, my final "Pet Connection," I again have one middle-aged dog and one young one (as well as three cats, one horse, two goats, two ducks and 23 chickens, but who's counting?). In the years between that first column and this one, I've held many pets in my arms at our veterinarian's for the final good-bye, most of them dogs.

Even though I know the signs of aging pets mean the hardest part of sharing a life with them is inching ever closer, I never regret having an old dog around. To me, an older dog is one of the most beautiful of life's many gifts to us. It doesn't matter what time has done to the animal's actual appearance -- an older dog looks special to me, and always will.

I know I'm not alone in this feeling, but I sometimes realize that I am in the minority when it comes to leveraging the strategies -- often simple and relatively inexpensive -- that can make an older dog feel years younger. This time can be a special one for both of you, but it's up to you to make the most of it.

The place to start is with your veterinarian. With my senior pets, I go to twice-yearly comprehensive wellness exams, which include not only a complete physical and dental examination, but also diagnostic tests to see what's going on "under the hood." With my last three dogs, those diagnostics paid off by revealing health issues that weren't yet showing, including cancer and renal failure. In all three cases, diagnosing, addressing and treating the conditions early allowed me to enjoy extra time with all three of these dogs.

But even when tests reveal nothing abnormal, I've been able to take my veterinarian's advice based on those twice-yearly visits to improve the lives of my senior dogs. My veterinarian has been able to suggest dietary changes and nutritional supplements, for example, that eased the pain of arthritis. I've always worked in partnership with my veterinarian, and that's never more helpful than when managing an aging pet.

Once I have a pet's medical needs addressed, I look at changes to make at home. These include:

-- Beds. Think soft. Think cushioned. Think low. Think heated. Your dog will thank you for all of these comforts, especially in cold weather.

-- Clothes. Older dogs, like older people, have a more difficult time maintaining their body temperature. This problem is even more pronounced in slender, short-coated breeds like the greyhound or whippet. So check out the sweater selection at your local pet-supply store.

-- Ramps and steps. If your dogs are allowed on the couch and the bed, consider buying or building steps to help the dog who can no longer make it in one jump. A permanent ramp going down the back-porch step or a slide-out one to help your dog into the car will also be appreciated.

The most important thing you can do for an older dog? Keep him moving, every day (avoid "weekend warrior" syndrome), and keep his weight at or just below normal. For my dog Heather, I added a life preserver so she could continue to swim almost daily in the river near our home, providing her with low-impact exercise that wasn't overwhelming.

In the 30 years since I started helping others help their pets, nothing makes me happier than thinking about how many wonderful pets I've known -- and not just my own, of course. You can't make time slow down, and you can't change the too-short life span of the animals we adore. But you can make the most of the time your pet has, and you should always try. Start by talking to your veterinarian, today.

Gina Spadafori has retired from the Pet Connection team. Kim Campbell Thornton, an award-winning writer and the author of many pet-care books, has taken over as Dr. Marty Becker's writing partner for Pet Connection.

Q&A

Is there a problem

with 'service' dogs?

Q: Last month, I flew on a plane in the same row as a dog who sat on her owner's lap the entire way. When the flight attendant told her to put the dog in his bag under the seat in front of her, the owner claimed the dog was a service animal and had the right to sit on her lap.

Although I can't be sure, I suspect he was a fake service dog. I've been hearing a lot about this trend lately, and it seems like faking a disability only makes things more difficult for people who have real disabilities and real service dogs. Why doesn't someone do something about this? -- I.P., via email

A: Service dogs seem like they're everywhere, including airports, restaurants and hotels, among other traditionally undogly places. And during peak travel seasons -- summer, and the approaching holidays -- we see more dogs in these places simply because there are more people patronizing them.

The increase in the number of service dogs says a lot about what these animals can do. No longer do they belong almost exclusively to the blind, the deaf and people who need wheelchairs to get around. Today's service dogs also assist those with diabetes, epilepsy and PTSD, among other not-so-obvious disabilities. This, too, undoubtedly makes their presence seem more pervasive.

Yet, it's true that the expanding definition of service dogs makes room for abuse –– "fakes," as you put it. And it's also true that people can and do flout the law by exploiting a loophole that prohibits establishments from requiring either proof of disability or official service dog credentials.

The problem is that closing this loophole, as you suggest, would currently cause more difficulties for the disabled than it would fix. So until we can all agree on an inexpensive, accessible method of credentialing service animals, I recommend that we refrain from passing judgment on these animals and the people they may well be serving. Their roles could be exactly as claimed, and these owners need their help, not our distraction. -- Dr. Patty Khuly, DrPattyKhuly.com

THE BUZZ

Ford asks dog lovers

to let pets 'ride inside'

-- The image of a dog in the back of a pickup is as much an American icon as a small-town parade on the Fourth of July. But the Ford Motor Co. has teamed with the American Humane Association to convince people to protect their pets by ending the dangerous ride. The "Dogs Ride Inside" campaign warns that putting pets in the back isn't all that safe, and notes that extended-cab pickups leave plenty of room inside for Rover, ideally riding in a safety harness.

-- The Walk In Sync harness is the invention of a Colorado dog trainer looking to improve on other no-pull harnesses. The harness clips in the front to prevent pulling, and the higher cut of the harness prevents the rubbing noted by earlier front-clip harnesses. Information and ordering information is at dogwalkinsync.com.

-- The Wall Street Journal reports that the boom in so-called "backyard chickens" has led to a shortage of veterinary options when the birds are sick. That's because most veterinarians who specialize in poultry health work in the food industry, where the answer to a sick chicken is not treatment, but removal from the flock and a swift death. The WSJ reports the situation has led to do-it-yourself doctoring for those who see their birds not as meat, but as pets. -- Dr. Marty Becker and 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 Kim Campbell Thornton. The two are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and also are the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE 'EAR-TIPPING' OF FREE-ROAMING CATS BENEFITS PETS, PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY

By Dr. Patti Khuly

As a veterinarian who practices in a warm climate, treating feral and free-roaming cats is a year-round adventure. "Trap, test, sterilize, vaccinate and release" is my mantra when it comes to dealing with this population of patients. But in recent years, I've taken to adding one more thing to that list: ear-tipping.

Tipping feline ears is a simple technique that requires an almost bloodless snip of the left ear to help identify the cats as having been sterilized and vaccinated. As such, it's considered a purely cosmetic procedure, which I know doesn't exactly sound like a good thing. But because it's performed with the cats' best interests in mind, this procedure definitely gets a pass on the animal welfare-o-meter.

In case you're new to this concept, here's a primer on ear-tipping:

The "ear-tip" is a highly effective device that those who care for feral cat colonies use to monitor the success of their efforts. It also helps animal control officials know which colonies of cats are well-managed and stable.

Not only is it useful, but unlike a canine ear crop, it's also considered absolutely painless when performed under anesthesia. In fact, cats uniformly recover without pawing at their ears or showing any other sign of distress related to the loss of this tiny bit of cartilage.

Nonetheless, there is a downside to ear-tipping: Many people are reluctant to adopt cats with tipped ears. They view it as a slight on the animal's natural beauty.

I ear-tip only the homeless who come my way as feral or free-roaming cats. These "freebie" surgical candidates may leave my hospital and find loving forever homes, but the reality is that most will not. The really dismal reality is that all but the most friendly, healthy and comely will land back on the streets.

That's why my policy is to ear-tip almost all of them. Here's more of why:

1. Public safety: Since ear-tipped cats are typically rabies-vaccinated, identifying them as such enhances the safety of the human community at large.

2. Population management: Because ear-tipping helps in managing a community's colonies, it promotes the welfare of its stray populations.

3. Feline protection: It's the right thing to do for the individual cat. A cat who's not ear-tipped may end up in surgery for altering that has already been done, and who wants another experience under the knife?

In communities where cats are targeted for eradication, ear-tipping can make the difference between a free-roaming cat's life ... and lethal control. But because ear-tipping may reduce an individual's adoptability, I've learned that concessions must sometimes be made to a cat's demeanor and appearance, depending on her individual circumstances. For example, is the cat truly wild, or a sweet, happens-to-be-homeless stray? Is the cat entering an established adoption program? Or is it at all possible that this "stray" free-roamer might possibly belong to a neighbor, and is really someone's pet?

If the animal might be reasonably expected to have a home waiting for him, knowing as we do that humans may refuse to adopt a "marked" specimen, I'll often opt for leaving the ear alone.

Here's where some of you may wonder, "Surely there has to be a better way! Plastic surgery just sounds so harsh!" But given the current realities inherent to modern feline existence, where entire colonies can be eradicated pending one municipal official's say-so, why leave a life-and-death issue to chance?

If what's best for everyone –– especially for our free-roaming cats –– is that they get their ears tipped, why should aesthetics stand in the way?

Guest columnist Dr. Patty Khuly (drpattykhuly.com) is a Miami-based veterinarian and popular author, as well as a top veterinary blogger and the creator of The Fat Dog Diet, a smartphone app to help pet owners reduce their dogs' weight.

Q&A

Pass on pets until

after graduation

Q: I just started college, and I miss having pets. I've never been without pets in my life, and I have never slept in my own bed without a pet at my feet (or in the case of my cat, on my head). Outside the grocery store recently, our SPCA was having mobile adoptions, and that just made things worse. I talked to my parents, and they said they understood how I felt, but that it was best to wait. For one thing, they made the point that money is tight.

I do understand all that, but I have also read about the emotional benefits of pets, and I think I'd be better off with one. What do you think? I'd like to go adopt a dog. Or a cat. Or both, really. -- via Facebook

A: I honestly think you'd be better off waiting until you're done with college to own a pet, but that doesn't mean you can't have pets in your life while in college.

But first, the problem with ownership: The shelters and rescue groups of every college town in the country are constantly dealing with the former pets of students. As you've already guessed, finding and keeping housing that allows pets is a major challenge. So, too, can be finding the time and energy to care for a pet when there's so much to do and try when you're in college. And don't forget that, as your parents pointed out, pets can be expensive to maintain, and very few college students have much money to spare. Even if you can afford the minimal expense of feeding a cat (compared to a large dog), what will you do if your pet gets sick?

Even if you can find suitable housing, have you thought about what you'll do with your pets during school breaks? If you're planning on going home when you're not in school, you might find your parents are unwilling to have your pet become a member of the family, even temporarily. Especially since, as you note, there are pets back home who might not enjoy the visitors.

My suggestion: Volunteer! Cat socializers, dog-walkers and other opportunities abound at that same SPCA you saw outside your grocery store. In fact, chances are the people you talked to were volunteers. By volunteering, you will be able to get your "pet fix" and may even be able to foster a dog or cat for a short while to make the animal more adoptable, assuming your property owner agrees.

There will be plenty of time in your life for the responsibilities of keeping pets. For now, volunteering is a good "win-win" situation -- you have pets in your life, and you help pets find their forever homes. I have to agree with your parents: College will pass soon enough, and so, too, will the time to experiment with life on your own. -- Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

Pet music truly does

have calming charms

-- A Juilliard-trained pianist and an expert in the therapeutic value of sound have been steadily producing music aimed at calming pets and people alike. The "Through a Dog's Ear" and "Through a Cat's Ear" collections have been clinically shown to help pets relax. The company recently released a collection of CDs for noise-phobic pets in conjunction with dog-trainer Victoria Stillwell, as well as a small, self-contained player called iCalmDog that loops the selections for constant play while the pet is alone. The iCalmDog is $79 from ThroughADogsEar.com or other retailers.

-- Cattle rustlers beware: A bill awaiting the governor's signature in California will increase the penalties for anyone convicted of stealing livestock. The bill's sponsor, a cattle rancher himself, noted that the law would cover livestock from alpacas to zebras. Beef and dairy cattle are popular with thieves: More than 1,000 head of cattle were stolen in California last year, with the loss valued at around $1 million.

-- Veterinarians in Alabama have escalated a war of words into lawsuits, with factions squaring off over whether nonprofits such as animal shelters should be allowed to operate low-cost spay-neuter clinics for pets, or whether veterinarians alone should be afforded the privilege. The state's lawmakers have been unable to pass legislation to settle the regulatory matter once and for all, in large part because the blowback will be considerable no matter what the ultimate outcome. -- Dr. Marty Becker and 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.

LONG BACKS, SHORT LEGS AND SLIPPED DISKS: IS YOUR DOG AT RISK?

By Dr. Patti Khuly

I'm not sure exactly how it happens, but veterinarians tend to take on "special needs" pets. Of course, I'm no exception.

My French bulldog's chronic spinal problems and ensuing disability make him a perfect poster child for veterinarian-owned pets everywhere. It also makes him the ideal subject of a discussion on intervertebral disk disease, arguably the most common spinal malady among dogs.

Intervertebral disk disease, like my dog Vincent's, is referred to as "IVDD" by veterinarians, but is better known to the general public as "slipped disks." It's a condition caused by the untimely degeneration of one or more of the disk-shaped structures that serve as cushions between the bony vertebrae of the spine. When these disks go bad, the material contained within them is extruded, thereby compressing the most sensitive nearby structure: the spinal cord.

Like my temperamental Vincent (his spine isn't the only source of his "specialness"), the spinal cord doesn't take insults lying down. It lets everyone know when it's unhappy. In most cases, pain is the body's most obvious response to an affronted spinal cord. Afflicted dogs may stand in a hunched position, cry out when picked up, refuse to jump or decline to eat, among other possible symptoms.

But some dogs aren't especially demonstrative when it comes to letting you know they're hurting. In fact, plenty will never whine, cry or otherwise display their discomfort –– ever. For some, that's because their disease is mild. For others, it's because it's simply their nature to conceal any pain.

In more advanced cases, however, the evidence of IVDD may ultimately appear in how they move. An odd hitch in her stride, a peculiar dragging of a hind foot, a funny crossing-over of his hind limbs -- they're all possibilities. In these patients, what you're observing is the end result of a serious spinal offense: evidence of nerve damage.

When the spinal cord is damaged –– whether permanently or temporarily –– the communication between the brain and the body is disrupted. And for most IVDD patients, the hind limbs are the first to go. That's why the unluckiest patients will forever walk oddly, if they walk at all.

In Vincent's case, it has taken three surgeries to get him back on all four paws. Nonetheless, these separate IVDD events have claimed most of his hind limb function. The next time, his neurosurgeons tell me, he won't be so lucky. Which is why he's already being trained to use his K-9 cart, aka a "doggie wheelchair."

To be sure, it's a depressing disease. More so for dogs who don't have the luxury of a veterinarian owner and a bunch of board-certified neurosurgeons to lavish them with their professional services.

But fortunately, few dogs are as seriously diseased as Vincent. Trouble is, for every wheelchair-bound patient, hundreds more suffer painful IVDD symptoms that aren't detected or treated.

It makes sense, then, that research dollars might be dedicated to exploring the basis for this disease. Because it's especially common in dachshunds, among other short-legged long-backed breeds (bassets, shih tzus, Welsh corgis, etc.), a recent veterinary study at The Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom undertook to understand this connection, ultimately establishing a relationship between long backs, short legs and IVDD.

Although all dog owners should be on the lookout for pain and dysfunction, those who count stubby-legged, long-backed dogs among their family are effectively put on notice: Spinal troubles may be headed your way. So at your next veterinary visit, why not ask your pet's doctor to check for telltale signs you might be missing? The earlier the diagnosis, the more treatment options there are, and the better chance your dog has of living without the chronic pain IVDD can cause.

Guest columnist Dr. Patty Khuly (drpattykhuly.com) is a Miami-based veterinarian and popular author, as well as a top veterinary blogger and the creator of "The Fat Dog Diet," a smartphone app designed to help pet owners reduce their dogs' weight.

Q&A

Alternatives to pills

for treating sick birds

Q: How do you give medication to a pet bird? "Pilling" doesn't seem like an option. -- via Facebook

A: Veterinarians who work with birds can show you several techniques for medicating them. Which one will be recommended for home nursing care will depend on the owner's comfort and skill, and on the bird himself. Here's a rundown of the options:

-- Putting medication in water. Points for "easy," but this technique has its drawbacks. You have little control over dosage because you can't count on your bird to drink any set amount of water. Some species drink little water at all, and other birds may not feel up to drinking when they're ill.

-- Offering medicated feeds. Same pros and cons as medicated water. It's easy to offer medicated feed, but you have no way of making sure that any of it gets inside your bird. And some medicated feeds apparently taste awful, so even if your bird feels like eating, he may not touch the stuff with medicine in it.

-- Using a syringe or eyedropper. Accuracy of dosage is a benefit of giving your bird medication orally, assuming you get the stuff in him, instead of dribbling it everywhere but down his throat. You can get the appropriate amount in an eyedropper or a syringe with the needle removed, and then slide the tip into the side of your bird's mouth. Your bird isn't likely to sit still for this procedure, so you'll have to restrain him by wrapping him in a towel. Once he's restrained, a bird who has been hand-fed as a baby will usually go along.

-- Giving an injection. High marks for accuracy, and once you're used to injecting your bird, high marks for ease as well. As with oral medications, though, you'll likely need to restrain your bird with a towel to inject his medication. Some people get really good at injecting their birds, even after initial reluctance.

Some final points: Don't stop giving meds because your bird seems to feel better. It's always important to give the medications for as long as they've been prescribed. And if you have any problems or questions, call your veterinarian. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

AAHA ruling against

no-anesthesia dentistry

-- So-called "anesthesia-free dental cleanings," criticized by veterinary experts as insufficient when it comes to diagnosing and treating dental disease in pets, will no longer be part of the American Animal Hospital Association's certified veterinary practices. In making the announcement, the AAHA said that "anesthesia with intubation is necessary to remove plaque and tartar from the entire tooth, at least 60 percent of which is under the gum line."

-- The sickening and deaths of a small number of healthy dogs from what appears to be a virulent new virus has veterinarians on edge in Ohio and beyond. The Ohio Department of Agriculture told the Akron Beacon-Journal that it's received calls from pet owners and veterinarians concerned about deaths in the Akron-Canton area as well as in Cincinnati, and especially about symptoms severe enough to kill about half of the infected dogs within 48 hours. A sample from one of the dogs killed was confirmed as a new and emerging disease by pathologists at the University of California, Davis, who are investigating whether the "circo virus" also killed a California dog last spring.

-- A pharmacist in Washington state was disciplined by the state regulatory agency after he modified a dose on a veterinary prescription without consulting the veterinarian. VIN News (news.vin.com) reported that a state investigator confirmed that the veterinarian's prescription was correct and noted that differences in metabolism may mean that dosages for dogs (or other animals) will be different than dosages for people of comparable size. As more pet owners take veterinary prescriptions to traditional pharmacies, looking to save money, similar errors by pharmacists non-versed in veterinary medicine have become more common. -- 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.