VISION PROBLEMS A COMMON CONCERN IN OLDER PETS

Whoever said that getting old isn't for sissies knew what she was talking about. All of us, including our dogs and cats, find that as we age, our bodies just don't work as well as they used to. Eye diseases are among the most commonly seen problems in older dogs and cats.

One change you may notice is a condition called lenticular sclerosis, or nuclear sclerosis. That bluish haze you may see in a pet's eyes isn't cataracts, as is often suspected, but the result of a normal aging of the lens. The good news is that it doesn't affect vision and doesn't require any treatment.

Cataracts are cloudy spots on the normally transparent lens of the eye. They look like a milky gray film behind the pupil. Cataracts may start to appear when dogs are 6 years old to 8 years old and can eventually lead to blindness. Dogs rely more on scent than sight, however, and they can get around very well simply by using their noses -- as long as you don't move the furniture. If your dog's cataracts are so bad that he's running into things, ask your veterinarian about cataract surgery.

Older cats rarely develop cataracts. They are more likely to suffer vision loss from retinal diseases, uveitis (a painful inflammation of certain eye structures) or glaucoma. Like dogs, cats adapt well to vision loss. They compensate by relying more on their hearing or their whiskers.

Other age-related vision problems, such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, better known as dry eye, require aggressive treatment. Tears, which are produced by the lacrimal glands, lubricate, protect and cleanse the eye. Tear production tends to decrease with age. If that happens, the eye becomes dry and irritated. It starts to produce more mucus, causing a goopy discharge. Dry eyes are itchy, and dogs may scratch at them or rub them on the carpet in an attempt to relieve the itch. Dogs with dry eye are also more likely to develop corneal ulcers.

Dry eye is diagnosed with a Schirmer tear test. The veterinarian places a tiny paper strip at the inner corner of the eye, where the tears pool, and holds it there for one minute to see how much of the strip becomes wetted with tears. If the result indicates that tear production is below normal, the animal likely has dry eye. Dry eye is less common in cats than in dogs.

Depending on the condition of the eye, your veterinarian may prescribe artificial tears (not saline solution), antibiotic eye drops or an immunosuppressant drug that stimulates tear production. This helps to keep the dog comfortable and the cornea healthy. The medication may need to be compounded at a special pharmacy.

Glaucoma is an increase in pressure within the eye. It can develop quickly and is extremely painful. If your pet is squinting and the eye is tearing and feels harder than normal, consider it an emergency. A dog or cat with an acute case of glaucoma can lose his eyesight within 48 hours if the condition isn't treated immediately.

Take your dog to the veterinarian for an eye exam any time you notice the following signs:

-- Redness

-- Cloudiness

-- Discharge

-- Opaque or whitish film over the eye

-- Tearing, squinting, pawing at the eye or other signs of pain

-- Sensitivity to light

-- An unusually soft or hard eye

-- A swollen, crusty or itchy eyelid

-- A bulging or sunken eye

If you notice that your pet's vision is not as keen as it used to be, don't simply chalk it up to old age. Oftentimes, medication or other treatment can help, especially if the problem is diagnosed early.

Q&A

New climate calls for

changes in dog's lifestyle

Q: My dog and I just moved from Southern California to Wisconsin, and it's starting to get a lot colder than we're used to. What should I do to make sure my dog is prepared for winter? -- via Facebook

A: Having lived in Idaho all my life, I know just what kind of weather you're facing. Brrrr!

First things first: Provide protective gear as needed. Lots of people object to dogs wearing clothes, but shorthaired or thin-skinned dogs such as greyhounds or pugs don't have much fur or fat for insulation, and it's a real kindness to provide them with a warm coat or sweater to protect them from the elements. Not every dog needs a winter coat. Nordic breeds like Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies love the cold and snow and will happily dig themselves a snow cave to relax in.

Whether your dog needs booties depends on similar factors. If he walks on streets or sidewalks that have been treated with salts to melt ice, booties will protect his feet from chemicals. And longhaired dogs often get snow or ice balls between their foot pads. They may need booties as well, or you can try clipping the hair so there's less opportunity for ice balls to form.

When he plays outdoors, make sure your dog has a sheltered area where he'll be protected from wind and snow. How long should your dog stay outside? Once he's accustomed to the new climate, he can stay outdoors as long as he wants if he has a place where he can retreat from the elements.

Finally, never let your dog off leash in an unfenced area. One hazard dogs face in winter is being hit by a car because the driver's vision is limited by snow piled on the sides of the road. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Jerky treats linked to

pet illnesses, deaths

-- After testing more than 1,200 pet jerky treat samples since 2011, the Food and Drug Administration still doesn't know why 3,600 dogs and 10 cats have developed illnesses related to the treats since 2007. Approximately 580 of those pets have died. The implicated treats, most of which were produced in China, have been tested for various chemical and microbiological contaminants, including antibiotics, metals, pesticides and salmonella. The FDA has also inspected facilities in China where jerky treats are manufactured and have identified additional areas for investigation, such as the supply chain of certain ingredients. The FDA is asking pet owners and veterinarians to report potential jerky treat-related illnesses and may ask for blood, urine and tissue samples for further analysis. If a pet eats jerky treats made of chicken, duck, sweet potato or dried fruit, then exhibits signs such as appetite loss, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water consumption and increased urination, seek veterinary help. Until the mystery is solved, however, it's best to avoid giving jerky treats.

-- A dog's dietary needs are based mainly on activity levels. Unless your dog is out cross-country skiing with you or pulling a sled, he probably needs to eat less in winter because he's less active.

-- How intelligent are parrots? It depends on their social structure. A study published in the September 2013 issue of Animal Cognition looked at problem-solving abilities in four parrot species: spectacled parrotlets, green-winged macaws, sulphur-crested cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets. An article on Wired.com reports that researchers Anastasia Krasheninnikova, Stefan Brager and Ralf Wanker at the University of Hamburg in Germany gave the birds five different string-pulling tasks to test whether they understood a cause-and-effect relationship. Spectacled parrotlets outperformed the other species, an ability that was best explained by their complex social relationships. They live in large groups that offer opportunities for many different social interactions. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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.

SOMETIMES IT'S NECESSARY TO REARRANGE YOUR HOME TO PROTECT BOTH YOUR BELONGINGS AND YOUR DOG

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Every few years, when we get a new puppy or adopt an adult dog or have a foster dog spend some time with us, I have to dog-proof our home and learn some new tricks about interacting with particular dogs. You might think that I would have dog-proofing down by now, but each dog has been attracted to different items or has done things it didn't occur to the other dogs to try. Our current "new dog" is Kibo, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel we're fostering until he is adopted.

One of the first things Kibo taught me was to put away my shoes and to close doors. None of our other dogs have been chewers, but Kibo likes to examine things with his mouth in the fervent hope that they will be edible. He has gone into the closet to chew on my leather sandals (caught before he did any damage) and explored the walk-in shower. There he found and carried away a plastic razor, which, fortunately, he abandoned in the hallway instead of swallowing. He is also fond of a tiny, gold papier-mache box. He hasn't chewed it up or swallowed it, which he could easily do, but he likes to take it off the side table and lie with it. It's now out of reach, too.

Despite his short stature, Kibo tries hard to be a countertop surfer. We've learned not to hold or place food at any height where he could jump up and reach it. Our other dogs are also highly food-oriented, but they wouldn't dream of snatching food out of our hands. Kibo does more than dream it -- he tries it. I always push the chair in if I get up from the table because I can tell that the idea of jumping onto it to get at the food is running through his mind.

If you are living with a Kibo of your own, here are some tips to keep your belongings safe, your house in one piece and your dog out of trouble.

-- Use a crate. When you cannot supervise your dog, even if it's just for a few minutes, put him in the crate to prevent any misbehavior. Kibo hangs out in his crate on his own and he's happy to go into it when asked because he knows he will get a treat.

-- Tether your dog. That means he is leashed at your side at all times. This is a great way to learn the signals a new dog or puppy gives when he needs to go potty. It keeps him under your watchful eye so he can't get into mischief and helps build a bond between you.

-- Get down at dog's-eye level to see what might attract the dog's attention. Electrical cords, small trash containers and dangling dish towels all can pose threats. Bundle cords and encase them in tough plastic covers, put trash containers out of reach, and keep dish towels in drawers if your dog is attracted to them. Chair and table legs often look good to chew. Coat them with Bitter Apple spray to deter taste-testing (try it first in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't damage the finish). Make sure no sharp edges or choking hazards are within a dog's reach.

-- Most important, never underestimate the intelligence and inventiveness of dogs. They can learn to open doors, climb up on counters and desks using other pieces of furniture as launch pads, and crawl under or wiggle into places you've never imagined they would go. Be smart and put away or block access to valuable, fragile or dangerous items and secure cabinets with childproof locks.

Q&A

Benefits of having dogs include

friendship, health and confidence

Q: Our child is 6 years old. She's been asking for a dog, and I think it's a good time to get one. My spouse isn't so sure. What are some of the benefits of a child having a dog? -- via Facebook

A: When I look back on the happiest times of my childhood, almost all of my favorite memories involve my dog Scooter. Besides being a playmate, he helped me in other ways. I was shy, and Scooter helped me to open up and gave me a way to relate to other people.

For kids, a dog is someone to bond with and talk to who is always there and can be a trustworthy confidant. Caring for a dog teaches empathy and helps build responsibility. With supervision, a young child like your 6-year-old can put fresh water in a dog's dish, wash the food dish after the dog eats, and help put away the dog food. Older children can learn to brush the dog, measure out food at mealtime and take the dog for walks.

Pets also have health benefits. I think kids with dogs are more likely to get up off the couch and get some exercise, and studies show that children with early exposure to dogs have a decreased risk of developing allergies, asthma and eczema.

At every age, children are constantly going through changes, including going to school and learning how to deal with people. Some come from broken families and go back and forth between their parents' homes. For any child, a dog or other pet can be a constant in their lives.

With my own daughter, our two pugs provide consistency. No matter what else is going on with her or whatever challenges she is facing, she always has her dogs. They bring her comfort and stability. -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

A cat's tail up?

Safe to approach

-- In a Washington Post article, anthrozoologist John Bradshaw, who has studied cat behavior for more than 30 years and is the author of the new book "Cat Sense," writes that the key signal allowing cats to assess each other's moods is the straight-up tail. Two cats checking each other out communicate their willingness to approach peacefully by raising the tail. It's a form of neoteny, a kittenlike behavior retained into adulthood. "The tail-up signal almost certainly evolved during domestication, arising from a posture wildcat kittens use when greeting their mothers," Bradshaw writes. "Adult wildcats do not raise their tails to each other."

-- According to Winn Feline Foundation, a paper published in the April 2013 issue of Veterinary Dermatology found that beef, dairy products and fish account for nearly 90 percent of all reported cases of adverse food reactions in cats. Based on a literature search of food and food ingredients, the paper reports that the animal proteins generally caused skin lesions or a combination of skin lesions and gastrointestinal symptoms. Wheat and corn typically caused gastrointestinal upset. Beef, dairy products, chicken and wheat were responsible for 78 percent of reported adverse food reactions in dogs.

-- Dogs eat the darndest things. Based on animal X-rays submitted to the Veterinary Practice News' "They Ate What?" contest, the following items were found in the stomachs of some dogs with indiscriminate eating habits: a long piece of metal with a two-inch curve; a 14-inch wooden back scratcher; a wooden-handled hunting knife; a mass of 70 rubber hair bands, which were at first mistaken for a tumor; a bread knife; an electronics cable; a llama rib bone; a Playstation controller; and an arrowhead. The takeaway? Never assume your dog won't -- or can't -- swallow something. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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.

A TRIP TO THE VETERINARY ER IS NEVER EASY, BUT THESE TIPS CAN HELP YOU GET THROUGH IT

Taking a pet to the emergency hospital is something none of us wants to do. It's scary and stressful for you and your dog or cat. We've been there more times than we like to think about, and we have some tips to help you cope. We hope you won't ever need to use them, but tuck them away in the back of your mind just in case.

Protect yourself when handling a sick or injured animal. Even the most docile dog or cat can bite when in pain. Keep a muzzle on hand or ask your veterinarian to show you how to safely tie one using a scarf or tie.

Be patient. Your pet won't be seen in the order of arrival. Animals who are most unstable will be seen first.

"We do them in order of medical need," says our friend and colleague Dr. Tony Johnson, an emergency and critical care specialist at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. "If I have a hit-by-car and a dog with diarrhea, even if the dog with diarrhea has been waiting two hours, the hit-by-car is going to get seen first."

The only time someone jumps that line, he says, is if they're bringing in a pet to be euthanized.

Be prepared to wait as little as five minutes or as long as six hours. It all depends on what other cases are there or come in while you're waiting. If you think about it before you leave the house, grab a book or your iPod in case you'll be there for a while.

If possible, have someone go with you or meet you there. You may need help getting your pet in and out of the car and into the hospital. And it's always good to have someone's hand to hold while you're waiting.

Designate a single person to communicate with the veterinarian, so he or she doesn't have to repeat information to multiple family members. Take notes or record the conversation on your smartphone so you can refer back to it.

Don't forget your wallet in your mad rush out of the house. Most veterinary hospitals won't treat your pet without proof that you can pay for care. Your regular veterinary hospital might do that if you've been a client for years -- they know where you live and that you're probably not going to skip town -- but an emergency hospital isn't in that position.

"It sounds avaricious, but there are not too many emergency hospitals that are going to do something on a handshake," Dr. Johnson says. "ERs usually see people once. They can't separate out the people who are a risk of not paying from those who aren't. They're not trying to be greedy."

Know when to go. Some things are obvious. Take your pet to the emergency hospital in the following situations:

-- allergic reactions

-- any animal bite

-- bloated belly

-- bloody diarrhea

-- difficulty breathing

-- distress from excessively hot or cold temperatures

-- eye injuries

-- frequent or projectile vomiting

-- heavy bleeding

-- ingestion of a toxic substance, such as antifreeze, human medications or snail bait

-- seizures

-- serious trauma, such as being hit by a car

-- straining to urinate or defecate

-- sudden lameness

-- unconsciousness or collapse

-- venomous snake or spider bites

If you're not sure, well, we recommend erring on the side of caution. Like their counterparts in human medicine, veterinary emergency clinics are expensive, but sometimes the cost of a visit is a price worth paying for peace of mind. And when a visit saves your pet's life? Priceless.

Q&A

Respond to cat's 'gifts'

with gratitude, distraction

Q: My cat is always bringing me dead gophers. Why does he do this, and how should I respond? -- via Facebook

A: My mother's cats have delivered four rats to her front door in the past week. Isn't she lucky that they are so thoughtful? I guess with colder weather coming on, they are concerned that she won't be able to provide for herself.

Cats are known for bringing "presents" to their people. Why do cats hunt for us? They are natural predators, of course, and it's instinctive for them to bring their prey to a safe place. In the wild, leopards drag their kill up into trees so it will be safe from other animals and they can munch on it at their leisure. Our domestic cats choose their own home, and sometimes their own food dish, as the best place to securely deposit their kill.

Of course, we can't get into their heads, fascinating though it would be, but they may be acting out the instinct to nurture us and to provide us with food. Maybe they are trying to teach us to hunt, as they would a kitten. Or it could just be that they're saying, "Hey, could you fix this for dinner tonight?"

Be polite when your cat brings you the gift of a dead mouse or other critter. Praise him for being such a good hunter, and then try to distract him while -- ideally --someone else disposes of the carcass.

If your cat is a great hunter, there's little you can do to prevent his offerings. There's the classic bell on the collar to warn prey animals of his approach, or the policy of keeping him indoors. And learn from my mother's experience: Look carefully before you step outside the door. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs with 'smart collars'

could be health barometers

-- Researchers at England's Newcastle University developed a high-tech, waterproof dog collar with an accelerometer and used it to track movement, barking, sitting and other actions to gather data on the normal activity level of a variety of dog breeds. The information they obtained allowed them to quickly notice changes that might indicate that the dog was bored or in poor health. Their next step is to study whether changes such as the dog being walked less often or not being fed regularly can serve as a warning that an aging owner is struggling to cope or has deteriorating health.

-- The Eau Gallie Veterinary Hospital in Melbourne, Fla., has started regularly utilizing humorous messages, such as "No hump Wednesdays 10 percent off spay and neuter." The clever and comical signs are the brainchild of office manager Gemma Millar, who says they are a fun way to get people's attention and promote preventive care and the benefits of spaying and neutering. The signs have increased the clinic's spay/neuter appointments and even brought in new clients.

-- Everyone knows that black is chic, sophisticated and goes with everything. So why are black dogs and cats so difficult to place? Shelter employees and humane organizations agree that the animals tend to stay longer than lighter-colored pets, possibly because they are difficult to photograph, blend into backgrounds, or maybe just look a little scary. Shelters are working to improve their chances by putting colorful bandanas on black animals, putting up bright backdrops in their kennels to help them stand out, and having their pictures taken by professional photographers. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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.