TWO RECENT BOOKS AIM TO MAKE PEOPLE BETTER PET OWNERS

By Kim Campbell Thornton

In more than 30 years of pet ownership, I've nursed a lot of animals: a diabetic cat, a greyhound with bone cancer, an old cat with kidney disease, dogs with congestive heart failure, a puppy with a scratched cornea and more. Everything I know, I learned the hard way.

During each of their illnesses, my animals were cared for by the best veterinarians, but once I got them home from the hospital, I sure could have used "The Feel Better Book For Cats & Dogs" (CreateSpace, December 2013). Written by certified veterinary technician Randi E. Golub, this independently published paperback covers every conceivable care situation a pet owner might encounter, from how to give medications and administer subcutaneous fluids to caring for senior pets and making end-of-life decisions.

"As a cat mom myself, I know it is often frightening and confusing when pets are ill," Golub says. "People want to do the very best for them but often feel helpless and occasionally frustrated. I want to give my readers tips on how to get medication into a pet with a minimum of stress for everyone, how to keep ill pets clean and comfortable, and how to get them to eat. I also wanted to offer support to people who are dealing with an ill or elderly pet, as this can be an emotional and exhausting time for a caretaker."

Golub jumps right into her advice with a chapter on getting organized. She recommends using a chart to track such things as medications, appetite and pain level and suggests useful supplies to have on hand.

The following chapters include instructions on such topics as tube feeding, collecting fecal and urine samples, assisting a cat or dog giving birth, neonatal puppy and kitten care, first aid, hospice care and more -- all offered in an easy-to-understand format and encouraging tone. Most important, there's advice on when to call a veterinarian.

"I advise people to use this book to help with minor medical concerns and always seek veterinary help when a pet has been ill for more than a day or two," she says.

As someone who writes frequently about dog behavior and training, and who fields a lot of questions from confused or frustrated dog owners, I have often wished there was an accessible compilation of all the latest information about canine cognition and how to use it to better understand our dogs.

Now there is. The members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, led by editors Debra F. Horwitz, D.V.M., John Ciribassi, D.V.M., and pet journalist Steve Dale, have written "Decoding Your Dog" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, January 2014), a manual on dog ownership from acquisition to old age.

Chapters address how dogs learn, housetraining, building and managing relationships between kids and dogs, the importance of giving a dog a job, dealing with a dog who's reluctant to have his nails trimmed or teeth brushed, and more.

The authors use anecdotes to illustrate their advice, separate myth from fact, and provide a recap at the end of each chapter. Specialized terms such as intermittent reinforcement, extinction burst, marker signal and stimulation are defined throughout. The techniques rely solely on positive training methods, and the text thoroughly debunks the misguided ideas that dogs do things out of spite and show guilt after wrongdoing.

I asked Dr. Horwitz the most important takeaway for readers.

"Our companion dogs are not out to 'dominate us,' they don't misbehave to spite us, but rather they may not understand how we want them to behave, or they are anxious and frightened," she says.

Some experienced dog owners may find the information basic, but it's more likely that they will learn at least one or two new things. For new dog owners or those who want an interesting and readable primer on dog behavior, this book is a valuable resource.

Q&A

Pet life spans depend

on multiple factors

Q: I've always heard that pets age seven years for every year a human lives. Is that true? What's the best way to estimate my dog's age in human years? And how long can pets live? -- via email

A: It would be great if there were an easy formula for figuring out a pet's age "in people years," but many variables affect the rate at which a dog or cat ages, including size, breed and environment. For instance, outdoor cats face more hazards than indoor cats, so their nine lives may not last quite as long.

Pets mature rapidly during their first two years, and then the rate at which they age slows down. Instead of multiplying by seven, think of a 1-year-old dog as equivalent to a 12-year-old child. By the time he's 2 years old, the dog has bounded into adulthood, with a human-equivalent age of 24 years. For every year after that, add four years.

We can all agree that pets don't live long enough. A few outliers live to be 20 years or more, but that's rare. Many pets are living to be 15 or older, and size seems to be the determining factor. Toy breeds and cats tend to have the longest life spans, often living well into their teens. Some giant breeds live to be only 6 or 8 years old.

Good genes, good nutrition and good weight management also influence longevity. If you're buying a puppy from a breeder, ask how long her dogs usually live. Keep your dog on the thin side throughout life to prevent stress on organs, bones and joints, especially during puppyhood. Dogs who aren't allowed to get fat live an average of two years longer than those who pack on the pounds. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

More meals, smaller amounts

help cats to lose weight

-- Want your cat to lose weight? Feed four small meals per day instead of leaving food out all the time. A study published last month in the Journal of Animal Science found that cats who eat multiple times daily are more active than cats who eat only once or twice a day. The activity levels of the cats studied increased in anticipation of the meals. If you're not home during the day to feed your cat, consider purchasing a timed feeder with two compartments that will open at different times. You can feed your cat his other two meals in the morning and evening when you're at home.

-- National Puppy Day is March 23. Here are six ways to celebrate: Start off on the right paw by scheduling an appointment with a trainer on the day you bring your puppy home. Take your puppy to the veterinarian for a fun visit where he gets only treats and petting, nothing scary or painful. Spend time with him playing with his favorite toy. Teach your puppy to walk nicely on leash so you can enjoy outings together. Inspect your home and yard to make sure they are puppy-proof. Start teaching your puppy to accept having his teeth brushed and nails trimmed. (Be careful not to hurt him!)

-- Massachusetts has amended its exotic animal laws to permit the keeping of certain species of reptiles as pets, according to Reptiles Magazine. Now allowed to take up legal residency in the state are green tree pythons (Chondropython spp.); emerald tree boas (Corallus caninus); all species of Ameiva spp., better known as jungle runners or dwarf tegu; chameleons belonging to the family Chamaeleonidae; frilled lizards (Chlamydosaurus spp.); spiny-tailed lizards (Uromastyx spp.); and spiny-tailed or ridge-tailed monitors (Varanus acanthurus). -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

NEW PRODUCTS, INFORMATION HELP VETS AND PETS

I love going to veterinary conferences. Learning about advances in veterinary medicine and checking out new products and pharmaceuticals is an essential part of keeping up-to-date in my field. At the 2014 Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas last month, I attended some great educational sessions and discovered some new veterinary and consumer products that I will follow with interest. They have a lot of potential for not only helping our pets, but also helping us to learn more about them. Here's a sampling of products and information that I ran across:

-- Apoquel: Who hasn't lived with at least one itchy dog? Sometimes their condition is so bad it makes you want to start scratching yourself. With this new drug, some dogs may find rapid relief, maybe even within a few hours. It's not a steroid, so it doesn't have the side effects that are associated with those types of drugs. The drug works by targeting cytokines (proteins) associated with itching and inflammation. It's suitable for dogs with flea allergies, food allergies or contact allergies.

-- Voyce: Do you have a Fitbit or Nike Fuel band? Now, in addition to tracking your own heart rate, respiratory rate and activity levels, you can collect that data for your dog, too, with the Voyce, a collar that monitors vital signs, calories burned and more. For a monthly fee, you and your veterinarian can access the information, set goals for your dog, and note changes that may be early indicators of problems. You can also receive articles, videos and other information specific to your dog. The collar is waterproof to one meter.

-- Whistle: This activity monitor attaches to your dog's collar and keeps track of how much time is spent on walks, play and rest. You can set daily goals and get weekly updates. The information is easy to access with a free app on your iOS or Android phone. You can share the information with your veterinarian and compare your dog's activity level with dogs of the same breed, age or weight. The device is waterproof and has a 10-day rechargeable battery.

-- Canine intelligence: Psychologist and dog smarts expert Dr. Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia spoke on how we can measure the intelligence of dogs. He had a lot of fascinating things to say, but the takeaway is that when it comes to language, recognizing objects and the ability to form concepts, most dogs have the mental ability of a 2- or 3-year-old child. If we are teaching a skill or presenting a problem to be solved to a dog, it's important to consider whether a toddler could learn the same thing. If not, we may need to rethink whether it's something the dog could do.

-- Older pets: Veterinary anesthesiology specialist Dr. Courtney Baetge of Texas A&M University addressed the special needs of geriatric animals. You might think that sedation is safer for a senior pet, but Dr. Baetge says general anesthesia is a better choice because it protects the airway, provides complete oxygen delivery and allows for ventilator support if needed. What qualifies as older? We typically describe animals as geriatric when they reach 75 percent to 80 percent of the average life span for their breed or species, but we can't always say for sure in the case of mixed breeds or animals with unknown histories.

That's just a fraction of the information that I -- and maybe your own veterinarian -- gathered at the conference. It's our goal to keep up with the latest news and science so we can give your pet the best care possible.

Q&A

Pets and pet lovers can

live an eco-friendly life

Q: I try to live a "green" lifestyle, and I'm wondering if there are any pet-related ways I can reduce my carbon footprint. -- via email

A: What a great question! Mother Earth can use all the help she can get. There are several ways you can lighten your pets' impact on the environment.

-- Look for toys made from materials that are biodegradable, recycled or sustainable. Read the label to see if there's a toll-free number you can use to call the manufacturer and make sure the item doesn't contain any toxic dyes or finishing agents.

-- Ask where toys are manufactured. Products made in the U.S. don't have to be shipped as far, so they have a smaller carbon footprint. Some foreign-made toys may contain high levels of heavy metals, which are unhealthy for you and your pets. Instead of buying lots of cheap toys, buy a few high-quality items and rotate them.

-- See if your cat is willing to use litter made from plant-based materials such as corncobs, wheat or recycled newspapers. These litters are often less dusty and may be flushable or biodegradable. Another option is silica-gel "pearls," which can be used for longer periods before you need to change them.

-- Scoop poop and throw it away in a trash can so that waste runoff doesn't drain to the ocean or other water sources. Use biodegradable or compostable poop bags.

-- Avoid using herbicides and insecticides on your lawn. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to significantly higher risk of bladder cancer in dogs, especially Scottish terriers, Shetland sheepdogs, beagles, West Highland white terriers and wirehaired fox terriers.

-- Use stainless steel food and water bowls, which are fully recyclable.

-- Spay or neuter your pets to prevent unwanted litters, and support trap-neuter-release programs for feral cat colonies in your area. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

They stop barking,

but will they oink?

-- Dogs sprayed with a pig pheromone stopped barking and jumping up, according to a case study published in the February 2014 issue of Professional Animal Scientist. Androstenone, found in the saliva of male pigs -- known as boars -- is a turn-on for female pigs, but when researchers at Texas Tech University sprayed it on dogs who were barking or jumping up, the dogs stopped the undesirable behaviors. That makes androstenone, which works through the olfactory system, a powerful interomone; that is, a substance that is produced by one species but has an effect on the behavior of a different species.

-- Think all cats hate water? Not so fast. Many big cats and a number of domestic felines think that taking a dip is just fine. Cat breeds you are most likely to find making a splash include the Turkish Van, the Turkish Angora, the Savannah, the American bobtail, the Bengal, the Japanese bobtail, the Manx, the Siberian, the Maine coon, the Abyssinian and the Norwegian forest cat.

-- Four genes associated with canine compulsive disorder have been identified and may help researchers study obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans. Dogs, cats and humans can be gripped by the need to perform repetitive actions in an attempt to relieve anxiety. In animals, those behaviors may include tail-chasing, excessive grooming or wool-sucking. Dog breeds that are often affected include Doberman pinschers, bull terriers, Shetland sheepdogs and German shepherds. The study, published in the journal Genome Biology, shows that dogs with the condition can be good models for the human form of OCD, but it's not yet known whether the same genes are involved in the development of OCD in humans. The discovery could eventually help scientists develop more effective treatments for the condition. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

SPECIAL SHELTER PROGRAMS OFFER CARE AND SOCIALIZATION FOR YOUNG KITTENS

By Kim Campbell Thornton and Dr. Marty Becker

Does your shelter have a kitten nursery? It's one of the trends in the shelter community's efforts to save more animals, especially those who typically aren't considered adoptable.

Kittens? Unadoptable? You'd be surprised. Young kittens are among the most at-risk animals in shelters. Kittens who are old enough to be adopted usually fly out of shelters, but those younger than 8 weeks have special needs.

Newborn kittens must be bottle-fed every two hours and are highly vulnerable to disease. They also require socialization at an early age. That's more intensive care than many shelters have been able or willing to give. But some progressive shelters are responding to the challenge with kitten nurseries that save tiny feline lives until they're ready for adoption.

At the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, the program has nurtured nearly 5,500 kittens since 2009. The kitten nursery was born after a 2008 study found that 71 percent of treatable animals euthanized throughout San Diego County were cats and kittens. Of those, 38 percent were kittens younger than 8 weeks.

"We opened the kitten nursery in 2009 to save our community's most at-risk animal," says SDHS nursery supervisor Jenny Bonomini. The program operates in conjunction with other nonprofit and government agencies in the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition.

With a 250-kitten capacity, the nursery has three designated areas separated by age: neonatal (newborns to 2 weeks); transitional (2 to 4 weeks) and socialization (5 to 8 weeks). The kittens receive round-the-clock care from 24 staff members and 20 volunteers.

"These tiny kittens are very vulnerable and their health can change hour by hour," Bonomini says. "The medical team makes several rounds to the kitten nursery every day so we can constantly monitor these young kittens and provide any care that they may need. We also have many protocols in place to ensure that diseases don't spread."

Kitten nurseries may operate only part of the year or nearly year-round, depending on where the shelter is located. In temperate climates such as California, "kitten season" runs from March through November. In other areas, it typically runs from April through October.

"We get litters of stray kittens, owner-relinquished kittens and kittens transferred from other shelters who don't have the resources and infrastructure to care for them," Bonomini says.

Successful programs have enough staff to care for kittens round-the-clock in a warm and safe environment with good disease-management protocols. Other shelters with kitten nurseries include No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA), Austin Pets Alive in Austin, Texas, and a coalition of First Coast No More Homeless Pets, Jacksonville Humane Society and Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services in Jacksonville, Fla. The nurseries not only save lives and provide cat lovers with well-socialized pets, they also attract positive media attention and volunteers.

A foster program increases the shelters' capacity to care for kittens. When kittens can be placed in a foster home with trained volunteers, it frees up space in the nursery for additional kittens. At SDHS, volunteers learn how to feed and care for the kittens and receive all the supplies, equipment and support they'll need, including food, bowls, bedding, toys, litter, and any necessary medication and veterinary services.

The nursery allows shelter staff to meet vital physiological and behavioral needs of kittens during a critical time in their development. Kitten brains have the greatest capacity for learning and memory between the ages of 4 weeks and 14 weeks, so the attention and handling they receive during their stay in the nursery helps them to become more sociable and self-assured. Once they reach 8 weeks and weigh 2 pounds, the kittens are spayed or neutered and made available for adoption.

Q&A

How to predict

a pup's future size

Q: I want to adopt a puppy from the shelter, but is there any way I can know how big he'll grow to be? I've always heard that puppies with big paws will grow up to be large adults. Is that true? -- via email

A: When you don't know a pup's background, adoption seems like it will be a matter of closing your eyes and crossing your fingers that he won't grow up to be the size of Marmaduke, but there are some guidelines that can help you make a good choice for your lifestyle and home environment.

First, look at a puppy's overall proportions. If a small puppy looks as if he hasn't grown into his body yet -- for instance, he's awkward and gangly with a head that looks too large for his body and a tail that seems unusually long -- there's a good chance that he will be a large dog at maturity. Puppies that are going to be small as adults tend to mature more quickly, so their bodies look properly formed at an earlier age.

It helps if you have some idea of the parents' background, or even just one parent's background. If you know that a pup is the offspring of a pug and a beagle, you can generally rest assured that he's not going to weigh much more than 30 pounds at maturity. Puppies born to a German shepherd mother and an unknown father will likely be their mother's size, give or take a few pounds and inches.

Just remember that there are no guarantees when it comes to genetic poker. If a big dog isn't in the cards for you, bet on a sure thing by adopting an older puppy whose size at maturity is easier to predict, or choose an adult dog so that what you see is what you get. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Common household items

can poison pets

-- What's most likely to poison your pet? The folks at the Pet Poison Helpline report that in 2013, the substances that generated the most emergency calls regarding dogs -- in order of frequency -- were chocolate, Xylitol, NSAIDs, over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medications, rodenticides, grapes and raisins, insect bait stations, prescription medications for ADD/ADHD, glucosamine joint supplements, and silica gel packets and oxygen absorbers. For cats, the culprits were lilies, household cleaners, flea and tick spot-on products for dogs, antidepressants, NSAIDs, prescription medications for ADD/ADHD, over-the-counter cough, cold and allergy medications, houseplants such as philodendron and pothos, household insecticides, and glow sticks and glow jewelry.

-- A wire fox terrier named Sky is top dog after taking Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show last month. Wire fox terriers have been awarded the title 14 times in the show's 138-year history, making them its winningest breed. Fox terriers come in two varieties, wire and smooth, with coat type being the only difference. Dating to the 18th century, they are bold, active and curious, with a strong love of digging and barking. They weigh 15 to 20 pounds and adore their people, but can be scrappy with other dogs and predatory toward cats.

-- A stray chocolate Labrador retriever in Toulon, Ill., found a new life and new purpose at Toulon Rehab and Health Care Center. In 2008, when he wasn't adopted and his time was up at the shelter, his future looked short and bleak, but Sue VanDeRostyne, administrator of the senior living community, decided to bring him to work with her as a facility companion dog. Residents loved him and now he spends his days making rounds, helping out with therapy sessions and just generally spreading good cheer. Last month, the TRHCC honored him for his companionship with a pet food and supply drive. Donations went to the Henry County Humane Society in nearby Kewanee. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.