DO YOU KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THIS INTERESTING EXPRESSION? HERE'S HOW IT CAME INTO BEING

By Audrey Pavia

The dog days of summer. We've all heard this expression used to describe the hottest time of the year. But what most people don't know when they use this term to complain about the heat is that the phrase is as old as Western culture itself.

"The dog days of summer" was first uttered way back in ancient Rome. In Latin, the expression reads "caniculares dies," or "days of the dogs." The Romans dubbed this the time period that spanned from the first week of July to the second week of August.

In order to understand why the Romans associated summer heat with canines, you have to know a bit about astronomy. Romans, like their Greek cousins, were masters of the night sky and knew a lot about the heavens.

The brightest star visible in the Western hemisphere is Sirius, also known as the Dog Star. Sirius is a star in the constellation Canis Major, one of the hunting dogs of the constellation Orion, the Hunter. In the winter sky, Orion and Canis Major shine brightly, poised for the hunt. But in the summertime, Sirius is not visible. Ancient astronomers knew that stars that weren't visible at night didn't disappear completely. They were instead present in the daytime sky, even though they couldn't be seen. So even though the glow of Sirius was overwhelmed by the sun, the Romans knew it was there. They believed the Dog Star was contributing heat to the summer days by shining brightly alongside the sun.

In reality, Sirius is 8.6 light-years from us and way too far away to contribute heat to the Earth. But the Romans were so convinced of Sirius' ability to throw heat that they persisted in using the expression long enough for it to become part of the vernacular of Western civilization.

Even though Sirius doesn't actually contribute to the heat of summer, this part of the season is the hottest and, consequently, the most dangerous for your dog. To keep your dog safe on days when the temperature is high, keep him indoors in the air conditioning, and always make sure he has shade available when he's outside. Hydration is important too, so ensuring your dog always has access to clean, fresh water is essential.

Of course, never leave your dog in the car during the summertime, even with the windows rolled down. The temperature inside a car can rise rapidly to dangerous heights, and result in heatstroke and death.

When your dog is playing or hiking in the summertime, keep an eye on him to make sure he's not suffering from the heat. Signs of heatstroke in dogs include restlessness, heavy panting, a brightly colored tongue and mucous membranes, thick saliva, vomiting and diarrhea.

Should your dog show signs of heatstroke, get him indoors into an air-conditioned building. Take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, and if it's higher than 104 F, submerge him in a bathtub of cool water. Take his temperature every 10 minutes until it gets down to 100 F to 102 F, which is the normal temperature range for a dog. Take him to a veterinarian as soon as you can for an examination to make sure the heat did not cause damage to his internal organs.

Even though you need to take precautions to keep your dog happy and healthy in the summertime, don't forget to have fun. Good outdoor activities for canines during the dog days of summer include swimming in a pool, in a lake or at the beach; playing in the spray of a garden hose or hiking in high elevations where the air is cool and clean.

Guest columnist Audrey Pavia is a freelance writer specializing in animal subjects. A member of the Dog Writers Association of America, she is the author of seven dog books, including "The Labrador Retriever Handbook" (Barron's). She shares her home in Norco, California, with two dogs, Annabelle and Olivia.

Q&A

Declawing cats should

be a last resort

Q: When I was growing up, we always had our cats declawed and I didn't think anything about it. I took our new kitten in to the vet to have her declawed, and he didn't want to do it. Why would he hesitate? I thought it was a normal procedure for cats. -- via email

A: Surgical declawing, or onychectomy, used to be common, but we now know so much more about cat behavior and needs that we've come to have a different view of it. Scratching is a normal behavior for cats. It's one of the ways they mark territory and stretch, and it conditions their claws by removing the husks. Declawing isn't medically necessary, and it takes away the cat's ability to perform these normal and necessary actions.

Declawing surgery isn't a minor procedure. It involves amputating all or part of the end bones of the cat's toes. Potential risks and complications include hemorrhage, infection and pain.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Cat Fanciers Association and the Humane Society of the United States are just a few of the organizations that recommend against declawing, and it is illegal in many European countries. The American Veterinary Medical Association's position is that declawing should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using claws destructively or when clawing presents an above-normal health risk to the owner.

Better options are to provide your kitten with plenty of options for exercising his need to scratch. A tall scratching post (at least three feet high), cardboard door hangers or boxes, or even a real log can all provide your cat with opportunities to scratch without harming your furniture or carpet. Be sure that scratching posts or other scratching implements are firmly anchored so they stay in place and offer good resistance as the cat scratches away at them. You should also trim the claws every week or two. If you start when he is young, trim when he's relaxed and reward him with treats and praise, your cat won't mind having his nails trimmed at all. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PET BUZZ

Parasite in raw

salmon can kill dogs

-- If you take your dog salmon fishing with you, don't let him eat any of your catch unless it's cooked. Salmon and related types of fish can be infected with a parasite that is toxic to dogs, but not to cats, raccoons or bears. Salmon poisoning is most common west of the Cascade Mountain range, says veterinary parasitologist Bill Foreyt at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Symptoms include vomiting, lack of appetite, fever, diarrhea, weakness, swollen lymph nodes and dehydration. Dogs can die within two weeks of eating the fish if they go untreated with antibiotics and a dewormer.

-- Vending machines in Istanbul, Turkey, encourage recycling and help to save pets. Feed plastic bottles into them and they dispense food for local stray dogs and cats, which are said to number more than 150,000 in the city. Turkish company Pugedon makes the smart recycling boxes available at no cost to the city, and the recycled bottles cover the cost of the food.

-- Tara, the cat who chased away a dog after he attacked her family's son, was honored on Aug. 2 at a fundraiser for the Mayor's Alliance for New York's Animals. The event, held at the famous Algonquin Hotel, was sponsored by Cat Fancy magazine. Also making appearances were feline Broadway star and former shelter cat Vito Vincent, Matilda, the Algonquin Hotel's resident cat, and cats available for adoption who hoped to find their own starring roles as people's pets. Cat Fancy editor Susan Logan said, "Money raised at events such as this makes a difference in getting us closer to a day when every pet has a loving home and kill-shelters are a thing of the past." -- 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.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Playing in the sprinklers is a fun way for dogs to keep cool in summer heat. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Hero cat Tara rests after her adoring fans visited her, a few at a time, in the Algonquin Hotel. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

CHOOSING A PET AT THE SHELTER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OVERWHELMING. HERE ARE 8 TIPS TO HELP YOU MAKE THE DECISION

We are big fans of adopting from animal shelters. We each currently have two dogs acquired from shelters or rescue groups. They are all the absolute best -- not that we're biased or anything. But we know that the idea of going to a shelter to pick out a pet can seem like an intimidating prospect. Won't you want to take them all home? And how do you pick the right one?

To give you some top tips, we drew on our own experiences and spoke to experts on the subject: Elizabeth A. Berliner, DVM, a shelter medicine specialist at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, and Aimee Gilbreath, executive director of Michelson Found Animals, a nonprofit organization that's dedicated to helping shelter pets find homes.

-- The first thing to think about, Gilbreath says, is energy level -- yours and the dog's. Your pet's energy level should complement your lifestyle. If you love spending time outdoors every day hiking, running or riding your bike, an active "teenage" or adult dog has reached physical maturity and is ready to be your workout buddy. Be realistic about your activity level and your willingness to exercise a dog.

"If your ideal weekend is curling up on the couch having a movie marathon, a low-energy cuddle buddy will be a better fit for you," Gilbreath says. Or even a cat.

-- Speaking of cats and lifestyle, it's true that in some respects, cats are less of a commitment than dogs: they don't need walks, for instance, and you don't have to take them to obedience class (they train you instead). But they do need and enjoy more attention and interaction than you might think. If you work crazy 12-hour days, your cat will be OK with that as long as she gets your attention when you're home.

-- If you think you'd like to have two cats so they can keep each other company, the best choice is a pair of kittens from the same litter or an already-bonded adult pair. Ask shelter employees for their recommendations.

-- Some shelters use the ASPCA's "Meet Your Match" program or their own systems to identify different pet personalities to help potential adopters make the best choice for them. When it comes right down to it, though, many of us go by looks.

"As in dating, this can be more or less effective," Dr. Berliner says. "However, there may be some surprises once you get home. Many shelters provide ongoing support to help nurture your new relationship if there are elements that are challenging at first."

-- Got kids? Keeping them safe is your No. 1 priority. If you're getting a shelter dog, how do you know which one is good with kids?

"When adopting from a rescue or smaller pet-adoption center, many of the available dogs will have spent time with a foster family, many in homes with children," Gilbreath says. "Talk to the adoption counselor about your concerns. They will be able to tell you which dogs play well with children. It's also a good idea to bring your children along to meet your potential new pet."

-- Tell the adoption counselor as well if you have other pets. She can suggest dogs or cats who are known to get along with other animals.

-- Take advantage of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to keep tabs on available pets. Many shelters have Facebook and Twitter accounts where they announce adoption events and post videos and photos of adoptable pets.

-- Be clear about what you are looking for in a pet. It can help to make a list of attributes such as weight, coat type and age before you go to the shelter so that it's easier to narrow your choices.

Q&A

How to choose the

right puppy food

Q: I see so many different puppy foods and claims about feeding puppies. How can I choose the best food for my new puppy? -- via email

A: We don't doubt that it can be confusing to know what and how to feed a puppy. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, though, because their needs vary. Factors that affect what a particular pup needs from a food include activity level, age, breed, gender and size at maturity.

A puppy's growth rate should be not too fast and not too slow. Puppies who grow too quickly and become overweight may develop bone and joint problems as they mature. Puppies who grow too slowly may not be getting enough nutrients. Growing at that "just right" pace ensures that they get the nutrition they need, but don't experience painful growth spurts or get too heavy at an age when their skeleton isn't developed enough to support their weight.

So what you feed depends a lot on your puppy's breed or mix. Toy-breed puppies, with their high metabolism, need a food that gives them a steady stream of energy. Really tiny puppies often need smaller, more frequent meals to make sure they don't develop low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Large-breed dogs grow more slowly than toy and small breeds. It can take two to three years for them to reach physical maturity. They need foods that provide less energy and calcium so they grow at a slow, steady rate. You can give a food that's specially formulated for large and giant breeds or provide the same effect by feeding smaller amounts of a regular puppy food.

To know if your puppy is in good shape, use your eyes and hands. He should have an hourglass figure when you look down at him, and when you put your hands on him, you should be able to feel the ribs beneath a light padding of fat. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

PET BUZZ

The Internet knows

where your cat lives

-- A data experiment launched by Owen Mundy at Florida State University -- "I Know Where Your Cat Lives" -- maps the whereabouts of a million cats worldwide, all from photos posted on the Internet. The cats' locations are based on their photos' latitude and longitude coordinates embedded in their metadata, information about an image such as its size and when and where it was created. On his blog, Mundy writes, "This project explores two uses of the Internet: the sociable and humorous appreciation of domesticated felines and the status quo of personal data usage." You might want to check your camera phone's privacy settings.

-- Charlie, a 2-year-old female Labrador, recently earned the title "Most Unusual Claim of the Month" from Veterinary Pet Insurance after she slipped beneath a piece of farm equipment. The injury didn't seem severe at first, but the next day she wasn't able to stand up. Her veterinarian recommended that her owner, Jessica Parsons of Indianapolis, Indiana, transfer her to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. There it was discovered that she had a spinal fracture and internal bleeding, requiring spinal surgery and removal of a damaged kidney. Charlie is recovering well with crate rest and limited activity.

-- A national homebuilder has gone to the dogs -- in a good way, reports AP's Sue Manning. In 27 developments across the country, Standard Pacific Homes is offering buyers the option of a 60- to 170-square-foot pet suite with such amenities as a step-in wash station, commercial-size pet dryer, water station and automated feeders, cabinets for toys, treats and food, a stackable washer and dryer, and a French door that opens to a dog run. Don't want to buy a new house? Ask a contractor about installing pet-friendly features such as a built-in bed, special shelves for pet bowls or a raised bathing area. -- 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.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: If you're looking for a new pet, see if your local shelter has any adoption events planned. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Caption: Charlie received two life-saving surgeries at one of the nation's top veterinary teaching hospitals, thanks to her pet insurance coverage. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

A COMMON TYPE OF RAT POISON DOESN'T HAVE AN ANTIDOTE, SO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BUY

It's never good when a pet downs mouse or rat poison, but rodenticides containing anticoagulants are treatable with blood transfusions and vitamin K if the poisoning is caught in time.

However, the Environmental Protection Agency is canceling eight such products, in part because they endanger wildlife such as hawks, owls, bobcats and cougars. A common alternative contains a neurotoxin called bromethalin that can be more harmful to pets -- dogs in particular, who tend to eat anything they come across.

"Often, by the time clinical signs appear, it's very difficult to treat," says veterinary toxicologist John Tegzes, a professor at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. "There's no antidote. The only good news about it is that dogs need to eat a bit more of it than they would the anticoagulant rodenticides."

A typical medium- to large-sized dog would have to eat approximately three bait packs to reach a toxic dose of bromethalin, Dr. Tegzes says, while just a portion of a box of anticoagulant rodenticide can poison a dog. The trouble is, people may place four or five bait packs in their garage or yard.

The products the EPA is banning are known as second-generation anticoagulants. When Dr. Tegzes walked the aisles of a Home Depot last month in California (which has also banned second-generation anticoagulants), he saw only two kinds of rodenticides: first-generation anticoagulants and poisons containing bromethalin.

"The bromethalin was definitely more prominent on the shelves," he says. "When the average consumer is walking down the aisle, if they go to the one at eye level that has the biggest box, they're going to end up with bromethalin."

If you use any kind of rodenticide, you should know how it works and the signs of toxicity.

Anticoagulants prevent the blood's ability to clot, causing microhemorrhages in the gastrointestinal tract, the chest cavity or the brain. The hemorrhages cause anemia, heavy panting with even slight exertion and an increased heart rate. Dogs treated quickly usually recover well.

That's not always the case for dogs poisoned by bromethalin, Dr. Tegzes says.

They often begin to press their heads against objects or become uncoordinated.

"What it looks like is the dog is trying to walk from one part of the room to another and just circles around and can't quite make it across the room," Dr. Tegzes says.

Dogs with bromethalin poisoning may also have seizures, become depressed, and stop eating or drinking. The poison isn't detectable with blood work, and often by the time the cause is discovered, treatment comes too late.

Liz Palika, a dog trainer in Oceanside, California, is lucky her dog survived bromethalin poisoning. She doesn't use poisons in her home or yard, so when her young Australian shepherd, Archer, was acting a little clumsy, she didn't pay attention, but when he jumped off the bed and his back legs did the splits, she took notice.

"That evening, he began acting like an old dog with vestibular syndrome and had trouble eating and drinking," she says.

Fortunately, her veterinarian started treating Archer for poisoning as Palika questioned neighbors and the handyman at her dog-training facility. She discovered the handyman had put out bromethalin for gophers.

Archer's symptoms worsened over 24 hours and peaked with a seizure. Supportive treatment with fluids and prednisone kept him alive until his body could overcome the poison, fortunately with no lasting effects.

If you have problems with rodents, take the following steps:

-- First, try to manage the problem by blocking access or removing food sources.

-- Use traps instead of poisons.

-- If you use a poison, choose a first-generation anticoagulant, such as one that contains diphacinone, not brodifacoum, and not one that contains bromethalin.

-- If you think your pet has been poisoned, take your dog and the container of poison to the veterinarian so she can treat your pet appropriately.

-- Ask your neighbors if they use poisons, what type, and where they are set out.

Q&A

Food-guarding dog needs

private dining area

Q: My older dog gets really mad when our new puppy comes anywhere near her stuff, and she won't even let her into the kitchen when I'm fixing their meals. Now our puppy is afraid to come into the kitchen even when Delilah isn't around. Is there anything I can do to put a stop to this? -- via Facebook

A: What Delilah's doing is called resource guarding, and it's a common behavior problem in dogs. They are most likely to guard food -- as you discovered -- but many also protect other prized possessions, such as toys, a favorite bed or chair, or even their best buddy -- you.

It's understandable why dogs would guard things they need for survival, like food or shelter. It's an instinctive trait passed down from their ancestors, but in modern times, when dogs live in our homes and have their food handed to them twice a day, it's an annoying and even dangerous habit for them to develop, especially if you happen to have young children in the home who may approach or reach into the dog's bowl.

Probably the easiest way to put a stop to Delilah's behavior is to feed her separately from the puppy. Put each one in a separate room or in her own crate or feed one indoors and one outdoors. They shouldn't be able to see each other eat. Having another dog in the same room while they're eating can be stressful for dogs anyway, so this is a good practice to adopt even if you don't have a resource-guarding dog.

Don't let Delilah out of her crate or room until both dogs have finished eating and you have taken up the puppy's bowl. What Delilah doesn't see won't make her mad. -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

New treatment may

help dogs with cancer

-- Researchers in Vienna, Austria, have developed a form of cancer therapy that uses antibodies to inhibit tumor growth in dogs. The research was published last month in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. Known as cancer immunotherapy, this type of treatment has been used successfully in human medicine for approximately 20 years, but until now it has not been available for animals. Researcher Erika Jensen-Jarolim says, "We expect dogs to tolerate these anti-cancer antibodies well. This will be investigated in clinical studies in the future and is expected to greatly improve the treatment as well as the diagnosis of cancer in dogs."

-- Shopping at Ikea? You may see a cardboard cutout of your next pet there. The Ikea store in Tempe, Arizona, uses furniture and rugs in its showrooms to display life-size cardboard images of shelter cats and dogs available at the Arizona Humane Society. If you see one you like, you can scan a bar code with your smartphone for more information on that particular pet. Thanks to the clever campaign, the six pets featured so far have all found new homes. After all, you already know how cute they'll look on your new bed or sofa.

-- Trying to get your dog to pose for a picture is often a losing proposition, but now there's an app for that. The BarkCam photo-sharing app allows you to choose sounds that will get your dog's attention -- cat meows, squeak toys and doorbells, for instance. Tap the shutter to set off the noise and your pet will look at the camera so you can get the perfect shot. That's how it's supposed to work, anyway. Once you have an image you like, you can add text, filters, stickers and chat bubbles or post it on social media. -- Dr. Marty Becker and 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.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Rodenticides containing a neurotoxin are more challenging to treat than those containing anticoagulants. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Say cheese! A new app prompts dogs to look at camera. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3