PETS WITH PAIN OR INFLAMMATION MAY BENEFIT FROM LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY

Swee' Pea is an 18-year-old border collie/Australian shepherd cross who holds nine Guinness world records for stunts such as walking up and down a flight of stairs backward while balancing a glass of water on her nose. As you can imagine, a dog that old -- even one who undergoes stretching and other exercises daily to keep her fit -- still has aches and pains in her hips, back and shoulders. Her veterinarian, Laurie McCauley, medical director at TOPS Veterinary Rehab in Grayslake, Illinois, uses low-level laser therapy to help Swee' Pea stay comfortable.

Sometimes known as cold laser or class IV laser, the therapy works by altering or stimulating cellular function. The light energy penetrates to a certain depth -- depending on the wavelength and energy applied -- and affects cells and blood vessels in certain ways, such as by blocking a nerve's ability to send a pain signal to the brain, increasing blood flow or decreasing swelling. It may also significantly speed wound healing.

That was the experience for Graham, a greyhound, whose injured tail was amputated. Cold laser helped the area to heal quickly, says his owner, Marcia Herman of Anderson, South Carolina.

Other pet owners have found it to be helpful for pain relief. In Queen Creek, Arizona, Aussie/chow mix Cheiss receives laser treatments for pain from hip dysplasia. Owner Stacy Mantle says it has allowed her to decrease the amount of pain medication he requires. Jake, a cavalier King Charles spaniel, received cold laser treatment for an ACL injury. His owner, Cathy Remoll Torres of San Diego, says the treatment helped him to avoid surgery.

In my own practice, I've used the class IV laser a number of ways. It can help to relieve pain, redness and swelling at surgical incision sites; reduce inflammation related to hot spots, inflamed ears and lick granulomas; and soothe arthritic joints.

Dogs who have spay surgery with laser treatment have little redness, drastically reduced swelling and no discomfort. A severely arthritic dog treated with a laser was able to break the shackles of pain and stiffness and start moving normally again. That's so satisfying for me and for the pet owner.

Veterinarians and pet owners like laser treatment for a number of reasons:

-- It's noninvasive.

-- When used correctly, it doesn't have any side effects.

-- It can be used weekly or monthly for pets with chronic pain, giving them better quality of life.

-- In cases of severe pain caused by surgery or trauma, laser treatment can be used twice a day for a few days and then daily to diminish pain and speed healing.

Cold laser has limitations. It can be harmful for pets with cancer, and it shouldn't be directed at the retina of the eye or over tattoos, or areas of active bleeding. Cost varies depending on the type of machine used and whether a veterinarian or technician is administering the treatment.

In human medicine, science hasn't yet reached consensus on the effectiveness of laser therapy or the best ways to use it. Health insurance plans for people often don't cover it, considering it an experimental therapy. Our dogs and cats are luckier because some pet health insurance plans do cover it.

What is really exciting is the potential of laser therapy to help pets be less fearful during veterinary visits by using laser to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. I've witnessed it working this way in dogs, cats and horses.

In the end, helping fearful patients become fearless in the hospital is where veterinary medicine might end up using these the most.

Q&A

Feline social skills

develop early

Q: My old cat died recently, and I want to get a kitten. I'd really like one who's outgoing and friendly. Do you have any tips on making the right choice? -- via Facebook

A: Kittens are interesting because their socialization period begins when they're 2 weeks old and ends at 7 weeks. Everything that happens to a kitten during that critical period has a bearing on how his purr-sonality develops.

Socialization helps to inoculate a kitten against shyness in the same way that vaccinations help to inoculate him against disease. To become social, smart, confident and curious (everything a cat should be), kittens need to have lots of positive early experiences.

You want a kitten who has been gently handled by many different people (kids, too), has met friendly adult cats and dogs, and is used to hearing household noises like doorbells and garbage disposers. He should be used to riding in a car, even if it's just up and down the street for a few minutes. Kittens with this background are more adaptable and intelligent and are less likely to pitch a hissy fit when they encounter anything different. Think of it as "kitty-garten."

Your best bet is a kitten raised in a home who has stayed with mom and littermates until he's at least 12 weeks old. Kittens who stay with mom for 12 to 16 weeks usually have better social skills.

If you're choosing an older kitten and you're not sure of his background, look for one who approaches you readily, gives you a head butt, and rolls over for a belly rub. This is the one who won't run for cover at the sound of the doorbell and will enjoy meet-and-greets with your friends.

Most important, continue to develop your cat's social skills through playtime, training and good experiences at the veterinarian. That will help him stay young at heart his whole life long. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Reptiles need

rescue, too

-- You are probably all too familiar with the plight of dogs and cats in shelters, but did you know that reptiles can also be in need of adoption? They are often challenging to care for and may be given up to rescue groups or shelters when people are no longer able to house or feed them properly. Others are seized by law enforcement agents from wildlife smugglers or other criminals. If you're considering acquiring a reptile, a rescue group or shelter can be a source not only of information but also of a potential slithery sidekick.

-- Cats love to be high -- and we're not talking about catnip. They are incredibly athletic, able to jump several times their own height and land gracefully and accurately on an area not much bigger than a half sheet of paper. That high-jump ability comes from their powerful thigh muscles, which constrict tightly, then let go like a catapult. A person with the leg strength and power of a cat could jump from the ground to the top of a house -- but his thighs would be as big around as his waist.

-- Last month, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed what has become known as the "Puppy Doe Law," which increases the penalties for animal cruelty and requires veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse. The legislation, which had bipartisan support, was filed in response to a case in which a 2-year-old female pit bull was so badly abused that she had to be euthanized. The Protecting Animal Welfare and Society (PAWS) Act increases the maximum prison sentence for one count of animal cruelty from five years to seven years and doubles the maximum fine, from $5,000 to $10,000. Repeat offenders can earn a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a $10,000 fine. -- 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: Both pets and people wear goggles to protect their eyes during laser treatments, which can be used to treat conditions as varied as anal sac infections or periodontal disease. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Seven is a jungle carpet python who was adopted from the Chicago Herpetological Society. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

Shelters come up with creative solutions to help pets who might otherwise be given up

By Kim Campbell Thornton

The woman's dog lived outdoors at the end of a chain, with only a doghouse for shelter. He had some serious medical issues. Neighbors complained to the city that the dog was neglected. When officers responded, they confiscated the dog and gave the owner citations totaling more than $800. But the officers took an extra step. They called the Jacksonville Humane Society in Florida to ask if the shelter would work with the owner, saying, "We think she really loves this dog; she just doesn't have the resources."

Their instincts were right on, says JHS Executive Director Denise Deisler. "The woman dearly loved her dog, but she'd never received any information about what might be proper care for a dog and why he might be better off in the house than in the backyard."

The owner agreed to work with JHS, which provided the dog's medical treatment, and all charges and fines were dropped. They provided the owner with a crate and a bed and bowls, and she moved the dog into her house.

"This woman now has a more appropriate relationship with her dog; the dog is now healthy, and he's not sitting in a shelter," Deisler says. "A dog who's been in a backyard his whole life is not typically the first dog who gets adopted."

Imagine if your local shelter could keep up to half of the pets brought to them in their current homes. Jacksonville is just one place where that's happening. Deisler and shelter executives like her are passionate about retention: keeping pets in homes by removing barriers that might otherwise land them in the shelter. Instead of just accepting pets brought in for surrender, they offer practical assistance and advice.

Take medical care. Many people surrender animals because they can't afford needed veterinary care.

"We have incredible luck with keeping animals out of the shelter by offering medical care," Deisler says. "My stance is that if they surrender to a shelter, we're going to end up paying for medical care anyway. Why not pay for it and let them go back home?"

Other retention efforts include boarding dogs for people who are temporarily homeless or are seeking crisis shelter for domestic violence. They're able to offer that service by partnering with a local boarding facility and exchanging publicity for its boarding services. They may pay the pet deposit on rental housing if lack of it is the only thing preventing a person from keeping a pet.

The Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Colorado is one of a number of shelters that offer training classes and behavior advice to people whose relationship with a pet is faltering because of behavioral issues. Its full-service veterinary clinic has a subsidized program for people whose income might not permit them to afford treatment for a pet. Some shelters have low-cost or free spay/neuter programs or pet-food pantries to help out people who may have lost a job and are struggling to feed a pet.

"If finances are an issue, then we have some opportunities to ensure that that relationship can stay intact," says BVHS CEO Lisa Pedersen.

All of those programs help to keep pets in homes when behavior problems or finances might otherwise dictate that they be given up to the shelter. The goal is to work with individuals to find an answer to whatever challenges they might be facing with their pets.

"For us, it's almost anything goes," Deisler says. "If you really love your pet and want to keep your pet, we will do whatever we need to do to keep that pet with the people who love him. We're not judgmental."

Q&A

Urine trouble? How to

remove odor, stains

Q: I was getting ready to take my dog out the other night when I discovered she had just peed on our carpet. What's the best way to clean it? -- via Facebook

A: Don't you hate it when they jump the gun on you? The good news is that there are some great products and techniques for lifting out odor and stains.

When you discover an accident right away, grab some cleanup towels (we always have a pile of old grubby ones on hand) and blot up as much of the urine as possible. Press down really hard to soak it all up and make sure the urine doesn't have a chance to penetrate to the carpet pad.

Then toss those towels in the laundry bin and saturate the area with an enzymatic cleaning product. The enzymes break down waste so it doesn't leave stains, and they neutralize odors rather than mask them. Apply the cleaning solution to an area larger than the actual wet spot from the urine to make sure you get everything. Your dog will be able to smell any remaining urine, even if you can't.

Place a clean towel over the area and weight it down with a stack of thick books or some other heavy object. The pressure will help to wick the moisture from the carpet. Check the area in 24 hours. It should be mostly dry by then, and you can remove the books and towel. The spot should be free of any stains and odor.

Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners. Ammonia is a by-product of decomposing urine, and the scent will draw your dog's attention back to the area and encourage her to pee there again.

If your dog keeps having accidents in the same place, get a black light, which can show old stains that aren't visible to the naked eye, and treat those areas as described above. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Airlines required to report

incidents involving pets

-- Effective Jan. 1, 2015, air carriers must report to the Department of Transportation more incidents that involve the loss, injury or death of an animal during air transport. The new rule, announced in July by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, expands the reporting requirement to include all U.S. carriers that operate scheduled service with at least one aircraft with a capacity of more than 60 seats and redefines "animal" as all cats and dogs transported by the carrier, whether those animals are being transported as pets by owners or as part of a shipment by a commercial breeder. Previously, the rule did not apply to breeder shipments. The DOT publishes reports of incidents in its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, available at dot.gov/airconsumer.

-- In a New York magazine article on pet ownership, veterinarian Katherine Quisenberry of the Upper East Side Animal Center calls bearded dragons "one of the best reptiles you can own." They'll pop up to greet you when you come home, are usually gentle, and enjoy being handled or held. Bearded dragons eat dark greens, berries, mealworms and crickets, and they can live into their teens.

-- It's not too late to vote for a candidate for the 2014 Hambone Award, presented annually by Veterinary Pet Insurance to the pet with the most unusual claim of the year. The company has nominated 12 candidates for the honor, with the winner decided by public vote. Nominees include a dachshund who survived a bear attack, a cocker spaniel who survived a two-story plunge, and a cat who required surgery to have a Nerf dart removed from his intestines. The animal hospital that treated the winner will receive $10,000 through the Veterinary Care Foundation to treat pets whose owners could not otherwise afford treatment. To vote, visit www.VPIHamboneAward.com. Voting ends Sept. 30.

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: When animal shelters can help pets stay with their families, as more organizations are attempting to do, everybody wins. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Curiosity got the better of Lewes, a cat who required surgery after accidentally ingesting a Nerf dart. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

WHO CAN MAKE A NOTHING DAY SUDDENLY SEEM WORTHWHILE? THERAPY PETS, THAT'S WHO

By Kim Campbell Thornton

A visit from a dog, cat or other pet can make a bad day disappear. That's especially true if you are a resident in a nursing home or a patient in a hospital. The experience of visiting with a therapy pet can soothe frazzled nerves, revive dormant memories and bring smiles and laughter in places where those things are often in short supply.

Visits from pets can have significant health and emotional benefits for people in many different situations and types of facilities. Petting an animal is not only calming, it stimulates conversation. And contact with a pet can accelerate recovery from surgery.

Pet visits take many different forms. Most of us think of them at nursing homes or hospitals, but animal visitation teams also go to such places as schools for students with special needs and hospice facilities for people with terminal illnesses. Some pets and their handlers participate in programs at schools and libraries that help children improve their reading skills by reading books to pets.

Have you ever thought of making facility visits with your dog, cat or rabbit? It's not as easy as just signing up -- I should know. My dog Harper, a cavalier King Charles spaniel, has flunked therapy training twice because she's just a little too enthusiastic about wanting to greet people.

Pets who make facility visits can be purebreds or mixed breeds. Some have been adopted from shelters. The only requirement is that they have the right personality. Both pet and handler must undergo training and evaluation before they can begin to participate in therapy programs. Here are some things to know if you're interested in getting started:

-- Dogs and cats must be at least 1 year old before they can make visits. Pocket pets, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and rats, can be 6 months old.

-- Dogs should enjoy meeting strangers and have good basic obedience skills.

-- Qualifications include being able to greet people calmly; walking politely without pulling, jumping on people or stealing food; being comfortable in crowded situations; willing to sit patiently for petting; calming down quickly after praise or play; getting along with other animals; being unfazed by people using canes, crutches, walkers or wheelchairs; and taking treats without snapping or lunging for them.

-- Cats, bunnies and other pocket pets should be relaxed and friendly, willing to be handled by strangers and calm in the presence of loud noises and unpredictable situations. They may also need to be comfortable wearing a harness and leash or riding in a basket.

-- Pets must be clean and healthy, with short, filed nails that won't scratch patients.

-- Some organizations do not permit visits by pets who are fed a raw diet. Others restrict visits by pit bull-type dogs.

-- Handlers must be able to commit to a regular schedule of visits. People in facilities come to count on seeing them, and it can be a big disappointment if the animal doesn't show up. They should also be comfortable talking to strangers and answering questions about their pets. Managing an animal's comfort level is a priority. Making visits can be tiring or stressful for pets, even if they enjoy the attention.

-- Visits typically last 45 minutes to an hour. Teams make stops at different rooms, wherever their presence is requested, or they may go to one large room where people who want to meet with pets have gathered.

For more information about training for animal-assisted visits, contact organizations such as Pet Partners (petpartners.org), Love on a Leash (loveonaleash.org), Therapy Dogs International (tdi-dog.org), Therapy Dogs Inc. (therapydogs.com), Paws for Friendship (pawsforfriendshipinc.org) and Reading Education Assistance Dogs (therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html).

Q&A

A squirt of water

makes the pill go down

Q: There's a new young veterinarian at the hospital where we take our cats. One of our cats is on daily medications, and we've gotten very good at "pilling" her. The new vet mentioned that we should follow the pill with a little water to wash it down. She said doing so could prevent a very serious medical condition. Is this new information? Because we've been pilling cats for years and this was news to us. -- via email

A: This advice has been around for more than few years now. "Dry-pilling" a cat is thought to be one of the triggers for a condition called esophageal stricture. A tablet stuck in the esophagus -- the tube leading to the stomach -- may trigger inflammation and scarring. Once this occurs, a cat may have difficulty swallowing food or water.

I recently saw startling imagery of what these strictures look like. At a seminar at the Western Veterinary Conference on how to best help these cats, presenters showed images in which the shape of a pill was a near-perfect match for the shape of the scarring.

According to research by veterinarians at Colorado State University, the risk of pill-related stricture is almost completely eliminated by "chasing" the pill with water. Researchers found that without water, almost two-thirds of the pill had yet to reach the stomach within five minutes. But with water, 100 percent of the pill was safely in the stomach within a single minute.

One of the simplest ways to keep a pill moving is by filling a needleless syringe with about a teaspoon of water (6 milliliters) and following the pill with the water in the same way you would give a liquid medication. Your veterinarian can provide you with appropriately sized syringes and demonstrate technique.

There may be an easier option, though. My friend Dr. Susan Little, an expert in feline medicine who has long been associated with Winn Feline Foundation, has written that a smidge of butter or cream cheese given to your cat as a post-pilling treat will accomplish the same goal. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Wool-sucking can be

compulsive in cats

-- Does your Siamese or Burmese cat love to suck on your wool sweaters? Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman and veterinary geneticist Dr. Leslie Lyons, in a study funded by Winn Feline Foundation, are working to find out why. Wool-sucking behavior can occur in any cat, but it's more common in Oriental breeds. Drs. Dodman and Lyons hope to discover whether wool-sucking has a genetic basis and uncover the physiological mechanisms involved in the obsessive disorder. That could lead to better treatment options and provide a genetic screening test to identify carriers.

-- In a recent survey, Bird Talk editors asked readers to rate the top 10 best pet birds. Cockatiels ranked No. 1, with 23 percent of the votes, followed by African grey parrots, budgerigars (also known as budgies, or parakeets), cockatoos, conures, macaws, Poicephalus parrots such as Senegals, Amazon parrots, quaker parrots and Pionus parrots. More important than popularity, though, is whether you and a particular bird species are a good match as far as personality, time you can spend with the bird, the amount of space in your home and previous bird experience.

-- Epilepsy is a common neurological condition in dogs, characterized by recurrent seizures. Medications are available to control the seizures, but sometimes the side effects are worse than the disease, or the drugs don't do enough to reduce the number of seizures. A recent study by Great Britain's Royal Veterinary College found that the time between seizures, rather than the number of seizures, is a better predictor of whether a dog will respond well to treatment. Other discoveries were that medication was less likely to control seizures in male dogs than in females, and that border collies and German shepherds were more difficult to manage with medication than other breeds. -- 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: Animals who make visits to facilities bring joy and healing. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Cockatiels tend to be affectionate and usually enjoy being handled. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2