EIGHT REASONS TO CONSIDER A SENIOR PET

By Kim Campbell Thornton

She flies down the hall to greet me, mouth open in a toothless grin. She chivvies our other dogs out of the way when treats are on offer, no matter that they are two and three times her size. She rocks nose-work class. If it weren't for the gray on her tiny pointed muzzle and the almost complete lack of teeth, you would be forgiven for thinking she's a much younger dog.

When we adopted Gemma almost two years ago, the shelter estimated that she was 12 or 13 years old. Even if they were off by a year or two, that means she's now at least 13 or 14. You couldn't tell it by me. She has a heart murmur that's being monitored by our veterinary cardiologist, but otherwise she's in good shape, based on her latest lab work. Her teeth were rotten when she was pulled from the shelter, but the rescue group that took her in paid to have them removed, all but the two lower fangs. It doesn't slow down the rate at which she scarfs her food.

What possessed us to adopt a dog who, I must admit, was less than attractive at first glance, not to mention up there in years? As far as I'm concerned, we would have been crazy not to. Gemma embodies all of the rewards of adopting a senior dog or cat. Adopting a golden oldie has more benefits than you might realize:

-- They are a known quantity. You know their personality and that they're not going to get any bigger.

-- They are restful. If you want a pet to hang out with you while you watch TV or read, a senior is the way to go.

-- They aren't necessarily inactive. Gemma is the only dog I've ever had -- including the retired racing Greyhound -- who takes me running, at least for the first five minutes of our walk.

-- They are usually housetrained. They've lived in a home and they know the drill, whether it's going outdoors to potty or using a litter box. Every once in a while you meet one who isn't, but older dogs can learn just as quickly as youngsters if you take them out consistently, keep them on a schedule, and don't give them the opportunity to make mistakes. For older cats, simply putting a litter box in an accessible place and keeping it clean usually does the trick.

-- They are wise in the ways of the world. Older animals are observant and they know how to learn, either by watching other animals in the family or from picking up on your cues. Watching them and seeing what they know and how they apply it to their new life is fascinating. (Gemma clearly came from a home where burrowing under the covers at bedtime was a regular occurrence.)

-- They come with a senior discount. Many shelters reduce or waive the adoption fees for older pets. An "older" pet may be one as young as 3 years old. Some veterinarians may offer reduced exam rates for adopted seniors.

-- They give us the opportunity to save a life. Older animals face a lot of rejection for no good reason. They often fit easily into a home because they are already experienced at living with other animals and people. And they can have more good years left than you might think.

-- They give us the gift of their love and joy. Some people say that older dogs are grateful because they know you gave them a second chance. Maybe that's true. All I know is that Gemma makes me laugh every day. That's priceless.

Q&A

Cat's tongue-lashing

causes bare spots

Q: I know cats are good at grooming themselves, but my cat is taking it to extremes. He's licking himself so hard that he has some bare patches. What could be the problem? -- via email

A: We call these cats fur mowers. The short answer is that your cat may be licking himself bald because he's itchy, in pain or upset about something. Itching and pain can occur for many different reasons in cats, so you and your veterinarian will need to do some detective work to narrow down the cause.

Start with a medical history and exam. The area or areas where your cat is licking may offer clues. For instance, if he's licking at the base of his tail, he may have infected anal glands. If he's licking at a joint, it may be a signal that he's developing arthritis.

For the medical history, your veterinarian will want to know what food and treats you give the cat, what grooming products you use, whether you give him any medications or supplements, any changes in his routine or in the products you use in the home, and so on. This information may help differentiate between an allergy and a behavior problem. He may be anxious about something going on in his environment, such as a conflict with another pet, or a change in the home, such as a new spouse or baby.

During the physical exam, your veterinarian will check the entire body for obvious causes, such as fleas or other external parasites, as well as swelling or signs of pain. It may be necessary to order lab tests to check for diseases such as hyperthyroidism, which can cause excessive licking. Skin scrapings or fungal cultures can also help to identify itchy skin problems.

Once the cause is identified, your veterinarian can prescribe an appropriate treatment. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

You don't mess

around with them

-- A man who jumped the fence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue last month and ran toward the White House made it only about 20 yards before he was taken down by Secret Service K-9s Hurricane and Jordan and their handlers. The man kicked and punched the dogs, but the two Belgian Malinois prevailed with bites to the suspect's arms, back, chest and knee. In addition to misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and unlawful entry, the man faces two felony counts of wounding a law-enforcement animal. Hurricane and Jordan sustained minor bruising and were cleared by a veterinarian to return to duty.

-- No, this cat didn't stick his claws into an electrical outlet. He's a Selkirk rex, a curly coated breed with an easygoing nature. The Selkirk, named after Montana's Selkirk Mountains, is an example of a cat breed developed when someone found and took an interest in a cat with a natural genetic mutation -- one for a curly coat. The first known cat with the mutation was born in 1987 to a feral cat in Montana. She was found to carry a "rex" gene, which causes hair follicles to become oval instead of round, producing hair that curls instead of growing straight.

-- Pet-friendly policies in the workplace improve morale and productivity, reduce stress, and even improve employee health and working relationships. Those are the findings of several studies on the subject, according to an article by Lisa Evans in Fast Company. Office dogs facilitate conversations between employees, leading to more trust between them, and give employees an incentive to get up and take a walk, which has health and creativity benefits. People who bring dogs to work also have lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Office dogs even have marketing benefits, because consumers appreciate their presence. -- 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 CREDIT

Caption 01: Her happy nature helped Gemma quickly charm her way into a new family. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Playful with a bit of a silly streak, the Selkirk rex is an outgoing cat who loves a lap and is smart enough to learn to open doors and drawers to get what he wants. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

The fitness revolution has gone to the dogs as activity trackers monitor your dog's every step

By Kim Campbell Thornton

I've been wearing an activity tracker for the past six weeks, and it's a good incentive to get up and move a little more so I can make my goal of 10,000 steps per day. But what about my dogs? Are they getting their recommended daily dose of exercise?

You probably won't be surprised to learn that wearable activity monitors are available for pets -- they drew a lot of attention at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas last February -- but how do they work, and how accurate and useful are they?

The tiny accelerometers contain a sensor that detects movement in all directions. Some units contain GPS capabilities that provide specific information on geographic location and distance traveled. They may also monitor heart and respiratory rates.

The benefit for pets -- primarily dogs -- is the ability to monitor how active they are every day. A lot of us probably think our dogs spend time running around in the yard chasing squirrels while we're gone, but that's not necessarily the case. Those of us who work at home know that our dogs tend to snooze the day away, getting up only when we go to the kitchen or call them to go out for a walk. Putting an activity tracker on your pet can be a wake-up call, alerting you that perhaps he's not quite as active as you imagined.

While the monitors are good at detecting movement, they can't always differentiate between types of movement. For instance, a dog who sniffs the ground vigorously while lying down moves his head enough to register activity on the tracker, but that doesn't qualify as exercise. And a dog who scratches all day will rack up minutes of activity, but that's also not true exercise.

Some measurements may not be as accurate for some movements, says internal medicine specialist Bess J. Pierce, director of the Center for Animal-Human Relationships at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia.

"For example, in one study, there was no significant difference between trackers in all test dogs for trotting and walking, but the measurements became more variable when dogs were trotting up and down stairs."

An activity tracker can't assess overall fitness, but it can be useful for determining how many minutes per day your pet is active and the distance he logs, whether he's running around in the yard, walking with you on leash or hiking off leash with the opportunity to run back and forth. Most trackers allow you to monitor activity trends over time and keep logs or diaries of downloaded data. An app can allow you to compare his activity level to other dogs of a similar age, breed or size.

And they're not just for young, active dogs.

"These monitors may be especially useful in geriatric dogs," Dr. Pierce says. "For example, if an older dog is arthritic and has a sudden decrease in activity level, then it may be associated with an acute flare-up of joint pain."

Other uses include helping veterinarians follow a pet's weight-loss progress or tracking scratching activity in dogs with allergies who are very itchy. A sudden decrease in activity could also signal a medical problem.

If you're thinking of getting a canine activity monitor, choose one that's pet-specific. Simply attaching your own device to his collar won't yield accurate results.

"As long as a tracker is used within its limits, the information provided can be accurate and useful in monitoring your pet's activity," Dr. Pierce says. "Plus, it's just plain fun to see what your pet has been up to during the day."

Q&A

What we know about

Ebola virus and dogs

Q: The media are reporting that dogs are carriers of Ebola but show no symptoms. What can you tell us about it? -- via Facebook

A: We are still learning about how the Ebola virus affects dogs, and whether or how the virus could be transmitted between dogs and people. And the information we do have could change as we learn more. Here's what we know now, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

-- We know that dogs in Africa have become infected with the Ebola virus, usually from feeding off the bodies of animals that may have died from the disease, but dogs don't appear to develop the disease.

-- We have no evidence that infected dogs are able to spread Ebola to people or other animals.

-- The risk to pets in the United States is low. They would have to come in contact with blood and bodily fluids of a person with Ebola. Currently, only eight people in the United States have been diagnosed with Ebola. Three have recovered, four are undergoing treatment and one has died.

-- There is no need to test dogs or cats for Ebola if the animals have not been exposed to blood or bodily fluids of a person showing symptoms of the disease. Routine testing for Ebola is not available for pets.

-- The Centers for Disease Control and the American Veterinary Medical Association are developing guidelines to manage dogs exposed to people infected with the Ebola virus. A case in point is Bentley, the cavalier King Charles spaniel who belongs to a nurse who contracted the disease. He is currently quarantined and under the care of veterinarians at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, and has so far tested negative for Ebola.

By the time this is published, Bentley's quarantine period will likely be over and we may know more about the potential risk to pets and whether quarantining them should be a part of helping to manage the disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dog overcomes torment,

becomes therapy dog

-- A therapy dog named Susie was named 2014 American Hero Dog at the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards on Oct. 30. The pit bull mix from High Point, North Carolina, survived a savage beating and burning by her owner, who left her for dead. She was rescued and nursed back to health at a local shelter. In a tear-worthy twist, Susie was adopted by Donna Lawrence, the victim of a dog attack that nearly killed her. Together, the two helped each other heal and helped bring about passage of the state's "Susie's Law," which sets harsher penalties for people convicted of animal abuse.

-- When your pet undergoes surgery, is he properly hydrated? A recent study published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research confirmed the importance of giving IV fluids to pets during even minor surgical procedures to help maintain blood pressure and compensate for fluid loss. Deborah Silverstein, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, found that increasing the amount of fluid delivered to the animal enhanced the total number of small vessels -- arterioles, venules and capillaries -- receiving blood flow. The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommend IV drips during any surgery.

-- When 76-year-old Judy Muhe of Palmdale, Florida, fell and injured herself, the situation was dire. She was unable to get up on her own, and no one knew of her predicament -- except for her two golden retrievers, Higgins and Dodger. For two days, they snuggled next to her, helping her to stay warm. When a friend, concerned that Muhe wasn't answering the phone, entered the house to check on her, the dogs ran to her and then ran back to Muhe. Thanks to their care, Muhe survived. -- 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 CREDIT

Caption 01: If you are concerned about your dog's activity level or just wonder what he does all day, an activity monitor may give you clues. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Susie overcame a traumatic ordeal and now spreads hope and cheer to people in hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Credit: Angie Smith

How to find the facts when you encounter Internet rumors

If you're online, you've seen them: the social media rumors, emails or blog posts claiming that particular products are hazardous to a pet's health. Whether we're talking foods, treats, cleaning products or pharmaceuticals, there are likely stories floating around that one or another of them causes illness or death.

They sound alarming. But are they true? The Internet is wonderful, but not everything you read on it is fair or even factual. Heck, I read things about myself on the Internet all the time that aren't true.

How can you know if what you're reading is accurate? We have some advice and sources that will help you separate fact from fiction. So forget the panic: Here are five ways to avoid the spin and get the real skinny.

-- Go to the source. By law, drug manufacturers must report all potential adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA defines an adverse drug experience as any unfavorable or unintended reaction after a drug is administered, whether or not that reaction is believed to be related to the product and whether or not the drug was given as instructed on the label. You can find adverse drug experience reports for veterinary drugs online at www.fda.gov.

"Each pharmaceutical company is required to conduct a thorough investigation of all adverse events," says my colleague Michael Dryden, professor of veterinary parasitology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "In these investigations, all relevant information is obtained, such as the medical history of the animal, clinical pathology reports, toxicological data for the product, necropsy reports and any other available information. This information is used to help determine the likelihood that a product is linked to the reported event in the patient."

-- Contact the company directly. Most manufacturers provide a toll-free number on their packaging. In fact, food manufacturers are required to provide contact information on the label. Ask what is being done to investigate the situation.

-- Go to neutral fact-checking sites. Neutral sites aren't associated with or supported by manufacturers, and their only goal is to seek the truth. You might say that they don't have a dog in this hunt. These independent sites present evidence and facts to verify or debunk all kinds of rumors. They look for confirmation from authoritative sources and list their references. Reputable sites that often address pet-related e-rumors include snopes.com and truthorfiction.com.

-- Don't confuse correlation with causation. In other words, coincidence happens. Here's what my colleague Tony Johnson, DVM, an emergency medicine and critical-care specialist, has to say about that:

"If a dog or cat is diagnosed with an infection or cancer or organ failure, and the owner had used a certain product in the preceding days or weeks, it's human nature to want to associate something new with the outcome. It looks bad, but there's not necessarily any correlation."

For more about how to distinguish between correlation and causation, especially in the context of science and health, take a look at George Mason University's website stats.org, which addresses the subject in a way that's easy to understand.

-- Talk to your veterinarian. Your pets' veterinarian is trained in looking at data and has experience with many different pets and the products made for them. There's no doubt that adverse drug events can occur, especially in pets with underlying health conditions or other unknown causes of sensitivity, and that foods or other products can become contaminated. When you have concerns, your veterinarian is the best person to help you sort out reality from rumor and science from spin.

Q&A

Senior cats prone to

high blood pressure

Q: My cat is 9 years old. At her recent annual exam, her veterinarian suggested checking her blood pressure. I didn't know cats could get high blood pressure. Is it a common problem? -- via Facebook

A: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most important cardiovascular disease seen in senior cats, says Clarke E. Atkins, DVM, professor of medicine and cardiology at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He presented a lecture on the topic at the 2014 World Small Animal Veterinary Association conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

The condition is most often seen in cats 7 years and older. Dr. Atkins has seen hypertension only once in a cat younger than 7 years.

Among the causes of hypertension in cats are chronic renal (kidney) disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism. Cats with hypertension may show signs such as seizures or circling, heart enlargement or murmurs, and eye problems. The eye is one of the more fragile organs that can be affected by hypertension. If the condition goes untreated, cats can develop retinopathy, or blindness.

A cat's blood pressure can be measured at the front leg, the back leg or the tail. Dr. Atkins likes using the tail because the cat can bury his head in the owner's arms during the procedure, allowing him to feel more comfortable. The front leg is his second choice.

If they are treated, the prognosis is good for cats diagnosed with hypertension. Medication is available to help reduce blood pressure to a normal level and control the heart rate. Your veterinarian may also suggest ways to correct conditions that may be causing hypertension, or recommend a switch to a renal or senior diet to reduce sodium intake.

It's also important to ensure that the cat always has plenty of fresh water and, if necessary, reduce the cat's weight if he is obese. No data suggest that fat cats are more prone to hypertension, but being overweight most likely isn't good for them. -- 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

What's the beef?

It may be something else

-- What's listed on the label isn't necessarily what's in your pet's food. According to a study published in August in the journal Food Control, researchers using DNA testing to identify the type of meat present in 52 pet food products found some inconsistencies between what the label said and what was actually in the food. Of the tested foods, 16 contained meat that was not listed on the label. Researchers looked for beef, chicken, goat, goose, horse, lamb, pork and turkey. Pork was the most common type of meat not listed on labels. Chicken was the most commonly included type of meat, and goose was the least common. None of the samples contained horsemeat.

-- A group of rescuers in India spent four hours rubbing vegetable oil onto the body of a young dog who was found stuck in a pool of hot tar that had spilled at a construction site in the city of Udaipur. The oil helped them free the pup from his sticky situation, reports CNN. It took another few days to completely remove the tar, but the dog has since recovered and is being cared for by Animal Aid Unlimited, the animal welfare group that came to his rescue.

-- Health care reform spreads to Max and Muffin as California becomes the first state to regulate pet insurance. The bill, signed into law by dog-loving Gov. Jerry Brown, establishes disclosure rules and other measures to protect consumers. The bill, which goes into effect next July, requires carriers to sufficiently explain all plans and address annual coverage limits and policies regarding pre-existing conditions. The measure also allows for a 30-day trial period during which people can return the insurance and receive a complete refund. Companies that violate the law can be fined up to $10,000. -- 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 CREDIT

Caption 01: Before becoming alarmed by what you read online, get a reality check to make sure the information isn't misleading, or just plain wrong. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Pet food mislabeling can be a concern for owners of animals who are allergic to certain proteins. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1