CRUCIAL TIPS FOR FINDING LOST PETS

By Kim Campbell Thornton

My stepmother called me in a panic. She had left the sliding door open in the guest room so a visiting cat could get some fresh air, and the cat clawed a hole in the screen and disappeared.

Everyone who's had a lost pet, including myself, knows that boulder-in-the-stomach feeling. One of our cats got out of the house when we had workmen there, and our cavalier Darcy also made an unauthorized excursion. Fortunately, both came back on their own (the cat after three days, and Darcy after a couple of hours), but not without frantic searching on our parts.

If your pet has gone AWOL, don't wait around hoping for a "Lassie" return. The quicker you take action, the better your chances of finding your pet. Here's what to do.

As soon as you discover your pet is missing, put up large fluorescent-colored posters big enough that people driving by can see and read them. Use what missing-pet expert Kat Albrecht calls the 5 + 55 rule: five words that people driving by at 55 miles per hour can read. For instance: REWARD LOST BLACK/WHITE CAT.

"Those are five words that a passerby driving on a major road can interpret, visualize, remember and convey to others," Albrecht says.

Check the website lostapet.org for information on making an effective poster and flier. Other online resources include Fido Finder (fidofinder.com), K9 Alert (k9alert.com), LostPetUSA.net, Missing Pet Network (missingpet.net), Tabbytracker.com, The Center for Lost Pets (thecenterforlostpets.com) and Pet FBI (petfbi.org).

Go door to door and let neighbors know that your pet is missing. Bring a photo so they'll know what she looks like. If you live in a guard-gated association, notify security staff so they can keep an eye out for your pet as they make their rounds. The mail carrier is another person who travels through your neighborhood daily and can watch for your pet.

Check the shelter right away. If there is more than one shelter in your area, check all of them -- more than once. Leave a description of your pet and your contact information.

Search your yard and the surrounding area thoroughly. Cats, in particular, may hide underneath shrubbery or decks, or squeeze into spaces where you think they can't possibly fit. Dogs may simply be shut up inside a shed, garage or closet, waiting patiently to be released. Ask neighbors for permission to search their yards as well.

Leave out food and water to encourage your pet to return. The familiar smell -- and hunger -- may draw him out of hiding.

Pets are highly attuned to sound. Walk around the neighborhood calling them. Stand in the yard and make sounds associated with mealtime, such as shaking a food bag or running the electric can opener.

Use social media to spread the word. Your neighborhood or city may have a website or Facebook page where you can post the information.

Accidents happen. You can never guarantee that your dog or cat won't become lost, but you can take easy, inexpensive steps to increase the likelihood that he'll come home safely:

-- Microchip him.

-- License him (cats, too).

-- Keep a collar with an up-to-date ID tag on him.

-- Register him with a microchip registration company and keep your address and phone number updated.

-- Keep a good, up-to-date, full-body color photo on hand for use on fliers.

My stepmother's lost cat? As my stepniece stood out on the deck at twilight calling for her a few days later, Miss Kitty came flying across the lawn and back into the arms of her very happy young owner.

Q&A

Ridge of hair is

genetic mutation

Q: One of my friends told me that the ridge of hair along the Rhodesian ridgeback's spine is a genetic defect. Is that true? Why would breeders produce dogs with a defect? Is it just for looks? -- via email

A: There's a difference between a genetic mutation and a genetic defect. One of the ancestors of the Rhodesian ridgeback was a dog kept by the Khoikhoi people of South Africa's Cape Peninsula area. A distinguishing feature of these dogs was a strip of hair that grew in the reverse direction along the back. Dutch settlers found the dogs to be good hunters and guard dogs and bred them with other breeds, including pointers, various terriers, bulldogs and greyhounds. The result was what we know today as the Rhodesian ridgeback.

The ridge of hair is caused by a dominant mutation. The same mutation that causes the ridge can sometimes cause a congenital defect known as dermoid sinus. This narrow tubelike structure can penetrate the skin to varying degrees and can be painful and even fatal if not removed surgically. The dermoid sinus, which occurs in less than 5 percent of ridgebacks, may be the genetic defect your friend is thinking of.

On a related note, not every ridgeback has a ridge -- some are born without one. Ridgeless ridgebacks are completely normal; they lack only the trademark strip of fur that characterizes the breed.

At least two other dog breeds have a ridge: the Thai ridgeback and the Phu Quoc ridgeback (from Vietnam). It's unknown where or when the ridge originated, but it may be that at some point African ridged dogs were taken to Asia, where they contributed their genes to the local canine population.

Why do the dogs have the unusual ridge of fur? That's unknown, too, unless you want to go with the tale that the ridge marks the spot where God sews the dogs up when he's done stuffing them. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Tooth fairy visits

Utah shelter pets

-- A group of six San Diego veterinarians traveled to Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, earlier this month to perform dental work on 32 dogs, 32 cats, one potbellied pig and one rabbit. Their goal? To help improve the pets' adoptability. "It is unrealistic for most potential adopters to take on a large health care investment when adopting a new pet," says board-certified dental specialist Brook A. Niemiec, DVM. "This makes shelter or sanctuary animals with dental disease significantly less adoptable, which means that these pets tend to have long shelter stays or require placement with rescue groups versus an adoptive family."

-- Pointed cats, such as the Siamese, have light-colored bodies with darker shading on their heads, legs and tails. You probably knew that, but did you know that pointed cats are born white? As the kittens mature, the points make an appearance. Common point colors are seal (dark brown), chocolate (light brown), lynx (tabby markings), blue (bluish-gray) and lilac (pinkish gray). Other breeds with pointed coloration include the Birman, Himalayan, ragdoll, Tonkinese, snowshoe and Balinese.

-- What'll they think of next? Cool pet products introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show include a smartphone for dogs, a smart feeder and a camera that lets owners communicate with pets. The Scout 500 Collar allows you to keep tabs on your dog with live video streaming, send voice commands and check his location with GPS tracking. The Petnet(io) feeder tailors portion sizes to a pet's age, weight and activity level, and automatically dispenses it. And with a PetCube Camera, you can watch and talk to your pet remotely via smartphone. Me? I'm still waiting for a robot that will brush the dogs' teeth. -- 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: A microchip can help ensure your pet is returned to you if he's ever lost. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: The Siamese is the best-known of the pointed-cat breeds. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

11 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANIMAL LOVERS

By Kim Campbell Thornton

As part of our New Year's resolutions, many of us vow to do more to help others. For pet owners, that can include helping animals and their people.

Volunteering at a shelter or fostering a homeless pet are common ways to contribute to animal welfare, but there are a number of other ways to help. Time, goods and money are all valuable contributions, whether it's a little or a lot. If you've committed to help make the world a better place for pets this year, here are 11 ways to get started: 1. Donate pet food to your local Meals on Wheels program to help ensure that seniors' pets eat well, too. 2. Keep a supply of gift cards to pet supply stores on hand to give to homeless people with pets.

3. Transport animals from shelters to rescue groups or foster homes. This can be especially helpful if you have a van. "We once loaded up my van with six crates of dogs going to four different rescues," says Susan Fox of McKinleyville, California. "For rural shelters like ours, someone who can move a bunch of dogs at once would be welcomed with open arms."

4. Got a neighbor who's having difficulty getting around because of an illness or injury? Ask if you can help out by walking, playing with or grooming their dog. "Elderly people may have a hard time lifting medium-size or large dogs," says Tiffany Gere of Butler, New Jersey. "Offering to help with vet visits or being their driver in an emergency would go a long way toward giving them peace of mind."

5. Do your online shopping through AmazonSmile or AdoptAShelter.com. Register your local shelter or other pet-related organization, and a portion of your purchases will help to support them.

6. Your local shelter or rescue group just received an influx of animals and likely needs money -- fast! Help out by running a yard sale or an online fundraiser auction.

You'll need to get individuals and businesses to donate items to sell, publicize the fundraiser and follow up to make sure all the payments come in, the items get sent out to the winning bidders, and the money gets to the rescue in a timely manner. (Get your animal-loving friends to help.)

These types of events can also help to support a shelter's emergency medical fund. "Our shelter has a $250 limit imposed by the county on what can be spent on medical care for one dog or cat," Fox says. "The fund covers the difference between that and what is needed."

7. Share your skills. Shelters and rescue groups need volunteers who can write grant proposals, design or manage websites, do accounting, photograph animals available for adoption, make home visits and more.

8. Hand out fliers for an adoption campaign or other event. "I had posters donated for a white rabbit adoption program and someone distributed them to vet offices and groomers," says Mary Cvetan of Pittsburgh. "It was a huge help."

9. Help newcomers to your town or new pet owners by making a list you can hand out that includes businesses and organizations such as local veterinarians, emergency veterinary clinics, pet sitters, pet supply stores and low-cost or free spay/neuter services.

10. Take blankets, towels, gently used (or new) dog toys and other supplies to shelters.

11. Got a big heart and a healthy wallet? Help with someone's veterinary bills. Pam Becker, executive director of the Animal Health Foundation of California, recently received an email from a woman looking for information on low-cost spay/neuter services so she can help a homeless woman get her dog spayed. "She sees the woman every day and wants to help her," Becker says.

To find other volunteer opportunities, visit the website VolunteerMatch.org.

Q&A

Early access key to

bunny litter box use

Q: One of my friends has two pet bunnies. They have the run of her apartment when she's home, and she says they use a litter box like a cat. Is that true? -- via email

A: For the most part, yes. While many rabbits will use a litter box, they don't use them in the same way cats do. Rabbits typically don't cover their waste, and they aren't into "go and go" -- they like to spend a great deal of time in their boxes. And rabbit owners don't scoop the litter: A rabbit's entire box needs to be changed daily. (Unlike a cat's waste, what a rabbit leaves behind is a safe addition to any compost pile, and the composted waste is a wonderful organic fertilizer.)

Not all rabbits will use a box. Older, sexually intact rabbits who have not had prior access to a box will be less likely to use one. Young rabbits who have been spayed or neutered prior to hormones kicking in (at about four months) are more likely to use a litter box and less likely to mark territory.

The best filler for a rabbit's box is a layer of fresh hay over litter made from recycled paper or compressed sawdust (sold as pellets for wood stoves). Avoid clumping litters, crystal litters or products that contain deodorizing or scented pellets, or those with strong odors, such as pine or cedar. Litters made from corn or wheat may lead to problems with blockages or obesity.

You don't really "train" a rabbit to use a box. You provide the opportunity by setting up an inviting box -- large, comfortable, safe and with a layer of fresh hay to munch -- and limiting other choices by keeping the pet's territory relatively small, expanding it gradually.

Even rabbits who use boxes reliably may leave "pellets" now and then. Fortunately, rabbit pellets are easy to clean up with a hand vacuum, or a broom and dust pan. It's a small price to pay for the companionship of a rabbit, as people who enjoy these wonderful pets will tell you. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Pets help children with

autism be more social

-- Children with autism can benefit from living with pets, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Living with pets can help to develop and improve the children's social skills, says Dr. Gretchen Carlisle, research fellow in the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction. If they have a relationship with the pet, they are more likely to respond when asked about the animal. Any kind of pet in the home can be helpful, Dr. Carlisle found in a survey of 70 families.

-- The polar vortex is back! Protect your pet from frostbite by keeping him indoors. Limit the length of walks in below-zero weather, and protect him from the elements with an insulated coat that covers his torso. Wipe off his feet when you get home to remove road salt. Check for antifreeze drips in the garage or on the driveway and clean them up so your dog or cat doesn't ingest the deadly liquid. And always knock on the hood before you start your car to make sure any cats who decided to nestle in the warm engine can escape before you start the car.

-- As they age, pets are more likely to develop some type of cancer. Signs of cancer include lumps or bumps that grow or change; wounds that don't heal; persistent or recurrent lameness; unexplained weight loss; lack of appetite; difficulty eating or swallowing; bleeding from the mouth, nose or rectum; difficulty breathing or straining to urinate or defecate; and lack of energy. If your pet shows any of these signs, take him to the veterinarian right away. Cancer is treatable with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and other techniques, especially when caught in the early stages. -- 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: Seniors or people who are ill or injured may welcome help caring for their pets. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Booties can protect pets' feet from ice balls and road salts. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

YOUR CAT'S VOCALIZATIONS AND BODY LANGUAGE TELL YOU AND OTHER CATS WHAT HE'S THINKING

By Kim Campbell Thornton

When I was a kid, I loved Dr. Dolittle. I had a recording of the music from the 1967 movie, and I would sing along with it: "I can walk with the animals, talk with the animals, and they can squeak and squawk and talk to me."

As Dr. Dolittle discovered from his wise parrot, Polynesia, most animal languages are a mixture of sound and movement. But Dr. Dolittle notwithstanding, it has been only recently that we have started to look at and understand communication and emotion in animals.

At the World Small Animal Veterinary Association conference, which I attended last September, veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kersti Seksel spoke on understanding feline communication. For communication to exist, she says, there must be a sender, a means of sending the message and a receiver.

"The receiver doesn't have to be present when the message is sent," Dr. Seksel says, "but the receiver does have to receive and understand the message. That's where most issues start."

Our cats are sophisticated communicators, despite not being able to speak English. Their vocalizations, for instance, are highly individualized and specific. The sounds they use to communicate with each other, such as those between a mother and her kittens, are different from the vocal commands they issue to people. Owners, the ones who are paying attention, anyway, soon learn to recognize and interpret what their cats are saying.

Cats not only have a language they use only with humans, they also use different body language with humans than with other cats, Dr. Seksel says. Body language encompasses the position of the eyes, ears, tail and head, body posture and facial expression.

Communication between cats is subtle and quick. It often goes unnoticed by people. Often, owners think cats are getting along, when in reality violence is simmering just beneath the surface.

For instance, you might think that one of your cats has merely entered a room. But often, that cat has signaled to the other cat or cats in the room with a twitch of the ear or switch of the tail that he wants something -- maybe the chair another cat is in or the food bowl he's snacking from -- and he's in no mood to be trifled with. When the other cat gets up and leaves, in a seemingly casual manner, he's not being nonchalant. Cats leave the presence of aggressive cats very slowly because they don't want to draw attention to themselves, Dr. Seksel says.

When feline tension turns into an all-out fight, the combatants don't just kiss and make up. Cats can stay highly aroused for two to seven days afterward, Dr. Seksel says. She recommends separating cats for at least a week after a fight.

Scent is another way in which cats communicate, both among themselves and with people. When your cat gives you an affectionate head butt or rubs up against your leg, he's using pheromones secreted from glands in the cheeks, chin and paw pads to mark you as a member of his community. When he scratches, he's leaving pheromonal messages for other cats.

Pheromones are an important form of communication between cats. Among other things, pheromones signal reproductive status and social rank and indicate danger.

"Veterinary hospitals are full of pheromones all the time because cats aren't happy to be there," Dr. Seksel says.

When you can learn to understand lingua felinica, you are well on your way to earning your cat's respect, not to mention heading off behavior problems before they become serious. And in the immortal words of Dr. Dolittle:

"If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages, think of all the things we could discuss."

Q&A

Common-sense tactics

prevent disease spread

Q: With all the talk of the Ebola virus a few months ago and how it can live in both people and animals, I'm curious about what other diseases can affect humans and animals. How are they spread and can they be prevented? -- via email

A: That's a great question. Diseases that can be spread from animals to humans are called "zoonoses" (pronounced zo-uh-NO-sees). Some diseases, called "reverse zoonoses," can also be spread from people to animals. The causes of zoonotic disease are bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. Zoonotic diseases or infections can be transmitted through bites or scratches or when the infected area is touched.

Some zoonotic diseases you may have heard of are rabies, ringworm and salmonellosis. Other diseases or parasites that can spread between animals and people include E. coli infection, roundworms, hookworms, leptospirosis, Lyme disease and Staphylococcus infection. Staph infections are a good example of reverse zoonoses, being more commonly transferred from people to animals.

Zoonotic diseases are of special concern when someone in the household has a weakened immune system. This could be someone who is sick or who is simply very young or very old. Those people are more at risk of contracting disease because their immune systems aren't strong enough to fight off disease-causing invaders.

Good hygiene is the best way to prevent the transmission of diseases between animals and people. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling your pet (especially if he has an infectious disease), as well as after handling pet food, including dry food. Make sure kids do the same. To prevent transmission of parasites such as Cheyletiella or scabies mites, roundworms and hookworms, deworm your pet regularly. Rabies, of course, is fatal, so it's essential to vaccinate your pets against the disease as required by law and to seek immediate treatment if you are bitten by a potentially rabid animal. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Four new breeds

join AKC ranks

-- Four unusual breeds have joined the roster of dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club. They are the Spanish water dog, the Cirneco dell'Etna, the Bergamasco and the Boerboel. The curly-coated Spanish water dog will join the herding group, along with the Bergamasco, an Italian sheepdog with a corded coat. The Cirneco is a hunting breed that will become a member of the hound group. The Boerboel is a large South African farm dog who will join the working group. He's a member of the mastiff family. Their addition brings the number of AKC-recognized breeds and varieties to 184.

-- The Winn Feline Foundation has awarded seven feline medical research grants totaling $111,392. The studies funded will investigate a device that allows low-stress imaging for cats in respiratory distress; treatment for a fatal tick-borne blood parasite that is seen increasingly in cats; improving the feline genome; developing a test for the silver coat color -- one of the few remaining cat colors for which there is no genetic test; effective chemotherapy for injection-site sarcomas; improving the safety of a drug used for sedation or preanesthesia; and ways to improve treatment of skin allergies and skin diseases by looking at the differences between the bacterial and fungal organisms normally found on the skin of cats compared to those found on the skin of cats with allergies.

-- Researchers are finding more and more evidence that pets can provide people with measurable health improvements. The results are seen primarily in the area of mental health, with stress relief being a major benefit. A recent review of 69 studies found evidence that human-animal interactions could lift mood and reduce stress and anxiety, perhaps by activating the hormone oxytocin, Christie Aschwanden reported last month in The Washington Post. -- 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: Cat behavior is complex and interesting. Learning how cats communicate can help us better understand them. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Pet ownership is associated with reduced stress levels, lower blood pressure and decreased risk of heart disease, studies show. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3