To ban stinky breath and periodontal disease, brush up on dental care

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Keeper did not want me to even lift his lip to look at his teeth, and his breath was terrible. It had been only six months since his last dental exam and cleaning, but clearly something was wrong.

Turns out that not only did he have an abscessed tooth, but dental X-rays also showed a large amount of bone resorption, a bone remodeling process that invades the tooth structure. It's normal when it involves the loss of baby or puppy teeth, but veterinarians are seeing it more often in the permanent teeth of dogs. Keeper had to have three teeth removed.

Keeper's experience is just one of the reasons that veterinarians are adding dental X-rays to the professional cleaning process. His veterinarian, Gershon L. Alaluf, DVM, explains: "When you look at a dog's teeth and see tartar, that's just the tip of the iceberg. It doesn't tell you what's going on underneath the gumline. Usually there's infection, and on dental X-rays we can see pockets of infection, plus root resorption and bone resorption."

Oral and dental disease are by far the most common problems affecting dogs and cats. By the time they are 3 years old, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of gum disease. Tartar isn't just ugly; combined with bad breath, it's a signal that your pet's teeth and gums are probably infected, painful or both. Other signs include difficulty eating, constant drooling and lethargy.

Unfortunately, dogs and cats can't tell us that their mouth hurts, so all too often they go without treatment because a professional cleaning is considered cosmetic rather than medically important. But oral bacteria don't affect just the mouth. Over time, they can cause infections that enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, damaging organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.

What can you do? We've said it before and we'll say it again: Brushing is the No. 1 way to help keep dental disease at bay. If you start when your puppy or kitten is young, he'll get used to it and accept it more readily.

Here are some options to prevent tooth decay if your pet says "no way" to brushing:

-- Wipe the teeth with a moist gauze pad or dental wipe. That can help to remove the plaque that hardens into tartar.

-- Ask your veterinarian about gels, rinses or sprays that contain chlorhexidine or zinc ascorbate cysteine (ZAC) compounds. The enzymes in chlorhexidine products dissolve plaque and help reduce bacteria, and ZAC compounds encourage collagen production to stimulate repair of gum tissue.

-- Lay in a supply of tartar-control chews and toys (available for dogs and cats) that contain enzymes to help reduce plaque.

-- Cut back on the daily skinny vanilla lattes and put the cost toward your pet's dental care. At $3.25 a pop, you can save more than enough over a year's time to cover the cost of a cleaning and any necessary extractions.

An annual professional cleaning that gets below the gumline -- something that can't be done with a non-anesthetic shine-up -- can help ensure that dental problems are found early and treated, which saves you money and saves your pet unnecessary discomfort. Even better, you may find that once his mouth doesn't hurt anymore, your pet is acting young again, for the first time in a long time.

Q&A

Ramp up older dog's

ability to get in car

Q: Our 11-year-old standard poodle is no longer willing to jump in and out of the backseat of my Honda CR-V. It might have something to do with him not being as agile as he used to be, but is probably more about his losing his vision due to cataracts. I'm thinking of buying a ramp for him. Do you have any advice on what to look for in one and how to teach him to use it? -- via Facebook

A: A ramp is a great idea. Look for one that's sturdy, stable and can fold up for transport. It should have a nonskid surface so your dog's paws will have something to grip, making him less likely to slip or jump off the side. If you have a trailer hitch, you can find steps that will connect to it, swinging out for use and folding up when not in use. To find products, do Web searches for "dog ramp" or "trailer hitch dog step," or check out online retailers such as Frontgate.com or Amazon.com.

Because a ramp's incline varies depending on the object it's resting on, it's easy to gradually adjust the incline as your dog learns to use it. Begin by placing the ramp on a flat, stable area where it won't slide. Lure your dog across the ramp with a treat. Give treats for putting a paw on the ramp, then for two paws. Gradually move the treat toward the middle of the ramp. The goal is to have your dog follow the treat in your hand from one end of the ramp to the other.

Once he goes across the ramp on flat ground, add a slight incline and continue practicing. Have him go back and forth, up and down. Add a verbal cue, such as "up" or "in." Soon, he should be using it like a pro. -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Cat's body heat

saves baby's life

-- A Russian cat named Masha found an abandoned infant and saved his life by curling up with him to keep him warm and then meowing loudly to attract attention. Thinking the cat had been hurt, a woman went out to check on her and found the baby, who it was later determined was in good health despite his exposure to the cold. The longhaired tabby cat, who lives in the Russian city of Obninsk, doesn't belong to anyone, but people in the neighborhood feed her and watch over her. Since her heroic act, Masha has been getting lots of all her favorite foods.

-- How often should you bathe your dog? Most dogs can get by with monthly baths, but weekly is better if they spend a lot of time on your furniture or bed or suffer from environmental allergies, which are caused by absorption of dust, pollen and mites into the skin. If you use a mild shampoo and conditioner and rinse well, even a daily bath is fine.

-- Scientists who study the feline genome are looking for a few good cats to donate some DNA, not to mention funding, for the effort to sequence the genomes of 99 domestic cats. The insights already gained include discovery of the cause of polycystic kidney disease, reducing its prevalence in Persians, work toward development of drugs that could treat the condition in cats and possibly in humans, and genetic differences between domestic and wild cats. Researchers are seeking donations to help raise money for the sequencing, which costs $7,500 per cat, but DNA samples are welcome, too. Any cat and owner can participate, says geneticist Leslie Lyons of the University of Missouri in Columbia. For more information, visit felinegenetics.missouri.edu. -- 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: Dental disease left untreated is painful and may even shorten your pet's life. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Rinse your dog thoroughly when you bathe him. Shampoo residue can cause skin irritation. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

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