WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT VACCINATING YOUR DOG OR CAT

In case you've been on a desert island for the past few months, vaccinations are in the news. Fearing vaccine-related reactions or other concerns, some people are leery not only of vaccinating their children against preventable illnesses, but also their pets.

Protecting against something you've never seen can be a difficult concept for both pet owners and veterinarians. Many veterinarians (and probably 90 percent of vet techs) who have graduated in the past 10 to 20 years have never seen a case of canine distemper. For the pet owner -- add in families, friends, co-workers and acquaintances -- who has also never seen or known a dog with the disease, it's easy to begin to believe the threat doesn't exist, isn't serious or is overblown.

Those of us who have been practicing longer (35 years, in my case) have seen the green discharge from the eyes and nose, the hardening footpads, the neurological signs and death. Many deaths. We know this invisible and now infrequent killer can gain ground quickly in a community of dogs that are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated and kill indiscriminately and grotesquely. Distemper and parvo outbreaks occur in shelters across the country every week because approximately half of the dogs coming in have never been vaccinated.

For 35 years I've told pet owners, if you love your dog or cat specifically, and dogs and cats in general, you'll get your pets vaccinated not only to give them potentially life-saving protection, but also to put an invisible blanket of protection over the whole pet community.

That doesn't mean your pet needs every vaccination out there. Your pet's vaccination program should be individualized, based on factors such as his age, health, medical history, lifestyle (is he a homebody or does he go to dog parks or cat or dog shows?), and the prevalence of disease in your locale. Here's what you should know:

-- Dogs and cats should receive core vaccines -- those that protect against the most common and most serious diseases. In dogs, core vaccines are distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis and rabies. In cats, they are panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus) and rabies, as required by law.

-- For a minimal vaccine program, veterinary immunology expert Ronald D. Schultz, Ph.D., recommends a first vaccination no earlier than 8 to 10 weeks of age (6 weeks for shelter animals), followed by one or two more doses, the last when the animal is 14 to 16 weeks or older. Get a titer test two or more weeks after the final vaccination to make sure the immune system has responded to the vaccines.

-- At one year, your pet can receive a booster vaccination or titer to ensure he has antibodies to disease. Then you can simply do titers every three years for the rest of the animal's life and revaccinate as needed, or you can revaccinate every three years for the rest of the animal's life.

-- In dogs, give non-core vaccines, such as those for leptospirosis or giardia, only if your pet is at high risk of the disease. The coronavirus vaccine is not recommended by the current guidelines. In cats, vaccines with little or no efficacy include those for feline infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, virulent calicivirus and bordetella. Alice Wolf, DVM, an internal medicine specialist and professor of small-animal medicine at Texas A&M University, advises against giving those vaccines to cats.

-- Some animals are more at risk of vaccine reactions than others. They include certain breeds, such as akitas, American cocker spaniels, American Eskimo dogs, Great Danes and Weimaraners; young puppies or kittens who are stressed from being transported to new environments; animals who are sick or have a fever; animals with white coats and pink noses or with dilute coat colors; and small dogs in general. Talk to your veterinarian about ways to reduce the risks.

Q&A

Surgery best for

dislocated tendon

Q: My Sheltie was playing in the backyard, and I noticed afterward that she was limping. The veterinarian did X-rays and found that she had torn the tendon that attaches to her hock. Is she going to need surgery to repair it? -- via Facebook

A: The $5 term for this type of orthopedic injury is luxation of the superficial digital flexor tendon, which runs along the back side of the Achilles' heel. If the tissues that hold it in place tear, the tendon becomes dislocated, causing lameness. It's an unusual injury, but when we see it, it's usually in Shelties and other collie-type dogs.

We usually recommend surgical repair, especially for young, active dogs, because recovery is quicker and more predictable. Afterward, exercise is commonly limited for a couple of months, and your dog may need to wear a splint to support the repair while it heals. Pain medication and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug will help with discomfort and swelling.

If finances or other factors, such as age or illness, make surgery inadvisable, though, talk to your veterinarian about conservative management of the injury. This may involve an injection of Adequan to help reduce swelling and lubricate the joint, combined with crate rest for three weeks or more.

It can be difficult to keep a young dog inactive for long periods while injuries heal (another reason that surgery is preferred). One way you can keep your dog occupied is to offer Kong toys that have been stuffed with plain yogurt, mashed banana, pumpkin, peanut butter and kibble, and then frozen. Treat puzzles that don't require a lot of action on your dog's part are also useful. Practice tricks that don't require your dog to use her legs, such as "Give it" or pushing a ball with her nose. Your dog will also appreciate some good old-fashioned quality time, whether she's sitting on your lap while you watch television or sitting with you outdoors on a pretty day. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Journalism study follows

trends in cat tales

-- News about cats has been fodder for journalists for more than 140 years. University of Illinois journalism professor Matthew C. Ehrlich, intrigued by New York Times articles on cute cat videos and cats and wildlife interactions, decided to dig deeper into the cultural history of cats in journalism, specifically in the paper that publishes "all the news that's fit to print." He found nearly 700 articles, from the 1870s to the present, portraying cats as commodities, heroes, villains, victims, women's best friends and urban symbols. The stories, he suggests, are more than fluff, offering insights into our evolving relationships with animals.

-- Sometimes it's good to think inside the box. In a study published in the November 2014 issue of Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Dutch veterinarian Claudia Vinke of Utrecht University in the Netherlands reported that newly arrived cats who were provided boxes to hide in at a shelter had significantly decreased stress levels, adjusted more quickly to their new surroundings and were more interested in meeting people. Future investigations will examine whether reduced stress levels correlate with reduced outbreaks of infectious disease as well as the effect of a hiding box for cats housed in groups.

-- Ever think that maybe you're just a little neurotic when it comes to caring for your pets? Turns out that could actually be good for them, according to new research from the University of California at Berkeley and California State University, East Bay. "Helicopter" pet owners tend to be highly conscientious and enjoy close relationships with their animals. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, is the first to find a positive correlation between neuroticism, anxious attachment and the care of and affection for pets, says CSU-East Bay psychologist Gretchen Reevy, who co-authored the paper. -- 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: Dogs and cats should receive core vaccines at least once in their lives. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Cats respond to stress and change by hiding. A box is the perfect getaway. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

HELP LONGER-LIVING PETS HAVE A HEALTHY, COMFORTABLE OLD AGE

Age. It gets us all in the end. But just as exercising, eating right and mental gymnastics can help humans live longer and better, the same is true for dogs and cats. We want to share the best ways to promote longevity for animals as they enter their middle and senior years.

But first, what defines a senior pet? That depends on species, breed and size. Cats tend to enter the golden years between the ages of 7 and 11. Some dogs show brain aging as early as 6 or 7 years, while others seem to remain young in heart and mind until they are 10 to 12 years old. Toy poodles and Chihuahuas are among the longest-lived breeds, and some are still bouncing around at 15 and living to be 20 or more. The important thing to remember is that every dog and cat is an individual, so the age at which they start to show physical or mental decline can vary.

To improve your pet's chances of living into old age gracefully, he needs five things: regular veterinary care, a great diet, physical exercise, social enrichment and mental stimulation. As he ages, all of these components will help him stay fit and can even improve cognition.

-- A lot of us operate on the principle "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That might work with cars, but cats and dogs? Not so much. We often don't see what's going wrong with pets because they don't complain, and it's easy to miss subtle signs. An annual veterinary exam, or even twice a year for seniors if you can swing it financially, means that your pet is getting the once-over from your veterinarian's fresh eyes and experienced perspective. That can make all the difference in catching diseases early so they can be treated or managed more effectively.

-- Stick with your pet's normal, high-quality food if he's still healthy and active, but make sure he doesn't eat too much, especially if he's less active than he once was. If he's putting on weight, your veterinarian may recommend a lower-fat senior diet. If he's too thin, he may need a food that's higher in protein and fat. Pets with health problems such as kidney failure or heart disease may need special diets. If you're concerned about cognitive impairment, ask your veterinarian about one of the foods containing supplements that improve brain function.

-- Keep him moving, within the limits of his age and abilities. If he can't run, walk. If he can't walk as far, take shorter walks. If his mobility isn't what it once was, play gentle games indoors or in your yard.

-- Keep his brain busy. Pets need consistent mental and social stimulation. Make mealtime more challenging with a feeding maze or a toy he must move to make the food fall out. Play hide-and-seek games at home, practice his obedience skills or start training him for a sport such as nose work, which can be played by dogs of any size or age. Heck, tell him about that story you heard on NPR on the way home. He probably won't offer an opinion on it, but listening to you and interacting with you will help his brain stay limber. This type of enrichment is vital for a dog's or cat's physical, mental and behavioral health.

Most important, never assume that nothing can be done to mitigate the effects of aging. If you notice that your dog or cat seems less active or playful, is confused or starts to break housetraining when he never did before, tell your veterinarian. Those can be signs of cognitive dysfunction or a medical problem that can be treated. With treatment or environmental changes, your old pet may have a new lease on life.

Q&A

Tips to manage

a leaky dog

Q: I notice that there are wet spots on the carpet where my dog has been lying. She's 10 years old and otherwise in good health. What's going on? -- via email

A: It's not unusual for older dogs to develop what's called urinary incontinence: a failure of the bladder to securely store urine until it's released through urination. Incontinence can have several different causes, such as anatomical malformations, but most often it occurs when the urethra fails to close properly, known as urethral incompetence. We usually see it in large-breed females who are spayed, especially if they are overweight, but it can occur in any neutered dog. It can also develop in dogs as they age.

To diagnose urinary incontinence, your veterinarian will need to take a medical history and do a physical exam to make sure the problem isn't behavioral and rule out other problems, such as prostatic or urethral disease or neurologic problems. A urinalysis and urine culture can rule out a urinary tract infection.

Fortunately, this problem is easily treated with safe and effective medications. If urinary incontinence is indeed the problem, your veterinarian may prescribe a type of estrogen to enhance the urethra's ability to close by improving its smooth muscle or mechanical resistance. There's also medication that helps to tighten the sphincter muscle, increasing the bladder's control. Another management technique is to make sure your dog has plenty of opportunities to go out and urinate so that her bladder stays small. A late-night walk to give one last chance to pee before bedtime is a good idea.

Dogs being treated for urinary incontinence need regular monitoring, including a urinalysis and urine culture once or twice a year. Depending on what drug they're taking, they may need an annual blood test or a periodic blood pressure check. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Million Cat Challenge

underway with key goals

-- Shelter medicine programs at the University of California-Davis and University of Florida plan to save the lives of a million cats over the next five years. The Million Cat Challenge hopes shelters and animal control facilities will sign on to one or more of the following five initiatives: finding alternatives that will keep cats in homes or the community rather than in shelters; managing admission to correspond with a shelter's ability to provide safe, humane care; matching the number of cats in a shelter at any given time with the shelter's capacity to ensure their welfare; removing barriers to adoption; and returning healthy, unowned cats to the areas where they were trapped after sterilizing and vaccinating them.

-- Virginia has become the first state whose attorney general has formed an animal law unit. The attorney general's staff will assist local and state law enforcement and other agencies with cases involving animal welfare, animal fighting or animal abuse. "We've seen firsthand in Virginia that animal fighting is associated with other serious crimes such as drug distribution, possession of illegal alcohol or firearms, assaults and illegal gambling," says Attorney General Mark R. Herring. "There's also evidence that abuse of animals or exposure to animal abuse, especially by young people, can be predictive of future abusive or criminal behavior."

-- Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy can benefit from therapy dog visits, according to the results of a clinical trial performed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. The patients experience increased emotional well-being and quality of life. Although that might seem obvious to any dog lover, it's the first such definitive study in cancer patients, says principal investigator Stewart B. Fleishman, M.D. "Patients said they would have stopped their treatments before completion, except for the presence of the certified Good Dog Foundation therapy dog and volunteer handler."

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: Mental and physical enrichment contribute to longer lifespans in pets. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: New shelter programs are aimed at saving cats' lives. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

CAN DOGS BE JEALOUS? SCIENCE SAYS, "YES."

By Kim Campbell Thornton

When we are on a walk with all three of our dogs and someone stops to pet them, Harper, our 7-year-old cavalier, pushes forward to be first. When they move on to one of the other dogs, she nudges them, as if to say, "No, pet me, pet me."

Is Harper jealous or envious of the attention received by the other dogs? The answer used to be no -- that jealousy is a complex emotion not experienced by dogs. Then University of California, San Diego psychology professor Christine Harris, working with former honors student Caroline Prouvost, decided to test whether that was actually true.

Their study, published last July in the journal PLOS ONE, found that dogs may well experience a basic form of jealousy. One of the definitions of the word "jealous" is one who is solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something. In this case, dogs may have evolved to protect social bonds from interlopers (or in Harper's case, protecting her share of attention from people and making sure other dogs don't get any).

When their owners showed affection toward another dog, the dogs in the study snapped and pushed at their owners or the rival dog, which for experimental purposes was a stuffed dog that barked, whined and wagged its tail. In contrast, they were less likely to display jealous behaviors when the owner showed interest in a novel object, such as a jack-o'-lantern bucket, or when the owner read aloud a children's book that had pop-up pages and played melodies.

Dogs were about twice as likely to push or touch owners when they interacted with the stuffed dog (78 percent) as when the owner paid attention to the bucket (42 percent). Thirty percent of the dogs tested tried to get between their owner and the stuffed dog.

"Our study suggests not only that dogs do engage in what appear to be jealous behaviors, but also that they were seeking to break up the connection between the owner and a seeming rival," Harris said. "We can't really speak to the dogs' subjective experiences, of course, but it looks as though they were motivated to protect an important social relationship."

Your response might be, "So what?" If you're a dog owner, you've probably seen your dog exhibit jealous behaviors. The research is important, though, because it adds to our knowledge of the canine brain and helps to support the growing body of research indicating that dogs have sophisticated social and cognitive abilities.

You probably know as well that pets can be jealous of more than just other dogs. Sometimes they are a roadblock in the path to true love. It's not unusual for pets to resent attention given to a new person in the owner's life, whether that's a boyfriend or a baby. They may seek more attention for themselves or even try to insert themselves between the owner and the new person. That's especially common when the pet is used to getting all the owner's attention. It's no surprise he doesn't want to compete with anyone else for it.

If your pet is jealous of the new love of your life, seek to create a love triangle -- the good kind. Have your significant other become the giver of all good things: walks, meals, treats, toys. If the new kid on the block is a baby, provide those things to the dog (or cat) in the baby's presence. In both cases, you'll be helping your pet develop a positive association with the newcomer, joining best friend to best friend. What could be better than that?

Q&A

Getting to Westminster:

star power & luck play roles

Q: I've always wondered: How do they decide which dogs get into Westminster? Do they have to be champions? -- via Facebook

A: The Westminster Kennel Club show, which is coming up Feb. 16 and 17, is considered to be the, er, top dog of canine conformation shows, thanks to its historic nature -- it first took place in 1877, making it the second-longest continuously held sporting event -- and its prime location at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

The top five dogs in each breed, as determined by the number of points they earn at shows throughout the year, receive invitations to the show. That way, the Westminster Kennel Club is assured that every breed will be represented. All the other entrants, limited to dogs who are champions or have earned at least a major (a 3-, 4- or 5-point award) in the show ring, must get there the old-fashioned way: by U.S. mail.

Entries are mailed during a three-week period in November and December. The show superintendent holds all the entries and delivers them to the Westminster Kennel Club's office on the day entries close. Westminster Kennel Club spokesman and co-host of USA Network's telecast of the show David Frei says some people write "Pick me!" on the outside of the envelope containing their entry or mail multiple entries for the same dog.

In the end, pure luck of the draw determines which of those dogs make it to the show: The entries drawn out of the pile, up to the limit of 2,800, win the dog world's version of a Golden Ticket. The remaining entries are returned. This year, the 2,711 dogs entered come from 48 states (no dogs are entered from North Dakota or Idaho), plus Washington, D.C., and 14 countries. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Keep pets out of

sticky situations

-- We all know that dogs will eat just about anything. That includes Gorilla Glue, which has a sweet smell and taste. Veterinarian Jason Nicholas warns that it's not uncommon for dogs to lick up spills of the industrial-strength adhesive, leading to an emergency situation. If swallowed, even a small amount of the glue can expand, causing an obstruction that requires emergency surgery. If you keep it around the house, store it where your pet can't get to it, don't work with it in your pet's presence, and wipe up spills right away.

-- Sam Adams -- the puppy, not the patriot -- had a broken leg when he was left at a Michigan shelter. Fortunately, he benefited from a special fund that helps rescue groups save at-risk dogs and cats. The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance created the Judith Middleton Kroon Life Saving Program Fund from a bequest by an animal-loving donor, plus donations. With the grants of $100 to $200, rescue groups have greater latitude to pull senior pets or those with medical or behavior problems from shelters and provide the care or training they need until they can be placed in homes.

-- When pets need medical imaging such as an MRI, they sometimes have to go to hospitals for people because not every veterinary clinic has access to the expensive, high-tech equipment. Seeing a new opportunity for revenue, The Johns Hopkins Hospital opened the Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy. Now pets can receive diagnostic scans more quickly and during normal working hours instead of the late nights and weekends common at facilities where people and animals share equipment. When the scanners aren't in use by pets, they can be borrowed -- for human patients. -- 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: Does your dog want to be your only valentine? He may experience jealousy when you give attention to other dogs or people. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Lucky pup Samuel Adams has a repaired leg and a new home thanks to a grant from a fund for at-risk shelter pets. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2