What to do if you find a litter that appears to be abandoned

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Your child or your dog comes running and leads you to a surprise in your yard or a nearby park: a litter of tiny kittens. Your first instinct may be to scoop them up and take them home or to the shelter.

Would you be surprised to learn that experts say in most cases it's best to leave them where they are? Often, the kittens aren't abandoned but stashed by their mother while she goes out to hunt for food. Here's how to determine their status and what to do if they really are on their own.

-- Watch from a distance to see if the mother cat returns. Be patient. She could be gone for several hours. And she may be unwilling to approach if she sees you near the kittens. If it's necessary and you can do so without disturbing them, provide shelter.

-- If the mother doesn't return to care for the kittens, the next step is to determine how old they are. Kittens 8 weeks or older can be trapped, spayed or neutered, and returned to the area where you found them.

-- Younger kittens can be identified by their appearance and size. At less than a week, their eyes are shut and their ears folded down. At 1 to 2 weeks, the eyes and ears start to open, and the kittens can crawl. At 3 weeks, eyes and ears are fully open and kittens are starting to walk. At 4 weeks and up, kittens are running and playing and can start eating solid food. Kittens up to 7 weeks of age are the best candidates for socialization and adoption. After that, it's difficult to acclimate them to human touch and presence.

-- Before you take kittens into your home for fostering, check them for fleas. An infestation of the nasty bloodsuckers can quickly kill a kitten. Ask your veterinarian or the kitten expert at your local shelter for the best way to safely rid the kittens of fleas.

-- Keep kittens warm. They can't regulate their own body temperature, so don't let them get too hot or too cold. If the kittens are cold when you get them, warm them gradually by holding them in your hands and letting your body temperature do the work. You can also put them in a box lined with towels fresh from the dryer. For a constant source of appropriate warmth, hang a 60-watt light bulb above the box. Avoid heating pads, which can short out or become too hot.

-- Wait to feed kittens until they are warm. Cold kittens won't be able to digest food. Plan on feeding them every four to six hours, round the clock.

-- Make sure kittens stay hydrated by adding extra water to kitten formula (never give a kitten cow's milk, which can cause diarrhea).

-- Gently wipe the kittens' bottoms with a warm, damp tissue or cotton ball 15 to 30 minutes after each meal to stimulate urine flow and bowel movements.

-- Weigh young kittens daily to make sure they are putting on weight.

-- Watch for eye discharge and sneezing, which can indicate infection. Sick kittens need immediate veterinary care to have a good chance of survival.

Call your local shelter or veterinarian for further advice and help. They may be able to provide you with the equipment and support you need to foster the kittens until they can be adopted. Other good resources include Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org) and Maddie's Fund (maddiesfund.org). Fostering young kittens is a lot of work, but it can be highly rewarding.

Q&A

Dogs licking babies:

yea or nay?

Q: My sister is babysitting her little granddaughter, who is 3 months old. She has two big dogs, and she lets them lick the baby in the face and on her hands. I think it's gross, but she says it's not a big deal. Am I being overprotective? Your feedback would really help! -- via email

A: That's a great question. In a sense, you are both right. Here's why.

Infants incur a lot of benefits when they are exposed to dogs and cats early in life. Exposure to pets during a child's first year is associated with a reduced risk of developing allergies to dogs and cats by as much as half, according to a study published in June 2011 in the journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy. And we're going to be seeing more interesting information down the pike about whether interaction with a dog's microbiome -- the normal bacteria that live on and in the body -- can beneficially influence the human microbiome, improving the immune system response.

Now, that said, while I've always been a fan of letting dogs kiss me on the mouth, I don't think it's good for pets to lick the mouths of very young infants, very old people or people with compromised immune systems. In all three cases, the immune system isn't running at its best.

The other thing to consider is that it's not a great idea to let babies and dogs get in the habit of being face to face with each other. It's one thing when the baby is immobile, but a toddler who gets in a dog's face runs the risk of a bite. Instead of letting the dog lick the face, my dog-trainer daughter Mikkel recommends giving the dog something else to do when he wants to lick the baby. Ask him to sit or do some other trick, and praise him for it. This can help him learn to be respectful of the baby's space.

Once the baby is crawling or walking, prevent exposure to internal parasites by not letting her run around barefoot in areas where the dog has urinated or defecated. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Researchers track

cats outdoors

-- What does your cat do when he's outdoors? Scientists are using tiny satellite tracking harnesses to follow in the paw prints of more than 500 cats in Fairfield, Connecticut; Long Island, New York; Westchester County, New York; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and seven other states and several foreign countries. They're hoping to enroll a total of 1,000 cats, who will each be tracked for five days. If your cat is allowed outdoors, he can participate, too. To learn about the secret life of your cat, sign up for the Cat Tracker Project at cats.yourwildlife.org.

-- Three specially trained dogs are working to help save Florida's avocado industry, under attack by a deadly fungus spread by invasive redbay ambrosia beetles. The dogs are trained to sniff out the fungus before it becomes visible, by which time it has usually spread to nearby trees. Drones using digital imaging instruments identify stressed trees; then the dogs go in to determine if the trees are infected. Thanks to their powerful sniffers, they detect the pathogen earlier than any other method. More dogs are undergoing training to detect the fungus, which affects avocado growers from California to Latin America.

-- Fur facts you might not have known: Most cats have three kinds of hair that make up their coat: short, fluffy, insulating down; wiry, mid-length awn hairs; and longer, straighter, protective guard hairs. Interestingly, not all cats have all three kinds of hair, and those who do may have the hairs in different proportions or lengths. Persians have a straight coat with extra-long down hairs that mat easily, while the Devon rex has soft, wavy fur with few guard hairs. And let's not forget those whiskers. They are actually specialized hairs known as vibrissae. -- 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: To help kittens drink milk without choking, hold the head steady and apply even pressure to the bottle. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: A cat's fur is twice as thick on his belly (120,000 hairs per square inch) as on his back (60,000 hairs per square inch). Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

College students with pets can be less stressed and less lonely, but making the situation work calls for commitment and cooperation

By Kim Campbell Thornton

When Kate Eldredge of Vernon, New York, returned to Cornell University in 2010 for her sophomore year, it wasn't to dorm life with a new roommate. She brought along her own furry roommate: Queezle, a 4-year-old Belgian Tervuren.

Kids leaving home after graduating from high school don't always leave by themselves. Sometimes, the family dog or cat goes along as well. Studies show that having a pet at college has benefits, but only when it's done right.

Factors to consider in making life work with a college pet include the student's maturity level, the pet's personality, campus housing rules, whether the pet will receive enough attention from a busy student, and who will care for the animal if the student must be away from campus. Here, experts share their experiences and advice for making a smooth transition.

Deb Eldredge, DVM, notes that her daughter Kate was already an experienced dog trainer and handler at the time she left for college. And she knew that Kate's course schedule as an English major gave her enough time to make sure Queezle got the activity she needed.

When it comes to housing, colleges and universities that permit pets typically limit animals to certain floors or buildings. Rules address concerns such as noise, grooming and waste disposal. Pet-friendly dorms may also limit animals by size, breed or species.

When Eliza Rubenstein went to Oberlin College in Ohio in 1991, freshmen and sophomores were required to live in dorms, where pets weren't permitted. But her golden retriever, Alfy, was a huge part of her life -- they made pet-assisted therapy visits and participated in obedience trials -- and she successfully made a case for exemption from the dormitory requirement.

"I know that I missed out on some of the bonding and socialization that I'd have experienced had I lived in a dorm, but I met lots of friends with Alfy as my icebreaker, too, and I got involved with the local student-run animal shelter, which in turn introduced me to my future co-author and lifelong best friend," says Rubenstein, who wrote "The Adoption Option: Choosing and Raising the Shelter Dog for You" with Shari Kalina.

Cornell required freshmen to live in a dorm, but after that first year, Eldredge lived off campus so she could have Queezle with her.

"Although I loved my dorm, life without dogs just was not an option," she says. And her dog-friendly apartment proved to be a boon when Dr. Eldredge's own dog, Hokey, was undergoing radiation therapy at Cornell for nasal cancer.

Who pays for the pet's food and veterinary care or looks after him when his new caregiver can't be at home? College students or new college graduates may foot the bill themselves through part-time or full-time jobs, or share the expenses and responsibilities with parents.

For Eldredge, it helped to have a mother who was a veterinarian and only two hours away by car. And she arranged her schedule around Queezle's walk times as much as possible and recruited friends to help when she couldn't.

Whether young people are in school or just starting out in life, having the family pet along on the adventure can bring continuity and contentment, but it's a serious commitment.

"As positive as my own experience was, I don't know that I'd recommend taking a pet to college for most students," Rubenstein says. "College, even with no pets involved, is a time of lots of work and not much money for most of us. If you're thinking of adding an animal to the mix, be sure you plan for the challenges as well as the fun."

Q&A

Pilling cat calls for

stealth, coordination

Q: I need to give my cat a pill every day to prevent seizures, but he fights me every time. Is there an easier way to make the medicine go down? -- via email

A: Getting a pill down a cat's throat is definitely difficult. But no matter how much your cat hates the idea -- and you probably do, too -- he needs his medication to stay healthy. Here are a few suggestions that may help.

If you're dealing with a pill, the first thing to try is what I like to call the "Sneak Method." Disguise the pill by wrapping it inside something tasty, such as cream cheese, peanut butter or canned cat food. I like a product called Pill Pockets because the yummy little treats have a space where you can insert the pill. Try different substances until you find one your cat likes. (Give him just the treat plain first to get him hooked on it.) Watch your cat carefully to make sure he doesn't spit out the pill after eating the good stuff. Cats can hide pills in their mouths for a long time.

If your cat turns up his nose at the Sneak Method, try the "No-Nonsense Method." See if your veterinarian will demonstrate it first. To master this procedure, firmly but gently grasp your cat's head from above, and use the index finger of your other hand to pry open his jaws. Place the pill far back on the tongue to trigger the swallowing reflex. A sneaky way to make sure the pill goes down is to gently blow on your cat's nostrils, which will also induce him to swallow. This whole procedure may work best if you have an assistant to hold the cat while you give the pill. Be sure to follow the pill with a syringe of fresh water to help wash it down. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Cats' eyes have it over

noses in search for food

-- Cats may prefer to rely on their eyes rather than follow their noses when it comes to finding food, according to a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science by animal behaviorists at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom. Cats have a super sense of smell, but at least under test conditions, when given a choice, they were more likely to use vision than scent to obtain a food reward. Different cats had stronger preferences, and professor Daniel Mills, who supervised the study, says, "If there is a cat which has a strong preference for using its nose, then simple changes in the smell of the environment might have a big impact on it, whereas, for others, it may be insignificant."

-- Exercising with dogs used to mean walking them around the block, but more trainers are offering fitness classes that include dogs as an integral part of the workout. From "Exercise With Your Dog" in Madison, Wisconsin, to "Leash Your Fitness" in San Diego, the classes combine activity and basic obedience, taking both to a new level. Activities include jumping up from a squat, prompting dogs to leap into the air for a treat, zigzagging through cones, yoga stretches and more.

-- If you see a dog who looks like a miniature Siberian husky, you might be looking at an Alaskan klee kai. A new breed created within the past 30 years, the klee kai is a playful and energetic dog who enjoys long walks and hikes, dog sports such as nose work and agility, and playing with toys. They will "talk" to you when you come home from work, spending several minutes telling you about their day. This breed is best suited to an active person or family with an endless supply of lint brushes and a powerful vacuum cleaner. -- 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: Even if you can't bring your own pet to college, many universities, including Harvard, Yale and Drexel, now have resident therapy dogs. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: People and dogs practice "doga" in Santa Monica, California. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

Climate change among factors that influence tick season, geographic spread of ticks

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Tick season is between May and September, right? That has been the conventional wisdom -- until recently.

Two recently published studies found that deer, or black-legged, ticks -- the ones that spread Lyme disease -- are emerging earlier and expanding their range, thanks to warmer spring temperatures and milder fall weather. Based on data collected over 19 years, researchers concluded that milder weather allowed nymphs -- immature ticks -- to feed as much as three weeks earlier in spring. The change in activity may presage a spread of tick-borne diseases, one that's already being seen in some areas.

Tick populations have moved northward into Canada, making Lyme disease endemic in southern Ontario, says Susan E. Little, DVM, who teaches veterinary parasitology at Oklahoma State University and is president of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Ticks have also moved up in altitude and are now found at higher elevations in Appalachia than in the past.

"It used to be that ticks weren't at 3,000 or 4,000 feet, and now they are," Dr. Little says. "That's a change that we think is due to warming trends."

Ticks are also moving farther south. From its origins in the Northeast, Lyme disease is now established down the Virginia coast and into North Carolina. In the Midwest, ticks are moving southward across Iowa, through the northern half of Illinois and most of Indiana, and into the lower peninsula of Michigan. One or more species of tick can now be found in every state, including Alaska.

Climate isn't the only culprit. Ticks piggyback on wildlife such as white-tailed deer and coyotes, which spread them to new habitats; they can also be carried away by migratory birds. Habitat modification, such as increasing development in formerly rural areas, also contributes to the expansion of tick territory.

"We're seeing a general expansion of range," Dr. Little says. "It's probably facilitated by longer, warmer periods in most of the country."

If you're still digging out from the snow that buried much of the Northeast this winter, you may have your doubts about that. But even if ticks aren't active all 365 days of the year, they are active every month of the year. There will always be a few days that are warm enough for them to make an appearance.

A tick begins the disease transmission cycle when it inserts its sharp mouthpiece into a rodent or deer and feeds on its blood. In the process, the tick takes in bacteria, protozoa and viruses that it later passes on to cats, dogs and humans.

Yes, cats, too. They don't appear to get Lyme disease -- yet -- but ticks can transmit a deadly disease called cytauxzoonosis to cats, as well as ehrlichia and anaplasmosis.

What can you do to ward off the beastly bloodsuckers?

-- Start thinking about tick prevention before May. Dr. Little recommends year-round protection, no matter where you live.

-- Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick preventive measures for your pet's lifestyle, as well as about the species of ticks found in your area. Products include oral preventives that kill both ticks and fleas on dogs, and long-lasting anti-tick collars for use on dogs and cats.

-- Keep grass short and foliage trimmed back to reduce tick habitat.

-- Discourage deer from grazing near your yard.

-- Indoor pets can be at risk, too. You can bring ticks in on your clothing or body -- it's happened at my house -- and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) prefers to live indoors.

Pets don't directly spread tick-borne diseases, but they can bring you into contact with ticks -- and vice versa. If your cat goes outdoors or your dog hikes or hunts with you on a regular basis, tick prevention can help protect all of you from disease.

Q&A

Canine liver disease

affects several breeds

Q: My Labrador retriever has been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis. He's being treated, but do I need to worry that he could pass on the disease to family members or friends? What can you tell me about this disease?

A: First things first: The good news for you is that canine chronic hepatitis is not a disease that can be transmitted to people.

Canine chronic hepatitis is a weird disease. It's not actually a single disease, but a group of liver diseases, none of which we understand very well. Some forms appear to be autoimmune-related, while others are associated with high levels of copper in the liver. Sometimes, cases are associated with infection or drug toxicity. When the cause is unknown, the disease is referred to as idiopathic chronic hepatitis.

Clinical signs tend to be vague -- poor appetite, weakness, yellow tinge to the whites of the eyes -- and may not become apparent until the condition is far advanced. Vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and excessive thirst and urination can also be signs of chronic liver disease. Canine chronic hepatitis usually affects middle-aged dogs, male or female, but adults of any age can be affected.

It may also impact certain breeds more commonly, including cocker spaniels, Doberman pinschers, Dalmatians, Labrador retrievers, Skye terriers, standard poodles and West Highland white terriers. In Bedlington terriers, chronic hepatitis is caused by a buildup of copper that eventually damages the liver.

Depending on the apparent cause and stage of the disease, treatment may involve antibiotics, medications to help support the liver, anti-inflammatory drugs or drugs that treat or prevent the buildup of copper in the liver. Your veterinarian may also recommend certain dietary changes or vitamin supplements to help reduce the level of copper in the body or help the body excrete copper more effectively. It's a good idea to test dogs at high risk for chronic hepatitis early in life. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dog's nose for cancer

may improve treatment

-- A scent-trained German shepherd mix named Frankie had an 88 percent success rate in detecting thyroid cancer in human urine samples. A study presented earlier this month at the Endocrine Society meeting in San Diego found that the accuracy of the canine "diag-nose-tician" is only slightly less than that of the more invasive fine-needle aspiration biopsy, not to mention less expensive.

"Frankie is the first dog trained to differentiate benign thyroid disease from thyroid cancer by smelling a person's urine," says study co-author Arny Ferrando, Ph.D., of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where the study was conducted.

-- Have you ever wondered which cat breeds are largest and smallest? Compared to dogs, cats don't vary a great deal in size: There might be a feline equivalent to the Chihuahua, but not to the Great Dane (lucky for us!). Among the heaviest breeds are Norwegian forest cats and Maine coons, weighing 7 to 22 pounds; Siberians, 10 to 20 pounds; Turkish vans, 7 to 19 pounds; and Savannahs, 20 pounds or more. Falling into the featherweight category are the singapura, 4 to 7 pounds; and the Cornish rex, Devon rex and Japanese bobtail, all weighing 6 to 9 pounds.

-- Genetic testing isn't enough to improve the health of purebred dogs, say scientists at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute. To improve genetic diversity, they recommend a combined approach using DNA analysis, health screening, limiting the use of individual stud dogs, and cross-breeding -- an approach that has been successful in breeding Dalmatians lacking a genetic defect that causes kidney stones, a common problem in the breed. Screening dogs for health problems before breeding them has helped to reduce the prevalence of some diseases, and DNA tests may help to eliminate disease-causing genes, but relying solely on tests and screening can reduce the gene pool. -- 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: Help protect yourself from tick-borne diseases by wearing gloves when removing the nasty bloodsuckers from your cat or dog. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Dogs trained to detect cancer could lead to cost savings in diagnosis and prevention of unnecessary surgeries. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1