Coyotes are a fact of urban life. Here's how to keep pets safe

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Charlotte Zappala was walking her Australian shepherd, Roxie, one morning when a coyote enticed the dog to come play. Roxie, who was off-leash, ran off, right into an ambush. Lucky for her, she escaped only with bites around the eye and on her paw.

Coyotes are no longer a symbol of rural living. They live in America's largest cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, where they make a fine living off garbage, pet food left outdoors, rodents and, yes, dogs and cats.

Coyote attacks on pets, like the one Zappala experienced, usually occur during the wild dogs' courting, mating and pupping season: late fall, winter and early spring. Mating season begins as early as November, with pups on the ground typically between April and June.

Often, an individual's or community's first response to the presence of coyotes is to want to trap and relocate or kill them. While that might be satisfying in the short term to people who fear the animals, it's not a viable or desirable solution, says coyote biologist Jacqueline Frair, Ph.D., of State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. Coyotes have a suite of biological mechanisms that kick in to rapidly grow their populations when they are under threat from hunting or other reduction efforts.

"Studies have shown that when coyote numbers are reduced, a higher proportion of females become pregnant, litter sizes become larger and the offspring of those litters have higher survival rates," Frair says.

What should you do if you are walking your dog and encounter a coyote? A good offense is the best defense, as the saying goes.

If you live in an area where you know there are coyotes, stay alert when walking your dog on- or off-leash.

Carry a walking stick, mace or bear spray that you can use to ward off a coyote that seems menacing. If you use mace or bear spray, be aware of the wind's direction so you don't suffer blowback.

If you don't have any of those items with you, throw rocks or yell at the coyote, and wave your arms or a hat at it. Most coyotes are shy and fearful and will run at any sign of aggression from you.

Stand your ground. Running away will only incite the coyote to chase you and your dog, which is not the reaction you want.

Even if you and your dog don't mean any harm, a coyote will be extra-protective if you and your dog unknowingly come near a den with pups. Be watchful during pupping season.

Other strategies to keep coyotes at bay and pets from becoming prey:

-- Secure garbage cans so that coyotes can't knock them over or knock the lid off.

-- Feed pets indoors or take up food as soon as the animal is finished eating outdoors.

-- Empty outdoor water dishes in the evening.

-- Never offer food to coyotes.

-- Cover or remove other sources of food that could attract coyotes, such as compost heaps, fallen fruit and birdseed spilled from feeders.

-- Install motion-sensitive lighting to startle coyotes that enter the yard.

-- Put up a solid, well-maintained fence at least 6 feet tall. A high fence with a roll bar on top is even better.

-- Even in a fenced yard, accompany small or medium-size dogs outdoors if it's very early in the morning or after dark.

-- Trim shrubbery so it offers little cover.

-- If you see a coyote lurking near your yard, shoo it away.

"Coyotes simply shouldn't learn to get comfortable around us," Frair says.

Q&A

Dogs benefit from

elbow surgery

Q: My Lab was chasing a tennis ball and jumped up to get it. When he landed, he cried out and appeared to be in a lot of pain. The vet says his elbow is really arthritic. What can be done for him? -- via Facebook

A: The elbow is a complex joint, and the canine elbow gets quite a workout because a dog's front legs bear about 60 percent of his body weight. A number of dog breeds, including Labs, can develop elbow dysplasia, an assortment of conditions that can occur when the elbow joint is deformed or doesn't mature properly. Whatever type of elbow dysplasia a dog has, the eventual result is painful and often crippling osteoarthritis. Common signs include limping, tiring quickly from play or reluctance to play.

Depending on the condition that's diagnosed, your dog has a couple of options. He may benefit from arthroscopic surgery if he has osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) or fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP). It's minimally invasive and involves removing a broken fragment of bone or damaged cartilage. It can improve the condition for a time, but may not be a permanent fix.

A new technique is elbow replacement surgery. The surgery takes two to three hours to complete, and it requires careful attention to detail. A slick new mechanical joint replaces the damaged one. Afterward, the dog may spend five days in the hospital before going home, and require five to six months for complete recovery. The cost is approximately $6,000.

If your dog is not a candidate for surgery, medical management techniques may help reduce pain. They include weight loss, limiting activity, providing pain relief with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and giving nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and chondroitin to protect and build up cartilage. Your dog may also benefit from rehab, such as workouts on an underwater treadmill. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Online scams target

animal lovers

-- Looking online for a pet? Be wary of sellers who ask you to wire money in advance to pay for vaccinations, shipping costs, insurance and taxes. After the money is received, the pet may never arrive. Sellers may claim to be from your area, with a local phone number. If that's truly the case, ask to meet the pet in person before handing over any money. Reputable breeders or legitimate sellers won't balk at a request to visit their home or kennel. It's always best to see a potential pet's environment first or to buy a pet from someone referred to you by a trusted individual.

-- The world's oldest known cat, Tiffany Two, turned 27 on March 13. The San Diego kitty loves to be petted and still has good hearing and vision, although she does suffer from one old-age complaint: high blood pressure. She's also capable of going up and down the stairs in the home of owner Sharon Voorhees, who says: "She's not afraid of anything or anyone. She walks right past the dogs; she's very feisty." Voorhees feeds her orange and black tortoiseshell cat a blend of wet and dry food and lets her go outside when she wants.

-- The Havanese is a fun-loving, cheerful and good-humored dog with a bit of a naughty side. He's mischievous and sometimes difficult to house-train. The small dogs with silky, longhaired coats belong to the bichon family, making them cousins to bichons frise, Maltese, Cotons de Tulear and Bolognese. Unlike those breeds, Havanese may be any color or combination of colors. Be prepared to provide daily brushing and weekly baths if you keep a Havanese in full coat. Purchase a puppy from a breeder who provides certification that both parents have passed a brain stem auditory evoked response (BAER) test for hearing and have eye, hip and patella (knee) clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. -- 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: Coyotes are highly protective of pups. Walk your dog on a leash in wooded areas or other places that might be a coyote habitat. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Be wary of online pet offers. You may not get the pet you expect -- or even receive one at all. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

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