What should you do if you see a dog in a car on a hot day? Experts weigh in

By Kim Campbell Thornton

It's 69 degrees and cloudy at the beach, with a humidity level of 83 percent and no breeze. You see a dog locked in a truck with the sunroof open but all the windows rolled up. There's no sunshade blocking the windshield, and the dog doesn't appear to have water. He's barking frantically.

Several news stories recently have reported on people breaking into cars to rescue dogs locked in, only to be arrested for their good deed. In response, at least one state, Tennessee, has legalized the act, making it an extension of the state's Good Samaritan law -- but only if the rescuer takes certain steps beforehand, such as searching for the owner and notifying law enforcement.

How do you know when a dog is at risk, and what should you do?

Factors to consider include whether the car is in the shade, the color of the car (dark-colored cars get hotter faster), whether windows are rolled down, if there's a breeze and the age and breed of the dog or cat, says Valerie Schomburg, animal control supervisor for Newport Beach, California, police department. Older animals or those with heavy coats or short snouts are more susceptible to heat.

"Brachycephalic breeds like Pugs have a hard time breathing anyway," she says. "If you put an older pug in a black car with the windows rolled up, he's going to be at a disadvantage."

Look to see if the owner has made an effort to protect the pet from the heat, such as parking the vehicle in the shade with all windows open, covering the windshield with a sunscreen or the cargo area with an awning and crating the dog with a full water dish and a running crate fan. If that's the situation and the dog is calm and not in distress, you likely have less cause for concern.

Use common sense. If it's a summer evening, after sunset and dogs are in cars with windows open and the owners are standing right there, the dog's not at risk. (Yes, I have seen someone raise concerns in just that situation.)

If the dog doesn't have a shady spot in the car and is panting heavily, drooling, seems disoriented or shows other signs of distress, take action. That can range from going inside a coffee shop or grocery store and having the owner paged to calling the police or animal control.

"Some people may be embarrassed to call law enforcement, but you want to get someone on the way who can do something," says Temma Martin of Salt Lake City, a spokesperson for Best Friends Animal Society. "If it takes them 10 minutes to get there, that 10 minutes could be as long as the pet has in the car on a hot day."

Schomburg says Newport Beach officers respond to all calls. "If it's December and it's cold and rainy, we still respond. We don't ever want to make a judgment like, 'Oh, I think it's OK today.'"

Be prepared to give information as to the condition of the dog and the description and location of the car. If you can, stay there to flag down the responder so he or she knows where to go.

Unless the dog is barely alive, it's best not to try to remove him yourself. He could bite you or run away or the owner could have you charged with breaking into the car. Once animal control or police show up, give a statement and leave. Don't get into a screaming match with the owner if he or she shows up. Let law enforcement handle it.

"Between pet owners making good decisions and witnesses making good decisions, lives can be saved," Martin says.

Q&A

Is clinical trial

right for cat?

Q: My cat has an injection-site sarcoma, and I'm thinking of enrolling him in a clinical study that will look at a new way to deliver chemotherapy. What are some things I should consider? -- via email

A: Clinical trials have resulted in better treatments, improved survival of pets and new ways to predict the success of treatments, but there's a lot to consider. First, talk to your veterinarian. Ask how the treatment your cat is or will be receiving differs from the treatment being investigated. Your veterinarian should be able to tell you if participation in the study will have a positive or negative effect on your cat's quality of life, as well as other pros and cons of the study.

The study's research coordinator can tell you if there are any costs to enrolling in the study (usually not), what treatments and aftercare your cat will receive, the type of results you may expect and what the potential side effects of the treatment might be. Your veterinarian and the research coordinator can help you decide whether the potential benefits outweigh the potential side effects.

Cancer can be painful, even if it's being treated. Make sure your cat will receive pain medication during the study. That should be standard in any clinical trial.

Some clinical trials are placebo-controlled, meaning that some pets get the treatment and some receive a placebo (inert substance). If this study is placebo-controlled and your cat is in the placebo group, ask if he would be eligible afterward to receive the treatment being investigated.

A major factor is your cat's temperament. Is he a laid-back kitty or one who's easily stressed? How will he react to having to go in for treatment?

Finally, you should be free to remove your cat from the study at any time if you think that's best for him.

Having this information will help you and your veterinarian decide if participation in the clinical trial will benefit your cat. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Beneath the cat's paw:

feline toe-paw-graphy

-- Have you ever looked at your cat's toes -- really looked at them? They have five toes on their front paws, but only four of them touch the ground when a cat is walking. The fifth toe, known as a dewclaw, is the feline equivalent of the thumb. While it's not opposable, the dewclaw does help the cat grasp things and climb trees. The toe anatomy makes it easy for cats to go up trees, but not so easy to come back down. The back paws have four toes but no dewclaws. Some cats have extra toes and are known as polydactyls, meaning "many fingers."

-- A little anxiety tends to help us perform better in stressful situations, but too much can make us fail. Turns out the same is true for our dogs, according to a recent study published in Animal Cognition. Highly excitable dogs respond best to a neutral tone of voice, while mellow pets perform their best when urged on in an upbeat tone of voice. Service dogs, who must work in the face of distractions, usually stay cool in stressful situations, more so than pets who aren't as highly trained. Try adjusting your tone of voice to match your dog's temperament, and see if it affects how he responds to your commands.

-- A new species has been added to the canine family tree, raising the number of living canid species from 35 to 36. Although they share a strong resemblance, DNA evidence shows that the golden jackals of East Africa and Eurasia are two different species, according to a July 30 report in the journal Current Biology. "This represents the first discovery of a 'new' canid species in Africa in over 150 years," says Klaus-Peter Koepfli of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. The previously unrecognized species has been named the African golden wolf. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel 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: A rule of thumb is that if it's warmer than 70 degrees, it's too hot to leave your dog in the car. Short-nosed dogs are especially at risk. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Cats have approximately 27 bones in each paw, including the toes and dewclaws. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

Many national parks limit the presence of dogs, but Acadia is a beautiful exception

By Kim Campbell Thornton

There were dogs everywhere: on trails, on top of Cadillac Mountain, kayaking on a lake and enjoying lunch with their people at Jordan Pond House. Where were we? Acadia National Park, on Maine's rugged coastline.

Last year, I wrote about taking pets to national parks. It can be done, but for the most part, pets are limited in where they can go. They are usually banned from all but paved trails, as well as lodges and visitor centers (although they can walk around outside them).

An exception is dog-friendly Acadia. The 74-square-mile park encompasses much of Mount Desert Island, and its features include ocean shoreline, lakes, forests and Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the north Atlantic coast. Dogs must be on a leash for their safety and that of wildlife, but that said, they have access to 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of crushed-rock carriage roads, which are shared by hikers, bicyclists and horse-drawn vehicles. Dogs are allowed on carriage roads and on most trails; exceptions include difficult trails such as Precipice and Beehive, which require climbing iron ladders or rungs or crossing narrow ridges along cliff edges. The east side of Jordan Pond trail isn't recommended for dogs, either; as we discovered, it requires quite a bit of scrambling over boulders.

While we saw a pair of Brittany spaniels kayaking with their people, neither dogs nor people are allowed to swim in most of the lakes because they are public water supplies. Echo Lake and Sand Beach restrict pets during summer. Other restricted areas include the Wild Gardens of Acadia and public buildings.

Dog-friendly excursions include horse-drawn tours of the carriage roads, a windjammer cruise on the Margaret Todd, a trip on a lobster boat and a nature cruise of Frenchman Bay. Leashed dogs may also ride the Island Explorer Buses that go to, from and through the park.

Pets are permitted at Seawall and Blackwoods campgrounds. If that's a little too rustic for you, the town of Bar Harbor and surrounding areas have several pet-friendly accommodations, including cottages through Ryan Estate Rentals, Balance Rock Inn (which has a steep pet fee) and chains such as Holiday Inn and Quality Inn.

Dawn Celapino of San Diego and her cairn terrier Jack visited Acadia on a recent 10-week road trip to promote fitness for people and dogs (Jack's Journey USA). When they weren't driving through the park or hiking in the rain, they parked their RV at Hadley's Point Campground, a few miles west of Acadia. Amenities included a laundry facility and Wi-Fi.

An alternative suggested by Marie C. Taylor in her book "Doggy Walks and Destinations: Acadia National Park and Vicinity" is to board your dog at a kennel with in/out privileges so you can take him on some outings but still have a place for him to stay if you go somewhere he can't. Boarding him also increases your choice of lodgings.

Ironically, our dogs didn't accompany us on this trip. Flying one of them cross-country, let alone three, just wasn't in the cards, but if we go back, we'll definitely hope to bring them along.

Q&A

Blending pet families?

Steps to success

Q: I'm getting married soon, and my fiance and I will be merging our households. He has nine cats, and I have six cats. What's the best way for us to proceed without a lot of hissing and pissing? -- via Facebook

A: That's quite a merger. The good news is that your pets are already used to sharing close quarters. The bad news is that the stress of meeting new cats can definitely lead to urine marking on a large scale in an attempt to carve out some of their own territory. Here are some tips that may help to reduce stress and decrease the likelihood of marking.

-- Increase the amount of vertical space throughout your home with multilevel cat trees, window seats and ramps, walkways and bridges on walls. Try to have a separate perch for each cat.

-- Give each cat his own litter box. A good rule of paw is one litter box per cat, plus one more. Place litter boxes throughout the house to make sure bully cats don't guard them and prevent others from using them.

-- Have multiples of favorite toys and water dishes. All should have individual food bowls. Spread out the dining area so no one feels threatened.

-- Place feline pheromone diffusers throughout the house to emit calming signals.

-- To make introductions, start by separating the two groups for up to a week. Gradually introduce them to the odors of the strangers by rubbing each cat with a washcloth and letting the others sniff it. After they sniff, rub each one with the cloth of the others. This could take a while with your gang.

-- Set up a situation that allows the cats to see each other without physical contact; for instance, by stacking two baby or pet gates. Separate them this way for up to a week. During that time, feed them and give lots of treats in sight of each other so they have positive associations with each other.

-- Once you bring them together, hand out lots of treats to all of them as long as they are reacting calmly. By taking things slowly, you have a better chance of everyone getting along. -- Mikkel Becker Johnson and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

New scoop on

poop: DNA ID

-- Residents at One Brooklyn Bridge Park condominium complex in Brooklyn, New York, are facing an inescapable poop patrol: they must now have their dogs' DNA tested and registered. Owners can no longer get away with not cleaning up their dogs' feces, urine and vomit. Using forensic science in the form of a product called Poo Prints, building management can identify scofflaws and levy $250 fines per incident. Overall, the program has proven to be a significant deterrent, reports The New York Times. Since enforcement began in May, seven matches have been made.

-- You probably haven't given your pet's microchip much thought since it was implanted. Out of sight, out of mind, right? But it's a good idea to check the status of your pet's chip annually during his veterinary exam. You may need to update your address or phone number, for instance. Without accurate information in the registration database, your pet may not be returned to you if he's ever lost. And if your pet isn't already 'chipped, that's something to schedule at his next visit. In combination with a collar and tag, it's the best way to ensure his safe return.

-- The spotted Egyptian mau may well descend from the cats worshipped by ancient Egyptians. Who wouldn't worship a cat depicted on a 3,400-year-old tomb as retrieving a duck? The present-day mau loves to fetch toys and is a highly competent hunter of live prey if given the chance. Reserved toward strangers, he is fiercely loyal to his family and chortles to them in a quiet, melodious voice. The mau's medium-length coat has silky, fine fur in silver, bronze, smoke and black, plus blue versions of those colors. His light-colored eyes are described as gooseberry green. -- 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 Johnson. 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 Johnson is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: When you visit a national park with your dog, follow the rules so other pet owners can continue to enjoy its beauty. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: The Egyptian mau is the only naturally spotted domestic cat breed. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

How and what should your cat eat? Experts weigh in

By Kim Campbell Thornton

How hard can it be to feed a cat? You just set down a bowl of dry food and go, right? Wrong. Feline experts would prefer that you feed cats on a schedule, measure their food so they don't eat too much and switch them to canned food for a healthier diet.

What's wrong with free-feeding -- setting out a bowl of dry food and refilling it as needed so cats can snack at will?

"Pouring a bowl of dry cat food and topping it off is the way to diabetes," says Deb Greco, DVM, senior research scientist at Nestle Purina. "It's unlimited food, and cats often never get satiated. If you're eating constantly, you never have time to burn fat."

Measuring an appropriate amount of food and giving only that amount per meal is one way to ensure cats don't take in too many calories. For the average cat, that might be one-quarter cup twice a day. Use a measuring cup rather than a scoop so you know exactly how much you're giving. The amount recommended on the package is a guideline. Don't be afraid to adjust it up or down depending on your cat's weight.

Why canned food? Cats need high levels of protein and plenty of water. A canned diet provides both. While dry food is convenient and can certainly meet a cat's dietary needs, it has drawbacks.

Dry food is high in carbohydrates, and cats' teeth aren't made for eating it. Their sharp molars are made for tearing meat off bones, not grinding pieces of kibble. A cat's digestive system isn't suited to dry food, either, says Kristi Krause, DVM, a feline medicine specialist at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest, California.

"They don't have the salivary amylase to start breaking down the carbohydrate portion of the food," she says. "They preferentially use protein, preferentially use fat, and store the carbohydrates. That's where we start getting our fat cats and diabetics because they eat these higher carbohydrate diets and automatically store the carbohydrates."

Cats who do eat dry food need plenty of fresh water, so make it attractive to them. It's difficult for cats to see still water, Dr. Greco says, so simply setting out a bowl of it may not be enough. Running water is a better option because cats can hear it. Consider leaving a faucet dripping in a bathroom or providing a pet fountain.

Water placement is another important consideration. "They may feel vulnerable sitting at a bowl, especially one that's in a corner with their back to other cats that might jump on them," Dr. Greco says.

Dr. Greco and Dr. Krause advise new kitten owners to give canned food from the start, but if your adult cat has the munchies for his crunchies, or you can't give up the convenience, they recommend giving some canned food every day as a treat or a topper to dry food. That's because cats may require a canned diet at some point in their lives.

"If your cat ends up with some kind of bladder condition, kidney disease or diabetes, I'm going to tell you that he can no longer eat dry food," Dr. Krause says. "I want that cat to at least be accustomed to eating canned food."

And if you feed primarily dry food, give your cat a workout by placing his kibble inside a food puzzle so he has to work to get at it throughout the day. That will help keep him from gorging and ensure that he gets plenty of activity.

Q&A

Chew on this,

not that

Q: We have a new addition, a chocolate Lab. He is now 9 months old, but he still wants to chew. He has every kind of chew toy, but his favorite things to attack are the shake shingles on the side of our Cape Cod house. I've tried sour apple and a hot pepper that I diluted with water, but he seems to like them more. Someone said he needed more exercise. He gets plenty of that. Any ideas? -- via email

A: Dogs do love to chew, and Labs are especially talented at it. Young puppies have a physiological need to chew. It helps them to exercise, develops their jaws and eases the pain of teething. Adolescent dogs like yours chew because it's fun. Chewing keeps them occupied when you're not around to play with them. Some dogs chew when they're feeling anxious or stressed.

But your dog needs to learn to limit his chewing to acceptable objects. He has plenty of chew toys, but have you made it clear that you want him to chew on them? Make a habit of praising him every time you see him chewing on a toy. If he has toys such as Kongs, which can be stuffed with treats, make sure they are always loaded with goodies so that he's drawn to them.

If you catch him chewing on the shakes again, call him and reward him for coming. Then offer him a chew toy and play with him for a few minutes. If you are consistent, he should learn pretty quickly that you want him to chew on his toys, not the house.

Finally, if possible, try to bar his access to the shake shingles so he doesn't have the opportunity to chew on them. By doing that and rewarding chewing on appropriate objects, you can help to remodel his behavior. And in another couple of years, he may be over his gnawing obsession. -- Mikkel Becker Johnson and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Dog gone? There's

an app for that

-- A free smartphone app called Finding Rover uses facial recognition technology to reunite lost dogs (and now cats) with their people, reports Elizabeth Miller for National Public Radio. Pet owners upload a picture of their lost dogs. Shelters and other Finding Rover users upload pictures of found dogs. The app's software, using facial recognition technology, develops algorithms for pets, identifying their unique facial features. When a found dog photo is matched with a lost dog photo, the owner is notified. So far, more than 600 dogs and people have been reunited.

-- How much do you spend on your pet annually? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates first-year costs ranging from $1,035 (cats) to $1,843 (large dogs). Expenses you might pony up for include premium pet food; veterinary visits, vaccinations or titers, and heartworm and flea and tick preventive; pet health insurance; training or activity classes; toys and treats; litter for cats; and carriers. Pocket pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs, small birds and aquarium fish have annual costs ranging from $235 for fish to $1,055 for bunnies. Good thing our pets are worth their weight in gold.

-- Hot weather can bring wildlife closer to pets and people as deer, bobcats, coyotes, squirrels and other animals seek out water, shade or food that they may find in your yard. It's also the season when people and pets are more likely to be in wilderness areas where they might encounter wildlife. Keep pets on a leash or otherwise separated from wildlife to protect all involved. If they feel threatened, seemingly timid animals such as deer and rabbits can deliver powerful kicks, and other animals may use their teeth and claws. Your dog can also cause harm to wild animals if he chases or attacks them. -- 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 Johnson. 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 Johnson is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Feline dietary requirements and the human love of convenience can sometimes be at war with each other. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Shelters and individuals are using an app to help get lost pets back to owners. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1