Spring blooms can be beautiful but deadly to pets. Here's what you should know

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Lilies have been associated with rebirth and renewal for millennia. Ancient Romans believed that lilies sprang up when the goddess Juno spilled milk while she was nursing the baby Hercules. Lilies also represent the renewal symbolized by Easter. For cat lovers, though, lilies mean just the opposite. Every part of them -- pollen, flowers, leaves, stems, even the water in which they're placed -- is deadly to felines.

What is it about lilies that make them so toxic to cats?

"That is the million-dollar question," says Tina Wismer, DVM, a veterinary toxicology specialist who is medical director of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. "There was a researcher at Michigan State who was looking into the toxic component. He was able to find that it is throughout the plant, but couldn't quite characterize it."

When it comes to toxicity, cats are special -- in a bad way. They are uniquely susceptible to certain plants, medications and other substances. Dogs, for instance, may simply get a little stomach upset if they eat lily flowers, but cats can develop kidney failure if not treated within the first 18 hours after ingestion. They need intravenous fluids for 48 hours to help flush the toxins from the body. Cats treated after the 18-hour time frame don't do as well and may even die.

"The toxin kills off some of the cells that line the urine tubules in the kidneys, so that debris from the dead cells plugs up the kidneys," Dr. Wismer says. "As long as you keep the fluids going and keep that debris from building up, then we have a good prognosis."

How does lily toxicity occur? A typical call that APCC receives at this time of year involves a man sending flowers to a woman.

"In the bouquet many times are gorgeous stargazer lilies, and these are highly toxic to cats," Wismer says. "The owner gets home, finds that the cat has chewed on the bouquet and for a couple of days the cat gets to spend time in the hospital."

If you have lilies in your home or yard -- which we don't recommend -- signs of trouble you may notice include pollen on your cat's face, vomiting and pieces of the plant in the vomit. The kidneys start shutting down after the first 12 to 24 hours. At first, that causes increased thirst and urination, but within two to three days, cats stop making urine.

Dogs have their own issues with different plants. While cats usually prefer to nibble on foliage and flowers, dogs may go all the way to the other end of the plant. Bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinths and tulips are toxic to them. If your dog likes to "help" you garden, he can be at risk if he digs up and eats the bulbs of those flowers. The petals cause only mild stomach upset in dogs and cats, but the bulb itself can cause bloody vomiting, bloody diarrhea and low blood pressure.

Certain dog breeds can be more at risk. No one who is familiar with them will be surprised to learn that one breed in particular gets into trouble from eating bulbs.

"Labradors keep us in business here at poison control," Wismer says.

Dogs who dig up bulbs may be attracted by the bone meal that some gardeners place beneath the bulb to help nourish it. Dogs eat the bulb on their way to the bone meal.

"If you're going to plant bulbs in areas that your dogs have access to, don't use bone meal," Wismer says.

Want to send a cat-loving friend a bouquet? Ask the florist to send one that's pet-safe. That way you don't end up in the, er, dog house.

Q&A

Why do dogs

eat grass?

Q: My dog loves to eat grass. She grazes so frequently that we have taken to calling her our little cow dog. Luckily, she doesn't vomit it up. Why do dogs do this, and can it be harmful? -- via email

A: Your dog isn't alone. I've met many dogs who enjoy nibbling on the green stuff with no ill effect. In most cases, eating small amounts of grass is a perfectly normal and acceptable behavior for dogs.

Dogs who frequently eat a lot of grass and then throw it up may benefit from a veterinary visit. A physical exam may bring to light the cause of an upset stomach, but sometimes we need further diagnostics. Blood work, a urinalysis and a stool sample to check for parasites can turn up problems that might relate to grass-eating.

Some dogs may eat grass because their body is seeking some nutrient that's not available in their diet. Dogs are individuals, so some may have nutritional needs that are met with a little serving of grass.

Can grass be harmful? Well, pets can ingest parasite eggs when they eat it, but as long as you give your dog parasite preventive regularly, that shouldn't be a problem. And, naturally, your dog should never nibble on grass that has been treated with herbicides, pesticides or other chemicals. Ingesting those substances isn't good for any dog, of course, but certain breeds -- Scottish terriers, Shetland sheepdogs, beagles, West Highland white terriers and wirehaired fox terriers -- have a higher incidence of invasive transitional cell carcinoma, the most common cancer of the urinary bladder in dogs. That type of cancer has been linked to exposure to lawns treated with pesticides, insecticides and herbicides.

Dogs eat grass for lots of reasons, and the truth is, we don't always know why. In your dog's case, she may simply enjoy a nice salad once in a while. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

More support for health

benefits of dog ownership

-- Many people refer to special canine companions as "heart dogs," and new research has found that the description might refer to more than just a tight emotional bond. Oregon State University students presented research last fall to the Gerontological Society of America showing that older dog owners have significantly lower levels of systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) than people who don't own dogs. The research, which hasn't been published yet, looked at a nationwide group of 1,570 participants who were at least 60 years old. That's a larger representative sample than most such studies.

-- If you don't see enough pictures of cats on the Internet, be sure not to miss Cat Art Show LA 2 from March 24 to 27 at Think Tank Gallery in downtown Los Angeles. The exhibit drew thousands of visitors when it debuted in 2014 and will feature the works of more than 70 artists. Curator Susan Michals asked artists to depict what cats meant to them: "ally, domestic partner, enemy, frenemy, allergic reaction or guru." All of the artwork will be available for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Kitten Rescue Los Angeles. Admission is free.

-- A cat who apparently had enough of the Wisconsin winter escaped from her home and was found two months later -- thanks to her microchip -- in sunny Naples, Florida. No one knows how Nadia made the 1,484-mile journey, but owner Cheri Stocker speculates that the gray cat may have hitched a ride on a semi at a nearby business. A Naples woman found Nadia and asked a friend to take her to Collier County Domestic Animal Services, where she was scanned for a microchip. Two women volunteered to fly the cat home from her vacation. No word on whether she got a tan. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

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.

Shelter workers often misidentify dogs as "pit bulls," study finds

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Could you pick out a pit bull from a lineup? You might think so, but there's a good chance you'd be wrong. Even experts have problems when it comes to labeling a particular breed or mix. That's bad news for dogs who are misidentified, especially if they are in communities with breed-specific legislation -- laws that ban certain types of dogs.

To test the accuracy of shelter dog identification, University of Florida researchers went to four shelters and asked a total of 16 shelter staff members with at least three years of experience, including four veterinarians, to look at 120 dogs (30 at each shelter). Their task? To identify the dogs' breed or mix based solely on appearance. The researchers then took blood samples from the dogs, developed DNA profiles for each animal and compared the DNA findings against the staff's initial assessments.

The results, published in the November 2015 issue of The Veterinary Journal, found that dogs with DNA of breeds often considered to be pit bulls (such as American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers) were identified only 33 to 75 percent of the time. Dogs with no genetic evidence linking them to pit bull-type dogs were labeled as pit bulls from 0 to 48 percent of the time. Veterinarians were no better at identifying a dog's breed than other shelter staff.

Misidentification can seriously affect a dog's chances at adoption, or even end his life. That's because more than 700 communities, including Denver and Miami, have passed breed-specific legislation (BSL) aimed at restricting ownership of certain breeds.

The restrictions are based on assumptions that those breeds are inherently dangerous, that such dogs can be reliably identified and that the restrictions will improve public safety, the study states. In most instances, the laws target "pit bulls," a term that can refer to several breeds -- usually American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, bull terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers -- as well as mixed breeds that have a particular appearance: blocky head and stocky body.

"Identification of dogs as pit bulls can trigger an array of negative consequences, from the loss of housing to being seized by animal control to the taking of the dog's life," says Julie Levy, DVM, Ph.D., the study's lead author and a professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville. "In the high-stakes world of animal shelters, a dog's life might depend on a potential adopter's momentary glimpse and assumptions about its suitability as a pet. If the shelter staff has labeled the dog as a pit bull, its chances for adoption automatically go down in many shelters."

Niko's case is a good example of what can go wrong. He was seized in 2007 by animal control officers in Kansas City, Kansas, who declared he was a pit bull, in violation of the city's ban. Niko spent eight months in a kennel before a DNA test showed what owners Mike and Amy Johnson had claimed all along: He was a Boxer mix.

More than 15 years ago, the Centers for Disease Control recognized the problem with visual identification of dogs. In its study published in the Sept. 15, 2000, issue of the Journal of the AVMA, the authors noted the difficulty of determining the breed of a particular dog, saying that descriptions are often vague and rely on subjective visual observations.

"CDC continues to have concerns over the ability to accurately identify breeds of dogs and to effectively reduce dog bites through the use of breed-specific legislation," says CDC health communications specialist Courtney N. Lenard.

The conclusion? Public safety would be better served by reducing risk factors for dog bites by supervising children, recognizing canine body language, avoiding unfamiliar dogs in their territory, neutering dogs and socializing puppies, Levy says.

Q&A

Dogs' motto:

Lick it good

Q: One of my dogs goes around licking the other dogs' empty bowls for several minutes after eating. He also likes to lick one of our area rugs and sometimes the sofa upholstery. My other dog has a foot fetish: She loves to lick my feet. What's going on with them? -- via email

A: Compulsive licking sounds like it should be an underlying behavioral problem, doesn't it? That's certainly a possibility, but it can also be a sign of a physical problem. My colleague Gary Landsberg, a veterinary behaviorist, says a large proportion of these environmental licking behaviors are due to underlying health issues that cause gastrointestinal upset.

Among the conditions that might be causing a dog to feel nauseated are adrenal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphosarcoma and liver disease. Some dogs lick because they have dental or other mouth pain. Excessive licking can also be a sign of hunger -- it's called an appetitive behavior. On the behavior side of things, excessive licking might signal anxiety or some type of conflict.

Obviously, a veterinary exam can be a good idea. Consider filming the behavior so your veterinarian can see what's going on.

"A colleague did a study a couple of years ago and found that many dogs were improved when gastrointestinal signs were treated," Dr. Landsberg says. "However, licking can arise in situations of anxiety and conflict, can be a reinforced behavior and can be a compulsive disorder. Therefore, look for behavioral, but rule out gastrointestinal or medical first."

And if it turns out that there's nothing physically or mentally wrong with your dogs, well, maybe one just likes to make sure he's getting every last molecule of food from his dish and the other simply loves the taste of your feet. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Lab holds top dog

spot for 25 years

-- America's most popular dog breed is the Labrador retriever for the 25th year in a row. His medium size, easygoing nature, versatility, athleticism and trainability have made him a family favorite. Labs are successful in most dog sports as well as search and rescue, service dog jobs, therapy visits and, of course, hunting. Only three other breeds have occupied the top spot in the past century -- the poodle, the beagle and the cocker spaniel -- but none for as long as the Lab. The current Top 10 list also includes the German shepherd, golden retriever, bulldog, beagle, French bulldog, Yorkshire terrier, poodle, Rottweiler and boxer.

-- Conventional wisdom says you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but a recent study from the Clever Dog Lab at the University of Vienna finds that dogs are capable of learning well into their senior years. The three-year study tested learning, memory and problem-solving in 95 pet border collies ranging in age from 5 months to 13 years. All of the dogs were capable of learning, although older dogs took longer to reach the same level of proficiency as younger dogs. Older dogs performed better than younger ones in reasoning ability, and once they learned something, they remembered it over the long term. So train away: It will help your old dog's brain stay flexible.

-- Blue and gold macaw Gigi can eat on her own now, thanks to a Brazilian veterinary team that fitted her with the world's first 3-D-printed titanium beak. Gigi, who was the victim of illegal exotic animal trafficking, had a stunted beak that made it difficult for her to eat. The prosthetic beak is lightweight, strong and rust-resistant, perfect for cracking and smashing seeds and nuts. Other animals who have benefited from 3-D technology include a couple of toucans, whose prosthetic beaks were made from durable resin materials, as well as tortoises Fred and Cleopatra, who received new shells. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

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.

The forecast calls for flurries. Not of snow -- of fur. Shedding season is just around the corner

The No. 1 complaint of pet owners is shedding, sometimes aptly referred to as "blowing coat." And while you can reduce the risk of a "fur-nado" with regular brushing and some other basic strategies, there's no magic solution to put an end to the hair flying around your home as dogs start to shed their winter coats and new hair comes in.

The dirty little secret about dogs is that they all shed, but some share more falling fur than others. Double-coated dogs -- such as Alaskan malamutes, chow chows, Shetland sheepdogs and Siberian huskies -- are the most obvious shedders. Other breeds that can leave your furniture and clothing coated with hair include German shepherds (commonly nicknamed "German shedders"), Labrador retrievers, beagles and pugs.

One of the interesting facts about canine hair loss is that shedding is affected by the type, intensity and duration of light exposure. As the days grow warmer and longer, dogs doff their heavy winter coats and replace them with a lightweight summer version. Depending on the individual dog, shedding season can last for up to two months.

Dogs who spend most of their time indoors are still influenced by the natural light that comes in through windows, but they typically shed small amounts year-round rather than having a seasonal heavy shed. Since these are usually small breeds, they normally wouldn't shed as much fur as a larger dog anyway.

Hormones also affect the amount of hair dogs shed. Females who aren't spayed usually shed twice a year, at the same time they're in heat. Spayed females don't have that periodic surge of hormones, so they develop a full coat that sheds year-round.

First-time owners of thick-coated dogs may think their pet has a skin condition when his fur starts coming out in big clumps. Unless he has actual bald spots, though, this is normal.

The shedding process is a healthy, natural cycle, but we know that sometimes it can have you pulling out your own hair. We've gathered some tips to help you keep shedding under control, or at least manageable, until Mother Nature delivers your dog's new coat.

-- Brush your dog every day with a rubber curry brush or nubby shedding glove. That allows you to get loose hair out at the time and place of your choosing, preferably outside or in your garage.

-- For a dog with a double coat, purchase an effective undercoat rake and use it regularly to thin the winter coat.

"This allows air to circulate and helps to prevent skin issues and mats," says groomer Barbara Cole Miller of San Juan Capistrano, California.

-- Using a slicker brush, start with the hind feet and work your way up to the front of the dog, recommends groomer Julie Ellingson of Sacramento, California. Be sure you go all the way through the fur, but be careful not to dig into the skin. Use a metal comb to check for tangles as you go.

-- A warm bath followed by a thorough blow dry can help to loosen outgoing fur. Brush out as much hair as possible while the wet coat still has shampoo in it. Fur will come out more easily when it's lubricated with shampoo, Ellingson says.

-- Outsource defuzzing to a professional groomer. He or she has the skill and tools to accelerate removal of the winter accumulation of undercoat. A high-powered professional dryer wielded by an experienced groomer will loosen and release undercoat more easily and quickly than you can at home.

-- If all else fails, put a bodysuit or T-shirt on your dog to help contain the hair, stock up on sticky tape rollers and remember that it probably won't last more than a few weeks.

Q&A

How to help the

medicine go down

Q: My cat needs daily medication for a heart condition, but she hates taking pills! She's really good at pretending to swallow them and then spitting them out later. Hiding it in food doesn't work, either. She just eats around it. Help! -- via email

A: I hear you! Cats can be the very dickens when it comes to medicating them. I have some suggestions that I hope will help.

First, check your technique. The best way to give your cat a pill is to open her mouth, place the pill as far back on her tongue as possible, then hold her mouth closed for a few seconds. While the mouth is closed, gently blow into her face to trigger the swallowing reflex. Stroking the throat can help as well.

A pill gun is another option. The method is much the same as the above, but it allows you to be quicker on the trigger, so to speak. It may take a little practice, but you may soon find that both you and your cat prefer this method. Whether you give a pill with your finger or with a pill gun, squirt a little water into your cat's mouth afterward with an eyedropper to help wash the pill all the way down the esophagus.

Another possibility is to have your cat's medication compounded into a tasty liquid, chewable pill or other form that's easier to give. A compounded drug is one that has been reformulated to be more palatable or easier to give to a pet. Your cat might be intrigued by a chicken- or tuna-flavored liquid or chewable pill. And if she is taking two different medications, compounding can combine them into one product.

Finally, remember to harness the power of rewards. Your cat may be more amenable to taking her medication if it's followed by a favorite treat. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dieting cats become

more affectionate

-- Worried that your cat will hate you if you cut back on his food to help him lose weight? Researchers at Cornell University recently found that dieting felines did indeed have a change in attitude -- for the better. After an eight-week diet, the majority of cats seemed to be more affectionate, owners reported. The study, published in November in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, found that the cats responded to feeding restrictions by increasing "appetitive" behaviors -- begging, following, meowing and pacing before meals -- and were more likely to show affection to their people by purring or sitting in the owner's lap after eating.

-- The Bengal is the latest breed admitted to the Cat Fanciers Association's Miscellaneous Class, for breeds just beginning the CFA recognition process. The cats can be registered and exhibited at shows, but are not yet eligible for awards. The breed's new status is effective April 30. The Bengal has a spotted coat and stands out for his resemblance to a wild cat -- not surprising, since his forebears include the small, wild Asian leopard cat crossed with domestic cats. Today's Bengals no longer carry any wild blood. They enjoy playing in water, can jump to great heights, may learn to walk on a leash and are demanding of human attention.

-- A German shorthaired pointer -- GCH Vjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey -- took Best in Show at the 140th Westminster Kennel Club show at New York's Madison Square Garden. Known as CJ for short, he is the third of his breed to take home the top award and follows in the pawprints of his grandmother, Carlee (Ch. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses), who won in 2005. The first GSP to win the title was Ch. Gretchenhof Columbia River, in 1974. German shorthairs are highly active and intelligent and are good companions for marathon runners and other energetic humans. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

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.