Ways you can help the most vulnerable pets and people when temperatures rise

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Above-average temperatures in all 50 states are predicted for well into October, according to the federal Climate Prediction Center. That's bad news for pets and people with little protection from the heat: those who live on the streets or have little income for frills such as air conditioning, and seniors, who may have difficulty caring for pets at the best of times, let alone when temperatures soar into triple digits.

Heat can be a big challenge, especially in urban areas, says Lori Weise, founder of Downtown Dog Rescue (DDR) in Los Angeles.

"A person might be able to go inside a building that's air conditioned, but they're not going to be able to bring their dog or cat inside."

If you've ever seen a homeless person with a dog or cat, you may have wondered if they have any special needs, especially when it's hot out. Or maybe you have a neighbor or friend who's a senior citizen and are concerned about how they're faring. It's not always easy to know how to help, but there are some simple, kind ways at all expense levels that you can contribute to their well-being.

You may see homeless people with pets regularly as you walk city streets. Keeping a bottle of water on hand to give away is a generous gesture that doesn't cost much or take much time. Including a silicone collapsible pet bowl is a nice touch; they're available in sets of five for less than $12.

Cooling bandanas for any size pet and cooling vests for small pets are available for less than $10. Carry a couple with you to give away.

Ask what they need. If a grocery store or pet supply store is on your way, offer to buy some water they can share or a bag of food for the pet.

Share information about programs that can help. In Los Angeles, DDR offers a weekly opportunity for shelter and aid.

"We invite anybody living in the Skid Row community to come in to the Inner City Law Center on Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.," Weise says. "Pets are welcome, and we have water and granola bars and pretty comprehensive services for cats and dogs: food, collars, leashes, crates, pretty much any supply they need, including a buggy for older or small dogs."

It's not just homeless people who need help. Families who are struggling because of unemployment or health issues may need help with pet care. Others may simply be inexperienced pet owners who don't recognize that their animals need better shelter, shade or flea treatment.

Options for shelter include looking on Craigslist for a gently used plastic doghouse that you can offer. It's also a good resource for a child's pool that the dog can splash in.

"Home Depot sells shade cloths, and they're inexpensive -- about $39," Weise says. "You could string one of those up in a backyard and instantly have some shade for the dog."

Sometimes people don't know about advances in flea treatment. People who haven't had a dog since childhood may think it's normal for dogs to have fleas. Casually suggest your favorite flea-control product, Weise suggests.

Check in with senior neighbors to see if they need help walking their dog. They may have health conditions that make it unwise or difficult for them to go out in the heat.

Be kind.

"I think people get weird about doing things like that," Weise says. "But you can offer in a way that's not insulting or trying to teach the person a lesson, just saying, 'I would love the honor of treating you to this.'"

Q&A

How to trim

puppy's toenails

Q: I just got a new puppy, and I'm afraid to trim her nails. I "quicked" my previous dog once, and I still shudder when I remember the screaming and the blood. How can I do it right? -- via Facebook

A: Ouch! We feel your pain -- and your former dog's. But now is your chance to redeem yourself and set your puppy's paws on the path to good walking condition. Here's how to get started.

First, get the right size clippers for your dog. Ask your veterinarian, a professional groomer or the dog's breeder to recommend an appropriate pair that's not too large and not too small.

Get a lesson. Your veterinarian, a veterinary technician or a professional groomer can demonstrate the best technique to use.

The goal is to trim off the dead part of the nail without hitting the quick -- the blood vessel that feeds the nail. If your dog has white nails, the quick is usually pretty easy to see -- it's the dark line you see running through the middle of the nail. It can be more difficult to spot if your dog has dark nails, but shining a penlight on the nail will often highlight it.

Trimming just before the nail curves is usually the best way to avoid quicking a dog. Hold your puppy's paw firmly in one hand, and use your dominant hand to trim the nail. Do just one or two at a time, taking off just a small amount to make sure you don't hurt her. If necessary, a spouse, child or friend can distract her with a spoonful of peanut butter.

Clip nails often, not only to keep them short, but also to accustom your dog to having her feet handled. How can you tell if the nails are at a good length? They shouldn't touch the ground when your dog is standing. -- 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

Truth in labeling?

Not always, study finds

-- Got meat? Seven of 14 pet foods labeled vegetarian or vegan were found to contain traces of meat -- beef, pork or mutton -- according to the results of a study by Nutrition Support Service researchers at the University of California-Davis veterinary hospital. The highly sensitive test detected the presence of mammalian DNA in six dry diets and one canned diet. The foods may have been contaminated with trace amounts of meat-based ingredients during storage or processing, says Dr. Jennifer Larsen, but even if accidental, the presence of meat violates pet food labeling laws. Study results appeared in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition.

-- Does your dog need braces? Believe it or not, sometimes orthodontia has therapeutic benefits for pooches with tooth trouble. For instance, a tooth that doesn't line up correctly can dig painfully into the palate and prevent the dog from closing his mouth comfortably. Braces can bring it back into alignment. Braces for Bowser are installed, adjusted and removed with the dog under anesthesia and usually are worn for only a few months. The good news is that a Rin Tin Tin grin costs a lot less than braces for human teenagers.

-- The Million Cat Challenge is halfway toward its goal of saving one million shelter cats over a five-year period. Launched in December 2014 by co-founders Dr. Kate Hurley and Dr. Julie Levy, the campaign is now the world's largest feline life-saving initiative. As of April 4, 2016, 500,000 cats have had their lives saved because of its initiatives to help shelters reduce feline admissions, improve operations, promote adoptions and sterilize and vaccinate feral cats. Currently, more than 900 shelters participate in the program, which is sponsored by Maddie's Fund. -- 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.

Dogs showcase guts and glory in canine sports

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Eventing. Jumping. Racing. Diving. With the Rio Olympics in full swing, we thought it would be fun to take a look at the world of competitive dog sports, which often parallel those of their human counterparts and require just as much athletic ability, stamina, speed and agility. Top dog contestants come in all shapes and sizes, but the two things they have in common -- with each other and with human athletes -- are heart and hustle.

Take Wren. The 10-inch papillon excels at the highest levels of her sport, agility. With tight turns and at top speed she races around a course that includes bar jumps, tire jumps, weave poles, a teeter-totter -- the element that can really slow a tiny dog because it tips downward more slowly -- an A-frame and tunnels. In the six height classes, from 8-inch (Wren's category) to 26-inch, the dog with the fastest time and fewest faults wins. Wren, owned and handled by Betsey Lynch of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has had big wins in her class in the past year, including American Kennel Club's National Agility Championship, USDAA Cynosport Performance Grand Prix and Westminster Masters Agility Championship.

Any dog can compete in agility, but the dogs with speed and drive tend to be the ones at the top of the charts. Current contenders include Sierra, a Shetland sheepdog, in the 12-inch class; Hottie, a border collie, in the 16-inch class; Mr. T, a golden retriever, in the 20-inch class; Skillz, a border collie, in the 24-inch class; and Pace, a border collie, in the 26-inch class.

The best agility dogs from more than 35 countries will gather in Zaragoza, Spain, Sept. 22 through 25 to compete in the 21st Agility World Championship, where they'll run on state-of-the-art artificial turf specially ordered for the event. Closer to home, check out the North American Dog Agility Council Championships, held Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 in South Jordan, Utah.

Flyball, the fastest-growing canine team sport, is a relay race popular around the world. Teams of four to six dogs race over four hurdles, pounce on a spring-loaded box to release a tennis ball and race back over the hurdles with it before the next dog begins. Each dog has a handler, and line coaches help to improve the team's performance.

Any dog who's fast and loves tennis balls can play, but small dogs have a special role. They can be a team's secret weapon because jump height, ranging from 7 to 14 inches, is determined by the height of the team's smallest dog. A team with a "height dog," as the shorties are known, benefits because the larger dogs get to jump lower hurdles.

Record-holders in the sport include a mixed breed named Everest, with a run of 3.417 seconds in United Flyball League International's Singles race, in which dogs run against the clock, and a team called Border Patrol, made up of mixed breeds Troy, Banshee, Epic and Syber. They hold the current North American Flyball Association Regular record of 14.433 seconds, set June 5, 2016, in Rockton, Ontario, Canada. The NAFA CanAm Classic is Oct. 7 through 9 in Indianapolis. The UFLI Tournament of Champions takes place Oct. 21 through 23 in Gray Summit, Missouri, near St. Louis.

Perhaps the nearest canine equivalent to the Olympics is the Incredible Dog Challenge, hosted by Purina Pro Plan. Events include dock-diving, catching flying discs, surfing and more. In the West Coast Challenge, an American Eskimo Dog named Ziggy won the Small Dog Surf Event, and a Belgian malinois named Saphira set a new world record with a 25-foot-6-inch jump in the Fetch It event. The IDC National Finals take place Sept. 30 through Oct. 1 at Purina Farms in St. Louis.

Q&A

Cat eats fast,

throws up

Q: My 3-year-old female cat gets a quarter of a can of wet and 1 tablespoon dry food for dinner. She gets the same thing for breakfast, but she frequently throws it up. She's on a diet, so we switched to meat in the morning. She used to get 1 tablespoon every 10 minutes, for a total of three, because she'd throw up if we gave it all at once. I know that she eats too fast. She eats grain-free, holistic foods. Is there anything else we can try? -- via Facebook

A: Cats have a reputation for upchucking, and their anatomy allows them to vomit easily, but it's really not normal for them to do so. If your cat is throwing up on a regular basis -- more than once a week -- it's a good sign that she needs to see the veterinarian to rule out a physical cause for the problem. Throwing up too often can have a cat suffering dehydration quicker than he can twitch a whisker.

Some of the common reasons cats vomit are hairballs and intestinal worms. They may also throw up after nibbling on grass or plants, eating too quickly or from digestive upset after being switched too quickly to a new diet. Some cats are allergic to certain ingredients in their food. More serious causes of vomiting include hyperthyroidism and diseases of the digestive tract. If your cat is a senior, frequent vomiting may suggest kidney disease.

Be prepared to tell your veterinarian what food your cat eats, how often she vomits (keep a record for a week or so), how soon after eating she vomits, whether she goes outside or has access to indoor plants and what the vomit looks like. If you can bring a sample, so much the better. If your veterinarian rules out a health problem, try one of the "slow food" dishes to prevent her from gobbling. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

"Heat dome" brings

hot pavement woes

-- In the dog days of summer -- that would be now -- it's not unusual for veterinary hospitals to see paw burns on a frequent basis. Hot asphalt and pavement can cause severe burns to a dog's paw pads, injuries that can take weeks to heal. Other surfaces that can become hot and cause injury include wood, sand and metal -- car truck beds, for instance. They can reach temperatures of 145 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and stay hot for hours. Place your hand flat on pavement and hold it there for 10 seconds. If the heat is painful to you, it's too hot for your dog.

-- Want a cat to leave you alone? The last thing you should do is ignore him. Cats are attracted to people who don't make them nervous. If given a choice, they're always going to head for the person who isn't looking at them or trying to pet them because, obviously, that person has proper cat manners and knows not to stare or make the first approach. If you do want a cat's attention, play hard to get. He'll love you for it.

-- With Labor Day coming up quickly, you may be planning a hiking or camping trip that includes your dog. The American Veterinary Medical Association has five tips to help you and your dog stay healthy. Use species-specific products to protect yourself and your dog from mosquito, tick and other insect bites. Check your dog for ticks at least once a day, and remove them promptly. Prevent your dog from touching or eating sick wildlife or birds. Make sure your dog's rabies vaccination is up to date. Carry a first-aid kit with appropriate supplies for both of you. Got an adventure cat? Same rules apply. -- 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 bankhar returns to an age-old job with a new twist

By Kim Campbell Thornton

There's a new khan in town. Scientists are working to re-establish a Mongolian flock-guarding dog called the bankhar, whose powerful demeanor could be said to be reminiscent of the Great Khan, Genghis, the famed and feared 13th-century conqueror.

Their goal? To not only protect the goats, sheep, horses, camels and yaks belonging to Mongolia's nomadic herders, but also to protect endangered snow leopards and other predators such as wolves and bears from being shot, trapped or poisoned for killing livestock. By warding off predators and forcing them to seek wild prey, the bankhar performs double duty as a protection dog, saving lives on both sides.

"More often than not, the physical presence of the dog would be enough of a deterrent to the predator," says Greg Goodfellow, project scientist for the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project. "Predators might just view the cost/benefit ratio as not significant enough and just move on."

The MBDP is a nongovernmental environmental conservation organization founded in 2011 by Bruce Elfstrom, a biologist by training and CEO of a company that does frequent business in Mongolia. It seeks to bring back the historic use of the dogs as livestock guardians. The practice faded away in the mid-20th century when the government sought to introduce more modern methods of livestock care.

Elfstrom was familiar with the use of livestock guardian dogs in other countries and wondered why they weren't being used in Mongolia, where predator-livestock interactions were a problem. When he discovered that some people in remote areas still kept dogs for that purpose, he became interested in learning more about them.

Bankhars go way back in Mongolia. When I asked wildlife ecologist and MBDP national project coordinator Batbataar Tumurbataar how long the bankhar has existed, he said, "It's the first dog, which means 15,000 years."

"Is that what the stories say?" I asked.

"It's what DNA says," he replied.

Although there's no way of knowing what early dogs looked like or when bankhars took the form they have today, DNA indeed shows that bankhars, along with other Central Asian dogs such as Tibetan mastiffs, have much more genetic diversity than dogs elsewhere, says Adam Boyko, Ph.D., a geneticist at Cornell University who is studying the evolution and genetics of village dogs around the world.

"It is consistent with these being ancient groups of dogs," he says.

Bankhar are big and athletic, giving the impression that they can move quickly if the need arises. They don't typically bark unless provoked, but when they do, it sends a menacing message. Bankhar have a playful, curious side as well, Goodfellow says, and can be clever escape artists from their kennels at the training facility near Mongolia's Hustai National Park.

Their job is to stay with livestock 24/7, whether they are in pastures or barns. They are fed and watered with the animals they guard to ensure that they don't have any need to leave their charges. That's a key part of training them to stay with the flock, Goodfellow says.

Since the winter of 2014, approximately 19 puppies have been placed with herders in the Hustai area as well as in the South Gobi desert and near Gorkhi Terelj National Park. The dogs don't typically show mature livestock guarding behavior until they are 2 to 3 years old, Goodfellow says. It's not yet known how their presence has affected predation on livestock.

"Ultimately, we want to compare predation rates pre- and post-bankhar placement and then translate that into economics," Goodfellow says. "Our hope is that by giving herders dogs that protect their livestock from predators, they won't feel the need to kill or trap predators."

Q&A

Should Rottie puppy

put on pounds?

Q: My vet says my 9-month-old Rottweiler is in good shape and not too skinny, but the breeder wants me to put more weight on him. What should I do? -- via email

A: I'm with your veterinarian. Large-breed dogs such as Rottweilers need to grow slowly to help prevent development of orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia. Forcing the still-developing musculoskeletal system to carry too much weight can cause serious problems.

There are a couple of different feeding options for puppies who will be super-size at maturity. You can feed a puppy or adult food formulated specifically for large dogs. These diets tend to be lower in energy and calcium, allowing for slower growth. You can also feed a regular puppy food, but give a little bit less of it.

My colleague, Dr. Tony Buffington, a veterinary nutrition expert, recommends feeding growing dogs to a body condition score of 2, which is lean. When you put your hands on your dog, he should have good muscle mass, but you should be able to feel the skeleton easily without having to press through a heavy layer of fat. When you look at your dog from the side, his abdomen should be tucked up. When you look down at him, he should have a pin-up girl hourglass figure, with his body having an indentation behind the ribs and then flaring out again where the hips are.

Keeping a growing dog in this condition minimizes the risk of developmental orthopedic disease. The caveat here is that genetics and trauma can also contribute to development of orthopedic disease, so you're not always in the clear, even if you feed your dog right.

It's also important not to add vitamin or mineral supplements to your Rottweiler's diet. That can throw off the balance of his food and cause orthopedic problems as well. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs hit the water

for titles, fun

-- Splash! Have you and your water-loving dog tried dock diving? If your dog loves running and jumping into a body of water, this is the sport for him. There are three events: Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve. Dogs who are good at all three can earn points toward an "Iron Dog" title. To find out more, go to dockdogs.com or northamericadivingdogs.com.

-- It's a classic image: a kitten lapping at a bowl of milk. But like people, some cats can't tolerate dairy products, and milk products can give them explosive diarrhea. If your cat has been slurping up leftover milk from your cereal bowl for years without a problem, you're probably in the clear, but don't assume that every cat will have the same ability to digest it without problems. A cat's inability to digest milk usually begins at 3 months.

-- Is a goat in the running for your new best friend? A paper published recently in the journal Biology Letters found that -- like dogs -- goats look to people for help when faced with a problem. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London School of Biological and Chemical Sciences trained goats to remove a lid from a box in exchange for a reward. Then they made the reward inaccessible and recorded the goats' reaction. If researchers were facing the goats, the animals would frequently look from the reward to the person and back again, making eye contact more often and for longer periods than if the person was facing away from them. "From our earlier research, we already know that goats are smarter than their reputation suggests, but these results show how they can communicate and interact with their human handlers even though they were not domesticated as pets or working animals," says lead author Alan McElligott. -- 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.