Who gets the cat, dog or other animal if a relative dies or can no longer keep a pet?

By Kim Campbell Thornton

When Jen Engevik's mother died after a two-year battle with ovarian cancer, her young pets could have been left homeless. Fortunately for them, Jen and her sister Ann had already decided that the pets would have a home with them. Jen took George, an 18-month-old black-and-white Maine coon, and Ann took Sadie, a 3-year-old white toy poodle.

Not every pet is as lucky. We see their pictures posted on social media: animals who are in need of a home or have been left at a shelter because their owner went into a nursing home or hospice or died of an accident or disease.

For Jen and Ann, the idea of not keeping their mother's pets never crossed their minds. George and Sadie stayed in their mother's home until her death, and then went home with the women that day.

During their mother's illness, Jen and Ann had already been building relationships with George and Sadie. That was important not only because the animals would eventually be living with them, but also because their mother became less able to care for and connect with them as her illness progressed. Even though she loved them, their antics -- chasing each other around the house and jumping on the sofa or bed where she was sitting -- often disturbed her.

"As my mom was getting sick, my sister ended up taking a bigger role in the dog's life," Jen says. "My mom didn't really want the dog around her that much because she felt so horrible. So the dog started to naturally gravitate toward my sister. It was kind of an interesting process to watch."

Jen already had two senior cats, and it seemed natural that George would go home with her. She had been spending a lot of time at her mother's home, so by the time she took him home, George knew her well.

"I think it would have been a bigger impact on the animals if my mom had had them for 10 years or so," she says. "I do think it was a little hard on the poodle. My mom had had her since she was a teeny little thing."

Engevik believes that George and Sadie's youth and playfulness helped them adjust to their new homes. Sadie went to a home where she was the only pet, but George had some adjustments to make when it came to living with 15- and 16-year-old cats, neither of which was wild about his presence.

At first, Engevik kept them separated. George wanted to play with the other cats, and his efforts alienated them. There have never been any fights, Engevik says, and George connects with them more appropriately now, but her older female still gives a warning growl if George gets too close.

Not everyone is able to adopt a family member's pets, so it's important to know that a plan is in place for an animal's future. Talk to family members now about whether they've set up a pet trust, or find out how to contact the breeder or an appropriate rescue group for placement.

Taking in their mother's animals seemed like having a gift from her, Engevik says. Her advice to others in the same situation is to embrace the animals, give them plenty of love and don't be afraid.

"Just knowing my mom is the one who brought this cat into the family makes him all the more precious to me," she says. "And my sister is so protective of Sadie. I did get stressed when I thought about bringing George into my home. It did stir things up and it wasn't easy. But to me, it was worth it."

Q&A

Single feline

seeks friend?

Q: I have a 3-year-old cat, and I'm wondering if I should get him a friend. I work all day, and I'm worried that maybe he gets lonely. Is getting a second cat a good idea? -- via email

A: Cats have a well-deserved reputation for being loners, but there are some exceptions. Lions, of course, live in groups called prides, and mountain lion researchers are discovering that these American big cats have more social interactions than was previously thought. Feral cats live in groups, but they have plenty of space to avoid each other if they prefer, and the option to leave the group entirely if they aren't getting along with other cats.

It's different for indoor cats. They are stuck with each other in a smaller space and may have "time-sharing" arrangements to facilitate use of particular areas without conflict.

Most cats are perfectly happy to live with only their person as company, especially if that's what they're used to. The addition of another cat definitely has the potential to create issues with personality and territory clashes. Experts usually recommend that if you want more than one cat, you should acquire two kittens, not necessarily from the same litter, so they grow up together and bond at an early age.

If you'd like to add a second cat, though, it can be done successfully. Your cat is still young enough that he may enjoy tussling with a kitten or accept the presence of a cat his own age or older. The following tips may help:

-- Choose a cat with a laid-back temperament.

-- Provide plenty of resources for both cats: multiple beds and food dishes, and duplicate toys, all placed throughout the house

-- Have one litter box per cat, plus one extra, and place them in different areas. -- 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

Cat and dog

looking for love

-- Romeo and Juliet have a chance for a happy ending. Not the Shakespearean characters, but a cat and dog found together huddling beneath a car. They were separated at Chula Vista Animal Care Facility in Chula Vista, California, but shelter employees soon paired them up again when the cat, Romeo, became depressed. Now the bonded orange tabby and miniature schnauzer are up for adoption -- as a couple.

-- Iris is the FBI's first dog trained to sniff out electronic devices such as flash drives and hard drives that may contain data hidden by criminals and terrorists. She joins a select group: Only six other dogs in the world have her ability to sniff out a specific chemical found in digital media. The 2-year-old black Labrador retriever works with handler Jeff Calandra, who says, "She's able to be used in any investigative means, from a post-blast scene to a drug case, terrorism case, or counterintelligence cases, which she's worked on multiple times."

-- Nicknamed the American gentleman, the Boston terrier rocks a tuxedo coat and has a lively, intelligent temperament. He is one of the few breeds that can claim to be born and bred in the USA, and he takes his name from the great American melting pot that is Boston, home to multitudes of immigrants seeking a better life. The Boston originated from a mixed heritage and as such is a perfect representative of all that made Boston his birthplace. Boston terriers range in size from less than 15 pounds to 25 pounds, with most weighing 13 to 16 pounds. The Boston's short, smooth coat in black, seal or brindle with white markings doesn't shed heavily if owners use a grooming glove to remove dead hair regularly. Potential health concerns include juvenile cataracts, luxating patellas and brachycephalic syndrome. -- 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.

From a dog-training expert: 8 puppy-raising tips to help you be successful

By Liz Palika

A 9-week-old English shepherd puppy, Hero, recently joined my family. The adorable dark brown-and-white little guy with freckles on his nose immediately stole my heart. At the same time, my brain kicked into "puppy-raising" gear. Having raised a number of puppies over the years, I've learned some skills that make the process easier. Here are eight tips that have helped me be successful.

1. Buy lots of inexpensive towels. When I knew Hero was going to be joining my family, I immediately ran to the nearest store for a stack of cheap towels. I don't think most puppy-raising sources express how important towels are for raising a puppy, but I think they are invaluable. Towels can serve as bedding for your puppy (as long as he doesn't try to eat them), for cleaning up spills or other accidents and for bathing and drying the puppy. I always have a clean stack ready for use. You can find them new at discount or big-box stores, or even purchase them used at stores such as Goodwill. Just wash them well before using them.

2. Choose toys carefully. Everything goes into a puppy's mouth, so it's important to have appropriate toys ready for him to sniff, taste, chew and sometimes destroy. If a toy has hard eyes, a button nose or other parts a puppy could chew off and swallow, remove them. Make sure the toy itself can't be swallowed.

3. Provide a variety of toys. I like to give some chew toys to gnaw on, toys that can be shaken and tossed, balls of various kinds and toys with different smells and textures. Every puppy tends to develop his own likes and dislikes, but a variety in puppyhood can be great fun.

4. Your puppy is a baby. Puppies grow and develop so quickly it's hard to remember that they are babies. I consider a puppy younger than four months a baby, although that's an arbitrary line; many puppies develop faster or slower than others.

5. Baby puppies need extra meals. Hungry puppies get antsy, fussy and grumpy, and they will cry and whine. Toy and small-breed puppies need four to six feedings a day for the first few months, while larger puppies should eat at least three times a day. When you take your puppy in for his first veterinary exam, you can ask the vet for a specific recommendation for your pup.

6. Puppies know no fear. As with most babies, young puppies don't consider their own safety and will do things that cause themselves harm. They need to be protected from jumping, climbing or getting stuck. Baby gates, exercise pens and crates can help you keep your puppy safe when you can't supervise him.

7. Puppies need help with temperature regulation. I quickly discovered that Hero's fluffy puppy coat kept him warm. It was difficult for him to get comfortable in a crate as he quickly became too hot. I wrapped a frozen water bottle in a towel (another use for those towels!) and he would cuddle up to it, immediately becoming more comfortable. Make sure your puppy can also move away from the water bottle so he doesn't get chilled.

8. Teach independence. It's important for puppies to learn to spend some time alone. Although it's our nature to cuddle a puppy -- and we should -- puppies also need to learn to be OK when left alone. I started by putting Hero in his crate with a toy for 15 minutes, then half an hour, then while I ran errands. This is an important life skill for dogs, so start it when they're young.

Guest columnist Liz Palika is an award-winning writer and certified dog trainer. For more information, go to kindredspiritsk9.com.

Q&A

Don't share

drugs with pets

Q: My dog is really afraid of going to the groomer. Would it be OK to give him just a little of one of my Xanax tablets to see if it will help take the edge off? -- via email

A: Dogs and humans share many of the same medications, including Xanax, but sharing your own prescription with your dog is highly risky. The doses are not the same, and giving your dog even a fraction of a pill can have serious consequences for several reasons.

First, you have no way of knowing if your dog has any health problems that could be worsened by the drug. For instance, it must be given cautiously in dogs with liver or kidney disease or glaucoma.

Second, Xanax can have what's called a paradoxical effect in dogs. It may cause hyperactivity or even aggression instead of the intended relaxation.

Like any drug, it may not always work well with other medications your dog takes. It can increase the effects of some drugs, while other drugs may decrease the rate at which alprazolam (Xanax) is metabolized.

Finally, you have no way of knowing what a safe or appropriate amount might be. Just guessing is a dangerous game to play with your dog's health. These are just some of the reasons that it's necessary for your dog to have a veterinary exam before a drug is prescribed.

Even though many human drugs can help animals, it's important to realize that humans, dogs and cats don't necessarily metabolize drugs in the same way. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, nearly a quarter of the calls it receives are about pets ingesting human medications and suffering adverse reactions. The top 10 most common drugs that pets ingest are ibuprofen, tramadol, alprazolam, Adderall, zolpidem (Ambien), clonazepam, acetaminophen, naproxen, duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor). -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs take down

poachers from the air

-- Skydiving anti-poaching dogs? South Africa's got 'em. The elite canines -- mainly German shepherds and Belgian Malinois -- combat poaching at the country's national parks and airports. They track suspects through thick bush and sniff out firearms and contraband such as ivory and bushmeat from wild animals killed illegally. Arrow, Giant and Killer are among the specially trained dogs tasked with protecting elephants, rhinos and other endangered animals. Arrow works from a rapid-response helicopter. Killer, a Belgian Malinois, has taken down more than 115 poaching teams over an 18-month span. Go get 'em, dogs.

-- If your dog or cat thinks wearing a Halloween costume is for the birds, send him to bed instead. But not in a boring old crate or on a rectangular mattress: Have some fun with his sleepytime surroundings. Pet product manufacturers have turned their imaginations to catnaps and dog dreams, arriving at some clever and cute accommodations for the pet set. Picture your pup or kitten curling up inside a lion or shark mouth, lolling on a banana boat, dreaming of racing after that squirrel in a sports car bed or peeking out from a pineapple-shaped pet tent. Sleep tight!

-- Cat lovers visiting Hawaii can take a purr break at the Lanai Cat Sanctuary on the island of Lanai. The 25,000-square-foot feline paradise houses more than 500 cats, who are free to roam their surroundings on the remote island. A veterinary team flies in monthly to care for the cats, and they get plenty of attention from visitors, who are welcome daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The site has received a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor. Cats at the sanctuary are available for adoption, but have a home for life if the right person or family doesn't come along. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Beckern

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.

New approach to preventing infection in dogs may stem tide of resistance

If you've heard that heartworm, a dangerous parasite that can cause serious disease and death in dogs as well as cats, is becoming resistant to the drugs we've long relied on to protect our pets, you've heard correctly.

"Failure of oral preventive drugs is reported most often from the Mississippi Delta area, where transmission rates are very high and resistance to preventive drugs has been confirmed," said Dr. John McCall, professor emeritus in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "But the spreading of resistance to other parts of the country is just a matter of time."

The threat of heartworm that can't be prevented with our present drugs is not a minor one. Infection with heartworm, a parasite spread by mosquitos, can cause life-threatening immune system reactions, respiratory distress, kidney failure, heart failure and other symptoms in both cats and dogs. However, there's some good news, too. McCall recently published a study of a new two-step approach to fighting heartworm infection in dogs, one that targets both the heartworm and the mosquito that carries it.

"Heartworm is a two-parasite system," said Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, director of veterinary relations for Ceva Animal Health, which makes Vectra 3D, a topical mosquito repellent and insecticide for dogs that also fights fleas and ticks. "Until now, we have not targeted one of these parasites, the mosquito. We've relied on preventive drugs against the worm to do the 'heavy lifting' alone."

This flies in the face of how human public health programs fight mosquito-carried diseases like Zika virus, where the mosquito is always the primary target. Not only that, but putting all your health eggs in one prevention basket will always be less effective than protecting against disease with more than one strategy.

"When you get a flu vaccine, you still take other precautions, don't you?" asked Hodgkins. "You still wash your hands and avoid standing in the air space of someone who's coughing. You know there are other things you need to do to give that vaccine the best chance to keep you from getting sick." It's the same, she said, with heartworm.

When it comes to preventing the spread of resistant heartworm outside the South, or protecting dogs in areas where resistance is already present, targeting the mosquito is a valuable extra layer of prevention.

Resistance is thwarted because the topical medication stops more than 95 percent of mosquitos from biting protected dogs. As a result, the dog has a greatly reduced risk of getting infected -- and so does an uninfected mosquito, who might bite an infected dog later. That stops the transmission of both resistant and non-resistant heartworm.

On top of that, the repellent and insecticide killed 98 percent of the mosquitos exposed to a protected dog. That's good news for everyone, including humans, cats and other pets, who would benefit from a reduced mosquito population. "In areas where mosquitoes are abundant, hundreds, and possibly thousands, of mosquitoes can bite a dog in a 24-hour period," said McCall. "The use of a repellent and insecticide could reduce this by 95 percent or more for an entire month."

While there's no such thing as 100 percent protection when it comes to living creatures, this double-defense of topical repellent and oral preventive medication is about as close as you can get.

Although cats also suffer from heartworm infection, there is currently no repellent safe for use on them. Owners of both cats and dogs should keep the treated dog away from the cat until the topical repellent is fully dry, usually a few hours after application.

Dog owners can learn more at fightheartwormnow.com, and should consult their veterinarian about how to best protect their pets from heartworm infection.

Q&A

Feline liver mass

usually benign

Q: My 8-year-old cat has been diagnosed with a biliary cyst. Can you tell me anything about this condition? -- via email

A: That's an interesting question. A biliary cyst is a large, fluid-filled growth on the bile duct system of the liver. It's the most common type of liver mass seen in cats, but the incidence isn't very high -- about 5.5 percent. Biliary cysts usually affect senior cats older than 10 years.

Cats with biliary cysts may have a decreased appetite and lose weight. If the mass is large enough -- some can be the size of a softball -- it may put pressure on the stomach and cause discomfort. The condition is usually diagnosed with an abdominal ultrasound exam.

The good news is that the cysts are benign and don't spread elsewhere in the body. The bad news is that they often require surgical removal, the sooner the better. Fortunately, they don't typically invade the liver, so the surgery tends to be uncomplicated.

One potential risk, though, is excessive bleeding, which sometimes occurs when tumors are removed from the liver. Another is if cats refuse to eat after surgery, especially if those cats are overweight. It might seem like a good way for the cat to lose some weight, but lack of appetite is downright dangerous for fat cats because it puts them at risk for a serious condition called hepatic lipidosis. These cats may need to have a feeding tube placed to make sure they take in enough nutrition until they recover.

Generally, the prognosis is good for cats with biliary cysts. Once the mass is removed, it usually doesn't return quickly. Depending on location and whether a cat has complications, the cost of surgery and aftercare can approach $6,000, but a good pet health insurance policy will cover most of the expense. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

USC hires new

canine therapist

-- A 2-year-old goldendoodle is the newest -- and youngest -- staff member at the University of Southern California, where he specializes in wellness therapy. Beau (formally known as Professor Beauregard Tirebiter), a full-time "wellness dog," has an affectionate and calming nature, balm to the students who seek him out as an escape from the stress of classes and test-taking. Beau was hired not only for his ability to connect with students, but also as a result of studies showing that interacting with a dog can help humans by reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisone and increasing "feel-good" hormones such as oxytocin.

-- Pet dogs and cats in Japan are living longer, according to a longevity study conducted by Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and the Japan Small Animal Veterinary Association. The average cat lives to 11.9 years and the average dog to 13.2 years, researchers found. They attribute the longer lifespan to indoor living, high-quality food, sophisticated veterinary care and an increase in vaccinations. One of the world's oldest dogs was Pusuke, a shiba inu, who lived to 26 years and 8 months. In the U.S., average pet lifespans are 12.9 years for cats and 11.8 years for dogs.

-- Hong Kong dog art aficionados with deep pockets had a chance to acquire a rare vintage watch depicting a swan being chased by a dog, reported the Financial Times in a special section on watches and jewelry. The rare gold and enamel quarter-repeating pocket watch was exhibited earlier this month at the Fine Art Asia fair. It dates to 1820 and was made by Piguet and Meylan. The dog's head moves up and down as he runs. To mark the time, a set of bellows mimics the sound of barking. It's thought that only 21 of the watches exist. -- 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.