Tooth trivia, tongue talk, oral care and more about what goes on in your cat’s mouth

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

A cat’s mouth is a fascinating object of study. It’s a killing machine, filet knife and hairbrush, all in one. Here’s how it works.

Kittens are born without teeth and develop 26 deciduous, or baby, teeth, starting with the incisors and followed by the canines and premolars (molars don’t come in until adulthood). By the time a kitten is 7 months old, 30 adult teeth, including the missing molars, have made an appearance. But how do those teeth work?

Cats aren’t designed to chew. After killing their prey by biting or crushing the neck, spine or throat with their sharp fangs (known as canines), they tear off the meat with their carnassial teeth -- long-bladed molars and premolars -- swallow it (bones, feathers and all) and let their digestive juices go to work. Whatever isn’t digested exits the system, either through the front end -- regurgitation -- or out the rear, as waste in your cat’s litter box.

The rough feline tongue is an equally important player in the cat’s mouth. Its sandpaperlike surface is perfect for scrubbing every bit of food off bones.

If you were to examine a cat’s tongue closely (folks, don’t try this at home), you would find that it’s covered with tiny, hooked barbs facing toward the throat. They’re called filiform papillae, and their job is to help hold prey in place while cats eat.

Cats also employ the tongue in the grooming process. Those same barbs effectively remove dead hairs and debris from the cat’s coat. If your cat has a few hairs out of place, the tongue serves as a convenient built-in hairbrush to, er, lick them into shape.

Notice that your cat licks herself clean right after a meal? Instinct tells her to remove food odors that might excite the interest of predators. If your cat licks you after you get out of the shower, she might be trying to restore your “normal” smell.

One drawback to the tongue’s design is that cats can’t spit things out. Because they face the throat, those hooks direct loosened fur (or anything else the cat swallows) down the hatch. Later it comes back up again in the form of a hairball (known scientifically as a trichobezoar).

The tongue is also an essential factor in how cats drink water. Have you ever thought about that before? Top scientists have, and they used high-speed photography to document the process.

When they drink, cats curve the upper side of their tongue downward. As the tip of the tongue touches the water’s surface, the cat rapidly pulls it upward, bringing a column of water along for the ride. The jaws close and the cat swallows. In the space of a second, cats can lap water four times, and the tongue’s speed during the process has been clocked at 1 meter per second.

You lean in to love on your cat and suddenly you jerk away, appalled. That breath! It smells like he’s been swigging tuna juice straight from the can. That stink can be from periodontal disease or from cat cavities, known as oral resorptive lesions. Veterinarians say that half of all cats have some type of dental disease by the time they are 4 years old. That doesn’t mean it’s normal. A cat whose breath smells is the victim of gum disease or some other health problem.

You know the drill: Brush your cat’s teeth daily, starting in kittenhood, to help prevent infection and nasty brown tartar buildup -- which is not just ugly but also harbors bacteria. A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia will help to keep his teeth white and his mouth healthy.

Q&A

What to do if

bird has diarrhea

Q: My bird’s poop looks more liquid than normal. Do birds get diarrhea? What should I do? -- via email

A: Good question! If your parrot eats seeds, his normal fecal droppings probably are dark-colored with a dry, firm texture. If he eats a lot of greens, they may be softer and more of a green color.

A bird with diarrhea has watery droppings. You may notice that the feathers near his vent are stained, that he seems lethargic or has lost his appetite, or that he looks unusually fluffed up.

Birds can get diarrhea from a number of causes, including stress, a poor diet, intestinal parasites or an infection. A change in diet can cause diarrhea as well. So can fruits or vegetables that haven’t been washed well to remove pesticides. Diarrhea can also be a sign of kidney, liver or pancreatic diseases.

Birds with diarrhea that doesn’t clear up within 24 hours need to be seen by the veterinarian so the problem can be diagnosed. Take your bird in right away if you see blood in the droppings or your bird is straining or seems to have abdominal pain. Otherwise, keep him warm and give him fluids to help him stay hydrated until he can be examined. You’ll need to take a fecal sample to your veterinarian for analysis. Bring the paper lining his cage so the veterinarian can check several samples.

If you have multiple birds, separate the one with diarrhea from the others. Disinfect the cage and everything in it with boiling water or a bird-safe cleanser. Wash hands thoroughly after handling the cage or the bird so you don’t spread disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Medicated skin

cream kills pets

-- Five dogs have died after accidentally ingesting a topical cream called fluorouracil, prescribed for people with skin cancer. One dog began vomiting and experienced seizures within two hours of puncturing the tube. He died 12 hours later. No cases involving cats have been reported, but the cream is likely toxic to them as well. If your pet is vomiting and having seizures, be sure to let your veterinarian know if anyone in your family uses any type of medicated topical cream. Discard cloths or applicators used to apply the cream in a place inaccessible to pets.

-- Is your Pomeranian losing hair all over his body? He may have a skin condition called alopecia X, also known as black skin disease or elephant skin. The dogs may first lose color in the hair, followed by hair loss over most of the body. Little is known about the cause, but it appears to be more common in males than females and can occur at any age. The skin typically becomes black and thickened. If fur comes back, it is often soft and cottony instead of the normal harsh texture. Sometimes dietary changes or treating for a yeast infection can help.

-- Americans spent nearly $63 billion on pets in 2016, according to statistics gathered by the American Pet Products Association. The APPA’s 2015-2016 national pet owners survey found that 65 percent of U.S. households -- 79.7 million homes -- own a pet. That’s up from 56 percent in 1988, the first year the survey was conducted. Basic annual expenses pet owners face include surgical veterinary visits, routine veterinary visits, food, treats, boarding, grooming and toys. Owners spent the most -- $23 billion -- on food, followed by $15 billion on veterinary care, $14 billion for supplies and over-the-counter medications and $5 billion for boarding and grooming. -- 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.

Statues and plaques honor dogs, cats and other animals who have contributed to human well-being

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Remember the story of Greyfriars Bobby, the little Skye terrier who stood watch over his master’s grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard for 14 years? If you visit Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh, among the sights you’ll see -- if you can get past the hordes of tourists surrounding it -- is a memorial to Bobby, honoring his loyalty and, perhaps by extension, the loyalty of all dogs. The statue is smaller than expected, but it draws crowds, who then overflow to the nearby churchyard where Bobby’s beloved owner, John Gray, lies.

Memorials to the love, loyalty and bravery of dogs, cats and other animals are found ‘round the world. Devotion cast in bronze or sculpted on a wall, they stand as inspiring tributes to animals who have been our companions, guardians, soldiers and helpers. As you travel, keep an eye out for their monuments, and whisper thanks to them for their affection, fidelity, valor and labor. Here are 22 to look for.

A number of memorials honor dogs and other animals for their military service. Dogs have delivered messages, laid telegraph wires, detected mines, dug out bomb victims and served guard or patrol duty. Horses and mules have pulled artillery, transported supplies and carried officers into battle. Other animals who contributed and died in wartime include pigeons, elephants, camels, oxen, cats, canaries and glowworms (which provided light to read maps or orders).

In London, the Animals in War Memorial recognizes all such animals. A curved stone wall, located on the edge of Hyde Park, bears their images. Alongside it are two bronze pack mules, a bronze horse and bronze dog.

"Four pounds of courage." That’s the description of Smoky, a Yorkshire terrier from Australia who helped lay communication lines in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, she entertained hospital patients and children in orphanages with her tricks. Smoky has seven memorials around the world: Brisbane, Australia; Lakewood, Ohio; the AKC Museum of the Dog in St. Louis; Hickham Air Force Base in Hawaii; Ohio Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame in Columbus; University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville; and the city of Eastlake, Ohio.

The United States War Dogs Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, features a bronze statue of a kneeling Vietnam War soldier and his dog.

The National War Dog Cemetery at Naval Base Guam features the famous Doberman Kurt and pays tribute to the Doberman pinschers and other dogs killed at the Second Battle of Guam in 1944. A replica of the memorial is at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville.

Other war dog memorials are at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California; the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio; the Marine Corps Memorial Garden at Camp Pendleton in California; and the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.

Visit New York City’s Central Park to see the statue of Balto, the lead sled dog whose team helped to deliver diphtheria serum to snowbound Nome, Alaska, during a deadly epidemic in January 1925.

Feline memorials honor cats primarily for companionship. Trim accompanied Capt. Matthew Flinders on his circumnavigation of Australia, and his statue is in Sydney just behind that of Flinders. Towser the Mouser is recognized with a bronze statue for ridding Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire, Scotland, of 28,899 mice over her lifetime of employment there. Hodge, Samuel Johnson’s cat, is portrayed sitting atop a dictionary near the famed lexicographer’s home in London. The inscription: “A very fine cat indeed.” And who can forget Dick Whittington’s cat, whose mousing prowess legendarily aided the 14th-century thrice-elected mayor’s success. The cat’s statue is located at the foot of London’s Highgate Hill.

Q&A

Cat bites

after petting

Q: My brother’s cat will come over to people purring, so we’ll pet her, and then all of a sudden she bites. -- via Facebook

A: That’s a common complaint of many cat owners. It’s one of the weird things about cats: As much as they love being petted, they can take only so much of it. Too much petting causes them to become overstimulated; that’s when they lash out with tooth or claw.

Some cats give little warning before nailing you. Others give several clear warnings before taking matters into their own jaws (or paws).

Signs that a cat has had enough stroking can be as subtle as a flick of the tail, twitch of the ear or shiver of the skin. The whiskers may rotate forward. When you see these signs, stop immediately.

You can work to increase a cat’s tolerance of petting. Sit down next to her instead of picking her up for petting. Don’t pet her while you’re doing something else that holds your attention, such as watching television; you need to be able to watch her body language so you know when to stop.

Start by petting less sensitive areas of the body: behind the ears, beneath the chin and at the base of the tail (the area where it joins the body). Some cats are easily set off by long strokes down the back, and the belly should be completely off-limits.

Try to gradually pet the cat for longer periods, always stopping just short of the point where she becomes uncomfortable. Giving a treat during the petting party can also help to increase the cat’s enjoyment and toleration of the experience.

Finally, it’s always a good idea to take the cat in for a vet check to make sure nothing physical is causing the behavior. -- 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

Eyes are window

to canine health

-- A dog’s eyes are more than orbs with which he sees that tennis ball coming. They can offer clues to his well-being. Healthy eyes are bright and shiny. They don’t shed excessive tears, and the whites are really white, not yellow. A yellow tinge to the whites of a dog’s eyes can be a clue to liver damage or other serious illnesses. The lining around your dog’s eyes should be pink, not red or yellowish. Any kind of irritation on or around your dog’s eye is reason for a visit to the veterinarian. Eye injury is an emergency.

-- You can’t really take this cat snowshoeing -- unless he rides in a backpack -- but he is smart and good at learning tricks. Named for his white-tipped paws, the snowshoe was created by crossing American shorthairs and Siamese to achieve a cat with a pointed coat pattern, white markings on the feet and an inverted white V on the face. A snowshoe with perfect markings is rare. The cats come in two color combos: seal point and white, and blue point and white. People-oriented, affectionate and easygoing, Snowshoes get along well with kids as well as other pets, including dogs.

-- Do you talk to your dog in a high-pitched tone of voice, maybe more slowly than you would to a person? In infants, a high pitch and slow tempo are known to attract attention and promote language learning. Turns out that puppies are also responsive to this type of speech. Adult dogs, on the other hand, aren’t any more receptive to it than to normal speech. Researchers found that people tend to use this type of speech anytime they think they won’t be understood, whether they’re communicating with Fido or another person, such as someone from another country. -- 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.

How safe is your pet when riding in the car? Here's what you should know

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Lindsey Wolko had just adopted a new dog. She had crates in her car for her other dogs, but no way to secure Maggie, so she stopped at her local pet retailer to purchase a safety harness for her. A couple of months later, when she had to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident, Maggie, wearing her harness, was badly injured.

Whether they are riding loose or are confined in a crate, car seat or harness, pet passengers can be hurt or killed in the event of a sudden stop or collision. They can suffer bruising, contusions, sprains or lacerations -- some of the injuries reported to Nationwide, which has claims data on 585,000 insured pets -- and more serious injuries such as broken bones and internal trauma, says emergency and critical care veterinarian Gretchen L. Schoeffler, DVM, at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Veterinarian Marty Becker has seen too many avoidable accidents involving pets riding in cars. He recalls being stopped at an intersection during a thunderstorm.

"I saw a flash of lightning, heard the clap of thunder and then watched a frightened medium-size dog freak out, jump out the open window of a car, and get hit and killed in front of me. If the dog had been secured in a crate or with a seatbelt restraint, it would still be alive."

Simply securing a pet in a crate, carrier or harness isn't necessarily enough, though. Crates can break apart on impact, or be crushed if they are held in place with a seatbelt. The force of a collision can propel pets out of a crate or carrier or cause paralyzing injuries to pets restrained by harnesses without crash protection qualities.

Wolko's experience galvanized her to investigate ways pets could be safer inside vehicles. She became involved in the pet travel gear industry, studied the manufacturing process and founded the nonprofit Center for Pet Safety, which has established crash-test standards for pet travel products and certifies those that provide tested crash protection.

"We're an independent entity," Wolko says. "We don't take funding from manufacturers."

To help keep your dog or cat safe in the car, we've gathered six expert tips.

1. Place a small pet carrier -- soft or hard-sided -- in the footwell behind the driver's or front passenger's seat. If you have an SUV, crossover or station wagon, place larger crates or carriers in the cargo area of your vehicle.

"There's actually video demonstrating that in a collision if they're in the back seat or the back of the vehicle, they're much more likely to be airborne than if they're in the footwell," says feline veterinary specialist Elizabeth Colleran, DVM.

2. Never transport pets in wire crates.

"They explode. They bend, they morph, the pieces come out, the plastic pan shatters into very, very sharp pieces," Wolko says.

3. Anchor carriers with strength-rated anchor straps.

4. Avoid using zip line-style products or harnesses with long extension tethers. It may be easier for your dog to move around, but it can increase his risk in a crash.

5. Teach your pet to ride comfortably in a crate, carrier or harness. Harnesses, in particular, can seem restrictive to dogs.

"Most owners will need to train their dogs to accept it and to be comfortable being strapped in," says Natasha Audy of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, whose 13-month-old German shepherd, Richochet, wears a Sleepypod Clickit Sport harness.

6. Choose a crate that is no more than 6 inches longer than your pet. A snug fit reduces the chance of injury. Pets should have enough room to stand up and turn around.

Q&A

Canine coughing

can be serious

Q: My dog has been coughing lately. Is this something I should worry about? Does he need to go to the vet? -- via Facebook

A: We all need to cough sometimes, but a persistent cough in a dog is a concern. Coughs can have several causes and may call for veterinary treatment or different management.

A deep, dry, hacking cough that becomes worse after activity may suggest canine cough, also known as kennel cough. This is a highly contagious viral or bacterial infection. Tell your veterinarian if your dog has been boarded recently or was otherwise in contact with many other dogs at once.

A wet cough can suggest fluid or phlegm in the lungs. That's usually associated with pneumonia. This is a real concern, especially if your dog is very young, very old or immunocompromised. Pneumonia can be bacterial or viral, or is sometimes caused by fungi or parasites. Dogs can also develop what's called aspiration pneumonia if they inhale an object or throw up and accidentally suck in some of the vomit. Both canine cough and pneumonia are usually treatable with antibiotics.

Your dog may have something stuck in his throat if he's making a high-pitched gagging cough. It may not be visible to you and may require a veterinary look-see with an endoscope to identify and remove the object.

If a deep honking sound is coming out of a small dog such as a Chihuahua, toy poodle, Maltese, Pomeranian or Yorkshire terrier, he may have what's called collapsing trachea. This usually occurs when the dog pulls against his collar. Try walking him with a harness to ease the pressure on his throat.

Coughing can also signal congestive heart failure in breeds prone to heart disease. Get to the veterinarian right away for treatment and medication. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Flu season for dogs?

It's year-round

-- Dog flu is still around, and it has also been found to spread to cats. The highly contagious -- to dogs -- infection is caused by the H3N8 and H3N2 strains of the influenza A virus. Canine influenza spreads when infected dogs cough, bark or sneeze, or dogs come in contact with contaminated objects such as crates, food and water bowls, or collars and leashes. Typically, cases are mild, but some dogs develop severe cases of pneumonia. Take your pet to the veterinarian if he is coughing, sneezing, has a nasal discharge or fever, or is having trouble breathing. Canine flu can occur year-round.

-- Does your cat like chewing on your houseplants? Cats may be hypercarnivores (super meat eaters), but they have a taste for greenery as well. Save your plants and satisfy your cat's munch mania with an indoor garden of her own. Wheatgrass, which you may not have known when you have it added to your smoothie, is also called cat grass. Plant or buy a pot of it for your cat's delectation. Start a new pot when the grass starts to turn brown. You can also try growing catnip or catmint. Your cat will love you for it!

-- Meet the Entlebucher. The smallest of the four Swiss mountain dogs, he stands 16 to 20 inches tall and weighs 45 to 65 pounds. Wearing a short, thick, tricolor coat, this sturdy and enthusiastic herding dog is a good family companion, farm aide and canine sports star. Teach this hard-working brainiac to help with household chores such as picking up toys and laundry or bringing you the television remote, or compete in dog sports such as agility or nosework. With proper socialization, he's good with older kids, but should learn not to herd them by nipping at their heels. -- 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.