How far would you go to save your dog’s life? Some people are traveling to France and Japan so their dogs can receive life-saving surgery

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Chuck was diagnosed with a loud heart murmur when he was 6 years old, but the black-and-tan cavalier’s heart wasn’t enlarged, and he didn’t need any medication to control the condition. That changed last fall, when the then-10-year-old dog started coughing.

Chuck was a victim of mitral valve disease, also known as chronic valvular disease. It’s the most common form of heart disease in older dogs. Small breeds such as dachshunds, poodles and Chihuahuas are primarily at risk, but Chuck is a cavalier King Charles spaniel, a breed that typically develops the disease earlier in life than other small dogs.

His veterinary cardiologist found that Chuck’s heart was enlarging quickly and prescribed medication, but it didn’t help. By December, Chuck’s cough was worse, and his lungs had started to fill with fluid, a sign of congestive heart failure. Additional medications were prescribed, but Chuck’s owners were given the devastating news that their dog likely had only months to live.

“I went home, cried for a couple of days and then started Googling,” says Holly Johnson-Modafferi of Boston.

She learned of a veterinary surgeon in Japan who had performed a successful repair of the mitral valve. Chuck’s cardiologist was familiar with the surgery, but warned that the seven-month waiting period to bring a dog into Japan would probably preclude Chuck from getting there in time. Holly went back to Google and discovered that the Japanese veterinarian, Masami Uechi, also performed the surgery in France every other month, in partnership with two French veterinarians, Jean-Hugues Bozon, DVM, and Sabine Bozon, DVM.

“Once I started finding out the details, I talked to Mike (Modafferi, her husband), and we decided we were going to make it happen,” she says.

Along with three other couples who followed similar paths of discovery, Holly and Mike flew to France with Chuck last month. (Full disclosure: My husband and I, with our cavalier Harper, were one of those couples.)

The complex surgery involves stopping the dog’s heart, with life support provided by a heart-lung bypass machine. The mitral valve is reshaped, and stretched or broken chordae tendineae (known as the heart strings) are replaced with expanded PTFE, a lightweight but powerful material used in everything from medical devices implanted in the body to high-tech expedition clothing.

The surgery, which has been performed nearly 700 times over a dozen years, has a success rate of 90 percent. Barring other health problems or accidents, the dogs go on to live a normal lifespan. For a cavalier or other small breed or mix, that can mean living to be 13 to 17 years old.

A group of owners whose dogs have had the surgery have formed the Mighty Hearts Project to increase awareness of the surgery among pet owners and veterinarians. They hope that eventually it will become available in North America.

“We’ve assembled not a team, but a family of people whose dogs have undergone this same surgery to support others in their quest to save their dogs,” says one of the founders, Nate Estes of Newbury Park, California, whose Maltese, Zoey, had the surgery nearly a year ago when she was 5 years old.

The four dogs who underwent surgery last month are back home after a week of hospitalization. They face a three-month recovery period that requires owners to keep them from running and jumping while they heal. That’s not always easy, but afterward they can live normal, active lives.

It was expensive, but Holly says she’d do it again. And she has some advice for owners of dogs prone to MVD: Buy pet health insurance now, and start a slush fund for your dog in case he needs surgery one day.

Q&A

How to care for

bearded dragon

Q: I’ve just acquired a bearded dragon. What should I know about taking care of him? -- via email

A: Congratulations on your new reptile companion! Bearded dragons are popular because of their small size, quiet nature and variety of colors. They enjoy basking in the sun and are typically active during the day. With good care, you can expect your bearded dragon to live eight to 12 years.

Even though they aren’t especially large, bearded dragons need a good-size habitat. A 40- to 55-gallon aquarium is the minimum amount of space you should provide. Larger is better. You’ll need to equip his living area with full-spectrum lighting for 12 hours a day. He also needs an appropriate temperature range. During the day, he should be able to move from a hot basking area that ranges from 95 degrees Fahrenheit to 105 degrees Fahrenheit to a slightly cooler area of no less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Other important features are a box or other area where he can hide, and surfaces on which he can climb and bask.

Bearded dragons eat a variety of insects and leafy greens. Juvenile bearded dragons will thrive on crickets, mealworms and other gut-loaded insects offered daily, but as they mature, they eat more vegetable matter. Offer a daily buffet of dark leafy greens and shredded veggies. Ask your veterinarian to recommend an appropriate vitamin and mineral supplement for your bearded dragon’s life stage.

Take your bearded dragon to a veterinarian who specializes in reptile care. A visit every six to 12 months will help to ensure that he’s in good condition and isn’t carrying any internal parasites such as pinworms or coccidia. Common health problems include fungal dermatitis (yellow fungus), obesity, constipation from chronic dehydration, poor diet, lack of exercise and, believe it or not, periodontal disease. Yes, you should brush your bearded dragon’s teeth! Your veterinarian can advise you on the best technique. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Animals have friends

in Connecticut courts

-- Connecticut is the first state to provide animals with court-appointed representatives in abuse and cruelty cases, NPR reports. One of the eight volunteer advocates may be appointed by a judge or requested by defense attorneys or prosecutors. The advocates may testify in cases, do investigative work, conduct interviews, make arguments, write briefs and make recommendations to judges, according to an AP report. Animal law is an emerging specialty, and at least nine law schools offer courses in the subject.

-- Does music help to calm pets? Veterinarian Ross Henderson thinks so. He practices at Fox Hollow Animal Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado, and he has been known to break out his guitar and sing a song to animals who are nervous before they undergo surgery or other procedures. Playing soft classical or jazz music when pets are left alone is a standard recommendation when pets suffer from separation anxiety. Pet-friendly music is also becoming a fixture in the lobbies and exam rooms of veterinary clinics that practice Fear Free techniques. Why does music seem to affect animals in a positive way? In humans, it has been shown to have relaxing effects by slowing heart and respiratory rates. Animals may experience the same physiological benefits.

-- The pixiebob isn’t a mythical creature. The usually brown-spotted tabby cat with the bobbed tail has the look of a bobcat -- from which he takes his name -- but he’s a domestic cat through and through. Loyal, loving and lively, the relatively new cat breed was developed in the 1980s by Carol Ann Brewer. The name "pixiebob" references the female kitten who inspired her to create the short-tailed breed. Besides their wild appearance, pixiebobs stand out for their extra toes, a characteristic called polydactylism. Their coats can be short or long, and they weigh 10 to 18 pounds. -- 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 viral disease can spread easily, but common-sense precautions can help keep dogs safe

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

An eight-state outbreak of canine influenza is causing dog-show exhibitors to keep their dogs home and the American Kennel Club to advise judges that exhibitors should display the dogs’ teeth themselves. Pet dogs are at risk if they frequent dog parks or other areas where dogs come in contact with each other. The H3N2 strain has been documented in 30 states, including Florida, which reported its first cases earlier this month, and H3N8 has been found in 42 states, plus Washington, D.C.

The H3N2 strain primarily affects dogs, but last March, the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine and the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory documented that the strain had infected a group of cats in the Midwest and could spread from cat to cat. The disease is not transmissible to humans.

While most dogs who encounter the highly contagious virus develop a mild or subclinical case and recover in two to four weeks without serious problems, that doesn’t mean the disease is harmless. A small percentage of dogs can develop a severe form that may lead to pneumonia caused by a secondary bacterial infection. They may need antibiotics, fluids or even hospitalization. The fatality rate is less than 10 percent.

Dogs in frequent contact with other dogs -- at parks, boarding or daycare facilities, animal shelters, pet stores, grooming salons, dog shows or other events -- are at highest risk. Up to 80 percent of dogs exposed to the virus will contract it.

The airborne virus is transmitted by contact with infected dogs or contaminated items, such as pet dishes, leashes, crates or kennels. The virus can survive up to 24 hours on soft surfaces, such as bedding, and up to 48 hours on hard surfaces, such as flooring. Persons handling an infected dog and then an uninfected dog without first disinfecting their hands can also spread the disease.

Dogs who show clinical signs can be infective for 28 days from the time they are exposed to the virus. Infected dogs without clinical signs -- a dry, hacking cough; appetite loss; lethargy; runny nose or eyes; and fever -- can spread canine flu as well.

Once dogs are exposed to the virus, they show signs within 24 to 48 hours. If you suspect your dog has canine flu, call your veterinarian for advice. To avoid spreading canine flu, your veterinarian may request that you not bring your dog to the clinic or that you follow specific safety precautions before doing so.

A double-dose vaccine is available to protect dogs. The second dose is administered two weeks after the first. The vaccine protects against the H3N2 and H3N8 strains of the canine flu virus. Immunity typically kicks in within one to two weeks of the booster vaccine.

To reduce the risk of a dog contracting canine flu or to prevent spreading the disease, experts recommend the following tips:

-- Keep sick dogs separate from healthy dogs for up to 30 days after signs diminish.

-- Wash hands frequently, especially if handling one dog after another. At dog shows, judges should use hand sanitizer after examining each dog. Exhibitors should consider grooming dogs at their cars instead of at grooming areas in proximity to other dogs.

-- Use easily sanitized stainless steel or ceramic dog bowls.

-- Clean bowls, tables, crates and other items with a solution of one part bleach to 30 parts water and let air-dry for at least 10 minutes before use. Bleach breaks down quickly, so make a new solution daily. Use paper towels instead of cloth to wipe down hard surfaces.

Q&A

A dog’s ear:

How it works

Q: I’m fascinated by my dog’s keen sense of hearing and ability to move his ears. Could you explain a little about canine ear anatomy and function? -- via Facebook

A: You are right to be amazed by your dog’s hearing ability. The ears are delicate, sensitive, finely tuned instruments that allow dogs to stay alert to sounds beyond human abilities to hear.

The ear has three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

The outer ear begins with the pinna, also known as the auricle. It’s sort of a funnel-shaped flap that traps sound waves. The muscles surrounding it are what allow a dog to twitch and turn his ears to capture sounds. Inside the ear, a long L-shaped canal leads to the middle ear.

The middle ear processes the sound waves captured by the pinna. It consists of the tympanic cavity, the eardrum and the auditory ossicles. The latter are a series of tiny bones known as the hammer (malleus), anvil (incus) and stirrup (stapes).

Sound waves travel down the ear to the eardrum. There, the auditory ossicles transmit them across the middle ear to the inner ear. The cochlea, a snail-shaped tube, converts sound vibrations into messages transmitted to the brain by the auditory nerve. There, the messages are translated into meaningful sounds. All of this occurs instantaneously.

The inner ear also governs the dog’s sense of balance. It contains three small, semicircular tubes filled with fluid, known as canals. The canals are lined with fine hairs that record movement of the fluid and changes in the dog’s posture and position, transmitting the information to the brain via the auditory nerve. The canals, combined with what’s known as the otolith organs, direct nerve impulses that help dogs stay balanced and upright. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

How to survive

cat teenhood

-- Is your cat 6 to 18 months old? That age range is when kittens morph from cute to cat. Like human teenagers, adolescent cats are ready to display their independence and show the world what they can do -- whether that’s making the biggest scratches on the furniture, marking their territory with urine, or (if they aren’t yet altered) yowling and prowling in search of a companion with whom they can procreate. The good news is that the adolescent stage doesn’t last forever. Get through it by channeling feline energy through puzzle toys, play time and trick training, and spaying or neutering your pet if the surgery hasn’t already been done. Before you know it, your kitten will have moved from sulky adolescence to cool-cat adulthood.

-- Dogs can behave aggressively for many reasons. They may be defending their territory, food or toys; protecting family members or puppies; or fearful of a person or situation. Other times, they react aggressively because they are in pain from an injury or health problem. Signs of aggression include growling, snapping, biting, chasing, staring and standing stiffly. Instead of punishing the dog, schedule a veterinary visit to rule out physical causes. If your dog gets a clean bill of health, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist or experienced dog trainer to help you determine the cause and use Fear Free techniques to set boundaries and modify the behavior.

-- Help your pet stay safe in summer heat. Dogs and cats with light-colored coats or hairless bodies need protection with pet-safe sunscreen when they are outdoors. All pets need easy access to fresh, cool water. Dogs who go swimming need a thorough freshwater rinse and a complete drying afterward to prevent skin and ear infections. Happy summer! -- Dr. Marty Becker 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.

Three useful behaviors to teach your cat

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We know what you're thinking: Cats can't learn tricks.

Not so. Cats are highly intelligent and many of them are amenable to learning tricks -- or, as cats would put it, teaching you to give them treats.

But why train a cat? Doesn't that take away from their inherent "cattitude"?

We like to think of it more as enhancing their lives. Cats are smart and active, and training provides them with mental stimulation as well as a physical workout. It helps you and your cat learn to communicate more skillfully, adding a new dimension to your relationship. And it's just plain fun.

Kittens pick up tricks more quickly because their brains are more elastic, but cats of any age can learn new behaviors. All you need is a clicker, some aromatic treats your cat can gulp down quickly, good timing and a little patience. Here are three easy tricks to teach your feline Einstein.

-- Sit. This is a great trick to teach cats who have a habit of jumping on guests' laps uninvited or chasing people and attacking their legs. It's also the foundation for teaching stay, sit up and wave.

Start by holding a treat just above your cat's head. As his nose goes up to sniff it, his rear automatically goes down into a sit position. The instant he sits, click and give a treat. Click and treat any time you see your cat sitting, whether you've asked him to or not. As you do so, give a name to the action -- "Sit" -- and praise him for it -- "Good sit!"

Once he learns to sit on cue (cats don't respond to commands, you know), you can have your cat sit as an alternative to things he might do that annoy you. For instance, if your cat likes to sprawl across your desk while you're working, make it rewarding instead for him to sit at your feet or on a chair next to you.

-- Come. This may be the easiest trick to teach, believe it or not. Every time you set down your cat's food bowl, make an easily repeatable sound: ring a bell, jingle your keys or whistle a tune (don't use the clicker for this trick). Your cat will quickly associate that sound with mealtime and respond instantly to it.

Learning to come when called can save a cat's life. If you need to evacuate your home because of a fire or other emergency, it saves valuable time if your cat comes when called.

Sound advice: Always reward your cat when he comes to you, and never call him and then do something he doesn't like, such as giving him a pill or taking him to the veterinarian.

-- Touching a target. This is useful because it can help you direct your cat to certain areas.

Use a target such as a pencil with a large eraser on the end or a narrow bird perch. Put a small amount of wet food on the end of the target and show it to your cat, holding it just far enough away that he has to reach forward to get the food. As soon as he touches the target with his nose, click and give him a treat. Gradually extend the distance the cat must come before touching the target.

Once your cat will touch a target, you can use it to teach him to spin in a circle, jump through a hoop or go to a specific place.

Tip for success. Keep training sessions short, no more than two or three minutes at a time, since cats have short attention spans.

Q&A

Low platelet counts

are big trouble for dogs

Q: My dog's stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his body was covered in bruises (he's white, so it's easy to see his skin). My veterinarian did bloodwork right away and says it's something called thrombocytopenia. What can you tell me about this condition? -- via email

A: Thrombocytopenia is what we call it when the body has an abnormally low number of blood platelets (thrombocytes). Normal platelet counts are 180,000 to 200,000. Anytime platelet counts are less than 40,000, spontaneous bleeding can occur in the gastrointestinal tract (which is why you saw black stools and bruising on the body) or in the urinary tract, brain or lungs. It's a good thing you took your dog to the veterinarian right away because internal bleeding can cause dogs to die quickly if they don't receive a blood transfusion.

To figure out the cause of the low platelet count, veterinarians do what's called a differential diagnosis -- you probably heard this term if you were a fan of the television show "House M.D." It's a process of elimination that might involve an abdominal ultrasound and chest X-rays to rule out cancer, a test for common tick-borne diseases in your area and a blood chemistry panel.

Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia is the destruction of the platelets by the dog's own immune system. We don't necessarily know why this happens, but this life-threatening condition can usually be treated.

Dogs with this condition are hospitalized in the intensive care unit and receive corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs to stop the body from attacking itself, and drugs to stimulate the bone marrow to release immature platelets more quickly than normal. In a best-case scenario, dogs usually respond to treatment within three to five days. The condition can be managed, but not cured. Dogs need lifetime medication to control the disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

To save cats' lives,

knock on hood

-- Mr. Biscuits, a cat in East Falls, Pennsylvania, nearly died after crawling into a car engine to get warm. The driver was unaware of his presence until he arrived at his destination and discovered the cat, who was severely burned over at least a quarter of his body. Mr. Biscuits, who earned his name by kneading his paws as the veterinarian cared for him, is facing surgery and skin grafts, but he survived, unlike many cats in similar situations. To prevent such accidents, thump your hood a few times or honk your horn before starting the car to dislodge any feline trespassers.

-- If you see a dog who resembles a retriever with a curly coat, don't assume he's a Labradoodle. He may be an unusual breed called a curly-coated retriever. The curly, as he's nicknamed, was developed in the 18th century and is one of the oldest of the retrieving breeds. Bred to hunt pheasant, quail and grouse and retrieve waterfowl, the curly is a wickedly smart independent thinker. His coat has small, tight, crisp curls. (Don't blow-dry it unless you want him to look like a Chia Pet.) The coat sheds a little year-round, with a heavier shed twice a year.

-- Researchers at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Starkville are studying the influence of blood platelets on cancer and healing. The MSU researchers are the first to characterize the full complement of proteins that make up the canine platelet proteome. By knowing what a normal, healthy platelet contains, they can compare it to platelets from patients with cancer to identify which proteins might play a role in cancer metastasis, says associate professor Kari Lunsford. Changes in platelet proteins may one day be used as a simple blood test for early detection of cancer or cancer metastasis in humans and dogs. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.