Dogs, cats and even reptiles can react negatively to the stress of going through or evacuating from a natural disaster

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Nicole Morrison’s four Cavalier King Charles spaniels were quieter than normal on the Monday morning that Morrison and her friends rushed around packing their vehicles for evacuation from Hurricane Harvey in Houston. The spaniels weren’t allowed to go out in the yard to potty because water was already rising.

“They knew something was very, very wrong,” Morrison says.

The next month, Jackie O’Neil of Marathon, Florida, faced a similar situation as she and her husband, Tom, loaded their Jeep Cherokee with an assortment of land tortoises, freshwater turtles, and Pal, a 12-year-old ball python. The expected storm surge from Hurricane Irma could have killed the freshwater reptiles, O’Neil says, but the critters weren’t happy.

“Reptiles hate change,” she says.

Pets who experience an evacuation, superstorm or other natural disaster may undergo behavior changes caused by stress, anxiety and fear. It’s not unusual for pets in these situations to break house-training, stop using the litter box, vocalize more than normal, hide or behave aggressively, even if they have been reunited with their family. They may pant, pace or lose weight.

“Pets under stress have a different chemical environment in their bodies and brains than relaxed ones do,” says Fear Free-certified veterinarian Kathryn Primm of Applebrook Animal Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “Stress increases cortisol and other chemicals that tell the body to switch into fight-or-flight mode. Animals who are normally very bonded to their people can escape and be lost. One should never depend on the pet to act normally in an evacuation situation.”

Morrison and her dogs retreated to a ranch owned by friends. Her three older dogs had visited the ranch before, so they settled in nicely.

“The puppy was very confused for the first 36 hours or so,” Morrison says. “It was the first time she had been in the car for nearly three hours, and I later discovered she had puked up her breakfast in her crate. It was also the first time she had been separated from her littermate sister, so she was very anxious.”

Your response can determine how well your pet survives and thrives emotionally during and after a disaster. The following tips will help you and your pets decompress and get back to normal.

--Whether you’re in a hotel, shelter or friend’s home, try to set up a small space where your pet can feel secure, such as a crate or bathroom.

--Give the safe space a familiar scent and appearance with a favorite toy or an item of clothing you’ve worn. Muffle new odors with species-specific pheromone sprays.

--Reduce stress with interactive play such as games of fetch or batting at a fishing-pole toy.

--As much as possible, keep mealtime, walks and other routines on their normal schedule.

--Pets such as reptiles may need to adjust to a different climate. The O’Neils, who evacuated to their daughter’s home in Atlanta, found that the cooler weather there slowed down their reptiles, already slightly stressed from travel and confinement.

--Avoid showering pets with excessive amounts of attention, even if you’ve just been reunited with them. Extreme amounts of “togetherness” may trigger separation anxiety when things get back to normal.

--For pets who continue to have behavior issues after you’ve returned home or set up house in a new place, schedule a veterinary visit to rule out any physical problems that could be causing the change in behavior. If they get a clean bill of health, begin retraining as if the animal were a puppy or kitten to help them regain normal skills and behaviors.

Q&A

Why does cat

mark in home?

Q: My cat is spraying in the house. It feels like he's trying to protect us from the other cats, and occasionally coyotes, that come into our yard. If we keep him inside all the time, he gets antsy and will spray. When we let him out, he does fine much of the time, but then cats come into the yard and they fight. He is 9 or 10 years old and is neutered. Any advice? -- via email

A: Spraying, or territorial marking, is a feline form of communication. It’s most common in unneutered cats, but any cat is capable of spraying, including neutered males. Cats deliver messages to each other with their stinky pee; your cat may be attempting to ward off other cats and coyotes from his territory -- your yard and home.

Your cat may also be marking space inside the home to help himself feel more secure. Making your home smell more like himself helps to relieve stress that may occur when he sees, hears or smells other cats or predators, such as coyotes in his yard. If your cat is spraying items that carry your scent, such as clothing or bedding, or items where you spend a lot of time, such as a favorite chair or sofa, he’s doubling down on that feeling of security. Combining his scent with yours is a way of increasing his feeling of comfort.

Ways to improve the situation include changing the environment, instituting a behavior modification plan or administering pheromones or medications to help decrease anxiety. Try blocking your cat’s view of the animals outdoors. Eliminate odor from previous marking episodes by thoroughly cleaning the area with an enzymatic product. Feline pheromone diffusers or sprays can increase his comfort level as well. A Fear Free-certified veterinarian can help you with a behavior modification or medication plan. -- 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

Hotel cat retires

from the suite life

--Matilda the regal Ragdoll has retired after six years as the “directfurr of guest relations” at the landmark Algonquin Hotel in New York, reports journalist Sandy Robins. The hotel has had a resident feline since the 1920s; Matilda was the 11th hotel cat and the third named Matilda. Forbes labeled her the Million Dollar Cat, crediting her “marketing skills” for earning more than $1 million for the oldest operating hotel in New York City. Matilda’s famous charity cat fashion shows raised thousands of dollars for the benefit of local animal shelters and rescue organizations. Rosemary Kenigsberg, a regular guest at the hotel, adopted Matilda, who has traded people-watching from her cat tree on 44th Street to watching deer, squirrels and other wildlife from her new home.

--Using dogs trained to detect the scat of jaguars, pumas, bush dogs and other endangered carnivores, researchers are helping to identify the best locales for habitat connection corridors in Argentina. Knowing the areas that the animals typically hunt, sleep and travel through allows scientists to plot safe paths for them across public and private wildlife reserves, privately owned plantations, farms and pastures, and along roads and pathways, while still meeting the needs of private landowners.

--When we look into a mirror, we know we’re seeing our reflection. But is the same true of our dogs? While they might not pass a mirror test, an alternative sniff test -- sort of an “olfactory mirror” -- found that dogs do indeed have self-cognition. The research, conducted by the Barnard College Department of Psychology and published last month in the journal “Behavioural Processes,” confirmed previous evidence from Dr. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti showing that “dogs distinguish between the olfactory ‘image’ of themselves when modified,” investigating their own odor for longer periods when it is accompanied by an additional odor. -- 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.

Hurricane Harvey reminds pet owners to be prepared for any eventuality

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

By 6 a.m., as Nicole Morrison was frantically packing supplies into her Mazda 5, water seeped into the backyard of the home where she was staying. She and her four Cavalier King Charles spaniels had taken refuge with the dogs’ breeder, who had a commercial generator and lots of supplies. But the release of nearby Barker Dam after Hurricane Harvey filled reservoirs to the brim meant they needed to evacuate.

Besides a six-pound bag of kibble, stainless steel bowls, several bottles of water, a container of Clorox wipes, and food for herself, Morrison packed a car charger and an external battery for her phone. She placed two dogs in each crate, leashes attached.

“My one regret is that I did not have all of my dogs’ medical records scanned onto a flash drive or the hard drive of my laptop,” she says. “Luckily my vet in town was open and could fax stuff to me.”

Whether your locale is prone to floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, mudslides, earthquakes or other natural disasters, being prepared for evacuation should be No. 1 on your to-do list. These four tips can help get you and your pets away safely.

--Identify pets. A collar and ID tag with at least two phone numbers on it is a first line of defense, but collars can be removed or fall off. A microchip or tattoo is permanent. Register microchip or tattoo numbers and keep your address and phone number up to date so you can be reached if separated from a pet. Registered microchips and tattoos are also proof of ownership if you need to reclaim a pet from a shelter or foster home.

“Teams like ours have microchip scanners,” says Angela G. Clendenin, Ph.D., public information officer for Texas A&M University’s Veterinary Emergency Team, on the ground in the Houston area caring for search and rescue dogs as well as injured or ill pets. “We’re able to scan and help identify the owner and try and make contact.”

--Take pet vaccination or titer records. At shelters for humans, you may be required to present them before pets are allowed entry. That’s a precautionary measure, Clendenin says, to help prevent unvaccinated pets from spreading disease in a crowded shelter. Photograph records and keep them on your phone or a flash drive.

--Bring pet carriers. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act was passed, requiring states seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance to make plans for sheltering people that included accommodating pets. Shelters can require that pets be kept in carriers or have vaccination records, though, so don’t leave home without them.

--Have a first-aid kit that can be used for animals and humans. In flood zones, Clendenin says, typical injuries include lacerations, bruises and broken bones that occur when animals are tossed around in floodwaters or get caught in debris, such as wood or wire. You might not be able to deal with a pet’s broken leg, but bandage material and saline solution for cleaning wounds can allow you to take care of minor injuries until your pet can get veterinary care. Clippers are good to have on hand to trim away hair around wounds so they can be cleaned more thoroughly.

As Texas residents, including pet owners, struggle to recover from the devastating storm, Fear Free-certified veterinarians and veterinary nurses are providing food, medical care and housing to displaced and injured pets until they can be reunited with their families. Fear Free is partnering with the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation to help continue their work, seeding a fund with $10,000 to reimburse them for medical supplies and other needs. To support their work, see texvetpets.org/giving, select “Disaster” in the drop-down menu, and check “Yes” under “Is this donation intended for a Fear Free-Certified Veterinarian or Veterinary Technician?”

Q&A

Is it OK for dog

to eat cat food?

Q: My 9-year-old cat was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and needs to eat a special canned food twice a day. When that food comes out, my dog comes running from anywhere in the house and goes crazy. When the cat is done eating, we allow the dog to lick the leftovers in the cat's bowl. I've read that cat food is too high in protein for dogs, and I'd like to know how much of this cat food is too much for my dog's health. He is a 1-year-old healthy Cavalier King Charles spaniel. -- via email

A: It’s no surprise that your dog is attracted by your cat’s new diet. As you know, cat food is higher in protein than dog food, and it’s stinky, which appeals to both felines and canines. And Cavaliers tend to be chowhounds anyway. With few exceptions, they will eat about anything.

As long as your dog is getting only a small lick or two after each meal, he’s probably not at risk from his daily cat food snack. Ill effects, such as vomiting or diarrhea, are warning signs, though, that the cat food he loves doesn’t love him back. If you notice your dog upchucks or has loose stools frequently after his cat food capers, it’s time to put the kibosh on his cat food habit.

Another possible side effect is obesity. Cavaliers gain weight easily. If your dog puts on the pounds from his dining addiction, it’s time to cut back on his snack. But if it’s not a major part of his diet, you’re not seeing vomiting or diarrhea, and you’re doing a good job of monitoring his weight and giving him plenty of exercise, it’s probably fine to let him continue sharing small amounts of your cat’s leftovers. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Tiny turtles spread

salmonella infection

--Between March 1 and Aug. 3, more than 37 people in 13 states suffered salmonella infections linked to contact with pet turtles. The multistate outbreak resulted in 16 hospitalizations. Nearly one-third of the people who became ill were children younger than five years, who are more likely to put their fingers or even the small turtles in their mouths after handling the reptiles. To avoid illness, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling pet turtles or any part of their habitat, including water, and ensure that children do the same.

--Want to turn your aloof feline into a loving lap cat? We can’t guarantee success, but following these steps may help your cat decide you’re worth getting close to. Move slowly so you don’t startle him with sudden movements. When you look at him, blink your eyes slowly -- the kitty version of a kiss -- instead of staring. Scratch between the ears or beneath the chin or stroke along the spine, but avoid the belly if you value your appendages. Bribery pays -- give a treat any time he approaches you or settles near you. You may soon find that you have a new best friend.

--One of the most glamorous dogs is the elegant Afghan hound, but don’t be fooled. The tall but mid-weight dog is an athlete bred to sprint across rugged terrain after hares and gazelles. A silly sense of humor lurks beneath a calm, quiet demeanor. If you choose to live with this sight hound, plan on meeting that instinctive desire to chase with lure coursing or at least regular runs in a large fenced park. The glorious coat can be any color or combination of colors, and the long, silky hair should be brushed two or three times a week. -- 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.

When your pet needs some R&R -- rest and restriction -- here’s how to keep him quiet without going stir-crazy

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When my dog Harper had open-heart surgery in May, she was feeling pretty good just a week later, but we were under orders from the surgeon to keep her quiet for the next 90 days. That wasn’t easy. Baby gates, steps to the furniture and closed doors became the rule in our home. We carried Harper up and down the stairs multiple times a day and lifted her onto the bed at night so we didn’t have to worry that she would try to jump up on her own while we were sleeping. She looked disappointed every time we left the house to go on a walk and didn’t take her along. And nothing could stop her from twirling and dancing at mealtime.

Ensuring that a pet rests for weeks or sometimes months after surgery or medical treatment, such as medication injections for heartworm disease, can be a trial for dog and cat owners. Not only is it impossible to explain to a pet why she can’t run and jump the way she does normally, it’s also a challenge to prevent her from overcoming barriers. Nonetheless, it’s a must to ensure a safe and effective recovery.

Reining in a pet’s activity level calls for creativity and strict supervision. Here’s how to survive, whether your dog or cat must be confined for three days or three months.

Baby gates and exercise pens are your friends. Whether his Jack Russell terriers are recovering from knee surgery, eye injuries or bite wounds, Patrick Burns keeps them indoors, confined to a crate surrounded by an exercise pen. The dogs can relieve themselves in the ex-pen and then they are put right back in the crate.

For cats, a double show cage is a good choice, says Lorraine Shelton, who breeds Selkirk Rex and Norwegian Forest cats. She likes the double SturdiShelter Pop-Up, which is secure, easy to clean and has good visibility. It’s just the right size for a cat or a small dog.

Tether your pet. Keeping him on leash and always at my side was the best way to keep my former foster dog Kibo quiet after his injections for heartworm disease. The drug causes the worms to die and disintegrate, so dogs must remain inactive during the three-month treatment period to ensure that no potentially fatal blockage occurs in the pulmonary vessels.

Close doors. Harper usually spends her day napping beneath my desk. It was easy to forget she has definite ideas about when bedtime should be. We would go look for her, only to find that she had already jumped on the bed on her own. We had to start keeping the bedroom door closed all the time.

Use pet steps to furniture. We placed steps at one end of the sofa and blocked the rest of it with an ex-pen so that Harper could only use the steps to get on it. That worked until she noticed she could jump from the side at the other end. We put an end to that by blocking it with the plastic lid of a storage container.

Ban boredom. Work on touch games such as learning to touch your hand or a target stick with his nose, or teach skills such as “watch me” that don’t require any activity. Feed meals inside the crate. To keep your pet’s brain busy while he’s confined, put food in an enrichment toy so he has to do a little thinking to get at it.

Be patient! Before you know it, your dog or cat will be ready for action again.

Q&A

Ear trauma causes

painful bruising

Q: My cat has been scratching at his ear and the vet says he has a hematoma. What is that, and how did my cat get one? -- via email

A: The word hematoma is basically a fancy Greek name for a bruise. Hematomas are seen more often in dogs, but cats may get them from shaking their head forcefully or scratching aggressively at the ear in response to itching caused by an ear mite infection, allergic skin disease or a foreign body lodged in the ear. The trauma causes blood to seep out of the blood vessels and pool between the skin and the cartilage of the earflap.

The result is a swollen, fluid-filled area that can be inside the ear canal or on the ear tip. Depending on the size and where in the ear the hematoma is located, it might feel firm or soft.

Don’t assume that a hematoma will resolve on its own. It’s a painful condition and can cause lasting damage to ear tissues. Hematomas can be treated several ways, but surgery is typically the most effective solution. While the cat is anesthetized, the surgeon removes the fluid and blood clots and sutures the inner part of the ear to the outer part so it lies smooth and prevents lumpy scar tissue from forming. An incision is made that remains open so any remaining fluid can drain. Most important is treating the underlying condition so the hematoma doesn’t return.

No matter which route you go, your cat will likely need to wear an Elizabethan collar, one of those lampshade-looking devices that keeps him from scratching at his ear while it heals. For greater comfort, look for a soft fabric or inflatable E-collar instead of a hard plastic one. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Feline Red Cross?

Donor cats save lives

-- Kitty blood donors are needed at many veterinary hospitals to help cats who may have blood loss during surgery, suffer trauma from being hit by a car or falling out of a high-rise or have a bleeding disorder. Volunteer feline blood donors are screened for disease and may give blood as often as every six weeks. They are lightly sedated before donating approximately 40 milliliters of the life-saving fluid. Ask your veterinarian if local clinics or pet blood banks need cats to donate. Feline fact: Cats have three blood types. Type A is most common, Type B is less common, and Type AB is rare.

-- Active people looking for a medium-size dog may want to consider the Brittany, a dynamo of a pointing dog. The Brittany is smart and athletic with a keen sense of smell that makes him a powerhouse in dog activities such as nose work or tracking and, of course, hunting. Agility and flyball are other sports in which he excels, and he loves going running, hiking, camping or otherwise spending time with his people. The Brittany’s wash-and-go coat is easy to care for, and weekly brushing will remove dead hair that will otherwise land on clothes and furniture.

-- Got skunked? If your pet has been perfumed by Pepe LePew, it’s time to hold your nose and bathe him with an odor-removing solution. A tried-and-true concoction calls for mixing one quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide with one-quarter cup baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid soap. Wet your dog down to the skin, then shampoo with the mixture, leaving it on for at least five minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Don’t let your dog lick off any of the solution, and toss what you don’t use; it’s not safe to bottle and save for future use. -- 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.