How often and how far should you walk your dog? Different breeds have different needs, and age matters, too

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

At our house, a long dog walk is 45 minutes each way and may involve stairs and beach walking. A moderate walk is 20 to 30 minutes around the block. A short walk is 10 to 15 minutes around our complex.

We first devised those dog walk descriptions for our then-3-year-old cavalier King Charles spaniel, Harper. It wasn’t unusual for her to walk anywhere from 2 to 7 miles daily.

What amount and distance of walking does your dog need? It’s a common Google search: “How long should I walk my cockapoo/German shepherd/puppy/small dog/etc.?”

The answer?

It depends.

Cavaliers like Harper are among the dogs who can switch from couch potato to avid walker or hiker depending on their person’s energy level and time available on a particular day, but many dogs need and demand longer or more strenuous outings every day, and often more than once or twice. And some, of course, would prefer gentle walks -- the shorter, the better.

While there are always exceptions, it’s smart to assume that dogs bred to herd (border collies, Australian cattle dogs, German shepherds and Australian shepherds, for instance) or hunt (the various retrievers, pointers, setters and spaniels) require large amounts of daily exercise to burn off their vast energy reserves.

Dog trainer Liz Palika of Kindred Spirits in Oceanside, California, lives with two English shepherds, Bones and Hero, and previously had several Australian shepherds. When her dogs are young puppies, they get an hour to an hour and a half daily of running off leash in her training yard or retrieving balls and toys. Once their growth plates close -- an age that varies by breed and ranges from 10 to 20 months -- she gradually introduces them to running several miles a day alongside her bike in the morning, plus their hour or more of play in the evening.

“We generally take Sunday off,” she says.

In Allentown, Pennsylvania, Deb Rabuck’s Pyrenean shepherds (small French herding dogs) get walks of a half-hour to an hour, or 1 to 3 miles.

New York City Leonbergers Cleah, 10, and Emily, 5, walk about 2 miles daily on city streets, plus one or more 16-story stair climbs, says owner Mara Bovsun. On Long Island, they have the opportunity for off-leash runs and 3 1/2-mile walks or runs in the woods.

Older dogs can be surprisingly active when it comes to walks. Susan Rosenau’s dogs, a 10-year-old Boston terrier and a 10-year-old French bulldog, get four walks daily, two for 20 minutes and two that are shorter. Jenn Stollery’s cavalier King Charles spaniels walk 1 to 4 miles daily.

Age and infirmities don’t deter dogs from their daily walks.

“My oldest sets the pace,” says Stollery, of Parsippany, New Jersey. “He is 13 but still loves a serious walk.”

Chris Foxx of Seattle drives his 13-year-old pug Lola, who is blind, to a nearby park for daily walks. While Lola used to love hiking on trails, Foxx says now it’s better for her to explore an open field so she doesn’t run into trees or stumble over rocks. Mika, a 10-year-old German shepherd mix, and 9-year-old Hina, a chow-Akita mix, take owner Mary Wakabayashi for a 45-to-60-minute walk every morning, plus a 2-to-3-mile walk after Wakabayashi gets home from work.

The average adult dog benefits from at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, which can be broken up into two or three walks. Harper, now 10 1/2 years old, still enjoys a 2-mile walk or several short walks daily. It’s good for her health and mine, and best of all, it makes both of us happy.

Q&A

Will cat be lonely

while we’re gone?

Q: Since my husband retired, our 12-year-old Maine coon has become super attached to him! She is in his lap every chance she gets, and if we go out in the evening, she is always waiting for us in the window.

We are going away on vacation soon. We have a person coming in daily to take care of the litter box, food and water, but I am worried about how our cat will handle being without my husband. How can we make it easier for her?

A: It’s great that your cat has developed such a strong bond with your husband, but I can see why you might be worried about going on vacation. Here are some tips to help her feel more comfortable and less lonely.

Make sure she meets the pet sitter at least a couple of times before you leave. Cats like to take their time when getting to know strangers.

Unless your cat approaches the sitter on her own, the sitter should face away from her but toss treats in her direction. If your cat has a favorite toy, the sitter could also offer to play with it, again while not looking directly at the cat. Have the sitter prepare and set down the cat’s food while you’re there, too. Your cat will see that the sitter has nice “cat manners” and will associate him or her with good things -- treats, toys and dinner.

Have your husband leave a T-shirt that he’s worn for your cat to snuggle with. Access to his odor will help her feel comfortable during his absence. A diffuser that releases a feline pheromone, such as Feliway, can also help to create a calm atmosphere for your cat while you’re gone. -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

How to clean up

with dogs and cats

-- If you have spring cleaning on your mind, don’t forget your pets’ gear. To prevent bacterial buildup from spreading to pet toys, dishes and bedding, not to mention your own stuff, thoroughly clean those items on a regular basis. Soft stuffed toys and bedding can go into the washing machine on the hot cycle and then into the dryer or outdoors to dry in the sun. Use detergent free of dyes and scents. Wash food and water dishes daily. Clean hard rubber or plastic toys in hot, soapy water, or run them through the dishwasher.

-- The most dog-friendly workplace in America may well be Amazon headquarters in Seattle. The company recently posted on its blog that some 6,000 dogs a day can be found at the company’s main campus. Receptionists hand out treats to passing dogs, the 17th floor has a deck where dogs can play -- fake fire hydrant included -- and the company opened a dog park available to the public in the surrounding neighborhood. In the post, “Woof Pack” manager Lara Hirschfield writes: “Dogs in the workplace is an unexpected mechanism for connection. I see Amazonians meeting each other in our lobbies or elevators every day because of their dogs.”

-- It’s Be Kind to Animals Week. The commemorative event, sponsored by the American Humane Association, first occurred in 1915, making it the longest-running humane education campaign in the United States. To celebrate, here are seven ways to act with compassion, kindness or love toward animals: provide pets with regular veterinary care and grooming; protect them with identification such as tags and microchips; foster or adopt an animal from a shelter; report animal cruelty if you see it; take your dog for a walk; play with your cat every day; and protect your pet from extreme temperatures. -- 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.

Poop: Is it the treatment of the future? Fecal transplants for dogs and cats may help to improve intestinal issues such as chronic diarrhea and vomiting

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

From the time Ana was young, she had intestinal problems. When she was only 5 months old, she suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea and wouldn't eat or drink. Instead she tried to eat non-food items such as toys, cords and paint on the wall.

"We thought she was going to die. When she should have been gaining about 6 pounds, she lost about 6 pounds," says Ana's owner, Tracy Weber of Seattle.

To help Ana thrive, Weber cooked special meals for the German shepherd puppy and tried different proteins and supplements. Nothing worked.

"When I called the vet and said, 'What do we try next?' she suggested a fecal transplant."

The gastrointestinal tract houses a complex collection of microorganisms known as the microbiome. They play a crucial role in health -- not just of the gut, but of the entire body, including regulating the immune system. Microbiome population is affected by factors such as diet, antibiotics and gastrointestinal disease, and healthy animals have a highly individual microbiota.

Weber didn't know much about fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), and she didn't like the idea of implanting another dog's poop into her dog's gastrointestinal tract. But the more she researched it, the more she thought it would be worth a shot.

Fecal transplants are a rare instance of a treatment used first in humans and then in dogs and cats. In humans, FMT has been successful in treating 90 to 98 percent of recurring Clostridium difficile infections, leading to normalization of the microbiome. Clinical signs resolve within one to two days. For inflammatory bowel disease, though, the success rate is much lower, only 25 to 30 percent.

Nicknamed "re-poopulation," FMT involves transplanting fecal material from a known healthy dog with good digestion, no parasites and no treatment with antibiotics for at least the previous three months. The process begins by blending the feces and separating out the solids. What remains is a soupy mixture of probiotic and fecal material that, for Ana, was administered as an enema into the colon. Another protocol involves inserting the material into the gut through a nasogastric tube, and one company offers an oral fecal transplant capsule.

Ana did not need to be sedated during the procedure. Afterward, she had to remain crated for six hours to give the microbes time to settle in to their new environment. Patients may be given loperamide (Imodium) to reduce the likelihood of a bowel movement.

It took several weeks before Weber saw improvement in Ana's appetite and chronic diarrhea, but the pica -- the tendency to eat non-food items -- disappeared the same day as the fecal transplant. The transplant was repeated when the pica reappeared.

The number of fecal transplants required varies in both dogs and humans, probably depending on how difficult it is for gut microbes to stay alive in a specific digestive tract. In his lecture on the intestinal microbiome at the 2018 Veterinary Meeting and Expo, Texas A&M University veterinary microbiologist Jan S. Suchodolski says that in some patients, fecal transplants are repeated up to three times every three to four weeks. The procedure decreased the imbalance of microorganisms (known as dysbiosis) in most dogs, although a subset had no improvement.

"I have colleagues who say 70 percent of patients get better, and I have colleagues who say zero percent get better," Dr. Suchodolski said.

Of Ana, Weber says, "In general, (the transplants) have helped, but we may do a third with a different donor dog."

Do fecal transplants have potential for other health benefits? At Ontario Veterinary College in Canada, Shauna Blois, DVM, is investigating the benefit of fecal transplants for dogs with inflammatory bowel disease. And last year, researchers at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine discovered a relationship between the brain, the gastrointestinal tract, and immune system diseases. The finding could have implications for treatment of certain immune and neurologic diseases, as well as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Q&A

Anal sacs can be

smelly problem

Q: After my cat got off my lap recently, I noticed a couple of wet spots on my pants. When I gave them a sniff, the smell just about knocked me over. What was that?

A: You have just been introduced to the secretions of the feline anal glands. These pea-size glands, also called anal sacs, produce a malodorous substance that enables cats to identify and communicate with each other as well as mark territory. When the cat defecates, the contents of the anal sacs are squeezed out, coating the cat's stool and allowing him to leave a stinky warning -- "Tom's Club: No other cats allowed" -- to other cats who pass by.

Usually, anal gland secretions aren't an issue in cats, but sometimes anal glands become overactive, resulting in a noticeable odor. Anal glands that malfunction and don't empty normally can become inflamed, infected or impacted.

Inflamed or infected anal glands may become swollen and tender, inhibiting normal passage of the secretions. If you notice your cat frequently scooting on the ground or biting at his rear, this may be the problem. Left untreated, the anal glands can abscess or rupture, which isn't pleasant for your cat or for you when you have to medicate the area. Luckily, this condition is rare in cats; they are more likely to develop impacted anal glands.

Impaction occurs when stools don't exert enough pressure on the glands as the cat defecates. This may occur in cats with chronic soft stools because the anal musculature has nothing to push the sac against to release the fluid.

Your veterinarian can relieve the situation by emptying the glands manually. If your cat has soft stools related to food allergies, a change in diet may help. Adding plain canned pumpkin to the cat's food can boost his fiber intake and improve stool consistency as well. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Teeth tell the tale

of puppy age

-- How old is that puppy? Young animals aren't always accompanied by a birth certificate, so determining their age can be tricky. But veterinarians have a method that gives them a pretty accurate answer: They look at the teeth. Seeing which teeth have come in helps in estimating a young pup's age. Puppy teeth start to erupt at 3 to 4 weeks, starting with the canines and followed by the first two sets of incisors at 4 to 5 weeks, the first two sets of premolars at 4 to 6 weeks, the third set of incisors at 5 to 6 weeks, and the last set of premolars at 6 to 8 weeks. The temporary teeth start to fall out when pups are 14 weeks to 7 months old. By 8 months, most puppies have a full set of adult teeth.

-- If you thought that the plague was a medieval disease, think again. It still exists and can affect humans, dogs, cats and other mammals. The bacterial disease occurs primarily in wildlife, but humans and pets can be exposed if bitten by an infected flea or through direct contact with infected animals. The first diagnosed case this year was seen in a dog in New Mexico. Plague cases also occured in Arizona, Colorado and Utah. Signs include fever, headache, chills, weakness, and swollen, painful lymph nodes.

-- K is for Korat. The gray cat with green eyes symbolizes luck and prosperity in his homeland of Thailand, where he is known as si-sawat. Although they are related to the Siamese, the cats are not as vocal as their pointed cousins, but they have no problem communicating their desires when it comes to food or attention. Expect to provide plenty of interaction if you invite one of these active, playful cats into your life. -- 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 plush to pawsome, what we’re digging in dog and cat products

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Every March, pet product manufacturers converge on Orlando, Florida, to present their wares to buyers and media from around the world. More than 1,100 exhibitors displayed toys, beds, food and more last month at the Global Pet Expo, and we walked every single aisle -- more than once -- to make our picks of the cool, the comfortable, the innovative: the products that dog and cat owners will want to bring home to make their pets’ lives more enjoyable or their own lives easier. Here are our top nine picks.

1. Be ready for anything on a walk with the Compleash, which combines a nylon leash, a built-in 10-ounce capped water flask, and two stackable bowls that can hold food, treats or personal items such as cash, credit cards or keys. The containers are part of the leash handle, and a waste bag dispenser can be attached to the leash as well. (MSRP $24.99; sitstaygo.com)

2. Snake on a stick? The Elegant Snake cat toy by Be One Breed makes a crinkly sound when your cat pounces on it, and the handle allows you to wriggle it in a lifelike manner. Bonus: It’s filled with catnip. (MSRP $5.99; beonebreed.com)

3. Make your dog a treat master with Planet Dog’s GuRu interactive toy. Insert treats into five different openings and let your dog have at it. He’ll need to chew and squeeze the toy, which releases treats when the dog applies enough pressure to pop them out. (MSRP $18.95; planetdog.com)

4. Forever furless? That’s the dream of many dog and cat owners whose clothes and furniture seem constantly covered in hair. The Lilly Brush promises to pick up pet hair with just a few swipes across clothing, upholstery, rugs and more. No peeling off tape; just rinse and reuse. (From $12.95; lillybrush.com)

5. To help your anxious dog stay occupied while you’re running errands or busy around the house, spread peanut butter, squeeze cheese or scoop canned food on the nubbly LickiMat from Hyper Pet, freeze it to make the treat last even longer, and set it out. Your dog can get in his licks and maintain his interest for a long time. (From $5.99; hyper-pet.com)

6. Cats or dogs who scratch on furniture or at doors and windows to get out can cause a lot of damage that’s expensive to repair. Clawguard door and furniture shields protect surfaces without hurting pets. Sizes are adjustable, and covers come off easily when guests visit. (From $14.99; www.clawguard.com)

7. Have a bag of poop and no place to toss it, and you don’t want to put it in your car until you reach a spot with a trashcan? Enter the Tailgate Dumpster by Kurgo. The silicone holder attaches to metal vehicle surfaces (don’t try it on aluminum or fiberglass). Put your poop bag inside and drive away from the beach or hiking trail stink-free until you can dump your dog’s waste into a proper receptacle. (MSRP $20; kurgo.com)

8. If your aging cat is having accidents outside the litter box, it might be too difficult for her to get in and out of. The Kitty Go Here litter box, with its low entrance, is easy for cats of all ages and abilities to navigate, especially if they have arthritic joints or other health issues that inhibit their mobility. (From $15.99; kittygohere.com)

9. Travel in style with your 10-pound or smaller pet in the Madison carrier combined with the Pet-Trek 4-spinner-wheel folding trolley, both by A Pet With Paws. The eco-friendly carrier looks like leather but is made of recycled plastic bottles and has a breathable mesh back, side and top for easy entry and exit. The carrier can be pulled without tipping your pet backward, which is more comfortable and less frightening for him. (MSRP $169-$179, plus $49 for Pet-Trek; apetwithpaws.com)

Q&A

Rest, rehab, surgery

help dogs with IVDD

Q: My Lhasa apso has been diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease. What can you tell me about it, and will she need to have surgery?

A: We commonly see IVDD, as it’s called for short, in dwarf dogs such as dachshunds (who have 45 to 70 percent of all cases), poodles, Pekingese, beagles, French bulldogs and Lhasa apsos as well as in dogs such as German shepherds, Dobermans and cocker spaniels. Although the disc may rupture after a fall or jump, in most cases the “slipped disc” is a result of chronic disc degeneration.

Signs of disease -- pain, difficulty walking, muscle spasms or paralysis -- typically appear in small or short dogs when they are 3 to 6 years old. In breeds such as Labrador retrievers or German shepherds, signs usually occur at 5 to 12 years.

Genes play a role in development of the disease. Last October, researchers at the University of California, Davis announced the discovery of a genetic mutation across breeds that is responsible for dogs developing chondrodystrophic features -- the shorter legs and abnormal intervertebral discs seen in low-slung, long-bodied dogs. They found that dogs with IVDD are 50 times more likely to have this mutation. Not enough is known yet about the prevalence of the specific gene in the affected breeds to be able to breed out the condition, but it’s a start.

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. In dogs with mild signs, the veterinarian may recommend pain medication and cage rest with slow, on-leash exercise only. When dogs don’t respond to conservative management or have severe signs, surgery is usually the best option. Some veterinarians use acupuncture and rehab techniques in combination with cage rest, analgesics and controlled exercise to help manage mild cases or to benefit dogs before and after surgery. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet travel safety

focus of new program

-- Animals traveling by air may have better protections with a new standardized global certification program developed by the International Air Transport Association. Based on IATA Live Animals Regulations, developed with input from veterinarians, animal welfare experts and government agencies, the program provides training and on-site audits by independent inspectors. In a statement, Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice president of airport, passenger, cargo and security, said: “Animal owners and shippers rely heavily on airlines to carry their precious cargo. As an industry, we have a duty of care to ensure that standards and best practices are in place around the world to protect the welfare of these animals.”

-- If you haven’t taken a pet first-aid class, now is a good time to sign up for one: April is Pet First-Aid Awareness Month. Knowing how to stop bleeding, clean and bind wounds, recognize signs of shock and other emergency conditions, and what to keep in a pet first-aid kit can help to save your dog or cat’s life. Courses are available from the Red Cross, humane associations and other organizations.

-- Does your dog or cat have a health problem that’s difficult to treat or about which little is known? You may want to see if there’s a veterinary clinical trial or study that needs canine or feline participants. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a health studies database (ebusiness.avma.org/aahsd/study_search.aspx) that allows pets and their owners to contribute to veterinary knowledge and maybe even get helped themselves. Current studies include a University of Pennsylvania study on the role of the microbiome in treating canine chronic enteropathy, and another on the use of noninvasive cardiac ultrasound for diagnosis and management of congestive heart failure in cats. Your veterinarian can help you decide if participation is a good choice for your pet. -- 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.