Nine of the best new pet books to read this summer

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Summer reading can be an escape, an education, an entertaining way to while away a few hours or all of the above. If you’re a pet owner, you have an astonishingly wide array of literary pleasures and educational treasures awaiting you during long, lazy days of vacation or simply while you’re waiting for the kids to get out of day camp. The following new releases cover all the bases: mystery, science, photography, behavior and humor.

In “Fear on Four Paws,” book seven in Clea Simon’s Pru Marlowe pet noir series, the animal communicator faces a drugged bear, a ferret who’s not sharing any secrets, her own crabby tabby and a town whose pets are disappearing. Marlowe herself becomes a person of interest in a murder, and a tempting job offer further complicates the situation. Can she identify the killer and return the missing pets to their homes?

Blue cats, big cats, plush cats, silly cats. If your happy place involves looking at pictures of cats, you won’t want to miss professional cat photographer Larry Johnson’s book “Show Cats: Portraits of Fine Felines.” In its pages, more than 180 images depict cats in all their glory: color, eyes, ears, tails, coat type, in motion and more. The accompanying text shares information and insights about the cats themselves and the challenges of photographing them.

If you’d rather see cats trip on ‘nip, look for Andrew Marttila’s “Cats On Catnip,” photographic documentation of the silly, bizarre and delightfully unhinged behaviors cats exhibit under the influence of the herb.

How do dogs smell? Frank Rosell set out to answer that question in his book “Secrets of the Snout: The Dog’s Incredible Nose.” He does a terrific job of explaining dogs’ olfactory obsessions as well as exploring the different types of work dogs do, including finding lost pets, search and rescue, and detecting explosives, pests and diseases. Sniff it out.

Ethologist Adam Miklosi brings together anatomy, behavior, biology, evolution and history to present the latest in what we know about dogs. His art- and photography-rich book “The Dog: A Natural History” ranges from the controversies over where and when domestication began to our current dog-loving culture and the attachment between humans and dogs.

Marc Bekoff’s “Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They Do” is a fine companion to Miklosi and Rosell’s books, bringing the latest science on cognition and emotion to canine personalities, play, marking habits and more, including the eternal question: Why do dogs roll in stinky things?

I must confess, my co-writers Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker and I are among the contributors to the next book, “From Fearful to Fear Free.” Subtitled “A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias,” it addresses how fear affects the canine brain, types of fears dogs can develop, such as separation anxiety and noise and thunderstorm phobias, and how to use reward-based techniques to reduce or even prevent fear at the veterinary clinic, out in public, on the road and more.

Kids who love animals and want to learn more about animal welfare can’t go wrong with Beth Adelman’s book “Dogs and Cats: Saving Our Precious Pets.” In easy-to-understand language, she addresses pet overpopulation, breed-specific legislation, genetic diversity, declawing and health problems caused by extreme physical characteristics, to name just a few of the important issues to consider when we live with animals. A quiz and suggested research project at the end of each chapter help readers remember what they’ve learned and find out more.

In “Catnip: A Love Story,” Michael Korda’s doodles of his cats’ imaginary lives -- reading the newspaper, happy hour at the local pub, a Fourth of July celebration -- are a joyful and humorous representation of the love for cats he and his wife shared.

Q&A

Common disorder

hard to diagnose

Q: My dog has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. What can you tell me about this disease?

A: Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain important hormones. Usually it develops when thyroid glands become inflamed (thyroiditis) or when the glands atrophy with age.

In most cases, the body’s immune system reacts by attacking and destroying thyroid gland cells, a condition called autoimmune thyroiditis. This causes thyroid glands to be less able to produce and secrete their hormones, leading to progressive and irreversible damage. The body’s metabolic rate drops, and dogs may gain weight or lose hair. We often see autoimmune thyroiditis in Doberman pinschers, beagles, golden retrievers and Akitas, but any dog can be affected.

It affects less than 1 percent of the canine population, but that still makes it the most common endocrine disease in dogs. It’s a concern in more than 70 breeds as well as in mixed breeds.

Hypothyroidism is challenging to diagnose and can be missed or mistaken for other disorders. That’s because it has a wide range of variable symptoms that are also seen in other diseases. Figuring out what’s going on requires a complete physical exam combined with several diagnostic tests and knowledge of other factors such as breed idiosyncrasies and illnesses and drugs that can influence test results.

Just a few of the common signs are thinning hair on both sides of the body or on the tail; skin that becomes dark, scaly or greasy; unusually heavy shedding; and lethargy. Dogs may feel cold all the time and seek out warm spots. Weight gain is one of the signs that may be overlooked because people associate it with aging instead of possible disease. The good news is that once diagnosed, hypothyroidism can be managed with a synthetic form of thyroid hormone given orally twice a day for the rest of the dog’s life. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet emergency costs

difficult to meet

-- Are you financially prepared for a pet health emergency? According to figures from pet insurance company Pet Plan, the average cost of emergency veterinary visits ranges from $800 to $1,500. A Bankrate survey found that only 39 percent of respondents would be able to cover a $1,000 emergency bill. Financial experts recommend saving $5,000 to $10,000 for pet emergency expenses, purchasing pet health insurance while pets are young and don’t have any pre-existing conditions, or opening a CareCredit medical credit card account. Finally, don’t be afraid to discuss your budget with the veterinarian, who can then help you decide the most cost-effective way to proceed.

-- The lagotto Romagnolo isn’t a fancy Italian racecar, but a curly-coated water retriever. The name means “lake dog of Romagna,” but the breed’s talents aren’t limited to fetching fallen waterfowl. He’s also a popular truffle-hunting dog. Lagotti (the plural of the name) are medium-size dogs weighing 24 to 35 pounds. The coat doesn’t shed much, but it requires regular professional grooming or an owner skilled with clippers. No fancy trims needed, though; he’s supposed to have a natural appearance. The dogs are affectionate, intelligent and exuberant, so be prepared to provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy.

-- Does your cat stink? If the smell is coming from his hind end, he may have poop stuck in his fur, especially if he has long hair. Gird your loins and give him a look-see. He may need to have the fur around his rear trimmed or a butt bath to get him clean. Cats who are overweight, arthritic or have some other condition that limits their mobility are most in need of a little grooming help from their human friends. Take them to the veterinarian, who may be able to diagnose the cause and recommend treatment. -- 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.

This delightful ailment can be treated by adopting one of the furry darlings at a local shelter, but a pedigreed kitten is also an option

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Every kitten is adorable, but some people look for breeds with a certain look, size, personality, activity level or other desirable trait. From Abyssinians to Turkish vans, there’s a pedigreed cat to suit anyone’s feline desires.

Not everyone starts out looking for a particular breed. Sometimes their choice of cat is a happy accident. That was the case with Ramona Marek of Portland, Oregon, who began looking for a new kitten after the death of her 15-year-old Maine coon-mix. Marek’s previous cats had been found -- in a ditch, on the side of an expressway, in an apartment complex laundry room. But this time, she and her husband searched several local shelters and rescue organizations, as well as Petfinder, with no luck.

“The kittens we were interested in had either been adopted or were on hold,” Marek says. “We went to a cat show in hopes of finding a kitten for adoption, since shelters often have a space at the shows.”

She didn’t find a kitten, but she did learn about cat breeds that matched the traits she was looking for: longhaired, social, affectionate. They included Maine coons, Norwegian forest cats and Siberians. With no shelter kitten available yet, Marek located a Siberian breeder who had a litter of 6-week-old silver tabby kittens, to be available when they were 12 weeks old. They put down a deposit but continued looking for a kitten to adopt. None turned up, and a month later, they went home with their little prince, Tsarevich Ivan, who still rules 13 years later.

Some people seek out cat breeds with reputations for being hypoallergenic, such as Siberians, Cornish rexes and sphynx. No cat is truly free of allergens, which are found not just on skin but also in saliva and urine. Individual cats may produce less of the proteins that trigger allergies than others, so spend lots of time with several different cats to make sure you’re comfortable around them before acquiring one.

Cats such as Persians are often in demand for their beautiful appearance and gentle nature. If there is such a thing as a couch potato cat, the Persian is it. The beautiful longhaired cats have a drawback, though: They shed. A lot. They also require daily grooming. Cat lovers who like the Persian personality but not the time required to comb them may choose an exotic, a shorthaired variety. Another consideration: Some Persians have a flat face, which can cause them to have breathing difficulties. Avoid cats with extreme characteristics.

Want an active, mischievous cat who might enjoy an adventurous lifestyle? Consider an Abyssinian, but know what you’re getting into. The cats are highly intelligent and can run you ragged as you try to stay one step ahead of them.

Any cat, pedigreed or not, can experience health problems, but some pedigreed breeds may be prone to specific diseases or conditions, ranging from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to periodontal disease.

“Be educated about potential health issues,” says veterinary cardiologist Sarah Miller, DVM, who lives with a pair of Maine coons. “Make sure the breeder is screening for the health problems that are inherent in the breed and that the breeder is breeding responsibly in order to keep these problems out of their lines.”

Buy from a breeder who puts the cat’s health and welfare foremost. That includes being willing to take the cat back at any point if you’re unable to keep him. Buying from a breeder has other advantages. Think full-time “tech support” from an expert. A reputable breeder will always be there to answer questions about behavior or development.

Before acquiring a pedigreed kitten, learn as much as possible about the breed by talking to breeders and other owners about activity level, health concerns and grooming requirements.

“Look at the kittens and both parents, if possible, and ask many questions,” Marek says. “For me, the experience was positive, educational and rewarding on many levels.”

Q&A

Why dogs think

we’re worth a lick

Q: My dog is constantly licking me. She likes to lick my legs, my hands, my face -- any place she can get to. Why do dogs do this?

A: Dogs do love to lick us, for lots of different reasons. One is that our skin is salty. If we’ve been perspiring, we taste even better, so you may notice that your dog loves to lick you even more in the summertime. I’m not sure why, but the scent or taste of lotion or sunscreen also seems to encourage dogs to lick. And dogs just love the scent of us -- stinky feet and all.

Another reason dogs love to lick us is because we give them attention when they do. Whether we laugh at the tickling sensation or push them away because we don’t want them to ingest sunscreen or that medicated gel we just applied, it makes them happy because we’ve taken notice of them and petted or spoken to them. In a dog’s world, not much is better than that.

The one thing that might be better for a dog is getting a treat, and licking us can be a way of saying, “Hey, over here! How about a bite of what you’re having?” Pups lick mom in hopes of a meal, and maybe grown dogs hope it will work on us, too.

Dogs also get a physiological “feel good” sensation from licking. The action releases hormones called endorphins that serve a stress-relieving function and help the dog feel comfortable or contented.

One fascinating reason dogs may lick humans is because they detect a health problem such as low blood sugar. In a survey of 212 dog owners with Type 1 diabetes, 49.2 percent said their dogs licked them when they were experiencing dangerously low blood sugar levels. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Cat writers group names

best books at banquet

-- The Cat Writers Association honored five books as the best of the best at its 24th annual awards banquet in Houston onJune 9. Winning the fiction category was "Cat Shining Bright" by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, author of the popular Joe Grey cat mystery series. The gift book winner was "Black Cats Tell All: True Tales and Inspiring Images," a collection of heartfelt stories about “house panthers” by Layla Morgan Wilde. Austen Redinger’s coloring book "Caring for Your Kitty" won the children’s category. "Cat Haiku" by V.S. Pittman won the poetry category. The President’s Award, honoring the best entry out of all categories, went to Sandy Lerner’s "Caticons: 4,000 Years of Art Imitating Cats," a collection of images, prose and poetry celebrating cats.

-- United Airlines will no longer transport certain dog and cat breeds in cargo, the company announced last month. The 44 dog breeds and four cat breeds include affenpinschers, Boston terriers, boxers, Brussels griffons, bulldogs, Chinese Shar-Pei, Lhasa apsos, mastiffs, Pekingese, pugs, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire bull terriers, Tibetan spaniels and, on the cat side, Burmese, exotics, Himalayans and Persians. Because of high temperatures, no pets will be accepted in cargo between May 1 and Sept. 30 to or from Las Vegas; Palm Springs, California; Phoenix; or Tucson, Arizona.

-- Cats have amazing auditory anatomy. With 32 muscles in the pinna, or outer ear, they can twitch their ears any which way -- forward, backward and to the side -- capturing even the slightest noises. Sound waves travel through the ear canal to the eardrum in the middle ear. The eardrum vibrates in response to the sound waves, and those vibrations are transmitted by the auditory ossicles -- three tiny bones known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup -- into the inner ear. There, nerve endings in the cochlea, the organ of hearing, pass the vibrations on to the brain, which translates them into sounds. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton, 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.

Is your pet suffering from cognitive dysfunction? How to recognize and manage it

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Rose was restless and agitated around dinnertime. The 11-year-old fawn pug paced, couldn’t settle down, and growled, snarled and snapped at her companion pug. Rose was normally a sweet dog, so the behavior was uncharacteristic. Her actions were specific to that time of day and faded as the evening wore on.

Owner Linda Lombardi took Rose to the veterinarian to see if a health problem or pain might be causing the unusual behavior. Nothing stood out, and Lombardi and her veterinarian wondered if Rose’s actions might be signs of cognitive dysfunction.

With age, some dogs and cats show signs of deteriorating mental ability, much like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in humans. There’s not a specific diagnostic test for it, but it may be a possibility if other health problems are ruled out and the pet exhibits common signs such as disorientation, changes in interactions with owners or other pets, disturbances in sleep-wake times, breaking housetraining, or changes in activity. (The acronym DISHA is a handy way to remember the signs.) Rose’s actions were a classic indication of cognitive dysfunction, or CD.

“A number of studies have examined the prevalence of spontaneously reported behavioral signs in senior pets referred to behavioral specialists,” says veterinary neurologist Richard A. LeCouteur, DVM. “In two canine studies, behavioral complaints related to aggression or fear and anxiety were most prevalent.”

There’s no cure for CD, but it can be managed in several ways. Rose’s veterinarian prescribed a drug called selegiline (Anipryl). It’s thought to work by enhancing dopamine and other catecholamines (hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine) in the cortex, causing an increase in cognitive functioning, says veterinary behaviorist Pamela J. Perry, DVM, Ph.D. It may also aid nervous system structure or function by reducing free radical production or increasing free radical-scavenging enzymes.

“The only way to confirm if it was CD was to try the meds, and if they helped, that was the right diagnosis,” Lombardi says. “It was a huge help. I felt like it gave me my dog back.”

The drug, which is sometimes used off-label in cats, has mixed results. It’s estimated that one-third of animals respond well, one-third have some response and one-third experience no change. It can take two to six weeks to see a benefit, and if no improvement occurs by two months, the medication probably isn’t going to help. Animals taking drugs such as tramadol, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or tick preventives containing Amitraz should not take selegiline.

Medication isn’t the only way to help a pet with CD. Mental enrichment can help to maintain cognitive function, Dr. Perry says. That includes play, gentle exercise, food toys, short reward-based training sessions (practicing tricks or obedience skills) and fun social interactions.

Keep your pet’s routine consistent. Schedule meals, walks and other activities at the same time every day, as much as possible. If your pet is sleeping at odd hours and waking you in the middle of the night, try to provide more activity during the day and immediately before bedtime to help him sleep through the night.

Housetraining accidents may mean your dog needs extra outdoor potty trips or an indoor canine litter box. Cats may need additional litter boxes throughout the house in easily accessible areas. Choose litter boxes with low sides that are easy for the animal to get in and out of.

Any time you see changes in your pet’s behavior, bring it to your veterinarian’s attention.

“Yearly questionnaires are helpful for monitoring and assessing changes in a senior pet’s behavior,” Dr. Perry says. “Because CD is a progressive disease, it is best to instigate treatment early.”

Q&A

Pet queasy in cars?

Ways to help

Q: We’re going on a road trip next month. We’d like to bring our dog, but she gets carsick. Do you have any tips to help her be more comfortable?

A: Motion sickness is no fun for anyone, including pets. It occurs when the semicircular canals and other parts of the inner ear that control balance become overstimulated. Pets with severe motion sickness can start to experience nausea just at the sight of a car.

Luckily, there are several things you can try to help ease your pet’s queasy feeling. For mild signs, offer a couple of gingersnap cookies beforehand (check the ingredient list to make sure they aren’t sweetened with xylitol). Transport the pet on an empty stomach, especially if you’ll be driving all day.

Natural supplements such as Anxitane can help relieve signs of anxiety and in turn help to relieve physical signs of motion sickness. Pets with severe motion sickness can benefit from prescription medications such as Cerenia, for nausea, and Xanax, for anxiety. Spritz the car and the carrier with canine calming pheromones, such as Adaptil.

For long-term improvement, try desensitization techniques to help her enjoy car rides. Start by doing something she likes near the car, such as playing catch or practicing tricks and getting rewarded. When she’s comfortable being near the car, put treats inside to encourage her to stick her head in or get in on her own. Give more treats and praise. Have your dog be in the car for a couple of minutes while it sits in the driveway. Repeat. When she’s OK with that, start the car, back up and then pull back into the driveway. Then go for a short ride down the street. During each step, give lots of great treats to help her associate the car with good things. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dream on, kitty.

How, why cats nap

-- Cats sleep up to 18 hours a day. We don’t know exactly why, but it’s likely that they need to rest frequently for bursts of hunting. Among mammals, predators such as cats spend the most time in REM sleep, characterized by rapid eye movements, dreaming, rapid pulse and breathing, and body movements such as paws twitching or tail swishing. If your cat is in this phase of sleep, you may notice that it’s difficult to awaken him, but while his body may be limp, his brain is highly active. Kittens and senior cats sleep the most, but any cat enjoys a nap after play or a meal.

-- Headed to the beach? You might want to look for one with a canine “poop patrol.” A study published last month in the Journal of Environmental Quality found fewer beach closings in areas with specially trained dogs to chase away seagulls -- whose droppings are the main source of E. coli bacteria levels leading to beach closings. During the study, dogs and their handlers patrolled Lake Michigan beaches in Indiana daily for one month in 2015 and from June through September in 2016. The presence of gulls dropped by nearly 100 percent, resulting in fewer beach closings.

-- Summer is upon us, and with it comes one of the big health threats to dogs: overheating. Dogs don’t sweat the same way people do, and it’s much more difficult for them to regulate their temperature when it’s hot and humid outside. You may already know that short-snouted breeds such as bulldogs, French bulldogs, Pekingese and pugs are at high risk of heatstroke, but other dogs who can have problems from high temperatures include those with dark coats and those with coats more suited to extreme cold -- think Siberian huskies or Alaskan malamutes. Get your dog to the veterinarian if you notice frantic panting, glassy eyes, drooling and confusion. -- 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.