A painful tooth or other oral problem isn’t always obvious, so it’s important to look deeper for potential problems

Andrews McMeel Syndication

A couple of years ago, I had a pet owner bring in an adult cat because she was meowing differently. That’s not much to go on, but I did a complete physical exam and found nothing. I suggested blood work, which also came back normal. Then I suggested sedation so that we could get radiographs. Again, we found nothing abnormal, so I suggested that we keep the cat and do medical rounds with the rest of the staff. When the three veterinarians and a couple of vet techs gathered and went over the history, we decided to start at the tip of the cat's nose and proceed with another detailed exam. This time, I took a pair of hemostats and gently tapped the cat's teeth, starting in the front. When I got to the cat's left upper fang and barely touched it, the cat just about shot up into orbit. We could find nothing else wrong on the repeat exam. We then did digital dental radiographs and saw that the root of the tooth was abscessed. After we surgically removed the infected tooth, the cat acted as if she had been relieved of incredible pain.

What started out as a different meow turned out to be a serious problem that was relieved only after a lot of detective work. Oral problems in dogs and cats aren’t always visible at first glance. Pets don’t have any way of telling us that something is wrong, and it’s natural for them to hide signs of weakness or pain so they don’t become targets of predators. It’s up to us as owners and veterinarians to be aware of changes in behavior that could signal pain or illness and to look beneath the surface for potential causes of problems. Here are some obvious and not-so-obvious signs that your cat or dog has a painful mouth and some of the conditions that might be causing the problem.

-- Inflamed gums or tartar buildup on the teeth. Your pet may have gingivitis -- inflammation of the gums -- or periodontal disease. Left untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontal disease, which causes teeth to become infected and loose.

-- Bad breath or a bad smell in the mouth area. Repeat after me: It’s not normal for pets to have bad breath or any other bad odors. In the mouth area, it can signal dental disease or an infection of the lip folds in heavy-lipped breeds such as basset hounds, cocker spaniels or St. Bernards. Bad breath can also be associated with kidney disease.

-- Drooling. This is another sign of periodontal disease, as well as of mouth infections and foreign bodies such as splinters or burrs stuck in the mouth. Bad breath and drooling can also be signs of oral cancer.

-- Change in eating habits. If your dog or cat is reluctant to eat or picks up pieces of food and then drops them, there’s a good chance that the mouth hurts. He may have a broken tooth or a sore mouth from a type of inflammation called stomatitis.

-- Swelling. An abscessed tooth root is filled with pus that can cause swelling beneath the eye or a nasty condition called an oral-nasal fistula that occurs when an abscessed tooth breaks into the nasal cavity, allowing food and water to move from the mouth into the nose, coming back out through the nose. Yuck!

Don’t let your dog or cat get down in the mouth! Examine his mouth monthly for signs of problems such as redness, loose teeth and painful areas. You may need to put your money where his mouth is. He’ll thank you for it!

Q&A

Spay technique offers

option for dog owners

Q: I heard about a new way of spaying dogs that’s supposed to be easier on them than the traditional surgery. Can you tell me more about it?

A: Spay surgery -- technically known as an ovariohysterectomy -- is the removal of the ovaries and uterus through an abdominal incision. It’s usually done when puppies are 6 to 9 months old, although it can be done as early as 8 weeks of age or at any time in adulthood.

The procedure you ask about is called an ovariectomy, and it involves removing only the ovaries. It’s done laparoscopically, meaning the surgeon makes two tiny incisions: one for placement of a small camera so the organs can be seen and one for inserting instruments to remove the ovaries.

Called a lap spay for short, the technique is associated with less pain and a more rapid recovery time than traditional spay surgery. If you’ve had laparoscopic surgery yourself, you probably know how quickly you feel better afterward. The lap spay doesn’t require as much manipulation of the organs, so it is easier to perform. It’s well suited to young dogs because they are usually healthy and not overweight.

The drawback is that lap spays aren’t yet widely available and can be more expensive than traditional spays. Veterinarians who perform the procedure must first undergo advanced training and obtain specialized equipment. Before scheduling your dog for one, ask how many lap spays the veterinarian has performed and what the success rates were.

If you have pet health insurance for your dog, the plan won’t cover the surgery itself, but it may cover the price difference because lap spays usually have fewer complications. It can’t hurt to ask. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Researchers identify

key cancer gene

-- A large epidemiological study published in the journal PLOS One sheds light on golden retriever health. One of the significant findings was the prevalence of cancer in the breed. Out of 652 goldens included in the study, 65 percent died of cancer. The most common type of cancer that affects the breed is hemangiosarcoma -- a type of cancer that invades blood vessels and occurs primarily in dogs. In the future, researchers hope to determine why goldens experience such a high incidence of cancer.

-- Dalmatian puppies look white when they are born. Their spots, which can be black or liver-colored (ranging from a light reddish-brown to a dark chocolate brown), don’t start to appear until they are approximately 2 weeks old.

-- Call us old-fashioned, but we still think books are great gifts. If you are looking for presents for pet lovers, here are some suggestions. “My Life in a Cat House,” by best-selling author Gwen Cooper, is a continuation of her adventures with her feline family of five. The eight stories will leave cat lovers laughing in recognition. In "Smoky the Brave," Damien Lewis tells the story of World War II’s smallest hero: a Yorkshire terrier who earned eight battle stars for her aid to troops on the island of Papua New Guinea, including barking a warning of an incoming attack and pulling a cable through a 70-foot pipe. Adventurer Bear Grylls calls it a heartwarming and uplifting story of tiny paws and stupendous bravery. "City of Dogs" by Ken Foster and photographer Traer Scott tells the story of New Yorkers from all five boroughs and their dogs. In "The Secret Language of Cats," author Susanne Schotz, a professor at Sweden’s Lund University, introduces readers to the full range of feline vocalizations. Publishers Weekly writes, “This lively title will help cat lovers achieve a surprising and animating level of understanding with their house 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.

Teach these 3 habits to save your cat’s 9 lives

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

In the aftermath of a disaster such as the recent California wildfires -- a time when people and pets often become separated for reasons beyond their control -- it’s easy to worry about how to respond when lives are at risk. That’s especially true for cat owners, whose pets tend to hide at the best of times and are even more likely to do so during an emergency. Leaving them behind seems unthinkable, but if you are staring down a fire, flood or tornado, you may have no option if your cat can’t be found.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You can teach your cat three habits that may save his life, not just during an emergency but in day-to-day living: come when called, willingly enter and ride in a carrier and scratch on a post. Here’s how.

-- Come when called. When my husband and I acquired our first two cats, we didn’t know the received wisdom that “cats can’t be trained.” So we taught them to come to a whistle. Every time we fed them, we whistled a particular refrain. Soon we could whistle at any time of day, from any place in the house, and our cats would come running. If you can’t just put your lips together and blow, use another signal, such as ringing a bell, blowing a whistle or crinkling a treat bag. Always give a reward when your cat responds. Cats don’t work for free, after all.

-- Enter and ride in a carrier. Every cat owner at one time or another has wrestled a cat into a carrier. No one likes it -- least of all the cat. I asked fellow Pet Connection contributor and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker for tips on conditioning cats to love their carrier.

She says the key to carrier contentment is to give cats a positive association with it. Leave it out in your living room or other area where your cat likes to spend time, so she can explore it at leisure. Enhance its attractiveness as a hidey hole or resting spot by leaving treats inside for your cat to find (with a trail of them leading up to it), feeding meals in it (leave the door open), lining it with comfortable bedding, placing catnip or silver vine in it and applying a feline pheromone product to elicit calm feelings.

When transporting the carrier, hold it in both arms, close to your body, so your cat isn’t swinging at your side. Place the carrier on the floor of the car behind the passenger seat, where it won’t move excessively while the car is in motion. Play cat-specific music during the drive. Take your cat for rides to places other than the veterinary clinic. We often took those first two cats to the bank drive-through window or to Dairy Queen.

-- Using a scratching post. Coming when called and going into a carrier have obvious benefits, but using a scratching post? You bet. Up to 42 percent of behavior complaints about cats involve destructive scratching, according to the AVMA. Cats who don’t scratch destructively are more likely to stay in their homes for life and to be welcome in homes or hotels if their people have to evacuate.

Four rules apply when teaching a cat to use a scratching post:

1. Never punish or frighten your cat while he’s using the post.

2. If you see him scratching where he shouldn’t, gently redirect him to the post, using a feather or fishing pole toy as a lure. Run your fingers up and down the post; the sound and motion will attract your cat’s attention and encourage him to scratch.

3. Attract your cat to the post with catnip, silver vine or a product such as Feliway Feliscratch.

4. Reward your cat whenever he uses the post, goes in the carrier or comes when called.

Q&A

Two readers ask

about nosebleeds

Q: My dog had a nosebleed today. Should I take her to the vet or just see if it happens again?

Q: My dog was sneezing and produced bloody mucus for three weeks. An X-ray and flushing out the nose didn’t produce an answer. He is 14 and doesn’t seem to be in pain. What should I do?

A: In both cases, further examination is a good idea. Dogs experience nosebleeds for a number of reasons. Vigorous sneezing caused by foreign bodies, inflammation or infection can damage delicate nasal blood vessels. Trauma such as hitting the nose on a hard surface can cause nosebleeds. Other possible causes include tooth root abscesses, benign polyps or malignant nasal tumors. Spontaneous nosebleeds might result if a dog ingests rat poison, causing reduced production of clotting factors. Nosebleeds can also be linked to heritable conditions such as von Willebrand’s disease, which slows clotting and can lead to prolonged bleeding.

Those are just a few of the possible causes. Other factors include age, size or nose type. Older dogs or dogs with long noses such as greyhounds or collies are more likely to have some type of nasal tumor. Young small- or medium-size dogs are more likely to experience trauma-related nosebleeds, and large dogs are more likely to have rhinitis (inflammation of nasal mucous membranes) of unknown cause. Dogs who go hiking or hunting with owners may be exposed to tick-borne illnesses, foreign bodies or rodenticides that affect nasal passages and cause bleeding.

A thorough medical history and complete physical exam -- from eyes to rear end -- can help veterinarians determine a not-so-obvious underlying cause. Basic diagnostics include a complete blood count (CBC), general chemistry, urinalysis and blood pressure. A CT scan or rhinoscopy may be necessary as well. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Clinics, shelters help

evacuees find pets

-- Northern California veterinary clinics and shelters are working overtime to help reunite people and pets separated by last month’s wildfires. The North Valley Animal Disaster Group has created a website -- campfirerescuedanimals.com -- to help Camp Fire evacuees track down pets who may have survived. The resources page lists additional shelters and veterinary clinics where missing pets and large animals may be housed. Photos are updated daily. Owners who wish to reclaim an animal can do so by providing photo ID of the pet, describing unique markings or otherwise showing proof of ownership. Identified animals will be cared for until owners can take them again.

-- If you’re a dog lover planning to visit Switzerland, consider a stop at Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard in Bourg-Saint-Pierre, where Saint Bernard dogs originated. Located high on a mountain pass near the Swiss-Italian border, the hospice still provides a welcome to travelers, who can stay at the inn, dine at the restaurant or, in the nearby town of Martigny, tour the Barryland museum dedicated to the dogs. Activities include a 45-minute hike with two of the dogs. The walk schedule varies, so check ahead of time.

-- A higher percentage of United States households owns dogs than cats, according to the 2017-2018 Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Approximately 38 percent of households owned one or more dogs, followed by 25 percent of U.S. households with cats. The population of exotic pets is growing as well, with more than 13 percent of households claiming fish, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, turtles, snakes, lizards, poultry or amphibians. The 10 states with the highest percentage of pet-owning households in 2016 were Wyoming, West Virginia, Nebraska, Vermont, Idaho, Indiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Colorado. -- 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.

What to put under the tree for your dog or cat to unwrap: 12 perfect pet presents

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

While most of you were out shopping on Black Friday, we were deliberating over the best toys, treats and trappings for good dogs and cats. (That would be all of them, of course.) Based on our finds from walking miles and miles at Global Pet Expo earlier this year, trawling online sites, investigating pet supply store aisles and questioning pet-loving friends, we came up with 12 great gifts your pet will be happy to unwrap during this festive season.

-- Wish your little dog didn’t have to miss out on long hikes? Pack her on your back in Kurgo’s sturdy G-Train K9 Pack. Holds dogs up to 25 pounds, with side and zippered pockets for gear. $130, kurgo.com.

-- Your feline superhero needs a luxury lair where she can plot her next foray against agents of evil, er, dogs. All the best hideaways are ecofriendly and chill, much like the felted wool Cat Cave, colored with nontoxic dyes. $70, lesharmatrading.com.

-- With their erratic flight and bounce, Rogz Pop-Upz present dogs with an intriguing puzzle: Where will they land? But whether you toss them on the ground or in the water, the durable toys always land right-side-up for easy grabbing. Medium, $10.99, large, $13.99, chewy.com.

-- Catch your cat’s attention with the beautiful handcrafted “flies” that go with the extendable Neko Flies Ultimate Rod. Cats will love the dynamic and realistic movement of their “prey,” and you will love the durability. Ultimate Rod, $40; flies, $11 to $16 each; amazon.com.

-- Who doesn’t love a good massage? Your dog will melt beneath the relaxing motion of the PetWell therapeutic massagers developed by certified canine rehab veterinarian Amanda Hensley. With five different designs for different purposes, including grooming and tension relief, choose the one your pet needs most or get them all. $15, gaiam.com/pages/petwell.

-- Catch as cat can? Give your indoor cat the opportunity of a lifetime: catching a mouse! An electronic mouse, that is. With Mousr, your cat can pit himself against a self-driving electronic mouse that operates on any household surface, zigging, zagging and righting itself as needed. Bonus: customizable, replaceable tails. Mousr has a battery life of 40 minutes and a wireless range of 32 feet. $185; petronics.io.

-- Toss your dog a treat, learn that he’s barking because your house is on fire (true story!) and livestream his activity during the day -- even when you’re away from home. The Furbo dog camera and treat dispenser allows you to toss treats via the free app, receive pet “selfies” or notifications that your dog is barking, or subscribe to activity alerts that can let you know if your dog is chewing on cords or displaying signs of separation anxiety such as frequent pacing or licking. Starting at $169; shopus.furbo.com/products/furbo-dog-camera.

-- Want to let your dog dispense his own treats? Introduce him to the Push-N-Pop, an interactive food/treat dispenser that releases kibble or treats whenever your dog nudges it. It’s a great way to keep him entertained and active during the day. $30, amazon.com.

-- Build your cat a custom playground with Catit modules. Interactive pieces include a fountain, food tree, track, digging tubes, grass planter and more. $15 to $30, catit.com.

-- Got a digger and want to save your yard? The iDig by iFetch gives your terrier or other digging dog an outlet for his natural behavior. Load it with treats or toys and then let your pup figure out how to get at them. Get iDig Stay for at-home play by aggressive diggers or the soft iDig Go for travel or for less enthusiastic diggers. $80, amazon.com.

-- Get your cat in the Christmas spirit with a tree-shaped cave felted from Himalayan wool. The lanolin scent is one that cats love, and they will feel safe in the cozy den. $90, dharmadogkarmacat.com.

-- Unless you live somewhere warm, your dog will probably have to wait to splash in this item, but once it’s warm enough, he’ll love the DOOG Pop-Up Pool, available in three sizes. $45 to $60, doogusa.com.

Q&A

Signs of cancer

to watch for

Q: The breed of dog I have is prone to cancer, and it scares me. Are there signs I can watch for to help catch it early?

A: That’s a smart move on your part. In the early stages, cancer is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Among the signs to watch for are soft lumps or bumps on the skin; lameness; swelling or cysts along the mammary chain; unexplained weight gain or weight loss; bleeding or other discharge from the mouth, eyes, nose or urogenital area; blood in the urine; sores that don’t heal; difficulty chewing or swallowing; a bad smell in the mouth or anywhere else on the body; loss of energy; bleeding or broken toenails; and swollen or rapidly enlarging lymph nodes.

Many breeds, as well as mixed breeds, are prone to various types of cancer. We see cancer more commonly in dogs as they age, but it can certainly occur in younger dogs. Common cancers include squamous cell carcinoma of the nail bed (between toenail and toe), melanoma, fibrosarcoma of the mouth, osteosarcoma (bone cancer), mammary tumors, lymphosarcoma and cancer of the bladder or urethra.

Different breeds may be prone to different types of cancer. We often see mast cell tumors in boxers, histiocytic sarcoma in Bernese mountain dogs, lymphoma in golden retrievers and osteosarcoma in Rottweilers and greyhounds. Black standard poodles appear to be more likely than lighter colored poodles to develop squamous cell carcinoma of the nail bed. Two other black-coated breeds with increased risk of this type of cancer are briards and giant schnauzers, so in some instances, genes that influence development of this type of cancer may be riding the coattails of coat color genes.

Regularly running your hands over your dog’s entire body and paying attention to differences can help ensure that your pet gets an early diagnosis and treatment. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Drug in development

may help humans, dogs

-- In a pre-clinical trial, a drug called Ropesalazine helped improve cognitive function of six companion dogs experiencing severe cognitive dysfunction, according to the manufacturer, GNT Pharma in South Korea. The dogs, whose signs included disorientation, changes in their sleep/wake cycle, increased house soiling and altered interactions with family members, returned to normal cognitive function and interactions after eight weeks of daily administration of the drug. Ropesalazine is intended to prevent inflammation and free radicals that contribute to nerve cell death, amyloid plaque production and neurofibrillary tangle formation. It is being studied for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in humans and may become available for use in companion animals next year.

-- Pet ferrets in North America are at risk for genetic disorders and disease because of a lack of genetic diversity, creating a genetic bottleneck. Researchers at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Wyoming are seeking to understand genetics of domestic ferrets with the goal of treating and preventing disease more effectively. Their findings, published in the journal Evolutionary Applications, determined that North American ferret breeding programs would benefit from introduction of more genetically diverse European ferrets as well as minimizing inbreeding among the animals.

-- The Million Cat Challenge, created by veterinarians Julie Levy and Kate Hurley, set a goal to save shelter cats from unnecessary euthanasia. Their five-year campaign, from 2014 through 2018, was intended to improve the health and ensure the adoption of shelter animals. They succeeded. So far, more than 1,000 shelters together have saved more than 1,500,000 cats, using techniques that include providing alternatives to giving cats up to shelters, removing barriers to adoption, and spaying or neutering, vaccinating and returning unowned cats to their colonies instead of killing them. The final tally will be released this spring. -- 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.