Canines of all kinds love to play in snow, whether they’re born to it or not

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

They make snow angels, run circles, come skiing and snowshoeing, toss snow up with their noses and tunnel through it. Dogs of all kinds love to play in the snow, not just Nordic breeds such as Alaskan malamutes, Akitas and Siberian huskies, but any dog with cold-weather heritage -- and some you might not think of as snow lovers, including those on the smaller side. When the weather gets cold, these dogs are rarin’ to be out in it.

Afghan hounds have a reputation of being regal and dignified, but they turn into lighthearted clowns in snow, kicking it up as they run in circles and play-bow. Although they have long, thick hair, a coat is a good idea if they’re out for long periods.

Tibet is another mountainous country with a harsh climate. It’s no surprise that Tibetan mastiffs, with their thick double coats, enjoy wrestling in snow -- but don’t discount smaller Tibetan breeds. Tibetan spaniels relish romping in snow as much as their larger cousins. Mid-size Tibetan terriers, with large, round, flat feet that allow for traction and an easy stride in snow, rocket through the white stuff with glee.

The shiba inu, a spitz breed from Japan, hails from a mountainous area and has a thick undercoat for insulation from the cold. Snow brings out this breed’s playful nature as they run through it, flip it in the air and roll in it.

Serious herding and working breeds aren’t above a little snow play. Pyrenean shepherds and Great Pyrenees, both from the eponymous French mountain region, are right at home in snow and cold, ready for a winter hike any time you are -- as long as they’re conditioned for it, of course.

Corgis don’t care if the snow is over their heads; they just plow through, sometimes with only their ears sticking up. One of YouTube’s cutest videos is of a “train” of corgis lined up and pushing their way through snow drifts.

Irish water spaniels don’t limit themselves to liquid H2O. They kick up their heels in snow and stick their heads beneath it. Labrador and golden retrievers roll joyfully, kicking their legs up and making snow angels.

Of course, when it comes to snow play, spitz or Nordic dogs rule. Active people who want a dog for winter conditions can’t go wrong with a Finnish Lapphund, Finnish spitz, Icelandic sheepdog, Norwegian buhund or Samoyed. On the smaller side are Alaskan klee kai, American Eskimos and Pomeranians.

No matter what breed or mix your snow-loving dog is, some common-sense care tips will carry him safely through any polar vortex:

-- Provide a coat for dogs with single coats -- meaning they have no insulating underlayer -- slender bodies with little insulation from body fat, and dogs who are puppies, seniors or on the small side. These dogs will get cold more quickly or have a difficult time regulating body temperature.

-- Your dog doesn’t need booties for a brief play session in the yard, but consider them if you don’t want to remove ice balls or dry off feet, you’re walking on streets or sidewalks treated with salt or other deicing chemicals, or hiking for long periods in snow. If Iditarod dogs need them, your dog needs them.

-- Limit time in snow, especially if your snow-loving dog isn’t really built for cold conditions. Bring in little dogs, young or old dogs or those with short hair after 15 to 20 minutes -- or earlier if you notice they are shivering.

-- Offer shelter. Most Alaskan malamutes, Great Pyrenees and similar dogs would live in snow 24/7 if they could, and thrive in it, but they should always have access to a doghouse, shed or other protective area in case conditions go beyond their comfort zone.

Q&A

Mold affects

humans and pets

Q: We discovered three weeks ago that our house has black mold, thanks to all the rain we’ve been having. Can that affect our pets? I’ve noticed that our 12-year-old pug has puffy eyes and is coughing and sneezing.

A: You bet! In fact, pets may be more susceptible to the ill effects of mold because they are often closer to it, being lower to the ground.

Evidence shows that in humans, exposure to indoor mold is linked to such symptoms as coughing and wheezing. While there’s no proven association for pets, they can experience similar signs. Humans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or asthma may have difficulty breathing when exposed to molds. It makes sense that pets with shortened muzzles, such as pugs or bulldogs, could also have difficulty breathing in this situation. Pets with allergies or suppressed immune systems may be more susceptible to the effects of molds as well.

Different types of molds are common in moist indoor areas. They come in through open doors or windows, heating and air conditioning systems, on clothing and even on pet paws, so there’s no real way to avoid them. If indoor moisture is excessive -- say you have leaks from rain, or your home floods -- molds can grow out of control.

Your veterinarian can determine if your dog’s signs are related to mold or asbestos exposure, some other type of allergen or asthma, and prescribe an appropriate treatment.

For long-term health of humans and pets in your family, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says mold can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water or a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water (more bleach is not better). You will likely have to remove and replace carpets, insulation or wallboard in which mold is growing. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Fuzzy math? What’s

behind pet stats?

-- How many dogs and cats are there in the United States? Numbers vary depending on who you ask and the statistical methods used, according a report last month in The Washington Post. The American Pet Products Association says 68 percent of U.S. households were populated by pets in 2016 -- 90 million dogs and 94 million cats -- while the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that only 57 percent of households had a pet at the end of 2016, with 77 million dogs and 58 million cats. That’s a substantial difference. Who’s right? And does it matter? Survey results can be thrown off if they’re not weighted for factors such as geography and gender, and opt-in versus randomized methods can affect results as well. Solid population numbers are important when it comes to tracking euthanasia rates, estimating feral cat populations and determining whether there are enough pets to meet demand. The bottom line? Based on 3 out of 4 surveys, pet numbers appear to be stable, not increasing.

-- The recently approved farm bill affects more than farming and food prices. According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, it also establishes the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program and the National Animal Vaccine and Countermeasures Bank and authorizes funding for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. The bill also expands federal protections for domestic violence victims to include pets, emotional support animals, service animals and horses; authorizes a federal grant program to help domestic violence victims find shelter and include veterinary care costs as part of restitution in some cases; and sets penalties for abusing pets.

-- Hamsters are naturally clean animals and spend much of their time grooming themselves. Hamsters that don’t groom themselves may be ill and should be checked by a veterinarian. -- 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.

Looking for Mr. or Ms. Right? Your dog or cat can help

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Remember the meet-cute scene in "101 Dalmatians," where the couple's dogs bring them together? It happens in real life, too.

Molly McNamara of Lyons, Colorado, met her husband-to-be, Jeff McGlynn, at the obedience class she was attending with her dog. It was love at first sight -- for her dog.

"My dog was so bananas for him that he wouldn't pay attention after Jeff arrived," she says. "At first I used to just get mad when he and his dog showed up because my well-behaved 1-year-old bearded collie, Max, would lose his mind and drag me across the room to see them. So, clearly, the dog knew first."

It took six months before the pair started dating, with many of the dates involving taking their dogs hiking or to the beach. McNamara discovered later that McGlynn was staying in the class only to see her. His Saint Bernard was already well-behaved and didn't really need the practice.

"Introduction by dog" is a time-honored method of finding true love, and now science has confirmed its efficacy. In their study "The Roles of Pet Dogs and Cats in Human Courtship and Dating," published in the quarterly journal Anthrozoos, researchers -- who surveyed more than 1,200 Match.com users -- found that 35 percent of women and 26 percent of men said they had been more attracted to someone because he or she owned a pet.

Men are more likely to use a pet -- generally a dog -- as "date bait," with 22 percent admitting to the tactic. Only 6 percent of women said they had used a pet to attract potential dates.

Women, on the other hand, are more likely to rely on their dogs and cats as barometers of a date's trustworthiness. Nearly half of the women responding said they judged dates based on how the person responded to their pet, and 76 percent evaluated dates based on whether their pets liked the person.

"My dogs have helped me see who is and isn't a good match based on how the guys responded to the dogs, and vice versa," says Elizabeth Barden Ackerman of Los Angeles. "The ones who are scared of my giant black Lab are quickly let go. The one who naturally pats and plays with him, refills his water bowl without being asked and who watches the dog and hilariously narrates his thoughts? He's special."

Allia Zobel Nolan of New York City knew the man she met was her true love because of the way he treated her cats, even though at heart he was a dog person.

"He loved me, so he loved my cats," she says.

Gail Parker of Philadelphia stopped seeing one man after her dog, a German shepherd, growled at him. She gave another the heave-ho when he called her Irish setter stupid.

The study's lead author, University of Nevada, Las Vegas anthropology professor Peter Gray, suggests that pets' status as family members could explain the significant influence they wield in the choices people make about who they date. He and fellow researchers, UNLV graduate student Shelly Volsche; Justin Garcia of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University; and Helen Fisher of Rutgers University, say dog ownership may signal "a potential mate's caregiving capacity." How a person treats a pet could indicate how he or she would treat a mate and children.

McNamara and McGlynn? At their eventual wedding, more dogs than people were in attendance.

"Max is turning 14 in a month, and Jeff is still his most favorite human ever," McNamara says.

Q&A

Bird's bald spots

can have multiple causes

Q: My African grey parrot is losing his feathers, and my veterinarian wants to run lab tests. I thought feather-plucking was a behavioral problem. What can lab tests tell us? -- via email

A: Feather-destructive disorder is a common and complex problem in birds. Among the species in which we typically see it are cockatoos, African greys, macaws, conures, cockatiels and lovebirds.

It's normal for birds to preen, or groom, their feathers to remove dirt or parasites, but when they start chewing the feathers, pulling them out altogether or even mutilating their bodies, the cause can be medical, behavioral or a combination of the two.

Underlying medical causes of feather-plucking can include inflammatory skin disease, low levels of thyroid hormones, liver or kidney disorders or tumors, to name just a few. Among the possible environmental causes are low humidity, poor lighting or changes in the bird's routine. Behavioral causes include boredom, anxiety and frustration. Sometimes the condition can have multiple causes. Because of this, diagnosing it can be a challenge.

A thorough medical history and, ideally, an environmental and behavioral evaluation are the foundation of a diagnosis, but a complete blood count, chemistry profile, screening for infectious disease, bacterial and fungal cultures, fecal exam and skin and feather follicle biopsies can all provide valuable information.

Treatment takes time and patience, and it may not lead to a complete cure. Depending on the cause, medication can help to reduce inflammation, itchiness and anxiety. Even if the cause is medical, enriching the bird's environment with interesting toys, opportunities to climb or fly and foods that require the bird to work to get at them is a valuable component of treatment. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pets need dental

care annually

-- It’s National Pet Dental Health Month. What are you doing to keep your dog or cat’s teeth clean? The basics include brushing teeth frequently (daily is best) and getting a professional exam and cleaning annually by your pet’s veterinarian. To help dogs or cats enjoy tooth brushing -- and, by extension, ensuring that you enjoy brushing your pet’s teeth -- here are some tips. Start small; brush just a few teeth at a time. Give pets a reason to enjoy the experience: Practice with peanut butter for dogs or tuna juice for cats. Reward pets with a dental treat after brushing.

-- Pets are popular on Instagram. Top dogs and cool cats include canine pop culture king Doug the pug (@itsdougthepug); Manny the Frenchie (@manny_the_frenchie), who promotes animal rescue organizations; Venus (@venustwofacecat), noted for her split face -- half black, half orange -- and odd eyes -- one green and one blue; Jack (@jackthecockatiel), a skateboarding cockatiel from Brazil; Ella Bean (@ellabeanthedog), a fashionista Chihuahua; Lil Bub (@iamlilbub), a cat who has raised more than $200,000 for animal-related charities; Nala (@nala_cat), whose 3.8 million followers make her the most-followed feline on Instagram; and working dog K-9 Piper (@airportk9), a border collie who helps control wildlife at the airport in Traverse City, Michigan.

-- United Airlines and Delta Airlines no longer permit animals younger than 4 months in the cabin, whether they are pets, emotional-support animals or service animals. The only emotional support animals allowed are dogs and cats. Also banned are emotional-support dogs and cats on flights longer than eight hours. Southwest Airlines put in a place a requirement limiting emotional-support animals to dogs, cats and occasionally miniature horses. The changes come in the wake of bite incidents and other unacceptable behavior. -- 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.

A benched dog show such as Westminster is a great way to see unusual breeds and learn more about any breeds you might be interested in

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Whose dog is best?

People have been arguing about that for centuries, if not millennia. In the 19th century, the competition was heightened by the creation of dog shows. In 1877, gentlemen of Gilded Age New York, members of the Westminster Kennel Club, staged “The First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs.”

Today we know it as Westminster, the Super Bowl of dog shows, annually drawing millions of dog-loving watchers in person and worldwide via television and streaming video. This year -- the 143rd -- 2,879 dogs of 204 breeds and varieties will strut their stuff at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 11 and 12.

As many times as I’ve been to Westminster or watched it on television, it’s still fun to see the spectacle. There are dogs from all 50 states -- with the largest contingent of 246 from California -- the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 14 other countries, including Canada, South Korea and Thailand.

Westminster is a benched show, meaning that when they’re not in the ring, dogs are on display for the public to see and even touch -- with the breeder or handler’s permission, of course. It’s a great opportunity to get up close and personal with breeds you’re considering as companions, to see just how big they are, find out how much fur they have, and most important, ask the experts what they’re like to live with.

Most people are familiar with the televised spectacle that is group competition, but the show begins at the breed level, with members of each breed competing for best of breed, the title that will take them into the group competition.

Who are the dogs competing? The top five dogs in each breed receive an invitation, but that still leaves approximately 1,780 spots available. Dogs who have earned points toward a championship can be entered; whether they get in depends on how quickly the entry is delivered. First come, first served.

Dogs who prevail in each breed during the day appear in the ring Monday and Tuesday evenings to compete for a spot in the groups. This year, hound, toy, nonsporting and herding breeds compete on Monday; sporting, working and terrier are on Tuesday. Then the winners of each group compete for best in show. Two new breeds join the fray this year: the Nederlandse kooikerhondje and the grand basset griffon Vendeen.

Whether they are toy poodles or Tibetan mastiffs, every dog entered is a top athlete, both physically and mentally. Fitness routines include working out on treadmills, swimming or jogging. Show dogs often score the services of pet massage therapists, acupuncturists or chiropractors to keep their bodies in good working order. Beneath perfectly coiffed coats, muscles ripple. Mentally, they must enjoy being in the spotlight, be adaptable to different environments, and be able to face the stresses of competition and being on the road for weeks or months at a time as they travel to shows and rack up points toward top-dog status.

Some Westminster trivia: Terrier breeds have won best in show 46 times, making them the winningest group. Sporting breeds are next, with 20 wins. Papillon Ch. Loteki Supernatural Being (nicknamed Kirby) was the first dog to win both the World Dog Show (1998) and Westminster. The toy breed with the most Westminster wins is the Pekingese, with four. Poodles (non-sporting and toy) have nine wins: four by standards, three by miniatures and two by toys. The oldest dog to win was Sussex spaniel Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, nicknamed Stump, in 2009, when he was 10 years old. The youngest was 9-month-old rough collie Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven in 1929.

Q&A

Tips on cat

coat health

Q: I just got my first cat. What do I need to know about caring for her coat?

A: Cats are great at grooming themselves, but they need a little help from you as well. And caring for your cat’s coat is one of the best ways to keep tabs on her well-being. As you brush and comb her to remove dead hair (reducing the likelihood of hairballs) and distribute skin oils, you’ll find clues to your cat’s health.

A healthy cat has a lustrous coat that doesn’t feel coarse, greasy, dull, dry or brittle. Cats shed hair normally, but excessive hair loss or bare patches could be the result of external parasites or of stress related to the cat’s environment or interactions with other animals or humans.

For instance, cats who lick, scratch and bite at their skin or rub against the floor or furniture may have itchy bites from parasites, such as fleas or mites, or a food or contact allergy. Tiny black and white specks on the coat or skin are also signs of flea infestation. Cats being bullied by other animals or adapting to a new person in the household may pull out their fur in frustration.

Cats allowed to go outdoors may come back with bite wounds from fights, which are often discovered during grooming. Bite wounds can form abscesses -- painful, pus-filled sores -- that can cause your cat pain when you accidentally discover them during a brushing or combing session.

As you groom your cat, look for lumps or bumps that could be signs of problems. These can range from feline acne, often caused by plastic food and water bowls, to harmless cysts beneath the skin to rapidly enlarging lumps that may be cancerous. Bring any such skin problem to your veterinarian’s attention so it can be treated before it becomes serious. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

How to save on

pet med purchases

-- Saving money on pet prescriptions is great, but your pet’s safety is even more important. To ensure that medications you purchase online are effective, check with your state’s pharmacy board (visit the website nabp.pharmacy) to make sure the pharmacy providing them has a valid license. The American Veterinary Medical Association says to avoid purchasing medications from any pharmacy that doesn’t require a prescription or from pharmacies located outside the United States. They may be selling counterfeit medications or products that don’t contain any active ingredients at all.

-- The Kurilian bobtail lives up to the name, with no two tails alike. The naturally short tails can resemble a whisk, a spiral or a fluffy pom-pom. The rare cats, which originated on islands off the Russian coast, are brawnier than their compact bodies might suggest and are covered in a soft, silky coat that can be short or long. Females weigh 8 to 11 pounds and males up to 15 pounds. Despite their gentle personality, they are excellent mousers. Don’t expect to find one anytime soon; fewer than 100 are living in the United States.

-- The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine will launch an open-heart surgery program for dogs later this year, becoming the only fully functional program of its kind in the United States and the only one to offer the complex procedure known as mitral valve repair. The program will be a collaboration between UF and renowned veterinary cardiologist Masami Uechi, DVM, Ph.D., of the JASMINE Veterinary Cardiovascular Medical Center in Yokohama, Japan. Dr. Uechi and his team will provide training in mitral valve repair surgery to UF cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, critical care specialists and other key staff with the ultimate goal of UF being able to operate and maintain the program independently. -- 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.