What’s in your cat’s garden? A guide to plants cats love

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Cats are carnivores, but they have a green side, too. We often see them delicately nibbling on grasses, plants and blossoms. Sometimes they throw up their greenery, but more often than not, they seem to enjoy it simply for the taste and not because they’re trying to vomit on the carpet just for the pleasure of watching you clean it up.

Growing an indoor garden for house cats is a way to enhance their environment and bring the outdoors inside. And some plants have entertaining effects for cats and humans alike. Who doesn’t love watching cats under the influence of a hit of ‘nip or silver vine? Here are five plants to try growing for your cat.

-- Catnip. This is the most well-known of the plants cats love, but interestingly, not all cats respond to it. Approximately one-third are immune to the harmless “high” the plant brings. A member of the mint family, catnip has a stimulating effect caused by nepetalactone, a compound that mimics the scent of a cat’s sex pheromones. It’s no wonder that cats roll and yowl in response to it.

To grow catnip, fill one or more 4-inch pots with potting soil, plant 10 to 15 seeds in each pot, and water to moisten the soil. Store the pots in a warm, dark area for a few days until the plants begin to germinate. Place in a sunny spot and protect from feline predation until there’s enough for your cat to begin to nibble.

-- Wheatgrass. Lots of people grow this vitamin-packed superfood for use in their smoothies and juices, but cats appreciate it, too, although they probably don’t care about the health benefits.

Put potting soil in a planting tray and top it with presoaked wheat berries, available at grocery stores or online. Store the wheat berries in the dark, at room temperature, and moisten them with water once or twice a day until they take root. Once wheatgrass is about an inch high, give it plenty of sunlight. Within a week, it will be ready for your cat to nosh on.

-- Silver vine. This climbing vine has similar effects on felines as catnip. A study published in March 2017 found that nearly 80 percent of the domestic cats exposed to it responded to silver vine. Cats are usually given silver vine in powdered form, but they can be attracted to the plant, too.

Growing silver vine indoors is best done by placing it in a hanging basket -- near your cat’s tall kitty condo if you have one -- allowing the vines to dangle onto it. Prune as needed. If your cat has access to a catio, you could also train the vines onto a trellis or one of the surrounding walls. The fruit is edible by cats and humans alike.

-- Lemongrass. If you love to cook or make cocktails, you are probably familiar with and fond of lemongrass, but did you know that cats like it, too? Simply purchase a plant and keep it in a warm, sunny spot for your cat’s sniffing and tasting pleasure. Be aware that lemongrass essential oil is toxic to cats, so if you keep that around, store it where your cat can’t get to it.

-- Cat thyme. Not a true thyme, this odorous herb does best in good soil with full sun and plenty of drainage. Try growing it in a container large enough for your cat to roll around or nap in it, often their preferred ways of interacting with this plant. Cats also enjoy sniffing dried sprigs of the slow-growing plant. Consider placing it in a catio instead of indoors; while the odor is intoxicating to cats, it’s not so pleasant to humans.

Q&A

Head pressing

cause for concern

Q: Last night my dog was pacing, circling and pressing his head against the wall. Should I be worried?

A: Head pressing can be a sign of a serious problem. It has a number of possible causes, including liver conditions, poisoning and traumatic injuries. If you notice this behavior in a pet, it warrants a rapid trip to the veterinarian for an exam to determine the cause.

A liver-related condition that can cause head pressing in young dogs is liver shunt, which occurs when abdominal blood vessels don’t develop properly. Blood from the intestines bypasses the liver -- where it would normally be cleansed of waste products -- and enters normal circulation, allowing buildup of toxins in the body. We usually see it in tiny dogs such as Maltese or Yorkshire terriers, but it can also affect larger breeds.

Older dogs can develop cirrhosis, not because they’re hard drinkers, but because the liver’s ability to function is affected by internal infections or long-term use of certain medications.

Toxins such as lead, certain herbicides or insecticides, rodent poisons, amanita mushrooms, blue-green algae and cycad plants such as sago palms can all seriously affect the liver and cause signs such as head pressing, as well as loss of appetite, depression and seizures.

Encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, is another possible cause of head pressing. So is trauma such as being hit by a car or a head injury from a fall.

Dogs who are head pressing against a wall or other hard surface may also have a neck injury, disk herniation or brain tumor.

Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam and lab work. If a brain disorder is suspected, your dog may need an MRI or PET/CT scan. Depending on the diagnosis, your dog may be treated with medication, surgery or rehab techniques. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pupdates and other

pet celebrations

-- March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month. Other animal-related celebrations this month include Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month; Professional Pet Sitters Week (March 3-9); K9 Veterans Day on March 13, honoring U.S. military and working dogs; National Puppy Day on March 23; Respect Your Cat Day on March 28; and Take a Walk in the Park Day -- with your best friend, of course -- on March 30.

-- Immobilizing cats for exams, treatment or giving medication increases feline stress and fear, according to a study published last year in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science. Researchers found in working with 51 healthy shelter cats that full-body restraint, permitting little to no movement, caused cats to be more likely to struggle or show signs of stress such as lip licking, holding the ears to the side and back, increased respiratory rate and increased pupil dilation. Cats examined with light restraint, allowed to choose whether to stand, sit or lie down and permitted to move, were easier to examine in a shorter period of time and more likely to stay on the exam table after release. Veterinarians, technicians and cat owners can learn more about kind and humane handling techniques through courses and videos offered by Fear Free Pets, Fear Free Happy Homes, American Association of Feline Practitioners and International Cat Care.

-- Both animal shelters and veterinary emergency hospitals are facing a shortage of veterinarians. The stresses inherent in both jobs can cause vets to burn out and seek positions that are more rewarding. Shelter veterinarians may perform multiple spay/neuter surgeries daily, examine many animals as they come into the shelter and manage disease outbreaks on limited budgets. Emergency veterinarians work nights, holidays and weekends, limiting family time; they must face emotional pet owners and worry about not being able to save pets’ lives. -- 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.

Hands-on therapies and patient retraining are helping a puppy regain his footing after corrective surgery

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Remember Milo, the hound pup born with upside-down paws (a condition called bilateral congenital elbow luxation) who received corrective surgery at Oklahoma State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Stillwater last month? He’s out of his restrictive splint and learning to walk again with the help of his foster family and OSU surgical specialist and rehab therapist Cara Blake, DVM.

The pins holding Milo’s repaired elbows in place during the healing process were removed a few weeks ago, and Dr. Blake and her team began working with him and developing a plan to teach him how to walk, something the pup was never able to do. Therapeutic exercises, massage and other manual therapies are being used to help increase his flexibility and strengthen his muscles. But before he can walk -- let alone run -- he needs to learn to stand properly: to put his back legs in the correct posture, get his pelvis and spine straight, and get his front legs underneath him.

“Now that his elbows are in a more normal position, the way he was walking before isn’t going to work for him,” Dr. Blake says. “He will figure out, ‘Oh, I can’t walk like this anymore because it just doesn’t work,’ so I think that, together with doing exercises to retrain him, will allow him to progress at a pretty quick rate in terms of getting back to normal pelvic posture.”

Bilateral congenital elbow luxation is rare in dogs. The surgeon who repaired the defect, Erik Clary, DVM, has seen only two other cases in his 27-year career and was able to operate on only one of them. He says general practitioners may never see a dog with this problem, even if they practice for 30 or 40 years.

“The earlier we can get to them, generally the better the possibility that we can help them with surgery,” Dr. Clary says. “Sometimes the problem is not apparent when the puppies are really young, when they’re a week or two and just nursing. Their legs may not show those changes. But typically, when they get out to maybe 4 or 5 weeks, then usually it manifests, just like with Milo.”

What Milo has going for him, Dr. Blake says, is that he’s a puppy. He didn’t have time to learn bad ambulatory habits before undergoing surgery, so retraining him will be easier than it might have been.

He still faces challenges. His front-end alignment could be an issue because he has no range of motion in his elbows. The scar tissue that formed after surgery helps to keep the elbows in place, but it can also affect mobility. Massage and other manual treatments may help to some degree, but he may never gain full range of motion. That means he may have to learn to walk with straight elbows. Dr. Clary says the dog has a 50-50 chance of being able to walk normally one day.

This type of reconstructive surgery normally costs several thousand dollars. Part of the cost of Milo’s care was subsidized by OSU’s Pay It Forward Fund, started by students from the class of 2017.

Milo’s foster caretakers with Oliver and Friends Farm Rescue and Sanctuary in Luther, Oklahoma, are continuing his rehab exercises at home, and he already gets around well. Even though he may never walk completely normally, he can still have good quality of life.

“Even dogs that have horrible end-stage elbow arthritis, who lose significant range of motion in their elbows, are able to go out and run around and play,” Dr. Blake says. “Long-term, he may have some compensatory issues, but I don’t think it will affect his overall quality of life.”

Q&A

Old cat has

litter box issues

Q: We have a 16-year-old female cat who has always been neat about using her cat box, but now she won’t pee in it. She spends most of the day in our fenced backyard, and she has a litter box in our laundry room for when she’s in at night. Every morning we have to clean a puddle of pee next to her litter box.

We have tried different cat litters, including clumping and non-clumping; we put out two litter boxes, each with a different type of litter; we’ve moved the boxes to different locations in the laundry room; we clean the litter boxes daily, so they are always clean. Our vet suggested that it’s a bit of cat dementia rather than anything physical. Do you have any thoughts on why she is doing this and what we can do about it? We love our cat, but we are tired of cleaning the laundry room floor every morning.

A: I assume your cat is able to get into the litter box without any problem if she is defecating inside it. If she is having this issue only at night, maybe she has developed vision problems and is having trouble finding the box to get into it. Can you leave on a night light or other light? You may also want to set down pee pads next to the litter box for easier cleanup.

As your veterinarian mentioned, cats can lose housetraining if they are experiencing cognitive decline. You may want to ask about a drug called selegiline (Anipryl) that is used in dogs with dementia. It is not labeled for use in cats, but some veterinarians prescribe it off label. It has a similar success rate in cats as it does in dogs: Approximately one-third benefit from it, one-third see slighter improvement, and one-third experience no change. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

How to brush

your pet’s teeth

-- If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to begin brushing your pets’ teeth regularly, good job! Here are some tips and techniques from the AVMA to ensure you do the best job possible. Wait 10 days after a professional dental cleaning to begin or resume brushing at home, to let gums heal. Use a finger brush or toothbrush with soft bristles. For pets new to the process, give them a few days to smell and taste the toothpaste before you begin brushing. Start with only a few teeth at a time and reward with a treat. Work up to a more thorough cleaning of 30 seconds or more. Run the brush along the gumline at a 45-degree angle. Focus on the outside of the teeth, where plaque is more likely to build up. Between brushing, offer rope toys or other chew items. Chewing has a mechanical action on the teeth that helps to clean them.

-- Cockatiels are popular pets because of their friendly personalities, variety of color mutations and ease of care. They originated in Australia, where they were first exported in the late 19th century, and began to be bred in the United States in the late 1950s.

-- Taking a Fear Free approach to skin care benefits dogs and cats who require frequent treatment for ear infections, allergies and other dermatological diseases, says veterinary dermatologist John C. Angus. Speaking at a veterinary conference in Orlando last month, he recommended light sedation and local anesthesia for obtaining skin biopsy samples. This reduces the fear, anxiety and stress that can accompany restraint, injection with a stinging liquid, pressure and the smell of blood. Following a skin biopsy, pets should receive postoperative pain relief immediately after the procedure and pain medication at home for three to five days. -- 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.

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.