A quartet of new books examine different facets of the ways we love pets -- and the ways they love us

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Do dogs love us? It’s the eternal question. It has been argued that dogs simply pretend to love us because we feed them, but in “Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,” Clive D.L. Wynne, Ph.D., sets out a convincing case that dogs have a real capacity for love, and humans are the beneficiaries.

Wynne, founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University, began as a skeptic. His background as a scientist warred with the anthropomorphism inherent in the study of whether dogs truly love humans. But the more he investigated the science, the more he found that the canine brain is wired to build bonds with other species, including humans. From levels of oxytocin (nicknamed the “love hormone” because it plays a key role in bonding) to fMRI brain scans to genes for sociability, research backs up the idea that the human-animal bond is real. It didn’t hurt that the affection shown by his dog Xephos continually nudged Wynne in the direction of a new scientific understanding of dogs.

In the last chapter, Wynne calls for humans to do better by dogs, not only those in shelters but also the ones napping at our sides, writing, “To be loved by a dog is a great privilege, perhaps one of the finest in a human life. May we prove ourselves worthy of it.”

Cognitive scientist Alexandra Horowitz has been writing about dogs since her 2009 bestseller “Inside of a Dog.” In her new book, “Our Dogs, Ourselves,” the head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College turns her eye to our relationship with dogs: the history of dog ownership, how we name them, what we talk to them about and the ways we live together. Like Wynne, she describes the ways we can know whether our dogs love us. (Hint: Just look at them.) She addresses issues we may have thought were settled -- whether dogs are property, whether we should breed purebreds and “designer” dogs, whether we should spay and neuter our dogs -- and comes to sometimes surprising, sometimes controversial conclusions. Combining science with observations of her own dogs, Horowitz tells the story of a relationship that has existed for more than 15,000 years.

Having a cat go missing is frightening and frustrating, because as any cat lover knows, felines are experts at hiding in the tiniest, darkest, most unlikely places. Finding them is often a matter of luck, but owners can take specific steps to bring a lost cat home. Corralling information from lost-pet studies and the experiences of professional pet finders and people who have successfully found their cats, author Dusty Rainbolt outlines the techniques in “Finding Your Lost Cat.”

Getting inside a cat’s head is the secret, and Rainbolt explains how knowing the ways a cat thinks and behaves can contribute to success. Chapters, charts, photos and checklists address how to make effective signs and flyers, describe a cat, write press releases, use live traps and much more. Most important, she writes, “Never give up.” We all hope our pets will never get lost, but when they do, this book is a must for getting them back.

Hannah Shaw is the Kitten Lady, and her goal is to make all of us Kitten People. Kittens are among the most vulnerable animals in shelters: too young to be adopted and so needful of intensive care to survive that more often they are euthanized than saved. With her book “Tiny but Mighty,” Shaw aims to turn that around by explaining in simple but passionate language not only how to care for baby kittens, but also how to become an activist for them. Step by step, with helpful photos and checklists, she shows how to evaluate, bottle-feed, litter box train, socialize and play with kittens to help them grow up to be great cats.

Q&A

What should be

in cat’s food?

Q: What are the best ingredients for cat foods? I’ve read different opinions, and I’m confused. All protein -- or some grains?

A: Good question. I asked cat nutrition expert Tony Buffington, DVM, to weigh in. Cats are what biologists call “obligate carnivores” or “hypercarnivores.” That means that to survive, they need to get nutrients from animal tissue or synthetic sources in their diet, thanks to a lack of some enzymes needed to produce them. Cats can’t make the essential amino acids arginine and taurine; vitamins A, D and niacin; or certain essential fatty acids.

But cats can’t survive on “all protein” diets. According to a recent study, when fed diets of similar palatability, cats seemed to prefer diets containing about 30% of calories as protein, 27% as fat and 43% as carbohydrates.

Cats can digest and absorb carbohydrates from grains that are properly processed and cooked, and they may get some benefits from them. The body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which provides energy to the brain, red blood cells and other tissues and organs. Fiber from plant carbohydrates can help to give a feeling of fullness and help the gastrointestinal tract work more effectively.

The bottom line is that there’s a lot of debate about the appropriate amount of carbohydrates in cat food, and we don’t really know how much is optimal. Factors that may affect the appropriate level of carbohydrate intake for an individual cat include age, whether the cat is spayed or neutered or lives indoors or outdoors.

The best thing you can do is to choose a food with a statement on the label saying that the diet is complete and balanced for a particular life stage -- such as kitten or adult -- and has passed animal feeding trials for cats. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Looking for a

few good dogs

-- Want to be a citizen scientist? You can nominate your dog to be among the 10,000 canine participants in the Dog Aging Project. Researchers for the longitudinal study -- meaning data is gathered from subjects over a period of time -- seek to understand how genes, lifestyle and environment influence aging, with the goal of increasing healthspan, the period of time before diseases of old age begin to affect both humans and dogs. A subset of participating dogs will be selected to be part of a new clinical study to explore the potential of the drug rapamycin to improve healthspan. Visit DogAgingProject.org for more information.

-- With Halloween and other holidays coming up, your home is sure to be overflowing with sweets and baked goods. Be sure to read labels on candy, mints, gum and peanut butter, and ask gift-givers if cookies, cakes or other baked items were made with anything containing xylitol, a sugar substitute. Dogs who gobble down items containing xylitol can suffer a dangerous drop in blood glucose levels, resulting in liver failure and even death. If you believe your dog has eaten anything containing xylitol, take him to the veterinarian immediately.

-- Need to get your dog somewhere but don’t have a car or are turned away by Uber, Lyft or cab drivers? SpotOn.pet to the rescue. The ridesharing service gives pet owners a lift to the veterinarian, the park or wherever else they need to go together. Founded by dog lover Aparna Srinivasan, who was frustrated when other rideshare services wouldn’t take her dog, SpotOn rides are currently available in New York City’s five boroughs. Bonus: Every time you and your dog ride, SpotOn gives a free ride to a dog in need at one of the company’s shelter or rescue group partners. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.

Living under the cat’s paw? Here are a few pawsome facts you might not know about that fascinating bit of feline anatomy

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Our cats’ paws tap us gently on the face to wake us. They touch the ground silently as cats stalk their prey. They sheathe lethal blades of death -- for mice, anyway.

Beautiful, soft and deadly, paws are an integral part of felinity. Here’s how they work.

A paw is gloved in thin, pigmented skin. This well-designed, soft-yet-tough covering overlays an impressive supply of blood vessels, nerve endings, fatty tissue and connective tissue, which all work together to provide shock absorption, balance, cushioning, insulation and tactile information about surfaces and prey. Their sensitivity also makes them valuable in detecting vibrations of approaching or fleeing animals.

Each paw has at least four small digital pads, often nicknamed “toe beans” for their appearance. The digital pads and the larger metacarpal (foreleg) and metatarsal (hind leg) pads help support the cat’s weight. Cats also have a carpal pad on the backside of each front leg. It doesn’t contribute to weight-bearing, but it does help to provide traction if a cat jumps down, skids to a stop or is moving downhill.

Because cats have greater circulation in their paws than humans do in their feet, they can withstand lower temperatures -- and even snow on the ground -- without booting up. They can, however, suffer frostbite from prolonged exposure to bitter cold.

If you’ve ever looked closely at your cat’s paw pads, you’ve probably noticed that they are a particular color, usually black, pink, lavender or spotted. They can even be different colors. Paw pad color is usually related to the color or pattern of a cat’s coat. For instance, in the ocicat breed, chocolate-colored cats have chocolate-pink paw pads, fawn cats have pink pads and blue cats have blue (gray) pads.

At least two studies have shown that cats have paw preferences when it comes to stepping over an object, going down steps or which side they prefer to nap on. Interestingly, males tend to prefer using their left paw for these actions; females prefer the right paw.

Cats use their paws for grooming and for drinking water. A classic image is of a cat licking her paw and then using it to wash her head, ears and face. You may also have seen your cat holding her paw beneath a dripping faucet or dipping it into her water bowl and then licking water from it.

Paws are communication devices as well. They are loaded with scent glands, which release pheromones that deliver chemical messages when the cat scratches objects.

Paws also tell us how a cat is feeling. If you notice that your cat is leaving damp paw prints on surfaces, it might be a signal that she’s feeling nervous.

“I have seen the presence of a wet paw print left by patients who are nervous during a veterinary exam,” says Julie Reck, DVM, a Fear Free Certified veterinarian and owner of Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill in South Carolina. “Paw pads are one of the only places that have sweat glands in the cat’s body. They are designed to provide a cooling mechanism through evaporation during hot external temperatures, but when cats are scared or nervous, cortisol and adrenaline flood through the bloodstream. Those hormones inadvertently activate the sweating mechanism that was designed to provide thermal regulation to the body.”

Another characteristic of paws is that they have claws. In the case of cats, the claws are protractible, meaning that the cat can extend them at will. (The exception is cheetahs, with semi-retractable claws that act like cleats, providing traction for the speedy cats.) When the cat is at rest, the tiny but sharp sabers are too, cloaked by protective skin folds and fur. Keeping claws sheathed until needed prevents wear from striking the ground and allows cats to move silently on those soft paws.

Q&A

Housetraining hints

for older puppies

Q: We got a Shih Tzu puppy during the winter. It was really cold, so we potty trained her on pee pads. She is now 11 months old. Is there any way she will figure out that she needs to go outside to go potty?

A: You can definitely teach her that outside is the place to go, but it will take some time, training and scheduling.

Start as if she were still a puppy (and she is, mentally, even if she looks full-grown). As soon as she wakes up in the morning, pick her up and take her outside to potty so she doesn’t have the opportunity to use the pee pad. Stay with her and praise her immediately after she pees or poops. If you have a clicker, click immediately after she is done going potty, and give a treat.

Do the same thing immediately after each meal, after she wakes up from a nap or after you’ve been playing with her. If you know when she typically likes to use the pee pad, set a timer so you can take her outdoors just before she would normally use it.

Gradually move the potty pad closer to the door outside. Eventually phase out the potty pad altogether.

Tether her to you with a leash when you’re at home so you can notice instantly if she gets up and starts to move around. Restlessness can be a signal that she needs to go out.

She will probably start to develop ways to tell you that she needs to go out. These could include going to or looking at the door or stairs, whining or pawing at you. Each dog has different behaviors, so watch carefully until you know what hers are. You can read more about housetraining at fearfreehappyhomes.com -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Don’t toss floss

in cat’s reach

-- You probably know to keep things like yarn, string and ribbon out of your cat’s reach, but don’t forget about other stringlike items, such as dental floss. After you’ve flossed, place it into a trashcan with a lid so your cat can’t steal it to floss his fangs. If he swallows it, floss can cause an intestinal blockage, a life-threatening emergency that requires surgical repair. Floss can pass through intact. If you notice it hanging out of your cat’s rear, don’t try to pull it out; you could injure him. Let it pass on its own, and take the cat to the veterinarian if you see signs such as vomiting, appetite loss, straining to defecate, depression or acting as if the abdomen is painful.

-- Pets with hair loss (known as alopecia) may be experiencing a hormonal imbalance, an infection or an allergic reaction. Take them to the veterinarian as soon as you notice unusual hair loss or itchiness. If there’s no obvious cause -- such as parasites -- skin scrapings and bloodwork may be helpful in pinning down a diagnosis. Signs of abnormal hair loss include bald spots, hair loss in a single area or hair loss on both sides of the body.

-- Lovebirds are small parrots popular for their inquisitive, affectionate and lively nature as well as a long lifespan of 10 to 20 years. Nine different species are found in the wild -- Africa and Madagascar -- but the ones primarily available as companion birds are peach-faced, masked and Fischer’s lovebirds. True to their name, they are social and cuddly and do best with at least one other avian friend, although they can also bond with humans. Beware: Lovebirds chatter pleasantly but can also have a loud screech that may not make them suited to apartments with thin walls. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.

Before choosing a breed, research its historical purpose and decide whether you’re prepared to live with its associated behaviors

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

The dog trainer received a phone call from a couple wanting to hire her to help train their new 9-week-old German shorthaired pointer. “You must like those high-energy hunting dogs,” she commented as they spoke.

“No; why do you say that?” the man replied.

She learned that he had chosen the breed because he’d always thought they looked nice, and he wanted a dog to hang out with. The couple didn’t realize that their highly active puppy would grow up to be a highly active dog. They were prepared to walk the dog around the block, not go running or hunting with him.

As human lifestyles have changed, from hunting mammoths and gathering roots and berries to pushing a cart through the supermarket, it’s easy to assume that our dogs have evolved right along with us to have a more relaxed lifestyle. In fact, the brains of different breeds have evolved differently depending on the traits for which they were bred, according to a study (”Significant Neuroanatomical Variation Among Domestic Dog Breeds”) published earlier this month in the Journal of Neuroscience.

That’s right. Now there’s science behind the advice to consider working heritage before choosing a breed.

Researchers looked at brain scans of 62 pet dogs representing 33 breeds. Their findings established that brain anatomy varies significantly in dogs, likely in response to human selection for particular behaviors. “Through selective breeding, humans have significantly altered the brains of different lineages of domestic dogs in different ways,” the researchers write.

Those differences in brain anatomy aren’t simply linked to the dogs’ body sizes or head shapes. Their neural networks are actually different, based on the traits selected for in particular breeds. For instance, breeds that tend to have cognitively complex jobs such as herding or police work have larger prefrontal cortexes, the area of the brain involved with planning and decision-making.

In an interview with Jill Radsken of The Harvard Gazette, lead author Erin Hecht, Ph.D., assistant professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard, said she and her collaborators could see that breed differences weren’t randomly distributed, but were focused in certain parts of the brain. They identified six networks of the brain where anatomy correlated with types of processing important for different breeds: reward; olfaction; eye movement; social action and higher cognition; fear and anxiety; and scent processing and vision.

The finding? Dogs have multiple types of intelligence that suit them for specific types of work, such as retrieving, herding, seeking out scents, guarding and, yes, companionship. They aren’t born knowing how to round up sheep or retrieve pheasants or sit in a lap, but they do have a propensity to learn those behaviors.

So if you’re thinking about a Dalmatian, for instance, know that they were bred to run behind carriages for long distances.

German shorthaired pointer: bred to seek out and retrieve all types of prey in rough terrain.

Border collie: bred to run miles daily and control challenging livestock.

Siberian husky: bred to pull sleds with endurance and speed in snowy, icy conditions.

Beagle: bred to hunt rabbits over hill and dale.

Jack Russell terrier: bred to chase and dig out prey.

Rottweiler: bred to drive cattle to market and pull carts for butchers.

Miniature poodle: bred to be a circus dog or truffle hunter.

Papillon: bred to be companions, but with the highly active nature of their spaniel ancestors.

Greyhound: bred to sprint after and bring down prey.

Labrador retriever: bred to retrieve bird after bird, all day, every day.

Chihuahuas: bred as companions and ratters.

You get the picture. Do your research and choose wisely.

Q&A

Sink the stink!

Reduce urine odor

Q: Ugh! Why does my cat’s litter box stink? -- via email

A: We hear you! Poop can be removed with a scooper, and so can a certain amount of urine if you use litter that absorbs liquid and forms a clump, but the pungent reek of ammonia can still remain until the litter is changed or the box itself is cleaned.

No one likes the smell of ammonia, which has a characteristic odor best described as “decaying fish.” As urine decomposes, ammonia is the primary compound released by odorant molecules.

Urea, the primary component of urine, is odorless, but as it goes through bacterial decomposition, an enzyme called urease forms and converts urea into ammonia. Cat urine tends to contain a higher amount of urea than the urine of other animals, including dogs and humans.

Another chemical compound that contributes to the scent of cat urine is felinine, a urinary amino acid. Like urea, it has no odor -- until it starts to degrade. Then it releases sulfur compounds, known as thiols, that cause a sour odor.

Other factors include the cat’s age and sex. Older cats typically have less efficient kidneys, and that can contribute to extra-stinky urine. Male cats also produce urine with an especially offensive odor, thanks to the presence of testosterone. They also have higher levels of felinine in their urine.

Cats have a highly developed sense of smell. If they stop using the litter box, it may well be because they find the stink as offensive as you do. To keep odor down, scoop every time you see that your cat has used the box, dump old litter after two weeks and replace it with new -- after you’ve cleaned the box with warm water and a mild, unscented soap. You’ll both be happier. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Frenchie aids 49ers

emotional health

-- Zoe, a 1-year-old French bulldog, has become the NFL’s first emotional support dog. Acquired by Austin Moss, the team’s director of player engagement, she hangs out with players and helps them relax, especially if they’ve had a rough day. She’s good for their mental health, players say. That’s especially true for Solomon Thomas, who experienced depression after his sister died by suicide last year. Spot Zoe on Instagram (@the49ersfrenchie), where she already has 2,467 followers.

-- Heads up! Did you know that cats’ heads come in three basic shapes? They are typically round, such as on Persians, exotics, Himalayans and British shorthairs; square or rectangular, as seen in Maine coons and Norwegian forest cats; and triangular, such as Abyssinians, Siamese, Bengals and Cornish Rex. Most random-bred cats tend to have more of a triangular, or wedge-shaped, head.

-- Meet the Xoloitzcuintli (say “show-low-eats-queent-lee”). This hairless dog from Mexico dates to pre-Columbian times and is characterized by a barenaked body; large, erect ears; and a wrinkled brow. A coated variety has short, smooth hair. The Xolo, as he’s known for short, comes in three sizes: toy (9 to 18 pounds), miniature (13 to 22 pounds) and standard (20 to 31 pounds). The exotic, clever dog gives all his love to family members, presenting strangers with an aloof demeanor. To keep their skin in good condition, Xolos must be bathed weekly and moisturized regularly. Sunscreen is a must when they’re outdoors. Coated Xolos need weekly brushing. The best thing about a Xolo? Because there’s no hair to insulate you from his warm skin, he serves as a living hot water bottle on cold nights. Just remember that if you’re bundling up because it’s cold -- indoors or out -- you’ll need to keep him warm, as well, with a cozy coat or sweater.

-- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.