Dogs mature at different rates. Large and giant breeds may need to wait longer for spay or neuter surgery to reduce health risks

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Clover, a border collie pup adopted from a rescue group when she was 15 weeks old, was having recurring urinary tract infections. The adoption contract called for her to be spayed by the time she was a year old, but owner Roxanne Hawn pushed for an extension to allow Clover to have one heat cycle, as recommended by the specialist who was treating her for the UTIs. Hawn had her spayed when she was 17 months old.

“Letting everything mature fixed the issue,” Hawn says. “Zero bladder issues since. Plus, I feel like letting her fully mature before surgery was the right thing for her long-term health.”

When should you spay or neuter your dog? After decades of owners hearing that dogs should be surgically altered when they are 6 or 7 months old -- or even earlier if they are shelter pups -- new science may be turning that recommendation on its head.

The advice to spay or neuter pets at 6 months or earlier stemmed from studies in the 1960s and 1970s showing that estrogen was linked to mammary cancer -- common in dogs -- and that spayed and neutered dogs showed fewer problem behaviors such as roaming. But more recent research suggests that the question of when to spay or neuter a pet is complicated, with no one-size-fits-all answer.

A constellation of studies looking at the effects of spay or neuter surgery on health and behavior have reported some startling findings: One is that some large and giant breeds are more likely to experience orthopedic problems if they are altered before puberty.

Researchers Benjamin L. Hart, DVM, and Lynette Hart, Ph.D., at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, found in two published studies a fourfold increase in one or more joint disorders in golden retrievers altered at 6 months of age. A second study by the Morris Animal Foundation confirmed those figures in the popular breed, using a different database and study design.

It’s not just goldens. Akitas, German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, Newfoundlands, poodles and Saint Bernards are other breeds at higher risk for cranial cruciate ligament ruptures when altered early.

Early surgical alteration has physiological effects. Because it’s done before closure of growth plates, the timing of which is affected by the presence of sex hormones, dogs grow taller than normal, changing the proportions and lengths of some bones relative to others, and potentially causing increased stress on hips, elbows or cranial cruciate ligaments. In females, early spay surgery can contribute to urinary incontinence and recurring urinary tract infections.

On the plus side, neutering tends to decrease unwanted behaviors such as roaming, but sports medicine veterinarian Christine Zink of Ellicott City, Maryland, notes that nonsurgical options are available to prevent that. “You can build a fence, you can walk your dog on a leash,” she says. “It doesn’t require removing a really important organ for the dog’s endocrine system.”

Does that mean you shouldn’t spay or neuter your dog?

Humane societies believe early spay/neuter risks are outweighed by the reduction in shelter population. And researchers such as the Harts aren’t advocating against the surgery.

“We’re not saying, ‘Don’t spay or neuter your dog,’” says Dr. Benjamin Hart. “We’re saying for some breeds, such as the retrievers, wait until they are a year or a year and a half old.”

Talk to your veterinarian. The decision on spay/neuter timing should be a joint one based on your pup’s risk according to published data.

“Personalized veterinary medicine is the wave of the future from many different standpoints,” says Dr. Lynette Hart. “It’s not only with regard to spay/neuter, but in all aspects of veterinary medicine.”

Q&A

Should I

bathe cat?

Q: I just got a kitten, and she’s allowed on my furniture and bed. She stays indoors, but should I be bathing her regularly to help keep down fur and dander?

A: It depends on who you ask. Many veterinarians, including veterinary dermatologist Amelia White at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama, believe that cats do a fine job of grooming themselves. “As long as your cat is grooming a normal amount, and the haircoat is staying clean and not getting matted, and there’s no fecal material or urine in it, then the cat should not need to be bathed,” she says. Exceptions are hairless cats such as Sphynx, who require regular baths to remove excess oil from their skin, she adds.

I do think that it’s a good idea for cats to be familiar with being bathed, because at some point in their nine lives, they may need regular baths.

For instance, cats with skin conditions may require medicated baths. A bath is also important if a cat has been exposed to a toxic substance. Often, a bath is the most effective way to remove harmful chemicals from the coat. And cats who go outdoors may get into sticky stuff, such as chewing gum, tree sap or tar.

Senior cats may have put on some pounds over the years or developed arthritis, both of which can make it difficult for them to groom themselves thoroughly.

“If cats are not grooming themselves, that could indicate that they’re not feeling well, and they should be examined by a veterinarian,” Dr. White says.

I always recommend that people with new kittens accustom them to baths from the beginning. If you get them used to it at an early age, you’ll have a sweeter-smelling cat and a cleaner home. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Cat with frostbite

has new paws

-- A cat in Siberia who lost all four paws to frostbite is now pussyfooting around on titanium prosthetic paws. Ryzhik, who suffered his injuries in January when temperatures dropped to 40 below zero, had to have his paws amputated because the damage was too severe to treat. Earlier this year, at a prosthetic clinic in Novosibirsk, surgeons used computer tomography and 3D modeling to design artificial limbs for the cat and attached them to his bones in a way that permitted tissue growth. He can now walk again and doesn’t seem to mind his paw-cessories.

-- A large study in the United Kingdom has found associations between the risk of urinary incontinence -- involuntary leakage of urine -- in female dogs and the breed and the age at which they were spayed. The study, published earlier this month in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, looked at females born between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2012, and followed them until March 31, 2018. The rate of urinary incontinence was highest among dogs spayed before they were 6 months old as well as in certain breeds, including Irish setters, Dalmatians, vizslas, Doberman pinschers and Weimaraners. Approximately 3% of female dogs in the United Kingdom experience urinary incontinence.

-- Is your cat or dog underweight, under the weather or simply uninterested in his food? Many illnesses can cause pets to lose their appetite. Other times, their sense of smell has decreased with age, resulting in less interest in food. To encourage your pet to eat, warm the food slightly to make it more aromatic. If he can smell it, he’s more likely to eat it. Feeding him by hand or petting him can also increase his interest in food. The extra attention from you may be the incentive he needs to chow down. -- 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.

Halloween can be fun or frightening for pets. Three experts share tips on making it a good experience for them

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Lightsabers swish through the air. Jack-o’-lanterns cast spooky shadows. Giant spiders crouch outside homes. Halloween is delightfully frightful for people who enjoy dressing up, collecting or handing out candy, and visiting the pumpkin patch.

Pets? Not so much. Some get into the spirit, rocking unicorn, dragon or bumblebee costumes, but others are bewitched, bothered and bewildered by all the goings-on. Plan ahead to ensure that a good time is had by all.

Prep steps. Start conditioning your pet now to the sight of people in costumes, to the sights and sounds of electronic or inflatable decorations, or to wearing a costume herself.

“Condition all that with treats,” says Halloween-loving veterinarian Lisa Radosta, DVM, co-author of the book “From Fearful to Fear Free” (with Dr. Marty Becker). She decorates her home with strobe lights, pumpkins, fake candles, hanging decorations, items that glow in the dark and figures that say “Boo” when people -- or pets -- walk past them.

Combine all of those things with something special that your pet loves. That might be tiny bits of cheese, steak or low-sodium deli turkey. And you don’t have to use food treats. “For a border collie, if the decoration makes a sound, you toss a frisbee. For a Lab, a tennis ball,” Dr. Radosta says.

Let your pet watch you don your costume. “You can look really scary,” Radosta says. “Put on your whole outfit and condition your dog not to be scared of you when you dress up.” Walk around the house with the costume on, offering treats or play as you do so.

Instead of just shoving your pet into a costume a couple of hours before a party or pet costume parade, start practicing now. Put the costume on a little at a time, rewarding each step of the way.

Make sure it fits well and doesn’t restrict vision, hearing or movement. Once your pet is used to wearing the entire costume, gradually increase the length of time she wears it. “Most dogs and cats will appreciate wearing the costume for only a short period for a photo opportunity in exchange for treats,” says Mikkel Becker, lead trainer for Fear Free Pets.

And remember, there’s nothing wrong with dogs or cats dressing up in only a bat-themed bandana or even just their birthday suit.

Ding dong. How many of you have dogs who bark wildly or cats who head under the bed when they hear the doorbell ring? On Halloween, that can go on for hours, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Cover the doorbell and use something outside the door that makes a different sound or lights up when people approach, Radosta suggests. That way you’re alerted to the presence of trick-or-treaters, but your pet isn’t reacting to the sound of the doorbell or a knock at the door. Or set up a treat station in the yard so you aren’t constantly opening and closing the door.

That also prevents your pet from slipping out the door and becoming lost. Halloween is the second most common time of the year for pets to become lost, says Marty Becker, DVM, founder of Fear Free. That’s because the front door opens more frequently than usual, pets may feel territorial at the approach of so many strangers, or pets who are taken trick-or-treating may slip their collars.

Finally, if your pet just doesn’t enjoy this haunting holiday, give him a quiet retreat in your home away from the action -- a little-used bathroom or guest bedroom are good choices -- or consider boarding him overnight and picking him up the next day. You’ll both be happier.

Q&A

Allergic to cats?

New food may help

Q: I heard about a new food for cats that will reduce human allergies to them. Is that really available?

A: The short answer is that a product like that is in the works and may be available within the year. That’s huge for people who love cats but are allergic to them, as well as for cats in shelters who need homes.

Cats are the most common cause of animal-origin allergies in humans. What causes the allergy is a protein called Fel d1 that’s produced by cats and found in their saliva; anal and sebaceous glands; skin; and fur. It’s often said that certain cat breeds are hypoallergenic, but the truth is that all cats produce Fel d1 to varying degrees. The amount they produce depends on hormonal status and has nothing to do with breed or fur color or length.

The Purina Institute sought to find ways to manage cat allergens and reduce the numbers of cats given up to shelters by allergic people. Researchers didn’t want to knock out Fel d1 because right now, its purpose is unknown. It could turn out to be important to feline health.

Instead, they looked at ways to prevent the allergen from interacting with Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies produced by the human immune system when it reacts to an allergen. The solution was an antibody in food that would bind Fel d1 in cat saliva and neutralize the allergen at the source.

The product has been tested for safety in cats and efficacy in humans in double-blinded crossover studies with good results.

Most people with allergies are allergic to multiple things. Even if the food doesn’t completely eliminate their allergy to cats, it may reduce it enough to help them stay below the threshold that causes their allergies to flare. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Pet DNA tests

fun, useful

-- Wondering whether to get a DNA test for your dog or cat? Besides finding out if your guess as to his breed or mix is correct, the tests can have some other benefits you might not have considered. Swabbing a pet’s cheek and mailing the collected cells in a test tube for analysis not only identifies a dog or cat’s genetic heritage, it can also give you some health background, such as whether a pet carries a gene for a particular disease or may be sensitive to certain drugs. The results are not specific enough to use for diagnosing disease, but they can provide insights into a pet’s behavior and health.

-- Beneath his dignified demeanor, the British shorthair is an easygoing and affectionate companion for anyone who loves a cat with a cushy, full-cheeked appearance; large, round eyes; and a plush coat of many colors. In fact, while you might have always thought the breed was actually the British blue, the cats’ fur palette includes white, black, red, smoke, the various tabby patterns, calico, tortoiseshell and many other patterns and combinations. Exceptions include chocolate, lavender and the Himalayan pattern. Because of their laid-back nature, British shorthairs are good companions for both quiet households and families with kids and other pets.

-- Inhalant allergies caused by pollen, trees, grasses, molds and other substances affect approximately 15% of dogs and usually develop between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. Suspect allergies if your dog is itchy, licks or chews at his feet, rubs his face on the floor, or has rashes in armpit and groin areas. Allergies are best dealt with by avoiding the offending allergen whenever possible. Keep your dog indoors when pollen counts are high, and switch to fragrance-free detergents and fabric softeners. -- 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.

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.