Researchers are seeking to better understand the aging process in dogs and humans with the hope of delaying onset of age-related diseases

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sophie Cobb, a Shetland sheepdog in Omaha, Nebraska, recently celebrated her 20th birthday. That’s an unusually long life for a dog. Our best friends are more likely to live a measly 10 to 12 years, with some making it to 14, 15 or older.

Have you ever wished dogs lived longer? A good diet, exercise and regular veterinary care are pieces of the puzzle that make up a long, healthy life for a dog, but are there other ways to extend the lifespan and improve quality of life?

Scientists with the Dog Aging Project are seeking answers to those questions with a long-term study of how dogs age and the genetic and environmental factors that affect aging and disease in dogs. In the process, they’ll also learn important things about the biology of aging in humans -- after all, dogs closely share our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat to the beds we sleep in.

“Dogs get the same diseases we do,” says Matt Kaeberlein, Ph.D., one of the co-directors of the DAP. “The health care system in dogs is second only to our own in sophistication. What we learn about how genes and the environment shape the risk of age-related disease in dogs is likely to be related to the genes and environmental risk factors for age-related diseases in humans as well.”

For the longitudinal study -- a yearslong look at dogs’ lives and health -- some 10,000 dogs will participate. Big dogs, small dogs, mixed breeds, purebreds -- all are important in teasing out the secrets behind canine aging. Because of the compressed nature of the dog lifespan, much can be learned in a decade, both environmentally and at the molecular level.

“The dog provides us with a really terrific opportunity to ask how those molecular changes differ between long-lived and short-lived individuals within the same species,” says Daniel Promislow, Ph.D., DAP co-director. “They provide us with a kind of magnifier of diversity that we don’t have in humans, where we don’t know who’s going to be long-lived and who’s going to be short-lived.”

While a pill to increase canine lifespan is still in the future, the concept isn’t out of the question. Owners can nominate middle-aged dogs to participate in a parallel five-year study, limited to 500 dogs, of a drug called rapamycin. In lab studies as well as some human studies, it appears to slow aging or improve healthy aging, Dr. Promislow says. Cardiologists at veterinary teaching hospitals will follow the dogs’ heart health over time in the double-blind, placebo-controlled study. That means neither owners nor researchers will know which dogs receive the drug and which a placebo. As part of this intervention trial, researchers will also be looking at such things as kidney function, cancer, activity levels and cognition.

Why middle-aged dogs? They are at the age where they are starting to develop age-related diseases. By starting with dogs in that period of life, researchers will be able to quickly detect whether the drug slows aging and improves heart function.

“If we had a large enough sample size, we could know in three years -- certainly in five years -- the extent to which rapamycin did improve healthy aging in dogs,” Dr. Promislow says. “That’s something that’s just not possible in that timeframe in people.”

A 20% to 30% increase in lifespan in dogs isn’t out of the realm of possibility, Dr. Kaeberlein says. A dog who might normally live 10 years might live an extra two years. Smaller dogs with a normal lifespan of up to 18 years could see an extra three or four years of life.

Studying how dogs age has more than academic interest. There’s intrinsic value in improving quality of life for dogs, but making their lives longer and better improves our own quality of life as well.

Q&A

Brush off cats --

in a good way

Q: Why do I have to brush my cat? Don’t cats groom themselves?

A: Cats do a great job of grooming themselves, but brushing has a lot of positives beyond helping cats stay clean. It’s a basic step in monitoring your cat’s physical condition, for one thing.

When you brush your cat, you’re learning how her body looks and feels normally. You’ll notice when brushing feels good to her -- “Ah, yes, right there!” -- and when she flinches away because there’s a painful spot that you otherwise might not have noticed. Brushing is a time to check your cat for parasites such as fleas; flakiness that might be caused by dry skin; and to make sure she doesn’t have any lumps or bumps, especially as she gets older or if she goes outdoors and might have gotten into a scuffle with another cat.

Brushing has benefits for you, too. In cats with long fur, it prevents tangles from forming. You probably remember from when you were a kid how painful it is to have tangles combed or brushed out. Brushing removes loose hairs that would otherwise drift onto your clothing, carpet and furniture. And it keeps your cat from swallowing loose hairs that then form hairballs that she hacks up onto your floor for you to step on in the middle of the night. (By the way, did you know that the scientific term for hairball is trichobezoar? The word comes from Greek and refers to a mass formed from hair.)

Last, but definitely not least, brushing your cat is a way to strengthen your bond with her. It’s time that you spend together doing something that’s pleasurable for her. You can do it while you’re watching TV or as a form of meditation for yourself. Brush on! -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Comic sends

cats into orbit

-- Cats inherit the earth -- or at least a spaceship -- in “Captain Ginger,” a new comic book series featuring cats in space. Humans are referred to as “feeders,” feral cats are an issue and Captain Ginger must not only battle space aliens but also deal with undesirable scratching behavior on the bridge, and assign litter box duty. And who could resist a cast that includes a Science Cat and a Chief Mousing Officer? One reviewer calls it “the ultimate cat comic.” Published by Ahoy Comics and created by Stuart Moore and June Brigman, “Captain Ginger” is available for $3.99 from Ahoy Comics and Amazon.

-- At Michigan State University, a new animal-assisted intervention program called “Justice Heals” -- named after a support dog acquired to help survivors of sexual assault -- will pair people with shelter dogs to help them heal from their experiences. The program is a collaboration among MSU’s Veterinary Social Work Program, Center for Survivors and Veterinary Behavior Service. “As a veterinary behaviorist, this program is a unique opportunity to look at the relationships that develop between sexual assault survivors and shelter animals during the healing process,” says veterinary behaviorist Marie Hopfensperger, DVM. “This approach allows us to create programming that is mutually beneficial for both populations."

-- The Tonkinese, originally created by crossing Siamese and Burmese cats, is an outgoing, active and playful cat with a strong desire to spend time with his family and involve himself in everything they do. He greets guests with aplomb, doing everything but offering them a drink. When he’s not riding on your shoulder, the Tonk, as he is nicknamed, enjoys playing fetch, sitting in your lap or just chatting with you about his day. With his friendly, open attitude, he can be a good choice for families with children, other cats or cat-friendly dogs. -- 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.

Losing a pet can be a child’s first experience with death. Here’s how to help them cope

By Mikkel Becker

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Almost a year ago, we lost our 12-year-old black pug, Willy. We knew he was on his last legs, but his death was sudden and unexpected. My husband and I were out of the country, but my 10-year-old daughter, Reagan, and my mother, Teresa, were there when Willy collapsed and passed away.

Because Willy was getting on in years and suffered from diminishing health, we’d had the opportunity to talk about how much we loved Willy, how hard his passing would be, how we’d miss him and what we would do when he’d passed (including the notion of one day getting another dog). Preparation beforehand didn’t make the passing easy, but it at least gave Reagan a foundation for support in the wake of the sudden loss. Most importantly, Reagan was able to talk with the family about what had occurred.

The loss of a beloved dog, cat or other pet is traumatic for people of any age, but for children, experiencing the death of a pet can be especially painful. Not only are they losing a close companion or best friend, it’s likely the first time they are encountering loss and the finality of death.

For the child, recovery after a loss can be difficult to manage; the child may remember little to no time without the pet having been there. Life without their beloved critter is likely to look and feel vastly different than what they’ve experienced before.

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to help a child cope with and grieve the loss of a pet. But certain approaches better build the ability to cope and to fully grieve, important steps for coming to terms with -- and, when the time is right, moving forward from -- the loss of one we love. As an animal trainer and mom, I want to share three ways I’ve found to help a child to better deal with the loss of a pet.

Even before losing Willy and, before him, our other pug, Bruce, we had discussed the potential passing of a pet or person through thought-provoking books and movies that dealt with the notion of death. This offered us opportunities to talk about death, saying goodbye and moving forward when a loved one dies. For Reagan, this foundation helped her to better deal with loss when it happened.

Reflecting on the favorite things Willy had done recently also helped Reagan through her grief. It was important for her to hear that Willy felt little pain and that up until the final moment, he was at his happiest: visiting his favorite place on earth, Almost Heaven Ranch, with some of his favorite people, including her. Willy knew he was loved and felt that love up until the very end. To Reagan, that was a comforting fact in her loss.

Finally, a lasting legacy of the pet’s love is something the child can go to for comfort. For Reagan, writing notes to and drawing pictures of her dogs after their passing (Bruce died in 2015, and my parents recently lost their beloved Quixote) were ties to the lasting love she felt for her late pets.

She also appreciated having photos and a specific painting of each pug that serve as reminders of them. We gave her a special paw print charm that says, “Always with you.” This was important for her and offered her a feeling of comfort after Willy’s passing.

When asked what helped her cope the most, Reagan says, “I’m still not over it.” I completely agree. I don’t think anyone ever “gets over” the loss of their pet. But what’s important is learning to deal with the new normal while remembering the love.

Q&A

Do dogs need

special shampoo?

Q: Is it OK to use Dawn dishwashing detergent to bathe my dog? What about baby shampoo? I want to use something mild.

A: We turned to a couple of coat and skin experts to find the answer. Amelia White is a veterinary dermatologist at Alabama’s Auburn University, and Julie Ellingson is a professional dog groomer in Sacramento, California.

Dawn has a reputation for being effective because we often hear about it being used to remove crude oil from water birds after oil spills. But there’s a big difference between crude oil and the oil and dirt on your dog’s skin. Dawn isn’t made for use on dogs, and it’s too harsh for their skin -- which is thinner than our own, Ellingson says. Besides being harsh, it can cause other problems, she adds.

“I have seen more than a few ulcerated eyes in dogs from people using Dawn to strip out greasy ears. The dog shakes and the soap gets in the eyes and burns them. It’s not worth the risk.”

Baby shampoo, while gentle for babies, isn’t made for a dog’s skin, either. “The pH, or acidity, of baby skin is different than dogs’,” Dr. White says. “If you bathe dogs with human-grade shampoos, that can make them have increased scaling, or what people call dandruff.”

That’s because baby shampoo changes the pH in canine skin and makes their skin cells slough off faster than they’re supposed to, which looks like dandruff. Then you think, “Oh, no, they’re dirty,” and you bathe them more frequently, exacerbating the problem.

What should you use? There are many good, mild and effective shampoos made specifically for dogs. “Choose a dog shampoo, something that is gentle and cleansing, preferably something that is oatmeal-based,” Dr. White says. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Tortoise runs away --

to previous home

-- A week after Sweety disappeared, the Russian tortoise turned up -- 5 miles away at the family’s previous home. The kicker? They hadn’t lived there in 10 years. Social media aided the reunion. Sweety was picked up by a woman who was driving down the street and spotted the on-the-lam tortoise. She posted a photo of Sweety, and owner Sara Coggeshall saw it. Russian tortoises have a reputation as escape artists, so a wire-reinforced fence may be in order to keep Sweety at home.

-- People in domestic abuse situations are often unwilling to leave home without their pets, who are at risk themselves from abusers, but most domestic violence shelters don’t permit pets. A New York City-based program called PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) is working to provide them with the option of bringing pets to shelters. PALS provides access to 172 apartments in five different buildings where families -- pets, too -- can stay together. Besides dogs and cats, PALS has helped to shelter fish, birds, guinea pigs, turtles, hamsters, a rabbit and a bearded dragon. More information is available at urinyc.org/uripals.

-- Rabbits need a large, safe place to play; bunny companionship as well as appropriate human interaction (loud children and rough handling can scare them); a grass- or hay-based diet (nix the carrots; they’re too sweet); good grooming; and regular veterinary care, including vaccinations. All too often, though, they don’t get those things, according to a study of more than 6,000 rabbits in the United Kingdom. Veterinarians treating them see overgrown nails and teeth, skin and digestive problems, and dirty rear ends. They can die from maggots feeding on them and appetite loss caused by poor dental health or stomach ulcers. To learn about good rabbit care, visit the website of the House Rabbit Society at rabbit.org. -- 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.

How much do you know about cats? Here are 9 fun and fascinating feline facts

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We love learning new things about pets, and we’re always collecting cool bits of information about them. This week we thought we’d share some “cat-tastic” history, geography, breed lore and more with you.

-- Cats were domesticated -- as domesticated as cats can be, anyway -- probably 7,500 to 10,000 years ago, most likely in the Mediterranean region. From there, cats spread throughout the world, prized for their ability to protect crops and grain stores from mice, rats and other vermin.

-- We’ve all heard the story that in Egypt, cats were worshipped as gods, and to this day they have never forgotten it. Cats were associated with three Egyptian goddesses. Mafdet, portrayed as a cat or panther, offered protection against venomous animals and was known as “Slayer of Serpents.” Bast -- also known as Bubastis -- represented fertility and motherhood. Lion-headed Sekhmet symbolized the sun and bore the title “Lady of Slaughter.” It’s easy to see how each of these personifications arose from feline behavior.

-- The Persian is thought to be the oldest recognized cat breed, and Persians have been used to develop several other breeds.

-- We’ve all heard of a “litter” of kittens, but did you know that there are several other collective terms for cats? There’s a kindle of kittens, a pounce of kittens, a clowder of cats. Veterinarian and author Grace Elliot blogged in 2014 that she preferred “an independence of cats,” adding that the Harley Manuscript, dating to the 15th century, refers to a “glorying” of cats.

-- The world’s cats are divided into groups from four distinct areas: Asia, the Mediterranean basin, Western Europe and East Africa. One is the adventurous Abyssinian cat, hailing from Indian Ocean coastal areas. It’s likely that this energetic and fun-loving cat came to Europe by ship in the 19th century.

-- No one knows exactly when cats first came to the New World, but it was surely by ship. Genetic evidence shows that American cats consistently group with cats from Western Europe, suggesting that North American cats descend from cats brought to the New World by European settlers. They may have arrived with Viking explorers; sailed the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria with Columbus; or accompanied Spanish colonizers. We know that at least one cat was on the Mayflower with the pilgrims, because although nameless, she is mentioned in ship records. The first known written mention of cats in New England dates to 1634.

-- The largest number of kittens ever born to a domestic cat was 19. According to Guinness World Records, a Burmese-Siamese cat in the United Kingdom delivered 19 kittens on Aug. 7, 1970. Four were stillborn, but the remaining 15 must have been more than a handful for mama cat and her people.

-- Bengal cats originated as a cross between Asian leopard cats -- small wildcats weighing 5 to 12 pounds -- and domestic cats, but today’s Bengals are domestic all the way, with no wild blood.

-- We’ll leave you with a feline fashion factoid: A cat whose coat is any color or pattern combined with any amount of white -- as little as a single spot -- is said to be bicolor (sometimes referred to as piebald), and the variations are numerous. Cats who are mostly white with random splashes of color are described as magpie. Van cats have splashes of color between the ears and color on the tail. Mask and mantle? That’s not a cat in costume but one with color on top of the head and on the upper half of the body with white below. And of course there is the classic tuxedo cat, with white belly and paws.

Q&A

Human pain

meds for pets?

Q: My pet is a little achy from arthritis. Is it OK to give her aspirin?

A: Back in the day, veterinarians might sometimes recommend giving an arthritic pet a small dose of aspirin. But that was a long time ago, and now we have a number of pain medications, nutraceuticals and other ways of managing pain that are much better suited to the needs of our dogs and cats.

But why can’t you just give aspirin if that’s what you have on hand? For the skinny, I asked my colleague, pet pain expert Michael Petty, DVM.

While aspirin might seem to help with pet pain, it can cause problems in both dogs and cats and should not be given. One of those problems is stomach ulcers.

“Stomach ulcers are the largest concern we have, and should your pet get an ulcer, it may cost thousands of dollars to treat this life-threatening concern,” Dr. Petty says. “One dog study using an endoscope to look at the stomach lining after aspirin administration showed that there was inflammation present just one hour after a single dose of aspirin. Another study showed that aspirin given to dogs actually hastened the degradation of cartilage.” In other words, it may have helped with the pain initially, but in the long run, it made the pain worse.

Instead of giving aspirin, talk to your veterinarian about the best ways to manage your pet’s pain. Losing weight can be a start. Just relieving the pressure on those joints can do a lot for a pet’s well-being.

Dogs and cats can benefit from injections of a joint supplement called Adequan. Acupuncture, cold laser, hydrotherapy and massage are other options. And there are pet-specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications your veterinarian can prescribe to help relieve arthritis pain.-- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs aid at-risk

black-footed ferrets

-- Camas, Finny, Jax, Lily, Rio, Tule and Utah are working dogs in South Dakota, Wyoming and Arizona. Their job? They are conservation detection dogs trained by Working Dogs for Conservation to seek out highly endangered black-footed ferrets. The solitary and nocturnal predators are difficult to find since they spend much of their time underground, either sleeping or hunting prey. Along with camera traps, radio collars and spotlighting, the dogs are an important part of tracking, monitoring and counting the elusive members of the weasel family so they can be better understood and managed.

-- Want a reptile but don’t love the idea of feeding insects or pinky mice? A blue-tongued skink might be the lizard of your dreams. The omnivores thrive on a combination of veggies and greens, protein, and fruit. A good ratio for each meal is 50% veggies/greens, 40% protein and 10% fruit. Types of protein you can feed include high-quality dry or canned dog food, hard-boiled eggs, boiled chicken and lean cooked ground turkey or beef. Fruits and veggies you can feed include collard and turnip greens, squash, peas, carrots, mango, strawberries and cantaloupe. Vary what you feed, and give a vitamin/calcium supplement to ensure a balanced, well-rounded diet.

-- Old pets or those with health problems are among the most vulnerable in shelters, but so-called “fospice” -- a mashup of foster and hospice -- programs help them make a soft landing in a home for what may be the last few weeks, months or sometimes years of their lives. At Kentucky Humane Society, a fospice program has given 13 animals with terminal illnesses or limited life expectancies a new family life for as long as they need it. Similar programs are available in New York City; San Francisco; Oak Ridge, New Jersey; and Austin, Texas. -- 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.