12 ways you and your pet can make the most of an enforced “staycation”

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Dog and cat shows -- canceled. Agility trials -- canceled. Training classes -- canceled.

Right now, we all have the stay-at-home blues, including our pets, who may not be getting as much activity as they’re used to. Or they might be a little weirded out that we’re spending so much more time at home. They can probably feel the stress rolling off us, and it’s stressing them, too. We’ve come up with some fun ways that you and your animals can stay sane, have fun, get some exercise and train your brains.

First, it’s still OK to take your dog for a walk. Seek large, open areas where it’s easy to maintain a 6-foot distance from others, or go at off-hours to decrease the likelihood of seeing other people.

Have a treadmill? Teach your dog to use it. No reason your dog can’t follow the same exercise program as top show dogs. The American Kennel Club has an article and video on how to get started. Visit bit.ly/2QHBVPO to see them.

Set up a virtual rally, nosework or obedience “trial” at home. Have a family member record it and share on social media with friends in the sport. Get others to do it and have someone be a “judge.”

Teach your dog or cat some tricks. Janiss Garza shares tips on trick-training cats in “3 Easy Tricks To Teach Your Cat” on FearFreeHappyHomes.com. Dog trainer Kyra Sundance has YouTube videos on teaching spin, shake, bow and more.

Does your pet need to get the zoomies out, but you don’t have a yard or can’t make it to another outdoor area? Toss a ball down the hall for her to chase and fetch. Or blow bubbles in the living room.

Puzzle toys for dogs and cats exercise their brains and reward them for activity. Or stuff a Kong or other hollow toy with peanut butter, aerosol cheese, kibble or treats to keep him busy.

It’s spring. Let your dog help you plant your garden.

Got a new puppy? You can still socialize him -- just at a distance. Expose him in a positive way to the sight of other people and animals and objects such as fire hydrants and trash cans, sounds of cars and buses, and different surfaces such as grass, asphalt and gravel.

What about you? Learn something new about pet behavior. You can find lots of short, free educational videos on body language, behavior, training and care at FearFreeHappyHomes.com.

Take a Coursera class on dog emotion and cognition from canine cognition researcher Brian Hare, Ph.D., at Duke University.

Discover a new fantasy or sci-fi book series with great animal characters or characters who commune with animals. Favorites with memorable animals (and humans) include Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles with Oberon the Irish wolfhound; Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files with Mouse the Temple Dog and Mister the cat; Damien Dibben’s “Tomorrow,” a tale of an immortal dog in search of his human; David Weber’s Honor Harrington books (with treecats!); Tad Williams’ “Tailchaser’s Song” with Fritti; and Connie Willis’ “To Say Nothing of the Dog” with Princess Arjumand the cat and Cyril the bulldog.

Pop some popcorn (go easy on the butter and salt when you share with pets) and have a movie marathon. To get you started: “The Adventures of Milo and Otis,” “The Adventures of TinTin,” “Air Bud,” “The Aristocats,” “A Street Cat Named Bob,” “Babe,” “Balto,” “Benji,” “Best in Show,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Finding Nemo,” “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” “Lady and the Tramp,” “Lassie,” “My Dog Tulip,” “Nine Lives,” “Oddball and the Penguins,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island,” “Seabiscuit,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Togo,” “Turner and Hooch,” “Up” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.”

Enjoy your unplanned togetherness -- and stay healthy!

Q&A

Are lap cats

made or born?

Q: My cat doesn’t like to sit on my lap, and he doesn’t really like to be petted much either. Is there anything I can do to change his ways?

A: Having a cat sit on your lap is something special, and if his motor is running, it’s even better. It would be fantastic if we could train cats to be lap-sitters, but you might be surprised to learn that willingness to sit on a lap is a genetically influenced behavior. It’s not something that can be changed through early socialization or training.

And it turns out that cats who want to sit on a lap all the time have been found to be a little insecure. The fact that your cat doesn’t feel the need to cling to you but is comfortable in your presence says something special about the relationship between the two of you.

The good news is that for some cats, sitting close to you -- within 18 inches -- is their version of being friendly. And there are ways you can communicate with him through touch and body language that may encourage him to show you more affection.

Body language tells you if your cat is enjoying your touch. He may be particular about where you pet him and for how long. Running your hands through his fur might be soothing for you but annoying for him. A twitchy tail, a forward flick of the whiskers, ears laid back and rippling fur are all signs that your cat has had enough.

Grooming is one way to “pet” him that he may enjoy. Being brushed can feel relaxing and helps build that bond. Watch his body language: If ears go back, it’s time to stop. If ears are forward and eyes are half closed, he’s relaxed. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Vet visits take

new forms

-- Your veterinarian is an essential professional who will likely be providing pet care during quarantines to help prevent spread of COVID-19, but procedures for a visit may be different. Many veterinary clinics are asking clients to call from the parking lot when they arrive so that a technician can come out and get their pets. To reduce the risk of exposure, you’ll be asked to wait in the car while your pet is examined. Telemedicine through videoconferencing is another option if you are unable to get to the veterinary office. If you have pet health insurance, check your policy. It may include access to a veterinary help line for 24/7 advice. Try to avoid routine visits that could use up veterinary supplies needed for more at-risk patients.

-- Shelters may be overburdened at a time when some employees are unable to come to work. Would-be adopters may find themselves looking at pets online and making a phone call to express interest. To help shelters function in the event of a shutdown, residents may be asked to foster animals, care for found pets at their home and put off surrendering a pet to the shelter. Call your local shelter to see if help is needed with fostering or donations.

-- Basset hounds are recognized around the world as good-natured clowns and tail-wagging philosophers. With their large head, keen nose, pleading eyes and short legs, they have the charm to win anyone’s heart, even when they’re breaking the rules -- a common basset habit. Bassets descend from hunting dogs developed at the abbey of St. Hubert in what is now Belgium. The short, long-bodied hounds took their name from the French word “bas,” meaning low. Their short stature made it easy for them to find and follow the scent of their quarry -- rabbits and hares. -- 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.

What to know about life with pets in the age of coronavirus. The main thing? Pets don’t spread it

By Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

With cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, increasing hourly, you may be concerned not only about your own health, but also that of your pets.

First things first: There’s no reason to believe that pets are either a source of infection or can become sick from the new coronavirus. That’s per Kendra Stauffer, DVM, a veterinary specialist in preventive medicine who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the areas of zoonoses (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans) and emerging infectious diseases. It spreads person to person, she writes in an email.

A dog in Hong Kong was quarantined after testing “weak positive” for COVID-19, in what is believed to be the first and so far only case of human-to-animal transmission of the virus. The dog showed no signs of illness after more than two weeks and later tested negative for the virus.

It’s unknown how long COVID-19 survives on skin, says Jonathan Bloom, DVM, at Willowdale Animal Hospital in Toronto. To reduce any potential spread, wash hands before and after touching pets, and refrain from giving or receiving kitty or canine kisses, as stress-relieving as it may be. To reduce concerns about possible spread of the virus, ask people not to pet your animal.

Have someone else care for pets if you’re sick, says Deb Eldredge, DVM, who recently attended a New York State Veterinary Medical Society webinar on COVID-19 presented by Hilary Jones, DVM. That’s to ensure that your pet doesn’t become a “fomite” -- an accidental transporter of infection. It’s an unlikely transmission route, but if a sick person pets him and then a healthy person pets him, viruses or bacteria have the potential to be transferred that way. If you’re sick but don’t have anyone to help care for your pet, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask if you have one and washing hands before and after handling.

Don’t put hand sanitizer on pets. The high levels of ethanol it contains are toxic if they lick it off.

Have at least a two-week supply of pet food and medication in case you are quarantined. Arrange with friends, neighbors or your veterinarian to provide pets with care or boarding if you’re hospitalized.

What about visiting the veterinarian?

“If pets have minor problems, consider asking your vet for a video consult,” says Dr. Eldredge. “Saves you and your pet from going into the clinic.”

If your pet does need to visit the veterinarian, call first to find out how care is being provided. They may have you call from the parking lot so they can come out to get your pet while you wait in the car. Alert staff if you have been to high-risk areas or have fever, coughing or shortness of breath. They can work with you to make sure your pet is seen in a way that’s safe for everyone.

To help prevent the spread of the virus between humans, events such as dog shows, cat shows, other competitions and training classes are being canceled. And the American Kennel Club has made a change in one of the steps of the Canine Good Citizen test, the handshake between handlers while dogs wait calmly. “In light of today’s concern about viruses, evaluators will replace the handshake with a pretend handshake or by putting tape on the floor to indicate where dog owners are to stop,” says Canine Good Citizen Director Mary R. Burch, Ph.D.

Be smart about not only your own interactions, but also your dog’s.

“It’s not a good time for a dog walking program,” says Dr. Bloom. “It’s not a good time for your dog to be at dog parks. If you’re in isolation, you should try to keep your dog’s interactions limited until we have more information.”

Think of it as a little bit of extra togetherness in a stressful time.

Q&A

How to groom

all that fur!

Q: My Persian cat has so much fur! What’s the best way to groom and bathe her?

A: We went straight to an expert to get advice for you. Heike Hagenguth of Soliman and Dasht-E Lut catteries has owned and bred Persians for more than 40 years. Here are her tips.

-- Persians can’t groom themselves completely without some human assistance. Brushing and combing not only maintains the coat, but also removes loose hair and helps to prevent hairballs.

-- Age matters. Baby fur tangles easily, while adult hair is usually easier to care for. And Persians are individuals. Some need to be groomed daily, while others need brushing and combing only two or three times a week.

-- A daily grooming routine involves combing fur gently with a wide-toothed comb. Don’t pull, or you might tear out hair. Use a comb with finer teeth for areas beside ears, chin and cheeks. “If I find tangles during grooming, I open them carefully with my fingers and comb them out without tearing hair,” she says. “If the mat is too big or cannot be removed, cut carefully without nicking the skin.”

-- Check claws, and trim if needed. Then, before bathing, comb to remove any tangles, which worsen if they get wet. Apply degreasing shampoo, massage gently into the fur to avoid damaging hair and rinse well. Afterward, you may apply a whitening or color-enhancing shampoo or conditioner. Rinse well, squeeze out excess water from the ends of the fur, and wrap your cat in a towel. Blow dry on cool or warm setting to avoid burning the skin, or use a pet dryer that works with ambient air. As you blow dry, check skin for fleas or other parasites, injuries or signs of infection such as redness.

For more about grooming longhaired cats, go to FearFreeHappyHomes.com. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pets don’t need

COVID-19 test

-- Do pets need to be tested for COVID-19? Right now the answer is no, but IDEXX Laboratories has tests that it says will be made available if necessary. While developing and validating a new veterinary test system for the novel virus, IDEXX tested samples from thousands of pet dogs and cats and found no positive results for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus strain that causes COVID-19. Pets with respiratory signs such as coughing should be seen by their veterinarian, who can check for common viral or bacterial pathogens that cause respiratory problems.

-- If your pet has had surgery or a sore spot, you’re familiar with the Elizabethan collar, a plastic device resembling an ugly lampshade that fits around your pet’s neck to prevent him from licking, biting, chewing or scratching at the area. We all know that pets hate the “cone of shame,” and now researchers at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science in Australia confirm that it affects not only pet quality of life but also that of owners. Not only does it interfere with a pet’s ability to sleep, eat, drink and move around, it also causes injuries to people and property. Alternatives include softer fabric or inflatable collars, body wraps or clothing, and socks or booties.

-- Plastic surgery for pets? It’s a thing, but not in the way that you’re thinking. Bella and Beau don’t need Botox for wrinkles or saggy jowls, but reconstructive surgery can improve a short-faced dog’s ability to breathe, improve vision in dogs with eyelid abnormalities such as entropion or ectropion, and help prevent urinary tract infections in dogs with an inverted vulva. These are often heritable defects, so acquiring a dog from a reputable breeder is a good start to avoiding them, but your veterinarian can often improve quality of life with surgery if necessary. -- 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.

Know how to respond if your dog is bitten by a snake, as well as how to prevent bites

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Bandit, a Jack Russell terrier in California, was fighting for his life after being bitten in the face by a rattlesnake. The location of the bite posed a significant challenge for the dog’s survival, his veterinarian said.

Depending on where you are in the country, it’s not too early to start thinking about snake encounters if you and your dog enjoy the outdoors. A mild and wet winter across the country has snakes ready to leave hibernation and start eating and breeding.

According to a study by California and Colorado researchers published in the journal Clinical Toxicology in 2018, snakebites peaked following rainy seasons and were at their lowest during drought periods. Rain brings more prey for snakes, and a plentiful food source encourages them to mate.

That means people and pets are more likely to run into them in backyards and on hiking trails. Arizona and California officials have already begun issuing snake warnings.

The good news is that snakes do their best to avoid encounters with humans or dogs.

The bad news is that a bite even from a nonvenomous snake can be painful and lead to infections, says Jason Nicholas, DVM, chief medical officer of PreventiveVet.com. And the toxin from venomous snakes creates blood-clotting abnormalities in dogs, as well as potential secondary bacterial infections from the puncture wound.

Many dogs are bitten on the face or neck after sticking their noses where they don’t belong. “That’s the worst place to get bitten,” Dr. Nicholas says. The inflammation can cause swelling around the airway, making it difficult for the dog to breathe.

No matter where on the body a dog is bitten, keep him still. Carry him to reduce the rate at which the venom circulates through the bloodstream, or have him walk slowly if he’s too big to carry. Running can potentially make matters worse, Nicholas says. Get him to the veterinarian right away.

Bandit’s owner Jill-Marie Jones heard the snake rattling and saw that her dog’s head was tilted and his face was swelling. “We blasted to the vet, and on my way, I called and made sure they had the antivenin and were ready to go. The catheter and meds were started probably not even 15 minutes after he was bitten,” she says.

For rattlesnake or other venomous snake bites, a veterinary emergency hospital is the best choice unless you know your veterinarian stocks antivenin. It’s a good thing to check if you and your dog spend a lot of time outdoors in snake country.

“It’s not cheap, but it can be a significant component of treatment and decrease the overall time that a pet would maybe need to stay in the ICU and decrease complications resulting from the bite,” Nicholas says.

If you live in an area where snakes are common, it’s important to teach your dog to avoid them. This can be done with a strong “leave it,” “wait,” “look here” or “come” cue. You can also work with an experienced trainer who performs snake-aversion training. This is often done with an electronic collar set on low, but some trainers use positive reinforcement techniques to teach “leave it” or “watch me” behaviors in the presence of a snake or other hazard.

When you see a snake -- venomous or not -- leave it alone. Wherever you live, snakes are important to the ecosystem. They help to keep down disease and property or crop damage by eating mice, rats and other rodents and are themselves prey for other animals. Venomous snakes encountered in your home or yard should be removed and relocated by a professional snake handler. Learn the species in your area so you’ll know which snakes are harmless.

Bandit was hit hard by the bite. His veterinarian confessed that he’d thought the 10-year-old dog had no chance. But antivenin, IV antibiotics and intensive supportive care saved his life.

Q&A

What does ‘pet

quality’ mean?

Q: I’m buying a pedigreed kitten, and the breeder is recommending one she says is “pet-quality,” since I don’t plan to show her. Is that a good idea? I’m paying a lot of money, so I don’t want one who’s not as good as the others.

A: Just because a kitten is “pet-quality” doesn’t mean that he or she is second-rate. It simply means that the kitten isn’t suitable for the show ring or for breeding. That can be for any number of reasons, usually cosmetic. Her markings might not be perfect, or her eyes might not be the exact shade that makes a kitten or cat stand out to a judge. Factors that can be important in the show ring include size, symmetry, coat length, and depth of eye or coat color.

In Norwegian forest cats, for instance, a head profile with a slight dip instead of being perfectly straight can make all the difference. Flaws that prevent an Abyssinian or Somali from being show-quality include tabby stripes on the legs, necklace lines on the neck, coloring that looks cool instead of warm, a kink in the tail or eyes that are almond-shaped instead of round. For Russian blues, basic disqualifiers are the wrong eye color, a white locket on the throat, lack of silver tipping or poor ear placement. A sparse, patchy coat without the right texture can put Devon rex cats out of the show-ring running.

It’s not always a cosmetic flaw. Sometimes breeders have too many kittens from a certain bloodline and can’t use them all in a show or breeding program, so some get “petted out.”

None of these things detract from a kitten’s health or ability to be a great pet, so take a pet-quality kitten home with no fear. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Pets do not

spread COVID-19

-- Although a pet dog in China was found to have developed a low-level infection of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the novel coronavirus) through contact with his owner, the dog has not developed any illness. Health experts say that dogs and cats who contract the virus are unlikely to become sick themselves or to transmit it to other humans or animals. It’s fine to keep snuggling with your pets -- especially if you’re anxious about catching the virus yourself -- but any time you are sick with anything, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends having someone else care for your animals.

-- You probably know that the sweetener xylitol is highly toxic to pets. What you might not know is all the different types of products in which it’s found. When you’re shopping, check labels for xylitol in peanut and other nut butters; protein bars; toothpaste (one of the reasons not to brush pets’ teeth with toothpaste for humans), even if it’s labeled “natural”; chewing gum; candy; mints; antacids; melatonin; flavored fish oil supplements; sleep aids; chewable vitamins and probiotics; and even body butters and moisturizers that your pet might lick off your skin. Check anything that’s flavored or labeled as sugar-free.

-- The world’s first cloned cat has died at age 18 from kidney failure. CC, short for Copy Cat, was born Dec. 21, 2001, at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and was adopted by Dr. Duane Kraemer and his wife Shirley, with whom she spent her entire life. Beyond being a beloved pet, CC proved that cloning could effectively produce a healthy animal capable of living a full life and producing offspring. CC had one litter of three kittens, all of whom were kept by the Kraemers. -- 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.