Which dogs or cats are associated with your state, and why? Here’s a rundown of official state pets

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Late-night host Stephen Colbert’s work-at-home sidekick is his Boykin spaniel, Benny. Colbert is a South Carolina native, so the curly-coated South Carolina state dog is a perfect choice as his companion for Jeep rides and at-home filming of “The Late Show.”

The Boykin was developed in South Carolina, so it’s no surprise the breed would be named the state dog. What other dogs and cats are state animals? Let’s take a look at how and why they were chosen.

First thing to know: Not every state has a state dog, and fewer have state cats. If you live in Alabama, Minnesota or one of the other states lacking a state pet, it’s time for schoolkids to mobilize and ask legislators to name one. That’s often how state animals are chosen. Other times, they have a specific association with the state.

In New Jersey, for instance, the state dog is a working animal -- the seeing eye dog -- because The Seeing Eye guide dog school is located in Morristown. In Alaska, of course, the Alaskan malamute holds state dog honors. Maryland has the Chesapeake Bay retriever, and New Hampshire the Chinook, both breeds that were developed in those states. Maryland, by the way, has the distinction of being the first state to designate an official pet, in 1964.

Other dogs developed in or associated with particular states are Louisiana’s Catahoula leopard dog and North Carolina’s Plott hound. The blue Lacy is “a true Texas breed,” according to a state senate resolution in 2001. Born and bred in the city of his name, the Boston terrier is the state dog of Massachusetts. The American water spaniel, nicknamed “the little brown dog,” represents Wisconsin, where the breed was developed. Like the Boykin, the AWS has a curly coat and enjoys time spent on the water.

The bluetick coonhound wasn’t developed in Tennessee, but Smokey, a bluetick, is the mascot of the University of Tennessee. The breed was designated as the state dog last year. In Virginia, known for its foxhunting tradition, the American foxhound was named state dog in 1966. Pennsylvania chose the Great Dane because early settlers kept them as hunting and working dogs.

A number of states have embraced “rescue dogs” or “shelter dogs” as their state representatives. They include California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia and Illinois. New York has taken a different tack, honoring “working dogs.” That designation includes military and police dogs, service dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, disease detection dogs -- any dog trained to provide a service.

What about cats? Naturally, the Maine coon is the state cat of Maine. The large, furry cats are also known for the genetic trait of polydactyly, or extra toes.

Maryland chose the calico as its representative because the cat’s colors of orange, black and white match those of the state bird -- the oriole -- and the state insect -- the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly. Calico isn’t a breed, by the way, but a color pattern that occurs in many different cat breeds.

Massachusetts chose a cat of another color as its state feline: the tabby. Chosen by Massachusetts schoolchildren in 1998, tabbies are good feline representatives because all domestic cats carry the tabby gene, even if it’s not expressed in their coat.

The same states that recognize shelter dogs as their state animal also recognize shelter cats.

Some states are still working on their state dog and cat designations. Oregon might adopt the Newfoundland as its state dog. After all, explorer Meriwether Lewis brought his Newfoundland, Seaman, to the state on his journey to document the Louisiana Purchase. And Kansas has considered going Hollywood, proposing the cairn terrier in honor of Toto, Dorothy’s dog in “The Wizard of Oz.”

Q&A

Nasal disease

has many causes

Q: My dog is snorting and sneezing a lot. What could be wrong with him?

A: Problems affecting the canine nose can range from minor to serious. Figuring out what’s causing the problem can take a little detective work.

Rhinitis is an infection of the nasal cavity and can affect dogs of any age. Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses. Many dogs have a combination of the two and show signs such as sneezing, bloody or mucuslike discharge, or coughing from postnasal drip.

Aspergillus is a type of fungus that can invade the nasal cavity. We see it most typically in young or middle-aged dogs with long or medium-length muzzles. Common signs of this fungal infection are a heavy, mucuslike discharge, discoloration of the nostrils, apparent facial pain and occasionally nasal bleeding.

Dogs that have snuffled up a foreign object into the nose -- a bean, a foxtail or even a blade of grass -- usually sneeze violently, paw at the nose in a fruitless attempt to remove the item and may have a thick or bloody nasal discharge. Sometimes a veterinarian can remove foreign bodies with tweezers while the dog is sedated or anesthetized, but surgery may be necessary for an object lodged deeply in the nose. Don’t try to remove objects yourself; you may make the problem worse.

Older dogs may develop tumors in the nasal cavity. The tumors may cause sneezing or sniffling, a runny nose or bleeding from one nostril. Some tumors can block airflow, making it difficult for the dog to breathe.

Like any health problem, nasal disease is easiest to treat before it becomes advanced. Nosebleeds, discharge and excessive sneezing aren’t normal. Signs of facial pain include pawing at the face or loss of appetite. Take your dog to the veterinarian at the first sign of irritation of that sensitive snout. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Teaching touch

has benefits

-- Teaching your dog or cat to touch and follow your hand or a target such as a stick has many uses, according to the authors of the book “From Fearful To Fear Free,” Lisa Radosta, Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker. A dog who jumps on people in greeting can learn instead to touch his nose to a visitor’s hand. It’s also a simple way to move your pet off a piece of furniture or onto a scale at the veterinary clinic, or to direct his focus away from food or objects he’s not allowed to have. Following and touching a target can help reduce a pet’s fear of a stethoscope, nail clippers and similar objects.

-- Words about dogs have changed many times over the years. For instance, the words “pup” or “puppy” originally referred to a type of dog no longer in existence, but by the 16th century, they were used to refer to any young dog. Domestic canines used to be called “hunds,” a word that eventually turned into “hound.” The word “dog” entered the language in 1050, and “hound” became reserved only for hunting dogs. We see that history in the word today, in its use as a verb meaning to pursue relentlessly or to persecute or pester.

-- Feline fatale? The first cat to appear in movies is thought to have been a gray cat named Pepper, who appeared in several silent films. More recent famous film felines include the ginger cat who played Buttercup in “Catching Fire,” the second in the “Hunger Games” trilogy; Keanu, the adorable kitten in Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key’s 2016 screwball comedy of the same name; the seven cats in “Kedi,” a 2017 Turkish documentary of Istanbul’s street cats; Goose, the alien-in-cat-form from 2019’s “Captain Marvel”; and of course Mr. Bigglesworth from the Austin Powers series, played by Sphynx cat Ted Nude-gent. -- 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.

Veterinarians now have more medications and topical treatments to help reduce the itch in pets with allergies or other skin disease

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

It’s Itchy Pet Awareness Month. Yes, that’s a thing. And if you’ve ever had a severe itch, whether from mosquito bites or an allergic reaction to a medication, you understand just how uncomfortable an itch can be.

Allergies are the primary cause of itchiness in dogs and cats. Approximately 10% of dogs and cats experience environmental or food allergies that activate the itch-scratch cycle. Skin barrier defects can cause skin to become dry, another reason for itchiness. Secondary bacterial or yeast infections from scratching- and biting-induced abrasions contribute as well. And of course bites from fleas cause itchiness.

The good news is that better oral and topical preventives have reduced itchiness from fleas. There are fewer pets with flea allergies, and those cases tend to be less severe.

But if your pet is keeping you awake at night or disturbing you during the day with frantic and frequent biting and scratching at her skin, you and your veterinarian have good options to help your pet ditch that itch.

Your veterinarian will start by taking a thorough history: frequency of itching, when you first noticed it, what time of year it occurs or whether it’s year-round, what you’ve tried for it, what your pet eats, where on the body itching occurs, and much more. The goal is to determine if it’s an allergy and what might be causing it.

If a food allergy is suspected, your veterinarian may recommend an exclusionary diet trial. Your pet will eat a food that contains a protein he’s never had before -- think kangaroo or whitefish -- or one with hydrolyzed protein. To be successful, a diet trial must continue for eight weeks or longer, with no sneaking your pet table food or treats.

For environmental allergies, such as those to pollens, molds, grasses or other animals (my greyhound was diagnosed with an allergy to cats), allergy testing can help your veterinarian or a dermatology specialist determine which allergens to incorporate into an allergy vaccine or immunotherapy program.

Immunotherapy can be a good long-term management approach, but medications to help reduce itchiness are also available. They include Atopica (cyclosporine), Apoquel and Cytopoint.

“Those are all drugs that have made managing allergic itchy skin disease so much easier,” says veterinary dermatologist Wayne Rosenkrantz, DVM, at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Tustin, California. “Not that all dogs respond to them, but they are nice options to systemic steroids or cortisone.”

Topical treatments such as shampoos, creme rinses, sprays and wipes are also important management tools for itchy skin disease. For pets with barrier defects, meaning the skin is less able to repel invading pathogens and allergens, moisturizing shampoos and other topical agents can help to improve moisture content and barrier function.

Like many skin products for humans, they may contain ceramides, skin barrier lipids that aid moisture retention and protect against environmental irritants. But don’t go using your Olay on your pet; her skin pH isn’t the same as yours.

Products containing chlorhexidine may be prescribed for pets with staphylococcal, yeast or Malassezia infections.

Don’t expect a quick fix with a prescription for systemic antimicrobials. Frequent use of antibiotics -- in humans and animals -- has caused a surge of methicillin and other types of resistant infections. Unless a pet isn’t responding to topicals or other treatments, antimicrobials tend to be a treatment of last resort.

Finally, don’t fear frequent bathing, not only to remove allergens but also because it can be soothing and moisturizing. Bathing with an emollient shampoo or rinse helps skin retain moisture, and tepid or cool water can be soothing to itchy skin. That’s something we can all appreciate!

Q&A

Kids and dogs:

Building friendship

Q: We have a new dog and we’re trying to teach our 5-year-old daughter not to get in his face. Do you have any tips?

A: You are so smart to be working on that! Dogs are far more comfortable being able to approach a person, even a little one, on their own terms rather than having people approach them and get into their personal bubble.

Make a game out of teaching your daughter to learn to “read” body language so she knows what your dog is telling her. Signs of stress: whale eye (whites of the eyes showing), shaking off, frequently looking away, stress lines on the face, licking the lips, yawning, moving the body away to politely ask for the contact to end, stiffness in the body and pretending to sleep. Signs of happiness: gentle eyes, relaxed ears, a smile (mouth open with corners turned up and tongue showing), a wiggly body and a broadly wagging tail.

Encourage petting in places he enjoys, such as the side or shoulders. Ask her to pet him on the side where she’s standing instead of reaching over his head or body.

Instead of walking up to or kneeling in front of your dog, ask your daughter to invite your dog to approach by standing a few feet away and signaling or patting her leg for the dog to come close. She can also sit cross-legged to reduce the likelihood that she’ll lean into your dog’s face. Remind her that it’s OK for her dog to decide to move away when he’s ready for some time to himself. Make sure your dog has spaces he can go that are off-limits to kids. -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Biobank builds

sample base

-- A partnership between the Cornell Veterinary Biobank and the Dog Aging Project will bank thousands of canine blood, hair, urine and fecal samples in support of the DAP’s massive national study of aging in dogs and humans. The biological data gathered will aid researchers in their knowledge of aging in both species. Dogs and humans share many of the same age-related diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis and cancer, and what is learned about them in dogs can benefit humans as well. And because dogs share the same environment, lifestyle and often food as their owners, they are better models for study of those diseases.

-- Why would a cat under attack who can’t flee or bluff his way out of a fight roll over and expose his belly? It’s a worthy feline fighting stance. A cat in danger knows instinctively to engage his powerful rear legs and sharp claws in a raking motion designed to tear into the vulnerable belly of an attacker. Think of it as inflicting eight knife wounds simultaneously and repeatedly. Toss in those sharp fangs and the front claws going for the opponent’s face, and you can see that the cat is the ultimate ninja warrior.

-- A rarely seen cousin of the Irish setter is the Irish red and white setter, which has, yes, a red and white coat instead of the solid red of the Irish setter. Other minor differences include ears set a little bit higher on the head; less profuse feathering on the chest, legs, belly and tail; and a body that’s slightly shorter and sturdier. In temperament, the two breeds share the same joyous exuberance. Red-and-whites are said to be “thinking” dogs who will study you before offering a paw of friendship. They are favorites with hunters who prize their stamina. -- 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.

When death, injury or illness come calling, sometimes the love of a pet is all that can heal the pain

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

My father died last month, and less than a week later, my stepmother fell and broke her wrist and kneecap. In her grief and pain, she has had one lifeline to cling to: her love for her toy poodle, Spike, and her cat, Daisy.

When Ann realized that she was facing up to two months away from home in a rehab facility to regain her strength and mobility, she balked. Spike is 16 years old, and she feared that with so long an absence, he might die without her ever being able to see him again. It was an uphill struggle to persuade her that if she didn’t get the intensive and long-term physical therapy she needed, she might never be able to care for either of her beloved pets again on her own.

When we are facing emotional loss and physical or emotional pain, sometimes our dogs, cats or other pets are the only motivation we have to keep going. And during the COVID pandemic, they may be even more important. While interactions with other people are limited right now, our pets can be with us with no restrictions. Their presence is a comfort in many ways.

“Pets mitigate grief, sorrow and pain, both physiologically and psychologically,” says Lois Abrams, Ph.D. “It is a scientific fact that petting a furry animal releases endorphins for humans. These are calming and relaxing hormones. Psychologically, our pets divert sad and uncomfortable feelings and thoughts. They provide a distraction that allows the individual suffering to focus on another being rather than one’s pain and sorrow. Our pets are our comfort.”

When the hospital social worker and I were unable to persuade Ann of the need for a stay at the rehab hospital, we put our heads together. The next day, with a friend driving, Spike rode in my lap to the hospital. I’d tried to bring him there the day before, but he was terrified of being in the car -- so fearful that we didn’t even make it out of the neighborhood before I turned around and headed back to the house.

“He likes to have someone hold him,” Ann said. That did the trick. If it hadn’t, I would have tried Fear Free lead trainer Mikkel Becker’s suggestion of some calming natural treats to help reduce his anxiety, but being in my arms was enough to calm him.

Ann’s face lit up when I walked into her hospital room carrying Spike. I placed him on the bed with her, and he gently licked away her tears of happiness. You could tell that Spike was just as happy to see her. The visit helped her to accept the need for physical therapy so she could return to Spike and Daisy.

Ann has a long road to recovery ahead of her. She’s also facing the loneliness of life without my father. With COVID restrictions and my return soon to California, it may be more difficult to bring Spike to her for a visit. But I’m planning to work with her great-granddaughter, Tia, who’s taking over the pet sitting after I return home, to ensure that Ann gets plenty of opportunities to “see” him and Daisy, whether that’s through FaceTime calls, texted photos or even bringing Spike to the window of her room so she can wave at him with what I hope will soon be a more mobile and less painful arm and hand.

Now go scratch your pets’ ears and give your parents and other loved ones a call. You never know when it might be the last time.

Q&A

How to choose

pet products

Q: There are so many options regarding what to feed my dog or use for parasite control. How can I make an educated choice?

A: The choice of pet food you put in your cart (in store or online) has largely been driven by marketing, packaging and store employee recommendations. A pet store or farm and garden store employee’s recommendation is often based on what pet food line representative was just there presenting information about their company’s products, or sometimes they’re incentivized to sell a certain brand of food.

It can be the same routine regarding parasite control products for preventing or treating fleas, ticks, mosquitos and internal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. The recommendation winds shift based on manufacturer sales materials or the uninformed employee simply recommending the product they use or that sells best.

My father used to tell me that when you want to buy a new washer or dryer, ask appliance repair people what brand they use in their own home. Similarly, ask car mechanics what brand of oil they used in their vehicles. Experts know how well a product is made, how reliably it works and whether it’s a value. Nobody knows pet foods and parasite control products as well as veterinarians.

We have extensive training in animal nutrition and parasitology. We attend conferences or online webinars to learn more about these issues. Plus, we’ve seen real-world evidence of how these products work with pets.

The way to make an educated choice of what product is best for your pet is to simply ask the veterinarian or veterinary nurse, “What do you feed your pets?” or “What parasite control products do you use with your pets?” Once they tell you, ask, “Do you think that is the best food/parasite control product for my cat(s)/dog(s)?” -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Rescuers turn tables,

save Saint Bernard

-- Normally, Saint Bernards are the rescuers, according to the history of the Swiss breed, developed to help find lost travelers in the frigid Alps. But 16 volunteers from the Wasdale mountain rescue team returned the favor to the breed, carrying 121-pound Daisy down from Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak at 3,209 feet (there are taller peaks in Scotland and Wales). Daisy had been hiking with her people when she collapsed with signs of pain in her legs as they were descending the mountain. The Mountain Rescue Team consulted a veterinarian, gave Daisy pain relief and some treats, and adjusted their stretcher to make it more dog-friendly. The trip down took five hours, and Daisy is expected to recover.

-- A lucky cat named Spooky took an unplanned ride of 491 miles in the engine bay of a Peterbilt semi, driven by trucker Jack Shao. Unaware that he had a stowaway, Shao headed from Canada to the United States. He discovered the black cat during a routine engine check in North Dakota and called the phone number on Spooky’s collar, which connected him to the cat’s veterinarian. The kind-hearted trucker returned Spooky on his way back, with the cat riding more comfortably in the cab with his benefactor.

-- If you have a new puppy, you may be wondering how you can socialize him when training classes and public outings are curtailed. Never fear! Taking him for walks and car rides will allow him to see people, places and things from a distance. Spend time at home teaching him to love his carrier; gently handle his paws, ears and other body parts to prepare him for veterinary visits; and set and maintain a routine he can stick to even if your schedule changes. You can find more on practical home training at fearfreehappyhomes.com/blog. -- 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.