Finding a pet in the time of COVID takes patience and persistence. Here’s one family’s story.

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When their nearly 16-year-old terrier mix, MaeBee, died in mid-May, my niece Laura and her husband, Tyler, weren’t in a hurry to get a new dog. But the more they thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea. Some things had changed in their life since the Hendersons had first adopted MaeBee 13 years ago -- most notably, they now have a 5-year-old daughter, Aanika. The COVID quarantine also played a role.

“It made sense to look,” Laura Henderson says. “If we found a dog that felt like a good fit, we knew that we could be home and acclimate together while Aanika was there, because at that point we were assuming she would be in school in the fall. If housetraining needed to be done, we’d be home to do it.”

She began searching on Petfinder.com, but any dog described as “good with kids” or “housetrained” was adopted almost instantly. She went from looking daily to looking multiple times each day. The Hendersons didn’t want an extremely large dog, but for the most part, they were open to a variety of types and sizes, male or female. Most important was that any dog they adopted have a good relationship with Aanika.

Their experience isn’t unusual, says Wailani Sung, DVM, veterinary behaviorist at San Francisco SPCA. “We do not have the same number of animals at our shelter like we did before COVID, but we have a steady number of animals coming into our shelter,” Dr. Sung says. She adds that the habit of looking at a shelter’s website at least daily is a good one, because sometimes they are updated several times a day.

After nearly a month of looking, the Hendersons struck gold with Moose -- now named Joon. The 2-year-old American English coonhound (based on a DNA test), listed on Petfinder, had been taken in as a stray at a shelter about an hour away from their home in Indianapolis, Indiana. Shelter employees didn’t know how he would be around kids, but based on his reactions to adults and other animals, they thought he could be a good choice.

“We went to meet him without any expectation that we would be necessarily taking him home,” Henderson says. “He was really attached to the woman who brought him in, but when she left, he immediately went and sat next to Aanika. He just sat there and let her pet him. He was super-gentle with her. It seemed like a match.”

They brought him home, and the same evening, had a socially distanced porch dinner with friends who were driving through from North Carolina. There were four children all together, and Joon luxuriated in all the petting. “It was pretty immediate affirmation that he was gentle and liked little people,” Henderson says.

While adoptions may begin to slow now that schools are starting to open, many families are still spending unusual amounts of time at home. Sung recommends that potential pet adopters think ahead three to six months, when life may have returned to some semblance of normal. They should have a plan for how the animal will be cared for or walked if they start going back to the office full-time. People who have already adopted should start now to accustom pets to being home alone. (You can find tips here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/separation-anxiety.) As far as finding a dog or cat, Henderson and Sung have some advice:

Instead of searching only for pets that meet your criteria (“housetrained” or “child-friendly”), read all the listings, Henderson says. It’s too easy to miss pets who might otherwise be a good option.

For cats, ask to see video of how the cat behaves in the enclosure or interacts with staff members, Sung says. Some cats are shy with visitors, and you may not get a true picture of their personality.

As for Aanika and Joon? He follows her around and she sings to him. They’re a team.

Q&A

No need to

rehome cat

Q: I’m pregnant with our first child, and my mother-in-law says we should get rid of our cat because of the risk of toxoplasmosis. Is she right?

A: You can safely keep your cat. Toxoplasma is an internal parasite that lives in the muscles of sheep, rabbits and rats. Cats who eat the meat of an infected animal can spread the parasite through their feces. If your cat lives indoors, she’s unlikely to become infected. And in most cases, only young cats pass feces contaminated with toxoplasma eggs (oocysts). If you have an adult cat, the chance of infection is very low.

Veterinarians are well informed on this subject, possibly even more than doctors, because they learn about toxoplasmosis at least four times during their education: in courses on feline medicine, parasitology, zoonotic disease and public health -- including meat and food safety. I can assure you that female veterinarians and veterinary technicians don’t stop working with cats when they are pregnant. You can take the same easy precautions they do to reduce the risk of infection to the developing fetus.

-- Delegate litter-scooping duty to your spouse. (Do this before the pregnancy when attempting to conceive.)

-- Have your spouse scoop the litter box once or twice daily. Toxoplasmosis organisms need time after being passed in the cat’s feces to become infective. Frequent scooping minimizes the risk that the oocysts will be around long enough to become infective.

-- Keep your cat indoors to prevent her from hunting and eating wild prey.

-- Whether you’re cooking for yourself or your cat, cook lamb or rabbit meat well. And wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling raw lamb or rabbit, just as you would with chicken, beef or other meat.

These precautions apply to anyone who is immunocompromised, not just women who are pregnant. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Cat film wins

awards, acclaim

-- The film “Catnip Nation” tells the stories of people who risk job loss, arrest and fines to care for the community cats in their towns and neighborhoods. Director Tina Traster was inspired to make the 75-minute documentary when she became aware of people being punished for acts of kindness to the cats. The film won the 2019 MUSE Medallion from the Cat Writers Association in the Video or Television Production (Rescue and Advocacy) category, and is an official selection of the Nature Without Borders International Film Festival. Stream it on Amazon or Tubi.

-- The Bolognese isn’t an Italian pasta dish, but a member of the Bichon family of dogs, whose other members include the Maltese, bichon frise, Havanese and coton de tulear. The small, fluffy white dogs hail from the northern Italian city of Bologna, where they were known as early as the 13th century. They love people and are described as smart, happy and vivacious. Keep their cottony white coat tangle-free with daily brushing.

-- Domestic guinea pigs, also known as cavies, are popular small pets because they are docile, friendly and easy to handle. Originally from the Andes mountains in South America, they come in many different coat types and colors, and are popular exhibition animals around the world. Guinea pigs are often considered to be good children’s pets, but they deserve to live in a home with a family where they are cared for kindly -- and not roughly handled, as can happen with younger children. They are easy to train with positive reinforcement, and fun to watch as they hop happily in their habitats (an activity known as popcorning). Pet guinea pigs who are well cared for can live up to eight years, and one earned a Guinness record for a lifespan of nearly 15 years. -- 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 to prepare pets and yourself for evacuation or sheltering in place in the event of a disaster.

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

The West is on fire. Large swathes of Iowa have been destroyed by a massive windstorm called a derecho. And as I write, two hurricanes are heading for Louisiana. No matter where you live, you’re probably at risk of one natural disaster or another, including floods, tornadoes and earthquakes (although maybe we shouldn’t give 2020 any more ideas). Here’s how to be prepared.

Pack a “go bag” for each family member, including pets. A pet’s bag should include an unopened bag of food (enough for at least three days); copies of prescriptions and vaccination records; a toy, blanket or bed that smells like home; and a photo that could be used for a “lost” poster in case you become separated. Rotate food out of the go bag regularly, replacing it with a fresh bag. If you have to pack in a hurry, don’t forget medication, parasite preventive and grooming tools. Have an ice chest with a cold pack available for food or medications that need to remain chilled.

Remember the five P’s, advises Lorilynn (no last name given), who faced the 2017 Thomas Fire in Ojai, California. Those would be Pets, Prescriptions, Passports, Papers and Pictures.

Carla Wilson-Leff, who lives on two acres in Elko, Nevada, with three dogs and a rabbit, is always ready to go during fire season.

“My van holds 95% of the things I need for my dogs, including a case of water,” she says. “If we needed to evacuate, I add dog food, medications, toiletries and clothes. I keep a cat carrier next to my rabbit’s stall. I could have us out of here in 15 minutes.”

Terilynn Mitchell lives in Forestville, California, with six cats. When her home was recently threatened by fire, she was ready to evacuate with her cats to her brother’s home.

“At the first sign of danger, I loaded a litter box, potty pads, litter, scoop, and wet and dry food,” she said. “My carriers are always set up with towels and potty pads. I planned ahead of time who would go in which carrier.”

She placed important paperwork, electronics, medical equipment, medications and feline paraphernalia in the car first, then placed the cats in carriers and loaded them. “It might have been better to load the cats first before they got anxious, but it was 90 degrees and I feared them overheating,” she says.

Prepare pets for travel. If they aren’t already accustomed to carriers, start teaching them now that the carrier is a great place to be. Leave carriers or crates out in areas where family members spend time. Place treats inside them regularly for pets to find. Put a favorite blankie or toy inside to make the carrier a cozy hideaway. Spraying or wiping the interior with synthetic feline or canine pheromones (not while the pet is in the carrier) that send calming chemical messages can also give it an air of security. You can find more about carrier training at fearfreehappyhomes.com/teach-your-cat-to-go-into-a-carrier-without-a-struggle.

Take a first aid class. Those skills prepare you for the unexpected.

“In a disaster, pets could step on broken glass or flying debris could cause injuries,” says Arden Moore, a master certified pet first/CPR instructor with Pet First Aid 4U. Her advice?

“After taking a first aid class, have some fun practicing wrapping the leg, splinting the leg, getting the dog or cat in or out of a carrier safely so they have that predictability factor,” she says. The same goes for practicing evacuations.

“Do practice drills. Make it a game. You don’t want them freaking out when the real deal hits,” Moore says.

Finally, if you’re in a safe place and have room to spare, offer to take in animals or humans who need shelter from the storm. You can also find more about disaster prep at uexpress.com/pet-connection/2016/6/20/ready-for-disaster.

Q&A

Put poisons

in their place

Q: I’m getting my first cat. Are there any household poisons or other dangers I should be concerned about?

A: Cats are not as likely as dogs to scarf up any old thing they run across, but they are still at risk of accidentally ingesting toxic substances such as ammonia, bleach, cleaning agents, disinfectants, drain cleaner, gasoline, oven cleaner, paint, and rodent poisons -- all of which can kill your cat.

Maybe you mop the floor with pine-scented cleaner and your cat walks across it while it’s still damp. He then licks his paws to clean them off, and the next thing you know, he has been poisoned from ingesting the cleaner. That can happen with many substances if your cat walks through them. Antifreeze drips on the garage floor are a big concern, for instance.

Any time you use cleansers on floors, counters or other surfaces, put your cat in another room until the surface is dry or you have thoroughly wiped up the residue. Clean up antifreeze spills immediately, and never assume that poisons are out of your cat’s reach. Put anything toxic, especially if it could leak, inside a locked cabinet away from your cat’s normal living area. That includes weed killers, pesticides, turpentine and dried-up paint rollers. If you have a rodent problem, use traps that kill instantly instead of rodenticides or sticky traps that cause cruel, painful deaths.

Other household dangers include washing machines or dryers with doors left open. We know of a very sad case recently where a kitten was drowned in the washing machine because no one realized he was inside it. A cat may also find the warm interior of a dryer an inviting place to take a nap, but it could be fatal if someone turns it on without checking first. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet feeding

needs vary

-- Wondering how much to feed your pet? The right portion size is individual to each dog or cat. Age, metabolism and activity level are factors that play a role in how much a pet needs -- or wants -- to eat. Feeding guidelines on the bag or can of food are just that: guidelines. Your dog or cat may need more or less than the recommended amount. Let your pet’s condition guide you. If she’s putting on weight, cut back a little. If she’s looking skinny, add more. Your veterinarian can help you determine an appropriate weight.

-- Foxtails are grasslike weeds that look harmless, but have barbs that can latch onto your pet’s skin -- becoming embedded between toes, inside the ears or nose, or on other parts of the body. They can work their way through the skin or be inhaled, causing serious injuries that are difficult and expensive to treat, or sometimes fatal. Foxtails that migrate inside the body can travel to the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys or other organs. Check pets for foxtails after they’ve been outdoors or if you notice them licking or biting at an area, especially if it looks swollen. Use tweezers to remove visible foxtails. If your pet is sneezing uncontrollably, squinting or shaking his head frequently, a visit to the veterinarian is in order.

-- Dog showing has its own language. Here are some terms you might have wondered about. Bite: the way the upper and lower jaws meet. Conformation: a dog’s form and structure. Dewlap: excess loose, hanging skin at the throat. Flews: skin that hangs down at the corners of the mouth. Plume: a long fringe of hair on the tail. Self-colored: when a dog is a solid color with no white. Type: the combination of features that make a breed unique. -- 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.

Scratch the surface of four uncommon cat breeds

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

A few years ago, I was in Laguna Beach, California, when I saw a spotted cat being walked on a leash. The cat was a Savannah, and his person (we all know cats have staff, not owners, right?) walked him frequently in the park. He was distinctive enough that my own veterinarian recognized him when I posted a photo; the cat was one of his patients.

Most cats don’t get walked in public, so the only time we see unusual cat breeds is in the media, at cat shows or occasionally at the veterinary clinic. All cats are fascinating and beautiful in their own way, but it’s fun to see some of the different varieties developed to have a particular look or that were the result of a spontaneous natural mutation and then developed as a breed. Here are four you may never have encountered in real life.

-- The Savannah is one of several spotted breeds designed to have the look of a wild cat and that was developed by crossing a small African wildcat, the serval, with domestic cats, including Siamese. Savannahs are active, intelligent, confident and curious: the epitome of a feline. People who live with them must be prepared to match their intelligence against that of their cats -- and it’s not always the human who will win. Savannahs like a lot of interaction, and they will play jokes on you. They’re also among the cats who enjoy playing in water, walking on a leash and learning tricks -- the better to train you themselves.

-- You’re probably familiar with the sphynx -- the best-known of the hairless cats thanks to Ted Nude-gent, who starred as Mr. Bigglesworth in the Austin Powers movies -- but have you met the Peterbald? With a coat that ranges in texture from complete hairlessness to peach fuzz to plush velvet to bristlelike, they’re everything you always wanted in a cat, with no shedding and no need for frequent bathing, says Brigitte Cowell Moyne of San Francisco, who lives with both a Savannah (Baz) and a Peterbald (Teo). In the show ring, Teo is a supreme grand champion, but at home he’s the champion of Moyne’s young daughter Lola’s heart. Peterbalds, which descend from hairless cats found in Russia and crossed with Oriental shorthairs, are active but not excessively so. Moyne says Teo is amazingly gentle with Lola and with her son, Felix. Playful and affectionate, this is a cat who demands plenty of interaction and won’t settle for anything less.

-- Speaking of Oriental shorthairs, they are another seldom-seen breed. Talkative and intelligent, the slinky cats with the large, batlike ears enjoy carrying on conversations with their people, sitting on laps and shoulders, and sleeping under the covers. Developed through crosses between Siamese and other breeds, Oriental shorthairs have a reputation for being manually dexterous -- good at opening doors and cabinets -- learning tricks and playing fetch. Their short, low-shedding coat comes in so many different colors and patterns that they are nicknamed “ornamentals,” but don’t expect them to sit around posing. With their curiosity and intelligence, they are sure to be getting into one thing or another throughout the day. Orientals also come in a longhaired variety.

-- Some cats are distinguished by their unusual coat types, and Cornish rexes fall into that category. They have a short, soft, wavy coat that’s the result of a natural mutation. They acquired the name “rex” from their resemblance to a rex rabbit, and they are Cornish rexes because the first one appeared in Cornwall in the 1950s. Other characteristics are an egg-shaped head, large ears and unusually long hind legs. Cornish rexes are well-known for their attention-getting antics and playful, outgoing nature.

Q&A

How often

should dogs eat?

Q: How often should I feed my puppy? And when she grows up, is it better to feed her once or twice a day?

A: When puppies stop nursing and start eating on their own, the breeder usually gives them four small meals a day. Their little tummies can only take in so much food at a time, after all. By the time they go to their new homes, when they are 8 to 12 weeks old, they are usually eating three meals a day to fuel growth. Take the amount the puppy should receive for the day and divide it by three to determine how much to give at each meal. Eventually, your puppy’s gargantuan appetite will start to decrease. You may notice that she picks at one of her meals or starts to leave food behind. That’s a good time to cut back to two meals daily and adjust amounts.

Feeding measured amounts at set times instead of leaving food out helps establish pee and poop schedules in puppyhood and ensures that dogs don’t overeat. One thing I like to recommend is measuring the appropriate amount of food and placing it in a dispensing toy so dogs have to “hunt” for their meals. This engages their brain and encourages physical activity. If you want to feed only once a day, this is a good way to do it.

A related question is when to stop feeding puppy food and start feeding adult food. The answer depends on the breed. Large- and giant-breed dogs should grow slowly. They’re best eating a puppy food developed to promote slow growth. Smaller dogs who enjoy eating and have a tendency to become roly-poly may do better switching to adult food at an early age, often before they are 6 months old. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

What to know

about pet pain

-- If your pet of any species isn’t interested in eating, doesn’t enjoy being touched or petted anymore, and no longer spends time with the family, they might be in pain. September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, shared with Pain Awareness Month for humans. Pets can experience pain from arthritis, cancer, dental disease, infection or illness, injury, and as a result of surgery. Acute pain -- such as from a broken leg -- is obvious, but chronic pain may be subtle, sneaking up over a period of weeks or months. If you think your pet is in pain, talk to your veterinarian about ways to manage or treat it. They include medication, massage, rehab, acupuncture and laser therapy.

-- The English language has many words and phrases related to dogs. One you may remember your mother saying is that you’re “in the doghouse” -- presumably for not finishing chores or homework. A phrase we don’t hear so often is “my dogs are barking” -- meaning that the speaker’s feet hurt. The use of “dogs” to refer to feet is explained in the Oxford English Dictionary as originating with Cockney rhyming slang, in which “dog’s meat” equaled “feet.” And in ancient Rome, the hottest days of summer -- which seem to be occurring right now -- were known as “dog days” because of the belief that the ascendancy at that time of year of Canis Major, the “greater dog” constellation, added to the heat.

-- A common behavior problem in birds is feather-picking. If your bird is pulling out feathers, it’s a sign something is wrong. He may have a health problem, be uncomfortable from low humidity in your home, bored from lack of interaction or toys, experiencing a phobia or seeking your attention. Talk to your veterinarian about ways to solve the problem. -- 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.