Nail trims don't have to be a dog's worst nightmare -- or yours

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Quick, look at your dog's feet. Are your pet's nails too long? Do you remember the last time you cut them? Are you dreading the next?

If they're too long and you've been putting off the chore because of how awful the experience was for you both, well, you're in good company -- or, at least in the majority. We often see dogs with nails that desperately need trimming.

Keeping nails trimmed is important. Long nails can make walking uncomfortable and even cause lameness. Nails should be just off the ground when your pet is standing.

Each nail has a blood vessel inside of it. Trim just beyond the end of this vein. If you nick it, the nail will bleed, so have blood-stopping powder on hand, such as Kwik Stop, before you start trimming.

If your dog has light-colored toenails, the blood vessel is the pink area. Black nails are harder to figure out, but you should be able to see the vein by shining a flashlight behind the nail. If you can't tell, just clip back a little at a time. If you draw blood, take a pinch of the powder and press it against the exposed tip of the nail for a few seconds to stop the bleeding.

If your dog's nails are so long that they're forcing her foot out of position, you can take them back to where they should be in two ways. The first is to cut a little off every few days: The quick recedes as you go. The second way is to have your veterinarian clip them when your dog is under anesthesia, such as for a teeth cleaning. After nails are at a proper length, keeping them that way is easy with a weekly trim.

If your dog is resistant to having her nails trimmed, work up to the task over a few weeks' time by taking the trimmer in hand and touching it to her feet, then her toes, then the nails, while praising her and giving her treats for each step. When she is used to having her feet handled, put the trimmer against the nail and praise and treat more still. Then trim a little off, and so on. Praise and more praise! Treats and more treats! Don't insist on getting all the nails done at once. Do one or two toes a night, and put the clippers away while you and your dog are feeling positive about the experience. Watching videos such as this one can help: bit.ly/2NxQ6rS.

An alternative to nail trimming is nail grinding. You can buy a canine nail grinder, or just use a lightweight rotary grinding tool, such as a Dremel.

With a grinder it's easy to stop before you hit the quick. When grinding, remember that nails can get hot while you're working on them. Don't grind continuously. Touch the grinder to the nail in short bursts -- a second or two at most -- to keep heat from building up. And make sure not to catch any fur while you're working. (Tip: Look for online videos on grinding nails to see the technique.)

Whichever method you're using to shorten nails, don't forget the dewclaws, those extra toes you can find up on the inside of the leg. Not all dogs have them, but for those that do, neglected nails can be a problem. Long nails can catch on upholstery and tear the dewclaw partly off of the leg. Keeping these nails short will prevent injury, which is why you haven't finished trimming nails until you've done the dew, too.

If you work with your pet frequently, trim just a little at a time and reward generously for cooperation, the days of nail-trimming dread will be behind you both, and your dog will step out more comfortably on your walks together.

Q&A

How to protect

pets from coyotes

Q: When I'm walking my dog through a parkway near my home, we occasionally see coyotes. We have had a couple of small dogs killed by them in their own yards. Judging by the “lost cat” signs I see, I suspect they've taken a few of them, too. Is there any way to protect our pets?

A: Coyotes are everywhere, and they've learned that household pets are relatively easy prey. Coyotes are plentiful in suburban areas across the United States, and have even been reported in New York City and other highly urban environments.

Free-roaming cats seem to be especially at risk. Many times, missing cats or the gruesome finding of feline remains is initially thought to be the work of sadistic cat-haters, but often these apparent "crime sprees" turn out to be the work of neighborhood coyotes. Keeping cats safely inside is the only way to completely protect them.

Small dogs are often targets of hungry coyotes as well, and for these pets, it's important to be sure to supervise them in your yard -- especially if you back up to a wooded area, golf course or other potentially coyote-rich environment. When walking small dogs, don't let them off-leash. Larger dogs are less at risk, but not completely safe, and it wouldn't hurt to keep a leash and close eye on them as well.

To discourage coyotes from colonizing your neighborhood, work with neighbors to remove food sources that attract these predators, such as pet food left outside, garbage cans that aren't securely closed or compost piles that are not correctly maintained. If food sources are denied, the animals will move on to a more promising area.

While none of these steps will completely protect your pets, they will reduce the risk from these ever-more-common predators. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Male cats haven't

always been 'toms'

-- While a male cat -- especially an unneutered one -- is today called a "tom," that wasn't always the case. Up until the late 1700s, male cats were known as "rams" (like sheep) or "boars" (like pigs). A book about cats with a character named Tom became popular in the latter part of that century; after that, male cats started being called tomcats.

-- As noted in Science Magazine, a study published in the journal Current Biology found that cats with more meat in their diet and more play in their lives bring home one-third fewer “gifts” of prey than they did previously. Ecologist Robbie McDonald and colleagues at the University of Exeter recruited 219 cat owners in southwestern England whose pets regularly hunted outside. They divided the cats into six groups: some wore collars with bells, some colorful collars easily visible to birds, some were introduced to food-dispensing toys, some were fed a diet containing only animal protein, some received 5 to 10 minutes of play daily, and the remainder made up the control group, whose habits were not changed. With the exception of the belled collars and the puzzle feeders, the approaches reduced the cats’ hunting forays, but the all-meat diet and additional playtime had the greatest effects in reducing predation.

-- Providing palliative and end-of-life care is a trend in veterinary medicine that's resonating with pet owners. There are guidelines and organizations that promote the concept of hospice for pets, extending life without extending suffering for older or sick animals. The trend mirrors the human hospice movement in many ways, with the notable exception that when suffering can no longer be eased, veterinary medicine can offer euthanasia. Especially in the COVID-19 era, some veterinarians are offering to provide this last gift of kindness at patients' homes. -- 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 you can turn training time into playtime -- and vice versa -- to benefit your dog and yourself

By Mikkel Becker

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Who doesn’t want a dog with beautiful manners at home and in public, who walks nicely with you, enjoys performing tricks or playing games, and shares an unbreakable bond with you? Sounds like a lot of work, though, doesn’t it? I’m here to tell you that you can “home-school” your dog with activities that turn learning into fun -- for both of you.

Dogs learn best through interactions with their people, after all. A study published last month in the journal Scientific Reports found that dogs rapidly learned the names of new toys when playing with them with their owners, who called the toys by name (“giraffe” or “red ball” or “blue elephant,” for instance) during play. You can use reward-based training to hone your dog’s manners, teach tricks or sports, and provide mental challenges that not only work your dog’s brain, but also help to build the bond between you and improve the ability for the two of you to communicate. Here are three learning games to play with your dog.

1. Follow the leader. Teach your dog to want to walk beside you. Start indoors, with your dog off-leash. As you walk through the house (a narrow hallway is a great place to practice), encourage your dog to stay right beside you -- on either your left or right side -- by offering a treat when she walks alongside you. Reward her any time she places her body next to yours, looks at you or in your direction, or walks in step beside you, her shoulder right at your leg. Keep things interesting by adding frequent stops and turns so she pays attention to where you might move next. Practice just a couple of minutes at a time.

2. Treat toss. Catching treats in midair is a stylish trick that’s fun for dogs, but it also has a practical purpose: It makes it easier to deliver treats as rewards during training. To start, use light, airy treats that catch air and take longer to land on the ground. Think plain popcorn or O-shaped cereal. Start by dropping a single treat just above the dog’s mouth. You can also gently toss it up at a slight arc, allowing your dog enough time to get into place beneath the treat before it falls. Alert your dog that a treat is about to be launched by saying “catch” just before tossing it. As your dog’s mouth-eye coordination improves, increase the challenge by tossing the treat from a greater distance or adding different types and shapes of treats for your dog to conquer.

3. Obstacle course. What better way to celebrate -- or improve -- your dog’s athleticism and agility? And you don’t need any special equipment. It’s easy to set up a course using items you have in your home. Play on a nonskid surface such as carpet or a large area rug; slick floors can cause injury. Here are some ideas:

-- Create a jump by tying a rope or leash between two chairs or other objects. For small or hesitant dogs, lay a mop, broom or wooden dowel on the floor.

-- Encourage your dog to jump through a hula hoop.

-- Create weave poles by standing tall boots or rolls of toilet paper or paper towels in a line, spaced out enough that your dog can weave between them.

-- Drape a blanket or sheet over two chairs to create a tunnel the dog can go through or beneath.

Lure your dog through the course with treats or a favorite toy, and reward him as he completes each obstacle.

All of these activities reward your dog for focusing on you, and that’s the foundation of training for life. Have fun!

Q&A

Single bird

lays eggs

Q: I’m freaking out because I thought I had a male green-cheeked conure, but “he” recently laid two eggs in a three-day period. It’s just her, so I know the eggs are unfertilized, but is she going to be OK? Is there anything I need to do?

A: Egg-laying might seem to be a normal process for what you’ve now discovered is a female bird, but I checked with expert avian veterinarian Brian Speer, DVM, author of “Birds for Dummies.” He says egg-laying isn’t a desirable activity for single pet birds, so your concern is understandable. Following is his explanation of why that is and some advice on what you can do about it:

“When females lay clutches of eggs without the presence of a male partner (known as chronic egg-laying), it can lead to myriad health problems. The reproductive tract can become exhausted, draining the bird metabolically and physiologically. It can predispose her to egg binding, in which the egg becomes stuck in the reproductive tract, as well as to other physical problems.

“You can take several steps to help change the situations that have her believing it’s time to get in the family way. The biggies include giving a controlled amount of food (birds get in the mating mood when they have an abundance of resources) and avoiding foods high in fat and calories such as seeds, nuts and processed foods; managing the environment by removing nesting-type materials such as shredded paper or boxes that can serve as nests; moving her cage frequently to simulate an unstable environment; and avoiding petting her in areas that can stimulate reproductive behaviors, such as under the wings or on the back, belly or tail. Stick to the head and neck. Your avian veterinarian may have other tips.” -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

How pets

signal pain

-- Whether they are cats, dogs, birds or other animals, our pets tend to hide their pain instinctively, to protect themselves from predators. That means we need to be extra-observant to know what’s going on with them. If your pet is behaving unusually -- hiding in your closet, for instance -- she may not feel well or might have an unseen injury. Other subtle signs of pain to watch for include abnormal chewing, unexplained weight loss or gain, avoiding your touch (even affectionate petting!), licking or biting excessively at a certain area, or breaking housetraining. Any time you see your pet exhibit unusual or unexpected behavior, take her to the veterinarian just to make sure everything’s OK.

-- Keeping fish is a fascinating hobby and has the side benefit of lowering stress. Who doesn’t relax at the sight of a tank of fish gliding through their watery environs? And while caring for both freshwater and saltwater fish requires some maintenance, it doesn’t have to be difficult. The key is keeping water free of toxins that can build up when fish excrete ammonia through their gills. Tips for keeping a fish tank clean include feeding small amounts of food only once or twice a day, performing partial water changes twice a week, keeping water at an appropriate temperature -- an expert at an aquarium specialty shop can advise you -- investing in a good filter and air pump, providing enough light daily, and changing the filter cartridge and cleaning the tank and everything in it monthly.

-- Cats are known for being fastidious about grooming themselves, so do they really need any help from us? Yes! Combing and brushing a cat removes tangles and distributes skin oils, and it’s a boon for older, overweight or longhaired cats, who may have difficulty caring for themselves. -- 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 your pet’s lab tests can tell the veterinarian

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Over the years, I’ve become all too familiar with the ABCs of lab work. I’ve had dogs with cancer, dogs with heart disease, dogs with skin infections and allergies, a cat with diabetes and one with a lump on her leg. All required various lab tests to decipher what was going on with them, plan treatment and check for underlying health problems that might be affected by anesthesia.

Pets undergo lab tests throughout their lives. Blood tests, urinalysis, fecal exams and other diagnostics are necessary before anesthesia is administered for surgery, to determine the presence of parasites, to check for illnesses such as diabetes or kidney disease, or when a diagnosis isn’t obvious from the animal’s medical history and a physical exam, to name just a few.

Routine screening tests, such as complete blood counts, chemistry panels and urinalysis, provide clues to overall health status or help lead to a diagnosis. More specialized tests include biopsies of tissue samples or examination of bone marrow, spinal fluid or synovial fluid from joints. Tests don’t always provide a complete answer, but results can point veterinarians in the direction of the most likely cause of the problem. Following are some of the types of tests your pet may need, what they tell the veterinarian and what some of those abbreviations stand for.

-- Screening test panel: Includes a complete blood count (CBC), which measures the number of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets circulating in the bloodstream as well as the amount of hemoglobin -- which transports oxygen -- contained in RBCs. The numbers tell a story. For instance, a decrease in red blood cells suggests anemia. Low or high numbers of neutrophils, the body’s “first responders” against infection, may indicate inflammation or infection.

When reading test results, veterinarians must be familiar with variances in different breeds or species. In most dogs, for instance, a low platelet count can indicate a significant problem. But in my dogs’ breed, it usually means the dog has inherited a harmless giant platelet disorder that affects approximately half of all cavalier King Charles spaniels.

-- Chemistry panel: Measures levels of certain proteins, enzymes, minerals and other substances and is useful in evaluating organ function. Among them are albumin, a liver protein; bilirubin, a waste product eliminated in urine and feces; blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a measure of waste products circulating in the blood; and creatinine, another waste product eliminated by the kidneys. Decreased levels of albumin may signal liver, intestine or kidney damage. Elevated BUN and creatinine levels can indicate kidney disease or other problems affecting kidney function.

-- Urinalysis: Aids in evaluating urinary system or kidney function and identification of urinary tract infections. Your veterinarian might suggest a urinalysis if your pet is drinking more water than normal, urinating more frequently or producing a greater volume of urine, or is straining to urinate. A urinalysis can also indicate the presence of sugar, protein or blood in urine and whether urine contains bacteria, white blood cells or other evidence of infection.

-- Cytology: Microscopic study of cells removed by scraping, aspiration or biopsy. Cytologic exams can indicate inflammation, bacterial or fungal infection, or parasites. Biopsies confirm whether a lump is cancerous. Histopathology, the study of thin sections of tissue or organs, can help to determine the degree or pattern of an infection or tumor. This type of exam also includes sampling and analyzing fluids for excess amounts, abnormal consistency or color, or changes in certain chemical components such as protein or glucose.

-- Fecal exam: Microscopic exam to check for the presence of intestinal parasites.

-- Serologic tests: Detects certain viruses, protozoa and fungi as well as indicates antibodies, signaling an immune response to disease. Conditions that require serologic tests include parvovirus and heartworm disease.

Lab test results now are faster than in the past, sometimes with same-day turnaround, speeding diagnosis and making care more effective.

Q&A

Help! My dog

makes me sneeze

Q: I have asthma, and my allergy to my dog is making it worse. Do you have any suggestions?

A: So many of us who love dogs suffer from allergies, but we put up with sneezing, sniffling, itchy eyes, wheezing and more because we don’t want to live without them. There’s no cure, but there are things you can try to relieve your symptoms. Here are some that have helped me and others.

For nasal allergy symptoms, ask your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines; corticosteroid nasal sprays; decongestants; or leukotriene modifiers, which block the action of certain immune system chemicals. You may want to consider immunotherapy, or allergy shots, to help reduce your immune system’s sensitivity to an allergen. An allergist can suggest a treatment plan for your particular symptoms.

Bathe your dog weekly to keep down dander. Have a family member or groomer do it to reduce your exposure. Putting him in a onesie or doggie T-shirt can also help to keep dander on the dog, not floating around in the air.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Vacuum frequently, including furniture and curtains. If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpet with hard flooring and use area rugs that can be machine-washed and dried.

Don’t let your dog share your bed or bedroom. If that’s not possible, wash bedding often, and put allergen-blocking covers on the mattress and box spring. Consider getting an air purifier for the room, and change the filter often. Cover bedding with a clean sheet for your dog to lie on, and change it daily.

Put a washable cover on furniture that you share with your dog.

Sweep, vacuum and mop floors often, including baseboards. Hair and dander hide out there.

Avoid touching your dog and then touching your face without first washing your hands. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Some dogs learn

new words rapidly

-- Some dogs can rapidly learn the names of objects, according to a study published last month in the journal Scientific Reports. Family Dog Project researchers at Hungary’s Eotvos Lorand University tested the learning ability of two dogs, a 4-year-old female border collie named Whisky and a 9-year-old female Yorkshire terrier named Vicky Nina, who each knew the names of multiple toys. In a social context -- playing with their people -- the two dogs were able to learn the names of objects after hearing them only four times. To test whether most dogs could learn words this way, 20 other dogs were tested under the same conditions, but none showed evidence of learning the toy names. That confirmed that the ability to learn words rapidly in the absence of formal training is rare, present in only a few gifted dogs. Whether the mechanisms behind this rapid learning ability are the same for dogs and human toddlers is a subject for another study, but it appears to be similar.

-- Healthy pet birds are adept at keeping their feathers in shape by preening -- pulling them through their beak to straighten them and distribute oils -- but they need help with nail trimming. An assortment of perches in different sizes and textures helps to keep nail tips blunt, but at some point you’ll need to trim them. Your avian veterinarian or a bird-savvy groomer can help you learn the knack. Record the lesson so you can refer to it at home.

-- How much do cats sleep? A lot! It’s perfectly normal for them to get in up to 18 hours of shut-eye a day, preferably in a nice, sunny area. Kittens and old cats sleep the most, but any cat will settle in for a catnap after a meal or a few minutes of play. -- 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.