Pets teach us that patience, persistence and assertiveness are an important part of aging

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Cavaliers follow their people around. Harper is much like other members of her breed when it comes to trailing in my wake, although she has always been a little more on the independent end of the spectrum. It’s one of the things that made me choose her over the other puppies in her litter. She seemed able to entertain herself, an important skill for the dog of a writer.

I’ve noticed, though, that as she has aged -- and especially as she has developed some health problems -- her personality has changed. She’s a little clingier, a little more demanding that I come and sit on the sofa with her instead of at my desk.

Changes in attitude or personality aren’t unusual in aging pets. Sometimes the changes are welcome, sometimes endearing, and they always teach us something about our pets or ourselves.

Active animals may surprise us by eventually slowing down and changing the way they interact with us.

Linda Kay Hardie got her Abyssinian cat Aidan when he was 4 years old. At that age, he rarely sat still for more than four minutes at a time, she says. It took about eight years before he started cuddling up to her for longer periods. Now he’d be happy to sit on her chest for hours if she had time for that.

Some animals seem to have a better appreciation for the health care they receive, even if it isn’t comfortable. Dora, a 13-year-old Chinese crested, enjoys receiving her subcutaneous fluids for the cuddle time it brings with owner Lis Carey. Or maybe she has noticed that the fluids make her feel better, Carey says: “She’s getting back her energetic bounciness.”

Both Dora and Harper have made concessions to age. Neither jumps into the car on her own anymore; both wait to be lifted up. Harper learned after her heart surgery a few years ago that she was no longer allowed to take the stairs on her own -- up or down -- and waits patiently to be lifted and carried.

Vocalizations sometimes become louder or more frequent. Cats in particular may become more likely to share their opinions about anything and everything -- especially if it involves changes to their routine.

Those vocalizations are sometimes annoying, but they can also help us get to know our pets on a deeper level. Mary Nicole Morrison has a 16-year-old cavalier named Jasmine who has always been imperious, but who has now taken to making her demands known in a more direct way.

“She has become much noisier than she ever was before,” Morrison says. “She barks and whimpers to let me know when she needs to potty, is hungry, is cold or hot, or wants to be moved to a different chair or bed. I actually find it quite charming; I now know what she is thinking more often than not.”

Some dogs become less clingy. Perhaps it’s because they are sleeping more soundly, or their hearing is less keen. They are less likely to notice when we get up to move away from them. If she does notice that I’ve moved, Harper, now 13.5 years, is sometimes content to follow me with her eyes and wait to see if I come back before deigning to get up and pad after me.

Sunny, a 15-year-old terrier who lives with Melissa Frieze Karolak in Ohio, has multiple ailments, but the one that has been life-changing for him is cataracts. But he has handled with grace the loss of much of his sight.

“He will call for help when he needs it,” she says. “He’ll bark, and I’ll come carry him up the steps. I say all the time that I hope I age with as much grace in the face of such significant health challenges.”

Too true.

Anyway, Harper’s barking that it’s time for me to come to bed. Gotta go.

Q&A

Jealous pet

ruins love life

Q: My dog growls at my boyfriend whenever he shows me affection, and it’s killing our vibe. How can I help them become friends?

A: When I would hug or kiss my wife, our Pomeranian-mix, Quixote, seemed to think he was a high school hall monitor, there to break up any displays of affection by barking and howling.

It’s not unusual for dogs to act as canine chaperones, but with a little training, they can learn to relax their policing of romantic relationships.

Dogs may try to separate lovers because they’re confused by our body language. Dogs don’t “get” hugs. To dogs, receiving a hug can be intimidating or frightening, and they may worry when they see humans hugging. This can cause them to stare, bark or try to step between the two. Dogs with a heritage of guarding or herding may be especially suspicious of hugging or other affectionate behavior.

Are they jealous? Maybe. Some dogs are used to having their person’s sole attention and may become upset when it is focused on someone else. Even if they’re scolded for trying to break things up, the attention is back on them, so they repeat the behavior.

To change your dog’s behavior, have your beau become the giver of good things: tossing treats in your dog’s direction without looking at him; feeding meals; tossing the tennis ball. You can also gradually condition your dog to tolerate touches between you by rewarding calm behavior during brief, light touches and slowly moving toward actual hugs or kisses as the dog remains calm instead of reacting.

One last hint: Provide food puzzles filled with goodies to keep him busy. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dog dies after

swallowing mask

-- Keep masks away from pets! A 16-month-old cocker spaniel named Oscar died after swallowing a face mask. The wire nose clamp pierced his intestines, causing sepsis. Emergency surgery and a blood transfusion couldn’t save the beloved family dog. Elastic bands or other ties that fit over ears or around the head can also cause serious problems, such as intestinal blockages. If you notice your pet has swallowed a mask or something stringlike, don’t try to pull it out; that can make things worse. Get your pet to the veterinarian right away.

-- Have you ever wondered why cats have a reputation for playing with their prey? It’s not because they’re cruel. They are attracted by motion, and the thrill of the hunt brings them to a high state of arousal, leading them to deliver the “kill” bite. If prey tries to escape, the cat is motivated to stalk and pounce some more until again reaching that high level of arousal. Even after the mouse or bug is dead, the cat may remain at a level of excitement that leads him to play with his food some more until he’s ready to eat. Of course, if he hasn’t been trained to hunt by his mother, he may simply go through the innate stalking and pouncing motions, which resemble play.

-- Lories and lorikeets are nectar-eating birds. In the wild, they feed on sugar-rich nectar from flowering plants and obtain protein from pollen. They also eat foods such as honeydew melon, fruits, seeds, chickweed, dandelion and the occasional soft-bodied insect. Their tongues are specially evolved for their diet, being muscular and extendible, with a specialized brush tip and a cluster of papillae that help them extract nectar and pollen. Pet lories and lorikeets eat commercial or homemade nectar diets, supplemented by fresh fruit. -- 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.

Should you French your Frenchie? Kiss your keeshond? Smooch your pooch? People have strong opinions either way. Here’s what to know about canine kisses

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Many people love getting dog kisses. “Oh, I don’t mind,” they say, as your dog washes their face with her tongue.

I am not one of those people. Fortunately, my current dogs aren’t lickers, but we used to have a tricolor cavalier, Darcy, who was nicknamed “the quicker licker-upper.” No amount of trying to train her out of it worked, mainly because other people encouraged it.

Dogs love to lick us for all kinds of reasons. In the wild, a pup licks its mother’s face and lips, stimulating her to regurgitate food for it. And mother dogs, wild and domestic, lick their puppies clean. Some dogs probably enjoy the salty flavor of our skin, while others are intrigued by the tasty scented lotions and creams we rub into it. Licking can be soothing. When dogs intensively lick certain areas, it’s often an attempt at pain relief. Any way you look at it, licking generally has a pleasurable connection for dogs.

And for people. Those who love dog kisses give the following reasons:

-- “It’s just that extra show of affection with your dog.”

-- “Great for my immunity and my soul.”

-- “Bee wakes me every morning with such enthusiastic kisses it makes me laugh.”

Sweet as they are (for those who appreciate them), dog kisses can have some drawbacks. Overly enthusiastic canine kissers can bash heads, break noses, give black eyes and knock people down in their attempts to give smooches.

A study in Japan found that bacteria that cause gum disease are transferrable between dogs and humans -- going both ways.

Your dog may also be kissing you immediately after gulping down garbage, snacking on poop from the cat’s litter box, gnawing on a dead squirrel or licking his own behind. The latter can result in accidental ingestion of parasite eggs or larvae lurking in your dog’s saliva.

And a high concentration of the canine allergen is present in saliva.

Some dogs have jobs that preclude kissing. Therapy dogs must learn not to give kisses, particularly if they visit people with health issues. It’s important to protect not only humans, but also the dogs themselves, who may be at risk of illness if they slurp skin infected with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or other body fluids present on skin or clothing.

To lick licking -- if that’s your preference -- try these four training (or retraining) tips:

-- Turn your face away when your dog tries to lick you. But beware: If other family members and friends don’t do the same, your dog will keep on licking.

-- When your dog stops licking, immediately offer praise and a treat. Gradually, you can add a cue such as “no kiss” or “no lick.”

-- Teach an alternative behavior such as a high-five or twirl. Any time your dog tries to kiss, give the cue for the alternative -- “Shake!” or “Spin!” and reward him for that great trick.

-- Teach your dog to give kisses on cue so they can be reserved for people who want them. Therapy dogs can learn not to give kisses when they’re wearing their vest.

The really hard part isn't teaching your dog not to lick, but discouraging other people from letting your dog kiss them. But if you're serious about stopping the licking, say, “Please don’t let her kiss you; she’s in training.” People will ignore you, but you can still try it.

If you fail, put your kissing dog to work raising money for your local animal shelter. Set up a kissing booth at a pet fair, and charge for their licks of love.

In the end, getting a little sugar from a dog you love isn’t the end of the world. Just thoroughly wash your hands and mouth afterward -- and maybe swish with mouthwash to kill any lingering germs.

Q&A

Cat doesn’t

pay water bill

Q: My cat keeps turning on the faucet because she prefers to drink from it instead of her water dish. How can I get her to drink normally?

A: For some cats, that is normal! They prefer running water because they can see (and hear) it better than still water. But before we tackle your problem, first things first: If this is a new behavior, take your cat in for a vet check to make sure the change isn’t related to an underlying illness. If she gets a clean bill of health, the following changes may help.

Many cats prefer high places. The sink may seem like a safer place to fill up her tank than down on the floor, especially if the water bowl is in a heavily trafficked area such as the kitchen, or if she shares it with other pets. Try placing the bowl up high in a less frequented area, maybe on a guest bath counter.

Make sure the bowl isn’t near the litter box. Cats don’t like to eat or drink in the same area where they pee and poop.

If you have multiple pets in your home, provide several water dishes, each in a different area.

Water from the faucet may taste better, especially if you aren’t washing pet bowls daily. Use a nonscented dish soap and rinse thoroughly to make sure there’s no unpleasant residue. And use glass or ceramic bowls instead of plastic, which can retain odors.

Cats who like drinking free-flowing water may enjoy a pet fountain. Providing one could help redirect your cat away from the sink. Place a soft treat on the edge to garner her attention, or ask your veterinarian about flavored additives that could pique her interest.

Reward her any time you see her drinking out of the fountain or bowl. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Business goes

to the dogs

-- When the pandemic hit last year, Judi Townsend of Oakland, California, knew her business of buying and selling mannequins was going to be in trouble. But when she realized how many people were adopting pets to keep them company at home, she pivoted to a new plan: taking pet glamour shots. She already had a photo studio, and she began offering photo packages and do-it-yourself photography lessons on Facebook Live. Now, Furtography Pet Pics is doing very well, she reports to AARP Magazine. Embarking further into the pet world, she also sells fabric dog mannequins for people who want to sew or display clothes for dogs.

-- Would you recognize whether your tortoise is feeling unwell? Like most animals, including humans, a change from normal behavior can signal a health problem. Other signs include eye or nasal discharge, swollen or closed eyelids, increased respiratory effort or open-mouth breathing, decreased appetite and decreased activity, says LaToya Latney, DVM, a reptile and zoo animal specialist at New York City’s Animal Medical Center. In an interview with PopSugar.com, she notes that tortoises should be seen by a veterinarian annually for a checkup as well as when they’re sick.

-- When the Million Cat Challenge started, the goal was to save the lives of 1 million shelter cats. That goal was achieved in 2018, more than a year earlier than expected, and it’s marching on to even greater success. The approximately 1,500 shelters that signed on to the program have now saved 3 million cats, and the future is brighter for other shelter cats. Founders Julie Levy, DVM, and Kate Hurley, DVM, plan to continue the consultation service offered by MCC to help shelters, elected officials and policymakers identify and break down barriers so that cats leave shelters alive, not in body bags. -- 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.

Flock dynamics mean some roosters need to find new homes. Rescue organizations can help

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Recently, a Facebook friend who keeps chickens put out a call for a transport volunteer. I live midway between the pickup and delivery points, so I agreed to help. That’s how I found myself driving a rooster from Oceanside, California, to Long Beach in the cargo area of my Subaru Outback.

Boy found himself in the same position as many roosters: being one too many. He needed a new home where he would be the only rooster. Roosters are territorial, and Boy, an adolescent at 1 year old, was trying to take over the flock from King, an older rooster.

“King stopped crowing, and Boy would make sure he stayed on the perch most of the day,” says Laura Elofson of Escondido, California.

Boy did a good job of keeping the hens safe, but Elofson preferred to keep King since he was older and had been around longer.

“I thought it might be easier, since Boy was young, for him to get a flock of his own and adapt easier than if we tried King with a new flock,” she says.

Families who get chicks are told there’s a 90% chance that they are hens, says Deborah Davidson Harpur, who runs Rescue Roos in Long Beach with her daughter. That means some people are bound to end up with a rooster once in a while.

Many municipalities bar roosters or limit homes to one rooster because of the noise they make. Or, like Elofson, families may end up with competing roosters. And roosters, especially when they hit adolescence, can be jerks -- to put it politely. They may run after people, pecking them or beating at them with their wings (called flogging).

“Those are all good things when you have a free-roaming flock and they need to be protected, but not such a good thing when your small children are petrified of the bird, and especially not a good thing if humans are getting injured,” Harpur says.

Since earlier this year, Rescue Roos has placed 94 birds, mostly roosters. Placing roosters is a matchmaking game, involving promoting the birds on social media or reaching out to other rooster rescues. Giant birds and tiny birds tend to find homes quickly. Known fighters and peckers can take a little longer, Harpur says, but they are often placed with people who want good guardians for their hens.

“Usually, our adopters are families who have rural property,” Harpur says. “Most often they want either a specific breed for their hens for breeding purposes, or they want flock protection from aerial predators. The other most popular reason is that they just enjoy roosters and fell for that particular little face.”

Harpur makes sure roosters are going to friendly homes only. If you’re rehoming a bird yourself, ask interested parties if they are providing a pet home and if the people taking the bird are keeping him or will be trading him. You don’t want to run the risk that he’ll end up in a fighting situation or as someone’s meal. An internet search can help you find a rooster rescue group in your area or give you tips on placement.

To avoid having to place a rooster, get chicks that are sex-link birds, which are bred so males and females can be identified at hatch. Chicks sold as “straight run” have not been sexed.

Boy, with Harpur for now, is flirting with hens through the fence. If he stays long enough to meet a one-month quarantine, he’ll get some lady friends to keep him occupied, but Harpur says most birds are placed in less than two weeks.

At Elofson’s home, King has started crowing again, and the hens are more relaxed now that they’re free of the tension between the two roosters.

“I’m thankful for Rescue Roos for helping us find a new home for Boy,” Elofson says. “Many roosters aren’t that fortunate.”

Q&A

Why does dog

scratch a lot?

Q: My dog seems to be scratching himself a lot. Does he have dry skin? Should I add oil to his food?

A: Dogs who scratch may have fleas or allergies to pollen or other inhalants. Sometimes they have food allergies. Rather than adding oil to your dog’s food, you should take him to your veterinarian to get a definite diagnosis and effective treatment for whatever is causing the itchiness.

If it’s fleas, your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate preventive product based on your dog’s lifestyle. For instance, if your dog likes to swim or is bathed frequently, an oral preventive is a better choice than a topical.

For inhalant allergies, medications are available to help relieve itching while you and your veterinarian work together to figure out what might be causing the allergy. It could be seasonal pollens and molds, or something in your household such as dust mites or a new detergent or brand of dryer sheets.

When a food allergy is suspected, your veterinarian may recommend a feeding trial to pinpoint the problem ingredient. Usually that involves feeding a novel protein -- one your dog has never eaten before -- for a certain period. Then previous ingredients are added back in, one at a time, to see what is causing the problem.

Simply adding oil isn’t really a fix unless there’s a dietary deficiency that is accidentally addressed by the addition. If you’re feeding a complete and balanced food, you shouldn’t have to add anything to a dog’s diet unless your veterinarian has recommended supplements such as omega-3 oils and glucosamine for a condition such as arthritis, for instance.

The takeaway? “Itchy” is a symptom, not a disease, and it’s a symptom common to more than one problem. Seek your veterinarian’s advice to solve it in a way that will best help your dog. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Xylitol Poisoning

Cases Rise in Pets

-- Xylitol, a lower-calorie sugar substitute, is used to sweeten everything from chocolate and other candy to peanut butter and toothpaste. That’s great news for people, but not for pets. According to veterinary toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline, this increase in products containing xylitol has resulted in a corresponding increase in the number of xylitol-related pet poisoning cases. Between 2015 and 2020, calls regarding xylitol poisoning increased 108%. “Xylitol consumption by pets, particularly dogs, can be extremely toxic and potentially deadly. The most common effect of xylitol poisoning in dogs is a precipitous drop in blood sugar, which can lead to loss of consciousness and seizures. In high enough doses, liver failure can begin within a few hours or days,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline. If your pet ingests anything containing xylitol, get him to a veterinary hospital right away.

-- Cat lovers will enjoy the book “Let’s Talk About Cats,” by U.K. cat expert Anita Kelsey, who shares her own knowledge of and experiences with cats, as well as advice gathered from interviews with other experts on felines domestic and wild: They include Jackson Galaxy, on what it means to bond with a cat; David Teie, who has composed research-driven music for cats; and Dr. Susanne Schotz, a linguistics expert who has studied feline vocalizations and human-cat communications. In 16 chapters, she addresses such topics as feline play, scratching behavior, finding a lost cat, grief, training, nutrition, environment, touch, therapy work and old age.

-- The American hairless terrier, a small and charming dog, is an offshoot of the rat terrier. Besides hairless, he also comes in a coated variety. He loves people and is playful and alert, but beware: He can be a barker. -- 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.