When pets won’t eat: How to decide if they need to see the vet

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When pets won’t eat, they’re described as anorexic -- not in the same way as humans, where the word describes an eating disorder that has a psychological component, but rather, as a refusal to eat. Pets with what’s called true anorexia have no interest in eating, while those with pseudo-anorexia are hungry but may not want to eat because of pain associated with picking up, chewing or swallowing food, or because they don’t feel well for some other reason. And some pets are just picky about what they choose to eat, having specific preferences about proteins, flavors, textures and even food bowl sizes and shapes.

Last year I wrote about my dog Harper’s unusual lack of appetite. (Read it here: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2020/05/18.) At the time, Harper was in good health, so I decided not to let it bother me if she missed a meal every once in a while. But five months later, she was diagnosed with cancer, and it became much more important for her to eat regularly and take in an adequate amount of food.

That was easier said than done, though. During her most recent bout of refusing to eat, I offered her roast chicken and poached eggs. I hand-fed her. I warmed her food. I provided a buffet of three different diets so she could choose from them or go back and forth among them. I started her on an appetite stimulant.

Harper is back to eating reasonably well, although not with the gusto of youth. It raised the question, though: When should a pet who’s not eating be seen by their veterinarian?

Dogs and cats are individuals, so in most cases, the answer is, “It depends,” says Lindsey Bullen, DVM, a veterinary nutrition specialist who practices at Blue Pearl in North Carolina.

Anorexia and pickiness aren’t normal, but they can have a number of causes. In a new puppy, pickiness could be a sign of disease, or it could be related to the stress of being in a new home and away from mom and littermates. In older dogs like Harper, it may mean that they don’t feel well. Knowing your animal’s normal eating habits is key.

Dr. Bullen’s first dog, Gus, was a chowhound. “He would peel out every day to come eat his food and knock over anyone in his path,” she says. For the eight years she’d had him, Gus had never missed a meal. The day he refused dinner, Bullen took him straight to the emergency room. As it turned out, his spleen had ruptured and, understandably, Gus didn’t feel good.

Bullen’s current dog, Heidi, was picky when they adopted her four years ago. She also has a diet-responsive disease. “When she doesn’t feel well, that impacts her pickiness,” Bullen says. “So for her, when she has a picky phase, I’m a little less concerned about it because it is not uncommon for her.”

Like Gus, Bullen’s cats normally have a great appetite. For the same reason she took Gus in, if one of them misses a meal, she takes them to their veterinarian immediately.

Factors to consider are how long you’ve had your pet, the relationship you have with them, and what is normal for them. As we’ve learned with Harper, age and health status play a role, too. Senior pets may have appetite loss related to a reduced sense of smell. Pets with acute or chronic illness may have no other way to indicate that they’re not feeling well.

“My rule of thumb for any pet parent out there is if there is any change to the eating behavior or pattern or if that pickiness or anorexia is getting worse over time -- especially if it lasts more than 24 hours -- it is not wrong to call your veterinarian,” Bullen says. “The longer they go without eating, the more negative they get in terms of their nutrient imbalances and deficiencies, and the harder it can be sometimes to bounce back if there’s a problem.”

Q&A

How to manage

bladder stones

Q: My male cat has bladder stones, and the vet is recommending a special diet. It’s expensive! Is there some natural way to treat or prevent the stones?

A: Some conditions and diseases in pets are best managed through diet, and one of them is bladder stones. Peer-reviewed studies have shown the benefit of veterinary therapeutic diets for dissolving these stones.

Urinary stones are seen in 10% to 20% of cats with lower urinary tract disease. In male cats, stones can block the urethra -- the tube that carries urine out of the body. That’s a serious medical emergency! Cats unable to urinate can die within 72 hours if the blockage isn’t relieved.

Changing a cat’s diet helps in several ways. Switching to canned food, which is approximately 70% water, helps the cat take in more fluid. And some diets are formulated to produce acidic urine, which is more likely to dissolve struvite stones. Therapeutic diets also tend to be higher in sodium, encouraging the cat to drink more water. That, in turn, dilutes the urine, making it less likely that crystals will form into stones.

Using diet to dissolve stones is less invasive than surgery -- the other option for stone removal -- but the drawback is that it can take several months to work. Be patient, and don’t undermine it by giving your cat other types of food or treats.

To help the food do its work, scoop the litter box at least a couple of times a day so your cat will want to use it, and make sure he always has plenty of fresh water. Consider getting a pet fountain to increase his interest in drinking more often; lots of cats prefer running water.

Catching this problem early and treating it effectively with an appropriate diet is the best way to prevent it from becoming worse. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Meal deliveries

include pets

-- As Thanksgiving approaches, some residents in Amarillo, Texas, can look forward to monthly pet food deliveries from volunteers, thanks to a partnership between Meals on Wheels of Amarillo and the newly established Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. The program, Animeals, which is also available in other parts of the country, will not only help people feed their dogs and cats, but may in the future deliver veterinary services, too, as the veterinary students progress in their studies.

-- Four dogs are in the running for Nationwide’s 13th annual Hambone Award, which recognizes the most unusual pet health insurance claim. German shepherd Bruin from Stevenson Ranch, California, fell off a cliff; mixed-breed Griffin from Chicago swallowed a full-length bamboo skewer; yellow Lab-golden retriever mix Sherlotte from Andover, Massachusetts, survived being submerged in a sinkhole; and miniature schnauzer Sophie from Kissimmee, Florida, was catapulted out of a golf cart. All of the nominated pets have made full recoveries. The winner receives the Hambone Award trophy and other gifts, and the veterinary practice that treated the winner receives a $10,000 award funded by Nationwide through the Veterinary Care Foundation, a charity that helps veterinary practices provide medical care for pets whose owners can’t afford treatment. See photos and detailed stories of the nominees and winner at HamboneAward.com.

-- Cat got hairballs? They’re not necessarily normal. Usually the barfed-up balls of fur are harmless -- although no fun to step on in bare feet -- but sometimes a hairball, or what looks like one, can signal a serious problem, especially if they occur frequently, contain blood or large amounts of digested or undigested food, or are slimed with large amounts of mucus. To help prevent them, groom your cat frequently. Learn more about trichobezoars -- the scientific name for hairballs -- at fearfreehappyhomes.com/hairballs. -- 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 would dogs fare if humans disappeared? A new book shows how they might not only survive, but also thrive

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Evolutionary biologists not only study how animals developed, they also think about what they might become. A recent article on Vox.com speculated on how animals might adapt in response to changing environments, imagining flightless carnivorous pigeons, aquatic rats and bats with 6-foot wingspans capable of gliding long distances in search of food.

In their new book “A Dog’s World” (Princeton University Press), bioethicist and philosopher Jessica Pierce and biologist and ethologist Marc Bekoff ask a different question: What would become of dogs in the absence of humans?

Subtitled “Imagining the lives of dogs in a world without humans,” it explores how and whether dogs would survive if humans suddenly disappeared. (Spoiler: Many dogs would do very well, they believe.)

Through this lens, they consider how dogs live today, their relationships with humans and the factors that would shape this potential evolutionary future: size, intelligence, skull shape, food availability, daily caloric needs, reproduction, social organization, problem-solving ability and more. Their speculative journey takes the reader from canines’ past to a posthuman future where dogs suddenly left on their own must navigate a new world to find their own food and shelter, develop relationships with other dogs and protect themselves from predators.

What skills would dogs need to survive, and do they have them now? Behavioral flexibility is one and could play a role in the ability of individual dogs to solve problems and navigate social interactions with other dogs and other animals.

Learning ability is another. While cues such as come, sit or spin won’t be of much use to dogs on their own, the impulse control some of them may have developed through training could come in handy, Pierce and Bekoff suggest. And trained dogs, they write, may have learned that if they try something and don’t get rewarded, they should change their behavior and try something else, a behavioral pattern that might translate into greater adaptability.

Dogs are pack animals, and it’s interesting to ponder how that might translate into their ability to work together to survive. Would dogs of differing sizes, personalities and abilities band together to survive? Nature offers plenty of examples of cooperative hunting, in which different types of animals work together to increase success, such as coyotes and badgers teaming up to trap ground squirrels, and groupers and eels helping each other to find and flush prey. Your Chihuahua might find a role burrowing to reach food or prey inaccessible to bigger dogs.

Personality and heritage would play a role as well. I asked people how they thought their dogs would do. People with spitz breeds such as Alaskan malamutes and Samoyeds had no doubts about their dogs’ ability to survive. The same was true of people with Jack Russell terriers, some herding breeds or mixed breeds. Even dogs with disabilities might have a chance. “My paraplegic dachshund probably has the best odds,” one wrote. “She’s sneaky and remarkably fast -- and a proven ratter, even after her injury.”

Can we prepare dogs for life without us? The authors say “doomsday prepping” for pets could have valuable benefits for them, even if we don’t disappear any time soon. Practical skills include foraging (a great way to enrich any animal’s life) and focus and impulse control through training; physical fitness to build endurance and prevent obesity; and development of independence, self-reliance and self-confidence by allowing dogs to make choices, teaching them to be comfortable when left alone, and participating in dog sports that build skills, such as scenting, agility and mental acuity.

The authors write: “Our take-home message centers not solely on an imaginary future, but also on the present. In thinking about who dogs might become without us, we may gain fresh insight into who they are now and how our relationships with them can best benefit us both.”

Q&A

Teach cat to

touch target

Q: I’ve heard about target training for cats. How can it be useful, and how do I get started?

A: Targeting -- teaching a cat to touch an object with her nose or paw -- has lots of uses, from encouraging a cat to move to or away from a certain area to teaching tricks such as jumping through a hoop or giving a high-five.

Start by teaching your cat to touch the target, usually a wooden spoon. With a clicker in hand, hold the target at the side of your cat’s face, just out of sight. Slowly move it to where she can see it, but don’t startle her. Reward any interest -- from looking at it to actually touching it -- with a click and treat, and move the target away. Repeat several times.

If your cat seems afraid of the target, present it at a distance and reward for glancing at it or not running away. If she doesn’t look at or move toward the target, try holding it slightly higher or lower. Smearing the target with squeeze cheese or peanut butter can also catch your cat’s interest. Let her have a lick or two if she sniffs or reaches out toward it.

Once your cat readily noses or paws the target, add a verbal cue: “Touch!” Say it just as she starts to move toward the target. With practice, you can start to give the cue before your cat moves toward it.

Now you can use her targeting skill to teach her to move toward or away from objects or on or off surfaces such as counters. It’s also the foundation for teaching tricks such as spin or sit. To hold her interest, alternate between simple behaviors such as sit and complex ones such as high-five. Have fun! -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

New bill to

protect pets

-- The federal Paws Off Act (HR 5261) would require products containing the sugar substitute xylitol, which is toxic to dogs, to include a warning label. The artificial sweetener is commonly used in everyday products such as sugar-free gum and breath mints, peanut butter, sugar-free desserts and baked goods, and toothpaste. The Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received 6,760 xylitol-related calls in 2018, compared to just over 200 in 2005. The bill was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on Sept. 14 by David Schweikert and Greg Stanton, both representing Arizona. Call your representative and ask them to vote in favor of the bill.

-- Smaller breeds of dogs such as papillons and toy poodles are more predisposed to periodontal disease than large breeds such as Great Danes and Saint Bernards, according to a new study conducted by Mars Petcare and published in The Veterinary Journal. The retrospective study reviewed more than 3 million medical records across 60 breeds of dogs in the U.S. and found that periodontal disease occurred in 18.2% of dogs overall. Extra-small dogs weighing 14.3 pounds or less were up to 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with periodontal disease.

-- Cats with lower urinary tract disease may strain or cry out in pain when they urinate. The disease can affect any cat, but it’s most often seen in middle-aged, overweight pets. Stress can also be a contributing factor, which is why the problem sometimes occurs when cats are moved to a new home or when new people or pets join the family. Preventing obesity, offering play to relieve stress, and encouraging cats to drink more water -- a fountain may entice them -- can help to reduce incidence of the disease. -- 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 your pet needs some R&R -- rest and restriction -- here's how to keep him quiet without going stir-crazy

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When my dog Harper had open-heart surgery, she was feeling pretty good just a week later, but we were under orders from the surgeon to keep her quiet for the next 90 days. That wasn't easy. Baby gates, steps to the furniture and closed doors became the rule in our home. We carried Harper up and down the stairs multiple times a day and lifted her onto the bed at night so we didn't have to worry that she would try to jump up on her own while we were sleeping. She looked disappointed every time we left the house to go on a walk and didn't take her along. And nothing could stop her from twirling and dancing at mealtime.

Ensuring that a pet rests for weeks or sometimes months after surgery or medical treatment, such as medication injections for heartworm disease, can be a trial for dog and cat owners. Not only is it impossible to explain to a pet why she can't run and jump the way she does normally, it's also a challenge to prevent her from overcoming barriers. Nonetheless, it's a must to ensure a safe and effective recovery.

Reining in a pet's activity level calls for creativity and strict supervision. Here's how to survive, whether your dog or cat must be confined for three days or three months.

Baby gates and exercise pens are your friends. Whether his Jack Russell terriers are recovering from knee surgery, eye injuries or bite wounds, Patrick Burns keeps them indoors, confined to a crate surrounded by an exercise pen. The dogs can relieve themselves in the pen, and they are put right back in the crate.

For cats, a double show cage is a good choice, says Lorraine Shelton, who breeds Selkirk rex and Norwegian forest cats. She likes the double Sturdi Products Pop-Up Kennel, which is secure, easy to clean and has good visibility. It's just the right size for a cat or a small dog.

Tether your pet. Keeping him on a leash and always at my side was the best way to keep my former foster dog Kibo quiet after his injections for heartworm disease. The drug causes the worms to die and disintegrate, so dogs must remain inactive during the three-month treatment period to ensure that no potentially fatal blockage occurs in the pulmonary vessels.

Close doors. Harper usually spends her day napping beneath my desk. It was easy to forget she has definite ideas about when bedtime should be. We would go look for her, only to find that she had already jumped on the bed on her own. We had to start keeping the bedroom door closed all the time.

Use pet steps to furniture. We placed steps at one end of the sofa and blocked the rest of it with an exercise pen so that Harper could only use the steps to get on it. That worked until she noticed she could jump from the side at the other end. We put an end to that by blocking it with the plastic lid of a storage container.

Ban boredom. Work on touch games such as learning to touch your hand or a target stick with his nose, or teach skills such as "watch me" that don't require any activity. Feed meals inside the crate. To keep your pet's brain busy while he's confined, put food in an enrichment toy so he has to do a little thinking to get at it.

Be patient! Before you know it, your dog or cat will be ready for action again.

Q&A

Ear trauma causes

painful bruising

Q: My cat has been scratching at his ear and the vet says he has a hematoma. What is that, and how did my cat get one?

A: The word hematoma is basically a fancy Greek name for a bruise. Hematomas are seen more often in dogs, but cats may get them from shaking their head forcefully or scratching aggressively at the ear in response to itching caused by an ear mite infection, allergic skin disease or a foreign body lodged in the ear. The trauma causes blood to seep out of the blood vessels and pool between the skin and the cartilage of the earflap.

The result is a swollen, fluid-filled area that can be inside the ear canal or on the ear tip. Depending on the size and where in the ear the hematoma is located, it might feel firm or soft.

Don't assume that a hematoma will resolve on its own. It's a painful condition and can cause lasting damage to ear tissues. Hematomas can be treated several ways, but surgery is typically the most effective solution. While the cat is anesthetized, the surgeon removes the fluid and blood clots and sutures the inner part of the ear to the outer part so it lies smooth and prevents lumpy scar tissue from forming. An incision is made that remains open so any remaining fluid can drain. Most important is treating the underlying condition so the hematoma doesn't return.

No matter which route you go, your cat will likely need to wear an Elizabethan collar, one of those lampshade-looking devices that keeps him from scratching at his ear, while it heals. For greater comfort, look for a soft fabric or inflatable E-collar instead of a hard plastic one. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Feline Red Cross?

Donor cats save lives

-- Kitty blood donors are needed at many veterinary hospitals to help cats who may have blood loss during surgery, suffer trauma from being hit by a car or falling out of a high-rise or have a bleeding disorder. Volunteer feline blood donors are screened for disease and may give blood as often as every six weeks. They are lightly sedated before donating approximately 40 milliliters of the lifesaving fluid. Ask your veterinarian if local clinics or pet blood banks need cats to donate. Feline fact: Cats have three blood types. Type A is most common, Type B is less common and Type AB is rare.

-- Active people looking for a medium-size dog may want to consider the Brittany, a dynamo of a pointing dog. The Brittany is smart and athletic, with a keen sense of smell that makes him a powerhouse in dog activities such as nose work or tracking and, of course, hunting. Agility and flyball are other sports in which he excels, and he loves going running, hiking, camping or otherwise spending time with his people. The Brittany's wash-and-go coat is easy to care for, and weekly brushing will remove dead hair that will otherwise land on clothes and furniture.

-- Got skunked? If your pet has been perfumed by Pepe LePew, it's time to hold your nose and bathe him with an odor-removing solution. A tried-and-true concoction calls for mixing 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid soap. Wet your dog down to the skin, then shampoo with the mixture, leaving it on for at least five minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Don't let your dog lick off any of the solution, and toss what you don't use; it's not safe to bottle and save for future use. -- 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.