It’s called the cone of shame, but it’s meant to protect pets. We look at some comfortable alternatives

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

What’s the worst part about your pet having surgery, an injury or an infection? Paws down, your pet would say that it’s being forced to wear an Elizabethan collar -- not the big fancy lace getup popularized during the 16th-century reign of Elizabeth I, but the unwieldy plastic version that your veterinarian sends home with stern warnings that your pet must wear it to prevent chewing or licking at stitches or the affected area.

Pet parents who must get their pets to wear the things dislike them almost as much. Pets bang into walls, can’t get through pet doors, tip over food and water bowls, and do everything they can to get them off, including incessantly scratching at them, shaking their heads, and moaning and groaning until you want to rip it off yourself just so you don’t have to listen to them anymore.

Fortunately, manufacturers and creative owners have come up with a number of alternatives, from inflatable collars to pet or baby onesies to their own clothing.

Soft fabric collars, usually made in a C or donut shape, come in a variety of colors and patterns to suit any size pet and any owner’s whimsy: some resemble an actual donut, a flower, a shark’s mouth or a lion’s mane. They are typically inflatable and adjustable, usually with hook-and-loop or touch fasteners.

Look for features such as the ability to customize the angle of the collar to prevent access to the wound or avoid blocking the animal’s vision; soft, comfortable, water-resistant fabric; and ease of attachment and inflation. Make sure the collar fits well and doesn’t make any squeaky or other noises that could irritate or frighten your dog or cat. The collar should be sturdy enough to discourage not only licking and chewing but also the ingenuity of a pet trying to remove it.

Archie, a redbone coonhound who’d had a tumor removed on his side, hated the plastic e-collar the vet sent home and destroyed an inflatable collar. Ruth, a Boston terrier battling a fungal infection on her leg, was miserable in both an e-collar and a donut collar.

For the animal who resists wearing any kind of recovery collar -- no matter how cute or comfy -- a recovery suit may be the answer. The bodysuits fit closely and cover up surgical incisions or infected areas so pets can’t lick or chew at them. They offer more freedom of movement than collars, and a snug fit can be soothing to pets. Dogs in recovery suits may need close supervision, as destructive, determined or focused animals left to their own devices have been known to take them apart.

Choose one that’s soft, machine washable, easily adjustable for potty breaks, and easy to put on and remove. And make sure it suits your dog’s sense of style. “Rita Sue” left an Amazon review deploring the blue and yellow-striped number purchased by her people (the pink floral being unavailable in her size), although she appreciated the soft fabric, trim fit and pocket on the back for phone and ID.

Alternatives to surgical suits include onesies made for human babies, pet T-shirts and even clothing made for humans.

“I have used my cycling jerseys on my girl Labs to prevent incision licking,” says Linda C. Rehkopf of Powder Springs, Georgia. “(The jerseys have) breathable materials and zips along their backs.” A jersey also came in handy when one of her Labs was weaning puppies but still wanted to be with them.

When Mary Wakabayashi’s dog Hina had sutures at the bottom of her rib cage, dog shirts were too short to cover the area. Wakabayashi used one of her own shirts instead. For wounds on the leg, chest or neck, a long-sleeved T-shirt works well, she says. Socks, tubular bandages and vet wrap can also be used.

Work with your veterinarian and think creatively to discover the best solution for you and your pet.

Q&A

Cat toy habit

is expensive

Q: My two cats love to play with toys, and I’m going broke buying them new ones all the time. They become bored with them so quickly. Are there some inexpensive alternatives? (They have multiple scratching posts and places to perch and hide.)

A: Cats can definitely have a short attention span. That works to your advantage because you can put up all their toys and then dole them out two or three at a time. Every few days, swap them out for some “new” ones from the cat toy closet. You save money and your cats can play with something they haven’t seen in a while.

Different cats have different toy preferences, so make sure they have a wide assortment: catnip-filled, feathery, fishing pole- or wand-style toys, crinkle balls, tracks with balls inside that your cats can bat at, a tunnel for them to run through, toys that make noise (put those up at night), and electronic, battery-operated or wind-up toys that move, eliciting your cat’s chase instinct -- the list is endless.

And yes, there are lots of toys you can make yourself. Some of the best you don’t have to make at all because they come readymade to your home: paper grocery bags, empty boxes, and empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Crumple up a piece of paper and toss it for them. Pull out a flashlight and let them chase the beam. You can find easy and creative ideas at foodpuzzlesforcats.com.

Finally, remember to make yourself a part of their playtime, too. Drag a toy through the house for them to chase, toss a small ball (Ping-Pong or small tennis balls are fun) for them to chase, set a toy in motion for them to bat at. Attention from you is a cat’s best “toy.” -- 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

One Health for

pets, people, planet

-- January is One Health Awareness Month, a reminder that the future and fortunes of animals, people and the environment are inextricably linked. The collaborative effort of veterinarians, physicians and other scientists is important in every area: zoonotic diseases, food production, welfare of domestic animals and wildlife, a healthy environment and more. Without their cooperation, it would be easy to miss connections that affect the collective health and safety of humans, animals and the environment. Humans and animals share the same environment and are exposed to the same hazards: secondhand smoke, asbestos, lead, pesticides and more. Sharing information with clients about healthy lifestyles, preventive care, and physical and mental health is one way that physicians and veterinarians can work together. Animal lovers can help by becoming aware of tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases that affect animals and humans, the effects on wildlife of habitat and biodiversity loss, and food safety issues that affect humans and pets.

-- You probably know that plain canned pumpkin can be a treat for dogs, as well as something your veterinarian may recommend to help firm up the stool in the event of a mild case of diarrhea. But once you’ve opened that can, how are you going to use it up before it goes bad, especially if your dog gets only a teaspoon at a time? Pull out a cookie sheet, line it with wax paper or parchment paper, drop pumpkin on it by the teaspoonful and freeze. Once they’re frozen, you can peel off the pumpkin drops and store them in the freezer in a zippered freezer bag. Then you can pull out one as needed, thawing or giving it to your dog frozen. Either way, he’ll love it, and none of the pumpkin will go to waste. -- 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.

Litter box tips and tricks to ensure that your new kitten or cat approves of the “facilities” in your home

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Has the new year brought a kitten or cat into your life for the first time? You probably know that cats are good about using a litter box -- that might even be what attracted you to one as a companion -- but did you know you can take steps to help prevent kittens and cats from thinking (or stinking) outside the box? The following tips will help to ensure that your cat remains satisfied with bathroom you provide.

Choose a box that’s the right size. Small kittens need a litter box that’s not so big that they can’t climb into it and not so small that they don’t have room to turn around and do some digging. Large kittens -- think Maine coons, Siamese or Siberians -- need larger boxes.

As your kitten matures, provide a larger box. A good rule of paw is that the litter box should be one-and-a-half times longer than the cat’s body length. You don’t want your cat to have to scrunch up to fit inside; if he does, he might choose to pee or poop next to the box instead of in it.

Prefer to start out with a full-size box? Place a step in front of it or cut an opening at one end so your kitten can easily enter and exit.

Covered or uncovered? You might prefer a covered box to hide the mess or smell or to keep your cat from kicking litter onto the floor, but cats often prefer an uncovered box so they can watch for the approach of potential threats -- your dog, for instance -- while they’re squatting in a vulnerable position. The bonus of an uncovered box is that you can see immediately if it has been used and scoop it.

Which brings us to cleanliness. Cats don’t want to use a dirty litter box any more than you want to use a portable toilet at a crowded music festival on a hot summer day. Scoop every time you see it has been used -- or at least morning and evening. Every two weeks, dump the litter, clean the box with warm water and unscented dishwashing soap, and replace with clean litter.

Type of litter is another matter of great importance to cats. Their preferences can be based on such factors as the way the litter feels beneath their paws, what the litter smells or doesn’t smell like and the amount of litter in the box. Depending on what they are used to, cats may prefer traditional clay litter, soft clumping litter, litter crystals or pearls, or alternative litters made from wheat, pine, paper or corn. Offer some options, and pay attention to what they like best. If it doesn’t seem to matter, go with what you like. If they declare a favorite, it’s wise to stick with that.

Remember that cats typically prefer unscented litter, which doesn’t offend their sensitive noses. Just because it smells good to you doesn’t mean it will smell good to your cat.

Cats can be fussy about the amount of litter in the box. Start by filling it with about 2 inches, then adjust as needed. Some cats like it as deep as 4 inches, while others prefer the bare minimum. Just don’t assume that a deeper bed of litter means you can scoop less often. Cats still want their toilet to be “flushed.”

When it comes to litter boxes, location is as important to cats as it is in human real estate transactions. Cats don’t want a litter box in the same area where they eat; they’d like privacy, please, when they use it; and they don’t want to be rudely interrupted by the dryer buzzer or the garage door opening. Place it in a quiet area that’s easily accessible and doesn’t make the cat feel trapped.

By understanding your new kitten or cat’s needs and offering choices, you’ll both be happy.

Q&A

Is my dog

obstructed?

Q: My Lab puppy is vomiting, he doesn’t want to eat and he’s not his usual active self. What could be going on?

A: Just the words “Lab puppy” offer a clue. As a veterinarian with more than 40 years’ experience, I am still amazed at the variety of things dogs -- especially puppies and especially Labs -- will put into their mouths and swallow: dish towels, socks, rubber ducks, knives or wooden skewers. Young Labs are some of the worst offenders, but any dog is capable of eating something that results in an obstruction.

And an obstruction could certainly be your pup’s problem. Foreign bodies, as nonfood objects are known, might pass through the gastrointestinal tract without you ever knowing the item was swallowed (unless you notice it when you pick up poop), but sometimes they get stuck -- and that’s when the trouble starts.

Clues that a dog might have an obstruction include vomiting, regurgitation (when food comes right back up after your dog has eaten), appetite loss, lethargy or just seeming “off” (the veterinary term for this is ADR, or ain’t doin’ right). A dog who’s gagging, coughing or pawing at the mouth or neck might have something stuck in the esophagus -- the tube that carries food to the stomach.

If your dog has a habit of eating things he shouldn’t and shows any of these signs, it’s a good idea to take him to the veterinarian to check for an obstruction.

Depending on the results of the exam and diagnostic tests and whether you know what the dog may have eaten, the vet may recommend a wait-and-see approach, giving pumpkin to see if that helps move the object along or immediate surgery. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs offer clues

to dementia

-- Researchers at Cornell Veterinary Biobank, the University of Washington and the University of Arizona, working with the Dog Aging Project, are seeking answers to canine cognitive dementia, a condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. The goal of the large-scale research study is to compare CCD and Alzheimer’s to see if they are triggered by the same genetic and environmental factors, writes Sherrie Negrea in an article published last month in Cornell Chronicle. Researchers will analyze biological samples from hundreds of dogs to identify biomarkers for CCD. The samples will be banked for future research. Learning the causes of CCD in dogs can help to advance what is known about Alzheimer’s in humans. You can find more about CCD here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/anxiety-often-accompanies-cognitive-dysfunction.

-- American Eskimo dogs, nicknamed the Dog Beautiful for their fluffy white coat, aren’t from the Great White North at all, but were developed from various spitz breeds by German immigrants to be farm dogs. They come in three sizes -- toy, miniature and standard -- and are known for being clever, active and mischievous. Don’t get one if lots of barking and shedding will bother you, but do get one if you would enjoy living with an adventurous, comical dog who responds well to positive-reinforcement training. Eskies do best in homes with older children and typically live 12 to 15 years.

-- Why, in a room full of people, will a cat invariably make a beeline for the one person in the room who doesn’t like or is allergic to cats? Cats find eye contact from strangers intimidating, so they seek out the people who aren’t looking at them. Among cats, that’s polite behavior. And what cat could imagine that the person isn’t looking because they don’t want the cat near them? It's just a little bit of cross-species miscommunication. -- 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 and your dog can contribute to scientific knowledge from the comfort of your sofa

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Whenever I’ve had a spare moment the past few days, I’ve been completing online questionnaires about my dog Harper. We signed up to be a part of the Dog Aging Project, a long-term study looking at how dogs age, how long they live, how their environment affects aging and much more.

Harper just turned 14 -- thanks to a couple of extraordinary medical interventions over the past four years -- and I’d love to see her have some more good years. The information collected by DAP researchers over the next few years could not only tell us much about ways we can improve healthspan -- the amount of time during their lives that dogs spend in generally good health -- but also increase what we know about aging and healthspan in humans.

Approximately 32,000 dogs hailing from every state are currently enrolled in the project, and the DAP is recruiting more. Co-director Daniel Promislow, Ph.D., hopes the number of participants will eventually grow to 100,000. Any dog of any size, breed, mix, sex or age can join what’s called “the Pack.”

“All they need to do is nominate their dog, create their personal portal and complete the long-form survey,” Promislow says. “We can do science with that.”

Categories covered by the long-form survey include behavior, environment, diet, medications, preventives, health history, owner background and more. Sections can be completed at any time in any order, and each one takes from 5 to 30 minutes. In total, the health and life experience survey, which has hundreds of questions, takes about two hours to complete.

About half of the Pack members have been able to have their veterinarians upload their dogs’ electronic medical records. Those provide deeper information than owners can typically provide about diagnosis and treatment, Promislow says. People who upload their dogs’ records are eligible to be assigned to one of the study’s “sampled cohorts”: groups of dogs that may be chosen for DNA sampling or other additional testing.

Pack members can also connect with each other at a private online site and join groups focused on their breed, where they live, different diseases their dogs have had or other interests. “Seeing the community that we’ve built with these tens of thousands of dog owners around the country has been really rewarding,” Promislow says.

The DAP team has almost 100 members, including scientists, students, postdoctoral fellows and research administrative staff. They are already working on papers based on the information collected during the first two years of the study.

“Many of those are about the basic kinds of things that happen as dogs age,” Promislow says. “I’m working with two students on a paper we’re about to submit on different measures of activity level -- owner-reported, intensity, duration, how many hours a day the dog is outside and so on -- and how those patterns are associated with dog size, dog age, owner age. Owner age is actually a really important factor influencing how active the dog is, or at least how active the owner reports the dog to be.”

In addition to studying canine aging, DAP researchers have received funding to study cancer and dementia in dogs. The grant for all of their work runs through the middle of 2023. That means they are already working on the grant renewal process, planning the next stage of five more years of research.

For those of us who love dogs, following this research is fascinating, but what’s in it for people who don’t have dogs?

For one thing, dogs can be sentinels for environmental risk factors for cancer and aging and humans.

“We’re going to learn a lot of things that will be relevant for humans,” Promislow says. “So what we learn about dogs in many cases will also be lessons for ourselves.”

Q&A

Easy way to

find cat?

Q: My cat bolts out the front door before we can stop her, then hides in the bushes. It’s really hard to find her. Is there something we can put on her to track her? What about a microchip?

A: Let’s answer the microchip question first. It’s not a tracker, but an identifier. If someone finds your pet and takes them to a shelter or a veterinary clinic, they can be scanned for a microchip. If they have one, and if you have listed the microchip with a registry, your contact information comes up, they’ll call you and bingo! You’re reunited with your cat or dog.

That’s why it’s so important to have your pet microchipped and to keep your contact information up to date with the registry. List more than one phone number so you can be reached quickly. Consider including the phone number of your pet’s veterinary clinic as well as your cell number.

Now, to track your runaway cat, there are smart collars that provide GPS location monitoring, safe place settings and escape alerts. They’re made for dogs 5 pounds and up, so depending on the size of your cat, it wouldn’t hurt to ask if a particular collar can be used on cats as well. We know one person who placed a Tile key fob tracker that connects to an app on the collar of her door-dashing cat. She poked a hole in a silicone rubber case and wove it onto the cat’s collar. “With the app, we can see roughly where the tag is, as well as making it ‘sings a song’ so we can find her by ear,” she says. “It has made our lives infinitely easier since this cat escapes about once a week and would do so more often if we weren’t vigilant.” -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Tips on safe

leash walking

-- Retractable leashes can seem like a good idea, but in the hands of an inattentive person or attached to an untrained dog, they can be an accident in the making. Dogs can run out in front of cars, pull people off their feet, cause handlers to fall and break bones, or injure themselves when they hit the end of the lead at full speed. It’s also difficult to teach dogs not to pull at a regular leash when they are used to the freedom of a retractable line. People who don’t have instant reflexes or who aren’t paying attention can only watch in dismay as their out-of-control dog chases after a cat, squirrel or other dog or walks in front of someone and trips them. For safer outings, work with a trainer to learn how to teach your dog to walk on a regular loose leash.

-- Adopting a cat? Consider a pair. Shelters often have difficulty placing a bonded pair of adult cats, but there are benefits to giving them a home together, like no stressful introductions and no kitten training. Plus, you'll be giving two deserving pets a second chance at a happy life together.

-- The Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eetz-kweent-lee -- or take the easy route and just say show-low) originated in Mexico, where he was regarded as a guide to the underworld. The name is a combination of the words “Xolotl” -- an Aztec god -- and “itzcuintli,” the Aztec word for dog. These days, they enjoy being family members and are fond of snuggling with their people when they’re not playing, going for walks, or doing dog sports. The hairless dogs (they’re sometimes called the Mexican hairless) are sensitive to temperature extremes, so in winter keep them warm with a coat or sweater. Some aren’t hairless but have a short, smooth coat. -- 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.