Pale gums, especially when combined with abnormal behavior or lack of appetite, indicate an emergency situation

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

I had taken my dog Harper to the veterinarian for some routine blood work. The veterinarian came out to the car, looking worried. “Her gums are really pale,” he said. “Usually when I see gums that look like that, the dog is near death.”

That seemed odd. Harper was acting normally and eating well. But he urged me to take her to the emergency hospital. They were booked, though, and I suggested we continue with her lab work there and see if we could rule out anything serious.

His concern was understandable. Pale gums can signal “seriously bad stuff,” says Tony Johnson, DVM, an emergency and critical care specialist who practices in Chicago. That includes anemia, poor blood circulation, blood loss and shock.

“A dog that just got hit by a car and is bleeding out of a lacerated spleen into his abdomen will have pale gums. A dog that got stung by a bee and is having an anaphylactic reaction will have pale gums. The dog in congestive heart failure will have pale gums,” said Dr. Johnson.

It’s a good idea to check your dog or cat’s gums on a regular basis so you know what’s normal and when your pet needs to see the vet ASAP.

Start with good lighting. In a dimly lit room at home, gums might look pale, but in a well-lit exam room, they may look fine.

Behavior is a clue. “A dog or cat won’t be happy or eating and then have pale gums,” Dr. Johnson says. “They’ll usually be lethargic or not getting up.”

Know where to look. Flip up the lip and check the area just above the canine tooth, the big one in the front of the mouth.

Know what’s normal for your pet. Some animals have pigmented gums that aren’t normally pink. Early in our marriage, my husband and I took our first cat to the veterinarian because she had black spots on her gums. We were sure it was something dire. It was normal pigmentation. And Harper’s cardiologist said some spaniels she sees have gums that are lighter than normal. In general, though, gums should be a healthy, vibrant pink.

When your pet has pale gums, the veterinarian will start with a health history and what’s called “signalment”: age, breed and gender.

“A 10-year-old Doberman pinscher with pale gums, I’m going to weigh more heavily toward heart disease because they’re prone to it,” Dr. Johnson says. “A 10-year-old German shepherd with pale gums and sudden collapse -- they’re prone to masses on their spleen that break open and bleed.”

The veterinarian may also check blood pressure. Low blood pressure can signal shock. A packed cell volume test, or hematocrit, can indicate anemia if the red blood cell count is very low.

If you don’t know of any trauma your pet may have experienced or any poison they may have ingested, your veterinarian can perform tests that can help to determine whether they’re experiencing internal bleeding. One is what’s called a FAST ultrasound exam. That’s an acronym for Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma. It involves placing the ultrasound probe on the abdomen in four specific areas to look for evidence of fluid.

“It’s a very sensitive indicator of internal bleeding, even more sensitive than an X-ray,” Dr. Johnson says. “You can take an X-ray and not see fluid, but the ultrasound is much more likely to pick up fluid that’s in the abdomen.”

Pale gums are considered an emergency, but if your pet is bouncing around, happy and eating, the first thing to do is to check your technique, Johnson says. Have somebody else look at them, or get a flashlight for better illumination.

“If it’s a patient who’s not feeling well and their gums look pale, that deserves a run to the ER,” Dr. Johnson says.

Harper, as it turns out, was fine, but given her age and history of heart disease and cancer, I’m glad we checked.

Q&A

Double the cats,

double the fun

Q: Is it better for cats to live as singles, or with a friend?

A: Cats don’t always have a reputation as social creatures, but more often than not, we think they enjoy having a friend. You’re not always home, and it’s nice for them to have a catnip buddy, a grooming partner, a playmate, someone to catnap with in a sunny spot. Whether you’re deciding to get one or a pair of kittens or considering adding a second adult cat, we think two is the magic number.

Feline friendships usually work best if the cats are of the opposite sex. Another pairing that works well is an adult cat and a younger cat. A kitten or adolescent can help to enliven an adult cat who might have forgotten some of the joy of play. If your adult cat is a senior, though, another quiet adult cat can be a better choice; a kitten might be too rambunctious and annoying. You can also ask if the shelter has a bonded adult pair that would like a home together.

If you’re considering a kitten, go ahead and get two from the same litter; they’ll be best friends for life. You can learn more here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/better-together-a-kitten-combo-is-fun-and-smart.

Any time you bring a new cat into a household with a cat who already lives there, expect a period of adjustment that can last weeks, months or even a year. But it can be worth the effort. Veterinary studies show that when cats have company, both cats are healthier. Animals with buddies are sick less often, require shorter stays when they are hospitalized and live longer.

Two cats are twice the pleasure, but not twice the effort to care for. Just make sure they each have their own gear; cats take sharing only so far. -- 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

What’s in a word?

3 pet-related origins

-- Most cats have five toes on their front paws, but only four of them hit the ground. The fifth toe is called a dewclaw, and it is found on the inside of the front paw. The dewclaw is the equivalent of our thumb and is used for grasping prey and climbing trees. A normal feline back paw has four toes that are all called into service when walking. Any number of toes over the norm (usually an extra one or two, but occasionally as many as three or four) makes a cat polydactyl, meaning "many fingers." Polydactylism is a dominant genetic trait, so just one polydactyl parent is enough to make a litter of polydactyl kittens. These cats are also called "Hemingway cats," after the ones kept by Ernest Hemingway.

-- One of the best beloved exports of the Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa, are the little yellow finches we now call canaries, prized for their singing voices. They were introduced into Europe in the 15th century and became popular when it was discovered that they would sing prettily when exposed to other singing birds or to instrumental music. In the late 19th century, the word canary was used to refer to female singers; later it came to mean an informer who “sings” to the law. Although the birds can be other colors, the word canary has also come to refer to a bright, clear yellow color.

-- A pup, or puppy, is a young dog. We often refer to “puppy love,” applying it to adolescent infatuation. Puppy love is described as sweet, intense and foolish in ways that emotionally developed adult dogs are expected to have outgrown. But we think you’re never too old to give or receive that kind of love -- especially with your dog. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Do you know these 5 dogs from the Netherlands?

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

I love seeing different types of dogs on my travels. The Netherlands, which I visited last month, is home to several interesting dog breeds, some of which are starting to be seen in North America; others are well-established. Here’s an introduction if you happen to see one in your neighborhood.

In Dutch, the word “stabijhoun” means “stand-by-me dog,” and they are indeed dogs who love to be close to their people, says Ari Goerlich, DVM, who lives with her own stabyhoun, as the breed name is spelled in the United States. “They are very cuddly. I love their combination of sensitivity, willfulness and intelligence.”

The mid-size staby stands out for a solid black head, black and white body, and white-tipped tail.

The kooikerhondje -- kooiker for short, pronounced “koy-ker” -- has a pretty silken white and red coat accented by black “earring” tassels, a plumy white tail, and a lively and affectionate character. Sensitive and intelligent, the spaniel-type dogs, originally bred to lure ducks, guard homes and kill vermin, are highly trainable and devoted to their families. They’re not for newbies to dogs, though.

“The kooiker can be a little fierce when alerting to strangers and impulsive when their prey drive is engaged,” says Betty Dalke Wathne, who has had kooikers for nine years and currently lives with two of them.

For best results with this affectionate and athletic dog, a family should have some dog experience and be willing to put time into consistent and positive training, providing them with regular mental and physical challenges.

Dogs resembling the markiesje (pronounced "mar-kees-juh”) are often seen in Dutch paintings dating as far back as the 17th century, but the dogs were not actually developed and recognized as a distinct breed until the 20th century. Romantically nicknamed the Dutch tulip hound, or sometimes the black pearl, the markiesje is a small, elegant type of spaniel with a silky, medium-length coat in solid black or black with white markings, and feathering on the ears, tail and backs of the legs. Cheerful and curious, they enjoy spending time with their people.

Whether in police and military settings, on farms or in the dog sports scene, the Dutch shepherd is an up-and-coming star. In looks, the breed is distinguished from German shepherds and Belgian shepherds by a brindle coat, as well as other physical characteristics. Originally, the versatile dogs not only herded sheep, but also worked as guide dogs, police dogs and in search and rescue, all areas where they still excel today.

Dutchies are busy, busy, busy and need a person who can keep up with their intelligence and high activity level. Owner Robin Greubel says, “They need a job, or they will invent one you don’t like. They also require a level of situational awareness that most people are not prepared to live with on a daily basis.”

Also known as the Dutch barge dog, Keeshonden (plural) acted as watchdogs on barges carrying goods on canals. As befits their watchdog status, Keeshonden are barkers, important to know before acquiring one. The smiling Dutchman is another nickname for this fluffy spitz breed. The compact dogs have a double coat in a mix of gray, black and cream, with small, dark, pointed ears; cream-colored legs and feet; a lionlike ruff; a plumed tail that curls over the back and has a jaunty black tip; and distinctive “spectacles,” markings and shadings around the eyes that make them look as if they’re wearing eyeglasses, imparting a “smart dog” expression. A thickly coated rump and hind legs give the impression that the Keeshond is wearing trousers.

Q&A

Heads up

about hairballs

Q: My cat is constantly throwing up hairballs, and I’m tired of stepping on them. Is there a solution?

A: Hairballs -- aka trichobezoars -- are icky, sticky, cigar-shaped clumps of fur that result from feline grooming habits.

Cats clean themselves by licking their fur with their raspy tongue. The tongue grabs hold of loose hair, and there’s only one way it can go after that -- down the hatch and into the stomach. But hair is indigestible, and eventually it forms into a clump, your cat has a hack attack -- usually in the middle of the night when you’re trying to sleep -- and then you step on it because it blends into the carpet.

But hairballs don’t have to be a normal part of living with a cat. Diet and grooming can both help to prevent them. Plain canned pumpkin -- not pumpkin pie filling -- is high in fiber and helps swallowed hair make its way through the digestive system rather than coming back up and plopping onto your carpet. Regularly offer your cat a teaspoon of pumpkin mixed with canned food or with a tasty liquid such as some water from a can of tuna or clams.

Some cat foods are formulated with high levels of fiber to help reduce the incidence of hairballs. You can also offer hairball-control treats or gels. Gels, which work by lubricating the hair in the digestive tract so it doesn’t form clumps, should not be given if you’re already feeding a hairball-control food.

Daily brushing is the best, easiest, most natural way to prevent hairballs. Brushing removes loose, dead hairs, reducing the amount of hair available for your cat to swallow during grooming.

Sometimes hairballs, or what look like hairballs, are bad news. They can signal conditions ranging from asthma to heartworm disease. Learn more here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/hairballs. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Budget bill helps

vets, pet owners

-- Veterinarians and pet owners benefit from the recent spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden. It increases funding for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which helps veterinarians repay education loans in return for practicing in areas with a lack of veterinarians. The Veterinary Services Grant Program received an additional $500,000 to provide grants for developing, implementing and sustaining veterinary services in rural areas. And $1 million for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will strengthen oversight of imported dogs. It also includes funds for veterinary diagnostic programs at the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, opening this year in Manhattan, Kansas.

-- Have you washed your pet’s food and water dishes today? A recent study by North Carolina State University found that fewer than 5% of survey respondents followed FDA pet food handling and storage guidelines, which include washing hands before and after feeding and washing bowls and utensils with hot water and soap after each use. Lack of hygiene puts animals and humans -- especially children or people who are immunocompromised -- at risk of illness after exposure to pet food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. The FDA has more information on buying, handling and storing pet food here: fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/tips-safe-handling-pet-food-and-treats.

-- Dust baths, hay and a secure multilevel habitat are all musts for chinchilla happiness. Chins are entertaining small companions, but have special needs. Special chinchilla dust, available from pet supply stores, keeps their coats from getting greasy or matted and helps to prevent respiratory and eye irritation. Besides commercial food pellets, they need good-quality hay, leafy greens and occasional small amounts of dried apple or sunflower seeds as treats. Finally, a good chinchilla habitat has multiple levels with hiding places, a plastic bottom to protect paws, and shredded paper, wood pulp or pine shavings for bedding. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Domestic cats and wild cats share a number of behaviors. It’s easy to see the lion in the lap cat -- and vice versa

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Three lionesses lay napping on the sprawling branches of an acacia tree in the Serengeti, resembling nothing so much as a trio of extremely large house cats sharing different levels of a kitty condo. We don’t normally think of lions as tree climbers, but it’s a habit for some in certain areas of Uganda as well as in Tanzania, where my husband and I recently went on safari.

With the exception of size, the little lions lounging on your bed at home aren’t that different from their wild cousins. They all have certain common characteristics, being carnivorous, nocturnal and generally solitary (lions are the most social of the cats), with highly developed senses of sight and hearing. Behaviorally, cats big and small are alike in nearly every way, a scientific truth brought to life in our daily observations.

Cats love a high vantage point. Big cats don’t need it for protection from predators -- they are at the top of the food chain, after all -- but they have their reasons. Scientists believe they climb trees to escape biting insects; to reach cooling breezes; perhaps to look for prey in the distance; and, in the case of a multitude of lionesses we saw in treetops at Tarangire National Park, to escape the attentions of their cubs, who are as yet unable to scale the heights. Harassed mothers are the same everywhere.

Cats in general have little problem climbing trees, but lions, like house cats, aren’t fans of coming back down. We watched with amusement as one lioness gingerly made her way down with as much trepidation as any other cat stuck in a tree. Cats are built for going up, thanks to claws that help to anchor them in much the same way as mountain climbing crampons. But those same claws are a liability going down, making it difficult for nonarboreal species to descend smoothly.

And lions have other anatomical features that hinder their ability to make an easy descent. Their spines are not as flexible as those of our domestic felines -- perhaps the most flexible of all mammals, who can arch their back into a U shape. A lion’s large size, stiff spine and powerful forequarters are great for wrestling buffalo and wildebeest, but they’re not so great for propelling the lion’s body up high or for allowing control as they come down.

Leopards are tree loungers, too. Unlike the social lions, they are more typical felines: solitary and territorial. They’re one of the most difficult big cats to spot because they blend in so well with the foliage of the trees, which serve not only as napping spots but also as pantries where they can stash kills until they’re ready to nosh on them.

Leopards also have the benefit of being better than lions at going up and down trees. They’re not as heavy and, like house cats, the anatomy of their shoulder blades allows them to maneuver more easily -- and they have that same mobile spine. They are also better able than other cats to make use of their dewclaws going down.

Climbing isn’t the only behavior shared by cats. Big cats use the same territorial marking techniques as domestic cats, from cheek rubbing to urine marking. A gathering of lionesses engaged in face rubbing behavior while we watched, an affectionate greeting gesture by cats of all sizes that serves to reinforce social bonds. 

A young male cheetah following the trail of another male paused several times to urine mark on one tree, deposit scat at another and stamp the ground with his hind paws, which contain scent glands. It’s not unusual for young males, especially related ones, to hang out together, and scent is how they stay in touch, according to a study published in December 2016 on PLOS One. In this case, the other cheetah had just made a kill, so perhaps his brother was hoping for a dinner invitation.

Q&A

Choosing a

bird cage

Q: What size cage should I get for my bird? What else should I consider when buying one?

A: Rule of claw: The bigger, the better. Get the largest cage you can afford and have room for. Here’s what else to know.

When you’re shopping in pet stores, you’ll see cages labeled for certain types of birds: finches, budgies, cockatiels or small parrots, for instance. Those cages provide the minimum amount of space those birds need. But our feathered friends need and desire room to spread their wings. Choose a cage that is at least one size larger than the one recommended for your type of bird. If you have the space and the budget for one larger than that, get it. Your bird will thank you. Remember: No cage is too large, but plenty are too small -- even for little birds.

A good bird cage isn’t just tall, it’s wide. Different birds move in different ways. Finches and canaries, for example, prefer to fly horizontally, not vertically. Parrot species like to fly horizontally as well, but they also like to climb up and down the sides of their cage.

Which brings us to cage bars. Horizontal bars are nice for parrot species because they allow birds to climb. But if you’ve bought a larger cage, you need to make sure the bars aren’t so wide that your bird could stick his head through them and suffer a serious or fatal injury.

Choose a cage from a manufacturer that offers different bar-spacing options so you can purchase just the right one for your individual bird. Here are some guidelines from "Birds For Dummies": Basic bar spacing for cockatiels is about 3/4 inch; finches require smaller bar spacing; and Amazons and macaws need larger bar spacing. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Employers offer

pet perks

-- Pet perks are among the amenities employers are offering to lure employees back to the office, CBS News reports. They include monthly pet stipends that can be applied to dog walking, pet sitting or doggie day care. On employment site Adzuna, 1,300 job listings claim to have dog-friendly offices. Companies advertising include Google, Purina and digital media company Refinery29. Other pet-friendly bennies include “pawternity leave” (paid time off for people who have adopted or purchased a pet so they can have time for bonding and training) and four-day workweeks so people can spend more time at home with pets.

-- If your dog watches TV, University of Wisconsin researchers want to hear about it. Their goals are to better understand dog vision as well as to gain more knowledge about what dogs like to watch. Participants will be asked about their dog’s age, sex, breed, the types of screens the dog sees, how the dog interacts with them and what content they find interesting. People completing the survey will also be asked to take one to two minutes to show their dog four short videos of potentially interesting subjects and rate the dog’s level of interest in each video. Participation takes 10 to 20 minutes and should be done on a computer, laptop or tablet so the dog can watch the videos. Here’s where to get started: uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8JjRm6LVStPovQO.

-- Did you receive a gift of lovely lilies for Easter? Cats in the home are at high risk from them. Nibbling on as little as two to three leaves or petals, inhaling the pollen or lapping at water in the vase can cause severe, acute kidney failure. The most toxic members of the lily family are Easter, Asiatic, stargazer, day, tiger and Christmas lilies, but any lily can cause problems. What about dogs? Generally they only develop mild stomach upset from ingesting lilies, but it’s always better to keep them out of reach. Give the bouquet or plant to a neighbor who doesn’t have pets. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.