Preparing pets for the arrival of a new baby
We are expecting a bumper crop of babies among our relatives and neighbors in the next few months, and of course, they all have pets. With that in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to review some of the best ways to ready pets for the new kid in town and to introduce everyone safely.
Begin now to prepare your dog or cat for this momentous change in the family. While you will still love your pet as much as ever, it's a fact of life that you will have less time to spend one-on-one with him.
-- Prime your pet for the transition by making sure he has interactive toys that will keep him entertained when you are busy with the baby. Good choices include food puzzles, treat balls and other independent-play toys.
-- Your pet should be used to staying on his own. If you are in the habit of taking him with you everywhere, now is the time to cut back on that so he learns that "me time" isn't scary. Instead, give him several short playtimes or attention periods throughout the day and continue this habit after the baby arrives.
-- Take your pet to the veterinarian to make sure he is in good health and free of parasites.
-- Enlist the services of a trainer or behaviorist to help with any behavior problems -- such as jumping up on people, aggression or fear issues, or housetraining mistakes -- that you've been meaning to work on.
-- Scent is important to your pet. Accustom him now to the smell of baby products such as lotion and diaper cream. Apply them to your hands before handling your pet's toys and playing with him.
-- Introduce baby noises through the use of a CD such as "Preparing Fido." Play it at a low level, giving your pet his favorite treats, and then gradually increase the volume. The goal is for him to stay relaxed despite the unusual sounds.
-- Using a doll, practice doing "baby things" in the pet's presence, such as changing a diaper or going for a walk with a stroller. (The experience may help you feel more comfortable, too.)
-- Cat owners, you may be concerned about toxoplasmosis. You can take some simple precautions to protect yourself and your baby from this infection. Keep your cat indoors so she can't hunt and eat wild prey. Scoop the litter box once or twice a day. (If you are pregnant, minimize risk by assigning this task to your spouse or another family member. If that's not possible, wear disposable gloves while scooping the box, then discard the gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.) Toxoplasmosis can also be acquired from soil, so wear gloves while gardening. Finally, ask your doctor and your veterinarian about running titers on family members and your cat. You may already have immunity.
-- Once the baby is born, have your spouse or another family member take home a blanket, diaper or other item that carries the baby's scent. That person should let your pet sniff it and give him a treat and praise him as he does so. This will help him to associate the baby with good things.
-- When you come home, greet your pet first without the baby. Then with a favorite treat or toy to give, such as a stuffed Kong, let him meet Junior under your watchful eye. Always supervise interactions between pets and babies so you can teach them how to behave around each other. You'll be laying the foundation for a strong and happy relationship between your children and animals.
Q&A
Eye loss won't affect
kitten's mobility
Q: The kitten I adopted came with a bad eye infection. My veterinarian says it would be best to remove the eye, but I feel terrible doing that to him. Won't he have problems getting around?
A: When we humans contemplate losing our eyesight, we think of all the ways it could affect us: We'd have to find new ways of getting around, reading, and enjoying funny cat videos. But a cat's visual acuity is much less than that of humans to begin with, and cats rely much less on their eyesight than we do, surprising as that may seem.
Veterinarians and cat owners are often astounded by the abilities of blind cats, especially those who lose their eyesight early in life. Even if they lack both eyes, we've seen them chase toys down the hall, jump up on kitchen counters, catch bugs and perform acrobatic feats. They are fearless explorers.
Cats who lose their vision in one or both eyes quickly adapt, learning to rely on their senses of sound and smell, as well as the tactile cues provided by their whiskers. Cats are also very good at sensing touch and vibrations, as well as changes in air movement. And a kitten's brain is very "plastic," meaning that he can still forge new neural pathways that allow him to be just as able with uniocular vision or to make greater use of other senses to compensate for a complete loss of vision.
Adult cats may not have the same brain plasticity, but they can also adjust well. If they lose an eye to trauma or glaucoma, you may see that their balance is as good as ever, but they may take a little longer than a kitten might to adjust. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Bostons are smart,
sassy -- and dapper
-- Nicknamed the "American Gentleman," the Boston terrier looks as if he's wearing black-tie, dressed as he is in black, brindle or seal with a white chest and belly. First known as "round heads" or "bullet heads," the dapper dogs eventually took the name of their birthplace, the city of Boston, where they were created from a cross between a bulldog and the now-extinct white English terrier. Bostons are smart and sassy, and they like to be the center of attention. They have a short, smooth coat that's easy to groom, and most weigh 13 to 16 pounds, although they can range up to 25 pounds.
-- Could your cat have diabetes? Cats at risk for diabetes tend to be older and overweight. The typical cat diagnosed with diabetes is a middle-aged, obese, neutered male. Signs of the disease are increased thirst, increased appetite, and weight loss despite the cat eating more food. Cats with diabetes eat ravenously because their bodies need fuel, but they lose weight because the body can't use the food. In later stages of the disease, cats may appear listless, have little appetite and walk unsteadily. Take your cat to the veterinarian right away if you suspect he has diabetes. The earlier treatment begins, the more successful it is. Often, the disease can be managed with diet, although some cats may need regular insulin injections.
-- Tennis balls are not chew toys. Put them away after every game of fetch. Dogs have been known to compress tennis balls in their mouths and then die when the ball springs back to full size in the throat, cutting off the dog's air supply. Besides, the materials in a tennis ball aren't meant for dogs to chew or swallow.
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant 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.