7 things your veterinarian wants you to know before your pet has surgery

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

If your pet is having surgery, whether it’s a spay/neuter procedure or an orthopedic repair, you may be wondering whether that blood work is necessary, why your pet can’t eat or drink beforehand, and how soon he’ll recover from the experience. The following information can help ensure that your pet has a good experience and rapid recovery.

Pre-test protocol. The lab work your veterinarian recommends before surgery is to make sure your pet doesn’t have any liver or kidney problems that could interfere with the ability to metabolize the anesthetic and to ensure that your pet isn’t anemic, which could be an issue in case of blood loss.

Comfort begins at home. Your veterinarian may prescribe gabapentin or trazodone for you to give at home before bringing your pet in. High levels of stress spark chemical changes in the body that can weaken the immune system. Stress can also exacerbate the sensation of pain.

“If we have those drugs onboard before there are any pain impulses, they're much more effective,” says Tamara Grubb, DVM, assistant clinical professor of anesthesia and analgesia at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Medicating pets beforehand can help ensure that they arrive at the clinic calm.

Other pre-surgical stress busters include playing soothing music specially composed for dogs and cats and spraying feline and canine pheromones, artificial chemical messengers that create a sense of security.

Cats are special. New anesthesia guidelines by the American Association of Feline Practitioners recognize that cats have special needs when it comes to sedation and anesthesia. The guidelines address ways to prevent common cat complications related to anesthesia. Your veterinarian can provide you with a handout that explains the anesthesia process.

Nail nausea. Nausea and vomiting from carsickness before surgery or as a result of anesthesia can affect how well a pet does during and after anesthesia. Veterinary analgesia and anesthesia specialist Jordyn Marie Boesch at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine encourages veterinarians to give maropitant, an anti-nausea medication, to cats and dogs orally the night before anesthesia or to send it home with owners to give it with the pet’s dinner the night before surgery.

“A single dose will prevent vomiting for 24 hours,” she says. “We have found this to be extremely effective at preventing vomiting due to pre-medication for general anesthesia.”

Tell your veterinarian about supplements and medications your pet takes. Some herbal supplements can increase bleeding during surgery or interfere with the drugs being used, says veterinarian Sheilah Robertson, a specialist in anesthesia and pain management. Don’t leave anything out, even if it’s something as innocuous as fish oil pills or a baby aspirin. Even low doses of aspirin can increase the risk of excessive bleeding during surgery.

Your pet accidentally got breakfast the day of surgery. Now what? Be honest. “It’s not a problem as long as we know,” Dr. Robertson says. And it’s OK to give oral medications pre-operatively. Your veterinarian isn’t referring to those when she says nothing by mouth beforehand.

Post-surgical care. Icing the incision (ask your vet how to do it and how often); providing deep, soft bedding if your pet has a fracture or bruising; and feeding canned food after tooth extractions are some simple things you can do at home to help your pet recover more quickly and less painfully. Give pain medication as directed, and call your veterinarian if your pet appears to be in pain.

“Owners know the patient best, and if an owner tells me they believe their pet’s pain is not well controlled, I take that very seriously,” Dr. Boesch says.

Q&A

Field guide

to cat fur

Q: I love my cat’s fur. What can you tell me about caring for it?

A: Whether you have a domestic shorthair; a cat with a long, flowing coat; or a hairless, wirehaired or curly-coated cat, you know how wonderful it feels to run your hands over that glorious fur. Whatever their type, cat coats are soft and beautiful, but they also serve as an environmental buffer, protecting the skin beneath it from heat, cold and invading aliens -- er, bacteria. Even more fascinating, the coat is an integral part of a cat’s sense of touch, alerting her to potential dangers such as sharp objects.

A cat’s coat is made up of three types of hairs: intermediate-length awn hairs that make up most of the coat; the downy undercoat; and coarse, thick, straight guard hairs of the outer coat, which insulate and protect. Cats shed as old hairs fall out and new ones come in. If your cat stays indoors all the time, she’ll shed consistently year-round, but cats exposed to natural light shed on a more seasonal basis, with coats that are thicker in winter, thinner in summer.

Although cats do a great job of grooming themselves with their spiked tongues that moisten fur and remove dead hair, brushing and combing on a regular basis helps them out and reduces the incidence of hairballs because cats don’t swallow as much fur as they lick themselves clean. Shorthaired cats usually do well with a weekly brushing, but longhaired cats -- depending on their coat type -- may need brushing two or three times a week or even daily.

Caring for a cat’s coat is more than just brushing or combing to remove dirt and distribute skin oils to make it shine. Feeding a high-quality food with plenty of meat protein is also a must for thick, gleaming fur. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet DNA tests for

fun, not diagnostics

-- Pet DNA tests are for fun, not for making serious decisions about your dog’s health (the majority of pet DNA tests are for dogs). While much is known about the relationship between gene mutations and disease in the human genome, less is known about the canine genome. Just because a DNA test says your dog may be at risk for a certain type of cancer, degenerative disease or other illness doesn’t mean it will happen. The science isn’t that good yet, and mistakes could cause owners to seek invasive treatments that aren’t necessary or even to euthanize dogs who might never become ill in the first place. Pet DNA tests have a lot of potential, but they’re not ready for diagnostic prime time.

-- Hedgehogs are the most popular pocket pets in Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota and Oregon, while ferrets rule in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. A survey by Trusted Housesitters tracked social media mentions of pets in each state to rank their popularity. In Maryland, hamsters are more popular than bulldogs and Labrador retrievers. Lizards outnumber beagles and terriers in Nevada.

-- Meet the toyger. This domestic cat has a uniquely striped coat resembling that of a tiger. Breeder Judy Sugden created the toyger to help inspire conservation of tigers in the wild. The cats have no wild blood, but were developed from approximately 40 domestic cats from various countries. Toygers have circular facial markings, a body with dark markings on a bright orange background and a scatter of gold “glitter,” and a white belly. The International Cat Association recognized the breed in 2007. The medium-size cats weigh 7 to 15 pounds and are friendly, smart and affectionate. Many love to play fetch and walk on a leash. -- 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 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.

Animal lovers support creation of new monument to honor working, service and therapy animals

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sculptor Susan Bahary and a coterie of devoted animal lovers are leading the push for a new national monument to animals who serve. Their vision -- a National Service Animals Memorial honoring dogs, horses, mules, homing pigeons, dolphins, sea lions and camels, among others -- would be located in Washington, D.C. or its environs.

Conceived as a sculpture garden, it will honor the contributions service animals and their handlers have made throughout the nation’s history. It will include not only military and law enforcement animals, but also search-and-rescue animals and the many animals who provide assistance to veterans and people with disabilities, to name just a few.

The National Service Animals Memorial Act is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Already passed in the House of Representatives, it must now be passed in the Senate and signed into law by President Biden. It will establish Feb. 24 as National Service Animals Day and provide the impetus for creation of the monument, for which Bahary is the designated sculptor.

“The deeds and sacrifices of our service animals and their handlers have not yet been recognized with a national memorial in our nation’s capital, and they are so deserving,” Bahary says. “Millions of animals have served and sacrificed for us, preserving our freedoms and providing for our safety, security and independence. The memorial will be a beautiful testament to their contributions and will educate, honor, inspire and heal.”

Bahary, who is known for her ability to combine accurate form with lifelike expression, is acclaimed for her works honoring the human-animal bond and service animals. She created the first official war dog memorial in the United States, "Always Faithful," dedicated at the United States Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery on Guam in 1994.

Her works have included a life-size bronze of President George H.W. Bush’s service dog Sully for his presidential library and museum, and the monument "The Pledge," featuring a female soldier and her military service dog. Other commissioned works are located in museums, universities and military bases, as well as abroad.

Creating such a national memorial isn’t simple. Use of federal funds to establish the memorial is prohibited, according to the Congressional Budget Office, so grassroots efforts are necessary for fundraising, education and gathering political support.

Under the provisions of the Commemorative Works Act, any entity that receives a construction permit for a commemorative work must donate an amount equal to 10% of the memorial’s estimated construction costs to the nonprofit National Park Service Foundation. That donation and any project funds remaining after construction can be used to maintain the memorial.

The National Service Animals Monument organization (nationalserviceanimalsmonument.org), headed by Theresa M. Brandon, is raising funds to support the cost of the monument’s creation. It has also created an educational website to inform teachers, parents, students and interested people about the historical significance and contributions of service animals, from aiding people with special needs to serving in the armed forces. (Full disclosure: I am a volunteer member of the educational website committee.)

“Service animals do so much for people who need help with their daily lives, and the world is becoming more and more aware and appreciative of that,” says NBC Sports dog show consultant and television talent David Frei, who is also founder and former president of therapy dog organization Angel on a Leash. “These beautiful monuments and memorials that we are seeing in more places remind us of their extraordinary work, and I am thrilled to see the support of the people and the local governments helping to make it happen.”

Bahary recently received The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s 2022 Dogs’ Best Friend Award, which comes with a $5,000 donation. She accepted it on Nov. 19 at the National Dog Show and is directing it to support the mission of NSAM.

Q&A

OK to adopt pets

during holidays?

Q: I always heard it wasn’t a good idea to adopt pets during the holidays, but more and more, I see shelters offering holiday pet adoptions. Have times changed?

A: They have, and for the better. It’s true that we used to say it was a bad idea to give a pet as a gift and that the holidays were the worst time to bring a pet into the home, but the key to success is being thoughtful about the process.

Holidays are definitely a busy time, with lots of activities, travel and guests, but you may also have a more flexible schedule, with time off work and kids home from school. That can make it easier to help a new pet adjust to family life.

There’s the concern that a new puppy or kitten -- or even older pets -- will be destructive, chewing or clawing holiday decorations, but pets get into things year-round, not just during the holidays. With thoughtful pet-proofing and supervision, you can ensure that the environment is safe for them and that your decor is safe from them. You’d have to do that whenever you got a pet.

I’ve often heard the objection that kids will quickly lose interest in a pet because they’re distracted by other gifts and activities. As a parent and grandparent, I can safely say that kids are expert multitaskers: If they have really been wanting a pet, they’ll make time to play with and care for them.

Holiday pet adoption campaigns, sponsored by local and national shelters and humane societies, pet supply stores, and pet health insurance and pet food companies, are now the norm. Shelters work with potential adopters to help ensure the transition goes smoothly. The careful and well-planned gift of an appropriate pet can make the holidays merry and bright. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Amount of daylight

affects sleep cycle

-- Does daylight saving time affect your pet? Veterinarian Michelle Richardson, in an interview with KRTV in Great Falls, Montana, says you may notice animals becoming less active as days become shorter and darker. That’s because the pineal gland, a small endocrine gland located in the brain that produces the hormone melatonin, has the job of regulating sleep patterns. The pineal is affected by the amount of light and dark that animals (and people) are exposed to. Darkness stimulates melatonin production while light inhibits it. Fun fact: The word pineal refers to the gland’s pineconelike shape.

-- North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has the only endowed chair in pet gerontology -- the study of aging -- with an associated research program. Neurology professor Natasha Olby, a veterinary internal medicine specialist, holds the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair of Gerontology and says the program’s research into neuroaging and canine neurodegenerative diseases not only helps pets, but also provides a good model for understanding the effects of aging in humans. Olby and her team work exclusively with aging dogs who live with people in their homes. Those pets experience the same social and environmental factors that affect aging humans: air quality, including secondhand smoke; food; level of exercise; environmental chemicals; and family social structures. “One of the big challenges to modern society is to maintain health span as well as lifespan,” Olby says. “Now, with improved health care for pets, dogs are surviving for longer, and we come across the exact same challenge (as we do with people). I think it’s critically important that we don’t say, ‘They’re just getting old,’ but we pay due attention to the process, understand which things we can alter within the process and advance our understanding of aging, in general.” -- 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.

What does that phrase mean? Find the right pet for your family

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We often hear the phrase that a certain dog breed is "good with kids." Collies, Labs and golden retrievers are among the breeds that share that reputation. But dogs who are patient, gentle and nonreactive; who are relaxed in the presence of children; and who have forbearance for shrill voices and fast movements have a combination of inborn traits and learned skills -- none of which necessarily come with being a member of a particular breed.

It's a myth that certain dogs are naturally good with kids. Early and frequent socialization to kids and manners training are musts for any dog, no matter the breed or mix. No dog of any breed is guaranteed to always be good with kids, and no dog should have to bear the burden of that phrase.

Why is that, and why do I call it a burden? Let's talk about what it means, doesn't mean, and could mean.

Too often, dogs described as "good with kids" are those who will let kids get in their faces, sit on them, pull their tails or ears, or otherwise abuse them without complaint. They don't growl or bark or snap when kids do those things to them. But that doesn't make them good with kids; it makes them abused. No dog should have to put up with that kind of behavior. It's a parent's job to teach kids proper dog manners and to supervise their interactions with dogs so that nobody gets hurt.

So "good with kids" doesn't -- and shouldn't -- mean "will put up with all kinds of abuse without biting."

Many dogs are kind and gentle with kids, but have a low tolerance for pain. If a child accidentally stepped on them, they might react with a yelp or nip without meaning to hurt the child. Lots of dogs love kids, but could easily knock small ones over in enthusiastic play. A thwack from a Great Dane's tail can send a toddler tumbling. A friendly cavalier may shy away from a kid rushing at them. So might a dog who wasn't raised with kids or doesn't meet them very often. Old dogs can be cranky from aches and pains. That doesn't make any of these dogs bad with kids, but it does mean that it's important to understand a dog's sensitivities, concerns and pain threshold, and that both dogs and kids need supervision when together.

Being good with kids is also something that a dog may have to grow into. Adolescent Labs, for instance, don't necessarily realize how big and powerful they are, says Lab lover Linda Rehkopf of Georgia. And looks can be deceiving.

"Kids and some adults too often think 'cute' is the same thing as 'gentle,' and that is false," Rehkopf says. But with maturity and good training and supervision, older Labs can be great with kids, she adds.

Training and socialization for dogs and kids should include showing young children how to pet dogs gently; teaching kids to let dogs approach them instead of sticking out a hand for them to sniff; accustoming dogs to sometimes-rough patting (not hitting!); and teaching dogs not to chase kids or nip at their heels, to name just a few. For more tips, see Mikkel Becker's advice on building a kid-dog relationship here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/kids-and-pets-how-to-develop-that-best-friend-relationship.

The bottom line is that no breed or mix can be trusted with children unsupervised, in any situation, all the time, simply because kids and dogs can be a volatile combination. It's impossible to know what one or the other might do in any given scenario. Dogs can't serve as babysitters or nannies -- Nana of "Peter Pan" fame notwithstanding -- and they shouldn't be expected to.

Q&A

Fun ways to

exercise cats

Q: How can I get my indoor cat to exercise?

A: Great question, and so important. Kittens are so active that we don't spend much time worrying about exercise for them, but adult cats like to play, too, especially if we make it part of their daily routine from kittenhood on.

Get your cat moving with a collection of cat toys: wand toys (kitty fishing poles), large peacock feathers that dangle enticingly, balls to chase and bat around, electronic mice that zoom around the room, and even the beam of a flashlight sent up the wall and down the hall. Toss catnip mice for cats to retrieve or stuffed animals that they can bunny-kick.

You're not always home, but you can provide plenty of play options that don't require your presence. Cat trees and tunnels are great for kitty cavorting and exploring -- as well as the occasional nap or hiding place. Place a cat tree in front of a window so your cat can climb up for a view. If a cat tree won't fit, attach a kitty ledge to the windowsill so your cat can watch the world go by.

Offer opportunities to "hunt." Take the amount of food you'd put into your cat's dish and portion it out onto little plates or bowls and put them around the house so he'll have to go looking for them. Or buy a puzzle toy or two that you can fill with food, and then let your cat work to get it out.

If possible, provide a safe outdoor space: a catio. You can build one next to the house that your cat can access from a window, or convert a screened sunroom to a feline jungle gym filled with climbing areas and safe plants. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Don't overlook

senior adoptees

-- November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and Best Friends Animal Society shares some of the many reasons to adopt dogs and cats with some gray hairs. Active seniors still love to go for walks, and couch potato seniors will be happy to snuggle with those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle. Most senior pets in shelters were once in a home, so they have great manners and can adapt quickly to a new routine. They may already be familiar with kids, be housetrained or have other skills. Mature pets are past the destructive phase, and are more interested in lying in the sun or playing gently with toys than gnawing or clawing furnishings. If you're not sure you're ready to commit, ask about fostering. That can help you decide if a certain pet is right for you -- and vice versa. Bonus: Through the end of the year, Embrace Pet Insurance is covering the adoption fees of cats and dogs adopted through Best Friends Lifesaving Centers and programs throughout the country, as well as all animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

-- Did you hear? A paper published last month in the journal Nature Communications found that certain reptiles and amphibians thought to be nonvocal did, in fact, make sounds. The 53 species in the report included representatives from four major biological groups: turtles; lungfish; tuatara, which are lizardlike reptiles from small islands off New Zealand; and caecilian, which are wormlike burrowing amphibians. (Read the full paper at nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33741-8.)

-- Medieval forerunners to veterinarians employed not only potions and poultices but also charms and rituals, according to an article in Smithsonian Magazine (smithsonianmag.com/history/the-veterinary-magic-of-the-middle-ages-180981040). Animals were an important part of medieval life, and scholars are studying the ways people worked to heal them. It seems their efforts included elements of science, magic and religion. -- 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.