We know our pets love us, but do they know we love them? We think the answer is yes

Andrews McMeel Syndication

A while back, Dr. Becker asked followers on his Facebook page what they would say if they had 30 seconds to tell their pets anything -- with a guarantee that they’d understand it. Here are some of our favorites among the many heartwarming and humorous responses. The sentiments are universal.

-- “I’d tell them how much I love them and how they have filled my heart with so much love; that they give me a reason to live and be happy; how grateful I am to have them in my life; and that they have me wrapped around their paws!” (We’re guessing that they already know the latter.)

-- “I'd tell her how much I love and care about her and how she needs to come whenever I call because someday her life may depend on that.”

-- “I love you guys, but stop doing random stuff that is bad. I’ll be back from the store. You don’t have to be brats while I’m gone. Also, stop getting the neighbor dogs wound up. You’re never getting through the wooden fence.”

-- “I would tell Honey that I am so glad I went to the Humane Society and found her. She’s a lot of company and has me trained. I love her.”

-- “How much I love them. But I believe they already know that. Maybe to let me have a little more of the bed at night.”

-- “I don't have to ask my pets if they love me because I know that they do, but I would want to know if they understand anything I say when I talk to them.”

-- “I miss my dog so much. We lost him to lymphoma last month. I would tell him how much I miss him and how I wish so much that we could have had more time with him. He was the best dog.”

-- “I love you and you are part of the family. I will never abandon you. You are so cute. Don’t pee anywhere inside, even if it is a new smell. This is your home forever.”

-- “They already know everything. I would rather hear what they have to say.”

-- “Nothing. Because my cat understands what I say. She may not talk, but she certainly does understand.”

-- “I would tell them to put their paw over where it hurts when they are sick. That way, when I need to take them to the vet, they will know where to look for the problem. It can take a long time to find the source of the problem, as they can't tell you where it hurts. Then with the last few seconds, I would tell them how much I love them and to stop playing as roughly as they do at times.”

-- “I would tell her thank you for her unconditional love and devotion. That she has brought me so much joy I can’t put into words. For the comfort she gives me during the difficult times. How I love her.”

-- “That I love him, he’s a good boy and to stop stealing and hiding shoes!”

-- “I’d tell them that whenever I have to give them medicine, take them to the vet or clip their nails, it is only because I love them and want the very best for them.”

-- “I would ask my cat what is up with the shredded toilet paper.”

-- “I’d ask if he likes his food (I make it for him) and if he has any aches or pains. Then I’d tell him how important he is to me and that I love him very much.”

-- “I would tell them how much I love them and where their daddy has gone. He died last Monday, and they don't understand.”

-- “I would tell them how much I love them and how much they mean to me. They make my life worth living.”

Q&A

Birdie emergency?

When to see the vet

Q: How do I know when my bird needs to see the vet? What’s considered an emergency?

A: We hope you’re taking your bird to the vet annually for an exam so you can ensure that he stays in good health and catch any underlying problems before they become serious. Beyond that, here’s how to recognize avian emergencies, from life-threatening to not-so-urgent.

Get to the vet immediately for bites or deep cuts, bleeding that isn’t stopping, burns, poisoning, difficulty breathing, collapse, blood in droppings and straining to defecate or pass an egg.

Don’t have an avian veterinarian on call? You can still take your bird to the veterinary ER or to a general practitioner. They might not have avian expertise, but they can stabilize fractures, provide oxygen and other basic supportive care and keep your bird warm, quiet and hydrated until a specialist in birds can be consulted.

Urgent situations should be seen by a veterinarian within a few hours of discovery. They include eye injuries; appetite loss, especially if your bird looks puffed up; sudden swellings; broken bones; diarrhea; direct contact with the saliva of a dog or cat, even if the skin wasn’t broken; vocalizing less than normal; sitting on the bottom of the cage; or shivering.

If it’s the weekend or in the evening, wait to call your veterinarian for behavior problems, feather-picking, lameness unrelated to an obvious fracture, droppings with an abnormal color and excessive egg-laying.

Bear in mind that birds are the equal of cats when it comes to hiding that they’re hurt or not feeling so good. Taking a “wait-and-see” approach is never a good idea, especially when it comes to those urgent and emergency situations. By the time you notice a problem, your bird could be very sick indeed. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Protect pets

from antifreeze

-- It’s antifreeze season! Be sure to wipe up any spills immediately and keep containers out of reach of curious cats and dogs. Antifreeze, which is toxic to pets, has a sweet flavor, and unless you buy the kind that is treated to taste nasty, pets may lick it up. Even a small amount -- as little as a teaspoon -- can put them in the hospital or even kill them. Any time you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, get to the vet right away for treatment. Signs of toxicity include staggering, seizures, extreme thirst, excessive urination and vomiting.

-- Don’t expect to see the 147th Westminster Kennel Club show televised this week. The dog show extravaganza is scheduled for May 8 and 9 this year, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City. In addition to two days of conformation showing, with more than 200 breeds competing, the WKC is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Masters Agility Championship, which welcomes any qualifying breed or mix; the eighth annual Masters Obedience Championship; and the Junior Showmanship competition for handlers under 18. Judging best in show is Geir Flyckt-Pedersen, who in partnership with his late wife Gerd, bred more than 100 wire fox terrier champions, had best in show winners in five countries on the same day and has also owned English cocker spaniels, greyhounds, whippets, Airedales, Norfolk terriers, Lakeland terriers, smooth fox terriers and standard and giant schnauzers.

-- The world’s oldest living cat is named Flossie, and she turned 27 years old in December. She received the title last November, just before her birthday. What a great present! Flossie lives with Vicki Green, who adopted her last August after her previous owner was no longer able to care for her. -- 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.

We spill the tea on pet care lectures at this year’s VMX conference

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Caring for aging pets, recognizing pain and the perennial topic of feline house soiling: These were just a few of the hundreds of sessions presented at the Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) last month in Orlando. Dr. Becker attended in person, and I attended virtually. We go to veterinary conferences to learn about advances in veterinary medicine and find news for future features. The sessions are aimed at veterinarians and veterinary technicians, but we’ve rounded up some takeaways for pet owners.

-- When cats start peeing or pooping outside of the litter box, you need to, well, think outside the box. You probably already know that cats prefer super-clean litter boxes. If you’re scooping daily and keeping the box clean, what else could be causing a cat’s dissatisfaction with toileting arrangements? One thing to consider is whether they need a haircut, says Terry Curtis, DVM, a behavior specialist at the University of Florida. Long hair surrounding the anal area may become matted, causing pain when the cat tries to eliminate. Long hair between the toes can affect the tactile sensation when the cat steps into the litter box. Work with a feline-friendly groomer or your veterinarian to trim these sensitive areas so you don’t accidentally cut the skin.

-- As pets age, their vision changes. The lens begins to harden, and by the time they’re 10 years old, cats and dogs can become more near-sighted. For instance, you may notice that your pet is more hesitant about going down stairs, says Mary Gardner, DVM, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice. To help them feel more confident about navigating steps, she suggests illuminating stairs with flameless tea lights. (Bonus: It looks pretty!)

-- It’s also more important than ever to brush aging pets regularly. Brushing stimulates the production of natural oils by sebaceous glands. And senior pets are more susceptible to skin infections, which can, to put it plainly, cause them to stink. It’s not normal for your old pet to smell bad, so take them to the vet if you notice that they’re giving off an unpleasant odor.

-- Chinchillas should eat a high-fiber diet consisting of grass hays and commercial chinchilla pellets, advised Zoltan Szabo, DMV, a specialist in zoological medicine and care of exotic companion mammals and birds. In the notes for his lecture “Chinchilla Tips and Tricks,” he writes that they shouldn’t be given grains, dried apples, raisins, sunflower seeds or fresh food items like vegetables, greens or fruits. Instead, offer items for gnawing, such as nontoxic tree branches.

-- What does pain look like in your cat? The face tells all. In her lecture “Take-Home Medication, Pill Burdens, Compliance and the Human-Animal Bond,” Dr. Sheilah A. Robertson, medical director for Lap of Love, says cat owners can download the Feline Grimace Scale app to their smartphone or go to the website (felinegrimacescale.com) for quick reference as to how their cat is feeling. Scoring your cat at home for pain allows you to reliably alert your veterinarian to pain in your cat.

-- Why no canine grimace scale? Dogs are more of a challenge because their facial features vary much more than those of cats, says veterinarian Duncan Lascelles, professor of translational pain research at North Carolina State University, who spoke on the latest pain management and diagnosis guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association. “There are dogs with short noses, dogs with long noses, dogs with noses in-between,” he says. Instead, your veterinarian may have you answer a questionnaire or go through a checklist to screen your dog for pain or gauge the level of pain.

-- Cold compression therapy decreases the signs of pain, swelling and lameness. It’s underutilized in pets, but after surgery, it’s very effective in decreasing inflammation and improving range of motion, Dr. Robertson says. It’s something that can easily be done at home to help pets recover from surgery or injuries.

Q&A

Bearded dragons

dine on salad, insects

Q: What should I feed my bearded dragon?

A: I’m taking advantage this week of the information provided by my reptile and amphibian specialist colleague Paul M. Gibbons, DVM, who spoke on this topic at the recent Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX).

In his lecture notes, he says these popular omnivorous reptiles should eat a chopped salad five to seven days a week and invertebrates such as crickets, mealworms, black soldier fly larvae and dubia roaches three days a week. Maybe not tasty to us, but healthy and delicious for a bearded dragon.

He recommends giving enough chopped salad that your bearded dragon leaves a small amount uneaten each day. Offer mixed greens with some orange, red and yellow vegetables.

Good greens and veggies to feed include kale, collards, turnip greens, bell peppers, bok choy, carrots, endive, mustard greens, red leaf lettuce and romaine. Because of their oxalate levels, give parsley, spinach, Swiss chard and chives only occasionally, in small amounts. You can also give Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, parsnip, radish, watercress, winter squash, summer squash and berries. If you don’t treat your lawn with herbicides or pesticides, you can offer such delicacies as dandelions, grape leaves and mulberry leaves and fruits, as well as edible flowers such as nasturtiums, pansies, marigolds and squash blossoms.

What else does your bearded dragon look for in a meal? “Many bearded dragons prefer to eat veggies that have dried out and become crispy,” Dr. Gibbons says in his notes. And, like most of us, they enjoy variety, so don’t feed the same old thing day after day. Vary the invertebrates, too.

Insects you feed to your dragon should be well hydrated and fed a species-specific “gut-loading” diet to help balance nutrient deficiencies. Dust the insects with powdered calcium and a multivitamin supplement to provide important micronutrients. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Giving cats meds

is challenging

-- You probably know from experience that it can be difficult to give medication to cats, but the statistics might shock you. The results of an online survey of owners’ experiences medicating their cats at home, published last year in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (bit.ly/3wlAafA), found that 35% of owners failed to complete their cats’ course of medication; 50.7% reported that they were “sometimes” or “never” given information or advice on how to administer medication by their veterinary team; and 51.6% said their relationship with their cat was negatively affected by having to give medication. Cats responded to medication attempts by spitting out tablets (78.7%), trying to bite or scratch the owner (77%), refusing medication in food (71.7%) and running away from the owner (52.7%). When pets don’t get meds, treatment is less effective.

Fortunately for cats and their people, longer-lasting medications are becoming available that can be administered by injection at the veterinary clinic or transdermally for slow-acting release. Tasty compounded medications may also be an option. If your cat is difficult to medicate, tell your veterinarian so they can plan the most effective protocol and give you tips on administering medication that may make it easier on you and your cat. This video provides tips: bit.ly/3WvSI7h.

-- A long-lived myth that just won’t die is that birds need grit in their diet to help their gizzards grind food. Not so! Grit has been shown to remove vitamins A, K and B from a bird’s digestive system, and an overabundance of grit can cause life-threatening impactions in pet parrots, especially smaller birds such as budgies or cockatiels. A couple of grains of grit every couple of months is OK to give finches and canaries, but skip it for parrots. -- 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.

You’ve adopted a senior pet. Should you spring for pet health insurance? Here’s what to consider

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When I bought Harper as a puppy 15 years ago, there were fewer pet health insurance options than there are today, and often coverage didn’t include common problems in cavalier King Charles spaniels, such as heart disease. I decided against purchasing it, reckoning that heart issues that cropped up wouldn’t be covered and that cancer wasn’t common in the breed.

That’s generally true, but cancer is common in older dogs of any breed, and Harper was diagnosed with it when she was about 13 years old. Veterinary treatment for cancer has improved significantly since the last time I had a dog with treatable cancer, in 1996, and costs have increased accordingly. Insurance would have saved me thousands of dollars for Harper’s care over the two years she lived following diagnosis.

I decided that my next dog would be covered, no matter what. Sparkles is 10 years old, however, so insurance for her was going to be expensive, even though she’s generally healthy. But it’s still a good idea. Here’s what to think about if you’re choosing insurance for a senior pet.

Which animals qualify as seniors? The American Animal Hospital Association has guidelines defining different life stages, from puppy or kitten to adult, senior and geriatric. Pet health insurance companies may use those guidelines to identify a pet’s life stage and the conditions that are common during each life stage.

Breed or size can play a role. For instance, giant breed dogs such as Great Danes or Irish wolfhounds may be considered seniors when they are 7 years old, while toy breed dogs such as Chihuahuas, which have a much longer lifespan, don’t reach that status until they are 10 to 12 years old. The American Association of Feline Practitioners considers cats seniors when they are 11 to 14 years old and geriatric at 15 to 25 years old.

Different companies have different age limits for coverage. For instance, Nationwide will insure pets any time before they turn 10 years old, while Embrace says that pets enrolled after their 15th birthday are eligible for the accident-only policy, which doesn’t cover illnesses.

Look at other benefits. Some companies offer veterinary helplines or tele-triage calls that may answer simple questions or help you determine whether your pet can wait for a regular veterinary appointment or needs to go to the emergency room.

Ask questions such as whether the deductible goes down each year that you don’t have an accident or illness claim reimbursement; whether curable preexisting conditions are covered if the pet is symptom- or treatment-free for one year or more; and whether the plan offers significant discounts for medications.

“Older pets are somewhat more prone to health conditions and having chronic diseases or cancer as they get older, so having access to affordable medications is one thing to keep in mind,” says Emily Tincher, DVM, senior director of veterinary relations for Nationwide.

Conditions you can expect to see in senior pets are hyperthyroidism and heart disease in cats and kidney disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis and cancer in dogs and cats. Several of these are chronic conditions that are manageable but can add up to be fairly costly over time, Tincher says.

Use pet health insurance review websites such as petinsurancereview.com and pawlicy.com to compare policies. Plug in your pet’s species, age, breed and other requested information, and they’ll recommend several plans to consider.

Then dig deeper by visiting company websites or calling to see exactly what’s covered. There may be discounts for covering multiple pets, for instance. Companies such as Nationwide, which also offer home and auto insurance, may offer discounts if you’re already a policyholder. Your company may provide pet health insurance as a benefit. Compare deductible levels and benefit schedules. Your veterinarian may be able to advise you based on their knowledge of your pet’s health and lifestyle.

Q&A

Keep cat ears

clean, healthy

Q: How often should I clean my cat’s ears?

A: Checking the ears for dirt, discharge or signs of parasites should be part of your cat’s weekly grooming routine. A small amount of wax is normal and doesn’t need to be removed. Give the ears a good sniff. They shouldn’t smell stinky.

Healthy ears generally don’t need to be cleaned, but if they’re dirty and you don’t have a cleanser recommended by your veterinarian, warm some mineral or olive oil. (To make sure it’s not too hot, test it on your wrist like you would do with the milk in a baby’s bottle.) Place a few drops on a cotton ball, and wipe out the ear. Remember not to stick a cotton swab down into the ear canal. That just pushes the gunk further into the ear.

Clues that your cat is having ear issues are an unpleasant odor, head shaking, tilting the head to one side, scratching at the ears or a red, inflamed appearance. In the case of ear mite infestation, you may notice a brown, waxy discharge or even -- if you have great eyesight -- tiny mites moving in the discharge.

If your cat has any of these signs, it’s time for a trip to the veterinarian to check for infection, parasites, allergies or even polyps or other ear masses. Tell the veterinarian if your cat has had upper respiratory disease. A history of sneezing or nasal discharge can lead to a middle-ear infection that turns into an external ear problem.

Surprisingly, lack of appetite may also be related to an ear problem. If your cat experiences ear pain when she opens her jaw, she’s going to be reluctant to eat. So don’t hold back any information; you never know what may help your veterinarian diagnose the problem. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

How to check

groomer training

-- Looking for a dog groomer? Check credentials first. Not all states require groomers to meet educational standards. Groomers may be self-taught through online courses or videos. To find one with hands-on training, ask if they have certification through a national organization such as the National Dog Groomers Association of America, which requires certification testing and continuing education. The NDGAA offers workshops on basic pet grooming and styling. Afterward, participants must demonstrate their skills to a panel of experts and pass a written exam to gain certification. States requiring licensing have regulations regarding cleanliness, equipment use, maintenance and sanitation, how animals are handled and restrained and much more. Choose a groomer certified in pet first aid, and always visit facilities before booking an appointment to make sure it’s a place you’re comfortable leaving your dog.

-- How many chickens should you have? According to “Birds for Dummies,” three to six is a good flock size, especially if you live in the ‘burbs. The more space, the more chickens you can have, but you don’t want so many that caring for them becomes a chore and prevents you from having a fun relationship with them. Fewer chickens mean less mess, too; chickens stir up a lot of dust and produce a lot of poop. If you enjoy the wide variety of chicken “looks,” each one can be a different breed.

-- Early Egyptians worshipped particular animals for services they provided or for admirable qualities. Feline hunting prowess and corresponding vermin control most certainly made cats worthy of worship by these criteria. As Egyptian culture evolved, worship associated with cats took a prominent role and included the goddess Mafdet, who was portrayed as either a cat or a panther; the goddess Bastet, who took the form of a cat; and the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet. -- 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.