All posts by Dr. Marty Becker

A new, safe answer to tear-staining in pets

Great Pet Products, Veterinary Medicine

Excessive tears can range from an unsightly nuisance in a light-haired dog to a medical problem if it causes the area to remain perpetually moist.

There have been many attempts to find a solution, with people often getting hooked on pet supply store and online products they swear by. The problem is that these treatments work because they contain very low doses of antibiotics, and are a recipe for creating dangerously drug-resistant bacteria along with wreaking havoc on a pet’s digestive health.

One of the veterinarians at the veterinary hospital where I work, Dr. Dawn Mehra at North Idaho Animal Hospital in Sandpoint, Idaho, recently went to a dermatology seminar where she learned about an exciting new treatment for tear staining that is healthy, safe and was vouched for by several veterinarians in the audience.

It is Prostora, a probiotic from Iams. Treatment is one tablet daily for thirty days and then every other day forever. The experts said pet owners should notice a difference in about 30 days.

I use and recommend probiotics for routine use anyway. Ask your veterinarian what they think or just order it and give it a try — then be sure to let me know!

Note: I have no relationship with Iams or this product, and haven’t personally used it as none of our pets has this problem.

Blessed are the people who feed stray cats

This and That

The more my life is full of blessings, the more moved I am by all those who extend their compassion to animals.

I went to the Bonners Ferry United Methodist Church the other day. This church is sacred to us; it’s where my wife, Teresa, and our children were baptized, where my wife went to Sunday school, where we were married, and where Teresa’s Dad’s funeral services were held. It has a wonderful minister and we love the church family there.

I got to church late (too many animals to take care of!), and I noticed a church regular had snuck out the back door of the fellowship hall and was putting out some food for what looked like stray cats. I smiled and then starting thinking about how veterinarians like me often invisibly wink or have a sly grin when someone brings a cat into our practice and says something like, “It’s not really my cat, it’s just a stray that I feed.”

Many people have fed this cat for 10 years but if they didn’t see the kitten come out of his mother’s womb, or the cat doesn’t live inside the house, they somehow don’t think of it as “their” cat.

And yet, these kind souls will be out there in all kinds of weather, making sure the cat — who they often can’t even pet or pick up! — has enough to eat and is warm and protected from storms.

They find a way to bring the cat to me for veterinary care.

They even often offer this same care to neighborhood cats who might loosely belong to someone else, or several famlies.

This holiday season, I want to give heartfelt thanks and praise for everyone who has ever gone out of their way to feed and spay/neuter feral cats, to rescue a sick or injured animal, or call authorities when they’ve witnessed animal abuse. You are my heroes, one and all!

Are accidents waiting to happen to your pets?

Veterinary Medicine

This probably won’t come as a surprise to you, but accidents happen! There’s nothing we can do to eliminate them completely, but there are steps you can take to reduce the chance your pet will have a dangerous – and costly – accident.

You may end up spending thousands saving a pet that has been hit by a car, and many of these accidents are preventable. As tempting as it is to let your tabby roam, cats should be indoor only pets. Not only will it keep them safe from cars, but it will prevent them from fighting with other animals.

For dogs, sturdy fences and leashes will serve the same purpose. It also helps to have a well-trained dog who will listen when you tell him “stop!”

Another easy-to-prevent disaster is accidental poisoning. Make sure you don’t stock peanut butter or other foods that contain xylitol. It can be fatal to dogs. If you have a cat, keep lilies out of your home or yard. Cats can have a deadly reaction to even the pollen of a lily. And, of course, all household cleaners and pesticides should be kept out of reach of pets. 

Averting accidents like these can save you money and heartache by keeping your pets as safe as possible!

senior dog

Should you worry if your dog is panting?

Veterinary Medicine,

We want dogs to get panting tired at least once every day. And dogs are designed to pant to cool off when they’re starting to get overheated. But is your dog’s panting really an early sign that something’s wrong?

Open-mouthed, quick little breaths are a sign that your pet is warm. Dogs have some sweat glands in their paw pads, but panting allows our furry friends a much more efficient way to cool down. Panting evaporates water from the mouth, tongue, and upper respiratory tract. This evaporation is a natural cooling process, and works the same way sweating does for humans.

To us, panting can sometimes look like a lot of work – that’s because a panting dog can take 300 to 400 breaths per minute, ten times your pet’s normal breathing rate. Because a dog’s lungs and airways are elastic, these extra breaths don’t take up too much energy.

Panting is perfectly normal if the dog is exercising or it’s a hot day, but if panting starts suddenly, for no reason, or if the panting is constant, take your dog to the vet. It could be the first sign of illness.

How to keep dogs zen when offering treats

Pet Connection

Have you ever had an over-eager dog who would get a little rough when he tries to snag a treat or food? My daughter and professional dog trainer, Mikkel Becker, tells you how to train your dog to be a gentle pooch!

Q: We have adopted a new dog. He is very friendly and has really great manners, except for one thing: He snatches food. A couple of times his teeth have grazed our fingers. How can we break him of this bad habit?

A: That’s definitely a common problem. Sometimes hard mouthing indicates a dog who is anxious, fearful or overstimulated. There are a couple of things you can try to make the situation less overwhelming for the dog and teach him to take food (and other objects) gently.

First, always deliver treats below the mouth. When you hold them up high, the dog’s natural inclination is to jump up and grab. Sometimes dogs jump and bite because they’re used to treats being dropped and are trying to grab them before they fall. This may call for a bit more bending on your part, especially if you have a small dog.

Deliver the treat straight to the dog’s mouth. This takes practice, because sometimes it’s hard to hold a treat without fumbling and starting to drop it, but once you get the hang of it, he’ll be less likely to grab at it.

Another way to teach your dog to take treats more gently is what’s sometimes called the “Zen” game. Place a treat on your palm and close your hand over it. Show the dog your closed hand. He will probably mouth it, but wait until only his tongue or nose is touching the outside of your hand. Then you can open it to give him the treat. The hand opens only when the mouth is gentle and soft without teeth. Let him know you like that behavior by saying “Good” and opening your palm.

When a dog mouths hard, say “Ouch!” and pull your hand away so the opportunity for the treat is lost. Try again once the dog calms down.

All this and more in this week’s Pet Connection!