All posts by Dr. Marty Becker

Do animals go to heaven? The Pope thinks so, and so does this veterinarian

This and That

It’s a topic of massive theological debate, but one few pet owners have much disagreement on: do animals go to heaven?

Pope Francis recently weighed in on the topic, as reported here:

“The Holy Scriptures teach us that the realization of this wonderful plan covers all that is around us, and that came out of the thought and the heart of God,” Pope Francis said, as quoted by Italian news site Resapubblica.

The Pope then went on to say that “heaven is open to all creatures, and there [they] will be vested with the joy and love of God, without limits.”

I confess I’m with Pope Francis on this one; I can’t imagine a Heaven without the companionship of my beloved animals, or the glories of all God’s creation being present.

What do you believe?

Lessons from a puppy who swallowed a string of Christmas lights

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

One of my most memorable, long-ago holiday cases was the Labrador Retriever puppy (what else!) who had swallowed an entire string of Christmas tree lights.

When he was brought in, gagging, I opened his mouth and could still see the plug, far in the back. I have to admit it was tempting to anesthetize him, plug it in, and see if an ethereal glow from the body would tell us where in the gastrointestinal tract to look for the lights. This was a case that called for a specialist, though. Back then, we didn’t have the imaging or endoscopic equipment to locate and remove the lights.

Sometimes, it’s almost as if pets think the holidays aren’t complete without a trip to the emergency room. They suffer electroshock burns of the mouth from chewing on Christmas tree light cords, devour whole plates full of fudge, eat the toxic mistletoe berries off kissing balls, and raid the trash for the string used to wrap the turkey or ham.

As veterinarians, we’ve seen it all, and we don’t want you to have to. Check out my tips for keeping  your dogs and cats safe, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus, here!

One last chance to help America’s horses

This and That

Friends, I know I’ve asked you to join me in protecting Walking Horses from terrible abuse before, but we have just a few days to pass a bill through Congress, and I need you to make your voices heard for the horses once again.

The current session of Congress will end on Dec. 12, and if the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act is not voted on before that date, it will literally have to start from scratch with the new session next year.

What is soring? It’s the despicable practice of putting caustic chemicals, chains, and painful footwear on horses to “train” them to lift their legs up higher so they can win in shows. As a veterinarian and horse lover, it horrifies me to think of the suffering horses are enduring at this very moment.

The American Veterinary Medical Association is leading the charge to get Congress to set aside its gridlock and pass this bill before they leave on Dec. 12:

The AVMA sent letters this week to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) calling on them to not to hold this bill from reaching the finish line. Despite 365 members of Congress signed on in support of the bill, leadership continues to let partisan politics stop the bill from moving forward.

Do not let congressional leadership keep telling us excuses! Call or email your congressional representatives today and tell them to ask leadership to bring the PAST Act for a vote! America’s walking horses deserve better. Take action here.

Thank you, my friends!

Will your kitten be able to cope with losing an eye?

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

Many pet owners hate the idea of removing a pet’s eye, even if it will relieve pain and improve quality of life. What does the kitten think about it, and how will he or she cope? That’s what a reader asked:

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 terrible ways it would affect us: We couldn’t drive or read or look at funny cat videos on Facebook. 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 to their new condition.

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com!

Read more, including how to get pets used to a baby who’s on the way, in this week’s Pet Connection!

5 animal organizations you can support with a clear conscience

This and That

Today is Giving Tuesday, and if you want to give to help animals but aren’t sure where your money will do the most good, I hope you’ll consider one of these five compassionate organizations!

1. World Vets. While I believe in giving locally, sometimes problems happen on a global scale. That’s why my first pick is World Vets, which brings together veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students to improve the lives of thousands of animals each year by providing free veterinary care all over the planet. They respond to disasters, spay and neuter pets in developing countries, and do more good than just about any animal organization I know. Learn more and donate here…

2. The Grey Muzzle Organization. We share our lives with three senior dogs right now, and I promise you, there’s no love like that of a senior dog! But there is also no population that suffers more when they’re sent to a shelter, where cold floors and an uncertain fate await them. That’s why the Grey Muzzle Organization is dedicated to lifting them up off the floor and into a bed — and then moving them out into a loving home! You can donate beds to senior shelter dogs here, and donate to their hospice care fund here…

3. Sweetpea Friends of Rutland Animals. This is a small Massachusetts rescue group that really came through when I made a plea to save the lives of three dogs in another state. They literally swooped in on the very last day of these dogs’ lives, and are actively caring for them and looking for loving homes for Davinci, Hunter, and Stella. Please donate a few dollars to them here, to help them help more animals…

4. Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary. This California-based group not only took in precious senior Dia who I wrote about on my Facebook page (and she’s not even a Golden!), they act as a safety net for Goldens who end up in shelters all over the state. They also maintain a sanctuary and extensive foster home network. As a Golden Retriever dad myself, I can’t recommend them highly enough! Read more about their programs and donate here…

5. Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society. This Woodstock, Vermont organization took in 23 horses who were victims of abuse, and is working hard to care for them as winter closes its grip on the region. You can read more about the horses, and what you can do to help them, here.

Bonus: Your local shelters and rescue groups. There’s nothing like the power of local giving! That’s because not only will your money go to help animals in your own community, but you can get an in-depth picture of what the group does with its donations much more easily than you can for national or far away organizations. If you’re in the US or Canada, you can search by zip or postal code here for shelters and rescue groups near you!

Photo: My daughter, Mikkel, and our 14-year-old blind Golden Retriever, Shakira.