All posts by Dr. Marty Becker

German Shepherd eyes

Tips for living with a blind dog

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

We had a beloved blind dog, Shakira. I share some of what we learned with this dog owner struggling with her dog’s vision loss.

Q: My dog is losing her eyesight. How can I help her adjust?

A: Blindness doesn’t seem to stop the average dog. When eyesight goes, the nose and ears take over in helping the dog maneuver through the environment.

One primary factor in adjustment is how quickly vision is lost. A dog who loses vision slowly from a condition such as progressive retinal atrophy usually copes well, but one who loses vision rapidly from a nonpainful condition such as acquired retinal degeneration may take a few weeks to adjust.

The following tips may help you accustom your dog to her loss of vision.

— Walk her on leash. As you walk, talk to her so she knows where you are.

— Stick to the same route so she can learn how it smells along the way and become familiar with any obstacles such as curbs or steps.

— Feed her in the same place. If you notice that she seems disoriented, take her to the food bowl. It’s a landmark of sorts that will help her reorient herself.

— Continue to teach her new things. Using a clicker and treats as well as verbal praise are ways you can train her without the need for her to see you.

— You may notice that she barks more often. This may be out of insecurity or simply to get your attention so she can find out where you are. Regular training sessions will help her gain confidence.

— You can also purchase a device such as Muffin’s Halo, which my late dog Shakira wore after she lost her eyesight. It’s sort of a “bumper” that attaches to a dog’s shoulders and takes the hit if the dog comes too close to an obstacle.

Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.

Mikkel and Indiana Bones on green lawn

Video: The right and wrong way to pet a dog

Companies That Help Animals, Fear Free, ,

Dogs have personal “bubbles” just like people do. They also have specific ways they do and don’t like to be petted.

In the final video in her training series with our friends at Bissell, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, discusses and demonstrates the good and the bad of petting. This video, like a couple of the others, features her late dog, our beloved Grand-Pug Willie, along with her little Puggle, Indiana Bones.

Check it out below:

(This post is not sponsored by Bissell, but they are a valued sponsor of Fear Free.)

hungry cat drink milk from glass on windowsill on summer green background

The truth about cats and milk

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

The cat lapping at a bowl of cream is a familiar image in cartoons, children’s books, and popular imagination. But this reader wasn’t sure her cat should be consuming dairy products. Here’s what I told her.

Q: My cat enjoys drinking leftover milk from my cereal bowl, but my mother says I shouldn’t give it to him because cats are lactose intolerant. True?

A: Cats have a reputation for loving milk. Maybe that’s because they have a long history of hanging out in barns with dairy cows and goats. At least that was my experience growing up on an Idaho dairy farm.

Cats will drink milk presumably because they enjoy the taste — especially if it’s full-fat — but it doesn’t necessarily agree with their digestive systems. Like some people, some cats are lactose intolerant and will experience diarrhea if they drink it. Other possible signs of lactose intolerance are vomiting or flatulence.

That’s because cow’s milk contains more lactose (milk sugar) and casein (a milk protein) than the milk kittens receive from their mothers. As kittens mature into cats, their ability to digest milk decreases because their body produces less of an enzyme called lactase that is involved in digestion of lactose. The body doesn’t absorb the milk sugar, causing intestinal upset. Beyond that, cream and whole milk are high in fat, causing cats who lap it up to pack on the pounds.

As with so many things, cats are individuals. Some of them don’t have a problem with milk, yogurt, cottage cheese or other dairy products. For those cats, a small amount of milk or milk products — up to a tablespoon — is fine as a treat.

Some pet milk products contain goat milk — which has a different molecular structure than cow milk and is more digestible by cats — as well as probiotics and digestive enzymes that can benefit cats. And remember, if you’re feeding orphaned kittens, stay away from any type of milk other than kitten milk formula available from your veterinarian or pet supply store.

Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.

Dog in bed with chew toy while vacuum runs

Video: How to train your dog not to be afraid of the vacuum

Fear Free, , ,

Few noises are more universally hated and feared by pets than that monster, the vacuum cleaner. But you can teach your dog to accept and not fear his former enemy (and yes, it involves treats!).

In this latest video in her ongoing training series with our friends at Bissell, my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, shares her secrets to taking the scare out of vaccuming (and unfortunately eliminate one of the best of all excuses for putting off the chore!).

Check it out below:

(This post is not sponsored by Bissell, but they are a valued sponsor of Fear Free.)

Sad dog with green collar

Don’t ignore head pressing in dogs

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

One of the most distressing things we can see a dog do is the behavior known as “head pressing,” often accompanied by circling and pacing. This is nearly always a sign of serious, even life-threatening, illness and requires an immediate trip to the veterinarian.

Here’s how I explained it to a reader who asked for information:

Q: Last night my dog was pacing, circling and pressing his head against the wall. Should I be worried?

A: Head pressing can be a sign of a serious problem. It has a number of possible causes, including liver conditions, poisoning and traumatic injuries. If you notice this behavior in a pet, it warrants a rapid trip to the veterinarian for an exam to determine the cause.

A liver-related condition that can cause head pressing in young dogs is liver shunt, which occurs when abdominal blood vessels don’t develop properly. Blood from the intestines bypasses the liver — where it would normally be cleansed of waste products — and enters normal circulation, allowing buildup of toxins in the body. We usually see it in tiny dogs such as Maltese or Yorkshire terriers, but it can also affect larger breeds.

Older dogs can develop cirrhosis, not because they’re hard drinkers, but because the liver’s ability to function is affected by internal infections or long-term use of certain medications.

Toxins such as lead, certain herbicides or insecticides, rodent poisons, amanita mushrooms, blue-green algae and cycad plants such as sago palms can all seriously affect the liver and cause signs such as head pressing, as well as loss of appetite, depression and seizures.

Encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, is another possible cause of head pressing. So is trauma such as being hit by a car or a head injury from a fall.

Dogs who are head pressing against a wall or other hard surface may also have a neck injury, disk herniation or brain tumor.

Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam and lab work. If a brain disorder is suspected, your dog may need an MRI or PET/CT scan. Depending on the diagnosis, your dog may be treated with medication, surgery or rehab techniques.

Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.