All posts by Dr. Marty Becker

Shakira

A wonderful holiday gift idea, and the proceeds go to help senior dog rescue groups!

Great Pet Products, ,

Have you ever loved a senior dog? Do you know someone who has? Then this beautiful book will make the perfect gift for yourself or others — with 50 percent of the author’s proceeds going to help senior dog rescue groups during November and December!

The book is Senior Dogs Across America: Portraits of Man’s Best Old Friend, and I was honored to write the forward. I was even more honored when author and photographer Nancy LeVine chose our beloved dog, Shakira, now gone from us, and our little senior “canine cocktails” Quora and Quixote, to appear in its pages.

As I wrote when the book was released, “While they’re the stars of the book as far as Teresa and I are concerned, it’s full of evocative, breathtaking images that convey the nobility of spirit of these wise, beautiful, loving old dogs.”

We hope you’ll consider this as a holiday gift that will help senior dogs while it brightens your heart or that of someone you love.

And thank you, Nancy, on behalf of the beautiful senior dogs in shelters right now who will be helped by your generosity.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.

Note: I receive no financial gain from its sale, although I admit the fact that my dogs are featured in the book compromises my objectivity. I feel safe in standing by every word I wrote.

Can you share your Xanax with your dog?

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

Xanax (alprazolam) is a drug used both in human and veterinary medicine. But you should never just give your Xanax, or other drugs, to your pets. Here’s what I told a reader who asked about it:

Q: My dog is really afraid of going to the groomer. Would it be OK to give him just a little of one of my Xanax tablets to see if it will help take the edge off?

A: Dogs and humans share many of the same medications, including Xanax, but sharing your own prescription with your dog is highly risky. The doses are not the same, and giving your dog even a fraction of a pill can have serious consequences for several reasons.

First, you have no way of knowing if your dog has any health problems that could be worsened by the drug. For instance, it must be given cautiously in dogs with liver or kidney disease or glaucoma.

Second, Xanax can have what’s called a paradoxical effect in dogs. It may cause hyperactivity or even aggression instead of the intended relaxation.

Like any drug, it may not always work well with other medications your dog takes. It can increase the effects of some drugs, while other drugs may decrease the rate at which alprazolam (Xanax) is metabolized.

Finally, you have no way of knowing what a safe or appropriate amount might be. Just guessing is a dangerous game to play with your dog’s health. These are just some of the reasons that it’s necessary for your dog to have a veterinary exam before a drug is prescribed.

Even though many human drugs can help animals, it’s important to realize that humans, dogs and cats don’t necessarily metabolize drugs in the same way. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, nearly a quarter of the calls it receives are about pets ingesting human medications and suffering adverse reactions. The top 10 most common drugs that pets ingest are ibuprofen, tramadol, alprazolam, Adderall, zolpidem (Ambien), clonazepam, acetaminophen, naproxen, duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).

Read more, including eight tips for happy puppy raising, in this week’s Pet Connection!

 

Feline bile duct cyst usually benign, prognosis good

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine,

Nothing is scarier than hearing your pet has a mass in her organs. Fortunately, this reader’s cat most likely has a benign cyst!

Q: My 8-year-old cat has been diagnosed with a biliary cyst. Can you tell me anything about this condition?

A: That’s an interesting question. A biliary cyst is a large, fluid-filled growth on the bile duct system of the liver. It’s the most common type of liver mass seen in cats, but the incidence isn’t very high — about 5.5 percent. Biliary cysts usually affect senior cats older than 10 years.

Cats with biliary cysts may have a decreased appetite and lose weight. If the mass is large enough — some can be the size of a softball — it may put pressure on the stomach and cause discomfort. The condition is usually diagnosed with an abdominal ultrasound exam.

The good news is that the cysts are benign and don’t spread elsewhere in the body. The bad news is that they often require surgical removal, the sooner the better. Fortunately, they don’t typically invade the liver, so the surgery tends to be uncomplicated.

One potential risk, though, is excessive bleeding, which sometimes occurs when tumors are removed from the liver. Another is if cats refuse to eat after surgery, especially if those cats are overweight. It might seem like a good way for the cat to lose some weight, but lack of appetite is downright dangerous for fat cats because it puts them at risk for a serious condition called hepatic lipidosis. These cats may need to have a feeding tube placed to make sure they take in enough nutrition until they recover.

Generally, the prognosis is good for cats with biliary cysts. Once the mass is removed, it usually doesn’t return quickly. Depending on location and whether a cat has complications, the cost of surgery and aftercare can approach $6,000, but a good pet health insurance policy will cover most of the expense.

Read more, including about the growing problem of heartworm preventive resistance, in this week’s Pet Connection!

How to have a fun and Fear Free Halloween with your pets

Fear Free,

Ghosts, goblins, and the walking dead aside, Halloween should be a time of fun, not fear, for your pets, says my son, Lex Becker.

The holiday, with its costumed hordes and mountains of candy, can spook even the most prepared pet owner. Some might be tempted to leave their pets out of the festivities altogether.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to make the season safe, positive, and a hoot for both you and your pet. For pets who enjoy the limelight, dressing up in a costume can get them the attention they crave. Halloween treats (at least, the ones that are pet-safe) can become a source of positive training, and sharing fun holiday activities can bring you close together.

Here’s a rundown on how to focus on fun, not fear, when you celebrate Halloween with your pets.

The Fun

  1. Attention. Nothing turns your pet into a neighborhood celebrity faster than a clever costume, and many pets will revel in the attention that is given to them. If your pet is fine wearing a costume, make sure it fits properly, isn’t pinching or constricting anywhere, and above all, that the costume isn’t causing them any stress. If they find costumes uncomfortable, consider a decorative collar or festive toy instead . If you sense at any point that your pet is becoming overwhelmed by the attention they’re receiving, put them somewhere quiet for a break. Some pets just aren’t social. If this is the case with yours, leave them home on Halloween where they are comfortable.
  1. Time to practice manners. Everyone in the house munching on sugar bombs might drive your pets batty, but you can turn this to your advantage by using the time to practice manners with your pet. Keeping a handful of pet-safe treats with you to reinforce positive habits such as sitting when they greet someone, not begging, and keeping quiet will leave you with a well behaved pet and not a monster on the first of November.
  1. Bonding. Creating memories is one of the great joys of sharing your life with pets, and Halloween provides a cornucopia of opportunities. Making pet-friendly treats will let them join in on all of the waistline-expanding fun safely. Consider taking your dog out to the park for photos of fall foliage, attend a pet costume contest, or even throw your own puppy costume party.

The Fear

  1. Candy. Many pet owners are already aware of the dangers of chocolate, but less so of the sweetener xylitol. Chocolate contains the chemical compounds of theobromine and caffeine that can make your pets sick if eaten in significant amounts. Chocolate can even be deadly to your pet depending, on his or her weight and the type of chocolate consumed. Xylitol, however, is incredibly dangerous for dogs, and much smaller amounts can lead to death. Even a stick of gum – a treat often sweetened with xylitol – can kill your pet. Xylitol is turning up in more and more foods now, including peanut butter, low carb or diabetic sweets, candy, baked goods and baking mixes – almost anything is suspect, so read labels carefully before sharing with your pets.
  1. Runaways. With the door constantly opening for ghoulish visitors and family and friends passing through the house, the chances for pet door-dashing are increased. Make sure pets are either contained to a safe area of the house or are otherwise prevented from exiting doorways. Pets should be properly ID’d and collared for safe recovery in case they do make it out of the home. Any outdoor pets should be brought in the house or otherwise safely contained.
  1. Decorations. Electronics, candles, pumpkins, and other decorations can pose a risk to pets. Make sure that wires are out of the way to prevent pets from pulling things off shelves and put candles out of reach to keep curious cats from burning themselves or starting a fire. While the traditional Halloween decorations of pumpkins and corn aren’t poisonous to pets, they can cause stomach discomfort if eaten in large amounts.

lexbioLex grew up on a ranch in small town North Idaho with a family life centered around pets and wildlife. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, and worked in the startup world in Boston. He’s extensively traveled to over 50 countries, lived in three, and is planning the journey through the rest. Lex enjoys good food, a surfboard, and a cat on his lap.

Don’t miss the Hero Dog Awards ceremony on the Hallmark Channel!

News

I’m honored to be once again part of the presentation of the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards. If you didn’t make the live event, don’t worry; the Hallmark Channel will be airing it on Friday, Oct. 28, at 8 PM Eastern/Pacific Time, 7 PM Central.

The winners include “Emerging Hero” Hooch, a dog who overcame terrible abuse to become a loving ambassador and therapy dog:

Hooch is a French Mastiff with badly cropped ears, a broken tail, no tongue and the brightest spirit you’ll ever encounter. Zach Skow, of Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, was alerted about him by a shelter in Bakersfield, and was told that the dog wouldn’t eat or drink, and would instead thrash his food and water bowls around like a maniac.

By the time he was pulled to freedom, he was 35 pounds underweight – starving, dehydrated and severely malnourished. Never thinking to check for a missing tongue, they thought he might have a broken or dislocated jaw that was causing his behavior. When taken to the vet, he was sedated to ready him for x-rays, and the gruesome discovery was made… Hooch’s tongue had been savagely removed at its base, likely in an attempt to prime him for the role of a bait dog.

After using a feeding tube (Hooch kept yanking it out) it was discovered that Hooch could be hand-fed! He tilts his head back while Zach has a handful of food and places it in the back of Hooch’s throat and they let gravity do the rest.

Hooch stands for overcoming adversity, bravery and living in the moment. He spends many hours with Marley’s Mutts Miracle Mutts division, as a therapy dog. He works with autistic, abused and special needs children. Hooch is known for showing patience and kindness and is proof that anything can be overcome. He is our hero and the best mascot for bravery around.

You’ll also meet the Hero Vet, Dr. Natalie Isaza, and Hero Veterinary Technician, Kim Knap!

The show is emceed by Beth Stern and James Denton. Get the full details of the broadcast here. You won’t want to miss it!