All posts by Dr. Marty Becker

The dogs who stand between life and death: How you can help

Healing Power of Pets

Can you imagine a dog standing between your life and your death? Emma doesn’t have to imagine. It happened to her.

Emma was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was just 7 years old. She battled blood sugar swings until she went away to college, when she discovered she had lost the ability to know when her blood sugar was dropping dangerously. Uncontrolled low blood sugar can cause coma or even death, so the stakes were literally life and death.

Emma was terrified — until she found a new best friend who changed everything: Fleur, a diabetic alert dog. I’ll let Emma tell the story:

I was placed with my dog Fleur in June 2013. Every time she alerts on me, I am amazed. I try not to think about how many lows I would have without Fleur around. She catches me at a target number, before I have dropped too low. Now, I am able to avoid the 40’s by eating a snack before the low happens, thanks to Fleur.

Early Alert Canine dogs are truly astounding. Each story that I hear only secures my trust in the abilities of these dogs. I wish that every diabetic had the option to be placed with a diabetes alert dog.

I have no idea how many times Fleur has saved my life and kept me out of danger, because she keeps anything bad from happening. She is my constant companion and my protector. Thank you to everyone at Early Alert Canines, and to everyone who supports this amazing organization. The lives of diabetics placed with these dogs are better because of EAC.

Early Alert Canines has asked for my help raising $45,000 to place more trained dogs with children and adults with diabetes. I know you will give if you can — because these dogs save lives.

Give generously now, and spread the word by sharing this post!

Donate Now!

If you’d rather give by mail or PayPal, or if you’d like to find out other ways you can support this cause, please visit the EAC website page on how you can help.

Thank you, friends! And don’t forget to help get the word out: Diabetic alert dogs save lives!

Grants for at-risk older dogs will let them rest their weary bones in happy retirement homes

This and That,

Senior pups have something to wag about this week, as the national nonprofit The Grey Muzzle Organization announces the recipients of its annual grants for animal welfare organizations providing programs for at-risk senior dogs.

Thirty-eight organizations representing 25 states will receive over $225,000 in funding from the group in 2016 to support services, including hospice care for senior dogs who are not adoptable, “Senior for Senior” adoption programs, and medical and dental care. Since 2008, Grey Muzzle has provided over $750,000 in grants to 76 nonprofit organizations in 30 states in support of its “vision of a world where no old dog dies alone and afraid.”

“The Grey Muzzle Organization was with Muttville Senior Dog Rescue from the very beginning,” says Sherri Franklin, Executive Director of Muttville, another 2016 grantee. “Without their support we wouldn’t be where we are today, saving more senior dogs than ever!”

This year’s Grey Muzzle Organization grantees include:

  • Tyson’s Place Animal Rescue, a Michigan organization dedicated to helping terminally ill people care for–and ultimately, find homes for–beloved pets like Bosco, a 14-year-old rat terrier mix currently up for adoption.
  • Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawaii, where dogs like 13-year-old Pono, who recently found his forever home, are treated to therapeutic swimming pool visits as part of their medical care.
  • Austin Pug Rescue, where the breed’s special medical needs are a priority. 11-year-old Ebenezer, who had to have all of his teeth removed due to severe periodontal disease, is now feeling fresh-mouthed and fine!

“One of the most gratifying parts of our work is getting to hear success stories about second chances for dogs in their golden years,” says The Grey Muzzle Organization Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer. “We’re thrilled to help so many deserving organizations give senior dogs the happy endings they deserve.”

The national nonprofit The Grey Muzzle Organization improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters

Protect cats from tick-borne disease

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine, ,

So-called “bobcat fever” is putting cats at risk. A reader asked me how to protect her cats from this disease. Here’s what I told her.

Q: I live in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and I’ve heard that a number of cats in our area are dying from a disease called bobcat fever. What can you tell me about it, and how can I protect my two cats?

A: The scientific name for this disease is a mouthful: cytauxzoonosis. It is a deadly condition spread by the bite of a tick, and although it’s known as bobcat fever, it can affect domestic cats and other wild cats, such as mountain lions. Infected cats cannot spread the disease to other cats or to humans or other animals.

The disease was first identified in Missouri, but the tick that primarily carries the infection, Amblyomma americanus, is now found throughout southeastern and south-central states such as Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Florida, all the way to the Atlantic coast and as far north as North Dakota.

Cats with the disease typically have an acute onset. In other words, they’re fine one day, and the next they don’t have any appetite, they seem lethargic and they have a high fever. The protozoal infection blocks blood flow to tissues and causes multiple organ failure.

Even with aggressive supportive care and treatment with a combination of antiparasitic and antibiotic drugs, which offer a better survival rate than previous treatments, approximately 40 to 50 percent of infected cats die within a week of infection.

The disease mainly affects outdoor cats. The best way to protect your cats is to keep them indoors so they are less likely to be bitten by ticks. If your cats do go outdoors, it’s a good idea to get tick collars for them from your veterinarian. The collar has a breakaway design, so it’s safe for cats to wear.

Read more, including how to protect your pets from the heat while traveling, in this week’s Pet Connection!

Why you should measure how much your pet drinks

Veterinary Medicine

I’m a huge advocate of using water fountains for both dogs and cats. Fountains keep the water well oxygenated and encourages pets to drink more. This is especially important for cats, as having originated as desert dwellers, they tend not to drink enough and can easily become dehydrated. Dehydration can have serious medical consequences.

Most pet owners just fill their pets water bowls or reservoirs up each day without noting if they are having to fill it up more frequently, or if the remaining water is at a lower level than it normally is.

At Almost Heaven Ranch, we use a drinking fountain for our pets. Rather than just fill the fountain reservoir from the faucet, we use a measuring pitcher so we can precisely track how much water they’re drinking.

It’s normal for pets to increase their water consumption for these reasons:

Exercise. Physical exertion ranging from a brisk walk to chasing a tennis ball can cause them to drink more water.

Temperature variations. Pets will drink more water when temperatures are warmer — indoor or out!

Medications. Steroids for skin problems, or some meds like Alprazolam for anxiety, can make pets thirsty.

The reason we’re monitoring water consumption is to catch sustained changes in water consumption that could indicate a medical issue such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or Cushing’s. As a veteran veterinarian, I know when a pet owner comes in and says  their pet is drinking and urinating more, we have a problem.

Don’t cheat your pet out of this early warning system. Measure their water intake!

What to do when your dog barks and growls at other dogs

Pet Connection, ,

A reader contacted me about her dog’s behavior, which was troubling her. As I always do when asked about pet behavior, I asked my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to weigh in. Here’s the question and her response — I hope they help you, too!

Q: One of our dogs always barks and growls when he sees other dogs. My husband yells at him to try to get him to stop. I know that’s not the best response, but what should we do instead? We try to drag him away, but that’s not always possible.

A: It can be embarrassing when a dog starts to bark at other dogs, especially if they haven’t done anything to provoke him. Your husband’s reaction is normal, but as you say, it’s not very effective. Neither is dragging the dog away (or picking him up if he’s a small dog).

In fact, both of those responses can increase the likelihood that your dog will bark at other dogs, especially if he’s barking out of fear. Punishment can escalate his anxiety and teach him to associate other dogs with negative consequences. Dragging him away can make him think that his barking is working because it removes him from the presence of the other dog, causing him to bark even more the next time he sees a strange dog.

Instead, work with a trainer or behaviorist to teach your dog an alternative response, such as sitting and looking at you when he sees another dog. You can also pair the sight of another dog with rewards, such as treats or play with a favorite toy. Both of these techniques can help your dog develop a positive reaction toward other dogs and relax in their presence.

It’s also important for you and your husband to remain calm when this behavior occurs. The anxiety that you undoubtedly feel when you see another dog approaching travels right down the leash to your dog and can contribute to the likelihood that he’ll start barking. – Mikkel Becker

All this and more, including the cats of monasteries around the world, in this week’s Pet Connection!