All posts by Dr. Marty Becker

In our house, dogs trump husband any day

This and That

At breakfast my wife, Teresa, in the super-syrupy voice reserved only for the dogs, said, “Come here kids, Momma needs to get your eye boogers.” Then with her bare hands, between spoonfuls of cereal, she cleaned all their eyes.

Which reminded me. “Do I have something in my eye?” I asked her. “Could you help me get it out?”

She shuddered. “I can’t clean your eyes. It’s disgusting.”

In other words, in her eyes, I, her husband of 38-years, father of her children, am grosser than the dogs. Dogs who sometimes eat their own poo, wolf down dead animals, slurp up horse poop, and devour rotten garbage. (Let’s not even bring up where they lick.)

What will you or your family members do for your pets that you wouldn’t dream of doing for another human being? I really want to know!

Blood donor cats save lives

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine,

Did you know cats need blood donations just like people do? (And dogs as well!) Usually, these are people’s pet cats who are part of doing a good deed for other cats, or cats who live at veterinary hospitals as “greeters” and office pets. A reader asked me about it… here are the facts.

Q: Can cats get blood transfusions? Where does the blood come from?

A: You bet! It’s not at all unusual for cats who are sick or injured to receive a life-giving infusion of blood from a fellow feline donor. Blood transfusions have been available for pets for more than 30 years. They may be necessary for cats with anemia caused by blood-sucking parasites such as fleas; who have undergone trauma, such as being hit by a car, and have internal bleeding; or who have a disease that requires transfusions of plasma, which contains special proteins that help to protect the pancreas from stimulation by pancreatic enzymes. Transfusions save lives, serving as a bridge until cats can heal on their own.

Feline blood donors typically are tolerant of handling, but they may receive a mild sedative to help them mellow out during the blood draw. Each pet blood bank or veterinary hospital has its own standards, but generally donor cats are 1 to 8 years old, live strictly indoors, have no health problems and are up to date on their vaccinations. Females must not have given birth. Cats can donate every three months.

Cats have three different blood types: A (most common), B (seen in certain pedigreed cats) and AB (rarest). The cost of a blood transfusion varies depending on the locale and the amount of blood needed. A matched blood transfusion is a must to prevent a life-threatening reaction.

Just as with the human blood supply, there can sometimes be a shortage of blood products. Fortunately, there are commercial pet blood banks, or your veterinarian may have a donor cat or two “on staff.” Donated blood — in the form of whole blood, plasma or packed red cells — is collected in sterile plastic bags and is stored and handled the same way as human blood.

More, including how experts evaluation intelligence in animals, in this week’s Pet Connection!

Why cats who go up can’t always come down

Pet Connection

Cats are among nature’s most agile athletes. And they love high places. So, asked a reader: Why do they get stuck in trees?

Q: We live in a wooded area, and our cat has access to the outdoors. As we were coming up our driveway one evening, the headlights shone on our cat, who had treed a possum twice his size. Despite his hunting prowess, though, he was having trouble getting down from the tree. How come cats can go up a tree, but not down?

A: A cat’s claws anchor him as he races up a tree (think rock-climbing crampons), but they’re not so convenient when he’s trying to make his way back down. While a cat is graceful and quick on the way up, he moves much more cautiously and awkwardly in the opposite direction. That’s because digging the claws into the trunk on a downward trajectory can result in clunky movement that more closely resembles a series of semi-controlled crashes instead of the smooth moves that took the cat upward.

What should you do if your kitten or cat is stuck up a tree? Some people stick by the notion that the cat will come down when he’s darn good and ready, but most of us are more softhearted than that, especially when the weather is cold or wet. The easiest and least expensive method is to open a can of cat food while standing beneath the tree and hope the aroma wafting upward is enough to tempt him down.

You can try calling the fire department. If you’re in a small town and the firefighters are having a slow day, they might come out and offer assistance — but don’t count on it. There’s a good chance they’re prohibited by statute from using their equipment for anything other than fires or human rescues.

I once rented a bucket truck to rescue a cat in a tree jam. That’s extreme, but in some instances, it may be the only way to get your cat back on terra firma.

Read more, including a cheap, low-tech approach to helping dogs who itch, in this week’s Pet Connection!

How to get your escaped pet bird back

Pet Connection

A reader wrote, sharing a painful loss of a pet bird, and asking how to prevent one in the future and what to do if a new bird goes missing. Here’s what I told her.

Q: A couple years ago, our cockatiel flew out the front door, and we were never able to get her back. We saw her for a couple of weeks in the neighborhood, and then she was gone. Can you suggest how we can protect against losing another?

A: It can indeed be difficult to catch a bird on the wing, which is why the best strategies for preventing a pet bird from being lost forever are preventive. Have your bird microchipped. Keep his wings clipped to prevent him from flying away, and make sure everyone in the family knows to keep doors and unscreened windows closed.

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20, isn’t it? But there are things you can do if your bird flies away:

— Don’t waste time. The longer your bird is out, the smaller the chance of recovery. Immediately start searching nearby. If you have some game you play that would elicit a response from your bird, start playing it. If your bird is used to responding to your whistle or call, you’ll have an easier time locating him.

— Lure your bird with his favorite treats. Even without wings, birds can climb far out of reach quickly. Gathering your bird’s favorite treats may lure him back down. Put his familiar cage in an area that’s easy for him to see and get to, and put treats inside with the door open. Because birds are more likely to eat at dawn and dusk, even a bird who’s not immediately interested in treats may come into a familiar cage at feeding time.

— Use the hose, cautiously. Because being sprayed by the hose is frightening and may injure the bird, don’t go for this technique first. Some bird experts are dead-set against it, in fact. But a bird at large is in as much danger of dying as he is if he falls to the ground after being drenched. Using a hose is a judgment call, and you’ll probably get only one chance, so play this card wisely.

Expand the search. If your immediate actions don’t bring in your bird, don’t give up. Put up fliers around the area and at the local bird shop, pet-supply stores, veterinarians’ offices (especially avian veterinarians) and pet shelters. Post everywhere you can online as well.

Many birds are found days, weeks and months after they’re lost, but they’re found by people who don’t know just who is looking for the pet. If you don’t keep putting the word out, your bird may be lost for good, even if found.

You’ll find more, including how to prepare for disasters whe you have pets, in this week’s Pet Connection!

How to introduce a new cat into your feline family

Pet Connection,

Cat introductions can be tricky. Here’s what a reader asked, and my suggestions!

Q: What’s the best way to introduce a new cat to my current cat?

A: Having more than one cat is a popular option for many people, though not always for cats.

But living with more than one cat doesn’t have to be contentious. The trick to domestic harmony for co-habiting felines is to introduce — or reintroduce — them slowly and carefully.

Since the worst territorial spats are between cats who aren’t spayed or neutered, your chances for peaceful co-existence are many times greater if the cats are both altered before any introductions are planned.

Prepare a room for your new cat with food and water bowls, and a litter box and scratching post that needn’t be shared. This room will be your new pet’s home turf while the two cats get used to each other’s presence.

Take your new cat to your veterinarian first, to be checked for parasites such as ear mites, and contagious diseases such as feline leukemia. When you’re sure your new pet is healthy, the introductions can begin.

Bring the cat home in a carrier and set him in the room you’ve prepared. Let your resident cat discover the caged animal, and don’t be discouraged by initial hisses. When the new cat is alone in the room, close the door and let him out of the carrier. If he doesn’t want to leave the carrier at first, let him be. Just leave the carrier door open and the cat alone.

Maintain each cat separately for a week or so — with lots of love and play for both — and then on a day when you’re around to observe, leave the door to the new cat’s room open. Above all: Don’t force them together. Territory negotiations between cats can be drawn-out and delicate, and you must let them work it out on their own, ignoring the hisses and glares.

Read more, including how to care for a pet bearded dragon, in this week’s Pet Connection!