All posts by Mikkel Becker KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CTC

Quora

Quora: Saying goodbye to our angel dog

This and That

Heaven gained another four legged angel last week: Our Miss Quora.

Despite taking every measure possible, our family was unable to save her, and she died at the age of 14 after unsuccessful surgery for hemangiosarcoma at Washington State University.

The loss of Quora is truly heart-wrenching as she’s a treasured member of the family; to me, she’s always been more like a sister than a dog.

Quora was special from the moment we met, and she’s the one who chose us to have as her own in a meeting that was divinely appointed.

I met her at an adoptathon. As I knelt down to say hi, she crawled up onto my lap, looking up at me adoringly with what my Mom called “tootsie pop” eyes: big, round, bright, and dancing. Then she lifted all of herself gingerly onto my lap as she leaned into my chest to get as close as possible to me.

I was appalled to learn that Quora prior to that day had been living outside in a cage with her siblings for over a year once she and her litter mates grew out of “cute puppy stage” and were replaced by younger pups. It was striking to me hearing that, as here sat the most cuddly dog I’d ever met who literally couldn’t get enough love and physical touch.

In that moment on my lap she chose me, chose my family, as our own. Yes; in that instant I knew she’d picked me and there was no way in hell I could leave her behind. And after hearing her story, I wanted nothing more than to give her all of the love she’d been missing and was so desperate to give to others. I called my Dad and told him that I knew I had found the perfect canine companion for my mom’s dog Quixote. He said, “I trust you, get her, and bring her home!”

The first day my Mom met Quora was a surprise that my Dad and I planned out. We were at the Davenport Hotel and my Dad met me just before to have the dogs meet. Then we playfully decided that Quora looked so much like Quixote that we actually dressed her up in Quixote’s sweatsuit and did a switch-eroonie, much like the movie The Parent Trap.

We then opened the door to her hotel room while one of us held Quixote. We sent Quora in, and she went running up to say hi to my Mom.

My Mom said, “What did you do to Quixote?! Did you shave him?!” Then Quixote was released and she stood there looking at the two dogs in confusion and then it turned into an uproar of laughing and Mom gladly accepting kisses from her new dog.

The match between Quora and my family couldn’t have been more right.

Quixote and Quora were as in love as an old married couple; him letting her have access to anything she wanted despite him not doing so for any other dog, even letting her share all of his food. They would both bathe each other in kisses repeatedly throughout the day as they’d curl up close together.

Quora was one of those heart dogs who wanted nothing more in life than to snuggle, to be held close (she was a dog who truly loved hugs) and to eat lots of treats; all things she relished and was pampered into doing on a daily basis.

She also had her quirks: like loving shoes and loving to chase!

One day we left her at my Grandma’s house for a quick lunch. When we’d returned she’d packed out every single shoe from Grandma’s closet and carried them into the living room; each pair perfectly laid out in order, the right by the left. That day she was given the name Imelda-Barkos for her shoe fetish. After that she started stealing our family’s shoes and would always stack them side by side, the right by the left in order as if waiting for the person to put them on.

That girl had good taste and only chewed the more expensive pairs, chewing the upper heel out of my dad’s Merrills and the tongue out of my mom’s Sorrells. But mostly she just wanted to take them, admire them, and lie by her cherished possessions that no doubt were a symbol of some of her favorite people. Her most common nickname to celebrate her shoe affection was Shoebacca (like Chewbacca from Star Wars), or for short, just Shoe.

Quora was an infamous wild turkey chaser and bunny herder, never once hurting one, but smiling grandly as she raced after them with her cheetah-like long legs. This was the one reminder she was truly a dog; otherwise she was such a lady, earning her name Miss Quora as she never liked to get dirty like the other dogs did.

Quora heaped on love to all of my family, and especially Mom who she shadowed everywhere. My brother, Lex, was like her human boyfriend. She looked up at him as if he was a walking jerky treat, and it was rare to not find her on his lap from the moment he came home to visit.

My Dad woke up on Friday morning knowing something was very wrong with Quora, now 14 years old. He rushed her to the vet school at WSU, his alma mater and the nearest veterinary college to us. They performed a transfusion and surgery to remove her spleen, but she barely made it through the surgery and the surgical team did not believe she could survive, even with every possible thing they could have done.

My Dad was there with her alone as my Mom and I were in Arizona when this happened, but he put Quora’s needs first, just like he always does. As he prepared to let her go, he told us he was petting and her and telling her with each pet, “Remember how you always loved to eat… or how you….”

The way he said those things was so eloquent and made me cry hearing them.

Mom and I sat on the bed in Arizona, looking out at the quail and bunnies — mom and a baby — who came up right by our window, eating happily as we reminisced about Quora and laughed and cried.

Dad has always been the one to reassure us, to be strong and to care for us. It hurts me so much to hear about him telling Quora those things in her final moments as he petted her and reminded her how she liked to chase bunnies, how she and Quixote liked to kiss each other all made her, re-telling her life story  from the moment I got her and brought her home, to when he and Mom met her.

He told her what we felt about her, each dog and person, and how we loved her and what she personally meant to each one. He said this as he stroked and examined her; nose to toes, mouth to tail. He recounted stories to her about her life, including how Quixote was so lonely without her and how she came in and made him happy again. He went over her last full day on earth and all the great treats and fun she had that day, how it was as perfect as it could be.

Our entire family is at a huge loss without her steady companionship and unrelenting affection. Quora to me is a symbol of love, God’s love, and she will be so missed.

Last night my dad had a dream that woke him, of her running through tall, wet grass looking back at him repeatedly as she ran.

He wanted to stop her, but his arms felt stuck to his sides as she kept running off into the tall grass. We all think it was Dad getting a glimpse of her passage into heaven, to he rainbow bridge, where she’s now with all the animals we’ve loved and lost who are waiting at heavens gate for us.

Last night as my Dad said goodbye to Quora it was 5:59. It hasn’t rained in in months, but at exactly 5:59 it started to pour.  Auntie Kate, who was taking care of our other dogs while Dad went to WSU, said she knew it was like heaven was crying in that moment over the loss of our sweet girl.

Until we meet again, may Jesus hold you, Quora. You deserve a special place right in someone’s arms, and until we can do that again, we hold you in our hearts and will never, ever let you go. We love you, Miss Quora Shoe!

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How and why to take the fear out of brushing your dog’s teeth – for both of you!

Veterinary Medicine

How many things would you rather do than brush your dog’s teeth?

If you’re like most pet owners I talk to, that’s a long list. But not only shouldn’t it be that way, it really doesn’t have to!

First, let’s get one misconception out of the way: You don’t need your veterinarian. Just as you need a professional dental cleaning to remove problems the toothbrush can’t reach, so do your dogs. That means, just as you have to see the dentist, your pets need to see the veterinarian. That’s because the real problems are below the gum line, and your dog will need to be anesthetized so that area can be completely and painlessly cleaned. Skip that step, and serious problems including pain and tenderness with chewing, foul-smelling breath, and infection can take hold.

Beyond veterinary dental care, the other essential component in caring for a dog’s teeth is to rid the teeth of built up tartar and plaque. There are numerous ways to keep teeth clean, but as always, follow your veterinarian’s guidance first and foremost.

The gold standard of at-home dental care is brushing a pet’s teeth. If that makes you shudder, please believe me when I tell you it’s possible to make tooth brushing fun for your dog, which should make it fun for you, too. Start by finding a pet specific tooth brush or pet wipes that can be used to clean teeth, such as my favorites, Earthbath Tooth and Gum Wipes.

If using a toothbrush, place peanut butter or a soft treat on the toothbrush and let your pet lick this off the toothbrush to begin with. Next, get your pet comfortable with her mouth being touched by gently touching it and feeding a treat. Each time the mouth is touched or lip gently lifted up, feed a tasty treat.

Once she’s comfortable both with the sight of a toothbrush and her mouth being handled, combine the two by lifting her lip and bringing in the toothbrush with the soft treat smeared on it. Wipe the treat against the outside of the teeth, and then let go of the mouth for the dog to lick the treat off her teeth.

Practice moving to different areas of the mouth and opening it from above to get the inside teeth as well. Continue with rewards given on the toothbrush, or giving loose treats, depending on the dog and situation.

Once the dog becomes comfortable, a pet-specific toothpaste can be used and treats given as you brush or immediately after brushing. My father, Dr. Marty Becker, is a veterinarian who not only advises at-home preventive dental care, but he and my mother daily brush their dogs’ teeth. The dogs are excited at getting their teeth brushed up and will line up for their turn, because teeth brushing earns them special praise and a dental chew, or what my dad calls an edible toothbrush.

Another way to clean the teeth is with pet wipes that can be swiped on the tooth using a finger. These are a great option for dogs that are more sensitive to an object being moved towards them, but they are more comfortable with petting and touch by their person. They can be wrapped around a finger and then the finger can be used to glide and feel along the teeth to clean.

To get a dog accustomed to the wipes, do the training in a similar manner to the toothbrush with a spreadable treat on the surface of the wipe that the dog can lick off when it’s left on her teeth. This associates opening the mouth and having teeth and gums touched with getting a reward. If the dog is mouthy with fingers, do this in small steps of lifting her lip or gently touching the outer part of her muzzle.

If she stays calm, reward with a soft treat. Then gradually work up to using the teeth wipes and cleaning different parts of her mouth, treating as often as needed to keep her calm.

Other methods for cleaning teeth are using a dental formulated diet made with special ingredients and composed in a shape that works to keep the tooth surface cleaner. Dental chews can also scrape buildup off teeth to a certain extent, and some have enzymes that work to break down plaque and tartar on the teeth. Talk to your veterinarian about his or her recommendations on how to best protect your pet’s dental health.

10 low-stress tips for bathing and grooming a cat

Fear Free

Except for drinking, you won’t catch most cats coming close to water. The closest thing most felines see to a bath is their own tongue. Although that’s enough for most cats, sometimes they need to be bathed or groomed because they got tangled or for medical reasons.

If you’re skeptical or fearful, try these ten tips for getting your cat and yourself through the process without stress or injury:

1. Be selective in how you’ll bathe your cat. Some cats prefer a shower, with their human holding them close. They sometimes find it more soothing than being held only in the arms. Other cats prefer a sink where they can be up high, while others would rather get in the bath tub, although some cats find a faucet aversive. Consider pouring warm water from a cup, or using an extended, flexible nozzle to give yourself more control.

2. Mind the water. Bathwater should be kept at the temperature comfortable for an infant. You might want to look into baby bath monitors to keep it save and comfortable for your cat. They can also great stressed out at the force of the water coming from a faucet, nozzle, or shower head; keep the pressure low, or use a cup as recommended earlier. Wet washcloths can be used as well.

3. Watch the face. Most cats are afraid of having their faces washed, so only bathe them from the neck down. To clean the face or sensitive areas like the ears, pet wipes are often better tolerated. Unless it upsets the cat, put cotton balls in each ear to protect them from water.

4. Place an anti-skid mat on the bottom of the bathing surface to give your cat a better grip. Many cats will panic when their feet slip, but if they have grip and stability, the struggle is often reduced.

5. Keep them calm. Try using lavender or chamomile scents in the bathing area, as they can keep you and the cat calm. Classical music, played softly, may help, too.  Think spa!

6. Treats! If your cat will take treats, such as licks of tuna or soft cat food off a spoon, have a helper reward your cat during the bath. Even for cats who won’t take treats, petting, gentle massage, and talking can be soothing as well. Post-bath, find a ritual your feline especially enjoys. This could be a special reward given to them only after baths, such as a special type of food or extra special play session. Many times by pairing it with a positive after the bath time is better tolerated because of the anticipated reward to come.

7. Take it slow. For cats who are especially upset with baths, try getting them comfortable with the bathing area without water to begin with. Place the cat in or near the bathing area and reward for staying in this area with a session or play or palatable treats.

If the cat is still freaked out even without water, try doing the training in an area near the bath, such as just outside the  bathroom door or on the floor outside of the bath. Then, practice the training with water flowing in the bath but the cat outside of the area to get them comfortable with the sound of water. Also, practice the types of handling and holds that are done in the bath without water being used so the feline is accustomed to this type of handling. Only progress at a rate the cat stays comfortable with and is relaxed enough to enjoy rewards.

8. For cats who are fearful of running water, alternatives are available. Consider using facial wipes for the cat’s face and ear wipes for the ear area. Body wipes can also be used all over the cat’s body in place of a bath or between baths. For more thorough cleaning, the coat can be cleaned using a waterless grooming foam, which only needs to be applied and then toweled off for a deeper clean. While they may not be as thorough as a bath with water, they still remove many of the allergens collected on a cat’s coat, and will leave a cat smelling and looking fresh. In a similar fashion to a bath, a cat can be given rewards both during and after being wiped clean.

9. Be careful. If the cat is sensitive of certain areas being touched, such as paws, start with the areas the cat is comfortable with and clean those, such as only cleaning the back and sides of the cat. Then, gradually accustom the cat to having the sensitive areas touched by using a hand without a grooming product to begin with.

Practice handling around the area in a manner the cat is comfortable with. For paws, this may mean handling the cat only near the shoulder to begin with and progressing down the leg towards the paw only as the cat remains relaxed with the handling. With ears, it may mean handling around the neck, head and base of the ears and only doing light touching and handling as the cat stays calm. Be sure to pair handling with rewards the cat finds enjoyable. Or, even do the handling in a manner the cat is relaxed with and follow up with a reward they already enjoy; like their meal, petting or a play session.

10. Drying time is relaxing time. When a cat needs to be dried after a bath, those who are comfortable with handling often prefer to be held inside of a towel or two that can be gently rubbed to dry their coat. Or, if they are the type of cat who wants space immediately after the bath, if possible, towel the cat in the area where they can be contained, such as the bath or sink area. Then, holding the toweled cat, lower her to the floor where she  can be released rather than jumping, which can cause anxious anticipation and result in injury.

If needed, when lowering the cat, position her in a way where the towel is wrapped gently around her paws or hold her firmly by her side with paws facing away from you to lessen the chance of being clawed as you set the cat down.

Amazing Gracie captures a heart … and goes home for Christmas

This and That, , ,

Gracie is a black, two-year-old Lab/Pit bull mix with deformed knees who has spent almost her entire life at the Second Chance Animal Adoption shelter in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Gracie has a new address now — at Almost Heaven Ranch with my dad, Dr. Marty Becker and my mom, Teresa.

My dad and I, along with the staffs of North Idaho Animal Hospital in Sandpoint and Lakewood Animal Hospital in Coeur d’Alene, spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day visiting our local animal shelters and bringing toys, greats and other gifts to the homeless pets there. It was our way of trying to make these special pets have a happier day.

On the way from Panhandle Animal Shelter in Ponderay to Second Chance, my dad was talking to me in the car about how he wanted to get a new dog in the future. He said he wanted to wait for the right dog, one who really needed a home. Some of my work as a dog-trainer is at the local shelter, so I said that I’d be on the lookout for him.

When we got to Second Chance, we were busy handing out gifts. Dad posed for photos with a black mixed-breed dog named Gracie. Although she was far from lap-sized, she let him hold her in his arms, totally relaxed — almost collapsed.

At one point I looked around and realized my dad had vanished. I walked back to the kennels and found him sitting in Gracie’s run. She was cuddled up next to him, staring up at his face while he petted and held her. The treat-stuffed Kong toy we’d given her for Christmas did not mean nearly as much to her as it did just to sit next to my dad.

Although there were dozens of people in the area, it felt like there was no one else in there at all, like it was just the two of them. I was witnessing something amazing.

When I asked dad what he was doing, he answered me in a voice I’d never heard from him before. He sounded like a little kid excited to open his stocking on Christmas.

“She’s a special dog, Kel,” he said. “She’s just really touched me. I don’t know what to do, but she has really stolen my heart. I think she might be the one!”

I knew then and there we were bringing home a new dog for Christmas. She and dad had an immediate connection, as if they were soulmates.

As soon as dad, after a few minutes of deliberation, decided he was taking her home, the entire staff and volunteers were in tears. They said they had all spent many anxious nights worrying about Gracie and if she would ever get a home with her special needs. They figured she had a good chance of always being a shelter resident.

Instead, it turns out she had just been waiting there for the special person who was going to be her forever friend.

On the way home she was sitting in my lap, but kept inching closer and closer to my dad in the driver’s seat until half her body was lying in the center console so that she could have her head resting right by him.

When we got home to Almost Heaven Ranch, dad marched in with her, so much vigor and joy in his step. He reminded me of a little kid who just got his first pet, or even like a mom who just brought her new baby home from the hospital.

My dad speaks at veterinary meetings and conferences about the connection people have to our pets and how much we love them — he calls it “The Bond” — to help motivate veterinarians to improve their connection to pet owners as well as pets. I’ve always known how sincere he is about that, but this weekend I’ve seen it in action in a way I never have before.

I see dad looking at Gracie and seeing past her crippling ailments to the pure soul that lies underneath. I see him crying while he holds her in his lap, Gracie just staring up at him with such calmness, such a sure sense that he is going to protect her from now on.

This Christmas, we thought we would be giving out presents to pets  to make their day special. I never expected one pet would steal my dad’s heart at first sight and, as my mom said yesterday, turn out to be the greatest Christmas present he has ever had. I know each day with her will continue to be a gift.

Welcome home, Gracie!