I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for loving pets as much as you do. I’m honored to have you in my life. Happy Thanksgiving!
All posts by Dr. Marty Becker
The myth of a cat’s 9 lives
Do cats really have nine lives? A better question may be why we think they do. Here’s what I told a reader!
Q: Where do we get the belief that cats have nine lives?
A: That’s a great question! Quite a few cultures share the idea that cats have multiple lives, though the number isn’t always nine. In Germany, Greece and Italy, for instance, cats are said to have seven lives. Some Middle Eastern traditions put a cat’s number of lives at six.
Whatever the number, I think it’s probably safe to say that the myth arose from the feline ability to escape what often looks to be certain death: the righting ability that often (but not always) has cats landing on their feet after a fall from a high place; their speed and agility in escaping a predator; and their finely tuned senses, which alert them to danger well before it appears.
The combination of a flexible spine and the inborn ability to orient the body properly as they fall is the source of the feline falling ability. That righting reflex begins to develop in kittens when they are 3 to 4 weeks old, and they have it down by the time they are 6 to 7 weeks old. (Never test this with kittens or cats; they can be injured or killed.)
If they need to make an escape, cats can fire the afterburners, putting on a burst of speed for short distances or hightail it over fences or up trees. Their slender, flexible bodies allow them to wriggle through small holes to save themselves as well.
Cats protect themselves in other ways. They can be finicky eaters, and they are less likely than dogs to ingest toxic substances — with plants being a common exception to that rule.
It’s not surprising that an animal with those incredible survival skills would give rise to the idea that he cheats death over and over again.
Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.
Dogs and turkey bones? Just say no
Thanksgiving’s almost here, and a reader wanted to know if it’s okay to share the leftover bones from her holiday turkey with her dog. Here’s what I told her, and why.
Q: With Thanksgiving coming up, I was wondering if it’s OK to give my dog the leftover turkey bones from the feast?
A: I know it’s tempting, but that’s not a good idea — no bones about it.
Dogs certainly love to eat bones, and during the holidays they are extra tempted to raid the trash for leftovers or steal meat with bones off the table, but cooked bones hold risks you don’t want to deal with. They can splinter, puncturing the intestinal tract and potentially causing serious or even fatal bacterial infections.
Bones can also cause an intestinal blockage. When that occurs, you may be taking your dog to the veterinarian for X-rays every day or two to make sure the bones are dissolving and passing safely through the system and out the back end. Worst-case scenario, your dog will need emergency surgery to remove the blockage.
There are other reasons not to give bones of any kind:
— Large or oddly shaped bones (think T-bones or beef vertebrae) can become stuck in the esophagus, causing choking, or elsewhere in the intestinal tract.
— Dogs who gulp bones instead of gnawing them thoroughly can choke on them.
— Dogs can break a tooth on a bone, requiring an expensive repair or extraction.
— Bones can become lodged on the lower jaw and must be removed by the veterinarian.
— An assortment of bones or bone fragments in the intestinal tract can cause canine constipation.
— Sharp bone fragments passing through can cause pain and bleeding from the rectum.
Bottom line: I always advise against giving dogs poultry or fish bones, and other bones are cause for concern as well. To prevent unauthorized bone intake, don’t leave them on the counter or in a trash can that is accessible to your dog.
Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.
Helping a dog make the transition from sunny California to the snowy Midwest
Moving from sunny Southern California to the snowy Midwest is a big change for anyone — including the family dog! Since I’ve lived in Idaho my whole life — a winter wonderland if there ever was one — I felt I had some advice to help with the transition.
Q: My dog and I just moved from Southern California to Wisconsin, and it’s starting to get a lot colder than we’re used to. What should I do to make sure my dog is prepared for winter?
A: Having lived in Idaho all my life, I know just what kind of weather you’re facing. Brrrr!
First things first: Provide protective gear as needed. Lots of people object to dogs wearing clothes, but shorthaired or thin-skinned dogs such as greyhounds or pugs don’t have much fur or fat for insulation, and it’s a real kindness to provide them with a warm coat or sweater to protect them from the elements. Not every dog needs a winter coat. Nordic breeds like Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies love the cold and snow and will happily dig themselves a snow cave to relax in.
Whether your dog needs booties depends on similar factors. If he walks on streets or sidewalks that have been treated with salts to melt ice, booties will protect his feet from chemicals. And longhaired dogs often get snow or ice balls between their foot pads. They may need booties as well, or you can try clipping the hair so there’s less opportunity for ice balls to form.
When he plays outdoors, make sure your dog has a sheltered area where he’ll be protected from wind and snow. How long should your dog stay outside? Once he’s accustomed to the new climate, he can stay outdoors as long as he wants if he has a place where he can retreat from the elements.
Finally, never let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area. One hazard dogs face in winter is being hit by a car because the driver’s vision is limited by snow piled on the sides of the road.
Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.
What would you like me to write about?
Whenever I survey my readers, you say your number one area of interest is veterinary information. But those articles aren’t as popular as others when I post them to Facebook.
What would you like me to write and post about? I want to make sure I’m giving you the information you really want (mixed with photos of my pets when I can’t stop myself).
Just post in the comments below!