All posts by Dr. Marty Becker

How to boost the odds a new cat will like being walked on a leash

Pet Connection

Cats on leashes? Yes, it’s a thing, although not all cats or cat owners are on board. This reader wanted to increase the chances a new cat would take to it, so I asked my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, to join me in some recommendations.

Q: I want a cat who will enjoy walking on a leash. Are there certain breeds or personality traits I should look for, or can any cat learn?

A: Leash training can be a great way to help your cat get some exercise and safely enjoy the outdoor environment. It’s also a good way to help young cats develop confidence.

Depending on how early you start, many cats can learn to walk on-leash, but some are definitely better candidates than others. Here are some of the cat breeds who have a reputation for taking to leash training.

— The Abyssinian is a daring and active cat with a social personality. Going out on a leash gives him the opportunity to meet his adoring fans, so he’s generally all for it.

— The pedigreed American shorthair is usually easygoing, tolerant and adaptable, as well as being a quick learner. This is a sturdy and often adventurous cat who may be willing to try new things.

— Active, curious and smart, the Bengal loves to learn new things and can be a cat trainer’s dream — as long as you can keep a few steps ahead of him. Leash training challenges his brain and helps to burn off some of his energy.

— The Savannah is a large cat who may outweigh some of the poodles and pugs he sees on walks. Keep an eye on him so he doesn’t use his gymnastic ability to escape you and go hunting.

— Siamese cats and other Oriental breeds typically take to leash training with enthusiasm, thanks to their endless cleverness and curiosity.

— A Persian? That’s a cat who might prefer to be pushed in a stroller.

You don’t have to get a pedigreed cat to find one who’s willing to walk on-leash. Plenty of random-bred domestic shorthairs and longhairs successfully learn how to walk on a leash.

Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.

Sad, scared dog at vet

Why I want to get rid of veterinary hospital waiting rooms

Fear Free

In my almost 40-year-career, I’ve owned all or part of seven veterinary practices. Some were free-standing buildings and others were in shopping centers, but they were basically all of the same design. From front to back, reception counter, waiting area, exam rooms, pharmacy/treatment, surgery, radiology, offices, and kennels. It’s the same template for probably 99 percent of the practices in the United States and Canada.

There’s one area of the veterinary hospital that is increasingly being designed out of new practices, and one I, along with most Fear Free Advisory Group members, would like to see largely eliminated is the waiting area. For if there was ever a “hell on earth” for pets, there must be sulfur in the air there.

Imagine this hellish recipe:

  • Take one aggressive dog
  • Add one timid dog
  • Toss in two scaredy cats
  • Mix well
  • Season with one super-loud pet owner yapping on the phone who’s dog is trying to bark loud enough to drown her out
  • Bring to a boil with vocalizing dogs in the back, doorbell ringing, and the smell of bleach in the air

There’s simply no possible way to add pets who don’t know each other with species and individuals who don’t like each other, with pet parents who might also not like each other (who are also worried about what’s wrong with their pet, if she is going to be okay, and how much it’s going to cost), and expect an outbreak of invisible s’mores and a canine chorus of Kumbaya or kitties reading psalms.

Newer practices are taking the space normally allocated for the waiting area and are instead adding more exam rooms so that pets and pet owners can be ushered straight into exam rooms to be checked in and checked out.

Older practices, like the one I work in Sandpoint, Idaho, simply have the pet owner check in and go back outside to wait with their pet in their vehicle. It makes my heart smile to look out the front door of North Idaho Animal Hospital and see five or six vehicles acting as comfy waiting rooms for both pets and people with their own scents, their own music or talk, and none of the fear, anxiety, and stress triggers inside.

Labrador Retriever

A kiss no dog wants

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with our dogs — heartworms, ticks, fleas — now they are at risk from “kissing bugs.”

The blood-sucking insects, found primarily in the southern United States and into Mexico, Central America and South America, seek out animals on which they can feed, including dogs, birds, reptiles and, yes, humans.

Dogs can become infected with what’s known as Chagas disease when they are exposed to the bugs’ feces or when they eat the bugs.

The potentially fatal disease affects the heart and other organs. According to Sarah Hamer, DVM, at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, approximately 60 percent of kissing bugs in Texas are infected with the disease-causing parasite.

To help prevent infection, keep dogs indoors at night, seal cracks and gaps around doors and windows, and keep pet areas clean and bug-free.

Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.

Why dogs lick their feet and legs, and what to do about it

Pet Connection, Veterinary Medicine

Allergies? Pain? Boredom? Why do dogs lick their legs and feet obsessively, and what can you do about it? Here’s how I answered those questions from a reader.

Q: I have a dog who licks her feet and legs too much. She is groomed every month, and I give her daily dietary supplements. Her vet says she might have back leg problems. Is she in pain?

A: Dogs lick themselves for lots of reasons. Sometimes it’s a result of being anxious, stressed or bored. Dogs with separation anxiety may lick themselves because the behavior releases soothing endorphins that help the dog feel calm. Conflicts with other animals or changes in household routine may also cause “stress-relief” licking. Some dogs lick their paws because they don’t have anything better to do.

Your veterinarian is correct that licking can also be a sign of an underlying health problem. It’s not unusual for dogs to lick areas of the body that are itchy or painful. Dogs who lick their paws and legs may be attempting to relieve the awful itch of skin allergies or bacterial or fungal infections or the joint pain from arthritis, which can settle in the carpus (wrist), stifle (knee), elbows, hips and lower back.

Anytime a dog licks excessively, he should be seen by the veterinarian to rule out a health problem, such as one of the many itchy skin diseases or a painful condition such as arthritis. Be prepared to tell your vet about the food and supplements your dog receives, his daily routine and the detergents and household cleaners you use. The vet may run diagnostic tests that include skin scrapings, a fungal culture or blood work.

If a thorough history and physical exam don’t turn up any cause for the licking, consider your dog’s lifestyle. Does he need more physical and mental stimulation? Consider taking him on walks in new areas, letting him take his time sniffing instead of rushing him along, introducing him to a fun dog sport such as nose work or rally, or rotating several interesting puzzle toys

Read more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.

Talley Becker

Remember Me Thursday: Inspire change for pets in need on Sept. 27!

Rescue

The most powerful inspiration to get people to adopt is the pets themselves! That’s why I’m asking you to once again help homeless pets with a simple social media post.

If we all share our rescue pets with #RememberMeThursday, we will inspire the world to find forever families for every pet who needs one.

Be a light for rescue pets on Thursday, Sept. 27.

To learn more about #RememberMeThursday, visit www.remembermethursday.org.

Quill'N Becker

QT and Quixote