Tag: taste of the wild

Need Therapy? The Cat Will See You Now

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Therapy cats

When it comes to helping people, dogs get all the glory. It’s not hard to find awwww-inspiring photos of dogs helping vision-impaired people across the street, warning owners of an upcoming seizure or dutifully carrying the newspaper to the disabled.

But what about therapy cats? Do cats just lack the altruism gene? Did their reputation for being aloof inspire the saying, “Everyone needs a dog to adore them and a cat to ignore them”? Many cats, as it turns out, do help people — just on their own terms.

Therapy Cats vs. Service Animals

A service animal, as defined by the American Disabilities Act, is a dog or miniature horse trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. Although many cats can be trained, they generally aren’t, as yet, considered service animals.

Still, cats have a lot to offer. A purring cat can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and trigger the release of oxytocin, the feel-good “cuddle hormone.” Children raised with cats may be less likely to develop allergies. By providing companionship and nonjudgmental affection, cats can also help relieve depression and loneliness.

That’s why, more and more, cats are being used as therapy animals. Unlike service animals, which tend to live with the patient, therapy animals generally stop by for a visit, whether it’s at a nursing home, prison or physical therapy facility.

Animal-Assisted Therapy vs. Animal-Assisted Activities

Therapy cats tend to fall into two categories. The first is used for animal-assisted therapy (AAT). In these cases, a health or human services professional creates a goal-oriented plan to meet specific physical, emotional, cognitive or social needs of a patient.

In a physical therapy setting, for example, handling a cat may help a patient regain motor skills following a hand surgery. A therapist may choose to include a cat in a therapy session to help, for example, extend the attention span of a child with autism spectrum disorder.

The second CATegory of feline-aided therapy is called animal-assisted activity (AAA). In these cases, the aim is generally to improve the patient’s quality of life. Often, the handler is the cat’s owner who has been through training and has had the cat certified. The handler may bring the cat to places like rehabilitation facilities, schools and nursing homes.

In patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s, for instance, cats have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, soothe agitation and decrease feelings of isolation. When real cats aren’t available, long-term care facilities have even taken to using battery-operated cats. Petting the soft fur may calm patients, and built-in sensors respond to touches by triggering the robotic cat to purr, close its eyes or roll over on its back.

The Making of a Therapy Cat

Organizations like Pet Partners help screen cats and train volunteers to become therapy teams. Typically, they look for cats with calm, laid-back temperaments who are gentle and tolerant of being handled by different people in various environments. Retired show cats, for example, tend to make good therapy cats because they’re used to frequent handling and noisy surroundings.

Cats should usually be at least one year old, current on vaccines and considered healthy, based on a veterinary exam. Once the cat is certified and the owner has been trained, the team may make supervised visits before they are free to make visits on their own.

Think your cat has what it takes to be a therapy cat? Check out Pet Partners or look for feline therapy organizations near you.

Can My Dog Eat That? Candy

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A brown dog sitting in a chair next to an orange plastic pumpkin bucket.

Welcome to “Can My Dog Eat That?,” our series that answers some obvious (and not-so-obvious) questions about what your dog can and can’t safely eat. You can view some of the previous foods we’ve looked at in our “Can my dog eat that?” guide. Today we answer the question “Can dogs eat candy?” Read on!

If people overindulge in candy, they may wind up with a stomachache (and some regrets). But dogs who eat chocolate or candy may not get away with it that easily. Candy is not a healthy treat for dogs, but more importantly, chocolate and some sugar-free candy are toxic to dogs — even a small amount can be dangerous. So keep your candy stash safely hidden from your dog!

Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?

No. Chocolate contains two potentially toxic substances for dogs: caffeine and theobromine, with theobromine being the greater concern. Both are rapidly absorbed from the small intestine and across the bladder wall, and returned to the bloodstream to recirculate again. Dogs can’t metabolize theobromine as easily as humans, which puts them at risk of theobromine reaching dangerous levels. 

As a general rule of thumb, the darker and more bitter the chocolate (e.g., cocoa powder, dark chocolate), the more theobromine it contains, and the more dangerous it can be. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate, for example, can contain around 450 mg of theobromine per ounce, compared with milk chocolate, which contains around 60 mg per ounce. Although white chocolate contains only a small amount of theobromine, it’s still best to keep it out of your dogs’ reach.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate

If your dog eats any amount of chocolate, it’s important to contact a veterinarian or animal poison control immediately. They will want to know the type of chocolate eaten (e.g., dark chocolate, milk chocolate), an estimate of how much was eaten, your dog’s weight and how long ago the chocolate was consumed.

A dog’s size can make a difference to how chocolate affects them. For example, a Great Dane that eats a small amount of chocolate may show mild signs, but the same amount could be fatal for a Pomeranian. Timing can be critical, too; if your dog just ate the chocolate, your veterinarian may be able to induce vomiting before much of the chocolate is digested (do not induce vomiting at home unless directed to by your vet).

Signs of Chocolate Poisoning

Depending on the type of chocolate, the amount eaten and the size of your dog, signs of toxicity can range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Here are some of the most common signs of chocolate toxicity:

  • Increased thirst
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Panting and pacing
  • Restlessness or hyperactivity
  • Muscle spasms (tremors)
  • Irregular heart rhythm
  • Seizures

Don’t wait for these symptoms to appear. If you know or suspect your dog ate chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately. After assessing your dog’s condition, your veterinarian may induce vomiting, administer activated charcoal to coat the digestive tract and prevent further chocolate absorption, or recommend additional supportive care.

Can Dogs Eat Sugar?

Let’s break this down. Is sugar toxic to dogs? No. Should dogs eat sugar regularly? Also no. While sugar won’t cause a life-threatening illness, it still isn’t healthy for dogs. If they eat a large amount of sugar in one sitting, (e.g., they swiped a sheet cake off the counter and devoured it), it can upset your dog’s digestive system, causing vomiting, appetite loss and diarrhea. The only type of sugar dogs should eat is the natural sugar found in dog-safe foods (like in strawberries or pineapples). However, too much natural sugar can also be unhealthy, so remember to keep to the rule of limiting treats to only 10 percent of your dog’s daily calorie intake.

Why is too much sugar bad for dogs? If your dog regularly eats sugar-filled sweet treats, the high sugar content could contribute to weight gain and increased health risks like obesity, diabetes and dental problems. 

Sugar-Free Products Can Be Toxic to Dogs

The more serious, short-term concern for dogs is not sugar but the natural sweetener xylitol. It is often used in sugar-free foods like gum, candy, peanut butter, syrup and sweeteners as a sugar substitute. Xylitol can also be found in non-food items like toothpaste, mouthwash and chewable vitamins. 

Xylitol poisoning can cause the dog’s blood sugar levels to drop (causing hypoglycemia) and can also cause liver failure if toxic amounts are ingested. Before giving your dog any human food, make sure you check the label carefully for xylitol and its other names: birch sugar, wood sugar and birch bark extract. If you think your dog ingested candy or food that contains xylitol, contact your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately. 

Keep Dogs Away from Dangerous Halloween Candies

If you have kids (or even if you don’t), Halloween is probably the peak time for candy and chocolate to be in the house — baskets full of candy corn, Skittles, Twizzlers and other tasty Halloween treats. Not only do you need to watch out for chocolate and xylitol, you also need to look out for the other Halloween candy ingredients. Candies and chocolate can contain other potentially toxic ingredients, such as raisins (chocolate-covered raisins are out for two reasons!) and macadamia nuts. 

Too many fatty treats can lead to pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that may require hospitalization. And since dogs don’t bother unwrapping candy before feasting, eating large quantities of candy wrappers could cause a digestive tract obstruction that requires surgery to correct.

Can Dogs Eat Candy?

No. Dogs should definitely not eat chocolate or sugar-free varieties of candy containing xylitol because these are toxic to dogs and can cause serious health issues. Dogs should also avoid eating large amounts of sugary foods. The best plan is to keep candy and chocolate treats out of the reach of your dog and limit your dog’s sugar consumption. There are plenty of dog treats made just for dogs, so stick to those for your furry friend.

An interior graphic with text that reads, ‘Can my dog eat candy? No’.

Herding Dogs: From Home on the Range to Home

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It’s a scene branded on your mind by movies (cue the harmonica) for generations: The mounted cowhands crack their whips, the lowing cows kick up dust as the trusted herding dogs nip at their heels in the sunset. Long an essential part of cattle drives and farm work, today herding dogs are more likely to be found as family pets, dashing around backyards and dog parks.

Part of Cowboy History

When America was mostly a wide-open range, herders of cattle and sheep seeking work migrated from countries such as Scotland, France, Spain and Australia, bringing their trusted dogs with them. These high-energy dogs usually had a knack for driving livestock over long distances, through all kinds of weather and terrain. Often doing the work of several cowhands, herding dogs could round up lost animals, keep predators (and cattle rustlers) at bay and confidently show animals many times their size who was boss.

A Class of Their Own

Today, the breeds traditionally used to drive animals are classified in the American Kennel Club’s Herding Group. As expected, the group includes breeds such as Australian cattle dogs, Belgian sheepdogs, border collies, collies and Shetland sheepdogs. Perhaps more surprising is the inclusion of breeds like Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh corgis.

In general, these breeds tend to have a natural “urge to herd” and may even gently round up children scattered in your backyard. Dogs in the herding group typically respond well to training. Since they usually require regular exercise, enrolling them in canine sports such as fly ball, agility and even herding trials is a good way to help them work off extra energy.

Working Dogs Today

Herding dogs are still used on ranches, farms and the occasional dude ranch, where they may herd, gather, sort, fetch and hold livestock. Although some dogs may exhibit these skills by instinct, most need to be trained to work with the handler and put those behaviors to proper use.

Successful herding dogs also need to learn to approach livestock with confidence so cattle won’t challenge them. And while the dog must be in control of the livestock, the cowhand must be in control of the dog.

Herding Competitions

Even when a herding dog’s only job is to be the family pet, herding trials can help them develop and maintain the skills for which their ancestors were originally bred. Depending on the breed, training usually starts at 10 to 12 months of age or when the dog is physically mature and knows basic obedience commands. During a competition, dogs may herd anything from cattle and sheep to goats, geese and ducks.

Rounding Up the Fun

While they’re often no longer “put to work,” these dogs can be fun and loyal companions for children. As long as they get the exercise they need, they’re perfect family pets.

Related Post: Which Sport Is Right for My Dog?

Related Post: Channel Your Dog’s Pent-Up Energy with Agility Training

Digesting the Many Possible Causes of a Pet’s Upset Stomach

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Common causes of vomiting or diarrhea graphic.

For many pets, trouble at one end of the digestive tract or the other is fairly common. In fact, upset stomachs and diarrhea are two of the top 10 reasons dogs and cats are taken to the veterinarian, according to Nationwide pet policyholders in 2016.

Sometimes, the cause is relatively innocent. Maybe you ran out of your dog’s normal diet and had to abruptly change food rather than making a gradual transition. Or your kids tried to sneak your pet some candy after dinner. Perhaps your cat spent the morning chewing on grass. Or one of your pets (no one will say who) surfed the kitchen counter and polished off the plate of leftovers, not to mention the tin foil.

Whatever the cause, you shouldn’t always assume it’s a minor issue that will pass on its own. In some cases, vomiting and/or diarrhea can be signs of serious or even life-threatening conditions, such as bloat, gastrointestinal obstruction or toxin ingestion, that require immediate medical attention. When in doubt, call your veterinarian for advice.

Common causes of vomiting or diarrhea graphic.

Better Safe Than Sorry

While it’s never a bad idea to seek veterinary help when your pet is under the weather, these signs may indicate that it’s time to start the car because there may be something more serious going on:

  • Vomiting or diarrhea several times an hour or many times a day
  • Severe lethargy
  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal swelling (in dogs)
  • Blood in vomit or feces
  • Loss of appetite for more than one day

While it may be tempting to give your pet over-the-counter vomiting or diarrhea medications, don’t do it unless instructed to do so by your veterinarian. Many products that are relatively safe for human use contain ingredients that can be toxic for pets.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your veterinarian will start by giving your pet a thorough exam. He or she may also recommend blood work, X-rays or other diagnostic tests. For serious conditions, your veterinarian may recommend hospitalization, intravenous fluids, medications and in some cases, such as digestive tract obstructions, surgery.

If your pet’s condition is less serious, the doctor may recommend conservative treatment, which may involve withholding food for 12 to 24 hours to give the digestive tract a chance to rest (cats should never have food withheld for more than 24 hours).  Then your pet may be started on a bland diet, such as boiled hamburger or chicken and rice or therapeutic diets that are available at your clinic. Your veterinarian may also recommend anti-nausea medications or probiotics to help restore the normal balance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract.

Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so your veterinarian may recommend subcutaneous fluids. It’s also a good idea to replace the water in your pet’s dish with ice cubes. This will help prevent your pet from drinking too much water at once, which may upset the digestive system.

As the vomiting and diarrhea subside, you can gradually transition your dog or cat back to his or her regular diet. And that will help you both feel better.

Channel Your Dog’s Pent-Up Energy with Agility Training

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If you have a high-energy pooch, you’ve probably walked them around the same blocks so many times that you dream about your daily path. Why not dial up the fun with an activity that provides you both with more physical and mental stimulation? For a lively way to strengthen the bond with your dog, few things beat agility training.

What Is Agility Training?

One of the fastest growing canine sports in the United States, agility running is a fast-paced, timed obstacle course that puts you and your dog to the test. It challenges your dog’s athletic ability and concentration as he or she leaps hurdles, barrels through tunnels, zigzags through lines of poles and clambers over seesaws. Agility also tests your capacity to guide your dog, providing some aerobic exercise in the bargain.

Those of you with a competitive streak can go against other teams at your experience level, from novice to master, or you can choose to participate recreationally. While the rules vary depending on the organization involved, points are generally given for speed and accuracy but subtracted for faults.

A “Sport for All Dogs”

Almost any dog can participate in agility competition, with more than 200 breeds — including mixes — currently competing, according to the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA).

Today, the most common breeds seen on the course include herding dogs such as border collies, Shetland sheepdogs and Belgian Tervurens as well as Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, Welsh corgis, cocker spaniels and even petite papillons. And some Jack Russell terriers can’t seem to contain their enthusiasm for the sport.

Is Agility Right for Your Pup?

One of the primary prerequisites of the sport is basic obedience. Your dog should have mastered commands such as “sit,” “stay” and “come.” Dogs that are happy to follow commands tend to be more successful at agility than those with a more independent nature.

While athleticism is a plus, it’s possible to gradually work your couch potato up to a more active level, barring any underlying physical limitations. Socialization is another issue: because there can be hundreds of dogs, handlers and spectators at these events, your dog should be comfortable with crowds and not easily distracted by barking dogs and cheering fans.

Start with a Veterinary Exam

Before you put your dog through the paces, ask your veterinarian if your dog is physically capable of this level of exercise. Dogs with underlying orthopedic conditions, such as hip dysplasia, may be better suited to more low-impact activities like swimming.

Overweight dogs may need to lose some weight first to reduce unnecessary stress on the joints. And flat-nosed brachycephalic breeds such as bulldogs that are breathing-challenged and overheat easily might be better off with regular walks during the cooler parts of the day.

If you have a young puppy, now may be the time to work on obedience and save the high-impact agility exercises for later, once the bones have fully developed.

Your veterinarian can also make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed to help reduce the risk of foot and toe injuries.

Be a Spectator or a Handler

To see agility at its best, check out any number of competitions held across the country. Or contact the USDAA to locate a community class for you and your dog. Do your kids want to be involved? No problem. Do you have a disability? Chances are, you can be a handler, too.

What are you waiting for? Agility can be a great way to challenge your pet’s mind and body (not to mention yours, too), while deepening your relationship. That’s what you’d call a win-win.

RELATED POST: Which Sport Is Right for My Dog?

Firehouse Dogs: More Mascot, Less Workhorse

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Few things are more closely associated with the roar of a fire engine, the clang of bells and the wail of a siren than the Dalmatian. While he or she once was considered an integral part of the fire crew, today the Dalmatian is a rare sight at firehouses and is more likely to fulfill a less active role as mascot.

Why the Dalmatian?

Some 200 years ago, the British discovered that this spotted breed had three useful qualities: speed, endurance and an affinity for horses. As a result, Dalmatians were used as “carriage dogs” or “English coach dogs,” sprinting on either side of horse-drawn carriages to protect the equines from animals that might spook them. (An engraving of a spotted dog running behind an Egyptian chariot hints that Dalmatians may have held similar jobs much earlier.)

The dogs also guarded the carriage and alerted the driver of highwaymen with nefarious intentions. And the more Dalmatians that accompanied a carriage, the more likely its occupants were wealthy or of higher social stature.

When horse-drawn fire wagons came on the scene, it was a natural transition to use barking Dalmatians to clear a path for the rushing wagon. At the scene of the fire, these same dogs helped calm skittish horses and made sure no one stole the equipment or horses while the firefighters were doing their jobs. Back at the firehouse, the dogs made short work of rats and other vermin.

But with the advent of motorized fire engines, there was little need for the Dalmatian, so they were essentially retired. Some firehouses may still keep one around, and firefighters occasionally adopt dogs they’ve saved from fires, but these are often other breeds.

A New Firehouse Job: Arson Detection

In the 1980s, fire departments started employing arson dogs, or accelerant-detection canines, to use their powerful noses to whiff out gasoline, lighter fluid and other flammables used to spark fires. Most arson dogs in the United States are trained and certified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco or according to Maine Criminal Justice Academy guidelines in a special program funded by State Farm Insurance Company. Labrador retrievers or Lab crosses are typically preferred for this work because of their tracking abilities and easy-going natures.

Each dog is teamed with a handler, usually an investigative firefighter or police officer, and undergoes weeks of intensive training. After certification, arson dogs live with their handlers and usually investigate fire scenes every week. To keep them sharp, the dogs must be recertified every year.

More Fun Facts

Now that you can entertain others with the history of the Dalmatian as firehouse dog, here’s one more bit of trivia for you: Dalmatians are born white and only develop spots as they grow. Who knew?

Hot Dog: Sunburn in Pets

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Does your dog sprawl in the sunniest spot in the yard, soaking up the rays? Will your cat follow the patch of sunlight around the living room all day? If so, it’s possible that even the furriest fur baby can get sunburned, just like you.

Even indoor pets can be burned when certain UV rays pass through open windows or glass and penetrate the skin. Over time, excessive sun exposure can cause irreversible skin damage and even lead to skin cancer in dogs and cats.

A cat lying on its back next to a window with the sun shining on its belly.

Doesn’t the Fur Block the Sun’s Rays?

Yes — to a degree. But like light-haired, fair-skinned people, dogs and cats with white, light or thin hair and less skin pigmentation may be more likely to sunburn. Dogs that may be prone to sunburn include Dalmatians, boxers, American Staffordshire terriers, bull terriers, bulldogs, whippets and breeds with little or no hair, such as Chinese crested dogs. Dogs and cats living at high altitudes or those who beg to be outdoors all day may also be at risk of burning. So if you’re taking your dog hiking in the mountains, be prepared.

And if you shaved your pet to be cooler in the summer or had patches shaved for a surgical procedure, guess what? That exposed skin is at risk. Same goes for pets with hair loss from allergies or disease. Areas of skin with little or no hair, such as around the lips, the belly, lightly colored noses and the inside of the legs are more susceptible to sunburn. Cats may feel the burn on their ears and faces.

Signs of Sunburn Often Go Unnoticed

Like people, sunburned pets may have pink, reddened skin that’s tender to the touch. The trouble is that other conditions, such as allergies or skin infections, can cause similar signs. Often, owners don’t notice the signs until the damage progresses and the pet experiences hair loss, roughness or thickening of the skin or even irregular growths. If you suspect your pet may be sunburned, contact your veterinarian for advice.

Prevention Is Key

Because some sun damage can’t be reversed, the best strategy is to prevent your pet from getting excess sun exposure. If your pet has light or thin hair, here’s what you can do:

  • Avoid direct sunlight when the sun is most intense. In the U.S., that’s typically between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from April to October. Either keep your pet indoors (and away from windows) or make sure your pet has a cool, shady spot outdoors during those times. And remember, pets can still be at risk of sunburn in the winter when sun can reflect off snow and ice.
  • Find a pet-safe, waterproof, topical sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Ideally, look for a broad-spectrum product that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can pass through glass and penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays, potentially contributing to skin aging and skin cancers. UVB rays tend to damage the skin’s more superficial layers, leading to sunburn and skin cancers.
  • Avoid sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or salicylates, which can be toxic to dogs and cats if they lick their skin. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a brand of sunscreen that’s safe for pets.
  • If possible, apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure to the nose, ear tips, around the lips and to areas with little or no hair. Make sure to reapply the sunscreen every few hours or as necessary.
  • Shop for pet accessories with built-in UV protection. These include Doggles, to help protect the eyes from UV rays, as well as clothing and even pop-up tents.

With the right precautions, you can still make the most of the great outdoors with your pet — without getting burned.

Your Cat’s Tail: A Translation

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Does it seem that your cat intentionally keeps you guessing about what’s in his or her mind? Guess what: your cat is actually giving you hints — with its tail. In fact, tail position is one way cats communicate with other animals. If you know how to decode the language, you can understand what your cat is trying to say to you, too.

Of course, every cat is unique and may have his or her own way of communicating, but in general, here’s what your cat may be saying with its tail.

An interior graphic detailing how to translate your cat's tail with nine different tail positions and what these positions may indicate.

Of course, knowing what your cat is saying with his or her tail is just the start. Your cat also uses facial expressions and other body parts to communicate. Once you become more fluent in your cat’s body language, you’ll realize that he or she actually talks to you quite a bit — without saying a word.

Can Dogs Smell Cancer? Exploring Cancer-Sniffing Canines

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An extreme close-up of a dog’s nose and nostrils, showing the unique skin texture.

When it comes to their sense of smell, a dog’s sniffing ability operates on a whole other level compared to ours. They can sniff out hidden treats, and there are even trained bed-bug sniffing dogs! But could a dog’s nose be so good that it could sniff out cancerous cells? 

Yes, some dogs do have special cancer-sniffing abilities — but usually it’s only if they’ve been trained. However, there are some cases of average dogs who have shown cancer detection abilities without being trained.  

Can Dogs Sense Cancer?

The first published evidence of a cancer-sniffing dog appeared in 1989 in the medical journal Lancet. Two physicians wrote a letter about a dog who became obsessed with a mole on his person’s leg. The mixed-breed dog constantly sniffed at the mole and eventually tried to bite it off. Although his owner wasn’t particularly concerned about the mole, her dog’s persistence convinced her to have it checked out. The mole was indeed a malignant melanoma (skin cancer). 

Since that time, dogs in special training programs have been able to detect cancer in human tissue, blood, urine and breath samples, enabling them to identify skin, bladder, prostate, colorectal, breast and lung cancers, in addition to ovarian cancer. 

The trained dogs can’t differentiate breast cancer from prostate cancer (or any other type of cancer), but the dogs can detect the scent of volatile organic compounds given off by the malignant (cancerous) cells in the human body. Only a doctor can diagnose a disease, but these highly trained cancer-detection dogs are able to contribute to valuable cancer research studies.

Can Untrained Dogs Smell Cancer?

There’s typically no need to tense up every time your dog runs their snout over your skin; dogs that can detect cancer generally only do so after intensive training. If your dog is licking your skin or focusing on a particular part of your body, it’s more likely that you spilled some food or there’s another substance there that smells or tastes interesting to your dog. However, there are rare, personal accounts of untrained dogs’ behaviors that convinced their owners to consult their doctor and confirm a diagnosis.

Can Dogs Detect Cancer by Licking?

No, dogs that have been trained to detect cancer do so by sniffing not licking. Dogs have around fifty times as many scent receptors as humans, or about 300,000 of them. And unlike people, dogs have a second scent organ located on the bottom of the nasal passage called the vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ, to aid in detecting even more scents. This powerful olfactory system enables them to detect scents like the volatile organic compounds given off by the cancer cells. 

However, in anecdotal stories of dogs alerting their owners to signs of potential cancers or tumors, they may have done so by licking, sniffing or nipping at a certain spot on their owner’s body.

How Do Dogs Act When They Smell Cancer?

In untrained dogs, there have been reports of dogs persistently licking, sniffing or nipping at cancerous skin lesions. Others have reported the dog sniffing or pawing at the area where the cancer was later found. 

In trained cancer detection dogs, how the dog acts depends on what they’ve been trained to detect. In general, trainers start by exposing the dog to blood samples or tissue samples from cancer patients. If the dog can alert to the correct sample, they are rewarded with praise and a treat or toy. Through positive reinforcement, the dog is rewarded each time they differentiate the cancer sample odors from other scents.

Can Dogs Tell When You’re Sick?

Your dog knows what you usually smell like, and when you’re sick your smell changes due to changes in your body chemistry and hormones. Some dogs may pick up on this change in smell and realize that something isn’t right. They may also notice that your routine has changed, and now you’re lying on the couch or in bed all day instead of going to work. Some dogs can also read human emotions and may notice that you’re not your usually happy self. 

If your dog comes over to comfort you when you’re sick, there can be a couple of different reasons for this. They may be trying to make you feel better, or they may feel worried about the change in your behavior and routine and need comforting themselves. Your instinct is, of course, to snuggle with your canine companion, and this positive reinforcement means that the next time you’re sick, they’ll want to snuggle with you again. But a little snuggle therapy is good for everyone.

What Is the Future for Cancer Medical Detection Dogs?

Currently, dogs are only trained to detect cancer in medical samples, not in people. These canine scent detection training centers collaborate with other cancer research scientists who are working to isolate the exact chemicals the dogs identify. Since the accuracy of the dogs can vary depending on a number of factors, including breed, level of training and handler bias, the hope is to eventually create an electronic sensor that can essentially replace the dogs.

But for now, these trained dogs are applying their noses to help researchers get one step closer to early detection of many human cancers. Amazing, isn’t it?

What Goes In: The Impact of Food on Feline Urinary Tract Health

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When cats urinate outside the litter box, no one’s happy. You’re not happy on your hands and knees, dabbing at the damp spot on your oriental rug. And your cat certainly isn’t happy to deal with a painful urinary tract, which is often the cause of this behavior. Feline lower urinary tract disease is one of the biggest concerns for cat owners.

So it’s only natural that cat owners like you might wonder if diet has any role in the problem. And if so, what can you change to avoid another carpet incident? As any cat owner has come to expect, the answer isn’t that simple. Read on for what you need to know about keeping that urinary tract healthy.

The Touchy Feline Urinary Tract

While there are behavioral reasons for your cat to eschew the litter box (no, he’s typically not getting revenge for being left alone last weekend), the most common medical causes are idiopathic cystitis and urinary tract stones.

Idiopathic cystitis is a term that means your cat’s bladder is inflamed for no obvious reason, although stress is suspected to play a role.

Urinary tract stones, or uroliths, form from microscopic crystals in your cat’s urine. The stones can lodge in the kidneys, travel down the ureter to the bladder and even cause a blockage in the urethra, the tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body. When this happens, your cat may strain to urinate — often yowling in or around the litter box — with little to no effect. This is a medical emergency and your cat needs to see a veterinarian immediately.

What Causes Urinary Tract Stones

The two most common types of urinary tract stones in cats are struvite and calcium oxalate. Although stone development is still poorly understood, it appears there are a number of contributing factors, including the urine pH, diet and your cat’s water consumption.

Struvite crystals and stones tend to form in alkaline urine, or urine with a high pH. Foods high in minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus can increase the urine pH. Cats that are poorly hydrated, leading to more concentrated urine (less water content) may be at higher risk of forming urinary crystals and stones as well. Cats that develop struvite stones are typically fed a therapeutic diet that can dissolve the stones by acidifying the urine.

Calcium oxalate stones, on the other hand, tend to form in more acidic urine, or urine with a low pH. Foods low in magnesium and phosphate — typically designed to acidify the urine — may contribute to the development of calcium oxalate stones. The problem with calcium oxalate stones is they typically can’t be dissolved with diet, and must be removed surgically or through other methods.

Keeping the Urinary Tract Happy

If your cat is showing signs of lower urinary tract disease, including straining to urinate, bloody urine, accidents outside the litter box or more frequent urination, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Nailing down the correct diagnosis is the first step to reaching a resolution.

If your cat has struvite stones, your veterinarian will most likely prescribe a therapeutic diet to help dissolve the stones. Since the urine pH typically rises after the cat eats a meal (no matter what kind of diet they’re eating), it has been suggested that feeding smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may reduce spikes in urine pH and possibly help prevent the formation of struvite stones.

If calcium oxalate stones are your cat’s problem, your veterinarian will recommend a way to remove the existing stones. To help prevent stones from developing in the future, your cat will most likely need to eat a diet that helps achieve a neutral pH that’s neither acidic nor alkaline.

In either case, improving your cat’s water consumption can also help to create more dilute urine, lowering the risk of stones. One way to do this is by feeding canned food, which has higher water content than dry. Plug-in water fountains that circulate the water may also appeal to your cat’s curiosity and encourage him or her to drink more. And that, eventually, may make both you and your cat happier.