Obedience training for dogs, necessary as it is for the development of a well-mannered companion, has one built-in problem, in the mind of dog trainer and author Liz Palika.

"General obedience has a tendency to be too serious," she says. "Even when you're trying to be positive with your dog, there's a tendency to be too serious."

Peg that to the boot-camp mentality a lot of pet owners can't shake when it comes to obedience training, despite the introduction of more positive motivation methods in most training classes. In the minds of many dog lovers still, you take your dog to class to "break" him of annoying behaviors, to bark commands at him, to correct him for being "bad."

Your dog may be learning, but neither of you is having any fun. That's why Palika likes trick-training.

"When you get people to laugh, you have it made," she says. "It's so much fun for the dog, too. They're getting your attention, and you're laughing. Dogs know what laughter is, and they pick up your attitude."

Palika has been a dog trainer for more than 20 years and the author of pet-care books for a decade. She started her career as a dog handler in the military and now teaches dog-training classes out of the tidy compound in a former pasture north of San Diego. Obedience training may be her bread and butter, but she loves to get her students to teach their dogs tricks, too.

Sometimes it's not just for fun: Some of the trick-trained dogs from her classes end up showing off their skills at pet-therapy visits, and a couple have landed paid gigs in advertising.

But it's that changing of attitude that Palika likes about trick-training most of all. You're having fun with your dog, but he's still learning, she says, and this can be a great confidence-builder for a shy dog.

So where to start? Palika says to consider the temperament and physical abilities of your dog. Some tricks are best for active dogs, while others are well-suited to couch potatoes. Some physical limitations apply as well: Dogs with long backs, such as dachshunds, shouldn't be taught to beg because sitting up can put strain on their backs. "Safety is always an issue," she says.

Above all, be modest in your expectations. "Don't try to do the more elaborate tricks first," says Palika. "Your dog will get discouraged, and you'll get discouraged. Start with the basics and work your way up."

The basics start with some of those behaviors commonly taught in obedience classes: "sit," "down" and "stay," along with the request for attention, "watch me." From these basics, it's easy to train the more simple of tricks, including "shake hands" and "roll over," ideal for the more sedentary dogs. For active dogs, weaving through an owner's legs while walking is an easy one to teach. With the addition of some relatively inexpensive equipment, such as hoops, tunnels and jumps, you can come up with routines that everyone will enjoy, including your dog.

Best of all, when your dog does succeed, the relationship between you will improve. "Once you're successful at a couple of tricks, it's addictive," says Palika.

SIDEBAR

Trick-training resources

Are you ready to have fun with your dog? Trick-training doesn't take much more than a dog, some treats, some time and an upbeat attitude. Several books are available to help get you started. Among them:

Liz Palika's "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dog Tricks" (Alpha Books, $15) not only shows you how to teach your dog tricks, but also helps you to understand why trick-training is so useful and rewarding for you both. The guide explains how to decide which tricks are best for any individual dog, and how to lay the groundwork for ever more advanced behaviors. Clear step-by-step instructions and lots of pictures help immensely.

If you want to learn a few new tricks yourself, pick up Deborah Jones' "Clicker Fun: Dog Tricks and Games Using Positive Reinforcement" (Howlin Moon Press, $20). "Clicker" training uses a small noisemaker to "mark" a good behavior and then follows that noise with a treat. The technique is called "operant conditioning" and got its start as a practical tool by trainers of marine mammals. The use of a clicker has really gained ground in dog training in recent years, and it's well-suited for training tricks. -- G.S.

Q&A

'Dusty' cockatoo perfectly normal

Q: We bought a cockatoo and cage recently from some people who were moving. Diva is very affectionate and playful, but she constantly sheds white powder that gets all over our clothes. It doesn't seem like it would be healthy to breathe, either. Is there something we can add to the diet, or spray on her, to stop this? -- D.B., via e-mail

A: Some species of pet birds -- the cockatoo is perhaps the best example -- give off a great deal of feather dust, a natural, powdery grooming material that originates from the powderdown feathers over the flank and hip areas. As you've discovered, this powder can make quite the mess. I once spent a few minutes snuggling with an adorable Moluccan cockatoo at my veterinarian's office and ended up with my dark T-shirt almost completely covered in white powder.

I'm sorry to say that the powder is perfectly normal and necessary for your bird, and living with it is part of the deal of sharing your life with a cockatoo. A room-sized air cleaner will help remove the floating powder and will make breathing better for all of you, Diva included. The only other advice I can give you is the same advice given by a friend with a large white dog who sheds constantly: Never wear black.

Keep a kitty garden

Q: You've said it's a good idea to provide indoor cats with plants to chew on. What kind of plants are best for cats to eat? -- P.C., via e-mail

A: It's easy to keep greens on hand for your cat's nibbling pleasure. It doesn't take much of a green thumb, and indoor kitties in particular will be ever so grateful for your thoughtfulness.

Grasses are always a favorite. Since cats seem to like the most tender shoots best, sow a fresh crop every couple of weeks in a wide, shallow planter. Alfalfa, rye and wheat seeds are ideal. You can find seeds from catalogs or nurseries. Choose organic seeds to make sure they haven't been treated with something your cat doesn't need to eat. If you search pet-supply stores, catalogs and Web sites, you can find pre-packaged kitty greens, complete with seeds, soil and planter. All you need do is add water.

Parsley and thyme are also popular with some cats. Any decent nursery will have seeds or young plants ready to be transplanted into a pot. Experiment and see what your cat like best!

Spaying young kittens

Q: Our sweet old cat died last year. After a few catless months for the first time in our marriage, we decided it was time for a kitten. We were a little shocked to find out the shelter spays the kittens before they go to new homes. Is that really safe? -- L.E., via e-mail

A: Puppies and kittens can be safely neutered as young as 8 weeks. And studies have consistently shown no long-term problems with health or behavior for surgeries that are done earlier than the 4- to 6-month ideal previously considered to be standard procedure.

If your shelter's policy is to insist on early spay-neuter, I wouldn't let that deter you from adopting a kitten there. On the contrary, such policies show that the organization is actively fighting pet overpopulation by trying to stop the "kittens-out, kittens-in" cycle that happens when last year's babies become this year's parents.

If you end up with a kitten from another source, follow your veterinarian's advice on when to alter your pet. Although early spay-neuter is safe, not all veterinarians are comfortable with performing the operation that early.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

PET Rx

Encouraging cats to drink more

Do you think of nutrition as being just about what your cat eats? Don't forget that what your cat drinks is just as important to her well-being. Water -- clean, fresh and ever-present -- is essential to nearly every process of your cat's body, which is 70 percent water.

The tiniest cells of living beings cannot survive without water. Nutrients are carried and wastes removed by water. A cat may be able to survive without eating for weeks if need be (please don't test this fact, though), but without water, death comes in days.

Problem is, cats can be difficult to keep hydrated. Always make sure you supply your cat with water, and encourage her to drink by keeping the dish clean and the water fresh. Some cats prefer running water, and some owners oblige by opening taps for their pets.

Some manufacturers sell pet fountains that constantly recycle water to make it seem fresh to a finicky feline. If your pet-products supplier doesn't carry these products, check out the ads in the back of any cat magazine. Feline fountains pop up pretty regularly there.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

THE SCOOP

Indulge your catnip junkie

Not all cats like catnip. The ability to appreciate the herb is genetic, with slightly more cats in the fan club than not. These hard-wired preferences aren't immediately apparent, though, since kittens under the age of 3 months don't react to catnip at all.

Among those cats who do like catnip, you'll find two basic kinds of reactions: Your cat may seem to become a lazy drunk or a wired-up crazy. Credit a substance called "nepetalactone," which is found in the leaves and stems and causes the mood-altering behavior.

Is catnip safe? While some cat experts recommend that you grow your own catnip or buy only organically raised products, the consensus is that you can treat your cat as often as you (and your cat) wish. Catnip is considered to be nonaddictive and harmless.

PET TIP

Big dogs present big challenges

Is a large dog right for you, or will a smaller one do?

Large dogs are the perfect choice for active people: joggers, hikers and cross-country skiers. Large dogs can pull a wagon, walk for miles, chase a ball for hours. They are usually not so sensitive to the ear-pulls and tail-grabs of children, and a solid pat on the ribs will not send them flying across the room.

Of course, there are trade-offs. The bigger a dog gets, the more food eaten and the more waste produced. Big dogs are harder to handle, especially when young. They're more likely to knock over your toddler or your grandmother, more capable of destroying your home, and more likely to inflict a serious injury should they decide to bite. A pushy small dog is annoying; a pushy large one is dangerous. Large dogs are harder to travel with and more expensive to arrange vacation care for. If you don't own your own home, you may find securing housing that accepts a large dog nearly impossible.

Larger breeds generally need more exercise and are more likely to find other ways to shed nervous energy -- like digging, barking or chewing -- if they don't get enough to keep them happy. Even the largest dogs are not impossible to keep in apartments, townhouses and homes with small yards, but you have to work doubly hard to meet their exercise needs under those circumstances.

In some breeds, the size difference between males and females is dramatic -- as much as 3 to 6 inches and up to 40 pounds or more. If you're attracted to the looks of large breeds such as the Rottweiler or Bernese mountain dog but want don't want such a large pet, consider a female.

PETS ON THE WEB

Site for fans of eight-legged pets

Looking for a pet that's a little different and sure to scare most of the people you know? Consider a tarantula! The American Tarantula Society (www.atshq.org) has put together a site that celebrates these large arachnids (that's spiders to the rest of us) with useful care information as well as articles that are more in-depth and academic in tone. The pieces include information on how to know when a tarantula is sick and what to do to help.

Most interesting is the gift shop, where you can buy T-shirts, books and even live spiders. Yes, for a small cost you can have a baby tarantula show up in your mailbox. (The stuff of some people's nightmares is a dream come true to others, I suppose.) The ATS site also has pictures, and a nifty bulletin board frequented by serious hobbyists and beginners alike. Arachnophobics, beware! -- G.S.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

We all know of the dogs who work actively to serve us -- those who help in law enforcement, those who find victims after a disaster, or those who assist people with disabilities. These animals perform an invaluable service, without a doubt.

A less active and perhaps less lauded form of service is done by other dogs, often trained and handled by dedicated volunteers. These dogs do their duty by sitting quietly, by listening, by offering undivided attention and unconditional love to people who need it most -- those isolated by illness or struggling with tragedy.

They are therapy dogs, and no one who has ever watched one work can doubt the difference they make.

"I got started because I had long wanted to do something for people in nursing homes," says Kathy Diamond Davis, the author of "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others" (Dogwise, $20) and a therapy dog handler of almost 20 years experience.

"I had met a neighbor couple when I was out training my dog, and he was doing doctor-ordered walking," she says. "His wife came to my door one day and told me he had passed away, and she wanted me to know that the last thing he had spoken of before he died was my little dog, Angel. I felt God tapping me on the shoulder, and got moving to our first therapy dog visit."

Over the years Davis has trained and volunteered with five therapy dogs and has had many other such experiences. The dogs, she says, touch people on a level that opens them up and can then give others the chance to help them more.

"The benefits therapy dogs provide are emotional," she says. "When the dog gets someone to get up out of bed, get out of their room, get dressed and participate in social life in the facility, the benefits can truly cascade from there."

Of course, you can't wake up one morning, snap a leash on your dog and head for the nearest hospital or convalescent facility. Therapy dog groups have worked hard for years to establish the value of canine support, and they're careful to maintain that trust and good will. While Davis believes many dogs can do some sort of therapy work, she says it's important that the established standards be met and maintained.

"Therapy dog handlers require control skills with their dogs as well as extensive social skills," she says. "For a typical, well-suited team, weekly classes for five or six months combined with daily practice of the class homework in as many safe settings as possible is a great start."

After that, says Davis, the team needs to be tested and certified to be as sure as possible that the dog and handler are ready to serve.

"The dog must be steady around other dogs, all kinds of people, noises, sights, smells -- anything can and does happen on a therapy dog visit," she says. "Because we all love our own dogs and can't be totally objective, I believe the suitability of the handler and dog team for therapy dog work needs to be determined by testing."

The long-term commitment of time, energy and emotion tends to wash out all but the most committed volunteers. But for those who stick with it, the benefits are immense.

"The work is challenging to your mental and physical skills and therefore constantly motivates you to improve. It's top-quality time with your dog that also connects you with your community," says Davis. "I am endlessly fascinated by living and working with dogs. And I care about humans. That made therapy dog work natural for me."

SIDEBAR

Can your dog help?

Some long-established nonprofit organizations offer resources on therapy dogs:

-- Delta Society (deltasociety.org, (425) 226-7357). Based in Bellevue, Wash., the Delta Society works to unite people with disabilities and patients in health-care facilities with professionally trained service animals.

-- Therapy Dogs International (www.tdi-dog.org, (973) 252-9800). Based in Flanders, N.J., TDI works to regulate, test and register therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers.

-- Canine Companions for Independence (www.caninecompanions.org, (707) 577-1700). Perhaps better known for training dogs to work with people who use wheelchairs or with the hearing-impaired, the Santa Rosa, Calif.-based CCI also trains therapy dogs for placement in health-care facilities and schools.

The full interview with Kathy Diamond Davis, author of "Therapy Dogs," is available on the Pet Connection Web log at http://spadafori.typepad.com/woof/2005/08/therapy_dogs.html. -- G.S.

Q&A

Vegetarian diet not for felines

Q: I found an abandoned kitten in a parking lot, and I've decided to keep her. After a couple of iffy weeks, the vet says she's in good health. But I have a problem with my vet's recommendations on how to feed this kitten.

I'm a vegan. I don't eat meat or buy products made from animals because I can't support the suffering that the animals go through.

My vet says I can't avoid meat when feeding the kitten, and she's very adamant on this point. I've read on the Internet that I can add some supplements to a meatless diet, and the kitten will be OK. What do you think? -- C.N., via e-mail

A: I agree with your veterinarian. Your cat needs protein from meat.

There's some wiggle room with canine nutritional demands, and many people are able to maintain their dogs on meatless diets. But cats are "obligate carnivores," meaning they need meat. If you look at animal-rights discussion sites on the Internet, you'll find this is a well-debated topic, with many vegan activists admitting that it isn't right to deny a true carnivore access to meat.

I respect the decisions you've made for own life, but if you're going to care for a true carnivore like a cat, you're going to need follow your veterinarian's advice on this matter. If you want a pet that eats no meat by design, adopt an herbivore, such as a rabbit.

Ice a cool treat

Q: Is it OK to let our dog eat ice? She begs for it out of our glasses on these hot days. -- S.T., via e-mail

A: I get this question every summer, and the news is good for dogs: Indulge them.

Ice is a cool treat on a hot day, and some dogs really like it. For a change of pace, make your dog some "pupsicles" by freezing broth in ice-cube trays (I prefer the low-salt, low-fat variety). The treat is best offered outside, for obvious reasons.

Ice is a great way to keep your dog's water cool on a hot day, too. Create ice blocks by freezing water in margarine tubs, and float the frozen chunks in your dog's water dish.

No white on this cat

Q: Will you make a correction? Your answer to the question about the calico and tortoiseshell was incorrect. A calico is an orange, black and white cat. The tortoiseshell is only black and orange with no white.

Also while we're on the subject of coat patterns, a striped cat is not a "tiger" -- it is a "tabby." So many idiots call these cats a "tiger cat." -- A.B., via e-mail

A: I wouldn't go so far as to call them "idiots," but I get your point and am happy to pass along the clarification.

Along the same lines, I do confess to biting my tongue when people are telling me about their "golden" Labs. There are golden retrievers and there are yellow Labradors, but no such thing as a "golden" Labrador. Labradors come in three colors: black, yellow and chocolate. I guess when you're familiar with the proper terms, it's annoying to hear the wrong ones.

In the end, though, it only matters that the animal is loved and well-cared for.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

PET Rx

Flies are more than a nuisance

As the summer winds down, the flies get ugly. Fly strike -- typically bites on the tips of the ears -- can drive a dog crazy and can cause problems that include the loss of the ear tips.

In the most critical cases, typically involving outdoor pets that don't get much attention (such as hutch-bound rabbits), flies can lay eggs in wounds or around tender areas, and the resulting maggot infestation can be so severe that an animal can die.

Aggressive measures are needed to fight the problems caused by flies. Keep animals and their housing areas clean, remove waste and uneaten food promptly, and check daily for signs of fly bites or maggot infestations. Keep fresh fly traps on hand, and spray for flies using products safe for use around animals. Longhaired animals are at higher risk because their fur may retain urine or feces, which attracts flies. These animals may need to have their fur kept clipped short for sanitary reasons.

When an animal shows signs of fly strike, get help from your veterinarian right away. Both oral and topical antibiotics may be needed, along with topical products designed for the animals to keep flies off. Whatever you do, don't ignore the problem: Fly strike makes animals miserable, even in its mildest forms.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

READER PARTICIPATION

Share your tales of pets, traveling

Traveling with pets has never been more popular. With choices from "ruffing it" at campgrounds to getting pampered at luxury resort hotels, pets and the people who love them are increasingly finding the light left on and the welcome mat left out.

Did you take your pet on your summer vacation? We want to hear about it, and see your vacation pictures. Did you head for the mountains or the beach? Did your pet influence your travel plans? Did you run into any problems? What are your best tips for safe and easy traveling? What's your best pet-travel experience?

Send your stories and images (jpegs only, please) to petconnection@gmail.com, and we'll share them in upcoming Pet Connections.

BREED TYPE

Handsome pointer no couch potato

The low-profile German shorthaired pointer was thrust into the limelight last February when the dazzling Carlee (Ch. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses) went best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

The prestigious win sparked so much interest in this smart, friendly sporting dog that the president of the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America put a cautionary notice on the club's Web site (www.gspca.org) warning prospective owners that these dogs need a tremendous amount of exercise, training and attention.

In addition to their boundless energy, German shorthaired pointers also have lively and inquisitive minds, and can get into a lot of trouble if not given sufficient acceptable outlets for their intelligence and enthusiasm, such as work in obedience, agility or hunting.

Because of their people-loving nature, they may not be happy if relegated to a back yard or a kennel run. This isn't to say lots of time spent outdoors won't suit them very well; it will. They are ideal for owners who love hiking or other outdoor activity, and they'll happily retrieve both on land or in water.

But much as they love the outdoors, German shorthaired pointers need company and activity while they're out there, or they're going to take up digging as a hobby. Or barking. Or both. After all, these dogs are known for their versatility.

Weighing in between 40 and 75 pounds, with a short, easy-to-care-for coat that comes in different shades and patterns of brown, German shorthaired pointers are typically healthy and long-lived, and they require little more than the basics in the way of grooming: regular nail trimming, a quick daily brushing to remove dead hair, and the occasional bath.

The breed is generally good with children, and these dogs make excellent family pets as long as their needs for companionship, mental stimulation and exercise are met. -- Christie Keith, pethobbyist.com

BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on reptiles

Image: lizard (no credit)

Optional caption: The annual reported spending on a lizard averages $151.

Although some reptilian or amphibian pets can be expensive to acquire and set up, they're generally not that expensive to maintain. Costs per year as reported in 2004, by variety of pet:

Turtle/Tortoise $106

Snake $163

Lizard $151

Iguana $255

Frog/Toad $45

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

PETS ON THE WEB

Insider's view of emergency medicine

The author of the Pet Peeves Web log (http://spaces.msn.com/members/petpeeves6003) is an Ohio veterinarian who works in an emergency clinic. A self-described "E.R. geek" (right down to the vanity plates on her car), she describes the hard work, disappointments and triumphs of a job in which, when you meet an animal, there's usually a life on the line.

There's a lot of good information here, such as warnings against giving acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) to animals, especially cats. Typically, such warnings come after a patient dies. But mixed in among the sad losses are such feel-good postings as the pictures of the animals who make it, sometimes against all odds, and come back to the clinic with their grateful owners for a visit.

The Web log has a loyal following and no wonder: The stories are so compelling you just can't stop checking for the latest.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

With kitten season in full swing and competition for good homes never keener, summer is the worst time to be a homeless adult cat.

But no matter the challenges, it seems we animal lovers always have or know of a cat who needs a new home. Perhaps a friend or relative has passed on, leaving a cat behind. Or maybe the neighbors moved and didn't care enough to take the cat with them -- a situation that's sadly more common than those of us who care about animals can imagine. Or maybe a stray cat just turned up, in the way that stray cats always do.

While adult cats can be very hard to place, it's not impossible to find a good home. Be patient and persistent, and follow these guidelines:

-- Spread the news. Make up fliers with an adorable picture and clever description, take out an ad in your newspaper, and use the Internet to spread the word. Post the fliers everywhere you can: bulletin boards at work, pet-supply stores and your veterinarian's office. Mention the cat to everyone you know, in person or by e-mail, and ask everyone to spread the word further. Contact rescue groups and let them know you're fostering a nice cat -- sometimes they'll post the information for you on Web sites such as petfinder.com.

-- Ask a price. Asking for money stops those who collect "free to good home" animals for such cruel purposes as the training of fighting dogs. Because a lot of people believe cats and kittens should be "free," don't charge for the cat herself. Instead, bring her preventive care needs up to date -- examination, vaccinations, neutering -- and then charge a small fee to offset a portion of those expenses. Explain that it's a convenience for the prospective owner, who'll be getting a cat that's veterinarian-certified to be in good health. It's a bargain for the adopter and a safety measure for the cat.

-- Don't lie about the pet's problems or why she's being placed. Although finding a new home for a pet with problems takes longer, you can usually still do so. Some people love taking in pets who have "sob stories" attached to them, or who are physically or behaviorally challenged. But the person who gets such a pet without warning is likely to bring her back, give her away or dump her.

-- Look for someone who understands that a pet is a commitment. Ask prospective adopters whether they've had pets before and what happened to them, and ask for a veterinary reference. The person who has had a lot of pets who have disappeared, died young or been given away is probably not your best choice. Likewise, the person who has had pets in the past but doesn't know a veterinarian isn't likely to use one in the future.

If you cannot find her a new home after trying for as long as you can, take the cat to a shelter or arrange for her to go to a rescue group so she can get another chance at being chosen by someone who'll care for her. (Donations to these groups, when you give them an animal, help to keep them going.) If you can, keep looking on your own until kitten season winds down in the fall, to better her odds of catching someone's eye in what can be a crowded shelter.

Above all, please don't dump the cat to fend for herself. Never forget that the pet is counting on you to find her a home where she'll be taken care of for the rest of her life. If you take on that responsibility, you must see it through.

READER PARTICIPATION

What did you do on your vacation?

Traveling with pets has never been more popular. With choices from "ruffing it" at campgrounds to getting pampered at luxury resort hotels, pets and the people who love them are finding the welcome mat out in more places than ever before.

Did you take your pet on your summer vacation? We want to hear about it and see your vacation pictures. Did you head for the mountains or the beach? Did your pet influence or dictate your travel plans? Did you run into any problems? What are your best tips for safe and easy traveling? What's your best pet-travel experience?

Send your stories and images (jpegs only, please) to petconnection@gmail.com, and we'll share them in upcoming Pet Connections.

Q&A

Explaining risks to pregnant women

Q: May I expand on your explanation of the risks to pregnant (or hope-to-be pregnant) women who are worried about keeping their cats because of toxoplasmosis?

The disease is a serious threat to unborn children if a woman contracts the disease during her pregnancy. However, a non-pregnant woman who contracts the disease will usually have no symptoms at all. She then is no longer at risk for complications if she later becomes pregnant. For women who love cats and who have lived with cats for many years, toxoplasmosis may not be an issue because they have already been exposed to the parasite, so they cannot develop active toxoplasmosis anymore.

In my opinion, it would be good advice to tell any woman who was hoping to become pregnant to ask her doctor for a toxoplasmosis antibody level to be run on her blood. If she already has had the disease, there is no risk of toxoplasmosis to her baby. (Reading between the lines: She can change the litter box, but maybe she won't want her partner to know that!)

If the woman has not had the disease, not only should she avoid changing cat litter boxes, she should also wear gloves while working outside in the garden because there can be cat feces in the flowerbed, even if she does not own a cat herself. -- Faith C. Flower, DVM, Albuquerque, N.M.

A: Thanks for explaining more about toxoplasmosis and the risks to women who are (or hope to become) pregnant. You've put the risks in proper perspective and have suggested ways to minimize them further. (One more thing that's important to remember: It's also possible to come in contact with the parasite through unsafe handling of raw or undercooked meat.) It's a shame when well-meaning friends and relatives -- and even some physicians -- insist that a cat needs to go when a woman is trying to conceive or is pregnant.

The Humane Society of the United States has been running an education campaign on this issue, targeting prospective parents and physicians. The information can be found on the group's Web site (HSUS.org, and then enter "toxoplasmosis" in the search field). The information is also available in a free brochure "Your Baby & Your Pet." To receive a copy, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to HSUS, BabyPet eNews, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037.

Hot-weather hazards

Q: I enjoy your column, but I have a disturbing thought. In your recent column on traveling with dogs, there was a photo of a gentleman putting his large dog into an airline crate in the back of a sports-utility vehicle.

You need to tell people that air conditioning cannot travel through two rows of seats and into a nearly completely closed crate. I have observed owners putting dogs in the back of an SUV like this when it's 100 degrees, meaning the temperature inside the vehicle is about 140 degrees.

We know how long it takes to cool off the front seat with the air conditioning blowing full blast in our faces. Let's be honest: It is unsafe to put the dog in the back of an SUV or minivan without cooling down the vehicle first. -- M.Z., via e-mail

A: You're absolutely right about the importance of checking the temperature in the SUV or minivan, and making sure the area where the pet is riding isn't too hot. I recommend that people consider buying fans designed to clip onto the doors of airline crates, as well as using cooling pads or reusable ice packs wrapped in towels into the crate. Whatever it takes to keep dogs safe and cool!

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

THE SCOOP

Safe pet-handling starts with soap

Because most, if not all, reptiles carry salmonella in their digestive tracks, these pets are generally not recommended for homes with children under 5 or with family members whose immune systems are compromised. For other homes, the risks can be greatly reduced by properly handling these pets. The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians suggests these basic safety precautions:

-- Wash hands with soap and hot water after handling reptiles or after cleaning reptile enclosures.

-- Limit the part of your home that your reptile is allowed to be in, and wash your hands after being in that area.

-- Never allow reptiles in areas of the home where food is prepared. Don't share food or drink with reptiles, and don't eat, drink or smoke while handling them. Don't kiss these pets, no matter how cute you think they are.

-- Do not put reptiles into bathtubs or sinks. Buy a separate tub for bathing these pets. Pour the water down the toilet, and do not use sinks or bathtubs to clean the reptile bathing tub -- or any reptile housing or gear.

-- Supervise older children to be sure they don't touch the pets and then put their fingers in their mouths. Make sure thorough hand-washing follows each exposure to these pets.

The ARAV stresses that the precautions do not mean reptiles shouldn't be kept as pets, but rather that by following basic common sense in handling them, the potential for human health problems can be kept to a minimum. For more information, visit the ARAV Web site (www.arav.org).

PET TIP

Many birds love a good soaking

Many of the birds we keep as pets are of species most comfortable in places that we would find intolerable: the steamy, hot rain forests of Central and South America. The dry air of human homes is thought to be a contributing factor to feather-picking, a frustrating syndrome that can drive birds to pluck themselves bald.

You don't have to turn your house into a sauna to add some moisture to your pet's life. Many birds enjoy being dampened by water from a spray bottle, or being offered the chance to take a bath in a shallow dish of clean water. Some parrot lovers take their birds right into the shower with them, placing them on special perches that attach to shower tiles or letting them stand on towels placed on ledges in the shower stall.

How often should birds get a drenching? There are no firm guidelines, but daily would be fine with many birds.

PET Rx

Finicky felines need to be watched, cajoled

Although some cats have never met a dish of food they didn't love, others are very picky about what they eat. Missing a meal now and then is quite normal and nothing to worry about. But the cat who flat-out stops eating or starts losing weight is in urgent need of veterinary attention.

Before you hit the panic button, though, be sure you're seeing the true picture of what, when and where your cat is eating.

If you leave out dry food all the time, your cat may be nibbling more than a dozen times throughout the day, thus never eating very much in any one observed sitting. If your cat has access to the outdoors, you need to consider that he may be getting meals from a kind neighbor, or may be stealing from another cat's dish at a home down the street. He might even be picking up some meals the old-fashioned way: By hunting them.

If you're sure you know the big picture on your cat and know he's not eating, or if he's lost more than a half-pound or so, you'll need a veterinarian's help to find out if your cat is sick. This is true even if your cat can stand to lose weight: The cat who suddenly stops eating or starts losing weight can be seriously at risk.

Some healthy cats are truly finicky, however, and it takes a little bit of work on your part to keep them eating.

One strategy is preventive in nature: Feeding them a wide range of foods, from kittenhood on, helps keep cats from insisting on one brand or variety. Other cats can be jollied out of finicky behavior with canned food, warmed up to be even more tempting.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

BY THE NUMBERS

Feline health problems

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance Company/DVM Insurance Agency, urinary-tract infections were by far the top reason for pet-insurance claims by cat lovers, accounting for nearly 7 percent of all veterinary bills submitted for reimbursement to the company last year. Other top feline maladies:

1. Urinary tract infections

2. Stomach upsets

3. Respiratory infections

4. Ear infections

5. Skin allergies

6. Eye infections

7. Wound infections

8. Colitis

9. Gum disease

10. Kidney disease

Source: Petinsurance.com

PETS ON THE WEB

Help, hope for hard-luck Labradors

Breed rescue groups are always struggling to help the most animals on limited amounts of money, and that means making some difficult decisions from time to time. A single homeless stray who has been hit by a car and requires extensive surgery can eat up money that could have saved several healthy pets, leaving rescue groups in the difficult situation of sacrificing one pet so that others may live.

The LABMED Web site (www.labmed.org) seeks to change this sad reality, at least for homeless Labradors. The group raises money to fund medical care for those dogs who have a good chance at being an adoptable pet, if only their urgent health problems could be resolved. More than 800 Labrador and Lab mixes have been saved, and their stories on the LABMED site make for inspirational reading.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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