A few years ago a friend gave me a T-shirt that had on it an expression in French: "J'embrasse mon chien sur la bouche." Translated, it means, "I kiss my dog on the lips," but the design didn't help anyone guess that. The shirt had nothing but words on it, no illustration.

As a result, total strangers would come up and ask me to explain what I was wearing. And over the handful of years before I wore out the garment, I noticed a big difference in the reactions to the translation.

The dog lovers would smile, sometimes laugh, and more than a few times would sheepishly admit the shirt's motto was one they also personified.

But then there were those people whose smiling faces went very sour at the thought of kissing a dog at all, much less anywhere near the lips. The polite ones would recover with a wan smile and shrink away, as if I were somehow contaminated and possibly contagious. And then there were angry people, who felt compelled to share their disgust of dogs, usually launching into a diatribe about a neighbor whose dog left calling cards on the lawn or barked all night.

And then they'd stand there, waiting for me to defend all dogs and all dog owners because ... well, I kiss my dogs on the lips, see?

Except you'll get no argument from me about the bad eggs -- human, not canine -- who cause so much trouble for the rest of us dog lovers. These dog owners make life more difficult, because their irresponsible behavior keeps some people passionately opposed to such delights as legal areas for off-leash recreation, and turn formerly dog-friendly lodgings in "no dogs allowed" zones.

It turns out that people who have dogs pretty much agree with people who don't when it comes to troublesome dog owners. A recent study for the American Kennel Club to help promote greater responsibility by dog owners reveals that we're all in agreement on what we don't like: People who don't pick up after their dogs, and people who let them bark or can't control them.

"While you may find Fido's jumping and howling endearing, others may not," says the AKC's Lisa Peterson.

Actually, it seems nobody does.

If you recognize those characteristics of the irresponsible dog owner in yourself, clean up your act. Picking up after your pet on walks is easy and would blunt a lot of criticism. Barking and out-of-control behavior are a little harder to tackle for many dog owners, but it's nothing that some time spent with a behaviorist or in an obedience class wouldn't help you get a handle on.

I'm guessing if that the bigger issues became moot, the small percentage of people who find "baby talk" -- and presumably dog-kissing -- to be a big problem will just let it go.

Which is a good thing, because although I try very hard not to let my dogs be an annoyance to others -- I pick up after them and keep them quiet and under control -- I'm not going to quit with the smooching.

In any language: Get over it.

Q&A

Picking charities takes some effort

Q: Since you claim to be someone who cares about animals, I was disappointed to see you mention groups such as the Humane Society of the United States in your list of charities that needed contributions after Hurricane Katrina.

Don't you know that groups like these are made up of radical elements that not only want to stop all breeding of dogs and cats, but also to put an end to biomedical testing and other necessary uses of animals? Open your eyes! -- Anonymous, via e-mail

Q: The American Kennel Club makes money off puppy mills and the exploitation of dogs for profit at the ridiculous spectacles known as dog shows. How dare you include this organization on your list of Katrina-related "charities." -- Anonymous, via e-mail

A: You know the first wave of shock following a disaster has passed when people start sniping at each other over the groups involved in rescue and relief efforts.

In addition to the complaints about the ideology of any particular organization (much of it misinformed, by the way), I heard from people who passed along information regarding rumored financial or other improprieties at this group or that. Of course, they weren't offering anything more than rumors. But because someone e-mailed it to them, they felt compelled to forward it to everyone and anyone.

In selecting a few from among the countless animal groups to recommend for hurricane-relief donations, I chose 501(c)3 nonprofits that I've had dealings with during past disasters, including the rescue and relief efforts of both the HSUS and the AKC. And I tried to offer a range of groups so people can choose which are best suited to their own ideals. (The exception to the "established group" rule: The relief efforts started up at the veterinary schools at Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University, which both stepped up to help during this crisis, especially LSU.)

Because those of us who love animals are constantly hit up for charitable contributions, I always recommend that people do their homework before donating, to make sure they're comfortable with a group and with how the money is being spent. Go to a group's Web site, and poke around to find their beliefs and what they hope to accomplish. Be sure that meshes with your own world view.

Then, go to a Web site that analyzes the information on how charities spend their money. Many seemingly worthy groups in fact use a lot of their donations to raise more donations, and they spend more than many of us would deem appropriate on executive salaries. Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) is a great site to help you determine how to give, rating more than 4,600 charities on such things as delivering on their promises with a minimum of overhead.

That said, my personal belief has always been that you can get more accomplished by dealing with smaller groups. As the immediate need for rescue and re-homing of the pets from the Gulf Coast subsides, I hope many readers will seek out small shelters throughout the impacted region and donate to help in the efforts of these groups to rebuild their buildings and their programs.

There's also likely to be a repeat of the effect observed after Sept. 11, 2001, when so much money was given to help the victims of the terrorist attacks that donations to local charities fell off dramatically. Remember that even as you give to help those in the disaster area, charities in your own community will still need your help to keep their programs afloat. Give in addition to your regular charities, in other words, not instead of.

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

THE SCOOP

Canine attention key to obedience

It's hard to teach a dog to do anything else if you can't get his attention. Playing the "attention game" with your dog is a great way to keep him focused on you -- while preventing his reacting to things you'd rather he avoid when out in public, such as trash on the ground, squirrels, neighborhood cats and other dogs.

As with any training, you have to teach attention in increments. Very small treats will help get your dog's attention and reward him for his first steps toward making sustained eye contact with you. To start, say "watch me" in a happy tone of voice, and sweep your fingers quickly under his muzzle without touching him, bringing them up to your face. Dogs naturally follow motion, so when his eyes follow your fingers to the general vicinity of your face, tell him he's a very good dog and give him a treat.

As your lessons progress -- practice a little each day -- give him the "watch me" command and wait for his glance up. Then praise him and give him the treat. Eventually, you'll want to reward only eye contact -- not just a glance up to your face -- and then reward holding his attention for longer and longer periods.

PET Rx

Wrong diet can be deadly for rabbits

Hairballs aren't a problem with rabbits they way they are with cats. While rabbits naturally have hair in their gastrointestinal tracts, the real reason for deadly blockages in these pets -- a condition called gastric stasis -- commonly isn't hair but rather an improper diet.

Rabbits need a diet high in both digestible and non-digestible fiber, ideally one that offers high-quality grass hay all the time as well as daily offerings of fresh green vegetables. Improper diet is a main cause of gastric stasis, but there are others, including stress, dehydration (caused by a lack of access to clean, fresh water) and even dental disease.

A rabbit in trouble will eat less over the course of a few days and eventually will stop eating altogether. Such rabbits may instead chew items in their cage to get the fiber they are craving. The volume of droppings may fall and then cease altogether. An animal may seem otherwise normal in the early stages of blockage, or may grind teeth or make noises to indicate discomfort.

In mild cases, offering a rabbit fresh greens can get things moving again. But if that doesn't help quickly, a veterinarian's care is essential to address what is a potentially life-threatening situation.

(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.)

PET BOOKS

Cleaning classic returns with improvements

When the first edition of Don Aslett's "Pet Clean-Up Made Easy" came out back in 1988, it changed my life. Really. By following Aslett's advice, I was able to enjoy my animals while not spending as much time cleaning up after them.

The new second edition of the book (Adams Media, $10) has all the great information I remember from the first, while adding solid behavior advice to help pet lovers prevent messes by training their own animals to help.

In reading the new edition, I found myself nodding in recognition at two pieces of Aslett's advice that have served me well over the years: Never delay when it comes to cleaning pet messes, and put mats down everywhere a dirty paw might hit. I've also followed his advice when choosing upholstered furniture, looking for fabrics that are more durable and less likely to stain -- and then covering the furniture with washable throws.

On stains, Aslett's key point has been proven many times in my home. If attacked when they're fresh, pet urine, feces or vomit can be cleaned up quickly and easily, and usually will not leave a stain. Once these substances set, they can be difficult (if not impossible) to remove without a trace, although Aslett offers the best strategies to help with even stubborn pet stains.

As for mats, I have them on both sides of every door in my house, and have found that Aslett's right on this advice, too. Mats snare dirt and mud from paws, and will keep your floors cleaner.

The second edition improves on the first by offering tips on how to keep your pet from causing you more work in the first place. For example, Aslett has gone to the experts to find techniques to keep cats using their litter boxes, and to focus the destructive energy of dogs on chew toys instead of household items.

Can you improve on one of the most useful pet books ever written? Apparently so!

PETS ON THE WEB

Helping iguanas get proper care

Did you know that cute little iguana your child is lobbying to get has the potential to grow up to be 6 feet long? If you didn't, you really ought to visit Jen Swofford's Iguana Pages (www.baskingspot.com/iguanas), which are dedicated to helping people with these hard-to-care-for pets.

The popularity of iguanas is in decline, as people gravitate toward reptiles that are easier to maintain, such as the bearded dragon. That's the good news. The bad news is that lots of people are still buying iguanas and killing the majority of them quite young with improper care. Check out the site's top five reasons contributing to the early demise of pet iguanas. It'll help you avoid the worst mistakes if you're still determined to have an iguana as a pet, or may convince you to pass on that little green baby.

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

If the immense scope of the recent tragedy in our southern states hasn't convinced everyone of the importance of disaster planning, I can't imagine what will.

As relief and recovery efforts continue for humans and animals alike, those of us who are fortunate to have been spared this time around must make it a priority to prepare our entire family -- including our pets -- for potential calamity. Here are the basics you need to know.

-- Have a plan

Prepare for all possibilities, and make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. Try to figure out now what's most likely for you and your community, and how will you respond. Where will you go? What will you take? You need to get these answers in advance.

People need to rely on each other during emergencies, and this is just as true when it comes to your pets. Get to know your neighbors, and put a plan in place to help each other out. Find out from local shelters and veterinary organizations -- and your family's own veterinarian -- what emergency response plans are in place and how you fit into them in case of a disaster.

-- ID your pets

Many, if not most, animals will survive a disaster. But too many will never see their families again if there's no way to determine which pet belongs to which family. That's why pets should always wear a collar and identification tags. Better still is the additional permanent identification that can't slip off, such as a tattoo or an embedded microchip.

Keep temporary ID tags on hand to put on your pet if you're forced to evacuate. One of the easiest: key tags and a permanent marker for jotting down your current number. Then attach them to your pet's collar.

-- Practice preventive care

Disease follows disaster, which is why keeping a pet as healthy as possible with up-to-date vaccinations is essential.

Prepare a file with up-to-date medical records, your pets' microchip or tattoo numbers, your veterinarian's phone number and address, feeding and medication instructions, and recent pictures of your animals. Trade copies of emergency files with another pet-loving friend or family member. It's a good idea for someone else to know about your pet, should anything happen to you.

-- Have restraints ready

Even normally calm pets can freak out under the stress of an emergency, especially if injured. You should be prepared to restrain your pet -- for his safety and the safety of others.

Keep leashes, muzzles and carriers ready for emergencies. The means to transport your pet shouldn't be something you have to find and pull from the rafters of your garage. Harnesses work better than collars at keeping panicky pets safe.

Shipping crates are probably the least-thought-of pieces of emergency equipment for pet owners but are among the most important. Sturdy crates keep pets safe and give you more options for housing your pets if you have to leave your home.

-- Keep supplies on hand

Keep several days' worth of pet food and safe drinking water ready to go in the event of a disaster, as well as any necessary medicines. Canned food is better in an emergency, so lay in a couple of cases, and don't forget to pack a can opener with your emergency supplies. For cats, keep an extra bag of litter on hand. And pack lots of plastic bags for dealing with waste.

-- Learn first aid

Pet-supply stores sell ready-made first aid kits, or you can put your own together fairly easily with the help of any pet-related first-aid book or Web site. Keep a first-aid book with your supplies. If you check around in your community, you should be able to find a pet first-aid class to take that will give you the basic knowledge you need.

-- Be prepared to help

You may be lucky enough to survive a disaster nearly untouched, but others in your community won't be so fortunate. Check out groups that train volunteers for disaster response, and consider going through the training. Disaster-relief workers do everything from distributing food to stranded animals to helping reunite pets with their families, and helping find new homes for those animals who need them.

Volunteering in a pinch is not only a good thing to do -- it's also the right thing for anyone who cares about animals and people.

SIDEBAR

Help still needed

The need for help in hurricane-devastated areas will continue for weeks and months to come. Helping people continues to be a priority, but also consider donating to the disaster response funds of these animal-related groups.

-- American Veterinary Medical Foundation (www.avmf.org; 800-248-2862, ext. 6689). The charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association supports the training and deployment of veterinarians and technicians in times of disaster. The veterinary colleges at Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University have also been very involved in disaster response and are in need of assistance.

-- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.apca.org; 866-275-3923) and the Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org; 301-258-8276). These well-established groups have a strong national presence and work with local shelters to help in affected communities.

-- Noah's Wish (www.noahswish.org; 530-622-9313) and the United Animal Nations Emergency Animal Rescue Service (www.uan.org/ears; 916-429-2457). These organizations are set up solely for the purpose of responding to animals in time of disaster, and they offer training to volunteers willing to help in time of need.

As we go forward, many of the animals displaced by the hurricane will end up in shelters throughout the country as these organizations step up to assist from hundreds and thousands of miles away. Your local charities will need your support to continue their routine efforts in your community and to help those still in need in disaster-stricken areas. You can also locate animals in need of new homes through Petfinder (www.petfinder.com).

Q&A

How big will this puppy get?

Q: I have recently acquired a puppy. I already had a 6-month-old dog and was not really looking for another one. But a couple moved in down the street, and a few nights ago the wife came knocking on my door, crying. She asked if I would like to have the puppy she was carrying in her arms because her husband was making her get rid of it. I sighed and said, "Give it here," and told her to tell her husband ... Well, I won't say what I told her to tell him.

Are there any tips or tricks to determine how large a puppy will grow up to be? This is not a purebred, but the head shape does seem to indicate there is some Chihuahua in the dog. -- S.L., via e-mail

A: As a person who has run a rescue group, and has fostered and placed (and kept!) more secondhand animals than I honestly can count, I have to say that few expressions set my teeth on edge as much as "have to get rid of" does. But on the other hand, isn't it good this little pup is now with someone who cares for him? Better he get into the right home now than suffer for the lack of affection and care that was surely in his future at the home down the street.

Guessing the adult size of a puppy of unknown origins is a tricky business, to say the least. Many experienced shelter workers and more than a few veterinarians are pretty good at it, but no guarantees exist.

As you've already guessed, if you have an idea of what breeds went into the mix, you can guess how large the pup will end up. Problem is, some of these youngsters are so truly mixed up, it's anyone's guess as to what went into the genetic blender. However, you'll be needing to take your new puppy to your veterinarian anyway. So while you're there, ask for the veterinarian's and staff's best guesses on what breeds are in your puppy's background.

The other way to predict a puppy's grown size is to look at the paws, because big dogs start out with relatively big puppy paws.

Nothing is foolproof, though. In fact, a friend of mine -- who's a well-regarded expert on dogs -- once adopted a puppy from one of the nation's best-known shelters, where the staff sees enough puppies to be pretty educated about how they might turn out.

My friend and the shelter staff put their heads together and guessed the pup for a terrier mix, and figured an adult size of 30 to 40 pounds. That little puppy grew up to be a 90-pound tank of a dog. So much for expertise!

Bathing birds

Q: Would you share another suggestion for the owner of the dusty cockatoo? Although an air purifier will help keep the dander down and keep the air clean, frequent baths for the bird will also help. You can purchase shower perches at most pet stores, or you can choose to mist your cockatoo daily. Bathing will not only keep the dander down, but it will also help prevent feather-plucking. -- T.D., via e-mail

A: You're absolutely right. Bathing and misting are necessities for pet birds, many species of which come from extremely humid climates that couldn't be more different from what we humans find comfortable in our own homes. Even better: Most birds love to get wet!

The point that needs to be remembered, however, is that although the dust can be managed, bird lovers need to recognize that powder dust is normal and natural in a healthy cockatoo.

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

PET TIP

Cat needs space when dog arrives

Before you rock your cat's world by adding a puppy or dog, be sure to set up a separate area where your cat can feel safe: a no-dogs-allowed room with food, water, litter box, scratching post and toys.

You may have to keep your cat secured in his own "safe room" for a week or two after bringing home the dog, and then put a baby-gate over the door to allow your cat to get away from the dog when he wants to.

Locking up the cat doesn't seem fair to many people, since the cat was there first. But feline behavior experts say cats adjust better to change if provided with a small, quiet area that's just for them during social upheavals such as moving or adding new people or pets to the household.

PET Rx

Beware of antifreeze

Antifreeze is deadly stuff. A cat can get a lethal dose by walking through a puddle of it and then licking his paws.

You can help protect your pet by being careful when working with this material, by keeping pets out of the work area, and by quickly and completely wiping up all spills. Better yet, check with your auto-supply store for radiator filler that's safer to use around animals. There are products available with a different chemical makeup that reduces the risk to animals.

Some states now require that bittering agents be added to make antifreeze less palatable to animals and children. On the national level, the Engine Coolant and Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act of 2005 will make such requirements law.

If you believe your pet has ingested antifreeze, you must get the animal to a veterinarian right away. There's no "wait and see" with this substance. Urgent veterinary attention is an animal's only chance.

(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.)

PET TRAVEL

Backpacking a canine adventure

Our most recent trip with our family's Irish terrier, Lily, was a backpacking trip into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Our party usually consists of anywhere from five to eight adults, three children, two mules, a horse and two dogs -- Lily and her friend Bob, a border collie.

Lily is a wonderful trail companion. She works the trail from the start of our group to the end, making sure the number of people is correct. This past summer, I was at the end of the group, taking pictures. Lily would go to the head of our group, trot back past the mules and horse, find me, and then trot to the head of the group and start again. If anyone is too far ahead or behind, she finds them or waits for them.

Once we make camp, we take day hikes to high mountain lakes for fishing. Lily eagerly hits the trail and is blissfully tired at the end of each day. She makes many friends along the way as we encounter other hikers. I always wear a leash around my waist, just in case, and we make sure to include the dogs on the wilderness permit, as is required.

Lily had to learn to behave around the mules, and she also had to learn to sleep out on open ground. On her first-ever pack trip, she spent the night growling every time the mules moved. No one got much sleep that trip!

Lily leads a very different life from most of the Irish terriers we know. Her relatives are all show dogs. The breeder is always entertained with the stories of her trail adventures. -- Claire Frost, via e-mail

(Pet Travel is an occasional feature sharing readers' tales from the road with their pets. If you have a story to share send it to petconnection@gmail.com, along with your pictures in jpeg format. )

THE SCOOP

Helping birds fly away home

If you found a pet bird, would you look for the owner? Too often the answer is "no," according to the folks who run the Bird Hotline (www.birdhotline.com). It seems that lost birds often end up in the hands of folks who figure "finders keepers" in a way that never would be the case when it comes to finding a lost dog or cat.

The Bird Hotline works to reunite lost birds with their human families by offering a place for people to post and look for lost-and-found notices. The site also maintains a group of more than 3,000 volunteers -- the Bird Patrol -- who promise to keep an eye out in their area for pet birds who have escaped.

Of course, the best way to deal with a lost bird is to never let him escape at all. By far the best advice when it comes to preventing fly-aways is to keep your bird's wings clipped.

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

There's no doubt vacation travel has gone to the dogs ... and the cats as well. The recent request for travel stories brought them in by the scores.

What a change! When I was growing up as a typical baby boomer, with family vacations spent in our hot station wagon, our dog was never allowed in hotels -- he slept in the car on the road.

Nowadays, not only are pets welcome, but some places also provide room service.

I'll share a few more tales (or should that be tails?) from the road over the next few weeks. Here are a few already in from readers.

-- Lynda Demsher, via e-mail: This summer, four pointers enjoyed a vacation on the Oregon Coast. It didn't start out as a doggie vacation, but after I started looking at my pictures from the three weeks we spent there in July, I realized that it was, indeed, the dogs' days. We went to the coast to fish, so our son towed the boat while my husband and I towed the trailer.

Our son has a big, blocky wirehaired pointing griffon male and a small German shorthaired pointer female. We have a female wirehaired pointing griffon and a male German wirehair. All are great hunting dogs, with the two griffs particularly fond of the water.

We had three 65-pound-plus, hairy dogs and one 40-pound, hyperactive shorthair in the trailer for three weeks. The first thing we did was "trailer-train" them: No dog is allowed out of the door of the trailer unless given permission, each dog has a consistent eating and sleeping place, they are all leash-trained, and they heel on command.

Even though they are powerful dogs, I could walk all of them while the guys were out fishing, two to a double-hooked leash, because they do heel well together. For their obedience, they got to run free on the beach every day, go on long leash-walks, got unlimited attention by dog-loving RVers, and were allowed to get on the bed and the couch in the trailer.

I must emphasize that people who RV with dogs have a responsibility to make sure their pets are well-socialized, neutered or spayed, trained and have good dispositions. People who travel with dogs must also be willing to exercise them a lot, since RV travel is very confining, even for little dogs.

-- Cosette Augustine, via e-mail: For a number of years we took our cat, Punkin, with us when we traveled from New Jersey to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where we stayed in our condo on the shore. Usually we stayed in a motel on the way one night.

The first time we took Punkin to a hotel, the next morning she was nowhere to be found! We figured she would appear, so we put out her food and went to breakfast. When we returned to pack up and leave, there was still no cat. We looked everywhere and knew she couldn't have possibly gotten out of the room.

Finally, in the last place we looked, we removed the mattress and box springs from the wood frame, and there she was. The wall end of the wood frame was open. I guess she didn't really want to get back in the car!

-- Trudy Wolcott, via e-mail: My husband and I traveled to Portland, Ore., this summer with our bichons Cosette and Chloe. We set up their portable crate in the back of our pick-up cab. We stopped every two to three hours at the rest stops along the interstate to give them (and us) a needed break.

Portland is a very pet-friendly city. One evening, Chuck and I ate at a nice restaurant along the waterfront and were allowed to "park" our dogs under our table. The staff was kind enough to bring water for them. The dogs were content in the crate and were well-behaved in the hotel room.

Here are a couple of tips: Take a travel bag just for your pet that includes his own towel, shampoo and conditioner. I also included a pet thermometer and a list of veterinarians in the cities along our route. You can never tell when you pet may become ill or injured.

-- Gina Spadafori: Good advice, all. If you want to share your pet-travel story, just drop me a note at petconnection@gmail.com.

SIDEBAR

Polite pet travel

For all the stories of great pet travel, there were plenty of e-mails from people who weren't so happy with what other people let their pets get away with. It's essential that pet lovers remember that pets can be banned just as easily as they are now welcomed in many places. Essential rules for polite pet travel:

-- Pick up after your pet. No excuses.

-- Keep your pet under control. Keep your pet quiet and don't allow him to intrude on others.

-- Leave rooms as clean as you find them. Take along sheets to put over bedding, or crate your pet at night.

Do your part to keep pets welcome so we can all enjoy our trips with our animal companions!

Q&A

Drug instructions need to be exact

Q: I am a veterinary technician with eight years of experience. I work at a veterinary hospital, and I have also worked for boarding facilities as well as boarding dogs in my own home. I'm also a retired dog trainer, having owned my own company.

Many times I've had an animal dropped off for boarding with a prescription medication (or two or three) that must be administered while the owners are gone. The prescription bottle says: "Use as directed."

I have a boarder staying with me now, and I thought I had contact numbers, but nobody is answering. I have to find out about the drugs this dog is on, and I am trying to find out how much and how often the drugs are to be given.

"Use as directed" on a prescription bottle is, in my opinion, a way of saying, "I am too lazy to type the prescription on the bottle." There should be a law against such labeling on prescription bottles for pets!

Please let your readers know about this problem. And inform them not to accept any medications that aren't properly labeled with instructions that can be easily followed. -- D.B., via e-mail

A: Yours is one of the best suggestions I've read in all the time I've been writing about pets. As I've often written, health care for our pets works best when we work as a team with our veterinarians. An educated, involved pet owner is every bit as important as a gifted veterinarian when it comes to maintaining the health of our pets.

I encourage every person to be sure to never walk out of a veterinarian's office without a clear understanding of the medication a pet has been prescribed, what it's for, how to give it, how it works, and what the possible problems with the medication can be.

Talking to your veterinarian about medications is essential, but it's also helpful to have some basic references on hand. Two I like to recommend are "The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat" (Bantam, $7) and "Pills for Pets: The A to Z Guide to Drugs and Medications for Your Animal Companion" (Citadel, $15). Online drug references, such as those at VeterinaryPartner.com and the human drug reference library at MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus.gov), are also useful.

Those darn burrs!

Q: We are fortunate to live in an area with close access to public space where we can take our setter-mix for long hikes. At this time of year, though, the burrs are so bad that it takes more time to clean out her tail and feathers than we spend walking her. We do not want to shave her beautiful coat, but we're tired of pulling the burrs out. She's tired of it, too. Any suggestions? -- F.B., via e-mail

A: Here's a trick I picked up years ago from a top hunting-dog trainer: Use Pam non-stick cooking spray. Spritz a little into the burr area, and you should have an easier time working out the stickers.

Since you're walking your dog so frequently, you might also consider a thin vest to cover a good portion of her body fur. It won't help protect her leg feathering, but it will reduce the total area that's attracting the burrs. K9 Top Coat makes a lightweight stretch vest in bright safety orange Lycra with reflective strips. An added bonus: increased visibility when you're walking your dog on these days when sunset comes ever earlier.

The vest is $36.50 to $41.50, not including shipping, from K9 Top Coat (www.K9topcoat.com, 888-833-5959.)

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

PET BUY

Halloween décor protects pets

In recent years, decorating the home for Halloween has become almost as big a deal as putting up lights for Christmas. One new pet-related product dresses up the house with a twist: It keeps pets in while making it easy to hand out treats.

The Eerie Entrance is made out of reinforced cardboard and is designed to fit in the top opening of a standard storm door. It can also be trimmed to fit smaller openings. To install, remove any existing window or screen in the storm door and replace it with Eerie Entrance. The product is designed to be reused and can be folded for storage.

Of course, animals who become extremely agitated by visitors are best kept away from the front door, confined to a back room or a crate until all the ghoulish visitors are gone. But for friendly pets who'll try to scoot out an open door, the Eerie Entrance is a clever idea. Eerie Entrance costs $30 and is available from Taylor Gifts (www.taylorgifts.com, 800-829-1133).

PETS ON THE WEB

Help for animals in disaster time

Through her pioneering work rescuing animals in times of disaster, Terri Crisp has done something few of us ever accomplish: She has changed our way of thinking. Because of people like Crisp, disaster planning and response now includes animals, in part because of the hands-on work of dedicated, trained animal lovers in disaster zones, and in part because of the recognition by emergency-response planners that people consider animals to be part of the family and will risk their own lives to save their pets.

Of course, no disaster-response expert suggests that anyone put lives at risk. Crisp's rescue group, Noah's Wish, strongly encourages all animal lovers to prepare themselves with the supplies and knowledge needed to evacuate their two- and four-legged family members before they are in danger. On its Web site (noahswish.org), Noah's Wish explains the steps of emergency preparedness for pet lovers. The group also hosts training seminars to prepare those who'd like to volunteer to help others in time of need.

In the wake of recent hurricanes, donations are also very much needed to help Noah's Wish teams working with on-site disaster relief.

PET Rx

Preventive care essential for birds

A wild bird's survival strategy is to appear as healthy as possible to avoid the notice of predators. Many popular pet bird species are not many generations removed from the wild, but the same survival strategy that worked in a natural habitat is a bad one in captivity. Pet birds will sometimes show no sign of illness until they're too sick to be helped.

Proper daily care -- good nutrition and fastidious cleanliness -- is essential to preventing life-threatening illness, as is a solid working relationship with an experienced avian veterinarian. Here's why an avian veterinarian can make a difference:

-- Scarcity of urgent care. Emergency clinics are mostly geared for dog and cat care, not specialized bird care. And even if you develop an excellent relationship with an avian-savvy veterinarian, he will not always be available for emergency response.

-- Cost savings. From the start-up costs of a proper cage to annual well-bird exams with necessary diagnostic testing, preventive care isn't cheap. Still, heading off illness is less expensive in the long run than trying to save the life of a bird in crisis.

-- Quality of life. Just because a bird is hiding his illness doesn't mean he isn't feeling dreadful. It may be days, weeks, months or even years before your bird finally gets so sick that he stops caring what happens to him. Misery has been his companion for a long time at that point, and that makes a strong argument for early intervention.

The place to start? An examination by an avian veterinarian, who'll take the time to establish the good health of your bird, correct little health problems before they become critical, and advise you about anything you're doing that might be endangering your pet's health long-term.

(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

Strings not safe for playful cats

Kittens and cats love playing with yarn, as well as string, ribbon, and anything that twists and dances. Problem is, there's always a chance your cat will decide to eat his plaything. And that's where the fun stops, because any sort of yarn, ribbon or string can cause havoc in your cat's intestines, causing a problem that may need to be surgically treated.

These are preventable emergencies. If you knit or sew, put your supplies securely away after you're done with them. Same thing goes if you're wrapping packages: Put the ribbon away after the task is done.

Even if your pet's not really the playful type, she may find one kind of string irresistible: juice-soaked string from a roast or turkey. Dispose of these tempting dangers carefully, putting them in a container your cat can't get into.

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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