Universal Press Syndicate

Disaster preparedness is so easy to let slide. We get all worked up after something like the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina or even a false alarm like the turn of the century's perceived threat to our computer systems.

We read up, we stock up, we move on. And then, we forget. In a pinch, we take the can opener out of the emergency kit and don't replace it. We rotate the food and water into our kitchen cupboards, but we don't buy anything new to rotate into the supplies in the garage.

It's human nature, of course, to react to immediate threats and to put off preparing for something that might never happen.

If you're one of those people who figured your pets into your disaster planning after 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, good for you. Now it's time to review those plans. If you've never done any disaster planning, for you or your pets, this is a good time to start.

Hurricane and tornado season are at hand in many parts of the country. But no matter where you live, there could be a crisis heading your way, and your pets are counting on you.

Start your preparations with something you've probably already taken care of, by making sure your pets have ID.

Most animals will survive a disaster, but many never see their families again because there's no way to determine which pet belongs to which family if the animals go missing, a common occurrence even under normal circumstances. That's why dogs and cats should always wear a collar and identification tags. Add a microchip, too.

Once your pet has up-to-date ID, it's time to collect some equipment to help you cope in case of an emergency. A big storage bin with a lid and handles is an ideal place to keep everything you need together and on hand.

Keep several days' worth of drinking water and pet food as well as any necessary medicines, rotating the stock regularly. For canned goods, don't forget to pack a can opener and a spoon. Lay in a supply of empty plastic bags, along with paper towels, both for cleaning up messes and for sealing them away until they can be safely tossed.

For cats, pack a bag of litter and some disposable litter trays.

Even normally docile pets can behave in uncharacteristic ways when stressed by an emergency, which makes restraints essential for the safety of pets and people alike. For dogs, leashes should always be available.

Shipping crates are probably the least-thought-of pieces of emergency equipment for pets but are among the most important. Sturdy crates keep pets of all kinds safe while increasing their housing options. Crated pets may be allowed in hotel rooms that are normally off-limits to pets, or can be left in a pinch with veterinarians or shelters that are already full, since the animals come with rooms of their own.

The final item of restraint for dogs and cats: a soft muzzle, because frightened or injured pets are more likely to bite. And don't forget to put first-aid supplies in your disaster kit, along with a book on how to treat pet injuries.

You may never have to pull out your disaster kit, but it's always good to be prepared.

SIDEBAR

Free brochure on disaster planning

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (in cooperation with the American Kennel Club, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States) has put together a free emergency preparedness brochure for pet lovers.

The brochure can be downloaded and printed out on your home computer or ordered by phone. Visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY for more information. -- G.S.

Q&A

Barking dog? Talk to your neighbor

Q: I've had it. I can't even step out of my own back door without the neighbor's dog barking at me. I've screamed at the dog, and it won't shut up. The neighbors leave it out all day when they're at work. I suppose I should be happy the thing doesn't bark all night, but shouldn't I be able to enjoy my own backyard in peace? -- W.F., via e-mail

A: Yes, you should, and you shouldn't have to ask for quiet, either. But since your neighbors appear to be oblivious to the problem, you'll need to work with them on a solution.

I always get barking-dog letters in the late spring, when people want to enjoy their backyards and find they can't because of a neighbor's yapper. In the last few months, I found myself in the same position. My kind neighbors took in a train wreck of a stray dog with all kinds of behavior problems.

I could barely take a breath in my own home without Mango piping up. She barked -- a high-pitched, ultra-annoying staccato -- from the minute they left for work until they came home and took her inside.

So I piped up myself and talked to the neighbors, again and again. They were understanding and cooperative. And finally, a combination of keeping the dog in a different part of the yard, using a citronella-spray no-bark collar and just letting Mango settle in brought down the barking to acceptable levels.

I recognize, though, that not every neighbor is as willing to work on a problem as mine are. I realize, too, that some neighbors are not safe to approach on a matter of potential conflict. For these, it may be prudent to collect some information on how to keep a dog quiet, along with a note explaining that you and the other neighbors are asking for the pet owner's help. And then mail them the package.

The authorities traditionally consider barking dogs a low priority. Although you can escalate your complaints through law enforcement or legal channels, it's always better to try to get the neighbor to fix the problem first.

The Denver Dumb Friends League has an excellent fact sheet covering why dogs bark and how pet owners can choose effective solutions. You can find it in the pet behavior section at www.ddfl.org. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUY

Hale Pet Doors a hearty choice

Pets come in all shapes and sizes, so it only makes sense that pet doors would, too. Ready-made doors, however, don't usually come in a wide range of sizes, and can have limited features and little or no adaptability.

Hale Pet Doors makes ready-made and custom doors for installation in walls, doors, patio sliders, windows, glass, motor homes and screens. They come in sizes for the tiniest cats all the way up to the tallest giant-breed dogs. The flaps are made of high-quality vinyl that holds up well to heavy use and fastens securely, thwarting bad weather and small pests. The frames are made of extruded aluminum and come in four colors.

Hale Pet Doors are sturdy, infinitely customizable and come in sizes to suit any pet. They are adaptable to any kind of climate and about as attractive as a pet door can be.

Prices start as low as $90, but can go as high as just over $1,000 for the largest sizes and greatest level of customization.

More information on Hale Pet Doors is available at www.halepetdoor.com, or by calling 1-800-646-4773. -- Christie Keith

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Among dogs, a sniff is just a 'hello'

Normal greeting behavior for people may be a handshake or a hug, but among dogs it's a sniff in places that people would consider rude. Owners who don't know acceptable canine behavior often scold their pets for this normal behavior with another dog. Scolding confuses your dog, inhibits his social skills and creates tension with his own species.

If you take your friendly, socialized dog to dog parks, let him greet other dogs in a normal, natural manner -- with sniffing in private places. If you must, just look away. If your dog then starts humping another dog, you do need to interrupt that behavior.

Humping, especially in altered pets, is not a display of affection or a desire to mate. It's about dominance. Police this bullying behavior by not allowing it to continue, while praising normal, friendly canine behavior -- such as sniffing.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

PET Rx

New test detects kidney disease early

If a pet's body had a picture window for internal health, the view would look directly at the kidneys. Did you know that the kidneys filter the entire blood volume every 30 minutes? Toxins in the blood can damage the kidneys during the filtration process, a danger recently revealed when pets consumed contaminated foods and went into renal failure.

Conventional urine tests -- measuring urine-specific gravity, BUN, creatinine -- don't detect damage until about 70 percent of kidney function is lost.

To catch kidney disease in its earliest stages before too much kidney function has been lost, there is a new urine test available to veterinarians called the E.R.D. (Early Renal Damage), from the Heska Corp.

Testing for albumin in the urine, this ultra-sensitive test takes less than five minutes to run. Available for both dogs and cats, the test is not only useful in detecting kidney damage from many common diseases, but also an excellent monitoring tool to gauge severity of disease, treatment success and progression of kidney damage.

Unlike a wound that heals, kidney damage is irreversible. That means the earlier you catch the loss of renal function, the better off your pet will be. With early detection, there are steps you can take to limit further kidney damage, minimize normal wear and tear to the kidneys, or begin treatment.

If the test is normal, you have peace of mind. If it's positive, your veterinarian has a number of treatment and management options available.

For more information, talk with your veterinarian. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Pets should be for life

With kitten season at hand, it's important to remember that adopting an animal is about more than taking home an adorable fuzzy baby. When you look at the list of why cats end up homeless, you'll realize that most of the reasons could have been avoided if people considered whether they really could handle another pet -- or any pet at all:

1. Too many in house

2. Allergies

3. Moving

4. Cost of pet maintenance

5. Landlord issues

6. No homes for littermates

7. House soiling

8. Personal problems

9. Inadequate facilities

10. Doesn't get along with other pets

Source: National Council on Pet Overpopulation Study and Policy

PETS ON THE WEB

Blogs bark loudest during food recall

Itchmo.com, a Web log for Seattle-area dog owners written by Ben Huh, was just cruising along comfortably with a reasonable local following. And then the pet-food recalls started.

Huh, a dog lover and journalist, started devoting all of his free time to covering the story. His Itchmo.com site soon became one of the handful -- including PetConnection.com -- that suddenly became a must-read for pet lovers trying to keep up on the recalls. These sites attracted the attention of national media as well as pet lovers and broke several stories along the way that kept the issue percolating. The Pet Food Tracker (petfoodtracker.blogspot.com) and The Pet Food List (www.thepetfoodlist.com) posted recall notices sometimes days before the FDA did.

"Itchmo" is Huh's term for a dog's "scratch me more" look. The site retains that whimsy and, as the urgency of the pet-food recall eases, Itchmo.com is returning to a lively mix of news and entertainment for dog lovers everywhere. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

Universal Press Syndicate

Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can make our pets itch and scratch. But did you know that each one of these pests can transmit serious diseases to your pets -- and to you as well?

In a pet with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), even one flea bite can cause a cascading reaction of itching, irritation and secondary bacterial infection. Far from being a rare overreaction to fleas, FAD is the most common allergic skin disorder in pets. And allergic or not, all pets can be infected with tapeworm from the bite of a flea. Fleas can also bite humans, and a few fleas can lead to a complete infestation of your carpets, bedding, upholstery and yard.

Once it's in full bloom, a flea infestation can be extremely difficult to eradicate.

And what about mosquitoes? These pests make people itch, but their risk to pets goes far beyond discomfort. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworms, a parasite that's a serious problem in dogs and increasingly in cats (even indoor cats). Many cases of feline asthma and bronchitis are now thought to be caused by heartworm infection. Heartworm disease can be debilitating, lengthy, difficult and expensive to treat, but it's easy to prevent with medication from your veterinarian. More information on canine and feline heartworm disease can be found at www.heartwormsociety.org.

Probably the most dangerous of all the pests that afflict our pets is the tick. Ticks can spread Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and babesiosis. These immune-system disorders can be hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. Because their symptoms can mimic so many other diseases, they are often not detected until well-advanced, at which time it can be too late.

Symptoms of tick-borne diseases include fevers, lameness that can shift from limb to limb, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and not eating. Ticks can be as tiny as the period at the end of this sentence, so relying on combing or hand-searching to control ticks is not effective. Worse, removing them by hand can increase the likelihood they'll transmit disease to your pets.

Even if your dog has been vaccinated against canine Lyme disease, don't let up on the tick-prevention effort. There are no vaccines for any of the other, even more dangerous tick diseases. Many ticks carry multiple diseases and can transmit more than one at the time they bite your dog.

The SNAP 4Dx test is an in-office test your veterinarian can give to your dog to detect canine heartworm disease, Lyme disease, and two tick-borne diseases: ehrlichiosis canis and anaplasmosis (formerly known as ehrlichiosis equi). This test is a valuable tool in detecting diseases that, left untreated, can cause life-threatening illness in dogs. The test is available to veterinarians through IDEXX Laboratories.

Given the seriousness of the diseases spread by ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, there's no question that prevention is the best course. In the past, pet owners had to rely on messy, time-consuming and non-environmentally friendly dips, bombs and sprays. Those days are gone with the introduction of topical preventives that repel and kill fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Some even control internal parasites and ear mites.

Diseases carried by parasites vary from region to region, although in today's increasingly mobile society that's less true. Talk to your veterinarian about the problems in your area and about the products that can protect your pet.

SIDEBAR

Two new pest-control products for spring

Two new preventives have come on the market this bug season. One is Bayer's Advantage Multi, a prescription topical preventive that comes in both canine and feline formulas. Unlike other topicals, it prevents heartworm as well as a number of intestinal parasites (also ear mites in cats). It does not, however, prevent or repel ticks. You can find out more at www.animalhealth.bayerhealthcare.com.

Sergeant's Pet Products has also come out with a new product, Sergeant's Gold Flea and Tick Squeeze-On for Dogs. It contains both a flea- and tick-killer and an insect-growth regulator, which kills flea eggs and larvae. It's available at retailers. More information is available at www.sergeants.com.

Remember: Knowing which product is right for your pet and the pests in your area is something for you and your veterinarian to discuss. Most pest-prevention products cannot be used together, and many cannot be used on, or even around, cats. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about a pest-protection program for your pet. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

Pets, planes and airport security

Q: Regarding your recent column on flying with pets, will you let readers know about the risk of losing a pet in the airport?

Most people don't realize that if they take a pet as carry-on baggage, they'll have to take the pet out of the carrier and hold the animal while the carrier itself goes through screening. I found this out the hard way with a cat who hates to be held!

Everyone who takes a pet aboard a plane as carry-on luggage should have a harness and leash in place to avoid having the animal take off running through the airport. -- J.P., via e-mail

A: You're absolutely right. While a small dog having a bit of a freak-out at the airport can probably be held firmly and without too much difficulty, a cat in full flight-or-fight mode can really create a dangerous scene. That's why your suggestion is important: Make sure any pet -- but especially a cat -- is equipped with a harness and leash before removing the animal from the carrier at the airport screening station.

I've flown with pets as carry-on a few times and have put larger pets in cargo a few times more -- never (knock on wood) with any problems whatsoever. I've always found airline staff to be caring, helpful and understanding of the needs and worries of pet lovers.

One myth about flying with pets that just won't go away is the assumption that pets need to be routinely tranquilized for flights. Not only is this not true, but it's also dangerous. Tranquilizing limits the ability of their bodies to function normally, and they need all that ability to cope with the stress of flight.

The default mode for pet air travel should be no tranquilizers, although there are exceptions, so a pre-flight talk with the veterinarian is a must. (You'll need to be there for a pre-flight health certificate anyway.)

Maybe we think pets should be tranquilized because we wish we were? It sure would make the flights seem faster for us, wouldn't it?

Talking to the airline for pet reservations and conditions is a must, as is checking en route for any pets traveling in cargo holds. With all precautions in place, air travel with pets should go smoothly -- and it usually does. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Make nail trims feline-friendly

Want to avoid a tussle when it comes to trimming the claws on your cat? Don't trim them until you can massage your cat's paws gently during lap time. As you massage a paw with one hand, offer an irresistible treat in the other. Make the procedure as pleasant as possible -- for both of you.

Timing and size matters when you start nail trims. A relaxed cat is more likely to be a cooperative one. Go for quality, not quantity. Trim only one nail each day and take off only the tip. If you cut down to the quick -- the living tissue closest to the paw -- it will hurt. And if you cause your pet pain, you won't get much cooperation in the future.

So be careful, and be positive. If done carefully, your cat may not hold out his paw for a nail trim, but he won't mind much if the whole experience is a pleasant one.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

PETS BY THE BOOK

Know your cat inside and out

With a new kitten joining the family, I suddenly had a desire to reread some of my favorite feline reference books. And that meant digging in to find the ones by Roger Tabor.

There's just no one who understands a cat better than this British naturalist and biologist, and no one who can explain what makes your cat tick in a way remotely as entertaining. Tabor's "Understanding Cat Behavior: The Complete Feline Problem Solver" (David & Charles, $20) seems like a simple guide to fixing unwanted behavior. But in fact, it's an entertaining masterwork that reveals why we find cats so appealing and so mysterious.

As good as Tabor's text is, the pictures are more than mere illustrations. Each one reveals the secrets of feline body language and ties the actions of our domestic cats to their wild relatives. A pure joy to read, cover to cover. -- Gina Spadafori

THE SCOOP

Plan for a dog-friendly landscape

But you can't just plant whatever you want wherever you want and then throw a bored, unsupervised dog into the mix. Instead, plan your yard to take your dog into account, and mind your dog's needs to get him to leave the plants alone. The basic guidelines:

-- Exercise your dog. A dog with too much energy isn't one you want to leave alone all day in a nice yard -- and yet that's exactly what many people do. If you don't take care of your dog's exercise requirements, he's going to take care of them on his own, by digging a hole to China or by removing the shrubs in your yard.

Dogs who don't get daily exercise are likely to expend that energy and cure their boredom by doing things people don't like -- digging, chewing and barking. Dogs who are well-exercised are more likely to sleep while you are gone. When you leave, you should also offer your dog alternatives to choosing his own amusements: Provide him with chew toys.

-- Work with your dog's habits. Observe how your dog uses your yard and plan accordingly. For instance, many dogs consider it their duty to run the fence line, leaving a well-worn trail where many people hope to put flowers. Go with his natural instincts. Place your beds and plantings away from the fence line.

-- Redirect digging. Breeds such as terriers were developed to dig, and expecting them not to indulge in it is unfair. Give your dog a dig zone, and praise him for using it. Discourage digging in other areas by supervising your dog, keeping him well-exercised and making the digging unpleasant. One trick: Put your dog's own stools in the hole and cover them with dirt. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Skin conditions common

More than one-fifth of all claims submitted to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. were for skin conditions. Parasites and allergies were given as the causes for the misery. The top complaints:

1. Atopic/allergic dermatitis (itchy or inflammed skin)

2. Pyoderma/hotspots (lick lesions or moist sore spots)

3. Neoplasia, or benign skin cancer.

Source: www.petinsurance.com

ON THE WEB

Keeping prey on the outside

Many a cat insists on sharing the spoils of the hunt with a not-so-pleased human family. The cat thinks bringing in mice and other small creatures that are still alive is the height of entertainment -- far better than any TV show. But for those of us who must deal with what the cat dragged in, it's no fun at all.

Enter Flo Control (www.quantumpicture.com/Flo_Control/flo_control.htm), the entertaining attempt to keep a cat from bringing prey into the house. Not surprisingly, the project has been undertaken by Quantum Picture, a Washington state company working with image recognition software.

When Flo the cat is coming in with nothing in her mouth, the software recognizes her and allows the cat door to open. When she's carrying something, the door remains closed. Animals with a different profile than a cat -- raccoons or opossums -- can't get in, either.

I won't pretend to understand the technology, but the Web page is a riot. Check it out. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

Universal Press Syndicate

Anyone who has ever lived in a big city has seen dog walkers -- people who take pets out for a midday potty break while owners are at work.

But a dog runner? While many a runner has a dog as a training partner, ultra-marathoner Bob Halpenny of Sacramento, Calif., may be forging new trails as an entrepreneur in the booming pet-services industry.

"It just seemed a perfect match for me," said Halpenny, who started his business at the beginning of the year and now has five dogs in training with him up to three times a week. "I love running, and I love dogs."

Halpenny's On The Trail Dog Fitness may be a rarity for now in the pet-service industry, but he's in good company otherwise. Service businesses aimed at pet lovers are booming, according to industry experts.

"This trend is being fed by people with no kids -- either those who are empty-nesters, or young people who are delaying having children for career or other reasons," said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, which is based in Greenwich, Conn. "When my kids were at home, they let the dog out, walked the dog, whatever. Now you have people who need these things done, and they're willing to spend on everything from pet-sitting to poop-scooping."

It's a trend that has picked up more than just poop -- revenues from these businesses are up 15 percent in the last two years, according to an APPMA survey. And the demographics are ripe for even more innovative pet-related businesses to start up.

"We've seen a lot of growth, especially in the last couple of years," said Mike Dillon of Dillon Media LLC, an independent pet-industry consulting firm in Berkeley, Calif. "Every segment of the pet industry is moving up market, driven by the affluent, by people who make upward of $70,000 a year."

Good thing, too, because while pet-care services aren't as expensive as comparable ones for humans, they can add up for regular users of such services. For example, Halpenny charges $20 per dog per run, with packages available for multiple dogs and regular customers. Compared to the cost of a personal trainer who works with people, the service is a bargain. But it likely seems pricey to anyone whose idea of getting a dog some exercise consists of throwing a tennis ball a few times.

For those whose high-energy dogs are bouncing off the walls and are indulging in destructive behavior because of boredom, however, a dog runner or a doggie day-care center can seem a bargain at any price. Vetere notes that such services can be a way for people with busy lives to be able to keep pets.

"I guess nothing surprised me after I saw the poop-scooping businesses start up," said Vetere, who noted that this particular industry is so strong, there's even a national organization and franchise possibilities. Even industry consultant Dillon is drafting on the success of pet-service businesses: He started his company in 2001 after the dot-com implosion and never looked back.

"I was laid off and turned off by technology," he said. "My last three jobs were very disappointing. This is a lot more fun."

"Fun" surely isn't the word anyone would apply to scooping poop for a living, but Vetere says the relative ease at which pet-related service businesses can be started is part of their appeal. And many offer flexible hours, which means people who can't do or can't stand the 9-to-5 grind find them attractive.

"There's good money to be made, and the start-up costs aren't necessarily high," Vetere said. "I know a lot of college students who can use their flexible hours to their advantage and start a pet-service business."

Halpenny's no college kid, but he saw the advantage of combining his love of dogs with his love of running. And he says you'll never see a happier group of runners than the dogs who train with him.

That's a change from working with people, says Halpenny, who also helps to prepare human runners for marathons.

"The dogs are always ready to run," he says. "It's never too cold, too early, too wet for a dog. I show up, and they can't wait to get going."

SIDEBAR

New pet businesses push phone book changes

The addition of new kinds of pet-care services has had telephone directories adjusting their categories. Business listings in many area phone books have had to expand pet-care listings in ways previous generations could never have imagined, according to Veterinary Economics magazine.

In recent years, animal chiropractors and doggie day care have been added as categories in some phone books, joining such longtime pet-service industry stalwarts as dog training and pet boarding -- not to mention veterinarians. Want someone to clean up your yard on a regular basis? Look under Pet Waste Removal. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

New pet door? Keep the flap up

Q: I recently installed a panel pet door in a sliding-glass door. My dog will not use it. Only once was I successful in tenderly pushing him through it so he could see how it works. Last night, I tried to coach him through it with his leash on, but his mind was made up that he wasn't going anywhere near the door. I even placed some treats on the other side of the flap, and he still wouldn't budge.

I read that I should first try taping the flap up so he can see that it's an outlet to the patio and then, over time, let the flap down. Do you have any ideas? Gus is 12 years old and has never used a doggie door before. -- L.H., via e-mail

A: The easiest way for an animal to learn to use a pet door is to have another pet who's already using it. But since that's not an option for you, you'll now have to start over with the training.

Start by taping the flap securely out of the way, or by removing it completely for the time being. If you are going to tape it up, be sure you use enough material to keep the flap from falling down. If your dog gets hit in the nose, the training will take even longer.

Yes, you'll have to deal with bugs for a while. But it's the only way to show your dog that this is the way in and out.

Next, every time your dog needs to go out, let yourself out the sliding-glass door and close it behind you. Then call your dog, while kneeling on the other side of the flapless dog door and coaxing him with praise and treats. Chances are your dog will look through the wide-open door and come right on through. Never open the sliding-glass door to let your dog out. From now on, go out without him and make the dog door the only way out.

After he's going in and out with confidence, set the flap halfway up so he can still see through opening. Once that's working, you can put the flap all the way down.

Assuming your dog is in good health at age 12, with no mental impairments, he's perfectly capable of learning to use the dog door. And assuming that the dog door is level with the floor and that he has no arthritis issues, he should be able to use it just fine as long as he can get around on his own four feet. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Give your cat choices in boxes

Just as some people like rap music and others prefer classical music, cats have personal preferences when it comes to the litter box. If a cat doesn't like something about the box, forget about him using it. If your home has turned into a giant litter box, consider these strategies to get the cat mess back in the box.

Think "litter box buffet." Provide a wide variety of boxes and litter types -- some covered boxes, others open. Some cats like to beach it in the sand, while others prefer clay that doesn't stick to their paws. Big and deep is always better except for arthritic cats, where lower sides are better.

Avoid high-traffic areas in your home when placing the box. How relaxed would you feel in a public toilet that didn't have stall doors? Remember that all cats value their privacy.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

THE SCOOP

Got kids? Adopt a grown-up pet

A dog or cat can be a kid's best friend. And for many families, an older pet is the best option. The nation's animal shelters and rescue organizations are full of older animals eager for homes and eager to please. And thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, healthy senior pets (7 years of age or older) still have a lot of life and loyal companionship to give.

These wonderful seniors offer advantages for today's busy households. Compared to the average kitten or puppy, they're generally calmer, often already house-trained, and aren't as likely to chew furniture, shoes or fingers.

Before bringing a new pet home, learn as much as possible about the animal. Many pets up for adoption come with histories that tell whether they've lived with children or how they get along with them. And make sure you and your child spend time with the pet in a place where everyone can interact. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PET Rx

The fix is in when it comes to a healthy pet

Neutering can prevent the deaths of millions of unwanted pets every year, while preventing health and behavior problems in those animals who are safely in loving homes already.

Neutered pets can't produce unwanted offspring, and they experience far fewer behavioral and medical problems. From a behavioral standpoint, early neutering will prevent the aggressiveness, territory-marking, fighting and roaming of both dogs and cats. Many of the pets hit by cars are unneutered males who will roam in search of mates or territory. Female pets who aren't spayed face a common infection of the uterus called pyometra, which is a life-threatening condition requiring surgery.

As for cats, all that catting around almost guarantees their exposure to contagious and mostly fatal diseases.

Medically, the news is better yet. Neutered pets have a greatly reduced incidence of some forms of cancer, along with a reduced incidence of urinary tract disease. Early neutering helps prevent prostate disease in male dogs and decreases the chances of your female pet getting mammary cancer to almost zero.

Forget that old idea that pets should be spayed after the first heat. Better to do it before the hormones kick in, from both a medical and behavioral standpoint.

Veterinarians used to recommend neutering and spaying pets after the age of 6 months old. Now we've found that it is simple, safe and effective to sterilize pets as young as 12 weeks old. At an early age, the procedure has less bleeding and is easier to perform because of less body fat. Best of all, it can be accomplished at the time of your pets' last set of puppy or kitten vaccinations.

If you love pets as much as I do, let's work together to halt the birth of unwanted pets. And encourage your friends and family members to spay/neuter their pets. -- Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on Reptiles

Although some reptilian or amphibian pets can be expensive to acquire and set up, they're generally not that expensive to maintain. Popular purchases reported in 2004 survey include (multiple answers allowed):

Glass habitat: 64 percent

Cage furniture: 58 percent

Books on care: 54 percent

Fluorescent UVB bulb: 38 percent

Incandescent bulb: 39 percent

Bedding: 30 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

ON THE WEB

Humane handling of feral cat problems

For years, the accepted way of handling a surplus of feral cats -- domestic cats gone wild -- was to trap them and kill them.

Humane advocates thought there had to be a better way. So in recent years the practice of trap, neuter and release (TNR) has gained ground. Ferals are trapped, vaccinated and neutered, and then released to the area from which they originally came. Kittens and cats young enough to be tamed are removed and placed as pets. Maintained in place by people who feed them, the remaining feral cats will keep others from colonizing an area as their own numbers slowly dwindle.

Alley Cats Allies (www.alleycat.org) is one of the groups most active in advocating TNR programs to deal with feral cats. The group's Web site is a must-see resource for anyone trying to cope with spring's kitten boom. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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