and Christie Keith

Universal Press Syndicate

The hottest topic at last month's Western Veterinary Conference wasn't big cures or earth-shattering breakthroughs in disease prevention. Rather, it was improving the quality of life for aging, sick and injured pets.

More than 6,000 veterinarians covered a million square feet of Las Vegas trade show space and picked up the latest information at some 700 hours of scientific presentations. But the biggest audiences were at the dozens of presentations educating veterinarians on new pain-management techniques, with more than 100 veterinarians turned away from one such symposium.

At the Vet-Stem booth, Dr. Julie Ryan Johnson was spreading the word about a procedure newly available to treat dogs with some forms of joint disease -- without drugs. Using stem cells extracted from a dog's own fat, veterinarians may be able to control pain and inflammation for as long as a year and a half. What's more, the therapy, which has long been used in equine medicine and is now being studied in people, may also improve symptoms caused by autoimmune disorders and liver disease.

"The dogs are doing things they hadn't done in a long time," Johnson said. "The stem cells make the dogs feel so good, they're tugging at the leash. Their owners are so happy to see them bouncing all around."

Quality of life is about more than managing pain, of course. For instance, hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs suffer from chronic renal failure and various forms of heart disease that leave them depressed, unable to exercise and unwilling to eat. Two new therapies -- a drug newly available in the United States and a new supplement still undergoing testing -- have the potential to make life something to enjoy rather than endure for countless pets.

In animals with renal failure, the kidneys become unable to filter toxins. As those toxins build up, cats and dogs feel extremely sick. Human patients with kidney failure often benefit from dialysis or transplants, but for dogs and cats, such procedures are often unavailable or unaffordable.

The new drug Azodyl, developed by Vetoquinol, uses specially formulated probiotic supplements to digest some of the toxins from the intestine, a process it calls "enteric dialysis." While Azodyl is currently undergoing an independent trial by the Veterinary Information Network, it's more promising than proven at this point. But if either Azodyl or some other method of enteric dialysis proves successful, it may allow pets to feel healthier and may even help reduce future damage to the kidneys. (Cat owners interested in the ongoing study can get more information at www.vin.com/ART/Protocol.htm.)

And for dogs with cardiac illness, there's new hope, too. The drug Vetmedin (pimobendan), newly approved in the United States after eight years of use in Europe and Canada, isn't a cure for heart disease, but it can make dogs with some kinds of cardiac illness feel a whole lot more like living.

By increasing the flow of blood both to and from the heart and making it beat more efficiently, this drug can greatly improve the ability of dogs to enjoy near-normal activity and appetite levels. Some dogs even live longer when Vetmedin is added to their treatment plan, either because of the drug's direct effects or because their owners can delay euthanasia.

Not all of these procedures or therapies are right for all pets, of course. If you think your pet would benefit, work with your veterinarian to determine if these or other innovations can improve your pet's quality of life.

SIDEBAR

Prize drawings on PetConnection.com

Everyone who signs up for the Pet Connection's free twice-monthly e-mail newsletter is now automatically entered in a monthly draw for top-quality pet gear.

Every month the total prize package is guaranteed to have a retail value of at least $1,000.

The prizes change every month. Check out PetConnection.com for details -- and to sign up for the free e-mail newsletter.

Q&A

Feline siblings can, will mate

Q: This nitwit I work with got two cute kittens at the end of last summer from the same litter, male and female. (At least she went to the shelter!) She didn't take either cat to the vet, and now the female seems to be pregnant.

Because the cats go outside at will, the father could be any cat, I guess. But we got into a disagreement because she said it could be any cat except the pregnant kitty's brother. (She says she read that brother and sister cats won't breed.) I think it probably was the brother, since he's at hand. What do you think? -- W.P., via e-mail

A: It could be the brother, it could be a neighborhood tom, or it could be the brother and any number of neighborhood toms. That's because it's perfectly possible that the kittens have multiple dads.

Your e-mail reminds me of a phone call I received a few years back from a woman who couldn't understand how her dog kept getting pregnant. She swore to me that the dog was never left outside unattended and was never walked without a leash. No dog could have gotten to her anyway, she said, since the dog's own son was always with her, and he didn't like other dogs.

I asked her if the male had been neutered and, as I guessed, the answer was "no." I told her it was highly likely that the father of the puppies was also their brother. She seemed shocked and didn't want to believe me.

"Don't they know they're mother and son?" she asked.

The dogs neither know nor do they care, I told her. If the dogs aren't altered, they'll do what dogs do in such situations. Mother-son, father-daughter, siblings, no matter. And yes, cats will happily do the same under the right circumstances.

In other words, blood relations don't count for much. So tell your co-worker not to count on an imaginary feline prohibition against incest to keep littermates from mating. I tried to encourage the woman with the two dogs to get them altered, and I hope you will encourage your friend with her two cats to do the same.

At the very least, getting her pets altered will make them better pets in addition to not adding to the number of kittens trying to find homes every year. (Also, her cats will be perfectly happy and less at risk of illness or injury if she keeps them safely inside.) -- 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 BUZZ

Beware of training that punishes pups

-- In response to the popularity of television shows such as "The Dog Whisperer," the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has issued a position statement and guidelines on the use of punishment for dealing with behavior problems in animals. As reported in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the veterinary behaviorists want people to know that punishment-based training is difficult to time correctly, can actually strengthen unwanted behavior, and can cause fear or aggression in an animal or physical damage.

-- Gordy, an 8-year-old black cat, became the 100th kidney transplant recipient in the feline renal transplant program at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. UPenn began this program in 1998, and one important requirement is that the donor cat -- almost exclusively rescued from a shelter -- goes home with the recipient cat and his family.

-- DVM Newsmagazine reports that a new study suggesting a link between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia may offer hope for possible treatments for the roughly 2 million Americans who suffer from the mental disorder. Toxoplasmosis is caused by parasites, usually through exposure to cat feces or from the unsafe handling of meat. -- Dr. Marty Becker

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Some house manners need to be taught

Just because your dog excelled in obedience class does not mean he knows your house rules. If your dog knocks people over or starts barking every few minutes, you need to work on setting some limits. Increasing exercise and training is a good start, but your dog needs to learn emotional control, too.

Obedience classes teach dogs to respond to a command. Behavior modification methods teach emotional response. Dogs need to learn how to exercise natural behaviors in acceptable ways to keep them indoors with the family. Helping your dog learn how to relax around the house is just as important as taking your pet to obedience classes to learn how to sit on command.

(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.)

DOGCARS.COM

Highlander Hybrid: Green, with room for dogs

The first wave of alternative-fuel vehicles wasn't exactly dog-friendly, starting with the two-seat Honda Insight that barely had room for a bag of groceries, much less a big dog.

The Toyota Prius added a hatchback and more room for everything, but the popular hybrid is still awfully small if you're planning a family road trip that includes the dog.

That's why dog lovers should welcome the newest wave of greener sport utilities, including a quartet of redesigned hybrids: the Toyota Highlander and the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute cousins. They're all roomy and comfortable, are pricier than non-hybrid equivalents, but have cleaner engines that sip less gas.

I tested and liked them all, but I absolutely loved the biggest and most expensive of the bunch, the Highlander. (It was also the least fuel-efficient.)

Toyota's redesign for 2008 adds more usable cargo space. The third row of seating folds completely flat, and the second row almost flat, with a tiny gap between rows when the seats are folded down.

That gap, along with the $39,000 base price (for the well-equipped Limited I tested) was about the only fault I could find (Highlander hybrids start at $34,000). With gas prices continuing to climb, you can't beat a roomy SUV getting 25 mpg while powering up a steep grade at highway speeds. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Little dogs, big dental problems

According to Banfield, The Pet Hospital's medical database, DataSavant, the top 10 breeds most susceptible to periodontal disease are:

1. Toy poodle

2. Yorkshire terrier

3. Maltese

4. Pomeranian

5. Shetland sheepdog

6. Cavalier King Charles spaniel

7. Papillion

8. Standard poodle

9. Dachshund

10. Havanese.

PET BUY

Pet Top gives new life to old water bottles

The Pet Top makes it easier for your dog to drink water from a recycled plastic water bottle without the gagging that sometimes comes with squirt bottles.

The maker says the product will fit on any plastic water bottle (some new bottle designs may require a $2 adapter).

Even better, it's made in the United States, works with any size dog and is dishwasher safe. The cost is $8, which includes shipping, from www.pettop.com or 1-866-738-8677, or it can be found in pet boutiques. -- 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

Did you get a rabbit for Easter? Then you'll need to know how to best care for your new pet.

Rabbit rescue groups have long warned that the gift of an adorable baby bunny to a child at Easter ends up as abandonment or neglect when the pet's novelty wears off. But while we recognize the problem -- and encourage the adoption of shelter and rescue-group rabbits who need homes -- we like to think parents will do the right thing and teach their children to respect and care for pets.

Rabbits are wonderful indoor companions. When properly cared for, rabbits are quiet, clean, playful and gently affectionate. To get the most from a pet bunny, make sure you're caring for the animal properly. Here are some tips:

-- Housing: Indoor rabbits are more fun! Your rabbit will need a home base of a small pen or large cage with food, water and a litter box. Rabbits do well with a plain cat box filled with a shallow layer of recycled paper pellets, covered with a layer of fresh grass hay. You don't scoop a rabbit box -- you change it completely, every day. (The ingredients you toss are great for your compost pile.)

Since some rabbits can be chewers, you'll want to make sure any rabbit-friendly area has electric cords tucked away and to deny access to the legs of nice furniture and the corners of good carpets.

-- Nutrition: Fresh water needs to be available at all times. For food, you can use high-quality commercial rabbit pellets for a base diet (read the label for daily portions and adjust it over time to keep your rabbit from getting fat). Your rabbit will also need as much fresh grass hay as he desires, and a cup or so every day of fresh green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, carrot tops and broccoli leaves.

An alternative diet: Skip the commercial pellets. Offer fresh grass hay at will and a wide variety of fresh green leafy vegetables twice daily. Treat your rabbit, too: Bunnies love little bits of fruits and root vegetables.

If you have storage space, hay is cheaper by the bale and lasts for weeks in cool, dry storage if protected from the elements. And stop throwing away veggie trimmings from meal preparation -- give them to your rabbit!

-- Health care: Get your rabbit spayed or neutered. In addition to keeping your rabbit from reproducing, you'll have a better pet. Unaltered rabbits can have behavior problems such as aggression and urine-spraying. Your rabbit will need a wellness check, just as a cat or dog would, and a good rabbit vet will help you catch little health problems before they become big ones.

Check with your local rabbit rescue group for the names of veterinarians who are known to be good with rabbits.

-- Exercise and play: Make sure your rabbit is allowed time outside the cage or pen every day. If you can't manage letting your rabbit roam at will indoors, block off a single rabbit-proofed room. A secure, supervised area outside is fine as well, but don't leave your rabbit unattended. Rabbits can be scared literally to death by cats, dogs and even jays and crows.

Rabbits love toys. Cat toys, dog toys, hard plastic baby toys and even the cardboard tubes inside toilet paper and paper towel rolls are fun for rabbits. Cardboard boxes stuffed with hay and treats are also fun for bunnies.

Once you've got the hang of rabbit care, think of adding another such pet. Rabbits are social animals and do very well in pairs.

SIDEBAR

Rabbit sites multiply, but this one's still tops

The House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org) is the best site on the Internet for anyone looking for information on these sweet-natured pets.

Thanks are owed to the House Rabbit Society's members for helping others to realize the pet potential in these long-overlooked animals. The society's Web site offers information on everything from housing to nutrition to finding a bun-friendly veterinarian. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

'Attack training' not for most dogs

Q: What's the earliest you can start a dog on attack training, and can you recommend a book? -- P.T., via e-mail

A: Dogs who are trained for "bite work" are carefully chosen for their stable working temperament from known working lines. They're carefully trained nearly every day for months, and that training is constantly reinforced over the life of the dog.

If you do not have a dog from known working lines, and if you are not prepared to train nearly every day and to maintain that training for the dog's life, you are asking for trouble with your plan to "attack train" your dog.

For the overwhelming majority of pet owners, teaching a dog to bite is a stupendously bad idea. If a dog is badly trained to bite, putting the genie back in the bottle is hard. The best you can do is to work to keep your dog under tight control. People who know what they're doing with protection-training compete in the sport of schutzhund, and it's among the most demanding of dog sports.

Want another opinion about whether or not you want your dog to be trained to bite? Ask your insurance agent. A dog who knows how to bite and does so may be seen in a vastly different light than one who bites "accidentally," as far as your homeowner's insurance is concerned.

It's better to get a security system if you're worried about crime than to try to make your dog into a man-stopper if you're not really sure of what you're doing. -- Gina Spadafori

Q: Why do dog-show judges check to make sure a dog has testicles? Who cares? I just saw a dog show on TV and really didn't get this part of it. -- S.W., via e-mail

A: Judges have to put their hands on the dogs to assess their structure and make sure all the pieces are where they ought to be. The alignment of the teeth, for example, differs from breed to breed -- the undershot jaw of a boxer doesn't go with a collie.

With longer-haired dogs, the grooming can be so skillful that a judge could be fooled into thinking a dog is put together better than he is. That's why in addition to a hands-on examination, the judges have the handlers "gait," or move, the dogs around the ring.

As for the most personal of examinations, there's a reason for that, too. Dog shows are supposed to be about evaluating breeding stock, so the judge has to make sure both testicles are evident in male dogs. Anything less is a disqualification. -- 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 BUZZ

Some punny names for pet products

-- Pet-product companies love puns when it comes to naming their products. After looking at hundreds of products with some pretty groan-inducing names at the recent Global Pet Expo retail trade show, my tolerance for puns had worn thin. (And I have a high tolerance: One of my dogs is nicknamed Imelda Barkos because of her fondness for chewing up my shoes.) But then I saw the "Dirty and Hairy" line of "spa" products (read: shampoos and conditioners) for dogs. Made me laugh, and it looks like nice stuff, too, with easy-on-the-nose (human nose, anyway) scents such as Green Tree and Lime. Product prices start at $8 (more information at DirtyandHairy.com).

-- According to a survey of more than 2,000 veterinarians conducted for the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association, the majority (69 percent) of veterinary hospitals now have their own Web sites. When it comes to animal-care information online for clients, veterinarians feel best about information provided by veterinary schools and research institutions (78 percent ranked them as very confident that this was a good source of information).

-- Robot dogs are as good at providing companionship for older people as real dogs are, according to a study of nursing home residents conducted by St. Louis University and reported by www.ScienceDaily.com. The study compared a real dog named Sparky to a Sony Aibo robot dog (Sony isn't making them anymore, by the way). Both dogs were better than no canine visitor at all, but the real dog wasn't considered by residents to be any better company than the robot. Does this mean in the future we'll need more computer techs and fewer veterinarians? I doubt it! -- Dr. Marty Becker

PET BUY

Pet beds, toys going green too

With all the interest in Earth-friendly products, it's no surprise that many companies are now offering pet supplies made from recycled materials. One such company is West Paw Design, which not only uses Earth-friendly, pet-friendly materials in its line of attractive pet beds and toys, but also manufacturers all its products in its own Bozeman, Mont., plant.

The resident pets in my home loved the toys sent for sampling, and the cat especially seemed delighted with the high-powered, U.S.-grown organic catnip. The company says the fiber filling in stuffed items is mostly IntelliLoft, made from recycled plastic bottles.

The products are great-looking, too. More information is available on the West Paw Design Web site (WestPawDesign.com). -- Gina Spadafori

THE SCOOP

Swift action can help locate lost pet

One of the biggest mistakes people make when pets go missing is underestimating the seriousness of the situation. When a pet gets out, the response should never be "wait and see."

First on the "to do" list: Make some "Lost pet" signs.

You don't need to describe your pet from nose to tail. If you've lost a large black dog, start with that. Make sure the sign can be easily read from a distance. Include your phone number and area code. And put the word "reward" in big, clear letters. Money can motivate a lot of people who might not care much otherwise. So can appealing to emotion, such as by writing "Children's pet" or "Needs medication."

Print enough signs and display them in the most effective way possible -- place some signs where drivers can see them and some for pedestrians. Also, put signs in places where pet people go: veterinary offices, dog parks, pet-supply stores and pet groomers. You'll also need to place a lost-pet ad in local newspapers and on Web sites.

Enlist the help of friends, family and neighbors in the search, and go door-to-door in your area. Ask neighbors to check garages, tool sheds and crawl spaces. Cats often slip into such spaces unnoticed and are trapped when doors are shut behind them.

You'll need to visit every shelter in your area and to look through the cages and runs yourself. Shelter workers are busy, and they might not remember seeing your pet or recognize him from your verbal description. Ask to see the pets in the infirmary as well as in the general runs, since your pet might have been injured.

And keep looking. Pets can turn up weeks or even months after they go missing. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

What's up, doc?

Does it ever seem as if you spend more time in the waiting area at your veterinarian's office than at your own doctor's? If so, you're not alone. In a 2004 study, the American Animal Hospital Association asked a survey of pet lovers which health-care provider they visited more often. The answers:

My pet's veterinarian: 58 percent

My own physician: 27 percent

I visit both health-care providers the same number of times: 15 percent

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Gentler greetings can end pup's leak problem

Dogs who leak urine when people approach may be easily excited or a bit fearful. Some people cry when they are emotional; some emotional dogs leak urine.

This messy tendency can be a genetic predisposition or a learned response. You can help your dog get over it, though, and here's how:

Postpone greetings to allow your dog to relax. Don't even look at your dog when you first get home. Wait a few minutes. Then take a few deep breaths and relax your muscle tone. Avoid looming over your dog to keep from frightening her.

When you're ready to say "hello," turn sideways, squat, and extend a hand for sniffing to help lower the dog's stress level, build confidence and work toward a leak-free greeting.

(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 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

By Christie Keith

Universal Press Syndicate

For more than a quarter-century, pet owners have turned to the "Home Veterinary Handbook" series when faced with questions about pet illnesses and injuries.

While the questions are mostly the same today as when the series debuted, the world of veterinary medicine has changed dramatically. New technologies, advanced diagnostic techniques, newly emerging diseases, and recent research on drugs, vaccines and surgeries have made having current information a necessity.

Fortunately, newly updated and revised editions of both of these classic reference books were released in the last few months, authored by a team of four veterinarians led by Dr. Debra Eldredge.

"The goal was to update the books with the wealth of new veterinary information we have had in recent years," she said. And the authors succeeded: From cutting-edge diagnostics to alternative therapies, the handbooks cover it all.

The "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" and "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" (Howell Book House, $35 each) are organized by body system, with a comprehensive index in the back and a handy mini-index inside the front covers. Pet owners can read about the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of common as well as unusual animal health problems, from allergies to cancer. Sections are also included on first aid and medication, as well as instructions on how to monitor a pet's vital signs.

There's more than just practical advice on how to cope with health problems, too.

"The books are meant to make pet owners better health advocates for their pets, more informed and better able to communicate with their veterinarians," said Dr. Eldredge.

That's because the authors managed the tricky task of offering pet health information that's genuinely useful but doesn't confuse pet owners into skipping veterinary care when it's needed. Easily followed guidelines tell owners when it's appropriate or even necessary to give immediate aid to a dog or cat, when symptoms require an immediate trip to the emergency clinic, and when the pet can wait until regular office hours to be seen.

Also on the cutting edge are two new books on pet first aid from the American Red Cross. While there's nothing new about pet health emergencies, some recent hurricanes, floods and fires have underscored the need for resources to cope with them. And these two spiral-bound books -- one for dogs and one for cats -- are great resources. Each book comes with a companion DVD that gives step-by-step instructions on how to give first aid to pets. The sections on animal poisoning are particularly impressive, as is the information on what to do in an emergency until veterinary care can be obtained. They cost $17 each and are available online at www.redcross.org (click on "Store" and then "Reference Guides"), or by calling 1-866-782-3347.

One more book to round out the pet owner's health library is Eldredge's "Pills For Pets: The A to Z Guide to Drugs and Medications for Your Animal Companion" (Citadel, $15). It lists drugs by brand and generic names, covers issues including online pharmacies and compounded medications, and gives tips on how to get medicine into the pets -- yes, even those uncooperative cats.

SIDEBAR

Massive Merck manual has experts aplenty

Most pet health books are lucky to have one veterinarian listed as an author. "The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health" (Merck, $23) offers more than 100 veterinarians, most with advanced degrees and certification, as contributors.

Within each section of this hefty paperback is an encyclopedic listing of disorders and body systems, as well as an overview on routine care and preventive medicine. If it's about animal health, it's almost certainly in this book, often in surprising detail. -- Christie Keith

Q&A

Treatment options for a blind dog

Q: I have an 11-year-old cocker spaniel who, for the last several years, has been showing signs of increased blindness. Our veterinarian says she has cataracts.

I am leery about surgery and all the complications that might arise. I am wondering if laser surgery is performed on dogs for this condition? Do you have any suggestions on how to improve her eyesight or at least make her senior years more comfortable? -- S.W., via e-mail

A: There are many potential causes of vision loss in an 11-year-old cocker spaniel, with cataracts being only one of them, says Dr. William Miller, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and owner of Advanced Animal Eye Care in Memphis, Tenn.

Some causes of vision loss are medically treated, while others require surgery. And sadly, some causes of vision loss have no treatments. Dr. Miller recommends you have a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist examine your dog. Your veterinarian is no doubt providing excellent primary care. But with vision loss, often a specialist is required to provide you with the information you need to make a good decision for your pet. You can locate a veterinary ophthalmologist in your area by going to the Web site of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (acvo.org).

If cataract surgery is indicated, your ophthalmologist can provide you with treatment options. Most cataracts in human and veterinary ophthalmology are removed by small-incision surgery. The opaque lens is liquefied by ultrasonic energy, and the lens material is flushed from the eye. Following removal of the opaque lens, an artificial lens is generally placed in the eye to further improve vision.

An 11-year-old dog is certainly not too old for surgery, providing the blood work is normal and the patient is in good physical shape. If the cataracts are operable, you can expect vision to be improved in 90 percent to 95 percent of patients.

Even in human ophthalmology, cataracts are not removed by lasers. Lasers are used in human ophthalmology to remove scars from the intraocular lens, if that complication occurs.

If your dog's vision cannot be improved, you can still provide her with a comfortable life. Blind dogs can function quite happily in familiar surroundings -- don't move the furniture around a lot! -- and can even enjoy outings when kept safely on leash.

The Web sites www.BlindDogs.net and BlindDogs.com are places where owners share tips on keeping these dogs happy. The motto of BlindDogs.net says it all: "Blind dogs see with their hearts." -- Dr. Marty Becker

(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 BUZZ

DNA busts biting dogs

-- Police officers in Melbourne, Australia, investigating dog attacks on people or other pets now use DNA kits to identify the culprits. They gather fur, saliva or excrement with swabs and place it in evidence bags for possible prosecution.

-- Just as my dad loved his recliner, our barn cats went crazy for the Scratch Lounge. The manufacturer claims cats will spend 100 times longer on it than on conventional scratchers. Sounds like hyperbole to me, but I do know our cats loved it. It's $25 from Scratchlounge.com or (213) 683-1963.

-- A recent survey in Women's Health magazine put men in the doghouse. It showed that 99 percent of women talk to their pets, and 45 pets of women think their pets are cuter than their partners. Meeee-ow!

-- The Humane Society of the Unites States offers "Providing for Your Pet's Future Needs Without You," a free estate-planning kit for pet owners at hsus.org/petsinwills. -- Dr. Marty Becker

GOOD BEHAVIOR

Your dog can enjoy baths

If you want your dog to enjoy getting a bath, make bathing an enjoyable experience.

Start by feeding your dog in the tub. And when that's no big deal, give him treats when turning the faucet on and off. As you progress to bathing, make sure your dog is hungry, and give him treats and praise for good behavior.

Make sure the water temperature is fit for a baby, and use a tearless shampoo for pets. A tiny bit of cotton pressed gently and not too far into the ears will keep water out, and use a washcloth on your pet's face to work around the eyes and mouth. Massage and praise your pet during lathering and rinsing. Finally, give him a special chewy treat after every bath to further associate good things with the bathing experience.

(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

Allergies and pets: Tips for the suffering

When you're allergic to pets but can't imagine life without them, breathing easier starts with finding an allergist who doesn't greet you with, "First, get rid of your pets."

In some severe cases, that may have to be the ultimate resolution to getting the problem under healthy control. But it shouldn't be the starting point for treatment.

Here are other tips for living with animals and allergies, recommend by allergists who understand that pets aren't disposable:

-- Don't go it alone. Find an allergist who will help you, pets and all.

-- Establish your bedroom as a pet-free, low-allergy zone. Close off your bedroom and reduce dust-collecting surfaces by removing carpets and rugs, wall hangings, stuffed animals and collectibles from the room. Invest in an air cleaner, and keep air ducts and ceiling fans clean. Banish feather pillows and down comforters. Use zippered, dustproof covers on the mattress and pillows. Combat dust mites by washing bedding frequently in hot water.

-- Try to limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, cigarette smoke and strong perfumes. Consider using a mask when doing yard work and housework, especially at the height of the pollen season. Better yet: Let someone else mow the lawn and do the vacuuming.

-- Keep your pets clean and well-groomed. The best situation is for a non-allergic member of the family to take over these pet-care chores. Weekly bathing is a must -- for cats as well as dogs. For cats, you don't even need to use soap. A rinse with clear water has been shown to be just as effective in keeping down allergen levels. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on pets keeps climbing

Year Billion

2008 $43.4*

2007 $41.2

2006 $38.5

2005 $36.3

2004 $34.4

1994 $17

(*estimated)

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

PET TIP

Secure tags with rings

The "S" hooks given out with some pet ID tags are hard to fasten correctly, even when using pliers, and they always seem to be falling off the collar, giving up the tag or catching on something. A better choice for fastening tags is the split-ring.

Many tag makers offer you a choice of fasteners. But if that's not the case, ditch the "S" hooks and head to the hardware store. Split-rings are available cheaply there, in the key section. You don't have to break your nails to get tags on these rings. Use a staple remover to pull them wide enough to slide on the tags. -- 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.

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