A Texas family is now suing a retail pet chain, saying a disease carried home with a cockatiel the company sold them killed a family member in 2006. While the courts will have to settle the matter, the news likely has many bird lovers looking over at the cage and saying: "What? My cockatiel can kill me?"

Technically, yes. Realistically, not very likely.

In fact, psittacosis, the infectious disease the family says the pet they purchased brought home, is so rare that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports fewer than 50 confirmed cases since 1996. That's cases, not fatalities.

Diseases that pass from animals to people are called "zoonoses." And while things like mad cow disease and avian influenza can and should prompt widespread international concern, pets actually post a very small level of risk of passing on an illness. You are more likely to catch something from another person than from your pet.

While it's shocking to hear of anyone sickened or killed from an infectious disease caught from a pet, it's always essential to keep risk in context and be aware that a handful of commonsense measures will reduce most of the risk of contracting anything from your pet.

When it comes to pet birds, the risk is very low, and these preventive measures will reduce it even further:

-- Get pets from reputable sources. For birds, you can ask a veterinarian who specializes in avian care to recommend a rescue group, reputable bird shop or breeder. Failing that, look for a bird from a source that follows the Model Aviculture Program (www.modelaviculture.org), a national voluntary program for the certification of aviculturists through inspection by avian veterinarians.

-- Keep your pet's area clean. Psittacosis can remain viable in dried bird droppings, but regular cleaning and sanitation will kill the bacteria. Change cage papers daily, at least, along with food and water dishes. Wipe down any fouled areas with a damp cloth and sanitizing solution (ask your bird's veterinarian for a product recommendation that's safe for your pet). Wash pet dishes in hot soapy water, rinse and allow to air-dry, and scrape and wash perches regularly as well. Soap and water are your friends! Replace toys on a regular basis as a matter of routine, sooner if they become covered with poop and cannot be cleaned.

-- Wash your hands after handling your pet or cleaning his cage or the area around it. When it comes to staying healthy overall, you just can't wash your hands enough. Don't forget to sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself twice while you soap up to make sure you keep the suds on your skin long enough.

-- Make sure your pet is healthy and stays healthy by working with your veterinarian to be sure all preventive-care measures are taken as recommended. Because they're prey animals, birds will do everything they can to hide illness. (A sick prey animal is supper, since unusual behavior in the wild attracts the attention of predators.) When a bird shows signs of illness, the pet is often very, very sick indeed. Early signs of illness may need the expertise of avian vet and diagnostic tests to spot. Your veterinarian should also review your care routines to make sure they're adequate for you and your bird both.

The bottom line: Get rid of the risk and keep the pet. You'll not have to worry, and you'll both be healthier.

SIDEBAR

Where to find more information

Because outbreaks of zoonotic disease passed from wild or livestock populations do form a real threat to human health worldwide, many agencies and groups offer excellent information on the risks and prevention.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has an entire section dedicated to the subject: "Healthy People Healthy Pets" (www.cdc.gov/healthypets). This outstanding resource allows you to search by type of pet or name of disease for information.

The World Health Organization (www.who.int/topics/zoonoses/en) offers a tidy page that lays out the basics and is a good jumping-off point for more research. It's a general site, not a pet-specific one.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has a section dedicated to public health (www.avma.org/public_health/default.asp) that covers health threats from wildlife, livestock and pets. Although they are thought of as "animal doctors," veterinarians are in fact an important resource for human health when it comes to zoonotic disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker

DOGCARS

Hybrid VUE delivers space and economy

A monster SUV with four-wheel drive is a great DogCar. Problem is, with gas over $4 a gallon and no relief in sight, it's a DogCar that few people can afford to operate and that fewer still want to use for the daily commute.

So what do you do if you need room for your dogs, their gear and yours, but want to go easy both on the environment and your gas-guzzling? The new hybrid SUVs and crossovers may be the answer for more and more people.

Fresh out of the box and worthy of consideration: the Saturn VUE Hybrid. It's a versatile SUV, with enviable numbers of 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, and a base price starting at a tick over $25,000 (and that includes a year of GM's OnStar service and the first three months of XM satellite radio).

As a DogCar, it's a winner. The seats fold nearly flat, offering more than 56 square feet of cargo space for dogs, crates and gear. The one-piece tailgate is well-balanced for easy flip-up, and although the back deck is higher than those of us with older dogs would like, it's no problem for a young dog to jump in.

On the road, the Vue isn't exactly a muscle car, and it's wimpish on any kind of incline. It's fine on flat roads, although the hybrid drive seems to have a difficult time sometimes deciding which of its systems to engage.

But these technologies are still developing, and even now you can't beat the bottom line -- a week of hauling dogs, supplies and gear with no problem and little gas used.

(The Pet Connection's Gina Spadafori reviews pet-friendly vehicles for the DogCars.com Web site.)

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

Can a cat prevent child's asthma?

-- Having a cat may have a protective effect against the development of asthma symptoms in young children at age 5, according to MedicalNewsToday.com. It seems a study released by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health concurs with others suggesting that a petless environment may be "too clean" for the development of a healthy immune system in children.

-- Let there be light! For pain, that is. According to veterinary researchers, "photonic therapy" offers promise for noninvasive pain management in pets. Visible light in the red range produces a number of biochemical effects and works similarly to acupuncture, researchers say. Besides treating pain, photonic therapy is increasingly being used to improve wound healing.

-- Ever see a horse fly? Lexington, Ky.-based H.E. "Tex" Sutton Forwarding Co. helps equines get airborne in style, reports Sky magazine. The carrier averages five flights a week, with as many as 21 horses on its equine-equipped Boeing 727. Flights have taken off with 12 breeding stallions worth a total of $400 million. Stalls on the plane can also be configured to allow for foals to nurse and lie down just as they would in the field.

-- From a list of approximately 40,000 threatened species, one in four mammals now faces extinction, as well as one-third of amphibians and one in eight birds. What to do? Species survival plans are at the heart of a strategy to maintain and breed endangered species in captivity throughout the United States in hopes of staving off extinction. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE SCOOP

Reforming the cat who lashes out

There's nothing like a purring lap cat, but some cats just seem unable to take the attention. Here's what makes your cat go crazy, and how to change the situation:

-- Overstimulation. You're petting your cat, and suddenly he grabs you with his claws and teeth. Don't struggle or fight back, or you may trigger a real bite. Sometimes smacking your other hand hard against a hard surface -- a tabletop, for example -- may startle your cat into breaking off the attack. If you stay still, however, he will usually calm down and release you.

Become familiar with your cat and his body language, and stop petting him before he becomes overstimulated. Cat lovers often think such attacks come without warning, but they've missed the warning signs of a cat who has simply had enough. The tail is the key. If your cat starts twitching his tail in a jerky fashion, it's time to stop petting. Do this with regularity, and your cat will learn to tolerate petting for longer periods.

-- Play aggression. The cat who pounces on your feet and then careens off the wall isn't trying to hurt you -- he's playing. Redirect his energy with play sessions to help your cat burn off his excess energy before you try for a quiet petting session. Use toys as the object of his prey-playing behavior. Wrestling bare-handed with your cat or kitten is a no-no, because you're setting up a bad precedent.

What if he persists in seeing you as a plaything? As with an overstimulated cat, stop the behavior by freezing. Don't give him a reason to continue the attack. You can also inform him that attacks on you are not permitted by letting him have it with a shot of water from a spray bottle as he's heading for your ankles. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Rabbits prove popular

When it comes to small mammals as pets, rabbits are the most popular, followed by hamsters and guinea pigs. All small mammals are common children's pets, but most have considerable followings among adults as well. Among those households with small mammals as pets, here's how the animals ranked in popularity (more than one answer allowed):

Rabbit 43 percent

Hamster 36 percent

Guinea pig 20 percent

Mouse/rat 8 percent

Ferret 7 percent

Gerbil 5 percent

Chinchilla 4 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Whisper to your pet instead of yelling

Pets are not hearing-challenged. Shake the treat jar or say "cookie," and your pets will come running. But if you love talking to your pet nonstop, she may learn to tune you out.

Yelling to get your pet's attention only creates tension, since pets respond to tone. A happy tone engages pets; an angry tone repels them. Clap or make another sudden noise to get your pet's attention. As soon as your pet looks up, praise, then whisper an instruction.

Train your pet using a whisper voice, and your pet will listen more intently. When your pet learns a few words that always mean a good time, it will be easy to get your pet's attention with a whisper.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Roland 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

Gina Spadafori

Universal Press Syndicate

As I write this in Northern California, it's daylight, but the sun is obscured by the smoke from hundreds of wildfires. Countless families have evacuated their homes or stand ready to, along with their animals.

As I write this, the floodwaters are receding from a friend's farm in Iowa, but she and her family are safe, along with their animals.

As I write this, a photographer friend is back in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, following the progress -- or lack thereof -- of a great city working to get back on its feet, along with its animals.

As I write this, I wonder again: Am I ready for a levee break, living as I do near the confluence of two great rivers? Am I ready for an earthquake?

Maybe. Mostly. Now that I think about it, I'd better check.

Disaster preparedness is so easy to let slide. We get all worked up after a major disaster is in the news, and certainly after we're lucky enough to be reminded of the potential -- a thick layer of smoke, in my case, with the nearest fire two counties away.

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 not only have a disaster plan but have also included your animals in it, now is the time to review those plans.

If you've never done any disaster planning, for you or your pets, this is as good a time as any to start. 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.

For more information or a free emergency preparedness brochure for pet lovers, visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY.

Q&A

Antibiotics: Let your veterinarian decide

Q: My friend says she almost never goes to the veterinarian with her pets. She's from a farming family, and she says they always kept antibiotics around and treated their animals themselves. She says it's pretty easy to get antibiotics -- the fish kind are fine and lots cheaper, too. And, of course, she isn't paying for a vet visit.

Our budget is stretched pretty thin these days, like a lot of people. I'm open to the idea of doing more vet care at home. But is it really OK to give fish drugs to dogs? -- S.I., via e-mail

A: Antibiotics have saved countless lives of both the human and animal variety. But we have become so comfortable with these medicines and their frequent use, we sometimes forget they are powerful drugs that should be used with care.

As you've noted, some pet owners respond to any sign of illness by dosing -- and often, overdosing -- their pets with antibiotics commonly available at pet-supply stores (and often labeled for fish). "Prescribing" antibiotics on your own for your pet is a bad idea, for a couple of reasons.

First, if your pet has a viral or fungal infection, antibiotics will not help -- and they may even worsen your pet's condition.

Second, not all antibiotics are the same. They each have their target bacteria and may little affect bacteria that they're not designed to combat as well as bacteria that are resistant to their effects. To choose the right antibiotic for a particular health problem requires not only expertise, but it may also require a diagnostic test.

Third, regular use of antibiotics may affect both your pet's immune system and the bacteria trying to beat it, leading to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that will be hard to stamp out, even with the "right" medication. This last point has ramifications beyond the health of your pet: Experts say the wide use, misuse and overuse of antibiotics is behind the rise of drug-resistant bacteria.

When you buy an antibiotic at a pet-supply store, you are often wasting your money, and you're certainly losing time -- time that should be spent taking your pet to your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment.

There are many ways to trim the costs of pet care, but guessing at what's ailing your pet and then guessing at a course of treatment wouldn't be at the top of my list.

After all, guessing wrongly may end up costing you more than money -- it may end up costing your pet his life. -- 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

Canine 'startup' costs not cheap

-- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has released its annual estimate of pet-care costs and found a large dog's first year of care -- including food, veterinary care and spaying or neutering -- will cost about $1,843. Want a less expensive pet? The ASPCA puts the "startup" cost for a small bird at $270, and at $235 for a fish setup.

-- Tail-wagging is a form of communication (dogs don't usually wag their tails when they're alone). But a wagging tail doesn't necessarily mean a friendly dog, since even a dog with a tail on the move can and will bite. The book "Why Do Men Have Nipples" says the wag can convey good spirits, fear, aggression, dominance, submission or a state of conflict, the latter the simultaneous need to advance and retreat. Wagging also spreads pheromones by causing the muscles around the tail to contract and press on glands that release a scent that communicates information about sex, age and social status.

-- Alligator blood may hold the key to fighting deadly infections in humans, reports The Miami Herald. Preliminary data shows antibodies in gator blood killed about two dozen strains of bacteria, including E. coli, strep and salmonella, as well as a deadly form of staph infection. Researchers believe alligators developed strong immune systems to deal with injuries sustained in the swamp. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE SCOOP

Dock diving: A big jump and a cool finish

Dock diving is one of the newest sports for dogs, and in the hot months of summer, it's easy to see why it's so popular.

The sport is easy to understand -- jumps off an elevated dock into a portable pool are measured for distance or height -- and fun for handlers, dogs, spectators and TV viewers. And although the top teams are now getting sponsorships and are training for even longer jumps, in dock-diving, even new competitors can do well.

If your dog loves the water, all you need to do is sign up, show up and have a great time.

Water dogs -- retrievers, primarily -- have a natural advantage in this sport, of course. A dog who doesn't fancy landing into a pool may lack the motivation to compete, no matter their ability to leap a great distance. Still, dogs of all sizes, breeds and mixes have competed, and many have posted more than respectable results.

Dock-diving is welcoming of newcomers, so if you think your dog has what it takes to get "big air," check out these organizations for more information:

-- Dock Dogs (www.dockdogs.com). Dock Dogs offers more events and a series of televised regionals leading to a championship. Most events are on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

-- Splash Dogs (www.splashdogs.com). Splash Dogs competitions are big in California and throughout the Western states, with a national championship in Arizona. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Ticks mean health problems for dogs

Tick-related diseases are a major source of illness in dogs. According to an analysis of claims submitted in 2007 to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co., Lyme disease is the top infectious disease in dogs for the third year in a row. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, other tick-borne conditions, came in at No. 3. Together, these three conditions accounted for 47 percent of canine claims for infectious diseases last year. The top infectious diseases:

1. Lyme disease

2. Papillomatosis

3. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis

4. Valley fever

Source: Petinsurance.com

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Be conscious of what you're rewarding

When your pet is trying to get your attention, ask yourself this question, "Do I want this particular behavior to increase or decrease?"

For example, if you want your pet's vocalization and pawing at doors to decrease, then ignore those behaviors. As tempting as it is, do not even look at your pet. Eye contact alone is enough attention to encourage your pet to continue a behavior.

Instead, encourage behaviors you do want. Ignore your pet's unwanted behaviors until they stop. Then, give your pet an instruction or wait until your pet sits quietly before rewarding him with eye contact, praise or a treat.

Your pet will learn to offer those good behaviors you want instead of behaviors that no longer work to get what he wants.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Roland 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

And Gina Spadafori

Universal Press Syndicate

Three-day holiday weekends are busy times at veterinary emergency clinics. While most of the animals who'll end up in emergency care over the Fourth of July weekend will be there because they should be, others have problems that could probably wait until the regular veterinary hospital is open again.

If you're not a veterinarian yourself, it's sometimes hard to tell a mild health problem from an emergency. But every day, people spend money they didn't need to for emergency clinic trips they didn't have to make. Knowing what's a true emergency and what's not can save you hundreds of dollars, since emergency clinics -- like human emergency care -- can be quite expensive. And it'll also help the emergency clinics take of the pets who truly need urgent care.

The first thing to do is figure out what you'll do if your pet has a medical emergency at night or on the weekend. That means calling your veterinary clinic or hospital now and asking about emergency or after-hours care. If your veterinarian refers clients to an emergency clinic after regular business hours, be sure you know which clinic it is, what the phone number is and how to get there.

With summer's big holiday at hand and lots of veterinarians closed for the three-day weekend, we want to revisit those problems that are definitely an emergency, in hopes of saving some lives.

You should be heading for the emergency vet if your pet has any of the following problems:

-- Seizure, fainting or collapse.

-- Eye injury, no matter how mild.

-- Vomiting or diarrhea -- anything more than two or three times within an hour or so.

-- Allergic reactions, such as swelling around the face, or hives, most easily seen on the belly.

-- Any suspected poisoning, including antifreeze, rodent or snail bait, or human medication. Cats are especially sensitive to insecticides (such as flea-control medication for dogs) or any petroleum-based product.

-- Snake or venomous spider bites.

-- Thermal stress -- from being either too cold or too hot -- even if the pet seems to have recovered. (The internal story could be quite different.)

-- Any wound or laceration that's open and bleeding, or any animal bite.

-- Trauma, such as being hit by a car, even if the pet seems fine. (Again, the situation could be quite different on the inside.)

-- Any respiratory problem: chronic coughing, trouble breathing or near drowning.

-- Straining to urinate or defecate.

Although some other problems may not be life-threatening, they may be causing your pet pain and should be taken care of without delay. Signs of pain include panting, labored breathing, increased body temperature, lethargy, restlessness, crying out, aggression and loss of appetite. Some pets seek company when suffering, while others will withdraw.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution, always. Better to be dead wrong about a minor medical problem than to have a pet who's dead because you guessed wrong about a major one. If you're not sure what to do, call. The veterinarian may need to see you, now.

SIDEBAR

Keep your pet cool when it's hot

The temptation to take a pet along to holiday gatherings can be great, but the danger posed by heat can be greater. Dogs -- especially those with short, broad muzzles -- don't handle heat well and can overheat to deadly levels in just a few minutes. If your dog shows signs of heat stress -- rapid, frantic panting and glassy eyes -- get him to a veterinarian immediately for emergency care.

Swimming is a great way for dogs to stay cool, but remember that not all dogs can swim (dogs such as bulldogs sink like rocks), and even a pet who's an enthusiastic and strong swimmer can get into trouble if pushed to exhaustion or if caught in dangerous currents.

If you do take your pet along, keep an eye on him to make sure he's not getting into trouble. For many dogs, staying home is probably the better option. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Q&A

Is missing tooth hurting sniffer dog?

Q: For the last three years I have been partnered with a drug-detector dog. The first year of our work together, he had surgery for bilateral laryngeal paralysis (a disease of the upper airway, making it difficult for the dog to breathe normally).

Then 10 days ago he had his lower right canine removed. Since then he has shown no interest in his work. He is also breathing heavily through his mouth. A colleague told me that detector dogs require their canine teeth to help them detect or search. Is this true? Also, is there a chance his laryngeal paralysis will come back? -- W.B., via e-mail

A: A dog's ability to detect odors is at least 10,000 times better than ours. That's why, for a dog, smell is the most important of all the senses. With your dog, who not only relies upon smell as a dog but also has a job that depends on his nose, your concern is understandable.

Drs. Gregg DuPont of the American Veterinary Dental College (www.avdc.org) and Kate Knutson of the American Animal Hospital Association (www.healthypet.com) were able to offer some advice, which we paraphrased:

The decreased sense of smell is not a direct result of the missing canine tooth. If fact, an infected tooth before removal can actually interfere with detection ability, because of strong odors created by the infecting bacteria in the mouth and from an overall sense of discomfort from chronic infection.

Your dog's loss of interest in detecting smells and his mouth-breathing may have started after the tooth was removed, but these symptoms are likely not related to the missing tooth.

The roots of canine teeth are long and curved, extending toward the back of the mouth. Because the roots extend deep into the jawbone, surgical extractions of these teeth are invasive. Both root curvature and length necessitate a significant portion of the jawbone to be removed in order to successfully extract the tooth. In addition, tissue is cut to get to the bone and arteries, and veins and small nerves are destroyed in the process. For several weeks there is considerable swelling in the tissue flap covering the extraction site.

The extensive nature of surgery and the postoperative swelling are likely contributors to your dog's decreased sense of smell. Stitches collecting food, bacteria and white blood cells can also affect the sense of smell. A drug reaction to antibiotics or pain medication taken after surgery can cause symptoms as well, which may be related to what you have seen.

Pain also contributes to behavior changes. Swelling of the bony socket that holds the tooth could be causing pain. Some dogs even tear out their stitches, leaving open bone exposed, and that can be extremely painful, as you might imagine. Your dog's panting behavior is likely a response to pain.

There can also be other, more serious reasons behind your dog's behavioral change, including a metabolic problem (such as renal failure) or aspiration pneumonia. Please take your dog back to your veterinarian for follow-up diagnosis and treatment as well as medication to address his pain.

You also inquired if laryngeal paralysis can reoccur following surgery. It would be unusual to see signs at the two-year post-surgery mark. However, nothing is impossible. If this is a concern, your dog needs to be lightly sedated so the surgical site can be evaluated. Again, talk to your veterinarian. -- Mikkel Becker Shannon

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

PET BUZZ

Pet rental bans a big problem

-- Having a hard time finding a rental that will permit your pet? You're not alone. Apartments.com reports that 35 percent of renters with pets say it's very difficult to find an apartment that allows pets. Of renters who don't have pets but wish they did, 33 percent blame their lack of a pet on their building's no-animal policy.

-- Forget a better mousetrap! How about a smarter scarecrow? To keep away unwanted animals from your yard, try the ScareCrow, which uses motion sensors to spray animals with water from a garden hose. Suggested retail is $90 from garden centers or from the manufacturer Contech at www.scatmat.com.

-- Kids who want to be veterinarians are trying it on for size at Wannado City in Sunrise, Fla. That's where children can try their hand at veterinary medicine or more than 200 other occupations, including television director, police chief, dance club DJ and archaeologist. As reported in Veterinary Economics magazine, the animatronic dogs in the pretend veterinary hospital look so real that kids ask if they're OK when the "dogs" go motionless.

-- Less than 1 percent of the total feline population are pedigreed cats. The rest are usually cat-egorized by coat length in the United States, with veterinarians marking them in the records as domestic longhairs (DLH) or domestic shorthairs (DSH). Cats of no particular breed are sometimes also referred to as "alley cats" in the United States. In the United Kingdom, they're called "moggies." -- Dr. Marty Becker

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.

THE SCOOP

Begging dogs can be reformed

People say they don't like their dog begging, but they have only themselves to blame for the problem.

When we like the dog's behavior, we say we're "sharing" our food. When we don't like the behavior, we call it "begging." And we foolishly expect our dogs to see the difference.

If you never want your dog to stick her nose in your plate, put her head on your knee or paw at your arm, then don't ever reward her with food when she does.

What if it's too late for that? With patience and consistency, you can change your dog's behavior by never rewarding the begging again. When your dog finally becomes convinced that she will never again see another piece of food delivered from your plate, she'll stop asking. You can also have her practice a behavior that's incompatible with having her nose on your knee -- a down-stay on the other side of the room while you're eating.

But be warned: If you're inconsistent, you'll actually make the problem worse.

Rewarding a behavior occasionally is called random reinforcement, and it's a powerful motivator. In fact, it's what keeps the gambling industry afloat. Even though gamblers know the house always wins, they keep pulling the handle on those slot machines because they get a little back now and then, and because sometimes they hit the jackpot.

Dog trainers use these principles to instill good behaviors in dogs, but many pet lovers inadvertently use them to teach a dog bad habits -- like begging. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Where cats come from

Cat lore dictates that if you feed a stray cat, you've adopted a stray cat. That seems to be largely true, based on a 2004 survey showing where people get their cats (multiple answers allowed):

Pet store adoption program 3 percent

Shelter 15 percent

Breeder 3 percent

Friend/relative 43 percent

Kitten of own cat 15 percent

Classified ad 8 percent

Pet store purchase 4 percent

Stray 34 percent

Rescue group 3 percent

Veterinarian 2 percent

Other 5 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

PET RX

Thick, shiny coat normal for ferrets

A ferret's coat should be shiny and thick, never dull or dry.

Hair loss, and texture and quality changes are causes for concern. External parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites can cause abnormalities, but they are usually visible to the naked eye. The most common cause for hair loss in a mature, neutered ferret is adrenal disease. The most common cause for hair loss in an intact female ferret during its reproductive active cycle is a hormonal imbalance.

Normal ferret skin is smooth and pink without flakes, scabs or discoloration. In the wild, ferrets would spend a portion of their day in underground dens, where there is a constant temperature of 55 degrees with high humidity. In our homes in the winter, the air can be very dry and warm, which can dehydrate the ferret's skin. A cool home humidifier can help.

Your veterinarian should investigate any lumps, scabs or discoloration of the skin as soon as possible. Skin cancer is a common problem in ferrets and can be successfully cured with early treatment. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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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