Universal Press Syndicate

In these tough times, keeping a pet healthy often means taking a good look and a sharp pencil to every aspect of pet care to make sure you're getting the biggest bang for your buck.

If you're doing that now, you should know that you can save money on your pet's prescription medications in ways that many people don't even know exist. The place to start: With a respectful and open discussion with your pet's veterinarian.

Dr. Patty Khuly, a Miami veterinarian, pet-care columnist and the author of the top veterinary blog Dolittler (Dolittler.com), says veterinarians should be open to helping clients save money on medications -- and that more are, all the time.

"Our job as veterinarians is to help people get their pets the care they need," she says. "What I'm seeing in practice now is that people need to make cuts so they can afford basic and emergency veterinary care. One way I can help make that possible as a veterinarian is to offer options when it comes to prescription medications. People can then weigh those options and make an informed decision."

There are benefits to buying medications from your veterinarian, notes Khuly. Convenience is one factor, and being able to start treatment immediately is another. There's also a risk with some sources that the medication you may buy isn't what you think you're getting -- which is one reason why your veterinarian's help is so vital.

"There's long been a gray market problem," says Khuly. "Some drugs people buy can be ineffective or even dangerous. You have to be careful."

Saving money on prescriptions isn't about cutting your veterinarian out of your pet's health care, stresses Khuly. Ideally, it's about shifting your veterinary expenditures away from retail purchases and toward medical expertise, so your pet can get the necessary medications without cutting into your overall budget for the best care your veterinarian can provide you.

Khuly's tips include:

-- Take the prescription to go. Talk to your veterinarian about getting a better price elsewhere. Your veterinarian may have a reason for wanting you to buy from the practice, and you should listen to and consider those reasons. It's also not unreasonable to ask for price match, which will save you both money and time. But if you can get a better deal on some medications elsewhere, your veterinarian shouldn't mind your taking a prescription away with you if it doesn't risk your pet's health to do so.

-- Go for the generics. The same medications are often prescribed for people and pets both. Instead of getting a name-brand medication, ask your veterinarian if there's a generic equivalent. Some common antibiotics, behavior-modification medications, thyroid and anti-inflammatory drugs can be found in less-expensive generic equivalents. Big-box retailers and grocery stores with pharmacies offer many generic medications for as low as $4 for a typical course of treatment.

-- Look for prescription savings clubs. For a low annual fee, some pharmacies and associations will grant you access to huge discounts on hundreds of different generic drugs and on name-brand medications as well. Pets often count as family where these plans are concerned, so don't be shy about asking and signing them up.

-- Online pharmacies. Shopping online can save money on the animals-only medications you can't buy from a "human" pharmacy. But there is a big caveat, says Khuly: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against doing business with online merchants that don't ask for a prescription. These may be offshore outfits selling expired, unapproved or even counterfeit drugs. (For more on the FDA's advice in dealing with online pet pharmacies, see www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/606_pets.html.) Stick to reputable companies that will work with you and your veterinarian, and you'll likely be fine.

-- Buy in bulk. For pets with chronic illness who need to be on medication for a long while or for life, ask about buying 60- or 90-day supplies. Larger buys of common generic medications can save you enough money to make asking about it well worth your time.

-- Ask your veterinarian to prescribe medications in larger doses and then split them. Many pills are already scored to make splitting easier, and the pill-splitting gadgets found in any pharmacy make it easier still. Splitting larger doses is often less expensive than giving single pills of smaller doses -- but the splitting needs to be accurate for safety.

Some of these strategies are no-risk no-brainers, while others (such as splitting doses) are really not to be undertaken without your veterinarian's assistance and oversight.

And that's really the point, says Khuly. Working with your veterinarian is essential to making sure your pet stays healthy, even as we all work to weather the rough economy.

Q&A

Keeping cat from tripping owners

Q: Our cat, Cookie, loves us very much and wants to be with us constantly. She walks closely to our legs and often stops right in front of us. She has twice tripped my husband and has made him fall. With his bad back, this is a real problem.

He has tried pushing her aside with his foot, but she keeps coming back. We have an elderly friend who comes to visit, and Cookie likes him a lot. We are afraid that she will trip him as well. (I guess I'm a little more nimble, since she hasn't tripped me yet.)

My husband loves the cat as much as I do, and he wouldn't dream of getting rid of her or being mean to her when she does this. But we need help. What can we do to make her stop before someone really gets hurt? -- M.T., via e-mail

A: Try to remember when Cookie began walking near your legs and how you responded then compared to how you are responding now.

Most likely, Cookie's habit began some time ago and was initially met with a positive response from you and your husband. Perhaps, in the beginning, you saw Cookie's desire to be so near you as an adorable trait and responded with lovey-dovey talk, picking her up or providing her with some other type of positive outcome or attention.

Behaviors that become problems often start just like this -- traits that were once considered adorable by the owners. In other words, pets learn how to get what they want by adapting their behaviors based on human responses. If a behavior works in the pet's best interest, it continues, even escalates. The best example of this principle is how excessive vocalization becomes a problem with both dogs and cats. When pets first begin to vocalize, our knee-jerk response is to pay attention to them and give them what they want, such as letting them come indoors or giving them food. Over time, they become even more demanding.

The very best way to decrease an unwanted behavior is to make sure it never works in the pet's best interest, while you at same time begin encouraging a replacement behavior that ideally cannot be done at the same time -- such as sitting and jumping up -- and that rewards the pet for what you do find acceptable and, in your case, safe.

With that said, be prepared for the behavior to escalate before it disappears. When a pet no longer finds a behavior effective, the animal will try harder and harder to get the response it expects. You've heard of the calm before the storm? This is the storm before the calm. Once your pet learns that the behavior will never, ever get the desired response, the behavior will ultimately disappear.

So with Cookie, we would suggest pretending Cookie is completely invisible whenever she walks near your legs. Do not look at, talk to or respond to this behavior.

Your replacement behavior can start by using her kibble for rewards (don't leave food down during the re-training, so she'll be eager for food). Toss kibbles off to the side as you walk and praise Cookie for getting the kibble instead of walking between your legs.

If you run into problems, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist who can break down this problem and lay out a targeted modification program for you and for Cookie. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs, falcons work for airport safety

-- Airports are turning to furred and feathered help to keep runways clear, according to USA Today. At the Southwest Florida International Airport, a border collie is used to clear birds away from the airfield, while New York's JFK airport uses trained falcons to drive away other birds. Throughout the nation, more than 20 airports use dogs as part of their effort to control wildlife.

-- A three-legged mare with a prosthetic leg has started a revolution in horse medicine. The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary took in the mare with the injured hind leg and opted to have the leg amputated and replaced instead of putting the animal down, as is common practice. The procedure has been so successful that she can trot and can even be ridden. Many hope the mare's success story shows others that a horse's life doesn't have to end when a leg is irreparably damaged.

-- A canine bloodmobile travels in a 50-mile radius around Pennsylvania to collect donated blood. The bloodmobile is the only one of its kind in the nation and helps serve sick dogs in need of transfusions. Dogs have a greater variety of blood types than humans do, with at least 12 blood types. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

[Put ABOUT UNDER BUZZ]

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BOOKS

We humans have taken the rich genetic material of the wolf and have selectively bred the dog to be all things to all people. We've made him small enough to fit in our pockets and tall enough to tower over us, gentle enough to sleep with our children and strong enough to take down a wild boar.

But maybe the dog has changed us more.

That's the argument that Stanley Coren, best-selling author of popular dog books, makes in his latest, "The Modern Dog: A Joyful Exploration of How We Live With Dogs Today" (Free Press, $26). Dogs, he writes, made human existence possible, aiding us as we developed civilization.

But dogs have changed more than our lifestyle -- they've profoundly changed how we see the world. There's no better example of this than Hurricane Katrina. Before the disaster, Coren writes, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency head Michael Brown dismissed questions about evacuating companion animals, saying, "They are not our concern."

But as New Orleans drowned, a new and different attitude emerged. The nation watched, horrified, as people died with their pets or battled the elements trying to save them. One elderly lady's Yorkshire terrier was taken away by a soldier as she boarded a rescue helicopter. "I got nothing and no one," she said, crying. "He's all I got left!"

An officer from the medical corps intervened. "That's not a dog," he told the soldier. "That's medicine. Medicine for the mind." After Katrina, notes Coren, disaster planning for pets really took hold.

His Katrina essay is but one of many that will have the reader pausing to consider how dogs have changed us -- and will change us in the future. This thoughtful book deserves a wide audience. -- Christie Keith

BY THE NUMBERS

Dressing up the fish tank

People who keep freshwater fish such as goldfish also spend money on adding decorative items to their pets' bowls and tanks. A few of the most popular purchases (by percentage reported purchased by fish-keepers) include:

Artificial rocks: 57 percent

Background scenery: 42 percent

Gravel/sand/crushed coral: 62 percent

Plastic plants: 61 percent

Ornaments: 41 percent

Natural rocks: 25 percent

Live plants: 18 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Teaching kittens where to scratch

Go back to basics if your kitten is climbing the drapes and scratching the furniture.

Confine your kitten to a small room, such as a bathroom or laundry room. Place the litter box on the opposite side of the food and water, and make sure he has a cat tree for scratching, with a resting area on top.

Spend time in the small room with him. Use toys, treats and catnip to encourage and reward him for scratching the cat tree. When your kitten has adopted the post for scratching and climbing, it's time to continue the training routine in a larger room.

As you expand his freedom, interrupt unwanted behavior by putting your kitten on the cat tree and rewarding him for scratching where you want.

(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.

It's no secret that dogs have migrated from the doghouse to the main house to the master bedroom, and cats have gone from mousers to housers. But even as pets have made the shift to full family members for many people, conflicts do arise.

This can be especially true around the holidays, when the kids come home with a four-legged feline "baby," or friends drop by with their dog for a visit and see no problem with welcoming him up on your bed as they do at home.

Minimizing visiting pet conflicts isn't hard, as long as everyone follows basic "petiquette" in planning and managing visits. Here are some tips:

-- Consider your pets -- and resident pets -- before the visit: Even if your pets are welcome, taking them may not be the best of ideas. Visiting is not a good idea if the resident pet will be stressed by yours. It's not fair for the family cat to spend the holidays under the bed because a new dog is roaming the house.

And not all pets are good visitors. Most cats would prefer to stay home, and many dogs are better left behind with a pet sitter or in a good boarding kennel.

To be a good guest, a dog must know basic obedience and be able to remain well-mannered under all circumstances. No knocking over a frail aunt or tiny toddler, and no stealing food off the counters or tables. Since you can't retrain a dog just for a visit, you can solve the pets-on-the-bed problem by bringing along old sheets to throw over the top of your host's bedding.

-- Don't make assumptions: If you're expecting pet-loving company, don't assume they'll leave their pets at home. Ask them, and don't be shy about setting conditions if you're willing to welcome a four-legged visitor.

By the same token, don't presume the welcome mat is out for your pet. Not everyone loves pets, and even those who do may not want your pet to visit for many legitimate reasons, including allergies, non-pet-friendly decor, other pets, and fearful or fragile family members.

It's essential to not only get permission but also to be clear on the rules of the house. A frank discussion beforehand can prevent many conflicts. Ask where the pet can sleep, and where he'll be expected to relieve himself (don't forget to clean up afterward!).

If friendly agreement isn't possible, a pet-friendly hotel room nearby is the best option.

-- Crates and baby-gates: Having your pet be able to relax in a "room of his own" makes visiting easier for all. A crate or carrier is your pet's best friend when you're traveling. Every pet should learn to be comfortable being contained in a safe, secure crate or carrier. This training makes everything better, from veterinary visits to car travel and more.

A crate may be the perfect place for your dog during meals, or when the family decides to catch a movie or go out for a meal. There's no worrying about what your dog will do in a unfamiliar environment when he's sleeping safely in his crate.

If using a crate isn't possible, a baby-gate can keep visiting pets out of pet-unfriendly areas while still giving them the sense that they're part of the activities. These gates are inexpensive to buy at any general-merchandise retailer. A simple plastic gate can adjust to any doorway and will leave no marks afterward.

With permission cheerfully granted and ground rules set before the door opens, having well-mannered pets join in the holiday festivities can be wonderful. It's just up to the humans to make sensible decisions so everyone is comfortable, pets included.

Q&A

Choosing a dog for a home with cats

Q: I have two spayed cats, 5-year-old sisters I adopted as kittens. I grew up with dogs and cats and have missed having a dog. I am now able to adopt a dog, but I want to keep the transition smooth.

I've noticed that some shelters indicate whether a dog gets along with cats. How accurate do you think this information is? And what else can I do to keep from freaking out my cats? -- N.D., via e-mail

A: Shelters and rescue groups can find out this information by getting it from the dog's previous owners, or by exposing the dog to a cat and evaluating the response.

The latter isn't as awful as it sounds. They'd never test a dog who's clearly aggressive, and they don't haul out some terrified guest kitty to be the guinea pig, so to speak. The tester cat is usually a permanent resident of the shelter, often a staff favorite who has proven to be calm and disdainfully confident around dogs. Dogs who are aggressive toward the cat (but not people) are so noted, as are those who are too friendly (and will need training to leave a cat alone), are friendly but not intrusive (ideal), or couldn't care less about the cat (also fine). Ask the folks at the shelter how they determine cat-tolerance in the case of any dog you're interested in.

In general, I'd look for a quiet, gentle and well-mannered adult dog of 3 to 5 years of age or older who falls into the friendly but not intrusive category, preferably one who has lived with cats before. You'll find lots of such dogs in shelters or rescue groups -- check Petfinder.com for all the possibilities in your area.

When you find your dog, don't force the pets to be together. Let the cats decide how much interaction they want, and always offer them an escape route to a dog-free area. It may take a month or more for the situation to settle down. -- Gina Spadafori

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

[Put ABOUT HERE, under QANDA]

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE BUZZ

The secret behind shar-pei wrinkles

-- Ever wonder why Chinese shar-peis have all those wrinkles? A team of Spanish scientists has come up with the answer. Known as mucinosis, the condition is a genetic alteration that multiplies the activity of a particular enzyme. When it goes into overdrive, it produces excessive amounts of hyaluronic acid, which gathers under the skin and produces wrinkles. The researchers hope that this knowledge of the genetic basis of mucinosis will permit better breeding programs aimed at improving the health of the breed, as well as provide a better understanding of the biology of tissues surrounding cells and the processes of cell recognition and aging.

-- While on a walk with his owner, a normally well-behaved dog bolted across the road and into a lake. Napoleon emerged dragging a sack in his mouth. In the bag: six kittens, probably thrown into the water to drown. Four of them lived and were adopted. "He probably felt they were in danger or something, because he heard them cry out," said Alexandra Breuer, owner of the canine hero.

-- Running across 1,100 miles of the frozen Alaskan wilderness on only 12,000 calories a day is challenging enough, but doing it at 8 mph for more than a week is an astonishing accomplishment. That's why veterinary physiologist Dr. Michael Davis has been given a $1 million grant from the Pentagon to research how the dogs of the Iditarod can endure such intense physical labor. When sled dogs begin running, they initially have a racing metabolism, but after running for a day, their body slows to a resting metabolism, which helps them avoid exhaustion. The Pentagon wants to know if that metabolic slow-down would be possible for soldiers. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker Shannon and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE SCOOP

Preventive care essential to bird health

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

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

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

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

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

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Who makes pet-care purchases?

The kids may beg for a pet, but mom had better be on board with the addition. That's because chances are she'll be the one doing the shopping. According to a 2006 study:

Women as primary shoppers

All pets 79 percent

Dogs 79 percent

Cats 81 percent

Saltwater fish 67 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Door dashes can be stopped

Teach your dog not to dash out the door by always insisting that he sit and wait before exiting your home or car.

Just as you do when putting a child in a car seat, do not make exceptions to the rule. If you are consistent, your dog will accept this routine and learn that it's no go until you say so.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful when opening the front door or the car door. Some temptations, such as seeing a cat or squirrel, may trigger your dog to dash, so always keep a look out.

No training is 100 percent, but you can put a brake on most door dashing with clear, consistent instructions and practice.

(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.

By Christie Keith

Universal Press Syndicate

Your home is spotless, and the inviting aromas of a holiday meal fill the air. But as you open the door to your guests, their twitching noses suggest they smell something you didn't.

"I see you still have that cat," your older sister says disapprovingly. Her nose twitches again. "And the dog, too."

But pet odors aren't irresolvable. Eliminating them can be challenging, but following a few simple tips from the experts can leave your house smelling fresh and clean this holiday season.

One source of pet odors is urine, whether from long-ago puppy training days or from a pet who is having accidents now. Pete Duncanson, director of training for ServiceMaster Clean, a leading provider of residential and commercial cleaning services, says the key to effectively eliminating pet urine odor in carpet is to use a bacteria/enzyme digester.

"Bacteria/enzyme digesters work well, but they work slowly. So be sure to leave the solution on as long as directed," he said. "Urine has probably penetrated down into the carpet and pad, so use enough solution to reach as far down as the stain did." He recommends covering the area with plastic for several hours after treatment, and he warns that heavily soiled carpets may need professional cleaning and deodorizing.

Not sure where the urine smells are coming from? A simple black light, available in pet supply stores and catalogs for less than $20, or even free with purchase of many odor removal products, will pinpoint any sources of urine in carpet, baseboards or walls.

Bacteria/enzyme digesters can also be used to deodorize litter boxes, although if the surface has become scratched or roughened, they should be replaced. Look for boxes with Microban already in the plastic to fight odors from the start.

What about "eau de dog"? Its source is hair, dander and oil -- on your pet, and in your carpets and upholstery. The cure for both is the same: a brisk brushing and a good shampooing. Start by having your dog professionally groomed, or brush out all her loose hair and bathe her. Next, tackle your carpets and upholstery.

"To remove pet hair from carpets, use a vacuum that has a good beater brush or roller brush," said Debra Johnson, a training manager for the cleaning professionals at Merry Maids. "Plain vacuums don't generate enough 'lift' to get all the pet hair up from the floor."

Johnson also recommends pet owners use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters if possible and has one more hint: "Vacuum bag fresheners are an easy way to enhance your guests' perceptions of 'clean' when they enter your home," she said. Follow up by shampooing your carpet with an extraction cleaner, which can be rented from many stores.

To get pet hair out of dog bed covers and upholstery, purchase a rake made for this purpose from a pet supply or home improvement store. Use your vacuum's upholstery tool to pull up loose hairs and dander, and finish with an upholstery cleaning and deodorizing product.

Keep odors from returning by using a slipcover on your sofas, scooping or changing your cat's litter box daily, washing your dog's bedding at least weekly, and keeping washable mats and throw rugs on your pets' favorite spots on the carpet.

Finally, check out true vapor steam cleaners. Using the same Italian technology that powers espresso machines, they deliver pressurized vapor at between 240 and 260 degrees Fahrenheit. They're as easy to use as a vacuum cleaner and are completely safe for you, your kids, your pets -- including birds -- and the environment. Unlike extraction cleaners, including those with onboard hot water heaters, true steam cleaners will also kill fleas, flea eggs and dust mites, will wipe out mold, mildew, fungi, bacteria and viruses, and won't leave any chemical or soapy residue behind to attract dirt.

High-quality residential units can cost as much as $2,000. A sturdy home-use model, such as the DeLonghi SteamIt, runs around $400.

(What are your favorite tips for cleaning up after pets? Send them to petconnection@gmail.com and we'll share them.)

Q&A

Coyotes put pets at risk

Q: I live in an area not too far from a big regional park. I'm always seeing "lost cat" signs, and I suspect coyotes are killing my neighbors' cats. (That's one reason why I keep my cat in at night.)

I know you've mentioned this before, but maybe it's time for another warning. -- P.G., via e-mail

A: Coyotes are everywhere, and they are just as happy to eat pets as wild animals.

Work with your neighbors to remove or move food sources that attract coyotes, such as pet food left outside, garbage cans that aren't securely closed or compost piles. If food sources are denied to them, the animals will move on to a more promising area.

Large dogs are not at high risk of attack, but small dogs and cats are tempting to coyotes. The only way to keep cats truly safe is to turn them into indoor-only pets, since a free-roaming cat is not safe day or night. For small dogs, do not let them out unsupervised, and walk them on leashes to keep them close to you. While there have been incidents of dogs being taken off the end of the leash, most coyotes won't want to get that close to a human to risk it. And try to avoid letting any of your dogs out at night if you can.

While these steps will not completely protect your pets, they will reduce the risk from these ever-more-common predators. -- Gina Spadafori

Q: I want a Christmas tree, but my cat can't resist the decorations. Suggestions? -- T.D., via e-mail

A: Cats love to follow motion, pouncing on toys as if they were prey. When stringy substances are eaten, however, they can bind up in a cat's intestines and often must be surgically removed. Strings that are electrified, such as power cords and lights, offer even more hazards.

If you can't keep your cat away from the tree -- by keeping him out of the room when you're not around, for example -- then I'm afraid the danglies can't be part of your holiday decor. -- 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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE BUZZ

Good neighbor saves a dog

-- A heroic man saved his neighbor's dog from a house fire in Weymouth, Mass. The dog, a German shepherd named Isabel, was home alone when the house caught fire. Neighbor Sal Litterio broke through a window in the burning home when he heard the dog barking and was able to pull the scared Isabel out through the thick smoke. "As long as Isabel is safe, the house can be replaced; my neighbors can't (be)," he said.

-- Bottled water for dogs? You bet, and in flavors such as parsley, ice cream, chicken, hot dog and lemongrass. Dogs also have their variation of the sports drink in K-9 Quencher, which provides a powdered formula with vitamins, trace minerals and electrolytes. The powder can be added to water to improve taste and increase drinking.

-- Researchers are pioneering a way to develop human skin. The skin, called Episkin, has been developed by L'Oreal in Lyon, France. Skin is collected from people who have volunteered to donate their skin after having cosmetic surgery and is then able to be grown in the laboratory. Episkin not only will decrease the need for animal testing, but will also make products for humans safer, since the testing medium is closer in properties to human skin.

-- The jellyfish population is exploding worldwide because of global warming. Reproduction is temperature-related, and with the increased temperature of the seas, mating and "blooming" (when jellyfish reproduce in huge numbers in the same area) are happening sooner, allowing jellyfish to eat fish eggs from spawning fish before they get a chance to hatch, rapidly depleting many fish populations. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

Communication key to good veterinary partnership

Many pet lovers make the mistake of believing veterinarians are pretty much interchangeable. In fact, you're doing your pet a disservice if you don't put a little effort into choosing the right veterinarian.

Any veterinarian you consider should be technically proficient, current on the latest treatments, and willing to seek out more information on your pet's behalf or work with a veterinary specialist. A good vet should be able to explain what's going on with your pet in a way you can understand and be willing to answer your questions, so you can make a responsible decision on your pet's behalf.

Ask friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. Over the years, animal lovers can tell which veterinarians are knowledgeable, compassionate and hardworking. Those veterinarians are always talked up by satisfied clients. Other factors may help you narrow down your list of possibilities:

-- Is the clinic or hospital conveniently located, with hours you can live with? If you have a 9-to-5 job, a veterinarian with a 9-to-5 clinic doesn't do your pet much good. Many veterinarians are open late on at least one weeknight and for at least a half-day on Saturday.

-- What kind of emergency care is available, if any? Although emergency veterinary clinics are prepared for any catastrophe, they are not familiar with your pet. If your veterinarian's practice does not offer 24-hour care, does it work with one that does?

The final call on whether a particular veterinarian is right for you comes down to intangibles. If you don't feel comfortable, you're less likely to ask your veterinarian questions, and the lack of productive communication hurts your pet in the long run. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Dog-care gear popular

Keeping a dog well-groomed is as much about health as appearance. Fortunately, most dog lovers do purchase at least the basic equipment for the grooming needs of their pets. What they own (multiple answers allowed):

Brush 92 percent

Nail clipper 69 percent

Comb 44 percent

Toothbrush 28 percent

Electric clippers 19 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Cut food when using treats

If you are using treats to train your dog, reduce the amount of food you provide during meals to keep your dog at a healthy weight. Treats are an important part of training, but you don't want to end up with a well-mannered pet with weight problem.

If your dog is always a little hungry, you may be able to use 10 percent of his daily kibble for training and save treats for teaching him new behaviors.

If your dog does not work for kibble, even when hungry, then you may need to increase daily exercise during training. Exercise is a great relationship builder, as your dog associates you with an enjoyable excursion. Exercise is also a great stress reliever and may help your dog focus better during training sessions.

(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.)

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