Universal Press Syndicate

Rabbits aren't just for kids anymore.

In recent years the popularity of "house rabbits" -- litter-box trained bunnies with as many house privileges as some cats -- has made these quiet, surprisingly playful pets more popular among adults.

And now's a great time to adopt one, since it's not long after Easter that the thrill wears off for many children given a baby rabbit -- and for the parents who realize that they'll be caring for a pet that their child will no longer care much about.

So whether you're thinking of adopting a rabbit as a pet for yourself -- or are one of the lucky parents whose child is still in love with that real-life Easter bunny -- you'll want to care for your new pet the best way you can. 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.)

Because some rabbits can be chewers, you'll want to make sure any rabbit-friendly area has electrical 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). You can also 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 from 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 gotten the hang of rabbit care, think of adding another such pet. Rabbits are social animals and do very well in pairs.

For more information, check out the House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org). In addition to volumes of great information online, the HRS also offers a wonderful newsletter with membership and an assortment of books to help you care for your bun.

Q&A

Cat's weight loss reason for concern

Q: I have a spayed female cat who went from 16 pounds to 10 pounds in a few months. (We're not exactly sure when the weight loss started.) We've continued to feed her the same food in the same amounts, and she seems more energetic, but that could be because she's packing less poundage, right?

Should we be concerned with the drastic weight loss? We've tried to reduce her weight many times with no luck, so this is bit of a bonus. -- U.R., via e-mail

A: You have good reason to be concerned about weight loss as dramatic as hers. Since you've said there was no change in the amount of food she eats, I can't imagine she's taken up triathlon training to take off the weight.

That means something else is going on.

Your cat needs to see a veterinarian right away for a thorough evaluation of her health. My concern would be a problem such a hyperthyroidism, a common illness in older cats where the thyroid gland overproduces this essential hormone. Typically, hyperthyroid cats lose weight and seem to be much more energetic, but the disease has a serious downside, too, and needs to be treated.

The good news is that if it is hyperthyroidism, it can be treated successfully in a couple of different ways.

Radiation treatment is considered the best treatment option for a positive outcome, but many owners successfully maintain their cats on daily medication for life. Ask your veterinarian to outline all treatment options so you can decide what's right for your cat. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Keep scooping

Q: How often does a litter box really have to be cleaned? If we're using clumping litter, shouldn't it be OK for a few days? -- P.W., via e-mail

A: Ideally, the box should be scooped every time the cat uses it, or a couple of times a day at least.

Realistically, daily attention is probably fine.

If you're neglecting this chore, you're inviting a behavior problem I know you don't want: a cat who skips the litter box. Cats don't like dirty bathrooms any more than people do, and your pet may start looking for a cleaner place to go if the box isn't to his liking.

So while it may be fine to leave the box unscooped for a couple of days in a pinch, don't let it get to be a habit, or you may end up with a house-soiling problem. -- 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," plus a free monthly newsletter. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

Fido, Fluffy just not today's names

-- Forget Fido and Fluffy. The most popular names for pets in 2008, according to a PetFinder.com survey, in decreasing order for dogs, are: Buddy, Max, Daisy, Jack and Lucy. For cats: Lucy, Molly, Oreo, Kittens and Smokey.

-- When a Florida couple's beloved yellow Labrador retriever died, they spent $155,000 with a South Korean biotech research firm to clone a copy one year later. On the "Today" show the couple said they dubbed their doggie double "Lancelot Encore." The puppy was born in late November 2008 and joins Edgar and Nina Otto's large menagerie, which includes nine other dogs. It should be noted the extended Otto family co-founded NASCAR.

-- You've heard of making cheese from goat's milk, but medication? In what would be a scientific first, an anti-clotting drug made from the milk of genetically engineered goats moved closer to government approval recently after experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that the medication works and its safety is acceptable. The drug is intended to help people with a rare hereditary disorder that makes them vulnerable to life-threatening ailments, including hemophilia, according to The Associated Press.

-- As the temperature across the United States has gradually gotten warmer, more than half of 305 bird species in North America -- a hodgepodge that includes robins, gulls, chickadees and owls -- are spending the winter about 35 miles farther north than they did 40 years ago, an Audubon Society study finds. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

Split cats up when arranging introductions

Having more than one cat is a popular option for many people, though not always for cats.

But living with more than one cat doesn't have to be contentious. The trick to domestic harmony for co-habiting felines is to introduce -- or reintroduce -- them slowly and carefully.

Since the worst territorial spats are between cats who aren't spayed or neutered, your chances for peaceful co-existence are many times greater if the cats are both altered before any introductions are planned.

Prepare a room for your new cat with food and water bowls, and a litter box and scratching post that needn't be shared. This room will be your new pet's home turf while the two cats get used to each other's existence.

Take your new cat to your veterinarian first, to be checked for parasites such as ear mites and contagious diseases such as feline leukemia. When you're sure your new pet is healthy, the introductions can begin.

Bring the cat home in a carrier and set him in the room you've prepared. Let your resident cat discover the caged animal, and don't be discouraged by initial hisses. When the new cat is alone in the room, close the door and let him out of the carrier. If he doesn't want to leave the carrier at first, let him be. Just leave the carrier door open and the cat alone.

Maintain each cat separately for a week or so -- with lots of love and play for both -- and then on a day when you're around to observe, leave the door to the new cat's room open. Above all: Don't force them together. Territory negotiations between cats can be drawn-out and delicate, and you must let them work it out on their own, ignoring the hisses and glares. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Setting up shop, reptile-style

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, the top pet supplies purchased by owners of pet reptiles, by percentage of those who purchased the items, with multiple answers allowed:

Glass habitat 64 percent

Habitat furnishings 58 percent

Books on care 54 percent

Incandescent bulbs 39 percent

Fluorescent bulbs 38 percent

Bedding 30 percent

PET TIP

'Birdify' to get healthy recipes

Looking for a special treat for your parrot? It's easy to adjust everyday recipes to make them more bird-friendly. French toast, for example, can be sprinkled with hulled seeds just after you drench the bread in egg, and then cooked as usual and offered to your bird without the butter and syrup.

You can also make a rice-and-veggie treat by cooking brown rice and then adding fresh vegetables and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Healthy people food is good for birds, too.

Pasta, cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables will all help keep your bird healthy, but remember that avian veterinarians now recommend that the basis of a sound diet should be one of the pelleted diets now available for your bird. If you have any questions regarding proper nutrition for your pet, talk to your veterinarian. -- 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.

Universal Press Syndicate

In the spirit of the great shock-u-mentaries that are late-night cable favorites, I am going to expose veterinary medicine's heinous funny bone with a joke we call "Give your cat this medicine at home."

It starts out with a cat lover putting off the trip to the veterinarian with a sick cat to avoid the following chain of events: cat hides under the couch, human attempts to extricate the cat and stuff it into a carrier, cat claws shred human flesh like a feline Freddy Krueger, cat finally womanhandled (man of the house nowhere to be found, so manhandled not a possibility) into the carrier, and a quick drive to the veterinary hospital, often while being serenaded with the unhappy sounds of a cat plotting revenge.

Finally, the exam room: Let the show begin!

Out explodes the cat, hissing and raking the air with claws extended. Finally, about 325 pounds of restraint (veterinarian plus technician) catch the cat and put on a show called Contortionist Cat Examination. So far, so bad. Everyone except the cat is now covered in cat fur. Some are sneezing. Many are bleeding. All are scared.

Finally, it's our turn to get even by simply saying to Mrs. Client with a straight face: "Socks has an infection that will require treatment at home for the next two weeks. Give Socks one of these tiny pills twice daily." In the eyes of the cat and the owner, of course, the tiny pills look to be the size of tennis balls.

As we watch the rumbling box and dazed owner head toward the car, we can well imagine the World Wrestling Federation Feline Match that will take place once they are home. The very thought makes us smile as we clean up the fur and patch up our wounds.

Once Ms. Trepidation (formerly Mrs. Frustrated Kitty Client) opens the cat carrier at home, a streak of furry flash-lightning can be seen dashing under the same couch where this odyssey began. When Ms. Trepidation's husband and children come home, she announces sweetly and innocently: "We need to give Socks a little medicine. Would you mind helping mommy?"

If they've been through this before, they respond with their own dash for cover. If they are rookies, they may agree to help, having no idea what's about to happen.

Soothing words and food lures are ignored by the cat. A quick grab finally extricates him from under the couch. With pills and fluffy towels out and doors closed, one set of hands pries open the cat's mouth and the bell rings for round one. Socks comes out swinging with a classic "bite or flight" response. The family counterpunches by throwing in the towel, literally, over and around the cat to make a cat burrito that can be stuffed with medicine.

Finally, the pill goes down, and everyone gives a big sigh of relief. Just then, the cat spits out the pill and in a flash is back under the couch. The family takes round two in stride as they put on the leather gloves. Not intimidated by a 575-pound opponent (Mom, Dad, couple of kids), the cat is ready to explore the floor, walls and ceiling of the living room.

Meanwhile, back at the vet's office, the veterinary team is chuckling. "Think of all the suckers we sent home to try to medicate their cats today!"

The truth be known, it's difficult even for veterinarians to give some cats medications. So next time you visit the vet and hear, "Give these little pills to kitty," turn the tables by saying: "No, I think I'll hospitalize her so you can make sure it gets done. As a matter of fact, would you show me the correct way to give a cat a pill, right now?"

Oh no. Payback. The worm has turned.

Q&A

Sensible haircut a must for pets

Q: Our spaniel mix has beautiful "feathers" on his legs and underbelly. He looks great when he comes from the groomer, but it doesn't take long before all that beautiful, long fur is matted, tangled and (in the summer) full of burrs. Any suggestions for keeping him neater? -- P.D., via e-mail

A: A lot of the physical features we see on dogs today are more about fashion than function. The profuse coats and feathering of some breeds and mixes are prime examples of this impracticality. In spaniels (especially American cockers), breeders have gone for more and more "furnishings" -- longer, more luxurious coats that look stunning in the show ring but are too often messy in real life. The overabundance of coat may show up in spaniel mixes as well.

While those who show dogs work to keep every inch of coat, for the purposes of everyday life it's usually better to keep things cut short. That's why pet poodles are kept in body-hugging "puppy clips" and terriers have their wiry coats clipped instead of having dead hairs pulled individually, as is normal for show. (Exhibitors call this "hand-stripping." It's tedious work but essential for winning.)

Ask your groomer to clip your dog's feathers to a functional length -- short enough to keep combed and brushed, long enough to maintain a degree of attractiveness.

As for burrs, here's a tip from hunting-dog trainers: Spray a little nonstick cooking spray (such as Pam) on the area. The lubricating effect will make it easier to slide the burr out of the fur. -- Gina Spadafori

Q: I have a 5-month-old toy poodle, and she isn't very interested in food. She's healthy and playful, but I'm worried she isn't getting her nutrition. I leave dry food down all the time. She waits until I add "goodies" such as broiled chicken breast. Any ideas? -- Y.C., via e-mail

A: Without meaning to, you've taught your puppy that food is always available and that if she waits, something better will come along.

You've taught her to be finicky; now it's time to teach her to eat.

Don't keep food available at all times. It makes house-training more difficult and removes the power of food as a training tool. (Fresh water, on the other hand, should always be accessible.)

Give your pup a quiet place to eat with no distractions. A crate is ideal, but a small room with a baby gate across it will also do. Put the food down and leave your pup alone for 20 to 30 minutes. Then pick up the food, eaten or not, and give your pet no food until the next scheduled feeding. Repeat at every meal: a quiet space, a set time for eating, and remove the remainder.

Don't worry if she misses a meal, or even a day's worth of meals. She won't starve. Above all: Do not, do not, do not give treats between meals, nor add those "goodies" to the meals after she turns up her nose.

I doubt it will take more than a couple of days for your puppy to learn to eat promptly the food that's set down in front of her.

Note: Don't try this on a finicky cat. Cutting off a cat's food supply abruptly can trigger a potentially fatal illness. If your cat's not eating, talk to your veterinarian. -- Gina Spadafori

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

PET BUZZ

Simple TV ad nets big bucks for pets

-- An advertisement featuring singer Sarah McLachlan for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has proven to be a bonanza. The spot features still images of dogs and cats scrolling across the screen while McLachlan croons the haunting song "Angel" in the background. The New York Times reports the simple pitch has raised roughly $30 million for the organization since early 2007. (The ASPCA's annual budget is $50 million.)

-- Nearly 1,000 flute-playing snake charmers protested in Calcutta, India, demanding the right to perform with live snakes. USA Today reports that shows with cobras and other snakes have been banned in India since the Wildlife Protection Act of 1991, though they are still a common site among India's estimated 800,000 charmers.

-- Serotonin is crucial in the swarming of locusts, says a study published in Science magazine. The neurotransmitter, which moderates all kinds of behaviors in all kinds of animals (including humans), has now been shown to be responsible for turning desert locusts from standoffish loners into super-gregarious pests. This discovery may lead to methods to block the formation of locust swarms that can cover hundreds of square miles and involve billions of vegetation-munching insects, devastating agriculture and costing tens of millions of dollars to control. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

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 SCOOP

Patience, repetition key to parrot speech

Teach your parrot to talk by repeating words clearly. Nurture communication further by using the words in their proper context and setting up an association your bird can grasp.

For example, every time your bird lowers his head to request a scratch, ask him, "Wanna scratch?" and then scratch him. When you give him foods or other toys, call them by name out loud. Play naming games with him: Say "keys" and then tell him "Good bird!" for taking them from you, and then repeat the exercise.

You may have an easier time in a one-bird household. Two birds may be more interested in communicating with each other than in figuring out your expressions. Some experts suggest not attempting to teach your bird to whistle, at least not until he has picked up speech. Whistling birds seem to show a reluctance to use words.

Not all parrots will learn to talk. African greys, Amazons and even tiny budgies seem to enjoy sharing language. Cockatiels are more likely to whistle tunes than talk.

Final note: Even if you're not intentionally trying to teach rude words or sounds to your bird, you might want to be careful about what your pet hears. Any word or sound can end up in a bird's repertoire, whether you want them there or not. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

The best places to be a cat

The CATalyst Council (www.catalystcouncil.org), a coalition of the veterinary community, academia, nonprofits, industry and animal welfare organizations, has named the top cat-friendly cities in the United States. The list was compiled after reviewing the top 25 standard metropolitan areas for such data as cat ownership per capita, level of veterinary care, microchipping and cat-friendly local ordinances.

1. Tampa

2. Phoenix

3. San Francisco

4. Portland, Ore.

5. Denver

6. Boston

7. Seattle

8. San Diego

9. Atlanta

10. Minneapolis

PET TIP

Want a cat? Adopt a pair

If you don't have a cat yet and know you'll eventually want two, it's easiest to adopt a pair at the same time.

It might be even easier if the kittens or cats are siblings, since they'll already be familiar with one another. But even if you adopt two unrelated cats or kittens (or a cat and a kitten), bringing them into a new home together at the same time works well, since neither has established his territory in the new environment.

Having two cats who like each other is the ideal situation, since neither will be lonely when you're at work.

This is especially true of cats who spend their entire lives indoors. Having company can make life much richer for them -- and for you! -- 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.

Universal Press Syndicate

When other allergy triggers kick in, living with sneeze-triggering pets becomes even more problematic. That's why treating all your allergies aggressively will help make living with pets far easier when pollen is released in the spring.

If you can get a good night's sleep, you'll be better able to cope with almost anything, even allergies. That's why one of the best pieces of advice to those who are allergic to their pets is this: Declare your bedroom a "no-pets zone," at least during the height of spring allergy season.

That can be tough advice to follow for those of us who love to share our bedrooms, and even our beds, with our dogs and cats. (And studies say that's most of us!) For many allergy sufferers, though, establishing a pet-free sleeping area is a necessary compromise that will allow us to share our lives with pets despite our allergies.

Reduce allergy triggers further by keeping your sleeping area sparsely decorated with furnishings that do not attract dust, and be sure everything is cleaned frequently. Bedding should be washed often to combat dust mites, and pillows should be made of non-allergenic material, no feathers. Consider running a HEPA air cleaner in the room at all times.

The idea (both in the bedroom and outside of it) is to keep your total "allergy load" -- pets and other things that trigger your allergies -- to a level that you can live with or that can be controlled by medication. It's worth it to make an effort. Out-of-control allergies can make lives miserable and, in the case of asthma, can be life-threatening.

Here are more tips for those who have both pets and allergies:

-- Limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid strong cleaning solutions, cigarette smoke and perfumes, and consider using a mask when doing yard work and housework, especially when pollen counts are high or your home is especially dusty.

-- Let someone else do the dusting and vacuuming, if at all possible, and if not, invest in a vacuum that filters the air it releases. Allergy sufferers should also leave litter-box scooping to other family members to limit exposure to the allergens in cat urine. If that's not possible, again, wear a mask and wash your hands well afterward.

-- Keep pets well-groomed. The dirt and pollen that pets pick up in their coats can be almost as bad as the hair and dander they generate themselves. It's essential for pets to be bathed frequently and to be kept combed and brushed. Ideally, a non-allergic member of the household should assume this responsibility. Even cats should be bathed, by the way: A weekly rinse of your cat in plain water has been shown to help people who are allergic to them.

-- Work with your doctor. Medication -- short term or for life -- can make living with pets possible. While it used to be that many allergists recommended re-homing a pet as the first course of action, many have now accepted that pet lovers will often refuse. Allergists today seem much more willing to offer treatment options that accept pets as part of the family.

-- Choose pets carefully. Do everything you can to make things work with the pets you have now. But when it comes time to adopt others, be aware that some pets may be better than others when it comes to allergies. In general, dogs are less of a problem than cats when it comes to allergies, and breeds like poodles and their mixes may be easier for allergy sufferers to live with than other dogs. The fur is not the problem, in any case, so hairless pets offer no relief.

There is no such thing as a completely non-allergenic dog or cat, however, no matter what you've heard or read. The best that you can do is to work with your allergist, take medications as recommended and manage your environment -- and your pet's place in it -- to keep all the sneezes and wheezes to a minimum.

Q&A

Keeping the cat's bathroom private

Q: I know a common complaint of dog lovers is "cruising the litter box." We solved this problem by placing a heavy, covered litter box in a corner, with the opening toward the wall.

There's enough space for our cat to slide through and into the litter box, but not for our dog to get inside. Can you share it? -- M.M., via e-mail

A: Your strategy works great for cats who can tolerate covered litter boxes. Those with asthma should have open ones, though, so they are less bothered by the concentration of litter dust and other irritations.

Your note reminds me of the setup a friend came up with, designed to keep the dog out of the cat food. Her husband got a plastic milk crate, set it on its side and secured it with the opening in a corner. The cats can easily hop over the crate, through the triangle-shaped opening and into the crate where the dishes are. The dog can't fit, though, and is forced to watch the cats eating -- a torment the cats likely enjoy immensely.

My solution is to put the cat boxes in my attached garage, accessible through a pet door the cats can get through but the dogs cannot. Baby gates work well, too.

When dealing with litter-box-cruising dogs, you always have to make sure your cat is comfortable with the arrangements you've made to keep the dog at bay. If you don't, you'll be finding little kitty offerings elsewhere in the house. If the cat's not happy, no one is happy! -- Gina Spadafori

Q: My dog has a hair trigger when it comes to barking. What do you think about citrus-spray collars? Do they work? Are they safe? -- L.I., via e-mail

A: The citronella spray anti-bark collar works fine with many barkers. I did Sheltie rescue in my area for a few years and always kept a citronella collar on hand for the noisiest of my foster dogs.

The collar releases a spray of citronella when activated by the dog's barking, but it's not necessary for the spray to get on the face. The collar really works by distraction: The "pfffttt" of the spray being released catches the dog's attention, as does the pungent smell. The dog can't resist taking a whiff, and since he can't bark and sniff at the same time, the disagreeable activity is halted.

You probably don't want your dog to wear such a collar forever, though, so you might ask your veterinarian for a referral to a trainer or behaviorist who can help you with a long-term solution to the barking problem. -- Gina Spadafori

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

PET BUZZ

Animals always put same foot forward

-- In animal art, the wrong foot is often forward. The way four-legged animals move has been well-known since the 1880s, when Eadweard Muybridge's motion-capture photographs revealed the sequence of leg movements. Animals walk this way: The left hind leg moves forward, followed by the left foreleg, right hind leg and right foreleg, in order. You'd think that since this knowledge has been around for well over a century that artists, taxidermists, toy designers and others responsible for depicting animals would get it right. But a study published in the journal Current Biology showed that out of several hundred depictions of walking animals in museums, veterinary books and toy models, the leg positions are wrong in almost half of them. The researchers from Eotvos University in Hungary studied depictions where it could be determined unambiguously that the animal was walking, and not trotting or running, as the leg movements may differ in those gaits.

-- In comparing veterinary earnings for 2007 with other health professionals, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows veterinarians averaged $84,090, compared with $101,840 for optometrists, $147,010 for dentists and $153,640 for family physicians.

-- Fish have not always gathered as a school, according to Vocabpower. They can also be called a "shoal of fish," a shoal (shallow spot) being where fish were generally observed. Want more such words? How about a pod of whales, an exaltation or a murmuration of larks, a drove of pigs, a troop of kangaroos, a parliament of owls, a kindle of kittens, kettle of hawks and -- our favorite -- a scourge of mosquitoes. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

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." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Most 'dire warnings' shouldn't be passed on

A few years ago it was Febreze; then it was Swiffer. Now both seem to be in e-mail reruns again.

In the last several weeks I've received hundreds of e-mail "warnings" forwarded by well-meaning readers who in turn had it forwarded to them. The e-mail tells of a dog who died after walking across a damp floor that had been cleaned with the product and claims that Swiffer is "one molecule" off the chemical formulation of antifreeze, the latter a deadly risk to pets. The Febreze warnings seem to circulate regularly as well.

The dire warnings about both products are off-base. The Snopes Web site (www.snopes.com) debunks these as urban myths as does the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc). Both rumors may well have been originally sent into play by those with a grudge against manufacturer Procter & Gamble, which makes both products.

The bottom line on Febreze and Swiffer? As with all household cleaning products, read the label carefully and follow directions to the letter. And don't forward e-mail warnings that you don't know to be true. It's easy to check, and if something doesn't pass the sniff test, just hit "delete." -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Watch out for killer plants

Plant poisonings are sadly common in pets, which is why it's important to make sure potentially toxic foliage is kept out of areas where pets frequent. The Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (www.petinsurance.com), recently analyzed the more than 400 claims it received in 2008 for toxic plant ingestions, developing the following list of offenders. The average amount claimed for plant poisoning was $427.

1. Raisins/grapes

2. Mushrooms

3. Marijuana

4. Lily

5. Walnuts

6. Onion

7. Sago palm

8. Macadamia nuts

9. Azalea

10. Hydrangea

PET Rx

A sick bird needs vet help -- stat

Can you give a cold or flu to your bird? Although the myth is a pervasive one, the answer is likely to be "no."

Because human colds and flus are always around, it seems to make sense that when a bird shows similar symptoms -- congestion, coughing and such -- the pet has the same gunk that has been floating around the rest of the family. But it's a good bet there's something else going on with your bird.

If your bird is showing cold or flulike symptoms, don't just figure the problem will pass in the same way a human bug will. Birds are very stoic when it comes to hiding symptoms of illness, and when a bird does show signs of disease, he's often quite sick indeed. So take him to an avian veterinarian, pronto. -- 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.