pets

Heat Wave

Pet Connection by by Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
by Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
Pet Connection | May 4th, 2009

Universal Press Syndicate

Our dogs love spring and summer -- longer days, less inclement weather -- but they always seem a little disappointed when they realize they're not going to be getting as many rides in the car.

That's because in the winter there's not much risk to letting a well-mannered dog wait in the car during a quick pop inside the bank, drugstore or any number of local businesses that make up a morning's errand run.

But when the days get warmer, it's no longer acceptable to leave a dog in the car, even for a few minutes, even with the windows down. That's because the heat can build up quickly, even on a day that's just pleasantly warm, putting any pet in the car at grave risk for heatstroke.

Car rides and errands aren't the only risks to pets in warmer weather. Take care of your pets by watching out for these fair-weather hazards:

-- Heat risks. Cats have enough sense to nap on warm afternoons, but dogs do not. If you let them, they'll go where you do, even if it's too hot. Dogs are not good at keeping themselves cool, and they rely on us to keep them out of trouble.

Limit exercise to the coolest part of the day, no matter how happy your dog is to participate when it's warm. Even in the coolest part of the day, watch for signs of trouble: Glassy eyes and frantic panting indicate a dog who needs immediate veterinary help.

Remember that older, obese or short-nosed dogs are less heat-tolerant and that all dogs need constant access to shade and an endless supply of cool, clean water. 

-- Gardening risks. Protect your pets from poisonous plants, troublesome garden materials or yard chemicals. Check with the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc) to be sure your plants are pet-safe, and put any ones that aren't safe on the other side of a fence from your animals.

Be sure to use any pesticides or fertilizers according to label directions, and let lawn chemicals dry before allowing your pet access to the yard. Snail and rodent bait can kill pets, so do not use it in areas where animals have access.

-- Other outdoor problems. If you hike through open fields or wooded areas, be sure to check your dog afterward for foxtails and burrs. The spiky seed carrier of dried grasses, a foxtail, will burrow deep into the ears or flesh of an animal, and it will need to be removed by a veterinarian if it gets in a place your pet can't reach or is left to fester. Depending on where it ends up, it can even be fatal.

Warmer weather also means mosquitoes, and that means heartworms.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, which pick up the microscopic heartworm larvae called microfilaria when they draw blood from an infected animal. They share the parasites when they bite another animal. Once in a new host, the larvae make their way to the heart, where they grow to be 9 to 14 inches long, blocking the flow of blood and causing severe damage and possibly death.

Most infested pets are brought to the veterinarian after their owners notice them coughing at night, coughing after exercise, or experiencing a general decline in their physical condition. By the time the symptoms are noticed, however, a great deal of damage has usually been done, not only to the heart, but also to other organs such as the kidneys, which rely on a steady flow of blood to operate.

Because of the risk and expense of treating a heartworm infestation, preventive care remains an essential part of a pet's well-being. Monthly heartworm prevention has been shown to be safe and effective for most pets. Don't ignore this essential protection: Talk to your veterinarian about heartworm preventives for dogs and cats.

PET BUY

Kits make artists out of your pets

We're now looking for gallery space for a pair of Pugcassos, otherwise known as our two pugs, Willy and Bruce, who recently completed three paintings using the Pup-Casso kit.

Pup-Casso's no-mess and non-toxic paint kit gave me a keepsake of my pugs' artistic skills that I can forever hang on my walls, and also provided bonding time for my husband and me to share with our pugs as we all four worked together to create the perfect painting.

The kit was extremely easy to use and came with a paint set of five colors, three art papers, three paw protectors (plastic sheets to sit over the top of the painting for the dog to walk across), a picture frame, and a small present for your dog (a yellow Frisbee with the Pup-Casso logo on it.)

To begin, paint colors are dotted and swirled around the paper by the dog owner, and then covered over by a clear plastic sheet, which is taped down to keep it from sliding. Treats are an important coaxing tool in the process because your dog is then guided back and forth across the plastic sheet over the paper to swirl and step into the paint, thus creating his own unique creation.

Two of our paintings were done in "Picasso" style with random swirls of color. But my husband, wanting to unleash his never-before-discovered "talent," decided to paint a picture of a dog on the grass with a sun on the top and had the dogs step over the top of it, with the final result looking much like a cheery preschool art project.

The kit's ease of use was exceptional. The directions were simple and easy to follow, there was very little cleanup needed, and we now have three keepsake paintings to always remember our time together as a family (our snorting pugs included, or course).

The only downside was the lack of a paintbrush, which made writing our signatures extremely difficult, as fingers to sign were too thick to be legible. In the end, we made due with the end of a pen as a makeshift paintbrush to memorialize all four of our names on our work of art. The paint kit also comes in a Cat-Casso variety, for all of the catty artists hoping to gain fame as well. Pup-Casso and Cat-Casso ($20 for either) are available from pet-supply retailers or from Art-Casso.com. -- Mikkel Becker Shannon

PET BUZZ

Prospects better for pets with cancer

-- Powerful new tools to treat cancer in animals are here, or on the near horizon, reports Veterinary Practice News. These include two new therapies that target canine mast cell tumors at the molecular level (from Pfizer and AB Science USA) and immunotherapy for melanoma (Merial). "Rather than use chemicals to kill the cancer or radiation to fry it, we can use our knowledge of cancer to outsmart it," notes cancer specialist Dr. Greg Ogilvie, director of the Angel Care Cancer Center at California Veterinary Specialties in Carlsbad, Calif.

-- This year marks the 125th anniversary of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia. Among the school's most well-known patients: the Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who ultimately lost his battle for life after shattering a leg in the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of racing's storied Triple Crown. The work to save Barbaro at UPenn has led to better safety on racetracks and better care for all horses.

-- Kitten season is no myth, and proof lies in the writhing bundles of kittens in animal shelters this time of year. The feline reproductive season runs from Dec. 21 (winter solstice) to Sept. 22 (autumnal equinox). Like Mother Nature's light-switch, the amount of daylight turns the cat's reproductive cycles on and off. That means in December, unspayed females are stimulated to come into heat, and usually they will be by the middle of January. A 60-day pregnancy means that cats will give birth around March 15 or so. The first wave of kitty litters will come to shelters shortly thereafter. -- 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

Quick removal of ticks a seasonal must

Don't tolerate ticks: Prevent those you can and immediately remove those you find.

Tick prevention in pets means topical treatments, typically spot-ons available by prescription from your veterinarian (or from retailers with a prescription from your veterinarian). Talk to your pet's health-care provider about which product suits your animal best. In some areas, ticks may respond better to one product than another. In areas with heavy tick infestations, additional protection may entail the use of a tick collar. Again, talk to your vet.

Whenever you've had your dog out in an area with ticks -- and that could even be a green city park -- you need to go over your dog carefully to hand-pick any pests that hopped a ride. Don't wait for the preventives to kill them. Feel for tiny lumps and part the fur to get a good look at the skin.

When you've located a tick, don't use methods you may have heard of, such as applying alcohol, petroleum jelly or the tip of a hot match to remove them. They don't work. Instead, choose a direct method: Either use a tool to pull them off, or protect your fingers with a thin glove.

For tools, a curved-tip jeweler's forceps ($25 to $50) is probably the best, and well worth searching out and keeping on hand if you live in an area with lots of ticks, especially small ticks. Various tools with slots that fit under the parasite -- such as the Ticked Off spoon ($5.50 from retailers) -- also work well.

Start your tick hunt with a little bowl of isopropyl alcohol at hand. No matter if you're using a tool or your gloved fingers, get ahold of the tick close to where the mouth is attached to your pet and apply steady, even pressure to remove the pest -- no twisting required. Once out, flick the tick into the alcohol to kill it and then dispose of the dead ticks at once.

Use a mild disinfectant on the de-ticked areas, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when you're done clearing all the pests from your pet. Keep an eye on where the ticks had been embedded for any sign of infection, and contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Experience matters in pet care

If it seems that you've always had a dog or cat, you're probably typical. In responses to surveys about how long pet owners have kept pets, those with dogs or cats had more experience in caring for animal companions than did those with other pets:

Dogs: 19 years

Cats: 17 years

Birds: 10 years

Freshwater fish: 8 years

Saltwater fish: 5.5 years

Reptiles: 3 years

Small animals: 1.8 years

Source: American Pet Products Association

PET TIP

Yes, cats can be hurt falling from windows

Cats are equipped with the amazing ability to right themselves in midair if they fall while hunting, rotating their bodies from the head back like a coil to align themselves for a perfect four-paw landing.

But what works for a supple small animal falling from a tree branch doesn't cut it in the modern world, where a cat's more likely to fall from a window than a tree. Cats can be badly hurt or even killed falling from the window of a two-story home, or from the balcony of a third-story apartment.

Many cat lovers assume their pets would be smart enough to be careful when up high enough for injuries, but it's just not in an animal's ability to make that kind of judgment call. Cats are comfortable in high places, and they cannot understand the difference in risk between a one-story fall and a six-story fall. Protect them with secure screens and closed windows. -- 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.

pets

Cars Chasing Dogs

Pet Connection by by Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
by Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
Pet Connection | April 27th, 2009

and Keith Turner

Universal Press Syndicate

With car companies struggling for sales in a tough economy, it's no surprise that two of them are chasing buyers that have so far proven willing to keep spending when they can: pet lovers.

Toyota rolled out the pet-friendly Venza in February at the massive pet industry trade show, Global Pet Expo. Not content to be the underdog, Honda showed up at the New York International Auto Show with a special edition of its already dog-friendly Element, with a built-in pet ramp, better ventilation and a showy badge with a dog on it.

The Honda development is especially interesting. Our DogCars.com Web site picked the Element as the first-ever "Best in Show" after reviewing dozens of SUVs, wagons and hatchbacks. Honda, which had been marketing the boxy vehicle to young, outdoorsy men, responded with an ad campaign touting the award. And now, a special Element will be for sale in the fall.

Saab and Volvo were first to cater to pet lovers, offering optional restraint systems in a couple of their models. But the new models from Toyota and Honda show just how anxious companies are these days to track down sales like a bloodhound.

The 2010 Element's options for dog lovers include:

-- cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with elevated platform

-- extendable pet ramp that stores underneath the bed

-- pet restraints in the second row and cargo area

-- second-row seat covers

-- electric rear ventilation fan

-- spill-resistant water bowl

-- dog-friendly exterior badge

All of these are in addition to the Element's already dog-friendly attributes, such as an easy-to-clean urethane floor, wide and flat cargo area, and wide-opening side doors.

For Toyota's part, it is offering the Venza with more than a dozen pet-friendly options, available through its dealers, from ramps to barriers to seat covers. Toyota is also promoting the vehicle everywhere it thinks it will find dog lovers, sponsoring both the recent telecast of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and the new season of trainer Cesar Millan's popular show "The Dog Whisperer." The vehicle will also be on display at pet fairs for animal lovers to get a firsthand look.

Will the Soccer Mom be replaced by the Dog-Park Dad? In the eyes of the car companies, it doesn't matter which market turns out to be the biggest dog of all: Where there are sales to be made, they'll tailor a car to appeal to those buyers.

Q&A

Teeth-cleaning offers many health benefits

Q: My veterinarian has recommended getting my dog's teeth cleaned, and I would appreciate your opinion on this procedure. Is it really necessary? He claims it is preventive health, but it involves putting my dog under anesthesia, and that always worries me. Do you do this with your dogs? -- J.M., via e-mail

A: Yes, my own dogs are subject to periodic dental cleanings, and I am a believer in them as important preventive medicine for three reasons.

First, your pet needs to eat. Broken teeth and rotting gums make eating very difficult and painful, and anything to prevent such an outcome is desirable in my book. When I was doing animal-rescue work, I can't tell you how many pets came in with mouths that caused them a great deal of pain, the result of years of dental neglect.

Second, when gums get infected, your pet is constantly showering internal organs with some nasty bacteria. Over time, this is a grave challenge to your pet's immune system and may lead to some serious health problems.

Finally, there's the cleanliness issue. I live with my pets inside the house. They are family who share beds, furniture and lots of affection. Bad teeth and gums smell awful and make close interactions less than pleasant.

Anesthesia is indeed a concern, but it's a lot safer than it used to be. You can make it even safer by following your veterinarian's instructions exactly, especially when it comes to withholding food and water before anesthesia. Older pets may require some tests beforehand, such as a blood workup and possibly a chest X-ray.

Once your dog has had her teeth cleaned, you can keep them that way -- and extend the period of time between cleanings -- by brushing her teeth regularly. -- 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.

PET BUZZ

Obama's dog not first to fame

-- When the Obamas welcomed a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog into the White House, that dog -- whom the Obama daughters named Bo -- became arguably the most famous of his breed ever. But the dogs, long used as helpers by Portguese fisherman, have had other spins in the spotlight. In addition to the Porties owned by Sen. Edward Kennedy, a team of the dogs delighted fans of the San Francisco Giants by retrieving baseballs from McCovey Cove, the body of water behind the right-field wall.

-- Airplanes are increasingly hitting birds, alarming regulators because collisions can cause fatal crashes and damage jets. The number of bird strikes reported to the Federal Aviation Administration has grown every year since 1990, when there were 2,051 strikes. There were 9,361 strikes in 2007, FAA figures show. A total of 95,000 bird strikes have been reported to the agency since 1990, and the culprits, in decreasing order, are Canada geese, mourning doves and sparrows.

-- Biologists fear a mysterious illness that has been killing bats since at least 2007 is spreading rapidly and has likely wiped out hundreds of thousands of them over the winter in caves throughout the Northeast. Called white nose syndrome, after the white fungus the dead bats have on their faces, affected bats emerge early from hibernation, resulting in starvation. The cause of the syndrome is unknown, reports USA Today. Bats play an important role in nature's balance, eating insects and other pests that can damage crops, along with assisting in plant pollinations. Their decline has the potential for a long-term impact on the ecosystem. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

'Learning by earning' gets a dog to mind

If your dog doesn't seem to be paying attention, you need to lay the foundation for good behavior by showing your dog with every interaction that he has to earn what he wants.

This "learning by earning" starts with the basics of dog obedience -- sit and stay. Chances are your dog already knows these commands. If not, check out a class, book or video to help you teach him. Once your dog understands and performs these behaviors more or less on command, you're going to use them to reinforce your authority, gently but persistently.

Ask your dog: To sit before you put his leash on for a walk. To sit before you pet him (which will also keep him from jumping up) or throw a toy for him to fetch. To sit and stay when his bowl is placed before him, and hold that position until released. To sit and stay before the door is opened, to sit and stay before being let out of the car into the park and so on.

Be patient. Your dog will soon catch on as long as you're consistent in insisting on his good behavior before good things come his way.

No sit, no reward, no discussion.

The real beauty is what's happening deep down. Without raising your voice, jerking a leash, spanking or otherwise roughly handling your dog, you've made it clear to him that there are household rules that must be followed. And that's going to make everything else about living with and training your dog easier -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Pet spending still strong

According to the American Pet Products Association, spending on pets and their care continues to grow, despite the difficult economy. Recent annual spending on pets:

Year Billions

2009 $45.4 (est.)

2008 $43.2

2007 $41.2

2006 $38.5

2005 $36.3

2004 $34.4

2003 $32.4

2002 $29.5

2001 $28.5

PET TIP

Fences, patios keep cats out of trouble

Keeping cats indoors is safer for the cats, life-saving for birds and less irritating to the neighbors.

You can keep your cat happier by providing safe access to the outdoors, such as with a cat door into a screened-in porch. You can also buy kits for portable outdoor pens, complete with tunnels for connecting the pens to the house.

Many cat lovers have put together some grand outdoor spaces, such as a two-story enclosure clinging to the side of the house with areas for climbing, sunbathing and hiding. These needn't be expensive, especially if you're a capable do-it-yourselfer.

Also consider cat-fencing, which runs along the top of a traditional fence and keeps your cats on your property. It won't protect the birds, but it will keep your cat out of your neighbors' yards. -- 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.

pets

Bun Fun

Pet Connection by by Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
by Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
Pet Connection | April 20th, 2009

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.

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