Universal Press Syndicate

I live on a horse ranch in Northern Idaho, in a part of the country where losing an arm in a logging accident is considered the cityfolk equivalent of a scratch. My poker buddies are men who eat nails for breakfast.

The men up here like to project a Rambo-like image to the outside world, but inside there's sometimes a secret love that they won't freely admit, even to their own wives and especially to their veterinarians.

You see, real men don't own cats. That's their story, and they're sticking to it.

Now, let me explain.

One of the things I've always gotten a kick out of as a veterinarian is watching somebody bring a cat in, holding the animal lovingly, and then hurriedly passing it off to the receptionist like a furry hot potato, mumbling: "This is ma's cat. I'm just dropping it off for her."

Or, "This is my girlfriend's cat, and she asked me to bring it in for her."

As veterinarians, we're more than happy to oblige any request for care, but we know a dirty little secret that's not very well hidden. That little pussycat is their beloved pet, too. It's just that they can't admit it. Or worse yet, show their affection.

Because real men don't own cats.

Case in point: A few years back I was working at a cat-only veterinary hospital and a watched guy who looked like a shoo-in for the Biker Hall of Fame walk through the door with a cute little kitten.

"Here," he said, setting the kitten on the counter. "My woman asked me to drop this hairball off for you to spay and give her her shots. I'll come back tonight and pick her up."

The veterinarian, with a wink and a nod to me, took the cat into the back and started the procedures.

Later that day, the tough guy came in, paid the bill and received his "fixed kitty" -- minus a few things but now adorned with a cute little pink bow, thanks to a tech with an offbeat sense of humor.

Thoroughly disgusted, the man hurriedly paid the bill and walked off, holding the kitten at arm's length like the little creature had a contagious disease.

A few minutes later I was sitting outside in my car, ready to go home, when I witnessed the most amazing transformation in the man. Once safely outside in his truck and thinking himself unobserved -- people in love are usually so oblivious -- the he-man started sweet-talking the kitten.

"Did they hurt you, little girl?" he asked the kitten. "Well, don't you worry, 'cause daddy's going to go by the store and pick you up a special treat for tonight because you've been soooo brave!"

Huh?

Could this be the same guy who treated the kitty that morning with the same fondness he'd have for helmet laws and gun control?

Oh yes, it was.

As we veterinarians know, men like these aren't too willing to let the world in on their little secret: that they love their little kitties and can't wait for their purring pets to curl up next to them at night.

So the next time you're in the veterinarian's waiting room and see a tough guy come in with a cat he seems to loathe, you'll know what we veterinarians know:

That cat's not ma's pet after all.

Q&A

Can fighting dogs ever reach a truce?

Q: We've had two female chow chows since they were 6 weeks old, and they're both middle-aged now. They got along marvelously until about a year and a half ago.

One day they got into a fight. We were able to break it up before real harm was done, and we've kept them separated since. Our veterinarian suggested that since they've drawn blood, they shouldn't be allowed to be alone together, because the next time we may not be able to break it up.

Luckily for us, our yard is such that we can separate it with one dog on each side. My husband had a custom wrought iron gate built so they can see and interact with each other without being able to hurt each other. When we bring them indoors, we have to deal with each one separately.

It breaks our hearts that we can't be with both at the same time. Is there anything we can do to bring them together again? -- P.S., via e-mail

A: Just as with people who go through a nasty divorce and can never share the same room without a fight, some dogs cannot go back to sharing space in peace after bloodshed. And sometimes, that's the fault of their owners.

It helps to understand the differences between the social interactions of dogs and the interactions of people. Dogs by nature establish a pecking order within social groups to avoid conflict. Once that hierarchy is established, dogs stay where they land within the social order unless circumstances change the overall situation. People handle things differently, usually attempting to avoid social conflict by treating others as equals. For example, parents try not to show favorites when raising children.

But when people treat family dogs as equals -- as if they were human children -- they sometimes actually create the canine conflicts.

Of course, humans aren't the only reason why dogs within a family will stop getting along. Dogs fight when it's unclear who is calling the shots. Some say that dogs of the same breed, sex and size are more likely to fight because nature intended a natural order based on who is the larger, stronger canine. But we also see the physically larger, stronger dog deferring to the more tenacious dog. For example, the dog who cares the most about food may end up being the one who controls it.

It's hard to tell if your dogs have irreconcilable differences. Getting them back together may be possible if there has been only one fight and if it could be explained by circumstances that you are careful not to duplicate. To give you a reliable answer, though, we would need insight into the social history of the dogs, including descriptions of any tensions you have observed over the years.

Your best bet is to seek a thorough analysis of the dogs' behavioral history from a veterinary behaviorist or trainer with experience in canine aggression. Such an analysis can shed light on the source of tensions between the dogs and give you options on how to proceed. You may not get the answers you want, but at least you'll know your chances of getting them back together.

If the problem turns out to be simple, you may be able to make a few small changes that will help the dogs get along, such as avoiding those situations that press their hot buttons. But in other cases, getting two warring parties to get along may require a massive commitment of time and money, with no real guarantee of success. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net

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

PET BUZZ

Trained dogs locate hidden cell phones

-- A Belgian Malinois named Alba has been catching rule breakers in Maryland's North Branch Correctional Institution, where inmates have been smuggling in cell phones. The phones often are hidden in pieces and in difficult-to-detect places such as shoe heels, book bindings and toilet pipes. But Alba and other specially trained dogs are able to detect the specific scent that cell phones carry. The state's five cell phone-sniffing dogs in Maryland's prison system found 59 phones last year, according to Wired magazine.

-- If your greyhound takes off on you, you'll never catch him. The National Greyhound Association reports that it takes an elite greyhound three steps to hit a cruising speed of 45 mph.

-- Bear-proof canisters may be more bear-friendly than previously thought, according to The New York Times. The BearVault 500 had been tested successfully in Yellowstone National Park and at the Folsom (Calif.) Zoo to withstand all bear break-ins, including those by grizzlies. But the BearVault didn't figure on the bear known as Yellow Yellow. The black bear in the High Peaks region of the northeastern Adirondacks has managed to master a canister-opening technique that often confuses campers. Yellow Yellow was fingered for the break-ins by her radio collar, which put her at the scene of the crimes. She opens canisters by pushing in the first tab with her teeth, turning the lid with her head, and then pushing in the second tab. Other bears are following her lead, campers report.

-- Snakes are able to move forward by using their belly scales, which are oriented to snag on irregularities. They then push their bellies into the ground to produce friction and move ahead. -- 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

Cure for dog's begging? Stop giving in

The easiest way to stop a dog from begging is never to let the habit start.

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

But we are the ones who control and shape a dog's behavior. If you never want your dog to stick her nose in your plate, put her head on your knee or paw at your arm, then don't ever reward her with food when she does.

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

But be warned: If you're inconsistent, you'll actually make the problem worse. Rewarding a behavior occasionally is called random reinforcement, and it's a powerful motivator. In fact, it's what keeps the gambling industry so profitable: You never know when a slot machine will pay off big, but a little payoff now and then keeps you playing. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

More pets, more pets!

No culture in the world seems to love pets more than ours does. Pet ownership of all kinds continues to climb, with nearly three-quarters of all homes finding room for a pet:

Year Percent of homes with a pet

1988 52

1992 54

1996 58

2000 63

2004 69

2008 71

Source: American Pet Products Association

PET TIP

Higher hidey-holes mean happier cats

Cats are highly territorial, which sometimes causes problems in multi-cat households. Every cat needs some space of his own to be happy, and one of the best ways to provide each of your pets with room to roam is to think "up."

Cats naturally adore looking down at others, and by giving your pets plenty of room up above to move about, you're giving each cat some room of his own. Tall furniture with flat tops -- such as bookcases or entertainment centers -- are ideal, as long as you leave room enough for your cats to play among the decorations.

Even better: Add tall cat trees to your home, especially those with platforms at the top and cubbyholes for hiding. Cat trees are a great do-it-yourself project, or check garage sales for secondhand ones. -- 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.

And Christie Keith

Universal Press Syndicate

Not reading directions may be a point of pride for many people, but when it comes to flea products, it's an attitude that can kill a cat.

"Pet owners need to read and follow the labels on flea and tick products, and to never use dog products on cats," said Dr. Steven Hansen, a veterinary toxicologist at the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc). "Never."

Hansen's warning is aimed at the class of products known as "spot-ons," liquid insecticides that are applied directly to the skin. While they're normally safe and effective when used as directed, products intended only for use in dogs can cause serious illness or death in cats.

"Cats are very sensitive to a class of insecticides known as pyrethroids," said Hansen. "That includes permethrin, which is a common ingredient in many flea and tick products made for dogs. And in dogs, it has a good record for being safe and effective. But put these products on cats, and it can be very bad, even lethal."

That doesn't stop people from using them, and then rushing their pets to the veterinarian's when the cat gets sick. Most cats will recover if emergency veterinary treatment is sought immediately, but keeping a cat from the pet ER in the first place is a much better plan. Only around 2 percent of cats treated with feline-approved products according to label directions have an adverse reaction, but that number jumps to 20 percent when instructions aren't followed

And it's not as if the labels aren't clear. "I've met with the EPA and the companies, and we've worked hard to come up with creative ways to make sure people don't miss the message," said Hansen. "The product labels say, 'Do not use on cats.' Some of them even have a cat inside a big red circle with a slash.

"The companies struggle with this, the EPA struggles with it, and we at the Animal Poison Control Center struggle with it. We try to find ways to make it so people can't make mistakes, and they still make mistakes."

Part of the problem is that many people assume that risks are the same in animals of the same size, even if they're different species.

"If you have a 20-pound dog and a 15-pound cat, and you see three tubes in the container, it's easy to say, 'Why not?'" said Hansen. "But with cats, the 'why not' is that it can kill them. It's not a risk you want to take."

Protecting your cat from pyrethroid toxicity is easy. Never use a flea preventive on your cat unless it's labeled for use in cats. Read and follow all label directions carefully, especially when it comes to size.

"Cats come in sizes from 3 pounds to 22 pounds," said Dr. Hansen. "Make sure you know your cat's weight, and choose the right dosage for your cat's size."

Make sure you know to the nearest pound by weighing a cat carrier or cardboard box on a bathroom or shipping scale, putting the cat in the holder, reweighing and then subtracting the difference. Weights change, so make sure you don't rely on what your cat weighed the last time he visited the veterinarian.

And make sure his next trip isn't because you didn't read the label.

Q&A

Have vet check out 'accident-prone' pet

Q: My sister has a neutered Pomeranian, about 5 to 6 years old. He urinates at the foot of the bed shared by my sister and her husband. My sister has put down pads, sprayed with various products, tried special carpet-cleaning methods, told the dog he's bad, etc. They have another dog, a silky terrier, but she doesn't do this. They both sleep on the bed.

Yes, the dogs are somewhat spoiled, but that is the way all their pets have been have been treated. Any ideas to get the Pom to stop peeing on the carpet? -- S.K., via e-mail

A: Before your sister tries changing his peeing habit, the dog's veterinarian needs to give the Pom a clean bill of health. A complete blood panel, urine analysis and X-ray of his bladder would help confirm that he's healthy and comfortable. Also find out if the dog takes any medications that could increase urination, and if there are options to those.

If there are no health problems, then it's on to figuring out why the peeing started and continues.

If your sister lifts up the carpet, chances are she'll discover that a carpet pad makes a great sponge. She may be cleaning a small patch of wet carpet when the problem is the underground lake. Unlike people, who look for a restroom sign, dogs sniff out their established pooch potties.

Dogs also squirt urine to make social statements. One sign of an insecure male dog is urine-marking. Perhaps the Pom is anxious about his relationship with the silky, or he may feel confused around the people in the home.

We can understand why your sister tried scolding the Pom, but he probably did not understand the message. Let's suppose the anxious Pom tries to stake out a claim to his people by putting urine where they spend a great deal of their time -- in bed. But then your sister blows a gasket in that location. The Pom now feels more anxious. What does he do? What comes naturally to a canine: He pees in a feeble attempt to improve his situation. See the vicious cycle forming?

Regardless of all the factors behind why he urinates indoors, there are steps your sister will need to take before he starts doggie rehab. The bedroom carpet and pad have got to go. At the same time, the Pom can't be given any opportunity to pee in the bedroom. This means starting house-training over with professional help.

Consulting a veterinary behaviorist or a trainer with experience in resolving problem behavior is the best solution to work out why this is happening and find steps to change the behavior. These professionals will take a comprehensive pet behavior history from your sister and her family to help figure out any social issues and sources of the dog's anxiety.

Medications may be considered in the short term to lower the Pom's anxiety. Dogs, like people, struggle to learn and adapt when they feel anxious.

It will be easier on your sister and the Pom to follow a plan that helps them be successful. For example, a "learn-to-earn" routine motivates the dog to learn where to go potty, builds confidence and lowers anxiety. The Pom can also learn to love sleeping securely in his own kennel at night in the bedroom. Whatever strategies are recommended, your sister and the Pom will be better off if the steps are guided by a behavioral diagnosis and professional assistance.

You are being a great sister! We encourage you to stick with it until your sister and Pom are accident-free. It sounds like your sister is ready for a fresh start. Her poor, confused Pom deserves a second chance at being a good dog. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net

PET BUZZ

Multiple cat homes make felines No. 1

-- How is it that more families have dogs than have cats, but cats outnumber dogs as pets? The answer: Many families have more than one cat. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 41 percent of U.S. households recently reported having at least one dog, while cats ruled in 35 percent of households. (Some families, of course, have both.) But cats were by far the most popular pet, according to the same trade group, which reported recent figures of 78 million pet cats to 65 million pet dogs.

-- A study by a feline advocacy group suggests that helping lower-income pet owners with spay-neuter costs would decrease the number of kittens in need of homes. Alley Cat Allies reports that while more than nine out of 10 pet owners in the $35,000 to $75,000 annual income bracket had their cats altered, just over half of those earning less than $35,000 had done so.

-- When our pets (and we humans) scratch an itch, they're doing it to relieve that miserable feeling of skin irritation. But why does denying the need to dig in with nails drive us crazy until we give in? A University of Minnesota study shows that scratching turns off activity in spinal cord nerves that transmit the itching sensation to the brain. The hope is that knowing how the "off-switch" works can lead to ways to tell the brain the itch has been scratched -- without the damage that chronic scratching can inflict on the skin.

-- Once written off as headed for extinction, the bowhead whale has not only staged a comeback, but it is also teaching scientists a great deal about how these 100-ton animals communicate. Studies by the University of Copenhagen reveal that the whales have developed very sophisticated songs to attract a mate, and that the songs are never repeated year to year. Even whales like catchy new tunes, it seems. -- 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

Don't let cats mess where they want to

Getting your cat to use a litter box is just plain responsible pet ownership. Here's why:

-- It's neighborly. When your cat's using the litter box, he's not using your neighbor's flower bed, vegetable garden or children's sandbox.

-- It's healthier for your cat. When you're cleaning the litter box once or twice a day, you're able to see changes in your cat's patterns of elimination. Is there a problem with diarrhea? A sudden increase in urination? Straining to pass feces? All of these problems could be symptoms of a serious health issue, and the sooner you catch it, the better for your cat (and your bank account).

-- It's environmentally responsible. Cats are a non-native species who spread diseases such as toxoplasmosis. Preliminary studies suggest that cat waste washed off the land and into the sewer system can end up killing native species such as otters in some parts of the country. The safest way to handle cat waste is to remove it from the litter box and place it in a digesting pet waste composter (not your garden compost!), or wrap it and place it in your household trash receptacle for pickup.

Cleaning a box isn't that difficult or time-consuming, especially since there are cat boxes that will clean themselves, wrapping the waste for easy disposal every few days. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Dogs get more vet care

Are cats being short-changed when it comes to their health? Survey results suggest so, with dogs taking the lion's share of vet visits and money spent at the vet's. (The remaining visits and expenses are for other companion animals, such as rabbits and horses.)

Percent of veterinary visits

Dogs 62 percent

Cats 33 percent

Percent of veterinary expenditures

Dogs 66 percent

Cats 29 percent

Source: American Veterinary Medical Association

PET TIP

New categories for new pet services

The addition of new kinds of pet-care services has had telephone directories adjusting their categories. Business listings in many area phone books have had to expand pet-care listings in ways previous generations could never have imagined.

In recent years, animal chiropractors and doggie day care have been added as categories in some phone books, joining such longtime pet-service industry stalwarts as dog training and pet boarding -- not to mention veterinarians. Want someone to clean up your yard on a regular basis? Look under Pet Waste Removal. -- 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.

By Liz Palika

Universal Press Syndicate

The pleasure we get from spending time with our dogs is one of the reasons we have them. But as much as we would love to take them everywhere, the reality for most of us is that our dogs spend a lot of time alone.

Dogs aren't really designed to stay by themselves, and many times they get themselves into trouble. One helpful tool for avoiding problems is to leave your dog with a treat-dispensing toy to keep your pet busy when you go.

One of the original treat-dispensing toys, and a regular presence in my dogs' toy box, is the Kong (www.kongcompany.com). The toy is made of a hard rubber, and although I've heard of a few dogs destroying the Kong, most do not. The Kong can be filled with dog treats, kibble, peanut butter, soft cheese or some commercial treats made expressly for this toy. Some dog owners fill the Kong with peanut butter and then freeze it. The Kong works because it takes time for the dog to get all the treats out from inside it.

Another treat-dispensing toy that has been on the market for a while is the Buster Cube (www.bustercube.com). This is a cube-shaped hard plastic toy with a hole in one side. Treats or kibbles are put in the cube, and then a dial around the hole can be adjusted to let a few treats out at a time or just one. The dog has to flip the cube to get the treats out. I always have a Buster Cube around, but I have to admit the Buster Cube can be noisy if the dog is flipping it around on concrete or a tile floor.

Busy Buddy makes a toy called Twist'N Treats (www.premier.com). The top and bottom can be unscrewed so that treats can be placed inside. Then the difficulty of getting the treats out can be adjusted by how closely together you tighten the top and bottom. While testing this toy, I found my Australian shepherds figured it out very quickly, got the treats and then got bored. But my business partner at Kindred Spirits Dog Training, Petra Burke, said her Pomeranian, Keely, loves this toy and continues to play with it even after the treats are long gone.

Busy Buddies also makes Tug-a-Jug. Ever put a handful of treats in a plastic water bottle for your dog to play with? This toy is along those lines, except that the bottle is too hard for the dog to chew up, unlike the water bottle. In addition, there is a stopper in the Tug-a-Jug bottle, a hard rubber rope with a larger end inside the jug. If the stopper is pulled out away from the bottle, no treats come out. If the stopper is pushed into the bottle, treats will come out. Bashir, my 5-year-old Aussie, loved this toy. He could think about it, puzzle it out, carry it around and get the treats. He worked at it for an hour and a half before I took it away so I could try it with another dog. However, Petra's Aussie, Logan, chewed off the rubber stopper. This could have been dangerous had he swallowed it.

Designer Nina Ottosson (www.nina-ottosson.com) offers the Dog Pyramid. Treats go inside, and a hole is near the top on one side to release the treats. The dog needs to knock the toy over to get the treats, but once knocked over, the toy always rights itself because of the heavy bottom. One of Kindred Spirits' trainers, Connie, has a 12-week-old puppy named Peaches. Connie said she began giving Peaches her morning kibble in the toy. It kept Peaches occupied so Connie could begin her day.

One of my dogs' favorite treat-dispensing toys is a kiddie pool. I get an inexpensive plastic kids' pool and fill it with water. I then drop a big block of ice in the middle as well as a handful of baby carrots and apple slices. The dogs can drink, play, splash, chew on the cube of ice and dunk for the treats.

When you introduce a new toy, always do so while you're there to supervise. Some dogs can be amazingly inventive or destructive, and you don't want your pet to hurt himself on a new toy.

(Pet Connection contributor Liz Palika owns Kindred Spirits Dog Training in the San Diego area. She's also the author of many top-selling books on pet care.)

Q&A

Helping cats deal with new Great Dane

Q: I am desperately trying to integrate a 3-year-old Great Dane rescue into our home with two very spoiled and loved cats. As long as the Dane can't get to them, they are OK, but she chases them if she can. I don't want to give any of them up, but I am concerned about the safety of our cats. Any advice? -- E.W., via e-mail

A: Getting dogs and cats to get along is easier if you start a "no-chasing cats" rule from day one and know how to enforce it. Since your dog has already experienced a few cat-chasing thrills, you'll need to prepare yourself for a longer haul in convincing all parties to get along.

Start by giving your cats a room that is off-limits to your dog. A dog-free sanctuary will help the cats accept the Dane while you are working on improving the dog-cat relationship. Put the cats' food, water, beds, litter and scratching posts in this room. Add a Feliway diffuser -- this product is a feline pheromone that helps cats relax.

After the cats are happy in their temporary sanctuary, you can move on to the next step and open the sanctuary door. Keep the Dane with you on a leash and do not allow her to enter the cat sanctuary. Teach her to respect this room as off-limits with a sharp "ah-ah" when she begins to cross the threshold. Use the leash to insist.

Over time, your cats will probably venture out of their safe room to see what you are doing. By keeping your Dane on leash, either connected to you or connected to a piece of heavy furniture near you, you can prevent any future cat chases. When the cats are out and you see the dog getting worked up, assume she is thinking about chasing cats. Interrupt her train of thought with that "ah-ah" and then give her something else to think about. Ask her to "sit," and then deliver a tasty chew for her obedience. Praise her "no interest" behavior toward the cats.

Your Dane must learn basic obedience so you can insist she follow your instructions on a daily basis. This will help her understand and obey your house rules. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a dog trainer who makes house calls to help you teach her the basics of canine obedience on- and off-leash in your home.

Be sure you also give your dog enough outdoor exercise and indoor play daily to exhaust her physically and mentally. You don't want your cats to be the best game in town, so offer alternatives.

If you are able to prevent any further chases, give your cats a safe, no-dog place to hang out, and help your Dane learn your house rules, you can achieve your happily ever after canine-feline-human home.

Your cats may never love your Dane, but they will regain their quality of life. You can be sure they will also appreciate you for having their backs until your new dog learns that chasing cats is against your house rules. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net

PET BUZZ

Campaign raising funds to fight canine cancer

-- Cancer in dogs is the No. 1 cause of disease-related death in dogs 2 years of age or older, with one in four dogs dying from cancer. The Morris Animal Foundation (www.morrisanimalfoundation.org) is seeking to raise $30 million for cancer research by 2012. It will use the money to fund prevention studies related to genetics and tests on innovative techniques to save lives and ease suffering, to fund a tumor-tissue bank, and to establish an endowment to continue research for the future. The foundation points out that the research helps people as well as pets.

-- Cats can hear nearly three times more frequencies than humans can. For you technical types, a cat's hearing stops at 80 kilohertz, a dog's at 45 kHz, and a human's at a pathetic 20 kHz. Because cats can rotate their ears and focus each ear independently, they also can hear well from all directions.

-- Earth is home to about 1,000 species of bats, but fewer than 50 species live in North America.

-- A new product called Bowlingual claims to decode your dog's barks and is being released for sale in Japan this month. The product purports to decode a dog's vocalizations into human language and emoticons. The microphone transmits a bark to the handheld monitor, offering translations that its makers say include joy, sadness and frustration.

-- Carl Switzer, most famous for his childhood role as Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" comedies, died in 1959 at the age of 31, shot to death in an argument over a dog. -- 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

Dog parks thrive on savvy owners

The best candidate for a dog park is a healthy, well-socialized and friendly dog of medium size or larger. Smaller dogs are more easily hurt, and shy ones can be intimidated.

Dogs who are aggressive toward people or other dogs have absolutely no business in a dog park -- no excuses.

Puppies who have not completed their course of vaccinations and haven't been cleared by the veterinarian for outings should also stay clear. That's because you just can't tell the disease status of other canine visitors. And until your pup's immunity is where it should be, you're taking a potentially deadly risk by introducing him to a dog park.

The biggest problem with dog parks is not the dogs, but the people. Some of those problems are caused by people who know better, but other conflicts could easily be prevented with a little knowledge and foresight on the part of dog owners who truly don't know better.

The preparation begins before you ever set foot inside a park with your dog. Don't go in with food (for either you or your dog) or with your dog's favorite toy, since these high-value items can trigger fights. Do go in with lots of cleanup bags, and be sure to use them.

Once inside, don't open a book or get too involved in socializing with the other dog lovers. Your dog needs to be monitored at all times to keep him out of trouble. Don't allow your dog to be bullied, and don't allow your dog to bully others. Sometimes the park mix isn't a good one, and you'll need to take your dog home.

Dog parks work only when people work at them. Be responsible for your dog and help to keep the drive for more dog parks alive. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Younger vets like pet health insurance

The more recently a veterinarian graduated, the more likely he or she is to support the concept of health insurance for pets. So says a survey of veterinarians by the trade publication DVM Newsmagazine:

Approve of pet health insurance Year of vet school graduation

84% 2000-2009

78% 1990-1999

73% 1980-1989

63% 1970-1979

54% 1960-1969

PET Rx

'Pug-nosed' dogs can't take the heat

Dogs with pushed-in "pug-nosed" faces -- boxers, bulldogs, shih tzus and, of course, pugs -- are formally known as "brachycephalic" and come with some special health risks.

Perhaps primary among these is an intolerance to heat, because these dogs don't pant as well as other dogs. A dog with a more conventional face and throat is able to pass air quickly over the tongue through panting. Saliva evaporates from the tongue as air is passed across, and the blood circulating through the tongue is cooled and circulated back to the rest of the body.

In a brachycephalic dog, the extra work required to move the same amount of air causes the airways to become inflamed and swollen. This can lead to a more severe obstruction, distress and further overheating. As a result, these dogs are at high risk for heat stroke and should never be put in a position of being stressed by heat.

These dogs may also present a higher risk during anesthesia, which is why it's important to discuss pre-anesthetic screening and risk-management with your veterinarian before any procedure requiring that your dog be anesthetized. -- 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.