Your veterinarian makes it look so easy: Pill. Pet. And like a magic trick, suddenly the pill is inside the pet, the pet seemingly none the wiser.

If only it were that easy for you.

You go home, and you can't even find your cat when it's time for medication. Under the bed? Maybe. Behind the couch? Maybe not. How does the cat know, and how is he able to disappear as if by another talented magician?

Your dog is only marginally easier, maybe. Not quite as fussy as your cat, he'll eat the pill if it's hidden in something yummy, or so you think. But later you find the pill on the kitchen floor, and you realize he was somehow able to extricate the yummy stuff from the medicine and hide the pill in his jowls for spitting out later. Outsmarted again!

You figure it's a victory if you get half the pills in for half the number of days they're prescribed, and you hope that's good enough.

Problem is, it's not. One of the biggest problems veterinarians have in helping your pet get better is ... you. If you aren't able to follow through with medications, your pet will likely be back at the vet.

Do you dread walking out of your veterinarian's with pills? Here are some strategies to make the pill-popping easier:

-- Pop and treat. Have your veterinarian demonstrate. Always start with a positive attitude and end with a treat and praise. You can find "pill guns" through pet retailers that help with getting the pill quickly in the right place.

-- Stealth. Perhaps the most popular method is to hide the pill in something cats love, although most cats figure this out soon enough and start eating around the pill. Try treats that are designed for pill-popping: They're yummy little bits with pockets for hiding the treats.

-- Presto-chango. For pets who just won't tolerate pills (or people who just hate giving them), ask your veterinarian about using a compounding pharmacy. These businesses take all manner of medications and turn them into edible treats in pet-friendly flavors.

-- New technologies. Ask your veterinarian for the latest options. The medication you're using may be available in an easier-to-use format, such as trans-dermal.

No matter what, always give pet medications exactly as prescribed and to the end of the supply. If you have questions or problems, or if the condition hasn't improved after the medications are gone, you must call your veterinarian for advice for the health of your pet.

If you need help, ask! Your veterinarian wants your pet to get better just as much as you do.

Q&A

Grinding an option to cutting nails

Q: We got a puppy a few months ago, and the breeder has been very helpful with advice, from socializing to feeding, training and more. One thing we'd never heard of, though: She doesn't cut her dogs' nails, but uses a hand-held Dremel grinding tool. This just seems weird to us, but she says it's easier on the dogs. What do you think? -- T.E., via e-mail

A: Keeping your dog's nails properly trimmed is more important than most people realize. Long nails tip the dog's foot back and can contribute to lameness, and dewclaws (those nails up on the leg) can become so long that they curve around and dig into the flesh.

And yet, there are few things people and dogs like less than clipping nails. If you misjudge and hit the quick, it's a bloody, painful mess, even with styptic powder to stanch the bleeding. Hit the quick a couple of times, and suddenly you have a dog who'd rather run, scream or bite than have those nails clipped.

Grinding your dog's nails can indeed be easier. It's so popular that the makers of canine grooming supplies have come out with their own grinders in recent years.

If you buy a grinder made especially for dogs, it'll come with the right grinding head. Otherwise, choose a medium-grit sandpaper or stone tip for your Dremel or other general-purpose hand-held grinder. Both cordless and corded models seem to work just as well for this task, but the cordless may be easier for beginners to handle.

In the early stages of training, just let your dog see the grinder, and praise and treat. In a later session, turn the grinder on and praise and treat. Praise and treat for your dog progressively, allowing the grinder to get closer to a paw and to briefly touch a nail tip. The first time you grind -- which may be several sessions after the first introduction -- be happy with working a little with just one nail, and don't forget to praise and treat.

Be sure to either clip the hair of longhaired dogs or to hold it back so it won't get wound in the shaft of the grinder. (One tip is to slip an old nylon stocking with a hole for the nail over the paw to hold the hair from the grinding tip.) Support the dog's toe, but don't squeeze too hard. Hold the grinder against the nail for no more than a couple of seconds at a time to prevent heat buildup, and don't push the grinder against the nail -- just hold it there and let the grinder do the work.

Grind across the bottom and then carefully in from the tip of the nail. Just a little bit at a time is plenty. If you do this weekly, the quick will recede, and you'll be able to maintain short nails on your dog with ease. (If you do an Internet search for "grinding dog nails," you'll find a couple of well-done step-by-step guides with pictures.) -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Following the leader shows doggy love

-- According to an informal poll on the Web site Dogster.com, the No. 1 way dogs show affection is by following their owners around the house (38 percent), followed by greeting owners at the door (24 percent) and licking them on the face (19 percent).

-- The economic downturn is hurting pets in all developed countries, it seems. In the United Kingdom, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says the number of abandoned animals increased by 57 percent in 2008. The number of people who call asking about giving up their pets is also up, by 52 percent. Britain's best-known animal-rescue center, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, is struggling to help more animals: In 2008, it reported taking in more than 1,000 more homeless pets than it had the previous year.

-- The black bear population in California has increased from 7,480 in 1986 to 33,340 in 2006. In the East, more than 70 percent of wildlife jurisdictions are also reporting an increase in the black bear population. In all, there are an estimated 850,00 black bears across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Not surprising, conflicts between people and bears have also risen, although most of these are preventable with better behavior from people, especially better management of trash and better placement of bird feeders that attract bears looking for an easy meal.

-- One dog cashes in on his painting talent in exchange for fame and upward of $1,700 per painting. Sam, a hound mix, picks up a paintbrush and paints to the command of his amateur artist owner. Sam's paintings are gaining notoriety and rave reviews in trendy New York galleries. -- 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" and "The Dr. Oz Show" 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 more. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET TIP

Chaining a dog leads to misery, tragedy

In many parts of the country, fenced yards are uncommon, so some people keep their dogs on chains. Tethering a dog for a short while is fine but should never be a dog's 24/7 existence.

Dogs who spend their lives on chains are more likely to become dangerous, biting anyone who comes onto their turf. That's because a dog who spends his life on a chain is isolated and frustrated, and he'll sometimes lash out to protect his pitiful bit of territory.

Chaining can be dangerous for the dog, too: There are countless cases where a dog tried to jump a fence, didn't have enough chain to clear it and ended up hanging himself from his collar on the other side of the fence.

Dogs have also wrapped their chains around trees and died because they were unable to get to water on hot days. Dogs who are chained using choke collars can end up dead as well.

If you don't have a fenced yard, walking your dog or buying a kennel run for him to hang out in when you can't be with him is better than chaining him outside. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on pets still growing

While the actual figures for 2009 won't be known for a couple of months yet, spending on pets increased over 2008, although the economic situation did make for a smaller increase than had been previously anticipated. Where the money went:

Food: $17.4 billion

Supplies/OTC medicine: $10.2 billion

Vet care: $12.2 billion

Live animal purchases: $2.2 billion

Pet services (grooming and boarding): $3.4 billion

Source: American Pet Products Association

THE SCOOP

Catnip cravings? Growing it is easy

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) makes some cats very happy -- but doesn't do a thing for others. Kittens under the age of 3 months do not react to catnip, and not all cats are genetically programmed to react to catnip -- the split is about 50-50.

Catnip is a harmless pleasure for those cats who enjoy it. After all, no cat ever had to operate heavy machinery, drive or take a call from a telemarketer. Indulge your cat!

Grow your own catnip in a safe place -- otherwise your cat will rip it out by the roots -- and offer cuttings regularly, by stuffing it into cat toys and rubbing places where you want your cat to scratch. It can even be dried or dehydrated for easy long-term storage. -- 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.

The common wisdom used to be that we didn't "own" cats.

We fed them, admired their beauty and enjoyed their company. We let them in and out of our homes with a degree of good humor, and we grieved for them after they left us, sometimes without ever really knowing what happened to them.

While we wouldn't suggest telling your cat that he's "owned" -- because he still doesn't think so -- we can do a lot better by our cats than we ever have before. And that's really true for older cats.

The popularity of cats has led to an explosion in knowledge of how to care for them at all stages of their lives, and geriatric care is no exception. Barring accidents, cats can live healthier, happier lives years longer than they ever have before -- 10, 12, 14 years. Protected from the outside world, cats can live even longer, with 16, 18 and even 20 years -- or more -- a possibility.

But longer, happier lives do require effort on the part of cat owners. Sadly, study after study shows that cats aren't seeing that effort: Pet owners dedicate more time and money into keeping their dogs healthy than their cats.

You love your older cat, right? So change that. Why throw away good years you could share? The place to start: a visit to your veterinarian.

Regular physicals -- for geriatrics, twice a year is best -- are even more important as your cat ages. These need to be more extensive than when your cat was younger: Your veterinarian may suggest blood and urine tests, for example, to determine what's normal for your cat so that subsequent changes in the test values are more apparent.

Work with your veterinarian to address chronic health issues, or those that can lead to them. Key among them: Don't let your cat be fat. Obesity shortens a cat's life and makes the time they have less enjoyable.

You'll need a plan, though, because you can't starve a cat thin without risking serious health problems. So talk to your veterinarian and take it slowly.

Once you and your veterinarian have addressed all the health problems, you'll want to keep your cat active and comfortable.

Play is important, even to older cats, but especially to indoor ones. You don't have to spend a lot of money on toys to come up with ways to keep your cat busy. Cats can chase, hide, climb and explore with an endless variety of toys, many of them recycled household objects. Keep your older cat active, but avoid the flying leaps of youth. Shoot for low-impact play more often.

You'll also want to make rest easier. Your cat may have problems getting up on to high beds or cat trees, so make sure there are plenty of low-level spaces for your cat to enjoy a good nap. Make litter boxes easier to get to as well, perhaps by adding them on every floor, even if your cat has been used to using stairs over the years.

The bottom line: Look at your aging cat in a new way, and do what it takes to accommodate the changes brought on by aging, with the help of your veterinarian.

You and your cat will both be happier for it!

Q&A

Never let a puppy grow up unguided

Q: I'm a college professor, which means I have time off over the holidays. My kids are grown and gone with their own families far away, and my marriage is a thing of the past. I have done my homework, and I know "the experts" say Christmas isn't a good time to raise a puppy. I get the reasons why, but I'm not expecting company and I have time to get things off to a good start.

I have a dear friend who's a veterinarian, and she knows of a litter by a good breeder, a longtime client. The breeder shows and does all the health tests, and it's a breed I had growing up -- a cocker spaniel. I'm going to get my puppy mid-December. Your best advice? -- W.P., via e-mail

A: My problem with Christmas puppies is twofold, neither of which applies to you. First, a lot of the puppies sold at Christmas come from puppy mills or small-scale, quick-buck breeders who either don't know or don't care what it takes to develop a healthy, well-socialized family pet. Your breeder doesn't fit into this category, it seems.

My other concern is that the holidays can be just too much stress for getting a puppy started. Too much noise, change, company -- not your situation, so it's all systems go.

My best advice: Forget everything you ever heard about starting training at 6 months. Your puppy starts learning the moment he's born. And by the time you get him, he's as absorbent as a bath towel, taking in the sights and sounds of his world and trying to figure out his place in it.

The position he decides he has may be quite different from the one you want him to have, which is why you need to be involved in the process as he learns to live with his new family.

It's not that complicated, really. Your puppy wants to be part of your family, and he craves loving leadership. Just keep a few things in mind as you enjoy your youngster:

-- Bond with your puppy.

-- Socialize your puppy.

-- Never let your puppy do anything you wouldn't want a grown dog to do.

-- Teach your puppy using positive methods; make training fun. (Sign up for a good puppy class now, even if you don't start until next month.)

-- Realize your puppy will make mistakes, and don't get angry when he does.

-- Remember always that preventing bad habits is easier than fixing them later.

Every minute you spend with your puppy is not only delightful but also an investment in the future. Best wishes and enjoy every moment. As with children, puppies are grown before you know it!

(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" and "The Dr. Oz Show" 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 more. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE BUZZ

Grant helps keep pet food coming

-- The nonprofit Meals on Wheels has struggled in this economy to continue the delivery of meals to the elderly and pet food to their animals because rising gas prices have decreased the number of volunteers able to deliver the food. Meals on Wheels provides for pets in more than 100 of their locations, understanding how important animals can be to the socially isolated. To help keep the food deliveries on track, Meals on Wheels has collaborated with Banfield Charitable Trust to start "We All Love Our Pets," a program providing grants nationwide both to create new pet food delivery programs and also to assist volunteers with the costs of distribution.

-- Microchipped pets within the shelter system were able to be reunited with their owners three out of four times, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Microchipped felines were 20 times more likely to be returned to their owner than their non-microchipped shelter counterparts, and dogs were 2 1/2 times more likely to be returned than non-microchipped shelter dogs.

-- "Love dolls" aren't just for lonely men -- lonely dogs will soon be able to get a fake mate as well. The DoggieLoveDoll, the world's first "sex doll" for dogs, comes in three sizes, is made of soft rubber and is easy to clean. The more than vaguely disturbing new product will be in stores by the end of the year.

-- People can rest with their pets forever -- at least in one church-run cemetery. Members of the Church of the Epiphany in Norfolk, Va., approved allowing cremated pets to be laid to rest in the same columbarium niche with the cremains of their owners. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon.

THE SCOOP

Stop the bite: Watch feline body language

Human stupidity (from the cat's point of view, that is) in misreading or ignoring body language earns more than a few cat lovers a scratch or bite from time to time -- the result of misinterpreting a cat's "I've had enough" signs.

The classic example of this phenomenon is the cat who, while being petted, "suddenly" grabs the hand that pets him with teeth and claws, to the shock and sometimes anger of the human doing the petting.

In fact, these "out of the blue" attacks rarely are. Before the biting or clawing, a cat gives out subtle (subtle to us, anyway) signs of diminished tolerance. Primary among them: an increase in the stiffness and twitching of the tail.

Often, the problem starts with petting your cat's tummy, a very vulnerable area for any animal. Your cat may even offer his belly out of love, but after you start to pet, he may become increasingly uncomfortable with the attention. Most cats just don't like tummy rubs, although exceptions to this rule certainly do exist.

Watch your cat's body signs: If he's tensing or that tail starts twitching, stop petting immediately. Not only does doing so save you claw and teeth marks, but stopping before your cat strikes also slowly builds up his trust in you and his tolerance for physical attention. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Where'd you get that cat?

Cats just seem to show up, at least a lot of them do. According to the American Pet Products Association's 2008 pet owners survey, more than a third of all pet cats adopted their owners. Here are the top reported sources for getting a cat (multiple responses allowed):

Friend/relative: 39 percent

Stray/found: 34 percent

Shelter/rescue group: 22 percent

Owned mother: 13 percent

Private party: 8 percent

PET Rx

Bite wounds always potentially serious

When it comes to little pets -- rodents and birds -- bite or claw wounds inflicted by cats or dogs are always a potentially deadly situation, even if it doesn't seem so at first. Dogs and cats are able predators, and their jaws are quite capable not only of piercing the skin of smaller pets, but also of crushing internal organs and breaking bones. Even a little pet who seems to have escaped an attack with "only" a small bite or scratch can fall victim to infection -- as can small pets with no visible signs of injury at all.

If your small pet is attacked by your cat or dog, attempt to control the bleeding, and contact your veterinarian. Your little pet may need to be treated for shock, infection or internal injuries, and very likely should be started on antibiotics as soon as possible. -- 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.

People love to collect, and it seems everyone has something they just can't get enough of. For us, pet-related trivia seems to hold endless fascination. We collect it, we share it from our homes a thousand miles apart, and we file it. Because, well, you never know when pulling out that file will remind you of something you've been meaning to write about.

This week, we've pulled out some of the quirkiest pet-related tidbits for sharing. Hope you enjoy them, and if you have some yourself, we'd love to hear from you.

-- Cat got her tongue: If you look at a cat's tongue with a magnifying glass, you'll see it's covered with row after row of barbs. These little structures that line the surface of a cat's tongue are called filiform papillae. They're hooked, and they are directed toward the throat.

These barbs help to hold prey while eating, and they also help a cat keep her fur in perfect (or should we say "purrfect"?) condition, pulling out dead and dying hairs, along with any debris picked up in the day's travels. Cats can actually feel when a few hairs are out of place, so that tongue is also a convenient, built-in hairbrush.

-- Doggone grass-eaters: Don't assume "tummy ache" when your dog grazes. Your dog may just be a bit of an omnivorous gourmet, seeking out the best of the available vegetation.

Dogs are predators, which means that their ancestors survived by eating meat. In the wild, however, it's not all cuts of juicy sirloin but the entire animal -- including the vegetation found in the stomachs of herbivores.

Many dogs show a distinct preference for tender shoots, especially those glossy with morning dew or damp from a cooling shower.

-- The colder the day, the rounder the cat: Cats sleep in one of two basic positions -- upright (think the New York Public library lions) or on their sides. How curled a cat is when sleeping on her side will depend on how hot or cold the animal is. The more tightly curled a cat is, the colder the air temperature. Curling into a tight ball helps to conserve body heat. When cats stretch out, they expose their bellies, allowing heat to escape and helping to cool them.

-- Dog tags for pets and people: Dogs have been taxed for centuries, but the idea of using a tag to signify that a dog was "street legal" seems to date to the late 19th century, when Cincinnati, Ohio, started issuing tags on an annual basis, and other cities and states soon followed suit.

Although wooden tags for soldiers were used in the U.S. Civil War to help identify the injured and the dead, it wasn't until World War I that American soldiers got metal tags as standard issue. The resemblance between the tags of soldiers and of dogs -- along with a good dollop of droll military humor -- soon had the new tags called "dog tags," a term that sticks to this day.

-- Keeping the weapons covered: A cat's claws can slow him down, which is why claws come out only when they're needed.

It's a mistake to refer to claws as retractable, by the way. The normal, relaxed position of a cat's claw is retracted, or sheathed. To bring out those daggers, a cat must voluntarily contract muscles and rubber band-like elastic ligaments underneath her toes. If it were the other way around, the poor cat would have to keep her muscles tensed all day long to keep her claws sheathed.

We'll have more pet trivia another day!

Q&A

True grit story: Most don't need it

Q: After a gap of more than a decade, we gave in and now have another cockatiel. We had to start from scratch with a cage, dishes and more, so we figured we'd look into what's the latest and greatest. In your book "Birds for Dummies," you say birds don't need grit. But the pet store sold it to us anyway and said you were wrong. Not sure what we should think now. What's the story? -- T.E., via e-mail

A: In the last decade or so, our knowledge of what it takes to keep pet birds healthy has changed dramatically, and some sources haven't kept up with the latest information. Grit (which is finely ground rock) was thought to help birds grind their food, but it's no longer recommended for most birds by avian experts such as my "Birds for Dummies" co-author, Dr. Brian L. Speer, a board-certified avian specialist and past president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV).

Indeed, grit is now thought to have a negative impact on bird health, removing vitamins A, B and K from the digestive system. And grit occasionally leads to a potentially life-threatening problem, when the amount of the stuff in the bird blocks the digestive system.

Still, some birds can make use of a small amount of grit. Canaries and other finches should be allowed a couple of grains every few months. Other birds, from budgies, cockatiels and lovebirds on up into the rest of the parrots, don't need grit at all and shouldn't be offered it.

I find that misinformation is more commonplace for birds than for any other pet. And it's everywhere -- from bird clubs to pet shops to the Internet and even some general-practice veterinarians. The best advice I have for anyone who wants the latest and best bird-care information is: Find a veterinarian who's a board-certified avian specialist, or find one who takes the extra time to stay current on avian care. You can find such a veterinarian through the AAV (aav.org).

(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" and "The Dr. Oz Show" 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 more. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE BUZZ

Rabies shots for more than canines

-- The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that cats have a higher incidence of rabies than dogs, while horses and ferrets have less chance of being rabid than either dogs or cats. Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinating all -- for the health of your entire family, two- and four-legged both. In other rabies news: Alabama recently became the last state to accept three-year vaccinations for rabies. The immunization has long been known to last at least three years, but the progress in getting the recognition into regulations in all states has been slow.

-- More than half of pet owners sleep with their pets or allow the animals to lick their faces. A study by Kansas State University notes that this practice, along with not washing hands after handling pets or pet food, was a contributing factor in the development of new strains of E. coli. Remember our motto: Get rid of the risk and keep the pet! Wash those hands!

-- Remains of the oldest relative of modern seals, an animal who roamed the Earth some 20 million years ago, were discovered on Devon Island in the Canadian arctic. The fossil has a head like a seal but a body similar to an otter with large, webbed feet. Science Daily reports that the fossil will be used to help scientists study what led the ancestors of seals and walruses to evolve into mammals spending most of their time in the water.

-- Respondents to an informal poll with 2,000 participants on Dogster.com said that concern over pet-food quality and ingredients was the most likely reason for them to switch pet foods. Three-quarters of respondents had this concern when it came to food choice, far surpassing veterinary recommendations at 14 percent or price at 8 percent. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon.

PET Rx

Food is not love: Get the pounds off your pet

Obesity in pets causes a lot of the same problems it does in people. An overweight pet is prone to a host of related problems, including diabetes, joint, ligament and tendon difficulties, breathing and heart challenges. Overweight cats can even develop skin problems from not being able to groom themselves properly. The overall impact on comfort and longevity can be dire.

Is your pet overweight? Healthy pets have some padding on them, but a little is plenty. Rub your hands over the ribs of your dog or cat. The skin should move easily back and forth, and you should be able to feel the ribs. Your pet should have a definable "waist" at the bottom of the rib cage, a small tuck-in at the stomach. Take a look from the side: If your pet looks pregnant, he's fat. From above, a bump out from the middle into an apple shape is equally bad news. In birds, look for a thicker breast or rolls of fat.

Crash diets aren't good for pets, especially not for fat cats, who can develop a fatal liver problem if forced to reduce too quickly. A pet doesn't get fat overnight, and he shouldn't be forced to change course any more rapidly. What you'll need to do is change your pet's eating and exercise habits gradually.

The best place to start is with a trip to your veterinarian. You'll want to make sure your pet doesn't have any problems that might make lifestyle changes difficult or dangerous. Your vet can also suggest a food plan that might help.

Carve some time out of your schedule to walk your dog or play with your cat -- three times a week, at least. Be sure to work in some aerobic exercise, anything that gets a cat or dog really moving. Dividing the daily food ration into small portions and making pets work to find them or putting food in puzzles that require work to get at will also help. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Smaller birds have bigger popularity

Parakeets and cockatiels both increased in popularity by more than a third between 1998 and 2008, but the popularity of all other birds kept as pets took a 44 percent tumble during the same period. The percent of pet owners who had pet birds of any kind, by year:

1998: 3.3 percent

2000: 2.7 percent

2002: 2.6 percent

2004: 2.6 percent

2006: 2.5 percent

2008: 2.5 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

THE SCOOP

Lidded trash cans an easy mess to fix

Do you have a pet who likes to rummage in bathroom wastebaskets or the kitchen trash bin? This behavior is very rewarding to the pet who indulges in it, so it's a very hard habit to break. You can try to booby-trap the cans by buying motion-detector noisemakers or mats that give animal trespassers a small electric shock.

An easier, kinder and more reliable way to solve the problem is to simply remove the temptation. For some pets, a lidded trash bin will solve the problem. For others, you'll need to put the bin behind the door of a cabinet or pantry. Sometimes changing your behavior is the most efficient way to change your pet's behavior -- and the strategy is easier on you both. -- 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.