Every year more of my yard gets turned over to sustainable projects, from my pet chickens and their fresh eggs to an ever-growing collection of raised beds and containers planted with the veggies I love -- and some flowers, too.

This year, I'm taking back a huge swath of lawn, fencing it off and having a contractor really go to town, doubling the size of my garden and putting in drip irrigation and mulched paths to save on weeding and water. The way I'm planning it, my yard will be beautiful and productive -- and I'm doing this while continuing to share my life with my dogs.

And you can, too. That's because dogs and lush gardens -- whether productive or decorative -- aren't mutually exclusive.

You can't just plant whatever you want where you want it and throw a bored, unsupervised dog into the mix. Instead, plan your yard to take your dog into account, and mind your dog's needs to get him to leave the plants alone. The basic guidelines:

-- Exercise your dog. A dog with too much energy isn't one you want to leave alone all day in a nice yard -- and yet that's exactly what many people do. If you don't take care of your dog's exercise requirements, he's going to take care of them on his own, by digging a hole to China or by removing the shrubs in your yard.

Dogs who don't get daily exercise are likely to expend that energy and cure boredom by doing things people don't like -- digging, chewing and barking. Dogs who are well-exercised are more likely to sleep while you are gone. When you leave, you should also offer your dog alternatives to choosing his own amusements: Provide him with chew toys. You can make them more appealing by praising him for using them and by stuffing hollow toys -- such as a Kong -- with something delicious, like peanut butter.

-- Work with your dog's habits. Observe how your dog uses your yard, and plan accordingly. For instance, many dogs consider it their duty to run the fence line, leaving a well-worn trail where many people hope to put flowers. Instead of fighting with your dog, go with his natural instincts. Place your beds and plantings away from the fence line, and let him do his guard-dog patrolling behind those plants.

-- Consider giving your dog a yard of his own. At my house, the dogs are never let out in the main yard without supervision -- and the veggie garden and chicken areas are fenced off -- but they come and go at will into a side yard that's just for them. A low fence covered with climbing roses hides from view both the dog yard and the chicken/veggie areas.

-- Redirect digging. Some breeds were developed to dig, and expecting them not to indulge in it is unfair. You can find most of these digging dogs in the terrier group -- the word terrier comes from terra, for "earth."

You can keep many dogs from digging if you keep them exercised, limit their access to dirt and make the digging experience unpleasant. Sometimes, putting the dog's own stools in the hole and covering them with dirt deters them. Many dogs won't dig if their own mess is under the surface.

Another option is giving your dog a dig zone. While hardly clean fun, it is good fun, especially for dogs who are happiest with their noses in the dirt and their paws flying.

-- Put special plants in safer places. Raised beds and hanging planters are the place to put your most precious plants. In borders, put the plants that can take being stepped on in front. What are some dog-friendly plants? Mint is a good one. This plant is nearly indestructible and greets each assault with a wave of cool mint smell. Some lilies are tough enough to be stomped or sat on, as well, and your gardening center may have suggestions for others that are dependable growers in your region.

Dogs don't know a wisteria from a weed, and they never will. That's why it's up to you not to leave them unattended around plants you want left alone. When you leave for work, limit your dog's space for his safety and to protect your plants. Most of a dog's time alone is spent sleeping anyway, so he doesn't need to have the entire run of the house and yard. Outings -- for jogging, walking, fetch or swimming -- should be done with your supervision.

If your dog is allowed in your yard under your supervision only, the chance of his digging or chewing is just about nil -- you can stop him before the damage is done. And you can enjoy your beautiful yard together.

I know at my home, we do.

Q&A

'Clicker' training works with the dog

Q: The last time we had a dog, we went to a class that required a choke chain. That sweet dog is long gone, and we're starting class with our 6-month-old Queensland heeler. But the local trainer says no choke chain. She teaches with a "clicker." Is that better? -- G.W., via e-mail

A: A clicker is a small plastic box that fits in the palm of your hand -- a child's toy that's also called a "cricket." To make the noise, you press down on the metal strip inside the housing and quickly release it -- click-click!

The clicker itself doesn't have any magic powers. What it provides is timing -- it allows a trainer working with a dog who understands the game to let the pet know that the behavior he's doing right now is the one that's being rewarded. And that means the behavior will be repeated. The clicking noise becomes a reward, because in the early stages of training the sound is linked to the delivery of something a dog wants, most usually a tiny treat.

Does this sound familiar? If it rings a bell, that's because the underlying principal of clicker training is scientific and is called "operant conditioning" (Pavlov's drooling dogs and all). But you can be excused if you don't want to know the ins and outs of the science and just want to cut to the chase.

After all, your pet just wants to get to the good part, too.

You start by teaching your pet that a click means a treat. Pick a time when your pet isn't sleeping (not just after a meal) and is a little hungry (a couple of hours before a meal). Choose a relatively small, quiet place you can work without too many distractions, and prepare a pouch or bowl of tiny, yummy treats (diced hot dogs are popular, as are pieces of cheese or even bits of kibble). For the next few minutes, click and treat. One click, one treat. Again, and again, and again. Eventually your pet will show you he understands that the sound means food. For example, he may look immediately to the source of the treats after hearing the click.

When that happens, you're on to the next stage. But wait until your next session, because clicker training works best with a couple of short sessions -- less than 10 minutes -- every day.

When you're all set up again, sit quietly with your clicker and treats -- and wait. Your dog should start volunteering behaviors, everything from sitting to pawing to wandering in a circle. When your pet chooses one you like, click, treat and wait again. Your dog will initially be confused but should eventually offer the behavior again. Be patient! When that moment comes, click, treat and wait again.

Say you clicked your dog a couple of times because he finally got bored and sat. Soon your dog will sit to test his theory that sitting means a click-treat. When that happens, click and "jackpot" him with a handful of treats. When the pattern is firmly established, you can then give it a name ("sit") and make the food reward more random to strengthen it (this is the principal that keeps you pulling the slot machine handle).

In future sessions you'll move on from the "sit" that your dog knows, waiting for more behaviors to click, treat and name, as you build your pet's repertoire of commands. More complicated behaviors are trained by "chaining" -- training in pieces and putting them together.

One more thing: Never punish your pet for not "getting it right." Clicker training is all about the payoff, and once you get it mastered, there's no end to the things you can teach your dog to do.

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

THE BUZZ

Med recall news slow to get out

-- The recall of two veterinary drugs made by Teva Animal Health Inc. has not been well-known among either veterinarians or pet owners. According to the Pet Connection's Christie Keith, writing for the SFGate.com Web site, the recalls involve two commonly used injectable veterinary drugs: butorphanol, a fast-acting opioid used to control pain from surgical procedures in dogs and cats, and the anesthetic agent ketamine. Because Teva manufactured these products for a variety of companies and it's not known if all the product has been identified and removed from veterinary practices, it's essential that pet lovers discuss these recalls with their veterinarians before scheduling a pet for any procedure requiring their use. The list of recalled products is on the FDA's Web site.

-- A study published in Current Biology recorded the sounds cats make when trying to get people to do their bidding. Cats use an urgent cry or meowing sound embedded within a purr when they want something, producing a sound humans find difficult to ignore. The combination is more subtle than meowing, which some owners may find annoying enough to put the cat out. Not all cats produce this type of "request purring," but it seems to be more prevalent in cats who have a bonded relationship with a single care-giver.

-- The average daily water intake for a dog is about 3 ounces for every 5 pounds of body weight, so a 25-pound dog would drink about a pint of water per day under average conditions. The amount goes up if the weather is hot, the dog is exercising or both. Depending on whether a pet eats canned or dry food, up to half of a pet's daily water consumption can come from food. Dogs drink a lot of water, not only because they need it for normal bodily functioning, but also to create moist nasal mucous to help them with their keen sense of smell. -- 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 Rx

Cancer in pets no longer a death sentence

The word "cancer" used to be pretty much synonymous with "euthanasia" in veterinary medicine.

That has changed a great deal in recent years. Today, there's a wide range of options, everything from hospice care aimed at pain-management to the most aggressive surgical, chemo and radiation therapies. The outcome? Cures for some pets, long-term remissions for others and, for the rest, a good quality of life for a little extra time.

The earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better. Know these signs, and have your pet checked out when you observe them:

-- asymmetrical swelling

-- lumps and bumps

-- a wound that doesn't heal

-- unexplained weight loss

-- lameness that can't be attributed to injury

-- an older pet who's not thriving

-- unexplained vomiting or diarrhea

Keeping pets at proper weight and limiting or avoiding a pet's exposure to such risks as secondhand smoke is also recommended. For more information, talk to your pet's veterinarian.

If you haven't ever dealt with cancer in a pet, consider yourself lucky. And then consider donating to research for pet health, such as through the Morris Animal Foundation (www.morrisanimalfoundation.org), Winn Feline (winnfelinehealth.org) or the AKC Canine Health Foundation (www.akcchf.org). A good online reference site is the Pet Cancer Center (petcancerfoundation.org). -- Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Keep pets safe from poisons

The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center has listed the top 10 poisons pets get into, based on the number of cases the organization handled last year. APCC staff warn that many pet poisonings are preventable, so look through your home and put dangerous products safely out of reach. Visit www.aspca.org/apcc for listings of most hazardous items in each category.

1. Human medications

2. Insecticides

3. Common food items

4. Rodenticides

5. Pet medications

6. Plants

7. Household chemicals

8. Household cleaners

9. Metals

10. Fertilizer

PET TIP

Pet birds need perch variety

Chosen properly, a perch is an important tool for helping to keep a pet bird physically and emotionally sound.

When choosing perches, think variety and select an array of textures. Choices you'll find at the bird store or through catalog or online retailers include rope, natural wood and concrete, and each should find a place in your bird's home.

Some of the best perches around won't cost you anything more than the time it takes to trim them from your trees. Limbs from most fruit and nut trees make fine perches, as do those from ash, elm, dogwood and magnolia. Cut the branches to fit the cage, scrub with detergent, rinse well, and let them dry in the sun before putting them in the cage.

A final check is for insect pods -- just break them off and dispose of them in an outside trash can. -- 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.

Let's not kid ourselves: Things are tight, and people are learning to make do with less. That's the bad news.

The good news: You don't have to shortchange your pets to save money. By focusing on prevention, smart buys and sharing, you can slash what you spend on your pets. Some tips:

-- Work with your veterinarian to cut costs. Vaccinations are no longer recommended annually for most dogs and cats, but that's not a good reason to skip your pet's yearly vet check (twice-yearly for older pets). These "well-pet" examinations can spot little problems before they become expensive ones. Ask your veterinarian to give you prescriptions for medications to be filled elsewhere, or to match prices. Check for short-term promotions such as for Dental Health Month (which is coming in February), or for ongoing discounts such as for multipet families or senior citizens. Consider pet health insurance as a backup in case of emergency -- it can help save your pet's life when money is the issue.

-- Keep your pet fit and trim. A majority of dogs and cats are overweight, and those extra pounds increase the likelihood of serious health problems, such as arthritis, diabetes and cancer. If your pet is overweight, get your veterinarian's help to reduce weight slowly to avoid the health risks of sudden weight loss, especially in cats.

-- Learn to do things yourself. Most people can learn to handle basic pet grooming at home, from bathing to nail trims. If nothing else, you can probably stretch out time between professional groomings for high-maintenance pets with some at-home care. Check your library for grooming guides and find breed-specific tips with an Internet search.

Another do-it-yourself strategy is more about health than grooming: Brush your pet's teeth -- it'll lengthen the time between necessary but expensive cleanings at your veterinarian's.

-- Minimize risk from accidents. Saving the life of a pet who has been hit by a car or poisoned can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars -- and these tragedies can often be prevented. Keeping cats as indoor-only pets will prevent injuries and protect them from communicable diseases; a sturdy fence and the use of a leash will do the same for dogs.

Go through your home with an eye toward possible hazards, especially foods, plants and drugs that can be ingested, as well as cleaning supplies, pesticides and herbicides. The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center offers information on all toxic risks to your pet at ASPCA.org/APCC.

-- Consider purchases and buy in bulk. Shopping for pets can be great fun, but that new designer collar may be something you want to postpone if there's wear left on what your pet's wearing now. When it comes to toys, though, cut them back, but not out -- good chew toys have saved many an expensive pair of shoes.

You can save money buying the largest bags of food or litter, or get case discounts on canned goods. Split your dry food purchases with family or a friend, and store your portion in an airtight container. (Do keep product info from the bag, though, in case there are questions or problems.)

-- Look for freebies and secondhand items. Check classifieds, Craigslist and the Freecycle network (freecycle.com) to find bargains. Crates, cages and cat trees can often be had for next to nothing -- or nothing at all. And don't forget to return the favor: Don't let supplies you no longer need rot in your garage. Sell them at a decent price, or give them away to other pet lovers, shelters or rescue groups.

-- Share services. Other pet lovers are likely also feeling the squeeze, so look into sharing or trading services such as pet-sitting. Remember that bartered services don't need to be the same: You can save just as much money if you can provide one kind of service (such as tax-preparation) for another (such as pet-sitting or dog-grooming).

Do you have favorite cost-cutting tips? Drop us a line at petconnection@gmail.com and we'll share them in a future column.

Q&A

Vaccines no longer 'one size fits all'

Q: We've promised our daughter a kitten this summer. What's the latest on vaccines? Is cancer still a concern? -- D.W., via e-mail

A: Kittens need a series of vaccinations to protect them as they grow. Young mammals pick up antibodies from their mothers through the placenta and in the special milk, called colostrum, that they drink in the first days of their lives. These antibodies diminish over time. But until they do, they not only protect the kitten against disease, but they also may block the usefulness of any vaccine.

Although it's technically possible to determine exactly when a kitten's maternal antibodies have fallen to the point where a vaccine is necessary, doing so is impractical. That's why veterinarians give a series of shots to ensure that the kitten is protected as those maternal antibodies fade.

Here are some general vaccine guidelines for kittens.

-- Core vaccines: A combination vaccine gives protection against feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia virus. The first combination vaccine is given when a kitten first comes in to see the veterinarian with additional shots at three- to four-week intervals until 16 weeks of age.

Vaccination against rabies is highly recommended for cats and may be required by law depending on where you live. Kittens get one shot with an annual booster, and then shots at three-year intervals, or as required by law.

-- Non-core vaccines: The need for all other vaccines should be discussed with your veterinarian. Some experts question how well some of the non-core vaccines work, while others recommend non-core vaccines only for those cats who are at high risk for disease, such as pets allowed to roam outside.

Feline leukemia is one vaccine that should be considered, unless you're planning to keep your cat strictly indoors. Kittens are tested for feline leukemia, then given one shot with a booster three to four weeks later.

The vaccine for feline infectious peritonitis is controversial, and some experts recommend it should be considered only for those cats living in large multicat households or breeding operations. Talk to your veterinarian about when the vaccine should be given, if at all.

If you are getting multiple vaccinations for your kitten, discuss spreading the vaccines out and not having more than one or two inoculations given in any one visit. If too many shots are administered at one time, the potential for reactions or interactions may be greater.

In adult cats, the risk of vaccine-site sarcoma -- cancer at the injection site -- must be taken into account when weighing the risks of vaccines vs. their benefits. The trend overall is to tailor vaccines to the lifestyles of individual cats, to increase the amount of time between boosters, and to give shots at various times, in different places on the body. Keep an eye on vaccine sites, and report any lump that grows or persists more than a couple of weeks.

A good overview of the American Academy of Feline Practitioners recommendations on vaccines can be found on the Winn Feline Foundation's Web site at www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/vaccination-guidelines.html.

The bottom line: Discuss with your veterinarian what vaccinations your kitten needs, what risks are involved, and how you can best minimize those risks. Keep in mind, however, that despite the risks, vaccines still prevent many times more deaths than they cause.

A good veterinarian will be following the changing view of routine vaccinations and should be up on the latest recommendations in preventive care for your new kitten. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Will cat scratch? Watch that tail

-- Want to read a cat's mood? Watch the tail. A tail held straight up indicates a cat who's relaxed or in a mood to greet company. When the tail is moving side to side, however, it's not a friendly sign: Wagging tails in cats indicate the increased agitation of a cat who is getting ready to pounce.

-- The domestic dog originated 16,000 years ago in Asia, south of the Yangtze River in China, according to a study in the scientific journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. The domestication of the dog coincides with the transition of humans from hunter-gatherers to farmers. The ancestors of dogs were a large number of animals, at least several hundred wolves, but all came from a single geographical area. The original dogs in what's now Europe were used as herders and guard dogs, while the original dogs in China seemed to have been used for human consumption.

-- Mice are aiding NASA. A study by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been finding ways to study the effects of weightlessness on astronauts by testing a magnetic field on mice. The study could aid in preventing bone deterioration for astronauts on long missions.

-- Wild horses show less variety in coat colors and markings than domesticated horses. Wild horses need coats that provide camouflage, encourage mating and have more tolerance to certain pathogens. As domestication progressed, human preference chose certain colors and patterns, leading to the diversity we see in domestic horses today. -- 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

Quick solutions to bird mess challenges

Cleaning isn't just about neatness -- it's also about health. Clean, fresh food and water are essential to pet birds. And so is keeping their environment as free as possible of bacteria, fungus and mold, all of which can lead to disease.

Cages must be scrubbed thoroughly every week, but in between times it's easy to keep things relatively neat with a few supplies kept close to the cage and used on a constant basis. Among them:

-- Newspapers: Put all the glossy inserts in the recycling bin and stack the rest for use in the cage tray and under play areas.

-- Cloth towels: In addition to cleaning, old towels are great for protecting clothing from bird poop -- just drape a towel over your shoulders.

-- Paper towels and spray bottle with cleaning solution: Since birds are sensitive to fumes, skip the ammonia, bleach, pine solutions or any other strong cleaners. Simple soap and water are fine for everyday touch-ups, but many bird owners like Poop-Off, a product developed just for bird cleanups.

-- Handheld vacuum: Good for snarfing up food pellets and feathers.

-- Mats for under the cage: The heavy, clear plastic mats intended for use beneath desk chairs and sold at office-supply stores keep most of the gunk off the floor. Newspapers catch the rest.

-- Hamper and trash bin: Dedicate a special hamper for bird towels and a trash bin for newspapers, and put both near the cage for convenient disposal.

A few minutes spent cleaning a couple of times a day keeps things in good order and makes the weekly cage scrubbing easier to accomplish. Change cage papers daily, at a minimum, and clean everything else as soon as messes hit. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

There's a new top dog in town

For six years in a row, Max ruled the top spot. But this year there's a new top dog -- and her name is Bella. Veterinary Pet Insurance crunched the numbers on its more than 475,000 insured pets to determine the most common names of 2009, and Bella beat out Max by more than 400 dogs. Fans of Max, however, can rest assured that for cats, that name is still top dog -- er, top cat.

Dog

1. Bella

2. Max

3. Bailey

4. Lucy

5. Molly

Cat

1. Max

2. Chloe

3. Bella

4. Oliver

5. Tiger

PET Rx

Are those zits? Cats get them, too

Those bumps on your cat's chin could be pimples. Although most classic acne cases occur in cats who are simply not good chin groomers, there are other possibilities, including mites, ringworm and allergies.

You'll need the help of your veterinarian to get your cat's chin cleared up. The area needs to be kept washed, at the very least, and resist the urge to squeeze any blemishes. You may additionally get prescribed creams and pills.

Since some cases are caused by an allergy to plastic, your veterinarian will probably also recommend switching to ceramic or stainless-steel food and water dishes, and keeping them scrupulously clean.

Ordinary feline acne is more of an aesthetic dilemma than a serious health concern. As long as the area doesn't become infected, your cat won't be bothered by the blemishes. -- 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.

and Christie Keith

Just as with human medicine, advancements in the way we think of and treat pain for animals is improving the quality of life for pets, with veterinarians now being able to choose from a wide array of products and strategies to ease the hurt.

"Animals can feel all the same aches and pains that we can because they share the same physiologic structures," says Dr. Robin Downing, owner of Colorado's The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management.

Treating pain doesn't just make the hurting stop: It also promotes healthy healing. Untreated pain slows healing time, interferes with sleep and depresses the immune system. The treatment of pain improves respiration, shortens post-surgical hospitalization times, improves mobility, and can even decrease the spread of cancer after surgery.

Most veterinarians prescribe pain medication when needed, but some still believe a pet will move around less during recovery from surgery or injury if in pain -- a belief no longer supported by studies. If an animal needs to be restrained, it's better to use a leash or a crate.

Still, many owners don't give pets pain medications -- even if they are prescribed -- because of concerns about side effects. All drugs can cause unwanted effects, but those risks need to be balanced against the problems caused by untreated pain. Side effects can also be minimized by using drugs appropriately.

The family of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause ulcers and damage the kidneys in pets, just as they can in humans. But in the same way that people continue to use these drugs for everything from headaches to back injuries, NSAIDs have a valuable role to play in the management of animal pain.

When NSAIDs are needed, it's essential to follow label recommendations for veterinary testing and monitoring of liver and kidney function. Pet owners should review all potential side effects with the veterinarian and stop giving the drug immediately if vomiting or lethargy is observed, or if the pet stops showing interest in eating.

Pain-management experts also suggest asking the veterinarian about the human drugs misoprostol and sulcrafate, which can help protect the stomach lining and prevent ulcers. For dogs, the prescription of Tramadol has been on the increase, and many dogs unable to tolerate NSAIDs have benefited. Tramadol can also be used with NSAIDs and can be taken with steroids, which NSAIDs cannot.

Complementary and alternative medicine also has much to offer dogs and cats suffering from chronic pain. Acupuncture, physical therapy and supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin can relieve arthritis pain. The veterinary drug Adequan Canine, an injectable relative of glucosamine, can target inflamed joints and help rebuild cartilage.

Some dogs and cats, such as those with certain kinds of cancer, need the powerful pain relief that only opiates can provide. Owners often dislike these drugs because they make pets groggy. Fortunately, if long-term use is necessary, the sedation effect usually lessens after a few days.

Opiates can also cause nausea and lack of appetite. A bit of catnip often takes care of this for feline patients, while peppermint or ginger -- even in the form of a gingersnap -- can make a dog feel better. There are also prescription medications that can help control nausea.

Downing is one of just a handful of veterinarians worldwide credentialed in human medicine's American Academy of Pain Management, as well as being a certified veterinary acupuncturist and physiotherapist. Her approach to pain takes into account the pet's lifestyle and family issues as well as the actual source of the pain.

"I certainly leverage all the tools I can for fighting pain," Downing says. "But my long-term strategy is always maximum comfort and mobility with minimum negative impact on the body. We rely on physical medicine techniques, adapted from human medicine, to complement what we accomplish with medication as well as nutrition."

Pain control is never a "one size fits all" prescription, and there are dozens of drugs that can be used alone and with other medications to relieve all but the most extreme pain in animals.

When a veterinarian isn't sure how to get to the bottom of a pet's pain, it's always worth asking for a consultation with a specialist to design a safe, individualized pain-management program. Veterinary specialists in oncology, surgery and anesthesia are usually most familiar with the wide variety of drugs available today and their safe use.

SIDEBAR

Pamphlet offers advice you need

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now offering a brochure for veterinarians to give to their clients who are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for their dogs. Approved NSAIDs in the United States include:

-- EtoGesic (etodolac)

-- Rimadyl (carprofen)

-- Metacam (meloxicam)

-- Deramaxx (deracoxib)

-- Previcox (firocoxib)

-- Zubrin (tepoxalin)

-- Novox (carprofen)

And though aspirin is available without a prescription, it's important to note that it is also in this class of drugs.

The brochure stresses both the benefits of these drugs and the risks, and is available for free on the FDA's Web site at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/UCM054572.pdf. If you don't have access to a computer, you may be able to get the brochure printed out at your local library -- or ask your veterinarian's office to print it out for you. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

Which is better: rabbit or guinea pig?

Q: My 7-year-old son is dying for a dog. That's out, because I'm not really a dog person. I've also ruled out lizards and snakes. My husband is allergic to cats, so that's out, too. We're down to either a rabbit or a guinea pig. Pros and cons? -- P.R., via e-mail

A: I tend to prefer recommending guinea pigs for younger children, because rabbits can be surprisingly fragile. If a rabbit is held insecurely and kicks out in fear, he can break his back -- a sad ending for both the child and the animal.

Guinea pigs are better designed to be a child's pet. They're smaller than most rabbits, rounder, have shorter legs and are easier to hold than even dwarf rabbits. If your son is gentle enough to learn to handle a pet carefully, though, either pet will do. You might volunteer to provide vacation care for a rabbit or guinea pig owned by one of your son's friends first, just to be sure the animal isn't an allergy trigger for your husband.

Both rabbits and guinea pigs are a lot more interesting than most people realize. Throw them in a tiny cage or hutch with nothing to do, and they'll just shut down. But set them up with a little room to roam inside the house (canine exercise pens made of plastic or metal make great enclosures), with toys for playing and chewing, and they'll come alive.

Many guinea pigs and rabbits will readily adapt to using a potty box filled with an inch or so of pressed paper or wood pellets that's been topped with fresh grass hay. These pets can serve as efficient and enthusiastic recyclers of vegetable scraps from your kitchen, and they will turn them into waste products that will supercharge your compost pile. (You don't scoop the box -- you just replace the contents regularly, as everything in the box is compostable.)

I prefer not to feed my rabbits a pelleted food. Instead, I offer them all the fresh grass hay they want along with twice-daily offerings of fresh greens -- collard, mustard and so on -- plus broccoli and other vegetables and treats of apple slices. Guinea pigs are not able to produce their own vitamin C, however, and so must have a commercial pellet formulated just for them as a base for their diet.

VeterinaryPartner.com has excellent articles on caring for all small pets, written by Dr. Susan Brown, who's known for her work with these animals.

A final bit of advice: Although longhaired rabbits and guinea pigs are gorgeous, the amount of maintenance those coats require make them highly impractical as a child's pet. -- Gina Spadafori

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

PET BUZZ

Joint disease often untreated in cats

-- An article in Veterinary Practice News compared the written medical records of 100 cats older than 12 years to X-rays of the cats taken at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The study found that while only four records contained mention of degenerative joint disease (DJD) by veterinarian or owner, X-rays found DJD in 90 percent of the cats. The study concluded that DJD occurs in most geriatric cats and is overlooked and undertreated.

-- Dogs bite about 5 million Americans a year. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers tips on preventing bites on its Web site at www.avma.org.

-- Pigeon flocks cannot be eliminated through methods such as trapping or poisoning. Los Angeles is one of the pioneers in using new methods of controlling these messy urban nuisances. The Animal Radio Network reports that a product called OvoControl is administered to birds in treats from rooftop dispensers. OvoControl, which has also been used successfully to control populations of Canadian geese, causes changes in the egg so that it cannot develop or hatch. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

DOGCARS

Picks of the litter for dog-loving car buyers

Every year the reviewers on the PetConnection's DogCars.com site name a Best in Show DogCar of the Year, marking the vehicle that best addresses the needs of those who don't like to leave four-legged family members behind.

For 2010, the award went to not one but two cars, the Honda Element EX Dog Friendly edition and the Toyota Venza. The reason: Both vehicles come with dog-friendly equipment packages designed to keep pets safe and comfortable on the road. Such a direct appeal to this specific demographic is new in the automotive industry.

The Toyota Venza, which was first introduced as a 2009 model, is a midsized sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a design similar to a sport wagon, but with more interior room than a traditional wagon. The low-to-ground clearance offers small or less-agile dogs easier access to the Venza through the tailgate or the side passenger doors. Venza buyers can order accessories made by pet-product companies Kurgo and Solvit and designed to fit the vehicle.

The Dog Friendly Honda Element EX offers a package that includes a raised platform and cushioned bed with a soft-sided crate facing out the rear of the vehicles, and an extendable ramp for easy in-and-out suitable for dogs of sizes. Other dog-friendly features include a rear fan for improved airflow, a spill-resistant water bowl, bone-patterned rubber floor mats, and a tote bag with leash, collar, ID tag and bag dispenser. Special badges on the side and rear of the Element proclaim its dog friendly status.

Vehicles honored as "ones to watch for 2010" include the Ford Transit Connect, Honda Accord Crosstour, Volvo XC60 and Kia Soul. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Veterinary specialists abound

The level of care available to pets has never been higher, in part because of the number of veterinarians who continue their education to become board-certified specialists. Their ranks include:

-- Internists (including cardiologists, neurologists and oncologists): 1,675

-- Surgeons: 1,131

-- Ophthalmologists: 271

-- Nutritionists: 51

Source: American Veterinary Medical Association

PET TIP

Pets need more 'yes' than 'no'

What is it about people that makes so many of us inclined to open our mouths when we see something wrong while thinking silence is golden when we see something right?

This tendency makes it much harder for pets to learn exactly what it is we are trying to teach them. Ideally, your pet should hear "yes" 10 times to every "no."

When your puppy is not pulling on leash -- praise! When your kitten is not jumping on the counter -- praise! Your pets will seek negative attention over no attention, and the behavior that gets your attention will be repeated. Every time you see your pet doing something you want -- such as sitting, looking at you, waiting quietly -- praise, praise, praise!

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.