Dr. Tony Johnson

As pets take on a more important role in our lives, they are increasingly a part of our holiday festivities.

I love the holidays, but emergency veterinarians like me definitely see more pets in our ERs as people cook, bake and visit their way toward the new year. I hope this information helps keep your pet safe during all the fun.

-- Plants: Some folks think that their pet being anywhere within a three-block radius of a poinsettia will cause Mr. Whiskers to spontaneously explode, but you can rest assured that this is not the case. Yes, if eaten in sufficient quantities, the poinsettia can cause a mild and usually temporary stomach and intestinal upset, but this is more of a risk for your carpet than it is for your pet.

On the other hand, among the plants that do pose a hazard are mistletoe (causes more serious gastrointestinal and potential heart issues) and lilies (which can cause lethal kidney failure in cats at very small amounts).

-- Chocolate: If your 95-pound Great Pyrenees eats two M&M's, he's going to be fine, trust me. It takes quite a bit of milk chocolate to cause problems -- somewhere around one pound of chocolate for 30 to 40 pounds of body weight.

Remember, though, that dark chocolate is worse, and baking chocolate is even more toxic than dark chocolate. So if you are cooking with chocolate this season, save it for the revelers and not the retrievers.

-- Other food: Vomiting and diarrhea are common after eating too much food that's meant to be served to human guests, and this can trigger a serious condition called pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas -- the same gland that makes digestive enzymes as well as insulin. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, it releases enzymes and begins digesting itself -- a serious and painful condition that often requires hospitalization.

Keep pets confined during any holiday parties, or make sure guests (especially kids) know not to give treats to your pets. Dogs have been known to drag an entire turkey off the counter when the owner's back is turned, so make sure you're aware of their whereabouts during meal preparation.

If you do want to include your pet in the meal and fun, stick to a bit of lean turkey and low- or no-fat veggies (no onions, though -- these can cause problems for dogs).

-- Tinsel: This stringy, silvery and not-at-all-edible stuff can get twisted up in the intestinal tract (usually in cats -- proof that feline smarts only go so far) and cause real problems. Keep it above cat-level on the tree and definitely consider not using it at all.

-- Alcohol: Talk about a buzzkill! First, I am telling you that chocolate and food are no-no's for pets, and now I am warning about drinking, too. But it's warranted, so don't get your Doberman drunk. Make sure that all the boozy party leftovers are well out of reach, and that no lampshade-wearing guests try to give your pug a mug of beer. No one wants to see a basset hound with a hangover -- it's just too sad.

-- The open door: People come and go more during the holidays than at other times of year, and all that traffic can lead to plenty of opportunities for escape. We see many pets who make a break for freedom when Uncle Floyd comes a-callin' with his special tuna surprise. Dogs and cats can dart out the door without anyone noticing, and there's a whole big world of hurt just waiting for them out that door.

Make sure that pets are safely put away when you are expecting guests, and take a nightly head count to make sure that all the furry family members are accounted for before turning in for your visions of sugar plums.

Happy holidays to you and yours! Here's hoping you have a safe and sane season, and all family members make it through safely, no matter how many legs they have. And that if you see an ER doc like me, it's socially, not professionally.

Dr. Tony Johnson, an emergency and critical care specialist and a member of the PetConnection advisory team, is a clinical assistant professor at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Q&A

Good fences make

for safer dogs

Q: I am moving to a new home that doesn't have a fence, and I can't afford to change that anytime soon. I've heard that pouring ammonia around the perimeter will keep the dogs in their place, but does it really work? -- N.L., via e-mail

A: Ammonia won't work. Your dogs won't like the smell, but it won't slow them down for a second in their hurry to explore their new neighborhood.

Secure fencing is the only long-term solution. In the short term, you'll need to take them out on leashes, put them on tethers or place them in runs.

Tethering is not a good long-term solution, so please don't even consider it as a permanent fix to your problem. Dogs do not do well when tied up; some even learn aggressive behaviors that lead to attacks on anyone (especially children) wandering into the animals' reach. Tethering has other hazards, too. Your dogs can tangle up their lines and become unable to reach food, water or shade, or loose dogs can attack them. For these reasons, I recommend tethering for short periods at a time, and always under supervision. And remember: Never use a choke-chain collar with a tether. It's too easy for a dog to strangle himself.

Ready-made dog runs can be found for a couple hundred dollars, snd even less if you are able to find one secondhand. These will keep your dogs safe during their potty breaks.

Since I know someone will write to recommend electronic fences (systems that give dogs a shock when they near the perimeter of a property), let me say I don't recommend them. While they may keep an animal on the property, they won't protect a pet from other animals, pet thieves or harassment by neighborhood kids.

And that's if the fences are working perfectly -- as with any piece of equipment, these systems can be improperly installed or can malfunction, allowing your pet to escape or be shocked without respite. Finally, a very strong-willed dog will sometimes choose to take the shock to get out of the yard with enough temptation (such as a squirrel), but he won't choose to do so to get back in.

Real fences are always the best choice for safely and securely containing a dog, and if that's not possible, keeping your dog inside and leash-walking for exercise and relief is the next best thing. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Microchips help

cats go home again

-- Many lost pet cats are presumed to be strays, a presumption that almost eliminates the chances of a reunion, even if the animal lands in a shelter. A study by researchers at Ohio State looking at data from 53 shelters in 23 states suggests that the biggest change to this sorry statistic is the use of microchip identification. According to the research, the return-to-owner rate for cats was 20 times higher -- and two-and-a-half times higher for dogs -- for microchipped pets compared to rates of return for all stray cats and dogs that had entered the shelters. When a pet had a microchip, owners were located almost three-quarters of the time. When owners couldn't be found, it was usually because the pet's information hadn't been updated within the chip registry.

-- Seagulls carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria on their bodies, causing concern that the birds are spreading so-called "super bugs." Portuguese researchers believe migratory birds are spreading the bacteria through their droppings, probably after picking them up while sifting through human garbage. Similar antibiotic-resistant bacteria have also been found on other scavenger animals. Healthy people are usually not affected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the risk is severe for those who are immunocompromised.

-- The world's longest and tallest cat is a Savannah cat, with individuals more than 18 inches tall and almost 42 inches inches long. The Savannah is the offspring of the African serval and the domestic house cat. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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 many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

Gina Spadafori

One thing that never fails to get a smile out of me is seeing my big orange cat, Ilario, happily curled up and purring loudly next to -- and occasionally on top of -- one of my four dogs. I love how well everyone gets along: They don't just tolerate each other -- they actually like each other.

It didn't start out that way, though. When Ilario arrived as a kitten, he spent more time puffed up and ready to run than purring. Once he realized he wasn't in any danger from his new four-legged family, he was able to relax and eventually even warmed to their company. Some nights I even catch him grooming my gentlest dog, 14-year-old Drew.

Some cats and dogs are never going to get along, but most can at least come to an agreement about sharing space. The trick is knowing the basic steps to handling the introductions.

Under no circumstances should dogs and cats be introduced by throwing the animals together and letting them work out things on their own. That method is far too stressful even in the best of conditions. It's also important to keep in mind that introductions can be dangerous, usually for the cats. Some dogs see cats as prey, and even those dogs who are generally easygoing may react instinctively to a cat on the run by attacking the smaller animal.

Introductions must be supervised and handled with planning, care and patience.

If you have a cat and are planning to bring in a dog, try to find an animal who is known to be accepting of cats. Shelters and rescue groups often know if an animal has successfully lived with a cat, or they will test to see how the dog behaves in the presence of one. (These "tester" cats are usually friendly, outgoing permanent residents, and they're just fine with their work of safely greeting new dogs.)

If you have a dog and are planning to bring in a cat, start working on your pet's obedience before you add the new animal. Your dog should be comfortable on a leash and be trained well enough to mind your requests for him to stay in either a "sit" or "down" position while on that leash.

For the cat's own comfort, he should be confined during the early stages of introduction to a small area (such as a second bathroom or guest bedroom), where he can feel safe while becoming acclimated to the sounds and smells of the dog. Be sure the room has everything he needs, and make sure he has frequent one-on-one visits with human family members.

After a couple of days with the cat sequestered, put the dog on leash and open the door to the cat's room. Allow the animals to see one another, and do not allow the dog to chase the cat, even in play. Use "sit-stay" or "down-stay" to keep the dog in place while the cat gets used to his calm presence. Don't force the cat to interact with the dog; if the cat wishes to view the dog from the darkest recesses underneath the bed, so be it. Reward the good behavior of both animals with treats and praise.

Keep the dog on leash for a couple of weeks in the cat's presence, and always make sure the cat has a way to escape from the dog, such as putting a baby gate across the door to the safe area. Build up the time the animals spend together, and continue to make the introductions rewarding, with more treats and praise.

When the dog isn't interested in bothering the cat and the cat feels secure enough to come out from under the bed, you can take off the leash and let them get on with their new lives together. How long it will take to get to this step will depend on the animals involved, and you must work at their pace.

It's not uncommon for dogs and cats to become friends and to enjoy each other's company. Take the time to manage your cat-dog introduction properly, and you could be setting up a friendship that will last for the rest of your pets' lives.

Q&A

Household fixes

keep cats happy

Q: A couple years ago we lost a wonderful young cat. He just disappeared and we never knew what happened to him. We've recently adopted a female tabby just over a year old, and we're going to keep her inside full-time for her safety. She seems to want to go out, though, and I suspect she was allowed to roam outside in her first home. How can we make her happy?

A: You don't have to open the door to the great outdoors to provide your cat with a more interesting life. In fact, by just looking at your home from a cat's point of view and adding a few environmental enrichments, your cat can be both safe and happy indoors. Some tips:

-- Think vertical. Cats love to climb, so give them the opportunity. Cat trees mounted floor-to-ceiling, wrapped with sisal rope and studded with platforms for perching, will give your cat the opportunity to look down on the rest of the world.

-- Add toys. The cat with the most toys wins. Every indoor cat should have toys for batting around, toys for chasing, toys for hiding in and toys for interactive play. And don't forget that some of those toys ought to have catnip in them, while others should have treats inside. And don't forget: Some of the most enjoyable toys for both people and cats are the interactive ones, such as a kitty "fishing" pole.

-- Provide rooms with views. No matter how big your house, your indoor cat will know every one of its sights and sounds within just a few days. Provide a little visual stimulation by putting a bird feeder outside a window fitted with a cat-sized ledge for comfortable viewing. You can also try a little Cat TV. A few companies offer DVDs for cats. Pop one of these in, and your cat can be entertained with a lively mix of feline-friendly images and sounds, including those of birds and rodents.

Finally, have you considered adding another cat? While an older cat who's set in his ways may not welcome company, a newly adopted young cat will likely adapt quickly to feline companionship, and a feline friendship will help ease the boredom and loneliness for them both when you're away from home. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs' social traits

rub off on owners

-- Dogs make us better people. An Australian study reported in USA Today showed that people with dogs were more likely to gain trust, meet new people and help out neighbors than did people without pets. The same article reported that a different study of 128 children in New Mexico found that pre-teens who help care for dogs have higher self-esteem and empathy than those who did not have pet care responsibilities.

-- Horses might be happier if their riders stood up in the saddle, according to an article on TheHorse.com. "Posting" -- rising up and down in the saddle as a horse trots -- puts less vertical force on a horse's back and causes less back extension than when the rider sits while the horse trots. The least stress comes when the rider never sits down in the saddle at all. While horses can become conditioned to having the rider sit during the trot, the article suggests that young horses or those with back problems would do better with a rider standing in the stirrups instead of sitting in the saddle.

-- In Bali, Indonesia, unchecked packs of feral dogs have led to a rabies outbreak, with 41 confirmed deaths in the human population and more suspected. The New York Times reports that the situation is so serious that the U.S. and Australia have issued travel warnings to their citizens, although so far, only Bali residents have been killed. The Balinese government and a nonprofit animal advocacy group are working to vaccinate 70 percent of the country's canine population, which accounts for about 400,000 dogs. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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 many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

Can you get a good night's sleep if you share your bedroom -- and your bed -- with pets? Yes, but it can be difficult to manage.

More than half of the people coming to the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for help sleeping reported sharing their bedrooms -- and often their beds -- with pets. While banning the pets may be the only answer for some people, there are other options to try first that will solve the problems of many.

The tips can be summed up succinctly: Keep your pets clean, keep them lean and get them on your sleep cycle. With help from your family's veterinarian, chances are that you'll soon be enjoying sleep instead of counting sheep.

Dr. Peter Ihrke, a professor of veterinary dermatology at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, knows that a scratching pet is a major annoyance. He says the problem is often external parasites -- fleas and ticks -- as well as bacterial or yeast infections, or a wide variety of allergies, all of which need to be accurately diagnosed to be treated.

Some pets also are allergic to dust mites. Dr. Ihrke says the advice given by human allergists for mites is the same as his: Enclose the box springs, mattress and pillows, and wash bed linens frequently. "That goes for dog beds, too," he says. "If you can't wash it every week or so, toss it and get one you can wash."

While skin issues -- and the scratching that often accompanies them -- can effect pets of any age, pain-related problems more frequently torment older dogs and cats. Veterinary pain-management expert Dr. Robin Downing of Windsor, Colo., says the signs of pain can be subtle: a change of behavior, such as not being able to get comfortable in bed or struggling to get onto the bed at all.

Dr. Downing stresses that while arthritis may be inescapable as pets age, the pain that causes sleeplessness -- your pets' and your own -- can be addressed. "The top thing I tell clients is to get the extra weight off their pets. Without weight management, everything else we can do will be less effective."

She also recommends more secure footing, ramps and stairs to help pets onto furniture and beds, supplements that help with joint function and veterinary-prescribed pain-management medications -- all of which ease discomfort and help pets sleep.

Dr. Downing also notes that in older dogs, dementia can have similar symptoms as pain -- but fortunately, there's a medication that may help with that, too.

The final piece of the puzzle to help pets snooze when you do is getting them on the same sleep cycle, and that can actually be fun, says Dr. Gary Landsberg, a veterinary behaviorist in Thornhill, Ontario. When a pet sleeps all day, it's no surprise that the animal may want to play all night. Dr. Landsberg says exercising pets, both physically and mentally, will help them to settle down when you do.

Once medical problems have been ruled out or treated, Dr. Landsberg says pet owners can enjoy keeping their pets active. That means shared physical activity -- play, in other words -- but it also should include keeping cats and dogs busy when you're not home. There have never been more ways to accomplish this, with a wide selection of food-filled "puzzle toys" that will keep pets moving all day.

And when they nudge you in the night? The experts say if pets' medical, physical and mental needs have been addressed, you should ignore them, so pets don't get the idea that you'll play with them whenever they want.

What if none of these strategies work? Then somebody has to sleep on the couch. You or your pet? The choice is yours.

Q&A

More ideas to keep

older dogs rolling

Q: I have been reading and enjoying your columns for a long time now and always look forward to the next one. I especially enjoyed your column today on the challenges of aging in dogs, but I wish you had added information on some of the wonderful things that can be purchased for aging dogs, such as ramps to get into and out of the car, beds that can be heated, raised dishes, etc.

There are also strollers for dogs. My 12-year-old dog, Cassie, has arthritis in her elbows and shoulders. On our morning walks, she walks as far as she can, and then rides home in her doggie stroller. I've attached a picture so you can see how comfortable she is. Can you let people know there are more options for older pets?

A: You are absolutely right: There are lots of products that can help make the lives of older dogs more comfortable as they age. We love the ramps that help pets get onto beds and furniture more easily, as well as those that help give dogs a lift into and out of vehicles. Simple ramps can also help pets get up and down porch stairs, as can slings to help support weakened hind or front legs.

Not to mention, the beds! Heated beds, plush beds and beds with bolsters, leak-proof covers and cushions made of memory foam will make a long winter more bearable. For dogs whose footing isn't as secure, there are boots, tacky sprays and even stick-ons that go directly onto pads. And yes, as you note, strollers can help older pets enjoy a long walk, riding part-way or all the way, whichever they need to get by.

Your Cassie is one lucky dog, and we're so happy you shared her story with us and our readers. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Managing ferals better

than trapping, killing

-- The Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society says that programs which manage feral cat colonies to reduce their numbers are more cost-effective than programs that kill the cats. The group estimates that there are 87 million unowned cats in the United States, and that trap-neuter-release programs would cost $7 billion nationwide vs. $16 billion to trap and kill the animals. The issue of how best to reduce the numbers of free-roaming cats is a contentious one, with concerns not only for the felines, but also for native birds and rodents they kill to survive.

-- White is a bad color for wind turbines, according to a recent study. White attracts insects, which in turn attract birds and bats that are too often killed by the blades. Scientists tested different colors to see if the problems could be minimized, including white, light gray, dark gray, purple, sky blue and red. The best choice for not attracting insects? Purple.

-- Want to live in a dog-friendly city? Dog Fancy magazine has released its list of the top cities for dogs and the people who love them, with Provincetown, Mass., at No. 1. The rest of the top 10: Carmel, Calif.; Madison, Wisc.; Benicia and Fort Bragg, Calif.; Lincoln City, Ore.; San Diego; Virginia Beach, Va.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Salem, Ore. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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 many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.