"Your Dog: The Owner's Manual" isn't just another book on dog care.

When I say "hundreds of secrets, surprises and solutions for raising a happy, healthy dog," I'm not kidding. In my work, I balance my decades of real-world experience as a practicing veterinarian with my access to the leaders in the veterinary and pet care world. The result: an insider's view of what's tried and true, as well as what you need to know about what's new. And I share it all, with you.

Here are 10 of my top insider's secrets from "Your Dog: The Owner's Manual" that will help any dog lover. Secrets? They might as well be, they're so little known. Surprises? To most people, you bet. Solutions? (BEGIN ITAL)Absolutely(END ITAL). Read on!

-- Secret No. 1: Shedding is a top complaint of dog lovers, but when people choose a low-shed pet, they're usually barking up the wrong tree. The kind of dog who sheds the least? A small one (less dog, less fur) with long fur (long fur stays in longer than short fur) who's kept clipped short (less left on to clean up when it does eventually fall out).

-- Secret No. 2: Preventing accidents can save more than your pet -- it saves money, too. By keeping all medications – human and pet prescriptions, and all over-the-counters -- safely locked away, you'll protect your pet from the No. 1 poisoning hazard.

-- Secret No. 3: Stop the post-bath shake from getting water all over your bathroom -- and you. It's simple: That water-spraying shake starts at the nose, and if you hold your dog's muzzle until you can get a towel over him, you'll prevent him from shaking.

-- Secret No. 4: New training tools like head halters and front-clip leashes can make walking your dog a pleasure for you both. These tools are like power-steering for your dog. I also share how to develop an exercise program that will improve the health of both you and your dog.

-- Secret No. 5: Getting old doesn't need to mean misery for your dog. Working with your veterinarian to provide your old dog "neutraceuticals" such as omega-3 oil and glucosamine, along with prescription pain medications, can put the bounce back in your old dog's step.

-- Secret No. 6: Learn why every pet owner needs to keep several over-the-counter remedies on hand -- and when your veterinarian may direct you to use them. You'll want to stock up on Pepto-Bismol (for upset tummies), hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting) and Benadryl (for allergies).

-- Secret No. 7: Most people want to take advantage of the incredible advances in veterinary medicine, but some simply can't afford them. The solution for many is pet health insurance. The surprise? Despite several companies offering such insurance with good track records and countless satisfied customers, fewer than 2 percent of dog lovers protect their pets this way.

-- Secret No. 8: Your dog doesn't have to hate going to the veterinarian. If you work with your veterinarian to keep early experiences pleasant -- such as not having nails trimmed at your vet's place and having your pet given pats and treats on every visit -- your dog will love going to the hospital.

-- Secret No. 9: It's easy to save money on pet care without short-changing your pet. You can save money by price-shopping for prescription medications, buying in bulk, keeping your pet thin and even bartering for your pet's needs.

-- Secret No. 10: "Yearly shots" are no longer recommended. Most dogs should now get "core" vaccines on a three-year cycle. There is no longer any "one size fits all" when it comes to vaccines.

These 10 secrets? They're just the beginning of what you'll find I've shared with you in "Your Dog: The Owner's Manual." And if you're a cat lover, I have great news for you, too: "Your Cat: The Owner's Manual" will be out next spring.

Q&A

Pet food labels

hard to decipher

Q: I'm never sure what I'm getting when I read pet food labels. What does it really mean when the label says a food is "natural" or "organic"? -- via email

A: It sounds great when your dog's or cat's food is described as "natural" or "organic," doesn't it? It's easy to imagine happy cows and chickens being raised sustainably on Farmer Jan's property. The real definitions don't have anything to do with how farm animals are raised or the quality of the food, though. In the eyes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the term "natural" does not have an official definition. It simply means that a pet food does not contain artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials, a trade organization that develops nutrient standards and ingredient definitions for pet foods, says a "natural" food or ingredient is one that is made only from plant, animal or mined sources and is not produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process. Foods described as natural may not contain anything artificial, except in amounts that might occur unavoidably during manufacture. The AAFCO says the term "natural" should be used only to describe products when all of the ingredients -- not counting chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients -- meet this definition.

No rules govern the use of the word "organic" on pet food labels. The term "organic" refers to the conditions under which plants were grown or animals were raised. Typically, foods that claim to be organic may not contain ingredients that are genetically engineered or produced using sludge or irradiation, or that contain certain synthetic substances, and they must be free of sulfites, nitrates or nitrites. Products labeled organic cannot contain non-organic ingredients if organic sources are available.

Feeding an "organic" or "natural" diet is no guarantee against contamination. It's great to look for foods that meet the ideals you desire for a pet's diet, but it's always a good idea to call the manufacturer -- contact information is required to be on the label -- and ask exactly what is meant by the terms "natural" or "organic." -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Meet Dr. Becker

on national tour

As part of the launch of his newest book, "Your Dog: The Owner's Manual," Dr. Marty Becker is traveling around the country to meet pet lovers for talks and book signings.

Dr. Becker's tour starts this week in Houston and travels to more than 30 cities in all, with events being held at select PETCOs.

He's traveling in a customized 45-foot bus wrapped with information on the tour, including links for following the bus from coast to coast via Facebook and Twitter (search for "DrMartyBecker on both). Along with him will be co-author Gina Spadafori and her dog, McKenzie, a 6-year-old retriever who has her own Facebook fan page (at Facebook.com/McKenzieTheDog).

Come say hello as Dr. Marty Becker's BIG Bus Tour rolls to a city near you -- visit DrMartyBecker.com for cities, dates and times of the events.

And if you can't make it to an event, you can still be a part of the tour by helping your favorite shelter or rescue group to win thousands of dollars in pet supplies.

With the help of more than 40 companies that donated new pet care supplies, Dr. Becker is hosting a contest to get thousands of dollars in products to shelters voted on by his Facebook fans. Hundreds of new products with a total retail value of more than $70,000 are up for grabs, and it's all free to enter in support of your own favorite shelter or rescue group.

To nominate your favorite 501(c)3 shelter or rescue group, simply post it to Dr. Becker's Facebook page (Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker). On May 18, 50 finalists will be chosen randomly, and then voting begins. The group with the most votes gets a grand prize of pet supplies valued at $20,000, with other groups winning additional prizes ranging from $4,000 to $1,000.

For more information on the contest and the tour, visit DrMartyBecker.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 many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

By Dr. Robin Downing

When Frankie was hit by a car on the streets of Denver, two vertebrae in his midback were shattered, and his spinal cord was crushed. At that moment he became a permanent paraplegic, never to walk normally again. In times past, he would have been euthanized.

Fortunately for Frankie -- and for other pets with special needs -- times have changed. No longer are mobility issues an impediment to an excellent quality of life. In fact, dogs and cats -- and even unusual pets such as rabbits and ferrets -- can be fitted for assistive devices that allow them to sustain the activities they've become accustomed to. Pet owners can be taught how to manage their pets' bodily functions. And the pets themselves can easily be taught to accept the use of the various assistive devices that are currently available.

Mobility challenges come in many guises:

-- The pet may be too weak to walk. It is critical to get as complete a diagnosis as possible from the pet's veterinarian because some pets are weak from pain. Once the pain is managed appropriately, the pet may be restored to normal mobility. It is also possible to have pain AND weakness coexisting in the same body. In this case, relieving pain remains a priority, which will allow the use of assistive devices with maximum pet comfort.

-- The pet may be paralyzed rather than simply weak. Paralysis can occur from trauma to the spinal cord or from a progressive disease like degenerative myelopathy.

-- The pet may have an issue, such as a torn cranial cruciate ligament in the knee (rear leg), causing instability in that joint. If surgery to stabilize the knee is not affordable or not an option for some other reason, the pet will be incapable of walking comfortably without an assistive device.

-- Amputation of a limb (or part of a limb) may render the pet incapable of normal mobility.

-- The mobility challenge may result from a nervous system issue, such as a stroke to the brain or spinal cord.

So, what is a loving pet owner to do?

Any pet facing a mobility challenge, no matter how slight or severe, deserves to have a thorough veterinary evaluation to ensure that if pain is present, it is treated appropriately. Next, examine the pet's lifestyle and activities up to the time of the mobility issue. This is where creative thinking becomes important.

If, for instance, a dog is used to walking or running every day with his owner and then develops the progressive weakness of degenerative myelopathy, a "walking wheelchair" is a great choice. The walking wheelchair design allows a dog to continue to use his rear legs without having to support his full weight, thus delaying the progression of the weakness. Once the weakness has progressed to paralysis of the rear limbs, the walking/running activity can be maintained simply by suspending the feet so they do not drag on the ground. Wheelchairs that support all four legs are also available, as are wheelchairs custom-built for animals that have lost limbs or were born without limbs.

Slings allow pets to be supported in a simple fashion that also allows the pet owner to maintain good ergonomics. This decreases the risk of a back injury to an owner from lifting the pet inappropriately. And a sling allows the pet to move himself rather than simply being carried around, thus sustaining part of his personal independence. There are now custom braces and prosthetic devices available for pets. If a limb has a joint injury that cannot be repaired, a brace may replace the action of the damaged joint, thus restoring mobility. Likewise, if part of a foot or leg has been amputated, removable prosthetics can be manufactured to serve in their stead.

Fortunately, when four legs aren't enough, pets have many options for sustaining and maintaining their active lifestyles. Adaptation to a mobility-limiting condition is restricted only by our imaginations as pet owners. Times have changed for the better, and our beloved animal companions are the beneficiaries.

Dr. Robin Downing is an internationally recognized expert on the management of pain in companion animals. She is the owner of The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management in Windsor, Colo.

Q&A

Cats can adapt

to vision loss

Q: I just adopted a stray kitten who has a bad eye infection. The veterinarian says her eye is so damaged that it will need to be removed. Will she be able to get around OK with only one eye? -- via email

A: Animals are truly amazing in their ability to adjust to disabilities that people would find devastating. For one thing, cats rely less on vision than people do, so a loss of vision is not as disturbing to them. After all, cats don't read or drive or do some of the other things that people can't do without their sight. They don't feel sorry for themselves or think about how much better life would be if they could see.

And a kitten, in particular, has a brain that is still very plastic, meaning that it adapts rapidly to changes. When a kitten loses an eye, the brain simply switches developmental pathways, from binocular vision to monocular vision. You would think that a cat who is missing one eye would have less depth perception and less reliable vision overall, but that's not the case. Cats with only one eye are just as mobile and acrobatic as their siblings with two eyes, so much so that you would never know they had only a single eye.

Even kittens or older cats who lose vision in both eyes are capable of getting around nimbly and fearlessly. They ramp up their other senses -- especially those of scent and hearing -- and make use of their wide, sensitive whiskers to find their way through their homes just as if they could see. Cats are very good at sensing touch, vibrations and changes in air movement. Those environmental cues replace the lack of visual information.

An adult cat who loses his vision may take a bit longer than a kitten to get a feel for getting around his environment because he is more used to using his eyes, but he'll quickly adjust to his new status. Some people don't even realize that their aging cats have lost their vision because the cats adapt so well. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

After-bath time

needn't be a mess

-- Cats play with their prey before delivering a spine-breaking bite to the neck as a method of self-preservation. A study used cats who were extremely hungry, a little hungry and those who had just eaten. Cats who were extremely hungry were the most likely to play with a rat. The study's author suggested the cats were most likely to play with the rat as a way to tire out their prey in order to safely make the killing bite and protect from a defensive bite from a capable opponent. Conversely, cats played with the mice less often when they were extremely hungry, and played with the mice for longer periods when they were not as hungry. This suggests hungry cats played less with the mice because they were more willing to risk a smaller chance of injury in order to get their meal sooner.

-- About 5.5 million people are bitten by snakes annually, resulting in 400,000 amputations and between 20,000 and 125,000 human deaths. As if that weren't alarming enough, there is evidence that snake venom is becoming more poisonous. A study published in Toxicon found the genes in the eastern diamondback rattlesnake are undergoing "positive selection" for more dangerous venom. The cause for the evolution is not known, but may stem from new defenses evolved by the snakes' prey. In North America, California ground squirrels and rock squirrels have developed blood that's resistant to certain toxins found in rattlesnake venom. -- 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.

By Mary Cvetan

Want a happy house rabbit? Make sure your bunny's digs are suitable.

The best indoor spaces for rabbits are both safe and stimulating. They keep your bunny out of trouble when you are away from home, but give him the space to dig, chew, play, stretch, snooze or just sit and think.

The right housing has room for a large litter box, a generous stack of hay, a water crock, toys to chew and toss, and a towel to arrange and rearrange. A surprising must-have: a cardboard digging box, double or triple the size of your bunny.

The right spot will give your rabbit an entertaining view of family members as they cook, clean, talk on the phone, watch TV, use the computer and get ready for -- or come home from -- work.

Some options include:

The entire house, free-roam: Many older rabbits are past their woodwork-chewing "baby stages." These bunnies have earned their owner's trust and roam the house freely. However, all rooms must be rabbit-proofed, to protect your bunny and your valuables. That means electric cords, computer wires, toxic house plants, rubber bands, remote controls and any treasured wooden furniture must be kept out of reach.

One or two rooms, free-roam: Perhaps the kitchen and dining room are open to the bunny, or the family room and the bathroom. Baby gates keep him from entering other rooms when you are not able to supervise. The rabbit will choose favorite spots to snooze, chew a hay cube or daydream.

Part of a room, enclosed in an exercise pen: Exercise pens, also called play yards, are a convenient way to keep rabbits confined to a specific area. Available in different heights, these pens feature hinged panels that can be arranged in varying shapes or stretched across the room to divide it. Some rabbits climb or jump out, so owners clip a sheet to the pen to make a "roof" that keeps bunny safely inside.

A two- or three-story bunny condo: If you can't build wide ... build high! Give your rabbit a multilevel condo and he'll be able to not only enjoy his perch, but also have plenty of space for all of his toys and supplies. Many owners build their own condos, using wire-frame storage cube sets from building supply stores. Easy directions can be found online; search for "bunny condo." Make sure that it's tall enough inside for him to stand up on his hind legs and stretch.

A large dog crate: Paired with an exercise pen, a large dog crate can make a great bunny house. The door on the crate swings wide open, giving you easy access for cleaning. Crates allow space for the litter box, bowls and have ample head room. Cover the top with a blanket or towel. This gives bunny's sensitive eyes some protection from overhead lights and provides a nice "burrow" feeling.

A cage: Standard animal cages are too cramped to accommodate a large litter box, hay, digging box, bowls and toys -- so go bigger! Avoid cages with doors that open on the roof. Bunnies don't like to be pulled up out of their houses. Let your rabbit enter and exit his cage on his own. Choose a cage that rests on the floor (not up on legs), with a large door on the side or front.

Whatever house you choose, your bunny will feel more confident about interacting with you if he can easily get back to home base to use the litter box or take a hay break. After all, every rabbit needs his own space to retreat and relax. Isn't that what home is all about?

(Mary Cvetan is a member of the Pet Connection advisory team and the co-founder of the Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club.)

Q&A

Cat allergies put

strain on couple

Q: I have allergies, both to my new girlfriend's cat and to spring pollens. I've been able to tolerate the cat -- barely -- but with spring here, things are getting bad. Is it too much to ask her to get rid of the cat? -- via email

A: Ultimatums often don't work out as you plan them. She may choose the cat over you, or she may resent you for forcing her to give up her feline companion. Why not try to make it work with a compromise or two on her (and her cat's) part instead?

If you can get a good night's sleep, you'll be better able to cope with almost anything, even allergies. That's why one of the best pieces of advice to those who are allergic to their pets is this: Declare your bedroom a "no-pets zone," at least during the worst of spring allergy season.

Reduce allergy triggers further by keeping your sleeping area sparsely decorated with furnishings that do not attract dust, and be sure everything is cleaned frequently. Bedding should be washed often to combat dust mites, and pillows should be made of non-allergenic material -- no feathers. Consider running a HEPA air cleaner in the room at all times.

The idea is to keep your total "allergy load" -- pets and everything else that triggers your allergies -- to a level that you can live with or that can be controlled by medication. It's worth it to make an effort. Out-of-control allergies can make lives miserable and, in the case of asthma, can be life-threatening as well.

Here are more tips for those who have both pets and allergies:

-- Work with your doctor. While you'll still find allergists who insist a pet must go, look for one who's willing to work with you and will prescribe medications that allow your allergies and your pets to coexist. 

-- Limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, cigarette smoke and strong perfumes. Consider using a mask when doing yard work and housework, especially when pollen counts are high or your home is especially dusty.

-- Delegate cleaning. Let someone else do the dusting and vacuuming, if at all possible, and if not, invest in a vacuum that filters the air it releases. 

-- Keep pets well-groomed. It's essential for pets to be bathed frequently and to be kept combed and brushed. Ideally, a non-allergic member of the household -- your girlfriend -- should assume this responsibility. Even cats should be bathed, by the way: A weekly rinse of your cat in plain water has been shown to help people who are allergic to them. -- Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

Feline love: It's� not just the food

-- Cats attach to their people out of a social bond, not solely because owners provide food. A study accepted for publication in the journal Behavioural Processes found cat-human relationships closely resemble human relationships. Food is a token of affection, and for humans and their cats, the relationship is similar to a human caretaker and the pre-verbal infant. The study also looked at the difference between bonds of male and female owners and their cats. Cats approached female owners and jumped on their laps more readily than cats with male owners, suggesting that female owners have closer relationships with their cats than do male owners.

-- The "one bite" rule has been around at least since the 1600s. This legal tradition gives a dog owner the benefit of the doubt for the behavior of an animal who has never bitten. After the first bite, however, the owner is presumed to have knowledge of the dog's propensity to bite. While the "one bite" tradition commonly pertains to dogs, it has been used in a court case involving a horse. In 2008, a child was visiting a farm with his family in Connecticut where he was bitten by a horse. The family argued in court that even if the horse did not have a known history of biting, the farm was responsible for the animal's action. Since the horse had not bitten before and had given the owners no reason to believe the animal would bite, the court sided with the owners of the horse.

-- A cat named Smokey is believed to have the loudest purr in the world. While most cats purr at 25 decibels, Smokey can purr at levels that average 80 decibels, which is comparable to the sound of a lawn mower. -- 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.