By Dr. Nancy Kay

Today, the human-animal bond is stronger than ever. The more tumultuous the world is around us, the tighter we cling to our beloved pets. They soothe us with their predictability and unconditional love, and they consistently give in excess of what they receive. Imagine then, the heartache someone feels when it's necessary to cut back on a pet's health care because of financial hardship.

If you are in a financial pinch -- who isn't these days? -- here are some things you can do to economize while still doing a great job of caring for your pet's health.

-- Lay your financial cards on the table when talking to your vet. Talking about your bank account may be difficult, but such a discussion can lead to options that make better financial sense. Rarely is there only one way to diagnose or treat a disease, and you are entitled to an explanation of every single option for your pet.

-- Request a written cost estimate for veterinary services before they are provided. How else can you know if your bill will be $200 or $2,000? Requesting an estimate does not reflect how much you love your pet; you are simply being fiscally responsible.

-- Kick the once-a-year vaccine habit. We used to think that standard vaccinations such as distemper needed to be given annually. We now know that these vaccinations provide a minimum of three years' worth of protection, once the puppy or kitten series has been completed. If your vaccine reminder card suggests otherwise, talk to your veterinarian.

-- Don't neglect your pet's preventive health care, as it could cost you money in the long run. For example, administering a heartworm preventive is less expensive for you (and safer for your dog or cat) than treating heartworm infection.

-- Feed your pet less food! Just as with humans, many dogs and cats are overweight. Ask your vet for her honest opinion about your pet's waistline. If she agrees that your precious family member could lose a few pounds, put less food in the bowl. This new habit will translate into cost savings and result in a healthier animal, which means fewer veterinary bills.

-- Be a savvy consumer of supplements for your pet. Some supplement suppliers would like you to believe that your pet's good health is dependent on their products. Avoid being seduced by such ads, and talk to your vet about exactly which supplements are worthy expenditures for your dog or cat.

-- Investigate options for paying your veterinary bills. Perhaps the clinic administrator is willing to barter for products or services. Look into CareCredit, for example, a reputable line of credit that can be used to pay for veterinary expenses. The company provides interest-free payment plans that may be advantageous compared to standard credit card payments.

-- Consider investing in pet health insurance, especially if you are inclined to take the "do everything possible" approach for your pet. Do the math and determine if insurance makes financial sense in the long run. And before you sign on the dotted line, do some research to find a provider that is a good fit for you and your pet.

What should you do if your pet is ailing and you are forced to contemplate euthanasia because of financial constraints? Before succumbing to such a drastic decision, I strongly encourage a thorough investigation of every other conceivable option. Consider researching rescue associations, borrowing money from friends or relatives, applying for a donation from a pet health assistance organization, or finding a financially capable guardian for your pet. Exploring these options might just save a life and will do wonders for your peace of mind.

Dr. Nancy Kay is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and the author of the book "Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life."

Q&A

Dogs with droopy ears

can be infection-prone

Q: My cocker spaniel is always getting ear infections. How can I keep her ears healthy? -- via email

A: Dogs with heavy, droopy ears sometimes seem to be more prone to infection than dogs with prick ears. There's no science to prove that, but it is true that dogs with floppy ears are more likely to trap moisture and warmth inside their ears, limiting air flow inside the ear and creating a perfect laboratory for the growth of bacteria and yeast. Here are some tricks to keeping those pretty cocker ears clean, dry and infection-free.

Look inside the ears every week. If the skin is a nice pinky-gray with a light coating of ear wax and the ears don't smell bad, leave them alone. Paradoxically, cleaning the ears when they don't need it can cause problems.

Some dogs produce too much ear wax. When that happens, the wax can block airflow and contribute to an infection of the outer ear canal. If your dog has a lot of wax that looks more gray than golden, clean the ears with a mild product such as Oti-Clens, available from veterinarians and pet supply stores. Don't use alcohol. It can irritate and dry out the sensitive ear tissue, and it stings like billy-o if your dog has any raw spots in his ear.

To clean the ears, hold your dog's head so his nose is pointing downward. Squirt in enough of the cleanser to fill the ear, then gently massage the outside of the ear. You'll hear a loud squishing sound as the cleanser makes its way into the ear canal. Let the dog shake, then wrap a tissue around your finger and wipe any excess cleanser out of the ear canal.

Keep cotton swabs out of the ear. All they do is pack gunk deeper into it.

When you bathe your dog, block the inside of the ear with a cotton ball to keep water and shampoo from entering. If your dog enjoys swimming, dry the ears thoroughly after he gets out of the lake or pool. Keeping the ears clean and dry will help prevent infections from brewing. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

New cat allergy vaccine under way

If you are among the 1 in 10 people who suffer allergic reactions to cats, here is some news that could have you breathing more easily and living more comfortably with kitties: A new approach to vaccines.

The new strategy, detailed in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, works by identifying key areas of the protein that cause allergic reactions rather than the whole protein, as existing vaccines do.

The vaccine takes synthetic versions of the key regions of the protein, which are then injected in the person, rather than inhaled, which turns off the T-cells and helps build up a tolerance to the allergens.

Parkinson's-like gene mutation found in dogs

Tibetan terriers share a gene mutation similar to Parkinson's disease in humans, according to a University of Missouri study published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease.

The mutation prompts similar symptoms to Parkinson's disease, and for both humans and dogs the afflictions are usually fatal. The researchers believe that they may be able to test potential human therapies on the animal population because they can use a DNA test to identify affected dogs before they start to show symptoms.

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. Laurie Hess

"I've never had to bring him to the vet before, because he's never been sick ..."

At the animal hospital, I hear this same declaration every day from pet owners about their sick pets, regardless of the species they own. And here's the catch-22: If these folks had brought in their pets before they were sick, instead of waiting until after they showed signs of illness, their pets might not have become ill in the first place.

This is especially true of ferrets, those masked mischief-makers who make wonderful companions but have become so popular as pets that their domestication and inbreeding have made them susceptible to a handful of common -- often preventable -- illnesses. Among the top preventable health problems in ferrets are:

-- Foreign object ingestion: Just as human children put everything in their mouths, so do young ferrets. Shoes, parts of the couch, toys -- you name it; they'll eat it. And then they develop intestinal obstructions, which are marked by diarrhea, bloating and sometimes vomiting. This requires lifesaving intestinal surgery to resolve. So if you ferret-proof your crazy critter's environment by removing all small objects from the floor and never leaving him out of his cage unsupervised, you can avoid a costly trip to the emergency room.

-- Hairball ingestion: Just as young ferrets eat foreign objects, middle- to older-age ferrets ingest hair, and can develop intestinal obstructions due to hairballs. These furry friends often groom excessively, consuming large amounts of hair that stick together with mucus in their saliva to form cigar-shaped mats that plug up their narrow intestines, leading to diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy and occasional vomiting. Sometimes a laxative treatment will help these hairballs pass, but more often, complicated intestinal surgery is required to unplug these tiny creatures. With brushing and a couple of oral doses of a petroleum-based cat hairball laxative each week, you can avoid this situation.

-- Urinary-tract obstruction: The most common cause of urinary-tract obstruction in male ferrets is prostate gland enlargement, which compresses the urethra (outflow tract of the bladder), preventing urination. Prostate gland enlargement in ferrets is most often a result of an adrenal gland tumor that produces hormones that cause the prostate to swell. Both males and females can develop these tumors, but because females don't have prostates, they don't develop urinary-tract obstructions. While the cause of adrenal disease in ferrets is not completely understood, and we cannot prevent it, we can recognize its telltale signs -- hair loss and itchy skin -- and treat it with hormones and sometimes surgery when it first occurs, before urinary obstruction develops. So if your ferret starts scratching and showing patchy baldness, it's time for a visit to the vet.

-- Dental disease: Can you imagine eating every day and never brushing your teeth? That's what most pets do, but at least most cat and dog owners take their pets for regular dental cleaning. On the other hand, most ferret owners never do. In fact, most ferret owners are not even aware that their naughty nibblers need dental cleaning. Ferrets, like dogs and cats, should have an annual dental scaling and cleaning, and ferret owners should brush their pets' teeth weekly to help keep tartar buildup down. There are tiny toothbrushes that fit on a human finger that are used with poultry-flavored toothpaste especially designed for ferret fangs. Regular tooth care in ferrets reduces gingivitis, tooth root infection and tooth loss that commonly occurs in ferrets as they age.

So if you own a ferret and he has never visited a vet, it's time for a checkup -- even if he isn't ill. Remember, an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure.

Dr. Laurie Hess cares for birds and other exotic pets, such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, smaller rodents and reptiles at the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, N.Y. Dr. Hess previously served as head of the Avian & Exotic Pet Service at the renowned Animal Medical Center in New York City.

Q&A

Tips to help keep

older dog eating

Q: My 10-year-old dog has been sick recently and he's not eating enough to keep a bird alive. What can I do to put some weight back on him and help him get better? -- via email

A: Your dog is dealing with a double whammy. Not only is he not feeling well -- and let's face it, most of us don't feel like eating when we're sick -- but he's also a member of the senior club, which means his sniffer isn't working at its best anymore. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help him regain his appetite.

First, make sure he's eating a food that is easily digested with protein that is readily available for his body to use. That means meat protein.

The food should also taste and smell good. To enhance its aroma and flavor, gently warm it to just below your dog's body temperature, about 99 or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to stir the food and check it with your finger for any hot spots before you feed it to him.

Feed your dog in an area where he's comfortable. Don't let other pets in the area unless he's a "social eater" who enjoys having human or animal company while he eats.

Your dog may not feel like eating much all at once. Try feeding several small meals daily.

Separate meals from potentially unpleasant experiences such as giving medication or changing bandages. If your dog learns to associate eating with those experiences, he may eat less or stop eating altogether.

Try tempting your dog's appetite with a delicious new food that he's never had before.

Praise or pet your dog when he eats.

Make sure your dog always has fresh water to drink. If he's dehydrated, he won't feel like eating.

If your dog is vomiting because he has an upset stomach, ask your veterinarian to prescribe medication that can block the effects of chemicals in the body that activate the brain's vomiting center.

If all else fails, consider tube feeding. It's not painful and it can be the best way to keep your dog from losing too much weight, so ask about it right away if you think he's having trouble eating. – Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Keeping tabs

on tabby cats

-- As in-the-know cat owners know, tabby is not a breed of cat but the pattern of the cat, no matter its color. There are five tabby patterns. For non-cat cognoscenti, here is an easy way to spot the different tabbies, according to Cat Daily:

1. The classic tabby has bold, swirling patterns on its sides that resemble a marble cake.

2. The mackerel tabby has narrow, branching stripes on its sides and spine that resemble a fish skeleton.

3. The spotted tabby has round, oval or rosette-like spots, small or large, on its sides.

4. The ticked tabby has neither stripes nor spots but is instead marked by individual hairs highlighted with alternating light and dark bands of hair.

5. The patched tabby is distinguished by a tortoiseshell pattern.

Tabbies all share a pencil-thin line shaped like an M on their foreheads. The marking has been interpreted as a blessing from the Virgin Mary or from the prophet Mohammed, who is said to have loved tabbies. Others link the marking to "Mau," the ancient Egyptian word for cat.

-- City-dwelling birds have a larger brain relative to their size than non-city dwelling birds. As the BBC notes, scientists suggest that larger brains in birds such as crows, tits, nuthatches and wrens make them more adaptable to the changeable conditions of city living.

-- Sperm whales communicate to each other through patterns of clicks called "codas." Not only do the codas communicate different meanings, Science Daily notes, but they can also denote individuals through the sound of their codas, as sperm whales actually have differing accents.

Although sperm whales have differing repertoires of codas depending upon where they are from, they do have a standard "five regular" call, a pattern of five evenly spaced clicks, which is used by whales worldwide and is believed to have the function of universal identity. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Mikkel Becker and Ed Murrietta

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.

Many dogs enjoy swimming as much as people do, and cool times in the local swimming spot or backyard pool are one of the best parts of warmer weather. But you have to look out for your pet around water, since even the strongest, most enthusiastic swimmers can get into trouble.

The keys to water safety for dogs: prevention, preparedness and awareness.

Prevention: No dog should be given unsupervised access to a backyard pool or a neighborhood pond or creek. Swimming pools are best fenced-off for safety. And if that's not possible, they should be equipped with alarms that sound when the surface of the water is broken by a child or pet falling in. Escape tools like the Skamper-Ramp (skamper-ramp.com; 800-842-6543) are a good idea, but it's better to prevent pets from getting in unsupervised in the first place.

Prevention also includes teaching your pet what to do when he's in the pool. Dogs don't get the idea that the steps are on one side only, and they may tire and drown trying to crawl out the side. If your pet likes to swim, work with him in the pool to help him learn where the steps are, so he can get out easily.

Finally, obedience training is extremely important. Your dog should come when called, even when swimming, so you can call him back before he heads into deeper water or stronger currents. Emergency shortcut: Always carry extra retrieving toys. A dog who's heading out into a dangerous area after a ball or stick can often be lured back into shore with a second item thrown closer in. It's no substitute for training, but it could save your dog's life.

Preparedness: Before letting your dog swim in any natural surroundings, survey the area for safety. Rivers and oceans can change frequently, and an area that was safe for swimming one visit can be treacherous the next. Consider currents, tides, underwater hazards and even the condition of the water. In the late summer, algae scum on the top of standing water can be toxic, producing substances that can kill a pet who swallows the tainted water. When in doubt, no swimming. Better safe than sorry.

One of the best things you can do is to take courses in first-aid and CPR for your pets. Many local Red Cross chapters offer these classes, and some veterinarians may also teach them in your community. A dog who's pulled out near death from drowning may be saved by your prompt actions -- if you know what to do.

If your dog isn't much of a swimmer, or is older or debilitated, get him a personal flotation device. These are especially great for family boating trips because most have sturdy handles for rescue when a pet goes overboard.

Awareness: Be aware of your dog's condition as he plays. Remember that even swimming dogs can get hot, so bring fresh water and offer it constantly. When your dog is tiring, be sure to call it a day. A tired dog is a good dog, but an exhausted dog is in danger of drowning.

Be particularly careful of young and old dogs. Both can get themselves into more trouble than a healthy adult dog with lots of swimming experience. Young dogs can panic in the water, and old dogs may not realize they aren't as strong as they used to be. Keep them close to shore, and keep swimming sessions short.

Swimming is great exercise and great fun for all, and with these few simple precautions you can keep the cool times coming, with safety in mind. -- Gina Spadafori

SIDEBAR

Perfect pool play in a small way

Just as it seems that as many "baby" gates are purchased for pets as for children, the ubiquitous kiddie pool has thoroughly gone to the dogs.

The small pools made of hard plastic are perfect for dogs of all sizes, providing a tummy-cooling wallow for an overheated retriever or a safe way to wade for a swim-challenged pug. (Be sure to choose the hard-plastic variety; the inflatable kind doesn't hold up well to dog claws.)

Always supervise the pool's use to prevent any accidents.

Kept clean and stored in a covered spot for winter, a kiddie pool will last for many seasons. Just remember in the summer that standing water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and toxic algae, so rinse it clean after every use and refill it with fresh water every time.

Q&A

Cats don't like

sharing boxes

Q: I have four cats and four litter boxes. I keep tripping over them, and I'd like to reduce the number of litter boxes by two. Do you think that will be enough?

A: Actually, you not only need four litter boxes, you need to add one. To keep harmony in a multicat household, feline experts say you need one box for each cat, plus one extra. Cats are super-picky about their bathroom accommodations: They demand cleanliness and privacy, and they don't like having to wait in line. Having five boxes that are scooped daily means your cats are much less likely to think about going outside the box, so to speak.

Spread the wealth around the house to ensure privacy. Some cats will lie in wait and pounce on their housemates when they're in the middle of doing their business, but if boxes are placed in different areas on each floor of the house, they can't stake out all of them at once. Besides, to a cat, a bunch of litter boxes all lined up next to each other just equals one giant litter box, so there's no sense of each cat having his own private potty. Also, some cats like having one box for doing No. 1 and one for doing No. 2. Multiples give them a choice.

Another thing to consider is that your cats may have different preferences for the type of litter and the style of box they like. Having two or three uncovered boxes and a couple of hooded boxes, filled with a couple of different types of litter, gives them options.

House-soiling is the No. 1 reason cats are given up to shelters, but most cats will faithfully use their litter boxes if their people hold up their end of the bargain by keeping the boxes clean and placing them in quiet areas where the cat will feel safe and comfortable while using them. – Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Not all old dogs

need senior diet

-- Senior dog diets are popular, with 43 percent of Americans claiming they have fed their dogs age-oriented food. However, only one-third of that segment of pet owners have consulted with a veterinarian about which senior diet their aging pooches should eat. In a Tufts University poll, about 85 percent of people believe senior dogs need to eat differently than younger ones.

The needs of senior dogs varies greatly, with some requiring a greater percentage of protein in their food, and others requiring more carbohydrates. Not only do senior dogs' needs differ, but the variance in senior dog food is tremendous, particularly in protein and calorie counts, according to a study in The International Journal for Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine

-- French researchers say they have, for the first time, demonstrated an association between chronic pain and aggressive behavior in horses. Noting that 70 percent of human patients with chronic pain expressed feelings of anger, researchers at the University of Rennes say more than 75 percent of the horses they studied were angry and aggressive while suffering pain.

Of the 44 geldings and 15 mares aged 5 to 20 that were studied, 73 percent suffered from chronic pain in the croup, withers to mid-back, neck, and mid-back to croup regions. The severely affected horses demonstrated negative or aggressive behaviors such as looking at the experimenter with ears laid back, threats to bite by stretching the neck, or approaching the experimenter with ears laid back.

Severely affected horses were less likely to react positively, such as looking at or approaching the experimenter with upright ears, or sniffing, licking, nibbling and chewing.

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.