In less than a couple of generations, our dogs have moved from the barnyard to the backyard to the kitchen to the bedroom to the bed. It's a cultural shift that has passed some pet owners by, however, and that's a shame.

I have always had difficulty understanding why people keep dogs outside. If keeping a beautiful house and yard are of the utmost importance to you, then don't get a dog. If you know someone in your family can't abide a dog in the house, for whatever reason, then don't get a dog. If you can't let a dog be a part of your family, then don't get a dog. (Please note: I am talking about backyard pets here, not working dogs whose social, mental and physical needs are more than met by their daily routines.)

You don't get the benefits of companionship from a dog you see so little. You don't even get much in the way of protection from the pet who has no access to the house. And don't count on outdoor dogs as an early warning system. These animals often become such indiscriminate barkers that you couldn't tell from their sound whether the dogs are barking at a prowler or at a toddler riding a tricycle down the street. Besides, people who keep outdoor dogs seem to become quite good at ignoring the noise they make, as any angry neighbor can vouch.

Experts say many outside pet dogs will never really bond with owners who interact with them so little. When the puppy is no longer cute and the children grow tired of the care they promised to provide, or when the destructiveness escalates or the neighbors complain about the noise, it's often just easier to dump the dog than solve the problem.

Backyard dogs do indeed often become a problem to their owners. Bored and lonely, these animals develop any number of bad habits. They dig holes in the yard, bark endlessly day and night, and become chewers of outdoor furniture, sprinkler heads and siding. And sometimes, without the socialization all dogs need, they become aggressive, ready to bite anyone who comes into their territory.

If you're considering getting a puppy or dog with the intent of keeping him exclusively outside, please reconsider -- for the animal's sake as well as your own and that of your neighbors. For those who love pets, a pristine home is nothing compared to the pleasures of living with an animal who's really bonded to you.

If you have a dog who has been banished because of behavior problems, find someone to help you turn the situation around. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist or trainer who can show you how to overcome the things that are driving you crazy, whether it's house-soiling, uncontrolled chewing or just the ill-mannered exuberance of a dog who doesn't know any better.

Allergies are a tad trickier, but an allergist may be able to help, along with attention to keeping the house and pets cleaner, using air cleaners and turning bedrooms into no-pet zones for allergy-free sleep.

It's worth the effort. Once you have a dog you can welcome into your home and your heart, you'll start to reap the benefits of a relationship that's finally being realized to its fullest potential. And that's good news for you both.

Q&A

Bathing a cat? Use

care and caution

Q: Is there any reason I can't use dog shampoo on my cat? -- via email

A: From a medical perspective, cats are different from dogs, including the way they react to flea-control products. If you use a dog shampoo that contains ingredients for combating fleas, you may put your cat at deadly risk. This is true even of natural ingredients meant to repel fleas, so ask your veterinarian to recommend a feline-friendly shampoo. In general, you should consult your vet before using (BEGIN ITAL)any(END ITAL) dog product on your cat.

Many readers may wonder why someone should bathe a cat at all, since most felines groom themselves. I can think of a couple of reasons it's a good idea to get your cat used to water: You may sometimes need to wash off something your cat got into, which you don't want him to ingest when he licks his coat; and weekly rinsing also reduces the sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes associated with allergies to cats.

You don't have to bother with soap for allergies, though: Just rinsing a cat weekly reduces the dander that triggers allergy attacks. (This method is not effective for individuals with life-threatening allergies, who should consult a physician for advice on dealing with severe reactions.)

Of course, you may find you have a difficult time convincing an adult cat to tolerate bathing. However, it's easier with kittens: If you proceed gently, with praise and treats, you're more likely to end up with a cat who puts up with regular rinsing. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet birds need

and love baths

-- Many of the birds kept as pets are of species most comfortable in places that we would find intolerable: the steamy, hot rain forests of Central and South America. The dry air of human homes -- especially in winter -- is thought to be a contributing factor to feather-picking, a frustrating syndrome that can drive birds to pluck themselves bald. Many birds enjoy being dampened by water from a spray bottle or being offered the chance to take a bath in a shallow dish of clean water. How often should birds get a drenching? There are no firm guidelines, but daily would be fine with many of these pets.

-- The American Pet Products Association has released a series of videos that whimsically promote the adoption of a companion animal for your pet. The series can be viewed at vetstreet.com/learn/does-your-pet-need-a-new-buddy. The APPA has released the videos through its foundation, Pets Add Life (PAL), which promotes its nonprofit activities through a weblog (petsaddlife.wordpress.com) and can additionally be found on Facebook and Twitter.

-- Ohio has some of the loosest regulations in the country when it comes to keeping exotic animals as pets. That situation is likely to come under scrutiny after a man in rural Zanesville, Ohio, with many exotic pets -- including lions -- set the animals free and then killed himself. The loose animals were considered a deadly threat by local law enforcement and most were shot and killed. -- 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 affiliated with Vetsteet.com and 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.

When my 14-year-old Sheltie, Drew, was diagnosed with kidney failure, my veterinarian offered me something that wasn't really an option when I started writing about pets a couple decades ago: hospice.

He encouraged me to manage Drew's terminal disease with daily IV fluids given at home and with a diet geared toward reducing strain on my dog's failing organs. That was a few weeks ago, and now Drew's kidneys are functioning well and he looks and acts years younger than he is. No one who meets him would guess he may have only weeks to live.

That quality of life is what hospice is all about, and the trend is catching on, according to advocates.

"The path to death is detoured a bit," says Dr. Robin Downing of the Windsor Veterinary Clinic and The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management. An internationally known expert in pain management, Downing is one of a handful of strong advocates for palliative care for pets, the practice of keeping animals happy and comfortable in their final days, weeks and months.

"We needed to find a way to help these animals live until they died," Downing says. "That's what hospice is about: living fully."

Since the 1990s, the introduction of a series of effective nonsteroidal inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs such as Rimadyl, Metacam and Deramaxx), along with the increased acceptance and use of complementary pain medications, has changed veterinary practice.

Previously, many veterinarians had avoided pain control for animals after surgery. The consensus view was that if moving hurt, a pet would be more likely to be still while healing. That thinking was changed by research showing that animals heal more quickly when pain is controlled.

For veterinarians such as Downing, these improvements in pain management made it clear that in some cases, they could also ease the suffering for animals for whom they could do little else.

Veterinary oncologist and hospice advocate Dr. Alice Villalobos of the Animal Oncology Consultation Service in Woodland Hills, Calif., notes that this idea ran counter to what veterinarians had been taught for decades.

"We were taught to offer euthanasia when a pet started faltering, and we have all been educated to focus on care for the pet's life stages," she says. "But end-of-life care was not included, and it is a life stage."

Villalobos says that only a small percentage of the nation's veterinarians offer end-of-life care, but there are signs that this is beginning to change. Indications of the increased interest include the first-ever pet hospice symposium at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, followed by the founding of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care the following year. The American Veterinary Medical Association recently revised its guidelines to emphasize that "veterinarians who do not offer hospice services should be prepared to refer clients to a veterinarian who does."

Although advances in veterinary pain management have helped propel the idea of hospice, that's not all there is to palliative care. Other means of easing an animal's suffering may include regular subcutaneous fluids to improve hydration -- such as I provide to my dog -- oxygen therapy and assistance devices such as slings to support weakened hind ends.

Hospice help may also include physical and massage therapy as well as advice: urging the covering of slippery floors with rugs for better traction, or finding or developing diets that support a patient who may not want to eat. Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine, such as acupuncture, can be part of the package as well -- as it is for Drew.

The final aspect of veterinary hospice is recognizing when it's time to say goodbye. And while I'm certainly not looking forward to it, I know I'll be better prepared for the end after the extra time together my dog and I have both enjoyed.

Q&A

Antifreeze ingestion

requires fast action

Q: Can you remind people about the danger of antifreeze? I lost my cat to it last winter. I think she got into it after my neighbor spilled it on his driveway. -- via email

A: Pet lovers have two ways to protect their animal companions from lapping away at deadly antifreeze -- one relatively foolproof; the other not.

Not foolproof: Use a safer antifreeze made from a different formulation than the more popular variety, store chemicals properly, and wipe up spills promptly. While this should eliminate most of the risk for dogs, these strategies are not foolproof for free-roaming cats because you cannot control what your neighbors will do when it comes to using or storing deadly chemicals.

Foolproof: Keep cats inside. Free-roaming cats have relatively short life spans because the outside world is full of deadly hazards. To antifreeze, add cars, coyotes (even in cities!) and even cat-hating neighbors to the list of things that can kill a free-roaming cat.

If you even suspect that your pet has gotten into some antifreeze, get him to the veterinary clinic immediately. There's no "wait-and-see" period with this stuff. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Pickup bed is no place

for an unrestrained dog

Q: We saw a dog fall out of a pickup truck on the highway. We couldn't stop, but I cannot imagine that the animal survived. Could you please tell people to put their dogs inside the truck's cab? Having the dog in the back is all-around dangerous. -- via e-mail

A: Allowing a dog to ride without restraints in the back of a truck is never safe, which is why it's illegal in some states. Dogs who must ride in the back of a truck are best transported in airline shipping crates, properly secured to the truck bed.

A crate will keep the animal from jumping or being thrown from the truck and will provide some protection from the elements. While I'd personally rather see a dog secured inside a vehicle, a strapped-down crate in a truck bed isn't a bad alternative. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Puppies should stay

with siblings longer

-- Puppies removed from their siblings too soon are more likely to display problem behaviors as adults, according to a study in the journal Veterinary Record. Researchers compared puppies adopted between 30 and 40 days with those adopted after 60 days. Puppies kept with their littermates for 60 days were less likely to mature into dogs with chronic behavior issues. The authors believe some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to problem behaviors, and when puppies don't stay with their siblings long enough it may increase the likelihood of those behavior problems not being corrected. Behaviorists have long argued that puppies should not be sent to new homes until two months of age.

-- When told one of three doors reveals a prize, most people are reluctant to switch once they've made a decision, even though choosing a different door has a better outcome statistically. Not so with pigeons, according to the Journal of Comparative Psychology. The birds seem to understand the concept of probability after training, and will switch to another choice 96 percent of the time after making an initial decision.

-- The phrase "Beware of Dog" is so old that its Latin equivalent -- cave canem -- has been found on signs in Roman ruins. The word "watchdog" isn't quite so old; the first mention of it is by Shakespeare, in "The Tempest." -- 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 affiliated with Vetsteet.com and 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.

Our culture has become very pet-friendly, but as much as I love this shift in attitude, I am also aware that some people don't approve of the change, especially when other people start planning to bring dogs home for the holidays.

Now I'm a veterinarian, not a family counselor. But I do have some suggestions for minimizing the friction between those who always want their dogs with them and those who believe pets should never be imposed on people who don't like them.

When bringing together people and pets, everyone should be honest about potential problems, as well as likes and dislikes. And you need to be honest with yourself about your dog. Is your pet well-socialized, well-mannered, and well-groomed? If not, your dog's not ready to tag along on a family visit. Your pet should also be up to date on preventive health measures, especially those involving parasites.

If your dog is a party-ready animal, ask your host if it's OK to bring your dog along. Never just show up at someone's house with a pet in tow.

My "ground rules" suggestion is that the person who has the ground sets the rules, and the decision to bend or break them is hers alone. If you want to take your pet to a family gathering but your son-in-law says absolutely not in his house, respect that. If your host has pets who don't get along with or would be stressed by a canine visitor, respect that, too.

If you're dealing with someone who will become ill if exposed to a pet, the discussion is over. Leave your pet out of the mix. This extends to people who are afraid of animals or when there will be other guests who might be at high risk of injury around a pet, such as your great-great-aunt who has already broken her hip twice.

If you've been invited to bring your dog along, here's what you will need:

-- A considerate attitude

Taking your dog to someone else's place is a privilege. Ask where your dog is and isn't allowed to be and where you'll be taking him to potty.

-- Potty bags

You will need to pick up after your pet. And ask where those little bags should go after you pick up.

-- Leash

Your dog might be awesome at home, but in a new environment you never can tell. Good manners dictate you keep your pup under control.

-- Crate

Taking a crate when you visit someone allows you to give your dog a room of his own wherever you are and provides your host with options to accommodate other guests.

-- Food dishes

Don't expect to borrow bowls from your host's kitchen. Take your own and ask where you should clean them after meals. Don't be offended if it's a utility sink in the garage.

-- Linens

It's a good idea to take a sheet to throw over your bed if you're allowed to have your dog in your bedroom when you stay over at someone's house. Pack towels as well, since your host may not want you to use the good towels to dry your dog.

If you're a considerate guest, chances are even those who don't like dogs won't have complaints -- and you and your dog will be welcome back. That's the goal, isn't it?

Q&A

Gagging cat may

have feline asthma

Q: My cat is gagging all the time, but he doesn't bring up hairballs and sometimes seems to wheeze as well. What can I give him that will help? -- via email

A: Hairballs often take the blame for a cat's chronic coughing, but the problem could be deeper than that.

Symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, open-mouthed breathing and heaving may indicate a cat with asthma. These attacks can be brought on by stress and allergens, with common allergens including cigarette smoke, pollen, dust, mold, aerosols, perfume, deodorizers, dusty cat litter and food. Common treatment ranges from allergy medication similar to bronchodilators to oxygen therapy.

There's nothing over-the-counter that will help your cat with the problem. You'll need to see your veterinarian for a correct diagnosis that will lead to the right treatment for a potentially dangerous health issue. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Fat cats can get stuck

Q: My cat seems to get herself stuck a lot. Shouldn't she know how to figure out where she should fit? -- via email

A: Cats are able to squeeze through spaces that seem narrower than they are because cats don't have a rigid collarbone to block their way through nooks and crannies. Once they can get their head and shoulders through, their sleek bodies present no further obstacle. That's if those bodies are sleek, of course.

The world is full of fat cats, after all, and for these chubby felines, fitting through tiny holes is not a sure bet. Cats may find themselves in a tight spot because they don't realize they can't fit through. That's because a cat's whiskers -- super-sensitive specialized hairs -- spread roughly as wide as a cat does, normally allowing the cat to gauge where she can slide through. But they don't grow longer as a cat gets wider, which often leads corpulent cats into sticky situations. -- Gina Spadafori

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

THE BUZZ

Cats don't dig

the sweet stuff

-- People crave sweets -- cakes, candies, cookies and sodas galore -- but cats are generally unimpressed. A cat's taste buds are incapable of detecting, appreciating or triggering a craving for foods that we recognize as "sweet." As "obligate carnivores" (animals who need meat protein to survive), cats simply don't need sweets. It's unclear whether the ancestors of cats had the ability to detect sweetness and lost it, or whether cats never developed a "sweet tooth," since they didn't need it. People (and dogs, for that matter) eat a much more varied diet, and human taste buds reflect that -- we have nearly 10,000 on our tongues. No such variety for cats: They're happy to stick with small prey animals and need fewer than 500 taste buds to figure what's on the menu and what isn't.

-- Dogs may be able to blame their tail-chasing habit on high cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and reported in Veterinary Economics. Turkish researchers found that dogs who didn't chase their tails had lower levels of cholesterol than the tail-chasers did. Dogs may chase their tails because the high cholesterol levels have blocked the flow of brain hormones controlling mood and behavior. The study suggests that an increase in exercise could help lower the tail-chasing. There may be other medical reasons for tail-chasing as well, so if your dog is chasing his rump, let your veterinarian know.

-- The trade publication Veterinary Economics named the best 10 U.S. cities for a dog-friendly vacation. In order, they are: Portland, Ore.; Chicago; San Diego; Seattle; Philadelphia; Minneapolis; Austin, Texas; Alexandria, Va./Washington D.C.; New York City; and Indianapolis, Ind. -- 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 affiliated with Vetsteet.com and 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.