NEW TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING MAKE TAKING A CAT TO THE VET MUCH EASIER ON EVERYONE

In the past, I've been less nervous about air travel than I have been about my cats' veterinary appointments. And there's a reason for it: While I can and do manage my own levels of stress and annoyance when turning myself over to the air-travel system at the security checkpoint, controlling a cat's fear of the veterinary hospital has been for many years something I couldn't manage.

Until recently, that is.

In the years between writing "Cats For Dummies" and co-authoring "Your Cat: The Owner's Manual," a huge amount of work has been done to make veterinary practices more "feline-friendly," and a lot of information about ways to keep cats calmer before, during and after their visits has become available. With wellness checkups for my cats Ilario and Mariposa on the calendar, I reviewed my plan of action and prepared for V-Day.

Everything went perfectly. The cats traveled quietly in their carriers, were relaxed if not exactly happy at the veterinarian's, passed their wellness exams with flying colors and settled back into their routines at home without a hiccup. One even had blood drawn, which in previous visits would have meant at least two with puncture wounds -- the cat and one of the humans involved.

What did I do? I started by putting the carriers out two days early and setting them in the room where the cats like sunning themselves. That meant no running when the carriers appeared. My carriers are also of a style designed just for cats by behaviorists: They're roomy and sturdy, and they break down easily in the exam room -- the top can be removed, and the cat can remain comfortable and secure in the "bed" half that remains.

On the day of the visit, about an hour before we had to leave, I sprayed folded towels with Feliway -- a substance that mimics a natural calming pheromone -- and put them in the crates. I hadn't fed the cats so they'd be more interested in treats, and so the one who always throws up wouldn't (she didn't). I'd closed the door on them in their sunning room so they couldn't hide elsewhere in the house.

About a half-hour before we needed to leave, I put the cats in their carriers, put the carriers on the bed and put towels with more Feliway on top of them. I left those towels in place when I put the carriers in the car and secured them with the seat belts.

When I got to my veterinarian's, her team was ready. We were put immediately in a quiet room so my cats didn't have to sit around other animals, especially dogs. With the room secured, an expert technician allowed them to wander and relax, or to just sit in their crates if that made them more comfortable. Every interaction was gentle and patient, with lots of praise, treats and petting.

Ilario does not like strangers, and he does not like being handled unless he chooses to be petted. While he wasn't happy to be there, he never reacted violently out of fear. He even tolerated a nail-clipping and the spot application of flea-control, which is a hard job for me to handle with just my own two hands. It's ideally a two-person job, and Ilario handled it just fine. As for Mariposa, she never stopped purring, even though she was due for vaccines and -- since I'd recently adopted her -- needed a microchip.

It was the best trip to the vet's ever, thanks to my preparation and my veterinarian's work to make her practice a place where a cat can be happy. Cats should never be treated as if they are small dogs, and I'm so glad to see so many veterinary practices becoming feline-friendly.

You'll find guidelines for pet owners and veterinary practices at The CATalyst Council's website, catalystcouncil.org. Then talk to your veterinarian about cat-friendly care. You might be surprised at how much has changed for the better in recent years.

Q&A

How best to adopt

a cat and a kitten?

Q: To my sorrow, I recently had to say goodbye to a cat I adopted nearly 20 years ago, the last of two littermates rescued from a restaurant dumpster near my veterinarian's office. I am missing my warm fuzzies, and I would like to adopt two cats again, but this time a kitten and an adult cat, as I am aware that there are a lot of both needing homes. Is there a preferable sequence in this sort of adoption? In other words, what is likely to result in an easier adjustment: adopting a kitten first or an adult cat? How much time should I allow between adoptions, or is it OK to adopt at the same time? -- K.G, via e-mail

A: Since cats are generally slower to adapt to new surroundings than kittens are, the best way to go, in theory, is to adopt a cat first, then a kitten, or both at once. Both at once, in fact, may be easiest on both cats, since neither will be feeling as if there's an interloper on its turf, and your home will be new territory for each of them.

In practice, the order and timing depends on the pets themselves. In a well-managed, progressive shelter, you'll find help from staff and volunteers who can advise you on the personalities of potential pets, and the possibilities of pairings.

Your home setup will help with adjustments. Many cats need to be fed away from each other, and some won't share water bowls or feline drinking fountains. As for litter boxes, behaviorists typically recommend one box for each cat, plus one additional box. These guidelines will help the cats share space, and help prevent litter-box avoidance, which is by far the top behavior complaint of cat owners.

We're so glad you're adopting a kitten and a cat. Kitten season is revving up in many parts of the country now. That means lots and lots of cute baby cats will be taking attention from very sweet, very adoptable adult cats. The nation's shelters have long fought to keep adult cats in the spotlight, which is why June is always Adopt-a-Cat Month. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Game on! 'Kitten Bowl'

to challenge 'Puppy Bowl'

-- If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That seems to be the plan of the Hallmark cable channel, which recently announced plans to offer programming it's calling the "Kitten Bowl" in direct competition with Animal Planet's phenomenally popular "Puppy Bowl." The shows will be fighting each other for viewers, as well as what could be called the "800-Pound-Gorilla Bowl," or as it's known throughout the world, the "Super Bowl." The expansion of the "watch baby animals play" shows does have one decidedly positive note: Like Animal Planet, Hallmark intends to feature pets up for adoption, all but guaranteeing that the kittens and puppies will be adopted after the final whistles blow.

-- Pet-foods brands including California Natural, EVO, Healthwise, Innova and Karma are part of an expanded recall by Natura Pet Foods that includes all its dry foods and treats with expiration dates before and including March 24, 2013. The company, a unit of consumer goods giant Proctor & Gamble, said the products may be contaminated with salmonella. The products should be discarded and the company contacted at 800-224-6123 or Naturapet.com for a refund of the sales price. In addition to the U.S. and Canada, Natura products are sold throughout Asia and Australia.

-- Companies that use corn in their products -- including pet-food manufacturers -- are on notice to expect the worst aflatoxin outbreak in decades to peak this summer. Aflatoxin is a mold that can cause cancer in animals and people, and has been the reason for pet-food recalls in the past. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a free alert system for pet product and veterinary recalls that sends notices to any email addresses entered on the sign-up page, tinyurl.com/FDARecallalerts. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

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 Vetstreet.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.

TEACHING A DOG TO RELAX IN CONFINEMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR A HAPPY LIFE

There's nothing harder for a young puppy to learn than being alone. Dogs are social animals, just as we are. And when you bring a puppy home you're not only asking him to do something for which he isn't really wired, but also to do it for the first time, under the stressful circumstances of being in the new home.

Under those conditions, you'd scream, too. Especially if past experience had shown you that vocalizing brought your mom and littermates on the run. Alone? Scared? Scream, and you'll be surrounded by help.

And yet, the ability to relax alone is a critical skill for a modern dog. Being able to relax while isolated in a comfortable carrier is essential to riding safely in a car, resting after medical care at the veterinary hospital, and even being cared for away from home by strangers during times of disaster.

On the flip side, dogs who don't learn to stay alone are at higher risk of losing their homes or even their lives.

Veterinary behaviorists call the problem "separation anxiety," and see it in their practices constantly. Some dogs may be capable of learning not to be frantically destructive and noisy when alone through changes in their environment, behavior modification and medications such as Prozac. Others may suffer throughout their lives, even if they stay in their homes.

For all these reasons and more, it's essential to "crate train" a puppy. While crate-training has long been used to shape the equally important behavior we know as "house-breaking," the use of a crate to teach relaxed confinement is just as important.

There's a puppy at my house now, a retriever named Riley. I'm raising him for a couple of months before he goes to live with friends, and that means he's now learning many of his first, most important "grown-up" lessons at my house, including crate-training.

I know some people "cold turkey" a pup when it comes to crate-training, but I don't think that's necessary. While I never open the pen or crate door on a screaming puppy (and thus reward him for the noise), I set him up for a whole lot of "win."

With Riley, as with any young puppy, that means making sure he's tired or has just been fed before being crated, making it more likely he'll sleep.

I make the sessions short, and add a word and a treat to him going in. "Crate!" I say, throwing a toy or treat in and praising him for following the motion to go inside. Before he's ready to wake up, I wake him up and take him out for a walk.

I also alternate between putting him in the crate in my office while I'm working or the pen in the living room while I'm watching TV in the evenings. The pen is harder for him to endure, because it's around the corner from where I sit and he can't see me from there.

I prefer letting him fuss in the pen, since being distracted from a rerun of "The Big Bang Theory" is something I can live with short term. For someone self-employed, however, not being able to work because a puppy is crying is a much bigger deal. Fortunately, the crate in my office is right next to my leg, which means he's "behind bars" and learning, but not particularly isolated.

Like any normal puppy, Riley wants to be where the people and other dogs are. He's learning quickly that that's not always possible. This lesson takes time, and I'm patient.

I know that soon Riley will know that being alone isn't forever, and that's as important a lesson as any dog can learn.

Q&A

Are 'kiddie pools'

safe for dog play?

Q: Our friends keep a blue plastic pool -- the kind you buy for toddlers -- in the yard for their dog. Is this safe? -- via Facebook

A: 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 as well.

Safe? If used under supervision, with both pool and water kept clean, then absolutely.

These 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.)

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.

If you want something bigger and sturdier, check out the selection at your nearest feed store. Hard-plastic stock tanks are excellent pools for dogs (and yes, for kids as well). Be sure to keep it small enough that you can dump it out regularly for cleaning and refilling. At my house, a Rubbermaid 50-gallon stock tank works perfectly for canine use and shows no signs of wear after several seasons. -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

House bill seeks fix

for mobile pet care

-- The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2013 (H.R. 1528) seeks to fix an unintended bug in the Controlled Substances Act that marks mobile veterinarians as lawbreakers because they carry drugs used to treat animal pain and end suffering. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had historically looked the other way when it came to veterinarians doing the work they need to do. The American Veterinary Medical Association is asking pet owners to contact their members of Congress to ask for support. As it stands, the law puts at risk providing veterinary care for animals in homes (including the practice of at-home euthanasia), on farms and in disaster-relief situations. It may also keep mobile spay-neuter clinics from rolling.

-- While you can't -- and probably never will be able to -- deduct your pet as you can a human dependent, you actually may be able to deduct some animal-related expenses when figuring out your taxes. The San Jose Mercury-News notes that a landmark 2011 ruling allows people who foster pets for 501(c)3 shelters or rescue groups to deduct their related expenses. People with service animals or working dogs can also deduct costs related to the care of those animals. If you need to move because of your job, the cost of moving your pets may be deductible as part of your moving expenses. Check with a tax-preparation professional to see what deductions apply in your case.

-- Four men in the Miami area have attracted attention for a novel building project: They're replicating Noah's Ark. The Miami Herald reports the men say the project will cost $1.5 million, and they hope it will serve as a tourist attraction on the outskirts of Hialeah. While Noah built his ark without official intervention, local officials say the project needs a building permit. The lower deck has been completed, but the time frame for completion is flexible, to say the least. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

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 Vetstreet.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.

ADULT DOGS CAN BE PERFECT MATCHES FOR MANY FAMILIES

In recent years we've seen a shift in attitude when it comes to adopting an adult dog. "Recycled rovers" used to be a "hard sell," not only because puppies have the "cute factor" advantage, but also because many people believed adult dogs were less likely than puppies to bond with a new family.

Rescue groups, shelters, veterinarians and trainers alike have long argued that's not the case, and the message has gotten through: Adult dogs are now widely considered a wonderful adoption option, especially for people who aren't in a good position to raise a puppy.

When choosing an adult dog, however, you need to ask questions and then think about the answers. While expecting to work on some things as your new dog gets used to you is reasonable, you want to make sure that you know what you're getting into when it comes to such things as health, behavior and even shedding. There are no wrong answers, but here are some questions to ask about any dog you're considering adopting:

-- What do you know of this dog's history? You may be dealing with a shelter, a rescue volunteer, the dog's original owner or breeder, or a nice person who found a stray. While it's certainly possible for a dog found as a stray to be a perfect candidate for "rehoming," knowing a dog's history is usually helpful when it comes to predicting his potential future in your home.

-- Why is this dog available for adoption? Dogs become available for lots of reasons. "Losing our home," "divorce" and "death" don't reflect badly on the dog; "bit our daughter" should give you pause, at the very least. Listen, too, for what isn't said: "He needs more exercise than we can give him" may mean a dog with exercise requirements only a marathoner could meet, or it could mean the previous owners really wanted a dog with the exercise requirements of a stuffed animal. When in doubt, ask more questions.

-- What behavior problems does this dog have? What health problems? Many things are fixable and worth considering if you honestly believe you'll take the time to work with the dog. Remember, too, that some problems don't need anything more than a dose of common sense to fix. "Won't stay in the yard," for example, may be easily cured by a decent fence and neutering. As for health, some dogs (like some people) need daily medication for chronic conditions, which might be a problem in some families.

-- How is he with children? Other dogs? Cats? Even if you don't have children, you're going to run into some from time to time. The same is true with other dogs. You can successfully avoid cats if you don't have them, but make certain your prospective pet at least tolerates them well if you do share your home with a cat or two. As for dogs with aggression issues, in many cases these can be worked out, but you may need the help of good trainer or behaviorist, plus a dedication of time and money.

Love is not enough for a good match. While almost any dog can be successfully rehomed with experienced, patient new owners, dogs with severe problems are usually not good projects for beginners. You'll be happier and better able to offer your dog a great new home if you take your time to make sure the fit is a good one. Follow your head as well as listen to your heart, and you'll be off to a great start on a new life with the adopted dog you finally choose.

In recent years we've both taken adult dogs into our homes, including ones with health or behavior problems. Because we knew what we were getting and knew what we could deal with, everything worked out just fine. And it can for you, too.

Q&A

Puppies need mom

past weaning age

Q: What is the right age to take home a puppy? We are looking at a litter the breeder says will be weaned and ready to go at four weeks, which seems young to us. -- via Facebook

A: Behaviorists have known for decades that puppies pick up some very important lessons from their mom and their littermates well after the time when they are weaned. They not only learn the complex social language that will help them get along with people and other dogs, but they also learn skills that set the stage for teaching them the manners all dogs need.

The earliest these experts say puppies should leave their siblings and mom is seven weeks, but many good breeders hold them even longer, up to 12 weeks, while providing them with individual attention, house-training lessons and even the beginnings of reward-based obedience training.

If you cannot convince the seller to keep the puppies together longer, my suggestion is to find another breeder, one well-versed in the developmental stages of dogs and the breeder's important role in raising puppies properly. Or go to a good shelter, where young puppies are placed with others of their age and socialized by savvy volunteers.

Choosing the right source for your pup is just as important as choosing the right breed or mix. A seller who isn't patient enough or doesn't know enough to provide puppies with the proper foundation for a lifetime of good habits is one best avoided. -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Texas court affirms:

Pets are 'property'

-- In a ruling watched around the nation, the Texas Supreme Court denied the ability to sue for emotional damages in the death of a pet. In overturning a lower court's ruling, the state's high court confirmed the status of an animal as property by law, saying compensation for a death "is limited to loss of value, not loss of relationship." The case concerned a lost dog who'd been mistakenly killed at an animal shelter despite a "hold for owner" tag on the cage. Efforts are underway to get the law changed to recognize the value of animal companions beyond property, including in Florida, where Tampa veterinarian Dr. Kenneth Newman is trying to find legislative support for his proposed Gracie's Law. Dr. Newman is at odds with veterinary trade associations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, which argued against a change in status in the Texas case.

-- The University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine is testing a drug that may treat bone cancer in dogs -- and subsequently, in humans. The treatment uses modified listeria bacteria to teach the immune system to attack cancer cells. The study is part of a growing trend to develop trials in hopes of developing effective treatments for people and pets simultaneously.

-- The increased acceptance of marijuana use, and the formulation of the drug's active ingredient in so-called "edibles" such as candies and baked goods, has perhaps not surprisingly led to reports of increases in the numbers of dogs ending up stoned at the veterinarian's. One emergency practice in Oregon told the Portland Oregonian that marijuana cases have doubled to about one-fifth of all canine toxicity visits. Clinical signs of marijuana ingestion in dogs include a "drunken" stagger and dribbling urine. Most pets recover after treatment with no after-affects. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

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 Vetstreet.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.