SHEDDING IN THE FALL CAN BE JUST AS BAD AS IN THE SPRING

As the days grow shorter and the nights grow cooler, you may be observing something that seems rather odd for a body preparing for winter: Your dog is shedding more than usual.

Be reassured: It's perfectly normal.

Dogs typically lose their winter coat in the spring, when it is replaced by a shorter, lighter one for summer. In the fall, this cycle is reversed, as the summer coat is shed to make room for heavy protective fur for winter. The change is most obvious in "double-coated" breeds, such as collies, shelties and keeshonden. Those breeds carry not only a harsh, protective, long overcoat, but also a soft, insulating undercoat -- and they lose masses of fur from both in spring and fall.

The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed. German shepherds, for example, are prolific year-round shedders, while poodles seem to lose little fur at all. Many shorthaired dogs actually may shed more than the longhairs, but since the hair they shed is easily overlooked, it may seem as if they are shedding less.

All shedders -- even the heaviest -- can be tamed by a regular and frequent schedule of bathing, combing and brushing. After all, the fur you grab while grooming your pet won't end up on rugs or furniture.

If you have a purebred dog, or one that has the characteristics of a purebred, ask a breeder for grooming advice, especially in regard to the proper kind of grooming equipment. The slicker brush that works fine on a poodle won't make much headway in the thick mane of a full-coated collie at the height of a seasonal shed. For a shorthaired dog, a curry comb or hound glove will do the job well, catching the short fur before it lands elsewhere.

No matter what the breed, shedding -- and heavy seasonal shedding -- is normal, but some heavy shedding can be a sign of health problems. Skin allergies, hormonal abnormalities and skin parasites may trigger shedding, and poor nutrition can also be a cause of coat problems.

Become familiar with your pet's normal pattern of shedding, and ask your veterinarian for advice if the coat's condition seems to dull or if you notice excessive overall hair loss or areas of complete hair loss.

Other fall pet-care tips:

-- Cold-weather cautions. Assess your pet's condition, age, level of exercise and weight, and make adjustments for the cold. In general, pets who live mostly indoors need less food (to offset a decrease in activity), and pets who spend more time outdoors need more (keeping warm requires energy, and food is the fuel). Don't forget shelter, and make sure your pet always has access to water that isn't frozen. Outside or in, heated beds are a good idea, too, and there are many models to choose from at pet-supply outlets.

-- Special care for older animals. Cold weather is especially tough on older pets. For elderly animals, it's not ridiculous to help out by putting a sweater on them when they go outside. Pet-supply outlets have a wide selection, or fashion your own from thrift-store children's wear.

Q&A

Cat 'bib' may stop

a pet from hunting

Q: One of our cats has become proficient at catching small birds and rodents, and brings them alive or barely alive into the house. We really don't like this and would appreciate some tips on how to change both cats back to indoor-only pets, if possible. Also, do bells on collars really work, since maybe that would at least hinder her ability to catch birds? They both wear collars, but not bells. -- via Facebook

A: If your only concern is about the hunter cat turning your home into the "nature channel," the easiest thing to try is a cat bib. While it may not be the best feline fashion statement, this device hangs down the front of a cat and keeps her from getting the jump on her prey. As for bells on cat collars, they do sometimes work to scare birds away. But some cats learn how to stalk without ringing their bells. Who says cats aren't smart?

The better route to take is to convince your outdoor adventure lovers to accept an indoor-only life.

Feline frustration can turn into an orchestra of cat complaints. Some cats complain vocally (nonstop), others make the 50-yard dash to the door their sport (nonstop), while still others play Tarzan indoors from curtains to couches. Cranky cats may pick on each other. Just a few escapes can drag out this feline focus and fury on gaining freedom. If you decide to make them indoor cats, go cold turkey. Once they're in, they're in forever.

When you take away the great outdoors, replace it with a new indoor cat jungle. Purchase a few floor-to-ceiling cat trees for climbing and perching. Place new things to explore in the room every day. Boxes and bags make great cat caves to investigate. Place catnip mice in new places. Buy a variety of scratching surfaces, both vertical and horizontal. Add a few containers of cat grass. Buy cat toys that look like real prey and begin daily indoor hunts.

The better you are at creating a new nature environment indoors, the less fuss and stress for you and the cats when changing from outdoor to indoor scenery.

Mentally and physically tired indoor cats will be more contented ones. They may never completely give up trying to escape, but over time, their efforts will wane. -- Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

Beauty of black cats

more than skin deep

-- If you have a black cat with yellow eyes, you have a pet who's not only striking in appearance, but fairly remarkable genetically. These cats display a condition known as melanism, which is more or less the opposite of the better-known albinism. Their genetic code is what makes them appear completely black with "Halloween eyes" to match. According to National Geographic's News Watch feature, "Melanism (is) seen in 11 of the 36 wild felid species, (and) produces yellow irises as a result of high levels of melanin in the pigment." While superstitions say that black cats are bad luck in the United States, the exact opposite is true in the United Kingdom.

-- After the horrific deaths of nearly 50 large cats, wolves and bears following their release from a Zanesville, Ohio, compound in 2011, laws were changed that turned the state from one of the easiest places to keep dangerous exotic animals into one of the most difficult. Ohio officials have offered owners amnesty to turn in their animals under the state's new Dangerous Wild Animals and Restricted Snakes Act, but the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that some are just being turned loose.

-- A transfusion using blood donated by a dog saved the life of a poisoned cat. With no time to lose and the cat's life slipping from her grasp, New Zealand veterinarian Dr. Kate Heller took a chance that the unorthodox move would work -- and it did. One hour after the transfusion, the cat was on the way to recovery. -- 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.

CATCH CAT ILLNESS EARLY BY WATCHING FOR YOUR PET'S CUES

Cats are good at hiding signs of illness, and even better at hiding when they're ill. That's why we cat owners need to know our cats well, so we can notice the subtle changes that may mean something deadly is brewing.

Learn to know what's normal for your cat, and what routines he likes to follow. Pay attention to both physical changes, such as a gain or loss in weight, and behavioral ones, especially in these areas:

-- Changes in eating habits, especially loss of appetite: Be aware of how much your cat eats and make a mental note of any changes. More than a day without eating is reason for concern. In a multi-cat household of free feeders, you may have a hard time figuring who's eating what. Make a conscious effort to see each of your cats at the food dish daily, and if you give them canned rations once a day, feed them separately.

-- Changes in litter-box habits: Many times, a "behavior" problem is really a health problem, and avoiding the litter box or using it more often than normal is one of the classic symptoms. A cat with an undiagnosed urinary-tract infection or diabetes, for example, may break his normal patterns of litter-box use. He's not "bad" -- he's sick!

-- Changes in drinking habits: Cats drink more in the summer than in the winter, but even taking that into consideration, you should be aware of changes in your cat's drinking habits -- too much or too little.

-- Changes in grooming: If you notice your cat looking ill-kempt, he likely has a problem, especially if he's normally fastidious. Grooming is one of the most important parts of a cat's routine, and the cat who isn't taking care of his coat isn't well.

-- Changes in voice: You know what's normal for your cat -- how often he pipes up and how he sounds when he does. If your cat is noisier than usual or more quiet or the sounds he makes are different, something is going on.

Wellness examinations (once or even twice a year) are especially important for cats, but cats are statistically less likely than dogs to see a veterinarian at all. That makes keeping an eye on a cat's physical and behavioral variances even more important.

Taking your cat in for what veterinarians call an "ADR" or "Ain't Doing Right" visit may seem unnecessary, but any veterinarian and many a cat lover will tell you about cats whose lives were saved (or about the money that was saved) because their owners turned their observations into a veterinary visit and caught something before it got worse.

Cats can be mysterious creatures, but they typically share clues to their secrets. Careful owner observation and some veterinary sleuthing has solved many feline mysteries. Take the time to be a feline health detective, and you and your cat will both be better off!

Q&A

'Fear-free' vet visits

can ease cats' anxiety

Q: Do you have any tips for getting cats to the vet? I can't tell you who dreads appointments more, him or me. --via Facebook

A: There's a movement in veterinary medicine toward lower-stress care for cats (check out Catfriendlypractice.catvets.com and CATalystcouncil.org), or more broadly, toward "fear-free practices" for all pets, which is my own effort. Together, these projects aim to make veterinary visits far less stressful for both owners and pets.

By the time you read this, I'll have given a major address on "fear-free practices" to veterinarians at one of the big annual conferences, the CVC. I'm now working with veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists, architects who design veterinary hospitals, veterinary technicians and even massage therapists to change the way pets experience veterinary medicine. You'll see these changes in the months and years to come, I promise you!

In the meantime, here are a few tips you can try to make things easier:

-- Invest in a good carrier. I recommend a hard-plastic, solid carrier with doors on the top and front, and that breaks apart to create a bottom level "bed" your cat can stay in at the vet's exam room. Don't hide the carrier in the garage or basement: Keeping it out where your cat can see it prevents the panic some cats get when they see the carrier.

-- Use pheromones to help relax your cat. Feliway mimics the substance mother cats secrete, and it helps cats and kittens relax. Spray it on a towel you put in the carrier, and spritz another towel to go over the carrier.

-- Keep the carrier covered with a towel, and avoid placing it near other cats in their carriers or allowing dogs to sniff it.

Talk to your veterinarian about any other tips that may help your cat specifically. Going to the veterinarian can be easier with your veterinarian's help, and it's going to get easier still! -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

Dog parks continue

to grow in popularity

-- The concept of a public park dedicated for use by off-leash dogs and their owners is a relatively new one, but it has been popular from the start. The nonprofit Trust for Public Land notes that in 2010 there were 569 off-leash dog parks in the 100 largest cities, and that the growth in the number of dog parks has been 10 times greater than the number of parks dedicated to general use. An article in USA Today noted that the trend is not surprising, given that more households today have dogs than have children.

-- Rattlesnakes working for the good of humankind? Yes, say researchers from the University of Maryland. That's because a single snake is responsible for removing 2,500 to 3,500 potentially disease-carrying ticks a year, along with the small mammals that are the snake's prey. So, thank a snake ... but not too closely.

-- Norm Lopez, a friendly cat with a catchy name and his own Facebook page, has attracted fans around the world after a well-meaning passerby picked up the portly pet and took him to the animal shelter in the mistaken belief that he was pregnant and in distress. There, the shelter director recognized him from his Facebook page, and Norm was soon back home. After a burst of media fame, he's back to welcoming guests from his home base near the State Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., but he now has a microchip and is the face of a fundraiser for the city's shelter. -- 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.

MANY JUMPY CATS CAN LEARN TO ACCEPT PETTING WITHOUT BITING

My two cats are both beautiful -- I may be a little biased, but I'm pretty sure it's true. When it comes to temperament, though, their similarities end. One cat is relaxed and easygoing, a born lap kitty. The other is easily aroused, sometimes reacting to petting by scratching the person in whose lap he finds himself -- which, more than likely, of course, is mine.

Over the years, I've worked to lengthen his short fuse, starting with the most important rule when it comes to dealing with feline aggression: Never, ever hit your cat.

If punishment won't work, what will? You need to understand the reasons why cats lash out and learn to read feline body language, while also retraining and managing your cat to prevent bites or clawing. Here's what makes cats go crazy and how to correct these problems:

-- Overstimulation. You're petting your cat, and suddenly he grabs you with his claws and teeth. Don't struggle or fight back, or you may trigger a real bite. Sometimes, smacking your other hand loudly against a hard surface -- a tabletop, for example -- may startle your cat into breaking off the attack. If you stay still, however, he will usually calm down and release you.

Cat lovers often think such attacks come without warning, but they've missed the warning signs of a cat who has simply had enough. The tail is the key. If your cat starts twitching his tail in a jerky fashion, it's time to stop petting. And you can often keep him from getting to that overstimulated place by petting along the side of and under the chin only, avoiding touchier spots like the back or the belly.

-- Play aggression. Never let your cat view you as a plaything, not even when he's an adorable kitten. Wrestling barehanded with your cat or kitten is a no-no, because you're setting up a bad precedent. A stuffed sock is a great substitute for a human hand when it comes to playthings -- let your cat bite, claw and bunny-kick to his heart's content. Give your cat lots of other exercise, frequent sessions that burn his youthful energy, such as playing with a "fishing pole"-type toy.

What if he persists in seeing you as a plaything? As with an overstimulated cat, stop the behavior by freezing if he has you in a painful grip. If he's ambushing you, water from a small squirt gun might help convince him that this is not a game worth playing.

-- Redirected aggression. Your cat sees another cat, an intruder, outside your living room window. He becomes enraged. You walk by, and he nails you.

This is redirected aggression, and it's a management issue. Motion-detecting sprinklers can discourage strange cats from being in your yard. If you can't keep feline intruders out, block your cat's access to the window through which he sees the other cats. And again, be aware of your cat's body language. A cat who's looking for trouble is one who's best avoided.

The trick with cats is to eliminate the triggers for biting or scratching and work on your cat's tolerance levels. If you're patient and consistent, your cat may well improve over time. If you're not getting anywhere, talk to your veterinarian about a referral to a behaviorist experienced in feline behavior. Additionally, veterinary behaviorists can prescribe medications that can help ease your cat's anxiety while you work on permanent changes to his behavior.

While my jumpy cat will never be the completely relaxed purr-machine his housemate is, he's incredibly more tolerant of petting. His purrs let me know that he's as happy with the changes as I am.

Q&A

Pellets, 'people food' form

base of good diet for parrots

Q: Our cockatiel has eaten nothing but a seed mix her whole life, and she's 12 years old. We've read in your book "Birds For Dummies" that seed isn't good for her, but she seems to be doing fine. Should we try to change her diet now? -- via email

A: Parrots -- and this term includes the little guys like budgies and cockatiels -- should eat a diet of a nutritionally balanced pelleted food supplemented by healthy "people food," such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads and pasta. Seed should be an occasional treat, not the foundation of a diet.

That said, many people start out with bad advice, or inherit, adopt or buy an adult bird who's already hooked on a diet of seed. Like a person raised on fast food and sweets, these parrots have developed a taste for seeds -- which are the avian equivalent of junk food -- that's going to be hard to shift onto healthier fare. It can be done, but shouldn't be attempted "cold turkey," if you will, because parrots can launch lethal hunger strikes.

Your cockatiel is entering her senior years, a process that may have been sped up because of her diet. There's still time for a healthier bird, though, and a dietary intervention could add considerable time to her life span.

It would be a good idea to take your bird in for a comprehensive checkup. Once your bird's true health status is determined (birds often hide signs of illness from their owners, which is why diagnostics are particularly useful), you can work with your bird's veterinarian to gradually improve the quality of your pet's diet and overall health.

If your bird doesn't already have a board-certified avian veterinarian or one who is comfortable and experienced with treating birds (not all veterinarians are), you can likely find one on the website of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (aav.org). -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

A thoughtful guide for

would-be veterinarians

-- Studies show that "veterinarian" is a profession often chosen in childhood, and for many of those goal-oriented youngsters, nothing will change their minds: not keen competition, not years of schooling, not poor job prospects and not the potential for carrying forward a crushing burden of student-loan debt that may prevent young professionals from owning their own practices, buying a home or starting a family. The VIN Foundation, the charitable arm of the Veterinary Information Network, has developed a brochure that offers young dreamers and parents alike a no-nonsense look at the challenges of becoming -- and being -- a veterinarian. It's free to download at iwanttobeaveterinarian.org. First thing to know: "A love of animals is not enough to make veterinary medicine a good career choice."

-- Some adult cats, like some humans, cannot handle milk without ending up with diarrhea. For those cats who can handle milk and like it, though, it's a fine occasional treat, and a good source of protein.

-- Students of canine history will be fascinated when they enter the word "dog" into the search field at the website for old newsreels from the archives of British Pathe (britishpathe.com). From sled dogs to show dogs to military working dogs, it's astonishing how much dogs' lives have changed in the last few decades -- and how much they haven't. -- 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.