THE WELCOME MAT STAYS OUT FOR CLEAN, QUIET CANINE TRAVELERS

Summer is prime time for vacationing with children, but if your family's "little ones" have four legs and bark, the better time to hit the road is now.

The weather's cooler and the hot travel spots are, too. And that means you'll find favorite destinations a little less crowded and possibly a lot more friendly to people traveling with their canine companions. Maria Goodavage, an author who's an expert in traveling with pets, offered her rules for traveling with a dog in our book "The Ultimate Dog Lover." They include:

-- Bring only a well-behaved, friendly, clean, flea-free, healthy, house-trained dog on your travels. Dogs who are dirty and ill-mannered can close doors for future canine travel companions.

-- Beware of leaving your dog in the car. Even if it seems cool out, the sun's heat passing through your windows can kill a dog in a matter of minutes.

-- Make sure your dog always has access to cool, clean water. Dogs on the road may drink even more than they do at home.

-- Take regular breaks. There's nothing more miserable than being stuck in a car when you can't find a rest stop and really need one. Imagine how a dog feels when the urge strikes and he can't tell you the problem. How frequently you stop depends on your dog's bladder and disposition.

-- Play it safe by making sure your dog is wearing his license, ID and rabies tags. Make sure your dog's ID tag shows your cellphone number, since that's how you're reachable while on the road.

The biggest mistake people traveling with dogs make is not following proper "petiquette." This means:

-- Never leave your dog alone in your room. Leaving a dog alone in a strange place invites serious trouble. If you just can't bring your dog along to an outing, some hotels offer pet-sitting, or can provide you with contact information for local sitters and kennels.

-- Don't let your dog bark when you're at a lodging or a restaurant.

-- Always scoop the poop on your walks. You know it's there. Don't ignore it.

-- Don't use your room's ice bucket as a food or water bowl. Gross!

-- Yes, your dog needs to be clean. No, don't bathe him in your hotel's tub.

Pack a "doggy bag" that includes your dog's food, bowls (including a non-spill bowl for car rides), bedding, a brush, leash, towels if you'll be in mud or water, a first-aid kit, poop bags, prescription drugs, proof of vaccination, treats, toys and your favorite dog travel guide. (Water you can get on the road.) For dogs who insist on sleeping on the bed with you, bring a sheet to protect the hotel bedding.

Bookmark websites that help you find pet-friendly lodgings or veterinarian practices, or download apps that find hotels and emergency care for you. Plan ahead, stay safe and be considerate, and you and your dog will always be welcomed back.

Q&A

Weight-loss, hydration

help prevent FLUTD

Q: We've just had a very expensive lesson in the feline urological system. How can we avoid another one? -- via Facebook

A: The No. 1 reason cats are taken to a veterinarian outside of preventive care is for feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), a serious disorder that affects the urinary system of cats.

FLUTD often causes cats to urinate outside the litter box, a classic warning sign of illness that you can see -- and smell. Other symptoms include straining to urinate, crying out in the box or going more frequently.

Sadly, these signs are often misinterpreted as behavioral problems that end up getting the cat sent to a cage in a shelter instead of to a veterinarian for the medical treatment he needs.

While FLUTD may strike any age or gender of cat, it is more frequently seen in middle-aged, male cats who are overweight or obese. Factors that increase the risk include lack of exercise, stress and chronic dehydration.

Tips for avoiding FLUTD include:

-- Hydration. Some cats will drink more if the water seems fresh, such as with fountains that keep the water filtered and circulating.

-- Breaking up meals. Feed your cat several small meals during the day instead of one or two larger meals.

-- Chill your cat out. Decrease stress in the environment by providing your cat with scratching posts, window perches or kitty condos, and by playing active games with him.

-- Keep home a sweet home. Be more aware of changes in your cat when there are changes in your life such as new pets, a home remodel, a move, etc.

-- Feed for health. Ask your veterinarian if new therapeutic diets for urinary tract health are appropriate for your cat. Some veterinarians recommend that canned food be fed exclusively, since its higher water content increases hydration.

-- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

World Rabies Day

promotes prevention

-- While rabies seems to be a disease more historical than feared in the United States, that's not the case elsewhere. More than 55,000 people die every year of the disease, which is transmitted by contact with a rabid animal, often a feral dog. Thanks to aggressive vaccination campaigns that go back for decades, dogs aren't the biggest risk for rabies in developed countries, where wild animals such as skunks and bats give public-health experts the chills. World Rabies Day is Sept. 28, and in the U.S. many veterinarians are working with local animal control and public health agencies to keep dogs and cats out of harm's way -- and, by extension, people as well. Some locales will offer free rabies vaccines for dogs and cats, along with bonuses such as free microchips and licenses. Visit RabiesAlliance.org or check with your local animal control agency for information.

-- Cats have 32 muscles that give them the ability to control the direction of their ears, including rotating them in opposite directions.

-- City officials in Broken Arrow, Okla., reluctantly allowed a woman to keep her "therapy kangaroo" as long as she purchased a $50,000 liability insurance policy for the animal, whose name is Irwin. But by the time Broken Arrow acted, Irwin's owner, Christie Carr, had already moved with her kangaroo onto the grounds of a sanctuary for exotic animals across the state in Wynnewood. -- 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.

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.