NO MATTER WHICH HOLIDAY YOU CELEBRATE, THESE TIPS WILL HELP KEEP YOUR PET SAFE

One of my most memorable holiday cases was the Labrador retriever puppy (what else!) who had swallowed an entire string of Christmas tree lights. When he was brought in, gagging, I opened his mouth and could still see the plug, far in the back. I have to admit that it was tempting to anesthetize him, plug it in, and see if an ethereal glow from the body would tell us where in the gastrointestinal tract to look for the lights. This was a case that called for a specialist, though. We didn't have the imaging or endoscopic equipment to locate and remove the lights.

Sometimes, it's almost as if pets think the holidays aren't complete without a trip to the emergency room. They suffer electroshock burns of the mouth from chewing on Christmas tree light cords, devour whole plates full of fudge, eat the toxic mistletoe berries off kissing balls, and raid the trash for the string used to wrap the turkey or ham. We've seen it all, and we don't want you to have to. The following tips will help you keep your dogs and cats safe, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus.

-- Cover garbage cans securely or place them up high or behind closed doors. Eating cooked bones or the paper or string used to wrap meat can cause intestinal obstructions or injuries. Nobody wants to spend what should be a festive day waiting to hear the results of a pet's emergency surgery.

-- Replace live holiday plants with artificial ones. Amaryllis, holly, lilies and mistletoe all have varying degrees of toxicity. If you're lucky, your pet will simply nibble on them and then throw up the greenery in the middle of Uncle Marvin's long-winded story about his visit to the Grand Canyon. But in a worst-case scenario, your pet could suffer severe vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty breathing, or even death in a matter of hours.

-- Tether the tree. What self-respecting cat isn't going to climb the Christmas tree? To keep it upright, use fishing line to anchor the tree to the ceiling. Surrounding the tree with an exercise pen -- tastefully decorated, of course -- will further protect it from marauding dogs or curious kittens.

-- Say "no" to tinsel and ribbons. Cats, and sometimes dogs, love to play with the shiny strands, but if swallowed, they can cut or obstruct the intestinal tract.

-- Go electric. Burning candles are beautiful, but it takes only the swish of a dog or cat tail to knock them over, causing burns or starting fires. Use flameless candles instead.

-- Avoid shock and oww. Coat electrical cords with Bitter Apple or wrap them in tough cable covers to prevent curious pets from chewing on them.

-- Scent sense. Scent diffusers and potpourri contain highly toxic essential oils. Pets who lap up the spilled liquid or ingest large amounts of potpourri can suffer severe burns to the mouth and esophagus or other serious internal injuries. Keep containers away from pets, and wipe up spills immediately and thoroughly.

-- Provide a retreat. Make sure your pet has a quiet place, such as a crate or little-used room, where he can go to get away from visitors, loud holiday music and the high-pitched squeals of children.

-- Is it safe to put a Santa cap or antlers on your pet? Your call. How vengeful is he? But the best way to enjoy the holidays with your pet is to schedule some extra cuddle time in front of the tree. A nice, long ear scratch will help both of you survive the season.

Q&A

Ear, ear! How to

recognize infections

Q: I have always heard that floppy-eared dogs get more ear infections than dogs with erect ears. Is that really true? Also, how often should a dog's ears be cleaned to prevent infections? -- via email

A: It is a widely held belief that dogs with prick ears have fewer infections, but the truth is, no one knows for sure. There's no scientific evidence one way or the other, but some veterinarians, myself included, will admit to seeing ear infections more often in dogs with droopy ears.

The fact is, though, that any dog can get an ear infection if conditions are right. Allergies can be part of the equation, as can excess moisture from swimming or baths. When the inside of a dog's ear gets wet and isn't dried thoroughly, it creates an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and yeast. And some dogs are genetically predisposed to chronic ear infections.

The secret to keeping canine ears clean and infection-free starts with a good sniff. If you don't smell anything, that's a good sign. Healthy ears don't have a bad odor. Then take a look at the ears. The skin should be a nice pinky-gray color with a thin coating of light brown wax.

If the ears smell normal and don't look dirty, there's no need to clean them. Signs of problems include redness, odor and discharge or a heavy buildup of gray wax. To deal with waxy buildup, clean the ears with a mild product recommended by your veterinarian. Ear tissue is sensitive, and harsh substances such as alcohol can irritate and dry the skin.

A bad odor and frequent head shaking suggest an infection and warrant a trip to the veterinarian so the cause of the infection can be determined and treated appropriately. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Bad pennies turn up

in zinc toxicosis cases

-- Does your dog love to swallow coins? It's not an uncommon behavior, especially in puppies, but pennies minted after 1982 are made primarily of zinc. It's an important trace element in the body, but toxic in large amounts. Besides scarfing down pocket change, other ways pets can develop zinc toxicosis include gnawing on metal crates or old window frames in vintage homes or licking skin covered in zinc oxide creams or ointments. The condition causes gastrointestinal upset and anemia and is sometimes misdiagnosed as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. If your pet has a bellyful of pennies, they may need to be removed surgically.

-- Using specially designed crash-test dog figures at a federally approved vehicle occupant testing lab, the Center for Pet Safety and Subaru of America teamed up to study the effectiveness of pet restraints for use in vehicles. The test, designed along the same lines as those used to measure the safety of car seats for children, found that only one product -- the Sleepypod ClickIt Utility Harness -- met every criterion for protecting canine crash-test dummies and, by extension, human passengers. The data gathered will be used to develop safety standards and test protocols -- which currently don't exist -- for pet car harnesses and other travel safety products. Other items being tested for performance include crates, carriers and barriers.

-- Want to learn Spanish, but you'd rather spend your time scrolling through "I Can Haz Cheezburger" photos? Now you can do both. The CatAcademy app uses funny pictures from the website to help students of the language make visual associations with vocabulary words and phrases. For instance, the Spanish phrase "necesito ayuda" (I need help) is paired with a photo of a cat stuck in a potted plant. Humor and cuteness, combined with multiple-choice tests, matching games and repetitive exercises, contribute to improved learning ability, the creators say. -- Kim Campbell Thornton and Dr. Marty 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 Kim Campbell Thornton. They are joined by professional dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

A CAT'S SENSE OF SMELL IS AS POWERFUL AS A DOG'S, BUT USED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES

By Kim Campbell Thornton and Dr. Marty Becker

How important is scent to cats? More than you might think. No one has ever been silly enough to try to put them to work finding people or substances by scent, but cats have a keen sense of smell and rely on it heavily. Unlike dogs, however, who have developed an array of scent-related careers to help people, cats use their sense of smell for more personal endeavors: to establish territory and determine where they are, to identify each other, and to whet their appetites.

Odor is crucial to a cat's feeling of comfort in the home. Cats use scent to mark territory and make a place their own. Their sebaceous glands -- located primarily on the lips, chin, between the eyes and ears, at the base of the tail and around the anus -- secrete sebum, an oily substance that is odorless to us but contains scent markers that are meaningful to cats. Urine and feces also contain these scent markers.

When you see your cat rubbing his face against your body or an object such as the refrigerator (where the food comes from!), he's laying down an invisible but scented token of possession, a signal to other cats that this person, place or thing belongs to him. Urine marking is a more odorous, and less-pleasing-to-humans, means of accomplishing the same thing.

Cats also use scent to identify and greet each other. They begin by sniffing faces and then rears. Think of it as the feline version of a handshake, and don't be offended when your cat presents his butt for you to sniff. He's just being polite -- in a catly sort of way.

Odor is also strongly linked to appetite. A cat who has lost her sense of smell will be uninterested in food. That's why feline nasal infections can be more serious than they might seem. Cats can quickly go downhill if they refuse to eat. Entice them by offering stinky canned food or warming their food before giving it to them. (Stir it well to make sure there aren't any hot spots that could burn the mouth.)

Cats also have an uncommon ability to "taste" scents, with the help of some unusual anatomical features. They have two small air passages known as the nasopalatine ducts, which are located in the roof of the mouth just behind the upper front teeth (incisors). Air in the mouth passes through the ducts, which lead to the vomeronasal, or Jacobson's, organ in the nasal cavity.

If you've ever noticed your cat give something a good sniff, wrinkle his nose and open his mouth with the lips slightly retracted, you're seeing the vomeronasal organ in action. That expression, as if he's smelling something unpleasant, is called the flehmen response. It occurs when cats encounter urine or other odors that provide information to them. Nerves run between the VNO and the area of the brain that controls sexual behavior, and scientists believe that the flehmen response helps the cat to draw in and sample more of the odor. It's seen primarily in male cats and may assist them in determining a female's reproductive status. Females are more likely to display the flehmen response when sniffing their newborn kittens. Any cat may flehmen in response to the scent of catnip, the urine of other cats or to any unfamiliar smell.

Like humans, cats find certain odors to be repulsive, but their idea of what smells bad isn't the same as ours. Orange peel and mothballs are on their "do not sniff" list.

Which odors do cats love best? Catnip, of course, and, strangely, garlic and onion. And if you are lucky, your cat's favorite scent is you.

Q&A

Pets with cancer

can respond well

to chemotherapy

Q: My dog has been diagnosed with cancer, and the oncologist recommends chemotherapy. He says that chemo isn't as hard on pets as it is on people. Is that true? Will my dog lose his hair or have other side effects? -- via email

A: We're sorry to hear about your dog's diagnosis. People are often hesitant to have their dogs undergo chemotherapy -- the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells -- but it can be an effective treatment with fewer side effects than those seen in humans.

Cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrollably, causing abnormal tissue to develop. Chemotherapy drugs affect not only the abnormal and rapidly growing cancer cells, but also other areas of the body that produce normal rapidly growing cells. Think bone marrow, which produces red blood cells; the lining of the intestinal tract, which sheds old cells and generates new ones frequently; and hair, which grows rapidly. That's why people who receive chemotherapy often suffer painful or unsightly side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, hair loss and weakness. The trade-off is that the high doses they receive improve their response to therapy.

The difference in dogs and cats is the amount of chemotherapy that's given. The goal is to provide additional time but not at the expense of quality of life. Most pets do not experience serious side effects from the treatment. Sometimes they are tired afterward or may experience nausea. If that happens, the oncologist (cancer specialist) may prescribe Cerenia, a drug that helps with motion sickness in animals and can relieve the nausea and fatigue caused by chemotherapy. Mild gastrointestinal side effects can be managed with a bland diet. And hair loss is rare in dogs.

Depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can decrease tumor size, prolong life and sometimes lead to complete remission. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Feral cats dodge coyotes

by staying close to people

-- City-dwelling feral cats have canny survival skills, according to a new study published in the online journal PLOS ONE. Lead author Stan Gehrt, associate professor of environment and natural resources at Ohio State University, says researchers monitored the health, home ranges and habitat selections of 39 feral and stray cats in the greater Chicago area, which also has a dense population of urban coyotes. They discovered the cats avoided natural areas in the city because of the coyote presence and thus caused less damage than previously thought to wildlife in parks and nature preserves. The cats also lived longer and were healthier than expected.

-- Researchers at UCLA say genetic analysis shows that European hunter-gatherers domesticated wolves more than 18,000 years ago, with the canines gradually evolving into the dogs we know today. In an article published Nov. 15 in the journal Science, Robert Wayne, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in UCLA's College of Letters and Science and senior author of the research, says: "We found that instead of recent wolves being closest to domestic dogs, ancient European wolves were directly related to them. This brings the genetic record into agreement with the archaeological record. Europe is where the oldest dogs are found."

-- Ferrets, especially those in shelters, are vulnerable to canine distemper virus, but The Xavier -- A Ferret Abroad Canine Distemper Fund is raising money to help ferret shelters prevent outbreaks and treat the animals if they do become ill. Plush ferret ambassadors travel the world, visiting people who make donations. Headquartered on Facebook, the fund was established last year and is administered by the nonprofit Ferret Association of Connecticut. It provides vaccination grants and emergency medical grants to any ferret shelter in the world that belongs to The Xavier -- A Ferret Abroad Facebook group. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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 Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

TEACH YOUR DOG HOW TO USE HIS NOSE FOR GOOD SCENTS

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Have you ever wished there was a dog sport that anyone -- and any dog -- could do? Wish no more. Nose work is what you've been looking for. If your dog can eat treats out of a box or has a favorite toy, he can excel at this fun sport. Purebreds and mixed breeds of all ages, sizes and abilities are finding a place in nose work classes and competitions.

The object of the game is for the dog to find a particular odor -- birch, anise or clove -- and alert his handler to the find by sitting, looking at the person or displaying some other signal. It can be played indoors or outdoors on all types of surfaces. Weather or environmental factors such as wind, rain, snow, air conditioners or heating vents affect the dispersal of scent and the difficulty of the find.

Nose work, which was invented in 2006 by three California dog trainers, isn't just a way for your dog to use his sniffer. It helps shy or fearful dogs learn confidence, strengthens the bond between dog and handler, and permits older dogs to remain active and interested in life.

In this sport, the dog takes the lead. It's his nose that does the work, after all. Both dog and handler must learn to read and respond to the subtleties of each other's body language, and dogs must learn to overcome distractions, handler interference and individual fears, such as shiny floors or tight corners.

For people, it can be difficult to step back and not try to direct the dog. The word "No" is off the table, as are any other corrections and obedience commands. Letting the dog work and believing him when he gives the alert signal is easier said than done, but you'll find that practice enriches communication between you and your dog.

It's essential to reward the dog for finds. That's where treats -- or a favorite toy -- come in. Dogs start by finding an open box on the floor filled with treats. They get to eat the treats out of the box, plus they get more treats and praise when they find the container. Even if he needs a little help, the dog is always rewarded for finding a scent.

Gradually, scent is paired with the treats in the box. As the dog progresses, he's eventually searching for scent alone, but he always gets rewarded with treats or a favorite toy and praise when he makes a find. That's a big ego boost for any dog, but it especially benefits dogs with little confidence. It's not unusual to see shy or timid dogs become excited about searches after just a couple of classes.

Got a dog who barks or snarls at his fellow canines? That's not a problem in nose work. Each dog works individually while the others are out of sight in a car or crate. They might see each other in passing, but class members learn quickly which dogs need more space and then work together to accommodate their needs. Even after the dog learns the basics, most people continue to go to class for practice and camaraderie.

Nose work is a game that you can do just for fun, but it also has a competitive element. After passing an Odor Recognition Test (ORT) proving that the dog has the ability to find and recognize a particular odor, dog/handler teams can compete for titles at different levels: NW1, NW2, NW3 and NW3 Elite. Find classes through the National Association of Canine Scent Work, which held its first national trial earlier this year.

Q&A

Diarrhea in cats has

many possible causes

Q: Why does my cat get diarrhea, and what should I do about it? Is it serious? -- via email

A: At one time or another, every cat owner experiences the foul-smelling loose stools produced by cats with diarrhea. It's one of the most common problems seen in cats, but diarrhea has many different causes. If you'll excuse the pun, figuring out the cause of diarrhea is a process of elimination.

Kittens often have diarrhea caused by intestinal parasites, such as roundworms. A sudden change in diet, eating rich foods, food allergies, gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria or viruses, pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease are other common causes of diarrhea. Possible causes of diarrhea in aging cats include hyperthyroidism or alimentary lymphoma.

Occasional diarrhea usually isn't serious. Whether a case of "the runs" warrants a trip to the veterinarian depends on several factors. If your adult cat who goes outdoors is eating well and acting normally, you can probably wait a couple of days to see if the situation improves. He may just have "garbage gut" from eating a dead mouse. Anxiety caused by guests in the home or other environmental changes can also trigger a bout of diarrhea.

If you have a kitten or a senior cat, and diarrhea persists for more than a couple of days, or if your cat has bloody diarrhea, he needs to see the veterinarian. Very young and very old cats can quickly become dehydrated if they have diarrhea. You should also be concerned if your cat isn't eating, seems lethargic and is vomiting in addition to the diarrhea.

With an examination and some detective work, your veterinarian can determine whether your cat's diarrhea needs to be treated with antibiotics, a hypoallergenic diet or probiotics. A diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease may call for corticosteroid injections, while diarrhea caused by intestinal cancer may be resolved with chemotherapy. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

Less costly treatment

plan for pups with parvo

-- Canine parvovirus is a terrible intestinal infection that can kill dogs, especially puppies, if left untreated. Unfortunately, treatment in a veterinary hospital, while it has the best survival rate, is often very expensive, running between $1,500 and $3,000. Now veterinarians at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital have developed a new outpatient protocol with an 85 percent survival rate, compared to 90 percent for the more costly inpatient treatment. While it requires a high level of nursing care from the owner, as well as close supervision by the pet's regular veterinarian, the cost is only $200 to $300. Veterinarians can contact CSU for details of the protocol.

-- A proposed Massachusetts law would require towns and cities in the state to put emergency evacuation and shelter plans in place for animals. Laws like this are currently on the books in 13 states, inspired by the large numbers of people who died rather than abandon their pets during Hurricane Katrina. Such loyalty to animals can put the lives of first responders at risk as well, which is why the federal Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act requires states that accept money for homeland security to incorporate disaster plans for animals. The new law would give municipalities in Massachusetts one year to develop such plans.

-- What's louder: an animal shelter or a jackhammer? Unfortunately for homeless pets, many shelters measure in at around 118 decibels, louder than a subway train or a jackhammer, and higher than the 90-decibel OSHA cutoff for required ear protection for human workers. Peak sound levels occur at feeding and cleaning times. Considering that dogs hear three times better than humans do, that's a considerable animal welfare concern. Studies have shown that canine respiration and heart rates go up in noisy environments, and they have an increased incidence of both physical and behavior problems. -- Christie Keith

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 Kim Campbell Thornton. They are joined by professional dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.