FIVE WAYS TO RING IN A NEW YEAR FOR YOUR PET

By Kim Campbell Thornton and Dr. Marty Becker

Got your New Year's resolutions ready yet? Yeah, we don't either. A good place to start, though, is with your pet. Helping your cat or dog change his life for the better has benefits for both of you. A healthier, happier pet not only puts less pressure on your wallet, but also brings more smiles to your face multiple times a day. Here are some ideas to get you started.

-- Brush those teeth. Keeping your pet's pearly whites clean isn't just about improving his breath, although that is definitely a bonus. Brushing your pet's teeth several times a week (yes, cats, too) prevents the buildup of plaque and tartar, which trap bacteria and eventually cause periodontal disease. Brushing reduces the number of bacteria circulating through your pet's system and helps ensure that he keeps more of his teeth into old age. Dentures aren't an option for him, after all.

-- Watch his weight. Does your dog or cat look like a plump cocktail wiener on toothpicks? That's not normal or healthy. Use your eyes and hands to determine if Roxy or Snowball could stand to lose a few pounds.

Dr. Tony Buffington, a veterinarian, nutrition specialist and professor in the department of veterinary clinical sciences at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbus says that when you look at a pet from the side, you should see an abdomen that's tucked up, not hanging low. As you look down at him, you should see an hourglass figure, with the waist curving inward just before the hind legs. When you pet your dog or cat on the side or back, you should be able to feel the ribs or spinal bumps, but not see them.

-- Measure your pet's food. This is one of the easiest ways to help a dog or cat slim down. Instead of leaving food out all the time, give a set amount once or twice a day. Use the recommendation on the bag or can as a starting point, but recognize that individual animals have different metabolisms and may need more or less than the suggested amount. Ask your veterinarian's advice about how much your pet should be eating, and don't be afraid to experiment.

-- Start an exercise plan. Getting off the couch and on the move is good for both of you. Take a brisk walk or play a rousing game of fetch. For cats, dangle or pull a fishing-pole toy for them to chase. Wriggle the pole a little so the object on the end of the string resembles a bug or other critter scurrying along the ground. Your dog may enjoy this kind of play, too, as long as you don't let him know he's chasing a cat toy.

Better yet, have your dog or cat "work" for his meals by hiding small amounts of food around the house (this works only if you have a single pet), placing food up high -- on a washer or dryer, for instance -- so cats have to make an effort to get to it, or placing kibble in puzzle toys that pets must manipulate to make the food come out. These are all good ways to exercise your furry predator's body and brain and make his day more interesting, especially if you're off at work and he has nothing else to do.

-- Make time for him. When your pet nudges your hand or bumps you with his head, don't just automatically hand him a treat. Instead, reward him with a scratch between the ears or a few minutes of play. You'll both be better for it.

Q&A

Newspaper habit

frustrates owner

Q: I recently adopted a stray cat. For the most part, she is adjusting well to life in our home, but she has one problem that's driving me crazy. She urinates inside the litter box, but she defecates on the newspapers I've placed beneath it. I've tried adding two more boxes, but she's not getting the message. Do you have any suggestions? -- B.G., via email

A: Cats can definitely be quirky when it comes to using the litter box. You are doing all the right things, but let's see if we can dig a little deeper for a solution.

What type of litter are you using? You might try offering different types of litter in the other boxes. Your cat might be fine with peeing on clay litter, but prefer to defecate in a box filled with sandy clumping litter.

You might also try presenting her with one of the litters made from recycled paper. For whatever reason, she may simply like its texture and smell. It's made to produce little dust and it's nontoxic. Be sure you don't fill the box with too much of it. Keep the level at 2 to 3 inches, or it may be difficult to find your cat's deposits. You can even try lining the litter box with sheets of newspaper, lifting them out and tossing them as they're used.

Finally, try scooping the box as soon as you know it has been used. Your cat may not like defecating in the box if it already has urine in it. If that's not possible, consider investing in a box that automatically scoops the litter after every use. You both might be happier. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Friends with benefits?

Cats, dogs have your back

-- Pets are just as good as people when it comes to providing the social support we need for psychological and physical well being. A Miami University (Ohio) department of psychology study published in the December 2011 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology showed that pet owners had more self-esteem and got more exercise than non-pet owners and were more conscientious and less fearful. The study also found that having a pet helped ward off negative feelings caused by social rejection. Who's the better friend -- a cat or a dog? It doesn't matter; living with either one will make you happier and healthier.

-- Love to travel, but miss your pet while you're gone? If you're in Maui, you can lessen your loneliness with a visit to the Maui Humane Society. Its Helping Paws Visitor Program allows tourists to walk dogs, bathe puppies, groom cats or socialize puppies and kittens by playing with them. Visitors can participate on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. after attending a brief orientation. You'll get a warm, fuzzy feeling from helping out, as well as a Pampered Paws certificate from Spa Grande at Grand Wailea, entitling you to 15 percent off any regularly priced spa treatment.

-- Miley the cat has a special job: He's mascot and chief calming agent at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Community Living Center. A beloved fixture at the CLC's hospice unit, he arrived by way of the San Francisco SPCA, which found him living rough at a housing project. The cat takes his name from Fort Miley in San Francisco, where the center is located. The 7-year-old tabby, who has been on the job for three years, welcomes new patients, naps with residents, greets visitors at the elevator and escorts them to rooms, and goes on rounds to check in on his "purrsonnel." -- 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.

THE BEST PERSON TO MAKE THE PICK MIGHT BE SOMEONE ELSE

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Would you let someone else choose a dog for you? I have done so twice, and both times I hit the proverbial jackpot.

The first was when my family purchased a tricolor cavalier puppy from a breeder overseas. She emailed us photos and then shipped Darcy to us. We loved her. Her only flaw was succumbing too early to the heart disease that stalks her breed.

The second time was last year. When our black-and-tan cavalier Twyla died last November, I wasn't sure I was ready for another cavalier just yet. The two shelter dogs I inquired about through Petfinder didn't pan out. Fostering for my friend Maryanne Dell, who does rescue through her Shamrock Foundation, seemed like a good compromise.

"Do you want me to look for one that you might potentially adopt?" Maryanne asked. "Tell me what you're looking for, in case I run across a dog that might be a fit."

I asked for a dog that was 4 to 6 years old, so our 5-year-old cavalier, Harper, could have a playmate. As far as size, I was interested in going a little bigger than a cavalier, say, up to 30 pounds. Our rule is that we have to be able to carry the dog up and down the stairs in the event that it becomes sick or injured or is debilitated in old age. I preferred a spaniel type, but I didn't want a dog with a really heavy coat. And in a perfect world, the dog wouldn't be much of a barker, since we live in a condo and stay frequently in hotels with our dogs.

What she brought us was a six-pound ball of short black fur with a long, narrow bare patch on her back, a pointy gray muzzle and a howl that suggested she was part banshee. Labeled a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix, she had been pulled from the shelter in Riverside, Calif., and was estimated to be 12 or 13 years old. She was a doll, though, and I told Maryanne I would be happy to foster her for as long as necessary.

Gemma, as I named her, arrived on Jan. 23. By Feb. 8, she was sleeping on the bed. Her fur started growing back, and we soon discovered that she had a beautiful long black coat with a ruff around her neck and pantaloons on her legs.

My friends, I suspect, were taking bets on how long it would be before we adopted her. We made it official on March 19, signing the adoption papers that made her ours.

"Who didn't see that coming?" one of my friends remarked.

What are the advantages of letting someone else choose your dog? It can be a good idea whether you are purchasing from a breeder or adopting from a shelter.

--A breeder has been watching her puppies for a minimum of eight weeks. If you accurately describe your personality and lifestyle, she is going to be able to tell you which puppy is upbeat and active and will make a great jogging buddy, and which one is easygoing enough to enjoy being a couch potato with you.

-- Shelter employees, rescue volunteers and foster owners have been observing their charges for weeks as well. Tell them what you want in a dog, and they can often steer you to the one that will suit you best.

-- And sometimes, what you think you want and what turns out to be perfect for you are two very different things.

I've told Maryanne that she can pick a dog out for me any time.

Q&A

Hypoallergenic dogs:

myths vs. facts

Q: Where can I get a hypoallergenic dog? -- via Facebook

A: It's one of our pet peeves that certain breeds and mixes are described as "hypoallergenic," meaning they don't cause reactions in people who are allergic to pets. In truth, there's no such thing.

Poodles are the original hypoallergenic breed, touted as such because their curly coat has a long growth cycle and thus takes longer to shed. For that reason, poodles are often crossed with other breeds to create dogs that are believed to be hypoallergenic, such as goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and Maltipoos. It's not shedding hair that causes allergies, however; it's dander -- dead skin cells shed naturally by all mammals, including humans.

Peter J. Ihrke, V.M.D., a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatologists and professor of dermatology at the University of California, Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine, says: "To my knowledge, no scientific data support the claim that crossbreeds or any other breeds are less or more allergenic than any other dog. All evidence suggests that allergy to dogs in humans is associated with a reaction to dander. All dogs shed dander, and I can think of no scientific reason that these dogs would be less likely to induce allergy in humans."

A study published in the July-August 2011 issue of the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy found that the level of dog allergen in homes with dogs described as hypoallergenic did not differ from that in homes with non-hypoallergenic dogs.

People and dogs are individuals, and there is anecdotal evidence that some people with allergies react less severely to some dogs, but responsible breeders of crossbreeds and purebreds never guarantee that a pet will be hypoallergenic. If you have allergies to dogs, visit several breeders or people who have the breed or crossbreed you're interested in to make sure you can live comfortably with them before committing to a puppy. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

Going the extra mile:

Pets make amazing trips

-- We often see news stories of pets who have trekked hundreds of miles to get back home after becoming lost. How do they do it? Science is still trying to answer that question. Migratory animals use magnetic fields, scent cues and orientation of the sun, but the navigational ability of dogs and cats has been little studied. It's known, however, that they have mental mapmaking skills, good observational abilities, and fantastic senses of smell and hearing, and those capabilities no doubt play a role in allowing them to find home, even from someplace they've never been.

-- Researchers at Emory University used functional MRI to capture brain images of 13 alert, unrestrained dogs. During the scans, the dogs, who were trained to willingly enter the MRI machine and remain still, watched a person giving hand signals indicating whether the dog would or would not receive a treat.

According to the research, published by PLOS One, most of the dogs had a positive response in the caudate region of the brain -- associated with decision-making, motivation and processing emotions -- when signaled that they would receive a hot dog. The research lays the foundation for exploring canine neural biology and cognitive processes.

-- Got separation anxiety? No, not your pet -- you. If you miss interacting with Rover or Ruffles when you're at work or on vacation, the PetChatz two-way petcam is for you. The unit, which should be available in early 2014, allows owners to "call" pets, talk to them and even dispense treats from a hidden compartment. Pets can learn to respond to the ring, but whether they recognize the person on the screen is a matter of conjecture. But Lisa Lavin, a veterinary technician and co-developer of the device, says what's important is the boost to an owner's emotional welfare. -- 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 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.

CHECKING YOUR PET'S MOUTH REGULARLY IS ESSENTIAL FOR ORAL HEALTH

A couple of years ago, I had a pet owner bring in an adult cat because it was meowing differently. That's not much to go on, but I did a complete physical exam and found nothing. Subsequent blood work also came back normal. Then I recommended sedation, so that we could get radiographs. Again, we found nothing abnormal, so I suggested that we keep the cat and do medical rounds with the rest of the staff.

When the three veterinarians and a couple of vet techs gathered and went over the history, we decided to start at the tip of the cat's nose and proceed with another detailed exam. This time, I took a pair of hemostats and gently tapped the cat's teeth, starting in the front.

When I got to the cat's left upper fang and barely touched it, the cat just about shot up into orbit. We could find nothing else wrong on the repeat exam. We then did digital dental radiographs and saw that the root of the tooth was abscessed. After we surgically removed the infected tooth, the cat acted as if it had been relieved of incredible pain.

What started out as a different meow turned out to be a serious problem that was only relieved after a lot of detective work. Oral problems in dogs and cats aren't always visible at first glance.

Pets don't have any way of telling us that something is wrong, and it's natural for them to hide signs of weakness or pain so they don't become targets of predators. It's up to us as owners and veterinarians to be aware of changes in behavior that could signal pain or illness and to look beneath the surface for potential causes of problems. Here are some obvious and not-so-obvious signs that your cat or dog has a painful mouth, and some of the conditions that might be causing the problem:

-- Inflamed gums or tartar buildup on the teeth. Your pet may have gingivitis -- inflammation of the gums -- or periodontal disease. Left untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontal disease, which causes teeth to become infected and loose.

-- Bad breath or a bad smell in the mouth area. Repeat after me: It's not normal for pets to have bad breath or any other bad odors. In the mouth area, it can signal dental disease or an infection of the lip folds in heavy-lipped breeds such as basset hounds, cocker spaniels or Saint Bernards. Bad breath can also be associated with kidney disease.

-- Drooling. This is another sign of periodontal disease, as well as of mouth infections and foreign bodies, such as splinters or burrs stuck in the mouth. Bad breath and drooling can also be signs of oral cancer.

-- Change in eating habits. If your dog or cat is reluctant to eat or picks up pieces of food and then drops them, there's a good chance that his mouth hurts. He may have a broken tooth or a sore mouth from a type of inflammation called stomatitis.

-- Swelling. A tooth with an abscessed root is filled with pus that can cause swelling beneath the eye or a nasty condition called an oral-nasal fistula, which occurs when an abscessed tooth breaks into the nasal cavity, allowing food and water to move from the mouth into the nose and come back out through the nose. Yuck!

Don't let your dog or cat get down in the mouth! Examine his mouth monthly for signs of problems, such as redness, loose teeth and painful areas. You may need to put your money where his mouth is to avoid future problems.

Q&A

Spay technique offers

option for dog owners

Q: I heard about a new way of spaying dogs that's supposed to be easier on them than the traditional surgery. Can you tell me more about it? -- via email

A: Spay surgery -- known technically as an ovariohysterectomy -- is the removal of the ovaries and uterus through an abdominal incision. It's usually done when puppies are 6 to 9 months old, although it can be done as early as 8 weeks of age or at any time in adulthood.

The procedure you ask about is called an ovariectomy, and it involves removing only the ovaries. It's done laparoscopically, meaning the surgeon makes two tiny incisions: one for placement of a small camera so the organs can be seen, and one for inserting instruments to remove the ovaries.

Called a "lap spay" for short, the technique is associated with less pain and a more rapid recovery time than traditional spay surgery. If you've had laparoscopic surgery yourself, you probably know how quickly you feel better afterward. The lap spay doesn't require as much manipulation of the organs, so it is easier to perform. It's well-suited to young dogs because they are usually healthy and not overweight.

The drawback is that lap spays aren't yet widely available and can be more expensive than traditional spays. Veterinarians who perform the procedure must first undergo advanced training and obtain specialized equipment.

Before scheduling your dog for one, ask how many lap spays the veterinarian has performed and what the success rates were. If you have pet health insurance for your dog, the plan won't cover the surgery itself, but it may cover the price difference, since lap spays usually have fewer complications. It can't hurt to ask. -- Kim Campbell Thornton and Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

Researchers identify key gene

in canine, human diseases

-- A researcher at the University of California, Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine has identified the gene that causes a condition in Weimaraners known as spinal dysraphism. It's an inherited neural tube defect that causes the dogs to "bunny hop" with their back legs instead of moving normally. Dr. Noa Safra, whose findings were published in July 2013 in the journal PLoS Genetics, says the disease could be eliminated in the breed once a DNA test for the mutation is developed. The discovery also has benefits for human medicine. University of Iowa pediatricians who collaborated in the study found the same gene to be mutated in children with spina bifida.

-- Dalmatian puppies look white when they are born. Their spots, which can be black or liver-colored (ranging from a light reddish-brown to a dark chocolate brown), don't start to appear until they are approximately 2 weeks old.

-- Call us old-fashioned, but we still think books are great gifts. If you are looking for presents for pet lovers, here are some suggestions:

"Beautiful Old Dogs," edited by David Tabatsky with photographs by the late Garry Gross, is a collection of essays, poems and images celebrating our senior best friends.

Booklist calls "Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words," written by John W. Pilley Jr., Ph.D., a marvelous blend of good science and heartwarming dog story.

Children ages 8 to 12 will enjoy "Anton and Cecil: Cats at Sea," by Lisa Martin and Valerie Martin, illustrated by Kelly Murphy. The New York Times Book Review calls it remarkable for its delicate use of language and watertight descriptions of seafaring and says the story is engrossing and unpredictable. -- 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.