YOU CAN USE CLICKER-TRAINING TECHNIQUES TO TEACH TRICKS TO POCKET-SIZE PETS

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Can your ferret play basketball? Your rabbit race through weave poles? Your pot-bellied pig complete an obedience routine? Well, why not? These animals, as well as guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils and more, can all learn to amaze your friends and family by performing tricks and other behaviors on cue. Think it can't be done? So do most people, until they try it, says behavioral biologist and learning authority Karen Pryor of Watertown, Mass.

Using a clicker, you can teach "pocket pets" to raise a paw, go through hoops, stand up on their hind legs and put their paws on a box, put a pingpong ball in a miniature basket and play basketball, and pull on a string to turn a light on and off, Pryor says.

Clicker training involves marking a desired behavior with a sound -- made by pressing down on the clicker -- and then rewarding the animal with a favorite treat, toy or praise. Pets learn quickly that the sound of the clicker means they've done something you like and that a reward is forthcoming.

Teaching the animal to touch or follow a target, such as a wooden spoon or a chopstick, is usually the first step. Hold it out, and when the animal moves forward to sniff it, click and give a favorite treat, something the animal loves that he doesn't get on an everyday basis. Even timid animals who aren't hand-tame can be willing to approach the target.

"Click the instant they touch or sniff or even look at the target," Pryor says. "Then give them a treat. Don't make them come to you -- just drop it in a little dish so they can get it without having to come near you. It's just temporary because as soon as they figure out what they're doing is making you click, they're going to stop being afraid of you.

"As soon as they'll come to the target or follow the target, you can do anything you want with them. You can teach them to jump over your foot, go through a tunnel -- you can have an agility course on the kitchen floor. Many people have taught guinea pigs and rabbits to weave through poles," says Pryor.

Teach tricks that are appropriate for your pet. For instance, ferrets are good with their paws and can learn to pick up things, while guinea pigs and rabbits are better suited to pushing items with their noses or hopping in and out of weave poles.

Laura Bourhenne, a dog and exotic animal trainer with Animal Attraction Unlimited in Woodland Hills, Calif., says teaching a nose touch is good for all animals, especially if you can train them to do it for an extended time.

"The behavior can be used to keep the animal still during a vet exam," she says. "And if I know how an animal looks when it turns in a circle and then that behavior changes or the animal won't do it when asked for it, then that can give me a big clue when something is off in the animal's body."

Teaching tricks has other practical benefits. Your pet can learn to come when called -- very useful when a pocket pet has escaped from his cage -- to move to a specific place, making it easier to clean his cage, and to be willing to sit still for handling, which comes in handy if you need to trim his nails or take him to the veterinarian.

Q&A

Hair loss can signal

allergies or disease

Q: My Doberman is losing hair on his back, the sides of his legs and his tail. Help! -- via email

A: All dogs lose hair normally by shedding, but some health conditions cause extreme hair loss, such as patchy areas, bald spots and complete lack of regrowth. It's easy to tell the difference between normal shedding and abnormal hair loss: Normal shedding doesn't cause bald spots. In the case of your Doberman, you may be dealing with allergies or an endocrine disease such as hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone deficiency).

Dogs with allergies may itch like crazy, so much so that they literally pull their hair out from scratching or chewing at their skin (known as traumatic hair loss). They may also do this if they're itching from external parasites such as fleas or mange mites.

With hypothyroidism, which is common in Dobermans, the hair falls out spontaneously or simply fails to regrow after it has been clipped. Usually the hair loss occurs on both sides of the body, and what hair is left feels dry and brittle. Dogs with hypothyroidism may also have unusually thick, dry skin, and they become cold easily. The bad skin and hair coat occur late in the disease, though.

My colleague Jean Dodds, DVM, who has studied hypothyroidism extensively, says important early signs of hypothyroidism are unexplained weight gain and sudden behavior changes, such as unusual aggression or submissiveness.

Figuring out why your dog is losing hair requires a visit to the veterinarian for a complete physical exam and laboratory testing, which may include blood work to check for thyroid function, serum cholesterol levels and the presence of thyroglobulin autoantibodies; a skin biopsy; or allergy tests.

If your Doberman is suffering from hypothyroidism or some other endocrine disorder, he can be easily treated with medication, but treatment must continue for the rest of his life. Allergies can usually be managed with dietary changes, medication or allergy shots. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

Pets need extra care

during winter chill

-- Contrary to popular belief, pets' fur coats don't make them immune to the cold. Protect pets from winter's onslaught by shortening walks in extremely cold weather and bringing them indoors when temps drop below freezing, even if they have long or thick coats. Animals who are old or arthritic are more at risk of falling on snow or ice, and pets with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or Cushing's disease may have difficulty regulating their body temperature, so it's important to protect them when they go outdoors. And cat lovers: Knock on the hood before starting your car to make sure you scare out any cats who may have sought shelter inside your vehicle when the engine was warm.

-- Live poultry and tiny turtles were the culprits in three multistate salmonella outbreaks affecting 987 people last year, the Centers for Disease Control reports. Two outbreaks were linked to contact with live chicks and one with pet turtles whose shells are smaller than the legally permitted size of four inches. Children are at higher risk than adults of salmonella infection. Of the people sickened, 70 percent were children 10 years or younger, and 31 percent were 1 year or younger. Any time you handle live poultry or turtles, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

-- Veterinarians at Colorado State University's James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital are studying a new stem-cell therapy that could provide a new treatment option for cats with chronic kidney disease. Earlier studies of the approach showed that it could decrease inflammation, promote regeneration of damaged cells, and improve kidney function. Animals participating in the study are not harmed. -- Kim Campbell Thornton and Dr. Marty Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by "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.

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.

WINTER WEATHER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR AND INDOOR FUN

With the Midwest and Eastern U.S. experiencing deep freezes this winter, plenty of dogs and their people will either be reveling in the snow or huddling by the fireplace trying to stay warm. Snow sports are a great way to take the edge off if you have an energetic dog who loves the outdoors, and you indoor types -- canine and human -- have options as well.

Of course, you and your dog can go for walks or hikes in the snow, but you might want to try snow-specific sports such as snowshoeing and skijoring. These activities are naturals for Nordic breeds, including Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies, but any athletic, conditioned dog can enjoy them.

Snowshoeing is as simple as strapping on a pair of snowshoes and striding out. Your dog doesn't need them; his paws are already equipped for traversing the snow.

Cross-country skiers with a need for speed may want to try skijoring: being pulled by one to three dogs. You'll need a skijoring belt or harness for yourself, a sled-dog harness for your dog, and an 8-foot or longer line to connect the two.

Any dog who loves to pull can skijor, but if he weighs less than 35 pounds, expect to provide most of the propulsion yourself.

Your dog will need to learn the commands "hike" (start), "haw" (left), "gee" (right), "on by" (ignore those squirrels) and "whoa" (no explanation necessary). Practice without skis first so you don't accidentally get pulled into a tree.

Places you can snowshoe or skijor include your neighborhood, golf courses, some wilderness areas or national and state park trails, or Nordic or snowshoe centers.

Avoid snowmobiling trails; there's too much risk of accidents when you're sharing the path with motorized vehicles. Know the rules wherever you're going and obey them. Dogs may be required to be on leash so they don't frighten or knock over others.

Does your dog need clothing in frigid weather? Veterinarian and canine sports medicine expert M. Christine Zink says a dog exercising continuously shouldn't need a coat because he creates his own heat. If your dog is out in the cold but not exerting a lot of energy, choose lightweight, stretchy items that don't restrict front-leg movement.

"Most that are non-stretchy restrict front-leg movement," Dr. Zink says. "That wastes energy and can even cause injuries if used a lot."

She also advises protecting a male dog's penis and testicles from the cold. You can find special coats made for field dogs that cover those vulnerable areas. He'll thank you for it.

Booties can be beneficial if your dog will be walking on salt-covered surfaces or has hairy feet that will collect ice balls, but only if they fit well, are comfortable and don't rub against the dog's paws. If your dog doesn't wear boots, soak his paws for a few seconds in a bowl of water to remove ice-melter chemicals.

Finally, be sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water. He can quickly dehydrate in cold, dry weather.

Rather stay indoors with your dog? Take a handful of kibble or tiny treats, scatter it on the floor, and say "Find it." Some people feed whole meals this way. Play the muffin-tin game: Place a treat in each cup of a muffin tin and cover some of them with tennis balls or other dog toys. Then let your dog have at it. See how long it takes him to find the covered treats.

Whatever you do, be safe, have fun and snuggle often!

Q&A

Fur factors: Diet and

grooming improve coat

Q: My cat's coat is kind of dry and not very shiny. Is there any way I can improve it? What about supplements? -- via email

A: A cat's coat is more than a beautiful covering. It not only keeps the cat warm, it also helps to protect the skin from environmental or chemical damage. Healthy skin and hair offer better protection than dull, dry skin and hair. Hair also serves as an environmental sensor for cats, alerting them to heat or other threats.

If your cat's coat is rough, dull, dry or brittle, take her to the veterinarian. If he rules out ringworm or other health problems, the fault may lie in your cat's diet or grooming routine.

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need high-quality protein and fat from meat. The body needs protein to produce hair and fat for shine and to improve absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Whether you feed a canned or dry food, it should have a protein content ranging from 34 percent to 53 percent. Simply feeding a high-quality diet may be the only change you need to make to improve your cat's coat.

Can supplements make your cat's coat even better? If you are feeding a good food, supplements won't help and can even throw the diet out of whack if they're given in large amounts. It's more cost-effective to spend a little more on a high-quality diet than to try to supplement one that doesn't contain enough protein.

Supplements can be a good call if your cat has a disease that changes her ability to digest and absorb food or that requires her to eat a low-fat diet. Your veterinarian can recommend one that's right for your cat.

You can also improve your cat's coat from the outside by brushing and combing the fur to remove dirt and dead hairs. Specialized glands beneath the skin produce sebum, an oily substance that coats and waterproofs the hairs. Brushing distributes sebum and helps make the coat shiny. Weekly brushing is plenty for shorthaired cats. Depending on the breed, longhaired cats may need to be brushed a couple of times a week or daily. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

The poop: Dogs sensitive

to Earth's magnetic field

-- We know that several animal species align their bodies to the Earth's magnetic field lines when performing certain behaviors such as grazing, hunting or migrating, but until now it wasn't known whether dogs did the same thing. In a two-year study published in Frontiers in Zoology, European researchers proved magnetic sensitivity in dogs by measuring the direction faced by 70 dogs of 37 different breeds when defecating or urinating and comparing the data to geomagnetic conditions at the time. Turns out that when the Earth's magnetic field is calm -- only about 20 percent of the daylight period -- dogs prefer to line up along the north-south axis.

-- Got dust? And dogs? Good news! Your child may have less risk of developing asthma and allergies. A new study suggests that exposure to dust from homes with dogs may change the immune response to allergens and other asthma triggers by affecting the makeup of the bugs that inhabit the gut: the microbiome. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that dog-associated house dust can play a key role in preventing allergic inflammation. They help demonstrate how environmental exposures may protect against airway allergens and asthma.

-- An 85-pound black Labrador retriever named Bubba was killed recently at his home in Glendale, Calif., likely by a mountain lion. The big cats are capable of bringing down 150-pound deer and have been known to drag 100-pound deer into trees to dine on them at their leisure. Bubba was dragged over a 3 1/2-foot wall. To protect your pets from predators, don't leave pet food or water outdoors at night and keep pets indoors after dark. Motion-sensitive lights can also scare away the predators. -- 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 Twiwtter at MikkelBecker.

WANT YOUR DOGS TO BE WELCOME WHEN YOU TRAVEL? PLAN AHEAD AND BE CONSIDERATE

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Many of us travel during the holidays to visit family or to experience the beauty of a celebration in a favorite place. We did both over the Christmas holiday, packing up the dogs for a road trip to Santa Fe, N.M., for the Yule festivities, followed by a visit with family in Magdalena.

Dogs are part of my family, but bringing them along requires a good bit of packing and preparation, not to mention higher than normal levels of supervision. Our 6-year-old cavalier, Harper, is an experienced traveler who took her first plane ride when she was just 6 months old, but senior dog Gemma and foster dog Kibo were unknown quantities as far as staying in hotels or other people's homes.

I'm happy to say that they acquitted themselves respectably during their stays in three different hotels, four different rooms, and visits to two different homes, including one with other dogs. There was a close call in a hotel hallway and in one of the homes, but a sharp eye and quick responses ensured that we didn't have any potty accidents to clean up along the way. From 20 years of traveling with dogs, here are my best tips on having a successful trip at any time of year.

-- Reserve a room early at a pet-friendly hotel, especially if you are visiting a tourist destination such as Santa Fe. The streets were crowded with visitors, and we weren't the only ones with dogs. Confirm that the room is pet-friendly a few weeks beforehand.

-- If you're driving to your destination, fill a gallon jug with water from home and mix it with the tap water at the places you visit. Even though the water is treated, different areas have different "bugs" in the system, and your dog will be less likely to have stomach upset from the change.

-- Some dogs suffer motion sickness. If yours is one of them, ask your veterinarian about Cerenia to prevent nausea and vomiting. Give it with a small amount of food half an hour to an hour before you hit the road.

-- Make feeding time easy, especially if you feed an unusual brand or a raw diet. Before you leave, contact pet-supply stores at your destination to make sure they carry your dog's food in case you run out. We pack dehydrated food and just add warm water.

-- Even the best-trained dog can have an accident in a strange place or get sick and vomit or suffer diarrhea. Bring along a bottle of odor and stain remover and towels for cleanup -- don't use the hotel's towels or the ones in your sister-in-law's bathroom!

-- A hard and fast rule for us is that all dogs must empty their bladders before setting paw in hotel or home. That's especially important if you're visiting a home (or hotel) where there are other dogs.

-- When visiting family, let the dogs meet outdoors before they all go inside. Gemma grouses in the presence of strange dogs, but once she has a few minutes to adjust -- and realize she's in their territory -- she settles down and becomes polite.

-- Take into account unusual conditions or places. Santa Fe's chilly winter climate was a shock to tiny Gemma, used to warmer California weather, but she stayed warm and cozy in a red fleece coat. At a crowded event, she rode in a tote bag, but otherwise she explored "The City Different" on her own four legs.

The best part of our trip? Being told that our dogs would be welcome back any time.

Q&A

Dialysis helps cats

recover kidney function

Q: I noticed that my cat was vomiting occasionally, and he was a little wobbly when he walked. Most worrisome, he turned up his nose at tuna. When I took him to the vet, they ran blood tests, which showed that his kidney function was abnormal because of an infection. Will dialysis help? -- via email

A: The kidneys are the body's waste removal system. They eliminate toxins from the body via the urine. When the kidneys aren't working, toxins build up, causing illness. As you discovered, an infection can prevent the kidneys from doing their job, but if they haven't been too severely damaged, dialysis can give the small, bean-shaped organs time to recuperate.

Dialysis performs the kidneys' job of waste removal until the kidneys can get back on the job. Cats who are very ill usually must be hospitalized for treatment and will receive either intermittent hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy, both of which require machines with filters to remove and cleanse the blood.

Once the cat becomes more stable, the veterinarian may place what's called a peritoneal dialysis catheter, which allows the cat to stay at home between treatments. For peritoneal dialysis, expect to take your cat in for treatment three days a week. You may also need to give your cat oral antibiotics and administer fluids subcutaneously (beneath the skin) while the kidney infection is treated. It can take one to four weeks for the kidneys to heal completely.

According to the Animal Medical Center in New York City, damage caused by infections can be successfully treated 50 to 75 percent of the time. A kidney infection like the one your cat developed is a good example of how having pet health insurance can pay off.

Dialysis is expensive, especially if it requires hospitalization, but in the case of an infection, it gives the cat a chance to recover and lead a normal life. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

Good food delivered

for people and pets

-- Seniors who receive food deliveries from Meals on Wheels have been known to share the meals with their beloved pets when nothing else is available, so the organization created WALOP (We All Love Our Pets), a national initiative to deliver pet food to clients who need help feeding their animals.

Since 2006, WALOP has focused on serving the relationship between people and pets, building a financial and nutritional safety net for them through donations, volunteers and help from shelters, other pet groups and organizations such as Banfield Charitable Trust, which provides grants to member programs.

-- Who doesn't love to look at pictures of dogs? When Elias Weiss Friedman realized that his photos of dogs were getting more attention than anything else he posted to Instagram, he created The Dogist, a blog dedicated to documenting the beauty of dogs. Now he pads the streets of New York City daily, looking for subjects. Friedman told The Huffington Post that his mission statement was "All the dogs," saying, "Every dog deserves recognition, and sometimes a compelling photograph can get a dog out of a shelter or inspire people to appreciate their dogs more."

-- According to a survey by website Rover.com, the most popular dog names of 2013 were Bella, Lucy, Bailey, Daisy, Lily, Molly, Lola, Maggie, Sadie and Chloe for females, and Max, Charlie, Buddy, Jack, Cooper, Rocky, Riley, Toby, Bear and Harley for males. The names frequently overlap with those given to children, cementing dogs' role as beloved family members.

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.