SPENDING ON PETS INCREASING AS NEW PRODUCTS OFFER VALUE AND INNOVATION

Every year, I go to Global Pet Expo, the industry's largest tradeshow. Every year, I think it can't possibly have anything new and that spending on pets can't possibly continue to rise. And every year, I am wrong. At the annual show in Orlando, Fla., last month, over 3,000 new products debuted to an audience of more than 5,300 pet-product buyers from around the world. That's just astounding.

Even more astounding are the pet-related spending statistics. Bob Vetere, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association, says that last year, overall spending came in at more than $55.7 billion, up 4.5 percent from 2012. People spent the most on food, followed by veterinary care.

Something I think is really interesting is the projected growth in pet insurance. Spending is expected to grow from $650 million currently to more than $870 million by next year. Vetere attributes the continued growth in spending on pets to a recovering economy, increasing knowledge about the positive effects pets have on human health and, most important, concern for pets' well-being.

I have no doubt that the growth in spending is also related to the inventiveness of pet-product manufacturers. As my team and I made our way through the show hall, we kept our eyes out for innovative new products that help dog and cat owners solve problems and offer good value.

We're all seasoned veterinarians and pet professionals, so it's tough to impress us, but we found a number of products that met those criteria for our fifth-annual Becker's Best awards: the top 10 most interesting and useful products we see. We're sharing five with you this week and five next week. You can read more about the products and see photos of them on Vetstreet.com. Let me know what you think!

-- PetSafe AutoTrainer. No, this collar-based reward system doesn't teach your dog to drive, but it does help to keep him calm and quiet while you're away. The collar unit transmits your dog's barks to a base unit through a detection system that understands only your dog's barks. If your dog doesn't bark, he's rewarded with a treat. You can set the number of treats and the frequency of rewards. ($199.99)

-- Dexas H-Duo Collapsible Companion Cup. This clever and colorful contraption is the perfect loving cup. On a hike or other outing, it allows you to carry one bottle of water with separate reservoirs for you and your dog. No more human cooties for your dog to worry about. ($19.99)

-- MagicLatch Leash Connection System. Three engineers and a dog walk into a bar. OK, that's not exactly how it happened, but that's the quartet who came up with this ingenious method for connecting leash to collar. If you have a squirmy dog or have ever tried to leash your dog while wearing gloves or holding a cup of coffee, you'll know exactly why they created it. Now, using only one hand, you can leash your dog quickly and securely, thanks to the power of magnets and securely locking jaws. ($19.99; for dogs up to 85 pounds)

-- Zen Clipper. Imagine trimming your pet's nails without running the risk of cutting the quick. Need I say more? ($19.99)

-- Motorola Scout1 Wi-Fi Pet Monitor Camera. What does your pet do while you're gone? Haven't we all secretly wanted to know? Now you can. Via an app, you can pan, tilt and zoom the camera, communicate with your pet, monitor room temperature, capture video or snapshots of your pet's routine, and even play soothing music. ($199.99)

Q&A

Choice for pet care

is a personal one

Q: Our dog has been diagnosed with cancer. Her veterinarian referred us to an oncologist who says the disease is in its early stages and is very treatable with surgery and chemotherapy. We have pet insurance and can afford the treatment, but my friends think we're wrong to do so. They want to know why we'd put our dog through all that. We don't want her to suffer, but we love her and want to keep her around. Are we being selfish? -- via email

A: Eighteen years ago, our greyhound, Savanna, was diagnosed with bone cancer. The recommended treatment was amputation of her right rear leg, followed by chemotherapy. We were unsure that putting a 10 1/2-year-old dog through that was the right thing to do, but Savanna was otherwise healthy and we wanted to do all we could for her. I know a lot of people probably wondered why we would "put our dog through that," but the results spoke for themselves.

After a few weeks of a rocky recovery, Savanna was back to her old self and got around just fine on three legs, including going up and down our stairs. She lived another two and a half years, dying at 13 of old age.

I know lots of people are asked, "Why would you put a pet through that?" when their animals are facing cancer or other diseases or injuries that require surgery or other treatments that can have long or uncomfortable recovery periods. The best answer I ever heard, from an owner telling her dog's story at a conference of veterinary specialists, was "To save her life, pure and simple, and what a life she has. She has an awesome life."

Many dogs and cats come through treatment very well and enjoy a wonderful quality of life. There's nothing wrong with giving your dog the benefit of advances in veterinary medicine if you think that's the right thing to do for her. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Dogs remember and react

to owner's scent

-- When dogs encounter the scent of a familiar person, it activates an area of the brain associated with reward, more so than the scents of other people or of familiar dogs, say researchers at Emory University's Center for Neuropolicy. The results of a brain-imaging study of dogs responding to biological odors, led by neuroscientist Gregory Berns, appeared in the journal Behavioural Processes. "In our experiment," Berns writes, "the scent donors were not physically present. That means the canine brain responses were triggered by something distant in space and time. It shows that dogs' brains have mental representations of us that persist when we're not there."

-- If you want to impress your friends, the scientific name for that gummy mass you step in on the way to the bathroom at 2 a.m. is "trichobezoar," more commonly known as a hairball. It is made up of the excess hair your cat swallows when grooming, held together with a sticky mucus.

-- Cases of leptospirosis, a zoonotic bacterial disease, are on the rise in Florida, say veterinarians at University of Florida's Small Animal Hospital.

"In a typical year, we see almost no cases of leptospirosis in dogs at UF," says Carsten Bandt, DVM, an assistant professor of emergency medicine and critical care at the school's College of Veterinary Medicine. "We have now seen 12 cases, just within the past six months."

The disease affects multiple animal species as well as humans. Animals who spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in areas frequented by wildlife, are most at risk and should be seen by a veterinarian if they become lethargic, depressed, lose their appetite, vomit, have abdominal pain or fever, or urinate more frequently. -- 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.

TEACH YOUR DOG THAT BEGGARS NEVER WIN

By Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

She stops traffic in one of the most touristed towns in California. Standing on her hind legs, paws posed prettily in front of her, with a pleading expression that could melt the hardest heart, our dog Harper has been the focus of many photographs as we dine outdoors in Laguna Beach. Passersby ask in awe, "How can you resist that face?"

My husband and I just laugh. After living with her for six years, we are inured to her adorable begging. She's a cavalier King Charles spaniel, so trading on her charm is second nature to her. It doesn't get her much, because we are about as hard-hearted as cavalier owners come, but it is always entertaining to watch.

Well, OK, I confess: She gets the occasional french fry or bit of bread. But there are rules.

-- Begging at the table at home is never rewarded. Ever. Our dogs know that the best way to get food is to wait patiently on the sofa until meals are over and then hope for bites of leftovers.

-- Begging during meal preparation is not rewarded per se, but calm, out-of-the-way watchfulness may be rewarded with a piece of bell pepper or cauliflower in exchange for a sit, spin, down or other trick.

-- Paws may not be put on people at the table or in the kitchen. Not ever. Guests are firmly instructed not to permit this.

-- At restaurants, the aforementioned french fry or crust of bread appears magically on the ground when Harper isn't looking -- and, I might add, when she's not begging. The behavior that is most likely to earn manna from heaven is lying quietly, not paying attention to us.

Teaching your dog not to beg is a matter of consistency. Dogs do what is rewarding to them, so if you -- or your toddler in a high chair -- give him food from the table when he's a puppy because he's just so gosh-darn cute or a convenient receptacle for unwanted broccoli, he's going to continue that behavior into adulthood, no matter how hard you try to extinguish it. It's a lot harder to teach a dog to break a habit than it is to not establish the habit in the first place.

What else can you do? My pal and colleague, dog trainer Mikkel Becker, has some great suggestions. Mikkel lives with pugs, who are equal to cavaliers in their begging ability, cuteness and manipulation skills, so she knows whereof she speaks.

-- Make the dinner table a dog-free zone. Teach your dog to go to his bed, a mat or his crate when meals are served. It's a great opportunity for him to practice a long down-stay. If necessary, use a baby gate or other barrier to prevent him from crashing your dinnertime do.

-- To sweeten the deal, give him a stuffed Kong or food puzzle to occupy his time. That way, he doesn't feel deprived, and you are rewarding him for being away from the table.

-- Feed him first. If he has already eaten, he'll be less interested in your food when you sit down at the table, especially if you ignore his longing looks.

-- Finally, never give attention for begging. No laughing (I know; it's hard not to), no talking to the dog, no yelling at him. Attention, even if it's negative, just reinforces the behavior. If you don't want to see begging, then quietly and calmly take your dog to another room or to his crate and leave him there until the end of the meal. He'll learn that begging is a bone-a-fide route to disappointment.

Q&A

Hamsters best suited for

older children, night owls

Q: My 4-year-old son is begging for a hamster. Would this be a good "starter pet" for him? -- via email

A: My short response is no, based on memories of my little brother's rough handling of our hamster when he was about that age. Here's why a hamster isn't necessarily a good first pet for a young child.

-- Hamsters are nocturnal. About the time your child is getting ready for bed, a hamster awakens and stays active throughout the night. A child will either sleep through his running on the wheel or be kept awake by it.

-- Hamsters are grumpy if they're awakened and handled during the day. They may nip your child when he tries to play with them.

-- Hamsters are escape artists. Small and speedy, they can escape a child's grasp and be off to a hiding place -- usually beneath the sofa cushions in our childhood home -- in seconds flat.

-- Hamsters are solitary. If you try to introduce two hamsters after maturity, they will fight unless you keep them in separate habitats. Anyone who wants two hamsters should acquire two young hamsters of the same sex at the same time.

-- Hamsters have special grooming needs. They enjoy dust baths, require a tree branch or piece of wood to gnaw on to keep their continuously growing teeth at an appropriate length, and must have their sharp toenails trimmed regularly unless they wear them down by digging and climbing.

Who should have a hamster? Get one if you're a night owl or would enjoy interacting with one after a long day at work. For a child who is at least 6 years old -- the age at which kids can understand the need to handle hamsters gently -- choose a sturdy species, such as a Syrian, amenable to handling when he's awake. Limit dwarf hamsters and small species such as Chinese hamsters to children 12 or older. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Animal cruelty becomes

felony in South Dakota

-- South Dakota is the final state to make animal cruelty a felony. A measure that was written in collaboration with animal welfare and agricultural groups cleared both houses of the state Legislature and was signed by the governor. Previously, inhumane treatment of animals was a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine, The Associated Press reports. The new law, which ensures that accepted livestock farming practices are not considered cruelty, punishes severe animal abuse with up to two years imprisonment and a $4,000 fine. Neglect, abandonment and mistreatment remain misdemeanors.

-- You've heard of a horse of a different color. Well, cats come in more than 50 different colors and patterns. Dr. Brenda Griffin at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has put together a chart of the different feline looks to help shelter employees identify and describe the cats in their care. Some of the more unusual and striking feline coats include smoke -- black or blue with white roots; "torbies" -- tortoiseshell cats with tabby patterns -- also known as patched tabbies; and smoke tuxedo, a blue smoke cat with white paws, chest and belly.

-- A tiny piece of RNA -- a chain of proteins that process genetic information -- plays a key role in heart failure, and blocking this RNA can improve cardiac function and survival. A team of researchers published findings March 12 in the journal Nature that identified one of the key cellular processes leading to heart failure as well as the therapeutic potential of blocking the RNA process. Development of gene therapies for humans with heart failure is underway and may one day help pets with the condition as well. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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.

GARDENERS WITH PETS NEED TO THINK "DOGSCAPING" AS WELL AS LANDSCAPING

By Liz Palika

As ice and snow melt and mud takes their place, the promise of spring appears with tiny green leaves on the trees. Nurseries begin stocking flowers and vegetables for those brave enough to put in a spring garden.

If you have a pet, however, gardening can bring a great deal of frustration. The owner of a Labrador retriever, who wishes to remain unnamed, planted 100 gladiola bulbs. When she was done, she went into the house to clean up -- while her dog dug up all 100 bulbs. Thankfully, the dog didn't chew on or eat the bulbs, as they are toxic, causing extreme salivation, vomiting and diarrhea.

With a little planning, though, you can have both a pet and a garden.

Design and Placement

Pets can foil gardening efforts by using the garden as a place to relieve themselves, a nap spot or by digging up plants. Plus, some common garden plants can be poisonous to pets. Did you know that the foliage of both tomatoes and potatoes is toxic? To keep your garden and your pets safe, the best idea is to make your garden inaccessible to them.

A raised-bed garden -- one elevated from the level of your yard with concrete blocks or wood planks -- works very well. You can build one in the size and shape of your choice, or seek out ready-made raised-bed gardens from online garden catalogs; all you have to do is find the right spot and put them together.

A fence is the best way to keep your best friend in your good graces. A short decorative fence at the top of the raised-bed garden can work, although if you have a garden in the ground, you'll need a taller, sturdier fence.

Think about the placement of your garden. Judy Macomber, a master gardener who is a dog owner herself, says to examine your dog's present habits. "Where does your dog sleep outside? Where are his paths for wandering the yard? Where does he find shade when it's hot?"

It's much better to locate the garden in an area where your dog hasn't already established himself than it is to change those habits.

Garden Issues

Gardens bring some potential dangers for pets. Many gardeners use a variety of products that can harm or even kill pets. Thankfully, safer alternatives exist.

Choose plants wisely. The ASPCA has a comprehensive list of poisonous plants on its website: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list. Print the list and take it with you when you shop for seeds or plants.

Pesticides can be poisonous to your pet, and long-term exposure has been linked to cancer. Thankfully, they aren't necessary in most home gardens. Instead, handpick insects off your plants or simply wash the plants with soap and water. A few drops of citrus dish soap in a spray bottle filled with water works well.

Herbicides have also been linked to cancer, especially bladder cancer, in dogs. Avoid them by simply pulling or digging up the unwanted plants. If that's not possible, pour boiling water on the weeds.

Chemical fertilizers can burn your pet's paws and are often toxic, but natural soil conditioners, such as those made from earthworm castings, are safe for you and your pets. Also, did you know that coffee grounds and tea bags make great fertilizers? Place several tea bags or some coffee grounds in a gallon of water, let them steep and then water your plants.

Many online resources offer safe gardening tips as well as pet-safe pest-control solutions. Macomber recommends www.mastergardenerssandiego.org.

If you have questions about gardening in your locale, a master gardener in your area should be able to help. Find one at the American Horticulture Society's website: www.ahs.org/gardening-resources/master-gardeners.

Guest columnist Liz Palika is an award-winning writer and certified dog trainer. She shares her home with three dogs who are well-behaved in her flower and vegetable gardens. For more, go to www.kindredspiritsk9.com.

Q&A

Trick training is

the cat's meow

Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks, but my dad says you can't teach cats anything. But what about those cats on YouTube who jump through flaming hoops or run agility courses? -- via email

A: I hope your cat didn't overhear your dad. Cats might like us to think that they can't learn tricks, but with the right motivation -- i.e., food -- cats can learn anything they feel like learning. Besides, training is good for them and for your relationship with them. It provides mental stimulation, a good physical workout and enhanced communication between the two of you.

Cats can learn fun tricks such as roll over, shake, wave, jump through a hoop and fetch, but you can also teach behaviors with a purpose: sit, come and walk on a leash. Kittens learn fastest, but even adult cats can pick up new behaviors. Training a cat requires nothing more than a clicker, some tiny, tasty treats, a good sense of timing, and patience. Here are a couple of easy tricks to teach.

To teach your cat to sit, hold a treat just above his head. As his nose goes up to sniff it, his rear automatically goes down, right into a sit position. The instant he's in a sit, click and give him the treat. Click and treat any time you see your cat sitting, whether you've asked him to or not. As you do so, give a name to the action -- "Sit" -- and praise him for it -- "Good sit!"

My husband and I easily taught our cats to come when called by whistling as we set their food bowls on the floor. Soon, all we had to do was whistle, and they would come running. If you can't whistle, ring a bell or jingle your keys. For more, look for "Clicker Training for Cats" by Karen Pryor. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

THE BUZZ

High life: How genes

and habitat intersect

-- Tibetan mastiffs have genetic adaptations that allow them to function with less oxygen at high altitudes. That's important in a dog who hails from "the roof of the world." The discovery was made by a team of scientists who compared sets of genes from 32 Tibetan mastiffs, 20 Chinese native dogs and 14 wolves, seeking variations. Tibetan mastiffs have genes associated with adaptation to high altitudes, including additional blood vessel formation and efficient metabolism so that less oxygen is needed to change food into energy. The information was reported last month in the Journal of Molecular Biology and Evolution.

-- Amber, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saved the life of owner Otis Orth after a snowmobile accident left him lying outdoors at night in below-freezing temperatures, unable to move because of a neck injury and dislocated arms. Amber snuggled next to him, head and paws covering his stomach, helping him to retain body heat. The next day, she alerted passersby to his plight. The 52-year-old Orth, a resident of Trapper Creek, Alaska, credits her with saving his life.

-- Fear of flying got you earth-bound? Some airports are providing therapists to help -- canine therapists, that is. Dogs are patrolling the halls of airports in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., and Miami looking for people to pet them. Known as PUP (Pets Unstressing Passengers) in Los Angeles and the Wag Brigade in San Francisco, the dogs and their handlers are trained to provide stress relief and comfort and to answer questions. Training is provided by organizations such as Therapy Animals of Utah, San Francisco SPCA, Therapy Dogs Inc. and Pet Partners. Look for dogs wearing vests that say "Pet Me."

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.