'TRICK AND TREAT,' AN EASTER SAFETY TIP FOR CATS AND FIVE NEAT NEW PRODUCTS

By Kim Campbell Thornton and Dr. Marty Becker

Are there straitjackets for dogs? That's what I've been wondering lately as we struggle to medicate the ears of Keeper, one of our cavalier King Charles spaniels. Cavaliers are supposed to be among the most biddable of breeds, but you wouldn't know it from him. It's like wrestling a bear to get him to hold still.

One night, I waited until he was settled on my lap, which worked somewhat better, but I still think I got more medication on the sofa than in his ears. The next morning, I used a little psychological tactic that has worked well in the past when there are multiple dogs in the home.

-- Gather some treats. Call the dog you don't want. Usually they will all come running anyway if they know you have treats. Pick up the dog who doesn't need treatment and put her on the treatment area (on top of the dryer in our house). Give her a treat, comb her or fondle her ears, give her lots of praise and then give more treats. Set her down. (Adjust this advice as needed for large dogs.) By this time, the dog who needs medication or grooming is eager to undergo treatment, too. Repeat, giving lots of treats and praise before, during and after medicating the ears, brushing the teeth or whatever it is your dog doesn't like you to do. Voila! Medicated ears with a minimum of fuss.

-- Easter is coming up, bringing the reminder that Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats. The leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in the vase can all cause severe and possibly fatal kidney failure in your cat. Do not bring these flowers into your home. If you receive them as a gift, pass them on to a cat-free neighbor or friend. Your wallet will thank you for saving it from a very expensive veterinary bill.

-- More cool pet products. Dr. Becker attended Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla., last month and chose 10 products as Becker's Best. We featured five last week, and the other five are here. Check out all 10, with photos, at Vetstreet.com.

-- Does your dog wolf his food and then throw up because he ate so fast? Slo-Bowl helps dogs slow down and relax while they eat. $14.99 to $24.99 at kyjen.com/slo-bowls.

-- I always break a nail every time I try to attach tags to dog collars, so I think this was a genius pick. The Links-It Pet ID Tag Connector is an award-winning solution to easily, quickly and securely attaching tags to collars. Bonus: The diamond shape eliminates the noise of jingling tags. $7.99 at links-it.com.

-- Keep your dog busy with this tough 10-inch ball. You can increase the weight of the Tuggo Dog Toy by adding water, bringing it up to as much as 20 pounds. The attached rope allows your dog to play by himself, with another dog or with you. $29.99 at tuggodogtoy.com.

-- If you live in a condo or high-rise or have a puppy or old dog who needs to potty frequently, but you're not always home, the Piddle Place Pet Relief System could relieve your woes. The unit has a drain for urine, carrying it out of sight until you can empty it, and a cleaning solution prevents odors. The grassy cover is even machine-washable. $99 to $119 at piddleplace.com.

-- We haven't forgotten cats. The Kong Glide 'n Seek Cat Toy uses magnetic levitation technology to encourage cats to bat at the enclosed feathers. It's a simple and fun way to provide them with indoor exercise. $24.99 at pet-supply stores.

Q&A

Advances make anesthesia

techniques safer for pets

Q: My cat's teeth really need to be cleaned, but I'm afraid to have her go under anesthesia. Can you tell me anything that will ease my mind? -- via email

A: Good for you for having your cat's teeth cleaned! It's so important for her health and comfort.

Back in the bad old days, pets used to be put under anesthesia by placing a mask over the face or putting the pet in a box with anesthetic gas delivered to it. The most up-to-date method -- intravenous injection of induction drugs -- is more controlled and much safer than using a "cat box" or mask procedure. Our friend and colleague Robin Downing, DVM, an expert in pain medicine, says the anesthetic agents used now help cats go to sleep safely, effectively and smoothly. When that happens, they also wake up smoothly and peacefully.

Here are some questions to ask your veterinarian to ensure that your cat will have a safe anesthetic experience:

-- Will you do blood work to make sure my cat's kidneys, liver and bone marrow are all functioning well? This costs extra, but it's well worth it to make sure your cat doesn't have any underlying health problems that could be adversely affected by anesthesia.

-- Will my cat receive intravenous fluids while she's anesthetized? Dehydration and low blood pressure can occur under anesthesia, but IV fluids can help to prevent those problems.

-- Do you have a heated table or blankets to keep my cat warm during and after the procedure? Maintaining body temperature helps to keep your pet comfortable and allows the body to better metabolize the anesthesia drugs.

-- Will you be checking my cat's blood pressure? Blood pressure tells us a lot about how an anesthetized patient is doing, and it's easy and inexpensive to monitor. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

New treatment may help

people allergic to cats

-- Cat lovers with allergies to their pets may soon find relief. British pharmaceutical company Circassia is conducting the final phase of clinical trials of a new allergy shot that reduces symptoms with as few as four injections over a 12-week period. Called Cat-SPIRE, the treatment targets a glycoprotein found in cat skin and saliva. The company reports that patients' symptoms remained improved two years after the start of the study. Allergies to cats affect 8 percent to 17 percent of populations in Europe and the United States.

-- The Washington Post reports that Maryland lawmakers are set to approve a measure that presumes all dog owners can be held liable for a bite even if a dog has not bitten anyone before, and that would apply regardless of the dog's breed. The legislation would allow pet owners to avoid liability if they can prove their dogs were docile before biting. The law would overturn a previous court decision that applied only to owners of pit bulls. Sponsors say the measure enhances protections for dog-bite victims because it preserves the presumption of liability and extends it to all breeds.

-- A study published in the March 2014 issue of Anti-Cancer Drugs found that a gold-based drug currently used in human and veterinary medicine to manage some immune diseases may also help to combat osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, which affects both dogs and people. University of Florida veterinary researchers say the drug, aurothiomalate, also known as gold salts, kept cancer cells from forming in the laboratory, slowed tumor growth and decreased metastasis. Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor found in dogs and accounts for approximately 80 percent of the cancerous tumors in the canine skeleton. -- 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.

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.