THINK YOU KNOW DOGS? TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR BEHAVIOR, HEALTH AND ANATOMY

By Kim Campbell Thornton

How much do you know about dogs? Take this quiz and find out. The answers are at the end. Feel free to consult your dog if you're not sure of the answers.

1. Chasing cars, skateboards or other fast-moving objects is a form of what type of behavior?

a. social

b. predatory

c. territorial

d. both b and c

2. Dogs wag their tails when they are feeling which of the following emotions?

a. happiness

b. curiosity

c. aggression

d. all of the above

3. Which of the following is not a reason that dogs mark territory with urine?

a. to indicate sexual availability

b. to warn other dogs off their territory

c. to get back at their owners for leaving them alone d. to express their superiority to other dogs

4. Which number does not indicate a dog's normal body temperature?

a. 99 degrees Fahrenheit

b. 100 degrees Fahrenheit

c. 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit

d. 102 degrees Fahrenheit

5. Whiskers aid which of a dog's senses?

a. touch

b. sight

c. hearing

d. both a and b

6. Which of the following is not an example of dogs' abilities as rocket scientists?

a. They have orbited the earth in spacecraft.

b. They can plot the trajectory of a moving object and predict its landing point

c. They can navigate using the earth's magnetic field.

d. They helped to design the Mars Rover.

7. Which of the following dog breeds is hypoallergenic?

a. poodle

b. soft-coated wheaten terrier

c. greyhound

d. none of the above

8. "Coprophagy" is a term used to describe which behavior?

a. dogs who eat coffeecake

b. dogs who chase police officers

c. dogs who eat poop

d. dogs who dig for fossils

9. Which of the following terms has not been used to describe canine vocalizations?

a. the bells of Moscow

b. chop

c. big bawl mouth

d. trill

10. Which of these is not a reason that dogs dig?

a. to hide food for later use

b. to plant their own strawberries and tomatoes

c. to make a comfy bed

d. to find prey

ANSWERS

1. d -- Dogs react to territorial incursions by chasing the invader, whether a cat or a car. Fast-moving objects also trigger their prey drive, causing them to give chase.

2. d -- A dog's tail wag can mean many different things, depending on the tail's position and the speed at which it's moving.

3. c -- Dogs with separation anxiety may urine-mark because they are nervous, but they aren't capable of complex emotions such as spite.

4. a -- A dog's normal temperature ranges from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. d -- Whiskers enhance a dog's senses of sight and touch by detecting air currents, sensing obstacles that might otherwise go unseen in the dark, and transmitting information about an object's shape and texture.

6. d -- The Mars Rover might resemble a robotic dog, but dogs were not involved in its development -- except perhaps as companions for its engineers.

7. d -- All dogs, even hairless breeds, have allergens in their dander (dead skin cells), saliva and urine. Individual dogs may be less allergenic than others, but no breed is completely hypoallergenic.

8. c -- This unattractive behavior is named for the Greek words "copros," meaning feces, and "phagein," to eat.

9. d -- A trill is more often attributed to cats. All of the other terms have been used to describe hound sounds. George Washington likened the voices of his hounds to the "bells of Moscow."

10. b -- Dogs often enjoy these fruits of gardens, but the only planting they do is of bones.

Q&A

'Sick pet' probably not

covered by trip insurance

Q: My fiancee and I are booking a Mediterranean cruise for this fall. My 10-year-old dog is not in the best of health, and I'm concerned that we might have to cancel at the last minute if he has a setback and requires emergency care. Would trip insurance cover that situation? -- via email

A: I was in a similar situation some years ago. We were planning a two-week trip to a far-off country, and I was concerned that Bella, our aged cavalier, might go into heart failure just before the trip. It wasn't all that likely, but for peace of mind, I purchased cancel-for-any-reason insurance. It was more expensive, and we didn't have to use it, but I was glad the option was there.

Most trip insurance plans cover cancellations only in the event of illness or death, either your own or a family member's. Some may cover work-related cancellations. It is highly unlikely that a pet's illness will be covered -- even if we consider them family members -- so if you are truly concerned, a cancel-for-any-reason policy is probably the way to go. Your travel agent or insurance agent can help you find an appropriate policy.

How much will it cost? In his book "How to be the World's Smartest Traveler," Christopher Elliott says travel insurance typically costs between 4 and 8 percent of a trip's prepaid, nonrefundable cost, with cancel-for-any-reason policies running 10 percent or slightly more of the nonrefundable cost.

These policies have certain requirements. Usually, they must be purchased within one week to one month of making the initial deposit for the trip. Cancellation usually must be made 48 hours prior to departure. You may also be required to notify the airline, hotels and cruise line within that time frame. Read the policy carefully before purchase and make sure you understand all the requirements. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

It's a bird! It's a plane!

No! It's a dog star!

-- Look up into the sky for a vision of celestial canines. On view this month are four canine constellations, says Joe Rao, skywatching columnist on Space.com and an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. Keep an eye out for sparkling Sirius, the "dog star," the brightest star of the constellation Canis Major (Latin for Greater Dog). Procyon, known as "Little Dog Star," is one of two stars that make up Canis Minor (Lesser Dog). It rises about 20 minutes before Sirius. Finally, look for the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici), Chara and Asterion, which, according to myth, were placed in the sky to assist Bootes, the Bear Driver, as he pursues Ursa Major (Great Bear).

-- You might have heard that all calico cats are female. If you were to make a bet that a particular calico is female, you would probably win, but there's no guarantee: Approximately one calico in 3,000 is male, thanks to a genetic oddity known as "Klinefelter syndrome." Those cats have X and Y chromosomes, making them male, but they also have an additional X chromosome, which allows for the expression of the calico coat pattern.

-- The Morris Animal Foundation is looking for a few good goldens. If your golden retriever is healthy and younger than 2 years, you may be able to enroll him in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, which seeks to identify genetic, environmental and nutritional risk factors for cancer, which is the cause of death for more than half of all goldens. Participants agree to participate for the dog's lifetime, complete online questionnaires regarding the dog's diet and environment, take their dog to the veterinarian for annual examinations and collection of blood, urine, feces, hair and toenail samples, microchip their dog, and allow collection of tumor samples for evaluation when applicable. For more information, go to www.caninelifetimehealth.org. -- Dr. Marty Becker and 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.

'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.