THE NATIONAL PARK TRIP IS A CLASSIC FAMILY VACATION, BUT DOES FIDO BELONG THERE?

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Visiting a national park is a popular pastime, especially during summer. We decided to beat the crowds last month by visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks before the vacationing hordes overtook them. Two of our dogs stayed home with a pet sitter, but Harper -- our most experienced traveler -- came along for the ride.

I dithered about bringing her until the very last minute. Dogs can enter national parks, but they're not allowed on most trails or in buildings. National park lodges don't permit them, although some campgrounds and cabins make allowances for dogs. And forget about taking Buster to see Old Faithful spout or stroll along the boardwalk at Biscuit Basin checking out the steaming sulfur pools. He'll be canina non grata.

I knew all this going in, but as it turned out, the offseason was a great time to bring a dog. The rules still applied, but with trails closed by snow and many lodges not yet open, we didn't feel as if we were missing out on anything by just driving through and seeing the sights. The driving snowstorm at Old Faithful meant that Harper was more than happy to stay in the car while we waited for the geyser to blow, and, of course, we didn't have to worry that she would overheat.

Harper also stayed in the car when we pulled over to photograph bison grazing or a couple of grizzlies grubbing for grubs after their long winter nap. But when it wasn't snowing, hailing, sleeting, raining or thundering -- all of which we encountered during our two days in Yellowstone -- Harper hopped out of the car at the turnouts and walked with us as we appreciated the stunning views. If a vista required a short hike, we took turns staying with her.

At Grand Teton, it was sunnier if still cold, so Harper got more and longer walks at the turnouts and outside the visitor center. At one turnout, we put out some hides (scent) so she could practice her nose work. She found all three in record time -- just before it started hailing.

We stayed outside the parks in Jackson, Wyoming, spending three days at a bare-bones motel and three at a luxury resort offering offseason rates. Meals included car picnics, brunch at dog-friendly Cafe Genevieve and coffee at Persephone Bakery, which had outdoor seating. Other times she snoozed in her crate in the hotel room. On the two occasions that we needed to go somewhere without her -- a hike with a local wildlife biologist and a visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art -- Harper stayed at Happy Tails Pet Resort at Spring Creek Animal Hospital in Jackson, which I had called before our trip to make arrangements.

On the way home, we made a bonus visit to Zion National Park in Utah, where we met other people with dogs in tow. Zion has the same pet rules as other national parks, but it has one trail that permits dogs. The paved Pa'rus Trail follows the Virgin River for almost two miles and is an easy stroll. (Tip: Don't drive your dog through Zion's hairpin roads if he's prone to carsickness.)

For the best national park visit with dogs, make reservations at boarding kennels and pet-friendly hotels well beforehand, and keep your dog's vaccination record handy in case you decide to park him at a kennel for a day while you hike. Traveling by RV is another good option because your dog will have a safe place to stay if you go somewhere he can't. If you want to take him hiking, make your way to the nearest national forest, where dogs generally are permitted. Just don't forget your bear spray.

Q&A

Broken blood feather

requires quick action

Q: My cockatiel is always flying off his cage and crashing into the wall. I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself. Are there any particular injuries I need to worry about? -- via email

A: Cockatiels are especially prone to broken blood feathers, usually after they crash into something, just as you've described. If it hasn't happened to your bird yet, it's probably in his future.

My African ringneck parakeet once broke a blood feather after jumping off his cage. I noticed blood drops on the floor and took him to our local avian veterinarian, who fortunately is only a five-minute drive away.

Dr. Scott Weldy of Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest, California, says blood feathers usually break when birds hit something hard, whether that's a window, wall, ceiling fan or the floor. If this happens to your bird, here's how to stop the bleeding: Grasp the blood feather at its base -- you may want to use needle-nose pliers to get a good grip -- and gently pull it until it pops out of the socket from which it's growing. Be careful not to jerk the feather, as that could damage the wing.

Then apply gentle pressure for a few minutes to the area where you removed the feather. That should stop the bleeding, and causes the least amount of trauma to the feather follicle, which can then start to grow a new feather to replace the lost one.

If you are uncomfortable removing the blood feather or aren't sure that the bleeding is from a broken blood feather, take your bird to the veterinarian right away. Your bird can lose blood quickly and may die without rapid treatment. Your veterinarian may also suggest intravenous fluids as a preventive measure if your bird's skin seems dry and tacky instead of supple. -- 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

7 tips to keep pets

safe from coyotes

-- Several dogs throughout California have been attacked recently by coyotes, even when owners were present. To prevent the bold and wily wild canids from becoming too comfortable in an urban or suburban environment, take the following steps: Walk your dog on leash; secure garbage cans so coyotes can't knock them over or remove the lid; don't leave pet food outdoors; empty outdoor water dishes after your pet is indoors for the evening; never offer food to coyotes; install motion-sensitive lighting to startle coyotes that enter your yard; and accompany small or medium-size dogs outdoors early in the morning or after dark.

-- Poppy may be 24 years old, but if the other cats in her home try to steal her food, she bites them on the ear. The British cat bears the title "world's oldest" from Guinness World Records following the death last year of Pinky, a 23-year-old cat in Kansas. Poppy is blind and deaf, but her owners say she still has a feisty attitude. Live long and prosper, Poppy.

-- Does your local beach prohibit dogs? Authorities might do better to hire some border collies or bird dogs to prevent large numbers of gulls from congregating on recreational beaches, according to the results of a study presented last month in Boston at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Researcher Elizabeth Alm notes that gull droppings may contain bacteria with the potential to cause human disease and may be one source of the E. coli bacterium along shorelines, which can lead to swim advisories and beach closings. Samples from beaches where dogs chased gulls away had significantly lower E. coli counts. Alm suggests that beach managers could use border collies as part of a comprehensive management strategy to reduce bacterial contamination at public beaches. -- 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.

PACK A BAG FOR YOUR PET AND YOURSELF IN CASE YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE DURING A DISASTER

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Melissa Duffy was driving away from her home in Carlsbad, California, when she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that the horizon was black with smoke. It was the Poinsettia fire, one of 11 fires raging in San Diego County just two weeks ago. She went back, loaded up her three dogs and went to a friend's house.

Wildfires have also broken out recently in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Fire season in the western United States is beginning weeks earlier than usual this year, and the National Interagency Fire Center predicts above-normal fire hazards through August in much of the West. If you live in a dry or drought-stricken area, be prepared to evacuate quickly with your pets.

Duffy grabbed her dogs' medications and food. One of her dogs is on a strict medical diet, and two require regular medication. She keeps a first-aid kit and leashes in the car.

Many people who live in areas prone to earthquakes, floods or fires keep a "go bag" at hand. It should contain important documents, including copies of your pets' vaccination records; a supply of food and water for at least two or three days (a week or more is better); medications for your pets or yourself; a change of clothes; and a favorite toy for your pet to help him feel at home wherever you land. Cat owners may want to have a disposable litter box and litter easily available if they need to grab and go.

Those are the basics. Dog trainer Liz Palika, who lives in fire- and earthquake-prone Southern California, has an extensive go-bag that she keeps right inside the garage door so it can be reached even if her house collapses. In addition to the above items, it contains dog bowls, poop bags, camping gear, a first-aid kit, flashlight and batteries, a hand-cranked radio and truck keys. Store items in a large duffle bag or even a large trash can if it will fit in your vehicle.

Palika has another smart hint:

"Take photos with your smartphone of your prescriptions, pet prescriptions and pet shot records. Organize those on your phone into two files: yours and your pets'. Back them up on a memory card. Keep them on your phone, but put the memory card with your first-aid kit. When anything changes, update it."

Know where you can go, and have more than one backup plan. Duffy was able to get back home from her friend's house, but later woke up to sirens and the smell of smoke and had to leave again.

"Our first two 'go-to' friends were also threatened, so we had to find somewhere else to go," she says. "Four friends offered us their homes, and since we have three dogs, I would rather go there than to a hotel or shelter."

Some disaster shelters now allow pets, but it's not something you can count on. Keep a list of local pet-friendly hotels on your smartphone if you don't have friends or relatives who can take in pets. And if all else fails, ask if a hotel will waive its "no pets" rule. Many will when disaster strikes.

Keep pets restrained when they are in a strange place. A Craigslist ad for a lost dog noted that the yellow Lab ran off from the home where the owners were staying after they evacuated from the fires. He was microchipped but wasn't wearing his collar.

Exchange keys with neighbors so you can care for each other's pets if one family isn't home when disaster strikes. Have a plan for communicating via text, Twitter or Facebook that a pet is safe. Even if disaster never strikes, you'll rest easier knowing that you and your pets are prepared.

Q&A

Cat scratch furor:

7 tips to serenity

Q: My new cat is scratching my furniture. I have a cat tower, but he doesn't use it. One of my friends suggested squirting the cat with water when he scratches, but I don't want to frighten him. Any suggestions? -- via email

A: It's a fact of life that cats scratch. They don't do it just to sharpen their claws, either. Scratching is one of the ways cats communicate. It leaves traces of scent deposited from glands in the paws. People can't detect it, but other cats can. That's why cats want to scratch in a prominent area, which may well be your sofa, instead of the dark corner where you may have placed his post.

Scratching also helps keep paws and claws in shape, shedding the dead keratin that sheathes the claws and exercising the muscles in the legs and paws. And stretching up to scratch just feels good.

Your cat's scratching post should be at least three feet high and covered in something other than carpet. Materials like rope, sisal, hemp and burlap offer texture and "shreddability." The bonus is that your cat won't mistake them for the carpet on the floor. The post should also be sturdy, so your cat doesn't have to worry that it will fall over while he's using it.

Try putting the post next to the sofa that he's scratching or in front of a window so he can check out the birds and squirrels while he's scratching. That's a turn-on for any cat.

Encourage your cat to use the post by running your fingers up and down it or brushing a feather alongside it. The motion will attract him and entice him to scratch. A little catnip might help, too. Finally, praise your cat or give him a treat every time you see him using the post. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Investigation finds DEET,

antiviral drug in jerky treats

-- Chicken jerky treats consumed by dogs who became sick have been found to contain the insect repellent DEET and the drug amantadine, reports Edie Lau for the Veterinary Information Network News Service. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory in Albany analyzed the samples, and last year detected illegal antibiotics in pet treats containing chicken imported from China. Veterinary pathologist Kendal Harr, who is leading an investigation into the cause of the tainted pet treats, says it's unclear whether the substances caused the dogs' illnesses, but that the illegal residues point to a contaminated food source. The Food and Drug Administration does not believe that amantadine -- an antiviral medication that is FDA-approved for use in people -- contributed to the illnesses because its known side effects are not the same as those seen in jerky pet treat-related cases, but it has notified Chinese authorities that the drug's presence in these products is not permitted.

-- By car and plane, caravans of Chihuahuas are being transported from Arizona to Idaho, the East Coast and other areas where the little dogs are in big demand. The New York Times reports that Arizona shelters are overflowing with the tiny dogs. When they can't take in any more, shelters and rescue groups arrange transport through organizations such as Dog Is My Copilot and Pilots N Paws to areas where they have a better chance at adoption.

-- Who says cats can't be protective? A California cat went on the warpath last month after a loose dog attacked her family's 4-year-old son. The boy was riding his bike in the driveway when the dog appeared and dragged him off it. The cat jumped the dog and drove him away. Cats are territorial, and they will take action when their space is invaded. -- 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.

FIVE WAYS TO EVALUATE INFORMATION YOU FIND ON THE INTERNET

When you think something's wrong with your dog or cat, the first thing you do is Google the symptoms. Am I right? I bet I am. Studies show that three out of four people go to the Internet before calling their veterinarians or taking their pets to the clinic.

I understand. If you're worried about your pet, you want to have an idea right away of what might be wrong. But "Dr. Google" isn't always the best source of information for what's going on with your pet or how to treat it. I'm not just saying that because I think you should take your furry friend to the veterinarian if he's sick (although I do). The Internet is an amazing source of all kinds of knowledge, but it's also full of unreliable, out-of-date and just plain wrong advice. The fact is, some information is more equal than other information.

More important, nothing on the Internet beats an in-person exam by your veterinarian. I say that after seeing at least five instances in the past couple of years of pets dying because well-meaning owners relied on information found on the Web and brought them in for help when it was too late.

I don't want you to stop going to the Internet for information. I think it can be a valuable resource. I do want to help you learn to find and evaluate the best information. Here's what to look for.

-- Authorship. Who wrote the article? What are his or her credentials? Knowing the writer's background or affiliation with a particular institution allows you to judge how knowledgeable he or she is on the subject. You should also look for evidence of bias. Is the author pushing a particular viewpoint? Does the page belong to a company selling a product?

-- Source. Is the information from an academic institution or university, a government agency or a professional organization? Those are generally reliable and authoritative sites. Other good sites have articles that are written or reviewed by veterinarians.

Some of my favorites are Vetstreet.com (where I write), PetHealthNetwork.com, WebMD Healthy Pets, PetPlace.com, VeterinaryPartners.com and PetMD. A personal or commercial page may have good information, but it's important to look carefully at the writer's credentials and documentation of that information.

-- Evidence. What's the proof behind what you're reading? Does the author refer to other sources to back up the information? Who or what are the sources? If a study is mentioned, the writer should include where and when it was published. Then you can look up the summary and find out what kind of study it was.

For medical evidence, randomized controlled trials -- meaning that the study participants were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups -- provide the most reliable results. Does the study appear in a peer-reviewed journal -- meaning that impartial scientists who weren't part of the study evaluated it before publication? You can check the journal's website to see if studies are sent out for review before publication.

-- Reliability. Is the information similar to what you've read on the subject elsewhere, or is it way out in left field? That doesn't necessarily make it wrong, but it does mean that you should cast an extra-critical eye on the ideas presented. It's always a good idea to look at several sources so you can have a well-rounded understanding of the topic.

-- Currentness. How old is the information? What we know can change quickly in this field. Beware of undated information. Look for sites that are updated regularly.

Dr. Google makes it easy to find information, but if you want to be really knowledgeable, you still have to put in the hard work of making sure it's accurate. And remember that you have a primary source just an appointment away: your veterinarian.

Q&A

Poor grooming, overactive

glands lead to 'stud tail'

Q: My Persian cat's tail makes him look as if he has a bad case of acne. The base of the tail is all flaky, and it has bumps that look like blackheads. What's causing it, and is there anything I can do? -- via email

A: Overactive sebaceous glands are usually behind the development of acne in human teenagers, and they can cause similar problems in cats. It just happens to affect the tail instead of the face (although cats can get facial acne as well).

Nicknamed "stud tail," because it used to be thought that it was limited to unneutered male cats, this uncommon condition is now known to affect both male and female cats, including those who have been spayed or neutered. Cats like your Persian, with his long, beautiful coat, can be prone to it, as can Siamese and Rex cats. We usually see it in cats who don't do a good job of grooming their tails.

Cats with stud tail need to worry about more than getting a date to the purr-rom. The gunk in those blackheads can plug hair follicles, leading to a bacterial infection (folliculitis). If it gets really bad, the cat can get the feline equivalent of pimples: painful and itchy boils or pustules.

If your cat isn't grooming his tail properly because he's overweight and is having trouble reaching his tail, you need to help him reach a healthy weight through diet and exercise. Talk to your veterinarian about developing a plan that will help him shrink his size.

Sometimes, we don't know why stud tail develops. If this is the case, you can try to manage it with wipes, shampoos or topical products that will work to remove debris on the surface of the fur and prevent the hair follicles from becoming plugged. Your veterinarian can recommend some antiseborrheic products that will be safe for your cat. Cats with bacterial folliculitis may need a course of antibiotics to resolve the problem. Keep the tail area clean so the problem doesn't recur. -- Dr. Marty Becker

THE BUZZ

High-tech vests could aid

search-and-rescue teams

-- Search-and-rescue dogs equipped with high-tech vests could relay data about environmental hazards as well as the dog's behavior and physiological status, reports Matt Shipman on North Carolina State University's blog The Abstract. Researchers Alper Bozkurt and David Roberts at N.C. State helped to develop the harnesses, which make use of microphones, cameras and environmental sensors to transmit data in real time as the dogs search for victims. With the help of the sensors, handlers can track the well-being of a dog working remotely and determine if he has found a scent, object or area of interest. Bozkurt and Roberts hope that the vests, currently being tested, could help to improve the efficiency and capabilities of search-and-rescue teams.

-- The California State Senate is considering a bill that would designate the California red-legged frog as the state's official amphibian. The bill, AB 2364, passed the Assembly on a 52-8 vote on April 26. The red-legged frog, the largest native frog in the western United States, was made famous by Mark Twain in his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

-- Is your dog Ivy League material? If you live in the New Haven, Connecticut, area, you can enroll your canine Einstein in Yale's Canine Cognition Center, where he can participate in studies that call for him to play simple problem-solving games. Dogs of any age, size or breed can volunteer as long as they are vaccinated, healthy, spayed or neutered, and non-aggressive. Study sessions are brief and are scheduled at times that are convenient for owners and dog volunteers. How many dogs do you know who have a diploma from Yale? For more information, go to yaledoglab.sona-systems.com. -- 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.