10 tips to help prepare pets for the arrival of a new baby

We are expecting a bumper crop of babies among our relatives and neighbors in the next few months, and of course, they all have pets. With that in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to review some of the best ways to ready pets for the new kid in town and to introduce everyone safely.

Begin now to prepare your dog or cat for this momentous change in the family. While you will still love your pet as much as ever, it's a fact of life that you will have less time to spend one-on-one with him.

-- Prime your pet for the transition by making sure he has interactive toys that will keep him entertained when you are busy with the baby. Good choices include food puzzles, treat balls and other independent-play toys.

-- Your pet should be used to staying on his own. If you are in the habit of taking him with you everywhere, now is the time to cut back on that so he learns that "me time" isn't scary. Instead, give him several short playtimes or attention periods throughout the day and continue this habit after the baby arrives.

-- Take your pet to the veterinarian to make sure he is in good health and free of parasites.

-- Enlist the services of a trainer or behaviorist to help with any behavior problems -- such as jumping up on people, aggression or fear issues, or housetraining mistakes -- that you've been meaning to work on.

-- Scent is important to your pet. Accustom him now to the smell of baby products such as lotion and diaper cream. Apply them to your hands before handling your pet's toys and playing with him.

-- Introduce baby noises through the use of a CD such as "Preparing Fido." Play it at a low level, giving your pet his favorite treats, and then gradually increase the volume. The goal is for him to stay relaxed despite the unusual sounds.

-- Using a doll, practice doing "baby things" in the pet's presence, such as changing a diaper or going for a walk with a stroller. (The experience may help you feel more comfortable, too.)

-- Cat owners, you may be concerned about toxoplasmosis. You can take some simple precautions to protect yourself and your baby from this infection. Keep your cat indoors so she can't hunt and eat wild prey. Scooping the litter box once or twice a day will also minimize risk. Assign the task of scooping the litter box to your spouse or another family member. If that's not possible, simply wear disposable gloves while scooping the box and wash your hands thoroughly after discarding them. Toxoplasmosis also can be acquired from soil, so wear gloves while gardening. Finally, ask your doctor and your veterinarian about running titers on family members and your cat. You may already have immunity.

-- Once the baby is born, have your spouse or another family member take home a blanket, diaper or other item that carries the baby's scent. That person should let your pet sniff it and give him a treat and praise him as he does so. This will help him to associate the baby with good things.

-- When you come home, greet your pet first without the baby. Then with a favorite treat or toy to give, such as a stuffed Kong, let him meet Junior under your watchful eye. Always supervise interactions between pets and babies so you can teach them how to behave around each other. You'll be laying the foundation for a strong and happy relationship between your children and animals.

Q&A

Eye loss won't affect

kitten's mobility

Q: The kitten I adopted came with a bad eye infection. My veterinarian says it would be best to remove the eye, but I feel terrible doing that to him. Won't he have problems getting around? -- via Facebook

A: When we humans contemplate losing our eyesight, we think of all the terrible ways it would affect us: We couldn't drive or read or look at funny cat videos on Facebook. But a cat's visual acuity is much less than that of humans to begin with, and cats rely much less on their eyesight than we do, surprising as that may seem.

Veterinarians and cat owners are often astounded by the abilities of blind cats, especially those who lose their eyesight early in life. Even if they lack both eyes, we've seen them chase toys down the hall, jump up on kitchen counters, catch bugs and perform acrobatic feats. They are fearless explorers.

Cats who lose their vision in one or both eyes quickly adapt, learning to rely on their senses of sound and smell, as well as the tactile cues provided by their whiskers. Cats are also very good at sensing touch and vibrations, as well as changes in air movement. And a kitten's brain is very "plastic," meaning that he can still forge new neural pathways that allow him to be just as able with uniocular vision or to make greater use of other senses to compensate for a complete loss of vision.

Adult cats may not have the same brain plasticity, but they can also adjust well. If they lose an eye to trauma or glaucoma, you may see that their balance is as good as ever, but they may take a little longer than a kitten might to adjust to their new condition. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Stray cat struts

new mouthpiece

-- A University of Florida veterinarian teamed up with a UF dentist to repair the mouth of a stray Siamese mix who had a large hole in the roof of his mouth. Dr. Julie Levy found the cat in a shelter, where he was on the list to be euthanized. The hole made it difficult for him to eat and drink, and more likely to develop infections. Dr. Levy wondered if the defect could be repaired surgically, and asked dental surgeon and prosthodontist Dr. Fong Wong for help. An acrylic cast served as a temporary measure until Dr. Wong could make a permanent metal prosthesis. Now able to eat, drink and groom himself, the cat has a name -- Darryl -- and a new home, with Dr. Levy.

-- Nicknamed the "American Gentleman," the Boston terrier looks as if he's wearing black-tie, dressed as he is in black, brindle or seal with a white chest and belly. First known as "round heads" or "bullet heads," the dapper dogs eventually took the name of their birthplace, the city of Boston, where they were created from a cross between a bulldog and the now-extinct white English terrier. Bostons are smart and sassy, and they like to be the center of attention. They have a short, smooth coat that's easy to groom, and most weigh 13 to 16 pounds, although they can range up to 25 pounds.

-- Pet insurance is a $600 million industry in North America, growing at triple the pace of U.S. accident and health coverage, according to a Nov. 13 Bloomberg/Businessweek article. That leaves a lot of room for growth, however. Estimates are that just over 1 million pets in North America have health insurance, which translates to less than 1 percent of dogs and cats in the U.S.

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.

CAPTIONS AND CREIDTS

Caption 01: When you're expecting a baby, prepare your pet before the birth. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Boston terriers are one of the breeds that originated in North America. They were first bred in Boston in the 1860s and 1870s. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

Test your knowledge of feline facts with our fun quiz.

1. Domestic cats spend what percentage of their lives sleeping?

a. 37 percent

b. 45 percent

c. 70 percent

d. 56 percent

2. Which of the following is the only big cat capable of purring?

a. Leopard

b. Cheetah

c. Cougar

d. Jaguar

3. True or false? A cat's taste buds do not have receptors for sweet flavors.

4. Which of the following treatments can help cats suffering from idiopathic cystitis (a bladder infection)?

a. Providing interactive toys and tall cat trees

b. Keeping the litter box very clean

c. Reducing stress

d. All of the above

5. True or false? The ability to respond to catnip is genetic.

6. What are the names of the two cats who pull the chariot of the Norse goddess Freya?

a. Loki and Thor

b. Bygul and Trjegul

c. Huginn and Muninn

d. Geri and Freki

7. Cats have been associated with people for how long?

a. 10,000 years

b. 5,000 years

c. 7,500 years

d. 2,000 years

8. What term is used to refer to cats with extra toes?

a. Multidigital

b. Phalanges

c. Polydactyl

d. Metatarsals

9. When you hear that familiar hacking sound in the middle of the night, your cat is getting ready to bring up what?

a. A dead mouse

b. Bile

c. A trichobezoar

d. A bolus

10. Which of the following is the most common pattern seen in cats?

a. Calico

b. Tabby

c. Tortoiseshell

d. Bicolor

Answers:

1. (c) Domestic cats spend approximately 70 percent of their lives sleeping, which works out to 16 to 18 hours a day. Now, if we could only get them to sleep the same hours we do, we might all get some good rest.

2. (b) Cheetahs are the only big cats capable of purring. We think of cats purring when they are content, but they also purr when they are injured, giving birth and even dying. Interestingly, the sound frequencies of the purr may promote healing.

3. True. Cats don't have a sweet tooth. As far as we know, they are the only mammals that lack the receptors for sweetness. That's just one of the ways in which they are unique.

4. (d) We don't know why cats develop idiopathic cystitis -- the word "idiopathic" means "unknown" -- but enriching a cat's environment by providing places to climb and interesting toys, and reducing stress by keeping to a regular schedule and keeping the litter box scrupulously clean are some of the things that can help to decrease the incidence of the problem.

5. True. Approximately two-thirds of cats have a special receptor that allows them to respond to nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip. Kittens don't develop a response to catnip until they are 3 to 6 months old.

6. (b) Freya's cats are nameless in mythology, but fantasy author Diana L. Paxson named them Bygul (bee-gold) and Trjegul (tree-gold) in honor of Freya's associations with honey and amber. Legend has it that today's Norwegian forest cats descend from Freya's gigantic cats, which were said to be so huge that not even Thor could lift them.

7. (a) It has long been thought that cats were domesticated as recently as 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, but new archaeological evidence suggests they have been our companions for closer to 10,000 years. They had a commensal, or mutually beneficial, relationship with people -- living near them, but not with them.

8. (c) Cats with extra toes are referred to as polydactyl. The word comes from the Greek polydaktylos, poly meaning "many" and daktylos meaning "toe." Perhaps the most well-known polydactyl cats are found at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida.

9. (c) Trichobezoar is the scientific term for, yes, a hairball.

10. (b) Tabbies are tops among cat lovers. The striped pattern comes in many different colors and serves as effective camouflage. When the sun shines just right on some solid-colored cats, you can see underlying tabby markings.

Q&A

Gallbladder disease seen

more often in dogs

Q: My senior cocker spaniel has been diagnosed with something called "gallbladder mucocele." Is it common for dogs to have gallbladder problems? -- via Facebook

A: It's unusual for dogs to develop painful gallstones the way people do, but we are starting to see dogs with gallbladder mucocele more frequently. It's a blockage that typically occurs in middle-aged or older dogs. The average age of a dog with a mucocele is 9 years old. Your cocker is one of the breeds that seems to be predisposed to the condition; Shetland sheepdogs are another.

We're not sure exactly what causes gallbladder mucocele. It's a disease that we only began to recognize in the past couple of decades and that used to be considered rare. Interestingly, it seems to occur in clusters in certain parts of the country. Some of us never see a case, and others might see a half-dozen or more cases a year.

One of the jobs of the gallbladder is to store bile, which has a digestive function. Mucoceles occur when the gallbladder wall starts secreting a thick mucus into the bile, forming a sludge and making it difficult for the normally liquid bile to flow out through the bile duct. The backup of bile causes the dogs to become jaundiced and develop other symptoms, including lethargy, appetite loss and abdominal pain. An ultrasound exam gives us a definitive diagnosis, because a gallbladder in this state looks a lot like a cross-section of a kiwi fruit.

If it looks as if the gallbladder is about to rupture, the veterinarian removes it surgically. For an older dog who isn't having any problems and isn't obstructed, the veterinarian may take a wait-and-see approach, managing the condition with medication and regular physical exams and ultrasound scans. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

A new Grinch? Grumpy Cat

stars in holiday TV special

-- Grumpy Cat fans, grab your popcorn and settle down in front of the TV on Nov. 29 for the Lifetime broadcast of "Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever." Time magazine says the feline Internet sensation is bringing a touch of bah-humbug to the holiday season in the story of an overlooked pet-store cat with a sour outlook on life, a 12-year-old girl named Chrystal, who is the only person who can understand and communicate with the cat, and how they save each other -- and a dog -- on Christmas Eve. Aubrey Plaza from "Parks and Recreation" voices the, er, grumpy feline.

-- Madrone Coast Farm in Felton, California, became the first farm to earn the state's wildlife-friendly certification. That's due to the presence of Luke and Leia, Maremma sheepdogs who ward off predators, such as mountain lions, who threaten the property's sheep, ducks and chickens. Maremmas are Italian livestock guardian dogs who bear a resemblance to their cousins the Great Pyrenees from France, the Kuvasz from Hungary and the Anatolian and Akbash dogs from Turkey. Maremmas weigh 65 to more than 100 pounds and are best suited to homes where they can make use of their livestock-protection abilities.

-- A visiting golden retriever saved the lives of his host family when he alerted them to a fire in the middle of the night by bumping the bed and running in circles. Teddy's owner, Barbara Van Zandt, was traveling overseas, so she had left the dog with family members in Livonia, Pennsylvania. While they lost their home, the family and their other pets are alive, thanks to Teddy's quick action. The Livonia Fire Department presented Teddy with a badge for his collar and a plaque recognizing his deed. "It was a matter of real heroism," says fire department president Lari Whiting. -- 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.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Cats have some unusual characteristics. How many of them do you know? Position: Main Story

Caption 02: The Maremma is a rare breed with a mind of its own and a protective nature. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

Three useful behaviors to teach your cat

We know what you're thinking: Cats can't learn tricks.

Not so. Cats are highly intelligent and many of them are amenable to learning tricks -- or, as cats would put it, teaching you to give them treats.

But why train a cat? Doesn't that take away from their inherent "cattitude"?

We like to think of it more as enhancing their lives. Cats are smart and active, and training provides them with mental stimulation as well as a physical workout. It helps you and your cat learn to communicate more skillfully, adding a new dimension to your relationship. And it's just plain fun.

Kittens pick up tricks more quickly because their brains are more elastic, but cats of any age can learn new behaviors. All you need is a clicker, some aromatic treats your cat can gulp down quickly, good timing and a little patience. Here are three easy tricks to teach your feline Einstein.

-- Sit. This is a great trick to teach cats who have a habit of jumping on guests' laps uninvited or chasing people and attacking their legs. It's also the foundation for teaching stay, sit up and wave.

Start by holding a treat just above your cat's head. As his nose goes up to sniff it, his rear automatically goes down into a sit position. The instant he sits, click and give a 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!"

Once he learns to sit on cue (cats don't respond to commands, you know), you can have your cat sit as an alternative to things he might do that annoy you. For instance, if your cat likes to sprawl across your desk while you're working, make it rewarding instead for him to sit at your feet or on a chair next to you.

-- Come. This may be the easiest trick to teach, believe it or not. Every time you set down your cat's food bowl, make an easily repeatable sound: ring a bell, jingle your keys or whistle a tune (don't use the clicker for this trick). Your cat will quickly associate that sound with mealtime and respond instantly to it.

Learning to come when called can save a cat's life. If you need to evacuate your home because of a fire or other emergency, it saves valuable time if your cat comes when called.

Sound advice: Always reward your cat when he comes to you, and never call him and then do something he doesn't like, such as giving him a pill or taking him to the veterinarian.

-- Touching a target. This is useful because it can help you direct your cat to certain areas.

Use a target such as a pencil with a large eraser on the end or a narrow bird perch. Put a small amount of wet food on the end of the target and show it to your cat, holding it just far enough away that he has to reach forward to get the food. As soon as he touches the target with his nose, click and give him a treat. Gradually extend the distance the cat must come before touching the target.

Once your cat will touch a target, you can use it to teach him to spin in a circle, jump through a hoop or go to a specific place.

-- Tip for success. Keep training sessions short, no more than two or three minutes at a time, since cats have short attention spans.

Q&A

Low platelet counts

are big trouble for dogs

Q: My dog's stool is black, and I noticed when I was grooming him that his body was covered in bruises (he's white, so it's easy to see his skin). My veterinarian did bloodwork right away and says it's something called thrombocytopenia. What can you tell me about this condition? -- via email

A: Thrombocytopenia is what we call it when the body has an abnormally low number of blood platelets (thrombocytes). Normal platelet counts are 180,000 to 200,000. Anytime platelet counts are less than 40,000, spontaneous bleeding can occur in the gastrointestinal tract (which is why you saw black stools and bruising on the body) or in the urinary tract, brain or lungs. It's a good thing you took your dog to the veterinarian right away because internal bleeding can cause dogs to die quickly if they don't receive a blood transfusion.

To figure out the cause of the low platelet count, veterinarians do what's called a differential diagnosis -- you probably heard this term if you were a fan of the television show "House MD." It's a process of elimination that might involve an abdominal ultrasound and chest X-rays to rule out cancer, a test for common tick-borne diseases in your area and a blood chemistry panel.

Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia is the destruction of the platelets by the dog's own immune system. We don't necessarily know why this happens, but this life-threatening condition can usually be treated.

Dogs with this condition are hospitalized in the intensive care unit and receive corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs to stop the body from attacking itself, and drugs to stimulate the bone marrow to release immature platelets more quickly than normal. In a best-case scenario, dogs usually respond to treatment within three to five days. The condition can be managed, but not cured. Dogs need lifetime medication to control the disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

To save cats' lives,

knock on hood

-- Mr. Biscuits, a cat in East Falls, Pennsylvania, nearly died after crawling into a car engine to get warm. The driver was unaware of his presence until he arrived at his destination and discovered the cat, who was severely burned over at least a quarter of his body. Mr. Biscuits, who earned his name by kneading his paws as the veterinarian cared for him, is facing surgery and skin grafts, but he survived, unlike many cats in similar situations. To prevent such accidents, especially with winter coming on, thump your hood a few times or honk your horn before starting the car to dislodge any feline trespassers.

-- If you see a dog who resembles a retriever with a curly coat, don't assume he's a Labradoodle. He may be an unusual breed called a curly-coated retriever. The curly, as he's nicknamed, was developed in the 18th century and is one of the oldest of the retrieving breeds. Bred to hunt pheasant, quail and grouse and retrieve waterfowl, the curly is a wickedly smart independent thinker. His coat has small, tight, crisp curls. (Don't blow-dry it unless you want him to look like a Chia Pet.) The coat sheds a little year-round, with a heavier shed twice a year.

-- Researchers at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Starkville are studying the influence of blood platelets on cancer and healing. The MSU researchers are the first to characterize the full complement of proteins that make up the canine platelet proteome. By knowing what a normal, healthy platelet contains, they can compare it to platelets from patients with cancer to identify which proteins might play a role in cancer metastasis, says associate professor Kari Lunsford. Changes in platelet proteins may one day be used as a simple blood test for early detection of cancer or cancer metastasis in humans and dogs. -- 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.

CAPTIONS AND CREDIT

Caption 01: The easiest way to teach a trick is to "capture" a behavior a cat does normally by rewarding him whenever he does it. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: The curly-coated retriever is described as a busy, challenging breed, but with the right person or family, he is a smart and funny companion. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2