10 New Products -- And A Bonus Item -- To Improve Your Life With Your Dogs And Cats

The multibillion-dollar pet industry keeps coming up with ways to make our lives with animals better. Some are toys, some are veterinary products, some are home and pet-care items. I see them throughout the year as I travel to trade shows and veterinary conferences, and I try them out myself when possible or get my colleagues' input. Here are 11 new products that I think are winners.

-- KittyKaddy Double Diner and Torus Ceramic Diner. As I age -- I just turned 60 and feel stiffer -- it becomes harder to bend over. That's when devices like this, which let you fill and clean pet food and water bowls without bending over, catch your eye. A long, detachable handle allows you to pick up the bowls easily.

-- Zen Clipper. Most nail clippers either crush part of the nail when cutting or make it too easy to cut too close and hit a blood vessel or nerve. Ouch! The Zen Clipper slices the nail 360 degrees at once while preventing you from trimming too much.

-- Tidy Cats LightWeight. Do you feel like you get a workout every time you pick up a container of cat litter? The folks who originated cat litter 50 years ago have developed a new litter that is lighter and more absorbent. Now my 89-year-old mother-in-law, Valdie, feels like Popeye as she carries a jug in each hand.

-- Muffin's Halo. I have a blind 14-year-old golden retriever, Shakira, who looks a little funny running around Almost Heaven Ranch in angel wings and a halo, but the halo protects her face and eyes the same way a face guard does on a football helmet. Now I don't have to worry that she'll hurt herself running into things.

-- Ultra Fel-O-Vax. Cats are small and vaccine volumes seem big, especially as they're being injected. Ultra Fel-O-Vax has only half the volume of normal vaccines, making for a more comfortable vaccine experience. That's what I call state-of-the-art technology with state-of-the-heart comfort.

-- Galaxy Wands. Older cats seem to become kittens again when they play with these wands that mimic the movements of prey. I like the collapsible handles, which make storage easy -- assuming your cat lets you put it away.

-- Ultra Duramune and Bronchi-Shield Oral. These vaccines for dogs improve comfort level in two ways. Ultra Duramune has only half the volume of normal vaccines, so the injection doesn't last as long, and Bronchi-Shield Oral slides down the throat, preventing the gagging that often occurs during intranasal canine cough vaccines.

-- Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Mazee. Talk about a brainteaser! This twist on a puzzle toy engages a dog's senses of sight, hearing and smell as he works to release the treats inside.

-- Apoquel. There's almost nothing worse than an itchy dog. This anti-itch medication is so powerful that the misery some dogs have endured for years is gone after the first dose. (Tip: Always read the label with your veterinarian to make sure a particular medication is appropriate for your dog.)

-- Chuckit! Max Glow Kick Fetch. Nobody wants to come in from playing just because it's dark, and that includes dogs. This ball not only glows in the dark, it has a special grooved design that makes it easy to pick up. Play on!

-- Bissell PowerGlide Pet Vacuum. Everybody needs a vacuum cleaner, but this one has special features for pet owners: It picks up more dirt and hair, swivels around your furniture (where pet hair often collects), and has a filtration system to help reduce allergens. Plus $10 from each purchase ($20 in December) goes to the Bissell Pet Foundation to help homeless pets. That's a win-win.

Q&A

Bite prevention basics

keep everyone safe

Q: I have a tiny dog who goes everywhere with me. People always want to pick him up and hold him. He likes attention, but I'm always worried that he might bite if he is startled or accidentally handled roughly. Do you have any tips on how I should respond when people ask to hold him? -- via email

A: We understand. We all have at least one small dog, so we know how irresistible they can be to others. It's OK to let people admire and pet your dog, and you can take the opportunity to let them know the best ways to handle dogs. This is an especially good lesson for kids; they'll soak it up and share it with their friends. Here are some tips to help make sure everyone stays safe:

-- Give him space. Ask people not to get in your dog's face. Explain that dogs are uncomfortable when their space is invaded that way. When people want to kiss or hug your dog, have them scratch him on the chest, behind the ears or beneath the chin instead.

-- Pickup lines. Most dogs aren't crazy about being picked up and held by strangers. They'll squirm to get free or look away from the person in the vain hope that she'll disappear. Suggest that the person pet the dog while you hold him. If a young child wants to hold the dog, have the child sit on the ground or on a sofa with the dog next to him. That way you don't have to worry that he'll drop your dog or hold him incorrectly.

-- Treat tip. When people want to give your dog a treat, first make sure it's something you approve, and then ask them to offer it with their palm up and flat. Your dog is less likely to nip any fingers that way. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Famous Janus cat

passes at age 15

-- Frank and Louie had two faces but only nine lives, and he lost his last one on Dec. 4, reports Kim Ring for the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Massachusetts. The unusual cat, owned by Martha Stevens, held a Guinness World Record for being the oldest of his kind. Most Janus cats -- so-called after the two-headed Roman god of beginnings and passages -- die shortly after birth, but Stevens tube-fed him until he learned to eat on his own. Frank and Louie had two noses, two mouths and two functioning eyes, plus a blind center eye, but only one brain.

-- Is your dog overweight? He might not have the right bacteria in his gut. A report published in November in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that the beagles in the study who gained weight had less diversity of bacteria in their guts than the dogs who ate restricted amounts of food to maintain optimal body condition. The lean dogs also had different types of microbes. It may be that too much of certain types of bacteria can lead to body chemistry changes that cause obesity, but more research is necessary before that can be confirmed.

-- Maine coon cats, despite their name, aren't the result of a fling between a cat and a raccoon. American originals, they were developed in New England as all-purpose farm cats and companions. The winner of the first cat show held in the United States was a Maine coon named Cosey, an apt name for these large, fluffy cats with easygoing dispositions. Maine coons are best known for their striking tabby coats, but they also come in many other colors and patterns. Not surprisingly, they are the official state cat of Maine. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel 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.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: These products help pets and their people live better. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: The sturdy Maine coon is dressed for cold weather with a neck ruff, "britches" on his legs, tufted feet and a big, bushy tail. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

USE DIPLOMACY AND COMMON SENSE TO MODERATE PET DISPUTES

The idea that pets fight like, well, cats and dogs, is a popular one, but it's not always grounded in reality. We've known plenty of pets who had interspecies friendships, sharing a bed or sofa, grooming each other and playing together. Even when animals aren't best buds, they often coexist comfortably, tolerating each other's presence with little fuss.

But conflict can bubble up any time people live with more than one animal of any species. Maybe one is old and grouchy, while the other is a young whippersnapper. Or, one is bossy and the other is too mild-mannered to stand up for herself. Whatever the case, the secret to helping them get along is to understand their behavioral differences and work to meet the needs of each of them. Here we take a look at four situations that can cause problems, with tips to help all of you live in harmony. In most cases, the secrets to conflict resolution call for good management of resources and space, training, behavior modification or separation.

-- Food fight! Your cat's got no interest in your dog's food, but the dog growls every time the cat walks by his bowl. When it comes to meals, dogs don't like to share, and your cat's mere presence may be enough to set off his guarding reflex. Take the simple route to solve the problem: Feed them separately. That's a good rule of paw any time you have multiple animals. It's stressful for our domesticated predators to eat in the presence of another animal, even if normally they get along. Feed each animal in a separate room or in their crates, ideally placed so they can't see each other eating.

-- A not-so-merry chase. Dogs like to chase moving objects. Cats run when they see danger (i.e., dogs). It's tough to extinguish such an instinctive behavior in dogs, but a couple of techniques can help to minimize the problem. Work with a trainer to improve your dog's recall (come when called), even in the face of a fun distraction, such as a running cat. Give him a great reward so he thinks coming to you is better than chasing the cat. Be sure your cat has a place he can escape to, such as under the sofa or up a cat tree. The best solution, when you can do it, is to bring up a puppy with a cat so he learns respect from an early age.

-- Whose is it? Whether we're talking beds, toys or other high-value objects, one pet may lay claim to an item the other wants. The easiest solution is to purchase duplicates, so there's one for everybody. You should also teach the "give it" or "drop it" command so you can remove the bone of contention and put it away when pets fight over it. With resources such as your time and attention, try to do fun things at the same time with each pet. Take dogs on walks together, pet animals at the same time and give treats at the same time.

-- Battle of the bed. Who gets to share your sleeping quarters when a new pet moves in? An animal who is used to sharing your bed with you may not be willing to share space with a newcomer as well. And it can get crowded with more than one pet on the bed, even if they're small. Your original pet should take precedence, but a better solution may be to give all the animals their own beds and reclaim yours for your sole use. You might even find that you sleep better.

Q&A

Hack attack? How to

deal with hairballs

Q: My Maine coon seems to be throwing up more hairballs than usual. What causes hairballs, and what can I do so my cat doesn't have so many of them? -- via Facebook

A: We hear you. There's nothing worse than stepping on a regurgitated wad of hair and vomit when you've just woken up.

When cats groom themselves, some of the hair that's removed by their tongue goes down the hatch. Normally, the hair is passed in the feces, but occasionally some hair remains, causing an upset stomach. That's when you hear that awful hacking, gagging sound that presages the delivery of a wet tube of hair. Not surprisingly, hairballs tend to be more common in longhaired cats like your Maine coon, but any cat can have them.

There are several steps you can take to try to reduce the incidence of hairballs in your cat. The first is to help him out with his grooming. Comb or brush him daily to help remove excess fur. When you finish brushing or combing the cat, wipe his coat with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any remaining fine loose hairs that your cat might otherwise swallow.

Make sure your cat stays hydrated. Feed canned food, which is high in moisture, and provide a pet fountain to encourage him to drink more water. Hydration helps to improve his gastrointestinal motility, which in turn increases the likelihood that hair will move normally out of the stomach and intestines.

Give a daily hairball remedy -- many cats enjoy the malt flavor. You can also find treats and cat foods that contain fiber to help move hair through the digestive tract.

If these tips don't help, your cat needs a full workup from the veterinarian. He may have inflammatory bowel disease, internal parasites, asthma, pancreatitis or some other serious problem. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

English setter

could set a record

-- English setter Shadow Oak Bo has already made history -- twice. In 2013, he became the first setter in 43 years to win the National Championship for Bird Dogs at Ames Plantation in Tennessee, which is dominated by pointers. He pulled a repeat this year, becoming the first setter to win back-to-back titles since a dog named Sioux in 1901 and 1902. Will there be a three-peat? If his owners run him in the 2015 competition in February, he has a chance to become the first dog ever to win three consecutive championships.

-- It's that time of year, when homes are filled with beautiful but toxic holiday plants. Lilies, amaryllis, cyclamen, Jerusalem cherry, mistletoe and yew (often used in wreaths) can all be poisonous to cats and dogs. Signs of poisoning include decreased heart rate, seizures, drooling, tremors, loss of appetite, severe stomach upset, weakness, difficulty breathing and potentially fatal kidney failure. If you catch your pet nibbling on one of these plants or anything else that might be toxic, call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline such as ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). Both charge a fee for consultation.

-- A new treatment may help the up to 500,000 cats annually who suffer from feline idiopathic cystitis -- a chronic urinary blockage of unknown cause. Cats with the condition may have a defective layer of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) lining their urinary bladder. A pilot study of a drug called A-CYST, placed directly into the bladder via a catheter, showed promising results, according to the Winn Feline Foundation. A-CYST, itself a GAG, helps to restore the lining of the bladder wall. In the randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, three of seven placebo-treated cats suffered a repeat obstruction, but the nine cats who received A-CYST did not. -- 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.

CAPTIONS AND CREDITS

Caption 01: Pets can get along and provide company for each other when their needs and differences are understood. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Cats with feline idiopathic cystitis urinate frequently, may urinate outside the litter box, and often strain to urinate. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

8 TIPS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR PETS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

The weather outside is, um, delightful. The slight nip in the air in central Oklahoma, where I'm visiting, gives barely a hint that Christmas will be upon us in a matter of days. Besides decorating the tree and mailing holiday cards, it's time to start thinking about the perfect gifts for pets and pet-loving friends.

Beyond the perfect gift, it's important to consider pet welfare during the holidays because of all the hustle and bustle that surrounds this time of year. Visits from relatives, road trips to Grandma's house, cocktail parties: all offer opportunities for pets to be either naughty or nice. We have some strategies to help involve Baxter and Boots in the holidays, keep them safe, and provide them with goodies in their stockings instead of lumps of coal.

-- Kick off the season with good scents. When you're baking holiday cookies, whip up a batch of dog treats, too. You'll know exactly what's in them, and your pet will love them because they come from you. You can find lots of great recipes online.

-- Adapt holiday decor to the realities of life with pets. If you have a Christmas tree, leave lower branches bare of ornaments to prevent curious pups and kittens from pulling them off.

-- Choose unbreakable ornaments, and avoid using tinsel, which can cause intestinal blockages if swallowed.

-- If you have a puppy in the home, set a small Christmas tree on top of a chest or tabletop, out of reach of your young canine pal.

-- Instead of decorating packages with ribbon, which some pets like to chew and swallow -- with regrettable results -- make pretty bows out of wrapping paper, using scissors to curl the ends.

-- Consider setting a pet-proof table, especially if you have a new puppy or kitten in the home, or if your big galoot of a dog is a well-meaning klutz. Leave Grandma's antique Irish lace tablecloth folded away and substitute a holiday-themed vinyl or machine-washable tablecloth instead -- one that's less vulnerable to spills and tears.

-- Schedule a pet picture with Santa. Lots of pet-related businesses, shelters and even malls offer sessions. You'll treasure the memories, and often the price you pay goes to help pets in need.

-- Be sure there's something under the tree for your pet to tear up, er, unwrap. Some that we like:

-- Skipping Stones by Kurgo, brightly colored floating fetch toys that skip across water.

-- Chuckit LightPlay Max Glow Ball, specially designed to light up play when days are short and night comes early.

-- Galaxy Mojo Maker Air Wand, a feather toy with a retractable cord, comfortable handle and spiral motion to send your cat into orbit -- in a good way.

Cat lovers who are design aficionados will appreciate "Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!)" by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin. New cat owners or anyone who loves cats can find a wealth of feline facts in "The Original Cat Fancy Cat Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Cat" by Sandy Robins with Arnold Plotnick, DVM.

For dog lovers, select from "The Life and Love of Dogs" by Lewis Blackwell, a collection of hundreds of images of dogs accompanied by insightful and inspiring text, and Rebecca Frankel's "War Dogs: Tales of Canine Heroism, History, and Love," which Washington Post reviewer Jonathan Yardley calls "an exceptionally interesting and surprisingly moving book."

What are my dogs getting? Keeper is rocking a new blue leather collar with matching leash, Harper is going to Santa Fe with us for Christmas, and Gemma, well, she's tough to buy for. I'm still shopping.

Q&A

Be choosy about

pets' chew toys

Q: One of my friends gave my Cavapoo an antler chew. It seems kind of hard. Is it safe for him to chew on? -- via email

A: We all know how puppies love to chew, and many dogs continue the activity into adulthood. In much the same way as some people bite their fingernails or twirl their hair, some dogs turn to chewing as an outlet for their energy or a way to reduce stress, especially when they're home alone. For other dogs, it's simply an entertaining behavior.

Dog owners are always looking for the perfect chew toy: one that will be safe for the dog to chew, that will hold his interest and that won't be destroyed too quickly. It's not always easy to find that perfect chew. A real area of concern is broken teeth, especially with dogs who chew aggressively.

Excessively hard chew toys are a common cause of broken teeth in dogs. A broken tooth is extremely painful and can sometimes become abscessed. I believe that hard plastic or nylon chews, sterilized bones, cow hooves and antlers are too hard to be safe for most dogs. Rule of paw: don't buy any chew toy that you wouldn't want to be whacked in the knee with.

Instead, I recommend buying chew toys that have some flexibility or "give" to them, even for large, powerful dogs. Give big-time chewers large toys that don't fit all the way in the mouth. It's better to replace chew toys more frequently than it is to have to spend hundreds of dollars to have your veterinarian repair or remove a broken tooth. Hard chews such as deer antlers can also cause bleeding in the mouth or internally if they splinter and blockages if swallowed, two more reasons to avoid them. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Cat and ferret food

products are recalled

-- Natura Pet Products is recalling some dry cat and ferret food because it lacks sufficient levels of vitamins and contains excess minerals. The recalled products are EVO Grain Free Turkey & Chicken Formula dry cat and kitten food in 15.4-pound bags, UPC number 5148 541402, expiration date Feb. 19, 2016; the same food in 2.2-pound bags, UPC number 5148 541400, expiration date Feb. 20, 2016; and EVO Grain Free Ferret Food in 6.6-pound bags, UPC number 5148 542101, expiration date Feb. 19, 2016. These products were sold in California, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Canada and online. No health concerns from eating the food have been reported. Return the food to the seller for a refund. For up-to-date information on recalls, follow @AVMARecallWatch on Twitter.

-- A Japanese Chin named Esme is recovering from a groundbreaking heart surgery to repair his mitral valve and replace the chordae tendineae, also known as heartstrings. Japanese veterinary cardiologist Dr. Masami Uechi performed the surgery Nov. 19 at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York. It was the first time the operation has been performed in the United States. If it is successful, it holds out hope -- albeit expensive hope -- for other dogs with mitral valve regurgitation. Breeds that are often afflicted with the condition include Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Chihuahuas and dachshunds.

-- A stray dog who fell in with a Swedish adventure team during an endurance race in Ecuador now has a new home. After they gave him a piece of meat, he decided he was onto a good thing and followed them for the remainder of the race, including swimming after them down a river until they hauled him into a kayak. After the race, athlete Mikael Lindnord adopted the dog, now named Arthur.

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: Your pet can supervise while you decorate the tree and will have fun with empty boxes as gifts are unwrapped. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: An 8-year-old Japanese Chin is home and recovering well after undergoing a seven-hour surgical procedure to repair a defective heart valve. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2