EIGHT LIFESTYLE HACKS FOR DOG AND CAT OWNERS

Remember when the words "pet decor" meant a cat tree wrapped in ugly carpet or a crate with a cover thrown over it that doubled as an end table? No more. Whatever your decorating style, clever manufacturers and DIYers have come up with some amazing and amazingly attractive items and home hacks that suit both your pets' needs and your own desire to have an attractive home. We've collected eight of our favorite ideas for making a beautiful life with your cat or dog, whether you're remodeling, redecorating, crafting it yourself or buying something new.

-- Fur-niture. We've all sighed over the amount of pet hair that collects on sofas, chairs, bedspreads -- pretty much anything in the home. Of course you can throw a sheet over your sofa or purchase a cute cover decorated with paw prints, but there are other options if you want a more sophisticated look.

If you're buying a new piece of furniture, look for easy-clean fabrics such as Ultrasuede, a type of microfiber, or Crypton, a synthetic fabric that resists stains (including those made by muddy paws), odor and bacteria. Or consider skipping fabric altogether and going with leather, pleather or vinyl. All are easy to clean, and some vintage vinyl pieces look fabulous. Check Etsy, salvage shops or Craigslist for finds.

-- Re-cover. If you have sewing skills, look online for patterns and make slipcovers from the fabric of your choice. Pet-friendly and washable fabrics include denim, cotton duck and canvas. Choose something that can be thrown in the washing machine when your pet throws up on it. Other good choices are floral or tapestry prints that will help hide fur between vacuum visits.

-- Pet beds. Repurpose an old radio cabinet, console TV or suitcase to make a unique sleep spot for your pet. Another way to upcycle: Turn an old dresser drawer into a pet bed with a cushion or pillow. Look on Pinterest or HGTV.com for how-tos.

-- Built-ins. If you're building or remodeling your home, ask the contractor about implementing one (or more) of these pet-friendly conveniences: a pullout cabinet for storing pet food and dishes, or a sliding drawer beneath a cabinet with custom cutouts to hold pet dishes; window seats, bookshelves or cabinets with built-in pet beds; or a custom pet door that matches cabinetry or door paneling. Houzz and Pinterest have scores of examples.

-- Pet door. For a simpler way to snazz up an existing pet door, simply add trim, or molding, around the edges.

-- Cat walks. Cats like to rule their domain from on high. And what could be higher than the ceiling? You can build or purchase attractive steps that attach to the wall so your cat can climb to the highest point in the room, well away from marauding dogs or toddlers. Bridges allow him to perfect his acrobatic skills as he crosses over doorways. Cat bridges, mazes, forts and other configurations all attach to the wall so they take up little space while allowing your cat to go vertical.

-- Windows. Build a window seat so your pet can enjoy the view outdoors or even an enclosed "catio" that can be accessed from a window. You can build a window seat yourself, hire a contractor or purchase one from retailers such as Bed, Bath and Beyond or Amazon.

-- Underfoot. Hard-surface floors such as wood, bamboo or tile are easiest to clean, but if you must have carpeting, look for a low-pile style made of stain-resistant material. Another good option is Flor carpet tiles, which can be easily taken up and replaced. It will be a mood-saver when you're cleaning up cat vomit for the umpteenth time or housetraining a puppy.

Q&A

Mangy cat?

It's possible

Q: Can cats get mange? There's a stray hanging around our backyard whose fur looks kind of patchy. If that's what it is, would it be contagious to people? -- via email

A: It's rare, but cats can indeed get mange, which is caused by parasitic mites that feed on skin debris. Animals with mange are crazy itchy, often with dandruff and, as you noticed, hair loss.

Mange mites are more likely to make their home on dogs, but mites that can take up residence on a cat's skin or in the hair follicles include Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi, Notoedres cati (feline scabies) and Cheyletiella. Cats most prone to mange tend to be malnourished or have lowered immune systems, both of which could be the case with the stray cat you've seen.

Demodex gatoi, which is seen mostly in southern and Gulf Coast states, is contagious between cats, as are Cheyletiella and scabies. They are usually spread through contact with an infected cat or that cat's bedding or environment.

Feline scabies, which usually starts on the face and ears, then spreads to the rest of the body, can be transmitted to other species, including dogs and humans, although, again, it's uncommon in cats. The signs of scabies in pets are itchiness on the head and neck, hair loss, and red, raw or scabby skin. Scabies mites can cause a rash on human skin, but they don't live on human skin, so the problem is temporary.

Demodex cati lives normally on a cat's skin and rarely causes any problem. It can get out of control, though, in cats with underlying immune-suppression diseases such as feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus.

Ask a veterinarian who is experienced with stray cats for advice on providing treatment. If you want to trap the cat for treatment, be careful about handling him unless your hands are protected with gloves. -- 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

Border collies rule

at agility contest

-- A border collie named Tex finished first at the second-annual Westminster Kennel Club agility trial, winning over a field of 330 dogs. A husky mix named Roo successfully defended his 2014 title as the highest-scoring mixed-breed dog in the competition. Scoring highest in their height categories were Pink, a papillon, 8-inch division; Keebler, a Pembroke Welsh corgi, 12-inch division; Smart, a border collie, 16-inch division; the aforementioned Tex in the 20-inch division; and Ffynch, a border collie, 24-inch division. The canine competitors comprised 74 breeds and varieties, plus 15 mixed breeds.

-- New Jersey legislators and Gov. Chris Christie have enacted a "pet store disclosure" law that requires pet stores to provide breeder and inspection report information about puppies for sale. Described as the toughest in the country, the legislation also prohibits pet stores from selling puppies purchased from breeders found by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to have "severe violations" of care standards. The measure's sponsor, state Sen. Jim Holzapfel, says providing the information allows consumers to research breeders and make an informed decision before buying.

-- Wrong visiting hours? A miniature schnauzer named Sissy trekked 20 blocks to the hospital where her owner was undergoing chemotherapy. She had ridden there in the car previously, but had never made the journey on foot. After finding her way, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, dog walked in through the automatic doors and was presumably in search of an elevator to take her to visit Nancy Franck. Hospital employees intercepted her and used the phone number on her tag to call Dale Franck, who had been searching frantically for the would-be canine candy striper. -- 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: Pet hair cleanup is easier when you have leather, pleather or vinyl furniture. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: A 5-year-old border collie from Long Valley, New Jersey, took top honors at the 2015 Westminster Kennel Club agility competition. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT VACCINATING YOUR DOG OR CAT

In case you've been on a desert island for the past few months, vaccinations are in the news. Fearing vaccine-related reactions or other concerns, some people are leery not only of vaccinating their children against preventable illnesses, but also their pets.

Protecting against something you've never seen can be a difficult concept for both pet owners and veterinarians. Many veterinarians (and probably 90 percent of vet techs) who have graduated in the past 10 to 20 years have never seen a case of canine distemper. For the pet owner -- add in families, friends, co-workers and acquaintances -- who has also never seen or known a dog with the disease, it's easy to begin to believe the threat doesn't exist, isn't serious or is overblown.

Those of us who have been practicing longer (35 years, in my case) have seen the green discharge from the eyes and nose, the hardening footpads, the neurological signs and death. Many deaths. We know this invisible and now infrequent killer can gain ground quickly in a community of dogs that are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated and kill indiscriminately and grotesquely. Distemper and parvo outbreaks occur in shelters across the country every week because approximately half of the dogs coming in have never been vaccinated.

For 35 years I've told pet owners, if you love your dog or cat specifically, and dogs and cats in general, you'll get your pets vaccinated not only to give them potentially life-saving protection, but also to put an invisible blanket of protection over the whole pet community.

That doesn't mean your pet needs every vaccination out there. Your pet's vaccination program should be individualized, based on factors such as his age, health, medical history, lifestyle (is he a homebody or does he go to dog parks or cat or dog shows?), and the prevalence of disease in your locale. Here's what you should know:

-- Dogs and cats should receive core vaccines -- those that protect against the most common and most serious diseases. In dogs, core vaccines are distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis and rabies. In cats, they are panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus) and rabies, as required by law.

-- For a minimal vaccine program, veterinary immunology expert Ronald D. Schultz, Ph.D., recommends a first vaccination no earlier than 8 to 10 weeks of age (6 weeks for shelter animals), followed by one or two more doses, the last when the animal is 14 to 16 weeks or older. Get a titer test two or more weeks after the final vaccination to make sure the immune system has responded to the vaccines.

-- At one year, your pet can receive a booster vaccination or titer to ensure he has antibodies to disease. Then you can simply do titers every three years for the rest of the animal's life and revaccinate as needed, or you can revaccinate every three years for the rest of the animal's life.

-- In dogs, give non-core vaccines, such as those for leptospirosis or giardia, only if your pet is at high risk of the disease. The coronavirus vaccine is not recommended by the current guidelines. In cats, vaccines with little or no efficacy include those for feline infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, virulent calicivirus and bordetella. Alice Wolf, DVM, an internal medicine specialist and professor of small-animal medicine at Texas A&M University, advises against giving those vaccines to cats.

-- Some animals are more at risk of vaccine reactions than others. They include certain breeds, such as akitas, American cocker spaniels, American Eskimo dogs, Great Danes and Weimaraners; young puppies or kittens who are stressed from being transported to new environments; animals who are sick or have a fever; animals with white coats and pink noses or with dilute coat colors; and small dogs in general. Talk to your veterinarian about ways to reduce the risks.

Q&A

Surgery best for

dislocated tendon

Q: My Sheltie was playing in the backyard, and I noticed afterward that she was limping. The veterinarian did X-rays and found that she had torn the tendon that attaches to her hock. Is she going to need surgery to repair it? -- via Facebook

A: The $5 term for this type of orthopedic injury is luxation of the superficial digital flexor tendon, which runs along the back side of the Achilles' heel. If the tissues that hold it in place tear, the tendon becomes dislocated, causing lameness. It's an unusual injury, but when we see it, it's usually in Shelties and other collie-type dogs.

We usually recommend surgical repair, especially for young, active dogs, because recovery is quicker and more predictable. Afterward, exercise is commonly limited for a couple of months, and your dog may need to wear a splint to support the repair while it heals. Pain medication and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug will help with discomfort and swelling.

If finances or other factors, such as age or illness, make surgery inadvisable, though, talk to your veterinarian about conservative management of the injury. This may involve an injection of Adequan to help reduce swelling and lubricate the joint, combined with crate rest for three weeks or more.

It can be difficult to keep a young dog inactive for long periods while injuries heal (another reason that surgery is preferred). One way you can keep your dog occupied is to offer Kong toys that have been stuffed with plain yogurt, mashed banana, pumpkin, peanut butter and kibble, and then frozen. Treat puzzles that don't require a lot of action on your dog's part are also useful. Practice tricks that don't require your dog to use her legs, such as "Give it" or pushing a ball with her nose. Your dog will also appreciate some good old-fashioned quality time, whether she's sitting on your lap while you watch television or sitting with you outdoors on a pretty day. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Journalism study follows

trends in cat tales

-- News about cats has been fodder for journalists for more than 140 years. University of Illinois journalism professor Matthew C. Ehrlich, intrigued by New York Times articles on cute cat videos and cats and wildlife interactions, decided to dig deeper into the cultural history of cats in journalism, specifically in the paper that publishes "all the news that's fit to print." He found nearly 700 articles, from the 1870s to the present, portraying cats as commodities, heroes, villains, victims, women's best friends and urban symbols. The stories, he suggests, are more than fluff, offering insights into our evolving relationships with animals.

-- Sometimes it's good to think inside the box. In a study published in the November 2014 issue of Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Dutch veterinarian Claudia Vinke of Utrecht University in the Netherlands reported that newly arrived cats who were provided boxes to hide in at a shelter had significantly decreased stress levels, adjusted more quickly to their new surroundings and were more interested in meeting people. Future investigations will examine whether reduced stress levels correlate with reduced outbreaks of infectious disease as well as the effect of a hiding box for cats housed in groups.

-- Ever think that maybe you're just a little neurotic when it comes to caring for your pets? Turns out that could actually be good for them, according to new research from the University of California at Berkeley and California State University, East Bay. "Helicopter" pet owners tend to be highly conscientious and enjoy close relationships with their animals. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, is the first to find a positive correlation between neuroticism, anxious attachment and the care of and affection for pets, says CSU-East Bay psychologist Gretchen Reevy, who co-authored the paper. -- 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: Dogs and cats should receive core vaccines at least once in their lives. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Cats respond to stress and change by hiding. A box is the perfect getaway. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

HELP LONGER-LIVING PETS HAVE A HEALTHY, COMFORTABLE OLD AGE

Age. It gets us all in the end. But just as exercising, eating right and mental gymnastics can help humans live longer and better, the same is true for dogs and cats. We want to share the best ways to promote longevity for animals as they enter their middle and senior years.

But first, what defines a senior pet? That depends on species, breed and size. Cats tend to enter the golden years between the ages of 7 and 11. Some dogs show brain aging as early as 6 or 7 years, while others seem to remain young in heart and mind until they are 10 to 12 years old. Toy poodles and Chihuahuas are among the longest-lived breeds, and some are still bouncing around at 15 and living to be 20 or more. The important thing to remember is that every dog and cat is an individual, so the age at which they start to show physical or mental decline can vary.

To improve your pet's chances of living into old age gracefully, he needs five things: regular veterinary care, a great diet, physical exercise, social enrichment and mental stimulation. As he ages, all of these components will help him stay fit and can even improve cognition.

-- A lot of us operate on the principle "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That might work with cars, but cats and dogs? Not so much. We often don't see what's going wrong with pets because they don't complain, and it's easy to miss subtle signs. An annual veterinary exam, or even twice a year for seniors if you can swing it financially, means that your pet is getting the once-over from your veterinarian's fresh eyes and experienced perspective. That can make all the difference in catching diseases early so they can be treated or managed more effectively.

-- Stick with your pet's normal, high-quality food if he's still healthy and active, but make sure he doesn't eat too much, especially if he's less active than he once was. If he's putting on weight, your veterinarian may recommend a lower-fat senior diet. If he's too thin, he may need a food that's higher in protein and fat. Pets with health problems such as kidney failure or heart disease may need special diets. If you're concerned about cognitive impairment, ask your veterinarian about one of the foods containing supplements that improve brain function.

-- Keep him moving, within the limits of his age and abilities. If he can't run, walk. If he can't walk as far, take shorter walks. If his mobility isn't what it once was, play gentle games indoors or in your yard.

-- Keep his brain busy. Pets need consistent mental and social stimulation. Make mealtime more challenging with a feeding maze or a toy he must move to make the food fall out. Play hide-and-seek games at home, practice his obedience skills or start training him for a sport such as nose work, which can be played by dogs of any size or age. Heck, tell him about that story you heard on NPR on the way home. He probably won't offer an opinion on it, but listening to you and interacting with you will help his brain stay limber. This type of enrichment is vital for a dog's or cat's physical, mental and behavioral health.

Most important, never assume that nothing can be done to mitigate the effects of aging. If you notice that your dog or cat seems less active or playful, is confused or starts to break housetraining when he never did before, tell your veterinarian. Those can be signs of cognitive dysfunction or a medical problem that can be treated. With treatment or environmental changes, your old pet may have a new lease on life.

Q&A

Tips to manage

a leaky dog

Q: I notice that there are wet spots on the carpet where my dog has been lying. She's 10 years old and otherwise in good health. What's going on? -- via email

A: It's not unusual for older dogs to develop what's called urinary incontinence: a failure of the bladder to securely store urine until it's released through urination. Incontinence can have several different causes, such as anatomical malformations, but most often it occurs when the urethra fails to close properly, known as urethral incompetence. We usually see it in large-breed females who are spayed, especially if they are overweight, but it can occur in any neutered dog. It can also develop in dogs as they age.

To diagnose urinary incontinence, your veterinarian will need to take a medical history and do a physical exam to make sure the problem isn't behavioral and rule out other problems, such as prostatic or urethral disease or neurologic problems. A urinalysis and urine culture can rule out a urinary tract infection.

Fortunately, this problem is easily treated with safe and effective medications. If urinary incontinence is indeed the problem, your veterinarian may prescribe a type of estrogen to enhance the urethra's ability to close by improving its smooth muscle or mechanical resistance. There's also medication that helps to tighten the sphincter muscle, increasing the bladder's control. Another management technique is to make sure your dog has plenty of opportunities to go out and urinate so that her bladder stays small. A late-night walk to give one last chance to pee before bedtime is a good idea.

Dogs being treated for urinary incontinence need regular monitoring, including a urinalysis and urine culture once or twice a year. Depending on what drug they're taking, they may need an annual blood test or a periodic blood pressure check. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Million Cat Challenge

underway with key goals

-- Shelter medicine programs at the University of California-Davis and University of Florida plan to save the lives of a million cats over the next five years. The Million Cat Challenge hopes shelters and animal control facilities will sign on to one or more of the following five initiatives: finding alternatives that will keep cats in homes or the community rather than in shelters; managing admission to correspond with a shelter's ability to provide safe, humane care; matching the number of cats in a shelter at any given time with the shelter's capacity to ensure their welfare; removing barriers to adoption; and returning healthy, unowned cats to the areas where they were trapped after sterilizing and vaccinating them.

-- Virginia has become the first state whose attorney general has formed an animal law unit. The attorney general's staff will assist local and state law enforcement and other agencies with cases involving animal welfare, animal fighting or animal abuse. "We've seen firsthand in Virginia that animal fighting is associated with other serious crimes such as drug distribution, possession of illegal alcohol or firearms, assaults and illegal gambling," says Attorney General Mark R. Herring. "There's also evidence that abuse of animals or exposure to animal abuse, especially by young people, can be predictive of future abusive or criminal behavior."

-- Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy can benefit from therapy dog visits, according to the results of a clinical trial performed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. The patients experience increased emotional well-being and quality of life. Although that might seem obvious to any dog lover, it's the first such definitive study in cancer patients, says principal investigator Stewart B. Fleishman, M.D. "Patients said they would have stopped their treatments before completion, except for the presence of the certified Good Dog Foundation therapy dog and volunteer handler."

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: Mental and physical enrichment contribute to longer lifespans in pets. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: New shelter programs are aimed at saving cats' lives. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1