We share 7 of our favorite new dog and cat books

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Reading is a year-round activity, but summer is an extra-special reading time, with lazy family vacations and extended periods of daylight making it seem as if we have more time. And who better to read about than our best friends: dogs and cats. Whether your vacation reading leans toward mystery, history, photography or nonfiction, we've rounded up some new favorites that will have you turning the pages with fervor.

-- Two cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker the corgi are your guides to life in Crozet, Virginia, where they live with too-curious farmer Mary Minor Haristeen. In "Tail Gait," the latest installment of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries written by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, past and present blend to tell the tale of a Revolutionary War-era mystery and a modern-day murder, with Mary Minor and her pets in the thick of things. A perfect cozy read for a beach or mountain getaway.

-- Judy was an English pointer, the mascot of a Royal Navy gunboat in the Pacific as the world geared up for World War II in 1939. Frank Williams was a POW in a Japanese internment camp on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, where the two met and became best friends. Robert Weintraub's "No Better Friend" is the story of their friendship and survival through battle, captivity, starvation and shipwreck. Readers and reviewers call it spellbinding, gripping and heartwarming.

-- You've come a long way, kitty! That's the message in Arden Moore's "Fit Cat: Tips and Tricks to Give Your Pet a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life." In chapters on health, nutrition, grooming, behavior and more, Moore shares top cat tips on coping with cat burglars, teaching tricks and building a cat habitat, to name just a few of the areas covered. One tip from the book: Treat your cat to a hit of catnip just before bedtime to induce a case of the zoomies and wear him out so you'll both sleep soundly.

-- Teaching tricks to your dog (young or old) is a fun way to spend some time this summer. In the recently released "Idiot's Guides: Dog Tricks," mother-daughter team Deb Eldredge, DVM, and Kate Eldredge show step by step how to teach your dog more than 80 basic and advanced tricks and skills, including the fun -- playing basketball -- and the useful -- putting away his toys. They explain how to use rewards, cues and body language to communicate with your dog, and color photos illustrate each step. Dr. Eldredge's dog Doc demonstrates basketball and putting down the toilet seat. "I think it is admirable that a male dog learned to put the seat down," she says.

-- Canine Instagram star Momo and his chronicler and best buddy, Andrew Knapp, take to the road in "Find Momo Coast to Coast." The border collie and his photographer visit landmarks and attractions such as Grand Central Station, the White House and the French Quarter in New Orleans on their 15,000-mile journey through the United States and Canada. Part game, part photography book, it will test not only your geographic knowledge, but also your ability to find the black-and-white dog hiding in each photo.

-- Do you miss the Zen of coloring? Pull out your crayons, watercolor pencils, markers or gel pens and take a trip back in time to the pleasure of coloring books with "Cool Cats" from the Really COOL Colouring series or "Creative Cats Coloring Book" from the Creative Haven series. Don't be surprised to feel stress melt away as you let your creativity run wild. Bonus: No one cares if you color outside the lines.

Q&A

Treatments available

for oral melanoma

Q: My golden retriever had a swelling in his mouth, and it has been diagnosed as melanoma. I understand there is a vaccine for the disease. What can you tell me about this type of cancer and its treatment? -- via Facebook

A: Melanoma is a common oral tumor in dogs. We see it more often in males than females, and certain breeds seem to be affected more often, including goldens, chow chows, cocker spaniels, Gordon setters and Scottish terriers.

This type of tumor invades the bone of the jaw and is likely to spread elsewhere in the body, especially to the lungs and lymph nodes. Surgery and radiation therapy can help to manage localized tumors, but once melanoma starts to spread (metastasize), it tends to be resistant to chemotherapy.

A DNA-based vaccine has been developed that may help control oral melanomas in some dogs. It's approved by the Department of Agriculture for treatment of "locally controlled" stage 2 or 3 oral malignant melanoma in dogs. That means the tumor and any metastasis to the lymph nodes has been reduced to undetectable levels through surgery and radiation treatment before the vaccine is administered. Dogs with locally controlled melanoma who receive the vaccine can have good survival times.

However, according to my colleague Michael Childress, DVM, an internal medicine specialist at Purdue University, a recent study documented no significant improvement in survival for dogs treated with the vaccine, called Oncept, compared to dogs who did not receive the vaccine. He does note, though, that this study had certain limitations. In his observations, the vaccine "seems to afford significant benefit for some dogs, but limited benefit for many others." It may be, he adds, that certain tumor-related factors affect response to the vaccine, but these are as yet unknown.

Oncept has a good safety record. Common side effects tend to be reactions or hematomas at the injection site. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

What's that smell?

Water releases dog odor

-- We all know how wet dogs smell, but what causes the odor? The American Chemical Society explains that when water hits your dog's skin or fur, it mixes with the yeast, bacteria and oils on it, breaking down the chemical bonds and releasing that oh-so-distinctive houndy smell. When they are liberated, the organic, volatile molecules spring into the air and travel straight to your nose, causing it to wrinkle with dismay. So giving your dog a bath may cause him to stink temporarily, but once he's dry, you can happily bury your nose in his fur.

-- Exotic pets have special needs. For instance, did you know that guinea pigs are prone to heatstroke? It's important to keep them in temperature-controlled areas. Chinchillas are highly active and need plenty of room to run and jump. Chinchillas are nocturnal, so they also appreciate a nice hidey-hole where they can sleep during the day. In both species, signs of illness include loss of appetite, less poop in their cage, increased respiratory rate, sneezing, a runny nose or eyes, tooth grinding, drooling and lumps or swollen areas.

-- One of the reasons dogs are so good at understanding us is because they have learned to follow our gaze as we look at food or something else that could be of interest to the dog, such as toys. Interestingly, dogs who receive training in activities such as agility or obedience are less likely to follow a person's gaze, possibly because during training they learn to look at the person for cues and to ignore distractions. In a recent study published in the journal Animal Behaviour, scientists found that dogs who had a higher amount of formal training over their life span showed a lower gaze-following response compared to dogs with little or no training. -- 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: Hobbes, a 5-year-old Parson Russell terrier, demonstrates balancing a biscuit on his nose. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Moisture as well as warm, humid air can intensify a dog's personal aroma. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1

Are turtles good pets? They can be, but they require special care and handling

By Kim Campbell Thornton

With their dark-green shells, green legs with yellow stripes and green heads with a red stripe behind the eye, red-eared sliders are popular pets for kids whose parents may not want to commit to a dog or cat and people interested in reptiles. Problem is, not everyone who gets them realizes that they need a large aquatic environment to thrive. They can also spread salmonella, especially to children, who aren't always careful about washing their hands after handling the shelled reptiles. Here's what you need to know about getting and living with one.

-- Turtles are interesting pets and can have different personalities, but as companions, they are more like fish than dogs. Be sure you or your child have a true interest in them before acquiring one. To learn about them, talk to a veterinarian who is familiar with reptiles or to a turtle rescue organization (an Internet search will turn up many).

-- Tiny turtles are illegal. The sale of turtles with a carapace -- the top of the shell -- smaller than four inches was banned in 1975 because the turtles shed salmonella bacteria. That's a problem when you think about the likelihood of young kids becoming infected after touching the turtles and then putting their fingers -- or even the turtles themselves -- into their mouths. You may see tiny turtles for sale at pet stores, flea markets, swap meets or even online, but always choose one that is legal size or larger.

-- Wait to get a turtle until your child is at least 5 years old. Young children are more susceptible to infection.

-- Turtles need an adequate water habitat. A real or artificial pond is best. You can start them out in a large indoor aquarium, but they need more space as they grow older and bigger.

"They need a place to get out of the water so they can get some sun and completely dry off if they want to, and they need deep enough water so they can swim around," says Scott H. Weldy, DVM, an exotic animal veterinarian at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest, California.

The pond or aquarium must have good filtration so waste products don't build up and make the turtle sick.

-- Females lay eggs with or without the presence of a male. They need to be able to get out of the water and go to an area with dirt or sand where they can dig a hole, lay the eggs and bury them to keep them safe from predators.

-- Unless they live indoors, turtles hibernate in winter. They burrow into the bottom of the pond and wait for spring.

-- Turtles eat a variety of foods. Water hyacinths and elodia are common water plants for ornamental ponds, and turtles are fond of them. They are carnivores, so they also eat worms, fish and crawfish. Avoid keeping your turtle in the same pond with your $300 koi, or you may find that his fins have been nipped or even that he has been eaten if he's on the small side. Commercial pellets are available, but Dr. Weldy recommends feeding a more natural diet and not relying solely on pellets.

-- Use common sense when handling turtles, and teach children how to handle them safely. Salmonella bacteria can live on surfaces for days, so even indirect contact can spread disease. The golden rule? Wash your hands before and after handling your turtle, after cleaning his tank or pond and after feeding him, and keep turtles away from areas where food is prepared.

Q&A

Managing a cat's

recurring UTIs

Q: My cat gets bladder infections all the time, and it's driving us both crazy. Help! -- via Facebook

A: Lower urinary tract infections are common in cats, and they can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Possible causes include inflammation, structural defects of the urinary tract and environmental stress.

A complete workup can help determine the best way to proceed. That includes a urinalysis and culture to check for the presence of bacteria, and X-rays to screen for bladder stones. If your cat is a senior with recurring bladder infections, a complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry profile can also be useful diagnostics.

When a cat has recurring cystitis not caused by an obstruction such as a bladder stone and not associated with bacterial infection, medications that may help are those that minimize inflammation and relieve pain, and relax or smooth out the muscle of the urinary tract to relieve frequent or painful urination. Nutraceuticals such as glycosaminoglycans or glucosamine and chondroitin may help as well.

It's also important for your cat to get plenty of water. He may be intrigued by a fountain that provides running water. Feeding canned food is another excellent way to get extra water into your cat. Your veterinarian may recommend a specific diet to help reduce inflammation.

Make environmental changes to reduce stress. Try adding a tall cat tree or window perch for outdoor viewing, build a "catio" so he can get some outdoor time, provide him with puzzle toys that will challenge his mind, and keep his litter box super clean. Give him his food and playtime on a regular schedule so he has something to look forward to. And make sure he's not having conflicts with other pets in the home. If this is a problem, antianxiety medications such as clomipramine may help.

Other strategies may be helpful for individual cats. It can't hurt to try pheromone sprays or diffusers in the home to reduce anxiety, or complementary therapies such as acupuncture provided by a veterinarian with training in that field. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dog comforts mourners

at funeral home

-- Lulu the Labradoodle has an unusual but important job. She works at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home in White Plains, New York, bringing comfort to mourners. Wearing a vest that identifies her as a therapy dog, she's available for petting or as a comforting presence to people who have lost a loved one. The funeral home already had an aviary. After seeing the sense of calm the presence of a dog brought to frustrated airport travelers, owner Matthew Fiorillo decided a dog might bring peace at a funeral home as well. He credits Lulu with an "uncanny knack" for spotting people who need her, AP reports.

-- Can you check out a cat at your office? You can if you work at Dona Ana County Government Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In cahoots with the Animal Service Center of Mesilla Valley, the county office set up a cat habitat. Adoptable cats lounge in the Kitty Kondo, as it's called, and employees can borrow them for an hour or so to hang out at their desks. The socialization benefits the cats, and so far more than 100 have been adopted. No word on whether fines are levied if cats are returned late.

-- In case you've been wondering, here are some ways you and your office mates can celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 26: raise awareness about health benefits of pets; hold a fundraiser and donate proceeds to a local shelter or rescue group; have a dog and owner lookalike contest; host a canine adopt-a-thon and bring in some shelter dogs to meet people; post adoptable pets on your company's website or social media sites; bring in one or more pet professionals to speak at your workplace; have a hotdog lunch for employees, with bone-shaped biscuits for their canine co-workers. -- 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: With good care, red-eared sliders can live for 50 to 70 years and can grow to be 10 to 12 inches long. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Take Your Dog to Work Day, created by Pet Sitters International in 1999, is a way for businesses to support pets in the community. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

Let your small terrier or dachshund test his natural abilities at an Earthdog event

By Kim Campbell Thornton

If you live with a terrier, you know that these dogs love to dig and live to hunt. Those behaviors are strongly developed instincts in these little dogs who were developed to find, dig out and kill rats, moles, gophers and other vermin. Their name comes from the Latin word "terra," meaning earth.

A terrier's love of digging can be frustrating to lawn- and garden-proud owners, but you can channel your dog's natural desire to carry out underground search-and-destroy missions with a sport called Earthdog, offered by the American Kennel Club, which allows him to exercise his instincts in a fun and constructive way.

To get started in Earthdog tests, you can practice at home in your own backyard or a nearby park. Help your dog find the scent of a rabbit or squirrel by showing him where one has just run into the bushes and let him do some sniffing and following. This gives him the idea that his job is to scent out quarry and that the two of you are a team.

Use cardboard boxes to make a tunnel. Throw a favorite toy or ball inside to encourage your dog to enter it. Once he has the hang of that, lay a trail through it for him to follow.

Make the scent with used bedding from the rat or rodent cages at a local pet store. (Ask them to save some for you when they clean the cages.) Soak the bedding in water, strain the liquid and use it to lay the trail.

A simpler route, if available in your area, is to sign up for the Introduction to Quarry class at the next AKC Earthdog event. This basic instinct test is enough to get many dogs started.

If you want to see if your dog can earn a title, sign him up for an Earthdog test. The tests, held at different levels, measure a dog's natural aptitude at hunting underground as well as hunting skills or behaviors he has learned. They are noncompetitive, meaning your dog isn't out to beat any other terriers, but simply to show his skills.

All small terriers and any varieties of dachshund can compete. Dogs must be six months or older to participate in a test, but they can begin training earlier.

The beginner level, called Introduction to Quarry, has a 10-foot tunnel with one right-angle turn. At the end is a cage of rats. (Never fear: The rats are kept safely away from the dogs and are not harmed.) The dog is encouraged to follow a scent trail to the rats and to "work" them by barking or scratching at the area where they're located. This basic introduction to "den work and quarry" requires the dog to show that he's willing and able to seek and find his quarry (the rats) underground.

Once he passes the Introduction to Quarry test, a dog can begin earning titles, starting with Junior Earthdog and moving on to Senior and Master levels. As he works his way up the title ladder, the tests become more difficult, with longer distances, distractions and obstacles such as PVC pipes or narrower tunnels, and work alongside another dog. Depending on the level, the dog must pass the test two or more times under different judges before a title is awarded.

Overachieving terriers can go for an Endurance Earthdog title, awarded to terriers who pass both the Senior and Master classes at the same event on five different occasions.

For more information on getting started, visit akc.org and search for Earthdog clubs in your area.

Q&A

Dog won't go

out in rain

Q: It's been raining like crazy here in Oklahoma, and my dog is starting to piddle indoors instead of going outside. How can I overcome his reluctance to get wet? -- via email

A: Rain and other inclement weather is one of the reasons we think it's a good idea to take a pup out to potty on leash when you're housetraining him. Besides ensuring that he does his business before you let him back indoors, it teaches him that there's no alternative to going outside to potty, even if it's pouring Persians and Pekingese.

Put on your raincoat and do some remedial training with your dog. Lure him outdoors with a favorite treat -- something really high-value that he doesn't get very often, like steak. Or if he's small enough, you can just carry him out. Then be willing to play the waiting game. If he's smart, he'll potty fast so he can get out of there. As soon as he does, say, "Yes!" in a happy tone of voice, give him another treat and hustle him indoors. Put him back on a regular potty schedule, just like you did when he was a puppy, so he doesn't have any opportunities to pee or poop indoors, and always praise and reward him for going out in the rain and pottying where he's supposed to.

Make it more comfortable for him as well, especially if he has a thin coat. Shield him with an umbrella while you're waiting. Even better, get him a raincoat that fits well so he doesn't get as wet when he goes outdoors. In a pinch, a plastic trash bag with holes cut out for the head and legs will do, but a properly fitted raincoat will probably be easier to put on, keep in place and take off. -- Mikkel Becker Shannon and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

Cats by the numbers:

5 facts about felines

-- The total cat population in the United States at the end of 2013 was approximately 74 million, down from 81.7 million in 2006. Spayed cats live an average of 3.1 years longer than unspayed cats, a difference of almost 40 percent. Most cat owners, 41 percent, acquired their cats from family, friends or neighbors, while 22 percent found them as strays and 18 percent adopted them from shelters. In 2011, 42 recognized breeds of cats were being bred in the United States. Persians are the most popular pedigreed kittens, followed by exotics, Maine coons, ragdolls and British shorthairs.

-- Take your dog to work day? One Scottish collie mix apparently thought so. Paddy, who lives in Croy, North Lanarkshire, with his owner Thomas McCormack, bounced over a fence with the aid of a trampoline, tracked McCormack to the train station, boarded the train and plopped down in the seat next to his astonished owner. No word on whether he had to pay for a ticket.

-- The presence of pets may help reduce anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders, according to a new study published online in Developmental Psychobiology. Dogs, cats and guinea pigs may help children with ASDs improve their social skills. "This study provides physiological evidence that the proximity of animals eases the stress that children with autism may experience in social situations," said James Griffin, Ph.D. Researchers speculate that because companion animals offer unqualified acceptance, their presence makes children feel more secure.

The findings do not mean that parents of children with ASDs should rush to buy an animal for their children, cautioned Marguerite O'Haire, Ph.D., at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, who conducted the study in conjunction with colleagues in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. She says further research is needed to determine how programs aimed at developing social skills might include animals. -- 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: Earthdog tests are a fun way for terriers to fulfill their natural instincts. (Photo courtesy American Kennel Club.) Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Persians top the charts of feline popularity. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 1