Want to build a better relationship with your dog? Play with him!

By Kim Campbell Thornton

A dog's play behavior is unmistakable. We all recognize the play bow: forelegs down, rear up in the air, mouth open in a big smile and tail wagging madly. Sometimes the play bow is accompanied by verbal encouragement in the form of a stutter-bark (arr-ruff!) or a noisy growl that's all in fun. If a play bow isn't enough to get you (or another dog) to join in the game, your dog might bring a favorite toy or ball and drop it in front of you, just in case you need more of a hint.

When you toss a ball for your dog, play tug, or participate in a canine sport such as agility, nose work or rally, you're doing a lot more than just having a good time with him. Play provides exercise, reduces stress and improves motor skills, to name just a few of its benefits. Dogs who get plenty of playtime usually don't become frustrated or bored. They are less likely to get in trouble for nuisance chewing, digging and barking, and they tend to have better social skills with both people and other dogs.

Play is a fascinating subject for scientists and dog lovers alike. Even though some play behaviors don't always seem to make sense, we know that it has an important role in learning. Think part social bonding, part practice for behaviors that will be important for survival in adulthood: fighting, hunting and running away.

Puppies start playing almost as soon as they can walk. Whether they are playing bitey-face or chase with another dog, grabbing and shaking a toy to "kill" it or playing fetch with you, puppies are learning skills that will serve them well throughout life, including how to interact with other dogs and people and how to develop a soft mouth so they don't accidentally hurt anyone.

Dogs invent games, too. They might not lie awake at night thinking of how to build a better chew toy, but they learn quickly what actions work best to instigate play. You know, like dragging your underwear out into the living room to get you to chase them.

Teaching tricks is a fun way to play with your dog, at the same time giving him a mental workout. Depending on what your dog likes to do, his natural behaviors and his physical agility, try teaching wave, play dead, sit pretty, spin, speak or roll over.

If your dog already does some of those things naturally, you can use a clicker, treats and praise to reinforce the behavior and put it on cue so he does it on command. That's how I taught my dog Twyla to roll over and play dead and my dog Harper to sit pretty and push a ball with her nose. They already did those things on their own; I just gave the games a name and rewarded the dogs for doing them.

Play is a great training aid. If your dog asks you to play, ask him to perform a sit, down or fun trick first. Many working dogs are rewarded not with treats, but with a fast game of fetch or tug. Play helps them to unwind after an intense search or speedy sled-dog race.

Play helps dogs to become comfortable with being touched and with sudden movements. When we play with our dogs, they associate us with good times. That might be the best thing about play: It helps to strengthen the human-animal bond.

Cat lovers, don't feel left out. Play is just as important and beneficial for felines. Play on!

Q&A

How to stop a

dyed-in-the-wool chewer

Q: My cat loves to suck on my wool sweaters, and it's ruining them. Not to mention it can't be good for her. Why does she do this, and how can I get her to stop? -- via email

A: This condition, unimaginatively called wool-sucking, isn't all that unusual in cats, although Siamese and other Oriental breeds seem to be especially fond of doing it. The behavior is a misdirected attempt at nursing that may occur in cats who were weaned too early or who are responding to stress in their lives. In the same way you might suck on your hair or bite your fingernails when you're nervous or distracted, your cat sucks on wool.

The easiest way to stop her is to keep your sweaters where she can't get to them. If your cat only sucks on your sweaters at certain times, see if you can figure out what's triggering the behavior so you can change it if possible.

If you do catch her sucking on one (or any other wool or acrylic item), distract her with an unusual sound. When she looks up from what she's doing, remove the item and focus her attention on something else, such as a treat, being groomed or getting a favorite toy. Reward her with praise and a treat every time you see her sucking on a toy or some other acceptable item. This may help her to kick the habit.

Some experts believe that adding a little fiber to the cat's diet may help. It can't hurt to add a couple of teaspoons of plain canned pumpkin (no sugar or spices) to her meals. That has the bonus of also helping to reduce hairballs.

Be concerned if your cat is actually ingesting wool, because this can cause an intestinal obstruction. See your veterinarian if this is the case; your cat may need a prescription for medication to combat depression or anxiety. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Boldly going where

few cats have gone before

-- Aren't they all adventure cats? Well, maybe not, but some cats have made a name for themselves on social media as intrepid explorers. Under the hashtag #AdventureCats, their exploits are chronicled on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as they hike, kayak, sail, canoe, camp, bicycle and paddleboard with their people. Not every cat is cut out to ride in a backpack, walk on a leash or go rock climbing, but if yours has a yen for adventure, protect him with an ID tag and microchip, and teach him to wear a harness and leash and come when called.

-- You might be hopeful that a hairless pet or one with a curly or wiry coat won't cause you to break out in hives, develop red, runny eyes, or go into spasms of sniffling and sneezing, but the truth is that all animals produce allergens, says Dr. Oren P. Schaefer, an allergist at Mass Lung and Allergy in Worcester, Massachusetts. "The impression of a hypoallergenic pet is one that does not produce allergy, and that doesn't exist," he says. "There are some animals that are less allergenic, but they all make the allergen that can cause trouble. It's a matter of how much they make." If you have a pet who sends your allergies into overdrive, some simple steps can help you be less miserable: Have him groomed or bathed frequently (by someone else), put a T-shirt or bodysuit on him to reduce your exposure and don't let him sleep in your bedroom or lick you.

-- The Bedlington terrier is often described as having the eyes of an angel, the look of a lamb and the heart of a lion. His woolly coat, tasseled ears and the topknot on his head were meant to protect this breed, originally created to hunt rats and other vermin, from attacks by his prey. -- 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: Play engages a pet's cognitive and motor skills. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: The Bedlington terrier is active and playful but usually not as high-energy as some other terrier breeds. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3

What's behind your cat's striking eye color

By Kim Campbell Thornton

It's not just the fur or the purr that cats use to hold us spellbound: It's those eyes. Whether they are blue, green, gold, copper or some variation of those shades, a cat's eyes are one of his most beautiful features. Here's how they come to be that way.

Eye color is genetically linked to coat color. Kittens are born with blue eyes, which may stay that way or change color as the kitten matures. For instance, all pointed cats have blue eyes. Cats who are solid white or mostly white may have blue, green, gold or copper eyes. The most common eye colors range from greenish-yellow to gold.

You may have heard that white cats are always deaf. Not necessarily. Some are, and some aren't. White cats with blue eyes are more likely to be deaf, however, than white cats with gold or green eyes.

Deafness is associated only with the dominant white gene, not the white spotting gene, says feline geneticist Leslie A. Lyons, Ph.D.

"There's a high association of dominant white with deafness and dominant white with blue eyes, and if you are dominant white with blue eyes, you're more likely to be deaf."

Between 10 and 20 percent of white cats with eyes of other colors may be deaf. White cats with only one blue eye may be deaf only in the ear that's on the same side as the blue eye.

Eyes with the brilliant copper of a shiny new penny or the bright green of an emerald usually are the result of selective breeding, but genes don't discriminate. Those eye colors can appear in cats without a pedigree as well. Pedigreed cats noted for their distinctive eye color include the Burmese, with large, round gold eyes; the tonkinese, with sparkling aqua eyes; the Egyptian mau, with gooseberry green eyes; and the Russian blue, with vivid green eyes.

Some cats have "odd eyes," meaning one eye is blue and one is green or gold. The scientific term for this is "heterochromia," from the Greek words "hetero," meaning "different," and "chromia," referring to color. The difference in color might not be noticeable in a kitten, but changes gradually as the kitten moves toward adulthood.

We usually see odd eyes in white cats or cats with the white spotting gene, such as bicolor and tuxedo cats. Breeds in which odd eyes are common include Turkish angoras and Turkish vans. A description of angoras stated that the eyes should be "as green as the lake and as blue as the sky." Other breeds that may sport odd eyes are Persian, sphynx, Oriental shorthair and Japanese bobtail cats.

Odd eyes occur when a dominant white gene (meaning it masks other colors) or a white spotting gene blocks the concentration and distribution of natural pigments within the iris tissues during development. It's unusual to see odd eyes in cats who lack both the dominant white and the white spotting genes, but it can happen.

An unusual and attractive look is the dichromatic, or dichroic, eye, usually seen in white cats. That's one with two colors in one iris. For instance, the eye might be half green and half blue or have a green iris encircled by yellow. One or both eyes can be dichromatic, sometimes with each eye mirroring the other. Even more rarely, only a section of the eye may be a different color. Think of a pie-sliced shape of brown in what is otherwise a blue or green eye. Those eyes aren't just odd; they're downright weird, but undoubtedly beautiful.

Q&A

Can dogs benefit

from cancer diet?

Q: My dog has been diagnosed with lymphoma. I've heard that there's a cancer diet that may help. What can you tell me about it? Are there any other dietary changes I can make? -- via email

A: Many pet owners hope that a change in diet can help pets with cancer. So far, little published research has been done in this area, so I'm afraid I can't tell you that there's a "silver bullet" feeding regimen that will cure your dog. But I can discuss cancer-related changes in metabolism and evidence-based approaches that are being looked at to help reduce or eliminate those problems.

Dogs with cancer may lose weight or experience muscle wasting as a result of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. It's really important to make sure they are able to take in nutrients and maintain a healthy weight as they undergo treatment. This can mean continuing to feed your dog his regular food that he likes and does well on, or switching to a particular commercial or homemade diet recommended by a veterinary nutritionist.

You have probably heard that a low-carbohydrate diet is beneficial to cancer patients. There's no strong evidence for that yet, but on the other hand, it can't hurt to try it, as long as you choose an appropriate food that contains less than 20 percent of its calories from carbohydrates. Bear in mind that a low-carb diet is not the same as a grain-free diet, which can still be high in carbohydrates, fat and calories. Ask your veterinarian to consult a veterinary nutritionist about appropriate choices.

We don't currently have specific nutritional requirements for dogs with cancer. The best thing you can do to help your dog recover is to continue to feed a food that will maintain his body condition and meet his energy needs during treatment. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dogs fetch help for

farmers with disabilities

-- Border collies, Labrador retrievers and other dogs are learning to help farmers with disabilities perform chores, thanks to a small group of volunteers called PHARM Dog USA: Pets Helping Agriculture in Rural Missouri. Founder Jackie Allenbrand evaluates farmers' needs, assesses farms and makes placements. She and other trainers teach the dog-farmer teams to work together. Tasks the dogs may perform include bringing or picking up tools, opening gates, carrying buckets, managing livestock, helping farmers brace themselves and going for help. The dogs, donated by breeders or acquired from shelters, are placed at no charge to farmers.

-- Pet owners will spend nearly $16 billion on veterinary care this year, estimates the American Pet Products Association. If you're considering purchasing pet health insurance, here are five things you should know: 1. Some insurers provide discounts to AARP or AAA members, active-duty and veteran military personnel or to customers who enroll two or more pets. 2. Some employers offer pet insurance as an employee benefit. 3. Policies are available for birds, reptiles and other exotic pets. 4. Older pets can be insured, usually until they are 12 to 14 years old, but policies may exclude coverage for age-related illnesses. 5. Policyholders can usually take pets to any veterinarian.

-- You're probably familiar with sighthounds -- dogs that hunt by sight, such as greyhounds -- and scenthounds -- dogs that use their sniffers to track quarry -- but did you know that some hounds are multitalented, able to hunt by both scent and sight? Sometimes called utility hounds, they include the Rhodesian ridgeback, basenji, pharaoh hound and Ibizan hound. Other versatile hunting dogs that are classified as hounds are the Finnish spitz and Norwegian elkhound, spitz-type dogs that were created to hunt game birds, elk and bear. -- 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: Multiple genes determine eye color. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Always ask about exclusions, deductibles and possible provider restrictions before purchasing pet health insurance. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2

Mischievous and curious, ferrets are a hoot to live with, but they have some special needs. Here's what to expect if you're planning to acquire one of the slinky critters

By Kim Campbell Thornton

In love with the furry tube of fun that is the ferret? These members of the mustelid family (hint: that means they're stinkers) are inquisitive and energetic -- think toddler-on-chocolate energetic. Their busy nature makes them entertaining companions, but it also means they get in to everything. As you can imagine, ferrets have some special needs, some that you might not be aware of. Here are 11 tips on living with them.

-- Ferrets are carnivores with higher protein and fat requirements than cats. Feed them a high-protein diet made for ferrets, and avoid sugary treats such as raisins and carrots. In a pinch, you can feed canned kitten food, but it's not appropriate as a full-time diet. Because ferrets can be prone to insulinomas (pancreatic tumors), it's best to avoid high-carbohydrate dry foods, recommends Scott Weldy, DVM, of Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest, California. Choose a food that's at least 32 percent animal protein and 20 percent fat with minimal amounts of plant-based ingredients.

-- Ferrets are hunters. They can be great friends with cats and dogs, but pocket pets and birds aren't safe around them. On the plus side, you won't have a problem with mice, rats or other vermin in your home.

-- Ferrets have sharp, pointy teeth, and they can be nippy in play. Supervise their interactions with young children, and protect valued items. Grandma's piano can make a fine ferret chew toy if you don't keep Ferdinand away from it and give him acceptable items to play with.

-- Ferrets steal stuff. "They are worse than any 2-year-old," says Kristi Krause, DVM, who also practices at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital. "They will take off with your car keys. Your wallet is gone. Your slippers are gone."

-- Ferret-proofing a home is a difficult art. Ferrets fit through tiny spaces. Never assume they can't get to something or get in or out of a certain area. If they can squeeze their head through an opening, the body will follow. And of course they can use their paws to manipulate objects. Don't be surprised to find your ferret inside the dishwasher or in the back of your kitchen cabinets.

-- Ferrets need large living quarters for when you're not home to keep them out of trouble. Choose a cage that's at least two feet wide and four feet high with two or more levels. Flooring or bedding can range from carpet or wood to pine shavings or artificial grass, but get rid of anything your ferret chews up.

-- Ferrets are nocturnal, but they will adapt to your schedule. When they're not playing hard, they're sleeping hard, up to 16 hours a day.

-- Ferrets enjoy playing on large exercise wheels and running through tunnels. An easy, inexpensive option for a tunnel is a flexible clothes dryer vent, Dr. Weldy says. Ferrets will play in them all day, especially if you toss treats inside for them to find.

-- Ferrets smell. With their noses, of course, but they also have an odor, unique to each animal, produced by their musk glands. Some people like the scent; some don't. Be sure you can live with it before getting a ferret.

-- Ferrets need distemper and rabies vaccinations as well as flea and heartworm preventives.

-- Ferrets must be spayed or neutered or have birth control implants. Spaying protects a female ferret's health by limiting the secretion of estrogen, which at high levels can cause fatal anemia. Altered ferrets stink less, and neutered males have less aggressive behavior.

Ferrets can bring their people many hours of joy, but they're not for everyone.

"I think you have to be a special person to be tolerant of their behaviors," Dr. Weldy says. "They're unique animals."

Q&A

Unusual behaviors may

signal health problems

Q: I always hear that when pets are acting out, you should take them to the veterinarian to see if there's anything wrong with them. What kinds of health problems can cause behavior changes? -- via Facebook

A: You name it! Behavioral changes are sometimes the only way we have of knowing there's an underlying health problem. Behavior changes can help us recognize pain, infections, tumors, degenerative conditions, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal problems and skin diseases.

For instance, behavior changes that may indicate pain include decreased activity or social interactions; vocalizing more or less than normal; biting or licking at a joint; or breaking housetraining. Cats may groom themselves less often.

Behaviors that might indicate neurological problems include sleeping more than normal, circling, pressing the head against a wall or other solid surface and changes in personality. Many people associate seizures with convulsions and loss of consciousness, but other types of seizures can cause behaviors such as fly biting, chewing, tail chasing and aggression. Pets with neurological symptoms may be suffering from infections, types of cancer, toxins, epilepsy, cognitive dysfunction or metabolic disorders.

Metabolic diseases such as hyperthyroidism in cats can cause pets to be irritable or aggressive, unusually active, unusually hungry or unusually vocal. Dogs with hypothyroidism may seem anxious, eat less and sleep more. Pets with diabetes or kidney disease may have accidents in the home because they're drinking more water than usual.

Pets with painful gastrointestinal problems may show such signs as excessive or unusual licking, sucking, lip smacking, gulping or chewing. Itchy or painful skin diseases and food allergies may cause them to bite or chew at themselves.

If you're lucky, your pet's unusual behavior will turn out to be a one-time aberration, but it never hurts to get it checked out to make sure nothing serious is going on. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Missing parrot returns

with new language

-- African grey parrot Nigel was a California bird, but he spoke in the same British accent as his owner, Darren Chick. The bird escaped from his home in 2010, but was found last October and returned to Chick, thanks to his microchip. Chick recognized Nigel immediately, but was surprised by his new vocabulary. Nigel was speaking fluent Spanish, and his British accent was gone. Turns out he'd been found by a Spanish-speaking family, who came forward after seeing news stories about "their" lost bird's return to his original owner. Happy ending: Chick decided to give Nigel to them after hearing how heartbroken they were at his disappearance.

-- Dogs with confirmed mammary cancer and osteosarcoma, as well as some other cancers, may be eligible to enroll in a study of a cancer vaccine at Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, Connecticut. The study is run by Gerald Post, DVM, of VCC, and Mark Mamula, professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. They hope the vaccine can be an effective treatment for dogs -- and eventually humans. Use of the vaccine does not interfere with other forms of treatment, such as surgery or chemotherapy. More information is available from clinical trial coordinator Gillian Rothschild, Gillian@VCCHope.com.

-- Watching fish is calming and distracting, boosts your mood and lowers blood pressure and heart rate, research shows. Scientists at Great Britain's National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth University and the University of Exeter measured the heart rate and blood pressure and assessed the mood of volunteers as they watched tanks with gradually increasing numbers of fish. The more fish, the better, they found. "This study has, for the first time, provided robust evidence that 'doses' of exposure to underwater settings could actually have a positive impact on people's well-being," says Deborah Cracknell of the National Marine Aquarium. -- 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: Ferrets can learn to use a litter box and walk on leash. Position: Main Story

Caption 02: Watching fish in aquariums is one way to bring the stress-relieving benefits of nature indoors. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 3