7 hikes to enjoy with your dog

By Kim Campbell Thornton

For most places in the country, tourist season is over. The crowds are gone, and the weather is cooler. Beach season has cooled off, and ski season hasn't heated up yet. That means only one thing: It's time to hit the hiking trails -- with your dog, natch. We've rounded up seven dog-friendly hiking trails across the country, from California to Maine. Let us know your favorites.

-- California. Pacific Crest Trail to Eagle Rock. Get a taste of the Pacific Crest Trail on this scenic and easy to moderate hike featuring wildflowers, the occasional coyote and, of course, the Eagle Rock formation. While there are trees and a stream at the beginning, the remainder of the trail is less sheltered, so it's best done late fall through spring. "It is awesome," says Dawn Celapino of Leash Your Fitness, who does all things outdoors with her dog, Jack. The trailhead is at Agua Caliente Creek bridge near the town of Warner Springs.

-- Washington. Spruce Railroad Trail at Olympic National Park is one of the few national park trails open to leashed dogs. The 8-mile round-trip hike, near Port Angeles, is on gently rolling terrain with views of Lake Crescent. Suitable for year-round hiking.

-- Colorado. Travois Trail in Jefferson County's Centennial Cone Open Space Park is a little more than 13 miles, but it's not necessary to do the full loop. A 90-minute out and back hike is what Roxanne Hawn likes to do with her border collies Clover and Tori. "It's a single-track trail most of the way with some good climbs, but they aren't too steep or too long," Hawn says. "You definitely want to keep your dog on leash because there is wildlife in the area." She's seen deer, elk, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, coyotes and bobcats. Parts of the trail are closed in fall for hunting season and from January through May for elk calving season.

-- Arkansas. Dorothy Guertin and her 10-year-old goldendoodle, Elvis, live in quirky Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the ruggedly beautiful Ozark Mountains. When they go hiking, their favorite spot is 1,600-acre Lake Leatherwood City Park, an area that's on the National Register of Historic Places. "There are scenic limestone bluffs, a rock quarry, lake views and an abundance of wildlife," Guertin says. "There is nothing better on a beautiful day than a hike around the lake."

-- Georgia. Have you ever thought it would be cool to hike the Appalachian Trail, but know you'd never have the time? You don't have to do all of it, and you can bring your dog on most sections of the trail. In Georgia, check out 5.7-mile Appalachian Trail, Jarrard Trail and Slaughter Creek loop, which begins and ends at Lake Winfield Scott.

-- Maryland. For nearly 100 years, the C&O Canal through the Potomac River Valley was an important transportation route for coal and other goods. Now it's the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, with a nearly 185-mile towpath from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland. The gentle and mostly level trail is dog-friendly and offers stunning scenery and abundant wildlife. Try the 3.2-mile Gold Mine Loop that begins at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center. Dogs are not allowed on section A of Billy Goat Trail or on the overlook trail to Great Falls.

-- Maine. Acadia National Park encompasses 74 square miles of Mount Desert Island, and it's very likely the most dog-friendly national park. Dogs and their people have access to 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of crushed-rock carriage roads. Schooner Head Path offers ocean, forest and mountain views at Schooner Head Overlook. The easy one-way trail runs 5.4 miles to Bar Harbor.

Q&A

How to stop dog

from chasing cat

Q: I have a 6-year-old Maltese. My grown daughter moved back home nearly two years ago, bringing her 1-year-old cat with her. All was well for a few months. Then the dog started chasing the cat and scaring her. Now the cat stays in her bedroom and cautiously sneaks out only when the dog isn't around. Nothing deters my dog from this bullying behavior. What can be done so the cat can enjoy her home and interact with us? -- via email

A: If only we could tell cats that if they would stand their ground and hiss, the average dog would turn tail and run. But since we don't have a good way to deliver that message, the best thing you can do is to reintroduce them.

Put up that baby gate again, and isolate the cat for a few days. Then let the cat explore the house while the dog is either outdoors, in a crate or restrained by a leash. When you bring them together, keep the dog on leash so you can prevent any lunges toward the cat. As long as they are both calm, give them lots of delicious treats -- something they don't get every day, like deli turkey or turkey hotdogs -- so they associate each other with good things.

Repeat this frequently, and don't give your dog the opportunity to chase. Keep a long line on him so you can grab it if he starts to go after the cat.

Consider working with a trainer on your dog's recall ("Come") so you can put a stop to any chases. Coming to you should be much more rewarding than chasing the cat.

Finally, be sure your cat has some escape routes, such as a tall cat tree or a piece of furniture where the dog can't go. -- Mikkel Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

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

THE BUZZ

New stamps

celebrate pets

-- Signed, sealed, delivered? The Postal Service celebrates animal companions with a booklet of Forever stamps featuring photographs of 20 pets. It's enough to make animal lovers write a real letter or send a card to a friend. Each photograph represents an animal we love from these groups: puppies, betta fish, iguanas, hamsters, goldfish, parrots, guinea pigs, tortoises, rabbits, kittens, corn snakes, mice, hermit crabs, chinchillas, gerbils, dogs, parakeets, horses, cats and geckos. Eric Isselee took the photographs, and art director Derry Noyes designed the stamps.

-- Dog-loving Florida residents and tourists can see a new exhibit, "Dogs in Art," at the Henry B. Plant Museum in Tampa. It features paintings, sculptures, textiles, decorative arts and more from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The artwork showcases sporting and working dogs, dogs at play and dogs in homes. Breeds pictured include whippets, Maltese, Dalmatians, Pomeranians, terriers and toy spaniels -- one of them a portrait of Queen Victoria's dog, Dash. Other works of art are such items as dog-headed canes and figures of porcelain, ivory, bronze, stoneware and glass. The exhibit runs through Dec. 23.

-- Cleo the cat is recovering nicely after Ames, Iowa, firefighters pulled her nearly lifeless from a burning home and used a specialized pet oxygen mask to revive her. It took more than half an hour, but she finally began breathing on her own and was rushed to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for further treatment. The masks come in small, medium and large sizes, and the Ames Fire Department is fortunate to have nine of them, donated nearly a decade ago. In a statement on Facebook, firefighters posted, "The Ames Fire Department keeps special pet-revival masks on all apparatus because we know that pets are family too!" -- 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.

Living with an old dog is bittersweet

By Kim Campbell Thornton

In the last couple of years of my dog Bella's life, I usually found myself outdoors with her in the wee hours of the morning. The medications she took for her heart condition caused her to have to urinate frequently, and since I am a light sleeper, it fell to me to take her out for her late-night perambulations.

It was peaceful. I'd look at stars I didn't usually see or listen to the geese honking in the distance. One night we saw a large, white possum walking on top of the wall that separates our condo complex from the shopping center next door. In fall, we'd listen to the Santa Ana winds blow. We saw the moon in all her phases. Crickets chirped. In Oklahoma, visiting my parents, we heard owls hooting in the tree above us.

There's a twilight time in a pet's life. They're not quite ready to go yet, and we're definitely not ready for them to go. Their treacherous bodies have betrayed them, and they need more help getting around. Maybe they can't make it up and down the stairs anymore and must be carried. We did that with our greyhound, Savanna, after she lost a leg to bone cancer. Or, like Bella, they might need access to the outdoors at odd hours. Not every infirm animal has access to a pet door and a yard or is able to use them on her own. At times, Bella would lose her appetite and need to be hand-fed for a few days.

Currently, my dogs are middle-aged, or not yet at the stage where they need midnight ministrations. But I have friends who are at this point with their senior dogs.

It's hard. I remember. Never getting a full night's sleep. Always keeping one ear open for the sounds that signal she's getting up and needs to go out. You groan, but you don't hesitate to jump out of bed, throw on a robe and carry her downstairs. Because the alternative is cleaning up a pool of pee in the dark so you don't wake your spouse.

I tried to get Bella to use pee pads, but that was a shocking concept to a lady who prided herself on her housetraining. What saved us were diapers. We didn't keep one on her all the time, but she wore one at night. Sometimes, not always, it allowed me to sleep the night through.

I say "sometimes," because if Bella had to potty in the middle of the night, she didn't always like doing it in the diaper. I would be awakened by her attempts to rip it off, so I would get up and take her out. But for the most part, wearing a diaper seemed to encourage her to "hold it" for longer periods.

Caring for an old or sick animal is stressful and time consuming. Feelings of love clash with exhaustion and frustration. You feel guilty about feeling frustrated or wishing you could sleep more, because you know that being able to sleep through the night could mean only one thing: Your pet is gone. And that's not what you want.

Those feelings are normal. They don't mean you don't love your pet or that you want her to die. They are a natural outgrowth of the stress of being a caregiver.

The good news is that our pets love us no matter what. They forgive us for the mistakes we make as we shepherd them through their final years or months. All we can do is our best -- and cherish the time we have remaining with them.

Q&A

Facts about

ferret care

Q: I just got a ferret! What should I be prepared for as far as potential health problems or injuries? I want to make sure I take good care of him. -- via email

A: Oh, man, ferrets are so much fun! You're going to have a wild time with yours. Ferrets are highly active and curious, and that can get them into trouble. They can also be prone to certain types of health problems. Here are some things to watch for, courtesy of my colleague and exotic pet expert, Byron de la Navarre, DVM.

-- Ferrets get caught in recliners and can suffocate or be crushed. Don't use one if your ferret is out and about.

-- Ferrets are heat intolerant. Never leave them in hot cars or other areas.

-- Ferrets can break or tear toenails. Clip off any part of the nail that's still hanging, and use hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound. Styptic powder or cornstarch can help to stop bleeding. Take your ferret to the veterinarian if you notice swelling or discharge at the nail bed in the next two or three days.

-- Ferrets sniff a lot and inhale hair, lint and dirt in the process. They clear their throats with a reverse sneeze, which sounds like they are choking, gagging and sneezing all at once. They may also cough violently. If you notice an unusual increase in the frequency or intensity of coughing and sneezing, take your ferret to the veterinarian right away, especially if he also seems lethargic or isn't eating.

-- Ferrets are prone to several types of cancer. Regular veterinary exams can help to catch disease early.

The No. 1 rule of living with a ferret? Never leave him unattended. That's when he gets into trouble. If you aren't there, he should be safely confined in his cage. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

New cat book

offers hacks, help

-- A "catification hack" is an object that has been repurposed for a cat. Ramona D. Marek found a small corner table with three shelves, used sturdy hardware to attach it to a corner wall 18 to 24 inches above the floor, and then placed cushions on the shelves. Voila! A multilevel cat lounge with a view. That's just one of the many tips she shares in her new book, "Cats for the Genius." With the tagline "Create a positive relationship with your cat from the start!" it covers cats from A (acquisition) to V (vocalizations).

-- A popular Syrian emigre is the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), also known as the golden hamster, teddy bear hamster or fancy hamster. The desert rodents are the most commonly kept pet hamsters, thanks to their easily tamed nature and ease with handling. Their golden-brown fur fades to pale on the belly, and dark markings run from the jaw up the cheek to the ear. Syrian hamsters are 6 to 7 inches long and typically live two and a half to three years. The nocturnal animals prefer to live without other hamster companions and can be nippy if disturbed while napping.

-- Saint B, er, kitty? A Hungarian man who was hiking in the Swiss Alps said a cat appeared on the trail and led him to a village after he sprained an ankle and became lost. The route he had planned to take was closed, but a black-and-white cat showed up and encouraged him to follow her. "She was walking and kept looking at me to follow and led me straight to the path that would take me back down to the valley" he posted on Reddit. In true Swiss tradition, the cat belonged to a couple who ran a local hostel. -- 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.

Eight museums around the country for animal-art aficionados

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Art museums are a visual record of our history. When we visit them, we don't simply see the artist's vision, but also fashions, food, furnishings and, yes, animals from a given point in time.

Many famous art museums feature portraits of people with their dogs, cats and horses, but specialty museums focus on works that portray the animals themselves. A visit to one of them is a feast of fine art depicting the role of animals in society through the ages and how they have changed -- or not. No matter which one you visit, you'll be rewarded with a fascinating glimpse into the background of your favorite animal. Here are eight to look for.

-- American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, St. Louis. In the 14,000-square-foot Jarville House in Queeny Park are more than 700 original paintings, drawings, sculptures, porcelains and more, all depicting man's best friend. Bonus: Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome to visit, too.

-- Feline Historical Museum, Alliance, Ohio. Not to be outdone, the Cat Fanciers Association has a permanent home for its extensive collection of cat-themed art and other unique items, including the silver collar awarded to Cosey, who won the first Madison Square Garden cat show in 1895; a bronze of a Persian by J. Clayton Bright; feline figurines from Lalique, Baccarat and Royal Doulton; and a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house for a cat. Visitors may also enjoy the company of cats on the premises, including Maine coons and ragdolls.

-- National Sporting Library and Museum, Middleburg, Virginia. Horse and dog lovers will appreciate the sporting art on display at this museum devoted to equestrian and field sports. Current exhibits include Picturing English Pastimes: British Sporting Prints at the NSLM and the Chronicle of the Horse in Art. Researcher Elizabeth Tobey says, "Particularly significant are its holdings of early modern books from the 16th through 18th centuries from Europe and Great Britain on horsemanship, hunting, natural history and animal husbandry."

-- International Museum of the Horse, Lexington, Kentucky. They're not just horsing around at this museum. Its collections include fine and folk art, photographs, tack, trophies, sculptures and horse-drawn vehicles.

"Calumet Farm's massive collection of historic racing trophies alone is worth the visit to the International Museum of the Horse, and the strong selection of permanent exhibits is bolstered regularly by impressive special exhibitions," says Glenye Oakford of Lexington, Kentucky, senior editor at The Chronicle of the Horse. "If you're more into history that's truly alive, just step outside to the Hall of Champions, where some of the racing and show world's heroes, including the wildly popular 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide, greet visitors."

-- National Bird Dog Museum, Grand Junction, Tennessee. Anyone who has ever loved a sporting breed won't want to miss this bird dog field of dreams. Displays include a sculpture of national champion pointer Elhew's Snakefoot and sporting dog art, photography and memorabilia.

-- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Museum, Wasilla, Alaska. Housed in a log cabin, the museum's displays feature trophies, photos and videos of the iconic race commemorating a thousand-mile run to bring life-saving diphtheria serum to disease-stricken Nome in 1925. In summer, take a ride in a cart pulled by sled dogs to get a taste of what is now a National Historic Trail.

-- Museum of Hounds and Hunting North America, Leesburg, Virginia. Housed at stately Morven Park, this collection ranges from a hound head sculpture to a colonial-era hunting horn to the hunting diaries of Gen. George S. Patton.

-- Newseum, Washington, D.C. Pets make news, too, especially if they live in the White House. An ongoing exhibit, First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets, presents images and stories of presidential pets, including Calvin and Grace Coolidge's 12 dogs; Franklin D. Roosevelt's Scottish terrier Fala -- and his press secretary; and Warren G. Harding's Airedale, Laddie Boy, who had his own chair at cabinet meetings.

Q&A

Apple seeds not

toxic to pets

Q: I like to give my dog apple cores, and he loves them, but I heard that the seeds contain cyanide. Should I stop giving them? I don't want to poison him! -- via Facebook

A: They say that an apple day keeps the doctor away, and it probably helps to keep the veterinarian away, too. Bites of apple -- you probably don't want to give a whole one all at once -- are a good, low-calorie, crunchy treat for dogs. They can help to freshen a dog's breath and are a good way to help a dieting dog feel like he's not so deprived.

Keep giving your dog apple cores without worry. Apple seeds are overhyped as being poisonous to pets. The amount of cyanide within a few seeds is so minimal that it's really not a concern. I know of some dogs who love to steal apples right off the tree when they can reach them, or just wait for them to fall.

QT Pi loves apples, especially Honeycrisps or Fujis that snap back when bitten into. How do I know this? Because I asked him, and he told me so. For variety, he likes them dusted with cinnamon or lightly dipped in Lighthouse caramel dip (three for daddy, one for son). Know that the gooey version is only an infrequent treat, and we closely monitor his calorie intake and weight to keep him at his ideal body weight. 

Other great, healthy "people food" treats -- in moderation, of course -- include bananas, blueberries, carrots, green beans, cooked sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and watermelon. A couple of dogs I know even like slices of tangerine and orange.

If you ever do think your pet has eaten something toxic and you can't reach your veterinarian, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for life-saving advice. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Hands-on therapies

help cats in pain

-- We don't typically think of cats as needing massage, physical rehab or chiropractic adjustments, but their feats of strength and jumping ability can make them prone to musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis. Especially as they age, cats can become stiff and pained from leaping on and off high places, twisting their slinky bodies into strange positions or careening off the wall as they chase a ball down the hall. If you notice when you're petting him that your cat turns around and bites at you right when you stroke the mid-lumbar region, he may have some aches and pains that can be addressed with some hands-on treatment and medication. Talk to your veterinarian to see what can be done.

-- An English springer spaniel named Angus is hard at work in a hospital in Vancouver, Canada. He's not visiting patients -- he's sniffing out a hazardous superbug commonly found in hospitals: Clostridium difficile. C-diff persists in the environment for long periods and is highly contagious and even deadly. His alerts to its presence allow hospital staff to target areas for additional cleaning and disinfection.

-- What does it mean when the label on a bag or can of pet food says the contents are "natural"? Legally, there's no official definition. The United States Food and Drug Administration considers the term "natural" to mean that a food does not contain artificial flavors, artificial colors or artificial preservatives. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, the organization that develops nutrient standards and ingredient definitions for pet foods, the word "natural" applies only to a food or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources. It should be used to describe products only when all of the ingredients -- not counting chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients -- meet that definition. -- 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.