We've gathered answers for 6 common holiday situations faced by pet lovers

It's that time of year again. People are wondering "Should I tip my dog's groomer?", "What should I get for my pet-loving friends?" and "Is it OK to take cookies to my vet?" You have questions; we have answers.

What's a great gift for my pet sitter, dog groomer or dog walker? It's hard to go wrong with cash stashed inside a cute pet-themed card, signed with your pet's name (and yours). Consider giving the cost of one session or visit. A gift certificate for a manicure or a gift card to a favorite coffee shop may also be welcome.

Should I get my veterinarian a gift? It's definitely not required, but many pet owners enjoy sharing holiday goodies with their pets' other best friends.

"Our amazing clients give us all kinds of goodies, from cookies to candies to fully catered lunch to pizza to gift cards for the staff," says Gershon L. Alaluf, DVM, at Canyon Animal Hospital in Laguna Beach, California. "We are always very thankful and very happy to receive every gift given, and every last morsel is ingested."

My dog pooped on my parents' carpet. What should I do? Oops! We hope you brought a good enzymatic cleanser and some cleanup towels with you. Clean it up as best you can, and offer to have the carpet professionally cleaned. It's a small price to pay for family amity.

What's a good gift for pet-loving friends and family? Find out what kinds of bedding and other products they already use or how their pet likes to play. For instance, if the dog is a tough chewer or loves fetching balls, take those preferences into account. Dr. Becker's QT loves squeaky toys, and Mikkel's pug, Willy, is a connoisseur of small, soft, fuzzy toys without stuffing. The Thornton dogs favor treats above all else.

"A personalized item is thoughtful, too," Mikkel adds, "such as a bed, collar or bowl, or breed-specific items like calendars, cards or stationery."

Do the person and dog participate in a sport? A supply of dog treats or a new treat bag will be appreciated. For the pet and pet lover who have everything, make a donation to a pet charity in their name. A couple of our favorites are World Vets (worldvets.org) and The Grey Muzzle Organization (greymuzzle.org).

Is it OK to bring my pet to the family holiday gathering? Always ask first, and respect the response, even if it's negative. Not everyone loves pets as much as we do, and some people suffer from allergies or animal-related phobias. If you must bring your pet, plan to stay in a hotel, and consider your pet a good excuse to go take a walk or have some down time to yourself.

Should I get my family a pet for Christmas? There used to be a sentiment that it was a bad idea to get pets during the holidays, but if done right, it can be a joyful experience. Studies show that pets given as gifts are just as likely to stay in homes and are just as well loved as animals acquired at other times or in other ways.

"Any time someone is considering bringing an animal into a home, they should be mindful of the commitment and give thought to what type of pet will be best for the family and lifestyle," says Kristi Littrell, adoption manager for Best Friends Animal Society.

If you have time off during the holidays, that can be a good opportunity to spend time with and start training a new pet. If that's not an option, present your family with a gift card or certificate from your local animal shelter, rescue group or a reputable breeder. Then you can all go choose your pet together when the time is right.

Q&A

Avian obesity is

plus-size problem

Q: My veterinarian says my bird is fat. Is that really something I need to worry about? -- via Facebook

A: You bet! Obesity is as much an issue in pet birds as it is in dogs and cats. An overweight bird can be predisposed to metabolic diseases such as diabetes. He can also become arthritic or develop fatty liver disease.

Certain species tend to be more likely to grow tubby -- Amazon parrots, parakeets, canaries, cockatoos and Quaker parakeets -- but any bird can gain too much weight if he's allowed to eat whatever he wants. Pet birds may start out on good diets but become choosy with age, deciding they are going to eat only one or two types of food.

Don't let your bird get away with that. He's most likely to have a balanced diet if he eats a variety of foods. A pelleted diet supplemented by healthy food from your own plate is the best way to feed him. Birds can and will eat pasta, cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, beans and most fruits and vegetables. Avian expert Scott Weldy, DVM, says that most birds do well on a diet of 70 to 80 percent pelleted food and 20 to 30 percent fresh or cooked food.

Avoid giving birds avocado, onion, mushrooms or chocolate, all of which have toxic effects. Highly salted foods are a no-no as well.

What's the key to determining if your bird is overweight? Birds with cleavage rivaling that of a Hollywood starlet are too fat. Birds should be lean and sleek, with no cleavage at all, Dr. Weldy says. If you can't feel your bird's keelbone because it's covered by a layer of fat, talk to your veterinarian about ways to help him get back to a healthy weight. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Downward, uh, cat?

Yoga class makes mews

-- Cat pose, anyone? Yoga with cats is the latest exercise trend to fill studios and, yes, shelters nationwide. Not surprising, since cats are masters at contorting themselves into difficult positions. Having the classes at a shelter or cat cafe is a way to bring adoptable cats to people's attention. In some cases, the fee for the class is donated to the shelter. Cats stroll among attendees, some demonstrating their own skills, others batting at downward-hanging ponytails. And even if your form isn't perfect, a rub from a friendly cat can help to lower your blood pressure.

-- Kiah, a pit bull, was found in a shelter in Kirby, Texas, recovering from a brutal hammer blow to the head. Lucky for her, she was chosen for a program to train pit bulls for law enforcement work and was soon recognized as a gifted trainee. After graduation, she was placed with Officer Justin Bruzgul as a narcotics and missing persons detection dog for the Poughkeepsie, New York, police department. Bruzgul and Kiah visit schools and conferences to educate the public about the importance of animal shelters and rescue, and they recently received the 2016 ASPCA Public Service Award.

-- A clean hamster is a happy hamster. The furry little critters groom themselves frequently and enjoy a nice sand bath every once in a while. You can purchase chinchilla bathing sand (not dust, which can cause respiratory problems) at pet supply stores. Offer fresh bathing sand every time, and remove it when your hamster has rolled to his heart's content. Brush him off as well. Avoid giving your hamster a water bath. If he does get wet, dry him thoroughly with a towel and keep him out of drafts. If your hamster doesn't groom himself regularly, take him to the veterinarian for a checkup. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton, 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.

What makes your tabby tick? Three new books answer your questions about cats

We at Pet Connection have always suspected that cats are aliens who have enslaved us to do their furry bidding. They train us to feed them, scoop their litter boxes and be their sidekicks -- when they want us to be.

Cats are the most popular pets in the United States, with between 74 and 96 million of them sharing our homes. More than half a billion have colonized the world. And yet, they are still alien to many people. Fortunately, three authors have taken on the challenge of revealing the secrets of cats in all their infinite variety.

Abigail Tucker grew up with cats, but it wasn't until she became a mother herself that the science writer began to explore the lure of the cat, struck by her daughters' absorption with them. With her cat Cheetoh as muse, she explores feline natural history, behavior and relationships with humans in her book "The Lion in the Living Room."

There are lots of theories about why cats and people joined forces. Usually, it's related to cats protecting food from vermin. But when cats came indoors as companions, it was a real game-changer. Tucker's exploration of the results of that move, in the chapter "Pandora's Litter Box," is both funny and fascinating. Other chapters address wild cats, feline evolution, the war between cats and birders, feline genetics, exotic cat breeds and more.

Whereas Tucker gives an overarching view of the little hypercarnivores, cat expert Ramona Marek has written a guide to living with them successfully. Marek says the biggest mistake people make with cats is believing the myth that they are self-sufficient, aloof and solitary.

"This notion leads to cats being thought of as 'disposable' or able to survive on their own," she says. "Cats are domesticated companion animals who depend on us for food, social interaction and health care. We need to uphold our end of the domestication process."

In "Cats for the GENIUS," Marek offers readers the opportunity to "create a paw-sitive relationship with your cat from the start!" With advice on everything from A (acquisition) to V (vocalizations), she educates new owners about cat habits and needs they might never have considered. For instance, she says people are often surprised to learn that cats prefer to have food and water in different areas. They don't know that cats are true carnivores with specific nutritional requirements. "Catification hacks" help them set up their homes in ways cats will like.

"By recognizing normal feline behavior, we can accommodate the home environment to fit their needs, which helps build a stronger, positive human-animal bond, keeping more cats in homes and out of shelters," she says.

For a more specialized take on feline foibles, award-winning author Dusty Rainbolt talks to veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists and cat consultants about the No. 1 -- and No. 2 -- cat behavior problem: inappropriate elimination. In other words, not using the litter box.

In "Cat Scene Investigator: Solve Your Cat's Litter Box Mystery," Rainbolt takes readers through the detective work necessary to figure out which cat is the culprit in a multipet home, why he's breaking cat law by peeing or pooping outside the box and how to send him to rehab instead of death row. Often, he's not misbehaving at all, but reacting to a treatable medical problem or a conflict with a person or other pet. Rainbolt's tips address how to identify and resolve issues and, best of all, how to get rid of the stain and stink.

"Litter box behavior is complicated," Rainbolt says. "It's like a mile-long mathematical equation. There are a lot of potential variables. But once you figure out what the variables are, you can solve the problem."

Q&A

Don't brush off

pet dental care

Q: I have a greyhound, and I know from past experience that they get a lot of tartar buildup. What's the best way to care for her teeth? -- via Facebook

A: You're not alone. Greyhounds, cavalier King Charles spaniels and other toy breeds, and many other dogs have a strong tendency toward periodontal disease. By the time they are 2 to 3 years old, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some level of dental disease, and it only gets worse throughout life if they don't get good home care and regular professional cleanings. Nasty breath that could knock a horse over isn't normal; here are some things you can do to prevent it and keep your dog's mouth healthy.

I say this all the time: Brush your dog's teeth every day. If you're not sure how, ask your veterinarian for a demo. Using a soft-bristled brush or even just some gauze held at a 45-degree angle to the tooth, clean the teeth with a circular motion. Use flavored pet toothpaste to improve your greyhound's acceptance of the process. Avoid using toothpaste made for people; it contains ingredients that can upset your dog's stomach, since she swallows instead of spits.

If your dog is reluctant, do one tooth, praise her and give a treat. Come back later and do another one, followed by praise and a treat. A dental chew or treat serves double duty by rewarding your dog and working to remove plaque or prevent it from developing into tartar. Eventually, your dog should come to accept having all of her teeth brushed at once.

Some dogs are not good candidates for teeth brushing. If that's the case with your dog, ask your veterinarian about dental chews, sealants and other products that may help prevent plaque and tartar buildup. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Canine warmups

prevent injury

-- Are you warming up your dog before you take him for a walk or run, or head into the agility ring or a nose-work trial? You might be making a mistake if you're not, especially if your dog has been crated for any length of time beforehand. Before asking your dog to do something that requires enthusiasm and muscular effort, Cindy Otto, DVM, a veterinary sports medicine expert, recommends first having him do some sits and downs, active stretches and a little trotting around, followed by a good rubdown to get the blood flowing.

-- All cats are black and all cats are tabbies, says feline expert Joan Miller. What the heck does that mean? Turns out that whether you see the tabby pattern depends on whether the cat carries the agouti (ticked) gene or the non-agouti gene. A solid-colored cat with a non-agouti gene will sometimes show the tabby pattern at birth or in sunlight. If you look at a black cat in sunlight, you can often see the underlying stripes well enough to tell if he's a mackerel tabby or a classic tabby. Cats who are ticked tabbies don't show any stripes.

-- The "Birdie Bus" in Phoenix takes parrots for a ride -- to a new home. It's a mobile adoption unit that takes birds in need of a home around town so that potential adopters can meet them. "A lot of people don't realize there is such a thing as bird rescue," says Ginger Duplisse, president of Ginger's Parrot Rescue in Gilbert, Arizona. Riding in the bus is also an enriching experience for the birds, giving them a chance to socialize and to interact with humans. Besides adopters, the organization welcomes volunteers and donations. -- 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.

Things to know about flying with dogs or cats in the cabin

By Kim Campbell Thornton

I ran through the Denver airport, pulling Harper's carrier behind me. Luckily for both of us, it was on wheels. A 1 1/2 hour delay at our point of departure had made for a close call in catching our connecting flight.

Flying with pets in the cabin can be fraught with challenges. Will the collar and tags set off the metal detector at security? Will the bag fit beneath the seat? Which has more under-seat space -- a window or an aisle seat? Harper and I have navigated all of these issues and more on recent flights to visit family for the holidays and compete in a nose-work trial.

At check-in, I gave my confirmation number as well as Harper's and received a receipt for her prepaid fare. Keep it handy. I had her rabies certificate as well, but no one asked to see it.

The first hurdle was getting through security. If you're traveling with a dog, cat or other pet, don't try to send him through the X-ray machine in his carrier. You must take him out and walk or carry him through the metal detector. A soft carrier that zips open at the top makes it easier to remove your pet comfortably and safely. Have a leash on him while he's in the carrier so you have full control. Run the carrier through first so it will be waiting on the other side.

Harper and I didn't set off any alarms when we walked through the metal detector, but a random swabbing of my hands for traces of explosives resulted in a full-body pat down and check of our bags. The TSA agent explained that it's not unusual for people traveling with dogs to be selected for this testing. I held Harper on her leash while they tested her bag. Then they had me put her in it while they performed a pat down on me and tested my other bags.

Once on board, Harper's carrier wheeled easily down the aisle. I ponied up for "economy plus" seating to make sure we had plenty of space for her carrier. I chose a window seat so I didn't have to worry about anyone accidentally kicking her bag or a food cart running into it, but Jill-Marie Jones, who travels frequently with her Jack Russell terrier Scribbles, prefers aisle seats for ease of access and a quick exit off the plane.

The carrier fit well beneath the seat. Once we were airborne, I partially unzipped the top so Harper could stick her head out if she chose. The flight attendant brought a cup of water for her to sip. I also had a collapsible rubber bowl attached to my purse with a clip to use for food or water.

As we ran through Denver International to our next flight, we passed one of the relief stations that many airports have installed for the needs of traveling pets. That's thanks to a U.S. Department of Transportation ruling requiring terminals serving more than 10,000 passengers daily to have a post-security pet-relief area. For our return trip, I installed the free Where To Go app on my phone to make finding one just a tap away. Some travelers with pets bring pee pads for use in bathrooms or quiet areas.

Harper has always been a good traveler, but it had been seven years since her last flight. She was a little nervous in the airport because she wasn't used to being in that type of carrier, but she settled down on the plane and slept through all the flights. You might say she completed the trip with flying colors.

Q&A

Maturity brings

pup size surprise

Q: When we got our goldendoodle puppy, Walker, the breeder said he would probably weigh about 30 pounds at adulthood. He's 100 pounds! What happened? -- via email

A: That's quite the size difference! As you've discovered, it's not always easy to predict what size a puppy will be at adulthood, although there are some factors that can help you make an educated guess.

As you may have heard, a puppy's paws can be a predictor of size. Pups who will grow to jumbo size tend to have jumbo-size paws at an early age.

Size can also depend on whether the mother was the larger or smaller of the parents. Puppies generally grow to be approximately the same size as their mother.

Another tip is to look at a pup's overall proportions. Awkward, gangly puppies with big heads and long tails probably haven't grown into their bodies yet. There's a good chance they will be large at maturity. Puppies who are going to be small in adulthood look properly formed at an early age.

When it comes to goldendoodles, one point to consider is whether the poodle partner in the mating is a miniature or a standard. It sounds as if your pup had a standard poodle parent instead of a mini. Between them, standard poodles and golden retrievers can weigh from 45 to 75 pounds (males are bigger).

Goldendoodle size can vary widely. They typically come in three size ranges: 15 to 30 pounds, 30 to 45 pounds and 45 to 100 pounds or more. One way to estimate a pup's future size is to add the weights of both parents and divide by two. But because goldendoodles are a crossbreed, traits such as size aren't always predictable. Their size at adulthood is often a guess, not a guarantee. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

New app calls vet;

sends reminders

-- With the tap of an app, Bay Area pet owners can summon a house-call veterinarian and keep tabs on their pets' veterinary history. For $45 a month, subscription-based Fuzzy provides two wellness visits annually, including services such as microchipping, heartworm testing, annual fecal exam and vaccinations, and monthly home delivery of parasite preventives. Owners can also review and share a pet's health records and will receive electronic notices that a teeth cleaning is due or reminders to give parasite preventive. The company plans to add other markets in 2017.

-- Syrian cats and dogs in war-ravaged Aleppo had a refuge, thanks to the kindness of ambulance driver Alaa Aljaleel, who cared for animals unable to go with fleeing owners. Last month, a bomb struck the sanctuary, killing at least two cats and a dog. Aljaleel's home was also hit, but he was not injured. Donations to the shelter can be made through its Facebook page, Il Gattaro d'Aleppo (Italian for "the cats of Aleppo"). So far, more than 4,000 donors have helped the shelter provide food, warmth and care for nearly 200 cats and some dogs. Donations also benefit humans and have provided three wells and two ambulances.

-- No one knows for sure which breeds were used to create the Bedlington terrier, but the breed with the lamblike appearance shares some similarities with Dandie Dinmont, Kerry blue and soft-coated wheaten terriers. The first dog to carry the name Bedlington terrier was Ainsley's Piper, born in 1825, known for his hunting prowess well into old age.

Quick in mind and body, the Bedlington has a moderate energy level, a happy-go-lucky personality and the independent streak typical of terriers. He needs a trim every four to six weeks, plus maintenance grooming twice a week. -- 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.