From plush to pawsome, what we’re digging in dog and cat products

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Every March, pet product manufacturers converge on Orlando, Florida, to present their wares to buyers and media from around the world. More than 1,100 exhibitors displayed toys, beds, food and more last month at the Global Pet Expo, and we walked every single aisle -- more than once -- to make our picks of the cool, the comfortable, the innovative: the products that dog and cat owners will want to bring home to make their pets’ lives more enjoyable or their own lives easier. Here are our top nine picks.

1. Be ready for anything on a walk with the Compleash, which combines a nylon leash, a built-in 10-ounce capped water flask, and two stackable bowls that can hold food, treats or personal items such as cash, credit cards or keys. The containers are part of the leash handle, and a waste bag dispenser can be attached to the leash as well. (MSRP $24.99; sitstaygo.com)

2. Snake on a stick? The Elegant Snake cat toy by Be One Breed makes a crinkly sound when your cat pounces on it, and the handle allows you to wriggle it in a lifelike manner. Bonus: It’s filled with catnip. (MSRP $5.99; beonebreed.com)

3. Make your dog a treat master with Planet Dog’s GuRu interactive toy. Insert treats into five different openings and let your dog have at it. He’ll need to chew and squeeze the toy, which releases treats when the dog applies enough pressure to pop them out. (MSRP $18.95; planetdog.com)

4. Forever furless? That’s the dream of many dog and cat owners whose clothes and furniture seem constantly covered in hair. The Lilly Brush promises to pick up pet hair with just a few swipes across clothing, upholstery, rugs and more. No peeling off tape; just rinse and reuse. (From $12.95; lillybrush.com)

5. To help your anxious dog stay occupied while you’re running errands or busy around the house, spread peanut butter, squeeze cheese or scoop canned food on the nubbly LickiMat from Hyper Pet, freeze it to make the treat last even longer, and set it out. Your dog can get in his licks and maintain his interest for a long time. (From $5.99; hyper-pet.com)

6. Cats or dogs who scratch on furniture or at doors and windows to get out can cause a lot of damage that’s expensive to repair. Clawguard door and furniture shields protect surfaces without hurting pets. Sizes are adjustable, and covers come off easily when guests visit. (From $14.99; www.clawguard.com)

7. Have a bag of poop and no place to toss it, and you don’t want to put it in your car until you reach a spot with a trashcan? Enter the Tailgate Dumpster by Kurgo. The silicone holder attaches to metal vehicle surfaces (don’t try it on aluminum or fiberglass). Put your poop bag inside and drive away from the beach or hiking trail stink-free until you can dump your dog’s waste into a proper receptacle. (MSRP $20; kurgo.com)

8. If your aging cat is having accidents outside the litter box, it might be too difficult for her to get in and out of. The Kitty Go Here litter box, with its low entrance, is easy for cats of all ages and abilities to navigate, especially if they have arthritic joints or other health issues that inhibit their mobility. (From $15.99; kittygohere.com)

9. Travel in style with your 10-pound or smaller pet in the Madison carrier combined with the Pet-Trek 4-spinner-wheel folding trolley, both by A Pet With Paws. The eco-friendly carrier looks like leather but is made of recycled plastic bottles and has a breathable mesh back, side and top for easy entry and exit. The carrier can be pulled without tipping your pet backward, which is more comfortable and less frightening for him. (MSRP $169-$179, plus $49 for Pet-Trek; apetwithpaws.com)

Q&A

Rest, rehab, surgery

help dogs with IVDD

Q: My Lhasa apso has been diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease. What can you tell me about it, and will she need to have surgery?

A: We commonly see IVDD, as it’s called for short, in dwarf dogs such as dachshunds (who have 45 to 70 percent of all cases), poodles, Pekingese, beagles, French bulldogs and Lhasa apsos as well as in dogs such as German shepherds, Dobermans and cocker spaniels. Although the disc may rupture after a fall or jump, in most cases the “slipped disc” is a result of chronic disc degeneration.

Signs of disease -- pain, difficulty walking, muscle spasms or paralysis -- typically appear in small or short dogs when they are 3 to 6 years old. In breeds such as Labrador retrievers or German shepherds, signs usually occur at 5 to 12 years.

Genes play a role in development of the disease. Last October, researchers at the University of California, Davis announced the discovery of a genetic mutation across breeds that is responsible for dogs developing chondrodystrophic features -- the shorter legs and abnormal intervertebral discs seen in low-slung, long-bodied dogs. They found that dogs with IVDD are 50 times more likely to have this mutation. Not enough is known yet about the prevalence of the specific gene in the affected breeds to be able to breed out the condition, but it’s a start.

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. In dogs with mild signs, the veterinarian may recommend pain medication and cage rest with slow, on-leash exercise only. When dogs don’t respond to conservative management or have severe signs, surgery is usually the best option. Some veterinarians use acupuncture and rehab techniques in combination with cage rest, analgesics and controlled exercise to help manage mild cases or to benefit dogs before and after surgery. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet travel safety

focus of new program

-- Animals traveling by air may have better protections with a new standardized global certification program developed by the International Air Transport Association. Based on IATA Live Animals Regulations, developed with input from veterinarians, animal welfare experts and government agencies, the program provides training and on-site audits by independent inspectors. In a statement, Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice president of airport, passenger, cargo and security, said: “Animal owners and shippers rely heavily on airlines to carry their precious cargo. As an industry, we have a duty of care to ensure that standards and best practices are in place around the world to protect the welfare of these animals.”

-- If you haven’t taken a pet first-aid class, now is a good time to sign up for one: April is Pet First-Aid Awareness Month. Knowing how to stop bleeding, clean and bind wounds, recognize signs of shock and other emergency conditions, and what to keep in a pet first-aid kit can help to save your dog or cat’s life. Courses are available from the Red Cross, humane associations and other organizations.

-- Does your dog or cat have a health problem that’s difficult to treat or about which little is known? You may want to see if there’s a veterinary clinical trial or study that needs canine or feline participants. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a health studies database (ebusiness.avma.org/aahsd/study_search.aspx) that allows pets and their owners to contribute to veterinary knowledge and maybe even get helped themselves. Current studies include a University of Pennsylvania study on the role of the microbiome in treating canine chronic enteropathy, and another on the use of noninvasive cardiac ultrasound for diagnosis and management of congestive heart failure in cats. Your veterinarian can help you decide if participation is a good choice for your pet. -- 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.

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month; which states fall short in their protections?

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Where does your state rank in terms of legal protections for animals? If you live in Iowa, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota or Kentucky, you might be dismayed to learn that those states have the weakest protections for animal welfare, with Kentucky in last place for the 11th consecutive year. That’s based on annual review of state laws by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which recently published its 12th annual rankings report.

States with low rankings may have passive flaws, such as outdated language or not keeping up with changing attitudes toward companion animals, livestock and wildlife, but others prohibit actions that could help animals. In Kentucky, for instance, it’s illegal for veterinarians to report abuse and neglect without a court order, subpoena or client waiver. Utah, Wyoming and Iowa don’t prohibit veterinary reporting of cruelty, but they also don’t mandate it.

“Veterinary reporting is a really important part of any animal cruelty investigation,” says Lora Dunn, director of ALDF’s criminal justice program. “Veterinarians are sometimes the only humans besides the perpetrator who actually witness the abuse or neglect.”

Poor definitions of care, weak or nonexistent penalties, and limited or no restrictions on ownership for people convicted of cruelty can also put states at the bottom of the pack.

Defining standards of care, such as the terms “adequate food,” “potable water” and “living space,” helps law enforcement officials determine whether a crime has been committed. When those criteria are not spelled out, neglect and cruelty become a matter of opinion.

States with low rankings often label cruelty, neglect and abandonment as misdemeanors, not felonies. In the bottom five states, humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority.

To determine its rankings, the organization looks at 15 categories of animal protection: general prohibitions; penalties; exemptions; mental health evaluations and counseling; protective orders; cost mitigation and recovery; seizure/impound; forfeiture and post-conviction possession; non-animal agency reporting of suspected animal cruelty; veterinarian reporting of suspected animal cruelty; law enforcement policies; sexual assault; fighting; offender registration; and “ag-gag” legislation, which are laws that punish whistleblowers revealing abuse on factory farms.

Top dogs in animal protection laws are Illinois, which has held first place for the past 10 years, plus Oregon, California, Maine and Rhode Island. Illinois ranks highest for such provisions as felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault. The top five states have a full range of statutory protections, require mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders, and restrict ownership of animals after a conviction. With the exception of Rhode Island, those states permit animals to be included in domestic violence protective orders.

In the past five years, more than half of all states have made improvements in their laws, Dunn says. Last year, Pennsylvania made the biggest leap, from 44th to 24th place. Improvements there included a new felony provision for first-time offenders of aggravated animal cruelty, including torture, and granting civil immunity to veterinarians who report suspected animal abuse.

One nationwide trend is “hot cars” laws addressing “reckless endangerment” of pets. In more than 25 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada and Oregon, it’s now illegal to leave an animal in a vehicle in certain conditions and temperatures. The laws may also offer civil or criminal immunity to people who remove animals from vehicles, if they meet criteria such as seeking the owner or calling law enforcement before doing so.

“The majority of states have updated and improved their animal protection laws over the past 12 years, and that is a direct reflection of the public's demand for change and for better protection of animals and animal victims,” Dunn says.

Q&A

How to help

shelter cats shine

Q: I work in a shelter, and we want to help the cats in our care feel more comfortable and safe so they’ll be more adoptable. Do you have any handling tips?

A: In a shelter environment, normally friendly cats are often afraid, so much so that they may appear to be unsocialized or even feral. Hiding and hissing isn’t going to help them find a great home, so it’s important to support them so they can step up and show their true personality. You are so right that one way to do that is through expert handling.

We talked to cat expert Joan Miller, who says that cats never like anything new at first, but a little bit of nonthreatening adversity each day helps them build confidence quickly. They need to have gradual exposure to anything they’re not too sure about, especially if it involves handling by strangers, whether they are shelter employees or potential adopters.

Handling cats correctly from the beginning is one way to bring out positive behavior from them. Whenever possible, transport them in top-loading carriers so they can be lifted out. Never try to pull a cat out of a carrier or hiding space head first or by the front feet. Instead, support them with two hands beneath their front and rear legs, bringing them out hind end first. Then place them immediately on a table or other solid surface with some height. Simply being lifted in a comfortable manner and set down immediately gives them a feeling of control. And don’t clutch cats tightly. They hate feeling restrained.

Finally, good grooming is essential for cats to look and feel their best and to attract people to them. Once they become accustomed to handling, cats take to the attention like a socialite to spa treatments. -- 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

Labs top pop

charts -- again!

-- The Labrador retriever maintains his top-dog status as the most popular breed registered by the American Kennel Club -- for 27 years in a row. It’s no surprise: Labs are smart, athletic and versatile, excelling at just about any dog sport, therapy visits, tirelessly playing with the kids, and just hanging out on the sofa with you when his busy day is done. Other breeds that make up the Top 10 are the German shepherd, golden retriever, French bulldog, bulldog, beagle, poodle (all three varieties), Rottweiler, Yorkshire terrier and German shorthaired pointer.

-- Even if your cat isn’t a teenager, she can still get acne: little blackheads or pimples that usually appear on the chin. You may notice it more readily if your cat has a white or light-colored coat. Causes include allergies, stress and food bowls that aren’t cleaned daily. Some cats react to plastic food bowls. Before you run out for a tube of Clearasil, take your cat to the veterinarian to determine the type and cause of acne and get a prescription for medication or advice on clearing it up, such as switching to stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls.

-- Dogs help to detect plant pests, and can learn to sniff out disease or health conditions such as low blood sugar. Now they are being trained to shut down sources of funds for terrorists -- not at the bank, but by identifying the smell of smuggled artifacts, antiquities looted from archaeological sites in Syria and Iraq to be sold on the black market by terrorist organizations. Four Labrador retrievers and a German shepherd are in training to recognize recently excavated pottery artifacts at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Vet Working Dog Center. The canine cultural crime fighters may one day work at airports, seaports and cargo facilities. -- 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.

Coyotes are a fact of urban life. Here's how to keep pets safe

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Charlotte Zappala was walking her Australian shepherd, Roxie, one morning when a coyote enticed the dog to come play. Roxie, who was off-leash, ran off, right into an ambush. Lucky for her, she escaped with only bites around the eye and on her paw.

Coyotes are no longer a symbol of rural living. They live in America's largest cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, where they make a fine living off garbage, pet food left outdoors, rodents and, yes, dogs and cats.

Coyote attacks on pets, like the one Zappala experienced, usually occur during the wild dogs' courting, mating and pupping season: late fall, winter and early spring. Mating season begins as early as November, with pups on the ground typically between April and June.

Often, an individual's or community's first response to the presence of coyotes is to want to trap and relocate or kill them. While that might be satisfying in the short term to people who fear the animals, it's not a viable or desirable solution, says coyote biologist Jacqueline Frair, Ph.D., of State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. Coyotes have a suite of biological mechanisms that kick in to rapidly grow their populations when they are under threat from hunting or other reduction efforts.

"Studies have shown that when coyote numbers are reduced, a higher proportion of females become pregnant, litter sizes become larger and the offspring of those litters have higher survival rates," Frair says.

What should you do if you are walking your dog and encounter a coyote? A good offense is the best defense, as the saying goes.

If you live in an area where you know there are coyotes, stay alert when walking your dog on- or off-leash.

Carry a walking stick, mace or bear spray that you can use to ward off a coyote that seems menacing. If you use mace or bear spray, be aware of the wind's direction so you don't suffer blowback.

If you don't have any of those items with you, throw rocks or yell at the coyote, and wave your arms or a hat at it. Most coyotes are shy and fearful and will run at any sign of aggression from you.

Stand your ground. Running away will only incite the coyote to chase you and your dog, which is not the reaction you want.

Even if you and your dog don't mean any harm, a coyote will be extra-protective if you and your dog unknowingly come near a den with pups. Be watchful during pupping season.

Other strategies to keep coyotes at bay and pets from becoming prey:

-- Secure garbage cans so that coyotes can't knock them over or knock the lid off.

-- Feed pets indoors or take up food as soon as the animal is finished eating outdoors.

-- Empty outdoor water dishes in the evening.

-- Never offer food to coyotes.

-- Cover or remove other sources of food that could attract coyotes, such as compost heaps, fallen fruit and birdseed spilled from feeders.

-- Install motion-sensitive lighting to startle coyotes that enter the yard.

-- Put up a solid, well-maintained fence at least 6 feet tall. A high fence with a roll bar on top is even better.

-- Even in a fenced yard, accompany small or medium-size dogs outdoors if it's very early in the morning or after dark.

-- Trim shrubbery so it offers little cover.

-- If you see a coyote lurking near your yard, shoo it away.

"Coyotes simply shouldn't learn to get comfortable around us," Frair says.

Q&A

Dogs benefit from

elbow surgery

Q: My Lab was chasing a tennis ball and jumped up to get it. When he landed, he cried out and appeared to be in a lot of pain. The vet says his elbow is really arthritic. What can be done for him? -- via Facebook

A: The elbow is a complex joint, and the canine elbow gets quite a workout because a dog's front legs bear about 60 percent of his body weight. A number of dog breeds, including Labs, can develop elbow dysplasia, an assortment of conditions that can occur when the elbow joint is deformed or doesn't mature properly. Whatever type of elbow dysplasia a dog has, the eventual result is painful and often crippling osteoarthritis. Common signs include limping, tiring quickly from play or reluctance to play.

Depending on the condition that's diagnosed, your dog has a couple of options. He may benefit from arthroscopic surgery if he has osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) or fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP). It's minimally invasive and involves removing a broken fragment of bone or damaged cartilage. It can improve the condition for a time, but may not be a permanent fix.

A new technique is elbow replacement surgery. The surgery takes two to three hours to complete, and it requires careful attention to detail. A slick new mechanical joint replaces the damaged one. Afterward, the dog may spend five days in the hospital before going home, and require five to six months for complete recovery. The cost is approximately $6,000.

If your dog is not a candidate for surgery, medical management techniques may help reduce pain. They include weight loss, limiting activity, providing pain relief with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and giving nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and chondroitin to protect and build up cartilage. Your dog may also benefit from rehab, such as workouts on an underwater treadmill. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Online scams target

animal lovers

-- Looking online for a pet? Be wary of sellers who ask you to wire money in advance to pay for vaccinations, shipping costs, insurance and taxes. After the money is received, the pet may never arrive. Sellers may claim to be from your area, with a local phone number. If that's truly the case, ask to meet the pet in person before handing over any money. Reputable breeders or legitimate sellers won't balk at a request to visit their home or kennel. It's always best to see a potential pet's environment first or to buy a pet from someone referred to you by a trusted individual.

-- Dog showers are in demand in new homes and remodels, according to an article by Hayley Krischer in the March 8 issue of The New York Times. Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers offers a dog shower option in many home models, and GreenRose Fine Homes and Design in New Jersey will include a canine sudsing station in all future $800,000-and-up home designs, according to the article. Ken Malian, a GreenRose owner, estimates the cost of adding a dog shower to an existing mudroom at $5,000. Powder rooms, laundry rooms and garages are also common areas for dog shower placement.

-- The Havanese is a fun-loving, cheerful and good-humored dog with a bit of a naughty side. He's mischievous and sometimes difficult to house-train. The small dogs with silky, longhaired coats belong to the bichon family, making them cousins to bichons frise, Maltese, Cotons de Tulear and Bolognese. Unlike those breeds, Havanese may be any color or combination of colors. Be prepared to provide daily brushing and weekly baths if you keep a Havanese in full coat. Purchase a puppy from a breeder who provides certification that both parents have passed a brain stem auditory evoked response (BAER) test for hearing and have eye, hip and patella (knee) clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for 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.