Whether you’re buying for pets or pet lovers, we’ve found the perfect gifts for anyone on your list -- even the naughty ones

Andrews McMeel Syndication

It’s that time of year again: turkey, football and Black Friday shopping. If you’re reading this, we’re pretty sure that you probably have dogs, cats and people who love pets on your gift-buying list. To make shopping easy for you -- so you can spend more time with your animals -- we’ve come up with a gift guide that has something for everyone.

Treats for good dogs

-- Pet Connection team member and Fear Free lead trainer Mikkel Becker says her dogs love the foraging challenge of the iDig. Bury chews, treats and toys for dogs to find. Goifetch.com; $79.99.

-- Shaped like a suitcase, the Travel Dog food puzzle tests dogs’ dexterity, concentration and “scentsability.” Two dogs can play at the same time. Myintelligentpets.com; $76.

-- Load ’em up and launch! Ring toys, that is. The Chuckit! Ring Chaser Launcher Dog Toy saves your arm during endless fetch sessions. Bonus: hands-free pickup to prevent getting slimed with slobber. Available from Amazon and Chewy; $12.95.

-- Reward your good dog -- and they are all good dogs -- with a daily treat from Bosco and Roxy’s Bark the Halls Advent Calendar. Each window for the 24 days leading up to Christmas contains a biscuit made with applesauce and crushed peanuts. Available at Cost Plus World Market and online at worldmarket.com; $24.99.

Purr-fect for cats

-- The classic, of course, is an empty box, but if you want to go all out for your cat, the IntelliKatt food bowl has three levels of difficulty and more than 500 different combinations, offering your cat a stimulating hunting challenge. Even “mewbies” can have fun with it. Beonebreed.com; $19.99.

-- Cats who love to climb will be thrilled with the wall-mounted Ultimate Cat Climbing Tower & Activity Tree. Just over 6 feet tall, it has two resting areas where up-high cats can monitor their territory. Amazon and PetFusion; $109.95.

-- If a traditional cat tree isn’t right for your home, consider the Happy Stack, which is easy to set up and can be moved as needed so your cat always has a place to climb, scratch, nap or hide. Happystack.net; $179.

-- Grow grass for your cat to nibble with the Organic Cat Grass Growing Kit. The cute planter with a kitty face comes in black or white. Amazon; $15.97. (Hint: Dogs will like it, too.)

Pet-people pleasers

-- An abundance of fiction and nonfiction featuring animals will have book lovers settling in to enjoy their new read -- dog or cat on lap, of course. Look for “Here Comes Santa Paws” (Kensington Books), the latest in Laurien Berenson’s long-running series featuring standard poodles and their mystery-solving owner, Melanie Travis. “Cat Life” by Amy Shojai looks at cats big and small, cat culture and history, anatomy, behavior and more (Furry Muse Publications). Photography buffs won’t lose focus while admiring the stunning photos in National Geographic photographer Vincent J. Musi’s “The Year of the Dogs” (Chronicle Books). Science-loving kids with cats can experiment -- in a good way! -- guided by “Cat Science Unleashed: Fun Activities To Do With Your Feline Friend” (National Geographic Children’s Books) by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen. There’s also “Dog Science Unleashed.” Pet-loving friends will also enjoy a copy of the latest issue of Happy Paws magazine, with articles on kids and dogs, pet care hacks and the secrets behind canine senses.

-- Make someone smile every morning as they drink coffee or tea in a mug customized with a portrait of their pet. Find artists on Etsy who will take a photo and turn it into a work of art (search “pet portrait mugs” on the site).

-- Cat lovers can settle in to play Cat Crimes on a cold winter day. This feline version of Clue, with six cat tokens, lets players use paw prints, toy placement and other evidence to solve the crime.

Happy shopping!

Q&A

Which dog for

a couch potato?

Q: I’m not a super-active person, and I want a laid-back dog. Are there certain breeds I should consider?

A: Plenty of dogs will suit your needs -- with some caveats. Any puppy or adolescent dog, no matter what breed, is going to be active and playful. If you choose to get a puppy, be prepared for a higher activity level for one to two years before your dog settles into sedate adulthood. Or consider acquiring an adult dog so you can skip the puppy antics.

Some breeds to consider:

-- Cavalier King Charles spaniel. My writing partner, Kim Campbell Thornton, loves these dogs for good reason. They’re small -- but not too small -- and they’ll adjust their activity level to yours. Be aware that the breed has heart problems.

-- Greyhound. It seems counterintuitive to recommend one of the fastest dogs in the world, but greyhounds are happy with a nice walk around the block or a few minutes of running flat out (in a safely fenced area), then they’ll be a couch potato with you.

-- Keeshond. As an adult, this medium-size spitz breed (weighing 35 to 45 pounds) is typically satisfied with a couple of walks on a leash and some playtime in a yard. He can be a barker, so plan on teaching the “quiet” cue.

-- Lhasa apso. Calm and watchful, this former Tibetan temple dog enjoys one or two brief walks daily or some indoor or outdoor playtime. He’s a nice size at 12 to 18 pounds.

-- Shih Tzu. An in-your-lap kind of dog, the Shih Tzu is a toy breed that will appreciate a short daily walk. He may also get his zoomies out by racing through your house -- but that’s on him, not you.

Both the Shih Tzu and the Lhasa require frequent grooming or a short pet trim. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Pet prep tips for

emergency bug-outs

-- There’s always the possibility of having to evacuate with pets due to fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake or other disasters. Pack a pet go-bag containing vaccination or titer records and other important medical history; medication; food; food and water bowls; a carrier marked with your name and phone number; a photo of your pet -- especially one of you together in case you become separated; a sheet listing medication regimen, food and amount fed and your contact info; a blanket or bed; a favorite toy; and for cats, a litter box, litter and scoop.

-- A therapy used to treat overdoses in humans is reversing signs of toxicity in sea turtles exposed to Karenia brevis algae, which cause toxic algal blooms that kill many sea turtles annually. The treatment, intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, involves injecting a fatty solution into the bloodstream. It causes toxins to bind to fats instead of organs. "This therapy has been used in dogs and cats for more than a decade. It's been very successful in treatment of ivermectin toxicity. Ivermectin and similar drugs are familiar to most people as a key component in many heartworm preventive medications and they're very safe, but sometimes pets can overdose if they eat lots of preventive at once or get into products used in horses," says Dr. Kelly Diehl, senior scientific programs and communications adviser at Morris Animal Foundation.

-- A 25-pound cat named Cinderblock has gone viral after videos of her weight loss routine -- including using a water treadmill -- were released by veterinarian Brita Kiffney, who is supervising the cat’s diet and exercise program. As many of us have done, Cinderblock complained about using the treadmill, meowing plaintively while dabbing at it with a single paw. Dr. Kiffney hopes the videos will raise awareness about the importance of keeping pets in shape. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.

Researchers are seeking to better understand the aging process in dogs and humans with the hope of delaying onset of age-related diseases

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sophie Cobb, a Shetland sheepdog in Omaha, Nebraska, recently celebrated her 20th birthday. That’s an unusually long life for a dog. Our best friends are more likely to live a measly 10 to 12 years, with some making it to 14, 15 or older.

Have you ever wished dogs lived longer? A good diet, exercise and regular veterinary care are pieces of the puzzle that make up a long, healthy life for a dog, but are there other ways to extend the lifespan and improve quality of life?

Scientists with the Dog Aging Project are seeking answers to those questions with a long-term study of how dogs age and the genetic and environmental factors that affect aging and disease in dogs. In the process, they’ll also learn important things about the biology of aging in humans -- after all, dogs closely share our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat to the beds we sleep in.

“Dogs get the same diseases we do,” says Matt Kaeberlein, Ph.D., one of the co-directors of the DAP. “The health care system in dogs is second only to our own in sophistication. What we learn about how genes and the environment shape the risk of age-related disease in dogs is likely to be related to the genes and environmental risk factors for age-related diseases in humans as well.”

For the longitudinal study -- a yearslong look at dogs’ lives and health -- some 10,000 dogs will participate. Big dogs, small dogs, mixed breeds, purebreds -- all are important in teasing out the secrets behind canine aging. Because of the compressed nature of the dog lifespan, much can be learned in a decade, both environmentally and at the molecular level.

“The dog provides us with a really terrific opportunity to ask how those molecular changes differ between long-lived and short-lived individuals within the same species,” says Daniel Promislow, Ph.D., DAP co-director. “They provide us with a kind of magnifier of diversity that we don’t have in humans, where we don’t know who’s going to be long-lived and who’s going to be short-lived.”

While a pill to increase canine lifespan is still in the future, the concept isn’t out of the question. Owners can nominate middle-aged dogs to participate in a parallel five-year study, limited to 500 dogs, of a drug called rapamycin. In lab studies as well as some human studies, it appears to slow aging or improve healthy aging, Dr. Promislow says. Cardiologists at veterinary teaching hospitals will follow the dogs’ heart health over time in the double-blind, placebo-controlled study. That means neither owners nor researchers will know which dogs receive the drug and which a placebo. As part of this intervention trial, researchers will also be looking at such things as kidney function, cancer, activity levels and cognition.

Why middle-aged dogs? They are at the age where they are starting to develop age-related diseases. By starting with dogs in that period of life, researchers will be able to quickly detect whether the drug slows aging and improves heart function.

“If we had a large enough sample size, we could know in three years -- certainly in five years -- the extent to which rapamycin did improve healthy aging in dogs,” Dr. Promislow says. “That’s something that’s just not possible in that timeframe in people.”

A 20% to 30% increase in lifespan in dogs isn’t out of the realm of possibility, Dr. Kaeberlein says. A dog who might normally live 10 years might live an extra two years. Smaller dogs with a normal lifespan of up to 18 years could see an extra three or four years of life.

Studying how dogs age has more than academic interest. There’s intrinsic value in improving quality of life for dogs, but making their lives longer and better improves our own quality of life as well.

Q&A

Brush off cats --

in a good way

Q: Why do I have to brush my cat? Don’t cats groom themselves?

A: Cats do a great job of grooming themselves, but brushing has a lot of positives beyond helping cats stay clean. It’s a basic step in monitoring your cat’s physical condition, for one thing.

When you brush your cat, you’re learning how her body looks and feels normally. You’ll notice when brushing feels good to her -- “Ah, yes, right there!” -- and when she flinches away because there’s a painful spot that you otherwise might not have noticed. Brushing is a time to check your cat for parasites such as fleas; flakiness that might be caused by dry skin; and to make sure she doesn’t have any lumps or bumps, especially as she gets older or if she goes outdoors and might have gotten into a scuffle with another cat.

Brushing has benefits for you, too. In cats with long fur, it prevents tangles from forming. You probably remember from when you were a kid how painful it is to have tangles combed or brushed out. Brushing removes loose hairs that would otherwise drift onto your clothing, carpet and furniture. And it keeps your cat from swallowing loose hairs that then form hairballs that she hacks up onto your floor for you to step on in the middle of the night. (By the way, did you know that the scientific term for hairball is trichobezoar? The word comes from Greek and refers to a mass formed from hair.)

Last, but definitely not least, brushing your cat is a way to strengthen your bond with her. It’s time that you spend together doing something that’s pleasurable for her. You can do it while you’re watching TV or as a form of meditation for yourself. Brush on! -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Comic sends

cats into orbit

-- Cats inherit the earth -- or at least a spaceship -- in “Captain Ginger,” a new comic book series featuring cats in space. Humans are referred to as “feeders,” feral cats are an issue and Captain Ginger must not only battle space aliens but also deal with undesirable scratching behavior on the bridge, and assign litter box duty. And who could resist a cast that includes a Science Cat and a Chief Mousing Officer? One reviewer calls it “the ultimate cat comic.” Published by Ahoy Comics and created by Stuart Moore and June Brigman, “Captain Ginger” is available for $3.99 from Ahoy Comics and Amazon.

-- At Michigan State University, a new animal-assisted intervention program called “Justice Heals” -- named after a support dog acquired to help survivors of sexual assault -- will pair people with shelter dogs to help them heal from their experiences. The program is a collaboration among MSU’s Veterinary Social Work Program, Center for Survivors and Veterinary Behavior Service. “As a veterinary behaviorist, this program is a unique opportunity to look at the relationships that develop between sexual assault survivors and shelter animals during the healing process,” says veterinary behaviorist Marie Hopfensperger, DVM. “This approach allows us to create programming that is mutually beneficial for both populations."

-- The Tonkinese, originally created by crossing Siamese and Burmese cats, is an outgoing, active and playful cat with a strong desire to spend time with his family and involve himself in everything they do. He greets guests with aplomb, doing everything but offering them a drink. When he’s not riding on your shoulder, the Tonk, as he is nicknamed, enjoys playing fetch, sitting in your lap or just chatting with you about his day. With his friendly, open attitude, he can be a good choice for families with children, other cats or cat-friendly dogs. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.

Losing a pet can be a child’s first experience with death. Here’s how to help them cope

By Mikkel Becker

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Almost a year ago, we lost our 12-year-old black pug, Willy. We knew he was on his last legs, but his death was sudden and unexpected. My husband and I were out of the country, but my 10-year-old daughter, Reagan, and my mother, Teresa, were there when Willy collapsed and passed away.

Because Willy was getting on in years and suffered from diminishing health, we’d had the opportunity to talk about how much we loved Willy, how hard his passing would be, how we’d miss him and what we would do when he’d passed (including the notion of one day getting another dog). Preparation beforehand didn’t make the passing easy, but it at least gave Reagan a foundation for support in the wake of the sudden loss. Most importantly, Reagan was able to talk with the family about what had occurred.

The loss of a beloved dog, cat or other pet is traumatic for people of any age, but for children, experiencing the death of a pet can be especially painful. Not only are they losing a close companion or best friend, it’s likely the first time they are encountering loss and the finality of death.

For the child, recovery after a loss can be difficult to manage; the child may remember little to no time without the pet having been there. Life without their beloved critter is likely to look and feel vastly different than what they’ve experienced before.

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to help a child cope with and grieve the loss of a pet. But certain approaches better build the ability to cope and to fully grieve, important steps for coming to terms with -- and, when the time is right, moving forward from -- the loss of one we love. As an animal trainer and mom, I want to share three ways I’ve found to help a child to better deal with the loss of a pet.

Even before losing Willy and, before him, our other pug, Bruce, we had discussed the potential passing of a pet or person through thought-provoking books and movies that dealt with the notion of death. This offered us opportunities to talk about death, saying goodbye and moving forward when a loved one dies. For Reagan, this foundation helped her to better deal with loss when it happened.

Reflecting on the favorite things Willy had done recently also helped Reagan through her grief. It was important for her to hear that Willy felt little pain and that up until the final moment, he was at his happiest: visiting his favorite place on earth, Almost Heaven Ranch, with some of his favorite people, including her. Willy knew he was loved and felt that love up until the very end. To Reagan, that was a comforting fact in her loss.

Finally, a lasting legacy of the pet’s love is something the child can go to for comfort. For Reagan, writing notes to and drawing pictures of her dogs after their passing (Bruce died in 2015, and my parents recently lost their beloved Quixote) were ties to the lasting love she felt for her late pets.

She also appreciated having photos and a specific painting of each pug that serve as reminders of them. We gave her a special paw print charm that says, “Always with you.” This was important for her and offered her a feeling of comfort after Willy’s passing.

When asked what helped her cope the most, Reagan says, “I’m still not over it.” I completely agree. I don’t think anyone ever “gets over” the loss of their pet. But what’s important is learning to deal with the new normal while remembering the love.

Q&A

Do dogs need

special shampoo?

Q: Is it OK to use Dawn dishwashing detergent to bathe my dog? What about baby shampoo? I want to use something mild.

A: We turned to a couple of coat and skin experts to find the answer. Amelia White is a veterinary dermatologist at Alabama’s Auburn University, and Julie Ellingson is a professional dog groomer in Sacramento, California.

Dawn has a reputation for being effective because we often hear about it being used to remove crude oil from water birds after oil spills. But there’s a big difference between crude oil and the oil and dirt on your dog’s skin. Dawn isn’t made for use on dogs, and it’s too harsh for their skin -- which is thinner than our own, Ellingson says. Besides being harsh, it can cause other problems, she adds.

“I have seen more than a few ulcerated eyes in dogs from people using Dawn to strip out greasy ears. The dog shakes and the soap gets in the eyes and burns them. It’s not worth the risk.”

Baby shampoo, while gentle for babies, isn’t made for a dog’s skin, either. “The pH, or acidity, of baby skin is different than dogs’,” Dr. White says. “If you bathe dogs with human-grade shampoos, that can make them have increased scaling, or what people call dandruff.”

That’s because baby shampoo changes the pH in canine skin and makes their skin cells slough off faster than they’re supposed to, which looks like dandruff. Then you think, “Oh, no, they’re dirty,” and you bathe them more frequently, exacerbating the problem.

What should you use? There are many good, mild and effective shampoos made specifically for dogs. “Choose a dog shampoo, something that is gentle and cleansing, preferably something that is oatmeal-based,” Dr. White says. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Tortoise runs away --

to previous home

-- A week after Sweety disappeared, the Russian tortoise turned up -- 5 miles away at the family’s previous home. The kicker? They hadn’t lived there in 10 years. Social media aided the reunion. Sweety was picked up by a woman who was driving down the street and spotted the on-the-lam tortoise. She posted a photo of Sweety, and owner Sara Coggeshall saw it. Russian tortoises have a reputation as escape artists, so a wire-reinforced fence may be in order to keep Sweety at home.

-- People in domestic abuse situations are often unwilling to leave home without their pets, who are at risk themselves from abusers, but most domestic violence shelters don’t permit pets. A New York City-based program called PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) is working to provide them with the option of bringing pets to shelters. PALS provides access to 172 apartments in five different buildings where families -- pets, too -- can stay together. Besides dogs and cats, PALS has helped to shelter fish, birds, guinea pigs, turtles, hamsters, a rabbit and a bearded dragon. More information is available at urinyc.org/uripals.

-- Rabbits need a large, safe place to play; bunny companionship as well as appropriate human interaction (loud children and rough handling can scare them); a grass- or hay-based diet (nix the carrots; they’re too sweet); good grooming; and regular veterinary care, including vaccinations. All too often, though, they don’t get those things, according to a study of more than 6,000 rabbits in the United Kingdom. Veterinarians treating them see overgrown nails and teeth, skin and digestive problems, and dirty rear ends. They can die from maggots feeding on them and appetite loss caused by poor dental health or stomach ulcers. To learn about good rabbit care, visit the website of the House Rabbit Society at rabbit.org. -- 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, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets 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.