10 tips to keep pets out of harm’s way in autumn

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Who doesn’t love fall? Crisp air, colorful leaves, cool evenings. Even pets probably think it’s the perfect season as they romp through piles of leaves and enjoy scents kicked up by stronger fall winds. It seems like a benign time of year -- not too hot, not too cold -- but it has its own challenges and hazards for pets and their people.

Fleas and ticks are still active. Even if it’s starting to get cold where you live, they can hunker down and survive. Don’t lay off parasite preventives, especially if your pet spends a lot of time outdoors playing in your yard or hiking with you.

Fall is a fabulous time to hike with your dog, but it’s also hunting season. Put a bright orange vest on your dog -- and wear one yourself -- so that neither of you is mistaken for game.

Leaves fall in fall, and so do acorns. Some dogs will eat anything on the off chance it might be tasty, but the tannins in acorns can cause stomach upset, including vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Keep them raked up if you have a dog with indiscriminate tastes.

Leaf piles are fun to jump in, but if they get damp, they can promote growth of potentially toxic fungi and molds that your dog could ingest accidentally -- or just because he thought they might be edible. Rake and bag them for disposal. The smoke from burning them pollutes the air with gases that are irritating and toxic to pets, wildlife and people.

Fall flowers often used in seasonal decorations or found in gardens include autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) and chrysanthemums. Autumn crocus, not to be confused with the nontoxic spring crocus, can cause serious problems in pets who nosh on it, ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to weakness, multiorgan failure and death. Chrysanthemums are less toxic, but you still don’t want pets nibbling on them, as the effects can include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling and wobbliness.

If your sweaters have been in storage, you may have placed mothballs in with them to prevent insect damage. Be sure cats, dogs or other pets don’t sniff them out or ingest them. Mothballs, in all of their forms -- cakes, scales, powder, cubes and spheres -- are pesticides that slowly release a gas vapor to kill and repel moths and other insects, according to the Pet Poison Helpline. The chemicals, which are toxic to pets, too, can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or if eaten, absorbed through the stomach and intestines. Signs of poisoning include mothball breath, vomiting, gums that are pale or brown, weakness, lethargy, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, and liver or kidney failure. Get rid of mothballs in your home and use cedar blocks or a cedar chest instead.

Speaking of sweaters, cooler weather can mean your thin-skinned dog --think Chihuahuas, greyhounds and hairless breeds -- needs a sweater, too. Senior dogs benefit from the extra warmth as well.

Scented candles and potpourri smell great to us, but the fumes they produce and the oils they contain can be irritating and even toxic to pets. Choose electric or beeswax candles, and provide scent by simmering citrus peels, cinnamon and whole cloves on the stove.

Rats and other rodents seek the warmth of homes in fall. Even if you don’t put out rodenticides, your neighbors may, and that’s bad news for pets who accidentally ingest them. Rodenticides can prevent blood from clotting and cause breathing difficulty, a rapid heart rate and lethargy. If you think your pet has ingested rat poison, get to the vet right away -- don’t wait for signs to develop. Use traps instead of poison, and ask neighbors to do so as well.

It’s getting darker earlier out there. Use a glow-in-the-dark collar to make sure your dog can be seen outdoors or while you’re on walks.

Q&A

Help control

dog allergy

Q: My fiance has a beloved cavalier King Charles spaniel, and I’m worried because I’m allergic. Are there things I can do to help reduce my allergic reactions to him? We’re open to replacing the carpeting with wood or luxury vinyl, using air purifiers, finding special shampoos or diets -- anything that might help.

A: Your allergies might not entirely be under control, but there are lots of things you can do to help manage them. Replacing carpeting with wood or luxury vinyl is a good start. Vacuum or mop (either dry or damp) the floor daily to keep dander (dead skin cells that are allergenic) at bay. Large washable throw rugs such as those by Ruggable may be useful, too.

Having your fiance brush the dog daily outdoors will also help reduce the amount of dander in the house. Bathing the dog every week or two can help as well. If a gentle shampoo is used, it won’t dry the dog’s skin or fur.

See an allergist about an appropriate medication regimen for you. They may recommend some combination of allergy shots, decongestants and other meds that can help.

It’s best to keep the dog out of the bed or even out of the bedroom, but if neither of you wants to do that, wash sheets and dog bedding in hot water frequently, using a scent-free detergent to help reduce any other sensitivities you might have. Avoid feather pillows and comforters. Put a doggie T-shirt or onesie on him when he’s on the bed or in the bedroom to help contain dander. A medical-grade air purifier with HEPA filtration for the bedroom can help, too.

Following a combination of these tips should help to keep your allergies at bay. Good luck to you and your fiance! -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Know signs of

pet emergencies

-- What’s an emergency? Here’s a quick list to help you know when to get your pet to the vet -- stat: seizure, fainting or collapse; eye injury, even if it seems minor; frequent vomiting or diarrhea; allergic reactions, such as swelling around the face; any suspected poisoning from antifreeze, rodent or snail bait, human medication or insecticides; snake or spider bites; heatstroke or hypothermia; bleeding wounds or lacerations; animal bites; trauma such as being hit by a car, even if the pet seems OK; difficulty breathing; straining to urinate or defecate; and signs of pain such as panting, labored breathing, lethargy, restlessness, crying out, unusual aggression and loss of appetite.

-- Like humans, dogs have two kinds of sleep. The deeper kind is characterized by rapid eye movements, so it's known as REM sleep. We know humans dream during REM sleep. We also know that the whining, heavy breathing, twitching and leg movements we've all seen in our dogs occur during canine REM sleep. So it's not far-fetched to believe dogs are dreaming, too. What are they dreaming about? We'll likely never know.

-- Housetraining hack: Puppies need to relieve themselves after they wake up, after they eat or drink and after a period of play. Set up a schedule to accommodate your pup’s needs as you work to mold behavior, and remember that young puppies, especially small breeds or mixes, can't go very long without eating, drinking, sleeping or relieving themselves. A good rule of thumb: Puppies can hold it as long as their age in months. A 2-month-old pup can "hold it" in a crate for about two hours, for example. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

It’s a longstanding myth that cats and dogs don’t get along. Most often, all you have to do is make some polite introductions

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When my dog Harper was younger, she thought cats were to chase, but she has slowed down in the past year. At our most recent visit to cat-loving family members in New Mexico, their cats and Harper calmly ignored each other. She has done the same with our three litters of foster kittens.

But you don’t have to wait for your dog to get old to welcome a cat into your family. Many dogs and cats are best friends, either because they grew up together or because their people took smart steps to help them get to know each other in a safe, controlled way. Here’s how.

If possible, find out from the shelter or rescue group whether your new feline family member has any experience with dogs. It’s OK if they don’t, but the information can give you some insight as to how the introduction may go.

Prepare a “safe room” in a little-used guest bedroom or bathroom for your new cat, complete with litter box, food and water dishes, a bed, scratching post and a couple of toys. This is where the cat will spend the first week in your home.

A safe room lets him decompress, becoming accustomed to the smells and sounds of new surroundings. You and other family members can hang out there one-on-one with the cat so he gets to know you first. The odor of your dog will become familiar, too, as it wafts under the doorway.

After a few days, you can open the door of the safe room, but set up a barrier in the form of a baby gate. This allows your dog and cat to see and sniff each other safely. Don’t give your dog an opportunity to jump against or over the gate. Have her on a leash during this pet meet-and-greet.

Your dog should be polite on a leash and capable of responding to the cues “sit” or “down.” An on-leash introduction is important so you can maintain control of their interactions. Ask your dog to “sit,” and reward calm behavior with treats and praise. Don’t try to force your cat to come close to the gate. It’s fine if he wants to check out your dog from a distance. You can toss treats to him if he’s not acting hissy. Keep visits short, but practice them several times a day.

Plug in a feline pheromone diffuser in the cat’s safe room, plus a canine pheromone diffuser in the hallway to that room. The calming, feel-good pheromones will help prepare both animals for a friendly get-together.

Continue these practice meetings for several days. Feed them in sight of each other. Dr. Marty Becker recommends giving something super tasty, such as warmed chicken breast, and swapping bowls before they’re done. That links the scent of the food to the other pet.

The day of the meeting, take a hand towel and rub down one then the other with it, and back again, so they share the same scent.

When they seem calm in each other’s presence, you can remove the barrier and allow them to greet each other in their own time -- with your dog still on a leash. Keep the leash loose, though, or your anxiety can travel down it, giving the idea that the cat is to be feared or warned off. Keep rewarding calm behavior from both.

Ensure that your cat always has an escape route, whether that’s an open door, up a tall cat tree or under a piece of furniture. This is especially important if you have a dog with strong prey drive. Even if they get along, a swift or sudden move by the cat could trigger a chase with a tragic ending.

Once they are comfortable, you can remove the leash and let them get on with their lives together. Don’t be surprised if they become fast friends.

Find out more here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/introducing-cats-and-dogs-how-to-help-ensure-harmony-in-the-home.

Q&A

Is it OK to give

cat food to dog?

Q: My old dog’s appetite hasn’t been very good lately, so I’ve been desperate to get her to eat -- anything! I gave her a small can of cat food the other night, and she gobbled it down. I wouldn’t give it to her on a regular basis -- I know cat food is higher in protein than dogs need -- but is it all right as an occasional treat when she doesn’t want to eat her regular food?

A: You’re right that cat food is much higher in protein than dog food. Cats are obligate carnivores and must have meat protein in their diet. Cats and dogs have other nutrient requirements that are not the same between the two species. And the flavors and smells that appeal to their palates are different as well. But as you discovered, dogs are frequently attracted to cat food by its odor and the higher amounts of protein it contains.

You don’t mention whether your dog had any ill effects from her illicit treat. It’s not unusual for dogs who get hold of some high-octane cat food to respond with vomiting or diarrhea. But that’s not true for all dogs, and if yours has a digestive system that can handle occasional small amounts of cat food, then there’s nothing wrong with giving it once in a while to tempt her appetite. Some people give it as a reward during training, when the dog has done something extra special in the face of powerful distractions. In this situation, a small lick or two isn’t going to hurt.

If you’re not feeding cat food on a daily basis, you’re not seeing stomach upset and you’re monitoring her weight carefully so she doesn’t pack on pounds, it’s probably fine to stoke her appetite with a little feline food. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Dog origins not

always clear

-- Where do dog breeds come from? You can’t always tell by the name. The Great Dane, for instance, hails from Germany, not Denmark. Australian shepherds? Actually created in the Western United States. We don’t know where Dalmatians originated, but there’s no real reason to believe that they’re from Dalmatia, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. You may have heard the term “French poodle,” but the curly-haired water retrievers originated in Germany. And the Chinese crested isn’t from China. Based on genetic research, that breed’s likely origin was in Mexico.

-- Pets rule in October! It’s Adopt-a-Dog Month (American Humane Association) and Adopt a Shelter Dog Month (ASPCA), Black Cat Awareness Month, National Animal Safety and Protection Month, National Pet Wellness Month, National Pit Bull Awareness Month and World Animal Month. Celebrate National Walk Your Dog Week and Animal Welfare Week the first week in October. Oct. 4 is Kindness to Animals Day, and Oct. 12 is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. National Pug Day and National Fetch Day occur on Oct. 15. Global Cat Day is Oct. 16; National Pets for Veterans Day is Oct. 21; National Make a Pet’s Day is Oct. 22; and Oct. 29 is World Cat Day.

-- There’s not a specific age at which you can expect your new baby bird to be weaned. Baby birds are weaned -- the stage at which they go from hand-feeding to eating on their own -- at different ages depending on their species as well as on their individual selves. You can start to teach them about new foods, though, by giving them the opportunity to play with and try different things, starting with soft items such as bananas or soaked pellets, then moving on to other vegetables and fruits. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker.

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

7 ways to get the best from your bird and develop a great relationship with them

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

I had a teacher in seventh grade who was always harsh toward me. Not surprisingly, I didn’t like her either. Always prone to headaches, I began having them even more when I was in her class. The stress was so bad that I ended up going to a different school in the middle of the school year.

The harm that can be done by teachers, bosses or family members who are quick to criticize and punish and who never offer praise is long-lasting. You may have experienced the aftereffects yourself.

But have you ever considered that your pet parrot is just as sensitive to your attitude when you interact with him?

Mary Poppins had it right when she advocated a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. It works for behavior in humans AND animals. The following tips can help you win your parrot’s trust and affection.

1. Look for opportunities to reward him for doing what you like. Is he playing quietly with a toy or staying in his playpen? Offer sweet words, a favorite treat or a neck scratch.

2. Spend time with your bird every day. Time spent together is an opportunity to build and reinforce behaviors you want, such as stepping up on your finger, playing with toys or cuddling with you.

3. Talk to your bird. Conversation is an integral part of any relationship. Tell him about your day, practice your Italian, discuss the weather. Whether or not birds talk back or understand what you say, they recognize that you’re communicating with them, and that’s important.

4. Know what your bird likes. Lots of birds enjoy neck scratches or snuggling, but not all of them. Figure out what your bird likes -- playing with a favorite toy, maybe -- and make that part of your daily routine.

5. “Hire” your bird. Parrots are smart. They need jobs to stimulate their ever-thinking bird brains. Give your bird a puzzle toy to figure out, a hard nut to crack (an almond or Brazil nut is perfect for this purpose) or last month’s fashion magazine to rip up (drape it over the top of the cage and feed groups of pages through the bars). Providing an outlet for your bird’s perfectly normal destructive tendencies is a great way to channel them so that he doesn’t find his own job chewing up your cookbooks or destroying your drywall (ask me how I know about those habits).

6. Give your bird choices. Parrots don’t have much say-so in their lives. You chose their cage, you’re the one who buys the toys and you’re the one who chooses the food. That’s stressful! How would you feel if you didn’t have any control over your life? In birds, that stress manifests in weight loss, either loud shrieks or not vocalizing at all, feather picking or fear of new things in the environment. Ways you can give birds choices are to let them decide when or if they want to interact with you, provide a variety of toys they can play with or offering an array of different fruits and vegetables so they can pick out favorites.

7. Avoid punishment! When you yell at your bird or smack the side of his cage in anger, he may respond by trying to escape, avoiding you, behaving aggressively, becoming fearful or simply giving up.

Living with a bird should never mean being a dictator. That’s not the relationship friends should have, and in a perfect world, your bird is your friend. Be consistent and show your bird what you want and like through rewards and praise. You’ll both be winners.

Don’t have a parrot? These tips work with dogs, cats, bunnies -- and people, too.

Q&A

Where to

get a kitten?

Q: My neighbor’s Siamese cat just had kittens, and she’s giving them away. Seems a lot easier and less expensive than getting one from the shelter. What do you think?

A: We don’t deny that it can be hard to go to the shelter and choose from among many kittens. Getting one from your neighbor could work out, but there are several factors to consider before you make your decision. We call them the “ifs.”

If you like the personality of your neighbor’s cat. If your neighbor’s Siamese is in good health and your neighbor can show records of regular veterinary care. If your neighbor is raising the kittens in the home and giving them lots of socialization. If you don’t care that the kittens won’t have registration papers. If those “ifs” are all OK with you, then this could be a convenient way for you to have a new BFF (best furry friend).

But wait! You should also consider all the benefits of adopting a kitten from the shelter, especially if your local shelter has a great foster program. The adoption fee may be $150 or more, but the kitten you take home will already be spayed or neutered and microchipped. That’s a big chunk of change right there. And if the kitten has been in a foster home, he or she is used to being handled and already accustomed to life in a house, with all that entails: the sounds of blenders and vacuum cleaners, and maybe the presence of a dog, another cat or kids.

What we don’t recommend is getting a kitten who is being given away or sold at a grocery store or flea market. You have no way of knowing how the kittens have been raised, whether they’ve been socialized, what veterinary care such as vaccinations or deworming they’ve received or what their parents’ temperaments are like. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Protect pets from

medicated cream

-- Lots of pets love to lick their people, but that can be hazardous if tongues come in contact with medicated creams. The Food & Drug Administration has received reports of dogs dying after accidentally ingesting creams containing a chemotherapy drug called fluorouracil. The drug is commonly used to treat many cancers in humans, including some types of skin cancers or a precancerous condition called solar or actinic keratosis. Signs of poisoning can start within 30 minutes and include vomiting, shaking, seizures, difficulty breathing and diarrhea. Prevent your pet from licking any topical cream or other solution on your skin or from gnawing on tubes containing them. Keep tubes well out of reach, and dispose of them in a place where your pet can’t get to them. Ask your doctor if it’s OK to cover the treated area with clothing or gauze to prevent licking.

-- Does your dog need a brow lift or eyelid surgery? What might be considered cosmetic procedures in humans can help dogs by relieving the pressure from heavy folds of skin that press down on eyes, impeding vision and pushing hairs onto the cornea and causing ulceration. After his surgery, Bentley, a 2-year-old Clumber spaniel, no longer runs into things, and his behavior has gone from shy and nervous to more confident and curious.

-- September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s not too late to put together an emergency evacuation kit that ensures you can care for your pet in the event of a wildfire, flood, earthquake or other disaster. Include one to two weeks’ worth of food, bottled water (in case you don’t have access to potable water) and medications, vaccination records, a first-aid kit, collapsible food and water dishes, a blanket or other bedding, litter and a litter box for cats, and a favorite toy or two. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.