If you love to travel with your pet, here are some suggestions on where to go

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Some of my favorite trips have been with my dogs. We’ve been to cities, resort towns, national parks, wineries and beaches galore. Summer is almost over, but it’s not too late to plan a last-minute dog-friendly trip or a future vacation. Drawing on my own experiences and recommendations from dog-loving friends, here are some places to check out.

Camp is the classic dogcentric vacation, and 30-year-old Camp Gone to the Dogs is the original. Located in Front Royal, Virginia, it welcomes puppies to seniors and offers dog sports training using positive reinforcement techniques and just plain fun activities for people and dogs alike. Upcoming dates are Oct. 21-26, 2023; May 4-9, 2024; and Oct. 19-24, 2024. (camp-gone-tothe-dogs.com)

Camp Dogwood in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, is another place where dogs and people can hone their sports, training and play skills. Spring camp has already happened for 2023, but fall camp is Oct. 26-29. (campdogwood.com)

If a hotel stay is more your style, look into the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, which is near a dog-friendly beach and permits leashed dogs at its Sun Deck and Beach & Taco Shack restaurants. Put on your shades and your dog’s Doggles, and live the life of a star -- for a while, anyway.

Two other favorites are dog lover Doris Day’s Cypress Inn in Carmel, California -- seconded by many dog lovers -- and the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole. Dogs can enjoy afternoon tea with their people in Cypress Inn’s lobby, and we enjoyed sitting by the Four Seasons’ fireplace with Harper during a chilly late spring visit to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

But you don’t have to spend big bucks at luxury properties. Arizona resident Maryna Ozuna likes to vacation in San Diego with her medium-size to large dogs. They stay at Ocean Villa Inn, which Ozuna describes as a “funky ‘50s hotel” that’s right on Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, California. It’s also near the San Diego River, with miles of riparian corridor for dog-friendly hiking. A dog-washing station at the gate makes for easy cleanup, and favorite restaurants are within walking distance.

Dorothy Guertin and her dog Sassy stayed at a vintage ‘70s motel -- Sugar Loaf Lodge -- in Sedona, Arizona, where we spent some time with Harper last year. Sedona is dog-friendly, and it’s surrounded by great hiking. Local Jeep tours of the red rocks and adventure and winery tours allow dogs, and plenty of restaurants welcome them at outdoor seating.

National parks with pet-friendly trails include the Grand Canyon’s Rim Trail, all trails at West Virginia’s New River Gorge and Arizona’s Petrified Forest, and many trails at Maine’s Acadia National Park.

Going overseas? You can’t just bring your dog on the spur of the moment, but if you’ve done the testing and paperwork, many European countries give dogs a pawsome welcome. Debby Bradford and her cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dazzle, have spent the past three months exploring London, Scotland, Portugal and Paris. They’ve stayed primarily in Airbnbs and used public transportation to get around on their tightly budgeted trip.

To explore a different country without going overseas, consider Canada. We discovered on a previous visit that Vancouver was paradise for our three cavaliers, who walked miles with us through Stanley Park. For glorious scenery, check out Lake Louise in Banff, British Columbia. Stay at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise if money is no object or at one of the many Airbnb rentals for a more budget-friendly option.

Finally, take your housing and your pet with you with an RV, recommends retired veterinarian Kelly Byam. Then you can stay when and where you want with no pet fees or other worries.

“Our dog who really hated traveling by car and whined the whole time was perfectly content to travel by RV,” Byam says. “Our dogs are always eager to go with us in the RV because they know it means we will be together almost 24/7.”

Q&A

Keep birds safe

during painting

Q: I’m painting the interior of my house soon. What’s the best way to protect my bird?

A: You’re smart to take that into consideration. Birds have delicate respiratory systems that can be adversely affected by paint fumes. And fumes aren’t the only concern. Here’s what to know.

Look for paint that is low in VOCs -- volatile organic compounds. They’re the molecules that cause the smell of fresh paint. Paint with high levels of VOCs can produce toxic fumes that you don’t want your bird to inhale. Be aware that colorants added to paint can have high levels of VOCs and that paint labeled zero-VOC can still contain up to 5 grams per liter -- or more once tinted. Ask at the paint store to be sure you make the best choice for your bird’s safety.

Another reason to consider paint safety is that it’s not unusual for birds to scratch or chew at baseboards or other painted surfaces -- my writing colleague Kim Campbell Thornton knows that from personal experience. You don’t want them ingesting potentially toxic paint, so ask about safety.

The best way to protect birds during painting is to board them with their avian veterinarian or at a bird-savvy boarding facility or with a pet sitter who keeps animals in their own home. You may also have a friend, neighbor or relative who’s willing to care for them for a few days.

If that’s not possible, move the birds to another room where you can close the door to protect them from fumes. The room being painted should be well-ventilated (windows open, fan running) while painting is taking place. An air cleaner with a special VOC filter is also a good idea. Wait until paint is thoroughly dry, which can take a few days, before moving birds back into the room. -- 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

plague in pets

-- A cat in Fremont County, Wyoming, was diagnosed last month with plague. The serious bacterial infection can affect pets and people and should be treated immediately with antibiotics. Plague -- spread by fleas coming from infected animals -- typically occurs in rural areas, in particular northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs of plague in pets include enlarged lymph glands; swelling in the neck, face or around the ears; fever; chills; lack of energy; coughing; vomiting; diarrhea; and dehydration. Take pets to the veterinarian immediately if they show these signs, especially if they spend time outdoors and aren’t on a flea-control preventive.

-- Pets who shows signs of compulsive behaviors such as tail chasing, sucking on wool or other fabric, pacing or chewing at themselves may be experiencing mental stress, says Ashley Navarrette, DVM, a clinical veterinarian at Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. When those behaviors prevent pets from having a normal daily routine or lead to physical harm, seek the advice of a veterinary behaviorist who can rule out medical conditions and help you develop a management plan. Never scold pets when compulsive behaviors occur, but redirect them if possible and praise them when they’re behaving normally. Enhancing the pet’s environment with puzzle toys, calming pheromones, scent work games or other dog sports, and regular walks can also help, as can medication combined with behavior modification.

-- Unless you frequent dog shows, you might never have seen a schipperke (pronounced “skipper-kee”). The uncommon dogs have a foxy face, prick ears and a thick black double coat with a ruff around the neck. The small but active dogs weigh 10 to 16 pounds, are great at dog sports and have take-charge personalities. -- 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.

Move over, dog days -- cats rule the night sky

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We always talk about the dog days of summer -- those scorching days from late July to mid-August when Sirius, the Dog Star, rises and falls with the sun. But did you know that cats are also represented in the heavens? Three constellations bear the names of feline species: Leo, Leo Minor and Lynx.

Leo, after the Latin word for "lion," was described by second-century astronomer Ptolemy. It contains many bright stars, making it one of the most recognizable constellations. The lion's mane and shoulders especially stand out, forming the shape of a sickle (or a reverse question mark). When stars appear to form a shape or pattern like this, it's known as an asterism.

Ancient Greeks, masters of making up stories about the stars, thought that the crouching cat shape represented the Nemean Lion, a mythical beast that met its match in equally mythical Greek hero Heracles (Hercules, to the ancient Romans). In the Greek tale, the lion's golden fur protected it from weapons, so Heracles took matters into his own hands -- literally -- by wrestling the beast, which had been terrorizing people in the surrounding countryside. The goddess Hera, who had loved the lion, placed it in the sky, making it a constellation.

Babylonian astronomers also saw a lion in the sky, referring to Leo as "the great lion." Other ancient people who recognized Leo in the sky were those of Mesopotamia, Persia, Turkey, Syria, Judea and India. In many places, the constellation was identified with the word for "lion" in the respective language.

Apart from the sky, you can see the Nemean Lion in various works of art. A Renaissance bronze sculpture of Hercules wrestling the lion resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. A small bronze plaque by Moderno depicting the scene, also dating to the Renaissance, is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art. And a Greek postage stamp depicts a mosaic of the encounter.

But what about Leo Minor and Lynx? Because they were both designated as constellations in the 17th century, neither is associated with any ancient myths.

Leo Minor was named by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius; the name, of course, means "the smaller lion" in Latin. It is a small, faint constellation located in the northern sky between Leo and Ursa Major (the Great Bear). In 1870, British astronomer Richard A. Proctor renamed Leo Minor as Leaena, meaning "lioness," but the constellation is still best known by its original name.

Hevelius also named Lynx -- he must have been a cat lover! It is joked that Hevelius named it Lynx because the constellation was so faint, it took the eyesight of a lynx to spot it. According to the Constellation Guide website, Lynx is a member of the Ursa Major family of constellations, which among others includes Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs), Draco (the Dragon), Leo Minor and Ursa Minor (the Little Bear).

Beyond looking for feline constellations, on Aug. 17, you can celebrate the start of Cat Nights. The Old Farmer's Almanac says that this designation harks back to an old Irish legend about a witch who could turn herself into a cat eight times, but on the ninth time, would be unable to regain her human form.

This may be where we get the folklore that a cat has nine lives. So listen to your cats carefully on Aug. 17. If they are yowling particularly loudly, they may have changed shape for the last time!

Q&A

Dogs' diets hard

to categorize

Q: Are dogs carnivores or omnivores? Twenty bucks is riding on your answer.

A: I hope your bet allows for a third possibility: that they don't fall definitely into either the omnivore or carnivore camp.

Cats are classified as obligate carnivores, meaning that they must have meat in their diet to thrive. Classifying dogs is more challenging because they don't have the same specialized metabolic pathways as cats.

Technically, dogs belong to the family Carnivora, but they have some adaptations that allow them to feed on both meat and vegetable matter. That means they are frequently called omnivores, despite having several metabolic adaptations that can be classified as typically carnivorous. According to a paper by Dutch veterinary nutritionist Dr. Wouter Hendriks of the veterinary school at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, these adaptations include a limited ability to synthesize arginine and a lack of salivary amylase.

Veterinary nutritionist Dr. Laura Gaylord says that because of these adaptations, dogs can be described as "carnivorous omnivores." In the proceedings for the 2023 North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Gaylord wrote that "natural feeding studies indicate that dogs do prefer to consume a diet containing 30% of energy from protein, with less than 10% of energy derived from carbohydrates."

In his paper, Dr. Hendriks concludes: "Both domestic cats and dogs are descendants of true carnivores, with cats having a relatively highly nonadaptive metabolism, while dogs have inherited a moderately adaptive metabolism due to the feast-and-famine lifestyle of their direct ancestor. The proposed classification of our domestic dogs as an adaptive carnivore and cats as an obligatory carnivore appear to be the most accurate. Knowledge regarding the ancestral diet of our domestic dogs and cats can provide important information and evidence to improve the nutrition of our modern-day domestic dogs and cats." -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Check bunnies

for ear infections

-- You know that cats and dogs can suffer ear infections -- well, so can bunnies. If your pet rabbit frequently scratches its ears, shakes or tilts its head, flinches when you touch its ears or seems uninterested in playing, there's a good chance a painful ear infection is involved. Any time you notice these signs, take your rabbit to the veterinarian for an ear check and treatment. Letting an ear infection go untreated is not only unkind, it can cause your rabbit to experience hearing loss.

-- Heat, humidity and poor air quality put all pets at risk, including backyard chickens. Make sure any pets who spend time outdoors have access to plenty of shade, fresh drinking water and, in the case of chickens, a coop that is well ventilated. They will also appreciate water misters and frozen fruit treats to peck at. If chickens are struggling to breathe, or if their comb or wattle appears dark red or purple, take them to a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about poultry. Find out in advance which veterinarians in your community treat chickens so you know where to go in case of an emergency.

-- In May, a 2-year-old morkie-poo named Susie Q benefited from a corneal transplant at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. Susie Q had been diagnosed with an eye tumor and was scheduled for surgery. Veterinarians thought they might have to remove the eye, but a serendipitous donation saved the day. The team was able to use corneal tissue from another dog -- a patient at the facility's emergency room the night before the surgery -- whose eye had popped out of its socket and couldn't be replaced. Veterinarians removed Susie Q's tumor and some tissue around it, then applied a graft of corneal tissue from the other dog's lost eye. -- 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.

Seven reads for animal lovers of all ages and interests

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

We’re always on the lookout for great animal books. Whether your leisure reading leans toward mystery, feel-good stories or nonfiction, we've found some books that are perfect for curling up with your favorite cat or dog and getting lost in a world of words.

In “The Hiding Place,” Afghanistan veteran Mercy Carr is looking forward to her grandmother’s wedding at a tony Vermont inn -- until her mother shows up demanding that Mercy either take over teaching the promised yoga sessions at the wedding venue or find missing spa director Bodhi St. George, who vanished in the night. Mercy and her retired bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois, Elvis, succeed in finding St. George -- wounded -- before he disappears again. Author Paula Munier masterfully orchestrates suspense, danger, past crimes and family drama -- with Elvis playing a pivotal role -- to bring about a satisfying but perhaps not unsurprising resolution.

You know it’s going to be a good read when the dog has you laughing on the first page. I’m not always a fan of books in which the dog talks, but the Chet and Bernie series has long been a favorite. As Stephen King said, “Spencer Quinn speaks two languages -- suspense and dog -- fluently.” Chet (the dog) and Bernie (the detective) are partners in the Little Detective Agency, and their latest case, in “Bark to the Future,” has them seeking the whereabouts of a missing man who was Bernie’s high school baseball teammate, with only a mysterious switchblade as a clue. Murder ensues, and Bernie learns that the past isn’t dead -- it’s not even past. Will he and Chet be able to scent out the answers before it’s curtains for them?

Dogs are often a mystery to us, but in his new book “Dogs Demystified: An A-to-Z Guide to All Things Canine,” Marc Bekoff takes readers from A (starting with “abnormal behavior”) to Zoomies in an encyclopedic look at the whys and hows of dogs. It includes facts such as the number of living canid species (36); science, including the canine ability to do math; and answers to common and not-so-common questions people have about dogs. A foreword by Jane Goodall and whimsical illustrations by singer and dog lover Joan Baez complete the package.

Apparently, people have even more questions about cats because there are two new books on understanding our feline overlords. In “Being Your Cat: What’s Really Going on in Your Feline’s Mind,” authors Celia Haddon and veterinarian Daniel Mills take readers on an engaging tour of what it might be like to be a cat, based on the latest scientific research in feline cognition and physiology. It’s a valuable asset for both new and experienced cat lovers.

In witty, entertaining prose, cat-loving evolutionary biologist Jonathan B. Losos looks at the rise of cats from the earliest feline ancestor to the saber-toothed tiger to the little lions who have conquered our sofas and hearts in “The Cat’s Meow.” “Cats,” he writes, “are a great example of evolutionary diversification.” Early domestic cats looked a lot like their progenitors, African wildcats, but starting about 2,000 years ago, they began showing greater diversity in appearance. Chapters address the differences and similarities between wild and domestic cats, social behavior, breed development, color genetics, tracking studies and more.

Old dogs are special, and in her award-winning book “Extraordinary Old Dogs,” Laura Greaves shares the joys of living with them and their remarkable capacity for inspiring us, loving us and simply surviving against all odds. “Loving an old dog is different, certainly, but it is a unique and beautiful chapter in the story of their life,” Greaves writes.

Cats provide equally heart-warming reads in “A Cat Named Fatima: Tales of 23 Cats and the People Who Loved Them.” The collection, by veterinarian James Kenyon, highlights the devotion and humor in feline relationships with people. It earned a well-deserved nomination from the Cat Writers Association’s annual writing competition.

Q&A

Teach pets

recall cue

Q: How can I get my dog to come when I call? He’s always more interested in whatever he’s sniffing.

A: Responding to the cue “Come” or “Here” is probably the most important thing a dog can learn, but some dogs are better than others at taking it to heart. Herding and sporting breeds and mixes are generally more responsive to it than independent hounds, terriers and mixes of those breeds, but it is possible to teach any dog a reliable recall.

First things first: Coming when you call should be the greatest thing in a dog’s life. Never yell at or punish them once you get ahold of them. Heck, if that’s the response they get, why would they want to come to you? Practice frequently, make it fun and reward lavishly with treats and praise.

For instance, don’t always call your dog for something negative, such as going into the house after play, being put on leash or getting a bath. Call them lots of times to give a treat or toy, then let them go back to playing or sniffing. At the same time, teach the “gotcha” collar grab to get them used to it in case you ever need to stop them quick. See more here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/gotcha-why-grabbing-your-puppys-collar-needs-to-be-fun.

Use a happy, excited, high-pitched voice to call your dog. Walk backward, slightly bent over. A squeaky toy or favorite ball can also capture your dog’s interest. Instead of chasing your dog, run away so they’ll chase you.

Practice "Come" or "Here" daily, using both a standard 6-foot leash and a longer line at different times, and use lots of positive reinforcement. Seek help from a positive-reinforcement trainer if necessary.

Learning a great recall could save your pet's life. Here are some additional tips: fearfreehappyhomes.com/home-school-your-dog. --Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Urban areas

home to parrots

-- Parrots have become residents of major cities around the world, usually after escaping the confines of pet homes and setting up house in habitats ranging from the palm trees of Orange County, California, to croplands in Spain and Uruguay and cities that include Amsterdam, Brooklyn, Singapore and Athens. The smart, social birds are well suited to city life and surviving on their own, but there are drawbacks. An article in the July/August issue of Scientific American details their spread and their impact on agriculture, power outages and fires -- and on other wildlife, whose locales they’ve invaded. Researchers are seeking ways to balance the birds’ environmental effects while still providing habitat for parrot species that may be at risk in their native areas from poaching or development.

-- A new digital tool designed by Nationwide lets pet parents learn about common health conditions by breed and life stage; explore preventive and early detection measures; and obtain information on training, coat care, behavior traits and more. The Pet Health Zone (thepethealthzone.com) is an interactive online platform designed to help owners make informed decisions about their pets’ health and care. It’s built on 40-plus years’ worth of claims data from more than 12 million pets and can be used by anyone, not just Nationwide members.

-- Your favorite air freshener may pose a risk to your pet’s health, experts say. Pets are sensitive to the chemicals and essential oils they contain, especially if the animals are small, young, or have health conditions such as asthma (common in cats), heart disease or cancer. Sprays, diffusers and candles disseminate irritating droplets, volatile organic compounds and smoke, all of which can cause inflammatory reactions. Avoid using them in rooms that pets frequent, and call your veterinarian if you notice your pet coughing or having breathing problems. -- 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.