Show your love for pets with themed notebooks, pens, pencils, backpacks and more

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

It’s back-to-school time! Whether you or your kids are in elementary school, high school or college, or you’re a teacher, there’s nothing wrong with putting a little fun in the day or expressing a love of animals with the tools for learning. We’ve found an assortment of items to make going back to school less of a slog and more putting on the dog (or cat!).

All right, class, pick up your pencils and begin! Filling in the circles on test forms might be more fun with colorful paw print-themed pencils. A pack of 24 ensures that another one is always available if some get lost or loaned. (amzn.to/43Zup5I)

Every good pencil should be accompanied by a cute eraser. This pink eraser adorned with a whiskered black cat is purr-fect for whisking away mistakes. (zazzle.com/pink_cat_eraser-256795980347933055)

Ask any student, teacher, writer or editor: Work, including homework, is more fun and goes better when you have a great pen that writes smoothly. Bonus points if it’s decorated with dogs or cats. A pack of 10 sparkly pens in five colors feature a curious black cat. The retractable black ink ballpoint pens write with a smooth motion. Use one for homework, grading or to write stories about your cat. (amzn.to/442nmJx)

Dog-loving students and teachers will appreciate this zippered pen and pencil case featuring an assortment of dogs, including Dalmatians, poodles, corgis and beagles. Interior pockets can also hold other school supplies. (amzn.to/3OO6oKv)

Whether you’re reading “The Egypt Game” or studying for a Ph.D. in Egyptology, you’ll love this Egyptian cat-themed spiral-bound notebook featuring Carrie Hawks fantasy art of Egyptian cat goddess Bastet and a bejeweled cat wearing a scarab collar. Interior page options include graph, lined, sketch, checklist and more. (zazzle.com/pd/spp/pt-gotchacovered_notebook?tdid=4929753a-f16c-4eed-9213-a84b0c3ff502)

Enjoy looking at your dog in every class. Dog lovers can personalize an 80-page spiral-bound notebook with their dog’s photo (encircled by pawprints) and their dog’s name. Pawprints and text can be in black or a color. (zazzle.com/your_custom_pet_photo_with_paws_text_notebook-130756301237384260)

Look forward to eating lunch from this insulated waterproof bag personalized with your dog’s photo and your name. It’s also fun for picnics or hikes with your dog, easily holding treats for both of you. Two outer pockets hold utensils, keys or other small items. Keeps food warm or cool. (etsy.me/44ZuLdO)

Everybody knows smarty cats wear glasses. And they carry cute insulated lunch bags like this one with an accompanying cat-shaped ice pack and an insulated food container. If blue is your favorite color, get the version with a cheetah print design. A snap strap attaches it to a backpack. (amzn.to/3DK52do)

To go with your lunch bag and reduce the use of plastic bottles, get a colorful paws collapsible reusable water bottle. It’s flat and lightweight when empty but holds up to a liter of water. A carabiner clip makes it easy to attach to a backpack. Money from sales supports animal rescue efforts. (bit.ly/3KBNy6H)

Zoom into the school year with this magically cute space cat backpack for carrying books and other school supplies. It comes with plenty of pockets and a stretchy side pocket for holding a water bottle. (amzn.to/3Yprylk)

For more down-to-earth dog lovers, check out this navy backpack patterned with pawprints and a tricolor dog. It has several interior and exterior pockets and pouches for stashing pens, pencils, a phone, water bottle and other school necessities. (amazon.com/Backpack-Pattern-Lightweight-Daypack-School/dp/B09B32K356?th=1)

It’s easier to find your place when you use these cute dog sticky notes to mark the pages you need to study, and the accompanying lined pad is perfect for making to-do lists. (amzn.to/441MHmA) Cat lovers will prefer colorful cat-shaped sticky notes and paper clips to mark what to read next. (amzn.to/45kzvKJ)

Q&A

Pet brain freeze:

the cold truth

Q: I was having ice cream recently, and my dog was getting some doggie ice cream. It made me wonder: Do dogs and cats get brain freeze?

A: Ice cream, popsicles and other frozen goodies are perfect for this time of year, but you probably know from experience that biting down on them can sometimes cause brief but intense pain that’s usually called brain freeze or ice cream headache.

The fancy scientific name for this experience is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. Broken down, the Latin words are “spheno,” for the wedge-shaped sphenoid bone, part of the cranium; “palatine,” referring to the palate, or roof of the mouth; “gangli,” referencing the neural ganglion, part of the peripheral nervous system; “neur,” meaning nerves; and “algia,” meaning pain.

Basically, it’s nerve pain of the sphenopalatine ganglion, caused by constriction of tiny blood vessels in the palate called capillaries. Nearby pain receptors in the face transmit the pain, which may be felt in the mouth or sinuses or sometimes as if it’s actually occurring in the brain -- even though it’s not. This phenomenon is called referred pain.

That’s one theory, anyway.

Another is that brain freeze results when the cold deliciousness causes rapid cooling of the blood in the pharynx, leading to a drop in temperature of the internal carotid artery. The resulting chill causes pain in the meninges at the base of the cranium.

But you want to know if pets can get brain freeze. While dogs and cats can’t tell us that they’re experiencing brain freeze, it’s possible that, depending on their individual facial anatomy, they have the potential for it since they share the same or similar nerve pathways related to the uncomfortable sensation in humans. If your pet is eating a frosty treat and squinches their face, brain freeze might be why. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Don’t use DEET

on dogs, cats

-- Mosquito bites are no good for humans or dogs, but the DEET-containing products that humans use to repel them aren’t safe for dogs. Spraying a dog with a repellent that contains DEET can cause such signs of toxicity as a wobbly gait, tremors, seizures, diarrhea and vomiting. Instead, use a dog-safe mosquito repellent recommended by your veterinarian to prevent not only uncomfortable itchy welts on skin, but also reduce the risk of bites that can spread deadly heartworm disease. Using an appropriate mosquito repellent in combination with regular heartworm preventive is a double defense against an invasion of heartworms. Don’t use any mosquito repellent on pets -- even one that’s DEET-free -- unless it is specifically formulated for dogs. If you’re using a DEET repellent on yourself, apply it away from your pets.

-- Radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) are admired for their high-domed shells, brilliantly marked with yellow lines that resemble stars. But the critically endangered tortoises are declining due to habitat loss and illegal collection for the wildlife trade, according to the Turtle Survival Alliance, which is seeking to preserve the species by combating both threats. To do so, they’re providing veterinary care and long-term care for tortoises seized from illegal collections; reintroducing large numbers of confiscated tortoises to the wild in their native Madagascar; monitoring the released reptiles; providing community outreach and awareness; and promoting sustainable livelihoods to reduce poaching.

-- Does your dog need a job? A company that produces peanut butter for dogs is seeking canine ambassadors to promote its product at dog parks, canine events and pet supply stores -- to the tune of $100 an hour. Doggie applicants (and their human handlers) should be friendly and well-behaved with good reporting and social media skills. The deadline for applications is Sept. 1: honestpaws.com/blogs/news/honest-paws-ambassador-program. -- 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.

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.