Relax before the big meal -- and the football games -- by watching the National Dog Show. A guide to enjoying it from the man who knows it best

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

It’s that time of year: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, turkey and all the fixings -- and the dog show.

Wait, not football? That’s right. Hang on to the remote from noon to 2 p.m. so you can watch the National Dog Show, says co-host David Frei. Frei, with John O’Hurley, has introduced viewers to top dogs since the show was first broadcast in 2002 to an audience of more than 20 million -- a number that has only grown since then.

The National Dog Show was inspired by the 2000 film “Best in Show,” which spoofed purebred dog shows. That film’s fictional “Mayflower” competition was modeled on the famed Westminster Kennel Club show.

Jon Miller, president of acquisitions and partnerships for NBC Sports, rented the movie in 2001 to watch with his neighbors. The next day, he pitched the idea of a major dog show airing on Thanksgiving Day following the Macy’s parade. The movie took place in Philadelphia, so televising the Philadelphia Kennel Club’s annual dog show -- which dates to 1879, making it one of the longest-running sporting events around, and takes place just before Thanksgiving -- was a no-brainer.

And a dog show is something the whole family can enjoy watching. While most of us can’t relate to somebody draining a 60-foot putt or scoring 48 points in a basketball game, plenty of us have dogs sitting next to us on the sofa, and it’s easy to picture them in the show ring, having a good time and impressing the audience, Frei says.

Whether you’re a dog show newbie or an experienced spectator, Frei has some advice for how to watch the show, which this year has entries from 199 of the 212 American Kennel Club-recognized dog breeds and varieties, totaling nearly 2,000 dogs.

First, don’t expect to see each and every breed. It just can’t be done in the two-hour time slot.

“We keep track of which breeds have been on and try to spread it around a little bit each year, but out of the 212 breeds and varieties, we may show 50 of them,” he says. Even his own breed -- he lives with a cavalier King Charles spaniel named True Dat -- hasn’t made an appearance since 2018.

Expect to see popular dogs such as golden retrievers; unusual-looking dogs such as heavily wrinkled Neapolitan mastiffs or corded komondors; and maybe dogs who do something cute in their group competition, who have a great human-interest story such as saving their family from a fire or who belong to a breed with an interesting background. One of the unusual breeds entered this year is the sloughi, a sighthound that originated in Northern Africa.

Bear in mind that a breed’s appearance may once have had a functional reason. The easy example, Frei says, is the standard poodle, which was once a water retriever in Germany. The fancy clips seen in the show ring are glorified versions of the puffs of hair left around the hunting dogs’ joints to help them stay warm when they were in the water retrieving ducks. (Modern hunters who’ve taken poodles back to their roots simply keep those curly coats trimmed to about an inch all over the body.)

The Philadelphia Kennel Club event is the last remaining “benched” show, meaning that when the dogs aren’t strutting their stuff in the ring, they are in specific areas throughout the day so their adoring fans can see them up close and personal. Even if you can’t attend the actual show last week, you may catch glimpses of benched dogs during the two-hour broadcast.

Last but not least, whether they are Chihuahuas or Irish wolfhounds, every dog entered is just as much a top athlete, both physically and mentally, as any football player, so settle back and enjoy the game. May the best dog win!

Q&A

Cold laser for

aches, pains

Q: My veterinarian suggested laser therapy for my pet after surgery to help with healing. How does that work?

A: Sometimes known as cold laser or class IV laser, this therapy works by altering or stimulating cellular function. The light energy penetrates to a certain depth -- depending on the wavelength and energy applied -- and affects cells and blood vessels by blocking a nerve's ability to send a pain signal to the brain, increasing blood flow or decreasing swelling. These effects can significantly speed wound healing.

Laser therapy may also help with pain relief. It can reduce redness, swelling and inflammation at incision sites and decrease stiffness in arthritic joints so pets can start moving normally again. Depending on the injury or condition, use of cold laser treatment may help decrease the amount of pain medication needed by some pets.

If used correctly, cold laser treatment doesn’t have any side effects. It’s noninvasive, and it can be used weekly or monthly to improve quality of life for pets with chronic pain. Pets recovering from surgery or trauma can receive cold laser treatments twice a day for a few days to help speed recovery and reduce pain.

Cold laser isn’t right for every condition. It shouldn’t be used for pets with cancer or directed over tattoos, areas that are actively bleeding or toward the retina of the eye.

In humans, laser therapy is considered experimental and insurance may not cover it, but pet health insurance frequently covers cold laser and other complementary therapies. The cost varies depending on the type of laser used, veterinary costs in your particular area and whether a veterinarian or technician is administering the treatment. It’s definitely something to consider to help pets recover well after surgery or simply to reduce the aches of old age. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

10 best states

for dog lovers

-- Vermont has been named the best state for dog lovers in a survey by the Insurance Ranked website, which analyzed each state for key metrics such as number of veterinarians, access to parks, dog-friendly rentals, number of pet sitters and crime rates. Vermont scored high for number of veterinarians (62 per 100,000 residents) and ranked fourth for number of dog sitters per 100,000 residents (16.73). Other states in the top 10, in order, are Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Maine and Arizona. Georgia didn’t make the top 10, but it has the most dog-friendly rental apartments.

-- November is Pet Diabetes Month (usa.petdiabetesmonth.com). The disease affects both dogs and cats, and pets with it may require daily insulin injections, which pet owners can easily learn to give. In cats, the disease can sometimes be managed and even sent into remission with a weight loss plan known as, of course, the Catkins Diet. Cats who have not been treated with insulin also have the option of oral medication that may help control the disease. Find more information about injection training for pets here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/fear-free-injection-training-for-your-diabetic-pet.

-- Fall seems like a benign time of year, but it has some hazards. Here’s what to know to keep pets safe. Leaf piles provide a cozy environment for beneficial insects, enrich soil and provide nesting material for animals and amphibians, but damp piles can harbor potentially toxic fungi and molds, so keep pets out of them. Acorns can cause intestinal upset in dogs that eat them, so rake and remove them. On hikes, put a bright orange safety vest on your dog. Indoors, make sure pets can’t access mothballs that may have been tucked in with sweaters and blankets. The pesticides can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or if eaten, absorbed through the stomach and intestines. -- 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 Bluesky at kimthornton.bsky.social. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

What to know before getting a snake, lizard, turtle or tortoise

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Reptiles have found a home in 6 million households, according to the 2023-2024 national pet owners survey by the American Pet Product Association.

Snakes, lizards and chelonians (turtles and tortoises) are appealing for a number of reasons: They’re much less likely to be allergenic than dogs, cats, bunnies and birds; in a suitable enclosure, they require less intensive management than mammals; and they’re interesting biologically, says veterinarian Stephen Divers, a professor of small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. If you’re considering adding one of these fascinating creatures to your family, here’s what to know about choosing one and setting up a habitat.

Consider your time commitment. “If you’re someone who’s very busy, then maybe a snake you need to feed and clean once a week may be easier than a small lizard or chelonian that needs more intensive care,” Divers says. Popular snake species are ball pythons, small constrictors that grow to 4 or 5 feet; corn snakes; and king snakes.

If lizards are more your style, consider leopard geckos and bearded dragons. Bearded dragons are more popular, but leopard geckos are less demanding when it comes to broad-spectrum lighting. They benefit from it, but for bearded dragons, radiant UV broad-spectrum lighting is an essential -- and more expensive -- requirement, which typically must be replaced annually.

Chelonians are more challenging because they tend to be active. Terrestrial tortoises in particular do best if they are kept outdoors or have easy access to the outdoors. “As long as the temperature gets into the 80s during the day, they will do well outside,” Divers says. “During winter, they need an indoor enclosure because you can’t hibernate most of these animals.”

Bigger is better when it comes to habitat. When you are budgeting for a reptile, at least half the cost should be for the enclosure, lighting, heating, a thermostat and other environmental must-haves. A 20-gallon glass aquarium is not only too small but also provides little privacy. The animal is exposed on all sides, which is stressful. Divers recommends a wood, fiberglass or plastic enclosure with some opacity on more than one side. “That provides the animal more opportunity to seek refuge if it chooses to do so.”

Set up your reptile with plenty of room to move around and with lots of different microhabitats.

“People tend to think that just because a reptile looks like it’s sedentary that they can be kept in very small enclosures,” Divers says. “We should provide them with sufficient enclosures that they can completely stretch out and exercise because obesity is a big problem with captive reptiles.”

He likes to see bearded dragons in a 6-foot by 2-foot by 2-foot enclosure. A fiberglass enclosure of that size can cost $600 to $800 to purchase, but is easy to make at home, using plans found on the internet and $100 to $200 worth of materials from a builder supply store.

Sulcata tortoises, which can grow as large as 60 pounds, benefit from a protected outdoor area, safe from predators, where they can bask in the sun and forage in the yard, as well as a small heated enclosure for cold weather. Aquatic turtles need at least a 6-foot by 2-foot aquarium with water as well as a land basking area with a heat source.

Choose captive-bred over wild-caught animals. They are less likely to carry parasites and diseases and less stressed by living in a home environment.

Build a bond. “I see a lot of clients where their reptiles have been trained, they’ll interact with them, the animals like to have contact with them,” Divers says. One of his Ph.D. students is even examining the human-reptile bond. “I think increasingly as we look at these things, we can find that there is that kind of human-animal bond that could exist with reptiles just as it does with mammals and birds.”

Q&A

Crates valuable

for puppy raising

Q: Why should I crate-train my new puppy?

A: Crate-training has benefits for people and dogs. It helps ensure that puppies don’t destroy expensive items, it’s an important part of housetraining, it prevents puppies from accessing hazardous objects and it gives dogs a relaxing haven away from boisterous kids or other animals in the home. Here’s how to be successful.

For housetraining, choose a crate just big enough to allow your pup to comfortably stretch out, stand up and turn around. This helps to prevent accidents in the crate. If possible, get a crate with a built-in divider so you can increase the size as your puppy grows. Get a larger crate once your dog is fully grown and reliably housetrained.

Place the crate in a high-traffic area of your home; dogs like to keep an eye on what’s happening, even if they’re resting. Make it attractive by tossing treats or favorite toys in it for your dog to find and placing meals in front of the crate. Gradually move the food dish farther into the crate until your dog is eating in it regularly. Offer treats or praise any time you notice your dog entering the crate or lying calmly inside it.

When your dog is comfortable entering the crate and relaxed inside it, practice shutting the door, handing a treat through it and reopening it. Gradually, close the door for longer periods, leaving a stuffed Kong or other long-lasting chew to give your dog something to do. Never crate an adult dog for more than three to four hours, except overnight.

Spraying the interior of the crate with a canine pheromone spray (not while your dog is inside it!) can also help your dog feel comfortable in the crate. Find more information at fearfreehappyhomes.com/teach-your-dog-that-crates-are-great and at fearfreehappyhomes.com/how-to-house-train-your-puppy-the-fear-free-way. -- Mikkel Becker

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

THE BUZZ

Scratch here,

not there

-- Do your cats love to scratch -- on your favorite piece of furniture? You may be annoyed that they don’t use the expensive scratching post or cat tree you bought, but consider that some cats have different scratching preferences than simply vertical. Try one of the many horizontal options available, or a scratching “tunnel” that allows cats to kick at the top with their hind paws, bunny-style. Another trick is to rub catnip into the post where you want your cat to scratch, or spray it with Feliscratch by Feliway, which contains a copy of a natural feline pheromone, as well as catnip, to attract cats. Whether it’s vertical or horizontal, a scratching object should be tall or long enough so your cat can stretch out full length -- at least 36 inches.

-- There are hundreds of species of fleas around the world, but the ones that trouble our pets most frequently are called “cat fleas,” even though they are equal-opportunity parasites. They got their name because the person who first identified them had pulled one off of a cat. Fortunately for us and our pets, flea treatments have come a long way from the bad old days of frequent baths, dips and sprays. But thanks to milder winters in some areas, fleas are around for longer periods, so don’t assume that the risk of flea infestations disappears after October. Year-round parasite prevention is now recommended.

-- Sweet-singing bright yellow canaries originated in the Canary Islands off of the northwest coast of Africa. They are members of the finch family and were introduced into Europe in the late 15th century, where they were prized for their singing ability. Today they come in a wide variety of colors, including red, cinnamon, blue, green, silver and white, as well as fancy feather patterns. -- 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 Bluesky at kimthornton.bsky.social. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Geriatric cats need special care. A veterinarian shares tips on keeping them comfortable and safe

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Aging cats are a growing segment of the feline population, thanks to better veterinary care and nutrition and a powerful human-cat bond. What happens when they move from seniorhood to the geriatric stage -- and what’s the difference?

Senior cats may still be active and reasonably healthy, but geriatric cats are fragile, with health conditions that make them vulnerable to mobility issues, anxiety, urinary incontinence and sleep disturbances. At last month’s virtual Cat Writers Association conference, veterinarian Mary Gardner, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, shared tips on recognizing feline geriatric issues and making the lives of old cats better for the time they have remaining.

Clues that a cat is geriatric include trouble getting on and off furniture, not making it to the litter box or struggling to get in or out of it, frequent urinary tract infections and signs of dementia, such as howling or seeming lost. They need extra-special care, and there are ways to set up your home to help give them good quality of life.

Mobility is the No. 1 issue for geriatric cats, Gardner says. Common causes are arthritis, neuropathy (nerve damage), inflammation, back problems, obesity and muscle wasting. “Almost all old cats have a form of arthritis,” she says.

An osteoarthritis checklist (bit.ly/catoachecklist) asks whether cats can walk up and down stairs easily, jump up to and down from perches normally, run and chase bugs or toys. If the answer to any of these questions is no, arthritis is likely the culprit. Gardner adds that a bit of fur standing up along the spine can also indicate pain. Photos or videos of your cat’s movement around the house can help your veterinarian reach a diagnosis, and medication can help.

Use ramps, pet steps and smart furniture placement to aid cats in getting to their favorite comfortable or sunny spots. Apply nonslip adhesive strips to ramps or steps that don’t come with them. Placing an end table next to a cat tree can help old cats reach perches that might otherwise be inaccessible.

For cats with shoulder arthritis, elevated tilted food bowls (available from online merchants) can make it easier for them to eat. A cat who enjoyed drinking from a bathroom faucet but was in pain from shoulder arthritis benefited from adhesive nonslip pawprint-shaped treads placed in the sink to provide traction.

Geriatric cats may be less able to groom themselves, so brush them regularly and trim their hind nails if they’re unable to reach them. They may also need cleaning with baby wipes.

Getting into or out of the litter box is often difficult for geriatric cats. Instead of a standard litter box, provide a large plastic storage box or underbed sweater box with an opening cut in the side for easy entry and exit. Use only a shallow amount of litter so it’s not difficult for them to walk through it. Pee pads are another option.

Pay attention to a cat’s litter box behavior. “Having trouble covering up poop may indicate shoulder or elbow pain that needs to be evaluated,” Gardner says.

Many old cats have diminished vision. Use night lights throughout the house or place light strips on the floor or stairs to help them find their way around.

Howling is a common sign of cognitive dysfunction. Take your cat to the veterinarian at the first sign for a cognitive assessment and to rule out a UTI or hypertension, both of which are treatable. There’s no cure for feline cognitive dysfunction, but progression can be slowed with medication, nutraceuticals and enrichment, Gardner says.

Finally, a quality-of-life scale (aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cat_Life_Quality_Assessment.pdf) can help you keep tabs on your geriatric cat’s comfort and happiness.

Q&A

When to take

pets to ER

Q: Heavy bleeding and broken bones are obvious, but what are some other signs my pet needs to make a trip to the veterinary ER?

A: Great question! Animals are good at hiding pain and other signs of illness, so knowing what to look for can mean the difference between life and death. Here are some clues that signal serious problems:

-- increases in respiratory rate (the normal rate in a cat is 20 to 30 breaths per minute, and for a dog, 16 to 24 breaths per minute);

-- changes in gum color from a healthy pink to white, yellow, gray or blue;

-- unusual or sudden changes in attitude or behavior;

-- increased or decreased appetite or thirst;

-- unexplained weight loss;

-- changes in urination;

-- a wobbly gait.

You should also take your pet to the emergency hospital in the following situations:

-- allergic reactions

-- any animal bite

-- bloated belly, especially with unproductive retching

-- bloody diarrhea

-- difficulty breathing

-- distress from excessively hot or cold temperatures

-- eye injuries

-- fainting

-- frequent or projectile vomiting

-- ingestion of a toxic substance

-- restlessness for no reason, especially accompanied by rapid respirations -- 35 or more per minute

-- seizures

-- serious trauma, such as being hit by a car

-- straining to urinate or defecate

-- unconsciousness or collapse

-- venomous snake or spider bites

If you're not sure, err on the side of caution. Veterinary emergency clinics are expensive, but sometimes the cost of a visit is a price worth paying for peace of mind. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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

THE BUZZ

News about dog

aging, cancer

-- Cancer is the leading cause of death in pet dogs, and golden retrievers have up to a 65% cancer-related death rate. Researchers at the University of California, Davis wondered if some long-lived goldens might have genetic variants that contributed to their extended lifespan. They performed a genome-wide association study in more than 300 golden retrievers, comparing dogs older than 14 years to those who died prior to age 12. What piqued their interest was a gene called HER4, capable of serving as both a tumor suppressor gene and an oncogene -- a mutation with the potential to cause cancer. Dogs with certain variants of the gene survived nearly two years longer -- on average, 13.5 years compared to 11.6 years -- according to an article by Amy Quinton written for UC Davis. The finding could eventually contribute to identification of favorable or disease-modifying variants important to the intersection of aging and cancer.

-- In November, celebrate National Adopt a Senior Pet Month and National Prevent a Litter Month; National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, November 5-11; and National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day, Nov. 7. (Find out more about canine lymphoma, one of the most common forms of canine cancer, here: vet.purdue.edu/wcorc/cancer-research/canine-lymphoma-research.php.)

-- Five books took top honors in last month’s Cat Writers Association annual contest: “Catagenesis,” by Jody Wallace, a sci-fi murder mystery that takes place in a world of mind-reading cats; “Night of the Were-Cat,” by Eileen Watkins, a mystery that centers on a movie-promoting werewolf lookalike contest for pets; “There’s a Cat Hair in My Mask,” by Mollie Hunt, an ode to the healing power of cats in tumultuous times; “No Snowball!,” by Isabella Kung, a picture book that won the illustrated children’s book category; and “The Cat in the Christmas Tree,” by Callie Smith Grant, winner of the gift book category. -- 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 Bluesky at kimthornton.bsky.social. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.