Sac Paws - Pet Connection

With all the pets I've had in my life, you'd think I'd have seen just about everything. And for the most part, that's true. But there's one thing I haven't dealt with because I've been both careful and lucky: I've never had a pet go missing for good.

For many cats, laser pointers are wonderful for getting a good workout. But for some cats, these toys have been blamed for the development of compulsive behaviors, such as excessive grooming.

Have you thought about adopting a cat this year? Whether you are looking for your first cat, a companion cat to one you already love or an addition to a busy, active household, now's a great time to bring home a shelter cat.

If you're looking for a way to lower your stress, improve your health and get your children off the couch, part of the answer may be fish – not eating them, but keeping them.

Are fluorescent lights bad for birds? I have read online that they cause feather-picking.

My cat has developed this really weird habit of sucking on fabric. She seems to be in some kind of a state while she's doing it, almost like she's on a drug. The throw at the end of our bed seems to attract the most attention, and it has three places where there are "sucked-up" areas that are pretty much ruined. Before I replace it, I'd like to cure her of the habit. Should I use that nasty stuff to stop pets from chewing on the areas?

My son brought his dog home for Christmas and things went pretty well. The only exception: The dog wouldn't stay out of the kitchen trash bin. My son says it's a problem at home, too. Punishment hasn't helped. What will?

Let me tell you an insider secret from the world of veterinary medicine. There are certain people we can't wait to see come in with their pets. While as health professionals we certainly don't offer them better medical care than people we don't like as much, I do admit that these folks are shown the red carpet.

Few things make the winter seem longer than sharing a home with a dog who never really got the concept of house-training.

I've adopted a poodle mix. He came clipped from the shelter, but my follow-ups with the scissors aren't looking good, and he's starting to hate me for them. What should I do?

It's most definitely not OK and, in fact, I don't recommend it even for dogs anymore, based on research findings that have linked aspirin use in dogs to gastric ulcers.

It's a New Year's tradition around my home, one that has outlived three generations of pets but still works to help ensure the safety of the animals I live with now.

Every year, I make the rounds of pet-industry trade shows and veterinary conferences, and every year I at least glance at thousands of new pet-care products.

We have what you could call "hit and miss" behavior regarding our cat and the litter box. Sometimes she goes in the box but leaves her mess outside it. And sometimes she doesn't seem to like the litter (we buy what's on sale). Ideas?

When cats get stuck up a tree, are they really stranded? Seems to me if they got up there, they can get themselves back down.

We give cats the time we can spare and the love we can share from our busy schedules, but that's not always enough. Sometimes a furry friend of the feline persuasion helps to fill a cat's day when his people are away.

What do you think about grinding a dog's nails rather then cutting them? – Via email

An eye-popping $50 billion is spent on pet care every year, with the lion's share going to the dogs, literally. But even though thousands of dog-care supplies are on the market now with thousands more introduced all the time, I think there are but a handful that have been game-changers.

In pets, as in people, having one doctor to oversee and coordinate care has definite advantages. But in these days of larger veterinary hospitals, it can be more difficult to see the same veterinarian routinely.

While it seems like just yesterday that my husband and I started with two kittens and a young dog, we've now got a houseful of senior pets. Do you have tips for easing their discomfort over the cold months?

I'm thinking about getting a pair of puppies, so they can keep each other company. Would you suggest choosing two from the same litter or different litters?

Is "people food" safe for dogs? Some is, some isn't, and knowing what's OK to share can mean the difference between a healthy treat and a trip to the emergency clinic.

My cat doesn't like to sit in my lap, and I don't know how to change this. Do you have a suggestion?

It's a fact of life that cats scratch, and it's good for them to do so. But you don't have to live with shredded furniture or ratty-looking walls and flooring. It's easy to teach a cat to use a scratching post as long as you understand what it's looking for in the way of communication, claw conditioning and fulfillment of his need to stretch and exercise.

Eating problems in cats too often get dismissed, thrown under the general heading of, "What do you expect? Cats are finicky."

Can you recommend a good, safe toy that our golden could carry around with him? He never is without something in his mouth, and usually it's something we don't want him to have.

In less than a couple of generations, our dogs have moved from the barnyard to the backyard to the kitchen to the bedroom to the bed. It's a cultural shift that has passed some pet owners by, however, and that's a shame.

From a medical perspective, cats are different from dogs, including the way they react to flea-control products.

Can you remind people about the danger of antifreeze? I lost my cat to it last winter. I think she got into it after my neighbor spilled it on his driveway.