Adult cats have a hard time finding new homes sometimes, in part because cats are often shy around new people. And that’s a shame, because an adult cat is the perfect match for many living situations. Better yet, adopt a bonded pair. Here’s what to look for at the shelter.

That was Monday. On Tuesday, I went video, with segment on how to prevent illness in your cat:

Adult dog or puppy? As you can imagine, over my lifetime I’ve had great dogs of all shapes and sizes, and it hasn’t mattered if I adopted as an adult dog or found a great puppy from a reputable breeder. I’ve done both. On Wednesday, I offered some thoughts to a reader wondering what was the best choice. My answer? It depends.

Thursday, I got bumped off the schedule, but I don’t mind because it was for my daughter’s article on how to keep the family dog from chasing the family cat. Nice work, Mikkel!

I wrapped up the week with a topic very dear to my heart: How to plan now for the financial demands of a sick pet. There are few things more important to know when caring for your pet. Read and ask yourself: Am I prepared? Your pet’s life depends on your answer.

*Those Super Bowl ads: I loved the work my Vetstreet colleagues did in pulling them all together for our readers. What was your favorite animal-related ad?

Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid goes on overdrive. It’s typically a condition among older cats, and the symptoms including a dramatic increase in activity along with weight-loss. Left untreated, it’s bad news.

For years there have been three option for treatment: radiation therapy, daily medication or surgery.  All three have serious drawbacks from a pet-owner’s point of view. Now, veterinarians can offer a bold new approach to treatment — nutritional management.

One of the big buzzes at the recent North American Veterinary Conference was about Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d, which is a daily, low-iodine nutrition solution designed to manage hyperthyroidism in cats.

Why is it so exciting? Because food is more likely to get inside a cat every day than a pill is, and because, most of all, y/d is clinically proven to improve thyroid health in three weeks.

If your cat is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, be sure to discuss this treatment innovation with your veterinarian. It’s a game-changer.

Dogs are basically Swiffers with four legs. Everything that’s on the floor is also on them and the more you use a Swiffer the less dirt, dander, pollen and spores gets on them. The less that gets on their skin and coat the less skin problems they’ll have with Atopy or Environmental Allergies. Environmental allergies manifest themselves by dogs face rubbing, licking or chewing their feet or paws, or licking/chewing/scratching other parts of the body, also chronic ear or anal gland problems. Skin problems are the No. 1 reason people take their pets to the veterinarian, and environmental allergies are one of the most common causes of skin problems. By using Swiffer products routinely, by cleaning with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter and by bathing dogs weekly you’ll keep your pet healthy, comfortable, with a shiny huggable coat and save trips to the veterinarian.

Periodontal disease is the No. 1 most commonly diagnosed pet health problem, with about 85 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats getting it by age 3. Periodontal disease may begin in small-breed dogs and cats as early as 9 months of age.

So how do you know if your pet has periodontal disease? It’s hard because the problem is present below the gum line  — it’s like trying to see the underwater part of an iceberg from a boat. Even your veterinarian, if using just a visual exam, hasn’t always been able to detect your pet’s periodontal disease. But it’s there, and it’s steady process of decay is causing suffering in your pet.

At  the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando last month, there was talk about a new “cool tool” to detect and monitor periodontal disease in dogs (a cat version is in the works). The OraStrip QuickCheck is a rapid, simple to use, surefire test strip that provides the veterinarian the opportunity to detect changes in gingival health that can’t be seen by visual detection. The OraStrip QuickCheck works by determining the level of critical chemomarkers called thiols generated by anaerobic bacteria associated with periodontal disease during infection and tissue destruction. The test strip is rubbed along the gum line and within 10 seconds the strip changes color if thiol levels are present, indicating disease activity such as gingivitis or periodontitis.

We’ve been using the OraStrip QuickCheck at Lakewood Animal Hospital for a couple of months now. Both pet owners and the veterinary healthcare team love it. The veterinarian can do the test in the exam room with almost instant results. No more guessing, visible proof if a pet is suffering. From there, steps need to be taken to regain his health.

Yes, we’re empty-nesters now. Except, of course, for our four-legged kids.

Our son, Lex, is spending a year in Japan, studying.  Our daughter, Mikkel, is a hard-working writer and pet-trainer and mother of our only grandchild, Reagan. While our times together as a family are fewer now that everyone has grown and gone, the strength of our love as a family has never faltered.

We are fam-i-ly, as the song goes, and my family is truly everything to me.

And yet, I think as a veterinarian I’m capable of being somewhat objective about my daughter’s work. Honestly, I think she’s pretty fantastic, and I’m not the only one who thinks that, so I suspect I’m right.

The folks at Vetstreet agree. They have liked a couple of Mikkel’s recent articles so much they’ve shined a bright light on them to attract as many readers as possible.

First is a piece on how to train your dog to behave himself in a restaurant. While dog-friendly restaurants (and dog-friendly public transportation) are pretty widespread in Europe, in this country we’ve never really gone in for sharing diner space with dogs. Health and fear are the most commonly cited reasons why not, but really, it’s just a cultural difference. One that I suspect may be changing, considering how many of us share kitchens and even food without our dogs, with no problems. Writes Mikkel:

To find a pup-approved spot in your region, check out dogfriendly.com and petsonthego.com, which highlight dog-friendly restaurants around the country. Just be sure to call ahead and ask if the designated pet area is open, since many of them are seasonal. You can also ask around at your local dog park or even reach out to your favorite restaurants directly to see if they ever offer pet-friendly dining options.

You should also keep in mind that there may be children and dogs around, as well as loud talking and various other distractions, which may cause your pet to be fearful or react by lunging and barking. For some pets, the stress of the dining experience outweighs the positives, but for pooches who really enjoy dining out, there are some rules that you should follow.

Here’s the rest. Now, it was kind of interesting to me how many pet-lovers thought dogs should not be allowed in restaurants at all. Especially on my Facebook page.  Join the discussion!

I expect a lot more agreement for Mikkel’s assertion that you need to prepare your dog for the arrival of your baby. And I think she did a great job with this article:

It’s never too early to start getting your pets ready for the baby’s arrival; training should begin months before the big day. In fact, I’ve advised numerous pet owners to prepare their dog for handling a baby in the home even before becoming pregnant.

Planning is everything. So go read while this proud papa pops a few buttons with pride.

And remember that while these products are wonderful — I recommend them a great deal — some pets need the help of their veterinarian to get through the most stressful events in their lives. Products like Reconcile^® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) and Alprazolam (the generic form of Xanax) can make a big difference in the life of a pet — so talk to your veterinarian!

Here’s what else I covered last week:

Litterbox blues: No one likes cleaning the litterbox, and some people really, really hate it. But if your pet has access to the outdoors, is it OK to ditch the box? I’d argue no, for several reasons. Your cat’s health is one of them.

Get on the bus: Last year at this time I was planning a national tour for “Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual.” This year, it’s “Your Cat: The Owner’s Manual,” but the message is the same. If you want to save money and keep your pet healthy and comfortable, you’ll make preventive care a priority. Here’s why.

Keep kitty teeth at bay: Punishing a paying cat for biting will turn a playful biting cat into a fearful biting cat. Swatting your cat is not the thing to do. Do you know what? Don’t worry if you don’t, because I’ll tell you.

Tidbits for pet-lovers: I am a collector — of information! I love to share the tidbit I find with pet-loving readers. What have I found lately? Check in and see.

Tennis ball cautions: I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that more tennis balls are sold for use by dogs than by tennis players. But do you know how to make sure these popular toys don’t endanger your pet? You need to.

Five more articles this week! Keep an eye on Vetstreet to be first to see them.

While I’m traveling today to be on “Good Morning America” tomorrow, I want to give you a few tips on travel based on my years of experience and my desire to get value while receiving comfort and safety.

Airlines: Try to fly the same airline (or fly with airlines in their alliance like Sky Team or Star Alliance) so that you build up miles and move up on frequent flyer categories to receive the increasing perks that go with each level. If you use a credit card get one from the same airline so that this further boosts your miles. If you like privacy, get a window seat. If you want to stretch your legs or take frequent potty breaks, go for the aisle. Always book as far forward in the plane as possible so you get off the plane faster in case connections are tight. Don’t drink alcohol on the flight, but do drink more water than you normally do. From time to time flex and extend your legs and rotate your ankles to help reduce the chance of a clot. Invest in high-quality noise cancellation headphones (Bose are the best) that allow you to hear normal conversation, the flight crew, and music or movies but dramatically reduces engine hum and other sounds that can be tiring.

Rental cars: Book a compact car as the rental car agencies almost never have them and you’ll automatically get upgraded. When you check in at the rental counter, they’ll often say “I can upgrade you to a full size for just ___” which you should translate to “They don’t have the compact I reserved and if I say ‘no’ they’re going to upgrade me for free in less than 60 seconds.”

Hotels:  When you book a hotel, you have to choose between a low floor (easier to get to safety or be rescued in the unlikely event of a hotel evacuation) or a high floor which is typically more quiet (less road noise and fewer guests coming and going) and offers a better view. When you book the hotel ask for a non-smoking (assuming you don’t smoke) room on a quiet floor in a quiet area (not by the elevator, exercise facility or meeting rooms). Like airlines, try to concentrate most of your stays in a single chain like Marriott or Hilton so that you rack up points and get increasingly accommodated and pampered. When you check into the hotel, note the exits as you get off the elevator and head for your room. Before you put your phone down, enter your room number in the notes and put the room key in the same place (I put mine in my wallet) each time. I like to  take care of the small stuff immediately like setting up my toiletries in the bathroom, getting the shower ready, getting a wake up call to backup my mobile phone alarm. Remove the comforter off of the bed (I don’t need to tell you why) and carry disinfecting wipes to sanitize the remote control and the phone. I also travel with aromatherapy from Bath & Body Works which I spritz on the pillows to help me go to sleep.

I’m at the highest level of Delta SkyMiles (Diamond Medallion) and also at the highest levels of Hilton Reward and Marriott Honored Guest (Diamond and Platinum respectively). I’m spoiled as I’m typically upgraded to first class or suites. While complaining about airlines and hotels is for today’s travelers what my parents generation used to complain about how weather forecasters always got it wrong (they don’t anymore) travel has gotten so so much better over the years. Remember paper airline tickets and hand written baggage tags. Consider that the vast majority of the time both you and your bags arrive on time. There’s not longer smoking allowed on airplanes (can you believe there ever was?!) and safety has dramatically improved. The newer planes like the Boeing 787 have windows so big they look like picture windows, beautiful and relaxing LED lighting and are pressurized to a level 30% higher than other planes so that the humidity can be higher and you arrive at your destination feeling much better having breathed cleaner, richer air.

And hotels, there’s no place like ohmm. Heavenly Beds, Cloud Nine and a new bedding called 7 Layers of Comfort. The showers have giant rain heads or multiple heads to let you relax. But of all the things that have improved in travel, the single thing I like the best is the newer shower curtains. In the old days when you got in the shower and turned it on, the curtain immediately moved inside and clung to you like a toga. Today’s showers feature curved shower rods, magnets on the bottom that attach to the tub and have features to let in light.

One last piece of advice about travel. Treat the airline, rental car and hotel employees with respect and warmth. If you’re friendly, complimentary and nice they’ll move mountains to help you. As I tell my kids (age 26 and 21 who’ve been in 50 and 40 countries themselves) “Nice is under-rated.” Nice is the lubricant that makes travel better.

I don’t personally treat dragons, but if you should just happen to have one, your best bet would be to find a practicing veterinarian  who’s a member of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians.

With a firefighter to assist, in case things get a little hot in the exam room.

Without further ado, here’s what I covered last week on Vetstreet:

What to do when the veterinarian says, ‘feed this’: Therapeutic diets, available only on the order of a veterinarian, have been formulated to target specific metabolic processes to help prevent, reverse or manage an illness. I recommend them in practice — and so do other veterinarians — because they’ve been clinically proven to be effective. So when your veterinarian recommends that you switch your dog or cat to one of these diets, it’s because they’ll help the condition. That’s worth every penny, in my book.

Dental care prevents feline suffering: Over the years, I’ve seen countless feline patients with severe and painful mouth conditions, and let me tell you, they are a sorry lot. Some drool constantly. Some can barely manage to eat. Most suffer from mouth pain all the time. Think of yourself. Have you ever had a cold sore in your mouth or an infected tooth? Did you think to yourself, “This is nothing to worry about; it’s no big deal”? Of course not! Dental disease is incredibly painful, as well as detrimental to overall health and happiness. In my opinion, this is the one area of home care in which pet owners fail their pets than any other. Do you know what to do with your cat’s teeth?

How to help a fearful dog: To me, preventing suffering is not just about treating disease of the body. Helping animals to live happily has always been important to me, not only because I love animals, but because I know the health benefits people get from being with animals. I don’t like seeing animals in fear, and I don’t like the worry I see on the faces of the families of those pets. That’s why I reached out to a colleague to offer some suggestions on easing fear for dogs.

Why dogs love stink: On a lighter note, I fondly remember some dogs we had, in particularly a black Labrador named Sirloin who once tried to share a dead skunk with us. Why are some smells that are digusting to us so divine to our dogs? It’s like perfume for the furry set, and they love to share the smells that make them happy. With bonus skunk-smell cure at the end.

Pet poisons, how to protect, react: Do you know all the products in your home that can make a pet sick? And even if you do, are you careful to store them in a pet-safe way? Countless pets are accidentally killed by ingesting poison every year, and so many of these deaths could have been prevented. I share what you need to know on this extremely important topic.

While it’s great to be home, I won’t be here for long. I’m on “Good Morning America”  Wednesday the 25th, so please tune in. The topic: De-stressing your pet.