Besides my work informing people about pet care through this Web site, our syndicated column and books, and my “Good Morning America” segments (among other media appearances), I’m a practicing veterinarian with more than 30 years of experience. Of course, I’m also a lifetime animal lover who is always looking for new, breakthrough products to help pets and the people who love them.

I read the veterinary journals, check out the convention floor at the veterinary conventions and see which lectures are crowded, and tap into a trusted network of many of the top veterinarians in North America. Every year I ask more than a 100 of these experts to help me come up with a list of the best new products launched over the last year.

What follows are some of the products that rose like cream to the top. I’ll be talking about these products on “Good Morning America” Monday, Dec. 29. (If you miss the segment, check ABCnews.go.com/GMA to watch it after the show.)

New veterinary products worth noting

Treating skin disease: ZoonOx is a topical oxygen emulsion that carries a full atmosphere of oxygen, releasing it gradually over time. The benefits of treating patients with difficult skin injuries in hyperbaric oxygen chambers have been understood for years, and ZoonOx offers a similar treatment approach for animals without the cost and difficulty of getting the animal into such a facility. When applied to complex wounds, ZoonOx supplies additional oxygen to the collagen formation process, one of the first steps in the healing and reformation of the skin structure.

Making medication easier: There are few things more frustrating to a veterinarian than sending a sick pet home with medication you know the owner won’t give because he finds administering it too difficult. That’s why many veterinarians are enthusiastic about the introduction of Convenia, an injectable antibiotic that lasts for up to two weeks. For a more low-tech approach, how about Greenies Pill Pockets — treats you can put pills into? Talk about putting the “treat” into treatment!

Testing for heart disease: The same test you might receive in an emergency room is now available for cats and dogs. The Cardiopet proBNP is a simple, minimally invasive blood test that detects heart disease even when clinical signs are absent or nondescript. This development is particularly important because the American Veterinary Medical Association says that approximately 3.2 million dogs have some form of acquired heart disease — and unlike people, dogs don’t have physical signs like heart attacks. Heart disease in cats can be even more difficult to diagnose and may not be known until the heart fails. And for those pets diagnosed with congestive heart failure, Vetmedin is now a choice for veterinarians working to manage the disease and improve the quality of life for these pets.

New pet products worth noting

Food puzzles. Veterinary behaviorists say it’s important to reduce or eliminate the mind-numbing boredom from just eating food out of a bowl. Boredom equals behavioral problems, and behavioral problem may mean a homeless pet. Food puzzles, such as these from Premier, can help.

• The Kibble Nibble appeals to dogs’ natural prey and stalking drives. For the kibble or treats to dispense, dogs must roll, push and chase the toy. The Kibble Nibble holds up to 2 cups of kibble or treats. Unscrews for easy loading and quick cleanup. ($20)
• The Bristle Bone is a refillable dental toy made with nylon bristles and rubber nubs that gently scrape and clean teeth as dogs chew. ($10-$15)

Easier nail-trims. Find the quick for a no-blood, no-pain nail trim with the Quick Finder nail clipper. The product has a light source mounted on it to shine through the nail and colors that tell you when it’s safe to cut: red for no, green for go. ($33)

Perfect portions, every time. Petmate’s new Electronic Portion Control LeBistro measures meals just as carefully as you do, to ensure that your pet gets the right amount of food, right on time. Program it like an alarm clock, and it dispenses pre-set portions of food up to three times a day. The 5-pound capacity is ideal for those with cats and small dogs. ($80-$90)

Promote prey play. Based on the preying and social behavior of dogs, the Flappy Dog toy simulates the excitement of catching a prey and proudly shaking it. This toy was a major hit with the Becker family dogs. ($13-$17)

No more water slops. The DrinkBetter pet bowl encourages dogs to drink at a slower rate and makes less mess while they’re doing it. The Drink Better bowl uses a floating obstacle to control the flow of water, encouraging dogs to drink slower and take only as much as they need, without soaking their ears and muzzles or slopping water around the feeding area. ($25)

Get the pet hair. Eureka Boss 4D Pet Fresh vacuum comes with tools to help pet owners eliminate odors naturally and remove pet hair and dander from stairs, furniture and the floor. We’ve given this one a good workout, and it works. ($138) My Pet Connection co-author, Gina Spadafori, says if you’re looking for a handheld, the new Dyson DC-16 kept up with the mess at her home. ($150)

A party for pets. The Puppy Pinata is a plush toy containing treats that stimulate a dog’s natural desire to search and investigate. Our dogs smelled the product through the packaging and got as excited about the pinata as a stick-swinging 6-year-old at a birthday party. ($7-$11)

Making balconies safer. A great idea, long overdue. Puppy Bumpers fit around the necks of puppies and small dogs to protect them from getting through baby gates and balcony railings. With so many people keeping small dogs in upper-floor apartments, this is one product that really could save a life. ($20)

Food and water to go. The collapsible Zuka Bowl has colorful and fun prints and features a carabiner-type clip to attach it to a belt or bag. It’ll also fit easily in a purse or in a car. ($16)

With so many great products to choose from, it’s hard to limit myself to just a few. But don’t worry: We’ll be writing about the best throughout the year.

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Finally, don’t forget to pick up one of our new top-selling pet-care books: