According to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, the top five drugs — which together accounted for $28.9 billion in sales last year — prescribed for people in 2010 were (in order):

1. Lipitor® (atorvastatin), the top-selling ‘statin,’ known for reducing cholesterol levels
2. Nexium® (esomeprazole), which curtails gastric acid production and lowers ulcer susceptibility
3. Plavix® (clopidogrel), a clot inhibitor, lessens the incidence of stroke
4. Advair Diskus® (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol), an inhaled anti-asthma medication
5. Abilify® (aripiprazole), used to treat depression and bipolar disorders.

Although it’s best to keep any human-drugs away from pets, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, of the top five, the bottom two are potentially the most lethal. When it comes to Advair®:

(D)ogs that chew into them are exposed to massive amounts of the drug all at once. This often results in heart arrhythmias, an elevated heart rate, agitation, vomiting and even acute collapse. Severe electrolyte abnormalities such as very low potassium levels are likely and can be life-threatening without immediate veterinary treatment.

As for Abilify®:

It is important to keep this drug out of the reach of pets, as ingestion can result in profound lethargy, vomiting, hyperthermia, significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure, and seizures. If a pet ingests this drug, immediate veterinary attention is needed.

However, as any veterinarian will tell you, the most lethal drugs for pets are likely in your medicine cabinet right now, and you didn’t need a prescription for either of them.

1. NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)
Topping our Top 10 list are common household medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), which include common names such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and some types of Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). While these medications are safe for people, even one or two pills can cause serious harm to a pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other small mammals (ferrets, gerbils and hamsters) may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure.

2. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)
When it comes to pain medications, acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is certainly popular. Even though this drug is very safe, even for children, this is not true for pets—especially cats. One regular strength tablet of acetaminophen may cause damage to a cat’s red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. In dogs, acetaminophen leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage.

It’s best practice to make sure all your medications are far out of reach of your pets, and you should never store drugs in plastic (even Ziploc-type) bags. They’re too easily chewed through, and since the bags are transparent, the pets can see the potential goodies inside.

Today is World Turtle Day! May 23, 2011 is World Turtle Day, according to American Tortoise Rescue (ATR). Susan Tellem, ATR’s co-founder, talks about why today matters.

World Turtle Day was started to increase respect and knowledge for the world’s oldest creatures. These gentle animals have been around for about 200 million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing as a result of the exotic food industry, habitat destruction and the cruel pet trade,” said Tellem. “We are seeing smaller turtles coming into the rescue meaning that older adults are disappearing from the wild, and the breeding stock is drastically reduced. It is a very sad time for turtles and tortoises of the world.” She added that many sea turtles lost their lives in 2010 thanks to BP’s uncontrolled oil spill off the coast of Louisiana. “It’s a tragic example of putting profits before preserving our environment,” Tellem said.

Lies, damn lies, and…. Brent Toellner of KC Dog Blog does a great job here exploding one of the oddly persistent myths about pibbles.

The prodigal cat — and dog — return: The aftermath of tornado damage in Alabama was unremittingly awful. I had trouble watching some of the coverage, but my wife said I just had to see this video from CNN.  I had to watch it a couple times to believe what I was seeing. The same day, Susan Fox sent me this link from SFGate, so you could read an even more improbable saga. The moral of the second story: microchips are a good thing.

Stories from the road: Dr. Becker is nearing the stretch run of his Big Bus Tour, but somewhere in the great plains he still had time to forward a story about a man and his dog. The man is named Marty Kihn (no relation, I’m pretty sure). The dog is a big, not very well behaved Berner named Hola (shown at right). Marty lived in New York City, was drinking heavily, and had lost nearly everything, including his wife. All he had left was Hola, and ultimately it might have been Hola who saved Marty. All in all, a terrific feel-good story from foxnews.com.

Wanna go for a ride? The cat-came-back video from Alabama wasn’t the best video of the week. This one from AutoNews about a road test in England is. I feel really badly for the poor St. Bernard. If I were him, I’d have taken one look and said “Sorry, ol’ chap, have a good time. I’d rather walk.”

Travel tips: This is a good time to start discussing travel tips for your pets this summer, but the real reason I’m mentioning this story from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is to draw your attention to Best Western’s choice of new pet travel expert. Talk amongst yourselves.

Finally….the picture of the week. Thanks to my pal Maria Goodavage at Dogster for this wonderful picture. Hey, how about a caption contest? C’mon, gang, let’s hear the nominees for what you think the dog on the right is thinking. Comment away, and I’ll see you next week.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credits: Pills, flickr creative commons (RambergMediaImages). Evil Knievel, tortoise.com. Hola, foxnews. Puzzlement, dogster.

So after making a list of my ‘must haves’ and ‘would like to haves’  I began researching cars, vans, trucks, and SUVs of all sizes. Then Paul and I began visiting dealers to take a look at vehicles in real life (versus the internet) and we even took a few for test drives.

Eventually we narrowed it down to the Ford Transit Connect. It passed Paul’s tough requirements and even garnered his okay on the test drive. He generally didn’t like anything that had more than two wheels. (He hated driving Fancy Van – kept muttering something about wallowing like a whale.)

So, we decided to save up some money so that we could buy the new car outright. I really like not having a car payment. Paul’s accident and death last month changed everything.

However, about a week ago I stopped by the local Ford dealer and told them I was ready to buy and asked them to find me a red Transit. Most of the ones on the lot are either silver or white, as they’re considered a commercial vehicle. Two days later I got a call that they had a red Transit. Yeah!

I drove down, patted Fancy Van on the hood and told her thank you for a job well done. I signed all the paperwork, wrote a check, and drove off in my new car.

Of course, the new car needed a name so as she sat in the driveway the first time, I walked around her and thought about a name. She is really really red, and I’m a dragon fan. The new car, then, became the ‘Littlest Red Dragon.’ Silly, I know but I like it.

The Red Dragon is one foot shorter in height than the van; one foot narrower in width; and three feet shorter in length. She can even fit in the garage – what a concept! The back seats fold up quite compactly for more cargo room. The dogs have plenty of room in the back with a pet barrier installed for safety.

With the van, I was used to carrying all kinds of stuff as I always had plenty of room. Now I have to figure out what I need to carry and what I don’t need, where to store stuff and how. But that’s okay, it’s all fun.

Meanwhile, the Red Dragon is zippy, fun to drive and I really like the better gas mileage.

I wanted to buy a vehicle rather than lease. I was thinking of going back to an F-150, as I loved my last one. But, as we were looking around, a white van was unloaded off a transport vehicle. I fell in love.

I know it’s ridiculous to fall in love with a car but hey, that’s okay. The Ford van I was to name Fancy Van was a 2000 custom van. She had an upgraded exterior with large tires, chrome wheels, and special bumpers and running boards. The interior was custom, too, with four captain’s chairs, extra cargo room in the back, two TVs and a video player, 8 speaker sound system, and power ports everywhere. Oh, yeah, and two fold down tables big enough to eat on. She was NOT a dog van.

I bought her anyway. Oh, and I forgot. She also had a Titan V-8 engine that likes to go, umm, fast.

Since I bought her, Fancy Van has done everything I’ve asked and gone everywhere I’ve wanted to go. She’s been up and down the state of California, including up the coast through the redwoods of Big Sur to San Francisco. She’s been to Solvang, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and more. Fancy Van has been on road trips, and camping excursions. She’s been to dog shows and a variety of other events. She’s crossed deserts, weaved through forests, and climbed mountains.

Most importantly to me, she’s never left me stranded.

However, Fancy Van is growing older and the repair bills are adding up. In addition, her gas mileage, well, let’s just say it’s not good.

So, I’ve been researching a replacement. I’ve been reading the car reviews posted here and I’ve got all the consumer and car magazines rating the new vehicles. I’ve also been searching the internet. Unfortunately, my wants and requirements conflict each other. I want better gas mileage yet I want the car to have enough power to get out of its own way. I want cargo space for Aussie crates, agility equipment, yard supplies, and camping gear but yet I also want good gas mileage. I’ve enjoyed not having a car payment but I want a new car. See what I mean about conflicts?

But I’m not in a hurry. Fancy Van is still reliable and it’s going to take a special vehicle to replace her. So, Paul and I continue our research. I’ll keep you posted on my search.

Photo credit: Top: Fancy Van in Solvang, CA; bottom: Riker and Archer are waiting to go somewhere, anywhere! Both photos by Liz Palika.

You see, as PetConnection’s sibling site, DogCars.com takes great pride in the fact that if not for us, the 2010 Dog Friendly Honda Element would most likely not exist. That’s because back in 2007, the doggedly dedicated auto reviewers at DogCars.com came out with our first-ever DogCar of the Year awards for vehicles that are popular among folks who routinely travel with their pups.

Topping off that debut DogCars awards list was the Honda Element, which we honored as Best In Show for 2007. The Element’s versatile cargo area offers many features that dog owners can appreciate, such as an easy-to-clean interior; squared-off rear hatchback that easily fits crates and side doors that open opposite each other to provide extra access for dogs to jump in and out.

The Best In Show award was immediately embraced by Honda, which proceeded to create an advertising campaign that featured our four-legged friends enjoying the dog-friendly attributes of the Element. But Honda didn’t stop there. In 2009, the automaker announced that a special Dog Friendly edition of the Element would soon be available. This special package, which is priced at just under $1,000, offers dog lovers a host of items that are designed to make the ride safer and more comfortable for all involved.

Dog Friendly features include:

– A stowaway rear ramp

– Built-in nylon crate on comfy bed

– Rear fan

– Bone print rubber floor mats

– Built in doggie bowls

– Special dog print emblems

And much more.

The new Dog Friendly Element is so impressive that it warranted a repeat honor as Best In Show for 2010, tied with the versatile Toyota Venza.

The new Element has also been getting plenty of attention and accolades from dog lovers and automotive writers alike. And when you combine the two – an auto writer who loves to travel with dogs – you get a first-hand account of how well Honda had hit the mark with dog owners.

Here’s a sample of what Alex Nunez, of AutoBlog.com, has to say about how his pups rated the Element:

Our Honda Element pooch-pack tester was a loaded, all-wheel-drive EX with navigation ($27,270 MSRP including the dog package). The centerpiece of the kit is a crate secured to the Element’s cargo bay via straps that loop right into the standard floor-mounted tie-downs. Once it’s in there, know that you have zero storage behind the second row seats; the crate eats up all the usable space. Installation is rock-solid, though, and the top and sides of the crate are a breathable mesh material that the dogs can see through. Not that they’ll be seeing too much – the clamshell-style tailgate obstructs their view backwards and the side windows are too high for them to really see out of. Since the roof of the crate is mesh, light still gets in and they can see the sky.

Frankly, I was okay with all this, because my dogs’ general reaction to seeing any living thing out the windows is to bark loudly and incessantly, as if they have just spotted flying saucers unloading giant cat warriors in a mass invasion. That gets old in a hurry. In the Element, Millie and Pepper basically sat quietly once zipped into the crate. However, if your dogs get motion sickness or really like to look out at the passing world, this is likely a less-than-ideal setup

Read the rest of Alex’s review here. And for more dog-focused reviews, check out our comprehensive list at DogCars.com.

Who knew that I would find a DogCar to write about in Botswana? Except this one is not for hauling dogs to shows or agility trials or the veterinary clinic. No, this one is for going cross-country, following after packs of African wild dogs as they move through their enormous territory. It mows down bushes and small trees (which usually spring right back up again) and goes over logs with ease.

The 4×4 URI (which means “jump” in the Khoisan language) was designed by a Namibian farmer and is used by Kwando Lagoon Camp, where we stayed, and its sister camp Lebala, specifically for seeking out the wild dogs who live in the area. The open vehicles seat up to seven passengers, plus the guide in the driver’s seat and the tracker, who sits on a seat firmly attached to the hood.

What makes it different from the vehicles at other camps? Carlos, our guide, thumped the hood. “This is steel. That’s why we don’t mind bumps. We can go over stumps and big logs on the ground.”

Sometimes there were big holes that we didn’t see until we were in them or big logs blocking our route. We’d start over them and then stop. I’d think, ‘Well, this is it. We’re not going to get out of this one. Someone will have to come tow us.” And then Carlos would put it in high 4 and off we’d go.

The only trick, he says, is you have to know how to drive through sand and mud. If you don’t, that’s when you get stuck.

I’m thinking field trialers and Malibu dog owners in mudslide areas might want to special-order a few of these babies.

What vehicle was the distinguished recipient of that first-ever DogCars.com Best In Show award? And the winner is . . . the Honda Element! The Element’s versatile cargo area and easy-to-clean interior were just some of the key points that made the Element the best among many other vehicles ranked high on the DogCar of the Year list.

The Element’s popularity among dog owners was so impressive that the marketing folks at Honda jumped at the opportunity to capitalize oncater to the dog-loving public by creating a cute little ad campaign featuring pups and the DogCars.com Best in Show logo.

It also set into motion the design of a new dog-friendly version of the Honda Element for 2010 that features a built in dog bed, flexible crate, stow-away ramp and many other accessories that make it appealing to those of us who like to travel with our dogs.

And the praise keeps rolling in for the Element. This year, the Dog Friendly Honda Element was back in the Best In Show winner’s circle when it tied with the Toyota Venza for top honors by DogCars.com.

Last month, Bark BuckleUp named the 2010 Dog Friendly Honda Element as of the Top 10 PetSafe vehicles. And DogSmith.com gave high praise for the Honda Element by endorsing it as the vehicle of choice for dog training professionals.

“The Honda Element reflects our DogSmith standards of superior quality and professionalism in pet care at an affordable price,” says  Niki Tudge  of DogSmith,

Now just because the Element is right for some dog-loving families, doesn’t mean that it’s right for everyone. That’s why DogCars.com provides in-depth reviews of a variety of vehicle makes and models, providing pluses and minus each one tested. Check them out here.

(Photo: Twyla, Harper and Bella pose in the dog friendly Honda Element during DogCars.com reviewer Kim Campbell Thornton’s test drive.)

That’s one of the reasons that PetConnection sister site DogCars.com was developed: To give dog owners a sneak peek at what a vehicle has to offer in the way of protection for our pups and convenience for pup lovers.

DogCars.com reviewer Kim Campbell Thornton puts today’s vehicles to the test as she transports her girls – Twyla, Bella and Harper – on their daily rounds.

In fact, her recently posted reviews of the Nissan Versa and the Mazda CX-9 provide some surprisingly opposite ratings from Kim and crew.

Speaking of DogCar safety, Bark Buckle UP did an extensive study of the safety factors in today’s vehicles and came away with a list of the Top 10 pet safe vehicles. Michael Coates of mightycomm reports from Chicago:

Last week at the Chicago Auto Show, Bark Buckle UP founder and Pet Safety Expert, Christina Selter, announced the winners of the third annual Pet Safe Vehicles[ ... ]at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show.

The Top 10 Pet Safe Vehicles are (in alphabetical order):
Chrysler Town and Country (Similar to the Dodge Grand Caravan)
Dodge Journey
Ford Edge
Ford Flex
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Element (2010 DogCar Best In Show)
Kia Soul
Smart Car
Subaru Outback
Volvo XC60

The safety features that qualify these vehicles are rear climate control, side curtain airbags and d-rings to harness pets.

A whole pack of dogs and their owners appeared Wednesday evening to model proper safety precautions. Selter demonstrated how a full-sized crate can comfortably fit in the back of a Smart Car.

In case of an accident, pets should be secured in vehicles so 1) they don’t get hurt, 2) run out of the car and cause another accident, or 3) attack safety personnel. According to Selter, a 65-pound dog riding in a vehicle going 35 m.p.h. becomes a 2,700-pound projectile if not securely fastened. Traveling with pets in their crates is the most cost-effective safety measure because most people already own a crate.

For these and many other dog friendly vehicle and product reviews, visit DogCars.com.

(Photo:Debbie Freidstat and Bentley show off the pup-carrying capabilities of the Smart car, which took home one of Bark Buckle UP’s Pet Safe Vehicle awards. The Smart has side curtain airbags and D-rings to harness pets, and it also features a fold-flat passenger seat that can hold pet transport carriers.)

The campaign, which you can view at http://www.youtube.com/subaru under the “dog tested” tab, got a lot of notice in the advertising industry. From Ad Age:

To encourage pet owners to drive its cars, Subaru has gone to the dogs — literally.

This weekend, the automaker will roll out a series of spots, created with Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis, featuring all-canine drivers of the Subaru Forester under the tagline “Dog tested. Dog approved.” Dogs are shown “driving” and even parallel parking their vehicles to tout Subaru’s pup-friendly brand message. The spots will premiere during Animal Planet’s “Dogs 101″ marathon Saturday, with airings planned for Animal Planet’s Sunday telecast of its sixth-annual “Puppy Bowl,” National Geographic’s “Dog Whisperer” marathon Feb. 15 and USA’s coverage of “The Westminster Dog Show” Feb. 15 and 16. Subaru will also air different versions of the spots on its YouTube channel and on several key websites.

Kevin Mayer, the car maker’s director-marketing communications, said about half of Subaru’s customers own a pet, and it indexes higher than most car makers with dog owners. At its most recent annual sales event, Share the Love, customers could choose one of five charities to donate $250 of their Subaru purchase. A large percentage of those donations went to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which Subaru is an official sponsor. Beginning in 2008, the marketer started running print ads touting its ASPCA partnership that read, “Without dogs, how would you get rid of that new-car smell?”

Sad note: I parallel park just about as well as that dog.  Apparently neither of us care if our car’s hind end is hanging out a bit!

As the world’s automakers gather in Detroit this week for the North American International Auto Show, most of the focus is on hybrids, fuel cells and other environmentally friendly technologies.

But one piece of news that won’t get much of the reporting spotlight is that among the handful of manufacturers who stayed profitable during the bleak economy of 2009, were two Korean manufacturers – Hyundai and its littermate, Kia.

From a dogowner’s point of view, Hyundai already has recorded multiple paw ratings by in tests by our reviewers at PetConnection sister site DogCars.com with the Santa Fe. Meanwhile, Kia is well represented in the DogCars reviews with four models worthy of the attention of pup-loving travelers.

Now, just a week after DogCars.com released its 2010 Best In Show award (a tie between the Honda Dog Friendly Element and the Toyota Venza), a new Kia has made the DogCars review list. Listed as one to watch for 2010, the boxy little Kia Soul was just tested by DogCars.com reviewer Kim Campbell Thornton, and her dogs Twyla, Bella and Harper.

Check out Kim’s review and not only will you find out how capable the Soul is for carrying canines, but you’ll also discover such interesting tidbits as Kim’s height, her husband’s nickname for the Soul, and how Kim and Bella choose to kill time in the Soul while waiting for Bella to finish some medical tests.

Apparently Kim and her crew aren’t the only ones who like the Kia Soul because this year’s Detroit auto show opened with the news that the stylish little boxer has been named Small Car of the Year by FAMA Magazine.

Look for Kim’s Kia Soul review here, and the rest of the DogCars.com reviews here.

This year’s DogCars.com Best In Show Award goes to the 2010 Honda Element EX Dog Friendly edition and the 2009 Toyota Venza.  The DogCars team who made the choices: Reviewers Kim Campbell Thornton and Gina Spadafori, and our own Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian.” Kim’s Cavaliers are the models in some of the pictures, as well.

Why did we like these two? While no single vehicle will fit all dog-lovers any more than it will be a perfect match to any segment of buyers, we were impressed at how far Toyota and Honda were happy to go to court pet-lovers.

Both vehicles were designed and marketed with the dog owner in mind, taking great measures to outfit the vehicles with custom accessories to help keep a dog safe and comfortable.

The Toyota Venza, which was first introduced as a 2009 model, is a mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a design similar to a sport wagon, but with more interior room than a traditional wagon.

The low-to-ground clearance offers small or less-agile dogs easier access to the Venza through tailgate or the side passenger doors.

The Venza was initially marketed to pet owners by offering a variety of dog-safety accessories built specifically to fit the vehicle.

Made by pet products manufacturers Kurgo and Solvit, the accessories can be purchased directly through the Toyota dealer, making it easier than ever to ensure that all dogs are safe and secure when riding in a Venza.

For Honda, this year’s Best In Show award marks a return engagement, as the 2007 Element was honored with our first-ever DogCar of the Year Award. After we caught their attention, Honda upped the ante,  rolling out a special “Dog Friendly” Element package that goes to great lengths to please pup lovers.

The Dog Friendly Honda Element EX offers a package that includes a raised platform and cushioned bed with a soft-sided crate facing out the rear of the vehicles, and an extendable ramp for easy in-and-out suitable for dogs of sizes.

Other dog-friendly features include a rear fan for improved airflow, a spill-resistant water bowl, bone-patterned rubber floor mats, and a tote bags with leash, collar, ID tag and bag dispenser. Special badges on the side and rear of the Element proclaim its dog friendly status.

In a departure from previous DogCar of the Year Awards, which listed top DogCars in several categories, this year’s list features a look ahead at what potential pup mobiles are coming from the world’s automakers.

The reasoning: The past year was so hard on the auto industry – with entire brands disappearing and new vehicle production slowed to a crawl –  we decided that instead of looking back on what was, we wanted to look ahead to what’s down the road.

In addition to the Toyota Venza and Dog Friendly Honda Element, here’s a look at the top five DogCar prospects for 2010:

Ford Transit Connect

One look at the promotional photos of the Ford Transit Connect and you can see that it’s a definite DogCar contender. Based on a model that is popular in parts of Europe, where streets are narrow, the Transit Connect can be outfitted as a cargo van or five seat wagon. The low-to-the road clearance couples with a high profile roof, dual sliding side doors and a pair of rear doors to provide easy access to the cargo area from any angle.

Ford says that you can configure your Connect in a wide variety of designs, including a wide-open cargo area with rubberized floor mats, which is music to the ears of all dog-loving drivers.

Honda Accord Crosstour

In a throwback to the Accord Hatchback of the 1980s, Honda is introducing a car-like Accord Crossover utility vehicle that may – or may not – be considered as a potential DogCar. The Accord Crosstour features a V-6 that gets up to 27 mpg, and boasts 101 cubic feet of cargo space.

And while a hatchback is preferable for dog owners, the sloped rear roof may not be as appealing for those carrying crates for the canines.

Volvo XC60

The XC60 is Volvo’s first small SUV, or what the Swedish carmakers calls the “Small Premium Utility” category. Offered with a choice of six-cylinder engines and lots of design features like all leather interior (easy to clean), panoramic roof (open-air feeling), and fuel mileage of up to 27 mpg.

The Volvo XC60 comes from a bloodline that is definitely DogCar friendly, with the XC90 large SUV receiving five paws and the mid-size VC70 achieving four.

Kia Soul

One of the few completely new models being introduced in 2010 is the Kia Soul, which at first glance appears to be inspired by the original Scion xB. But the Soul has a distinct look all its own and its squared-off tailgate provides great hope for DogCar drivers who need space for crates and other canine cargo.

With mileage estimated to be 24 mpg in the city/30 highway and a price tag starting at under $15,000, there appears to be a lot to like in the Soul.

Hyundai Tucson

This manufacturer has pretty much stayed below the DogCars.com radar screen in past years, with only the Santa Fe getting high consideration (4 paws) from our reviewers. That may change with the new, 2010 Hyundai Tucson, a compact SUV that promises to rival the popular Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape in canine carrying capabilities.

The Tucson comes in at a lower starting price, better estimated fuel economy, a longer warranty and an all-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive option that can’t be found on those competitors. The question is, will the sloped rear be too much of a hindrance for dog crates?

That’s a quick look at some of the top DogCar possibilities for 2010 — and our team will be reviewing them all.  Be sure to check out these and all vehicle reviews from a dog-lover’s point of view at DogCars.com.