Question:

I totally agree that this country should outlaw docking dogs'' tails and ears, as they do in the United Kingdom. Can you start this ball rolling?

I volunteer at a shelter and agree with you that these poor animals need good homes today.

J.C., Kitty Hawk, NC May 14, 2012

Answer:

I frequently raise this issue of ear-cropping and tail-docking of various dog breeds and the declawing of cats in my writings. In my new book, "Healing Animals and the Vision of One Health," I detail the adverse consequences of these companion animal mutilations.

Cutting tails and cropping ears are part and parcel of certain breed standards. Breed clubs should phase these out, and there should be a clause stipulating that no altered dogs will be allowed in the show ring after a certain year. People wishing to purchase a particular breed need to let the breeder know that they don''t want a "standard" docked-tail puppy. Ear cropping is done at a later age, and the owners themselves should bear that responsibility and say "no."

As for veterinary practices that do routine kitten declawing without question, I say put animals and ethics before profits and pandering.

Question:

I have a shorthair Maine coon (according to my grandson). We rescued him as an abandoned cat. He was an indoor/outdoor cat when he came here, and he will not stay in all the time. Because of this, I treat him with Frontline or similar products.

This takes care of fleas and ticks, but not flies and mosquitoes. They bite his ears, and he scratches until he bleeds. He has lost a lot of hair on the ears. I put on antibiotic ointment, but as soon as his ears halfway heal, he gets bitten again. People use Avon Skin So Soft on dogs'' ears to repel insects, but I''m afraid it would be poison to cats because they wash and clean themselves so much.

Do you have a suggestion as to what to use that won''t harm my cat? We would truly appreciate it.

B.M., Chesapeake, Va May 14, 2012

Answer:

Some cats develop a severe hypersensitivity to insect bites, especially mosquitoes. This can become an inflammatory, proliferative skin disease (eosinophilic granulomatosis) that can be difficult to treat. This is one of many reasons to encourage cats to enjoy life indoors and to not let them out during the summer months.

Essential oils such as eucalyptus are good insect repellants but pose some risk when applied to areas that cats can reach to groom. Hydrosols (water-based distillates) are safer for cats. If you can''t find any, dilute one drop of essential oil in 10 drops of olive oil. From that mixture, put one drop on the tip of each ear. Alternatively, put a few undiluted drops on a strip of gauze wrapped around a breakaway collar.

Outdoor cats should wear collars with their ID tags and, as is mandated by law in some municipalities, a valid antirabies vaccination tag. Breakaway collars are advisable since they can pull apart if the cat gets the collar snagged on a branch or fence and might otherwise get strangled.

Question:

I hope you can give us some advice, as we are quite confused and frightened for Simba, our beloved 8-year-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian whom we adopted from a shelter when he was only weeks old. He has always been in perfect health, and he is very fit, active and adorable. My mother adopted him a week before her unexpected death. We took him into our home and have loved him ever since. He is our connection to her.

During a routine checkup a few weeks ago, our veterinarian diagnosed a significant heart murmur and took an X-ray that revealed an enlarged heart on the left side. He recommended that we see a cardiologist, which we did immediately. Simba is asymptomatic, but an electrocardiogram revealed that he has moderate degenerative valvular disease with moderate left atrial dilation and mild left ventricular dilation.

We would like your opinion on the medications that the cardiologist has prescribed for Simba: enalapril and spironolactone. Simba has always been fed premium dog food, starting with Innova when he was a puppy and now Before Grain (salmon). We would like to switch to your food protocol, but we need more clarification on how to prepare it correctly. I am so frightened of giving him something wrong. His primary vet prescribed a cardiac nutrient supplement, but we won't start that regimen until we get him on the medications at full dose.

Could you give us your opinion as to whether we are giving him the proper medication? I trust the cardiologist, but we are not big medicine people, and I would rather our dog not have to endure side effects if the medication will not help him.

Simba weighs 10.3 pounds. We free-feed him and he self-regulates -- his weight has always been between 10.3 and 10.8 pounds. He walks three to four times a day, is not coughing and is as hyper as his breed would indicate. We are very concerned about him.

C.S., Kansas City, Mo Apr 30, 2012

Answer:

The kind of heart disease affecting your dog is relatively common in many toy breeds. The treatment protocol and choice of drugs for this problem are eminently appropriate, in my opinion. I would not advise you to change your dog's diet at this time -- salmon is good, but steer toward a low-salt intake. If magnesium and coenzyme Q10 are not in the cardiac nutrient supplement, discuss their inclusion along with a few drops of fish oil.

Your veterinarian is well informed, and I would follow his advice. He needs to take blood samples to monitor Simba's condition and determine if and when the levels of medication need to be adjusted. With careful monitoring, blood tests and general checkups, your dog should enjoy a good quality of life with minimal, if any, harmful side effects from these medications. They will help stop further degenerative changes in your dog's heart -- but not reverse them -- and help maintain normal heart function and

Question:

I have two small dogs. I feed them dry food (Solid Gold Just a Wee Bit) in the morning and canned food (Blue Buffalo) in the evening. I would rather make their food for the evening feeding.

Can you please provide a recipe and advise me of any supplements they should be getting. They are my babies, and I want to do good for them. They love carrots and apples, so I try to provide these often.

A.L., Brick, NJ Apr 29, 2012

Answer:

I receive many requests for my basic dog and cat food recipes. Many of my readers do not have access to a computer and my website, so I have published the recipes in my book, "Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Food." The book has details about supplements and the ingredients in many prepared pet foods owners should avoid.

As a treat, here is my basic dog food recipe:

• 1 pound lean hamburger, ground lamb or mutton; one whole chicken; or half a small turkey (all raw)
• 2 cups uncooked whole-grain rice (or barley, rolled oats or pasta noodles)
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or flaxseed oil* or safflower oil)
• 1 tablespoon organic butter
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon brewer's yeast
• 1 tablespoon calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, lactate or human-grade bone meal
• * If you're using flaxseed oil, add it after the cooked food has cooled to room temperature.

Combine all the above ingredients. Add enough water to cover ingredients. Simmer, stir and add more water as needed until cooked. Debone the chicken parts, but do not feed your dog the cooked bones since they can splinter and cause internal injury. While the stew is still very hot, mix in a cup of raw, grated carrots, sweet potatoes or yams. The recipe should be thick enough to be molded into patties -- you can add oat bran, rice or buckwheat flour to help thicken.

For a 30-pound dog, serve 1 cup of this recipe twice daily. Freeze the rest. You can even serve the patties frozen so your dog can gnaw on them in hot weather.

For dogs less than 30 pounds and for overweight and less-active dogs, use only 1 cup of uncooked rice in the recipe.

Transition your dog onto this new diet gradually. Mix increasing amounts of your dog's new food with decreasing amounts of the old food over a seven-day period to enable adaptation and avoid possible digestive upset. For variation, you can use cottage cheese, well-cooked lentils, garbanzo beans, lima beans or a dozen organic eggs as meat alternatives. (Note: Some dogs are allergic or hypersensitive to some foods, especially soy, beef, eggs, wheat and dairy products.)

Don't forget: Lightly cooked calf and beef liver, heart and kidneys are good sources of animal protein and other essential nutrients. All pet food ingredients, ideally, should be organically certified.

Give your dog a daily multivitamin and mutimineral supplement like Pfizer's Pet Tabs. You can also give your dog half of a human one-a-day supplement equivalent crushed up in the food.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at www.twobitdog.com/DrFox.)

Question:

We adopted a wonderful 2-year-old shelter dog last summer, but he has one bad habit we need your advice on: He eats his stool. We've been told it's not uncommon, won't harm him and he'll probably outgrow it.

But the problem is worse because we have three other dogs, and he wants theirs too. Our vet gave us For-Bid to add to all the dogs' food, but it didn't work. We tried Stool-No! tablets, pepper on the piles and scolding and shaking coins in a can when we catch him in the act. We have to go into the yard with him and follow him around now.

Out in the cold last night, walking around with our flashlight, we started wondering what Dr. Fox would do. Since it's not harmful, should we just relax, let him out unsupervised and try to not think about what is happening? We walk our dogs every morning until they go, and we pick that up, but the rest of the time requires watching him closely. We used to be able to let our dogs in and out whenever they wanted.

Also, he poops about four times a day, which seems high. Is there a food or diet you recommend that might help with that?

Apr 24, 2012

Answer:

I receive many letters from dog owners who, like you, have a stool-eating (coprophagic) dog. Go to my website, and check the archives for various answers and solutions to treating this problem.

This obnoxious activity has psychological and physical causes. The former is linked with dogs being caged or crated for long periods of time and, out of boredom or desire to keep their "den" clean, they engage in coprophagy. The habit can persist even after dogs are provided normal living spaces and outdoor activity -- which may be why he cleans up the other dogs' poop. Try using a muzzle when he's out in the yard with your other dogs; it may break his habit after a few weeks.

Possible physical reasons include dietary or digestive issues. Many dogs show improvement when given brewer's yeast (1 teaspoon per 30 pounds of body weight) in their food, plus 1 tablespoon of probiotic-rich yogurt or kefir. Many dog foods are high in cereals and fiber, which can mean large-volume feces and frequent evacuations, so you may want to transition all your dogs to canned food or low-fiber dry food -- or you can try my home-prepared recipe.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Question:

I have a 5-year-old pug. He has several black spots that look like warts on his stomach.

The veterinarian I took him to retired, so a young vet has taken over. The previous vet put him on steroids, but the new vet said she could remove them with surgery. She tells me the warts are caused by a virus.

What could be causing these growths? What options do I have besides surgery? Can I be infected by this virus?

D.J.W., Uniontown, Pa Apr 23, 2012

Answer:

Yes, your dog's warts are caused by a virus. But since it's different from the viruses that cause warts in humans, you have nothing to worry about. You can't get an infection from handling your dog.

I am glad that the veterinarian who prescribed steroids has been replaced. Steroids could make the problem worse and have other side effects.

Try "painting" the warts two to three times a day with apple cider vinegar -- you'll have to stop your dog from licking it off for about 30 minutes. If you see no improvement in a few weeks, I would consider surgery. Have the surgery done soon if any of the warts seem infected or ulcerated and are causing your dog discomfort.

Several other home remedies for warts are in the archives section on my website. Some readers have found success by applying vitamin E squeezed out of the gelatin capsules.

Question:

My 7-year-old female boxer has kidney stones. The mass in her bladder was the size of a walnut and was removed surgically. The stones were sent to a lab and were identified as struvite stones.

She has been on Hill's Prescription Diet W/D. The first three ingredients are whole grain corn, powdered cellulose and corn gluten meal. Besides being very expensive, she hates the food and refuses to eat it. I boiled some chicken bones and skin and am putting the broth over her food. I am willing to cook for her. Would you have any suggestions? I have spent considerable time online, including your website, and have not come up with any satisfactory solutions.

Apr 17, 2012

Answer:

It is regrettable that so many of the prescription diets for dogs and cats are not only expensive, but too often unpalatable. There are also other concerns detailed in my book "Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Food," which I co-authored with two other veterinarians.

A combination of cystitis or bladder infection and too much cereal in the dog food (which makes the urine too alkaline) can be the trigger for struvite crystals and larger stones to form. This is more serious for neutered male cats and small dogs, where the urinary tract is of small diameter, resulting in the painful emergency of urinary blockage.

Check my website for my list of preferred dog foods (including organic) and my home-prepared recipe -- minus the rice for your dog. High meat and vegetable content should help maintain a healthy acidity.

Question:

I read your articles every Sunday. Thank you so much for your valuable information.

A woman at my health food store told me to use bottled garlic juice when I expressed my concerns about flea and tick treatments for my Jack Russell terrier, Sadie. She said she had been giving her dogs garlic juice for years to keep ticks and fleas away. I went to the grocery store and bought a bottle, came home and looked up the correct amount to give Sadie. She gets six squirts from a spritz bottle: three in her morning meal and three in her evening meal.

Since this treatment, there have been no flea or tick problems.

A.K., Cedar Point, Mo Apr 16, 2012

Answer:

I would like to hear from other readers who have found that including garlic in their dogs' food kept fleas and ticks away.

Garlic should always be given with food since it can irritate the lining of the stomach. It is safe in small amounts for most dogs: one large clove of fresh garlic, finely chopped, per 30 pounds of body weight per day. Remember that onions are not safe for dogs, and onions and garlic are not safe for cats.

Many readers found that adding brewer's yeast to their animals' food (1 teaspoon per 30 pounds) also helps repel fleas, ticks and biting flies. Brewer's yeast is safe for cats and it has the nutritional benefits of a B-complex vitamin.

For additional tips on keeping these annoying insect parasites off your animals, visit my website, www.twobitdog.com/DrFox. You will also find a new article about how the wildlife management practices of states such as Minnesota are facilitating the spread of Lyme disease and other serious tick-borne diseases.

Question:

In late August, we adopted a very handsome, neutered, longhaired German shepherd, Bear. He is about 5 years old and as sweet and gentle as can be.

A month or so after we got Bear, he began to whine loudly whenever we went anywhere in the truck. He willingly jumps into the truck when we are ready to go, but the whining starts before we've left the driveway. There appears to be nothing in particular that causes Bear to do this.

Since we were driving to see my mother on Christmas Eve, we got a prescription of alprazolam from his vet to try to calm him while on the road.

At 7:30 that morning, we gave him a half tablet. We left at 9. We had not gone a block before he started howling. It continued to get worse and worse until we stopped 10 minutes later and gave him the other half. We opened the window and let him hang his head outside for a few minutes -- when his head is out the window, he is 90 percent better -- but it was cold. After our experience with his behavior while under the influence of the prescription drug, we probably will not drug him again.

Today we took him to the dog park about 25 minutes away. Loud howling started immediately. For the few minutes I allowed him to have his head out the window, he was OK; when the window was closed he howled until I filled his Kong toy with treats to keep him quiet and occupied. Sometimes even when the window is open, he whines.

It appears to be an anxiety attack, but what would have brought on such behavior? Do you have any suggestions as to how we can change it? His Bark Buster trainer has no ideas. At his suggestion, we tried the Thundershirt, but it made no difference.

C.B., Springfield, Va Apr 09, 2012

Answer:

Your dog is probably suffering from a combination of anxiety and excitement.

Alprazolam is a potent anti-anxiety drug, effective for many dogs who are afraid of fireworks or have developed specific phobias. But the effective dose for many dogs can make them groggy and uncoordinated, which can have the effect of making the dog more fearful, possibly because they feel more vulnerable.

Many dogs benefit from wearing a bandanna imbued with a few drops of lavender oil around the neck. Since getting treats out of his Kong works briefly, fill it with peanut butter and freeze it so it will last longer. Get two or three for a longer drive, and store them in a cooler. Try giving him a Nylabone. For motion sickness, a big piece of ginger candy can provide relief.

Question:

I have a 4-year-old, 2.8-pound Chihuahua who has terrible breath. I know she needs her teeth cleaned, but I am deathly afraid of something happening to her when she is anesthetized. I have a close friend who lost his dog during this procedure. I know that not cleaning her teeth is unhealthy.

I brush her teeth almost daily with Petrodex Dental Care toothpaste and also use PetzLife Oral Care spray. This seems to help her breath, but I don't know if it is enough. Is there an alternative method for cleaning teeth?

L.F., Wentzville, Mo Apr 03, 2012

Answer:

Your dog may need professional dental care, especially if she has infected and loose teeth -- a common problem in toy breeds. A veterinary checkup is called for.

Using the PetzLife Oral Care products as directed, coupled with the daily brushing, will help reduce the risks of complications from bacterial infection and oral inflammatory substances if dental surgery is necessary.

In many instances, following a daily regimen of oral health care treatments, veterinarians can safely and effectively remove scale or tartar from afflicted teeth by having an assistant restrain the dog, rather than giving a general anesthetic, which is never a risk-free procedure.