When the Dog's Breath Takes Others' Away

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have to complain about a television ad with a family spraying an "air freshener" to mask a dog's odor.

Now, I'm not a vet, but if a dog has a strong enough odor coming from his coat that you have to spray constantly, there is most likely a health problem with the dog.

I've had pets all my life, and none of them smelled unless they came into contact with garbage or a skunk.

I think the commercial is sending the wrong message. What do you think?

-- J.B.

Delanson, N.Y.

I agree with you, absolutely. The many products being marketed as room sprays or dispensers with purifiers/deodorizers are chemical compounds that all family members, including all pets, are going to inhale.

A smelly dog needs to be groomed and bathed. In many cases, a veterinary exam and change in diet are called for.

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have two dogs and three cats. Two of the animals are licking areas on their bodies. They have licked the fur off in several spots, and this is making some of the areas bleed.

I don't know what to do. I have minimal income resources, and my vet quoted $100 per animal to inject steroids. I was hoping you might have a suggestion.

-- L.P.

Babylon, N.Y.

Find another vet who will not simply offer to inject your animals with steroids.

When animals in the same home share the same symptoms, the first possible cause is fleas. You need to take only one animal to the vet to rule this out.

Other possibilities are skin mites, dust mites and, if they are sharing the same food (which they should not be), a food allergy. Take the animal with the worst skin "hot spots" to another vet and take it from there.

Michael Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. Write to him at United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016.

Copyright 2007, United Feature Syndicate Inc.