Keep Clothes Dryers Off-Limits to Cats

Transition your dog onto my basic homemade canine recipe (found on my Web site) that can be prepared in a food processor, minus the rice. This will help your dog lose weight and probably lower his insulin need. Also give him up to a teaspoon of cinnamon daily, hidden in a treat, in capsules or mixed in with his food. Start with small amounts so that he gets used to it. Supplements such as alpha-lipoic acid and L-carnitine might also improve his condition.

Dear Dr. Fox:

The bad odor and stain from past letter writer L.H.C.'s cat could be from its anal sacs. My cat smells awful when hers are full, and I have to take her to the vet to have them emptied.

-- L.V.D.

Schenectady, N.Y.

Your reminder is timely for cat owners whose felines do not have halitosis but sometimes have a pungent stink that comes from their anal glands.

Dogs have more of a problem than cats when it comes to this part of the anatomy. Impacted anal glands can be painful and sometimes make cats develop an aversion to the litter box because it hurts to defecate.

Overactive glands can leak the smelly liquid that cats release spontaneously when they are frightened, much like a skunk. A daily teaspoon of psyllium husks in the cat's food for three to four weeks might help keep the stools soft and enable the glands to heal and begin to empty normally.

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have an 8-year-old Maltese that has a number of problems that have been going on for years.

He continually drags his hindquarters on the carpet, even on the day that his anal sacs have been cleaned. He has growths on his body that must be surgically removed, and he spends hours licking between the toes of his front paws. The vet has checked his paws repeatedly and can't find anything abnormal.

-- A.McG.

Hertford, N.C.

Your poor dog's multiple problems call for a holistic approach: more exercise, outdoor activity, a fresh raw beef-marrow-shank/soup bone to chew on and a radical change in diet. Chronic anal gland, gum, ear, skin, joint and other problems often disappear or are significantly improved by feeding animals organic, whole-food diets plus supplements.

A daily teaspoon of psyllium husks or human-grade (not fertilizer) bone meal in his food may also help the anal glands heal.

Michael W. Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. More pet care information is available at Dr. Fox's Web site,http://www.doctormwfox.org. Write to Dr. Fox at United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016.

Copyright 2008, United Feature Syndicate Inc.