Advice for Pet Owners

Ask the Animal Doctor

Do you have a problem pooch or crazy cat? Are you trying to pick the best pet for your family? Are you alarmed by news reports about tainted pet food and looking for better options?

Michael W. Fox can offer advice on these quandaries, and other issues related to the care and feeding of our furry friends (as well as those with feathers or scales). He is a veterinarian and author of the syndicated column "Animal Doctor," which appears in the Post's community news Extras each Thursday. He has written over 40 books, most recently "Not Fit for a Dog! The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food" and "Dog Body, Dog Mind," which takes a holistic approach to pet care and communication. He was online Wednesday, August 6, at 11 a.m. ET to answer questions on pet care and animal health.

Please join us again Wednesday, August 13, for a discussion on acupuncture for pets with veterinarian and acupuncturist Narda Robinson. And check out washingtonpost.com's new pets section anytime!

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Dr. Michael W. Fox: Good morning from Minnesota where the air is clear and a slight chill tells fall is on the way! I will do my best to respond to as many of your e-mails as I can in this hour.

Michael W. Fox

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Baltimore, Md.: We adopted a beautiful Siamese mix from our local shelter. When we took her in for the standard shelter-cat checkup, the vet found tattoos on her. She has three: one on either side of her navel (they look like Chinese characters) and a number on her leg in concentration camp- style font. Is there a site where I could track these down and find out about her history? I would like to know who she really is, and why she was abandoned. My vet said that those tattoos usually indicate bloodlines.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Cats do not always travel far, except, as I detail in my book "Cat Body, Cat Mind," some will travel vast distances to return to their old homes when taken to a new place.

Call all the local vets and animal shelters in your yellow pages and ask who does tatoo identification. That must have been one loved cat.

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St. Louis, Mo.: A year and a half ago my now 7-year-old Beagle/Bassett mix was diagnosed with a heart murmur. The vet didn't think it was a concern and at my dog's last check up the substitute vet suggested an MRI even though he said the murmur hadn't gotten any worse. I did some research on the Internet, but it's mixed. Except for some occasional coughing, my dog seems fine. What are your thoughts?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Don't get sucked in McVeterinary hospitals that are copying human hospitals, making $$$ from unecessary diagnostic tests.

Many dogs have heart murmurs, and go on symptoms and regular vet check-ups to monitor the condition and see to diet and heart drugs if swelling of extremities, low exercise tolerance, and a chronic cough develop.

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Cats - curing dandruff?: Hi, Doc. I sit for two cats on a monthly basis (their humans travel a lot). The cats are given dry food and a couple times a week get table scraps (I don't give them table scraps). I have permission to do some modifications when sitting for them and am looking for options. Both cats have a bad case of dandruff. I tried adding some oil to their dry food. They wouldn't touch it. What can I give them to help with dandruff on a short-term basis? Fish? Sardines? Tuna? Something else? Whatever I try will be for about a week before their humans are back. The next month we can try it again. What do you recommend? The cats and I thank you.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: I appreciate your caring --- dry foods should never be the sole diet for cats. They are carnivores, and dry cat foods are loaded with cereals and low in good fats/unsaturated fatty acids.

Fish oil, up to a teaspoon a day, will help these cats, plus my cat food recipe on my Web site.

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Alexandria, Va.: My 16-month-old, 120-pound Lab severely lacerated a rear paw pad (through to the foot) this weekend, and is currently undergoing his second round of stitches/staples due to the size of the wound and his removal of the bandage yesterday. (He's too big for the vet's largest protective collar -- he can actually insert his foot into the cone). Any recommendations for speeding his recovery process, or at least keeping him somewhat calm and comfortable and not interested in chewing off his bandages?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Valerian or Valium for a few days!

You can tie a padded stick to his collar and tie to a padded loop around his waist so he can stand up and lie down but not turn and reach his paws.

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Baltimore, Md.: Good Morning, Dr. Fox. My Himilaya Persian loves chicken hearts as a treat. Are they a healthy treat, and if so, how much should I allow for a portion? Thank you for taking my question.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Scaled firts to get rid of possibly nasty bacteria. Hearts are a good source of Taurine for cats. Feed raw, about 1 tablespoon a day, and check my recipe on my Web site for cats.

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Puppy chow: When is an appropriate time to switch from puppy dog food to an adult formula? The puppy chow bag says 1-year-old, but I wonder whether that's their way of getting you to continue to pay extra for the puppy formula for longer than needed.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Depends on the breed -- Labs and retrievers especially should be on a lower protein diet to reduce chances of hip dysplasia. Most dogs go off higher protein puppy food at around 6-9 months.

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Arlington, Va.: My cat has weird callous-like things on his back feet/toes. Online I've seen similar things in pictures, described only as 'horned paws'. What causes this, and should we be removing them when we trim his claws?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: These are cat's normal wrist and ankle pads that can get quite corny. They help cats grip things.

P.S. I hope your cat is not de-clawed. That is an abomination in my mind. Like you having your finger-tips removed!

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Dunkirk, Md.: I have a 16-year-old cat that has kidney disease. She was diagnosed just over two years ago. Just recently, she was also diagnosed with thyroid disease. She is on a special diet for the kidney disease (very little protein) and has never really liked it (Hill's K/D). She is eating very little and losing weight -- can you suggest something else that would accomplish the same goal and hopefully, she might actually like and eat? Other than being really thin, she seems relatively healthy and active for an older cat. I am just afraid that she is slowly starving to death.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Go to my home recipe for cats on my Web site, and have the vet prescribe Renegel to keep phosphate low. Give your cat B complex vitamins, potassium supplement and 1 teaspoon cod liver oil daily. Many vets do not use these prescription diets that pets do not like to eat. Low protein in diet is bad if cat is losing weight and the kidneys are passing out a lot of protein.

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Washington, DC: I love these chats!!! I have a 4-year-old Shepard mix. When she was about 1, I took her to behavior class. She listens pretty well but has a hard time walking on a leash. She's constantly pulling and when she sees another animal, she wants to get to that animal badly and it's hard to walk her, even if she sees that animal from far, far away. Does she need to go back to school? Thanks ahead for your answers!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: There's a Gentle leader developed by a veterinarian, Dr. Anderson, that is very humane, and works like a horse's halter on the dog, looped around the muzzle so you have control of the dog's head. Better and safer than a choke-chain.

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Capitol Hill: In the past few months I have noticed that my dog has incredibly bad gas -- so bad that you can smell him a room or two away in the house. I can't figure out what is going on. I haven't changed his diet or his daily routine. What in the world can I do to help with this situation? In case it matters, he is a mutt who is almost 8 years old.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Could be a mild clostridia bacterial gut infection, but more likely a change in pet food ingredients or quality thereof. Most manufactured pet foods are different from one batch after the next because ingredients may come from different sources. Each batch is NOT separately analyzed or test-fed, so look out! Even if the label is not changed, the contents could be.

Try my home-made dog food diet on my Web site -- no soy that makes many dogs, and their owners, quite flatulent!

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Thanks for taking my question. I adopted my dog from a rescue organization three years ago. He is currently about 5 years old. He had major separation anxiety for the first few months that he lived with me, but we eventually worked through all the issues. Now I am about to move into a new house, and I am worried that he will be anxious again in the new place. I plan to spread out the move over 10 days, taking a few boxes every night and bringing the dog with me on these short trips to gradually get him used to the new place. His bed and my furniture will all be the same, just in a new place. Do you have any other suggestions to help me make this transition easier for him?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Music, and safe chew toys. A hollow rubber Kong, stuffed with wet dog food and put in the freezer to get hard, then give it to him while you are unnpacking in the new house will keep him happy. Let him walk with you and sniff and mark your property, and around the new neighborhood.

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Washington, DC: Hi, Dr. Fox. I have a wonderful cat whom I adopted (almost two years ago at age 5) with a "mild" vision problem which progressed to near-blindness within her first year with me. Today she's great, healthy and she's happy. We play sound-based games on the floor, and things are just fine. Are there any support/e-mail group that you know of for pet owners of blind animals? As an aside, a veterinarian once offered to schedule us an appointment with a feline opthamologist, but I felt it was unnecessary since the situation is not reversible. Thanks.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Maybe other people in our chat room can link with you -- but most importantly you have shown that cats can enjoy considerable quality of life after they have lost their eyesight provided they have people like you who can make the effort and have the empathy to find other modes of communication.

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Alexandria, Va.: How do you put one cat on a diet if the other one does not need it? They are very different in size (15 pounds vs 9 pounds). The big one needs to lose weight, but if I limit their food, the little one will get nothing . . .

Dr. Michael W. Fox: You probably need to get the fat cat off dry food and have the cat checked for diabetes.

Monitor both cats in separate corners at feeding time, and possibly feed the lean cat on the counter or table top.

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Washington, DC: I am adopting two Beagle mix dogs this weekend (3 years old). They have been together since the beginning of time and their owner placed them in the shelter a couple of months ago. I am told that they will be given medicine to kill flees (Frontline, maybe?) before I pick them up. Will I be counteracting this if I also use flea and tick spray?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: You could poison your dog. Do not give any extra pesticides after the Frontline treatment, for at least a month. Check my book "Dog Body, Dog Mind" for holisic and safer methods of flea control, and my Web site too.

Good nutrition is one of the best preventives.

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Martinsburg, W.Va.: We have a 13-year old hound dog who is having problems. He was diagnosed seven years ago with Cushings disease, but since the meds seemed to alter his moods we discontinued them after one year. He is currently having trouble controlling his hind end and will sometimes fall if he turns too suddenly or while taking care of business in the yard. He still gets excited and barks when he notices we're home (hard of hearing and bad eyesight are recent problems) and has a good appetite. He never whines. How can we tell whether he's in pain or had enough?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Cushing's disease is all too common today and in many instances is due to over-prescribing corticosteroids for allergies, skin problems etc often due to poor nutrition and food allergies.

Discuss with your vet giving your dog nutraceuticals like L-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid, also good for cognitive dysfunction in older dogs, and my book "The Healing Touch for Dogs" will help if you learn hwo to give your dog a good massage to help his weak muscles.

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Milwaukee, Wis.: My brother just adopted a sweet dog who is 11 years old. He's feeding her human food (hotdogs, fried hamburger, ribs). Help. I know he shouldn't be doing this. Please let me know why this isn't good for her, and I will be sure to tell him! Thank you very much.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: All things in modertaion. A small piece or two is fine---food sharing is BONDING!

Your brother might live longer himself if he becomes a vegetarian, as per my book "Eating Wtih Conscience: The Bioethics of Food"!!

No body in their right minds should make a meal out of hot dogs, and should avoid barbecued meats because of the carcinogen load!

Print our my dog food recipe on my Web site for your brother, who clearly loves the old dog. Good for him for adopting an old timer.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Thanks for the chats. What should I look for when looking for a dog trainer?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Gentleness, compassion, and a relaxed, easy going demeanor, and phone numbers of other clients with whom you can speak.

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Capitol Hill (the dog with bad gas): I'm all for making my own dog food, but I was told the brand we use (Innova) is a really good brand that is comparable to homemade. Do you know anything about this brand? The first ingredients are turkey and chicken so I assumed it was wasn't a filler since some brands list chicken meal as the first ingredient.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: I endorse no specific pet foods yet -- still doing a major review/survey. Many are now coming out with organic ingredient certification -- go for those -- and for cats too if canned but not dry.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi. Two questions: My 11-year-old Maine Coon cat (I think she's from a rescue league) has started licking her tummy around the area a belly button would be on a human. She's licked the fur off. I don't see any problem there. I've had her since she was 1. What could be causing this? And are onions and tomatoes really dangerous to cats?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Onions, garlic -- lily family -- can cause anemia in cats. Tomatoes in moderation, related to the deadly nightshade family, but not really part of a carnivorous cat's diet.

Cats feel they have hot skin and may groom excessively when they have hyperthyroid disease. Your vet should check your cat out for this. Very common in cats, in part due to dietary contaminants and fire-retardant bromide compounds in fabrics in the home environment.

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Olney, Md.: Any advice for nutritional support for a dog with liver problems? We are pursuing a firm diagnosis but for now have an asymptomatic dog with elevated liver enzymes and bile acids. Milk Thistle seems to get good press.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Mikk thistle/silymarin is excellent. Low fat diet may help, and B complex vitamins, plus L-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid supplements.I would try a nutraceutical product like Barley Green. Or Platinum Canine Performance. Tel 1-800-688-3229. Mention I am referring you to them -- vet referral only.

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Cats and fish: I went on a deep sea fishing trip last weekend and got a decent haul. If I were to feed my cat some of that fish, does it need to be cooked first? She was very intent on ripping it apart raw.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Good question. Feline experts are divided on fish being fed raw or not, because of possible parasites. I would cook lightly, but feed ony a small tablespoon no more than three times daily, or else you could make your cat sick. Cats are desert animals, and fish is not part of their natural diet. Many cats are allergic to sea foods!

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Virginia: Is it true that magnesium can help balance a cat's brain chemicals? Our Siamese is currently on 2.5 mg of Prozac daily to help ease her bullying. Someone said she's used magnesium to help "tame" her wilder cats.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Interesting. I would like to hear more on this one!

Magnesium is involved in many body functions, including heart and thyroid. Many of our foods, and therefore pet food ingredients, if not organic, are deficient in such essential trace minearls, also zinc, selenium.

I used to treat cows for 'grass staggers' . They would develop neurological problems -- no, not mad cow disease that IS in US cattle according to some experts -- and recover with an IV drip of magnesium sulfate.

Tukey, high in tryptophan, calms us, and dogs, and possibly cats too -- but some cats are allergic to such meat.

The cat pheromone Feliway is good for calming cats in groups.

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Raleigh, N.C.: My 4-year-old boxer had a mast cell tumor removed. It is his second mast cell in nine months. The vets have advised me to do $500 worth of diagnostic tests as well as $600 worth of chemo. This is in addition to the $800 for surgery. Do you have any advice? I'm interested in knowing of diet changes, vitamins, etc. that I can give him. I love my dog to death but cannot afford everything the vet is recommending!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Try my whole food diet on my website, and in my book "Dog Body, Dog Mind" you will find many ways to help boost your dog's immune system.

I do not see the point in expensive diagnostics.

Treatment with anti-histamines may help, and applying five drops of essential oils like frankinsense, myrrh and helichrysum in 50 drops of almond oil three times a day to all skin tumors.

Research is being done on developing a vaccine treatment using mast cells from the tumor.

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Southern Md.: Dr. Fox: I have a 16-year-old diabetic cat who is on nine units of insulin a day. The vet has him on dry DM cat food, which he likes. He has a healthy appetite, and I seem to have the diabetes under control. From your response to another poster above, I'll get some canned DM to vary his dry diet. However, he occasionally staggers when he gets up from laying down, and his legs seem a little wobbly. Also, his eyes appear a little cloudy. Could these symptoms be age or diabetes?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Check out dr Hodgkin's book "Your Cat", published by St. Martin's Press NY, and work your cat up to a half teaspoon daily of cinnamon in her food. It helps control diabetes -- and fleas!

Diet is essential -- more raw foods and NO cereals.

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Olney, Md.: What is the greater threat in your mind: tick-borne illnesses, which seem terrifying to me, or the tick pesticide medicines, which also seem scary?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: The pesticides that impair immune systems and are even in mother's milk and amniotic fluids.

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Dr. Michael W. Fox: My good hour is over -- I will be with you again in a couple of weeks.

Michael W. Fox

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