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. Get information on his other publications, pet food recipes, animal rights and more at his Web site. He was online Wednesday, January 14, at 11 a.m. ET to answer questions.

Please join us again Wednesday, Jan. 21, to discuss pet obesity. And check out washingtonpost.com's Pets section anytime!

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www.washingtonpost.com: Dr. Fox ran into a technical difficulty, but the discussion will start soon.

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Atlanta, Ga.: Twelve days ago, I adopted a 4-year-old Japanese Chin rescue to be a companion for my 5-year-old Jap Chin. Despite good first meets, my pup spent about five days under the bed and three days under the chair before acknowledging the new dog. While things have improved, I am wondering if this is a good forever match. What behaviors should I look for to indicate that these two dogs will be happy companions...or that new pup would be better with another family?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Do not give up!

Get the dogs outdoors to meet on neutral territory so the older dog can investigate the newcomer and not feel like his territory is being invaded. Keep both on the leash, and allow the newcomer no opportunity to hide when they come home. Exposure/habitutation can then proceed normally.

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Columbia, Md.: I have a puppy that I got from the pound 2 1/2 months ago. The pup was approximately 10 weeks old and was diagnosed with mega-esophagus. I have experienced absolutely no symptoms as to this puppy being sick. I feed her elevated on a step stool with her bowl tilted. However, this pups is a large breed and urinate very frequently. No UTI but it seems she can go all night but during the day it is every 20 minutes that I need to take her out. Any suggestions?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: With this condition -- that may improve with age. A liquid diet is called for so there will be plenty of urine. With time, transition on to semi-solid food, and feed small meals four times a day. Then there should be less of a urine problem.

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NoVA: We have an old dog (a mutt) who is generally healthy considering her age (14+). Twice in the past month I've awoken to find that she urinated accidentally on the carpet, and (this is the gross part) she was licking the wet carpet. What should I make of the licking? Should I be worried? Is it dangerous for her? Thanks!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: This is part of gettiong old, just as with people. Buy a stack of peepee pads -- biodegradable -- from the pet store.

If there are any signs of straining and possible bladder pain, have the vet check for cystitis and urinary stones.

Do not restrict water -- old dogs need plenty when their kidneys are not up to par.

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Washington, D.C.: Dear Dr. Fox: My cat has developed a rash on her back near the base of her tail. There are little scab-like bumps that seem to be spreading. She licks at them incessantly. I haven't taken her to the vet for two years because I am terrified of what they will do to her. Last time I took her in, the vet found a "nodule" that she said would have to be surgically removed and prescribed a strong steroid. When I got home and looked at it closer, the nodule turned out to be a little poop stuck in my cat's long hair. The vet was also not very gentle with giving her vaccinations. How can I balance my desire to keep kitty healthy with the fear I have of over-medicating her?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Go to another vet!

This could be miliary dermatitis due to food allergy or essentail fatty acid deficiency especially if your cat is on an all-dry, high cereal diet. A teaspoon daily of fish oil in her food, or of organic salt free butter from grass-fed cows may work womnders.

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Arlington, Va.: The store closest to me only has Nordic Naturals cod liver oil, no fish oil (this would be for my cat). However, my grocery store has fish oil capsules for people, and they seem to be cheaper too. Is there any difference between pet and people-grade fish oil, and can you give one to the other?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Absoltutely! Wild salmon oil like Old Grizzly is one of the best. Nordic Naturals are worth the price -- cheaper in liquid than in capsules.

Cheap fish oil could be from farmed salmon, coming loaded with dioxins, highly toxic chemicals we should all avoid.

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Adams Morgan, DC: Do you know if one may bring a dog down to the mall during inauguration festivities (for example, to the Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial)? Our pup would love all the people and excitement (and the long walk from our house)-- plus he's a labradoodle who is frequently mistaken for a portugese water dog, so the incoming First Family should like him!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: I would not take a dog to such a circus -- so very stressful, over-stimulating, exhausting, and not the best situation for 'socialization'.

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Anonymous: We have an 8-month-old Scottish Terrier. We are finding it hard to find toys that he won't eat, including the "black" kongs. We tried sizing up, but it hasn't worked. Any ideas for some super strong toys that will hold his interest and promote healthy chewing? Thanks!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Eating toys can be problematic for chewing pups! Some could be toxic, so avoid all plastic compounds. Cloth-type materials and rawhide can cause intestinal obstruction.

In my mind the safest chew toys are organic knotted cotton ropes, and beef soup or shank marrow bones. Give raw -- cooked bones are more likely to splinter. Strong latex rubber toys, as from Planet Dog, may be worth a try.

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Bethesda, Md.: My husband and I have three cats, two males and one female. They all get along but the oldest male cat hisses and scratches at everyone but me, including my husband. How do you discipline a cat?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: It is often best to ignore and avoid confrontation. Some cats when disciplined become incited to attack!

Those who do get out of line understand when a loud hiss is given and a light tap on the nose---mimicing mother cat disciplining a kitten. More rigorous discipline is to grab the scruff of the neck and hold down briefly, growling "No, bad cat" as when the cat bites or claws you. This mimics one cat dominating another. No need to strike or hit hard ever.

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Arlington, Va.: My cat (mixed breed shorthair) has always had a very thick, full coat. Lately she's developed an almost-bald spot, a large area (maybe 4 inches in diameter) on her back closer to her tail where the fur is much thinner. You can see her skin through the hair now. Her other hair seems fine. What could cause this? We've been using a furminator on her and when we do, we go over her back a lot, could that have caused this? Thank you!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Too vigorous grooming and stripping of the hair can lead to bald spots. A friend of mine did this to her dog with a new grooming tool -- what a sight!

If the hair does not grow back soon and the bald spot remains or gets larger and the cat is grooming excessively or shedding more than usual, a vet check-up is called for.

The quality of the coat indicates health, and reflects internal problems due to dietary factors, hormonal changes and disease like hyperthyroidism, all too common in cats today and attributable to exposure to in-home flame retardant chemicals in carpets and upholstery -- also present in seafoods!

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Atlanta: Do you have any recommendations for dealing with fleas? At some point this fall, we started noticing a lot of scratching by our animals, one dog and two cats. Sure enough when we looked closely, there were the tiny little buggers, all over my poor pets. We've since sprayed the house (twice), given the animals numerous baths, started using Frontline on the cats as well as the dog, tried Capstar, and I give all three of them Brewer's Yeast because I read that fleas get turned off by it. I also comb them and vacuum everything every day. I am exhausted! Is there something I'm missing? Its been 3 months now, and we are still finding fleas! Not nearly as many as at first, but still, I'd love to be flea free! Thank you!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: There is no short answer for this -- see my piece on flea control on my Web site.

An integrated approach to ridding the home of fleas is called for in your case. You must fumigate and take the cats to be treated at the vets and keep them there overnight or with you at a motel while the house is fumigated. You may have to repeat after two weeks.

Diatomaceous earth or static-charged borate powder dusted around the home can help smother fleas and these products are pet safe.

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Los Angeles, Ca.: What exactly are in 'Greenies'? And are they healthy to feed a dog?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: 'Greenies' are chewy treats that are sold to help keep pets' teeth clean.

But there are other ways -- raw beef bones for dogs and raw chicken wing tips (including skin) and thin strips of raw beef shank meat or beef heart are good gum and tooth cleaners.

Many people have found the oral spray or gel made by Petzlife helps keep tartar from developing, or rubbing a mix of salt and baking soda on pets' gums on a gauze square wraped around a finger. Pets get used to tooth cleaning, and there are tooth brushes and pastes that work well.

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Odenton, Md.: Dr. Fox, after reading some of your chats and looking through your Web site this last summer I decided not to give my Boston Terrier flea and tick medicine. It is very irritating to his skin and it's easy to find and remove the few ticks he picks up. It worked out great. My question is, do you recommend giving dogs heart worm medicine? And if you do, do you recommend it all year long?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Regrettably, anti-heartworm medicine is a must. Very low-dose monthly ivermectin is the safest for most breeds. Check with your vet on this.

A blood test must be done before medicating, because if the dog is already infested, then another treatment approach is called for and the preventive drug causes complications.

In states where there is a cold winter and no disease-transmitting mosquitos around, I advise stopping the preventive medication, but re-test the blood before re-medicating the following spring.

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Severna Park, Md.: Dr. Fox -- thanks for doing this chat, and thanks for all the knowledge you have shared. I've had a lot of luck transitioning my pets off of commercial food thanks to you. I do have a more general question: I had my new kitten spayed last week, and the vet had me check off whether I wanted to have a blood test pre-surgery, to assess risks from anesthesia. I declined, and everything came out fine, but once again I am wondering whether I should have had it done (even though it added significantly to the cost of the surgery). I had never been asked this before with my other pets. How does the average person assess whether vet recommendations should be followed? It seems that EVERYTHING today carries a risk, and we could go broke trying to innoculate or test for everything.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: I am glad to hear that my dietary recommendations have been adopted by you. Good nutrition is the cornerstone for good health.

As for veterinary diagnostic tests and related services, we are reaching the point, with available technologies and information systems where to play it safe we go overboard in risk-management. This may or may not be profit-motivated, and it is up to the veterinarian to offer every client options and full explanations as to services available.

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Vienna, Va.: Hi, Dr. Fox. I have two rescue kittens that I got two weeks ago. They both had URIs, that they seem to be mostly over now. The vet saw them yesterday, and they did not have fevers. All that's left is the sneezing. When they sneeze, they get kitty goo all over everything. How much longer can I expect the sneezing to continue? Thanks!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Hopefully not for long as their immune systems improve with good nutrition and tender loving care.

Cats are especially prone to viral respiratory problems associated with weaning-stress and being homeless and subjected to additional stressors.

A short course of antibiotics may be needed if the upper respiratory and sinus infection with secondary bacterial invasion persist.

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Richmond, Va.: When my cat bit my husband, we tried the hissing and little bop (very light) on the nose and the cat became extremely angry and attacked my husband again. The cat was in a huff for several days over the whole incident. He seemed to think if we were going to act like cats he was going to treat us like cats. What can we do to discipline him?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Exactly! The usually effective discipline for some cats simply incites them, and cat bites can have serious bacterial infection ramifications. That is why I advise ignoring the occasional growl or hiss -- cat's way of saying leave me alone.

One who bites may be giving a love-bite, or wants to rough-play, so remotivate with a toy to catch on a fishing pole -- good play theapy.

An aggresssive bite needs a more drastic response, and in such cases with my own cats in the past I would put on a long-sleeved coat and grab and pin the cat to the ground firmly by the scruff of the neck and hold down until the cat submits. This is how one cat dominates another and is the most effective way to socially readjust a delinquent and often over-indulged young cat!

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Vienna, Va., again: Thank you for taking my question. Speaking of good nutrition, the options for good kitten food are not many. I'm reading labels and looking for the primary ingredient to be a protein (not a protein-meal). What else should I be looking for? Thanks much.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Check my review of pet foods on my Web site.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Our parakeet's beak is overgrown and needs to be trimmed. Could I do it myself? And if so, how do I do it? The vet charges a small fortune plus we would have to bring him outside in the cold weather.

Dr. Michael W. Fox: It's worth paying the vet -- you could split the beak, or worse, cut the bird's tongue.

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Washington, DC: To the poster who asked about bringing their dog to Inauguration, checkthe Post's Inauguration section -- it states that no dogs are allowed down there unless they are service dogs.

www.washingtonpost.com: Inauguration Central

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Thanks---

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Falls Church: Both my golden retriever puppy and his brother (about a year old) have had problems with limping on their front legs. The brother's vet advised that it was a growth issue the dog would grow out of, which seems to be the case (and the brother grew faster than mine). I am hoping that this is the case for mine as well. It doesn't seem to bother him when he wants to play (which is all the time, but when not playing you'd think he was dying). Thoughts?

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Transient lameness is common and is associated with rapid bone growth. Growing dogs, up to 18 months of age should not, therefore, be over-worked or allowed to play too long and too vigorously, as at the beach in summer.

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Falls Church, Va.: Dr. Fox, I did a side-by-side comparison of ingredients and the Guaranteed Analysis of both Science Diet Nature's Best (their "natural" dog food line) and California Naturals (the dog food you recommended). I see very little discrepancies! The ingredients almost read exactly the same and the Guaranteed Analysis, although off a percentage point either way on BOTH of the packages, seems to be very similar. Can you tell me the difference or what I'm missing? You seem so opposed to big commercial dog food like Science Diet -- but I'm not seeing the difference. I have fed my dogs the Science Diet Nature's Best now for four months because my dog had developed a rash for about a year and since he has been on the food, my dog's rash has not come back! I want to do what is best for them but I also want to be informed. Thanks so much!

Dr. Michael W. Fox: Since your dog is stable on his present diet I would not make any dramatic changes.

Pet food ingredient labels are not easy to understand because of the terminology that is often ambiguous. Check my Web site for my selected review on this topic, and my new book Not Fit For a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Dog &a Cat Food.

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Dr. Michael W. Fox: Time to sign off and get out in the sub-zero here in Minnesota and blow some snow!

Don't forget that road salt can burn dogs' paws, so wipe off with a warm, wet rag when they come in, or put boots on them! Safepaw s a good de-icer that does not harm pets' paws.

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