Question:

We have a 4-year-old black Lab with an odor problem. Each summer since he was 1 year old, he develops this unpleasant smell that seems to be coming from his anal sacs. The first year we thought he was anxious because we were moving. The second year we thought it was the heat. The third and fourth...?The vet we go to agreed that the odor is caused by our dog''s anal sacs, and has "milked" them a couple of times to no avail. Our beautiful Big Guy smells like new-mown hay at one end and something indescribably bad at the other. He doesn''t "scoot" or lick himself or exhibit any other behavior that would indicate that this is bothering him. He just smells bad. We don''t want to resort to surgery -- it seems wrong to subject him to a sometimes-iffy procedure just to accommodate our noses. Can you suggest anything less invasive that we can try?.

E.A., Bridgeport, CT Feb 29, 2004

Answer:

Before opting for surgery, have your dog''s anal glands irrigated and packed with antibiotic and steroid medication, ideally every three days for a total of 3 to 4 treatments. A systemic treatment with an oral antibiotic like Cipro for 14 days may also help eliminate any deep-seated infection in the sacs that make the glands hyperactive and inflamed.Increasing the fiber and bulk of your dog''s feces to help naturally empty the glands when he evacuates may also help. To accomplish this, add bran, cooked oatmeal and a tablespoon of bone meal to his food every day.

Question:

My cat is continuously getting hairballs. I have talked with his vet and have tried a variety of methods to rid him of the problem. Indy has never been sick otherwise, but the hairball problem is getting out of control. I''ve noticed he doesn''t eat as much anymore, either.Yes, he''s been "fixed." I give him a bath once a month and I only use Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. He refuses to eat those dry-food-mix medicines for shedding and hairballs, and vomits any pills we give him. Any suggestions?.

C.P., Stafford, Va Feb 29, 2004

Answer:

Hairballs can, as you have discovered, become a chronic and intractable problem. A high-fiber diet may help bind the fur that accumulates in Indy''s stomach. Mix a tablespoon of flaxseed bran (which also provides beneficial oils) or chopped, sprouted wheatgrass into his daily meal.Whenever a cat eats less and starts to lose weight, radiographs need to be taken and surgery performed if large accumulations of matted fur are found in the stomach. So long as the fur is regularly vomited up or passes in the cat''s stools, there is less likelihood of the stomach becoming impacted with swallowed fur.Also, ask your veterinarian about giving Indy nutrient supplements to help improve the cat''s coat and reduce shedding.

Question:

My standard smooth-haired dachshund, Marlene, has a very strong scent -- stronger than any other dachshund I''ve met. She has the strongest odor along her neck, chest, underarms and front paws. She is a very dominant alpha female (and a typical stubborn dachshund), and actually "marks" my husband and me when we get home in the evening: she jumps on the couch where we are sitting, gets on her hind legs, and pushes and rubs her head and front on us. Is this typical of dogs? Can she will herself to be stinkier through her dominant personality?We think this behavior is in part influenced by Marlene''s male, neutered cat companion, Max. We got Max and Marlene within a week of each other, at 12 and 10 weeks old, respectively. My observation of them for the last three years makes me think that Marlene picked up Max''s marking behavior as a puppy. She also likes to play like a kitten, letting my husband hand-roll her onto her back, grabbing his hand with her front paws, bringing it to her mouth and play-biting it. Do d

M.A., Arlington, Va Feb 22, 2004

Answer:

I believe that both your interpretations of Marlene''s actions are correct. She is probably marking you husband with her scent, which I regard as more of a bonding behavior than assertion of dominance.While dogs and cats are distant evolutionary relatives, they do sometimes learn to mimic each other''s behavior when raised together. Then again, some dogs who have had no contact with cats also show cat-like behavior: my two village dogs from India lick their front paws and then wipe their faces like a cat "bathing" itself.I would like to hear from other readers whose dogs and cats have acquired certain behaviors through mimicry (or observational learning) from living together.TAP WATER WARNINGPet owners in the Washington, D.C., area should be advised that their tap water has been found to contain unacceptable levels of lead, which could put pets as well as humans at risk. Be advised to use a water-purifying filter that removes lead, or purchase bottled water from a reputable source. Tap water quality in many pa

Question:

I live in a city, and my dog and I enjoy making the rounds. Oftentimes my little guy will stop at water fountains for a drink of water. Sometimes, mostly in winter, if the water fountain is in front of a hotel, the hotel staff will rush out to tell me to stop due to antifreeze in the water, for which I am grateful. My questions are several. 1) If my little guy has managed to somehow drink the above-mentioned water, what are the symptoms? 2) Can my little guy (23 pounds) stand to drink ANY antifreeze at all, or is any amount deadly? 3) Can I tell by the color of the water if there is antifreeze in it? Winter is coming, when antifreeze is more of an issue, but, conversely, he doesn''t get as thirsty as when it is so hot outside.

C.M., Washington, DC Feb 22, 2004

Answer:

It''s good to have your letter, which should serve as a warning to all dog walkers not to let their dogs drink from decorative water fountains in the winter. Concentrated antifreeze is sweet tasting, and dogs who enjoy the flavor will be poisoned if they ingest spilled antifreeze. It destroys their kidneys. Manufacturers should reformulate this product to make it repulsive to animals. The amount of antifreeze in fountains is probably so diluted as to cause no problems, unless an animal repeatedly drinks the water. Squirrels, birds and other urban wildlife may be at risk, so I would urge all operators of fountains to either turn them off for the winter or heat the water sufficiently to prevent freezing, thus avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

Question:

I always enjoy your columns, but was especially moved by the letter about the dog placing a toy on the couch where a deceased dog used to lay. It reminded me, once again, of something that happened back in 1980. At that time, my late husband was in the final stages of a long illness. Not wanting to make any more visits to the hospital, he chose to stay at home to await the end. Our miniature poodle, Mitzi, loved us both, but had an especially close bond with my husband. During the final weeks, I would zip home at lunch hour to see if my husband needed anything, and I would always find Mitzi parked right beside his chair like a good little nurse. One day, while he could still communicate, he told me that he didn''t want Mitzi to die of grief when he was gone. To prevent this he made me promise that, when the time did come, before calling to report his death I would put Mitzi up beside him and let her check out the situation for herself. I knew my husband was a very wise man, but I didn''t see how that could hel

J.M.S., of Punta Gordo, FL Feb 22, 2004

Answer:

I have an 8-year-old Scottish fold cat that my husband loved and gave lots of attention to. When my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and wasn''t given much time to live (he passed away on July 9, 2003), he stopped giving Boo attention. About one week before he died, we had a chair next to my husband''s bed so we could sit and say our goodbyes. Boo jumped onto the chair (only once) and laid there for a few minutes, then jumped down. It seemed as if he was saying his goodbyes, also. A couple of days before my husband passed away, Boo was sitting on an end table at the head of the bed and howled the most horrible cry I''ve ever heard, like he was in extreme pain. I know that my husband''s system was shutting down at that same moment, and I''m sure my cat sensed it. He has been depressed ever since my husband died. I recently bought a kitten to help Boo and me through our grieving. Occasionally Boo will play with him, so I''m hoping things will improve. --J.R., of Schenectady, N.Y. DEAR: DEAR DR. FOX: I

Question:

I belong to a 9-year-old female poodle. She has had a few accidents in the last few weeks (all in her sleep). She had a complete urinalysis, and that was OK.My question is: If it is incontinence starting, is there anything other than drugs to control this condition? If not, what about side effects?.

R.D.M., Neptune, NJ Feb 22, 2004

Answer:

Since your dog''s urinalysis is all clear, she is probably suffering from incontinence associated with being spayed. A short course of treatment with replacement hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES) may prove safe and effective. Long-term treatment is to be avoided because of potentially harmful side effects. I have found that many incontinent spayed dogs respond well to DES medication given for 7 to 10 days, and do not need to be given repeated treatments for several months.

Question:

I know I'm still in mourning for my beagle-mutt Rex, so I might just have been imagining things to feel better. But I swear on two occasions when I was busy cooking and had no thought of him in my mind I saw him on the patio, sitting in his favorite spot, and he turned and looked right at me as though to say, "I'm OK, Mama." And he looked the picture of health (he was a mess when he died of chronic kidney failure).Did Rex come back to comfort me and to say, "Yes, there is an afterlife"? I know you can't answer, but your thoughts would be appreciated. And thanks for sharing all those letters about how pets grieve and mourn the loss of a loved one.

C.P., St. Louis, Mo Feb 15, 2004

Answer:

Thank you for having the courage to share your experience of communicating with a deceased animal who came back to make you feel good. Rex's appearance could be interpreted spiritually as his angelic, healing presence, or instrumentally as your psyche creating an apparition of Rex because you miss him so much. But the latter explanation (which I don't accept) would not have the same power of comforting and reassuring you, and you would keep seeing him at those times when you missed him most. So, because Rex came to you twice so unexpectedly, I vote for the spiritual interpretation.I would love to hear from other readers who have had similar afterlife experiences with their deceased companion animals, so people like you might feel less alone.

Question:

I am a medical student interested in nutrition research. What is your opinion of the Nutritional Academies of Science 2003 report "Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats"? There''s nothing like it for humans!My parents and grandparents on my mother''s side are whole-food advocates. They taught me early on about the "four white evils." Do those also apply to dogs and cats?.

Anonymous, Baltimore, Md Feb 15, 2004

Answer:

You asked me to withhold your name because you don''t want to get in trouble with your professors. Hopefully, there''s one who advocates the nutritional wisdom of whole foods and balanced nutrition.The "four white evils" you refer to are refined salt, sugar, white flour (and white rice) and hydrogenated fat. I have read the over-400-page report you mention. While it contains much interesting scientific and veterinary medical/nutritional information, I am disturbed by this publication for many reasons. For instance, millions of dogs and cats have been used over the years in often poorly designed and sometimes cruel nutritional studies. I''m also bothered by the fact that so much of the research is performed on highly refined, processed human-food-industry byproducts like wheat middlings, dried potato and beet pulp, tallow and used cooking oils, as well as various industry byproducts like beef and chicken "meal." In addition, a lot of research is done on supplements, additives and preservatives to make up for the

Question:

Have you read "God''s Messengers: What Animals Teach Us About the Divine" (New World Library, 2003), by Allen and Linda Anderson? It will inspire and comfort many readers of your column.

J.G., Silver Spring, Md Feb 15, 2004

Answer:

Animal lovers will enjoy this book, which is filled with short essays by pet owners. It reminds me how animals are indeed superior to us humans in many ways.I would be proud to be able to love as unconditionally as a dog, or to contribute (as wild animals do) to the good of nature and the quality of the environment. Animals, wild and tame, have served people since the origin of our species (and we''re the most recent mammal to evolve) in a myriad of ways, from the utilitarian to the spiritual. If any of us were to serve the greater good like our animal kin, we would be called saints. So we should never call our animal brethren "beasts" or treat them as lesser beings.

Question:

My husband and I are very fond of dogs and plan to purchase/adopt one in the future. Here is where we disagree:I have a regular 9-to-5 job and he does shift-work. Occasionally, we are both away from the house for 10 hours at a time. I would rather get two dogs so they have each other for companionship, but my husband says that a dog left alone would learn to amuse itself while we are away. The thought of leaving a dog alone for that amount of time breaks my heart.Do you think two dogs are better than one? Your opinion is highly valued in this matter. Thank you.

J.C., Silver Spring, Md Feb 08, 2004

Answer:

You are right. Our lifestyles and work patterns do affect the well-being of our animal companions. Dogs left alone all day suffer from boredom, loneliness and separation anxiety, and often physical and psychological stress when they need to go out to evacuate and cannot. Either get two dogs, or a dog and a cat. Hire a dog walker when you are both going to be away for long stretches. Never keep a dog shut up all day in a crate, which is an all too common practice today.