Question:

You wrote that it might be unnecessary, perhaps even dangerous, for cats to be vaccinated yearly for certain diseases, but I don''t recall your mentioning feline leukemia.Also, since I have both indoor and outdoor cats, could you advise me as to what vaccination routine I should follow for the always-indoor cats, the indoor-outdoor cats, and/or all the cats, if they can all be given the same protection.

D.B., Port Huron, MI Jan 30, 2005

Answer:

Since you have a "mixed" cat family (with some who go outdoors and others who do not), the come-and-go cats are putting the stay-at-home cats at risk. Exposure to diseased cats outdoors could mean that even immunized cats can pick up a virulent virus and pass it on to non-immunized cats in the family.Your come-and-go cats are also putting your stay-at-home felines at risk from possible adverse reactions to vaccinations, fleas and ticks, and a host of other diseases, some contracted from wildlife. That''s why I''m an advocate of inside-only cats. Yours will have to have the same vaccinations as their free-roaming housemates, which your veterinarian will prescribe, and be routinely checked for fleas, ticks, ringworm and various internal parasites.

Question:

I adopted an extremely affectionate, sweet, 4-year-old orange male cat who just would not be an indoor cat. For just about two years now, he has had the run of a four-lot area with three other neighbors. One neighbor has three cats that have been indoor cats until now. Well, my cat, Casey, thinks that all this land belongs to him. Ladies and gentlemen, the fights begin!No other person would attempt what I do, which is pick him up while he''s in the middle of a full-on hissy-fit with one of the other cats. He''s already had two separate tooth punctures on either side of his mouth.Is there anything we can do to help these kitties get along?.

A.B., Rockville, Md Jan 30, 2005

Answer:

The short answer is "no." I only hope some unfamiliar cat infected with feline AIDS or other communicable disease doesn''t come into your cat''s territory.It is best not to intervene when cats are caterwauling and having a ritual face-off. Your movements could instigate one cat to attack the other, while, if left alone, more often than not they make peace, go their separate ways, or sit together and start grooming or playing.If you try to rescue your own cat with your bare hands you are likely to be attacked by him, and cat bites and scratches can lead to serious infection.Breaking up a serious catfight in which the dominant cat will not back down after the face-off (and let the losing cat slink away unharmed) calls for a coat or thick sweater being thrown between the two cats, ideally over the head of the attacker, who will then be startled, disoriented and likely to run off.

Question:

I have a wonderful Yorkshire terrier who is now 15 months old. The problem is that she seems to have a delicate stomach. About once a month she will have an episode of vomiting, for no apparent reason. Usually, before the vomiting, there will be a few hours when she acts a bit lethargic or tired. The most recent episode was this morning, before she had even eaten. I wonder if taking her to the vet to have her nails trimmed has anything to do with it -- she gets very nervous and frightened when I do this. I had taken her yesterday afternoon, and all evening she acted tired, slept all night and then vomited this morning. My need for reassurance comes from an episode that occurred when she was about six months old. I thought she had ingested something (a small rubber band) and I called my vet, who said it was OK to give her some hydrogen peroxide to make her vomit. I did that and then really regretted it -- she hadn't ingested anything and the peroxide made her vomit until she vomited blood! That scared me.

S.M., High Point, NC Jan 30, 2005

Answer:

Your dog could have a food allergy that can be corrected with the help of an informed veterinarian. Her stomach and perhaps her small intestine were possibly damaged by the hydrogen peroxide treatment. Only the most diluted peroxide should be given to induce vomiting, otherwise the lining of the digestive system may be destroyed and seriously scarred. Stress (as when she has her nails trimmed) could also upset your dog's appetite and digestive system. I advise a bland, homemade diet (for a homemade dog food recipe, visit my web site at DrFoxVet.com/info) before going through the dietary regimen to identify and eliminate possible ingredients in her diet that might upset her system. Certain byproducts in commercial dog (and cat) foods could also be a factor.

Question:

One of my cats is diabetic and FIV positive. Every spring or early summer, he breaks out in a terrible skin rash and ends up on heavy antibiotics and anti-itch lotion. Since he is given six units of insulin twice a day, steroids are out of the question -- they could further damage his immune system. He eats only veterinarian-prescribed diabetic-maintenance dry food.Is there any kind of supplement I could add to his food or any vitamin that may help his condition? This cat (who, like my other cats, is an inside-only cat) is very special to me, and I would love to ease his suffering.

C.Z., Clemmons, NC Jan 30, 2005

Answer:

First, I am glad that all of your cats are "inside only." This can make life safer for your feline companions, and undoubtedly helps keep them healthier because there is no risk of them contacting other cats and wildlife that may be diseased.Clearly, your cat has a seasonal problem that is a reflection of a weakened immune system associated with his diabetic condition. Most likely he is reacting to grass and other pollen allergens that get into the house. An air ionizer/purifier in the room where he spends most of his time could help, along with a weekly bath or sponge-down (using a mild baby shampoo) to keep his fur relatively free of pollen and dust.Discuss with your veterinarian giving him a light oral dose of antihistamine and nutraceutical additives in his food, like a few drops of fish oil and a multivitamin/multimineral supplement to help improve skin condition and immune system function.

Question:

I have a poodle that was given a rabies shot when she was 2 years old. Her hair did not grow back and during the next year she began losing most of her hair, especially on her sides and the trunk of her body.We gave her tests and found it was not caused by any physical ailment. How can I stop her from losing all of her hair?.

R.N.L., Miami, FL Jan 30, 2005

Answer:

First off, your veterinarian should have reported this vaccinosis (adverse vaccination reaction) to the vaccine''s manufacturers and to the federal Food and Drug Administration. Without such reporting there can be no adequate documentation, regulation, oversight and recall (if needed) of various vaccines and other animal medications.You say your dog was given tests -- I would like to know exactly which tests. It''s possible that her thyroid gland was harmed by her reaction to the particular vaccine, which could be the reason for her hair loss and subsequent health problems that may not as yet have surfaced.So, at the very least a full battery of thyroid-function tests is called for. If her thyroid is dysfunctional the manufacturers of the vaccine in question should pay for the tests and necessary thyroid hormone replacement medication your dog may well need for the rest of her life.

Question:

My cat is 7 years old and has always had his shots. Recently, however, my veterinarian told me my cat doesn''t need any more shots. The cat is a male Persian that only goes out a bit, and we are with him at those times. He was altered at about 4 months old. Should I find another vet to give him shots?Another thing is trying to get him to eat moist food. If I moisten his dry cat food, he will drink the juice but not eat the food. He eats yogurt, some peanut butter and a bit of bacon. He drinks a lot of water. Is all this enough?In the past year, from time to time, he will bleed from the rectum after defecating. I took a sample to the vet and he said my cat had no internal parasites. What else could it be?.

C.W., Bryan, TX Jan 23, 2005

Answer:

I am glad that you have found a veterinarian who has advised against unnecessary and potentially harmful booster vaccinations for your 7-year-old cat.Your cat is clearly addicted to dry food, but it is good that he drinks plenty of water. Give him a tablespoon or two of yogurt daily and mix in some oatmeal or mashed lima beans to provide fiber to help relieve any constipation -- a common feline problem, especially in cats addicted to dry food. This is probably the reason for his occasional bleeding from the rectum. A teaspoonful of olive oil in his food may also help, or a product called Laxatone that your veterinarian can prescribe.

Question:

I have a 5-year-old male German shepherd dog. When we first got him he was very fearful and skittish, and would run away from anyone who came near him. He is much improved now, and very protective of my husband and me. However, he is very frenzied during thunder and lightning storms. He jumps on sofas, hides under tables and in closets, or follows me at my side as long as the stormy weather continues. I understand that as a puppy he was kept alone in a pen, outside and in all weather.Our veterinarian prescribed acepromazine (25 mg) for storm anxiety. I don''t like giving him this as it makes him so groggy. The dosage is one pill twice daily, as needed. I give him only half a pill and it still takes him a day to recover.Do you have any suggestions to help him feel secure and get him playing and running outside in good weather again?.

R.E.B., Houston, TX Jan 23, 2005

Answer:

"Thunderphobia" is a common canine affliction. My best advice is to turn up a battery-operated radio during a storm (as a sound barrier), cover your dog in a blanket close by your side, and have your veterinarian prescribe 0.5 mg of Xanax (alprazolam) that you, ideally, will give to your dog 30 minutes before a storm comes.Get him outside on a regular basis to meet other dogs, and hopefully meet up with a buddy dog who is friendly and easygoing. It''s amazing how a calm dog can help allay the fears of a shy, phobic dog, and provide security and reassurance that we humans (no matter how hard we try) cannot always give.DOG ARTHRITIS DRUG WARNINGDeramaxx, known generically as deracoxib, is in the same class of COX-2 inhibitors as Vioxx, which was recently pulled off the market because of safety risks to humans. The Food and Drug Administration has posted a warning letter to Novartis, the manufacturer of Deramaxx, for failing to report adverse reactions in dogs given this drug for arthritis. I would like to hear

Question:

I am a 13-year-old with a 5-year-old mutt called Oreo. My family and I love her very much, and she has lived a very calm and comfortable life filled with love.However, we have recently noticed that she twitches in her sleep quite often. Is she dreaming? Is it serious or common for an adult dog to shudder during deep sleep? We have never seen Oreo do this when she was a puppy. Should we be concerned?.

The W. Family, Silver Spring, Md Jan 23, 2005

Answer:

Many people still find it hard to accept that other animals dream. Maybe this is because it means that animals also have feelings, imaginations and "souls," just like us, which some religious traditions find unacceptable because they assume that humans are superior to animals. The idea that animals have more similarities to human beings than differences is, to their way of thinking, lowering humans to the level of the beastly realm, and that makes many people uncomfortable. If animals are like us we should clearly give them basic rights and not exploit them, but this upsets entrenched notions of human chauvinism and species-ism.So, yes, your dog dreams just like you do, but she has doggie dreams -- sometimes they''re nightmares after a scary day, or she might relive a happy afternoon of chasing squirrels (that''s when you''ll see her paddling her legs and rolling her eyes).

Question:

We have a 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier/dachshund mix that is obsessive-compulsive with licking. He licks the walls, tile floor, cement, asphalt and anything else that is flat. They are slow, deliberate licks. He will spend 30 to 45 minutes licking, take a rest and then start licking again. What is wrong with him?We got him from a dog day care center and he''s wonderful and playful. He chases shadows and lights, and will chase balls until he drops. He has moments of being loveable and others of being hyper. Is there anything we can do to get him to stop licking?.

J.B., Houston, TX Jan 23, 2005

Answer:

The genetic mix of your dog is problematic enough! He needs to have a very active life, running and playing and exploring the outdoors and having quality time with other dogs. Boredom, lack of stimulation and a sedentary lifestyle, in addition to his genes, could all contribute to your dog''s obsessive-compulsive behavior.So see to his behavioral and emotional needs. But first, have him checked out by a veterinarian for a possible physical cause. He may benefit from a daily multivitamin and multimineral supplement that the veterinarian can prescribe, since some animals with nutritional deficiencies engage in pica -- licking and eating dirt, gravel and other materials. But internal irritation (like that from infected tonsils or gums, or more serious internal health problems) can make dogs and other animals behave like your dog, too. So a full clinical evaluation is in order.

Question:

Our cat has stopped using her litter box. She does her business just outside of the box. I keep it clean and change the litter regularly. How do we get her back in the box?.

J.K., Dayton, TX Jan 23, 2005

Answer:

Cats stop using their litter boxes for various reasons, either physical, psychological or both. Your cat should be examined by a veterinarian who can determine if she might have cystitis, chronic constipation, an anal gland problem or spinal arthritis. Pain associated with these physical disorders can make cats fearful of using the litter box. Cats with diarrhea (often due to internal parasites or inflammatory bowel disease) may also evacuate outside of the litter box.A dirty litter box, a litter box not placed in a quiet and easily accessible part of the house, and social changes or emotional stress in the home can all can make cats un-housebroken, too. In addition, litter boxes with covers or hoods get ammoniated inside if not cleaned out regularly, thus becoming unappealing to cats.Determining the reason for your cat''s house-soiling calls for good detective work, which often reveals a quick solution -- especially once the common view that the cat is being disobedient or stupid is dispelled.