Question:

Murphy is a female Westie, 10-1/2 years old. Since she was a puppy, I have taken her for a walk every morning, the only exception being the few times I''ve gone out of town and left her at a kennel or with family.Recently, I had to be out of town for almost two weeks, and I left her with family. In the days after I got back, she acted strangely when I would walk her: She would walk only for a short distance and then start circling around my feet, like she didn''t feel well. She wouldn''t walk any farther, and I would end up picking her up to get her back to the house. I did this for four days, and then I gave up taking her for a walk.Then my husband and I took her to a park where we used to walk, and she did fine. We noticed that she preferred to walk on the grass, as our usual walk in our neighborhood is in the street.She gets excited in the morning, like she wants to go for a walk, but once I get her collar and leash on and start out the door, she''ll only go to the end of the driveway and then turn around to

S.C., Virginia Beach, Va Apr 29, 2007

Answer:

Any sudden change in a dog''s behavior can indicate a recent traumatic experience and the development of a phobia. But the cause is rarely determined.Perhaps your dog was scared by another dog while on a morning walk with her caretakers. She may well improve with time, food treats and gentle persuasion.A first step would be to walk her along a wholly different route, or change the morning routine by taking here in the car and then for a walk in a new neighborhood.

Question:

I know someone who has a pet turkey. He says the turkey is every bit as smart as a dog or a cat. I've heard that pigs are as smart as dogs, but can this also be true for turkeys?.

A.M., Norfolk, Va Apr 29, 2007

Answer:

Try to get close to wild turkeys and they will be flying off before you know where they are.Turkeys are intelligent animals, recognizing and greeting mates and human caretakers. Their vigilance and flightiness have been dampened significantly through domestication. Domestic turkeys have been so genetically altered as to develop abnormal masses of pectoral muscles (white breast meat), which makes them extremely vulnerable to predators. These turkeys cannot fly, succumb quickly to crippling arthritis and cannot breed normally. From the perspective of survivability, wild turkeys have arguably greater instinctual wisdom than our human species, which causes more ecological harm than good.

NOTE: Many readers have requested recipes for dogs and cats, especially since more people are preparing meals from scratch for their animals. My two recipes are on my website. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you must write in and do not have computer access.

Question:

I am wondering if my two 11-year-old cats are getting proper nutrition.After using the pouch and canned cat foods (which they were always throwing up, and always on the carpet), I have been buying chicken thighs and microwaving them in water. The cats are not getting the bones or skin, but plenty of meat and chicken fat. In addition, I give them Science Diet Sensitive Stomachs and Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula.

G.S.W., Annapolis, Md Apr 29, 2007

Answer:

Are your cats still throwing up their food? This is very common in cats and is most often due to a food allergy or fur balls.It''s OK to mix some chopped, home-cooked chicken into the commercial cat food, but if your cats pick out just the chicken, they are not getting a balanced diet. Try my homemade cat-food recipe (www.doctormwfox.org).I would appreciate hearing back from readers who have used my dog-food and cat-food recipes or prepared similar food for their animal companions, and how their animals fared, especially in terms of resolving various health problems.

Question:

I have a 5-year-old mixed breed -- part Airedale, part spaniel. Molly is a female that weighs 48 pounds.Over the past two years, she has suffered with stomach upset. Our vet did a "scope" and then sent us to Texas A&M Veterinary Hospital. Besides this, she has seen four other local vets. They all found no underlying cause.We have tried multiple veterinary foods, including boiled chicken and rice. She currently eats duck and potato. She hasn''t had diarrhea in two years.Acid reflux is the current diagnosis. She also takes erythromycin ES twice daily (after morning and evening meals). She had taken Pepcid AC, but it did not help. At night (her worst time), I put her head on a pillow to help, but during the night, she moves off the pillow. She has a very difficult time swallowing (and you can hear it) all night long. I fear for her esophagus; stomach acid can''t be safe. Can you help?.

L.M-B., Houston, TX Apr 29, 2007

Answer:

Presumably, the veterinarians have ruled out mega-esophagus, a common cause of food regurgitation.I advise you to give your dog four small meals a day, the last meal at about 4 p.m.The erythromycin stimulates stomach contractions, but I would ask the vets to consider using ranitidine or nizatidine to help stimulate stomach emptying.If a tumor has been ruled out and medications don''t help, continue feeding her frequent small meals like pasta, rice and cottage cheese. There is probably no cure; though, in some cases, corrective surgery (pyloroplasty) may help.

Question:

I have been feeding my 10-year-old golden retriever the "supplement" diet you have on your Web site with his regular dry dog food. At his recent checkup, the vet said his kidney values were slightly elevated and that he should not be eating protein and prescribed a low-protein, low-phosphorous dry dog food. I know there is lots of controversy around this conventional approach, but I''m not sure what my other options are. For the past week, I''ve been feeding him the prescription diet but adding chicken, turkey or ground beef. He has taken Synovi G3 for years as a supplement, and we give him Lawn Guard, which is a blend of Yucca schidigera and green tea and some B vitamins to prevent lawn burn.My vet is a wonderful lady and usually very supportive of my holistic treatments, but she rarely recommends other than conventional alternatives, as in this situation.

Apr 29, 2007

Answer:

Follow your good vet''s advice, and use my recipe as a supplement, with more pasta and rice than animal protein, plus vitamin B complex -- very important for animals with kidney disease, as is potassium. A daily broad-spectrum multimineral supplement is called for. You need to aim for a diet lower in protein and phosphats. Your vet may want to prescribe a phosphate binder.Giving your dog safflower oil (1 teaspoon daily per 30 pounds of body weight) will help support kidney function. A few drops of fish oil is good for cats with this malady. Herbal tinctures like dandelion and a little chopped parsley in the food will also help.A sick animal will not feel like eating. Vitamin B complex helps stimulate appetite. Extra mineral supplements are needed when sick animals drink and urinate more than normal. Coax the animal to eat whatever she or he likes, with caution. Animals'' nutritional wisdom is not perfect. Some may just want a little pasta and scrambled egg until they feel better. Getting in some nutrition by h

Question:

I am an 11-year-old boy who wants to be a veterinarian when I grow up. I was wondering if you have any tips that can help me in the future.Also, my friend and I love foxes and would like to get one when we are older. We went to the library one day and started looking up all we could about foxes. Online, we came across a site that says foxes should not be domesticated. Can you give me some advice about this?Lastly, can you give me a cat-food recipe that my cats might eat (like turkey, chicken or tuna)?.

A.G., Easton, CT Apr 22, 2007

Answer:

By all means, volunteer at a vet''s office and your local animal shelter. I started helping out at the vet''s when I was about 13. The more time you spend around animals, with the right people, the more you will learn.Check your library for my out-of-print children''s book "Animals Have Rights, Too" (Continuum Intl, 1991) and check out books by veterinarians describing their work and sharing their insights about animals, like Dr. Franklin McMillan''s "Unlocking the Animal Mind" (Rodale Press, 2004), and books on caring for dogs and cats.Foxes are not pets. Please don''t even consider trying to domesticate one.You will find my cat-food recipe at www.doctormwfox.org.DOG-BUDDY NETWORKWhen you are out walking your dog and you meet up with another person with a leashed dog and both dogs want to play, I say don''t be shy. Share phone numbers and set up a time and place for the dogs to meet and play off leash.Life on a leash can drive dogs crazy. When they are constantly restrained and isolated from their own kind, they

Question:

We have a miniature schnauzer. He is very friendly with everyone, but sometimes, when someone tries to pet him or pick him up, he crouches down and urinates.Our vet said he may quit as he gets older. He is 6 months old now, and there is no sign of his quitting this behavior.We are having him neutered this month. Will that help with this problem? We love this dog, but this situation needs to change.

V.R., Potomac, Md Apr 22, 2007

Answer:

Your dog is engaging in a canine social ritual that is a gesture of friendly, puppyish submission. It may be derived from the puppy being passive and urinating when stimulated by the mother, who is the dominant figure. Young dogs also urinate out of fear, so greeting-urination toward a familiar person (or other animal) could be a ritualized "mock fear."Either way, never reprimand, and do not overexcite him while greeting him, since excitement can make for more wet floors. In time, your dog will most likely mature and grow out of this behavior.

Question:

After reading in our local newspaper about the golden retriever with horrible allergies, I had to write to you.My dog Mitzi had the same problem five years ago. I spent around $1,000 with my vet trying to find out what she was allergic to. It was everything -- food, grass, trees, etc.We tried special diets, keeping her off the grass, etc. It was impossible for both of us; neither one of us got much sleep. And it was very distressing to watch her suffer so.I decided to get a second opinion. This vet suggested giving her shots of Depo-Medrol. He couldn''t promise how much it would help her -- maybe two weeks, three months or longer, or not at all.In fact, it has been a miracle drug. The effectiveness of the shots has lasted anywhere from four months to 11 months. I''m so grateful for the results, and we''re both getting our sleep at night now.

V.M., Washington, DC Apr 22, 2007

Answer:

The judicious use of steroids can be invaluable in alleviating the symptoms of allergic reactions to foreign proteins such as pollen, dust mites, etc. But first, other reasons for dogs'' skin irritation, scratching and hair loss need to be ruled out.Second, animals have an increased susceptibility to infection (especially of the bladder) and other complications, such as diabetes, when they are on steroid medication, so they need to be monitored.There is much misuse of corticosteroids, and their immediate benefits to the patient need to be weighed carefully against long-term risks.Some dogs may suffer from a chronic adrenal inefficiency and benefit from the kind of treatment your dog is receiving.For more details, see my article "Endocrine Immune Disruption Syndrome" on my Web site at www.doctormwfox.org.

Question:

I have a Persian cat who gets regular shots and boosters every year.On my last visit, the veterinarian spoke to me about rabies shots. He said it was up to me because mine is a house cat that never goes out. He also explained there could be side effects to the rabies shots, so I decided against it this time. (This animal hospital also doesn''t declaw cats because they believe it is cruel, and I agree.)We travel every year to Florida, and the last time I took him to be groomed, they refused to do it because the cat didn''t have a rabies shot. Have you heard of this? They said it is a law in Florida. I live on Long Island the rest of the year.

J.L., Naples, FL Apr 22, 2007

Answer:

Different states have different regulations with respect to the vaccination of cats. Some leniency may be called for when animals like yours never go outdoors and when vaccination may pose more risks than benefits.Many grooming and boarding facilities insist on vaccination certification, often with the best of intentions. But again, some go overboard and insist on all standard vaccinations being given within the past year. That is absurd when some are good for three years and longer.I am encouraged you have found a veterinary practice where they refuse to declaw cats, a mutilation that is unethical and can cause chronic suffering, and are not pushing vaccinations regardless of situation and risks. Find another groomer who is less rigid. It''s the groomers and other animal handlers who should have the rabies vaccinations!

Question:

I suppose this is not the type of question you usually receive, but I would appreciate any suggestion you may have that would help.There are several cats in our neighborhood that use our front yard as their litter box. And they don''t cover anything up. The yard smells, and it is a most unpleasant experience to step in their doings or retrieve the morning newspaper with a fresh deposit.Is there a solution to this problem? Thank you for your consideration.

B.L.G., Miami, FL Apr 15, 2007

Answer:

Yours is a problem shared by many. Shame on neighbors who let their cats roam free and use other people''s property to spray and evacuate. They are creating a potentially serious public-health hazard, namely, Toxoplasmosis. Every municipality should have an ordinance prohibiting people from letting their cats go off their property.Decorative bamboo stakes creating a wall around your flowerbeds will keep cats away.