Question:

My son and his family have a great and mild-mannered border terrier who is about 6 years old. My son works out of the home, so, for the most part, he is with the dog most of the time.

During the day, the dog is fine. But in the evening, he becomes anxious and hyper. They try playing with him as a distraction, but it takes a while for him to settle down.

Is this something common in his breed? Any suggestions would be appreciated. This behavior began just recently.

J.H., Silver Spring, Md Apr 22, 2013

Answer:

I appreciate your concern for your son''s family dog. I know the breed -- border terriers are great! The dog''s evening anxiety could have a physical or psychological cause.

He may have retinal degeneration or some similar eye problem -- the first symptom is night blindness, which could be causing his behavioral change. A veterinary examination is called for if this is suspected.

Psychological causes include the fear of being abandoned when the family goes out for the evening, some element of post-traumatic stress disorder after an upsetting event one evening during a walk or a family argument, or high-frequency sound from the TV or other entertainment unit upsetting the dog.

Some detective work and a change in the evening routine may help.

Question:

A recent front-page article in the Washington Post, "Wolf-to-dog evolution went with the grain," states, "In particular, dogs show changes in genes governing three key steps in the digestion of starch ... it makes us convinced that being able to digest starch efficiently was crucial to dogs."

The article suggests that once dogs began living close to humans, they found a new feeding "niche" by scavenging human garbage. The implication is that grains are not harmful to dogs because their digestive systems have adapted to diets other than meat. In light of this, have you changed your recommendations about feeding dogs mostly grain-free foods?

M.C.M., Silver Spring, Md Mar 31, 2013

Answer:

I appreciate your writing to me about this article on a finding that has been widely publicized.

This is an important issue because while dogs -- some breeds better than others -- have evolved the enzymes needed to process carbohydrates and starches from grains and potatoes, this adaptation does not mean that a high or even moderate carbohydrate content in dogs' diets is optimal for their health.

For most dogs, I advocate low levels of grain, but not for cats. A minute amount as a binder for dry foods is acceptable for cats, many of whom continue to suffer a variety of health problems because their diets contain more starches than an obligate carnivore like a cat can handle. Dogs are more omnivorous than cats, just as foxes and coyotes are more omnivorous than wolves and cougars.

For a more detailed response, see my article "Domestication and Diet: Dog Genes and Cat Gut Bacteria," posted on my website, DrFoxVet.com.

Question:

I adopted two sweet sister cats nine years ago -- Chase and Chochi. They've not had any major health issues until recently. They are indoor cats, although they are allowed to go out on our deck with us.

More than a year ago, I noticed Chase had lost some fur on her lower abdomen. Shortly after, we embarked on a home renovation that was loud, dusty and forced us to leave our Maryland home for several months and move into a vacation home in West Virginia. In West Virginia, I found a vet who said Chase was overgrooming due to a flea saliva allergy. She recommended Comfortis. She also noticed Chochi was overgrooming the same area, so both cats began the drug. Neither cat improved, so we went back to the vet, who found Chase, in particular, had redness and a possible staph overgrowth. Blood work on Chase was normal. Both cats received antibiotic injections, two doses one week apart. Chochi improved, but Chase began removing more fur. She received a shot of steroids and two laser treatments. The vet also recommended resuming the Comfortis, and the redness went away.

We moved back to Maryland, and Chase continued to overgroom. She now has bare-looking thighs, abdomen and upper chest. I took her to a vet two weeks ago, and this vet observed that Chase had no noticeable irritation and diagnosed her as having "psychogenic alopecia." She recommended continuing the flea treatment and starting with a homeopathic remedy. It seems to have had no effect. The next recommendation was Prozac.

Help! Since the cats are essentially indoor cats, I have wondered about the accuracy of the flea allergy diagnosis and treatment. I have never seen a flea, although at the start of the treatment ordeal, the vet did observe some possible flea casings in Chase's fur. The deck in West Virginia occasionally gets mouse and squirrel visits; the Maryland deck has only birds.

Both cats threw up shortly after the Comfortis after the last two injections. In looking at other options, I was recommended Frontline or Revolution. Both vets felt the symptoms were inconsistent with ringworm.

P.H., Silver Spring, Md Mar 26, 2013

Answer:

Fleas leave telltale feces, not "casings" in animals' fur. Since you make no mention of your cats being tested for hyperthyroidism -- meaning it was not considered by the veterinarians -- I would seek a third opinion.

Considering your cats' ages and symptoms, hyperthyroidism is the first possible cause to consider and rule out before considering a specific allergy. Excessive grooming in our formally feral cat was quickly resolved when salmon was removed from his diet.

Let me know if thyroid disease is the problem, and inform the veterinarians, who should have considered this possibility from the start.

Question:

I see that you have dropped kelp as an ingredient in your home recipes for making cat and dog foods. I recently read a feature article in a pet wellness magazine about the benefits of giving seaweed to dogs. So why are you not using seaweed in your recipes or recommending it as a treat?

K.V., Silver Spring, Md Jan 01, 2013

Answer:

I decided to drop the seaweed ingredient in my home-prepared pet food recipes when it is not the only food given to dogs and cats. I made this decision after my veterinarian friend Dr. Jean Dodds alerted me to recent research that indicated a connection between high dietary iodine and thyroid disease in dogs and cats. Seaweed is high in iodine, so it would be advisable not to include this in the diet of companion animals. Fluoride is also a concern. For more details visit my website, DrFoxVet.com.

Dr. Dodds wrote to me stating, "Most commercial kibbled foods given to dogs and cats already contain more than enough iodine -- this can promote hypothyroidism and thyroiditis in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats. So, when anyone also supplements kelp or other iodine-rich supplements daily, the animal is being overdosed on iodine. We recommend using these supplements, if desired or needed, no more than two to three times a week. If people feed raw or home-cooked diets, adding iodine-rich supplements should be safe and even useful."

Question:

My male border collie/spaniel mix is 5 years old, and he often throws up or has diarrhea. When I take him on walks, he has diarrhea more often than not. He sometimes wheezes, too.

I don't understand why he would be getting sick all the time, because he normally eats his kibble that is a good brand, and we've been using it for a while. I don't think the kibble is causing him to get sick. What do you advise?

K.B., Silver Spring, Md Sep 17, 2012

Answer:

Your judgment/diagnosis that kibble is not the reason for your poor dog's illness may be erroneous. You should know that even with "good brands," ingredient sources and quality of dog foods can change from one manufactured batch to another. My website (DrFoxVet.com) alerts dog and cat owners to the all-too-frequent recalls of pet foods that can make animals ill from bacteria, mold and other contaminants.

There are reasons other than diet that could account for your dog's vomiting and diarrhea. Any animal showing such symptoms for more than 24 hours should be seen by a veterinarian. You owe your dog no less.

Because a contaminant or nutritional additive problem could be affecting one batch of a particular brand of dog or cat food, I advise caregivers to get their animals used to eating two or three different, good-quality brands of dry, cannned, frozen and/or freeze-dried pet foods as an insurance against such an eventuality. I call such dietary diversity "risk dilution," and coupled with rotation -- changing the main protein every week or so (from chicken to turkey to herring, for example) -- it can help some animals suffering from food hypersensitivities.

Question:

Sophie is my 4-year-old silky terrier, and she has become restless at night. She wakes my husband and me by licking our faces and walking all over us. She seems to hardly ever sleep.

Why the licking? What can I do about the restlessness?

G.B., Silver Spring, Md Jun 26, 2012

Answer:

Sleepless Sophie in Silver Spring is licking you and walking over you in the bed because she wants attention.

Is she waking you up because she needs to relieve herself? What are your daily and evening routines? A long walk or run in the yard before you turn in, an evening meal around 7 p.m. so she's not hungry in the middle of the night and plenty of exercise and outdoor stimulation during the day so she will tire herself out -- these are points to consider.

You may get a few nights of uninterrupted sleep by putting her in a crate with a blanket or towel on which she can nap. Leave the crate open during the day, and put treats and toys inside it so she associates the crate with reward. The crate may be her "den" that she will retire to and feel secure. You shouldn't have to close the crate door unless you need to re-train her if she reverts to jumping on your bed and waking you up.

Question:

My daughter's house cat, a 9-year-old spayed female shorthair tabby, has been pooping on the floor and/or rug for the past few months. My daughter has tried all-natural litter, moving the litter box and cleaning the box twice a day. The cat has been checked out by the vet, who ruled out any physical causes. She suggested it was stress-induced and put the cat, Storm, on Prozac. There has been minimal improvement, and giving Storm pills is very stressful. We are at a loss as to what we can do next. We are hoping you may have a suggestion or recommendation.

L.C.H., Silver Spring, Md May 08, 2012

Answer:

I am shocked that the veterinarian prescribed Prozac for a cat who may be suffering from painful constipation or blocked anal glands. You did not say if the veterinarian considered these possibilities, or if she suggested any dietary changes. These are the most common reasons why cats develop an aversion to their litter boxes and poop elsewhere.

Another consideration in older cats is the onset of Alzheimer's disease (or senile dementia) brought on in part, I believe, by a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.

Whatever the root cause, increasing the water content and reducing the fiber content of the cat's food should help. Do this by feeding her quality canned cat food or Wellness or Organix dry cat food, plus adding a few drops of fish oil and a tablespoon of raw organic yogurt or kefir.

Question:

My 1-year-old American shorthair cat, Taz, chirps, squeaks and trills. Will she ever learn how to meow?

E.A., Silver Spring, Md Apr 16, 2012

Answer:

As you have discovered, cats have a varied repertoire of vocal sounds. The basic cat meow is like a long-distance call, sometimes with an element of distress (the "meow-yowl"). It can also be a call for attention. Your cat may feel she gets all the attention she needs, so she simply gives lower-intensity, intimate vocalizations.

Try meowing when you are in another part of the house. She may learn to respond and come to your call. Meow more softly just before you feed her.

Many cats never purr; some cats don't make sounds until later in life. I would welcome letters on cat sounds my readers like to share. I once had a cat who would give a low growl-bark when he heard anyone at the door.

Question:

We have a 15-year-old seal tortie point Siamese cat named Minerva (Minnie for short). She is on several medications, including Denamarin for a liver problem and Zeniquin for a respiratory problem. She eats well and keeps her weight at 11 pounds, which is good for her size.

But we have noticed that for the past several months, she searches for cobwebs everywhere in the house, and if she finds one, she eats it. We work hard to remove these, but she finds a few from time to time. She does this before eating her regular food, and it appears that she may have some dietary deficiency.

We know that humans who have an iron deficiency sometimes crave and eat yeast, ice or dirt, and we wonder if it is possible that animals can experience the same sort of problem and cravings. Is there anything you can recommend for Minnie that will help her end her constant search for cobwebs?

D.M.R., Silver Spring, Md Feb 28, 2012

Answer:

Your cobweb-craving cat may be seeking materials in your house that she can consume as "roughage."

Minnie may delight in a pot of sprouted wheatgrass or other green sprouts like alfalfa, which you can grow for her or purchase in pet stores. Also, try a pinch of dried organic catnip. If she drinks well, adding 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of psyllium seed husks to her food every three to four days may be beneficial, especially if she (like many old cats) is constipated. Additionally, a daily teaspoon of plain yogurt may help reduce her pica, which is the craving for nonfood substances -- usually dirt and plant materials.

Pica can be a sign of anemia or other nutritional deficiencies, or it could be discomfort from digestive problems and more serious chronic diseases. Giving her a supplement of pediatric multivitamins and minerals, 1/2 teaspoon of brewer's yeast and a drop or two of fish oil daily may help your cat. One tablespoon of lightly cooked calf's liver every few days is also a good idea.

Question:

I see that you have dropped kelp as an ingredient in your home recipes for making cat and dog foods. I recently read a feature article in a pet wellness magazine about the benefits of giving seaweed to dogs. So why are you not using seaweed in your recipes or recommending it as a treat?

K.V., Silver Spring, Md Jan 01, 2012

Answer:

I decided to drop the seaweed ingredient in my home-prepared pet food recipes when it is not the only food given to dogs and cats. I made this decision after my veterinarian friend Dr. Jean Dodds alerted me to recent research that indicated a connection between high dietary iodine and thyroid disease in dogs and cats. Seaweed is high in iodine, so it would be advisable not to include this in the diet of companion animals. Fluoride is also a concern. For more details visit my website, DrFoxVet.com.

Dr. Dodds wrote to me stating, "Most commercial kibbled foods given to dogs and cats already contain more than enough iodine -- this can promote hypothyroidism and thyroiditis in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats. So, when anyone also supplements kelp or other iodine-rich supplements daily, the animal is being overdosed on iodine. We recommend using these supplements, if desired or needed, no more than two to three times a week. If people feed raw or home-cooked diets, adding iodine-rich supplements should be safe and even useful."