DEAR DR. FOX: 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.

DEAR L.C.H.: 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.

DEAR DR. FOX: Sometimes after petting our new rabbit, I get itchy and wonder if I am allergic to him. I get little red dots. He doesn't scratch, so it's not fleas.

What do you suggest? Right now, I wear a long-sleeved shirt that seems to help a bit. -- M.K., St. Louis

DEAR M.K.: Even though your rabbit is not scratching himself, he could still have fur mites (Cheyletiella). These pests are commonly called "walking dandruff" because they resemble large, mobile flakes of dandruff. Their eggs adhere to the hair shafts in the animal's coat. Sometimes, as with your rabbit, there is no evident dermatitis or patchy loss of fur from scratching, though these are common clinical signs of infestation.

These mites can infest people, cats and dogs, causing itching and discomfort. Have a veterinarian examine your rabbit. Ivermectin is the usual treatment choice, along with removing all bedding material and disinfecting the rabbit's enclosure.

Rabbits can also become infected with other kinds of mites, including those that cause mange in dogs and cats; they can also harbor fleas.

ANOTHER PET FOOD RECALL

Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling its Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal and Rice dry dog food because the product may be contaminated with salmonella. The company says no illnesses have been reported, and no other Diamond products are affected.

People who handle the pet food could become infected with salmonella. Monitor yourself for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Pets with salmonella may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

The product was distributed to customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. It is possible those customers may have distributed it to other states.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at www.twobitdog.com/DrFox.)

DEAR READERS: Since I shared my basic dog food recipe last week, I thought it was only fair to give one for cats. For additional details, check my website, www.twobitdog.com/DrFox.

1 whole chicken, cut in pieces, or 1 pound hamburger, ground lamb or turkey

1 cup chopped chicken hearts and gizzards

1/2 cup peas, chickpeas or lentils

Pinch of salt

1 tablespoon fish oil

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

1 egg

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon chopped canned clams in juice

1 teaspoon nutritional yeast

1 tablespoon calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, lactate or human-grade bone meal

Combine all above ingredients. Add enough water to cover ingredients. Simmer, stir and add more water as needed until cooked and thickened. Add an egg or 1 cup of cottage cheese. Immediately after cooking and cooling, debone the chicken parts, but do not feed your cat the cooked bones since they can splinter and cause internal injury. Add a few drops of fish oil after the stew has cooled to room temperature. Stew should be thick enough to be molded into 1/2-cup muffin-size patties. You can add a little oatmeal, bran or mashed potatos to thicken if needed. (Note: Some cats are allergic to fish, corn, beef and dairy products.)

Freeze the patties and thaw as needed. Serve one patty to your cat three times per week with regular food.

Transitioning your cat onto the new diet should be done gradually to allow for adaptation and avoid aversion and digestive problems that a sudden dietary change may cause. Mix increasing amounts of your cat's new food with decreasing amounts of the old food over a seven-day period.

DEAR DR. FOX: My two female cats, Angel and Melon, have been constantly licking and biting themselves for a number of years, creating bald areas and sores on their legs (and on Melon's stomach).

They have had blood allergy tests that indicated they are allergic to ragweed, goldenrod, birch and mulberry trees, June grass, penicillium mold, fleas and black ants. Since they are strictly indoor cats, their contact with any of these is extremely low. In foods, they tested at high levels for milk, pork, potato, wheat and barley.

Over the years, their vets have prescribed various medications (amitriptyline, Xanax) that had no effect. A combination of prednisolone and Clavamox has worked in the short term, reducing the amount of licking and healing sores, but when they're finished, they revert back to licking.

I vary their foods among Natural Balance duck and green pea, Wellness Core turkey and chicken, Evo turkey and chicken and California Natural chicken and rice. Because they are allergic to potato, I will eliminate the Core from their diet.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to treat Angel and Melon. My male cat (Melon's brother) does not have this problem. -- J.A.W., Annandale, Va.

DEAR J.A.W.: I realize you have spent much time and money trying to find a cure for your two cats. When allergies like these are diagnosed, it is surprising how many allergens in a cat's environment and diet may be identified. There could be one particular trigger that impaired their normal immune system function, opening the door to allergic reactions to an increasing number of substances.

Contact allergies to various floor cleaners, scented products from cat litter and wool in materials such as upholstery and blankets -- these are all worth addressing. An air ionizer may help.

I would also advise getting your cats used to a few drops of fish oil in their food, increasing the amount to about 1 teaspoon daily -- this is a supplement with almost miraculous benefits for many cats with skin problems. With older cats, a blood test for thyroid disease is advisable since hyperthyroidism can be associated with skin hypersensitivity and excessive licking. Giving them clean cotton sheets to lie on may also give some relief.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a small reticulated python. After the last time it shed its skin, it seemed like some is left on the eyes. Should I try to take it off myself, or is it best left alone? -- W.M., Fort Myers, Fla.

DEAR W.M.: Any local pet store that sells snakes or the municipal zoo should be able to refer you to a veterinarian who has experience treating snakes. Even though most do not, all "exotic" animals should have professional advice when health issues arise. You could also contact any local veterinary hospital and ask for a referral.

Most likely, your snake has not gone through a normal skin-shedding cycle, which can be disrupted by the snake's environment being too dry or the animal not having suitable rough surfaces (like rocks and tree branches) to rub against. The modified skin over the eyes (called "spectacles") has been retained. Trying to pull them off could damage the corneas and result in ulceration, scarring and loss of vision.

Purchase over-the-counter human ocular lubricant and apply three to four times daily. Make sure the snake's enclosure is humid and suitable objects for the snake to rub against are included. If the spectacles have not been shed in 10 to 14 days, a veterinary specialist should examine your snake for possible eye infection causing the spectacles to continue to adhere to the surface of each eye.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at www.twobitdog.com/DrFox.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I hope you can give us some advice, as we are quite confused and frightened for Simba, our beloved 8-year-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian whom we adopted from a shelter when he was only weeks old. He has always been in perfect health, and he is very fit, active and adorable. My mother adopted him a week before her unexpected death. We took him into our home and have loved him ever since. He is our connection to her.

During a routine checkup a few weeks ago, our veterinarian diagnosed a significant heart murmur and took an X-ray that revealed an enlarged heart on the left side. He recommended that we see a cardiologist, which we did immediately. Simba is asymptomatic, but an electrocardiogram revealed that he has moderate degenerative valvular disease with moderate left atrial dilation and mild left ventricular dilation.

We would like your opinion on the medications that the cardiologist has prescribed for Simba: enalapril and spironolactone. Simba has always been fed premium dog food, starting with Innova when he was a puppy and now Before Grain (salmon). We would like to switch to your food protocol, but we need more clarification on how to prepare it correctly. I am so frightened of giving him something wrong. His primary vet prescribed a cardiac nutrient supplement, but we won't start that regimen until we get him on the medications at full dose.

Could you give us your opinion as to whether we are giving him the proper medication? I trust the cardiologist, but we are not big medicine people, and I would rather our dog not have to endure side effects if the medication will not help him.

Simba weighs 10.3 pounds. We free-feed him and he self-regulates -- his weight has always been between 10.3 and 10.8 pounds. He walks three to four times a day, is not coughing and is as hyper as his breed would indicate. We are very concerned about him. -- C.S., Kansas City, Mo.

DEAR C.S.: The kind of heart disease affecting your dog is relatively common in many toy breeds. The treatment protocol and choice of drugs for this problem are eminently appropriate, in my opinion. I would not advise you to change your dog's diet at this time -- salmon is good, but steer toward a low-salt intake. If magnesium and coenzyme Q10 are not in the cardiac nutrient supplement, discuss their inclusion along with a few drops of fish oil.

Your veterinarian is well informed, and I would follow his advice. He needs to take blood samples to monitor Simba's condition and determine if and when the levels of medication need to be adjusted. With careful monitoring, blood tests and general checkups, your dog should enjoy a good quality of life with minimal, if any, harmful side effects from these medications. They will help stop further degenerative changes in your dog's heart -- but not reverse them -- and help maintain normal heart function and circulation.

DEAR DR. FOX: Last year was the worst for fleas for our cats. Frontline has always controlled fleas in the past, but not last summer. We used Frontline as directed, plus flea powder (which we also applied to our rugs), but we still got fleas.

A friend recommended Natural Defense, but is it safe for cats? It contains peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil, thyme and vanilla. If Natural Defense is not safe for cats, what do you recommend? Can you suggest something else?

My cats do go outdoors a little, and we have wild raccoons, opossums and squirrels outside. -- P.C.L., Matawan, N.J.

DEAR P.C.L.: By all accounts, fleas were a major problem last summer. I am not alone in contending that this epidemic is one of the many consequences of climate change.

One major concern with increasing populations of noxious, biting insects is that the bugs can develop resistance to insecticides. Ticks spreading Lyme disease to humans, dogs, cats and other animals is just the tip of this iceberg.

The best medicine is prevention rather than reliance on insecticides that can have adverse health and environmental consequences. One integrative approach to flea and tick control is available on my website, www.twobitdog.com/DrFox. It is especially important to not allow cats to roam freely outdoors, where they will be magnets for fleas. Getting them used to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of brewer's yeast in their food every day, along with a daily flea-combing inspection, can help. Safe insecticides for in-home use include Perma-Guard and Fleabusters.

I do not advise using insect repellant products that contain essential oils such as peppermint and lemongrass on cats, but they are generally safe and effective on dogs.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at www.twobitdog.com/DrFox.)