DEAR DR. FOX: I am writing about my 4-year-old male papillon, Papi Lee. I was pleased to have him join me and my 3-year-old rescued female papillon. I have now had Papi Lee for two years.

A few months after I got him, I noticed that he started to stumble a lot. Initially, it just seemed odd, but I soon realized something was wrong.

After observing him for a few months, I took him to my vet. After several visits and a few hundred dollars, the vet found no problem with his inner ears, kidneys, blood and eyes. The vet could not offer an opinion about his problem.

In spring 2011, I was in Alabama visiting my family. I took Papi Lee to a vet there for an ear problem. While there, the vet said that he might have a growth or tumor on his cerebellum, but it would cost a lot of money to find out for sure. The tumor probably couldn't be removed.

Since then, I've been doing all I can to make my pet feel safe and happy. He has an excellent appetite and appears to be in no pain. His back end seems to curve forward when he walks or runs. He falls at the least provocation, but he gets right back up and continues to play. He has fallen off the bed and patio steps, and he stumbles around in the car unless I put him in his bed on the floor on the passenger side.

Since he is failing so quickly, do you think he'll just not be able to get up one day? -- V.A., Virginia Beach, Va.

DEAR V.A.: I did some canine neurology research and clinical studies in the past, and, without being able to examine your little dog, the best I can offer is an educated guess to help put your mind at ease.

Your dog most likely has a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia, where the part of the brain that helps control balance and coordination did not develop normally. One test is to cover his eyes with a bandanna. If he cannot walk at all and falls over, it is probably this developmental defect, which he compensates for visually. This condition is not painful, nor is it fatal.

If his condition is actually getting worse, another possibility is hydrocephalus -- water on the brain. Hydrocephalus is not uncommon in toy breeds. Your dog is probably too young for a brain tumor. Either way, you are doing the right thing. So long as he enjoys life and you keep him away from situations where he might fall and injure himself, his handicap is something you can all live with.

DEAR DR. FOX: My cat is 18 1/2 years old and in good health. He eats well, has good bathroom habits and seems to drink enough water. He is an inside-outside cat, but he can no longer climb the fence, so he does not leave our backyard.

He has had rabies shots every year. It's time for his shot, but I really don't want him to have it. I know other animals can come into the yard even if he can't get out. If he gets sick, he'll go to kitty heaven.

I have heard it is hard on older animals to keep getting shots. It seemed it was very difficult for him at the last shot, which is why I'm putting off this most recent one. I know rabies shots are important, but having it every year until now, can I just skip it this year? -- K.T., Sterling, Va.

DEAR K.T.: Since your cat is old and was adversely affected by the anti-rabies vaccination last year, I think you have legitimate reasons to avoid putting him at risk from another vaccination. But you need to check on the regulations regarding such vaccinations for cats in your municipality, since they vary. In some areas, cat owners are liable if they allow their cats to wander off their property without a valid rabies tag on their collars.

Discuss this issue and your concerns with your veterinarian, who may find it acceptable to write a letter stating that your cat has had prior anti-rabies vaccinations and his health might be jeopardized by giving further vaccinations.

It is also possible that the anti-rabies vaccination is not needed because your cat has adequate circulating antibodies, for which your veterinarian could run a blood test.

PET FOOD MANUFACTURER'S SECOND RECALL

Diamond Pet Foods took steps to recall a second variety of its dog food because of potential salmonella contamination. Visit www.diamondpetrecall.com or call 800-442-0402 for a full list of recalled products.

(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: In response to a recent letter asking guidance about removing clumped and matted fur on a cat, you suggested various methods, as it's a difficult problem and often requires shaving. I had an experience with this problem two years ago that still upsets me.

I was caring for my son's Himalayan cat while he was out of the country. When I arrived, the cat had quite a few large mats, and my son said it was OK to take her to the vet to be groomed. The vet's office wanted to bathe her first. She had been groomed before, but I was surprised to see the process myself. The groomer did some preliminary grooming, and it didn't look pleasant.

Within an hour and a half, I received a phone call from the vet saying the cat must have had a heart attack. She died! I can hardly believe that such a thing could happen.

After reading your response to the other grooming question, I think that the groomer hurt her terribly. Would grooming put her into shock and cause a fatal attack? The cat was 8 years old and in good physical condition.

I'm still having trouble understanding this, and I feel so terrible about it. Why would an animal care provider subject a little animal to such treatment? I realize that the cat should be groomed at home regularly, but when you seek help to resolve this matting problem, you don't expect your pet to die. -- G.L., Naples, Fla.

DEAR G.L.: I am sorry for the shocking experience you had with your son's poor cat. All involved at the clinic must have been devastated.

Healthy cats can put up with considerable stress and physical discomfort associated with being groomed and carefully clipped to rid them of irritating and incapacitating clumps of matted fur. But cats with a pre-existing cardiac condition such as a congenital heart defect or enlarged and weak heart (cardiomyopathy) can have complications. This is why normally safe and routine procedures such as spaying and teeth cleaning performed under general anesthesia can prove fatal.

Prior to such procedures, a physical examination is normally done to evaluate and reduce the risk of cardiac arrest and other surgical complications. This is not usually done before grooming. Since the cat had been groomed before with no complications, an unexpected tragedy occurred. If she was frightened and struggled to free herself from being physically restrained, she could have gone into shock, which, in more sensitive and experienced hands, can be avoided.

DEAR DR. FOX: Murphy is a 10-month-old kitten that I rescued from a shelter. I took him to my vet's office as soon as I got him. He was checked out and everything seemed fine. At 6 months, he was altered. He eats and plays fine, but I noticed that he had rapid breathing.

I took him back to the vet to have it checked out. She took an X-ray of his chest and found that his heart is enlarged. She recommended that I take him to a cardiologist, which I did. The cardiologist did an echocardiogram. The vet diagnosed Murphy with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. He says Murphy will live only six months to a year. He put him on furosemide (12.5 mg daily).

Is there anything I can do for him? If you looked at him, you would say he is a very healthy kitten. His gray fur is so shiny. Is there any special food or vitamin that I can give him that will help? I want to keep him healthy as long as possible. -- M.F., Monroe Township, N.J.

DEAR M.F.: This heart disease is rare in a cat so young, and I would suggest a congenital disorder possibly aggravated by poor nutrition early in life caused it.

Benazepril is one prescription drug that may be of benefit. Discuss this with your veterinarian, along with consideration of potentially beneficial supplements such as the amino acid taurine, coenzyme Q10, fish oil and magnesium. With good nutrition and a stress-free environment -- which would preclude boarding your cat if you go on vacation -- he should enjoy a relatively normal life. His heart may even compensate to some degree and his life expectancy be extended considerably. Above all, keep him on a grain-free diet, eating raw or lightly cooked, home-prepared food. For details and links, visit my website, www.twobitdog.com/drfox/. The leaner he stays, the better!

YARD AND GARDEN PET WARNINGS

As we mulch, spray and plant around our properties, we must be mindful about our pets, whom we may be putting at risk. Please avoid using insecticides and herbicides (weed killers) like Roundup, which can cause developmental defects, cancer and other health problems. Being omnivorous and more curious than cats, dogs must be kept away from cocoa mulch, which can cause seizures and death if eaten. Dog owners should also avoid snail and mole poison baits, which can be fatal for puppies and small dogs. If you enjoy being out in an escape-proof yard with your cat, be sure there are no flowers of the lily family, which are poisonous to cats. A good alternative is to grow your own catnip!

(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 totally agree that this country should outlaw docking dogs' tails and ears, as they do in the United Kingdom. Can you start this ball rolling?

I volunteer at a shelter and agree with you that these poor animals need good homes today. -- J.C., Kitty Hawk, N.C.

DEAR J.C.: I frequently raise this issue of ear-cropping and tail-docking of various dog breeds and the declawing of cats in my writings. In my new book, "Healing Animals and the Vision of One Health," I detail the adverse consequences of these companion animal mutilations.

Cutting tails and cropping ears are part and parcel of certain breed standards. Breed clubs should phase these out, and there should be a clause stipulating that no altered dogs will be allowed in the show ring after a certain year. People wishing to purchase a particular breed need to let the breeder know that they don't want a "standard" docked-tail puppy. Ear cropping is done at a later age, and the owners themselves should bear that responsibility and say "no."

As for veterinary practices that do routine kitten declawing without question, I say put animals and ethics before profits and pandering.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a shorthair Maine coon (according to my grandson). We rescued him as an abandoned cat. He was an indoor/outdoor cat when he came here, and he will not stay in all the time. Because of this, I treat him with Frontline or similar products.

This takes care of fleas and ticks, but not flies and mosquitoes. They bite his ears, and he scratches until he bleeds. He has lost a lot of hair on the ears. I put on antibiotic ointment, but as soon as his ears halfway heal, he gets bitten again. People use Avon Skin So Soft on dogs' ears to repel insects, but I'm afraid it would be poison to cats because they wash and clean themselves so much.

Do you have a suggestion as to what to use that won't harm my cat? We would truly appreciate it. -- B.M., Chesapeake, Va.

DEAR B.M.: Some cats develop a severe hypersensitivity to insect bites, especially mosquitoes. This can become an inflammatory, proliferative skin disease (eosinophilic granulomatosis) that can be difficult to treat. This is one of many reasons to encourage cats to enjoy life indoors and to not let them out during the summer months.

Essential oils such as eucalyptus are good insect repellants but pose some risk when applied to areas that cats can reach to groom. Hydrosols (water-based distillates) are safer for cats. If you can't find any, dilute one drop of essential oil in 10 drops of olive oil. From that mixture, put one drop on the tip of each ear. Alternatively, put a few undiluted drops on a strip of gauze wrapped around a breakaway collar.

Outdoor cats should wear collars with their ID tags and, as is mandated by law in some municipalities, a valid antirabies vaccination tag. Breakaway collars are advisable since they can pull apart if the cat gets the collar snagged on a branch or fence and might otherwise get strangled.

BOOK REVIEW: NAYANA MORAG'S "ESSENTIAL OILS FOR ANIMALS: YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO USING AROMATHERAPY FOR NATURAL HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT"

This 200-plus page book profiles many of the most readily available herbal extracts (such as oils and hydrosols) that can be used exclusively or as part of an integrative approach to a variety of health problems in dogs, cats, horses and other domestic animals. Against a backdrop of Chinese medical philosophy and practice and supported by some evidence-based treatment successes, this book is a major contribution to the growing recognition of the therapeutic value of herbal extracts. It is a welcome addition to the veterinary and animal care libraries and is an inspiring reference and guide for all animal healers.

While I do not encourage pet owners to make their own diagnoses and treatments, many will find this book invaluable when exploring effective and safe treatments for a variety of animal ailments with their veterinarians, more and more of whom are becoming receptive to this therapeutic modality and are integrating essential oils into their treatment protocols.

Visit www.OfftheLeashPress.com for more information.

(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.)