DEAR DR. FOX: My German shepherds think going outside is a time to dine on bunny and deer droppings and any other disgusting thing they find. In the yard, on walks ... it doesn't matter. I give them yogurt in the hope it will counteract some of the germs.

Any suggestions other than buying a muzzle? -- K.E., Rockville, Md.

DEAR K.E.: This is one of the most frequent questions that I receive, and it is indicative that many dogs are trying to compensate for some dietary deficiency or digestive impairment (dysbiosis). Poop eating (coprophagia) in moderation is normal -- it's not some kind of depraved canine behavior. It is a natural instinct to obtain various trace nutrients from the bacterial action in the digested food excreted by herbivores. Rabbits and other species routinely eat their own feces as part of this nutrient-cycling process. Cultures of healthy human fecal bacteria are now being used to help improve the health of human patients, notably those suffering from obesity.

But when coprophagic behavior is obsessive, it could indicate a nutrient deficiency. Many dogs stop their coprophagia when put on a highly digestible dog food and when given a vitamin B-complex supplement, brewer's yeast or a daily dose of probiotics or "live" organic yogurt or kefir in their food. (Pasteurized yogurt is useless because the beneficial bacteria have been destroyed.)

Some dogs may engage in this behavior as a cleaning activity. More than one dog owner has told me that when they stopped allowing their dogs to see them picking up the poop around their property, the dogs stopped engaging in coprophagia.

AMERICA'S DOG AND CAT HEALTH ISSUES MIRROR HUMANS'

In a review of current major health problems in dogs and cats seen by a nationwide veterinary clinic business, 40 percent of dogs with arthritis and more than one in three arthritic cats (37 percent) are also overweight. Almost half of diabetic dogs (42 percent) and diabetic cats (40 percent) are overweight. Some 40 percent of dogs with high blood pressure and 60 percent of dogs with hypothyroidism are also overweight.

According to this 2012 Banfield Pet Hospital report, obesity affects one in five dogs and cats. The rise in overweight and obese pets mimics the increase in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overweight and obesity in humans is also on the rise; the CDC reports that it has increased in humans to one in three (35.7 percent) U.S. adults.

While the rise in chronic diseases is a concern, so is the gap in medical care of cats. Despite the fact that there are more cats than dogs in the U.S., Banfield treated 1.5 million more dogs than cats in 2011. Cats, however, are just as susceptible to serious chronic diseases as dogs. One of the most significant diseases highlighted in this report is chronic kidney disease, a common cause of death in cats. This disease increased by 15 percent since 2007, and it is nearly seven times more common in cats than in dogs. Clearly, people with cats need to go for veterinary health checkups more frequently, or get vets to perform house calls, which is less stressful for most cats.

(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.)

Several varieties of Diamond Naturals dog food have been recalled since April. Of the 14 people who have been sickened, at least five have been hospitalized with salmonella infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a nine-state outbreak linked to Diamond's pet food. The dog food was produced at a single manufacturing plant in South Carolina. In Food Safety News, reporter Mary Rosthschild writes, "How many dogs may have been sickened was not mentioned in the CDC report. In some recall notices, Diamond Pet Foods has claimed that no dog illnesses have been reported. Those recall alerts from the company did not reveal that human cases of infection were being investigated."

Now, as a precautionary measure, Diamond has expanded the recall. Pet owners with questions about recalled dog and cat food may contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402 or visit www.diamondpetrecall.com.

In my opinion, while the manufactured pet food industry surveillance system may have helped prevent a major food-borne disease epidemic in this instance, it is the inhumane ways in which factory-farmed animals are raised, handled and processed that need to be addressed and changed, as I document in my book, "Healing Animals and the Vision of One Health." Harmful bacteria thrive under such stressed animal conditions.

DEAR DR. FOX: In May 2009 we adopted an abandoned cat that our friends found in a box giving birth. A home was found for the kittens, and we took mama cat. We immediately took her to the vet, who spayed her, gave her shots and performed a complete physical exam. The vet estimated the cat was about 10 months old. She weighed 6.5 pounds, and her tests indicated she was very healthy.

We named her Jackie Paper and took her back to the vet for a checkup in June 2010. She presented as a healthy cat, except that her neutrophil level had dropped from 7,000 to 1,350 (the normal range is 2,500 to 8,000). The vet suggested we have her retested. We did so one month later, and her level dropped even more, to 957. At that point, the vet tested the cat for feline leukemia and the corona virus -- the results were negative for both. A few weeks later, new tests indicated her neutrophil levels had increased to 1,408. The vet thought she might have had some temporary condition that she was getting over.

Jackie's neutrophil levels go up and down for no reason we can explain. And, with one exception (February 2011), her levels remain below normal. The vet consulted with other vets, set up a blog and researched the possible causes, but neither she nor any other vet has come up with a plausible cause for Jackie's condition. We had a bit of hope early in the summer of 2011 when one consulting vet suggested a probable bacterial infection and prescribed Orbax. The cat loved the medicine, but, unfortunately, her neutrophil level dropped from 1,940 to 1,540 during the four months she was taking the medication.

We're at a loss as to what to do. The vet and her consulting vets suggest a bone marrow biopsy, but we hate to put the cat through that if, in the end, there's nothing we can do to help her. Can you suggest any probable causes for her condition or any medications or food that would boost her neutrophil level? -- B.K.K., Alexandria, Va.

DEAR B.K.K.: As you have no doubt learned, neutrophils are white blood cells produced by the bone marrow and play a vital role as part of the immune system defense mechanism to fight infection and inflammation.

Feline viral infections can result in neutropenia (low white blood cell counts). It is my opinion that your Jackie Paper may have a viral or bacterial infection that is not showing up in blood tests. Alternatively, she could have a congenital bone marrow defect or have been treated for ringworm prior to you adopting her with a drug such as griseofulvin that damaged her bone marrow neutrophil production.

Since the antibiotic treatment did not help improve her neutrophil count, we can probably rule out a chronic bacterial infection. I would give her supplements to help boost her immune system functions such as coenzyme Q10, Resveratrol, fish oil and a good multivitamin and multimineral supplement such as Platinum Performance Plus. Short-term treatment with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be beneficial. I would question doing a bone marrow biopsy. Ask what treatments might be subsequently prescribed, depending on what is diagnosed.

Cats do not respond well to invasive procedures. If your cat were mine, I would wait and see, especially since she is showing no other signs of illness. A prior infection from which she recovered could have brought on her neutrophil anomaly, and, provided her health is maintained with good nutrition and a stress-free environment, she may live happily for many years.

Some normal cats may have low neutrophil counts (between 1,800 and 2,500). As a precaution, I would avoid giving your cat any further vaccinations or anti-flea drugs.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a male Westie who turned 10 in July. We feed him Science Diet and Bil-Jac dry food. We also mix in 1/4 of the tin of Cesar's wet food.

Our dog has scabs all over his underside. This is the third bout in 10 years. Our vet told us to bathe him twice a week with KetoChlor medicated shampoo and scratch the scabs off. I have been doing that, and I try to remove all the scabs each time, but they just seem to be coming back. He has started licking his front paws to the point where he has licked the hair off.

Should I change his dog food and give him some sort of medication? Would you please tell us what we could do to get rid of the scabs and stop the licking? -- S.S., Benbrook, Texas

DEAR S.S.: Your dog may have a food allergy or nutritional deficiency, either of which can result in secondary bacterial or fungal infection of the skin.

I would gradually transition, over five to seven days, onto a corn- and wheat-free diet. Give him a few drops of fish oil in his food, working up to a teaspoon daily. His condition may show gradual improvement within a few months. If not, then additional supplements (such as zinc, selenium and vitamin B-complex) may prove beneficial. Try a weekly bathing with human Selsun Blue medicated shampoo for one to two months.

Considering his age, there could be other health issues that need to be addressed, notably poor thyroid activity.

(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 have a 14-year-old husky/shepherd mix. Last July she developed a bump on her right leg that has now become an open sore that she licks constantly. I have applied antibiotic ointment and covered it with clean dressings. But she chews the dressing off and licks the wound. This does not allow the area to dry and heal. The open sore does not smell, weep or look inflamed or infected. She runs and walks without any problem. She continues to eat normally and acts normal. However, she does sometimes shake, but she does not seem to be in pain.

Since she is 14, I do not want to pay for any heroic measures, but I will not let her suffer. I realize you cannot see what I see, but would like to know if there are some basic things I can do to help heal her open sore. I read online that some dogs get cancerous mast cell tumors. If this is what she has, I would do only comfort care. She is a great dog, and I will care for her until it looks as though she is not able to enjoy her daily runs and the love of our family.

Thank you for any help you can offer. She trembles when we go to her local vet, and I have not taken her for a checkup for this reason. We get her shots through local clinics offered in our area on a yearly basis, so she is up-to-date on all her shots. -- T.Z., Rockville, Md.

DEAR T.Z.: I fully respect your decision not to engage in "heroic measures," considering your dog's age. But you owe it to her to have the bump on her leg examined by a veterinarian. You may find one who does house calls, which would be much less stressful for your dog.

Without knowing if the swelling is a form of cancer or simply a fibrous inflammatory growth called a granuloma, you really don't know what might be best for your dog. It might be easily removed surgically, which would put an end to her constant licking. Early examination and removal often stops a diagnosed cancer from spreading. Clearly, the fact that she is licking it means she is experiencing discomfort, so the best solution to improving her quality of comfort is a thorough veterinary examination.

You speak of a plurality of shots being given every year to your old dog. This is outrageous and is tantamount to malpractice. For details on canine and feline vaccination protocols, check my website, www.DrFoxVet.com

DEAR DR. FOX: I have had cats since 1972. They all lived from 13 to 20 years of age. They all came from our local Humane Society. My only dog was 16 when he passed.

I have suffered a stroke and had two knee replacements. I am now in a wheelchair and did not want a kitten because I wouldn't be able to train it properly. But I've been without a companion animal for three years, and it's been difficult living alone.

Our local Humane Society had a special running before Christmas on older cats. I felt strong enough, and I now have in-house help, so I adopted a 3-year-old cat. The previous owners used this Humane Society for their veterinary needs, so I have all of his health records.

He's not overweight. I try to play with him for 30 minutes in the morning and again before bedtime. My only concern is that he eats only Purina dry food. I have tried chicken, pork and fish in various cooking methods -- he smells it and just walks away.

I've had several cats over the years, and I believe they've all had long lives because I fed them a good variety of food. A good friend advised me of that in 1972 with my first cat, and he lived to be 20 years old.

Have you ever heard of a cat refusing chicken? What should I do? -- S.D., St. Louis

DEAR S.D.: Considering that you have in-home help, I think it is good that you have given a home to an abandoned adult cat. The best interactive toys for you in the wheelchair are laser lights and lures tied to the end of a long cane.

A lot of feeding trials are conducted by cat-food manufacturers geared toward making cats prefer and become addicted to their products. Some manufactured dry foods are given a covering of an "animal digest" formula. This is all very well and good, but corn, soy, rice and other cereal grains have no place in proper cat food diets.

Try mixing some of the Purina chow with other brands such as Organix, Wellness and Feline's Pride. There are other excellent brands available that have either little or no cereal content and no soy, which, like the corn, is genetically engineered and can harm animals.

Be sure your cat is drinking plenty of water. This is a must for cats who drink little and are addicted to eating only dry cat food. You can try moistening your cat's dry food with warm water.

(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.)