DEAR DR. FOX: You recently ran a letter from V.A. in Virginia Beach, Va., who had a dog, Papi Lee, who kept falling down. You told the woman, "As long as he enjoys life and you keep him away from dangerous situations, his handicap is something you can all live with."

This condition is so similar to our experience with my 6-year-old Maltese that I have to wonder if it couldn't be the same. She was diagnosed with Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament (ACL) disease, which was brought on by my teaching her tricks that were too energetic for her body. She would stumble and fall frequently. The veterinarian recommended surgery on her left hind leg first, and then planned to do a second surgery when she recovered from the first.

It took about 13 weeks of keeping her still, lying on a table and making sure she didn't walk. My daughter and I took turns sitting beside her. When she recovered, the doctor discovered that those long weeks of stillness had somehow cured the weakness in her other leg.

Now we have to keep her from running in circles, jumping up on her rear legs and running on wood floors. And since our floors were wood, we had to invest in wall-to-wall carpeting.

I hope this could possibly be a solution to your earlier letter writer. -- M.B.

DEAR M.B.: I decided to publish your letter because it raises an important point. This is separate from your point that the dog referred to in an earlier column possibly had the same problem as your little dog. This is not the case. But for all small dogs like yours suffering from painful, crippling cruciate ligament rupture, giving enforced rest, as you describe, can be a viable alternative to costly surgery.

I would not advocate keeping the afflicted dog on a table for 13 weeks. Simple restraint around the home or in a cage or crate and time under collar and leash control can lead to full recovery.

This knee-joint condition must be distinguished from patella luxation (dislocated knee caps), which is a common defect in small breeds. For that condition, enforced rest will not help -- surgical correction is the only option.

DEAR DR. FOX: We always look forward to your newspaper column. Your column about differing veterinary prices was interesting and held so much truth.

My husband and I have three dogs, and we treat them like family. We never leave the vet's without a bill over $100. But our little stray got cancer on his tummy, and it cost more than $1,000, including a teeth cleaning. He also needed an annual shot, so my husband said, "Tell them one shot but no wellness exam." They said that it would be $55 for a shot and tags. The Humane Society said $125. My husband found a vet who gave our dog the shot and tags for $19.95.

I don't mind a vet making money, but something is wrong with cheating your customers. There needs to be some kind of veterinary regulatory procedures. -- J. and E.K., Chesterfield, Mo.

DEAR J. and E.K.: Thank you for sounding off on the question of health-care costs for our animal companions and the lack of consistency in charges for products and services. Some procedures, especially those including anesthesia (notably for dental work), are unavoidably costly, as is diagnosing types of cancer and other diseases.

It is always advisable to get a cost estimate that includes line items rather than bundling. With that information, coupled with details about the animal's condition, you can seek a second opinion and price quote, provided the animal does not require immediate treatment.

Many veterinarians are open to discussion of fees and to clients seeking some kind of deferred payment or other arrangement in cases of financial hardship and limited monthly income.

CHINA POISONING AMERICA'S PETS AGAIN

Sweet potato treats made in China -- given names such as strips, tenders, chips and twists -- are being reported to cause kidney problems just like the chicken jerky treats (also made in China) that sickened or killed many dogs earlier this year. Symptoms can develop a few hours or days after consuming one of these possibly pesticide-contaminated treats. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and increased urination and thirst.

I implore all pet owners to read the label and fine print, and buy nothing that says it was made in China.

Brands of concern include Canyon Creek Ranch Chicken Yam Good Dog Treats, Beefeaters Sweet Potato Snacks for Dogs, Drs. Foster and Smith treats made in China and Dogswell Veggie Life Vitality. Any other treats made in China should also be avoided. American companies distributing such imports should wake up to the fact that they have a duty to the pet-owning public to not put animals at risk when they have neither control nor effective oversight of ingredient quality and processing operations. The debacle of pet food poisoning from an ingredient imported from China that killed a reported 8,500 dogs and cats, documented in my book "Not Fit for a Dog," must never be forgotten or forgiven.

(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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: My sister adopted a female German shepherd, Cassidy, from a rescue organization about two years ago, at which time the vet believed she was a little more than 4 years old.

Monday through Thursday, Cassidy is in contact with her owner and her regular dog walker (me). On the weekends, Friday afternoon through Sunday evening, she is cared for by two other family members at a different location, approximately 25 minutes away by car.

Is it harmful for Cassidy, either emotionally or physically, to be shuttled back and forth between her owner and the other family members? Is it confusing or upsetting for her to maintain this schedule on a weekly basis? All parties involved would like to continue with the current arrangement, but only if it is not detrimental to Cassidy in any way. -- S.M.P., Gaithersburg, Md.

DEAR S.M.P.: I appreciate your concern. Most dogs would enjoy this kind of extended pack and two-den lifestyle, since it provides more varied stimulation and environmental enrichment, rather than seeing the same people and places day in and day out.

I am happy to see dog owners linking up on the Internet and community bulletin boards for dog play groups. It's even good for a person with a dog to take in others while their owners are away at work -- yes, a doggie day care business.

Boredom, loneliness and separation anxiety are modern dog burdens. Having more than one dog and a dog walker to get your pet outside for stimulation and physical activity during the workweek are responsible decisions. A happy dog is a healthy dog.

DEAR DR. FOX: How often should a dog be bathed? My sister insists that her Chihuahua needs to be bathed every week or so, and I say it dries out his coat and he doesn't need it. What is your opinion? -- P.O., Cumberland, Md.

DEAR P.O.: There are no set rules beyond those of common sense. You could be right about drying out the dog's coat. Too-frequent shampooing can also encourage skin infections when the protective oils and healthy skin bacteria are washed away. Some dogs never need bathing, just a daily brushing. Older dogs often need to be bathed as soon as they get stinky -- for their own comfort and for those living with them. This may be every two weeks or so, especially for those with naturally oily skin. There are spritzes and dry shampoos on the market that can help deodorize dogs' coats, like Bath Eaze from PetzLife. You can try to make up your own spray using an emulsion of 100 parts water, 100 parts aloe vera liquid or coconut milk and 1 part lavender essential oil.

I would advise bathing any dog who has been swimming in the ocean, where salt residues can be irritating to the skin, or in a lake or pond, where harmful bacteria, algae and parasites can flourish during warm summer months. Remember: Do not let your pet quench his thirst from these potentially harmful natural sources. Some kinds of blue-green algae can kill dogs within hours, and fecal (human and animal) contaminants such as cryptosporidium, salmonella, shigella, E. coli and norovirus can put all bathers at risk, especially those with compromised immune systems.

49 PEOPLE SICKENED BY CONTAMINATED PET FOOD

Salmonella-contaminated dry dog food from Diamond Pet Food Processors' plant in Gaston, S.C., sickened 47 people in the U.S. and two in Canada, the Centers for Disease Control reported. This figure is probably low because victims may have become mildly ill or attributed their condition to food poisoning that doctors and other health authorities failed to connect with this contaminated pet food. People can become ill by direct exposure to the food or by contact with animals who consumed it. No fatalities were reported.

(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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I am writing to you in response to your request for communications from the grave.

My 16 1/2-year-old Aussie, Megan Rose, died Sept. 5, 2010. I took her death very hard.

When I got her ashes, I put them on my bureau. I have a wall vase with four blue roses that hangs next to the bureau. A few days later, I found a rose on the floor. I thought it was strange because no roses had ever fallen out before, and I had never touched them. I put it back in the vase.

The same thing happened the next day. And on the third day it happened again, only this time when I found the rose I said, "Megan Rose, is that you?" I put the rose back in the vase, left the room and came back a few minutes later only to find the rose on the floor again. I thought to myself, What a perfect symbol -- her name is Megan Rose, and here is a rose. Nothing happened again for six months.

On her birthday in March 2011, when I got up in the morning, I went to the bureau, picked up her ashes and said, "I wish you were here for your 17th birthday" and gave the box of ashes a kiss. As I was putting the ashes back on the bureau, lying next to where her ashes had been was a blue rose. -- J.H., Seymour, Conn.

DEAR DR. FOX: Thanks for writing about "ghost" animals in your column. It was a comforting and nonjudgmental response to your reader. I know many of us who have lost pets will find comfort in your words.

When we moved into our house 20 years ago, my husband and I felt the familiar landing of a cat at the end of our bed and the slow movement of paws up to our pillows. No cat was there. We called it "ghost kitty."

We would reach out to pet the cat or talk to it, but we just touched air. Our live cats (we had several) would not stay or sleep in our bedroom, so it wasn't a case of mistaken identity. This routine continued for many years until we adopted three homeless cats who took up residence in our bedroom (by choice) and never went downstairs until many years later. We hope "ghost kitty" has gone on, but, from time to time, we still wonder about the cat. Your column has given us an insight into this phenomenon. -- L.R.R., Virginia Beach, Va.

DEAR J.H. and L.R.R.: Many readers will appreciate your letters. Several communications from our beloved departed pets are posted on my website, DrFoxVet.com; these stories support my belief that such phenomena are not mere coincidences or products of the imagination.

It is my contention that the more mindful we are of the spiritual dimension of existence and the great mystery of conscious life, the more we may begin to improve as a species in our regard for and treatment of all creatures great and small.

DEAR DR. FOX: When my husband and I had our first dog, a beagle/boxer mix, we were amused and annoyed that when we let her out, she would always head for a patch of garlic that my husband planted for fun. That was her favorite resting spot. We couldn't figure out why she picked such a smelly place, but it finally dawned on us -- no fleas!

We have had several dogs through the years and always included garlic (fresh or powdered) and brewer's yeast in their food, and we have never had a sign of fleas or ticks.

Dumb dogs? I don't think so. -- R.K., St. Louis

DEAR R.K.: Your first dog certainly demonstrated a degree of "wild wisdom" in her choice of lying on a patch of garlic growing on your property.

British biologist Dr. Cindy Engel compiles many fascinating accounts of animal species self-medicating with various herbs and treating wounds and even broken bones in her book, "Wild Health: Lessons in Natural Wellness From the Animal Kingdom" (Houghton-Mifflin).

Freshly chopped garlic and its potent oil extract have many medical benefits. However, it is an irritant to the stomach lining, so it is best taken with food. It can act as a natural antibiotic, anti-viral and anti-fungal agent. It can rid the body of intestinal worms. On the skin, garlic can help heal burns and kill ringworm. It may help diabetics lower their daily insulin dose. Garlic can be helpful with many other conditions, including toothache, heart problems, high cholesterol levels and allergies. It is a potent blood thinner, helping prevent coagulation and clot formation. It may also help lower blood pressure.

These are just a few of the medical benefits of this remarkable herb. It can cause a form of anemia in cats, but is safe for most dogs. You can give one large clove per 30 pounds of body weight with food. Coupled with 1 teaspoon per 30 pounds of body weight of brewer's yeast, it works well to keep fleas and other biting insects away from dogs and people alike.

(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 DrFoxVet.com.)