DEAR DR. FOX: My sister and brother-in-law adopted a black Lab awhile back. The dog was given to them by a family whose son was allergic to it. He was well cared for, but he got cancer in his nose and died during a related operation.

After that, they decided they wanted a dog who was bred from good stock. They didn't want to take a chance of any other illnesses. They had a chocolate Lab bred for them. The dog is a lively, friendly, wonderful dog. She is now 5 years old. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed recently with lymphoma.

I don't believe in breeding dogs, as so many dogs need homes. However, I love the dog dearly, and I have two questions:

-- Is there anything we can do to prolong the dog's life?

-- Are Labs prone to cancer? -- S.F., Rockville, Md.

DEAR S.F.: Yes, indeed, many good dogs are in adoption centers in need of good homes. The commercial puppy mill mass production of purebreds and designer varieties is a major factor contributing to full-to-capacity shelters and adoptable dogs being killed.

Lymphoma is one of the more common canine cancers and is prevalent in certain breeds such as the golden retriever, boxer, German shepherd and Scottish terrier. Exposure to lawn and garden herbicides, electromagnetic radiation, solvents and paints has been associated with increased incidence of the cancer. In cats, it is most commonly associated with feline leukemia virus infection.

Depending on the dog's overall health and the invasiveness of this cancer, chemotherapy can accomplish a complete recovery with the drugs doxorubicin and vincristine. The latter is an extract of the vinca rose, which I used successfully in India to treat dogs suffering from transmissible venereal tumors. I would like to see clinical trials conducted on dandelion root extract, preliminary tests of which indicate a promising and safe treatment for lymphatic cancer.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a cat who is 9 years old and weighs 19 pounds. We have her on Purina Pro Plan weight management food trying to get her to lose some weight. The biggest problem we have is her throwing up.

She just started this about two years ago. We have been to three vets, and each says something different. Her stomach has been X-rayed. They think she vomits because of hair balls. She gets one Capilex pill every morning to try to digest her hair balls, but she still throws up several times a week -- and sometimes more. -- B.K., Washington, Mo.

DEAR B.K.: You have a middle-aged, overweight cat who is probably suffering from the same related health problems we see in overweight people. These health issues include diabetes, arthritis, fatty liver and heart disease. A veterinarian should check this out.

The most common reasons cats throw up after eating are not only hair balls in the stomach, but eating too quickly -- usually because they are so hungry and are fed only twice a day -- or being allergic to one or more ingredients in their food.

I would transition your cat to a cereal-free cat food such as Organix or Wellness. Give 2 teaspoons of food six to eight times daily, along with probiotics or a little plain live yogurt or kefir. Try to get her to play more; physical activity is good therapy. This is one of the reasons I advise people to keep two cats. They stimulate each other and are more active and healthier than live-alone 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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: For the past 17 months, I have been a feral cat colony caretaker. All of the cats were part of the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, and further breeding has ceased. The colony in which I am involved consisted of 10 cats originally; there are now five. Some have disappeared over time, and, sadly, one was found dead recently, with no obvious illness beforehand.

I have two beloved felines at home -- a tortoiseshell and a tuxedo. One was a rescue cat, the other a shelter adoptee. Needless to say, they are loved and respected for the wonderful animals they are.

I am writing to you today with the following questions regarding feral cats, as well as caretakers such as myself:

-- Are you an advocate of feral cat colonies, and, if so, what conditions must be met by the caretaker(s)?

-- Do you believe that euthanasia is a more humane approach for cats that are not receiving annual vet visits, such as feral cats?

-- Do you feel I am wrong in sustaining the lives of these innocent animals that are susceptible to disease and many other hardships?

My colony has ample shelter and fresh food and water provided daily. We clean feeding bowls, etc. We stress hygiene as much as possible in our efforts.

I decided to be a feral cat caretaker because we, as human beings, through neglect and disdain, have forced these innocent animals to fend for themselves through no choice of their own. Many of these cats have unique personalities, no different from my two at home. As a caretaker, I do whatever I can to lessen the hardships of these animals. -- G.L., Washington, D.C.

DEAR G.L.: I wish there were more compassionate and caring people like you helping animals. Unfortunately, the best intentions often go awry. Maintaining a feral cat colony is a full-time responsibility. Cats who are sick or injured and too fearful to be caught do suffer. Even with neutering, there is the ethical question of providing food and shelter to cats only to prolong their suffering until they expire.

My biggest concern, and the reason I oppose TNR programs, is cats killing birds and other wildlife.

As I have discovered, some feral cats can be socialized and make good indoor companions. Perhaps you may find more fulfillment facilitating adoptions at your local shelter (ideally for two or more littermates) and pushing for legislation and public education to deter people from letting their cats roam free.

I applaud your efforts to help these poor animals, and I respect all involved in TNR programs. But the consequences of humane intervention must be considered, for the road to hell is indeed often paved with good intentions. I would rather advocate TNA or TNE -- trap-neuter-adopt or -euthanize the unadoptable -- knowing that given time and patience, many wild, terrified cats can be rehabilitated. I kiss one on his tummy every morning.

DEAR DR. FOX: In one of your columns, you asked about animals showing emotion and shedding real tears.

Many years ago, we adopted a basset hound, Sadie, with her eight puppies. Our family loved her, and my mother knit her a sweater, which we presented to her on a cold Cleveland Christmas. It fit well and we all exclaimed over how beautiful she was, but Sadie hated it. She was obviously humiliated -- she hid behind a big chair and cried real tears. We tried one more time with a slow, private presentation, and we got the same results -- big tears ran down her face.

She cried one more time in her 12 years with us. Our daughter brought home an adorable longhaired guinea pig, and the family gathered and exclaimed over it. Suddenly, we realized that Sadie was watching with large tears running down her face. Her feelings were obviously hurt. She was the nicest, sweetest dog ever. -- J.A., Naples, Fla.

DEAR J.A.: Thank you for confirming that some dogs can be moved to tears. Just as people cry for different reasons, so do some of our canine companions.

In humans, shedding tears has evolved from being lacrimation to protect the eyes and lubricate the cornea to a social signal. A similar process may be under way with dogs after many thousands of years associating with humans. This association, confirmed by recent cognitive behavior research on dogs, is based on their innate capacity to learn the meaning of human gestures such as pointing at an object. Dogs, like other social animals, also probably possess so-called mirror neurons in their brains, enabling them to decode body language signals and underlying emotions on the basis of their own subjective feelings. Many dogs will show distress or concern and affection when a human family member is crying, often licking the tears. It is a relatively small step for a dog to then cry to express emotional distress. This may be a spontaneous rather than deliberate act, but one facilitated nonetheless by human social interactions.

OREGON COURT UPGRADES STATUS OF ANIMALS

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that abused and neglected animals will be considered sentient victims, not just property, for the purpose of sentencing a perpetrator in a recent case. The person in question was convicted of second-degree animal abuse regarding the mistreatment of dozens of horses, goats and other animals.

Most states allow people and corporations to be victims, but animals are considered property. The judicial system in the U.S. at both state and federal levels has long resisted such humane, enlightened initiatives. This is a sad, if not outmoded, attitude toward fellow creatures whose moral and legal standing in this culture need to be elevated if we are to call ourselves civilized.

(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: We have a 4 1/2-year-old female Chihuahua named Angel. She is an alert and friendly dog, but she has one quirk that we do not understand.

The problem that causes concern is her licking. If you sit next to her on the couch, she will reach her paws out and pull your hand over to her. Then she will start to lick and may do so for 10 or 15 minutes if allowed to.

But it is not just people she licks. She will lick upholstered furniture like the couch until the area she is licking becomes soaked. Since she is something of a burrower, she may be under a blanket, licking away, and we are not even aware of it.

We feed her Purina Pro Plan for small breed dogs. We wonder if this licking is due to some kind of dietary deficiency, and, if so, what we need to do to correct it. -- P.B., Manassas, Va.

DEAR P.B.: Your dog's licking is probably a neurotic obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that should be evaluated by a veterinarian. It may be resolved, which will improve the quality of your dog's life -- and yours, too.

Compulsive licking can also be a sign of discomfort caused by periodontal disease or other oral problems, which the veterinarian will consider. Another strong possibility is digestive discomfort.

If there are no oral health issues, I would transition your dog onto one of the dog food brands that carry my seal of approval on my website, DrFoxVet.com, or look up my home-prepared dog food recipe. Soy ingredients and some cereal grains can cause serious digestive problems in dogs.

If your dog does not improve after six to eight weeks on a new diet coupled with safe chew toys to play with and as much physical activity outdoors as possible, she may have an anxiety-driven OCD. Psychotropic drugs such as Prozac have proved very effective for dogs with this condition.

DEAR DR. FOX: My indoor male cat is about 9 years old. Lately, he's been limping or favoring his right hind leg or hip area.

Sometime last year, he may have fallen from a cat climbing tower or window and landed wrong. We're not sure exactly what happened, but he avoids climbing the tower now. His vet thinks he has some arthritis due to the probable injury and the fact that he is a large-framed cat who weighs 14 or 15 pounds.

My vet has given me a sample of tramadol to try for him as needed for pain relief. I have heard that the taste of the tablet is very bitter and that he could foam at the mouth after taking it. Aside from the bitter taste, are there any serious side effects of using this drug as needed for my cat?

As a side note, he is also asthmatic and has been on a daily regimen of inhaled Flovent and albuterol for about six years. He is very good about this routine. -- L.W., Alexandria, Va.

DEAR L.W.: After middle age, many cats suffer from chronic arthritis, which is often only diagnosed when they take a tumble because of reduced mobility, like yours probably did.

The tramadol will give some pain relief, but I would not advise long-term use. Fish oil is something I recommend frequently because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Massage therapy and acupuncture can be beneficial, ideally done in-home by a qualified therapist or trained veterinarian. There are schools for pet massage -- just search the Internet -- and my book, "The Healing Touch for Cats," is used by many for in-home therapy.

You are fortunate that your cat accepts the inhalation therapy. Many cats protest this and are stressed by the experience. With patience, many often come to accept the treatment -- no doubt because of the associated relief.

In all cases of diagnosed asthma, food allergy and heart disease must be ruled out. A change in diet -- trying various formulations -- might be all your cat needs if this has not been considered before.

(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.)