DEAR DR. FOX: I have a behavioral question concerning my 8 1/2-year-old male West Highland white terrier. We love him dearly, and he is our only pet. He has never been neutered, but he is confined to our house and property.

We have him on Royal Canin dog food. We treat him every so often to real meat -- leftover steak, hamburger, turkey, chicken, etc. -- that he loves. However, after eating the meat, he will find one of his stuffed animal toys and pick it up very gently in his mouth. He then walks around slowly and whines or whimpers and will not put the toy down. He seems reluctant to let go of it and treats it as if it were his puppy. This ritual never fails -- it occurs every time he eats meat (and only meat).

Is this normal? What is happening here? We are very curious. -- G. & M.M., Jessup, Md.

DEAR G & M.M.: In my opinion, your Westie is exhibiting a unique behavioral ritual, the interpretation of which calls for some contemplation and conjecture.

He seems to feel such contentment after having a treat of meat, rather than highly processed manufactured food, that his paternal instincts are aroused. Some male dogs, like their wolf ancestors, will regurgitate food for their pups. His toy that he gently carries around is a partial acting out of this ritualistic food-sharing behavior.

As a test, see how he responds when given a raw, meaty beef shank bone to chew on. You might consider including more whole food ingredients in your dog's daily diet, such as corn- and soy-free manufactured dog foods and my home-prepared recipe, posted on my website, DrFoxVet.com.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a beloved 14-year-old dog who will be 15 in December. I feed him your brown rice diet, and he does very well on it. He has some hearing loss due to his age, but overall is doing well health-wise.

I have one concern, however: He licks the carpet a lot. I wonder if he might need something else in his diet, or if it might be an emotional issue. How do I correct it? Thank you for any advice you may have and for your columns, which I read regularly. -- L.S., Cresaptown, Md.

DEAR L.S.: You are correct that your old dog's obsessive licking behavior could have an emotional basis or another cause. Physical discomfort (for various reasons ranging from cancer and arthritis to dental or chronic digestive problems) can lead to comfort seeking and stress-relieving licking and chewing -- sometimes a paw, other times the edging of carpet.

I would advise a full veterinary examination and take it from there. Digestive enzymes, probiotics, safe chew toys or a piece of raw beef shank bone may be beneficial, depending upon the outcome of the examination and what conditions are suspected of causing his obsessive behavior.

Don't rule out boredom and the need for more activity and stimulation, which may be facilitated by seeing to his comfort. He may be less active because of arthritis pain or from being overweight, conditions which could be at the root of his discomfort.

(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 two West Highland white terriers. The problem is that our Westies, Sammy and Rosie, keep barking. My neighbors have erected a guillotine for my husband and me. I will admit it is our fault -- the dogs came to us with papers and the assurance that they were partly potty trained. Ha! Potty training was as easy as it could be with me in the hospital and my husband working and trying to train the dogs.

They bark because they have had little training. I will be able to walk them in about a month, and I will use a Gentle Leader. But how do I train them to not bark? None of the other dogs in the neighborhood bark. What do I do? I am retired and love them dearly, but even I cannot stand the barking. -- S.B., Columbia, Md.

DEAR S.B.: Barking dogs are a nuisance in many neighborhoods -- even my own.

You must first note when and what triggers your dogs to bark and work from there. Your dogs bark when they are let out into the yard, so take them for a walk instead, especially when it is early in the morning and barking will awaken neighbors.

External sounds can be a trigger, such as delivery vehicles. Buy a clicker from the pet store with which to train your dogs. Give a few clicks as soon as they bark, and redirect their attention with a favorite toy or a nutritious treat. When they are quiet, use the clicker to get their attention, tell them to sit and stay and then give them another treat. Once they are conditioned, try cross conditioning: calling out sit and stay when they bark, and then give them either a treat or a toy. This will keep them guessing and distracted.

There are some well-designed anti-barking collars you might try -- not the jolting electric shock types, but those that make an irritating buzz or shoot out a squirt of a mildly irritating botanical essence to deter the dog.

If these measures -- along with long walks, lots of exercise, drawing the curtains and leaving a radio on when they are alone -- do not work, ask your veterinarian for a referral to an animal behavior therapist.

Terriers like yours can be tough to teach when and when not to bark, but a good behavioral therapist may be your best solution.

ANOTHER PET FOOD RECALL

Breeder's Choice Pet Food has recalled AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Formula because of a possible salmonella health risk.

The single manufacturing batch of dog food was distributed to retailers and distributors in the states of California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Virginia and Washington.

For more information about the Sept. 11 recall, call Breeder's Choice Customer Service representatives at 1-866-500-6286 or visit Avoderm.com.

NEW PAPERBACK EDITION OF PET FOOD BOOK

Animal Doctor columnist Dr. Michael W. Fox and distinguished veterinarians Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins and Marion E. Smart reveal what really goes into manufactured pet food and offer concerned pet owners a nutritionally sound alternative in their book "Not Fit for a Dog! The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Food," now available in paperback.

"Not Fit for a Dog!" educates readers with extensive information on animal nutrition, including:

-- How to read pet food labels and what ingredients to avoid.

-- How to save on vet bills by preventing diet-related disease in pets.

-- What diet-related diseases your pet may already have and how a change in diet can help.

-- Why veterinarians are often ignorant of the health effects of manufactured pet food.

-- Why cats are more at risk from dry pet foods than dogs.

-- Why many "prescription" diets for pets are, in fact, drugs.

-- Why the dangerous practices of the pet food industry are a sign of dangers in the human food supply.

"Not Fit for a Dog!" shows readers a better way to take care of their pets -- a wholesome, natural diet made from real food, including easy-to-prepare recipes for pet foods and treats made from organic ingredients that will keep pets healthy and satisfied. Comprehensive information about pet nutrition and raw food options will help readers customize foods to their pets' individual needs and make informed choices when buying dry and canned pet foods. Combining science, social concern and compassion, "Not Fit for a Dog!" presents a plan for a healthier way of life for pets and humans.

Find "Not Fit for a Dog!" at QuillDriverBooks.com and Amazon.com.

(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 have a 5-year-old yellow tabby who gets rodent ulcers on her upper lip. This occurs every six weeks to three months. She has had them since she was 2 years old.

The vet has been giving her laser treatments for the past year. She gets a Depo-Medrol shot. This time she had to take ClindaCure twice a day.

I feed her out of stainless steel and ceramic bowls that I disinfect with baking soda and vinegar. She eats 9Lives and Fancy Feast dry food; Whiskas, Friskies and Fancy Feast wet food; and Friskies treats.

I was told to put aloe vera on her lips. But should it be from the live plant -- I thought it was poisonous to cats -- or the gel from a tube? I would appreciate any advice you might have. -- R.A.S., Maysville, W.Va.

DEAR R.A.S.: Rodent ulcers are disfiguring skin lesions afflicting the upper lip region of cats. They may be triggered by a contact allergy to certain food ingredients, drinking water contaminants or leached chemicals from plastic food and water bowls. The cat's raspy tongue aggravates the problem with constant licking, which removes medications applied to help heal the ulcer.

I would give your cat pure, filtered water and switch to a single protein or hypoallergenic cat food such as Wellness or Organix. Alternatively, try my home-prepared cat food recipe (on my website, DrFoxVet.com). After two weeks or so, switch from chicken to turkey, then to lamb -- see how your cat responds. If she licks more, you may have identified which protein is triggering the allergy.

Some cat experts believe that aloe vera is toxic to cats. Organic olive oil has amazing healing properties and is safe to consume. This may be of benefit applied four to six times daily, cuddling your cat to stop any licking for as long as you can.

DEAR DR. FOX: My dog likes to eat dirt! I try to stop him, but when he is free in our yard he will go to one corner, dig in the soil and gobble some before I can stop him. He never seems to eat much, and he never throws up, though his poop is darker the next day. Should I let him continue or put a muzzle on him? -- K.L.P., St. Louis

Dear K.L.P.: Dogs and many wild animal species regularly eat dirt, often selecting a particular kind. Clay contains gut-soothing compounds similar to kaolin, and beneficial minerals like iron and magnesium; dark, humus-containing soil rich in beneficial bacteria helps improve digestive processes and, acting as a probiotic, boosts immune system functions.

I say all things in moderation, even for dirt eating. A 30-pound dog can eat a tablespoon once in a while. If your dog is obsessive about it and is constantly seeking out dirt to eat, he may have an underlying medical problem such as anemia.

Living in relatively sterile indoor environments and being fed heat-sterilized, processed pet foods, cats and dogs may suffer from intestinal dysbiosis -- a deficiency in the variety and number of beneficial bacteria in their digestive systems. This may be aggravated by the inclusion of GMOs (genetically engineered corn and soy) in their diets. (For details, see my article on my website, DrFoxVet.com.) This is why some pet food manufacturers are now adding probiotics to their dry dog and cat foods, and it is the reason why I advise the routine inclusion of quality probiotics, present in organic sources like plain cultured yogurt and kefir, in your pets' diets.

(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.)