DEAR DR. FOX: My 9-year-old cocker spaniel has several health issues, but the most recent one is the growth of warts in her ears. They are quite large and far down in her ear canal.

The vets I go to are reluctant to remove them surgically since they are so difficult to get to and would be painful. The warts stop up her ear and keep it infected.

Do you know of anything I can do for this poor dog? I have tried vitamin E, and it is working to some extent. -- A.G., Luray, Va.

DEAR A.G.: Poor cocker spaniels suffer from a human-created (anthropogenic) disease susceptibility caused by genetic selection for heavy, long, pendulous ears. There should be a change in their breed standards, selecting for dogs with ears that are shorter and not so heavy. In the interim, many enjoy a better quality of life having their earflaps (pinnas) tied with a ribbon on the top of their heads for part of the day. The ear canals can then be ventilated and dried out after routine cleaning. If you have never bow-tied her ears as part of the treatment protocol, I would start today.

So many cockers suffer from itchy, smelly, chronically infected and inflamed ear canals. Good nutrition rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps, as does a zymogen enzyme-based cleaner or diluted apple cider vinegar and olive oil applied after drying the ears out, which can work wonders in helping prevent more serious problems like the one your poor dog is suffering from. Try various topical treatments to reduce the inflammatory growths and make her life more comfortable. She may even become a better candidate for corrective surgery to open up both external ear canals.

DEAR DR. FOX: My daughter is having her first child. She has three cats who she's had for several years. My concern is for the baby's safety after he is born.

Are there any precautions my daughter can or should take regarding the cats not injuring the baby? -- M.J.L., Baltimore

DEAR M.J.L.: Most cats are gentle, curious and often affectionate with human infants. Some may show fear and run away, or approach with evident concern in response to an infant's crying. Generally, cats habituate quickly to these distress calls, which are not unlike their own.

Cats have been blamed for smothering babies in their cribs -- the old myth is that they are trying to suck the milk out of the babies' mouths. Cats may lick regurgitated milk, but crib deaths are more likely attributable to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or to the baby being placed in the wrong sleeping position. Still, a large cat could lie across the baby's head or face and restrict breathing.

A baby placed face-up will flail hands and feet, which might get scratched by a playful cat. Your daughter should place a net over the crib to keep the cats out. She should have the cats checked for toxoplasmosis and ringworm. Get rid of any pediatrician who advises her to get rid of the 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: I am writing about our dog Patch, a 6-year-old cockapoo who weighs around 20 pounds.

Just over five years ago, she was tested for allergies that have resulted in an injection every 21 days. She is allergic to a number of things: certain weeds, trees, dust mites, molds and insects. The allergy serum is Liquid Gold by Varl. Patch gnawed and licked her paws excessively and scratched herself often.

I want to confirm what the veterinarian has assured me: The long-term use of the injections will not pose a health risk to my dog. Some friends have suggested that I could just give her Benadryl instead, but I wonder about its long-term effects as well.

I also have a question about episodes of vomiting that occur in the early morning (4 to 7 a.m.) and always as a yellowish (acidic?) bile. It happens two or three times a week, and Patch lets my husband or me know when it's coming. I can hear her stomach gurgling at these times and have noticed that if I give her something to eat (usually a treat since it's too early for her first meal) and massage her belly, the urge to throw up will sometimes pass.

I wonder if this is a sign of something serious, or if it is a matter of just keeping food in her belly. She eats Chef Michael's dry food mixed with Chef Michael's canned or chopped-up turkey or chicken twice a day. She is a somewhat picky eater. Earlier in her life I tried a number of organic or specialized dog foods, but she would not eat.

As far as her treats go, she receives a variety ranging from Milk-Bone MarO Snacks, Milk-Bone Mini's Flavor Snacks, Grand Champ Beef and Liver Snacks, PureBites Freeze Dried Beef Liver and PureBites Freeze Dried Chicken. After reading in the news about questions raised concerning the chicken jerky treats made with poultry from China, we stopped giving them to her.

I would appreciate any insight or suggestions you may have. -- P.B., Ashton, Md.

DEAR P.B.: Why are so many dogs (and children) suffering from multiple allergies that reflect a serious immune system dysfunction?

There are many factors to consider, from genetic/breed susceptibility to environmental, especially in-home chemicals, cleaners, detergents, synthetic fragrances and dust mites, from various food ingredients to exposure to pollen. Repeated vaccinations and anti-flea and -tick drugs must also be considered.

Which of the above possible contributing factors can you control? Many, indeed. Become a detective. Your home could be a toxic chemical environment.

Let your dog sleep on hot-water-only laundered cotton sheets. Give her three shampoos, spaced three to four weeks apart, with Selsun Blue medicated shampoo. Stop all treats, and have your veterinarian start your dog on a home-prepared elimination diet -- along with probiotics -- to help determine which food ingredients may be problematic for your dog. In addition, her kidney, pancreatic and liver functions need to be evaluated.

DEAR DR. FOX: First, thank you for your advice and books regarding cats and diet. About seven years ago, we adopted a young cat from the shelter who had what seemed to be a bowel disorder. Whenever he would use the litter box, we would find blood in his stool in addition to blood around the house. The vet suggested shots of cortisone, but this never worked. After reading what you had to say, we changed his food and he has been healthy ever since.

We have another cat who is about 9 years old. For the past few months, he has started to urinate on our basement floor. We are good about keeping the litter boxes cleaned and changed. We bought a black light to see if there was old urine in the basement that might be confusing him, but there was not. Since this has become such a problem, we no longer let the cats in the basement and have boxes now on the first floor. He does not do this on other floors of the house, only the basement. We prefer to have the boxes in the basement.

Do you have any thoughts on this? He seems happy, and we are very confused and frustrated by this. We've let him downstairs a few times since checking with the black light, and he will go on the floor while we are watching. -- C.P., St. Louis

DEAR C.P.: It would be helpful to readers if you could write back and let me know what food your first cat was being fed that was associated with his bowel problem and what dietary change brought him back to health.

As for your other cat who has a fixation on urinating on the basement floor: If the floor is covered with some form of matting, the surface may be a trigger. Certain textures are attractants for some cats, especially beanbag chairs, shag rugs and rubbery bed covers. Plain cement may contain earthy odors that can act as a trigger, since cats normally evacuate in the wild on the soil, usually digging a small pit, then covering over their excrement.

A penetrating enzyme cleaner may help, or you could try applying epoxy resin or a waterproof sealant.

(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 17 1/2-year-old West Highland terrier-mix has an odd problem, and my vet does not know what causes it.

As she is about to go out, as soon as she gets to the door, she backs up a bit and shakes her head from side to side -- sometimes her body shakes, too. However, when she is indoors at night, she has no problems.

The vet says she has no eye issues. She does have arthritis in her hips. Her appetite is good.

Last night at about 2:30 a.m., I heard her scratching a wartlike thing on her leg. When I went to put some medicine on it, she jumped up from her bed and went down the hall to the back door to go out. I let her out, and she had no shaking problems. But when she came back in, she paced back and forth between the bedroom and back door for an hour before I was able to lay her down on her bed. I stroked her neck until she fell asleep. She slept until about 9 this morning.

She did not have the shakes this morning. She ate a healthy amount of food, then laid down on her bed, getting up only for toilet or water.

I have medication for her warts and pain pills for her arthritis -- both are vet prescriptions. I hope you will have answers for me. My vet hasn't made any suggestion as to what her shaking problem is. -- B.M., Camp Springs, Md.

DEAR B.M.: In part because dogs and cats enjoy longer lives than in the past, we see more of them with age-related neurological and cognitive problems, including dementia.

Try giving your dog up to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, a few drops of fish oil (working up to 1 tablespoon) and one human multivitamin and multimineral supplement mixed in with her food per day. Discuss with your veterinarian supplements such as Resveratrol, Effac (esterified fatty acid complex), SAMe and choline, and also the potential benefits of various herbs such as ginkgo biloba, gotu kola and Asian ginseng.

A few drops of essential oil of lavender on a bandanna around her neck may help calm her -- anxiety is a signal aspect of canine dementia. Alternatively, valerian or Xanax should be discussed with your veterinarian. Prescribing the drug Selegiline can also be beneficial for old dogs like yours, but it needs careful monitoring.

DEAR DR. FOX: We recently moved our house and belongings 1/4 mile away from where we were before. Henry, our black 8-year-old cat, keeps crossing a busy road to return to his old home.

We've kept him inside the past several weeks, but this is not ideal. He often wakes up at 4 or 5 a.m. and starts yowling -- either for food or to use the outdoor facilities. (He has always used a litter box as a last resort.)

A neighbor loaned us a harness so I could let him out on our back patio and acclimate to his new surroundings. He slipped out of it, but I think this has potential if I can fasten it better without him strangling.

Any ideas? He spent only 20 to 30 percent of his time outdoors at the old house. -- R.B., Columbia, Md.

DEAR R.B.: Many cats do what yours is doing -- returning to the former home for reasons best known to cats. Some have journeyed incredible distances.

I applaud you for trying a cat harness, but it must be fitted properly to prevent escape. Since he enjoys the outdoors, a cat house or gazebo fitted with a covered litter box and shelter, plus a tree branch or cat gym to climb and laze on may satisfy his outdoor cravings.

You may want to consider adopting a healthy, easygoing cat of his approximate age and size -- perhaps a spayed female rather than a neutered male. Such companionship may turn him into a stay-at-home cat. The new cat should, of course, be strictly an indoor cat unless you have an outdoor enclosure for both of them.

(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.)