DEAR DR. FOX: I have an 11-year-old spayed female mix-breed dog. She has a musty odor that will not go away, even after a bath. I have changed her food to no avail.

Do you have any suggestions that might help? -- E.B., Archdale, N.C.

DEAR E.B.: Older dogs often develop a distinct odor, which can be quite penetrating when one is close to them or sharing the same room. The smell is usually associated with the kidneys and liver not working as well as they should in ridding the body of waste products and toxins.

A generic approach to this geriatric issue is a regimen of regular exercise, weight management and a weekly "dry bath" (rubbing in and brushing out baby powder to absorb and remove odors). You might try various natural herbal spray products like PetzLife Bath Eaze, a bathless shampoo and conditioner, and Odorz Off bedding odor remover.

Launder your dog's bedding weekly using detergent with natural fragrances. In many instances, a periodic shampoo with Selsun Blue and daily supplements of brewer's yeast and flaxseed oil (about 1 teaspoon of each) in the dog's food can be of great help.

My old dogs always seemed happier and livelier when they smelled better, and I am sure many dogs become depressed by their stink.

A change in body odor can also mean a change in activity and the content of the skin's oil. A full veterinary checkup would be worth the investment, if you trust your nose as a potential diagnostic tool. Some smelly old dogs, for example, have poor thyroid or adrenal gland function, and no amount of shampooing is going to address the cause.

DEAR DR. FOX: Are wood pellets safe for kitty litter? I know pine is not good for cats, but I heard some shelters use the pellets. I use World's Best, but it's expensive with five cats. -- S.P., Minnetonka, Minn.

DEAR S.P.: Wood pellets (and also cedar chips/shavings) may contain dioxins and other potentially toxic chemicals, especially if made from treated lumber, and their absorbency of cat urine may be poor. Recycled newspaper pellets, like Purina's Yesterday's News, is more absorbent and may be safer than wood pellets. I have tried various cat litters, including imported coconut fiber, which can be very messy. In spite of the expense, I use the corn-based World's Best cat litter.

Some cats are allergic to corn in their food. I know of one cat whose cystitis cleared up after she was given a corn-free diet, but came back when a corn-based litter was used.

As a note, clay-based litters can be dusty and contain silica and other particulate material. Also, I advise that you not use scented cat litter. Cats can become allergic or develop hypersensitivity to synthetic fragrances, including room air fresheners.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have an energetic and bored 5-year-old (rescued) cat -- a part flame, part Siamese named Ziggy. He's very bright and can open doors and respond to commands. I'd like to teach him more tricks, but I haven't found anything of interest. Is there a website you might suggest? -- B.D., Leland, N.C.

DEAR B.D.: I am glad to learn of your interest in making life more stimulating for Ziggy. My book "Supercat: How to Raise the Perfect Feline Companion" has a full section on providing environmental enrichment, games and challenging IQ tests for cats.

Don't forget the best provision for a single cat is a companion, since two cats living together are generally healthier and happier than those who live alone.

(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 followed your advice about giving catnip to my three cats, and visited your website archives to learn more. Two of them love it! I grow my own in my yard, sun dry the herb and give them a pinch every few days. They get so relaxed!

I decided to give some fresh flower heads and leaves to the two who love it, and one immediately puked. He never did this when I gave him the crushed dry leaves and flowers. Cleaning it up, I found two fur balls. Maybe that's another use for this great herb. I make my own tea with it some evenings to relax. -- G.L., Roanoke, Va.

DEAR G.L.: First, let's give salutations to the many herbs in our yards and roadsides that can offer us and other animals so many healing benefits, and which most people wage war against with herbicides, not knowing how harmful these chemicals can be. We kill herbs that have many medicinal properties, but our ultimate healing will come when we change this adversarial and ignorant attitude toward all wild things that we seek to control and exterminate.

My two cats also enjoy the occasional pinch of dried catnip. One even vomited fur balls less than a minute after he ate the fresh herb, like your cat. Fur balls can be harmful to cats, and many do not regurgitate them; they can fill up the stomach, interfere with digestive processes and even cause intestinal blockage. Perhaps this is a new use for this herb, and I would like to hear from other cat owners and feline medicine experts on this topic.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a cat with mild cardiac issues. He is on a low dose of baby aspirin and atenolol. Vets always want to clean his teeth -- he has tartar and a couple spots of redness on his gum -- but this cardiologist believes that while he would probably be fine with general anesthesia, in the absence of an emergency there's no reason to take the risk. He mentioned some vets have loved PetzLife, and maybe I should try it. He said as far as he knows, it won't interfere with medication.

What is better for cats, peppermint or salmon? -- J.K., Minneapolis

DEAR J.K.: I am glad to hear that your veterinary cardiologist is on the ball and acknowledging the benefits of PetzLife oral care products. I would use the salmon-flavored product that my cats like! Be sure to not overdo applications and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Giving your cat a raw chicken wing tip with all the skin from the wing or a thin strip of raw beef to chew on once a week will help keep teeth clean and will help remove the tartar loosened by the PetzLife gel or spray. Chicken skin and raw beef are like kitty dental floss, but scald them to kill any salmonella and other potentially hazardous bacteria.

(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: In May, we adopted two male kittens -- brothers and littermates. They are neutered. They get along very well, and they play together, groom each other and sleep together. I have three litter boxes (two are covered boxes, one is not. All get scooped two times a day.

Occasionally, B used the bathtub or sink to urinate in, but in early October, he pooped in the sink. Both cats love to drink out of the sink if I am there getting ready for work.

We have no small children or other pets. We feed the cats downstairs by their litter boxes so they know where they are located. The boxes are in a quiet spot -- no one bothers them when they're going. I put bowls of water in the areas where they're peeing to try and stop the behavior, since it is difficult to close off the rooms. That seemed to work until this morning. While I was trying to sleep, B pooped in the bathtub in the master bath, and he used towels to cover it up, even though there was a bowl of water in the tub, from which he and the other cat drink.

We believe B's brother -- the runt of the two -- is now the dominant cat. He can easily take B's toy or treat from him without any fuss. I don't know if this behavior is due to trying to establish dominance or something else.

I have had cats in the past, but I've never experienced this sort of behavior. I don't know where else to turn as my vet cannot find any reason for this behavior. My vet says he has heard of cats (especially neutered males) liking the texture/feel of porcelain sinks, and he believes that the behavior may be in response to an issue the brothers are having. My fear is that this is becoming a learned trait and will be impossible to stop. Any suggestions? -- R. & N.K., Houston

DEAR R. & N.K.: The out-of-place toilet behavior you describe in your cat is not uncommon. I would consider removing the litter box covers, which some cats detest. Fixing dripping faucets switches off many cats' delight in sipping and playing with the drops, so I'd suggest purchasing a plug-in drinking fountain. Cats, especially ones eating dry food, need to drink plenty of water, and a bubbling water dispenser attracts them.

After ruling out cystitis and constipation, my solution for my cat, Igor, who began pooping in my sink and peeing in the bathtub, was to put a few inches of water in both sink and tub for a few days. Most cats do not like to get wet, and this may be your best solution. I do not believe that this behavior has anything to do with their interrelationship.

DEAR DR. FOX: Six years ago, we brought home our female bichon from the vet's office after the breeder left her there when the vet delivered her puppies surgically. She was not socialized, and she didn't know how to walk with a collar and leash. We gave her the love and happy home she never had before.

She has been diagnosed with incurable kidney disease. She was dehydrated, vomiting and quit eating -- she always loved to eat. We want to give her the best possible medical care. Our vet hydrated her for a week and put her on antibiotics and nausea medication. She is starting to eat better now, but we understand that a diet for renal failure is necessary.

Do you have a good and tasty recipe that we can prepare for her? She is picky about her food -- if it doesn't smell good, she won't eat it.

We would appreciate any medical advice and a healthy dinner recipe you may have to keep our sweet little Sophie as healthy and happy as possible. -- M.K., St. Louis

DEAR M.K.: Chronic renal failure in dogs and cats takes more than a manufactured prescription diet to help maintain. Many of these special diets are unpalatable and high in cereals that may aggravate some of the consequences of kidney disease, especially when the patient is losing protein in the urine.

It is critically important to have the dog's creatinine level in the blood monitored, along with serum calcium and phosphorus. Potassium deficiency may call for appropriate supplementation, and high blood pressure and anemia need to be checked for and treated. Fish oil is one supplement that can help improve kidney function.

For home-prepared diets for this condition, visit secure.balacneit.com. My website, DrFoxVet.com, will also give further insights into dealing with this all-too-common canine malady.

REVERSE ZOONOSES: PEOPLE GIVING THE FLU TO ANIMALS

If you get influenza this winter, minimize contact with your pets because the virus may be transmissible to cats, dogs, ferrets and other species. Precautions like washing hands, wearing a mask and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated public places -- along with good nutrition and supplements such as zinc and vitamins A, C and D -- may be more effective and less risky for some people than being vaccinated. Different flu strains are constantly evolving, which is why vaccinations can never guarantee total protection. Those working with animals on farms, horse stables, zoos and research laboratories should take time off if they get the flu.

(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.)