DEAR DR. FOX: I am writing regarding our 7-year-old neutered tuxedo shorthair cat. We wonder why he will occasionally walk up and down the hallway between our bedroom and living room, meowing loudly early in the morning. That's after he has been sleeping in bed with us. After the meowing, he will come back to bed with us until it's time to get up.

We think he is calling for his mother, who was killed and eaten by a coyote before he was weaned. He had to be bottle-fed.

Any information you can give will be greatly appreciated. -- M.L.S., Arlington, Va.

DEAR M.L.S.: I appreciate your interpretation of the genesis of your cat's early morning vocalizations. While cats, dogs and other animals can suffer separation anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), your cat was too young to have been harmed by the early separation from his mother. Being bottle-fed, he imprinted onto you; if he has no contact with other cats he may well wonder what or who he is.

His vocalizations are typical cat yowlings, to make contact with other cats. It's an instinctual behavior studied in detail by German ethologist Dr. Paul Leyhausen. He interpreted this behavior as a "calling to" and a "calling out," inviting other cats to come and socialize.

Older cats suffering from dementia or arthritic pain often yowl, especially in the evening and early morning. I advise a full physical for your cat. If he is otherwise healthy, consider adopting an easygoing adult cat. For steps to follow regarding introducing a new cat, check my website, DrFoxVet.com.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have an 11-year-old pit bull named Liz-ee. She had parvo as a puppy. The vet gave her no chance to live, but I nursed her back to health with antibiotics, colloidal silver, Pepto Bismol and Pedialyte.

For a few years, she was very healthy. But about five years ago, she developed a rash on her neck, face, tail and toes. It was a red, swollen, weepy rash. My vet gave me various creams to treat it topically, to no avail. He then gave her antibiotics, prednisone and shots of cortisone. She cleared up for a few weeks, only to have the rash return. She was treated for fleas and worms (no previous evidence of either), and I was referred to a local veterinary hospital with a dermatologist. After three surgical biopsies over the course of 12 months and many blood tests (all costing thousands of dollars), I was told that nothing was medically wrong with my dog. The dermatologist treated her with the same meds as my vet, only to have her clear up for a few short weeks. I am now told she should not continue to take all of these meds as it could hurt her kidney and liver function.

I came across one of your columns talking about how bad it is to give dogs canned food, so I took her off of all commercially prepared dog food about two months ago. I cook her a stew of chicken, beef, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, parsley, green beans, olive oil and eggs. But her skin is still breaking out in these rashes.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want my Liz-ee to live out her last years in comfort. -- C.W., Long Branch, N.J.

DEAR C.W.: I know how distressing atopic dermatitis can be for both your dog and you. It can be frustrating for veterinarians who need to explore every possible avenue of cause and possible cure, rather than relying on steroids.

I don't know where you read that canned foods can be bad for dogs -- I prefer most canned foods rather than most dry dog foods.

Go to my website to read my responses to many different skin-related conditions. Then give her fish oil or a teaspoon of organic butter plus probiotics (for omega-3 fatty acids). Use only one kind of animal protein in her diet for three to four weeks, then switch to another. Many dogs are allergic to chicken; some are allergic to other animal proteins, which a single-protein diet can help pinpoint.

I presume the veterinarians have ruled out mange. Your dog should be checked for hypothyroidism. A weekly rubdown with liquid aloe vera followed by a chamomile and oatmeal shampoo or similar soothing herbal blend may also help. Use cotton sheets for your dog to reduce any contact allergy with synthetic fibers in carpets and upholstery.

(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, as I am concerned about how we feed cats.

I have a friend who had to have her female cat put down in December. The cat was 12 years old. My friend fed the cat dry food only. The vet said the cat had kidney failure. She had stopped eating and drinking.

Now my friend has another cat she adopted from the SPCA, Annie. Annie is 6 years old, and she spent two years at the shelter. My friend was told to feed the cat both wet and dry food. She gave Annie both foods for a couple of weeks, but now she gives only the dry food.

Is it true that a cat should have both wet and dry food? Is it safe to feed a cat only dry food? I have a neighbor with a cat, and he told me the cat should have wet and dry food.

I don't want this cat to end up like my friend's last cat. I just want to know what's best for the cat. My friend doesn't believe me when I say she needs to feed both kinds. -- P.E.S., West Long Beach, N.J.

DEAR P.E.S.: I appreciate your letter and you have every reason to be concerned about your friend's cat being fed just dry cat food.

Many cats become addicted to a dry food diet, and it is highly advisable to feed a corn-free, grain-free dry food (you can soak it if the cat does not drink much water). For details, check my website, DrFoxVet.com, and visit feline-nutrition.org for excellent information.

Ideally, cats should be fed a cereal- and soy-free diet -- canned and dry -- or raw-frozen or rehydrated freeze-dried, nutritionally balanced formulations. This will help prevent a host of all-too-common diet-related diseases in middle and old age. Cats fed standard dry food continue to suffer in spite of the medical evidence of the harm of poor-quality protein and high fat content of so many manufactured dry cat foods.

DEAR DR. FOX: I agree with you 100 percent on using gloves while handling birds.

Years ago, I was trying to catch one of my finches with my bare hands. The bird bit my finger, but I didn't give it a second thought. Within 24 hours, a red streak was going up my arm. After going to an urgent care facility, it was determined that the finch bit me on a paper cut on that finger, and it became infected.

To this day, I wear heavy gloves when handling my birds -- they bite really hard and can break the skin. -- L.S., St. Louis

DEAR L.S.: Your letter is a welcome addition to the debate raised by one bird "expert" (J.M. from Naples, Fla.) who castigated me for advising people to wear gloves when handling birds who are not fully socialized or who are fearful or aggressive.

This should be standard practice for those with little expertise in handling birds, reptiles and small mammals. Bites and scratches can result in serious infections, and, as I stress repeatedly, the pain could make the handler drop the animal with potentially fatal consequences.

DOGS AND HUMANS WITH OCD SHARE BRAIN CHARACTERISTICS

Canine compulsive disorder is similar to human obsessive-compulsive disorder in practice and physiology, according to recent research. MRI images of 16 Doberman pinschers showed that those with canine compulsive disorder had structural brain characteristics similar to those of human patients with OCD. Veterinarians from Tufts and Purdue universities collaborated with McLean Hospital in Massachusetts for the study. The findings may help develop treatments for canines and humans with compulsive disorders.

(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 in reference to a recent letter in your column about a beagle/basset-mix who has a persistent itching/scratching/biting problem.

My cocker spaniel had the same problem a number of years ago. She was chewing herself apart. All four of her legs were chewed down to raw meat -- bleeding, filled with ugly sores and pus, and scaly.

I was at my wit's end watching our beloved pet suffer so much. Her vet didn't know what was causing the problem. I spent a small fortune on medications and shampoos that did nothing to help her. She was unable to sleep, and I would sit up with her, bathing her legs in milk to try to give her some relief.

One night when my husband and I were having dinner, he happened to mention that his boss had gone to the doctor because she was not feeling well. She had a rash and was breaking out with lesions. She learned that she was allergic to an artificial food colorant called Yellow No. 5.

While contemplating what my husband had just told me, it occurred to me that our cocker spaniel could have the same problem. I immediately pulled out her food and treats and started checking the ingredient labels. They were loaded with artificial colorants: Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2. I threw out all of her food and started her on new foods and treats that were all natural and had no colorants added.

By that evening, I noticed my dog was not biting and scratching as frequently, and she was able to get some sleep. By the following day, I noticed that she was not biting or scratching at all. Within two weeks, her sores healed, the scales were gone and her fur started to grow back.

I hope you will pass this information on to your readers, and advise them the check labels for colorants. Pet owners must be informed and alert as to what we are feeding our loved ones. It disgusts me to see what the animal food industry has done to our beloved pets. Pharmaceutical companies and veterinarians are also to blame for medications that are killing our animals. Pets and their owners deserve better than this; it's unfortunate that we must learn through word of mouth or trial and error.

Please keep up the work you are doing. I enjoy reading your column every week. -- C.R., Monroe, Conn.

DEAR C.R.: I give your letter five stars for its importance in identifying a significant health issue for all consumers, animal and human, concerning the use of coloring agents in various consumables. The United States government, long under the thumb of the chemical, food and beverage industries, has yet to act responsibly with regard to the various dyes used in manufactured foods. Some are prohibited in Europe because they are classified as carcinogens. Some may play a role in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and may cause seizures in epilepsy-prone dogs. I know of one dog who would have a seizure if given even a small piece of yellow or red cheese -- the natural dye from the tropical "lipstick," or achiote, tree, called annatto, being the culprit. There is a possibility that there was another ingredient in one of the treats or dog foods that caused your dog to develop these distressing allergy or hypersensitivity symptoms, but that would cost a small fortune to identify, and your common sense solution worked.

American pet owners, parents and consumers: Wake up!

DEAR DR. FOX: My daughter has a rescued female pit bull mix. She is a wonderful dog who was trained by the prison dog program in Florida.

The dog has developed a rear leg limp suddenly, and it is obviously painful. The veterinary school at the University of Florida made a diagnosis of detached tendons in both legs. The only solution they offered was surgery -- for $7,000. There is no way my daughter can afford that. She is beside herself. Help! -- B.W., Naples, Fla.

DEAR B.W.: This is a very prevalent affliction, in part related to the angulation of the hind legs, the weight of the dog, that age at which she was spayed and possibly an adverse reaction to distemper vaccinations. For details, see my review in my book "Healing Animals & the Vision of One Health."

The surgery fee at the veterinary college is exorbitant. Your daughter should get price quotes from private veterinary practices, some of which may arrange for payment by an installment schedule.

Smaller, lightweight dogs can get by without corrective surgery, but I see little alternative for an active, muscular dog like your daughter's, unless her weight and strenuous physical activity are kept under control and she is given a daily treatment of massage and physical therapy. Give it a try over a rigorous six- to eight-week period, and provide good joint-supportive supplements such as Cosequin, turmeric and fish oil.

(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.)