DEAR DR. FOX: A recent Animal Doctor column addressed carsickness in dogs. Our poodle has no problems with cars -- he rides many miles with us every summer. But then we took him boating, and he got seasick.

Still, he loved going to the beach and frolicking with our kids, until the authorities posted a "No Dogs on the Beach" ordinance, and we couldn't include him on our excursions. He's a smart dog and could tell when we were going (we'd be putting our bathing suits on). He would sit by the front door, panting and whimpering to go. We tried not saying the words, but spelling them out -- "b-e-a-c-h" and "b-o-a-t" -- he still knew what we were up to.

It's heart-wrenching leaving him behind watching us drive away. Do you have any suggestions? -- M.K., Naples, Fla.

DEAR M.K.: Try my remedy for your dog's motion/seasickness: 1/2-teaspoon freshly chopped ginger root in a small ball of cottage cheese or peanut butter given 30 minutes before the boat ride. Put a bandana with a few drops of lavender oil around his neck. This will help calm him. The ginger will settle his stomach and is a potent anti-nausea herb that is used to alleviate morning sickness in pregnant women. If your dog is not a standard poodle, reduce the amount of ginger accordingly. The only harm of an overdose could be that he might throw it up.

As for beaches closed to dogs, there should be a "dog time" allotment, and an inspector posted who levies a massive fine on anyone who does not poop-scoop at once.

DEAR DR. FOX: Jake is an 8-year-old neutered male cat who came to me as a young stray. He has a very shaggy coat, and it turns out he's a Maine coon, although he must have been the runt of the litter since he never got larger than 10 to 11 pounds.

During a routine examination, my veterinarian found a mass in Jake's abdomen that he decided, after various tests, was probably a tumor of the spleen. That wasn't the case -- it turned out to be an enormous hair ball in Jake's stomach. The vet said he'd never seen anything like it before. He kept it to show me after the surgery, and it was the size of my fist.

Needless to say, the cat feels much better and eats better with this thing gone, but what can I do to keep this from happening again? Jake is a meticulous groomer, and he spits up hair balls like any normal cat, though that obviously wasn't bringing up most of what he's swallowed. -- C.H., Bowie, Md.

DEAR C.H.: I hope that people with cats will take note of Jake's massive fur ball. This is a not-uncommon issue with cats, and if not treated, it can be fatal.

Daily brushing is part of the solution, but not for too long, because it may stimulate more fur growth and shedding. Just brush your cat briefly to remove already-shed fur trapped in the coat.

A few drops of fish oil or 1/2 teaspoon of organic butter in your cat's food daily may help improve coat health. Adding a teaspoon of soaked psyllium husks or cooked mashed green or butter beans to the food can provide some fiber in the diet that can stimulate digestion and the passage of small accumulations of fur in the stomach. Some people find a teaspoon of olive oil helps prevent fur balls and periodic retching of fur from the stomach.

For one of our cats, providing a few leaves of crushed catnip triggers almost immediate vomiting and is done once a month or so. This results in a small "sausage" of fur being expelled from the body. My theory is that swallowed fur is biologically adaptive in the wild, binding up small chewed bones and insect parts to reduce internal injury.

(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 four pets -- two cats and two dogs -- who all get along very well. Our spayed female papillon has some dominance issues. She always wants to be in front when we go on walks, and she barks at every single dog, human, deer, cat -- whatever she sees or hears.

I would like to train her to stop, but I want to use positive reinforcement only. What do you suggest? I have seen some barking collars in catalogs and have been tempted to try one, but I don't like the idea of spraying her little face every time she opens her mouth. -- C.M.M., Silver Spring, Md.

DEAR C.M.M.: Some behaviors are so instinctively hardwired and reinforced by an element of obsessive-compulsive disorder that they are a challenge to inhibit. There is also a size issue, similar to some sort of Napoleon complex: The smaller the dog (like your little papillon), the more it barks.

First, don't use a collar when out on walks -- this could injure her neck and windpipe. Rather, fit her with a comfortable harness. Before resorting to an anti-bark collar, try click-reward training.

Get your dog used to hearing a clicker (available in most pet stores), and, after clicking, get her to sit and stay before receiving a treat. Once she's condition-trained, use the clicker to distract her when she barks on your walks; reward her only when she sits and remains quiet. Be sure she is hungry before walks, and, as I constantly advise, dogs are best fed after, and not before, they are walked or allowed out to run and play.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have read many of the articles on your website and have purchased a copy of your latest book, "Animals and Nature First." You cover many different topics and areas of expertise way beyond the scope of your Animal Doctor column. For us pet owners, can you give a synopsis of how your concerns for the environment and for public health relate to many Animal Doctor issues and what difference can we pet owners make? -- R.E., Silver Spring, Md.

DEAR R.E.: I appreciate the thoughtful nature of your letter and your challenge to provide a synopsis of my concerns and how we can all make a difference. Here you go:

-- Embrace the vision of One Health, where progress in human health is inseparable from animal health and a healthy environment.

-- Become environmentalists. Eliminate the use of all pesticides in and around your home and garden and on your pets.

-- Become kitchen/food anarchists, supporting local farmers markets, purchasing organically certified food (including pet food) and preparing more of your own meals from scratch. Follow the dictum of Hippocrates: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

-- Set up animal health/wellness exams for you animal companions that do not include animal booster vaccinations. Support national organizations such as Earthjustice, Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group, Greenpeace, World Vets and Animal Welfare Institute. Visit holisticvetlist.com to find a holistic veterinarian in your area.

-- Support your local animal shelter/humane society, Audubon Society or other local environmental and wildlife protection organization.

-- If you are a parent, look at what is being provided in school lunches. Get rid of soda pop and candy dispensers, and be sure environmental and animal protection issues are being included in food decisions.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a pet rat that I took to the vet because she seemed to breathe noisily. She was fine otherwise -- healthy appetite, drinks plenty of water, playful and no discharge from the eyes or nose. Poop and pee are normal.

The vet decided to keep her for three days and quoted me a price of $250. When I went to pick her up, it was $450. Needless to say, I was upset. I talked to them twice a day when she was there, and they never said the price was going to be so much.

They gave her antibiotics and breathing ointments twice a day. She is home now and is still a noisy breather, but is fine otherwise. I feel they should have let me know of the new charges. -- M.S., High Ridge, Mo.

DEAR M.S.: It is quite beside the point that you could have replaced your pet rat many times over for the $450 that was charged for veterinary care -- there was no significant improvement!

There is a segment of the veterinary profession that puts business and profits before appropriate, ethical and cost-conscious animal care.

You should file a complaint along with an itemized bill to the state board of veterinary examiners and the Better Business Bureau. Did the attending veterinarian ask about or examine what food and bedding material you provided? Moldy food pellets could be a factor. More likely, irritating volatile oils from cedar shavings or dust and mold spores in bedding/cage litter material causes loud breathing. I presume your rat's enclosure is kept clean and is adequately ventilated.

(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 enjoyed reading your article on the 78-year-old woman who recently adopted a cat. I, too, adopted a cat, and I am 76 years old.

The cat is very comforting to me, and he is an excellent companion. My wife passed away two years ago, and anyone who goes through this stressful experience understands what it is all about. You get very lonely and at times don't know if you will get through another day without your significant other.

I will be away for one week soon, and I am thinking about leaving the cat downstairs rather than letting him roam the entire home while I'm gone. The downstairs area is large and provides enough space for the cat, his litter box and food. Is this a good idea? I have a pet sitter who will come in once a day to feed him.

Any thoughts you may have will be appreciated. Thank you. -- P.E., Port Republic, Md.

DEAR P.E.: You have my condolences regarding the loss of your wife, and I trust that other readers will consider, as you did, adopting animal companions because of their phenomenal healing powers and the fact that they need good homes.

But always consider the animal's age -- your cat might outlive you. What provisions have you made in your will? Adopting an older animal who will probably not outlive you might be more humane.

Have your pet sitter come in at least twice a day to clean out the litter box, feed, water, sit with and pet/groom the cat. Maybe set up a routine to switch the TV or radio on so the cat feels less alone. If your cat is used to having access to the entire house, confining him to the basement while you are gone could be extremely traumatic, so I'd say no to that. Have the pet sitter come visit as often as possible while you are still there so your cat will be less afraid of a relative stranger when you are gone.

I advise in-home cat sitting rather than boarding a cat. I am in total shock at what seem to be the standard cat boarding facility cage and "condo" dimensions. These range from 3 by 4 feet to 4 by 6 feet floor space with heights varying from 3 to 4 feet. I found only two places in the area where I live (Minneapolis) where I would ever consider boarding a cat -- the better ones have windows and lots of space, including stand-up room for a human. I wonder why such small spaces are considered acceptable for cats but not for dogs?

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 15-year-old black and tan longhaired dachshund who does this strange thing out in the yard. He has a figure eight worn into the grass, and he walks it constantly. He is losing weight from all this walking. He's always hungry, but seems fine for a 15-year-old dog. Do you have an explanation for his behavior? I would love to hear what you think. -- J.W., St. Charles, Mo.

Dear J.W., What you describe is an obsessive-compulsive behavior more commonly seen in caged zoo animals and breeding sows in pig factories confined in narrow crates their entire lives; it is called stereotypic behavior.

Repetitive movements may be self-comforting and result in the production of natural opiates in the body, which, in turn, give the activity an addictive element. The underlying cause in your dog could be some discomfort, which he is trying to relieve. This discomfort could be physical, as from chronic bowel inflammation or a brain tumor, or from increased anxiety.

A full veterinary check-up is called for, and if he is in good physical health -- and I would not advise costly tests considering his advanced age -- a very light dose of alprazolam (like Xanax) to see if it is anxiety-related may be the best treatment option. You can also give him a higher fat and protein diet with supplements to help improve his physical condition -- provided his kidney function is good.

(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.)