DEAR DR. FOX: Our 8-year-old female cat has been diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The vet has her on prednisone. She also had a shot of a longer-lasting antibiotic to treat bronchitis.

Is there anything we can do to help with the congestion/coughing? -- F.P., Stratford, Conn.

DEAR F.P.: I am concerned about this standardized treatment that proves effective most often on a one-shot, hit-and-miss basis and can have some harmful consequences from steroid and antibiotic side effects.

Many cats with symptoms like yours actually have food allergy-related asthma, and they get better when triggering ingredients -- such as corn or fish -- are removed from their diets.

I would follow a holistic and alternative approach. In addition, provide your cat with daily probiotics that have been shown to significantly help children suffering from asthma. Also check the archives on my website, DrFoxVet.com, for more suggestions.

Cats who are allowed outdoors and who kill and eat birds and small mammals should be checked for lungworm parasites, since some wild prey can carry these worms and infest cats, causing respiratory problems. Slugs and snails also carry a parasitic worm species that has been implicated in lung disease in dogs and foxes.

DEAR DR. FOX: I enjoyed your article "Handling poodle's eye tear stains" that appeared in our newspaper.

I used to be a Pet Nutrition Specialist for a popular pet food company and learned another valuable tip for getting rid of some dog tearstains: Try feeding the tearstained pet filtered water instead of tap water. Many times the stains will lessen or disappear if the pet is hypersensitive or allergic to the chemicals in tap water, such as chlorine and fluoride. I've passed along that tip to hundreds of pet parents, and most have come back to me thanking me because it solved the problem. -- D.T., St. Louis

DEAR DR. FOX: A reader wrote to you recently about his poodle's eye tearstains. I have a suggestion that worked for my white shih tzu-poodle mix.

While I was walking my dog about 4 1/2 years ago, a woman stopped to admire my little Danny Boy. Unfortunately, he had those horrible tearstains. While we were chatting, the woman told me she worked for a pet food company and suggested I not give my dog tap water, but bottled water. Immediately I started using what I had in the house (Iron Mountain). It took a couple of months, but it worked! No more stains!

Thanks for your dedication to all God's creatures. --M.B.S., St. Louis

DEAR D.T. and M.B.S.: Many thanks for your mutually supporting letters sharing your evidently effective remedy for tearstained faces in your dogs. This is a common problem and is yet another reason why dogs (and cats, too) should not be given municipal tap water to drink, the hazards of which are detailed in "Dr. Fox's Library" on my website.

(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 would like to know the easiest and fastest way to get rid of fleas on my three dogs.

They haven't had fleas in several years; they're inside dogs who are walked in the morning and evening, but evidently this is a bad year for fleas as my dogs have them.

You've mentioned diatomaceous earth and borate powder but fail to mention where to get these items. -- G R., Arlington, Va.

DEAR G.R.: Please read my special report on controlling fleas and ticks that is posted on my website DrFoxVet.com.

It is a detailed report on an integrated approach to keeping these noxious insects at bay. Essential tools include weekly vacuuming of the house, especially where pets sleep. Whole Foods market and some pet stores may carry diatomaceous earth, or go to perma-guard.com. For borate powder, go to fleabusters.com. The former you rub into your pets' fur; the latter you sprinkle in cracks and crevices around the house. I also endorse the new quassia-based, safe and effective herbal spray from PetzLife called Complete Coat. This product kills fleas and ticks and is harmless if the pet accidentally swallows a small quantity.

In addition, buy a flea comb to do daily coat checks. Give your dogs a daily dose of brewer's yeast in their food (1 teaspoon per 50 pounds of dog). Brewer's yeast is also good for cats at about 1/2 teaspoon daily for an average-sized cat.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a question for you about giardia. If a dog is a carrier, will that preclude the dog from being put up for adoption? That is the rumor going around at one of the shelters in St. Louis. I would like to know the facts, which is why I am asking you. -- H.S., St Louis

DEAR H.S: Giardia can be a problem in animal shelters. The first step to containing it is steam cleaning and the use of diluted bleach (one part bleach in 32 parts water) on kennel floor surfaces. Shelters should quarantine all incoming dogs and examine three fecal samples over a six-day period. If the dog tests positive, it should be treated with Fenbendzadole. All dogs should be bathed to remove any fecal residues that may contain this parasite.

Outdoor exercise areas should be considered infective if an afflicted dog -- even one who could be a carrier yet shows no symptoms -- has been out there. Such contaminated areas should be off-limits for four to six weeks.

Since this intestinal parasite can infect many different species (deer, cattle and other domestic livestock), I would act on the assumption that all dogs coming especially into rural shelters could be carriers, and, under the stress of being caught and held at the shelter, will likely develop symptoms. Strict hygiene, quarantine and testing are the best steps to prevent the spread of this infestation to other animals in the shelter and community.

(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 friend's dog came from a shelter and must have had some terrible experiences. At times, and for no reason that I can understand, when I am around the dog he will charge me. I do not understand what I am doing.

It seems to happen when I am close to my friend. At other times, he will come to me for petting, wagging his tail. He has some other issues -- flashing lights, thunder, charging when someone is picking up something off the floor, when I get close to his food bowl, mail trucks, mail carriers and other odd things.

Can you explain why he is acting strangely toward me at certain times? He has me baffled. -- N.L., Washington, D.C.

DEAR N.L.: You have every reason to be baffled by this "bipolar" dog. He is showing classic signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You must learn to initiate interactions around such an animal only after you have made eye contact with him and when he signals he wants interaction. Put away all expectations you've learned from your prior experiences with friendly dogs.

You need to empathize with his need for space and control -- fear and aggression are triggered when he feels threatened or blocked. Try motivating him with toys that may appeal to him, like a ball, squeaky toy or rope. Initiate the interactions by letting him have his way at all times. Such engagements may lead to play therapy, enabling him to gain trust and self-confidence.

Get him used to enjoying being groomed, and eventually massaged, which can result in miraculous transformations in dogs like him. Let me know how things turn out.

DEAR DR FOX: My 16-year-old pug has anal gland and ear problems. She's had her anal glands drained twice in the last six months, but she still scoots when I take her outside and scratches her ears.

She eats Rachael Ray's Nutrish (beef) mixed with cooked carrots or green beans. I give her Special K cereal for a snack. Can either of these products be causing her discomfort? -- L.W., Chapel Hill, N.C.

DEAR L.W.: I checked on the basic ingredients of your old dog's food: beef, chicken meal, ground rice, brown rice, soybean meal, whole grain corn, corn gluten meal, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) and dried plain beet pulp.

The brand claims, "No beef byproduct meal, fillers, wheat or wheat gluten," but what is beet pulp if it is not filler?

Stating that there is no wheat or wheat gluten but including lots of other gluten from corn, plus whole-grain corn and soybean meal, is disingenuous at best. I would not recommend this food when there are better formulas on the market. You may wish to try my recipe for home-prepared dog food and treats, purchasing known ingredients for human consumption in your grocery store.

Anal gland and chronic ear and skin problems are often associated with food allergy/hypersensitivity, which is what I suspect for your poor dog.

UPDATE FROM THE ORIGINAL LETTER WRITER:

DEAR DR. FOX: Thank you for the information on this dog food. After only one week off this food, all scratching of ears and scooting has stopped. She even seems livelier -- hopefully she will soon reach her 17th birthday.

I can't seem to find your recipe for homemade dog food on the website. Can you please give me the ingredients or where I can find it? I can't thank you enough for your advice. -- L.W.

DEAR L.W.: I appreciate your quick feedback about your dog's speedy recovery! Look on my website, DrFoxVet.com and click on "Dr. Fox's Library" for my home-prepared dog food recipe.

EUKANUBA DOG AND IAMS DOG AND CAT FOOD RECALLS

On Aug. 14, Procter & Gamble voluntarily recalled specific lots of dry pet food due to the potential for salmonella contamination. These lots were distributed in the United States. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported to date in association with these product lots.

Consumers who purchased Eukanuba dry dog food or Iams dry dog or cat food products should stop using the product if the code on the bag matches one of the recalls, and discard it. Contact P&G toll-free at 800-208-0172 or via the brands' websites at iams.com or eukanuba.com. The products are also listed on my website.

The number of pet food recalls are commendable in terms of state and federal monitoring, but the high frequency and wide scope of many of these recalls is cause for concern over the safety of food ingredients and manufacturing and storage facilities.

(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.)