DEAR DR. FOX: In your recent column, E.W. of Silver Spring, Md., wrote about her Yorkie's dry eyes. The dog had to get multiple eye drops several times a day.

I had a dry eye that felt like my eye was being shaved by a razor blade. My doctor gave me a prescription to use once an hour as needed. He also wisely told me to start taking flaxseed oil.

I started with the flaxseed oil, then switched to omega-3. I also started eating a little butter and mayonnaise (I had been on a low-fat diet). Today, I hardly ever have to use any kind of drops; I blink a number of times when I wake up, and I'm fine.

I don't know if flaxseed oil supplements or increased fat in the diet would help a dog, but I thought I would pass this on. -- S.O., West Trenton, N.J.

DEAR S.O.: I appreciate your communication regarding omega-3 fatty acid supplements helping your dry eye condition.

One of my family members has been diagnosed with dry-eye syndrome after waking up with excruciating pain in one eye. The eyelids damage the dry corneas during REM sleep.

As vegans and vegetarians, we look for non-animal sources of omega-3 essential fatty acid supplements and use Nordic Natural's Algae Omega. I am not alone in declaring that omega-3 deficiency disease is widespread and one of the harmful consequences of industrial agriculture and the fast food and processed food industries.

I advise dog and cat owners to give their animal companions good-quality fish oil and organic butter from grass-fed cows. Based on your relief from dry eyes, those animals suffering from this condition may likewise benefit. Flaxseed oil is not the best source of omega-3 for some people and some dogs who lack certain converting enzymes. These are totally lacking in cats, for whom flaxseed oil is of no significant nutrient value.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read in your column about the large fees some veterinarians charge for minor treatments. Is there no central body to regulate these business practices? My veterinarian is very sympathetic, and I know he helps some of the poorer clients. -- H. C., Florissant, Mo.

DEAR H.C.: Veterinarians in the companion animal sector treating peoples' dogs, cats and other animals do an incredibly fine job overall in providing the best possible treatments under a host of constraints and financial burdens.

Recent graduates have the burden of six-figure student loans, and private practices have the burdens of bank loans for their facilities and costly diagnostic and surgical equipment. Diagnostic tests, in particular, are often needed because the animals cannot speak.

I've advised many people to take their animal companions in for an annual checkup; I've received more than one letter accusing me of pandering for the veterinary profession. Certainly there are a few, as in every profession, who will seek to maximize profits at every opportunity. But I believe that the majority of my colleagues in the business of companion animal care are patient and client-cost sensitive. Most are more than willing to discuss treatment and payment options for those clients who are afraid to take their animals in for treatment or wellness assessment because of financial concerns.

RETAILERS CONTINUE TO SELL CHINA-MADE JERKY TREATS

Some 3,600 dog illnesses and 10 cat illnesses have been linked to jerky treats made in China. But retailers are not pulling the products from shelves or posting warnings for consumers. Representatives of some retailers say they are following the Federal Drug Administration's lead, noting that recalls are issued only when a contaminant has been identified. Despite extensive testing, the FDA has yet to link a compound to the illnesses and to the approximately 580 deaths connected to the treats. Consumer and pet advocacy groups argue that the companies should do more to let people know that the treats are under intense scrutiny so they can make informed choices. My advice: Read the label and think twice if it indicates the treats were made in China or does not say where they were made.

Sixty percent of the pet illnesses tied to jerky treats involve gastrointestinal symptoms; 30 percent include kidney illness; and the remainder involve convulsions, tremors and skin issues, according to the FDA. The kidney disease Fanconi syndrome is frequently seen, and dogs of all sizes and breeds appear to be susceptible. "We're still seeing patients now, and a lot of vets don't know about it," said veterinarian Richard E. Goldstein of the Animal Medical Center in New York City, who has been seeing cases since late 2006.

(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 4-year-old Havanese has cherry eye. It seems relatively small compared to some of the images I have seen on the computer. She's had it on and off over the last year, but the gland always moved back in place. This time it has not.

I took her to the vet. He and his partner have two opposing opinions on the treatment. One vet is in favor of removing the gland and says he has removed many with no complications of dry eye. I understand that this complication requires artificial tears daily for the rest of her life.

The other vet in the practice is in favor of sending her to a specialist to have the gland moved back into place and stitched so it stays where it should. Again, complications could arise.

The third option is to leave it alone and do nothing. Right now, it does not seem to bother her, as I don't see her trying to rub it.

I hate to put her through unnecessary surgery that could produce complications, but I also don't know if doing nothing will eventually lead to any complications.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated. -- L.S., Brielle, N.J.

DEAR L.S.: Certain breeds, such as the cocker spaniel, basset hound, English bulldog, poodle and Lhasa apso, are prone to this condition, which is a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. It sticks out like a small pink cherry.

I would not remove the gland surgically. The resultant chronic dry eye condition could lead to corneal ulceration and blindness.

Surgical restoration of the normal gland position is called for after a week of topical treatment with ophthalmic antibiotic and steroid ointment to help decrease inflammation and improve surgical success. The gland in the other eye may be prone to prolapse in the future, so it should be secured to prevent this at the same time.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a diabetic 12-year-old male cat. Must I continue to buy costly prescription food, or are there cheaper over-the-counter foods I can feed him?

Also, I want to change his insulin from ProZinc to Lantus. Can I use the same needle size, and how do I go about changing the medications?

I have not been happy with either vet I have taken my cat to, and he is so traumatized by going to the vet. I don't believe it is good for his condition.

Any information you can give me would be very much appreciated. -- S.B.

DEAR S.B.: So sorry to hear about your poor cat whose condition was most probably caused by high cereal content in manufactured cat foods that are sold even in veterinary hospitals across the country.

Visit feline-nutrition.org for more information about transitioning your cat onto a healthier diet that could cure the diabetes if it is not too advanced.

A few drops of fish oil and a pinch of powdered cinnamon in his food may help. Increase the cinnamon, which has been shown to reduce the insulin dose requirements of human diabetics, to about 1/2 teaspoon daily if he will accept it.

Discuss changes in the insulin-regulating drug with your veterinarian, but do seek out a home-prepared, cheaper, palatable diet for your cat -- basically meat, including body organs, ideally lightly cooked or raw, and a few chopped vegetables and herbs.

For more insights into feline behavior, check my e-book, "Understanding Your Cat," available on my website, DrFoxVet.com.

(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: This question may not be appropriate for your column, but you have been so helpful advising about how to cope with the loss of a family pet, I thought I'd ask.

I wanted my husband, a Korean War veteran, buried at Arlington National Cemetery with the ashes of his beloved German shepherd, Samantha. Two of her littermates served in combat. She did not serve in any war, but she served after by helping my husband better than anyone or anything else deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder. She helped him through his depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and helped him get exercise and a good night's sleep. Even if she was not a serving military dog, it distresses me that the military authorities won't even allow me to scatter Samantha's ashes over my husband's grave. What should I do? -- Alexandria, Va.

DEAR ALEXANDRIA: I greatly sympathize with your concerns over the insensitive rules of military officialdom that make no sense unless one believes that dogs and other beloved animals have no significant place in our lives or death.

Yet the ritual of co-burial goes back in different civilizations for millennia. It is an indicator of deep respect and affection for the remains and memories of particular animals whose lives the deceased had shared.

While the U.S. military has used all kinds of species in various wars and military insurgencies for centuries, it is telling that there is no national monument for such service animals in our nation's capital. There is such a memorial in the heart of London, close to a major war memorial to fallen soldiers.

The U.S. military has a dubious record when it comes to facilitating the transport home of local dogs from war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. These animals are often adopted as camp mascots and serve as camp guards. Most importantly, they give emotional support to troops.

It will take an act of Congress to get these burial rules changed. It's a shame that reflects the even greater shame of a dysfunctional government and authorities who have no feeling or respect for the close bond that so many citizens enjoy with their animal companions.

As for today's soldiers suffering from PTSD, many become heroin addicts or suicidal after being prescribed analgesic drugs such as hydrocodone and hydromorphone rather than having a good dog co-therapist.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have enjoyed your columns over the past several years, and they were helpful with my dog, Daisy.

I thought of you when I was burying her, wrapped in her favorite "bankie." I followed your advice and gave her a small blanket some years ago, and she was never without it. It was her comforter and often she played games under it. Thank you. -- J.V., Washington, D.C.

DEAR J.V.: I am glad that my advice was helpful in your care of Daisy. Thanks for reminding me to tell readers how much dogs, and many cats, enjoy having a small blanket or towel to have put over them. It can help them feel secure. Some will make a nest out of the blanket and even learn to cover themselves with it.

Some of our dogs liked to have their blanket tossed over them for a game of hide-and-seek. One of our dogs liked to wear his blanket as he paraded around, which our other dogs found exciting, seeing a shape-shifter in their midst!

MYSTERY POISON IN PET TREATS FROM CHINA

To date, the Food and Drug Administration has received reports of illnesses in 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the U.S. since 2007. Some 580 dogs have died. The culprit is pet treats sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes or dried fruit. They are all imported from China and sold under a wide variety of brand names.

Veterinarians have seen decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea within hours of dogs eating these treats and have had repeated cases of kidney failure and gastrointestinal bleeding.

The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has not yet discovered the cause of illness, even after conducting more than 1,200 tests, visiting pet treat manufacturing plants in China and collaborating with toxicology researchers.

Small dogs eating a large amount of treats seem especially vulnerable, which I theorize may point to possible high abnormal protein consumption.

A number of jerky products imported from China were removed from the market in January 2013 after a New York state lab reported contamination with antibiotics banned for use in the U.S., including Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerky Treats, Del Monte Chicken Grillers and Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats, both made by Nestle Purina. These drug contaminants are not considered to be responsible for the poisoning and death of dogs and cats consuming these treats.

My advice is to READ THE LABEL on whatever pet treats you intend to purchase and decide accordingly. Several brands indicating "Made in China" also bear a food irradiation symbol. For dogs, try my buckwheat Good Dog Treats recipe on my website, DrFoxVet.com.

(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.)