DEAR DR. FOX: My 9-year-old female English bulldog mix has been struggling with some kind of bowel disorder for the past 18 months.

I've worked with vets at Banfield Pet Hospital and Webster Groves Animal Hospital's internal medicine department. She has been on numerous cycles of antibiotics and dewormers. She has been given vitamin B12 injections over an extended period of time. She has had blood tests out the wazoo, stool testing and other testing.

We have tried prescription, raw, grain-free, wet and dry food -- we've tried every possible food I could find or was recommended/prescribed. Her issue does not seem to be a food allergy. The problem seemed to develop around the time we began feeding her a raw diet, although I fed the same food to my other two dogs without issue.

While on the antibiotic/dewormer cycles, her stool is mostly solid. But within a week of being off the meds, she is back to pure liquid stool. The veterinarians want to do an endoscopic biopsy before they will proceed with any specific treatment tailored to inflammatory bowel disease. I've read of some success with Budesonide, but Webster Groves is unwilling to give it a shot without the biopsy.

I'm roughly $2,000 invested into testing and vet care, but we're still right where we started. If you have any advice on how to proceed, I would greatly appreciate it. -- D.P., St. Louis

DEAR D.P.: This is a distressing condition for your poor dog and a constant worry for you. So-called inflammatory and irritable bowel conditions have increased in incidence in dogs in recent years. After the costly proposed biopsy is done, ask the veterinarians: Then what?

You make no mention of giving your dog bacteria-rich supplements such as yogurt or kefir and probiotics, or providing good fiber such as inulin (not insulin!), psyllium husks or canned pumpkin. Make sure to keep all soy and grain out of his diet. Some dogs do not do well on a wholly raw-food diet. A basic white fish and potato diet helps many food-intolerant dogs.

Try potentially beneficial supplements such as aloe vera oral juice, licorice, marshmallow herb, glutamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, montmorillonite clay, calcium aluminosilicate and digestive enzymes from papaya, for example. Discuss these with your veterinarian. You can suggest a fecal enema infusion from a healthy dog donor living with her to help repopulate a healthier gut flora. For more details, visit my website, DrFoxVet.com.

Let me know the outcome.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 12-year-old golden retriever. She has numerous bumps on her body, but this is common in goldens. I was going to have them removed last year. The vet was going to start with her bottom half, then work his way up to her neck; he would remove four cysts. If she showed no signs distress during this procedure, he was going to take a growth off of her inner eyelid.

Her blood work was fine before the scheduled surgery, and one of the cysts he aspirated didn't show anything. I canceled the day before because I felt that these cysts weren't bothering her, and I was nervous about having her under anesthesia.

One year after the canceled surgery, one of the cysts burst, and I took care of it myself. It seemed to heal well, but then it filled up again after two weeks and exploded again. This time, I took her to the vet, and he cleaned it out and gave her antibiotics. He said it didn't show any infection under the microscope. This cyst keeps filling up and draining, and when it drains, there is an open hole. I don't know how much longer to let this keep filling up. I'm afraid she'll get an infection. Now it's draining blood, where previously it was kind of a brown cheesy substance.

Should I take the chance of having her put under anesthesia at this age? Is there anything else we can do for her? She is the sweetest dog. -- P.L., Washington, D.C.

DEAR P.L: Older dogs, and especially those of certain breeds such as yours, are prone to develop usually benign cysts or tumors in hair follicles and sebaceous glands in the skin. These are best left alone until they become significantly enlarged, get abraded and develop secondary infection or ulcerate and burst.

Your old dog could be at risk under a general anesthetic and may do fine given a mild sedative and local anesthetic around the open cyst. Discuss this option with the veterinarian who would be doing the surgery.

(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 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.)