DEAR DR. FOX: I'd like your opinions on two things.

Situation 1: Bringing a newborn baby into a household composed of two adults, one 7-year-old boy, one Siberian husky (a new acquisition), one medium-sized mutt, three shorthair cats and one mouse. Is this environment safe for the newborn?

Situation 2: The burgeoning increase in deer from suburban neighborhoods. My concern is Lyme disease. Is this something that can also be picked up from the chipmunks and squirrels that patrol our yard?

Thank you for your advice on the above-mentioned issues. I am a faithful reader of your column, even though I'm allergic to dogs and cats. -- N.L., Annapolis, Maryland

DEAR N.L.: My answer to situation 1: No problem if the animals are all healthy. In fact, a diversity of in-home animals (including dogs who get outdoors) can be highly beneficial for children. Such exposure helps infants acquire a diverse population of beneficial bacteria. This has been shown to improve their immune systems, reduce the frequency and severity of some common childhood infections, and lead to a reduced incidence of allergies.

Situation 2: Various species of mice are the main reservoir of Lyme disease. Foxes, owls and other raptors help control these. Deer also harbor this tick-borne disease. My yard has many squirrels and chipmunks, and I inspect them closely; I have never seen evidence of tick infestation. Nor have I ever picked up a tick after working around my property in Minnesota, where Lyme disease is becoming a significant public health issue, along with tick-borne ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. I advise property owners not to spray insecticides but to clear away brush and, if possible, keep a few Guinea fowl, since they are voracious tick eaters.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have four rescued rabbits that live in my house who get vet care, which brings me to my question: Does spaying a rabbit shorten her life? I took my 5-year-old, Dutch, and got her spayed after reading about uterine cancer in rabbits. Lots of people say not to spay.

Have you had any experience in this field? Did I shorten my girl's life? -- S.Y., Purcell, Oklahoma

DEAR S.Y. Neutering a rabbit, male or female, should not be life-shortening, so long as the animal does not become overweight, which can be one of the consequences of changes in metabolism that often occurs with the hormonal deficiencies that neutering causes. There is some debate about neutering dogs and increased risk of certain cancers and other health problems in particular breeds. But these risks need to be balanced against the animals' quality of life, environmental and social conditions and the benefits of population control and behavioral change.

For excellent information about rabbits, visit rabbit.org.

(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 a 7-year-old pit bull (male), who has been diagnosed as having pancreatic insufficiency. The vet has recommended pancreatic enzyme Concentrate, plus fat-soluble vitamins consisting of lipase, protease, amylase and vitamins A, D3 and E. He gets three tablets before each meal, so nine tablets daily. His meals consist of chicken breasts, rice and yogurt.

He is still having diarrhea. Can you offer any other alternatives? It would be greatly appreciated. -- F.M.A., Ocean View, Delaware

DEAR F.M.A: The yogurt in your dog's diet is a good idea, provided it is not pasteurized, because of the beneficial bacteria in "live" yogurt and kefir. Alternatively, a daily dose of probiotics may help your dog's overall condition.

Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency is all too common in dogs, and I attribute this primarily to their diets being too high in starches (corn and other cereals).

Try my home-prepared diet on my website, DrFoxVet.com, and cut the rice and grain content by 75 percent. Give your dog three or four pieces of canned pineapple daily. This fruit contains digestive enzymes that will help compensate for your dog's deficiency. Use lean meat and poultry and low-fat yogurt, because a high fat intake could possibly trigger an episode of pancreatic inflammation or pancreatitis, which can be extremely painful.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read recently about the 14-year-old Chihuahua-rat terrier's skin problem and felt it might be useful to let you know how we brought our terrier's similar skin problem to a comfortable and manageable level.

When our now-14-year-old female was about 8 years old, she had extremely itchy, "alligatored" and crusted skin -- mainly on the belly, teats, legs and ears. She was an emotional wreck, and I think the vet mentioned Cushing's disease. There was no mange found after many tests, and I don't think her thyroid was a problem. We worked through her extreme terror, and with carefully measured exercise and diet, she took about 22 pounds off her now-65-pound frame.

Apparently, she doesn't have Cushing's -- at least not now. I think the vet could have figured that out. We tried many medications for the skin problem that remained, overhauled her diet (she is now on a no-grain Merrick chicken and yam diet) and started giving her supplements.

We really saw a tidal change for the skin when she went to the vet, who administered the following: an allergy shot of dexamethasone and depo-medrol; antibiotics Cefpodoxime and Ampicillin; a small but long-lasting dose of prednisone; and GentaSpray for the very occasional flare-ups.

Even though she may never be totally cured of the propensity toward this trouble, she is, and has been for quite a while now, a very comfortable and happy girl. I thought this might help someone else for what seems to be a rather common problem. -- C.R., Freehold, N.J.

DEAR C.R.: Chronic skin problems can often be difficult to diagnose, and in many cases, it is of significant cost-savings to first try the double whammy of antibiotics and judiciously prescribed corticosteroids.

While I have frequently addressed the harmful side effects of this latter class of hormonal medications, with careful prescribing, small miracles can be accomplished. Such hormonal treatment helps the body re-establish varying degrees of normality, the skin of the dog being a reflection of a number of underlying health issues.

Corticosteroids are an important part of veterinary and human medicine, especially because of their potent anti-inflammatory properties.

(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 response to the letter from J.M., I had a similar problem with a cat who had kidney failure.

She was 13 years old at the time it was diagnosed, and I was told to use fluids under the skin twice a day. My vet said he'd heard from someone who had used Azodyl successfully. We decided to try this with Pepcid AC twice each day, along with the fluids.

She is now 17 years old, and her latest blood work shows everything within normal ranges. She eats like a healthy, happy cat!

Azodyl is a dietary supplement made by Vetoquinol and is made in the United States. It's worth considering. -- J.J.L., Silver Spring, Maryland

DEAR J.J.L.: I appreciate your letter attesting to the benefit of Azodyl for helping alleviate your cat's chronic kidney disease. This proprietary supplement, which includes probiotics, does indeed seem to be of significant value in helping cats with this condition and is being more widely prescribed by veterinarians.

Of course, there is no panacea for this all-too-common feline malady. Judicious application of various interventions is called for, including a special diet; vitamin D, potassium and thiamine supplements; blood pressure monitoring and medication as needed; and a phosphate binder if blood tests indicate this is needed. Fish oil may help improve kidney function. A high-quality dietary protein is advisable, since protein deficiency and dramatic loss of weight and muscle mass occurs with some forms of kidney disease. An injection of various hydrating and nutritious solutions under the skin is a key in helping cats enjoy some quality of life when their kidneys begin to fail.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 3-year-old Maltipoo who refuses to eat dog food. We have tried many brands and types, to no avail.

At present, we are feeding her chicken and beef, mixed with rice, green beans, carrots and lima beans. We add several pieces of dry dog food to this mix, and she eats that well.

Her long-term health is a real concern, and we wonder if you have any suggestions. -- A.O., Edenton, N.C.

DEAR A.O.: Your dog may be exercising what I call "nutritional wisdom." She wants fresh, whole, natural food.

Some brainwashed veterinarians and other "dog experts" still insist that only scientifically formulated, highly processed manufactured dog foods are what dogs should eat. The effect on many dogs can be like what would happen to you if you got all your meals from fast-food restaurants for three to six months.

Visit my website, DrFoxVet.com, and pull up my home-prepared dog food recipe for a start; consider some of the dog food brands I endorse, along with the new generation of frozen and freeze-dried dog foods available in some of the better pet supply stores.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am writing to you about my cat Sara. We've had her for two years, ever since we found her in our neighbor's yard when she was a few weeks old.

I am considering moving her to my mother's house (my parents are divorced) for a few reasons:

My first reason is that my father didn't want Sara in the first place. He now has a sort of fondness for her, but he isn't attached to her the way I am. My second reason is that we live in a tiny, three-bedroom house with seven people and another cat. We all have various wake-up times in the morning and after-school activities, too. Half of us aren't home during the week. Add another cat (who tolerates mine), and you get a lot of crazy.

Sara has no front claws and is also fixed. The little kids used to run up to her and get in her face and say her name in annoying voices. She is sometimes very twitchy; her tail flicks and she runs from room to room like there's something chasing her.

I would appreciate your honest opinion: to move or not to move this cat. -- M.R., Fenton, Md.

DEAR M.R.: I think you are a remarkable young person who knows what love really means -- responsible care.

Clearly, your beloved cat Sara is not living in the best environment -- and I wonder about you, too. I would advise you to work things out with your mother to adopt your cat and be sure that you can have visiting rights. Alternatively, call for a meeting with all who live under your roof and share your concerns about Sara, without making judgments; ask the younger ones to treat Sara gently, be quiet around her and respect her space. Teach them how to pet, hold, feed and groom her. Help them grow up as well as you have.

(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.)