DEAR DR. FOX: Do you have any information on a new product called Pet Protector? It is a metallic disc worn on the collar that is supposed to provide chemical-free tick and flea protection. I have used brewer's yeast as well as PetzLife's Complete Coat, but my dog still gets a few ticks and contracted Lyme disease.

If this product works, it seems like it's a good solution. Any information would be much appreciated. -- E.R., Bowie, Maryland

DEAR E.R.: There is no 100 percent effective way of keeping fleas and ticks off our animals. I am leery of most oral treatments that can kill these insects only when they get the drug from feeding on the treated animal's blood. This is not, therefore, going to stop flea-bite-allergic reactions or stop some tickborne disease like Lyme disease and Powassan virus.

As for your query about the so-called electromagnetic field and energy wave insect repelling Pet Protector for cats and dogs: I did a quick Internet search, and there are several sites claiming the device is simply a money-making hoax. A study by M.W. Dryden published in the Veterinary Parasitology Journal concluded that the "Cat and Dog's Tag" (as this device was known at the time) failed to prevent flea infestation, inhibit flea reproduction or repel existing flea infestations on cats.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 5-year-old Lab mix, Will (aka "Won't"), has been a surprising companion as I recover from recent back surgery. He's a goofy, happy pup who is usually immersed in whatever he is doing, be it chewing a toy, watching the world outside or snoozing.

When I returned from the hospital, he seemed to know every time I was about to stand up, and he would suddenly appear and "brace" so that I could use him for support. This is in spite of the fact that he has only three legs! Now that I'm doing physical therapy, he appears every time and gets right up to me as if he's trying to help. It makes me laugh and takes my mind off the exercises, so I find I'm doing more repetitions and also more often just to see what he will do.

Will is a certified "touch therapy" dog from Support Dogs Inc. in St. Louis, and I know he's brought much happiness and healing to others, but he's never been trained for any of the things he's done for me. Animals bring us such joy! -- S.B., Town and Country, Missouri

DEAR S.B.: Your letter joins many affirming that the empathic nature of dogs enables them to know when we are suffering and need help -- this ennobles them in our eyes. This is not to ignore the fact that some dogs and other animals -- including humans -- simply become fearful and avoid coming close when a particular person is suffering.

It is notable that cats, in particular, will lie against a person's injured or painful body region; their warmth and purring may help the healing process, especially of broken bones.

CORPORATE CONSOLIDATION IN PET FOOD AND DRUG INDUSTRIES

Eli Lilly and Co. announced that its animal drug division, Elanco, will expand after the $5.4 billion purchase of Novartis Animal Health, making it the second-largest global animal drug company -- second only to Zoetis.

Mars Inc. pet food company announced that it will purchase the Iams, Eukanuba and Natura brands in major markets in the Americas and several other countries from Procter & Gamble for $2.9 billion. Mars already owns Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, Nutro, Sheba, Dreamies and Cesar brands of pet food as well as Banfield Pet Hospitals.

What these monopolistic trends will mean for investors, pet owners and veterinarians remains to be seen. The history of corporate oligopolies does not promise good tidings when it comes to market choices and prices for pet owners. The power and influence through advertising, promotional materials and financial incentives offered by these multinational corporations to veterinarians and veterinary schools are cause for concern.

(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 recently had an appointment for my old dog, Rusty, to get a distemper vaccine, but I canceled. Rusty is 14 years old, and I had a bad feeling about getting it.

My veterinarian's receptionist told me I would not be able to get Heartgard Plus for Rusty because I didn't get the vaccine or his annual checkup. Can Rusty get by without Heartgard?

Also, whenever I take Rusty in, my vet always wants to clean his teeth. I realize this is important, but when Rusty was 13, I was told he has a heart murmur. I think that his age makes it too risky, so I refused to have it done. My vet told me he'd cleaned the teeth of a dog who was 15 years old.

Am I wrong in not getting the teeth cleaned, and is there somewhere else I could get the Heartgard Plus for Rusty? Do I have to get it from the vet? Can Rusty do without the Heartguard?

I really don't know what to do at this point. Rusty is deaf, almost blind and has a weakness in his back legs. What would you advise? -- P.E.S., West Long Branch, New Jersey

DEAR P.E.S.: I occasionally receive letters like yours that make my blood boil. Most veterinarians are ethical and do not resort to this kind of emotional blackmail or client manipulation. Many veterinarians are aware of the urgent need for proper dental care, and some can do a good job without having to give anesthetic to at-risk animals.

Consult with another veterinarian for the heartworm blood test and preventive medication. If there is any question about the need for a distemper vaccination first, ask for a blood titer test to determine if it is needed.

DEAR DR. FOX: We had to have our 23-year-old cat euthanized yesterday. I credit her longevity to drinking water from the kitchen faucet all these years. You've written many times that fresh water is vital for cats' good health.

We brought our beloved Sugar home to be buried. I put her blanket on the ottoman to be buried with her. Our other cats came over and smelled her, and we all said goodbye. This morning, one cat sat on the ottoman and "cried" a strange meow. It was very touching. -- M.D., St. Charles, Missouri

DEAR M.D.: My condolences and appreciation for your letter, emphasizing the importance of cats drinking plenty of fresh water, which, if your municipal water supply was of reasonable quality, probably contributed to her longevity. But check my website, DrFoxVet.com, for the article "Pure Water for Cats and Dogs." In some cases, municipal tap water can make cats sick; you can see it when they improve dramatically when given purified water. Declining potable water quality and availability is rapidly becoming the next global crisis.

Your letter also underscores what I have long advocated: Allow surviving animals to see the body of their companion for "closure." Some may ignore and seem indifferent and never show signs of loss or grief, but many do, just like the rest of us. I believe the strange meow you heard is the cry of a grieving feline soul.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 12-year-old domestic shorthair tabby cat. I adopted him when he was a young kitten. He is an indoor cat, and he's one of two in the family.

Tiger is a very sociable cat who loves to be around the family. If someone is coming through the doorway, he runs to the door and waits for him or her to enter. He starts meowing as a greeting and puts his front paws up on your leg so that you will pet him. He has access to all areas of the house.

At night, I shut him out of my room because I am a light sleeper. He now sits outside my door at all hours of the night and meows to get in. Needless to say, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep. When he meows, I open my door, spray him with a water bottle and he runs away. He does this several times a night. It seems like just as I fall asleep again, he'll start meowing. When it gets really bad, I catch him and lock him in a hallway bathroom, where he has access to his litter box and water. I open the door and let him out as soon as I get up in the morning.

I have tried a spray deterrent around the outside of my door to keep him away. He doesn't do it every night, and he always does it by himself. I've never had problems with the other cat. How can I stop him? -- K.H., Springfield, Virginia

DEAR K.H.: You are not the only one having your sleep disrupted by a cat. I wonder why you don't do what he wants and let him sleep with you? Let him come live on your bed, and, like one of my cats, he may really enjoy sleeping beside you under a light blanket or towel.

Make sure he's not hungry before bedtime. He may enjoy some catnip or melatonin before turning in. As they age, some cats develop a pattern of night-restlessness, which can be associated with chronic pain from arthritis or dementia. A few drops of fish oil in his food may help both of these conditions.

(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 have been around cats for decades and love them dearly. I would like to offer my insight into a question posed by one of your readers. She wanted to know why her otherwise wonderful cat gets into and sleeps in his litter box. My firm belief is that he wants to leave his scent in it, marking his territory. The reader mentioned that the cat does this "mostly when I clean the box and add new litter; or if I add a refresher scoop." New litter (even a small portion of it) does not carry his scent, so he is leaving his scent to let the other cat know "this box is mine."

I speak from experience. I had a cat, Norman, who would do this every time I put in new litter. He was a most intelligent cat, very sweet and communicative, but he was also an alpha male. Everything in the house belonged to him, and that included his litter box. Cats are very attached to their litter boxes. Right after I cleaned the box that he shared with two other cats, he would urinate in it before any of the other cats could get into it. If he could not urinate, he would at least walk all over the box and leave his paw prints and smell. It was his way of letting the other cats know that this box was his, but they could use it when they needed to. -- Y.S., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR Y.S.: Your observations on this puzzling aspect of feline litter box behavior certainly call for some cat behavior research studies.

It is surely not a normal behavior for cats in the wild to share the same latrine site, so this sharing may be stressful for some house cats. On occasion, this can lead to one cat not using the litter box. This is why some cats do best in homes where there is one box per cat, even though they may share more than one box.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a small cockapoo who seems to need her anal glands cleaned often. She licks that area a lot and scoots on her bottom frequently.

How do I know when it is necessary to take her to the vet? Can it hurt her to have it done too often? Is it enough to have them expressed from the outside?

Please help me. I have not been able to find the answers in any publications. -- P.O., Marco Island, Florida

DEAR P.O.: Please check my website, DrFoxVet.com, to access the archives of my answers to various companion animal health problems. Simply enter appropriate terms (e.g., "anal glands in dogs"), and you will find some ways to help prevent this distressing condition.

To answer your specific query concerning how best to empty or express these glands: Rough and frequent squeezing can cause more inflammation and secretion, so being gentle and expressing the glands every 10 to 14 days -- or as needed -- is advisable. The most effective way to examine and evacuate the glandular sacs is to use a latex finger cover or glove and squeeze from inside the rectum with the dog restrained by a second person. External expression by pressing on each side of the anus can be effective, but can also be more painful and not as thorough a technique. Above all, read up on ways to prevent this, one being a close evaluation of the dog's diet, fiber content and possible food allergy to corn, other cereals and soy.

(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.)