DEAR DR. FOX: Your comments about cat litter and trying newspaper brought me back to Japan, where I lived in 1961 and 1962.

While I was there, a pack of homeless dogs and a Siamese cat "adopted" me. I shredded newspaper for the cat, and while he would come and go, he preferred this "litter box."

I'm nearly 78 now and have severe arthritis, but I do miss having pets. If I provide walkways in my condo, do you think a cat would be happy? Should I get two cats or a dog and a cat? Any suggestions would be appreciated. -- J.D., Washington, D.C.

DEAR J.D.: I, too, have good memories of Japan, where I gave several lectures on animal behavior, protection and rights; I was also an honored guest of one of their veterinary associations for animal behavior and ethology.

Clearly, you are an animal person and would both enjoy and benefit from having an animal companion. You must first check to see if there are any restrictions relating to the condo where you live, then consider your age -- a young animal might outlive you. You must also consider your physical limitations.

Two indoor, older cats might be your best choice. The adoption advisor at your local animal shelter may be the ideal professional to help you evaluate the possibility of fulfilling your heart's desire.

FLEA AND TICK DISEASE LOOKOUT

Three dogs and one cat have tested positive for plague in New Mexico, according to state health officials. Humans generally contract plague from infected fleas, but direct transmission from pets can occur. Last year, four people in New Mexico were diagnosed with plague, and one died from the infection.

Five people of the 50 diagnosed with Powassan virus infection have died. Deer ticks transmit this disease; unlike Lyme disease, which takes several hours to infect the body after the tick becomes attached and starts feeding, the virus transmission is immediate.

For safe and effective methods of tick and flea control, check my special reports at 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: I have had my Chihuahua-rat terrier mix on the quinoa and lamb recipe I got from you several months ago. The lamb I've been buying lately is from another company. My dog will not always eat it when I give it to him, and when he does, he throws up some later in the day. I am concerned because he has lost some weight and looks thin. Is there another recipe you could suggest? -- J.F., Winston-Salem, North Carolina

DEAR J.F.: Is this lamb graded for human consumption? If it is lamb byproduct, it could contain sulfate preservatives, which are not good for dogs or cats.

I advise rotating the kind of primary protein in your dog's diet every five to seven days and see how the dog does appetite- and weight-wise, as well as in terms of preference or having digestive problems. These alternatives include organic, free-range turkey, chicken, duck, lamb, pork and beef; eggs, cottage cheese, peas and lentils; and white fish and wild salmon.

Be sure to feed your dog three small meals a day after some exercise and outdoor activity. If his appetite remains poor and he continues to throw up, waste no time and consult with a veterinarian because he could have a health issue such as kidney or pancreatic disease.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have three beautiful dogs: a 3-year-old lavender female Pomeranian, a 2-year-old male black Pom and a 9-month-old chocolate Lab. It's a crazy house.

My situation is that the female Pomeranian weighs 12 pounds, and the vet says she should lose 2 to 3 pounds, so we feed her 1/4 cup Fromm dog food in the morning and 1 1/2 nuggets of Primal freeze-dried food in the evening. She hasn't lost any weight. She has a very sensitive stomach. Her breath is rancid -- it smells like dead fish. The vet says that her teeth look good and that the smell is probably because of acid reflux. The vet put her on Clavamox, which has helped with her breath, but I'm worried it will return when she stops the medication.

My male Pom can be finicky. Sometimes he turns his nose up to his food. He weighs about 8 or 9 pounds, and the vet says his weight is good.

I just don't know what to do anymore. I was told by a trainer to feed the dogs Primal raw dog food. They liked it (at times). The vet didn't like the frozen version. He suggested the freeze-dried.

There aren't any problems with the Lab except he's hyper and stinky. He eats Orijen Puppy Large Breed. -- D.S., Winston Salem, North Carolina

DEAR D.S.: Orijen is a good brand, but I would transition your Labrador onto an adult dog food, feeding him three small meals daily. What you are feeding him now is for pups, and he may soon become overweight and develop joint problems.

I am disturbed that the veterinarian would prescribe an antibiotic for your dog's halitosis. Instead, try safe chew toys, my buckwheat dog treats (recipe on my website, DrFoxVet.com) and above all, PetzLife Oral Care gel or spray, which has helped thousands of dogs with a variety of oral health issues, including halitosis.

Diet and kidney and liver function can also contribute to halitosis and other health problems, especially in older dogs. I would urge you to give your little Poms digestive enzymes (1/2 teaspoon crushed pineapple) and probiotics (1 teaspoon plain organic kefir) with each meal and transition them onto my home-prepared recipe, which they should thrive on. This, too, is posted on my website. If there is no significant improvement and the halitosis persists, there is a possibility of periodontal and endodontic disease, which calls for radiographic dental assessment.

DEAR DR. FOX: Please educate us feline lovers on polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in cats. I just lost my 3-year-old kitty to this horrible disease.

We had her groomed and shaved for summer, and after losing her long coat, we noticed she was thin. She vomited the next week, quit eating and drinking and hid from us. This was not like her personality.

She was the runt of a rescue litter and always small. I took her to the vet, and he thought she had a virus. Antibiotics did not help. Blood work was drawn on the third week, and she was already in the "red zone" for kidney failure and dehydration. She would not drink and ate only a small amount of wet food. She was put on IV fluids, but they did not help. She continued to lose weight weekly and was finally diagnosed with PKD when her levels had elevated to almost the end of the red zone, renal failure. She became very weak, and I had her euthanized. Please enlighten and educate your readers and me on this terrible disease. She was a rescue black cat, breed unknown, but had moderately long hair. Thank you for your column. -- P.K., St. Louis

DEAR P.K.: My sincere condolences for your loss. It was indeed a sad ordeal for both you and your young cat.

This condition is a degenerative disease of the kidneys that is a genetic defect prevalent in some breeds, such as Persians, but not uncommon in the more genetically diverse cat population. Some genetic diseases are self-limiting, afflicting animals before they reach breeding age, which prevents transmission to offspring. Regrettably, this is not the case with polycystic kidney disease. Some veterinarians have done kidney transplants from healthy donor cats from shelters, and with the addition of immunosuppressant drugs to help stop rejection, some cats have had some life extension. In my opinion, aside from the costs, there are ethical considerations for both donor and recipient animals that lead me to not endorse such transplants. For humans, it is a lifesaver, but cats are not good candidates.

HELP PROMOTE PROPER NUTRITION FOR CATS

DEAR DR. FOX: I wanted to thank you for your continuing mentions of Feline Nutrition and our website, feline-nutrition.org, in your column. We have recently started an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to be able to expand our outreach and education efforts. You can take a look at it here: igg.me/at/felinenutrition. The campaign runs through July 26. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 15, Fairfax, Virginia, 22038. Checks should be made out to Feline Nutrition Education Society. If supporters donate through Indiegogo, they can get some great perks! -- Margaret Gates, director

(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: 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.)