DEAR DR. FOX: As to the question posed in a recent column -- "Where should a sleeping dog lie?" -- I have an answer:

I am 85 years old, and have not lived more than six months of my life without a dog. All of them have been rescue animals (many before there were even rescue groups), and, with no exceptions, I have had the privilege of sleeping in bed with each one. In fact, on those rare occasions when I didn't have a dog right next to me in bed, I never slept as well as when a dog was glued to my side.

I am justly proud of the fact that both of our daughters have the same love of animals that surfaces in so many ways. Our youngest daughter made a profound observation awhile back: Soren (our current dog named for the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard) weighs 40 pounds when he's awake, but when he's asleep, he weighs more like 240 pounds. They are like rocks when they are comfortably asleep beside you.

I will forever marvel at those folks who have dogs but fail to regard them as members of the family. In our case, our precious dog of the moment is the most important part of our family: always there for us, asking nothing but always giving love. They epitomize the agape form of love -- the unconditional kind. -- A.W.Z., Gaithersburg, Maryland

DEAR A.W.Z.: Yes, indeed: agape! Dogs are pack animals. They feel secure when they sleep together. When we take them into our homes, their human family is their surrogate pack. So, whenever possible, it is quite natural to allow the dog to sleep with a family member. Couples who sleep together may need a larger bed.

The only caveat is the dog must have no fleas, ticks or sarcoptic mange. Regular close contact with a dog in the home (not necessarily in the bed) helps children ward off allergies and infections.

DEAR DR. FOX: My little female cat, Minnie, who is 2 1/2 years old, has had chronic rhinitis since she was born. We found her in our woods when she was about 3 months old, and we took her in to the vet for spaying.

The vet wanted to euthanize her; she said there was no cure for it. We surely did not do that. Three vets later, the only thing we've found that helps is a round of antibiotics for about three weeks. We don't do that often because she can't live on antibiotics.

She has a good appetite and maintains a good weight. She is better in warm weather, but still quite miserable with this problem, and it breaks my heart -- it seems there is nothing that can be done for her.

Do you know of any possible treatment to help her? -- C.H., Rhinebeck, New York

DEAR C.H.: I am glad you chose not to go with the veterinarian's advice to euthanize her, and instead gave the animal a chance. I hope she was not spayed at that time, being so ill. No doubt exposure and poor nutrition crippled her immune system, allowing for the upper respiratory and sinus infection to take hold.

Periodic treatment with antibiotics does help cats with chronic sinusitis. In cats with a different history, other causes of this condition include dental disease with spread of bacteria from the tooth sockets into the sinuses. In other cases, a food allergy or underlying viral infection, such as herpes or feline AIDS, is the cause.

Irrigating the sinuses under light, general anesthetic may help.

A VOICE FOR ANIMALS BY A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

The late Cesar Chavez, president of United Farm Workers of America, with whom I shared the podium at an animal rights conference in California, posted this statement on Dec. 26, 1990:

"Kindness and compassion toward all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bull fighting and rodeo are cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent toward all life will we have learned to live well ourselves."

He was a rare social reformer at that time to link violence toward humans and other animals with the long-overdue revolution of nonviolence toward all sentient beings. I am glad that as a veterinarian I do not have to work in one of the cruelest sectors of animal exploitation, namely the factory farms or CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) that blight and pollute much of rural America.

(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 READERS: According to a Feb. 13 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention morbidity and mortality report, "Veterinarians are believed to be at increased risk for suicide compared with the general population." Researchers sent out a questionnaire that "asked respondents about their experiences with depression and suicidal behavior, and included standardized questions from the Kessler-6 psychological distress scale that assesses for the presence of serious mental illness ... Approximately 6.8 (percent) of male and 10.9 (percent) of female respondents were characterized as having serious psychological distress ... compared with 3.5 (percent) of male and 4.4 (percent) of female U.S. adults, respectively."

That the study found almost 1 in 10 American veterinarians might suffer from serious psychological distress and more than 1 in 6 might have experienced suicidal ideation since graduation makes me deeply concerned and wonder why. The challenges of diagnosing, treating and preventing various animal maladies, coupled with financial constraints in a culture with a schizoid attitude toward animals (ranging from treating them as family members to mere commodities), may be overwhelming at times. And it is frustrating seeing the same conditions day after day with no significant advances in the prevention of illness and suffering. This is especially true for factory farmed animals, an animal industry sector with an acute shortage of veterinarians.

Above all, I believe that veterinarians are generally more empathetic toward animals than most people in the general population. They, along with others on the front lines of animal protection, take the brunt of society's use and abuse of animals. One colleague writes to me, "We have a schizophrenic profession. One minute we are battling for a pet's life and then in an instant the next owner elects euthanasia. This can twist anyone's mind inside out. Caregiver burnout is very prevalent in the vet profession, too. Long hours and low economic returns make it challenging to get a vacation to recharge."

This burden of empathy for animals used and abused in society today, combined with veterinarians' clinical knowledge and deeper understanding of how their animal patients can suffer, calls for greater public recognition and respect for the many contributions this profession provides for the good of animals.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am in a rough situation: I have a smart dog (aren't they all?) who insists on barking when she smells one particular dog she dislikes intensely from two floors above.

Her sense of smell is amazing. She is a Havanese mix. She now barks two or three times per day. She seems bored, but won't play with other dogs, only humans. She is healthy and very intuitive.

I am 80 years old and cannot run with her. I live in a condo whose 50-year-old rules do not permit pets. Half of the building has cats; there are roughly five dogs who got grandfathered in. There are 172 units.

I have tried to work with a behaviorist from a dog shelter, who gave me some exercises for her. When she barks, she comes to me for treat and then stops. I think this exercise worked for a bit, but it seemed to teach quite the opposite of the intent.

When she knows a dog, she doesn't bark, except in this one case. We try to keep the two dogs separate. We have a dog park nearby, and I keep her leashed, as she doesn't know how to play. My husband takes her off the leash when he walks her in the park, but when I play with her in the apartment, she only runs. I hope you can help our situation. -- L.K., Bethesda, Maryland

DEAR L.K.: I am surprised the behaviorist did not suggest you try one of a variety of humane and variously effective anti-bark collars.

I am very concerned that there are animal behaviorists working in shelters who are unqualified, uncertified or simply ignorant. Your behaviorist set up a food protocol that encouraged barking by rewarding your dog with a treat every time she barked! So do seek a second opinion on this issue, possibly a reliable referral from your dog's veterinarian.

HUMANELY SOURCED DOG FOOD

Open Farm is the first producer of Certified Humane Raised and Handled pet food in the United States.

Already in Canada, Open Farm dog food will enter the U.S. market in April.

Under the Certified Humane label, Open Farm will use only meat and poultry products in their pet foods that come from Certified Humane farms and ranches. The Certified Humane label on their product assures consumers that farm animals are raised humanely on farms where they can express their natural behaviors, such as flapping wings and moving around freely in their environments. The farm animals must also be raised without animal by-products and without the use of antibiotics.

Visit openfarmpet.com for more details.

(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 wife and I adopted a 6-year-old Maltese rescue about six months ago.

We do not know any history on her, and it appears she was abused and mistreated. She runs away when approached, is afraid to be picked up and when picked up, turns her head so she does not face you. She will not come to us when called, except to eat. We have a doggie door that she has taken to well.

She does have another trait that my wife finds very annoying. She will go out the doggie door, then sit and bark, refusing to come back in the house. When approached, she runs out into the backyard until we finally back her into a corner to be picked up and returned to the house and close the doggie door.

Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated. -- C.F.C., Imperial, Missouri

DEAR C.F.C.: From your brief description of how you respond to your dog's reactions to you, consider ignoring the barking outdoors, which could just be for attention. Do not try to corner her and catch her to bring her inside. Let her come in when she wants to, and give her a treat when she comes in. This is best done when she has been on a 24-hour fast so she will be hungry and food-motivated.

Do you spend time playing with her outdoors, especially interactive games of fetch or hide-and-seek with some chasing? Her barking may be to invite you to play! Make a game out of chasing rather than just catching her to bring her indoors. Try some basic "sit" and "stay" instructions with the dog harnessed and leashed, using a long leash to teach her to come to you for a treat. A certified animal behaviorist may be worth consulting.

DEAR DR. FOX: In a recent column, you answered back-to-back allergy questions, one of which was about the long-term use of Atopica for a cat.

One year ago, we lost our beloved 7-year-old English setter, Otis, to liver cancer. Otis suffered from a variety of diagnosed food, seasonal and environmental allergies, which led to chronic suffering, and the related foot chewing and body scratching.

After years of trying a variety of diets, daily allergy injections and repeat courses of prednisone to try to alleviate his suffering, we started Otis on a daily dose of Atopica at the suggestion of an allergy specialist vet. After several weeks, the Atopica definitely had improved Otis' quality of life, and we followed the allergist's schedule of routine check-ins and blood tests, as Atopica can affect the liver. All was fine until about after a year of Atopica use, when Otis' fatigue and lack of eating led us to a non-routine blood test, which showed a slight elevation in liver enzymes. An ultrasound that was expected to show nothing actually showed multiple inoperable, large tumors throughout his liver; after about two months of trying to stimulate his appetite with prednisone and relieve his pain with Mobic, we euthanized him after an agonizing night of his crying showed us his quality of life was poor.

Pathetically, the allergist avoided returning my calls afterward, but I am convinced the Atopica caused Otis' cancer. I wanted to caution you and the cat owner from Florida about the long-term use of Atopica. -- J.S., Rumson, New Jersey

DEAR J.S.: Atopica risks per the manufacturer's statement:

"IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ATOPICA (Cyclosporine capsules, USP) MODIFIED. As with all drugs, side effects may occur. In a field study, the most common side effects were gastrointestinal signs. Gingival hyperplasia and papillomas may also occur during the initial dosing phase. Atopica is a systemic immunosuppressant that may increase the susceptibility to infection. Atopica is not for use in reproducing dogs or dogs with a history of neoplasia."

I am not sure that this generally effective drug could have caused the liver cancer, but certainly, from what the manufacturers say, it could have aggravated a pre-existing cancer in the liver. I believe that some breeds and individual dogs are extremely sensitive to high-gluten dietary ingredients that can cause "leaky gut" syndrome, which in turn leads to large, potentially allergenic protein molecules entering the circulation. Dysbiosis (gut microflora imbalance) can aggravate this issue. Probiotics, prebiotics and even fecal enemas are part and parcel of dealing with "atopy"(skin disease of unknown origin in dogs). Omega-3 fatty acid supplements in the food are also advised. Fungal and bacterial infections, especially in the ears and feet, must be treated appropriately as secondary infections brought on in association with atopy and related immune system dysfunction.

(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.)