DEAR DR. FOX: My aunt suggested I reach out to you and tell you a little bit about my dog, Jasmine. She's a 6-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel mix whom I rescued as a puppy.

In the last few years, she has become obsessed with swimming. She's gone swimming in pools, lakes, ponds and the bay -- she's even jumped in the ponds in Central Park once or twice.

She developed a cough last June. I didn't take her to the vet right away, but when we finally went in July, she was put on an antibiotic. The vet listened to her heart and said all was good. The cough did not go away; in fact, it started to sound worse and almost like when a human has bronchitis, so I took her to a second vet.

The new vet took chest X-rays and told me her heart was "pristine," though he did see a little bronchitis in her lungs. He put her on a different antibiotic, a bronchial dilator and a cough suppressant. We went back a few times and had another set of X-rays done that were sent to a specialist. The specialist suggested a trans-tracheal wash and a bronchoscopy.

I took her for a third opinion. This vet put her on yet another antibiotic and agreed with the trans-tracheal wash. He also wanted to do a sonogram of the heart to rule out a heart issue common in Cavaliers.

I saw the third vet less than a week ago, and her cough has worsened. She is not eating her food, but I believe it has more to do with the antibiotic bothering her stomach. I have decided to stop the antibiotic so that she can get it out of her system, and so that we can get in to have the trans-tracheal wash and sonogram done sooner.

Have you ever heard of a dog having a cough for so long? Do you have any feedback about Jasmine's situation? -- K.G., New York City

DEAR K.G.: Considering her record of loving to get into any kind of water for a swim, your dog is a prime candidate for having a water-associated fungal infection called blastomycosis, which thrives in rich, moist soils around ponds, along waterways and in swamps.

Antibiotics will not eradicate this proliferating fungus from your dog's lungs and possibly other internal organs.

This disease is quite common in many parts of the United States, possibly aggravated by warmer weather and climate change. The fungus can enter the body via a cut on the skin, or more often via inhalation. So have the veterinarian check for this and let me know the outcome.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 16-year-old domestic cat whom we have had since he was 6 weeks old. He has been in good health his entire life, although he's a bit overweight at 17 pounds. He sees our vet once a year to be checked over.

We recently noticed that he may not be seeing that well. I noticed when I gave him a treat, he did not seem to be able to see it, but he could smell it. After a couple of weeks, we took him to the vet to check his eyes, and we were told he had a detached retina in one eye, but he was responsive to light.

We had his bloodwork done, and his blood pressure was high (over 200). He was placed on medication (amlodipine). We also checked him for thyroid issues, and he was determined to be borderline. Our vet suggested monitoring it, but no medication was prescribed. After two weeks on amlodipine, we took him back to check his blood pressure, and it was back in the normal range. He is now taking the amlodipine daily.

Unfortunately, his vision does not seem much better. Our vet said his detached retina looked better, and he is still responsive to light. Our vet felt his vision should improve some over time, but said it's difficult to determine how much better (or worse) he sees.

He seems fine and gets around the house without issue, but it does appear that he walks right up to objects before he sees them.

Is there anything else we can do to help with his vision loss? -- G.P., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR G.P.: Your cat's eye problem is all too common in older cats who develop high blood pressure, which, among other things, can lead to detachment of the retinas.

Being overweight or obese results in the production of inflammatory substances in the fat cells, which can cause harm to the kidneys (which play a major role in regulating blood pressure), to the heart and blood vessels, and to the pancreas, leading to secondary cardiac and circulatory issues and diabetes. Further complications can arise with inflammation of the joints, fatty degeneration of the liver and cognitive impairment associated with changes in the brain, which can resemble Alzheimer's disease.

Giving kittens (and their pregnant mothers) biologically appropriate diets rather than high-cereal diets and poor-quality animal protein might prevent these problems. Some fish oil supplement or a couple of canned sardines every other day would help your cat, and I would not change the blood pressure medication other than having the pressure monitored every three to four months.

BETTER HANDLING MEANS BETTER CARE FOR CATS

Many people don't know how to properly and safely restrain terrified cats, which can be a problem with staff in animal shelters and even veterinary hospitals.

I applaud the initiative being taken by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) to correct this serious issue and to facilitate more cats having regular wellness examinations. Far too many cats never see a veterinarian until they are seriously, often terminally, ill. To learn more, cat handlers, owners and veterinarians alike should visit AAFP's Feline Friendly Handling Guidelines, available at catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/handling-guidelines, and the Cat Friendly Practice Program, available at catvets.com/cfp.

(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.)

DEAR DR. FOX: We're having a behavioral problem with our 3-year-old Airedale terrier. She came from a litter in Arkansas when she was just 7 weeks old. She's our third Airedale, so we feel we have a good grip on what their personalities are like. She was raised with love, affection, discipline and a huge 1 1/2-acre yard to enjoy. She's been through obedience training and passed with no problem. (OK, maybe a little stubbornness -- but what Airedale isn't stubborn?)

However, within the past few months, Lola has begun acting afraid or threatened by people she's known all her life -- my son, my mother, my grandchildren and neighbors -- who she's always greeted with nothing but a wagging tail and wet kisses. She'll greet them at the door, but when they try to pet her or say hello, she gives low growls and leaves the room. Her entire demeanor changes. It's especially upsetting to my mother. Lola used to greet her, but now runs and stands behind me or runs to her bed. Sometimes she allows my son to approach her -- he always holds out his hand for her to smell first -- but after a few minutes, she gives that low, guttural growl and backs away.

There are only two things we can think of that may have caused this change: We kenneled her in June of last year, for eight days. She's been kenneled before in the same place without a problem -- there are now new owners, but the previous owners still lived on-site, and Lola was familiar with them. Also, my son has moved back home with his Boston terrier. Both dogs were well acquainted with each other, and interacted so well together that we felt it was OK to have the Boston come live here. We don't see any signs of aggression toward him; it's only certain people Lola has known all her life. I'd appreciate any thoughts you can give us. -- D.L., Asbury Park, New Jersey

DEAR D.L.: Sometimes one never gets to identify the cause of a dog's apparent change in behavior, such as your dog's evident fear of people. I would guess that there was some traumatic event at the boarding facility, and your poor dog has post-traumatic stress disorder.

First, I would have your attending veterinarian do a full physical, checking the eyes for any signs of disease and ruling out hypothyroid disease, which can afflict younger dogs. This affliction is all too prevalent, and it can cause sudden changes in temperament. Check your records regarding your dog's booster vaccinations and anti-flea drugs, especially those given just before boarding. These can cause problems, the latter affecting liver enzymes and brain function. Some dogs get terrified when treated with an external anti-flea drug.

Try supplements such as 5-htp to elevate brain serotonin, plus lightly cooked or raw ground turkey as the main dietary protein. Also, the supplement L-theanine, as in PetzLife's product @Eaze, may be beneficial.

If these measures do not improve her condition in three to four weeks, couple them with a prescription of Xanax (alprazolam) or Valium. Let me know the outcome.

DEAR DR. FOX: I wanted to mention, after reading the article about the limping beagle, the benefits of feeding whole sardines.

My 13-year-old shepherd suffers from arthritis in his knees -- his hips are OK. I have been feeding him five to six whole sardines with daily meals. (I get them online. Shipping is a little costly, but with anything frozen, there is extra cost.) The difference I've seen in the past year has been fantastic. The addition of this natural source of fish oils to his diet has done wonders.

I believe this advice is valuable enough to pass along. Thanks for the great guidance. -- D.C., Winston-Salem, North Carolina

DEAR D.C.: Thanks for sharing your experience of the benefits of fish oils for an arthritic old dog. It's good for similarly afflicted cats and people.

The smaller the fish, the better -- big fish (who eat little fish) concentrate more harmful pollutants, such as mercury, in their tissues, and fat-soluble pesticides and other chemical contaminants of human industry, notably dioxins, are in their oils. Cheap fish oils, especially from farmed rather than wild salmon, are potentially more harmful than beneficial as a food supplement for humans and other animals.

(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.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have been a dog trainer and behavior consultant for over 20 years and am certified by five dog-training organizations.

I am writing a book on puppy socialization for owners. I am researching the Bio Sensor program by Dr. Carmen Battaglia and have found that it is controversial, with some sources saying that there is no data to back up the claims. One example can be found at border-wars.com/2012/02/bio-sensor-is-bad-science-the-failure-of-super-dog.html.

Your name has come up in the discussion, and I am wondering if you could comment on the method. -- C.W., Los Angeles

DEAR C.W.: While I was an associate professor of psychology at Washington University and having my Ph.D. dissertation ("Integrative Development of Brain and Behavior in the Dog") published by the University of Chicago Press, the United States Army Veterinary Corps contacted me as a civilian advisor. They wanted help improving the in-field performance and well-being of their military dogs serving in Vietnam and being raised and trained at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Although opposed to the war, I was concerned about both the dogs and the troops.

The German shepherd dogs that I saw initially were kennel-confined and shy, and in dire need of social and environmental enrichment -- remedies that I helped initiate. Their offspring were given various forms of sensory and social stimulation during their first weeks of life. These were based in large part on procedures and findings detailed in my dissertation and summarized in my book "Understanding Your Dog."

I worked with Col. M.W. Castleberry and his staff to set up what we decided to call the "Superdog Project." One officer, Dr. Jeff Lynn, worked closely with me and earned a master's degree from the Washington University department of psychology by detailing and evaluating this project, which was indeed a success.

It has disturbed me that various individuals have made claims to having developed or being involved in the Superdog Project, though I had no professional relationship with them and they never cited my original work on the beneficial effects of early brain and sensory stimulation in puppies. I see them as trying to capitalize on my work -- work that I did for no remuneration, and with the only purpose of helping improve the adaptability and performance of these military dogs under the stresses of combat, and saving a few soldiers' lives in the process.

So long as American forces continue to operate in foreign countries with military dogs, I would like to see better protective footwear and protective vests (including cooling vests) and goggles provided as needed for the dogs. Additionally, suitable local dogs, better adapted to the area's climate and diseases, could be trained for military use and then brought back to the U.S. after service for adoption.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our sweet, blue-eyed, half-Siamese 9-year-old cat has a vomiting problem. She gulps her food down in desperation and then vomits. Sometimes she has a hairball; usually it's because she eats so fast. We have been scrupulous with her food and feed her a wet, high-protein diet. When we feed her in the garage, we let her relax awhile before letting her back into the house.

When we adopted her from the shelter, she was quite thin, and we knew that she had been abandoned. We thought that with time, she would adapt to frequent small feedings and a very loving home. This has become very troubling, as we've had to clean up her vomiting episodes on the couch and even on our bed. -- A.S., Ashland, Oregon

DEAR A.S.: This is an all-too-common problem in cats with many causes, and therefore solutions.

Eating too fast is one possible cause; therefore, cats do better being fed very small meals four to five times daily, rather than twice, or -- cat forbid! -- once daily. Some vets advise placing a couple of golf balls in the food to slow down the rate of ingestion. Chilled food from the fridge may trigger vomiting, and most especially food allergy and additives like carrageenan in canned cat food, which should be prohibited. Try my home-prepared food recipe, which you can find at DrFoxVet.com.

Also, check out some of the new freeze-dried cat foods, which must be soaked briefly before feeding.

(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.)