DEAR DR. FOX: Out of the blue, my 12-year-old cat had a grand mal (tonic-clonic) seizure. Our vet did blood work, checked her sugar level and sent us home for observation. Our cat had four more large seizures in a 24-hour period. The blood work came back negative, and because she has no other medical problems, she was prescribed phenobarbital. That was 10 days ago, and she has had only two minor seizures since. The vet suspects a brain tumor, but without further testing, we are not sure.

Dr. Karen Becker for Mercola.com wrote about a bizarre seizure disorder in cats in the U.K., Tom and Jerry syndrome, triggered by everyday noises. Do you have any thoughts on this, or any idea what could be causing the seizures? She eats a grain-free diet, and until the seizure activity, we were giving her diluted tuna juice to get her to drink water. She also begs for a vitamin E treat a day.

What do you think about putting her through an MRI, a spinal tap and possible surgery? -- P.J., Chesapeake Beach, Maryland

DEAR P.J.: Your cat may be suffering from what has been termed feline audiogenic reflex seizures (FARS), according to a survey by veterinarian M. Lowrie and associates published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

This condition, identified primarily in older cats, is triggered by sudden noises, and the cats go into a grand mal seizure, with drooling, evacuation, extension and paddling of the feet after falling over on to one side. In many instances, the louder the sound, the more intense the seizure. Some cats were helped when the particular sound was identified and controlled. Phenobarbital proved less effective in reducing the severity or frequency of the seizures than Levetiracetam.

I would advise veterinarians try a change in diet for these (and all) cats to avoid possible neuroexcitatory additives in many manufactured cat foods. Some better options include home-prepared food or some commercial freeze-dried, frozen and an increasing number of dry and canned commercial formulations.

Cats afflicted with FARS -- and cats with other conditions -- may show improvement when no corn is in their diets. This would reduce their exposure to hepatotoxic and potentially neurotoxic aflatoxins and other fungal toxins present in corn, which is still widely fed to cats. These aflatoxins account for frequent, high-volume pet food recalls. There can also be high iodine content in fish-based cat foods, and mercury, which is harmful to the nervous system, in fish such as tuna.

In addition to looking at the diet of older cats suffering from this seizure abnormality, I would also look at their environments: Do they live alone most of the day and develop a state of hypervigilance? Might this condition be associated with the feline endocrine epidemic of hyperthyroidism? Increasing their dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and tryptophan, and giving melatonin around the time seizures most often occur, early in the evening, may prove fruitful. Hyperesthesia syndrome may also have some association with FARS and the factors that contribute to its manifestation as a recognized clinical condition in the feline population.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our neighbors a few doors away adopted a rescue dog. We are dog lovers who think getting rescues is a great way to go, and we're glad this dog has a nice home.

However, this dog actively dislikes my husband. Whenever he walks by their house, the dog throws herself at their storm door and shows her teeth. Once, she burst out and charged him; fortunately, our neighbor was taking her out for a walk and already had the leash on her. My neighbor is athletic and held her with great difficulty as she lunged toward my husband with teeth bared. Our neighbor acts embarrassed about her targeting my husband (who is a very nice guy and kind to animals), and said she usually isn't so aggressive.

Maybe this dog was mistreated by a man or men; perhaps she associates a deeper voice with malice. We don't want her hauled away, but we don't want my husband attacked, either. She is a very strong bully mix, so we're talking a serious risk if one of their teens accidentally opens the door at the wrong time. I'm considering getting him some pepper spray! What do you suggest? -- C.S., Washington, D.C.

DEAR C.S.: Pepper spray may be a good idea until the dog is under control. The owners need to understand that their dog is out to get your husband or men who resemble him, which triggers attack behavior (possibly because of post-traumatic stress disorder). However, a sturdy walking stick may be preferable, and it can be used as a bite stick to redirect an attacking dog and help ward the dog off from attacking your own dog.

Because of the risk, your fear and their liability, your neighbors must seek immediate consultation with a veterinarian, who can refer a good behavioral therapist to help the poor dog. Your husband could play a role (under the supervision of the good dog therapist) in helping this dog overcome conditioned attack behavior triggered -- no doubt -- by prior cruelty.

Dogs are our mirrors in many ways, and it is a sad reflection on us when dogs like this finish up in animal shelters that lack the professional resources, space and funds needed to reduce euthanasia rates by investing in behavioral therapy.

PET FOOD RECALLS

-- According to a notice recently posted at PetSmart retail stores, Hill's Science Diet is in the process of conducting a voluntary market withdrawal of some of its canned cat and dog food products for unspecified reasons. To learn which products are affected, please visit your pet store or point of purchase, or visit DogFoodAdvisor.com for more information.

-- Blue Buffalo Company is voluntarily recalling one lot of its Cub Size Wilderness Wild Chews Bones because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. Visit fda.gov/Safety/Recalls for more information.

(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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Since about 2002, we have been rescuing both cats and dogs. This started with my cat Callie. She is 15-plus years old, and dropped from 6.2 pounds to 4.9 pounds in the last six months. She has been on Hill's Prescription y/d since she was diagnosed with thyroid issues a couple of years ago. The diet has kept the thyroid issue in check without meds. Now her blood work came back as positive for kidney disease. She has been put on the k/d food. I feel helpless as I understand that there is nothing I can do to help her. I have been feeding her the wet k/d food every two or three hours (small amounts with water added), and she does appear to be stronger.

Is there anything else I could do for her to make her more comfortable or to slow down the destruction of her kidneys? Also, I do not know the signs that the situation is in its final stages. Can you help me understand this disease? -- T.J.W., Lanham, Maryland

DEAR T.J.W.: I am sorry to hear about your cat's double whammy -- chronic kidney disease preceded by hyperthyroidism. Fortunately, it was caught early enough for a special diet to help control it. High levels of iodine and fluoride in some cat foods -- along with thyroid-harming environmental contaminants, notably flame-retardant chemicals in home and household dust and BPA in the inside lining of food cans -- put cats at risk.

Kidney issues can be associated with dental problems, so it is imperative that a thorough oral exam be given to all cats during their regular wellness examination.

For details about helping cats and dogs with chronic kidney failure, see the article "Care for Dogs and Cats With Renal Failure" on my website, DrFoxVet.net.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read a recent letter about a dog being terrified during car rides. Our dog acted similarly, to the point where one of us sat in the backseat with her to try to keep her calm. I noticed that her fright was generated when the GPS or phone made clicking sounds. We did a number of experiments and turned the sound completely off of all digital devices. Now she is relaxed and calm again in the car.

Please tell your readers to try this. It was so sad to see the desperation of our dog before we discovered this source of her problem. -- E.G., St. Louis

DEAR E.G.: I applaud your investigative initiative of sitting with the dog to see what might be triggering the adverse reactions while traveling in the car.

Sudden sounds and high-frequency noises, some inaudible to the human ear, are part of the noise pollution of this electronic age. These can be stressful to us as well as to other animals, as can electromagnetic fields, stray voltage and the flicker of various light fixtures.

Thanks for finding and offering one solution!

APPLAUSE FOR VETERINARY COLLEGE

Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education and Social Services (WisCARES) is a program started by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Social Work for local pet owners who are homeless or precariously housed. The program's ultimate aim is to protect the human-animal bond by providing disadvantaged pet owners with free veterinary care and emergency boarding if needed and social services support, including housing resources.

(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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I read your article about releasing cats to live outdoors, and it brought up some questions. You say that it's inhumane to catch and release, but isn't spaying or neutering a cat better than to leave it in the street without doing so?

I am currently in Iran working on a project, and I have brought in two cats from the street. One is approximately 2 years old, and in the last few weeks since I brought her in, she has become depressed and gained weight. I try my best to play with her a few times a day, but I cannot possibly provide the same stimulation she would have outdoors. Also, she is in heat and extremely frustrated, but I plan on having her spayed soon.

The other I found last week. She's a 2-month-old kitten who I found stuck in the wheel well of a car. She was freezing, muddy and scared, and I took her to the vet, who told me she had a disease of the eyes, which she is being treated for. I'm trying to introduce the two of them, and the big cat is extremely upset about it. I'm doing the proper introduction with food bowls on each side of the door of the kitten's "safe room," but the big cat hisses at the door and is highly agitated.

Meanwhile, food, toys, vaccines and surgeries cost me nearly $1,000, and my freedom is limited because I can't just pick up and travel. Also, I'm not getting much in return. The big cat, Pishy, never curls up in my lap, and I feel guilty if I am too tired to play. And the little kitten is too scared to want to be cute and cuddly.

So here I am, sacrificing so as not to be cruel to these cats, but I'm being cruel to myself. If I have them both spayed and vaccinated and release them, won't they be better off than they were before?

Tehran doesn't really have shelters. Cats fight over garbage scraps, and there are larger colonies in northern parts of the city where there are fewer cars, better climate and wealthier residents with better scraps. But animals are not valued as much and are often abused by people who don't know better. Many people do make it their mission to regularly feed them, allow them into their yards and watch after them. Still, I often spot the neighborhood cats with scars from fighting with other cats. Because of this, disease, starvation and, of course, cars, the overpopulation really concerns me. Almost every street has ferals. I've been thinking about starting a catch-and-release program with some local vets and the help of the government, but it's a new idea here.

There is a big yard attached to my apartment complex. I could create an outdoor home for them, but there is already a colony of cats there. My heart breaks for them, but my life and house are a mess now. Kitty litter is everywhere, there's fur all over the couches and carpets -- and I'm highly allergic! I can't breathe well, and if I touch my face, it swells up.

I'm in the middle of an "ethical dilemma," as you put it, and I'm not sure what to do. -- G.G., Tehran, Iran

DEAR G.G.: I understand fully your predicament. Some street (feral) cats, especially those who were naturally selected for generations to be independent, free-roaming hunters, often do not make cuddle cats, even when taken in at a very early age.

While I am generally opposed to trap-neuter-release of cats in the U.S. and other developed countries (unless the cats are closely monitored and in relatively isolated places), the situation is rather different in developing countries, and especially in poor villages and urban slums. There, cats and dogs are part of the community and can provide significant public health benefits -- provided they are vaccinated against rabies and their own communicable diseases, treated for parasites and are neutered and ear-notched (for identification) to limit overpopulation and suffering through attrition.

My wife, Deanna Krantz, operated an animal shelter in rural India with full veterinary services, where community-fed cats and dogs were neutered, vaccinated, wormed and given back to the owner or returned to the streets. I think this would be a wise decision for you, and your efforts to help these animals should be applauded.

DEAR DR. FOX: My son's dog, a 7-year-old Lab-shepherd-pit bull mix, was just diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Because of her age and weight (about 10 pounds more that it should be), she's been prescribed budesonide, which is compounded especially for her at the pharmacy.

I know how serious this disease is in humans, and I assume it is just as serious in dogs. How would she have developed this? The vet told my son that as long as she takes the budesonide, her ulcers will heal, but I'm as concerned about long-term steroid use in this dog as I would be in any human. -- J.O., Jackson, New Jersey

DEAR J.O.: Crohn's disease in dogs, generally referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is all too common today, as emphasized in the book that I co-authored, "Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat & Dog Foods." There are ingredients in many pet foods that contribute to this problem.

I am not averse to relieving the symptoms with the steroid anti-inflammatory drug that was prescribed for your dog, but the next step is to wean your dog gradually off this medication and transition her onto a wholesome diet as per my home-prepared recipe posted on my website, DrFoxVet.net, along with probiotics, which can really help with this chronic malady.

(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.net.)