DEAR DR. FOX: Recently, I had reason to take Birdie, one of my Havanese, to a vet under emergency conditions. In the 18 hours prior to taking him to the vet, he exhibited signs of intestinal distress, with diarrhea and loss of bowel control.

During the office exam, the subject of diet came up, and I was asked what brand of food I feed my dogs. I provided the brand of kibble I use, Taste of the Wild, a label that I have been told is considered by the veterinary community to be a wise choice. I chose this brand because of its high protein content and the absence of grains. Grains have no place in a canine's diet; I have verified this in numerous sources. Birdie's vet suggested that Taste of the Wild's high protein content could cause harm to my 3 1/2-year-old Havanese, and a change in feed might be necessary.

After an examination, the vet advised me that Birdie's anal glands were not a contributing cause for his distress, but his upper G.I. had lots of gas. The vet suggested that it may be caused by his exposure to deer and rabbit waste in our yard. He prescribed several medications to remedy the problem.

The vet also sold me a bag of Hill's "digestive care" kibble and told me to feed it to Birdie for the next four to five days, and then transition him back to the Taste of the Wild kibble. I read the ingredient label prior to leaving the vet's office, and remarked to the staff that this Hill's Prescription Diet contained, in order as printed on the label: brewer's rice, cornstarch, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, chicken byproduct meal (we know what that is!) and on and on, including pork flavoring and chicken liver flavoring -- but no protein. The staff's response to my query was that I should call Hill's at the number provided on the bag with any questions. I have not called Hill's, as I fully expect their representative to do what is expected of an employee: that is, support the employer's product as complete and whole.

I am at a loss as to whom and what to believe. A protein-based diet for a dog makes a lot of sense to me, as this is what a canine would eat in the wild, not cornstarch, brewer's rice, corn gluten meal, etc.

Do you have any suggestions or guidance that you would share with me? Am I making an informed, wise choice by choosing a meal-based protein kibble? -- T.R., Washington, D.C.

DEAR T.R.: I am glad that you read what was in the bag of prescription food for your dog.

You should know that it was "scientifically formulated," and the attending veterinarian believed that it would be the best remedy for your dog. But where did the animal doctor get the information in the first place, having, at best, a short course in companion animal nutrition before graduation from veterinary school? At least you were fortunate that the veterinarian did not insist on costly diagnostic tests, though you made no mention of any fecal tests for parasites and infections, such as giardia and clostridia. Clostridia is a common cause of diarrhea during changes in the season or stress in dogs; giardia could come from deer feces or contaminated water. In general, dogs probably eat a small quantity of wild animal feces may as a natural instinct.

It is also possible that this batch of Taste of the Wild was not up to par; one way to avoid that is to feed your dog a variety of good-quality canned and dry dog foods. High protein content should not be an issue in an otherwise healthy dog. Try my home-prepared diet -- posted on my website, DrFoxVet.net -- and keep me posted as you transition your dog onto a wholesome diet of known ingredients.

The best medicine is prevention, and a holistic, integrative approach to companion animal health calls for a revision of vaccination protocols, cessation of feeding highly processed commercial pet foods, and reviewing medication practices, especially with so-called preventive medications like those sold to keep fleas and ticks at bay. For further information, contact a holistic veterinarian in your area. A searchable list can be found at holisticvetlist.com. Veterinarians wishing to learn more are encouraged to become members of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association at ahvma.org.

A friend took a stray cat to the local vet here in Minneapolis for appropriate tests, neutering and care with adoption in mind, and requested the cat be given a high-quality protein diet because he was severely malnourished. She was shocked several days later when she found out that the cat had been given Purina's EN Gastroenteric Feline Formula (dry) -- the first four ingredients were soy protein isolate, poultry byproduct meal, corn gluten meal and soy flakes. This is hardly the optimal diet for a carnivore! For more details, see my book "Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods."

(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 take exception to your response from a reader about feeding a feral cat.

I grew up in a rural area, and we always fed feral cats. Some we actually tamed, and they made great pets; there were others we could not tame, but we fed them anyway. Feral cats earned the food we gave them: They kept our yard clean of snakes, rats and other unwanted critters. I would never take a feral cat to an animal shelter, because all they would do is euthanize them. You say feral cats kill birds, but what is the problem with that? It is called balance of life, or balance of nature. Too many birds are a nuisance, too. -- V.M., Alexandria, Virginia

DEAR V.M.: For those people who share your beliefs and continue to feed feral cats without attempting to catch them and have them neutered -- those who support their proliferation by feeding them and ignoring their adverse impact on wildlife -- it is evident that appealing to reason and the facts concerning the suffering and plight of both these cats and wildlife would be to no avail.

That is why we need more laws and education in this country, especially to put an end to the kind of view you have that such cats help maintain the "balance of nature" by killing birds. Feral, stray and free-roaming house cats are the wrong species in the wrong place. Originally a desert species from the Middle East, they do not belong in the ecology of North America, the indigenous species of which are in dire need of protection and habitat restoration.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our 10-year-old female domestic shorthair cat chews on the tip of her tail, up to about 3 inches. The tail chewing is not part of her regular grooming. The tip of her tail looks like a mouse tail growing out from her furry cat tail. This behavior started on and off about a year ago.

We've had no changes in her diet, environment or stress levels; her teeth have been checked, and because of neck lesions, a number of them were extracted. Dental care hasn't stopped the behavior. She doesn't have fleas. She gets regular exercise and one-on-one attention.

She tends to gnaw at her tail at certain times of day, generally after eating, but not necessarily only then.

Certain locations (a particular chair or a spot on the sofa, for example) can seem to act as triggers, but her tail-chewing is not necessarily restricted to those places.

We've tried distracting her with toys or play, or petting when she focuses on her tail, but that's not entirely successful. She is sometimes willing to be distracted, but inevitably returns to chewing on her tail.

The vet who has seen her since she was a rescue kitten is stumped, as is the vet-dentist.

We have a second cat who is a few months older -- we adopted them together, though they are not related, and they generally get along, though the cat who chews her tail seems to defer to the other.

Do you have any suggestions about why she might be doing this, and especially what can be done? She is otherwise an alert, bright, active cat. -- S.M., Falls Church, Virginia

DEAR S.M.: My book "Cat Body, Cat Mind" may give you some insights that might help you improve your feline detective abilities. I describe one case where a cat was so grief-stricken that she bit off her tail! Excessive grooming of one part of the body can be triggered by emotional stress and the desire to self-comfort. Could there be any emotional trigger for this behavior in your home?

Next on the detective list is chronic irritation from some other part of the body, called "referred pain," as from impacted anal glands, injury to the tail itself (they often get caught in refrigerator doors) and arthritis in the hips or lower back. With the latter, my book "The Healing Touch for Cats" may really help. Give her a few drops of anti-inflammatory fish oil in her food daily.

Also consider a possible food allergy or intolerance, notably to dairy products, corn and beef, and in some instances, to fish. For cats intolerant of fish, an omega supplement from algae rather than fish oil is advisable.

Finally, this may be an obsessive-compulsive behavior, which could be subdued with even a pinch of catnip every few hours or a prescription of Prozac for a short period to break the cycle. Excessive grooming and chewing can release feel-good opiates that creates an addictive component to the behavior.

(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: In September 2015, I wrote to you about the Facebook group "Does Bravecto Kill Dogs?" This group was formed to bring awareness to the side effects of the oral flea and tick medication Bravecto. Over 4,600 members have joined the group since our launch just five months ago, and we have a global reach. The number of reports on the group is now too high to count. However, a veterinarian in our group has received only two Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports of adverse drug events (ADE) for Bravecto. Since Bravecto was approved in the United States in 2014, a total of 5,319 ADE reports have been filed with the FDA, including over 160 reported deaths. These numbers include only ADE reports filed in the U.S. We are aware of many additional reports of side effects and deaths in other countries.

The most common side effect continues to be vomiting and diarrhea, with blood in both, as well as seizures and skin irritation. Lethargy and failure to eat are also common symptoms. Additionally, there are an alarming number of reports of kidney and liver damage as well as reports of abnormal blood cell counts. The side effects are often not short-lived, and dog owners are incurring substantial costs for treatment.

We firmly believe the number of ADE reports is understated. Many owners don't know they can and should report side effects. Several members reported that their veterinarians stated that their dogs must have ingested poison. However, the members are confident the only new thing ingested was Bravecto. We encourage dog owners to come to the group for guidance on reporting side effects to Merck and the FDA, and for support as they manage symptoms.

I also want to note that a topical form of Bravecto was recently denied marketing authorization in Europe due to user safety concerns.

I have attached links to both the FDA adverse event reports and the Facebook group. Please encourage your readers to review this important information: yourpetsneedthis.com and facebook.com/groups/411371212394679/. -- S.W., Andover, Massachusetts

DEAR S.W.: Your efforts to collect documentation on this dubious pesticide is to be applauded, and I trust that readers will take note and also inform their veterinarians if this product is on sale at their clinics. It should be taken off the market, and safer alternatives and preventive measures adopted, as you can read on my website, DrFoxVet.net.

DR. FOX: Since about 2002, we have been rescuing cats and dogs. This started with my cat, Callie. She is over 15 years old, and she's gone from 6.2 pounds to 4.9 pounds in the past 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.

Recently, 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 small amounts of wet k/d with water added every two or three hours, and she does appear to be stronger.

Is there anything else I can do for her to make her more comfortable or to slow down the destruction of her kidneys? 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 caught early enough for a special diet to help control.

High levels of iodine and fluoride in some cat foods and thyroid-harming environmental contaminants 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 " Care for Dogs and Cats With Renal Failure" on my website, DrFoxVet.net.

(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.)