DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 3-year-old female cat that was formerly feral, and still is to everyone but me. She sleeps with me every night, and is perfectly normal except for when I return from short trips (three or four days away). My neighbor looks after her -- makes sure she has food and water, lets her in and out if she wants to stay in the house -- so it isn't as if I abandon her, but the day I get back, she takes off. The last time, she was gone for 30 days.

Is it possible that she is trying to punish me for leaving? I have had cats all my life and never had anything like this happen before. -- R.S.K., Reeds Spring, Missouri

DEAR R.S.K.: I doubt that your cat is punishing you -- more likely she is just upset by change. Unlike dogs, who are essentially open books when it comes to their emotional reactions and social relationships, cats can be enigmatic and unpredictable -- the traits of a super-predator.

When cats hide or run away, like those who stay alone in the basement and rarely come out, or stay outdoors for days on end, it is as though their "flight" behavior takes over and blocks them from coming close to anyone. The article on my website entitled "Cat Behavior: Cognitive Disassociation and Social Disruption" documents this seemingly bizarre behavior in my formerly feral cats after one, and later the other, accidentally got outdoors.

My advice is to no longer let your cat outdoors. Make life indoors as stimulating as possible with elevated perches, walkways and cat condos, and install padded window ledges looking out on bird feeders.

Also, adopt a healthy, easy-going and well-socialized cat for companionship. Two cats are generally happier and healthier than those who live alone. There are several important steps to introducing a new cat into a home with one or more existing cats, which I detail on my website, DrFoxVet.net.

DEAR DR. FOX: I currently own and care for two dogs. My question is about my 2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever and my lawn. I have an invisible fence to allow her freedom to roam with safe boundaries. Our yard backs up to woods, as well, giving her additional room. Unfortunately, every time she eliminates, she uses her rear legs and digs into the yard, removing large clumps of grass (with the dirt still attached). Even when I take her for a walk outside of our yard, she will exhibit the same behavior, kicking up leaves or whatever is near after she eliminates.

I have tried pulling on the leash and firmly telling her "no" when this occurs. What can I do to correct this behavior? -- P.W., Clifton, Virginia

DEAR P.W.: Your dog is engaging in marking behavior after urinating, an action more common in males of the canine species. She is leaving visual cues on the ground along with scent from her footpads that "point" to where she has urinated.

I would not try to correct this behavior by discipline or negative reinforcement, since that could increase her anxiety and motivate her to mark even more. Instead, try to redirect or remotivate her: Use a clicker or squeaky toy as soon as she has urinated, and then after the sound, give her a treat. If she were my dog, I would let her do her own thing and just plant some wild and hardy grasses and bushes where she likes to dog-mark. Lawns are an environmental abomination anyway!

TICK ALERT

Angell Animal Medical Center veterinarians in Massachusetts report a 220 percent increase in canine tick-borne disease cases this fall and winter compared with a year prior. Warmer winter days with less snow kept ticks, people and pets in closer proximity, and new tick species are migrating north, bringing diseases such as monocytic ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and southern tick-associated rash illness with them.

Most veterinarians recommend that owners use year-round tick prevention, check pets (and people) for ticks after spending time outside, keep yards clear of debris that attracts ticks and know the signs of disease. I advise extreme caution when using most anti-flea and tick products.

(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.)

TO GRANT SIZEMORE, DIRECTOR OF INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAMS AT THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY: I am writing to express support for the idea of community-by-community cat sanctuaries to keep as-yet unadoptable cats in a safe environment to better protect cats, wildlife and the public interest. Your call for cat sanctuaries or confinement in some enclosed space to contain feral cats (after trapping, neutering, vaccinating and parasite-ridding), as quoted in an April 8 Washington Post article by Karin Brulliard ("The cat people vs. bird people war has made it to federal court") is where all cat lovers and bird lovers should converge.

I also want to share with you my review of the feral cat issue from a veterinarian's and animal welfare professional's perspective: "Releasing Cats to Live Outdoors: Humane, Environmental and One Health Concerns." It is online at DrFoxVet.net.

I believe that we are now facing a pro-life and feel-good "Samaritan" sentimentality in the animal-loving community, whose location-indiscriminate trap, neuter, release (TNR) efforts are doing more harm than good by releasing cats to live outdoors without supplemental food and veterinary care.

The Post article reported on a clear example of this feel-good sentimentality gone awry. Undoubtedly started with the best of intentions, feral cat colonies maintained at New York's Jones Beach State Park as part of a TNR program are adjacent to nest sites for threatened piping plovers and, as such, are entirely inappropriate.

Unfortunately, there are organizations that promote TNR at all costs and actively oppose humane, wildlife-friendly strategies. The organizations that you named in our recent phone conversation -- such as Ally Cat Allies, Best Friends Animal Society, the Humane Society of the United States (of which I was once a vice president), and PetSmart Charities -- need to be held accountable. They support shelters' and municipalities' efforts to "save" feral cats, often exploiting them as "working animals" in inappropriate situations, or forcing them to endure a miserable existence in inclement conditions as a competing and opportunistic predator. The consequence of these conditions is promoted as "natural attrition," which too often means an inhumane death caused by vehicle collision, exposure, disease or coyote attack.

It is time to re-evaluate the "no kill" policies that incentivize these terrible outcomes for cats and wildlife, and it is time to work for responsible solutions such as feral cat containment.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have two golden retrievers: a mom (Megan, 6) and her daughter (Lily, 3). They've barely spent half an hour apart since Lily was born. They argue and playfight a lot, but are also soulmates and get stressed if we separate them for any reason. Thinking ahead to when one of them passes away, we are worried about how the other dog will take it, and want to have a plan in place.

Assuming Megan passes first, should we let Lily see Megan's body? Not the death itself, but I have heard that seeing the body might help the second dog to understand that the first dog is gone and not coming back. Or would it be kinder for Megan to go into a room and never come out? I feel like this is a very important decision, but I'm torn as to what to do! --Holly R., Birmingham, Alabama

DEAR H.R.: Your proactive consideration of how to help the surviving dog cope with the emotional loss and grieving process is commendable. Some dogs (and cats, and even humans) may show no overt signs of grief/mourning when a close companion either dies or is no longer living with them. Others can grieve for weeks and may never be the same, notably the shy ones who relied on their companion for emotional support.

As described in my book "Dog Body, Dog Mind," many dogs will benefit from seeing their canine companions laid out in a quiet room after they have died. It evidently provides some closure and realization of mortality that dogs seem to comprehend. And my book "Animals and Nature First" deals with the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of death, which you may find inspiring. When we are in tune with the animals, they can indeed teach us much.

BOOK REVIEW

"My Dog Is Dying: What Do I Do? -- Emotions, Decisions and Options for Healing" by Wendy Van de Poll, Center for Pet Loss Grief, 2016

Many dogs are diagnosed with cancer and other incurable diseases that can be emotionally devastating for their loving caregivers. This book, and the free additional Pet Grief Support Kit downloads the author offers, will help many people make this time with their canine companions meaningful and bearable, and facilitate their grieving and recovery when death comes. The author is writing a second book in this series, as well. For more details, visit centerforpetlossgrief.com/my-dog-is-dying-what-do-I-do/.

Grief can be physically, mentally and spiritually crippling, but it can also empower. That is my hope for those who feel the suffering of fellow creatures, wild and domesticated, worldwide; it can move us to help and make a difference.

(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: We have a rescue beagle. She received a combo vaccination shot about eight years ago and had an allergic reaction to it. We no longer get her vaccinated, as she is a house dog.

Since that time, however, we have fought nasal congestion, discharge and large patches of hair and skin loss. After many vet bills and lots of specialists, she takes Pepcid for acid reflux, and we have had her on antibiotics off and on for the skin issues. We switched to your homemade dog food using chicken and turkey only. All these things seemed to help her acid reflux, nose discharge and general health. But the skin problems got worse.

We tried every test, and nothing showed up except a deep skin infection.

A few years back, we bought her a raised food and water bowl to drink and eat from due to her nose and reflux. About eight weeks ago, while watching her drink, I noticed her tags were in the water due to the height of the bowl. She had an old rabies tag on and an ID tag from the pet store. I wondered if the metal in these tags could be contaminating her water. After taking them off, her skin has been clearing up steadily. She is feeling much better, and at 13 is acting much younger. Her hair is growing back. I am not sure, but it seems there was some kind of metal in the tags that was contaminating her water.

Lead? Pot metal? Not sure, but taking them off has corrected her skin issues after years on antibiotics and various drugs.

Please pass this along to owners with raised dog bowls. If their dogs are experiencing problems, it could be the tags bathing in the water. -- C.G.

DEAR C.G.: You get a gold star for being mindful and observant to the point of solving your dog's skin issue. I am glad that my home-prepared diet helped correct the other issues as it has indeed helped many dogs enjoy improved health and vitality. Readers can find it on my website, DrFoxVet.net.

My first consideration is possible zinc poisoning from the old dog tags. A pure copper tag would have had some antibacterial properties, purifying the dog's drinking water. But most tags are made from an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc, or of brass, which contains copper and zinc; I would be concerned about the zinc.

While dogs need some zinc in their diet for healthy skin and coat, even one zinc-containing copper penny or a nut or bolt swallowed by a dog can cause liver damage and anemia. Skin problems with zinc toxicity are not commonly reported, but this is possible, since zinc clearly plays a significant role in helping maintain healthy skin, and skin problems could develop with zinc-associated liver damage. Without a chemical analysis of the old tags, we will never know what actual chemical compounds were responsible for the chronic skin infection, but at least you have the satisfaction of having eliminated the cause!

DEAR DR. FOX: My daughter has a bearded dragon lizard. Several months ago, he seemed a little lethargic and was not eating much. We made sure the temperature in the habitat was adequate and replaced the UV light, but nothing changed.

The vet said that it could be "brumation" (a kind of hibernating) and advised us to force-feed the dragon. We did this over the winter, and he continued to gain weight and seemed healthy. Now the problem is that he will only eat his crickets if we feed them to him. Before, he used to chase them and eat them. Is there any way to get him to eat on his own again? -- H.W., Bethesda, Maryland

DEAR H.W.: Reptiles and amphibians can be difficult to keep in captivity. I do not regard them as pets, nor should they be sold as such. They take expert care and attention to humidity, light exposure and temperature. Most captive reptiles slowly die from starvation and chronic bacterial or fungal infection, which force-feeding tends to prolong, rather than rectify.

That the lizard has gained weight is a good sign, but you may have to prepare yourself for always having to force-feed. A full-spectrum Ottlite or grow light over the enclosure, with shaded spots so the creature can better thermo-regulate, may be worth a try; give the dragon as complex a habitat as possible so that live prey can hide and possibly trigger hunting 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.)