DEAR DR. FOX: My wife and I have an 8-year-old French bulldog, Lucy. We've had her since she was 8 weeks old. Over the past four to six months, she has had episodes of drooling that have lasted between two and six hours. She usually goes a week or two between drooling episodes. This drooling is akin to a leaking faucet (drip-drip-drip), and not like how even English bulldogs slobber. Lucy has no prior history of slobbering.

Since the drooling started, we have taken her to the dentist, who cleaned her teeth and removed a tooth that had early signs of decay or disease. He also took X-rays and found no other issues with her teeth.

We have taken her to our regular vet, who cannot determine specifically what may be wrong. The vet believes it is allergies and has recommended Benadryl. If that does not work, the vet's next step is a sonogram to determine if something is wrong internally. Do you know what may be wrong? -- T.S., Oakton, Virginia

DEAR T.S.: Your poor dog and other similar breeds with brachycephaly (pushed-in faces) often develop distressing facial problems. Some can hardly breathe for much of their lives.

My first thought is interference with the normal saliva-swallowing mechanism, because the dog does not have enough time to swallow with the mouth always being open. This could be because the dog is half-asphyxiated, possibly due to a partially collapsed trachea, which the veterinarian should check. Use a harness and leash for walks, since a collar may aggravate the problem.

Breeds like bloodhounds and Great Danes drool a lot because their pendulous lips simply funnel the saliva to each side of their lower jaws -- very messy! Also, some dogs salivate copiously when they are excited or anxious.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a cherished tortoiseshell cat who is 19 years old. She eats little bits of food, and weighs around 7 pounds. Our doctor's only observation is that he thinks she is deaf. Her eyesight appears fine. She has regular senior wellness checks, but her veterinarian cannot explain her recent behavior. We hope you can shed some light on it.

She wails when she wants us to notice her. Even though we have a regular routine and she is rarely alone, she is increasingly vocal. Lately, she goes to her bed (at the foot of our bed) earlier and earlier, and she wakes us up one to three times a night, wailing and wanting to be petted. She settles down within minutes, but we are, of course, sleep-deprived.

Do older cats get the kind of restlessness that older humans may show in the evening? -- M.T., Newtown, Connecticut

DEAR M.T.: This is a common problem in older cats, and one must consider possible dementia and chronic pain, as from arthritis. Both conditions can be helped with a few drops of fish oil in the daily diet, and possibly melatonin or catnip around bedtime. Full-body massage, as per my book "The Healing Touch for Cats," can also help.

DEAR READERS: In August, English researchers Richard G. Lea and associates published a report, "Environmental chemicals impact dog semen quality in vitro and may be associated with a temporal decline in sperm motility and increased cryptorchidism," in the journal Nature. Against the background of declining semen quality and rising incidence of undescended testes (cryptorchidism) in humans associated with exposure to environmental chemicals (ECs) during development, it reports:

"A population of breeding dogs exhibit a 26-year (1988–2014) decline in sperm quality and a concurrent increased incidence of cryptorchidism in male offspring (1995–2014). A decline in the number of males born relative to the number of females was also observed. ECs, including diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and polychlorinated bisphenol 153 (PCB153), were detected in adult dog testes and commercial dog foods at concentrations reported to perturb reproductive function in other species."

Estrogen-mimicking, endocrine-disrupting chemicals have become virtually unavoidable in many of the foods we consume. Many of these chemicals are also included in manufactured pet foods, in the can linings of moist foods and in plastic bags that hold dry foods. Plastic may also be processed into the manufactured food along with discarded meats, packaging and all.

Food wrappers and other industrial and commercial products -- from firefighting foam to water-repellant clothing -- contain perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. When detected in drinking water, these substances have endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic properties.

Dioxins, predominantly released as byproducts of human activities such as incineration and fuel combustion, are a potent class of carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. They are ubiquitous in the environment. Contaminated soil and vegetation undergo bioaccumulation in the fat of cattle and seafood (especially farmed salmon), which are common pet food ingredients. Dioxin adversely impacts wildlife reproduction and sexual development in several aquatic and terrestrial species, which has been well documented.

Other estrogen-mimicking and endocrine-disrupting contaminants of pet (and human) foods include glyphosate and other herbicide residues in corn and other cereals, along with phytoestrogens in soy products.

Aflatoxin B1 -- yet another endocrine disruptor -- from the mold on corn and other cereals is often found in dry dog foods, which are recalled too late to save many dogs from acute toxicity and death. Aflatoxins, dioxins and other endocrine disruptors, estrogen mimics, carcinogens and obesogens have harmful consequences in extremely low concentrations in the diet over an extended time period. This is especially concerning for pregnant females.

For additional details, see my article "Chemical-related human diseases in companion animals" at 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.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I want to thank you for your help over the years with our German shepherd Markus' health problems, which eventually reached the point where we had to decide on euthanasia because he was suffering so much.

Many days after his departure, which we deeply mourned, we seem to have received a "sign" from him. We are skeptical about things like this, but we found pieces of fur on the carpet runner last Thursday morning where Markus used to rest before coming down the stairs. This area had been cleaned and stepped on, but the pieces of fur (obviously from an animal) had not been stepped on and were scattered around this area. They are really noticeable to the naked eye and are displayed in a certain design, like a dog's paw. The whole runner has been covered with newspapers for the last two to three weeks. Newspapers were removed after Markus' departure, and there was no sign of these pieces of fur at that time.

I thought I would share this experience with you and hear your comments. This is beyond our comprehension. -- M.S., Washington, D.C.

DEAR M.S.: I was so saddened to hear from you about the necessary humane decision to euthanize Markus.

I detail many instances of apparent afterlife communications or manifestations by people's beloved animals in my books "Dog Body, Dog Mind" and "Cat Body, Cat Mind." Also, updated accounts are posted on my website, DrFoxVet.net, under the title "The Empathosphere."

I would like to hear from other readers who have had comparable "visitations," which can be in various modalities, such as seeing the animal's form, hearing the paws on the floor or the jangle of tags on the collar, feeling the familiar touch of the animal and finding the animal's fur around the house. While grief and trace memories of aspects of the living animal's physical presence may trigger brief sensory hallucinations, there is evidence, as when two or more people in the home experience the same physical presence or sensation at the same moment, that there is indeed more to life and death than we ever dreamed of.

I like the metaphysical statement that the spirit is not in the body, the body is in the spirit.

STOP MUTILATING DOGS!

"Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Dogs: Public Awareness and Perceptions," a research study published in Public Library of Science online by Katelyn E. Mills and colleagues at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, found that "modified (tail docked and ear cropped) dogs were perceived as being more aggressive, more dominant, less playful and less attractive than natural dogs." They also presented the first evidence that owners of modified dogs are perceived as being more aggressive, more narcissistic, less playful, less talkative and less warm compared to owners of natural dogs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has encouraged "the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards" since 2008. It is only the breeders and dog show clubs and their "official standards" for those breeds -- like the boxer, Doberman pinscher and miniature schnauzer -- that stand in the way of ending such mutilations in the United States. Such practices are outlawed in Australia and several European countries.

Perhaps one way to bring about change for dogs' sake is for all dog lovers, animal rights activists and protectors to boycott the big pet food companies that seek to profit from supporting dog shows until all responsible parties come together and change breed standards for the better: No ear cropping or tail docking from a specified date; all dogs after that date should not be accepted into the ring if their tails and ears are not intact.

(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 have a 4-year-old male tabby cat named Beau. He is loving and friendly to everyone. About a year ago, he surprised me by sneaking up and biting me on the back of my leg. Since then, it has become a weekly event.

I find myself walking backward so I can keep an eye on him. After he bites me, he gets in a crouch position and has a vicious look on his face. The bites are serious -- they bleed and look infected. I have a strong antibiotic that I use on them.

Beau lets me pick him up, he naps on my lap and he purrs. When I have guests, he will come and sit with us. Yesterday, I fell asleep and woke to him charging up the couch and biting my arm. I have tried walking around with a water bottle ready to squirt, but that isn't always handy.

I was thinking of having his teeth removed. Everyone scoffs at this idea until they see my scars. It was so bad one time that I took pictures of the wounds. I truly believe if a vet saw them, he would agree to the dental surgery.

There is no pattern to the attacks, and he doesn't do it when he is hungry or after I have rubbed his belly (which he loves). It is always when I am walking freely throughout the house.

I love this guy, but I am so very frustrated. Can you give me insights as to why and what to do? -- M.O., Naples, Florida

DEAR M.O.: You have a problem cat indeed. This is common in many one-cat homes, which could have been prevented by having another cat so they can play-fight together.

You need to change your relationship in regards to your fear and the cat's uninhibited biting.

Removing the teeth is not the best solution, nor is removing the claws of those who scratch. Cats can learn not to bite hard or scratch.

What you need to do is to get some cat toys and to play with your cat, especially early in the evening when cats are most active. Have Beau chase a laser pointer and a fluffy or feathery lure on the end of a string tied to a cane. Play with him as long as he is receptive, then groom him with a long-handled brush. Also set up a cat condo so he can get up and look down on you and feel secure. Making his environment more stimulating and redirecting his play-fighting behavior with suitable interactive games are steps worth taking before all else.

DEAR DR. FOX: I acquired a two-year old Afghan hound from a breeder who deemed him not to be of show quality and did not want him to breed. He said that neutering would spoil his coat, and instead gave him a vasectomy. This worked very well; he remained a gorgeous dog and was much admired.

Every three weeks I took him to the breeder for grooming, and one day my dog came home very unhappy. He moaned and cried, and he wouldn't eat his food. I couldn't imagine what was wrong. After a week of this, I called the breeder to ask if anything had gone amiss on his visit. He laughed and explained: A female had been sent to him to be bred, and she was present while my dog was there for grooming. He had fallen in love (!) and was pining for her. The breeder said that the mating had been unsuccessful and, compassionately, said, "Bring him back." I did so, and my lucky, infertile dog was able to spend a happy weekend with his lady love before she was sent home. He came back smiling. -- G.J., Silver Spring, Maryland

DEAR G.J.: Your experiences with your vasectomized dog will enlighten and amuse many readers of my column.

There is a reconsideration of routinely neutering male and female dogs because, especially in some breeds, there are significant health benefits of them retaining their ovaries and testicles and related natural hormone levels, according to health surveys by veterinarian Dr. Benjamin Hart and associates at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Removing these glands can disrupt the regulatory functions of other endocrine glands.

Dogs do "fall in love," and I have seen this in dogs who have been neutered and are members of the same sex; my Indian pariah dog Batman screamed with joy when he met with the canine love of his life, a neutered male sheltie, in our local park. They would engage in sex-play, much to the consternation of his owner, who called my dog a pervert!

Some years ago, I read about male dogs in Denmark or Sweden spending time at kennels where there were female dogs in heat, but who were surgically altered so they would not get pregnant (hysterectomy), and the dogs could satisfy their sex drives. But America, with its puppy play groups and doggy day care centers, may not be quite ready for such indulgent canine prostitution.

(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.)