DEAR READERS: I grew up with health-food-conscious parents, and our daily table talk usually included some inquiry as to the quality and regularity of my bowel movements. White bread was banned from our home. Now, 70 years later, the health connections between what is eaten and stool quality in terms of beneficial bacterial content is being recognized by more and more human and animal doctors. Improving the diet and the bacterial microbiome, or "garden of the guts," via infusion of good bacteria have become key elements in the One Health approach to improving animals' health as well as our own. In many animal species, coprophagia and pica (stool- and soil-eating) may help improve animals' gut gardens, but not without some inherent risk.

DEAR DR. FOX: With all the glyphosate and other herbicide residues in the diet and all the plastic, chemicals and pesticides that our pets get, how can they have functioning microbiomes? We need to feed only GMO-free food and (eat) animals that have been raised GMO-free as well. We have done over 4,400 fecal transplants from my dogs, who are fourth-generation raw-organic fed. They were never on antibiotics, and we use no herbicides or pesticides. We have given the Micro Biome Restorative Therapy (MBRT) to aggressive dogs, and they became sweet. One dog acted as if he suddenly had been given the feel-good bonding hormone oxytocin, as he was licking and grooming his sister, with whom he was normally aggressive. I just read an article that said some gut bacteria produce this hormone.

I treat GI issues like clostridium, campylobacter, giardia, inflammatory bowel disease, acute hemorrhagic diarrhea, kidney failure, liver failure, autoimmune issues, cancer, behavioral issues, hepatic lipidosis, pancreatitis and anorexia; it helps so many problems to help the gut reboot. Our website, mashvet.com, has videos on other supportive procedures. We have started the first fecal bank for dogs and cats, and we are able to work with each animal's vet and ship microbiome from our donors next day air. For more information, contact info@mashvet.com. -- Dr. Margo Roman, Hopkinton, Massachusetts

DEAR DR. FOX: Regarding your recent column on stopping tail docking and ear cropping by placing all the blame on the American Kennel Club, I think you are making a big mistake.

In the United States, the breed standards are owned and controlled by each parent club. Only the parent club can make changes to the standard. In the United Kingdom, things are totally different: The Kennel Club owns all of the standards and may change them at its will.

Parent clubs may make changes to their standards at the most every five years. Some of the clubs in the U.S. have made cropping and docking an option rather than a requirement. -- D.E., Fenton, Missouri

DEAR D.E.: I appreciate your emphasis that it is up to the various breed clubs to change their standards concerning this important animal welfare and rights issue. But the resistance is all part of the cultish power of thoughtless manipulation and control of animals' lives, which is a pervasive problem in other arenas of animal exploitation and abuse.

Certainly, the AKC and its judges should be more proactive and facilitate a more humane and enlightened breeder constituency. It should at least begin to openly discuss changing those breed standards that involve medically unwarranted surgeries, which amount to mutilation, along with extreme physical traits of hereditary origin that can compromise dogs' quality of life.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read your suggestions regarding a matted cat whose human is concerned about dropping her off at a salon.

I am a house call cat groomer in New York. There aren't many house call cat groomers, or cat groomers in general, but most of my clients are people who don't feel comfortable leaving their pets at a salon. House call is a great choice for concerned owners.

A "perk" of house call cat grooming is that some owners learn enough during the grooming session to be able to groom their own cats! Educating owners is part of being a house call cat groomer. -- L.S., New York City

DEAR L.S.: Many cat owners will appreciate your letter and the need for in-home cat grooming services. This may be an incentive for other experienced groomers to offer house visits rather than having cats come to them, which can be very stressful for some cats, while others cannot even be put into a carrier without prior habituation.

Either way, there is no excuse for cats becoming so matted from lack of regular grooming that they must be sedated and carefully clipped at a veterinary hospital. This causes extreme stress and expenses that could be avoided by routine, effective grooming by the owners or professionals such as yourself.

(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 just read your article regarding lawn chemicals. I'm sure my neighbors hate us, because they all have lovely green lawns, whereas ours has some dandelions. One neighbor regularly tells me how inexpensive it is to treat the dandelions -- hint, hint -- but our local PBS gardening program recently pointed out how many critters are fed by the dandelion leaves and flowers, so I just smile and ignore him.

We bought this house because it has a fenced backyard for the dogs and lots of trees. We also feed the birds. This year, I have noticed that only a resident robin has been visiting my feeding area. I've been putting out apple slices and bread for her. I told my sister about it. Her retired husband works part-time at a wild bird supply store, and he told her that because so many people are poisoning their grass, there aren't enough bugs left for the birds to eat. My sister said her robins have begun eating the peanut butter cakes they put out.

When we retired, we moved from California back to Nebraska. During a three-day drive through all kinds of country, one bug hit the windshield. I remarked to my husband, when we were kids and traveled around with Dad, he'd have to stop and clear all the bugs off the radiator. In three days, we hit one bug. That's pretty scary. As a family, we've started planting milkweeds. My mom's yard is full of them. I finally got some started, and I am seeing them in a few of my neighbors' yards and at the nurseries.

I guess we've got to keep hoping. We, too, remember growing up surrounded by fields of wildflowers, birds and bugs. If we don't stop, it's going to be a pretty lonely place. -- P.S., Lincoln, Nebraska

DEAR P.S.: Many readers will appreciate your observations, and yes indeed, the dramatic decline in the insect populations in most communities, with the exception of disease-transmitting mosquitoes and ticks, is a serious issue.

Young people have no memory of our bug-, butterfly- and bird-rich seasons and plethora of reptiles and frogs and other amphibians in our nature playgrounds. We must add light pollution as a factor in the insects' demise, in addition to habitat destruction and pesticides, the complex consequences of which we are not immune from -- yet wholly responsible for.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 8-year-old beagle has "cherry eye." The vet suggests we do surgery. This would cost $2,000, which we do not have.

Do you have any suggestions of what could be done with home remedies, or at least nothing so expensive? It appears very mild to me. Our vet has given eye drops, which seem to keep it contained. Your advice would be appreciated. -- C.J., Fairfax, Virginia

DEAR C.J.: Veterinary services, especially those involving preparation for and administration of general anesthesia and doing the micro-surgery required for the safe removal of this gland in the corner of your dog's eye, are not inexpensive. You might seek a second opinion and quote from another veterinarian who does relatively minor, yet delicate, eye surgery.

I see no alternative if the gland gets larger. But if it remains relatively small, with appropriate eye drops to reduce inflammation and infection, and dry-eye does not develop with possible risk of corneal ulceration, which some eye medications may trigger, surgery could be postponed. The veterinarian should examine the eye every four to six months, and immediately if the dog starts to wipe at it or blink a lot.

(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: There is at least one coyote in our suburban neighborhood, and we blame it for our cat disappearing from our property. What can we do? We worry about our small dog being out there. -- H.M.T., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR H.M.T.: First, never let any companion animal outdoors unsupervised, just like with a child.

The coyote, the "singing dog" of the Southwest -- though it has spread across most of the United States -- is a messenger of life out of balance. Some wildlife biologists interpret this message as a result of the endless war against coyote-competing and controlling wolves and cougars. Once prevalent across America, these animals are being killed by hunters and trappers, and the last of their habitats have been destroyed (by logging, mining, etc.) as state and federal agencies ignore the pleas of wildlife and habitat protectors, sound science and bioethics. Now coyotes are being persecuted as well.

I support efforts to "re-wild" public lands and wilderness areas devoid of wolves and cougars by managed, protective reintroduction, and I deplore the sale of permits to kill these endangered species by trappers and "sporting" trophy hunters. Ecologically illiterate deer and other "game" hunters see these predators as competitors to be exterminated rather than protected and respected as the best managers of wild habitat and deer herd health.

It is absurd that the livestock industry continues to receive public tax dollar-supported "predator control" -- shooting, trapping, snaring and poisoning -- rather than using non-lethal deterrents, such as guard dogs. And ranchers enjoy subsidized grazing rights on public lands that rightfully belong to these indigenous species. The indigenous Native American Indians share a similar history of displacement and extermination, with genocide and ecocide being coins of the same currency of the dominant culture.

For more details, see William Stolzenburg's book "The Heart of a Lion," and visit willstolzenburg.com. Biologicaldiversity.org and coyoteproject.org support those who care about our national wildlife heritage and justice for all.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have an 8-year-old rescued cockapoo-type dog, who we've had for six years. All of a sudden, he's decided to play games when it's time to eat. We have to sit and hand-feed him little bits of his dry food at a time; eventually he starts eating out of the bowl. What is going on with this dog? He's a sweet, wonderful dog, but why is he playing this game? -- J.H., Fairfax, Virginia

DEAR J.H.: Is your dog really playing a game, or has he trained you to hand-feed him? Some companion animals are clever trainers of their human caregivers. However, there could be a physical reason for this behavior, such as poor appetite because of nausea associated with kidney disease or pain from a dental issue.

When was your dog's last full wellness examination? He needs a clean bill of health before concluding this is a new game or ritual. Consider the brand and quality of dog food you are providing; he may do better on a moist, canned dog food or the home-prepared diet posted on my website.

DEAR DR. FOX: I think we've found the problem: We changed dog food, and with less coaching, he ate it all up. I guess he knows what's best for him. We were feeding him buffalo, and we switched to lamb. We usually switch around so he gets a variety of tastes. Thanks for your help. -- J.H., Fairfax, Virginia

NEW BOOK: "India's Animals: Helping the Sacred and the Suffering" by Deanna L. Krantz and Dr. Michael W. Fox.

This richly illustrated book details the trials and tribulations of setting up an animal shelter and free veterinary services in the heart of a unique wildlife region in South India, the UNESCO-designated Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.

Deanna Krantz founded and directed India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN) to indirectly help the indigenous village and tribal peoples by improving the health and well-being of their farmed animals and of the dogs and cats in these communities. Against local and national opposition, disinformation and death threats, Krantz investigated and documented the long-distance "death march" of cattle to slaughter, wildlife poaching, land encroachment and the tragic plight of elephants.

Putting compassion into action and seeking justice for all, she became the voice for animals' rights and for the indigenous peoples who cared but were silenced by the authorities. This book shatters the myth that animals regarded as "sacred," especially cows and elephants, are treated humanely, and paves the way for greater transparency and progress in addressing the tragic plight of the animals and all who depend upon them, and the fate of the last of the wild.

(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.)