DEAR DR. FOX: I am not a dog owner, but I live in close proximity to dogs. I don't live in the country. Our neighborhood consists of lots of quarter-acres or smaller. Most of my neighbors seem to be good owners, except for one. These neighbors are very well educated and work long hours. They have had two dogs since they moved in 15 years ago, though not the same two the whole time. These neighbors leave their dogs on their deck all day every day (sometimes 10 to 12 hours). The dogs bark incessantly at everything and everyone who is outside in the neighborhood.

It is obviously incredibly annoying for all of us neighbors, especially the ones who can't use their own yards for their dogs because of the barking, but I also have to wonder how healthy it is for the dogs to be outside idle and barking all day.

Other neighbors have spoken with these neighbors in the past about the incessant barking, but they don't seem to care about their neighbors or their dogs. I am trying to keep neighborhood peace, but I am getting very tired of the doggy choir. -- A.M., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR A.M.: These neighbors of yours, like some of mine, too, give other dog owners a bad reputation by ignoring their dogs’ barking and complaints from their neighbors. Most municipalities have ordinances limiting the amount of time dogs are allowed to bark, which the police should enforce. So call and ask what the regulations are, since this upsets you and your neighbors.

It seems more like a serious nuisance issue than one of animal neglect. If there is no ordinance, get a petition together with your neighbors' supporting signatures.

Good luck! This is an all-too-common problem, and once dog owners have been informed about their dogs' repeated and incessant barking, they have a responsibility to address and correct the problem. It could be as simple as keeping the dogs inside with a radio playing, which acts as a sound barrier to outside noises; restricting their visual access to the outdoors; and using humane and effective anti-bark collars.

DEAR DR. FOX: A cat who was skin and bones and wandering in the woods looking for a home adopted me five years ago. I took him in, and he became an indoor cat. Like M.M. from Kansas City's cat, he was food insecure and gobbled everything available, while my other cat was a grazer and nibbler. This became more problematic when both cats required different prescription diets. I discovered an amazing feeding system that solved the problem completely: the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder.

My calico could eat at her leisure while her big "brother" was locked out. This feeder can be used for multiple cats, with only M.M.'s newest cat locked out. If he gobbles his food, so be it. It works by reading microchips or RFID tags. It is expensive, but truly worth every penny. Sadly, my calico passed away last week at age 16, so Charlie is now my only cat and I no longer need to use the feeder. I hope this information is helpful. -- J.O., Norman, Oklahoma

DEAR J.O.: Thanks for verifying how well this selective feeding system worked for your cats. I am sure other people with two or more cats will find this kind of feeding system worth the investment when they have one or more cats who are food-addicted.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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 two 11-year-old Labrador-mix dogs. One is diabetic and requires insulin shots twice daily. The other recently broke his ankle. The vet took X-rays and referred me to a surgeon, telling me that my dog may have bone cancer. After more X-rays, the surgeon told us that cancer in that area is extremely rare, and he put in a metal plate to hold his ankle together, which cost $3,500. The surgeon told me the only way to keep him out of pain was to amputate his leg for another $2,200.

Two other vets I have since taken him to have told me that the surgeon should have put a boot on him and waited for the prognosis. I called the surgeon and asked that he do the right thing and either refund me for the surgery or do the amputation for free -- he refused.

Is there a medical board for vets that oversees their ethics (or lack of them)? Is there anything else I can do? I only work part time since I lost my full-time job two years ago. -- P.J., Virginia Beach, Virginia

DEAR P.J.: Every state has a Board of Veterinary Examiners that licenses veterinarians and ostensibly deals with alleged cases of malpractice, just as medical doctors are monitored. The same goes for conflicts of interest where doctors (human and animal) may put vested interests before those of their patients by using some new drug or medical procedure.

I find it astounding that you were clearly "gouged" by the surgeon, who does not have a proverbial leg to stand on. Filing a complaint with your state veterinary licensing and regulatory board and regional Better Business Bureau might help future pet owners and their animal companions. We all make mistakes, but documentation by people filing complaints against service providers is the best way forward for all involved to prevent repetition.

DEAR DR. FOX: When I read the letter from M.M. in Kansas City, I was reminded of my oldest cat, “Oliver.” Oliver appeared in the neighborhood in August one year, but it was November before I realized he didn’t have a home. He would wander through, disappear then come back. I took Oliver into the house and got him to a veterinarian within a couple of days. He had blood work done, a parasite check, a physical and started his shots. The vet determined that Oliver was about 9 months old.

Oliver ate and ate and ate; he gained 3 pounds the first three months I had him. I realized I had to watch the quantity of food I gave him, and he had to be fed in a room away from my other two cats so he wouldn’t eat their food, too. His weight evened out, and he was on a restricted quantity of food until January, when he developed what we decided was intolerance for certain foods. He lost weight during this spell, but is back to his normal weight now, and is 15 years old.

I’ve taken in stray cats before. They always seem to be constantly hungry and usually gain weight the first three months I have them. Then they seem to realize that food comes on a regular basis, and their eating (or wanting to eat) settles down. Oliver was different: He had on a collar when I took him in so I assume someone had him, but then turned him out for whatever reason. I think some cats are like some people -- when they are deprived of food, they can’t seem to get enough. Other cats adjust to regular feedings and don’t seem to have this constant urge to eat. -- K.M., Springfield, Virginia

DEAR K.M.: Your observations and conclusions will interest other cat owners and those veterinarians and others involved in feline nutrition, eating, appetite behavior and addressing the obesity epidemic in cats.

There are many factors involved to account for individual differences, as with two of our rescued feral cats, one of whom, after leveling to a normal weight continued to gain weight and live to eat; the other just enjoyed four small meals a day, never cried for food or put on excess weight. Similarly, some cats given free access to a food dispenser all day will self-regulate, while others eat more than they need and become overweight.

Most cats do best when fed four small meals a day, many eating too quickly and often vomiting their food when fed larger meals twice a day. Think mouse-sized portions of food for a small cat.

I certainly believe there is a strong emotional component to food addiction in cats -- and other animals -- associated with early deprivation of food and overall security. Eating provides a sense of security. Other oral cravings may develop, including pica (eating non-food materials) and nursing behaviors, where the cat sucks on a tail, blanket or the owner's arm or ear. This is especially evident in kittens weaned too soon.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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 3-year-old boxer name Mattie. She is smart and beautiful.

Eight months ago, we were both in a hit-and-run accident, and ever since then, I can’t get her into the car. I hate leaving her home alone in nice weather, and she always loved riding in the car before the accident, but now she won’t even walk by it.

Can you help me get my dog back to normal? -- G.B., Poughkeepsie, New York

DEAR G.B.: Poor Mattie! I hope neither of you sustained physical injuries. The car phobia is understandable.

Try coaxing her into a different car or easy-access van. Have the interior sprayed with diluted lavender oil, and put a couple of drops of this essential oil on a bandana around her neck. Lavender is calming and has been shown to help dogs who don’t like being in a car.

If this fails, get a prescription of alpralozam (Xanax) from your veterinarian, and give Mattie about 0.5 grams 30 minutes before coaxing her into a vehicle, offering her favorite treats and lots of verbal reassurance every step of the way.

Alternatively, have someone help get her in the vehicle after she has been medicated, and sit quietly with her, repeating the "total immersion" every other day until she shows improvement. Then give her half the dose of Xanax, and taper off completely.

DEAR DR. FOX: When we first got our tiny poodle, Cinnamon, 18 years ago, her weight was 7.2 pounds, which was overweight for her frame. After suffering from pancreatitis about five years ago and being on a basically fat-free diet, she got down to 4.6 pounds. She was slowly starving to death, and I finally made the decision to euthanize her.

My daughter has a friend who is a vet, and her day off was last Friday, so she came over to euthanize my dog. I wanted to be sure it would be a peaceful death, but, unfortunately, it wasn’t. As the medicine went in, Cinnamon started yipping and arching her back and trying to get out of my daughter’s arms for too many seconds before she collapsed.

I can’t get that scene out of my mind, and I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken -- my dog was so sweet and precious and didn’t deserve to die like that.

What went wrong? Our other two dogs just peacefully closed their eyes and stopped breathing. How common is this reaction? I have a friend who went through the same situation with his cat, and he, too, cannot get that image out of his mind. -- J.K., St. Louis

DEAR J.K.: My sympathies to you and to the veterinarian who came to euthanize your dog.

Old dogs with poor circulation often have adverse reactions to the euthanasia solution that normally reaches the brain swiftly and smoothly, bringing unconsciousness in seconds. But poor circulation can delay this process, so the animal is semi-conscious and may struggle and cry out. It is advisable to give an injection of a strong sedative into the muscle tissue 10 to 20 minute before giving the intravenous euthanasia solution that is essentially an overdose of barbiturate anesthetic.

Heavily sedated animals are less aware of the euthanasia drug’s effects, which, when delayed by poor circulation to the brain, can make animals fearful because they become disoriented and have increasing difficulty moving and breathing.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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.)