DEAR DR. FOX: We’ve known for years that dogs can be good models for human research.

In 2009, researchers at the University of Missouri, in collaboration with scientists at the Broad Institute, found that degenerative myelopathy (DM), an older-onset disease in dogs that can lead to paralysis, is similar to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in humans. This can be diagnosed through a diagnostic tool that measures biomarkers that are released into spinal fluid and blood in humans.

In a strange twist to the One Health initiative, human diagnostic tools are showing promise in diagnosing the sister disease in dogs -- we’re actually helping our “best friends.”

Now, Dr. Joan Coates, a veterinary neurologist, has proven the test helps with DM. You can read more about it on our website, munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2017/0503-biomarker-test. The team is now seeking dogs with DM to test out a type of gene therapy that could show promise in helping to slow the progression of ALS in people. I thought you’d like to share this news with your audience. -- J.S., Research News Strategist, University of Missouri, Columbia

DEAR J.S.: Thanks for the information.

Veterinarians and caregivers of old dogs, please note this clinical research request, which may ultimately lead to some more effective treatment and possible reversal of this and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Finding out the causes would be a better path to prevention. Some of the causes may be due to human influences, such as from pesticides, vaccinations and mercury and lead poisoning. There are genetic and autoimmune factors and reactions to spontaneous infections, such as influenza or other viral or bacterial infections that make prevention a challenge on many fronts -- political and economic.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have an unusual problem with one of our two cats, and I'm not sure what to do.

We've had our 7-year-old shorthair Olivia since she was a year old, and she has always been skittish when people pet or stroke her head. She tends to shy away when people pet her at any time, and I think I now know why.

Her fur seems to be conductive -- more so than any other cat I've seen -- to static electricity buildup. I know in the drier winter months, I can feel sparks when I pet her, and I'm careful for that reason. But this morning, I saw something that may explain why she shies away so much when her head gets stroked.

It was still dark when I woke up, and I immediately reached down to pet Olivia's head -- and her head lit up like a Christmas tree! I thought I was seeing something, so I did it again, and although I did not feel any static discharge, her head "flashed" for an instant. It was a definite white light from a static discharge that surrounded the top of her head and completely enveloped her ears.

Poor kitty! No wonder she's skittish. I imagine this has been happening for some time and I just never noticed due to the darkness. Our other cat -- a longhair -- never experiences static problems.

Do you have any suggestions short of putting a collar on her with a grounding chain? -- G.S., Brandon, Vermont

DEAR G.S.: For some reason yet to be determined, some cats have more of a problem than others building up a static charge and then receiving a shock when petted.

Dry weather and walking on synthetic-fiber carpets and bed covers can make the problem worse, and interfere with cats' eating and drinking when they get shocks from their food and water bowls. It may help to set a damp towel on the floor beside the cat's bowls, litter box and doorway floor areas to "ground" the cat and take away the built-up static charge.

(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: Three and a half years ago, we adopted our 12th rescue. Each one had his unique challenges and health issues, and we loved them to the end.

Our current dog "fell" off a 30-foot deck and severely injured his spine. We are grateful to his former family who got him the neurosurgery and then gave him up six months later. We were his fourth home in three years, and we are so blessed to have him as part of our family.

Chuckie arrived in a drag bag, secured in a weenie wrap because he had no bowel control. Although our vet was negative at our first appointment, he referred us to a canine rehabilitation center. At the initial evaluation, Chuckie demonstrated no movement from his withers to the tip of his tail, although he could drag himself quickly across the floor to a carpet and flip up onto his front legs and stand for about a minute in full back leg spastic extension. The center drew up a therapeutic plan, and we supplemented his diet with vitamin B-complex, a multivitamin, ArthAway and dimethylglycine.

Chuckie has made remarkable progress in spite of suffering a slipped cervical disc, which, during four weeks of screaming in pain, not one specialist could diagnose with repeated exams, X-rays and two MRIs. We found a canine chiropractor who knew immediately (based on the X-rays) and began treatment. Chuckie now receives a chiropractic adjustment once a month, and has swim, boogie board and treadmill therapy two to three times a week.

Every time we think our dog has reached his maximum potential, he surprises us. Currently, Chuckie is walking in his wheelie in the pool in a back brace, and he is moving his back legs. In his back brace without the wheelie support, he has taken up to 13 ataxic independent steps.

Recently, we started him on a homemade high-protein diet in an effort to help build up muscle, especially in his weaker right thigh. Dr. Fox, I know this little boy can walk! We have tried spandex shorts, bodysuits, toe lifts, back braces and considered custom bracing. Most of the brace experts do not think bracing will help. With all the expenses, I am not sure I want to sink $600 to $1,200 in custom braces that won't help. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? This little guy is happy, funny, plays with our ever-patient cat and makes us laugh every day.

Currently, he takes gabapentin, a muscle relaxer and a muscle builder at night. Any and all ideas you have to offer will be explored, and we will keep you posted. -- P.H.P., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR P.H.P.: I commend you on your compassionate efforts to improve the quality of life for this injured dog.

Until stem-cell therapy is sufficiently advanced to enable possible repair of injured spinal cords, I do not have much more to offer to facilitate your dog's recovery potential beyond what you have already utilized. Regular swimming therapy is excellent, coupled with daily total body massage, as per my book, "The Healing Touch for Dogs."

I would give your dog daily supplements of L-carnitine, chelated magnesium and CoQ10, and continue with the other supplements and treatments. You may wish to consider my home-prepared diet posted on my website, DrFoxVet.net. Feed Chuckie two meals a day after exercising and add turmeric and ginger and a few drops of fish oil to each meal, plus a teaspoon of unsweetened canned pineapple to facilitate digestion. I always add a little plain organic yogurt or kefir to my dog's food as a source of beneficial probiotics.

Some people may question your dedication, spending so much effort and money on "just a dog," but as I see it, to care is to be human -- regardless of species -- and our humanity is as endangered today as the many species that are harmed and threatened with extinction by our singular and collective inhumanity.

SHOULD YOUR DOG BE YOUR RUNNING MATE?

Most dogs like to run, an activity that releases feel-good cannabinoids in their brains, which are rewarding. But not all dogs should be out jogging with their human companions. Hot surfaces in summer can burn their feet. Dogs in poor physical condition, especially older and overweight dogs, and those with orthopedic conditions, should not be taken on long runs. If in doubt, consult with your veterinarian. Dogs with flat faces, like pugs and bulldogs, who generally have difficulty running for any distance, are likely to overheat in hot weather and collapse from heat stroke, which can be fatal.

All things in moderation, regardless of how willing and eager your dog may act in wanting to go out for a run and keep pace with you. Those who walk with their dogs should also be aware of hot sidewalks and heat stress and allow their dogs to sniff and mark as much as they want.

Take water and a suitable drinking container for your dog if you are going to be outdoors for any length of time when it is hot and humid, because dogs pant to keep cool and the evaporation of moisture in their mouths cause rapid dehydration. A wet bandana or ice pack collar around their necks will also help keep them cool.

(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: With the beginning of summer, the risk of dogs dying in hot cars rises along with the temperatures. Social media posts have circulated across the country, urging people to break a window if they see a dog trapped inside a hot car, but it is not always legal to do so.

Only eight states -- California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio and Tennessee -- have “Good Samaritan” laws that allow any person to break a car window to save a pet. In 19 states, only a law enforcement officer is allowed to save an animal from a hot car; two states (Alabama and Arizona) have “hot car” bills pending. The No. 1 rule is to call 911.

There is a full list of laws that apply to animals trapped in cars on our website, aldf.org. -- N.L., Animal Legal Defense Fund

DEAR N.L.: Thank you for this important, life-saving notice, which might also save a few human infants in the process from multi-tasking and distracted parents and guardians.

DEAR DR.FOX: Help me out here. I am down to one cat, and I want to adopt another, but there are complications: First, we are planning to move in two months to one of those “old-folks' homes,” so I was putting off an adoption until we moved. There's no sense in moving the cat twice. Second, I wanted to adopt an older cat, so it wouldn’t outlive me. Our existing cat is 9 years old, and a big bruiser at 18 pounds. He will have to come to grips with being an indoor cat once we move.

I stopped by the local humane society and they had only one old cat, Audrey Hepburn. Apparently, her person died, and there she was, stuck in a cage at the pound. She is 13, and she was not a happy camper. She just stared at me. Living in a cage is not her idea of a life. She's a small, declawed (ugh) cat.

So what to do? I hate the thought of her living there in that cage, but I don’t think she would be able to hold her own against my cat. He has had other cats around during his stay here, but they have all died, so now he is alone. I’m not sure what he would do if a) I introduced a new cat, and b) they were forced to co-exist indoors.

I feel so sorry for this old gal. Help! -- E.J., Westminster, Maryland

DEAR E.J.: I understand your dilemma, and I appreciate your concern.

First, you must be very clear that cats are allowed in the facility where you will be moving, and ideally get it in writing. If there is a change in administration or any issue with any other resident with animals, they may prohibit residents keeping animals.

Sometimes cats and dogs get on with each other quickly when put together in an unfamiliar place at the same time, because neither has a strong territorial response. I would board your cat for the day or two until you are moved in to your new accommodations and set up the furniture in one room the way he is used to. Give him 24 hours to settle down, then bring home the cat from the shelter and keep her in a separate room or in a large cage with her own litter box, food, water and bed. Plug in a Feliway pheromone dispenser in both rooms, and follow the steps of introducing a new cat, as posted on my website DrFoxVet.net.

Alternatively, especially if the shelter is crowded and under such conditions where there is no quarantine and Audrey Hepburn is more likely to pick up a respiratory infection, follow your instincts and pick her up as soon as possible after she is pronounced well and free of parasites and any signs of respiratory infection by an animal doctor. Then follow the same steps of introduction in my article on this delicate process.

Keep me posted, and good luck!

(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.)