DEAR DR. FOX: We purchased Seresto collars for our wirehaired pointing griffons, who were approximately 7 and 8 years old at the initial exposure. We found the collars to be effective against fleas and ticks. They wore the initial collars for the full, recommended eight months.

We purchased a second set of collars, and within the first four to six months of that second set, we noticed that our male dog had lost weight and was reluctant to eat hard kibble or hard treats. We also noticed that he had become hoarse and had started to drool on a regular basis. We took him to our vet and the exam and bloodwork were normal. We returned him to the same vet 10 days later, when the vet identified a golf ball-sized mass under his jaw.

We removed the collars from both dogs at this time. Biopsy confirmed a squamous cell cancer that had developed in an area that was not amenable to surgical intervention. We were told that this type of cancer is not typically found in lymph nodes in the neck. Our beautiful boy died eight weeks later.

Our female started to have a noticeable change in her appetite, was sleeping all the time, and was increasingly weak, which we initially thought was related to the loss of her brother. But we took her to be evaluated as well. Our same vet felt there was something significant at play; we had an ultrasound performed and were floored to learn that she had abdominal lymphoma. She passed away four weeks later.

We lost two previously healthy dogs within five months of each other. We called the breeder and could find no known history of cancer, and also reached out to the owners of a littermate of our female. They have not used the Seresto collar and their dog is fine.

We believe that the Seresto collar has caused the death of our beloved griffs. Our vet does not agree, but does feel that both dogs were exposed to something that caused their death.

We are devastated by the loss of our dogs, and felt angry when our vet totally denied that there could be any connection between the use of the collars and the cancer diagnoses. He stated that there was significant safety testing performed and that the collars were totally safe. We don’t agree. -- D.S., Ravena, New York

DEAR D.S.: I regret what happened to your beloved dogs. Skeptics will say there is no proof, that it’s all mere coincidence and most dogs do fine. I vehemently disagree. These are highly toxic chemicals (some also used on the produce we eat), so the precautionary principle should be applied.

Do the benefits outweigh the risks? People either fear fleas more than they love their dogs or else they believe the manufacturers of these products -- and the governments around the world that regulate them -- that say they are safe. There are safer alternatives, as posted on my website under “Preventing Fleas.”

Your veterinarian is professionally bound to report this possible adverse reaction in your dogs to both the government and manufacturers. He should also share appropriate websites with colleagues concerning animal health and poisoning issues with collars and similar anti-flea and -tick products that are put on animals’ skin or are slow-release from a collar or medallion.

DEAR DR. FOX: My little poodle, age 15 years, has warts and seems to get more and more as time goes on. Is this a sign of an illness, or what else could cause them? She has a heart murmur and sneezes a lot. Is this a symptom of her heart condition? -- T.G., Phoenix

DEAR T.G.: Warts are not uncommon in dogs young and old. They are caused by a papilloma virus, similar to those causing warts in humans, but are not contagious to us. Their presence can indicate a weakened immune system, but they tend to disappear eventually without treatment.

They do not turn cancerous and are best left alone, unless they start to cause the dog discomfort -- as on an eyelid, or when one or more becomes itchy from secondary infection. Some veterinarians remove them for aesthetic reasons in older dogs, often under general anesthesia, but I do not concur with such treatment considering the costs and risks.

(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: My 11-year-old snowshoe Siamese is a real love-bug, except when she suddenly reverts to a feral animal, stalking and leaping on prey: me!

It used to be that she just did this when we were roughhousing. My vet said to distract her when she starts this behavior. This worked sometimes, but then she recently started her stalking when I tip her out of my lap to stand up. Now, it’s like nothing at all sets her off. Should I keep pheromone spray handy?

I’m getting along in years, and am afraid she’ll upset my balance and I’ll fall during one of these unpredictable “attacks.” -- J.A., Leesburg, Virginia

DEAR J.A.: You are wise to be mindful of the potential risk of tripping over your cat and having a bad fall that could put you in the hospital. One friend tried to avoid stepping on her cat, fell sideways, broke her hip and soon died from an embolism.

A cat pheromone spray, in my opinion, will not deter your cat from engaging in the stalking game you two have established. Your veterinarian is right in that you must find a way to distract your cat.

One option is to train her to chase a laser spotlight, which pet stores sell as cat toys. Alternatively, try a wand or cane with a bunch of feathers on the end of a string. Use a spray bottle of water to inhibit your cat from stalking you when you stand up and are walking around the house. The stalking and hide-and-seek games cats love to play should be restricted to the time and place that is best and safest for you -- or, stop such games from now on, and just use the laser and wand toys instead.

DEAR DR. FOX: When my brother died suddenly and unexpectedly, I could not take his beloved 14-year-old cat, Miss Miss, home with me due to my extreme allergies. I was forced to place the cat in a boarding facility.

She was clearly depressed, even though she had my brother’s pillowcase, her own belongings, catnip and a three-tiered enclosure. I visited Miss Miss daily. After four or five days, it occurred to me that my brother’s home almost always had a radio tuned to a special station. The moment that I placed a radio with “her” station playing near her enclosure, Miss Miss visibly relaxed, stretched and started eating.

No one could ever take the place of my brother (both for Miss Miss and me), but having her regular audio environment helped her a great deal.

Miss Miss was adopted into a loving home by a dear friend and is happily ensconced as “Queen of Everything,” just as she was with my brother. I also wrote a note of thanks to the radio programmers for their music and voices, which helped soothe this animal’s nerves. -- R.B., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR R.B.: Thank you for being such a mindful caregiver for your deceased brother’s cat. I hope animal behaviorists and others interested in animal psychology, well-being and quality of life issues will remember your story, affirming that familiar sounds can be comforting for other animals as well as us. Some kinds of music -- generally classical, and instruments such as the harp and flute -- can have profound effects on animals. This is an area where more research would give us further insights into the minds of animals. For more information, I highly recommend these two special edition publications: Time magazine’s “The Animal Mind” and National Geographic’s “Inside Animal Minds,” both available on magazine stands.

JERKY TREATS FROM CHINA CAN KILL YOUR DOG

Many dogs in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia have become ill after eating jerky treats manufactured in China, and have even died from an acute kidney disease called Fanconi syndrome. Some who did recover will suffer chronic kidney disease, with all its complications and costs.

Chicken, duck, beef and vegetable treats from China have been implicated, but the actual poison not yet identified. My theory is a change in protein structure following food irradiation.

My advice: Read the label on dog treats before purchasing. If it says “Made in China,” or “Distributed by (an American company)” -- and not “Made by” -- do not purchase it.

If you are concerned, contact your veterinarian and also one of the following organizations.

-- Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661, or petpoisonhelpline.com

-- ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435, or aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

-- In Europe: Veterinary Poisons Information Service: vpisglobal.com

NOTE FROM DR. FOX

As summer comes to a close across the U.S., I urge all people whose dogs and cats have had adverse reactions to anti-flea and -tick products to have their veterinarians make sure that reports have been sent to the manufacturers and government regulators.

(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. In your professional opinion, what are the worst mistakes people make with their cats and dogs that they are not aware of? -- R.E., Silver Spring, Maryland

DEAR R.E.: What a thoughtful question!

Maybe if enough readers respond with their top peeves and serious concerns, we will have a list good enough to start a book of proper companion animal care like Dr. Spock’s was for new parents! Then some of the harmful relationships that form between people and their puppies and kittens might be avoided.

Munchausen by proxy is a big one; on the dark side, there are the bullies and sadists, with their children and companion animals suffering similar fates and afflictions. Also, unacceptable treatments have become the norm: declawing kittens, ear-cropping and tail-docking puppies, and crating lonely dogs all day in empty homes.

There is an even darker side for dogs and cats: commercial breeding and being subjected to genetic manipulation. The goal is to make them more appealing and loveable, making them live the life of an animated toy, a child-substitute, a decorative item or a fashion accessory. Making dogs physically and psychologically ever more appealing and puppy-like as adults may satisfy human emotional needs, but may not be in the best interests of these animals, who generally require considerable veterinary attention because of their deformities. These dogs most likely have the canine equivalent of Williams syndrome, characterized by hyper-sociability and limited intellectual abilities.

I would like to believe that most dogs and cats kept as companions enjoy fulfilling relationships and healthy lives. Most animals require, at minimum, an annual wellness examination by a veterinarian. I believe this is the right of every companion animal, and should be mandated under laws protecting animals’ entitlement to humane treatment. Community charity organizations should help pay for veterinary services in cases where people cannot afford them; this would improve both the animals’ and their people’s quality of life and emotional well-being.

Many people feel their animal companions are their “soul mates,” but the devotion of humans can rarely equal the unconditional love that dogs and other animals bestow upon us. Human love is rarely simple or pure, as per the woman I confronted on an early Oprah Winfrey TV show: The woman brought on stage one of the American bulldog pups she had bred. The pup could hardly breathe, and was walking with difficulty up the few low dais steps. While petting the dog, I asked the woman how she could breed dogs who could barely breathe or walk. She said, “I know, but I do love them.”

On a lighter note, my top peeves are people walking their dogs and never giving the dogs an opportunity to use their noses, which connect to their minds and spirits; and cat owners, whether forgetful or irresponsible, who let their cats’ litter boxes turn into minefields of excrement. Cats detest dirty paws.

PET INSURANCE RISING -- OR SO THE INDUSTRY CLAIMS

Premiums paid for pet insurance increased 21 percent in 2016 over the previous year, and the number of insured pets rose 11.5 percent, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. More companies are offering pet insurance as an employee benefit, and more millennials and empty nesters are adding pets to their households, the association said.

Rather than purchasing insurance, many pet owners choose to set up a savings account or private account with the veterinary hospital/clinic for installment payments as needed, or contract for basic preventive vet care and periodic wellness exams.

(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.)