DEAR DR. FOX: I have an indoor-outdoor cat, and I have noticed that he is overeating somewhere else while he is outside.

I put a tag on him that reads “Please don’t feed me” and includes my phone number. And, sure enough, a woman was soon calling me, saying that my cat is eating the food that she sets out for feral cats. This woman lives a half-mile away from me. I went to her house to pick up my cat, and learned that she puts out food for cats in the morning and at night -- about 5-6 pounds of the cheapest cat food. I now have to go there occasionally to pick up my cat.

I’ve seen some wild animals like squirrels there, and who knows what kind of animals come there at night? Definitely some raccoons and coyotes. We live by the lake in Washington state. I have treated my cat for many bite wounds, about four times now. Now I know where he is getting them from.

I have asked that woman not to put food out anymore. She got very upset with me, and said that I better keep my cat on the property or locked inside, because she is not going to stop what she is doing. I think she is not the owner of the house, but that she’s renting it.

Can you please help me with advice on what to do? I think she got so upset with me that she might hurt my cat. Are there any regulations about this? -- E.S., Lynwood, Washington

DEAR E.S.: Your cat has my sympathy, but I must say you have taken the wrong, albeit probably loving and best-intended, step in allowing your feline companion to become an indoor-outdoor animal.

Do read the article on my website about releasing cats to live outdoors and all the hazards this practice poses to the cats and to wildlife. I also address the issue of people feeding feral cats with the best intentions, which should only be done when these cats will be trapped, neutered and placed into good homes or in a safe and secure sanctuary/refuge.

In addition, I give some information about helping an indoor-outdoor cat adapt to living permanently indoors. Having windowsills with shelves, and cat condos by windows so cats can look out -- especially at bird feeders -- can help, as can building an indoor-outdoor deck. And try training your cat to enjoy outdoor walks in a harness on a leash, which can work wonders.

DEAR DR. FOX: At 64 years of age, I was a “cat lady” for several decades until my last kitty passed. Then I spent a few months deciding on my next pet. I knew I wanted a rescue, and decided on an older dog.

After visiting the Humane Society and looking at several, I decided on a 6-year-old, 60-pound female German shepherd mix. She is almost perfect for me, except for one thing: I believe the “mix” is a hunting hound (she looks like a black-and-tan coonhound) with a very strong prey drive. She is perfectly behaved indoors, but when I take her outside on her leash, she goes on high alert, scanning the neighborhood for other animals. If she sees one, she pulls like a freight train. In the three months I’ve had her, she has overpowered me six times, injuring me three times -- once quite badly.

The shelter I got her from had picked her up as a stray and only had her for a week, so I doubt they were aware of this behavior. I really don’t want to return her to the shelter, but I don’t want to be seriously injured, or to have her injured, either.

I have no fenced-in yard and live in a suburban neighborhood near a four-lane road. It is so scary to have a dog who can overpower you.

Is there any hope for me to get this problem under control so we can enjoy our walks? I love this dog, and at her age, I’m worried she won’t get another good home. She would be the perfect companion for a man who likes to hunt. -- S.S., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR S.S.: I sympathize with your situation and determination not to give up this dog in spite of being pulled down and injured. In instances like this, it is essential that you contact your veterinarian for an immediate referral to a dog trainer/canine behavior therapist. Hire an experienced dog-walker in the interim. There are collars designed to go around the dog’s muzzle to give better control, but I would leave that decision to the behavioral therapist.

AVMA TIPS HELP KEEP PETS SAFE IN COLD WEATHER

You’re probably already aware of the risks posed by warm weather and leaving pets in hot cars, but did you know that cold weather also poses serious threats to your pets’ health?

The American Veterinary Medical Association has gathered tips to help you keep your pets safe during cold weather, and has developed a handout on the subject that veterinarians can share with their clients. To read their tips, visit AVMA.org and search for “Cold Weather Pet Safety.”

(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.

DEAR DR. FOX: I hope you can help me; I’m out of ideas and options for my 7-year-old giant Alaskan malamute.

In the past couple of years, he gets diarrhea off and on, plus a lot of gas, but he rarely vomits. He also has idiopathic seizures once or twice a year. The vet did every blood test you can think of. It’s all normal. They did tests on his stool sample: no parasites or protozoans. They put him on metronidazole and probiotics; it seems to do the trick, but in a couple of weeks, the problems start again. So then they do more probiotics, metronidazole and now Tylan powder.

He is on a chicken and rice diet with a little dry food (Nutro for large-breed senior dogs), but his bowel movements are still like cow patties and he has so much gas that he seems uncomfortable.

The vet wants to put him on Hill’s Prescription i/d food, but he seriously hates that kind. I want to start making him homemade food, but with his history of diarrhea and seizures, I’m not sure what he should eat and how much in a day.

I would really appreciate any guidance at this point. I just want him happy and healthy again. -- J.S., Fayette City, Pennsylvania

DEAR J.S.: Many dogs are suffering like yours, and tests can get costly and lead nowhere conclusively. Prescription diets are of little help, in many cases.

I suggest you transition your dog over a five- to seven-day period onto my home-prepared diet, available at drfoxvet.net. Get some good-quality probiotics from Whole Foods or your health store, and give a daily human dose before each meal. Give a tablespoon of chopped unsweetened canned pineapple in each meal as a source of digestive enzymes. Feed your dog three small meals a day and exercise before meals. Do this for four to six weeks and see how your dog fares.

Many dogs recover when put on a whole-food diet, rather than manufactured pet food. Keep me posted.

PREVIOUS READER FOLLOWS UP

DEAR DR. FOX: I wanted to let you know that after a month and a half, my dog Stig is like a puppy again. He is doing so much better. I am so happy and I can’t thank you enough.

Stig loves the food. He picked up a few pounds, but when I took him to the vet for his checkup, she was so impressed by the change in him that she wasn’t worried about the few pounds. She actually asked for your website because she said she has a lot of clients with the same issues, and is going to suggest to them your recipe and your website.

Stig is very active now. He plays, runs and even jumps when I throw his ball. He loves his walks, too. His hips are even improved. It’s amazing how the change in his food, in my opinion, saved his life.

So again, thank you so much. -- J.S. and Stig, Fayette City, Pennsylvania

DEAR J.S. AND STIG: Thanks. Letters like yours make my day; I receive many that confirm the benefits of good nutrition. I urge veterinarians to encourage dog and cat caregivers to make their own food for their animals, or to contract with a local provider of homemade food. My website also has a basic recipe for cats, with many felines reportedly enjoying a new lease on life when given such good nutrition.

On with the revolution! As Hippocrates, the founder of Western medicine, advised, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.”

STATES CRACK DOWN ON OWNERS WHO LEAVE PETS EXPOSED TO EXTREME COLD

Pennsylvania is the ninth state to include weather-related criteria in animal cruelty laws, making it a felony to leave pets exposed to extreme weather, including cold temperatures, and mandating that the affected animal be forfeited to a shelter.

Laws in 22 states make it illegal to leave pets in hot cars, but not every state allows passers-by or law enforcement officials to break into a car to free a pet in danger.

(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 am having a problem with my dog. He’s a 2-year-old Lhasa Apso/poodle mix and is neutered.

He constantly licks our tile floor. The floor is kept very clean and has no food residue. I have talked to our vet about this and they don’t have a clue. -- L.E., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR L.E.: I find it quite incomprehensible that the veterinarian with whom you consulted could offer no treatment suggestions for your little dog. The behavior that you describe is an anxiety-driven obsessive-compulsive disorder that is actually quite common, especially in small breeds. But first, a thorough clinical examination is called for, to rule out a possible physical cause of discomfort such as an inflamed oral cavity or digestive tract.

I would seek a second opinion and a full wellness examination. One effective treatment is Prozac, but in some instances, a change in diet -- providing the dog an organic, whole-ingredient dog food free of chemical dyes and preservatives -- can prove remedial. Combine a more natural (or even home-prepared) diet with regular exercise, and avoid using chemical floor cleaners that could cause your dog other health problems. These may be your first steps before trying Prozac.

DEAR DR. FOX: I just read your column and have a response to your request regarding cat behaviors in and around the litter box.

I was fortunate to be blessed with the opportunity to spend a great deal of time with a great number of cats during the past 40-plus years. One of my oldest and dearest cats was with me for many years, and she was one of those cats that did not bury her business in the litter box. She always used the litter box, was a very intelligent, unique and clean cat, but did not ever bury her stuff.

So, being the “cat lady” and all, cats and their behavior have always been a topic of interest to me. I read, once upon a time, that certain cats think of themselves as the “top cat” and they feel superior to others. Thusly, some will not have a problem with the odor of their waste fouling the air: They’re announcing that they are THERE and they don’t care who knows about it. They have no desire to conceal their presence, is the reasoning behind their not burying their waste.

I read that many years ago, and have since spent many years with many cats in multiple-cat settings. I think that explanation may be right on target. That’s just my opinion; I hope it helps. -- K.S., Bayville, New Jersey

DEAR K.S.: It could well have been one of my earlier writings about cat behavior you read, where I expressed the opinion that secure and dominant cats may leave their feces uncovered, especially around the edges of their territories in the wild, as markers.

Your years of experience with indoor cats and their dominance-relationships confirms my theory. We have but one cat in our home now, and he sometimes seems to forget to bury his poop. In addition, he often races through the house after pooping, which we interpret as sweet relief! One of our dogs would do a wiggling dance very often after defecating outdoors, which we also interpreted as pleasurable relief!

(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.)