DEAR DR. FOX: I saw your comments on the rescue husky barking at the grandpa. I have a similar issue with my 3-year-old white German shepherd, Missy, a female rescue we adopted three months ago. She was very nervous initially; it took four days before I could get near her. And then she became my “Velcro” dog. She is with me all the time. Initially, she was scared of everyone, but has grown bolder. She barks when the doorbell rings, but when the visitor enters, she usually quiets down quickly as long as I am with her.

However, she seemed to take an instant dislike to my husband and adult son (who lives with us), and barks wildly at them all the time. When my husband settles in his recliner, she settles down near me, but if my hubby even raises his arm, she barks madly. As time goes on, she has grown bolder: Sometimes her hackles rise and she runs at my hubby as though she is going to bite him. Same with our son. They have both tried, and continue to try, to make friends with her, but unsuccessfully.

I’d welcome any ideas you have. I can only suspect her behavior is reflective of some occurrence(s) in her past. We will learn to live with it and hope time will improve the situation. -- K.H., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR K.H.: Clearly your dog had a traumatic earlier life, and your detailed description of her gradual recovery will interest many readers.

Over time, she may well become desensitized to some aspects of the behavior of the males in your family that currently upset her. It is best that they ignore her reactions and not try to force her to change her behavior, or try to show affection toward her.

It may help if you all wear the same scent -- a few dabs of essential oil of lavender being a good choice -- and put a couple of drops on a bandanna around the dog’s neck in the morning and evening, as well. Have the two men in the house take turns putting the dog’s food out with you standing beside them. Ignore her when and if she barks at them -- this is another conditioned reaction, which should abate with time if not reinforced by any reaction. Refrain from telling her to be quiet, and simply pretend not to hear her.

It may also help if you sit down with one of the men next to you on the sofa and have the dog sit or stand next to you as you brush her. Get her used to a regular grooming and additional stroking and massage, passing the brush to whomever is sitting next to you to continue. Most dogs enjoy such stimulation, and she should eventually come when called and when she sees the brush -- even, eventually, to either of the men to be groomed and petted.

Keep me posted. Time is a big healer, but conditioned aversive emotional reactions take understanding and patient insight to overcome.

K.H. REPLIES: Just a couple more comments for your consideration. I have wondered: Since Missy apparently used to live with only one human, does that mean to her that I should be the only person in the house? People who visit and leave are OK with her, but because hubby and son are here a lot, I think she feels she needs to let them know they shouldn’t be here. She still shows fear of them sometimes, but usually looks happy to see them -- but still barks. However, on the rare occasion I am not in the house and hubby or son is, she avoids them, but never barks at them. That seems to be triggered by my presence.

We are trying the feeding and grooming, and are determined to modify her behavior eventually with patience, persistence and love.

DEAR K.H.: Your additional observations add another dimension of possibility in the often-challenging task of understanding/interpreting canine behavior. You now say her barking seems to be triggered by your presence. That could be her way of asserting her bond with, and protectiveness of, you.

See how she behaves when you hug your son and then your husband in her presence -- repeatedly. Then hug her. Then all three of you lie down on the floor together. She may then get the message that you are also bonded with them and she has no need to protect or be possessive of you! Once she feels part of the family pack, she will be more secure and accepting of the two men in the home with you.

SUPPORT THE ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is an essential team of legal experts fighting to protect animals nationwide through litigation, legislation and assisting law enforcement and prosecutors with animal criminal cruelty cases. The animals need us badly, so please consider supporting this lifesaving work.

Together, we can raise the legal status of animals from “property,” and ensure animal protection laws are strong -- and vigorously enforced. Animals need legal experts, because the law is the most powerful tool we have to fight animal abuse and to bring abusers to justice.

When you give a membership gift of $25 or more to the ALDF, you will receive the quarterly newsletter “The Animals’ Advocate,” which provides updates on cases and victories that your support helps to achieve -- and the insider details behind legal strategies to help animals and advance their rights. More information is available at aldf.org.

(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: Do you recommend continuing with regular vaccinations for an 8-year-old terrier/Chihuahua mix with a history of internal bleeding, possibly stemming from an autoimmune disease? The dog hasn’t shown any symptoms of internal bleeding for several years, and I was wondering if it’s safe to vaccinate her. -- G.P., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR G.P.: I do not advise vaccinating older dogs who have had the usual spectrum of vaccines earlier in life. The vaccines should not be needed.

Booster vaccinations are risky. If there is any doubt, it’s best to have blood titers taken to determine immunity status and risk of exposure to infective dogs. Anti-rabies vaccination is mandated under the law, however. For basic vaccination protocols for dogs, see the related article on my website at drfoxvet.net.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am from Mumbai, India. I am unable to decide if I should I vaccinate my 3-month-old puppy or not. I had a bad experience with my previous dog.

There are abundant stray dogs in my city, and they get diseases sometimes. The vet recommended me the following vaccination schedule: 7-in-1, then 9-in-1, then 9-in-1 and anti-rabies -- all at one-month intervals.

I asked many vets. There is no holistic vet near me, no monovalent vaccines and no homeopathic vaccines.

I am scared to give her combination vaccines. What should I do? -- M.R., Mumbai, India

DEAR M.R.: Dr. M. Sugumaran with Prakriti Save Nature Trust in Tamil Nadu, India, can best advise you as to the best vaccinations available in India for your dog.

The schedule of vaccinations proposed by the veterinarian with whom you consulted is absurd: literally carpet-bombing your pup’s immune system with probable long-term impairment of the immune system. Such short intervals of vaccination, with so many combined vaccines, is malpractice -- albeit highly profitable.

Dr. Sugumaran will provide you, via email, the best protocol to follow. And follow the rule of separating the anti-rabies vaccination from other combined vaccines by four to six weeks.

The misuse of vaccines, along with antibiotics, in animals and humans is cause for concern in many countries, India being no exception. For more documentation of these issues and animal health and welfare concerns in India, see the book written by myself and my wife, Deanna Krantz, “India’s Animals: Helping the Sacred and the Suffering.”

BREED DOGS WHO CAN BREATHE NORMALLY

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is taking the initiative, long overdue, to encourage conversations among prospective puppy purchasers, breeders and veterinarians on the horrendous issue of the deliberate breeding of flat-faced dogs like American and French bulldogs. Boxers and pugs can also have great difficulty breathing because of this genetic facial deformity.

Many see these dogs’ flattened, short- or no-muzzle faces, with their protruding eyes, as cute and appealing. Advertisers of various products often use such animals as appealing props. When they snore and gag while resting, people think it’s funny. But this deformity, called brachycephaly, is associated with multiple health problems and poor quality of life, along with limited exercise tolerance.

To help get the word out, the BVA has produced a shareable video, available on its YouTube channel, tagged with #BreedtoBreathe.

Breed clubs of these deformed breeds in the U.S., along with the American Kennel Club, need to be more engaged on this issue. They can advocate to change breed standards to reduce the severity of this condition; discourage advertisers using such dogs in the media; and encourage the owners of such dogs to have regular veterinary health evaluations, and corrective surgery as needed, for their afflicted animals. In addition, they should cease breeding these dogs.

(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 read with great interest your response to L.I. in St. Louis regarding her dog Louie and his allergies. I was glad that you pointed out the fact that this is terrible suffering for the dog, and that Benadryl and Apoquel are short-term solutions.

I really wish you would have mentioned the side effects for long-term use of Apoquel. I had a Yorkie-poo that suffered for years with itching, chewing his paws and constant ear infections. After going through all of the medicine and treatments recommended by several veterinarians, I discovered that there is an animal dermatologist located right here in the St. Louis area. I only wish that I had found her sooner.

My poor boy suffered for years and, by the time she saw him, he was diabetic; she was concerned that the medicine that she would’ve normally given him would do more harm than good, and the only solution for him was ear canal surgery. If any of the veterinarians I had taken Buddy to for the previous seven years had even mentioned food allergy testing, or referred me to an allergist, he would’ve been saved all of this misery.

While you touch on the fact that there could be several allergens adding to their discomfort, you don’t mention the absolute basic fact that most dogs are allergic to poultry. Although you say that you would do a weekly protein rotation, I believe you should find one and stay with it for a while. After Buddy’s dermatologist said he was allergic to poultry, I was amazed when I started to read the food labels. Even if they market the food as a select protein, the label will probably mention the fact that chicken by-products or broth were used. I should also mention at this point that eliminating allergens is not an overnight miracle, but takes time.

Thank you for all that you do for the animals and the people who love them! -- T.M., Godfrey, Illinois

DEAR T.M.: Your letter will be appreciated by many readers. I do regret that you and your poor dog went through such a long period of suffering and expense, which might have been avoided at the onset by considering your dog’s diet as the first possible cause.

Until relatively recently, veterinarians have been essentially brainwashed by the pet food industry into believing that cat and dog foods are safe, and certainly not the first thing to consider when presented with patients suffering from ear, skin, anal gland, bowel and other health problems. It has even reached the point of absurdity where special costly (and highly profitable) prescription diets are given to such patients, often leading to a round of other “nutrigenic” health problems. For documentation, see the book “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Food,” which I co-authored with two other veterinarians.

Food intolerance and allergies in dogs can involve dairy products, beef, eggs and soy; in cats, it can be fish and even rice. With discoveries about nutrition in relation to genetics, what the mother ate during pregnancy and the influence of the gut “microbiome” of good bacteria on health and behavior, the science of nutrition is advancing significantly from a decade or two ago. This is against the background of food and beverage industry byproducts and ingredients not considered fit for human consumption that have been recycled into “scientifically formulated and fortified” pet foods.

I was one of the first to advocate human-grade quality ingredients, and even making home-prepared, biologically appropriate diets for cats and dogs. I began this advocacy decades ago, in spite of opposition from the pet food industry and many veterinarians -- who are now fewer in number, since they have come to realize that good nutrition is the best and first medicine.

CLEANING UP: FOR PETS’ SAKES AND YOURS

We are the only animal, to my knowledge, that fouls its own nest, wittingly and unwittingly. While we may not be able to clean up the Earth significantly over the next few generations, we can at least start in our own homes and kitchens. Household dust contains allergenic, carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, especially from fire-retardant and stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, along with various household cleaners and other manufactured chemicals. So vacuum well weekly, and avoid using cleaning and disinfecting agents that are not organic/natural/herbal products. Vinegar, lemon juice and other citrus extracts and baking soda are safe and effective.

If you are using chlorinated and fluoridated municipal tap water, use a good-quality water filter (see zerowater.com) such as reverse ionization or other systems. And check out the report “Pure Water for Cats, Dogs and All” on my website (drfoxvet.net). Much public and well water sources, and even the rain, are contaminated with agrichemical and other industrial pollutants, and even hormones and other drugs discharged from our own bodies and from livestock, many of which can damage cellular DNA that may lead to cancer and other diseases.

(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.)