DEAR DR. FOX: I just read your column titled “Help Needed for Dogs with Fatty Tumors.” My 11-year-old black Labrador retriever has had fatty tumors since he was about a year old. Most of them are small (less than an inch), but he has had a very large one (4-inch diameter) on his thigh for at least eight years.

As I find a tumor, I have the vet send in a sample to test for cancer. The large tumor has been tested twice. She has always advised leaving the tumors alone because they aren’t malignant.

My dog has now developed a tumor on his back leg, next to his rectum. It was tested and it is not cancer, but it seems to bother him when he runs. He will often sort of hop on three legs. He also sometimes drags it a bit. The vet says it shouldn’t bother his movement. In general, she is a vet who believes in just letting things be.

Should I be concerned about this fatty tumor (2-3 inches) and his running, even though it is not cancer? I would have to find another vet to remove the tumor if you think it should be removed. -- A.H., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR A.H.: Being unable to examine your dog myself, I recommend seeking a second opinion -- with all due respect for your dog’s veterinarian who, like me, takes a conservative approach to these benign lipomas.

If your dog’s blood tests indicate good liver and kidney function, and thus a lower risk of anesthetic complications, and you can see an experienced soft-tissue veterinary surgeon, I would proceed with the surgery. The growths are only going to increase in size and cause more and more discomfort. The longer you wait, the lower your dog’s quality of life is likely to become.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our cat is a 13-year-old rescue with a host of issues, including IBD, allergies and kidney disease. She is also very emotionally needy.

Ever since she has been with us, she has had a strange interest in eating plastic, particularly plastic bags (which we keep away from her, of course). We brought this to the attention of her vets (she has many specialists) and they all found this perplexing.

A few months ago, she started eating her litter. We use Dr. Elsey’s Senior Litter, which is silica-based and has sodium bentonite in it. I’ve read conflicting reports about whether or not this is hazardous. Her internist recommended cat grass, but she is not interested. I have read that litter-eating could fulfill a dietary need or could be a condition called pica, in which case she could be doing this out of boredom or because of a psychological issue.

She is an indoor kitty, and we have tried to engage her in playtime, but she has a limited attention span and gets bored easily.

What do you make of this behavior, and how do you feel about sodium bentonite? -- M.L., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR M.L.: Many cats like to lick and even eat plastic. Many plastics have ingredients derived from animal fat, which can make the material attractive to animals. The protective gloss on some paper money also contains stearates derived from tallow (animal fat). I know of many cats who have become money hoarders!

Regardless of what ingredients are in the cat litter you are using, eating litter could be a sign of gut irritation -- lymphatic cancer being my first consideration.

Second, it could indicate a lack of dietary fiber, especially if your cat is fed only moist canned cat food. Mix in a pinch of psyllium husks and let them soak in the food before serving, working up to 1/4 teaspoon in four small meals a day.

Pica can also have other causes, including hyperthyroidism; I would advise additional veterinary evaluation. And consider changing the kind of litter you are using and see if that makes a difference, too.

(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 son has an 18-year-old male cat. The other night, he gave Dinker some catnip, which he has had before, but this time he had a little more than usual. Dinker was immediately unresponsive, lying down and not moving. My son thought he was going to have to put him down.

Dinker came around and has been fine ever since. Do you think the reaction was from the catnip, which he has always had without trouble? Because of his age, do you think it could have been a slight stroke or vertigo? -- K.S., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR K.S., The moral of your son’s saga is: All things in moderation.

Soon after rolling in, and then eating, a small amount (one shredded teaspoon) of fresh catnip or catmint, my cats would often vomit, though usually keeping down the dried herbs. Then they’d roll in what remained on the floor, and then get squiggly, maybe batting at their tails, before zoning out for a while.

Catnip is the equivalent of Valium for most cats, but some show no interest. It makes for a relaxing tea for us humans, and also has some antispasmodic effects. I advise people to grow their own catnip, or only buy “Organically Certified,” since I have seen plastic packages of catnip in some stores indicating it comes from China.

For Dinker, I say just a pinch or two next time. Moisten it with a little water and let stand at room temperature for a few minutes first to draw out the volatile oils. Dinker may simply roll in the aroma and get “high” that way.

I say “high” not euphemistically or anthropomorphically. In the wild, many animal species -- notably bears, baboons and elephants -- will seek out fermented fruits, clearly enjoying the effects altering their states of consciousness and behavior. I do not think such experiences are essential for us to provide for companion animals, but olfactory-sensitive cats and dogs do enjoy different scents, such as dogs on walks being allowed to sniff to their brains’ content. Some dogs may also appreciate catnip, and I would enjoy hearing from other readers whose dogs do.

As for cannabis, which wild pigs especially relish, its use in veterinary medicine is increasing with its legalization for medical purposes. As this herb becomes accepted for recreational use in humans, companion animals should be kept away. Dogs, in particular, are often eager to eat cannabis plants or the dried herb. An overdose could cause respiratory depression and heart failure, especially in older animals.

When all is said and done, I think it is only we humans who need to lose our minds and come to our senses. Other members of the plant kingdom can help with that, as some psychotherapists are now exploring for such conditions as PTSD, dementia and depression.

DEAR DR. FOX: This is regarding your article about the use of bits on the horses at the recent royal wedding in London.

I do agree that bitless bridles can be excellent, but tossing of heads does not necessarily indicate discomfort in a horse. It does indicate excitement, and the forward position of the horses’ ears suggests that was the case.

These cossetted horses are not only cherished, but also get regular holidays away from London. They are taken to rural areas and given large pastures to roam and play in. Her Majesty the Queen is a fan and follower of Monty Roberts, aka the “Horse Whisperer,” and invited him to London to explain and demonstrate his training methods, which she adopted.

So while the horses you are concerned about are among the best cared for anywhere, I wish you would also comment in your column about the unspeakable government-backed cruelty being perpetrated here in the U.S. by the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM systematically terrorizes the wild mustangs in the northwest, herding them with helicopters, penning them, breaking up family groups and inducing panic, which leads to many broken legs. Slaughter is the final option for many of these beautiful horses.

It does not get into the news because journalists are mostly kept away from the horrific roundups; it does not make for palatable news coverage.

The House Appropriations Committee and the BLM will not allow the humane methods of sterilization that the supporters of the mustangs and burros have proposed. They have far more devastating methods to implement in the very near future.

Please read more about this from the American Wild Horse Campaign (americanwildhorsecampaign.org).

We have read your columns about cruelty to dogs and cats in certain Asian countries. Let’s deal with the horrors right here, and encourage your readers to take action immediately. -- C.B., Hendersonville, North Carolina

DEAR C.B.: Yes, I am sure that all the queen’s horses are well cared for. But traditions always need to be examined when there is questionable suffering and available alternatives. One notable example from my native country is the old tradition of setting dog packs on foxes, deer and other dwindling wildlife species.

I invite readers of my column to visit americanwildhorsecampaign.org and support efforts to bring compassion and respect for all life to bear on the policies and practices of wildlife and feral animal management by state and federal agencies.

(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: We found an abandoned puppy in our neighborhood three months ago. We took him in and took him to the vet: He’s had all of his shots, he has been wormed, neutered and microchipped.

He is 11 months old and healthy, but we know he has a problem. One minute he is as sweet as can be, then all of a sudden, he is like a devil. He falls asleep in my husband’s arms every night, and when he wakes up, he is combative and bites.

We think he may have a problem with his serotonin levels, but our vet’s lab does not do a test for that. Our vet suggested we find a lab that performs that test; they said they will draw the blood and send it in for us.

We are trying to do everything we can to give this little guy a good home. Is there any way you can help us? -- T.T. Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR T.T.: There are supplements that can be given to increase brain serotonin and dopamine levels, but I question if that is the answer to your problem.

Your dog is young, and wants to play and chew things. I wonder what interactive games you engage in, and what contact your pup has with other dogs to learn to play gently. Their sharp milk teeth make play-biting gently a challenge, but most pups soon learn not to bite hard when playing.

Also, are you teaching your young dog self-control, as by training to sit and stay and to remain still when picked up and held in your arms? My book “The Healing Touch for Dogs” could help you and your dog develop a calming and connecting routine of deep and relaxing massage therapy. Such contact helps dogs relax and stimulates the production of feel-good brain neurochemicals, while also lowering stress hormone levels, heart rate and blood pressure.

Let me know in a few weeks how this turns out.

BOOK REVIEW

“From Fearful to Fear Free” by Marty Becker, DVM and veterinary and behavioral associates, 2018.

As the subtitle of this well-organized book states, this is “A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fear and Phobias.” I highly recommend this book for veterinarians, dog trainers, behavioral therapists, current dog owners/caregivers (I detest the anthropomorphic term “pet parents”) and people contemplating bringing a dog into their lives -- especially adopting one from the shelter who may have issues such as PTSD and separation anxiety.

Perhaps in the second edition, more will be said about the benefits of essential oils, massage therapy, “cradling” and how the owner/guardian/handler can transmit fear, anxiety and phobias through how she/he reacts in various situations, such as seeing another dog while theirs is on the leash.

Serious omissions also call for attention, such as fear-related aggression and food-guarding (a fear-associated behavior for which many dogs have been pronounced unadoptable and sentenced to death in animal shelters). Also missing was a mention of breed susceptibilities to complications such as fear-associated hyperventilation, leading to asphyxia, in popular French bulldogs, pugs and other cranio-facially deformed brachycephalic breeds, and fear-associated seizures in other breeds.

With such future inclusions, I would say “Bravo” to books like this that extend our understanding, respect and care of fellow creatures -- be they our companions or in the service of other human needs. When this book is translated worldwide, we, as a species, may indeed evolve and see a world with more freedom from fear and more joy in life for all.

(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.)