DEAR DR. FOX: A few years ago, my wife trapped, neutered and released a feral cat. We continued to feed it for about six years, with no problem -- until it was either killed by poisoning or by a coyote, as best we could surmise.

Why is that “seriously misguided,“ as you say? I would like to know, in case the situation occurs again. -- J.B., Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

DEAR J.B: There are several options for dealing with “feral” cats, which I have detailed in articles on my website, drfoxvet.net.

Many are lost or abandoned strays who once had homes, and are often adoptable when caught and rehabilitated. Others who do not become resocialized may have been fending for themselves too long to be “recovered,” or were born outdoors.

With such cats, the best solution is to trap them, test for diseases, then either euthanize or permanently quarantine those testing positive for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses. Those not carrying these diseases should be neutered and vaccinated, and either placed in communal housing (where many do become adoptable after some time) or in designated sites where they are provided shelter, food and veterinary care -- with the proviso that no wildlife be put at risk.

You did your best for this cat, and I commend you -- my wife and I do the same, but bring the cats in for rehabilitation and adoption. I call this Step 3. Your Step 2 is better than the Step 1 where many people stop: just putting food out and not at least trapping and neutering to stop the cat plague. This is exacerbated by well-intended people who put food out for stray cats and let their un-neutered cats roam off their property.

VANDALISM AT SHELTER LEAVES DOGS SERIOUSLY INJURED

Vandals broke into an Arkansas animal shelter, released dogs from their pens, put some in pens together, and appear to have brought their own dogs for fight training, authorities say. At least one dog might not survive its injuries.

Shelter officials purchased security cameras after three dogs were killed in a similar break-in back in 2016, but the cameras were stolen before they could be installed, and the shelter does not have funds for a new security system. (WREG-TV, Memphis, Tennessee, Oct. 13)

I wept when I read of this atrocity -- not just for the dogs, but for the evident and increasing loss of our humanity and sanity in these times.

(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 daughter wants to harness-train her cat.

She thinks a soft vest style is best, but at the shelter where I volunteer, they sell the PetSafe brand, which is the more traditional figure-8 style. They always use the PetSafe Easy Walk harnesses for dogs, which are wonderful, so I feel like this recommends the brand.

Have you any advice on this topic? Her kitty goes out on the balcony, which she has made safe for him, but she would like to be able to give him more stimulation at some point. So she wants to train him while he is still relatively young -- just a little over 18 months old now. -- M.S., Alexandria, Virginia

DEAR M.S.: I had a disaster with one of our rescued cats, who spooked when out on a leash and harness for the first time. He was able to wriggle out of the harness and ran off. It was early winter, and he was too scared to come back indoors. It took several days and long nights to encourage him to come back inside.

I advise getting a soft, full-body wrap-type harness, and also a collar, so he’ll have two leashes. Cats can wriggle out of almost anything when they have a mind to it.

Put everything on the cat indoors to start out right, and get the cat used to the pull of the leashes and feel of the harness. Avoid trying to lead the cat; cats prefer to lead and take their time slowly exploring when outside, even rolling in grass or dust, rubbing their lips, chins, temples and tails to mark various fixed objects and nibbling various plants.

Cats have excellent depth perception and are generally safe on upper decks, but initially, I would be cautious and have the cat wear the harness and collar on a safety leash before letting him out on the balcony.

DEAR DR. FOX: My dog loves to help me in the garden, but he will sometimes eat a slug or two, and he also likes earthworms. I know foxes like them, too.

Should I worry? Are they safe for him to eat? -- D.K.L., Fort Myers, Florida

DEAR D.K.L.: Your dog needs to curb this habit. Dogs get lungworm by eating larvae found in infected snails, slugs or frogs. They can also accidentally eat infected tiny slugs if they are on a toy or their fur.

The lungworm larvae then grow inside the dog, and adult lungworms move through their body to live in their heart and blood vessels. Earthworms may consume the eggs of roundworms in infected dogs’ feces, and then infect your dog when he eats them.

DEAR DR. FOX: This is my first time responding to any newspaper, but I have to say, the timing of your recent column was not happenstance.

We lost our beloved Maltese, Jazzie, just a little more than one month ago; she was 16 years old. This morning, I woke up missing her more than ever. There is not a day that goes by when she doesn’t come to mind. In my heart, I’m always smiling, yet tearful about the reality of her not being here. But this morning was a bit different; I had a real aching in my soul. And then I read your article about what our pets give us and teach us.

Jazzie was so much more than just a pet. She did indeed have emotions, and she could read ours as well. She had keen insight and knew when we were sick, tired, grumpy or happy, and ready for crazy, fun playtime. There was a time when I was quite ill and she never left my side, willing me to get well. She made us laugh and was always the best at turning our bad mood or stressed-out lives into joyful gratitude.

Yes, Jazzie was a part of our family, and will be forever missed. She gave far more to us than we returned to her, because she did indeed touch our souls. The Lord blessed us with this beautiful little one for 16 years and I’m praying there will be a time when we see her again.

At some point, I know we’ll find another little one to love. In the meantime, we savor our memories and the blessing of having had Jazzie in our lives. -- L.S., Naples, Florida

DEAR L.S.: Many readers will appreciate your heart-felt commentary about Jazzie. I just wish we humans could all show such love and devotion for creatures great and small.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 6-year-old Shih Tzu, Peaches, was diagnosed with struvite crystals in her urine more than a year ago. She was then put on Royal Canine Urinary SO prescription dog food (dry kibble only) for the rest of her life; I was told that she could no longer have any other kind of food, ever.

I just had her urine tested after a year of being on this dog food, and her crystals have returned. I have stuck to this regime since day one and am very concerned about the return of her crystals.

What can I do for my suffering little dog so that her crystals no longer return and turn into kidney stones? I thought I was doing what was necessary to keep her healthy.

Also, is there anything else I can do to vary her diet while keeping the crystals at bay? -- K.K., Sandy Hook, Connecticut

DEAR K.K.: Your veterinarian should go back to veterinary school -- to one that is not beholden to the pet food industry and does not brainwash students into accepting, without question, the claims and products of that industry, especially regarding so-called prescription diets.

Most dogs and cats generally find these costly diets highly unpalatable, and they’re prescribed for conditions often preventable with good nutrition to begin with!

To give any dog exclusively dry kibble -- especially one likely prone, for genetic reasons, to develop crystals in the urine that can damage the lining of the urinary bladder -- is absurd. The formula you have been giving her is high in salt, added to make dogs drink more water, which they need in order to keep their urinary tracts flushed out and the urine less concentrated (and less likely to form crystals). But in my opinion, this special diet is not the right solution, and could bring on other health problems.

Give your dog drinking water with some milk or some salt-free beef or chicken broth, which you can stew up yourself (adding 1 teaspoon of concentrate to 1 cup of water) and store in the refrigerator. This will encourage her to drink plenty of water.

Most importantly, give your dog a moist, whole-food diet, such as a quality canned dog food (like Cornucopia) or a freeze-dried food that you soak in water (like The Honest Kitchen’s). Or try my home-prepared recipe, posted on my website. Also, plenty of exercise, running off-leash at least twice daily, will help improve her overall condition. Far too many dogs, like their human companions, live unhealthful, sedentary lives.

(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 response to the request in your recent column for what our companion animals have given us, I am submitting the list that I have kept and added to for many years about the life lessons I have learned from my cats.

Gigi taught me patience, forbearance, nonaggression and self-control.

Luna taught me slowness and deliberation in decision-making with concentrated focus.

Fred showed how he could noiselessly radiate a huge personality and calming sweetness.

Sleeky taught me to be innocently charming yet street-savvy, too.

Scar taught me to learn to reconsider my “enemies” and live in harmony with them.

Orange and Habibi taught me to trust, but with caution.

Mitzi taught me to be brave through the most difficult circumstances and to trustingly place myself in the care of those who love me. -- J.D., Ashland, Oregon

DEAR J.D.: Thanks for sharing these blessings your cats bestowed on you -- and for disclosing what very different personalities cats have, which our loving bond with them helps blossom.

FLEAS AND TYPHUS IN CALIFORNIA MAY SPREAD

California health officials reported that there has been an epidemic of flea-borne typhus within the Los Angeles area this year. This is an old disease, with recorded accounts dating back to the 14th century. There are several forms of typhus, but all are caused by a group of bacteria known as Rickettsia. Symptoms of typhus include fever, headache, nausea and rash, and sometimes neurological symptoms like seizures or confusion. Flea-borne typhus can be fatal, especially if more severe symptoms go untreated. Flea-borne typhus is also known as murine typhus because rats are the main host of the fleas that can spread the bacteria.

Fleas that feed on pets, and other animals like opossums, can also spread it via infective flea feces. Warmer temperatures, poverty, homelessness and free-roaming and indoor-outdoor cats are all contributing factors.

(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 lost my 10-year-old French bulldog a few months ago.

I made her own food: ground turkey, rice, carrots and spinach. She drank bottled water and went everywhere with me. One day, I noticed her entire body shaking. All her blood work came back normal, but she stopped barking at the vacuum cleaner, chasing lizards and was just being lethargic.

After three trips to different vets, they could not tell me what was wrong with her. I then made the horrendous decision to put her to sleep. It was one of the toughest decisions of my life. I miss her so much. Have you any idea what could have caused this downward spiral? -- S.G., Naples, Florida

DEAR S.G.: My sympathy goes out to you over the death of your dog.

Without doing an autopsy, cause of death is uncertain. My educated guess is chronic heart failure. Bulldogs and other breeds who have severe brachycephaly (pushed-in faces) suffer from chronic upper-airway obstruction. This means chronic partial-asphyxiation or hypoxia, which puts tremendous strain on brachycephalic dogs’ hearts.

Additional cardiac strain can come from exertion-related pain, associated with limb and spinal deformities and the effort needed to enjoy physical activity -- all too common in such breeds, and a factor leading to heart-wearing obesity from reduced physical activity.

Spirited brachycephalic dogs put themselves at risk from heat stroke when being physically active, especially in hot weather. Living in Florida, your dog could also have been at risk from toads that can give dogs heart attacks.