DEAR DR. FOX: My sister has a typical Parson Russell terrier that barks at everything, is high-energy and excitable, and, worst of all, cannot tolerate any dog in the house and is overly protective of my sister. If anyone goes near her, the dog growls and tries to bite.

A potential problem: Her adult son and his Jack Russell terrier are moving in with her. His dog is sweet, friendly, and doesn't mind other dogs or people.

What can be done to allow the two dogs to cohabit the house, without one dog killing the other one? -- J.S. Arlington, Virginia

DEAR J.S.: The most successful way for two dogs to get along well is to have them meet on neutral territory, as though they were going on separate walks.

Have both dogs leashed and let them investigate each other, going through the canine rituals of sniffing and making eye contact for just as long as there are no signs of dominance-aggression, and then walk away in separate directions. Dogs restrained by a leash can be more aggressive, so the next step is to meet up again, ideally later that day, on neutral territory where the dogs have never been before, such as a neighbor's enclosed yard, a fenced-in dog park or a tennis court. Let go of the leashes but keep them on in case the dogs need to be pulled apart.

Sweet-talk the dogs. Because they are terriers, get them to chase some balls or other toys, which should help set a playful mood while they are together. Then pick up their leashes and give them treats, standing or sitting close together. Employing the services of a dog handler whom your local animal shelter or veterinarian recommends might help the process go more smoothly.

After playtime, walk them together for a while, repeatedly switching dogs. Then walk home together, or drive home in separate vehicles. Let the unfamiliar dog into the home first to get oriented, making sure separate feeding and drinking areas have been set up beforehand. Then bring in the resident dog, keeping the leash on in case he needs to be pulled away from the other one. It is essential that all people involved remain calm and have lots of treats to give to the dogs. Playing soft music may also help them feel relaxed.

PETS AT HOME MAY REDUCE CHILDREN'S ALLERGY RISK

Children who have pet cats or dogs when they are 6 months to 12 months old have a lower risk of developing asthma, eczema and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis later on, compared with their pet-less peers, researchers reported in PLOS One.

Researchers in Sweden found that allergy risk was inversely related to the number of pets that children had. Researcher Bill Hesselmar said the findings support the hygiene hypothesis that exposure to allergens builds immunity. (From The New York Times, Dec. 19.)

PUTTING AN END TO STORES SELLING PUPS AND KITTENS

British residents who want a puppy or kitten will need to work through a breeder or adoption center after a ban on third-party sales through puppy mills and pet stores goes into effect. (From the Associated Press, Dec. 24.)

While this is good news for the United Kingdom, the business-first ethos that precedes ethics and humane concerns is a hard nut to crack in the United States. In my opinion, this stops America from being "great," especially with regard to puppy and kitten mills, and pet store marketeers.

(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 have a 14-year-old male rescue cat and have had him for 10 years. Recently, when I am asleep or get up to use the bathroom, he has started to violently attack and bite me. Sometimes when I am sound asleep, he bites my face, legs and arms.

I am wondering why he is doing this. My retired husband, who is always home, may be away for a while. Could the cat be mad that he is gone? Also, are cat bites as bad as dog bites? Should I be seeking medical treatment for them? -- B.L., Fairfield, Connecticut

DEAR B.L.: Your very disturbed cat needs to be put in a carrier and taken to a veterinarian immediately for a full evaluation. That is, if he is not simply biting you gently to get your undivided attention for petting or play. You may need help doing this, so call your nearest veterinary hospital and discuss the situation with people there.

I am not clear from your communication if the cat suddenly began reacting this way when your husband left you alone with him. If so, the cat may have bonded with him and is now fearful in his absence. Surely, he has a strong bond of affection for you after all these years, so I suspect, considering his age, this could be a sign of dementia or another physical condition causing fear or anxiety.

Has the cat been allowed outdoors? If so, the worst-case scenario is rabies. In that case, the cat should be quarantined for observation rather than killed to determine if his brain has the virus, which you may develop if any of his bites penetrated your skin. When was your cat's last anti-rabies vaccination?

A rabies surveillance in the United States published last month in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that of the 21,187 cats submitted for rabies testing in 2017, 276 (1.3 percent) were confirmed rabid, a 7.4 percent increase from 2016. Most cats were infected with a rabies strain carried by raccoons, while a few others were infected with the strain carried by skunks.

Most infections reported in humans come from bites by infected bats, raccoons and dogs. If your skin has been broken, you should go to the hospital for treatment.

Good luck and keep me posted.

DEAR DR. FOX: My son's dog, Charlie, a 5-year-old golden retriever, attacks my daughter and me when we visit. He will come over to us all of a sudden and start "humping." My son yells at Charlie when he does this and makes him stay in his cage.

Charlie does not do this with those who live with him, only visitors. I am 83 years old and handicapped. I use a walker and am afraid of being knocked over and hurt. Any advice would be appreciated. -- H.S., Boynton Beach, Florida

DEAR H.S.: Yelling at a dog who is excited when there are visitors and then putting him in a cage is no solution. This will only increase his anxiety and general excitement, which should have been nipped in the bud at an early age with proper socialization and education. Like most young dogs, Charlie should have been taught how to behave around visitors and exercise self-control.

I am sure you feel like you are being attacked, but this is normal, playful, non-aggressive canine behavior, which will wane once he gets over the excitement of your arrival and that of other visitors. Your son should not yell and cage Charlie, but at least make an effort to leash-train him to sit and stay, and to have him restrained on the leash when visitors come, until his excitement subsides. Such over-arousal makes me wonder how much attention, physical activity and stimulation Charlie gets on a regular basis. If he is confined much of the time, then that issue needs to be addressed.

Alternatively, he could be a "perpetual puppy" who wants to play with exciting new people whenever the opportunity arises. This can be blamed on both genetics and overly permissive treatment when he was a pup, where he never learned to respect boundaries and to not jump up or engage in playful humping. This can also have an element of social dominance or sexual arousal in some dogs; a certified canine behavioral therapist could help your son achieve better control of Charlie.

FEEDING CATS PROPERLY

Serious health and behavioral problems can arise when cats living in one-cat or multiple-cat homes are not fed with an understanding of how to minimize stress and overeating while still getting adequate nutrition.

These are all-too-common issues, an understanding of which is essential for optimal feline well-being. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has produced a consensus statement and excellent brochure on this subject. Cat caregivers and veterinarians alike will find this material most informative, and it may help many cats enjoy better lives. Go to catvets.com/howtofeedcats.

(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 wanted to write you and share an unfortunate experience we had fostering dogs, something we no longer do.

Our first few fosters were dogs that the rescue group had had for a while. We took them to the groomer (at our own expense), and when we took them to adoption events, they were the first ones to get adopted. We were thrilled to see these dogs get good homes.

Then one day, the rescue group brought us a dog straight from the shelter. We did the same things for her that we did for our previous foster dogs, but we noticed that she didn't seem to be healthy. Within hours of her being around our dogs, they caught an upper respiratory ailment from her. This meant vet visits for our dogs.

We called the people from the rescue group and told them that the foster had made our dogs sick. They vehemently denied it and said that their vet had examined her and found nothing wrong. Obviously, they were lying, because we know they brought her to us directly from the shelter. We told them that we would no longer be available to foster for them.

I tell this story to make the point that if people are going to foster (and they have pets of their own), they need to be very clear with the rescue group about the health of the animals they are asked to foster.

Our dogs recovered just fine, but it was an unnecessary illness for them and an added expense for us. We learned our lesson. If we choose to foster in the future, we will be more specific with the rescue folks. -- C.R., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR C.R.: Your experience will help others who provide temporary foster homes for companion animals. I do encourage people to take up this very rewarding avocation, ideally coordinated with a well-run animal shelter (where the longer animals are incarcerated, the more they suffer and may become less adoptable).

Full veterinary needs are called for prior to an animal going into a foster home. Quarantine may be necessary. But in emergency situations, such as natural disasters, animal rescue and fostering networks across counties and states are needed immediately. In addition, community shelters are called on to handle displaced people's animals, with support from local and national emergency veterinary services.

I would like to hear from readers about how well prepared their communities are in this regard.

DEAR DR. FOX: We had a yellow Labrador for 15 1/2 years before we had to put him down due to cancer returning for the second time.

One night while in bed, before I had fallen asleep, I opened my eyes and saw him coming into our bedroom. He looked at me and continued down the hallway. (I don't take drugs and did not have any alcohol.) He was translucent, like stained glass.

He never was seen again. He was such an incredible dog and would have made an excellent guide dog or companion animal with professional training. I'm happy to say we had him as part of our family. -- M.A., Jupiter, Florida

DEAR M.A.: Your letter will be appreciated by many readers who share the view that the life we live is but one dimension of many realms we barely comprehend, but are, on occasion, blessed to glimpse through such experiences like yours.

I especially like what ecologist and nature writer Sigurd F. Olson writes in his book "Reflections From the North Country":

"The world of nature does no violence to faiths that speak of personal immortality or reincarnation, for a basic truth encompasses them both."

HYPERTHYROID DISEASE IN CATS AND HOUSEHOLD CHEMICAL: POSSIBLE LINK

A recent study reports a possible connection between the fabric stain-repellant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with hyperactive thyroid disease, a common malady in felines today. The chemical was detected in the blood of cats with clinical signs of the disease.

This makes PFOA another household chemical to add to the endocrine-disrupting effects of bromide-based fire-retardants in fabrics, especially petrochemical-based carpets and sofas, where cats are in almost constant contact. (A cat may inhale the microparticles and swallow them when they get on the animal's fur and the cat grooms itself.)

Other chemicals, such as Bisphenol A in cat food can linings and phthalates on food packaging, are also endocrine disruptors. They have been implicated in thyroid disease in cats and may also contribute to thyroid diseases in dogs and humans. (From Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry via JAVMA News, Nov. 14.)

(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.)