DEAR DR. FOX: I wonder why our 10-year-old hound-mix has begun to dig holes in our vegetable garden. In colder weather, this is not a problem; when spring arrives and seedlings are planted, I must admonish her while refilling 6- to 10-inch craters she creates. She loves to be outside on sunny days, and that seems to be her time to dig.

Her health is good, with the exception of some plaque on her molars. I brush her teeth daily, but the plaque is always more than I can treat. Her diet includes fresh fruit (apples, pears, bananas), raw vegetables (carrots, cabbage, sweet peppers) and fresh kibble. She is still very active.

Do you have any suggestions concerning this behavior? -- J.B., Alexandria, Va.

DEAR J.B.: Old dogs do develop new behaviors, and your dog deciding to dig holes in the vegetable patch may well be her way of finding stimulation and enjoyment now that she is becoming less physically active. She may need to be checked for arthritis and may benefit from appropriate supplements.

Allowing her to chew on a 6- to 10-inch length of raw beef marrowbone for about 10 minutes every few days will help keep her teeth clean and provide enjoyable stimulation. I advise short bouts of chewing because some dogs may get so involved that they damage their teeth. For some, a Nylabone may be safer. A daily application of PetzLife oral care gel or spray will help control tartar and keep the gums healthy.

A staked roll of chicken wire around your vegetable garden may be your horticultural solution. You could also set aside an area in the garden where your dog is free to dig.

DEAR DR. FOX: I just want to let you know of my experience with and without knee surgery.

In 2004, at age 7, our dog Hanna tore her right knee ligament. We decided to do the surgery, at a cost of $1,500. Jump forward to age 12, when Hanna tore her left knee ligament. This time, the cost basically doubled. Taking into account the cost and her age, we decided not to do the surgery. Her knee healed nicely on its own, and she is now 15 1/2 years old and going strong. Both legs are working great.

Hanna is a mid-size mixed-breed pup. She's not overweight, weighing around 55 pounds.

I read about the study showing that many dogs heal well without costly surgery for torn cruciate ligaments, especially if given proper rest and physical therapy, and I thought you might like to hear about Hanna's experience. -- R.A.R., Kernersville, N.C.

DEAR R.A.R.: I have been waving the flag of caution over torn cruciate ligament surgery now for several years. It is good that more clinical evidence is being published to support my conservative approach to this all-too-common condition. It may be best prevented by keeping dogs lean and well-exercised, neutering closer to full physical maturity and avoidance of overvaccination, especially for canine distemper.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Your column regarding pets and euthanasia was very touching -- so much so that I felt compelled to write to you.

In July 2011, I had to put to sleep my beloved 13-year-old Shih Tzu, Munchkin. She had severe cardiac issues and was completely blind. It was the most difficult thing I've ever done.

In your column, the writer asked how pets feel about euthanasia. My experience was interesting. When the vet gave Munchkin the initial injection to numb her so she wouldn't feel anything, she started kissing my husband and me.

We thought it was so strange, but in my heart, I knew she was saying, "Thank you. Thank you for releasing me. I love you!" She seemed so happy. It was comforting on a certain level, but still devastating. Her final moments were painless, and my husband and I held her and talked to her. We should all be so lucky. -- L.M., Naples, Fla.

DEAR L.M.: I believe your letter underscores the importance of owners being present when their beloved animal companions are euthanized, either at the veterinary hospital or, ideally, at home in safe and familiar surroundings. Some pet owners are not emotionally up for this final responsibility, just as some veterinarians are leery about occasional adverse reactions to the euthanasia drugs in some animals, which can greatly upset owners in attendance. These vets don't allow owners to witness the termination of life, which almost invariably is accomplished without incident.

We may never know if your little dog, like many others, was licking you to comfort you because she felt your distress and concern or because she knew that her time had come.

The transition to the afterlife or nonbeing was evidently without fear; I wish that for all creatures under our care. Someday, we may enjoy no less for ourselves, provided our culture evolves into one that is more compassionate and more accepting of death and euthanasia.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our 6-year-old male cat has been limping on his left front leg. Not all the time, but enough that it is a concern.

He has a good diet -- no grains and enough fish oil -- and he's healthy and frisky. We've taken him to the vet, who took X-rays. We were told there was nothing wrong with his bones and there were no signs of arthritis. Thinking there might be some muscle strain or soreness, the vet suggested applying a heating pad, but that hasn't made a difference.

Any suggestions? Should we get a second opinion from another vet? -- B.B., Washington, D.C.

DEAR B.B.: Since there is no evidence of arthritis or other joint abnormality and presuming there is no infection in one or more of the claw-beds, I would adopt a wait-and-see approach.

A small heating pad or wrap applied while he's on your lap or lying beside you and very gentle, exploratory massages (as described in my book "The Healing Touch For Cats") may be of benefit. I would discourage him from using a vertical scratching post -- place it on the floor horizontally or keep it out of reach for a while.

Also avoid any vigorous interactive games. A pinch of powdered turmeric, increasing up to 1/2-teaspoon daily, may prove beneficial. If he shows no signs of improvement after six to eight weeks, seek a second opinion and have his neck vertebrae examined.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am writing to get some advice and help dealing with my cat, Timothy.

Ever since my daughter left for college in August, Timothy has become very aggressive during mealtime. If I put food in his bowl and then try to touch his bowl, he growls and attacks my hand. While he eats, he growls until his food is gone.

He is a good-tempered animal and aggressive only at mealtime. I have tried to make him feel more comfortable by sitting with him in the kitchen while he is eating. I have also tried to feed him by hand, but he just becomes more aggressive.

After my daughter left for college, Timothy became depressed and had a urinary tract infection. He also had constipation problems.

When my daughter comes home on her breaks, Timothy is fine. He does not growl or have problems with bowel movements. I do have children come over once a month to visit, and I worry about him becoming aggressive toward them. -- L.P., Clinton, Md.

DEAR L.P.: As the caregiver of your daughter's cat, you deserve better!

My first question to you is: Have you considered the possibility of your daughter finding suitable accommodations where she is going to school so she can keep the cat with her? Clearly, the cat has a strong bond with her. I know of several cats who have become depressed, disinterested in food or more anxious when their human caregivers have left home for college or a job.

In the interim, give poor Timothy space and solitude while he eats, and put him in a separate room when children come.

Have your daughter mail you a T-shirt (in a plastic bag) that she has slept in for a week or so, and give it to Timothy to snuggle into.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a very smart but easily bored cat who I would like to stimulate. I looked for your book "Supercat: How to Raise the Perfect Feline Companion" in our one and only bookstore, but I could not find it. Is there a way to order it? I don't have a computer. -- L.C., Waldorf, Md.

DEAR L.C.: I am glad that "Supercat," published by John Wiley and Sons, is still in print. Bookstores can carry only a limited number of titles, but they all surely have computers and can place orders online for books that are not in stock. Some may refuse to do so because they don't get good discounts or deal only with bulk suppliers. They should be reported to the regional Better Business Bureau.

While "Supercat" has all kinds of games and IQ tests for cats, the best stimulation for a cat is another cat. Far too many live solitary, boring lives.

As for ways to stimulate your cat, you can make your own cat toys, including a cane with a long string and a feather on the end or a few pipe cleaners twisted into spirals. This will be entertaining and will stimulate the body and mind. Some cats love to chase after a laser pointer. A French veterinarian, Dr. Thierry Bedossa, interested in enriching animals' environments, told me that many cats will learn to play with an electronic game pad when the screen is placed on the floor and there are moving images to follow and paw at. A laser pointer can be used to attract the cat to the screen on the floor, and there are many children's games that are enjoyed by cats!

VETERINARY MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON THE HORIZON?

Nineteen states and Washington, D.C., have approved marijuana (cannabis) for medical use in humans after the state of California defied the federal prohibition in 1996 by voting in support of a referendum allowing patients to grow or possess the herb under their doctors' recommendation. Now the conservative Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association has published an article about the medical benefits of marijuana to animals, which include helping alleviate nausea and pain, especially in terminal cancer patients, and improving appetite and even separation anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome.

Research has shown that the mammalian brain contains cannabinoid (cannabis-sensitive) receptors, which help modulate neurological and behavioral functions. Other cannabinoid receptors are associated with immune system function. So-called endocannabinoids, which are generated in the body during strenuous physical activity, account for the runner's high and running dogs' euphoria.

Some human medical properties may also be applicable to animals, including anti-glaucoma, anti-epileptic/anti-seizure, anti-spastic, anti-anxiety, antidepressant, anti-nausea, anti-spasmodic, anti-asthmatic, anti-cancer (especially brain gliomas) and analgesia for a variety of conditions, including phantom limb and migraine.

Prohibition has for too long denied suffering human and non-human patients the benefits of this herb. It has also led to the outrageously unjust imprisonment of thousands of people for possession and to the deaths of many more in the drug wars, which the former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, contends would end with America legalizing marijuana. As a Schedule 1 drug in the U.S., it is illegal for veterinarians to prescribe this beneficial herb to animal patients, a situation that needs to be rectified, from my perspective, by the veterinary profession adding its voice to the mounting pressure on the federal government to change the Schedule classification of marijuana and make it more available, legally, for those in need.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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.com.)