DEAR DR. FOX: I am a rather good singer -- I was even a finalist on "American Idol"! My beautiful 5-year-old female Himalayan cat, Cleopatra, goes crazy whenever I sing. If she's out of the room while I'm singing, she comes running to me, jumps up next to me and cries or starts pawing at my face and arms. It is cute, but in all of my experience and reading about felines, I've never seen this addressed.

Does she like my singing, or does she hate it? I can't tell for sure. She has a cute look on her face when pawing at me, like when she reacts to catnip. -- C.O., Alexandria, Virginia

DEAR C.O.: Your letter will amuse many readers, and some will have their own stories -- which I would like to read -- about how cats respond to us when we sing or play musical instruments.

Some cats like to walk on and "play" pianos, while others come running when they hear a harmonica or whistle. Cats are quite vocal and can have a significant repertoire of sounds that may be accidentally mimicked when you sing and when certain notes are struck on various musical instruments. Some sounds may mimic mating or distress calls and even sounds of various prey that trigger the hunting instinct.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have an 8-year-old schipperke dog who is in good health. However, he has an "attack" every five or six months. I don't know how to describe it exactly, but he starts licking everything. He gets extremely restless and then starts to chew on and swallow any material he can find. He has chewed clothing, rugs, plastic bags, etc. It is as if he is obsessed. I can't distract him. I am really concerned because he has had two attacks in the past three days.

I feed him Authority dog food: 1/2 cup in the morning with a sprinkling of Himalayan salt and 1/2 cup at night with a fish oil capsule. For the last number of months, I have been giving him three or four green beans at each meal.

What can I do to help my little guy? He is so distressed when he is in these episodes. -- A.N., Naples, Florida

DEAR A.N.: I am glad that you wrote to me, because your dog is showing a sudden change in normal behavior and that means one thing: You need to make an immediate appointment with a veterinarian.

What you may be interpreting as a benign, neurotic or obsessive-compulsive behavior could actually be a symptom of a deep abdominal, internal organ pain or disease. Dogs with cancer or liver disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other maladies sometimes behave like your dog, and such behavior calls for a thorough veterinary examination.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am writing in response to your frequent mention of the benefits of having two cats in a household.

We have a 3-year-old tabby who we adopted from a shelter when she was about 8 months old. She is very people-oriented -- she greets us at the door and often sits on our laps. She is also very playful -- she gallops around the house, plays with toys and plays hide and seek with me. To us, she is the perfect companion cat.

I am wondering why you think she would be happier with another cat around, and why, in a recent column, you stated that a cat was probably too attached to its owners. We think things are great just as they are. -- L.B.R., Williamsburg, Virginia

DEAR L.B.R.: Your seemingly happy, playful cat always greets you when you come home, but have you asked yourself what she does all day when she is alone? Long naps for cats are normal, but they need and enjoy some stimulation during the day. Companion animals who live without any contact with their own species (cats, dogs, rabbits, parrots, etc.) naturally develop varying degrees of human attachment. This can become abnormal, behaviorally, including over-attachment and misdirected sexual behavior, and it is a common cause of separation anxiety and abnormal self-comforting behaviors such as excessive grooming.

I do not question the love and care of people with a single animal companion such as yourself. But what I am saying is that we must first consider these matters as best we can from the animal's point of view.

I applaud the April 2014 National Geographic magazine's cover, focusing on "Wild Pets: The Debate Over Owning Exotic Animals." Whatever animals we take into our homes and hearts, we must consider their needs first -- especially their social and emotional needs.

BRAVO! RAW PET FOOD RECALL

Bravo! raw pet food of Manchester, Connecticut, is recalling select lots of raw food because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed nationwide and can be identified by the batch ID code printed on the side of the plastic tube or on a label on the box. For these codes, visit bravorawdiet.com/bravonews.html or DrFoxVet.com

Customers can return the food to the store where they purchased it and submit the product recall claim form available on the Bravo! website for a full refund or store credit.

(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'd like your opinions on two things.

Situation 1: Bringing a newborn baby into a household composed of two adults, one 7-year-old boy, one Siberian husky (a new acquisition), one medium-sized mutt, three shorthair cats and one mouse. Is this environment safe for the newborn?

Situation 2: The burgeoning increase in deer from suburban neighborhoods. My concern is Lyme disease. Is this something that can also be picked up from the chipmunks and squirrels that patrol our yard?

Thank you for your advice on the above-mentioned issues. I am a faithful reader of your column, even though I'm allergic to dogs and cats. -- N.L., Annapolis, Maryland

DEAR N.L.: My answer to situation 1: No problem if the animals are all healthy. In fact, a diversity of in-home animals (including dogs who get outdoors) can be highly beneficial for children. Such exposure helps infants acquire a diverse population of beneficial bacteria. This has been shown to improve their immune systems, reduce the frequency and severity of some common childhood infections, and lead to a reduced incidence of allergies.

Situation 2: Various species of mice are the main reservoir of Lyme disease. Foxes, owls and other raptors help control these. Deer also harbor this tick-borne disease. My yard has many squirrels and chipmunks, and I inspect them closely; I have never seen evidence of tick infestation. Nor have I ever picked up a tick after working around my property in Minnesota, where Lyme disease is becoming a significant public health issue, along with tick-borne ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. I advise property owners not to spray insecticides but to clear away brush and, if possible, keep a few Guinea fowl, since they are voracious tick eaters.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have four rescued rabbits that live in my house who get vet care, which brings me to my question: Does spaying a rabbit shorten her life? I took my 5-year-old, Dutch, and got her spayed after reading about uterine cancer in rabbits. Lots of people say not to spay.

Have you had any experience in this field? Did I shorten my girl's life? -- S.Y., Purcell, Oklahoma

DEAR S.Y. Neutering a rabbit, male or female, should not be life-shortening, so long as the animal does not become overweight, which can be one of the consequences of changes in metabolism that often occurs with the hormonal deficiencies that neutering causes. There is some debate about neutering dogs and increased risk of certain cancers and other health problems in particular breeds. But these risks need to be balanced against the animals' quality of life, environmental and social conditions and the benefits of population control and behavioral change.

For excellent information about rabbits, visit rabbit.org.

(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: We have a 7-year-old pit bull (male), who has been diagnosed as having pancreatic insufficiency. The vet has recommended pancreatic enzyme Concentrate, plus fat-soluble vitamins consisting of lipase, protease, amylase and vitamins A, D3 and E. He gets three tablets before each meal, so nine tablets daily. His meals consist of chicken breasts, rice and yogurt.

He is still having diarrhea. Can you offer any other alternatives? It would be greatly appreciated. -- F.M.A., Ocean View, Delaware

DEAR F.M.A: The yogurt in your dog's diet is a good idea, provided it is not pasteurized, because of the beneficial bacteria in "live" yogurt and kefir. Alternatively, a daily dose of probiotics may help your dog's overall condition.

Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency is all too common in dogs, and I attribute this primarily to their diets being too high in starches (corn and other cereals).

Try my home-prepared diet on my website, DrFoxVet.com, and cut the rice and grain content by 75 percent. Give your dog three or four pieces of canned pineapple daily. This fruit contains digestive enzymes that will help compensate for your dog's deficiency. Use lean meat and poultry and low-fat yogurt, because a high fat intake could possibly trigger an episode of pancreatic inflammation or pancreatitis, which can be extremely painful.

DEAR DR. FOX: In response to the letter from J.M., I had a similar problem with a cat who had kidney failure.

She was 13 years old at the time it was diagnosed, and I was told to use fluids under the skin twice a day. My vet said he'd heard from someone who had used Azodyl successfully. We decided to try this with Pepcid AC twice each day, along with the fluids.

She is now 17 years old, and her latest blood work shows everything within normal ranges. She eats like a healthy, happy cat!

Azodyl is a dietary supplement made by Vetoquinol and is made in the United States. It's worth considering. -- J.J.L., Silver Spring, Maryland

DEAR J.J.L.: I appreciate your letter attesting to the benefit of Azodyl for helping alleviate your cat's chronic kidney disease. This proprietary supplement, which includes probiotics, does indeed seem to be of significant value in helping cats with this condition and is being more widely prescribed by veterinarians.

Of course, there is no panacea for this all-too-common feline malady. Judicious application of various interventions is called for, including a special diet; vitamin D, potassium and thiamine supplements; blood pressure monitoring and medication as needed; and a phosphate binder if blood tests indicate this is needed. Fish oil may help improve kidney function. A high-quality dietary protein is advisable, since protein deficiency and dramatic loss of weight and muscle mass occurs with some forms of kidney disease. An injection of various hydrating and nutritious solutions under the skin is a key in helping cats enjoy some quality of life when their kidneys begin to fail.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read recently about the 14-year-old Chihuahua-rat terrier's skin problem and felt it might be useful to let you know how we brought our terrier's similar skin problem to a comfortable and manageable level.

When our now-14-year-old female was about 8 years old, she had extremely itchy, "alligatored" and crusted skin -- mainly on the belly, teats, legs and ears. She was an emotional wreck, and I think the vet mentioned Cushing's disease. There was no mange found after many tests, and I don't think her thyroid was a problem. We worked through her extreme terror, and with carefully measured exercise and diet, she took about 22 pounds off her now-65-pound frame.

Apparently, she doesn't have Cushing's -- at least not now. I think the vet could have figured that out. We tried many medications for the skin problem that remained, overhauled her diet (she is now on a no-grain Merrick chicken and yam diet) and started giving her supplements.

We really saw a tidal change for the skin when she went to the vet, who administered the following: an allergy shot of dexamethasone and depo-medrol; antibiotics Cefpodoxime and Ampicillin; a small but long-lasting dose of prednisone; and GentaSpray for the very occasional flare-ups.

Even though she may never be totally cured of the propensity toward this trouble, she is, and has been for quite a while now, a very comfortable and happy girl. I thought this might help someone else for what seems to be a rather common problem. -- C.R., Freehold, N.J.

DEAR C.R.: Chronic skin problems can often be difficult to diagnose, and in many cases, it is of significant cost-savings to first try the double whammy of antibiotics and judiciously prescribed corticosteroids.

While I have frequently addressed the harmful side effects of this latter class of hormonal medications, with careful prescribing, small miracles can be accomplished. Such hormonal treatment helps the body re-establish varying degrees of normality, the skin of the dog being a reflection of a number of underlying health issues.

Corticosteroids are an important part of veterinary and human medicine, especially because of their potent anti-inflammatory properties.

(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.)