DEAR DR. FOX: There is an out-of-control puppy scam on the internet. Scammers take someone else’s dog picture off their website and post it on their own. They collect and post beautiful pictures of puppies, plus wonderful, endearing videos of them, then “sell” the dogs which aren’t actually theirs.

Many popular smaller dog breeds sell for $2,000 to $5,000 from reputable breeders. These scammers sell theirs for a bargain at $500 to $700. The seller writes a whole page about what a wonderful family the dog will come from, not a puppy mill. One scammer I talked to said he was a consultant in California selling a dog from Virginia.

They only want cash or Western Union money. They won’t take a credit card. They told me they were willing to send a puppy with a “pet nanny” on a plane in -50 windchill weather to Minnesota from Virginia. They wanted me to be at the Minneapolis airport waiting for them. I knew the dog would never arrive, but another victim would have been standing there feeling totally stupid, out of money, heartbroken, with no dog!

The scammers I talked to all spoke with thick accents, and were a little hard to understand. They would never give me their complete address. I came within two minutes of losing $700 to one, before I was able to cancel my Western Union transaction.

There is a website listing the names of current dog scams: ipata.org/pet-scams. Look at that before you buy one. I don’t know how people can be so mean and greedy to do this to others. Shameful!

By contrast, a rescue dog is one you can see, play with, and learn if it is trained and fixed. So if that works for you, give one a loving home. -- J.T., Alexandria, Minnesota

DEAR J.T.: I hope many readers of this column will take note of your experience and pass it along to their friends and relatives who may be contemplating getting a dog or puppy.

I have raised this issue in earlier columns, and appreciate you sharing your story and concerns. In addition, I implore people not to purchase delicate, small breeds, and those like pugs and French bulldogs with pushed-in faces, since they are likely to face many health issues in their often-short lives. Adopt a dog or pup from your local shelter instead!

DEAR DR. FOX: My 8-year-old standard poodle dropped in his tracks after doing a short romp around our yard, an exercise he does regularly.

Just as he fell to the ground, he made a short, shrill sound and then did not move. I ran to his side and tried to resuscitate him with chest compressions and breathing hard into his nose. I believe he died instantly. This dog was in perfect health with no known heart ailments. He had been fine all day with absolutely no signs of illness or distress.

Necropsy of his heart, lungs and gastrointestinal system revealed nothing out of the ordinary, and the vet said there was no reason to send off any tissue samples for analysis. He presumed it could have either been an aneurysm or undiagnosed genetic heart defect.

I have never felt such anguish in my life.

Your thoughts? We want to get another poodle. -- C.W. Root, Naples, Florida

DEAR C.W.: This must have been a terrible shock for you.

At least your dog’s suffering, if any, was short before loss of consciousness. Most likely, there was a brain aneurysm that ruptured. Any vascular weakness can lead to a stroke when there is high blood pressure associated with kidney disease in older dogs and humans. And around where you live, dog owners should look out for toxic toads that can kill dogs from what seems like a heart attack, but usually with other signs including seizures and drooling.

TOAD WARING: FLORIDA DOG DIES AFTER PICKING UP BUFO TOAD

A dog in Tampa, Florida experienced seizures and died within minutes of picking up a Bufo toad in his mouth, according to his owner. Bufo, or cane, toads are reddish- to grayish-brown with a light yellow belly, and they secrete a toxin that is lethal to dogs and cats. (WFTS-TV, Tampa, Florida, April 3)

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have been reading about feeding dogs vegan diets, or vegetarian ones (including no meat, but still eggs and dairy). What is your opinion on this?

I am concerned about the environment and animal welfare, so I am a vegan, and I must say I feel better since I changed my diet. I know vegan diets are wrong for cats, but what about my dogs? -- R.F., Washington, D.C.

DEAR R.F.: Many dogs, especially German shepherds, get pancreatic insufficiency (run out of starch-digesting enzymes) when on a high-grain/starch diet. Some other breeds develop irritable and inflammatory bowel diseases and colitis, along with associated allergies from the secondary leaky gut syndrome.

Dysbiosis -- an unhealthy population of gut bacteria associated with biologically inappropriate diets -- can lead to other health problems that can be rectified by dietary corrections and supplements. Corn and wheat can cause seizures in dogs, and soy causes bloating and indigestion, indicative of food intolerance. A high-fiber diet can lead to constant hunger and malnutrition, while a high-carbohydrate diet can lead to obesity, diabetes, arthritis and other health problems.

Alternative dietary inclusions such as potato, pea flour and lentils (pulses) have been recently linked with dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. High levels of lectins in these ingredients may interfere with uptake of taurine, which is an added supplement in most manufactured dog and cat foods. Deficiencies in omega-3, DHA and EPA fatty acids, and high levels of omega-6 from corn in vegan and vegetarian diets (for both dogs and people), are also a major concern. These fatty acids are essential for the neurological and visual development of puppies (so pregnant dogs, especially, should not be given vegetarian diets), and may also slow down cognitive decline in aging animals and help sustain cardiac health. Deficiencies can underlie serious skin disorders and inflammatory conditions.

Dogs and cats are often allergic to eggs and dairy products, or have varying degrees of dietary intolerance to them. Adding synthetic supplements to vegan and vegetarian diets in order to correct deficiencies can be problematic, as per recent recalls of dog foods containing excessive, toxic levels of vitamin D. (One recent example: truthaboutpetfood.com/seven-class-action-lawsuits-against-hills-pet-nutrition/)

My ultimate concern is that dogs (and cats) on biologically inappropriate diets may present clinical problems that some veterinarians will address primarily, and possibly exclusively, believing that the animals are being fed an adequate diet. Treating the symptoms and consequences of improper nutrition, rather than addressing the root cause, has happened in many instances -- especially with dogs and cats being fed manufactured pet foods sold by the veterinarians, along with profitable prescription diets.

These concerns and others about many conventional manufactured pet foods with “junk” and hazardous plant and animal ingredients condemned for human consumption are documented in the book that I co-authored with two other veterinarians, “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods.” For more details and home-prepared recipes for dogs and cats, visit drfoxonehealth.com.

DEAR DR. FOX: I was reading this 2014 column of yours, about behavioral changes associated with flea and tick treatments, with great interest: is.gd/YdQhv3.

I have an 18-month-old Lab/golden mix who has shown aggressive behavior after receiving flea and tick medicine. Last year, we used a topical treatment and it totally changed her behavior. I called the vet and asked about this, and they said to wash it off of her and not to use it again. This year, we decided to use an oral medication (Bravecto) from the vet. Now, I read this article and realize that we have really harmed her for three months. She just got her first dose two weeks ago, and the behavior has restarted.

She is such a sweet girl, but right now I fear when other dogs come towards her, as she gets protective and aggressive. She usually loves everyone and everything.

My question: Is there any way to detox her body? -- M.G., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR M.G.: Your letter is important, and I am impressed that you found the reference to my earlier article on this issue.

I would like to hear from other readers whose dogs (and cats) have shown behavioral changes after application or oral treatment with insecticides to kill ticks and fleas. I am opposed to the routine preventive use of these drugs for animal health and environmental reasons, as documented on my website (drfoxonehealth.com). I also provide an integrative and safer approach to help prevent these and other external insects from infesting companion animals. It is only a matter of time before they evolve drug resistance.

Your dog will naturally detoxify and rid her body of these chemicals, a process you may facilitate by encouraging plenty of water intake with chicken- or beef-bouillon flavored water and a daily (human) dose of vitamin E, vitamin B complex, and milk thistle for seven days. These will support liver function, the main detoxifying organ of the body.

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: I harp a lot in this column about not allowing cats to roam free, while knowing that many cats do like the outdoors and need some environmental enrichment. This is ideally achieved by living with another cat and having an easy-access outdoor enclosure through a flap door set in a window or door. These cat patios, or “catios,” are becoming more popular and easier to construct.

The company Catio Spaces offers DIY catio plans in a variety of designs and sizes for windows, decks, patios or yards. Each plan is a downloadable PDF with detailed directions, illustrations, a materials list and a tools list. Each plan is easy to follow and rewarding to build. Bonus information includes guidelines to acclimate a cat to a cat door and a new outdoor space, plus tips for cat-safe plants, decor and accessories to promote exercise and enrichment.

Catios can be left natural, or painted and decorated to complement the home, the owner’s personal style, or each cat’s personality. Catio Plans start at around $40, and 10 percent is donated to animal welfare organizations. For more, see catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/diy-plans.

Special offer for veterinarians: Catio Spaces offers DIY Catio flyers and tips for vets to pass on to interested cat owners. To request a sample flyer or quantity of 50, email info@catiospaces.com. And veterinarians can help educate cat parents on the benefits of catios using this guide: https://is.gd/iq0Wxt.

DEAR DR. FOX: What types of pain are associated with Cushing’s disease in dogs? -- S.M., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR S.M.: This endocrine disease is quite common in dogs.

A tumor in the brain or in the adrenal glands results in the production of high levels of adrenal hormones. These affect the dog’s physiology and behavior, causing panting, weak muscles, and evident discomfort from a swollen abdomen. Anxiety and chronic discomfort -- but little actual pain, until the onset of peripheral neuropathy -- are of primary concern after appropriate medications are prescribed. The painkiller tramadol, widely prescribed for dogs, is actually not an effective analgesic for dogs with this disorder.

Discuss your concerns with the attending veterinarian. If the disease has not progressed far enough to cause damaged vision and high blood pressure, and provided thyroid function is normal, I would highly recommend 6 mg of melatonin and 200 mg of L-theanine at bedtime, along with and 3 mg of melatonin in the morning and mid-afternoon.

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)