Canine may be allergic

Dear Dr. Fox: Several months ago, a pet owner asked about ways to stop a dog from eating animal feces. Your advice was to try several safe supplements, including brewer's yeast.

My 40-pound terrier mix eats her feces, so I decided to try the brewer's yeast, 1 teaspoon per day. This appeared to reduce her interest in eating them. However, after about four weeks, she suddenly became ill, vomiting her meals, acting lethargic, and battling severe diarrhea for several days. She didn't lose her appetite, so I fed her our regular dog food mixed with brown rice, but without the yeast. The diarrhea disappeared and she returned to her normal self, including trying to eat her feces.

Was this an allergic reaction? The yeast was the only difference in her diet. - C.H., Bowie, Md.

Dear C.H.: Thanks for confirming one of the several methods for stopping dogs from eating their own stools.

With your dog, I suspect an allergic reaction to brewer's yeast that could have contained some gluten or other potentially allergenic ingredient. I use Gayelord Hauser's gluten-free brewer's yeast, which is manufactured in Europe.

As an alternative, try a slightly lower dose of nutritional yeast from the health store or a 250 mg capsule of vitamin B complex.

Dogs may eat their own feces to obtain certain nutrients, intestinal bacteria playing an important role in their synthesis and digestion. This is why I advise giving probiotics - in a capsule or in plain organic yogurt - to poop-eating pooches and to most other dogs and cats with various digestive problems. These, along with coprophagia, often clear up spontaneously when dogs are fed a wholesome diet that is not composed of 100 percent processed ingredients.

Dear Dr. Fox: I have read your article about the dog who came to live with a family and took to their family member who had cancer. When this person died, they never saw the dog again. Well, let me tell you about my cat Archie.

I got him from PAWS in Norwalk, Conn. He is about 6 years old and is HIV-positive, but I fell in love with him anyway. He could be a football player for the New York Giants he is so big.

Every time I get up to go to the bathroom, he comes with me. When I go into the kitchen or down the cellar, he comes with me just like a dog would follow you around. If I go outside, he waits for me near the door inside.

I sprained my ankle a few months ago, and he was on my bed one morning warming my ankle. When I'm healthy, he usually sleeps on his blanket on my bed, but when I'm sick, he sleeps right by my side. - M.S., Fairfield, Conn.

Dear M.S.: Many readers will enjoy your account of your cat Archie's sensitivity and attentiveness when you were injured. I would appreciate hearing from other readers about how their companion animals react when they are laid up, like you were, with an injury or illness

It is noteworthy that the sound frequency of cat purrs may help with bone healing; and the licks of healthy dogs can heal various skin problems because the saliva contains antibiotic-like and tissue-repair-stimulating substances.

The warmth and comfort of our animal companions, whose presence can help one feel less alone and more secure, are additional elements that can facilitate healing and convalescence from injury and illness.

Send your questions to Dr. Fox in care of The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107. 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 Web site at www.twobitdog.com/DrFox .