Dear Dr. Fox: I read in today's paper about a dog with very sore gums. I am one of those rare people who is highly allergic to fluoride in water. I had very sore gums.

Even with teeth cleaning every three months, it didn't help. Apart from sore gums, I also had severe stomach cramps and explosive diarrhea for several years before it could be figured out what caused all of this.

Could some animals be allergic to fluoride in water, bringing on unexpected illness? Some bottled water also has fluoride. The only bottled water I've been able to drink without getting sick is Mountain Ice and reverse-osmosis water. It's worth checking out. -- B.B., Horace, N.D.

Dear B.B.: Your letter is important to all. You are particularly sensitive to fluoride, so one wonders what fluoride does to other people and animals who do not develop acute symptoms but may suffer the consequences of chronic exposure and toxicity.

Many countries have prohibited the addition of fluoride to treated municipal water. Chlorination -- an endocrine disrupter -- is hazardous enough.

Chronic fluoride exposure has been linked with many health problems from thyroid disease to bone cancer, especially in boys. Pets may be similarly affected. Fluoride accumulates in the bones and teeth. For more details, especially about high fluoride levels in some pet foods, visit www. twobitdog.com/DrFox.

Please give your animal companions quality spring water or purified water (not distilled). All municipal water authorities should cease and desist from adding fluoride (a byproduct of the agrichemical-fertilizer industry) to public water sources. Avoid pet foods that list "bone meal," "meat meal" and "chicken byproduct meal" as ingredients. They may contain a lot of round bone included during the "deboning" process.

Dear Dr. Fox: This is going to sound terribly disgusting, but I have a 20-pound, 11-year-old female cat who scooches her rump on the floor.

I have taken her to the vet, and there is nothing medically wrong with her. She is very furry, so I had her shaved in a lion cut, thinking this might help with feces that cling to her back fur. It made no difference.

I am at my wits' end. The vet had no other suggestions except for shaving. I have tried wiping her, but she gets extremely hostile. This hostility makes my male cat very angry and protective of me. The two cats then fight for the next 20 minutes.

I have tried a squirt gun. I have switched litters, looking for a better one. I have raised and lowered the litter levels in the box, as she likes to stand when going to the bathroom. I have rugs on the floor just for the purpose of addressing this issue, and I praise her when she uses one instead of regular carpeting.

Is there anything else I can try? I am starting to feel like a professional carpet cleaner. -- G.J.G., Falls Church, Va.

Dear G.J.G.: Disgusting or not, this is a stressful problem for all concerned. If your veterinarian ruled out anal-gland issues, you need to consider why your cat gets fecal material on her rear.

Try a much larger litter box so she can position herself easily and not get caught on an edge. Considering her age and the fact that she likes to stand while evacuating, the most likely problem is spinal arthritis. My book "The Healing Touch for Cats" may help, as well as a few sessions with a veterinary massage therapist, chiropractor or acupuncturist.

Many older cats have this evacuation problem associated with arthritis. You may also want to try a warm pad for her to lie on or use a heat lamp. Anti-inflammatory supplements like fish oil, turmeric and other beneficial products could make a world of difference. A little valerian could ease painful muscle spasms.

Dear Dr. Fox: An avid reader of your columns and Web site, I am interested in your readers' experiences with their animals after death.

I had a dog, Zack, for almost 14 years. He developed several medical problems: cataracts, arthritis and heart problems. I finally made the decision to have him put to sleep. It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do, but I know it was the right decision.

Several months later, my daughter, son and I were in the kitchen. All of a sudden, we heard a noise that sounded like Zack sneezing. Since then, we have all gotten glimpses of him in the house. He always seems happy and well. It is a great comfort. -- C.T., Archdale, N.C.

Dear C.T.: Thanks for your description of afterlife manifestations of your dog, Zack. The corroboration of other family members also seeing and hearing a deceased animal in the home is important verification that there is indeed a realm of the spirit that is real.

I have received many letters from dog and cat owners, describing their experiences with deceased animal companions communicating from this nonmaterial realm (www.twobitdog.com/DrFox).

Dear Dr. Fox: I gave several copies of your book to my own vet, and my brother out east gave one to his vet. I believe this book is a groundbreaker, documenting what needs to be made right with what cats and dogs are being fed. I wanted to share with you that my vet thinks it is a book that she endorses absolutely. My brother's vet says the book is "all opinion with no real scientific facts," while the pet-food industry has all the research and scientists to back their claims that pet foods are safe and good for pets. -- L.S., St. Louis, Mo.

Dear L.S.: Thanks for sharing. This book indeed has ruffled many feathers, and the more pet owners and veterinarians that read it, the more people will come to realize four sad facts:

Most manufactured pet foods are the equivalent of human junk and convenience foods; they are responsible for much animal sickness and suffering; many health conditions in cats and dogs can be prevented and are cured by switching to a more wholesome and biologically appropriate diet; and many veterinarians were brainwashed in college to believe pet-food manufacturer's claims.

Send your questions to Dr. Fox in care of this newspaper. 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.