I am not surprised that your veterinarian does not believe that diet or nutrition has any role to play in your dog's chronic illness or in his recovery.

Too many animal doctors believe pet-food manufacturer claims that all the nutrients cats and dogs need to be healthy are in their products because they have been "scientifically formulated" and are "complete and balanced."

I urge you to transition your dog onto a fresh, whole-food diet as per the recipe on my Web site at www.doctormwfox.org. Your veterinarian should also visit www.RxVitamins.com/pet and explore a more integrative treatment approach using beneficial nutrient supplements. Fish oil is one that tops the list for many conditions.

To order Dr. Michael W. Fox's newsletter, Animal Doctor, on providing the best care for your animal companion, send a check or money order for $2 and a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. 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.