Q: My dog had serious kidney disease, and rather than have him suffer long periods of not eating, we decided to put him to sleep. My vet hired a part-time veterinarian to euthanize my beloved Sheltie. It took 45 minutes, and seven needles in five places. I was shocked! My dog was in pain, throwing up and fighting on the leash. Please comment. -- L.Z., Wethersfield, Conn.

A: You're not the only one who's shocked. I don't blame you a bit for your reaction. In fact, yours might be the saddest letter I've ever received.

Dr. Sheldon Rubin, a Chicago veterinarian, explains. "The goal is to create a peaceful death. Standard procedure is to first sedate the dog, using a catheter in a difficult-to-control dog or a dog where we feel finding the vein will be a problem. If the dog is aggressive or very anxious, we can start by putting a muzzle on the dog." What follows is a cocktail which first literally puts your dog to sleep, then soon stops the heart.

"Animals should never feel pain when they are euthanized," Rubin says. "I don't know what happened or why, but this is not at all what a euthanasia experience typically is. Most people are able to gently talk to their pet to say goodbye, and express their love. I am so sorry for you and for your dog that this happened."

You could certainly contact your state veterinary medical association and register a complaint. Perhaps you'd prevent this apparent incompetence from occurring again. Saying goodbye to a beloved pet under the best of circumstances isn't easy. I can't imagine what you went through.

Q: I feed various dog foods to my 10-year-old miniature dachshund. I also supplement her diet daily with a lunchtime combination of broccoli (flowers and 1/2 stalk), two very small carrots and other vegetables (such as diced cucumbers, brussels sprouts or green beans) and some cut-up melon, pineapple or cantaloupe. I'm British, so that's followed by tea time. I serve my dog tea with skim milk and two slices of banana. At dinner, I add one slice of tomato, two teaspoons of low-fat yogurt and sliced fruit. Her only health problem is occasional constipation. How does this diet sound to you? -- J.D., Montreal

A: The good news is, it seems your pup is eating healthier than most of us. But you can overdo a good thing.

As for the tea, Dr. Amy Dicke, technical services veterinarian and pet nutrition expert at Dayton, Ohio-based Iams, warns that tea is high in oxalate, a natural chemical that can cause or contribute to kidney stones in dogs. Consider eliminating it from your dog's diet. Instead, offer your pooch biscuit or cookie as you sip your tea.

While some fruit and vegetable supplementation is fine, Dicke worries that, given the small size of your dog and the amount of fruits and veggies you're offering, either you might not be feeding enough ordinary dog food (with nutrients and protein not found in fruits and veggies), or you might be giving your dog too much to eat all together. You didn't mail a picture of your dog, so it's just a shot in the dark, but be aware that dachshunds can grow nearly as wide as they are long, and obesity presents all sorts of potential health problems.

As for the constipation, Dicke says, "We think of fiber as assisting with constipation in people and dogs, and that's true. But in dogs, with their simple digestive systems, too much fiber may actually cause constipation."

Q: In a recent column, you mentioned a cat was coughing, but your heart expert said coughing isn't typical of cardiomyopathy. Why, then, would a cat cough? My cat occasionally coughs for periods of 15 to 30 seconds. This is disturbing, but otherwise he seems fine. Why do you think he coughs? -- T.C.B., San Diego

A: To be clear, Dr. Mark Kittleson, the cardiac specialist you refer to, from the University of California-Davis, responded to a question about a specific kind of heart problem (restrictive cardiomyopathy) for which coughing is not typically a symptom. However, Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, a feline veterinarian and author of "Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life" (St. Martins Press, New York, 2007; $29.95), points out that it's indeed possible for coughing to be a sign of a heart problem of another nature.

Hodgkins says that, based on your description, it's likely your cat's coughing is actually what's referred to as reverse sneezing, which mimics a cough. The cat lowers its head and honks, desperately attempting to relieve nasal passages. At its worst, the reverse sneezing is so frequent that nasal passages become inflamed. Certainly, this can't be comfortable for a cat, but it's more frightening to watch than what a cat actually feels.

"I've never seen a cat pass out or have a life-threatening problem as a result," Hodgkins says. "When this occurs very frequently, antihistamines typically help. If this reverse sneezing occurs only once every few weeks or less, then we usually don't treat."

Absolutely, because true coughing could be a symptom of heart disease, bronchitis or heartworm-associated respiratory disease, please see your veterinarian.

Q: My husband always washes the dogs' bowls right after they eat. Is this necessary? -- K.P., Peoria, Ill.

A: "I want to borrow your husband; I have lots of dishes sitting in my sink right now," says Dr. Karen Halligan, author of "What Every Pet Owner Should Know: Prescriptions for Happy, Healthy Cats and Dogs" (Harper Collins, 2007; $15.95). "It's a good idea to wash ceramic or stainless steel bowls once or twice a week. Daily is fine, but more often is, truthfully, a tad excessive. Plastic bowls are not the best choice, but if you use them, washing after every meal is probably a good idea."

E-mail Steve Dale at petworld@aol.com.

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