DEAR DR. FOX: We recently brought into our home a pair of goldfish. They seem to be happy together in a large aquarium with rocks and weeds, and we've added an aerator and filter to help keep the water clean and clear. Our two children enjoy watching and feeding them and the fish do seem to know when they are there.

How intelligent are goldfish, and do fish have feelings? -- K.L.C., Washington, D.C.

DEAR K.L.C.: I have written before about the fact that goldfish and most other fish species do not thrive when living alone with no contact with their own kind. I am glad you have two!

Have your children ring a little bell or flash a light before feeding time and condition the fish to be fed in one corner of the tank. They should soon learn with the food-is-coming signal to go to the feeding corner, where you might secure against the inside of the tank a small floating wooden or rubber ring into which a few pinches of dry fish food is placed.

For details about fish having feelings and why we all need to be more concerned and involved with the fate of these species in the wild, go to fishfeel.org.

Most of us take seafood for granted and have no awareness about the intelligence, sentience and complex social lives of fish or of the critical state of their marine and freshwater environments. All who eat seafood and feed it to their cats and dogs should become more aware and involved from the perspectives of food safety, animal suffering and natural resource depletion and pollution.

"DECODING YOUR DOG"

This is the appropriate title for a book I highly recommend for dog caregivers, trainers and all veterinary students entering the companion animal field. Chapters cover most, but not all, areas of normal and abnormal canine behavior and how to prevent and treat various problems from separation anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders to old-dog dementia and cognitive impairment.

Contributions come from veterinarians who are members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

You can buy "Decoding Your Dog: The Ultimate Experts Explain Common Dog Behaviors and Reveal How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones" by The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists on Amazon.com.

U.S. GOVERNEMNT DEVELOPS NEW CAT LITTER

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found a way to a way to make cat litter that is almost fully degradable.

The department's Agricultural Research Service found that using spent corn, called dried distiller's grain (DDG), may prove to be more environmentally friendly than popular but nonbiodegradable clay-based litters that mostly end up in landfills. DDG is what is left over after ethanol production. In this case, the DDG was treated with one or more solvents to extract any remaining potentially useful natural compounds. USDA has called these x-DDGs.

ARS researcher Steven Vaughn and his colleagues found a kitty litter formulation composed of x-DDGs and three other compounds: glycerol, to prevent the litter from forming dust particles when poured or pawed; guar gum, to help the litter clump easily when wet; and a very small amount of copper sulfate, for odor control.

The mix resulted in a highly absorbent compound that clumps and provides significant odor control, researchers found.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have concerns about the special needs of white and/or blue-eyed dogs.

I have a 40-pound dog who is part miniature Australian shepherd, part blue heeler. He is mostly white with some small dalmatian-type spots and a few larger spots of black, brown or merle. Half his face is black, and both eyes are blue. He is 3 years old.

I have two concerns. One, with blue eyes: Is he more likely to get cataracts? I have found UV goggles for dogs -- if I can get him to leave them on, is this the best way to go for him? Or are there supplements he needs?

Also, although he has a black nose, there is a spot on top of his nose about the size of a quarter that is basically flesh-colored with only very fine, short, colorless hair on it. Does this need to be covered by sunscreen when he goes out? What kind would be safe for a dog? -- A.P.

DEAR A.P.: I appreciate your canine vigilance. Eye issues are mainly a problem with albino animals, so I would not be concerned about your dog's blue eyes being more susceptible to UV damage. Many sled dogs have one or two eyes that are blue and do not, to my knowledge, have a greater incidence of eye problems. But protective goggles would be a good idea for working dogs, like search and rescue dogs, and for dogs who like to ride in the car with a window down.

I am concerned about the loss of pigment on the nose, especially if it is increasing in diameter. Some dogs do develop solar photosensitivity and benefit from sunscreen when outdoors. But this could signal canine lupus, an autoimmune disease that your veterinarian should evaluate.

DEAR DR. FOX: I appreciate your column, especially since I live in Florida and have dogs and a garden. Various harmful bugs, from fleas to aphids, can infest my pets and harm my plants -- not to mention the termites that want to eat my home!

You often write about ways to avoid using harmful pesticides, and I took note of the nicotine chemical in the new Sentra flea collars from Bayer that I nearly bought.

What do you advise to control fleas and other pests for us folks living in states with no winter and with bugs year-round? -- J.M., Fort Myers, Fla.

DEAR J.M.: First, keep up with the heartworm preventive medication for your dogs and have annual blood tests done because of possible heartworm drug resistance developing.

Second, consider replacing wooden frames and flooring with cement and tiles rather than hiring chemical fumigators to temporarily repel termites. Avoid insecticides and herbicides in your garden, which can actually make your plants more susceptible to disease. Ingredients in some of these products have been linked to cancer, also.

I am in shock to learn from Friends of the Earth and other organizations that companies like The Home Depot and Lowe's are selling garden plants and seeds pretreated with neonicotinoids to kill insects and are also stocking this chemical for sale on their shelves. The big concern is that this class of insecticide is most probably the trigger factor in the disease called Colony Collapse, now afflicting bees across many continents. If this decimation of bees, wild and domestic, is not arrested, the consequences to agriculture and to our food security, which is deeply dependent upon a healthy bee population to pollinate various crops, will indeed be catastrophic. Selling these chemicals to protect decorative garden plants and to protect pets from fleas is evidence of the irresponsibility of transnational corporations that operate within the laws of government regulations that their lobbyists helped put in place.

A NEW YEAR'S WISH FOR 2014

I believe that we have reached the point in the history of the human race that all religions must extend the golden rule to treat all living beings as we would have them treat us -- and also the forests, oceans, grasslands and all the ecosystems that sustain our living world and help maintain a healthy environment. The same must be said for all other human inventions -- religion being but one, and cultures, customs, economies, industries and technologies being others, the failures of which we are witnessing today. This is in part because the golden rule was human-centered, limited to exclusive rather than enlightened human self-interest. The compass of compassion can help direct us toward a more empathic and viable future, which most people embrace in their love for their animal companions, for wildlife and the natural world. Many find that through such love or biophilia, they experience the realm of the sacred. When all of life is sanctified, as Albert Schweitzer advised in his simple philosophy of reverence for all life, peace on Earth may have a chance.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: As an avid fan and weekly reader of yours, I am in desperate need of some clarification on what possibly could be done for my sweet 8-year-old little Maltese girl.

She needed knee surgery almost a year ago, and the blood test showed that there was too much cortisol being produced by her body. I waited for her knee to heal and then had more tests done, including an ultrasound. Her kidneys are more than half calcified, and she has two types of stones in her bladder. My vet suggested a parathyroid test and possible operation. I am undecided about proceeding with that. Even if we could stop the reproduction of cortisol, it would not reverse the damage already done to her body. Her diet has been Hill's Prescription w/d with added fruit and vegetables.

Every day I dread the possible dislodging of one of the stones, which most likely could mean putting her out of her misery.

My previous Maltese had Cushing's disease and developed diabetes, but with daily insulin shots, I was able to keep her until she was 13 years old. I am devastated by my second Maltese possibly having it, too.

I would appreciate any advice you may have. -- M.H., Hendersonville, N.C.

DEAR M.H.: Your poor little dog is one of several small breeds prone to a variety of chronic ailments, which is one reason why I advise purchasing comprehensive pet health insurance that covers disease of hereditary origin. When people purchase such animals, many come from puppy mills and online breeders. It's better to adopt a mixed breed from your local shelter.

But all of this is too late for you and your little Maltese. I urge you to continue with her prescription diet or have your veterinarian peruse secure.balanceit.com for more palatable home-prepared prescription diets to help your dog.

I would balance her quality of life with the costs and possibly harmful consequences of more drugs and proposed additional surgery. Her best option may well be lots of love, good food and a shorter life, but one with less anguish for you and potential suffering for her frail body and soul.

DEAR DR. FOX: I respect your love of animals so evident in your columns, and appreciate your advice to readers when they have wildlife issues on their property. We have a big problem with deer and ticks, and I don't want my dogs or myself to get Lyme disease.

Please advise on controlling both infestations! -- K.L., Front Royal, Va.

DEAR K.L: For tick repellants and control, check my website, DrFoxVet.com. Clear brush and get some guinea fowl who will feast on any ticks and reduce their numbers.

White-tailed deer are a problem in many states. There are millions more now than a century ago. The extermination of the wolf and other predators is part of the reason, which is why I oppose state and federal government endorsement of wolf hunting and trapping. An estimated 1 million people have filed opposition to the Obama administration's proposal to strip endangered species protection from the gray wolf and turn management over to the states.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, some 1.5 million vehicles collided with deer in 2003, causing nearly 14,000 injuries and over $1 billion in vehicle damage. But deer population management, which focuses on more killing, especially of does, is as controversial as feral and free-roaming domestic cat control, where humane killing is opposed by many with the best intentions but not always the best outcomes.

An overabundance of deer threatens forests as they consume saplings and other wild plants, preventing forest regeneration and harming other wildlife across the country. Here are some humane methods to keep deer away from your property:

-- Install an 8- to 10-foot tall vertical woven-wire fence.

-- Hang bars of deodorant soap (with wrappers intact) near the problem area.

-- Hang excrement from dogs or cats in cloth bags near the area.

-- Install scare devices, particularly those that are motion activated and, when activated, play a loud noise, spray water or turn on a bright light.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)