The Animal Doctor

DEAR DR. FOX: Nine days after my 1 1/2-year-old healthy cavalier King Charles spaniel was given a single dose of the oral flea and tick preventative Bravecto, he became ill, exhibiting many of the side effects published by the manufacturer. These included diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargy. He also developed problems with his kidneys, ultimately resulting in euthanasia. A necropsy was performed, and initial testing indicates a possible cancer, but there is no explanation for the sudden transformation from healthy to deceased.

Until the death of my dog, there was no central platform available for people to discuss possible side effects and problems associated with use of Bravecto. Most owners and veterinarians are unaware that all side effects need to be reported to the drug manufacturer, Merck, and to the Food and Drug Administration. For these reasons, I started a new group on Facebook called, "Does Bravecto Kill Dogs?"

In less than three weeks, almost 1,800 people have joined the group. Seven individuals reported that their dogs died within a short period of taking this medication. We found seven additional reports of deaths on other websites, which have been copied to this Facebook group. Additionally, in this short period of time, over 25 reports of horrible side effects have been posted. Common side effects reported include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, failure to eat and seizures. While most of these were reported as side effects in the product brochure, the symptoms are not short-lived. Numerous dogs have required treatment by veterinarians or have been hospitalized. Most of the dogs who died experienced these symptoms subsequent to taking the medicine. Reports of kidney and liver failure have been reported, along with three individuals who are concerned cancer may have developed from this medicine. We are trying to bring awareness to this medicine so that all side effects can be documented and reported. Please visit our Facebook group -- "Does Bravecto Kill Dogs?" -- to report any side effects your dog has experienced subsequent to taking Bravecto. Owners should contact Merck with any adverse side effects and report them to the FDA using the FDA Event Adverse Reporting Form. -- S.W., Andover, Massachusetts

DEAR S.W.: Thank you for your information and vigilance on this product. Readers of my column should know that I do not advocate the routine use of most of the widely marketed anti-flea and -tick products, both oral and topical, from the big pharmaceutical companies. For safer, integrated control and prevention of these external parasites, visit DrFoxVet.net and see the article "Preventing Fleas."

DEAR DR. FOX: I was disappointed to see yet another attack on homeless cats in your column. It is particularly unseemly that someone who could and should be an animal advocate would embrace the dark side. Your thinking is a classic case of blaming the victim. Many cats already carry the burden of misguided guardians who believe they should be allowed outside, silly old superstitions, nonsense myths and tired stereotypes that, even in the 21st century, often surround them.

The letter writer used violent words like "terminate" and "eliminate," displaying a disturbing level of ignorance and total lack of empathy and compassion. My husband and I managed a feral colony for decades on our 20 wooded acres. They were a wonderful group who helped keep natural balance. Since the last old cat passed away, we have been overrun with field mice and chipmunks.

We live in the heart of prime Midwestern farmland, where cats are very welcome on farms because they keep down all rodents, as well as the myriad birds who can wreak havoc in planted fields. I can assure you that nuisance birds and chipmunks are not beloved everywhere. They are merely tolerated as part of the ecosystem. Cats deserve to live every bit as much as any of these critters -- maybe more so. -- S.A., Springfield, Illinois

DEAR S.A.: Thanks for your heartfelt and informative letter (which I shortened for publication). Yes, it is a controversial issue.

Establishing a colony of cats in your woods would lead to rodent population decline, and their resurgence after the last of your colony cats died was probably because the area's indigenous rodent-controlling predators, such as red and grey foxes, owls, hawks and even snakes, had been displaced competing with the cats for the same prey.

I am as opposed to the deliberate release and "dumping" of cats deemed unadoptable by humane societies and animal shelters back where they were caught as I am against mass killing of such cats. Instead, I encourage setting up humanely operated enclosed sanctuaries to protect them, other free-roaming cats, wildlife and public health. It will take another generation or more before a consensus is reached in all communities as to how best address the free-roaming and feral cat issue.

DEAR READERS: I am now closing further discussion on this issue in my column and refer all concerned to my report posted on my website, "Releasing cats to live outdoors: humane, environmental and One Health concerns." I trust that this will help convince local humane societies, notably the Washington Humane Society in our nation's capital, to phase out releasing cats outdoors after neutering to fend for themselves.

(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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: My husband and I have four cats. We have two 15-year-old Siamese sisters and two 5-year-old gray tabby sisters. We also have a 3-year-old son and a 10-month-old daughter.

One of our Siamese started peeing in our bedroom closet shortly after our daughter was born. We put up a gate and ended up tearing out the carpet. She has avoided the closet lately, but has moved her habit to the stair landing in our home -- plus she has started pooping. We are using puppy pads to absorb the pee.

Is this a symptom of something Siamese cats get in older age, or is this something to do with the change of adding our daughter to the family? We have tried putting a cat box on the landing, but she wouldn't use it. We have five cat boxes in the home for the four cats to use, but no real place to put one in our upstairs area for her.

Is there anything you could suggest to calm her or get her to accept my child, if that is the case? She adjusted better to my son, but she was also a little younger then. -- H.S., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR H.S.: The cry of human babies, and possibly your hormonal change in scent, can upset some cats. Older cats can also develop dementia. Stress in the home can also bring on cystitis, which can lead to house soiling.

I would first have your cat checked for a urinary tract infection or inflammation. The feline pheromone Feliway in a plug-in room diffuser can work wonders and is harmless to humans. Catnip may also help calm your cat; you may try a low dose of Valium, which will not only have a calming effect, but will also help reduce bladder spasms.

Discuss this medication approach with your veterinarian. Clean urine-contaminated areas with an enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle. Give your old cat lots of extra attention, let her see you nursing the infant and never scold her.

Good luck, and let me know how things turn out.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 8-year-old Doberman looks as if she has wobbler syndrome. I read online that you successfully treated this problem using chiropractic adjustment.

What should I do? She is a wonderful dog whom I love very much. -- J.L., Springfield, Missouri

DEAR J.L.: I have never used or advocated chiropractic manipulations for this disorder in dogs. This is a nasty affliction affecting the alignment and ligament support of the neck vertebrae, with neurologic signs including abnormal gait, lowering of head and neck, and neck pain. It is not uncommon in larger breeds such as the Doberman pinscher, Great Dane, borzoi, basset hound, Rottweiler, German shepherd and Dalmatian. It may be aggravated by misuse of neck collars and choke chains.

When symptoms develop suddenly, exercise restriction, low-dose prednisone treatment and using a body harness (no neck collar or chain) can help, as can a neck brace. A veterinary chiropractor may or may not make this condition worse, since manual manipulation may cause inflammation and damage to the spinal cord. Surgical stabilization by an experienced veterinary surgeon may help, but the dog may be unable to walk for several weeks, or even months.

The prognosis is not good, and the treatment is costly. Mild cases get by with long-term anti-inflammatory steroid treatment with regular monitoring for drug side effects.

(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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I took three feral cats with very distinct personalities into my home in August 2011. All were neutered in January 2012. Two of them went to new forever homes a year later.

The remaining cat, Sox, adjusted to the loss of his brother and sister within six months. The first few times he went into heat were tolerable. But earlier this week, he went into heat again, and his personality changed; he became very aggressive. He jumps up and grabs my husband's leg with all four paws, drawing blood. And one day, as my husband was coming into the house, Sox ran out the door. My husband tried to catch him, but one hand was carrying mail; he lost his balance and ended up falling on our porch, hitting his head and scraping an elbow. My husband is 75 and could not get up. I am 65, and even though hubby is small, I am unable to get him up and on his feet because of back problems.

I know in a few days Sox will be out of heat and (hopefully) return to normal, but is there anything I can do when he becomes aggressive like this? -- T.R., St. Louis

DEAR T.R.: Sorry to hear about your husband's bad fall. Cats can be an in-home hazard and trip people up with their deliberate habit of running across one's path or suddenly rolling over at one's feet to get attention.

Neutered male cats do not go into "heat." Most likely, these are ambush games that cats engage in, especially early in the evening -- their most active hunting time in the wild.

Since he no longer has other cats to play with, the best remedy for this issue is to engage in interactive play. Use a fishing lure-type toy to get him to run and jump and expel energy.

WHY CATS & DOGS ROLL OVER

Rolling over onto one side is a canine and feline display, but it doesn't always have the same meaning or intent. Some books state cats roll over to display submission, but only dogs do that (and sometimes also urinate). Scold a dog, and he or she will roll over, while a cat will usually run away.

Both species roll over to solicit attention, and cats also do it to seek contact and play, and to display trust. Some cats enjoy having their tummies petted, while others will act capriciously and suddenly claw or bite -- and not always in an inhibited, playful way. Cats also roll over when cornered as a defensive posture, with their claws ready to slash and parry.

Cats rolling over onto one side right in one's path, especially when they are hungry or want attention, calls for mindfulness and anticipation to avoid stepping on or tripping over the cat. Both the tripped and the tripper can sustain injuries. So, please, cat caregivers, be on the alert.

Dog owners should not be embarrassed when their dogs roll over when greeting visitors and never punish a young dog for submissive urination. That will only make matters worse. Most dogs grow out of this behavior. Dogs also like to roll and squirm on the ground to cover themselves with some scent, such as dead fish, while female cats roll and squirm when they are in heat, as do cats when they are given catnip herb.

For more details about the body language of these two species, see my books "Cat Body, Cat Mind" and "Dog Body, Dog Mind."

IN-HOME EUTHANASIA

Pet owners are increasingly choosing to have ailing animals euthanized at home by a veterinarian. The directory at inhomepeteuthanasia.com lists hundreds of veterinarians who offer in-home euthanasia, which reduces the trauma of going to the animal hospital for both the animals and their caregivers. Thanks to Dr. Kathleen Cooney, founder and owner of Home to Heaven, a mobile pet hospice and euthanasia service based in northern Colorado, for setting up this website resource.

(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.net.)