The Animal Doctor

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a lap kitty. To be more specific, this approximately 7-year-old rescue cat (mine for four years) is not content to just curl up on my legs when I sit. Rather, she senses when I sit in my easy chair from wherever she is napping elsewhere in the house -- how she knows this is beyond me. She comes running and jumping into my lap, worming and inching her way up to my torso until ensconced like a nursing baby, inches from my chin. There, she will stretch out her forelegs, placing each one as far as she can reach around my neck in a seeming kitty hug. I know she would even try kissing me if she could. Of course, I am moved by this act of kitty love.

The problem: A few months ago, she started jumping up on the toilet seat, probably thinking, “Wow, a huge water bowl!” After that started, my husband now scolds me for allowing the snuggling, pointing out that nasty germs on her paws could move to my neck and face. I said, what’s the difference between that and kitty litter on her paws, then on me? Or a pet puppy who licks his genitals, then someone’s face?

I am not exactly fond of this either, but germs are everywhere. I am told that even my washing-machine tub is filled with germs! Pets are doing the only thing they know to show their love for their owners.

What should I do? Bar her from her habits, or enjoy this act of love? -- B.S., Springfield, Missouri

DEAR B.S.: Your vivid prose will get some readers thinking about this important issue and, hopefully, find the middle way.

Without good bacteria from our animal companions and other natural sources, we and our children would probably have even more allergies, depression, obesity, infections and other health issues. These ailments are high enough as it is, because of our collective ignorance and paranoia over potentially infectious and contagious bacteria, and the misuse of antibiotics and other antibacterial -- anti-life -- chemicals.

Infectious disease experts advise to keep your hands away from your mouth and face when in public places to limit the hand-transfer of potentially harmful bacteria, including the infamous norovirus, and to wash hands thoroughly when you come home and before you prepare food and before you eat. Wash hands after putting out pet food, dry kibble being a potential source of salmonella and other bacterial infections.

DEAR DR. FOX: I always read your articles in the Palm Beach Post and find them informative. I am addressing a matter dear to my heart, and I hope you will agree with me.

When a dog or cat is hopelessly ill and suffering and there is no hope, a decision is usually made to euthanize the animal. I would like to propose the following, from my personal experience.

Our old cat, Tomy, after having kidney problems for a long time, eventually had acute kidney failure. He retreated into his “igloo” bed, refusing to drink or eat for days. We decided to end his suffering.

We called the veterinarian and asked her to come to our house, instead of dragging a very sick cat to unfamiliar surroundings and causing additional trauma. The doctor came and my family (including our grown daughter) all gathered around Tomy to say goodbye. I held him in my arms when he got the injection to sedate him, and then the lethal injection. We could see there was no pain; he just fell asleep. We buried Tomy in the backyard. It was a family affair with all of us crying, but it was comforting knowing we were with him to the end in his familiar surroundings.

On the practical side: The costs for the house call were reasonable, and it was cheaper to bury him than to have him cremated. Most people don’t know about the option for in-home euthanasia and are surprised when I bring it up. Please help make home euthanasia wider known. It makes such a positive difference in the final hours of a pet.

Now, I have two questions (unrelated to Tomy). We have a 2-year-old spayed female cat, a rescue. She is happy, healthy and very active. But when she sleeps, she often snores. I have had many cats over the years and never encountered a snoring cat. Have you?

I am involved in TNR (trap/neuter/release) and we have about six feral cats in our community who are well taken care of. What can we do about flea prevention, since we cannot touch the cats? Is there anything we can put in their food? -- F.W., Delray Beach, Florida

DEAR F.W.: Yes, I frequently advocate in-home euthanasia in my syndicated newspaper column. I am happy to say that more and more veterinarians are providing this service in many communities, along with palliative in-home hospice care for terminally ill cats and dogs who are still enjoying some quality of life.

Many cats snore -- Persians in particular, because of their deformed, pushed-in faces. When it is severe, one must look into possible sleep apnea and increased risk of respiratory infection.

I have written extensively about the pros and cons of TNR (as per the article “Releasing Cats to Live Outdoors” on my website, drfoxvet.net), which I oppose with very rare exception. You hit the nail on the head with one contradiction: claiming the cats in your area are “well taken care of” while admitting you cannot do anything about flea control. This is one of my concerns, especially for ill and injured cats. My other concern is that no matter how well fed they are, they will kill wildlife, and they do not belong outdoors where indigenous wildlife species need protection.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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: In response to the letter about the cat spraying: I, too, had a sudden problem with my cats spraying. A friend suggested putting a bowl of food wherever the cats were spraying. I did this, and it worked spectacularly! Cats will not spray where their food is. It worked for me. -- M.F.K., St. Louis, Missouri

Dear M.F.K., This is very interesting and, in a sense, expected. My guess is that the presence and odor of the food makes some cats feel secure, so they are less motivated at that moment and at that place to spray to mark their territory. This behavior is distinct from house-soiling squat-urination so often associated with feeding a cat high-cereal dry food.

Very often when cats are emotionally disturbed by a house guest, new baby or prowling cat outside, they will select one or more vertical objects or surfaces to back up to and spray with a little urine. For those cats behaving in this way, there is now a possible prevention, thanks to you -- provided it does not mean fat cats eating up all the stop-spraying food-bowl contents!

DEAR DR. FOX: My sister-in-law has a 14-year-old cat who has developed what her vet calls “feline acne.” He has black stuff under his chin.

Her vet gave her medication for it, but apparently this whole situation is so offensive that the cat refuses to drink water anymore (and he always has). My take is that whatever this problem is, it must smell bad to the cat, and leads him to avoid the water dish.

When I asked my vet about it, he suggested some topical medication (I’ve forgotten what it was). Her vet suggested salting his food to make him thirsty. I don’t think so! My vet said some cats are like camels and can go forever without drinking.

Any advice? -- E.J., Sykesville, Maryland

DEAR E.J.: Feline acne is an inflammation of the skin glands that is not uncommon in cats. In some cases, it seems to be triggered by drinking from plastic bowls, because the condition improves when cats are given ceramic or stainless steel water containers.

Some of the ointments used to treat this condition could result in a cat not wanting to drink. So add some water to the cat’s food. Cats are not like camels in the sense that they can do without water for an extended period of time. Many cats who drink insufficient amounts of water will become ill, and may die. What the veterinarian should have said is that cats have a poor thirst regulatory mechanism -- not an ability to survive dehydration.

So be sure your sister-in-law is not using a plastic water bowl, and that she cleans her cat’s chin three times daily with a disposable wipe impregnated with tea tree oil, lavender, aloe vera, or any natural, soothing herbal ingredients with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

STUDY: CATERPILLAR SOUND DETERS PREDATORS

Recent findings announced at the International Symposium on Acoustic Communication by Animals suggest that the North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillar can make a sound mimicking bird alarm calls, thus deterring predators.

"This is the first instance of deceptive alarm calling between an insect and a bird, and it's a novel defense form for an insect," said study author Jessica Lindsay.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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.)

Dogs and cats “are responsible for 25 percent to 30 percent of the environmental impact of meat consumption in the United States,” according to new research from the University of California at Los Angeles. Some studies have shown vegetarian diets can suffice with adequate protein and vitamin D.

Studies like this make the headlines every few years. They put numbers to common sense -- which, today, is a rare commodity. But advocating for making cats vegetarians and dogs vegans is unethical and inhumane; they can be harmed by diets that are not biologically appropriate.

The vast tonnage of meat-industry byproducts and condemned animal parts that are recycled into pet food often make cats and dogs ill. It is we humans who must transition, for environmental, economic and health reasons, to vegetarian and vegan diets. A first significant step is to avoid beef, pork and most seafoods.

I would beware of other “studies” that conclude companion animals do not really serve as co-therapists or provide health benefits to their owners/guardians and to children in the family. This is the next step, as I see it, to denigrating the keeping of animals as companions (as distinct from disposable commodity “pets”). In keeping people connected and concerned about animals and nature, companion animals can be seen as threats to a host of vested interests bent on animal and environmental exploitation.

Keeping animals as companions is seen by many as self-indulgent and as a waste of money and resources, putting the needs and interests of dogs and cats and other animals over those of starving and sick children and the poor. But this guilt/shame-making falls down when reason and empathy prevail. The fact is that animal rescue and humane education are positive virtues of a civil society. Animals are one of the best antidotes for anthropocentrism, which can lead to disassociation from other animals and the natural environment -- with disastrous consequences. Animal companions offer us salvation and a way to grace.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a problem with my almost 5-year-old Shih Tzu, a rescue dog. We got him when he was 2 months old: cute and playful. But at about 6 months of age, he became aggressive. At first, it was with food and toys, and I said, “OK, we can train him.” After some training, he was fine with sharing his toys. Then came the aggressiveness when petting him.

If you pet him too long, especially on top of his head, he snaps -- and I mean a full-on bite. My vet said four things: Send him back, give him away, put him on meds or put him down.

He attacks my husband and knocked him down twice (with my husband laughing). It’s not really funny; the poor dog seems depressed. I think he is bipolar. Is there help for him? Our last Shih Tzu was a very gentle soul; she passed six years ago from cancer. Our Bo is nothing like her. -- L.V., Fort Myers, Florida

DEAR L.V.: You certainly do have an issue living with a “bipolar” dog, as you put it -- a diagnosis that is not far off the mark.

There are some breeds and individual dogs who show sudden and unpredictable aggression associated with low levels of serotonin in their brains. So I advise you to raise this issue with your veterinarian.

This should be an interesting educational journey for your family into the relatively new realm of nutrigenomics, as per the review article posted on my website, drfoxvet.net. A change in diet to one with biologically appropriate ingredients that are USDA Certified Organic and labeled Non GMO Product Verified would be a first step. Free-range organic turkey meat would be especially good for your dog, since turkey meat is high in tryptophan, the biological precursor of serotonin. I also recommend supplementation with synthetic concentrates of tryptophan or theanine, another precursor of serotonin from plants, coupled with nutraceuticals providing essential fatty acids and the building-block for dopamine, another brain- and behavior-modulating neurochemical.

You and your veterinarian might also want to consider therapeutic botanical supplements such as St John’s wort, aromatherapy with essential oils of lavender and cedar, and massage therapy as per my book, “The Healing Touch for Dogs.”

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 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.)