DEAR DR. FOX: I just read your answer to the woman who asked if you believe that “in heaven, we will meet up with all of our loved ones,” including animals. Though an agnostic, I was really anticipating your response, since my beloved husband died suddenly a year ago, and our 18-year-old cat, Magic, died three months later of hyperthyroidism and diabetes.

Although I was an English major who studied Milton and then earned a doctorate in school psychology, I could not interpret your reply, which seemed equivocal, compared to your customary clear, definitive answers.

I appreciate your thoughtful exposition, yet still wonder if you could perhaps try again, so that the questioner and I may receive a “yes” or “no” to her simple question about your beliefs. -- C.S., Leonardo, New Jersey

DEAR C.S.: As it is in heaven, so it is on Earth when we embrace all we behold.

Jesus of Nazareth purportedly advised we must first become as children before we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. As poet William Wordsworth wrote, the child is indeed father to the man.

My understanding is that, upon death, an individuated consciousness, or spirit, becomes part of the universal consciousness or Great Spirit of Native American Indian tradition. In that illimitable realm, we will become one again with all we embraced on Earth as individual souls.

I incorporate the animistic and pantheistic aspects of indigenous, “pagan” religious traditions under the banner of panentheism: God in all and all in God. The empathosphere is one integrating component of this Taoist view -- the I-Thou of philosopher Martin Buber and the Unified Field theory of metaphysics.

So I make no pronouncements on what I believe about what we each may or may not experience after we die, including meeting up with our deceased loved ones, whether human or animal. What about the many we directly and indirectly harmed? I recall, in my early years as a nationwide speaker, promoting animal rights while some attendees were wearing the furs of the relatives of their dogs and cats. They took offense when I mentioned this issue in my presentation.

Until there is atonement, there can be no “at-one-ment.” But a broken heart can be an open heart, and I contend that compassion is the greatest power on Earth with which we humans are enabled and ennobled. The rise of mammon and what Pope Francis calls the “tyranny of anthropocentrism” may be quelled by a more evolved human consciousness and civilization, but only if translated rationally and empathetically into reverence for all life. Until then, the hell on earth that we make for animals, and many of our own kind, will be without end.

(For more details, see my book “The Boundless Circle: Caring for Creatures and Creation.”)

STOP WILD HORSES FROM BEING SHIPPED TO JAPAN FOR SLAUGHTER VIA CANADIAN AIRPORTS

American wild horses, as well as Canadian horses, are often shipped as “live exports” via Canadian airports in Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg to Japan to be slaughtered for a disturbing dish called basashi: thinly-sliced raw horse flesh.

There is a petition against this practice, which claims that before being slaughtered, these horses are not provided with food or water for up to 36 hours, as permitted by the law within Canada.

If you would like to see these airports stop their participation in this brutal trade, please take a moment to sign the petition. Go to onegreenplanet.org for details.

(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: I just read your column titled “Help Needed for Dogs with Fatty Tumors.” My 11-year-old black Labrador retriever has had fatty tumors since he was about a year old. Most of them are small (less than an inch), but he has had a very large one (4-inch diameter) on his thigh for at least eight years.

As I find a tumor, I have the vet send in a sample to test for cancer. The large tumor has been tested twice. She has always advised leaving the tumors alone because they aren’t malignant.

My dog has now developed a tumor on his back leg, next to his rectum. It was tested and it is not cancer, but it seems to bother him when he runs. He will often sort of hop on three legs. He also sometimes drags it a bit. The vet says it shouldn’t bother his movement. In general, she is a vet who believes in just letting things be.

Should I be concerned about this fatty tumor (2-3 inches) and his running, even though it is not cancer? I would have to find another vet to remove the tumor if you think it should be removed. -- A.H., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR A.H.: Being unable to examine your dog myself, I recommend seeking a second opinion -- with all due respect for your dog’s veterinarian who, like me, takes a conservative approach to these benign lipomas.

If your dog’s blood tests indicate good liver and kidney function, and thus a lower risk of anesthetic complications, and you can see an experienced soft-tissue veterinary surgeon, I would proceed with the surgery. The growths are only going to increase in size and cause more and more discomfort. The longer you wait, the lower your dog’s quality of life is likely to become.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our cat is a 13-year-old rescue with a host of issues, including IBD, allergies and kidney disease. She is also very emotionally needy.

Ever since she has been with us, she has had a strange interest in eating plastic, particularly plastic bags (which we keep away from her, of course). We brought this to the attention of her vets (she has many specialists) and they all found this perplexing.

A few months ago, she started eating her litter. We use Dr. Elsey’s Senior Litter, which is silica-based and has sodium bentonite in it. I’ve read conflicting reports about whether or not this is hazardous. Her internist recommended cat grass, but she is not interested. I have read that litter-eating could fulfill a dietary need or could be a condition called pica, in which case she could be doing this out of boredom or because of a psychological issue.

She is an indoor kitty, and we have tried to engage her in playtime, but she has a limited attention span and gets bored easily.

What do you make of this behavior, and how do you feel about sodium bentonite? -- M.L., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR M.L.: Many cats like to lick and even eat plastic. Many plastics have ingredients derived from animal fat, which can make the material attractive to animals. The protective gloss on some paper money also contains stearates derived from tallow (animal fat). I know of many cats who have become money hoarders!

Regardless of what ingredients are in the cat litter you are using, eating litter could be a sign of gut irritation -- lymphatic cancer being my first consideration.

Second, it could indicate a lack of dietary fiber, especially if your cat is fed only moist canned cat food. Mix in a pinch of psyllium husks and let them soak in the food before serving, working up to 1/4 teaspoon in four small meals a day.

Pica can also have other causes, including hyperthyroidism; I would advise additional veterinary evaluation. And consider changing the kind of litter you are using and see if that makes a difference, too.

(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: My son has an 18-year-old male cat. The other night, he gave Dinker some catnip, which he has had before, but this time he had a little more than usual. Dinker was immediately unresponsive, lying down and not moving. My son thought he was going to have to put him down.

Dinker came around and has been fine ever since. Do you think the reaction was from the catnip, which he has always had without trouble? Because of his age, do you think it could have been a slight stroke or vertigo? -- K.S., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR K.S., The moral of your son’s saga is: All things in moderation.

Soon after rolling in, and then eating, a small amount (one shredded teaspoon) of fresh catnip or catmint, my cats would often vomit, though usually keeping down the dried herbs. Then they’d roll in what remained on the floor, and then get squiggly, maybe batting at their tails, before zoning out for a while.

Catnip is the equivalent of Valium for most cats, but some show no interest. It makes for a relaxing tea for us humans, and also has some antispasmodic effects. I advise people to grow their own catnip, or only buy “Organically Certified,” since I have seen plastic packages of catnip in some stores indicating it comes from China.

For Dinker, I say just a pinch or two next time. Moisten it with a little water and let stand at room temperature for a few minutes first to draw out the volatile oils. Dinker may simply roll in the aroma and get “high” that way.

I say “high” not euphemistically or anthropomorphically. In the wild, many animal species -- notably bears, baboons and elephants -- will seek out fermented fruits, clearly enjoying the effects altering their states of consciousness and behavior. I do not think such experiences are essential for us to provide for companion animals, but olfactory-sensitive cats and dogs do enjoy different scents, such as dogs on walks being allowed to sniff to their brains’ content. Some dogs may also appreciate catnip, and I would enjoy hearing from other readers whose dogs do.

As for cannabis, which wild pigs especially relish, its use in veterinary medicine is increasing with its legalization for medical purposes. As this herb becomes accepted for recreational use in humans, companion animals should be kept away. Dogs, in particular, are often eager to eat cannabis plants or the dried herb. An overdose could cause respiratory depression and heart failure, especially in older animals.

When all is said and done, I think it is only we humans who need to lose our minds and come to our senses. Other members of the plant kingdom can help with that, as some psychotherapists are now exploring for such conditions as PTSD, dementia and depression.

DEAR DR. FOX: This is regarding your article about the use of bits on the horses at the recent royal wedding in London.

I do agree that bitless bridles can be excellent, but tossing of heads does not necessarily indicate discomfort in a horse. It does indicate excitement, and the forward position of the horses’ ears suggests that was the case.

These cossetted horses are not only cherished, but also get regular holidays away from London. They are taken to rural areas and given large pastures to roam and play in. Her Majesty the Queen is a fan and follower of Monty Roberts, aka the “Horse Whisperer,” and invited him to London to explain and demonstrate his training methods, which she adopted.

So while the horses you are concerned about are among the best cared for anywhere, I wish you would also comment in your column about the unspeakable government-backed cruelty being perpetrated here in the U.S. by the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM systematically terrorizes the wild mustangs in the northwest, herding them with helicopters, penning them, breaking up family groups and inducing panic, which leads to many broken legs. Slaughter is the final option for many of these beautiful horses.

It does not get into the news because journalists are mostly kept away from the horrific roundups; it does not make for palatable news coverage.

The House Appropriations Committee and the BLM will not allow the humane methods of sterilization that the supporters of the mustangs and burros have proposed. They have far more devastating methods to implement in the very near future.

Please read more about this from the American Wild Horse Campaign (americanwildhorsecampaign.org).

We have read your columns about cruelty to dogs and cats in certain Asian countries. Let’s deal with the horrors right here, and encourage your readers to take action immediately. -- C.B., Hendersonville, North Carolina

DEAR C.B.: Yes, I am sure that all the queen’s horses are well cared for. But traditions always need to be examined when there is questionable suffering and available alternatives. One notable example from my native country is the old tradition of setting dog packs on foxes, deer and other dwindling wildlife species.

I invite readers of my column to visit americanwildhorsecampaign.org and support efforts to bring compassion and respect for all life to bear on the policies and practices of wildlife and feral animal management by state and federal agencies.

(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.)