The Animal Doctor

DEAR DR. FOX: As a regular reader of your column, I am impressed at the devotion so many people seem to have for their pets.

As a longtime cat owner, I can say they give me more than I give them, so I don’t mind paying for regular veterinary wellness exams. I give them a home, food, games and regular grooming, and in return they give me companionship, affection, sympathy (expecially when I have a migraine!) and so much more. I wonder what your other readers can say about what their animals give them. -- O.M.S., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR O.M.S.: As my mentor, the late professor Konrad Lorenz, would say, “I could not disagree with you less.” The Nobel Prize laureate and one of the founders of the science of ethology (animal behavior) asserted that you must first love animals before you can begin to understand them, and that those who believe that other animals do not have emotional experiences -- feelings -- similar to our own should be “in a psychiatric clinic.”

When our ability to love opens us up to what animals can give, we are indeed blessed in countless ways physically, mentally and spiritually. And this means that we suffer with them when they are ill, and commit to ensuring their quality of life is the best we can provide.

I would indeed enjoy hearing from other readers about what their animal companions have given them. Animals have given us so much since the beginning of human history, and payback is long overdue: namely, to acknowledge their basic rights and interests and apply the Golden Rule to all living beings.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have been hearing a lot more about cancer in dogs, and may have a theory. If you agree, I would love for you to educate the public about it in your forum.

So many dogs like to run and fetch balls. But if your grass is regularly fertilized, the chemicals may be getting on the ball, which Rover is happily chewing. We have lost three vizslas to mouth cancer.

Also, believe it or not, many people allow their dogs to drink reclaimed water. Down South, so much of the irrigation water is reclaimed -- it stinks, and is not fit for human OR dog consumption!

People need to be more vigilant about what their dogs are consuming. Don’t let them eat fertilized grass, even if your landscaper says the fertilizer is organic. And let’s not even talk about Roundup! -- L.B., Southport, North Carolina

DEAR L.B.: I agree with you that we need to exercise far greater caution when out with our dogs along sidewalks and grassy areas, especially when they come into contact with recently sprayed areas. When they lie down and run around, picking up a ball or other thrown toy, they also pick up any chemicals present. Municipal authorities and homeowners need to exercise due vigilance and post warning signs in treated areas.

I would add another concern to your plausible hypothesis: that potentially carcinogenic chemicals are present in various synthetic (especially plastic) chew toys and treated rawhide chews, ranging from phthalates to arsenic compounds. Dog owners should seek natural chew products, such as untreated rawhide strips and raw beef shank bones. Cooked bones can splinter and cause internal damage, and hard pieces of deer and elk antlers can break dogs’ teeth.

DEAR DR. FOX: I would just like to chime in that my vet recommended and sold me a Seresta collar for my 8-year-old female Doberman pinscher. ($60!) She became lethargic and wouldn’t eat, so I removed it. Within days, she recovered. I shudder to think what residual poison might be lurking in my home and threatening my grandchildren, who love dogs. We never really had a flea problem anyway. -- L.P., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR L.P.: My article on this topic (posted on my website) should be read by all veterinarians who are selling these products to their clients, especially when there are no fleas or ticks around. The risks are not worth it, and the long-term consequences essentially unknown.

Treating cats and dogs with insecticides to prevent infestation is like taking antibiotics to prevent disease. This is a practice adopted by the livestock and poultry industries to compensate for poor animal care, especially overcrowding, and it has led to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

“Meet disease as it comes” -- Venienti Occurrite Morbo -- is the motto of my alma mater, the Royal Veterinary College in London. Only when all efforts to control fleas and ticks have failed should these insecticides be used. Insecticidal products are no substitute for safe, effective prevention.

PET ADOPTION SCAMS PROMPT BBB WARNINGS

Scammers are setting up websites purporting to be pet adoption organizations, or individuals who need to rehome a pet. While they do not charge an upfront adoption fee, they require payment by wire service or prepaid cards for veterinary and shipping fees.

The Better Business Bureau’s tips for avoiding scams include adopting locally, avoiding online-only adoptions, picking up adopted pets in person, paying only with a credit card, demanding veterinary records and contacting the veterinarian. (The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, West Virginia, Aug. 20)

(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 am worried about this “dog flu” virus that is going around, but I do not want to have my 12-year-old dog vaccinated. Should I stop taking her to the groomer and to our local park until winter comes? Will it be safe then? -- D.K.W., Springfield, Illinois

DEAR D.K.W.: Ask your veterinarian if it is safe now. This virus, of which there are at least two strains that can affect dogs, tends to appear and then move on from state to state.

Vaccines to protect dogs against both H3N8 and H3N2 canine flu are available in the United States. Your veterinarian can provide additional information about these vaccines and whether you should consider vaccinating your dog. If you feel uncomfortable about having your old dog vaccinated, then don’t be persuaded. Just keep the dog away from others if the veterinarian says that cases have been seen recently in your area.

Dog flu, also known as canine influenza virus (CIV), was first recognized in 2004 following an outbreak of severe respiratory illness at a greyhound racing facility in Florida. Eight of 22 affected dogs died due to extensive hemorrhage in the lungs. Fortunately, this was a small outbreak, due to the rapid institution of containment measures. Since that time, however, dog flu has been identified throughout the United States. The virus isolated was virtually identical with the H3N8 virus in equine influenza.

In March 2015, a severe outbreak of respiratory disease affecting over 1,000 dogs in the Chicago area was documented. The virus was typed as canine influenza virus H3N2, which had never been isolated previously in the U.S. The virus is of avian origin, and closely related to the South Korean canine influenza H3N2 strain. As of June 2017, this virus had spread to 31 states, and some cats were also infected. Both these and other strains of influenza virus can mutate and infect other hosts, including humans and other animal species. High concentrations of humans and of factory-farmed pigs and poultry, coupled with mobility/travel, create the ideal conditions for epidemics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the signs of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge and reduced appetite, but not all dogs will show signs of illness. The severity of illness associated with canine flu in dogs can range from no signs to severe illness resulting in pneumonia, and sometimes death. Most dogs recover within two to three weeks. However, some dogs may develop secondary bacterial infections, which may lead to more severe illness and pneumonia. The percentage of dogs infected with this disease that die from it is very small.

(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 have a 13-year-old deaf female beagle who barks at me constantly.

The vet says she is OK physically, and no calming meds were recommended. The barking can begin as early as 2 a.m. and continues until I feed her. This can go on for one or two hours, as I have tried ignoring her. Feeding seems to help, but she is getting fat even though I give her a small amount each time. In the evening it’s like an alarm goes off about 9 p.m. when she begins again.

I have tried frequent small feedings, petting her, trying to calm her, but nothing works. I’ve even tried calming treats. She will whine and bark even when I am petting her. I guess it is “dog-heimers,” but this is taking its toll on me. -- J.K., Royal Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR J.K.: You are correct in suggesting that your dog probably has “dog-heimers,” i.e., senile dementia.

It is regrettable that your attending veterinarian did not consider that there was a behavioral issue to be addressed. This is a serious professional lapse in service and responsibility, and an issue raised in a recent edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association: Veterinarians in companion animal practice are not adequately covering the behavioral and psychological aspects of animal wellness.

Worldwide, there are currently only 79 board-certified veterinary behaviorists, called Diplomates, of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB). As a result, not all states or provinces will have a Diplomate nearby. I was one of a handful in the 1970s who got the ball rolling in this field, and by now, I would have thought there would be many more. The ball is too often passed to uncertified animal behavior therapists and trainers, many working out of local animal shelters and humane societies.

Because of this serious dearth of veterinarians providing behavioral counseling, prevention, therapeutic intervention and client education, dogs and cats of all ages -- many with no physical problems -- are being surrendered to shelters and usually euthanized. One solution would be for large municipalities to have an ACVB Diplomate work with their animal care and rehabilitation teams and serve as a referral specialist for private practices.

In your dog’s case, stop the overfeeding and stick to a regular schedule of three small meals a day. Add these anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplements, as follows: a half teaspoon of fish oil and turmeric in one meal; a tablespoon of coconut oil and two tablespoons of mushed blueberries in the second meal; and a tablespoon of unsweetened pineapple and a half teaspoon of ground ginger in the third meal.

Take your dog out often to urinate. Old dogs with failing kidneys need to go out more often to urinate, and some will bark a lot to let you know. Often, they are also in pain from arthritis. The turmeric will help that, as will the ginger, which will also help digestion (along with the pineapple). My massage book, “The Healing Touch for Dogs,” especially helps older dogs with arthritis and other physical and emotional problems.

The coconut oil, which you can increase if the dog’s stools are not too loose, may help with the dementia, along with 6 mg of melatonin at bedtime. A few drops of essential oil of lavender on a bandanna around your dog’s neck during the day may provide some calming effect. And all old dogs need a soft bed!

If these measures do not help, your veterinarian may wish to consider prescribing valerian or alprazolam early in the evening, and later in the morning if the dog is anxious and barking excessively for attention during the day.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have two aunts who reside in Missouri. They are true lovers of nature at its finest and all animals that grace this beautiful world, and I know that the situation they are currently dealing with is breaking their hearts. Their sweet adult cat is struggling on a daily basis with some type of skin disorder.

They first noticed the issue back in July 2015. They immediately took “mommy cat” to the vet, and after shaving all of the hair off her back hip/side, they saw what appeared to be many open ulcers that would ooze pus and blood.

Well, for the past three years, our aunts have continued to nurse “mommy cat” to the best of their ability. There are times when it appears to begin to heal, but then another ulcer opens up and the process begins again.

As you can see from the pictures, the poor cat doesn’t appear to be getting better, and we are hoping you can make a suggestion on what this skin disorder is and how it can be treated. -- D.S. and E.S., Doylestown, Pennsylvania

DEAR D.S. and E.S.: The photographs that you sent are helpful. My initial impression is possible cat-bite wounds -- one reason to always keep cats indoors.

First, the fur all around the edge of any non-healing wound must be shaved or clipped close, since it will interfere with the healing process and carry bacterial infection. Then the lesion should be thoroughly cleaned with normal saline, dried off with a sterile gauze pad, and smeared with honey at the beginning of the day. More than one veterinarian has hailed the healing benefits of honey, especially manuka honey from New Zealand.

At the end of the day, the lesions should be cleaned with saline again and then anointed with aloe vera gel (available in most drug stores). This botanical product also has remarkable healing properties. The next morning, repeat the saline cleanse and honey application.

Have your relatives discuss these options with the cat’s veterinarian. While the honey and aloe will not harm the cat if ingested, if the cat is able to reach and lick the lesions, that could interfere with the healing process. In that case, the cat may have to wear a “lampshade” collar around the neck for a while, which can be removed to allow for eating and drinking.

A fish oil supplement, or two canned sardines a day, may also boost healing processes and skin health.

UPDATE FROM DR. FOX: Two weeks after I emailed this treatment to D.S. and E.S., I received an updated photo of the cat. I am very pleased with the healing progress the picture showed.

(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.)