The Animal Doctor

DEAR READERS: Here is an update on the topic of declawing from our friends at All About Cats (AllAboutCats.com).

"While many countries have outlawed the declawing of cats, the United States is still a bit behind the times. Recently, however, the Pittsburgh City Council advanced proposals to make it illegal to declaw a cat. The procedure has rightfully been dubbed 'cruel and inhumane.'

"City Councilman Bobby Wilson declared, 'The City of Pittsburgh should set an example as a humane city ... how we treat animals speaks to our deepest values. Declawing a cat does not just mean removing its nails. If this happened to a human, it would be like cutting off each finger and toe at the last knuckle.'

"Over the past few years, lawmakers in other cities have made similar proclamations. The entire state of New York announced a ban in 2019, and Austin, Texas, banned declawing earlier this year."

Dr. Fox here: Learn more about what declawing actually entails and why so many veterinarians and animal activists are against it by watching Dr. Robin Downing's webinar, "The Case Against P3 Amputation," at youtube.com/watch?v=y-1IVagV628.

For my take on this unethical mutilation of cats, visit drfoxonehealth.com/post/declawing-cats.

DEAR DR. FOX: My miniature poodle/cocker mix is having a problem with a red discharge below her eyes and around her mouth. This started around 18 months ago: She was having stomach problems, eating grass in the morning and then throwing up.

After an ultrasound, they found no problems in her stomach, but she did have a urinary infection. Our vet put her on an antibiotic and a special diet (Royal Canin Selected Protein PV). Her stomach problems went away, but a month after starting the new diet, I noticed the red discharge.

The vet said it may be allergies, so I have her on half a Benadryl and some ketotifen fumarate eyedrops, each twice a day. No change in the discharge.

Could the problem be the diet? -- D.N., Naples, Florida

DEAR D.N.: This is a very common problem in white-faced dogs because the iron (porphyrin) staining is more evident on the light-colored fur. The staining is due in part to bacteria, and may be aggravated by food-coloring agents -- including potentially cancerous azo dyes -- that may be secreted in dogs' saliva and tears.

The mineral supplements in your dog's manufactured food may be an issue. The ingredients list for the dry kibble includes these trace minerals: zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate and copper proteinate. The ferrous (iron) sulfate could be a contributing factor to your dog's staining secretions. I am concerned, as are some other veterinarians, about copper additives in pet foods, which can lead to liver problems and are not well regulated.

All dogs who tear a lot should have their eyes examined by a veterinarian for chronic infection, which could lead to corneal ulceration. This is especially common in toy breeds and in all dogs with bulging eyes -- the brachycephalic dogs like pugs and French bulldogs.

Clean around your dog's mouth and carefully under the eyes with a mixture of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and warm water. It will also help if you keep your dog's facial fur well-trimmed; moisture under the chin after drinking creates an ideal environment for bacterial and fungal proliferation and secondary skin disease.

I would try the home-prepared dog food recipe posted on my website, and also transition your dog onto an organic, additive-free commercial food like The Honest Kitchen's chicken or turkey with grains.

PET FERRET HAS COVID-19

A ferret in Florida is the first in the U.S. with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to the USDA. Officials say the ferret exhibited clinical signs of illness, including sneezing and coughing, and likely caught the virus from a person. (Full story: The Associated Press, Sept. 25)

This is a warning to all who have pet ferrets since, like mink, they are susceptible to this virus and can be infected by people with COVID-19. This could result in ferrets becoming a secondary reservoir for this extraordinary virus, leading to the infection of people with a new mutated form.

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: One Health is a collaborative strategy, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for achieving optimal health outcomes in light of the interconnectedness of domestic animals, wildlife, the environment and people. Keeping domestic cats indoors is one example of how a simple practice can have far-reaching beneficial consequences across the One Health spectrum.

A good overview of this concept was recently published online by Grant Sizemore of the American Bird Conservancy. In his post entitled "One Health, Domestic Cats, and Zoonotic Diseases," Sizemore covered the relationship of One Health to ABC's Cats Indoors program.

"Our Cats Indoors program educates the public and policymakers about the many benefits to birds, cats and people when cats are maintained indoors or under an owner's direct control," he wrote. "In addition to advocating for responsible pet ownership solutions, we also oppose Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) for feral cats because of the persistent and severe threats posed by these cats on the landscape." (To read the full post, visit abcbirds.org/blog21/cats-zoonotic-diseases.)

On the topic of zoonotic diseases, cats are the primary host for toxoplasmosis, which they can transmit to other species -- including us. They can even reinfect themselves by eating infected mice and other prey, which pick up the pathogen from environments contaminated by cat feces.

Apart from disease, there are ethical reasons to keep cats inside, as reported by Kwame Anthony Appiah, writer of The New York Times' "The Ethicist" column. Appiah recently wrote that "responsible animal-rights groups now agree that our feline companions should not be left to roam free."

DEAR DR. FOX: Regarding the Seresto/cancer link, I thank you for your article where you shared the New York couple's experience. Their story sounds a lot like the nightmare we just experienced with our dog.

We, too, were on our second Seresto collar on our boy Beringer, and five months into his wearing it, I noticed a bump on him. It was a tumor. He passed away two months later, after the surgeon was unable to remove the full tumor.

I'm wondering if you are receiving many letters like these. -- L.F., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR L.F.: I have had letters in the past from dog owners who reported that their animal companions developed tumors/cancer soon after using these kinds of insecticide-diffusing collars. But I do not have a formal, collated registry of such instances, and I doubt that the FDA or USDA has one, either.

The reporting and recording of adverse reactions to these collar-loaded and/or orally administered insecticides in cats and dogs is spotty at best. But a meta-analysis, as has been done to expose the seizure risks of such products, is needed to prove or disprove their role in the genesis of various cancers, especially lymphatic.

So I err on the side of caution and advise that these insecticides should not be used on companion animals, especially on a routine, "preventive" basis. I recommend that pet owners follow the safe and integrated steps I offer on my website (DrFoxOneHealth.com) to keep fleas and ticks off our animals.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read your recent column (about the practices at some Blue Pearl locations). I have practiced general dentistry for over 50 years. Corporate dentistry is practicing the exact same way -- profits over ethics! Public beware! Well written, Dr. Fox! -- M.C., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR M.C.: I am sure most readers of my column will appreciate your statement. It seems as though mammon rules in these times, with the quest for profits overriding ethics and common human decency. Indeed, the Golden Rule has been morally inverted -- those with the gold rule!

Time for an ethical awakening and a call to conscience and accountability -- all aspects of a long-overdue revolution and evolution in human values, consciousness and behavior.

GUIDANCE ON MANAGING FREE-RANGING DOMESTIC CATS

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), in collaboration with the American Bird Conservancy and other partners, has published a comprehensive domestic cat management guide. The document, entitled "Toolkit to Address Free-ranging Domestic Cats (Felis catus) on Agency Lands Managed for Native Wildlife and Ecosystem Health," covers a range of topics including predation, disease, legal and policy issues, along with management solutions. The toolkit is the result of work by AFWA's Feral and Free-ranging Cat Working Group, which will soon release more detailed guidance on model policies and an updated AFWA resolution on the control of free-ranging domestic cats.

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I recently lost my dog. She was 16 years old. I really miss her. I have another dog who is 7, and he misses her, too. Both Chihuahua mixes. I've been looking around for a similar dog to adopt -- nothing fancy, just a small mixed-breed adult.

I've been looking on Petfinder, and all the dogs are in "rescue organizations" that seem to keep the dogs in foster homes and charge anywhere from $450 to $600 to adopt one. A "choice" dog like a purebred or puppy is sometimes more.

What is going on? All my dogs have been rescued from Humane Society shelters. The fee was usually $50 to $150, depending on the dog's age.

I have no problem paying an adoption fee: It is actually a bargain, since the dog is neutered, vet-checked and has his shots. But $450 to $600 seems a bit exorbitant. Am I right in thinking that these organizations are "adopting" highly desirable dogs from shelters and then readopting them for a profit?

In one way, these high fees could protect the dogs from being adopted by just anyone. But in another way, they are discouraging legitimate adopters who can't afford the fee.

I've also noticed that if I do see a dog I am interested in at a shelter, it is gone immediately. I think they may be getting snapped up by these rescue organizations. Small dogs, especially, since they are highly adoptable.

I'm just curious if you have noticed this trend. -- L.D.R., Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

DEAR L.D.R.: Many people are surprised at the fees involved in adopting a dog or cat from legitimate, nonprofit shelters and rescue organizations today. But their costs are significant, including operational overhead, heating/air-conditioning, staff salaries, animal food, medications, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, etc.

In many communities, as you have noticed, there are animal rescue networks whose volunteers foster animals in their homes (after the animals' veterinary needs have been provided). Again, there are obvious costs involved, but fostering is certainly a humane alternative to keeping stressed animals in cages or kennels at shelters until they are either adopted or euthanized. Additional costs can be incurred when animals must be transported from overcrowded shelters in some states to others.

That said, I do consider it unethical for organizations to visit animal shelters, take the most adoptable animals and then charge outrageous fees for the "cream of the crop," as you describe. Such unscrupulous groups often give little or no money to help the shelter operations from where these selected animals originated.

DOG BITE PREVENTION

Dogs bite about 4.5 million people in the U.S. every year, with about 800,000 bites serious enough to require medical attention, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Even the friendliest dog can bite if startled or in pain. The best way to avoid being bitten is to learn dog body language, says veterinarian Cristal Carey. Avoid startling dogs or approaching them when they are eating or playing with a favorite toy. (Full story: KOIN-TV, Portland, Oregon)

HELP PROTECT THE WOLVES

A statement from Howlingforwolves.org:

"Wolves in Wisconsin have been slaughtered, and are scheduled for another horrific trapping and hounding season this fall. And (in September), the killing began in Montana. Idaho allows year-round wolf hunting of adults and pups, and permits the use of snares. Wyoming continues its brutality with year-round wolf killing in 85% of the state's land, and scheduled wolf-hunting "seasons" in the other 15%.

"We are asking everyone to contact their members of Congress and federal officials through ReListWolves.org to tell them to relist wolves on the federal Endangered Species List. The wolf has no time and must have an emergency relisting. We need to restore protections for our nation's gray wolves."

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)