The Animal Doctor

DEAR DR. FOX: I've been in the veterinary care business, including emergency, for going on 20 years now, and I want to caution your readers about one problem with Banfield as a veterinary care provider.

Banfield, as a company, mandates what vets can and cannot do when it comes to testing and procedures for pets with a given set of symptoms. This greatly limits a veterinarian and, in my opinion, turns them into glorified vending machines. You put in the coins, you get the test the company says you can have -- not what a veterinarian's own skills and experience tell them a pet needs.

If at all possible, I recommend small, private vet clinics. There are plenty of online reviews for all but the smallest these days. A smaller practice will develop an ongoing relationship with owners and pets that may not be present at a corporate chain where veterinarian turnover is high. This relationship becomes crucial for pets as they age.

Also, a note on Blue Pearl: They're buying up local emergency practices as fast as they can, and they also enter the market with low pricing in order to "starve out" local competition. We're fortunate that here in Virginia Beach, there's a long-established practice that had the funds to withstand this until Blue Pearl racked up more negative reviews. Unfortunately, Blue Pearl still has the bankroll to afford diagnostic equipment that the other practice cannot provide. They also offer monetary incentives for specialists such as cardiologists and oncologists to use their space.

This leaves pet owners with only one choice in emergency veterinary care for all but the most common procedures. Again, working with a small, local practice will give pet owners the benefit of having someone who knows the ins and outs of all possible choices, and can give them an expert opinion of how the emergency hospitals have handled prior, similar cases. -- J.L., Virginia Beach, Virginia

DEAR J.L.: I agree wholeheartedly with what you are advocating. A major problem is that smaller, independent veterinary practices, both here and in the U.K., are burdened with rising costs. Some practices are staying independent but have large veterinary and support staffs, while smaller practices provide basic services and are tightly linked with second-opinion referrals for special services such as surgical, cardiac, ophthalmic and dermatological.

As consumer incomes fluctuate and demographics change, local veterinary services may wax and wane, but animals' needs do not. This is a challenge for all who care. Every community should have at least one basic veterinary hospital with emergency services provided at cost (and subsidized by charities for those who need additional assistance). This is all enlightened self-interest, since our animal companions contribute so much to the greater good -- especially the mental health of those who are socially isolated. A healthy animal population means a healthier human community.

GUIDANCE ON INDOOR/OUTDOOR CAT LIFESTYLES

The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners recently put forth a joint publication entitled "AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines." Below is some helpful information from the publication's Lifestyle Choices section:

"An indoor-only lifestyle may decrease the risks of injury, predators, poisoning and exposure to infectious and parasitic agents. At the same time, it may increase risks of compromised welfare, illness, obesity and behavior problems due to environmental limitations. Appropriate environmental enrichment is thus essential for maintaining the mental and physical well-being of cats.

"An indoor/outdoor lifestyle may allow a cat to express normal feline behaviors and provide a stimulating environment, but it also may increase the risks of infectious and parasitic agents, injury, poisoning, and exposure to wildlife and predators. Supervised or controlled outdoor access (e.g., during leashed walks or via cat-proof enclosures) may reduce some of the risks otherwise associated with access to the outdoors."

For more information, refer to the AAFP Position Statement "Impact of lifestyle choice on the companion cat: indoor vs outdoor," available at catvets.com under "Practice Guidelines." Additionally, I helped develop a website on TNE -- trap, neuter, enclose -- that has some good information for cat owners/guardians, which you can visit at trapneuterenclose.com.

CANNED DOG FOOD RECALL

Fromm issued a recall for about 5,500 cases of canned dog food that might contain an excessive amount of vitamin D. This can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, weight loss and renal dysfunction if consumed in very high amounts. Cans of Four-Star shredded beef, pork, chicken and turkey with a best-by date of August 2024 were recalled. (Full story: WEHT-TV, Henderson, Kentucky, Oct. 2)

(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: 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.)