The Animal Doctor

DEAR READERS: Late last year, the British Veterinary Association council declared that crabs, lobsters, octopuses and squid "should be regarded in legislation as having consciousness and the capacity to experience feelings such as pleasure and pain" (Veterinary Record, Dec. 2020-Jan. 2021 issue). Now this legislation is the law of the land. From a CNN story by Katie Hunt:

"Octopuses, crabs and lobsters are capable of experiencing pain or suffering, according to a review commissioned by the U.K. government, which has added the creatures to a list of sentient beings to be given protection under new animal welfare laws. The report by experts at the London School of Economics looked at 300 scientific studies to evaluate evidence of sentience, and they concluded that cephalopods (such as octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) and decapods (such as crabs, lobsters and crayfish) should be treated as sentient beings." (Full story: CNN.com, Nov. 22)

Scientists have done many studies to determine what animals, vertebrate and invertebrate, can sense and feel and think -- so-called cognitive ethology. And this is as challenging as it is to know what another person is thinking and feeling. There are gradients of sentience -- varying degrees and kinds of sensing, feeling, intelligence and self-awareness -- both within and between species, as we know from our own interactions with people and other animals. If we had no empathy, would we have any real understanding? As naturalist and author Joe Hutto has asserted, "We do not have a privileged access to reality."

As a curious naturalist and elected Fellow of the U.K.'s Royal Entomological Society, I never doubted that insects were sentient and had emotional reactions. Now scientists are confirming this and elevating our understanding and appreciation for this class of animal life. As Zaria Gorvett writes in an excellent BBC article: "For decades, the idea that insects have feelings was considered a heretical joke -- but as the evidence piles up, scientists are rapidly reconsidering." (Full story: BBC.com, Nov. 28)

For more about animal sentience, see my article at drfoxonehealth.com/post/animal-sentience.

HARVARD SETS ENDOWMENT FOR ANIMAL LAW, POLICY PROGRAM

Harvard Law School has established a $10 million endowment for its Animal Law and Policy Program, expanding the seven-year-old program through a gift from the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy.

The inaugural program allowed for an expansion of courses to include wildlife law and farmed animal law, helped in the development of visiting fellows programs and workshops and opened the door for the launch of the HLS Animal Law and Policy Clinic. This in-house public-interest law firm gives Harvard students hands-on experience and mentorship working directly on real-time animal law cases and policy projects, the school noted in a news release.

The program now bears the name of Brooks McCormick Jr., the Brooks Institute's founding benefactor and an animal lover and philanthropist who passed away in 2015. The institute has become a leading foundation supporting academic work in the field of animal law and policy, supporting animal law programs at Yale University, New York University, Lewis & Clark College, the University of Denver and Vermont Law School, among other academic institutions.

Animal rights law-related courses currently are offered at 167 U.S. law schools, 21 years after the first such course launched at Harvard, the release noted. For more details, see today.law.harvard.edu/10-million-endowment-established-for-the-harvard-law-school-animal-law-policy-program.

CDC EASES RULES ON TRAVELERS ENTERING U.S. WITH DOGS

The CDC relaxed rules banning the importation or reentry of dogs from 113 countries with high risk of rabies transmission, and will now allow travelers to bring in healthy, microchipped dogs that have an up-to-date rabies vaccine from a U.S.-licensed veterinarian. Travelers returning to the U.S. with a dog that has been in a high-risk country may reenter the U.S. through one of 18 approved ports. (Full story: New York Times, Nov. 24)

This is good news for the international dog-rescue network, whose efforts I applaud. But in my opinion, the less we humans engage in international travel ourselves, the smaller our carbon footprint and the smaller the spread of communicable diseases. We can't control migratory birds, who can spread diseases from continent to continent, but we can control ourselves -- and get governments to prohibit the import-export market in wildlife.

The wildlife trade business contributes to the extinction crisis, causes much animal suffering and is a factor in the spread of emerging diseases like COVID-19 in the human populace. The more we harm fellow creatures, the more we harm ourselves.

(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: Have the guidelines for spaying changed? Our vet advises us to wait until our pup is 1 year old, saying that hormones have beneficial effects for her bones. Any thoughts on this? -- L.A., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR L.A.: You have raised a timely question: Veterinarians are discussing this issue in their professional journals, and some dog owners are wondering what is best for dogs they do not intend to breed.

Health issues involving skeletal structure and integrity and endocrine disorders can result as a consequence of early neutering (spaying/castrating). I have long advocated for male dogs not to be neutered until they are relatively mature, and females not until after their first heat.

Giant breeds such as Great Danes and Irish wolfhounds may be more prone to bone cancer after neutering, and all dogs may be more susceptible to hip dysplasia and torn knee ligaments, often associated with reduced activity and obesity.

On the other hand, neutering eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer, prostate issues and related perineal hernias in males, as well as ovarian cancer and pyometra (infection of the uterus) in females. It may also reduce the incidence of mammary cancer.

Many veterinarians are now offering partial spay surgery, retaining the dog's ovaries but removing the entire uterus down to the cervical stump, for health reasons. Be advised that these dogs will still cycle into heat and may have false pregnancies and attract male dogs.

Un-neutered male dogs may need special handling and vigilance around other dogs, whom they may challenge and seek to mount -- especially some neutered male dogs, who may be giving off pheromones that confuse intact males. This can also happen when a dog has an undescended testicle that develops a Sertoli cell tumor, which produces female sex hormones.

On occasion, male dogs may become more aggressive after neutering. This is indicative of hormonal stimulation from the pituitary gland, which is reacting to the sudden absence of the hormonal feedback of testosterone. Some veterinarians are now advocating hormone-replacement therapy for dogs with behavioral and health problems (including cognitive decline, hypothyroidism, various cancers and anxiety) and as a preventive measure after neutering. For an excellent review of the pros and cons of canine sterilization, see Dr. Sara Fox Chapman's article in the fall 2021 Integrative Veterinary Care journal.

Animal shelters have established early neutering as a protocol and prerequisite for adoptions, mainly because of the concern that irresponsible owners would allow their dogs to breed. Indeed, overpopulation has been a major reason why so many dogs and puppies end up in shelters, many having to be euthanized. But this protocol now needs to be reexamined, especially in communities where dogs are being brought in from other states because local shelters have too few dogs and puppies available for adoption.

Informed veterinarians, considering their clients' needs, ages and lifestyles, as well as the breeds and sizes of the dogs and puppies, can best advise on this issue of spaying and neutering. No single protocol fits all.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 14-year-old cat Tinky is eating well, but she is bloated and seems constipated. She is a very healthy cat overall. She only eats holistic wet and dry food, and she is not an outdoor cat. For the bloating, what would you recommend? I'm not really comfortable with the vets in my area. -- K.L.R., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR K.L.R.: Bloating in cats can be due to several factors. Often, simply eliminating any cat food containing soy or corn works well to relieve the bloating. In other instances, there may be chronic constipation, especially in older, less active cats who may be slowed down by arthritis and/or obesity. Some develop a "megacolon," which is a dilated lower intestine that does not contract well to facilitate evacuation. Acute bloating with pain is also seen in cases of irritable or inflammatory bowel disease, and in cats who have bowel cancer.

So you need to do some detective work, and the cat needs to be examined by a veterinarian. I am sorry that you are not comfortable with those in your area; perhaps a cat-owning neighbor can recommend one for you.

For a start, I would cut out all dry cat kibble and give your cat a deep abdominal massage, as per my book "The Healing Touch for Cats," morning and evening. Increase her activity with interactive games, especially early in the evening. Also, the book "Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Food," which I co-authored with two other veterinarians, may give you some insights. Keep me posted!

LIST OF THE BEST CAT AND DOG FOODS, SUPPLEMENTS

Longtime pet food quality and safety advocate Susan Thixton has put together her latest list of the cat and dog food manufacturers who meet her rigorous ingredient quality standards. This list is available for purchase, with the proceeds helping support her independent research and advocacy for companion animals. For more details, visit truthaboutpetfood.com/the-list.

(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'm a retired communications specialist formerly associated with a major U.S. carrier. I read with some dismay the letter from your peer regarding nonionizing radiation risks from low-power personal devices.

I strongly suggest researching this subject. NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and the CDC have excellent materials on this subject, and on ionizing radiation as well. It has been the bane of power companies and telephone carriers that misinformed opinions often find their way into the dialogue. -- K.R., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR K.R.: If you were a dairy farmer, you would have no issue with these concerns, since stray voltage and EMFs (electromagnetic fields) have been widely documented to lower cows' productivity, health and welfare. Users of cellphones and laptop computers are advised by manufacturers to take precautions using such devices: For instance, laptops should not be put directly on one's lap, nor cellphones directly against one's ear.

I am sending you my article on the issue of electropollution, which cites many peer-reviewed scientific studies (also posted on my website, drfoxonehealth.com). I am especially concerned about the chronic exposure of dogs who wear collars that deliver "invisible fence" shocks if they get too close -- but who are nonetheless in a nonionizing electrical field for the system to work.

Many people suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity, a condition at present not widely accepted by the mainstream medical profession. Much like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome were dismissed as psychogenic until relatively recently, many EHS patients encounter similar skepticism and dismissal.

In addition to radiation, the noise from various electronic devices can upset animals, some of whom are more sensitive than others, just like some people are. See below for more.

PEOPLE LIKELY UNDERESTIMATE DOGS' ANXIETY

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that people may not recognize their dogs are distressed when exposed to common household noises. A new study finds even common noises, such as a vacuum or microwave, can be triggers. The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Intermittent high-frequency noises, such as the battery warning of a smoke detector, are more likely to cause a dog anxiety than continuous low-frequency noises. The study authors say some owners were amused rather than concerned over their dog's subtle signs of anxiety, which include turning the head away, flattening the ears, licking the lips and panting.

DEAR DR. FOX: My gentle, cuddly French bulldog has had a drastic change in temperament, which started one day after taking NexGard. He is always on edge. He seems to want to cuddle, only to react with growling and snapping if my husband or I try to pet him. He seems very saddened by his own behavior, but cannot control it. We are devastated by this.

I am a nurse, and understand the drug needs to be broken down and eliminated by his body, but how long will this take? It has been two weeks since the oral administration of NexGard. When he was a pup, we tried Frontline topical, which resulted in him refusing to eat for many days and a frantic, monthlong search for food he would eat.

Any advice or reassurance would be hugely appreciated. I'm trying to be patient, but second-guessing myself. Maybe he needs a full physical? -- J.E., Washington, D.C.

DEAR J.E.: I have consulted with dog owners as far away as Belgium on the adverse effects of this product. Give your dog 1 teaspoon of coconut oil twice daily in food, plus 250 mg of milk thistle to help him detox. In the evening, give him 6 mg of melatonin and another 3 mg of melatonin around noon. Continue this for 10 to 14 days.

A massage therapy routine (as described in my book "The Healing Touch for Dogs") may also help calm your poor dog. He is not alone in suffering the side-effects of this product and other widely marketed insecticides given to companion animals. These products should not be on the market, in my opinion. As per my website (drfoxonehealth.com), there are safer ways to prevent fleas and ticks in companion animals.

(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.)