DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 15-year-old orange tabby. He is in good health, with no issues other than a couple teeth extractions over a year ago.

Several months ago, we noticed that if we walked up behind him, it would startle him. When we call him, he looks all around because he doesn't know where the sound is coming from. When he wants our attention, he gets right at our ankles or at the base of our chair and either meows or sits. It is beyond sad.

Our vet examined him, and his ears and everything else checked out OK. Would you please discuss feline hearing loss, including the causes and any tips for us owners? -- C.M.C., Cumberland, Maryland

DEAR C.M.C.: My first experience with this issue was years ago, with a kitten I named Rocky, whom I found wandering on the street where I lived in St. Louis. He was deaf, and the condition was no doubt congenital. He taught me a lot about communication and orientation by observing how he had learned to adapt.

As with deaf dogs and humans, cats will learn to respond to our body language signals. We can use hand and arm movements to communicate, or try stamping or tapping on the floor so the animal can feel the vibrations and orient toward you.

While Rocky was born deaf, older cats can learn to adapt to hearing loss. Deafness in both ears can be caused by chronic untreated ear infections, a stroke and/or infected teeth and gums (especially post-dental surgery). Regular aural and oral care are essential for all cats.

Loss of hearing can cause animals considerable anxiety because they are more vulnerable. It is imperative that you never let your cat roam outdoors. I also recommend that you provide him with extra physical contact to reassure him -- maybe even an evening massage, as per my book "The Healing Touch for Cats."

See below for more on cats' ear health.

EAR MITE INFESTATION

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are a common cause of chronic ear infections in cats and dogs worldwide. The mites cause much itching, suffering and even loss of hearing if the infection is left untreated. Scratching and head-shaking can result in blood clots in the ears, which eventually crumple into "cauliflower ears." Some cats with ectopic mites present with generalized alopecia and pruritus similar to flea allergy dermatitis.

This common parasite can be transmitted to and from other wildlife, such as foxes and coyotes. All animals at trap-neuter-release cat colonies and all indoor-outdoor cats should be regularly examined and treated as needed, since mites are such prevalent parasites.

UKRAINE WAR: STEEP COST FOR WILDLIFE

As well as the toll on human life, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is affecting rare animal and plant species in the north of the country, according to a BBC report. Polissia, a region that extends into Belarus, Poland and Russia, harbors species such as moose, wolf and lynx that have disappeared from most of the rest of Europe. Shells fired into northern Ukraine have sparked fires that have burned more than 5,000 acres of forest, destroying rare plants and scattering wildlife. Landmines planted by Russians in Polissia have also made it dangerous for rangers to patrol.

Clearly, the insanity of war involves more than human victims. An end to such actions is ultimately enlightened self-interest, since the "victors" ultimately become the victims. Crimes against humanity and nature leave their stain on those who remain.

QUESTIONING BILLIONAIRES' JOURNEYS INTO SPACE

Most of us are guilty, to varying degrees, of selfishness and indifference. But I wonder about the billionaires who are taking pleasure trips into space (how they made their money aside). What of their carbon footprint and pollution from rocket fuel adding to climate change? Why not put those billions into planetary CPR -- conservation, protection and restoration -- for the common good? I also wonder about the billions in public funds being spent exploring Mars to see if there is, or was, life there, while ignoring the plight of life on planet Earth.

Some billionaires wear the emperor's new clothes of philanthropy, putting money back into a planet they have plundered, even with a record of opposing clean air and water legislative initiatives. No other species poisons its own nest and pollutes its environment under the banners of progress and profit, let alone reaps more money from treating anthropogenic diseases.

Part of the problem, aside from empathy deficit disorder, is the all-too-common attitude toward other species. Wildlife are regarded variously as pests, harvestable resources or, when protected under the Endangered Species Act, obstacles to land development and "progress." These attitudes are in large part responsible for the climate crisis and its socioeconomic consequences, which we all face today.

Mega-rich individuals, along with the more affluent nations, need to assume greater responsibility. Ultimately, they are stealing from the future and limiting the quality of life for the generations to come -- of our own species and all others.

(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: On Oct. 11, the U.S. Supreme Court justices heard the appeal by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation to invalidate the animal welfare measure approved by California voters in 2018 called Proposition 12. This measure barred sales of products from pigs, veal calves and laying hens raised in California and other states that failed to meet basic humane requirements.

Regrettably, the Biden administration has sided with the pork producers, stating, according to reporter Nate Raymond, that "states cannot ban products that pose no threat to public health or safety due to philosophical objections" (Minnesota Star Tribune, Oct. 16, "High court weighs Calif. law demanding humane treatment"). Evidently the president's advisers are ill-informed about the threat to public health from influenza and other zoonotic diseases these factory-farmed animals periodically spread around the world, not to mention the documented risks of antibiotic-resistant bacterial food poisoning.

This Supreme Court, in which the public's trust is waning, will present their ruling by the end of June. In the interim, California residents and other consumers of animal products (including pet foods) can look for product labels such as "Free Range," "Organically Certified" and "Humanely Raised." A few pet food companies are now supporting these ethical, public and environmental health concerns by using only Animal Welfare Certified animal ingredients (in accord with CertifiedGAP.org), notably veterinarian Dr. Bob Goldstein's Wisdom dog foods from his company, Earth Animal.

It is my wish that the Supreme Court will support Proposition 12 and embrace the ethics of compassion and science of One Health, rather than being swayed by the monetary arguments of industries that harm animals, consumers and the environment.

CELL-CULTURED MEATS ON THE HORIZON

The following is an Oct. 26 news release from pet food company Wild Earth, via BusinessWire.com:

"Wild Earth, the cruelty-free dog food company, today announced that it has developed a cell-based meat broth topper for dogs that will be available to consumers in 2023. The cell-based chicken broth, created in the Wild Earth labs in Berkeley, California, using the company's proprietary technology, will be the first cell-based meat product to be introduced in the pet food industry. ...

"'Our pets' environmental paw print accounts for 30% of meat consumed in the U.S., and it doesn't have to. By replacing factory-farmed products with clean, sustainable, cruelty-free cell-based meat, we can tackle the issues of low-quality and often contaminated meat used for our pets' food and transform the sustainability of the entire pet food industry. Cell-based meat is the future of food for us and our pets, and this development marks an important milestone in our mission to disrupt the pet food industry for the better. We walk the walk when it comes to taking steps to reduce the destructive impact the industry has on our pets' health and on our environment,' said Wild Earth co-founder and CEO Ryan Bethencourt. ...

"The cell-based broth topper will join the company's premium line of high-quality, nutritionally complete, 100% vegan products, developed by a team of vets and animal food scientists."

Dr. Fox here, and I say, "Bravo!" My caveat is that the nutrient medium used to grow these cells should help them to make all the basic amino acids, and should itself have a small carbon footprint. Plant-based complete proteins and other nutrients from fungal mycelia may be as good as their "real" counterparts -- if not better, as per my opinion of the Impossible Burger.

DEAR DR. FOX: I think the article linked below will interest you. Headline: Chemical Found in Common Household Products Linked to Arthritis. -- R.E., Washington, D.C.

Article link: childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/pyrethroid-chemical-rheumatoid-arthritis

DEAR R.E.: Thanks for sending me this article. This is an interesting study, but we all know that correlation does not confirm causality. Autoimmune diseases are complex.

Certainly, the reduction of the use of all pesticides is long overdue, as they should be replaced with ecological control of mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects. Pyrethroids are safer than some other insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, but an integrated approach to preventing ectoparasites in companion animals is preferable. For details on such an approach, see my article at drfoxonehealth.com/post/preventing-fleas-ticks-and-mosquitoes.

(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 have an English springer spaniel of 14 years. He has a great disposition and is loved by all, and the vet says he is in good shape for his age.

However, lately he has started to eat dirt and drink water from potted plants on our porch. At those times, he has access to a bowl of dog food (Purina One dry food) topped with some morsels of our dinner, and plenty of water.

He is starting to feel his age -- arthritis, hearing loss, etc. Is eating dirt also an age problem? How do I solve it? -- C.J.W., Brick, New Jersey

DEAR C.J.W.: Your dog's condition is called pica, an abnormal appetite for almost anything that can be swallowed. When it is dirt and plant vegetation, I suspect chronic gastric irritation, or possibly cancer in an older dog. Pica may help temporarily alleviate the internal discomfort from such a condition and even trigger vomiting, which can feel like a relief. (Vomiting will also rid the dog of any undigested pieces of a toy or other indigestible material, if that turns out to be the source of the trouble.)

But before you take your dog for a full veterinary checkup, I would strongly advise that you consider a possible nutrient deficiency: The dog may be instinctively seeking to remedy this deficiency by eating natural roughage and bacteria-rich soil. This is common in dogs fed the kind of diet yours is being given. For details, see the book "Big Kibble" by Shawn Buckley and veterinarian Dr. Oscar Chavez.

Transition your dog to my home-prepared dog food (posted on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/dog-food-recipe), with or without the addition of some better-quality dry dog food, such as Earth Animal's Wisdom dog food -- which my dog relishes! Note that for some dogs, dry food is more palatable after it has been soaked in hot water.

Both dogs and cats will engage in pica and swallow various materials, which could necessitate abdominal surgery to remove blockages and repair damaged intestines. They may do this for many reasons: boredom, curiosity, desire for more dietary roughage, or a need to alleviate oral discomfort (especially teething pups, and adult cats with all-too-common dental problems). Because of their raspy tongues with backward-directed spines, cats have difficulty removing materials like string and dental floss once it gets in their mouths. It is easier for them to swallow the material, which could lead to emergency surgery. Dogs and especially cats are attracted to plastics, so all electrical cords should be kept out of reach to avoid electrocution when chewed, especially with young animals.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 6-month-old Australian shepherd who has been eating her poop since we got her at 8 weeks old. Our vet recommended adding a product called For-bid to her food. We tried that for about four weeks with no success. We then tried NaturVet's Coprophagia Stool Eating Deterrent for approximately three weeks with no success. A friend recommended canned pumpkin, which we have been giving her with her food for a month -- again, no success.

We try to pick up her poop and dispose of it before she can get it, but when she sees me approaching, she quickly gobbles it down. Is there a deficiency in her system that causes this? What can we do? -- J.A., via email

DEAR J.A.: I am disappointed with your veterinarian's response in addressing what is called coprophagia. This behavior can be normal for certain animals and in certain situations. For instance, a mother dog will work to keep her den clean, and will eat the poop of her pups to do so. And some species, like rabbits, engage in "refection" -- eating their own poop to get additional nutrients provided by the bacteria in the feces.

Beginning at such a young age, your dog's coprophagia may resemble an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some dogs who are coprophagic are best ignored, as their anxiety is increased by scolding. This behavior could have begun with a diet-related deficiency, which may still need correcting -- especially if your dog's main diet is conventional dog kibble.

She may benefit from a healthful diet, supplemented with prebiotics like unsweetened, shredded coconut; a tablespoon of canned, unsweetened pineapple, which provides digestive enzymes; and a supply of oral canine probiotics (taken from the feces of healthy dogs). For more details, visit AnimalBiome.com or microbiomerestorativetherapy.com.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am amazed at your insight about my 6-year-old Siamese cat's behavioral problem of wanting to suck on her tail and knead and suck on a wool blanket. Sam's veterinarian could do nothing to help except suggest some anti-anxiety medication.

Sam got better when I followed the simple solutions you suggested: evening games of chasing a laser light or a string with feathers on one end, followed by a gentle, full-body massage. It made me wonder if you do "remote sensing"! -- B.K., Washington, D.C.

DEAR B.K.: Sometimes I do feel that I operate at a level of "remote sensing" in that I have been writing this newspaper column and dealing with animal health and behavioral problems for over 50 years! I have learned so much from people and their animals about the most common issues and the most effective treatments. I am glad to see that there is now more emphasis on addressing behavioral and emotional problems in the teaching curriculum of most veterinary colleges around the world. Such emphasis was nonexistent when I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 1962!

(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.)