Question:

What are your views on the declawing of cats? And how do you train a cat to use a scratch post?.

T. & J.M., Cincinnati, OH Jan 01, 2006

Answer:

I am totally opposed to the declawing of cats. To declaw a cat is to remove part of what makes a cat a cat. Cats are declawed routinely in the United States, while in other countries, such as England, it is considered an unnecessary and unethical mutilation. Veterinarians declawing cats in these more enlightened countries would lose their license to practice. People with cats accept the fact that they come with claws. It is part of their nature, vital to their self-defense, essential to their dexterity and crucial to their agility and climbing ability.Cats can be taught to not cause harm when scratching or biting during play and while being handled. They learn readily where they may scratch in order to mark their territories indoors and to exercise their claws on scratch posts and scratch pads secured behind a chair or sofa.

Question:

I was wondering whether there is a Web site where I can read "Animal Doctor.".

Jan 01, 2006

Answer:

Sorry, my columns are not archived. Many past columns, dealing with all kinds of companion animals from dogs and cats to parakeets and guinea pigs, are collected in "The New Animal Doctor''s Answer Book" (Newmarket Press, 1989).Some answers in this book are out of date, as I have changed my position radically with regard to many commercial pet foods and vaccination protocols. These views are reflected in entries on my Web site, www.doctormwfox.org.

Question:

I would greatly appreciate any assistance, guidance or feedback that you could provide regarding my situation.I am a 57-year-old woman who lives in Boynton Beach, Fla. I was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery. Because of extreme weakness, pain and prolonged recuperation, I moved in with my mom, 82, who lives in a condo, which has a board of directors.My physician gave me a prescription for a pet companion -- "medically necessary due to depression, anxiety and lung cancer." I also had him put the correct diagnostic codes on the prescription.Would you kindly send me any information that would help me to begin this process? I am so ready and willing to adopt a small dog to love and to accept the healing that a pet provides.

B.D., Boynton Beach, FL Jan 01, 2006

Answer:

I commend your doctor for giving such sage advice. Before you get a suitable dog (a cat might be easier to care for if you are not allergic to cats), be sure that you can take the dog out for walks four or more times a day, or find someone to help you do this. Check the local newspaper for pet adoptions, and call the local animal shelters in your area to put the word out that you are looking for an animal companion that is an older, housebroken, affectionate, easygoing little dog who loves to be loved. Go see what dogs meet these criteria, and I am confidant that as soon as you make eye contact with the right dog, you will know it. Be sure to have a veterinarian check the dog''s overall health.Condo communities have rules that often prohibit pets. The same goes for restaurants, but seeing-eye dogs cannot be refused. This should also apply to dogs giving other kinds of assistance. So approach your condo council/committee with a note and prescription from your doctor for an assistance dog that you need as part

Question:

Please tell your readers about pest-control companies spraying one''s home.I recently hired a local pest-control company to spray the perimeter of my house. They came into my kitchen to spray, and it happened so fast, I wasn''t thinking: I had left my bird out of its cage. They were told not to spray in the house because I had birds. I left for an hour, and when I came back the bird wasn''t breathing right, so I called the company to find out what kind of poison they used. They said it wouldn''t hurt the bird. I took the bird to a veterinarian, and she tried to save it, but to no avail.The label on the spray said to use only in a well-ventilated area with a mask and long sleeves and not to spray around birds. These people are not trained to use the poisons they use every day! If it killed my bird, what is it doing to my lungs? Please tell everyone how toxic it can be to have one''s house sprayed.

D.N., St. Louis, Mo Jan 01, 2006

Answer:

There are several safe alternatives to potentially lethal pesticides for controlling insect pests indoors. (See my Web site at www.doctormwfox.org.)The cumulative effects of pesticides, as distinct from acute poisoning, are essentially denied by the industry. I am sorry for the loss of your bird. You could sue the company, but you would never be compensated for your emotional loss nor win punitive damages for your poor bird''s suffering. And yes, your little parakeet was like the canary down the mineshaft, serving as a warning to you, but with one big difference: The coal mines were not deliberately poisoned with petrochemicals. It is a fact that only too often, the poorly trained and unaware are licensed to spray poisons in and around our homes and public places with total disregard for risks and safety precautions. For me, there can be no absolute safety guaranteed with these chemicals, many of which are endocrine-system disruptors. (See my Web site entry on endocrine disruption syndrome.) Generally, the ri

Question:

We have a 9-year-old Vizsla (aka Hungarian pointer) dog that is very healthy and active. We feed him primarily Science Diet dry food with an occasional foray into other brands, like Beneful (which he likes a lot) to add some variety.Like many dogs, and especially Vizslas, he loves table scraps, and this has not been a problem. (We limit this to just a bite here and there.) We do not give him spicy foods.The problem is that we have, on occasion, forgotten at the end of the night to put away all foods beyond his reach. He will steal anything on the counter after we have gone to bed or left the house for any extended period of time. This causes severe indigestion to the point where you can hear his stomach gurgling all night long, and he is much slower and refuses treats. We feel awful about this and try our best not to leave food out at night.Is there an indigestion aid that we can prepare and give to him that will help clean out his system and get rid of any toxins that might be created by this food? We are c

L.M-B., Alexandria, Va Jan 01, 2006

Answer:

Food is food, and there is no such thing as "dog" or "human" food. This is a myth promoted by the pet-food industry and by brainwashed veterinarians. What we are really talking about is diet, and dogs and humans (both being omnivores) can enjoy a similar balanced diet of protein, fat and carbohydrates. (Cats are functional carnivores, so they need a different diet.)Certain ingredients from the human table are bad for dogs -- chocolate, onions, raisins and, for some dogs, garlic. Small, growing, pregnant and elderly dogs and humans, and those with heart, kidney and other health problems, need special but similar diets.Check my Web site (www.doctormwfox.org) for a basic food recipe for your dog, whose digestive upsets might be related to food allergies or hypersensitivity. His hunger (food stealing) may be caused by a lack of one or more essential nutrients in his dry, processed food. He should also have a stool sample checked for worms. When shifting to a balanced, whole-food, home-prepared diet, do so gradua

Question:

Three years ago I adopted a 5-year-old beagle. I am her fourth owner. I think she was left home a lot. I stay at home with her and play with her and walk her four times a day. In spite of all the attention, she bites her feet. They are all swollen and brown instead of white.My vet has given me cortisone creams and sprays, but she licks them off and gets sick from it. My dog has had allergy tests that didn''t show a whole lot: She is allergic to a few foods. I''ve changed her diet, and I now give her prescription I/D food from the vet, and it seems to agree with her. I think she''s just nervous. She is very happy and lovable, but even now, as I''m typing, she''s biting her feet. Do you have any suggestions?.

D.T., Stratford, CT Dec 25, 2005

Answer:

Paw-chewing and licking are often associated with food allergies and, in some cases, contact-allergies (grass, floor cleaner, wool carpets, etc.). Secondary bacterial and fungal infections can develop in part because of excessive licking. Your veterinarian should look into this possibility, since steroid cram won''t help and could make matters worse. There are psychological reasons, too -- boredom, anxiety, fixated habit/obsessive compulsive disorder. Also, irritation in some other part of the body, such as the oral cavity or digestive system, could be the cause, so a thorough veterinary checkup is advisable.A short course of treatment with Benadryl (in part to sedate the dog) may help break the cycle, with plenty of outdoor activity as often and for as long as possible. Use a clicker or shake a can of keys or pebbles to distract your dog whenever he starts chewing. Follow up with remotivation and redirection training; giving him a bone or rope to chew on or play with should also help. Resistant cases often r

Question:

I would appreciate your guidance on what to feed my two cats (ages 1 and 4), which have no health issues on a daily basis. Two vets have told me to feed them only the same dry food, day after day (no variation needed) and to avoid wet (canned) food.Can you suggest a good dry food brand? Do you agree that cats have no need or interest in variety, especially in dry food? I am worried, not only about depriving them of variety (which humans certainly thrive on), but also of forcing my cats to eat food that might be too high in fat or salt or have other nutritional imbalances. Also, my cats greatly enjoy moist food. I give the two of them one can (5-1/2 ounces) a day to share, besides the dry food. Can you suggest some good brands of moist food and/or provide some recipes (beyond the recipe on your Web site) for daily feeding of healthy cats?I''ve been troubled by these feeding issues for a long time, and I hope to see your answer in the newspaper. Thank you.

M.D., Minneapolis, MN Dec 25, 2005

Answer:

Any veterinarian who insists that cats should be fed only dry food and never moist (canned) should either go back to school or find another job. Dry cat foods can be extremely addictive to cats, who then refuse to eat canned/moist foods. Then they may not get enough water in their systems, because cats do not have a good thirst mechanism that makes them drink when they are in poor fluid balance. This may lead to urinary tract health problems, from cystitis to urinary calculi (stones, "sand" and mucous plugs), which result in urinary blockages and painful, potentially fatal urine retention. Diabetes mellitus and obesity may also develop on a dry-food diet that is high in starch/carbohydrates. These are common health problems in cats and are best prevented by not allowing cats to eat dry food only.There are many good-quality commercial cat foods on the market, dry and canned. Check out your local health store and buy those cat foods with ingredients that are certified organic.A good book on home-prepared diets

Question:

I am puzzled by conflicting opinions about the amount of protein advisable in a cat''s diet. In particular, my dilemma has to do with my older cat, Aimee. Four years ago, when she was 9, I put her on the highest-protein premium cat food I could find (Purina One), with the thought that cats are strict carnivores and not designed to digest all the carbohydrates found in less expensive "grocery store" cat foods. As she was a bit chubby, I chose the weight-management formula with 38 percent protein. My cat responded by slimming down, becoming more active and recovering from apparent depression. She started playing with our new kitten, her coat became softer and more lustrous, and she was, in general, a happier cat.In the last six months or so, upon reading in your column how cats need to nibble for best digestion, I also began feeding both cats four times a day. (They can''t be allowed free choice because the younger one will constantly clean up the bowl for both of them.) Aimee responded positively again. At 13,

L.P., Springfield, Va Dec 25, 2005

Answer:

I am glad that the more frequent feeding regimen has improved your cat''s condition. Have her blood tested to determine her kidney function, and if all is well, there is no reason reduce her protein intake.Adding 1/2 teaspoon safflower oil or a few drops of fish oil to all of her meals will help maintain healthy kidney function.High-carbohydrate cat foods play a role in many chronic health problems in cats (which you have probably averted in Aimee). If kidney failure does develop, several steps need to be taken in addition to a lower-protein diet that, in itself, is not sufficient for afflicted felines.

Question:

I read with interest the letter from G.Z. of St. Louis Park, Minn. I, too, had a cat affected with seasonal affective disorder. Each winter he would lose about 4 to 5 pounds and act very lethargic; plus, most of his fur would fall out. He looked terrible, like a walking zombie, but come spring, his energy would come back, he''d gain weight, and his fur would come back beautiful. By fall he was sleek and sassy. (He would never lose his appetite during the winter, however.)I''m an artist, and I bought a full-spectrum lamp that helped me with my painting. My cat started to lie under the light where I worked. After that, he didn''t lose any weight or fur. I bought a second light just for him, and he spends a lot of time under it.Also, my grandson was blessed with an understanding cat. When my grandson came into adolescence he started to suffer from SAD. He needed to sit in front of the full-spectrum light every day during the winter. As he would sit and read in front of the light, his cat would join him in front of

B.B., Horace, ND Dec 25, 2005

Answer:

Thank you for your letter. I am sure it will wake up many readers to the fact that SAD does seem to affect some cats (and dogs, too). Animals could even develop patches of baldness, the condition being called seasonal alopecia.A full-spectrum light and a humidifier if rooms get too dry are wise winter provisions. Ceramic or glass water and food bowls may be advisable (never use plastic, which can leach toxins), since metal bowls can sometimes shock animals with static electricity, especially during the winter.

Question:

I have been totally devastated by the deaths of two of my cats in as many weeks. I read your column faithfully and understand your reluctance to use monthly chemical flea-and-tick treatments on cats. However, my cats did not die as a result of using one of those treatments, but from it not being effective enough to kill ticks carrying Cytauxzoon felis.I have not seen this topic addressed in your column and assume that''s because this is a problem in the South Central region of the United States and might not be of interest to most of your readers. Unfortunately, I let my cats roam freely on our semi-rural lot near a lake where bobcats live. I thought they were sufficiently protected from fleas and ticks by the monthly treatment prescribed by my veterinarian because I saw no evidence of ticks on them.My veterinarian has told me that there is research being done at our state school of veterinary medicine to create a vaccination and an antibodies test for Cytauxzoon. I hope you will address this topic so other r

C.L.F., Norman, OK Dec 18, 2005

Answer:

My sympathies go out to you over the loss of two cats so unexpectedly, from a communicable disease. Compared to domestic cats, bobcats may have developed some immunity to this tick-transmitted bloodstream parasite. Florida panthers also carry the disease.Fortunately for domestic cats, this disease is restricted to where dwindling populations of wild cats live. But, with repeated exposure to free-roaming house cats, this parasite could become more prevalent in the cat population across the United States if it became less lethal. More infected cats live to infect more ticks, to infect more cats!The only solution is to keep house cats confined and never allowed to roam free, especially in Southern and Southwestern states. Monthly anti-flea-and-tick drugs are useless, as you discovered, because these drugs work only after ticks have fed, and, in the process, transmitted this and other diseases.