DEAR READERS: All hunters should read this opinion column, written by several wildlife scientists and published in the Vail (Colorado) Daily on Feb. 14: "When mountain lion hunters assume a need to kill, science provides evidence to the contrary."
One section in the piece stands out: “The overly simplistic concept that sport hunting can lead to higher deer or elk populations has been around for decades, and yet, evidence to support this 'hypothesis' is simply lacking," the writers state. "Instead, considerable research over the last few decades concludes repeatedly that killing predators to enhance deer or elk populations simply fails to produce sustained results. Colorado biologists have wisely pointed out that when investigating deer losses, the state must consider multiple variables at work, including extreme weather, oil and gas development, and infectious disease.” (Full story: VailDaily.com, Feb. 14)
The experts who wrote the piece are Delia Malone, an ecologist with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program; David Jennings, Ph.D., an ecologist, attorney and appointed member of the World Commission on Environmental Law; Rick Hopkins, Ph.D., a conservation biologist and population ecologist focusing on mammalian carnivores; and Josh Rosneau, a mammalogist and director of policy with the Mountain Lion Foundation.
All states that have large predators such as mountain lions/pumas and wolves should address their immediate protection from ecologically damaging human predation.
DEAR DR. FOX: Do you offer nutritional plans for dogs? I am looking for help to create a diet for my 11-year-old dog who has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and H. pylori. He has lost a lot of weight because of constant vomiting.
I stopped giving him commercial food and am trying to give him balanced, home-cooked meals, but there is so much info out there and I have been overwhelmed by it all. I read a book on "nutrigenomics," but would love some help. -- K.D., Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico
DEAR K.D.: I trust that the attending veterinarian has ruled out any parasitic cause, such as giardia, in considering ways to treat your dog’s inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Helicobacter pylori infection.
I commend you for reading the “Canine Nutrigenomics” book by my friend, veterinarian W. Jean Dodds, but at this stage, I do not think dietary changes alone are going to help. You could try the dog food recipe posted on my website (drfoxonehealth.com). Do not use grains such as wheat, rye or barley since their gluten and gliadin content can play a role in IBD.
Many holistic veterinarians (and human doctors) recommend aloe vera juice, available without a prescription in most drug and health stores. Aloe vera helps soothe and heal the intestinal lining, alleviating IBD and such complications as the so-called leaky gut syndrome. I would put one part aloe vera in two parts of the water you give your dog to drink. In addition, give him a good-quality probiotic before meals and feed him three small meals a day.
The H. pylori issue with regurgitation may be rectified simply by giving your dog an antacid such as Tums after he has eaten. If this does not improve his condition, discuss further steps with your veterinarian.
Infection with H. pylori is not uncommon. As per the Merck Veterinary Manual, “Studies report as many as 100% of healthy dogs and cats are positive for Helicobacter infections; similar infection rates are reported in vomiting dogs and cats. ... Recommended treatment regimens include amoxicillin or tetracycline, metronidazole, bismuth subsalicylate, and a proton pump inhibitor (e.g., omeprazole) or H2-receptor blocker (e.g., famotidine) for two to three weeks. ... Although many dogs and cats treated with the above combinations did not experience long-term eradication of Helicobacter infection when retested, the frequency of vomiting and gastric lesions did improve with therapy for many patients.”
(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.)