DEAR DR. FOX: My cat Samantha and I want to thank you for writing about feeding cats several small meals a day if they eat too fast and vomit. That was Samantha's issue -- not hair balls or a food allergy, which you also suggested could be the cause.

The other night, we watched "My Cat From Hell," the TV show with cat "expert" Jackson Galaxy, who told the couple to feed their cat twice a day only. How many viewers are going to take his wrong advice and have puking cats? -- N.M., Winston-Salem, N.C.

DEAR N.M.: This reminds me of some of the cat-food ads -- even featured during this show -- where a cat races to the food bowl and gobbles down the dry kibble like a dog would. This irresponsible advertising gives the impression that this is how cats normally eat. In actuality, the cats used in these commercials are clearly food deprived and, therefore, ravenous.

A cat fed twice a day may behave in this way, and like your Samantha, have episodes of vomiting, experience digestive upsets and have diarrhea. Feeding twice a day is not the best way to have a cat lose weight or become more sociable. Feline veterinary experts, nutritionists and behaviorists are unanimous that a twice-a-day feeding schedule, which is fine for dogs, is biologically inappropriate for cats. At least four small meals a day is closer to the natural feeding pattern.

It is regrettable that there is such poor control over what gets put on television these days, especially with regard to programs about dogs, cats and pet care. I wonder about the qualifications of purported experts and advisers, and I find many of these shows exploitative of animals and of the human-animal bond. And all of this to sell advertisements promoting dubious pet foods, pet products and even purebred and exotic animals. Sound science, common sense and ethics seem to have been lost in the commercial haze and celebrity daze of these vacuous times.

VETERINARY PRESCRIPTION DIET RECALLED

After a product sample of its canned cat food tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicated a low level of thiamine, or vitamin B1, Nestle Purina PetCare recalled Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management canned cat food with a "best by" date of June 2013 and the production code 11721159. The lot was distributed to veterinary clinics between June 2011 and May 2012. It was not sold in retail stores.

This recall was in response to one consumer complaint received by the FDA. Though the company said it has not received any other complaints of thiamine or other health issues related to the product, it acknowledged that cats fed this lot exclusively for several weeks may be at risk for developing a deficiency of thiamine, which is an essential vitamin for cats. Early signs of thiamine deficiency include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. Advanced symptoms may include the neck bending toward the floor, wobbly walking, falling, circling and seizures. However, if treated promptly by a veterinarian, thiamine deficiency is usually reversible.

In my professional opinion, this is unacceptable corporate irresponsibility. Sending out products exclusively to veterinarians that have not been adequately formulated and tested for nutrient content, and, in the process, putting at risk cats and veterinarians' reputations is unnecessary and dangerous.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Our local low-cost spay-neuter clinic is offering free Esterilsol for neutering. What do you think of this new procedure? -- J. and J.H., Fort Worth, Texas

DEAR J. and J.H.: Esterilsol is a zinc gluconate solution that is injected one time only into each testicle to shut down sperm maturation and transportation -- it's a kind of chemical vasectomy. However, dogs still produce testosterone.

One benefit of surgical castration under short-acting general anesthetic is that the vet does not run the risk of making a wrong injection, as can happen with Esterilsol, leading to severe inflammation, ulceration and the urgent need for remedial surgical castration. This would be disastrous for dogs who are set free immediately after injection, as is happening in some countries where this product is being used as an alternative to surgical castration.

With either neutering procedure, dogs should be held for a few days prior to release for observation after injection -- which I do not see in the manufacturer's protocol -- and to allow for healing after surgery. After the injection, pain and swelling can be severe for some dogs, and it can last for up to a week. This is a problem even with the most careful adherence to the manufacturer's protocols, as I have learned evaluating this product some years ago when it went under the name of Neutersol. I vetoed it then, as I veto Esterilsol now. Surgical castration can be safer, even in tropical countries, and surgically neutered dogs with lowered testosterone suffer fewer fight injuries.

Better alternatives to using hormonal implants and a birth control vaccine are being developed to help address pet overpopulation in many countries. For more details, visit the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs at www.acc-d.org.

DEAR DR. FOX: I hope you can give me advice to help my 17-year-old indoor calico cat with a paw problem.

She has a tumor on her right front paw that has left a hole about 1/2 inch deep. She walks and jumps using the paw with no obvious pain, and she eats normally. I clean her paw regularly with peroxide, which was recommended by two veterinarians who have checked her physical condition. They both said part or the entire paw would have to be amputated, but did not recommend it because of her age -- she might not survive the operation.

Any advice on avoiding amputation would be greatly appreciated. -- F.M., Elk Garden, N.Y.

DEAR F.M.: I am glad those veterinarians are not persuading you to subject your cat to surgery.

I agree that, because of her age and because she is enjoying normal physical activity, doing nothing outweighs the risk of surgery. She may not survive the anesthetic or, if she does, she will have a painful healing process.

If she is periodically licking the sore, she may be preventing it from healing. Cancer cells in the lesion will also interfere with the healing process. If possible, keep a light bandage on the wound to prevent her from licking to help the lesion slowly close up and possibly heal. Clean the wound once daily with an irrigating stream of warm saline solution, dry and add a few drops of organic honey, a natural antibiotic with healing properties. Irrigate once every five to seven days with diluted hydrogen peroxide if there appears to be any pus; daily application could actually delay healing.

"CRADLING" THERAPY AND TRAINING FOR PUPS AND KITTENS

Simply cradling a puppy or kitten in one's arms is part of the process of animal socialization that is as gentle as it is profound. Pups and kittens learn to accept being picked up and gently held without struggling, and they enjoy the intimacy and security of close physical contact.

Submitting to and accepting such handling is integral to effective and proper socialization or bonding with the human caregiver. It facilitates subsequent training and communication. If and when the animal struggles while being cradled, the gentle embrace becomes a firm resistance that allows your pet to yield. When the animal ceases to struggle and begins to relax, she will accept cradling restraint and start to trust the therapy.

This gentle psychophysical "judo" can help in the behavior modification of adult, hyperactive or poorly socialized companion animals, often with a history of overindulgence and a lack of boundaries. These animals have limited self-control, which Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov called internal inhibition.

Cradling conditions the animal to accept restraint, develop internal inhibition and, above all, helps the animal develop the kind of trust that is the key for a strong and sustaining human-animal bond.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Our precious male cat, Patches, was the pet of the week in our newspaper. My husband was recovering from heart surgery at the time, and he spotted our new pet. Patches was about 18 months old when we adopted him -- a puffball of white and gray patchy fur.

We noticed three things about him: First of all, he didn't make sounds. Second, he was terrified of anything that looked like a broom or dust mop. Third, his paws hurt him if you touched them.

Those clues told me that he had had a less-than-happy past and that his declawing procedure had been a botched job. His paws were tender his whole life. The other things, like making sounds, appeared after we talked to him and soothed him. I think he conquered his fear of the household equipment.

I always felt sorry that he had been declawed. In fact, I think they cut off half of his front paws. It is an atrocity that this remains common practice. -- E. and M.H., Estero, Fla.

DEAR E. and M.H.: I appreciate hearing about your adopted cat Patches, and I trust that your husband made a full recovery from his heart surgery ordeal.

Cats can be excellent heart therapists, helping slow down the human heart rate and blood pressure. Many cat owners tell me how relaxing the cats' contented purring can be, and more doctors are recognizing the therapeutic value and healing powers of companion animals.

Studies have shown that people with an animal in their homes enjoy a faster recovery after major surgery and have fewer relapses. Having a companion animal can help ward off depression and thoughts of suicide. Children benefit from having fewer allergies when exposed to animals in the home from an early age.

I believe that you are correct that Patches had a trauma-filled life before his adoption. Never purring or making other vocalizations can be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder in cats, which Patches confirmed by starting to speak when he felt secure in his new environment.

As for his tragic paw mutilations, I find it abhorrent that cats continue to be declawed by veterinarians, even when purportedly less painful, more advanced surgical techniques are used. I document many of the harmful consequences on my website, DrFoxVet.com. Laypersons will also do this claw-removal using physical restraint and wire cutters, which I regard as felony animal cruelty.

DEAR DR. FOX: Do most pet owners really care about what is happening to animals around the world?

There is so much animal abuse and suffering, and I believe that anyone who has an animal as a pet has a duty to help all animals. Same for those who eat them. They should not be supporting factory farms and fast food outlets that serve meat from abused animals.

I am a vegetarian, I support animal rights and I foster cats for adoption. Some of my friends and relatives think I am nuts, but at least my boyfriend supports me. Is there any real hope for change? I have supported some of the big animal welfare and conservation organizations, but I stopped after they sent me expensive publications soliciting more donations and I learned about how much goes to salaries and travel expenses rather than to programs to help animals.

What organizations would you support, and how can individuals like me make a difference? -- R.E., Falls Church, Va.

DEAR R.E.: If more people felt as you do and acted accordingly, I might hold more hope for a viable future for our own kind.

The physical, mental, social and economic well-being of future generations is dependent upon how well we treat the environment and fellow creatures. These connections are being recognized by various authorities under the banner "One Health." I discuss this in my books "Healing Animals and the Vision of One Health," and "Animals and Nature First."

We can all make a difference by changing our dietary habits and reducing meat consumption. Try supporting local farmers and organic agriculture, your local humane society, local Audubon Society chapter and clean water and conservation initiatives. You can also recycle, encourage humane and environmental education in grade schools, don't use pesticides and donate to organizations like the Animal Welfare Institute, Sea Shepherd, Earth Island Institute, Greenpeace International, Environmental Working Group, Union of Concerned Scientists and Natural Resources Defense Council -- just to name a few!

A few readers, including those who believe that climate change is a fabrication of extremists, have complained about this column, insisting that I should stick to pet health issues and not get "political." But the politics of extinction and human and animal health cannot be ignored. I see it as my professional duty to do what I can to help heal our relationships with other animals and the natural world for the good of all.

CHICKEN DOG TREATS MADE IN CHINA LINKED TO 900 COMPLAINTS

Since November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received 900 complaints of illnesses and deaths of pets who ate chicken jerky treats made in China. Extensive FDA testing since 2007 hasn't identified a toxic agent in the treats, and reports from FDA visits to manufacturing plants in China haven't been released. I urge all concerned to visit my websites, DrFoxVet.com or facebook.com/drfoxvet, to consider my theory that treatment of this product in China by irradiation may be the issue that the FDA must address. I unequivocally advise against purchasing these imported treats -- from several brands -- and safely dispose of any you may have in your home. Visit the FDA's website, fda.gov, for more information.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 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 DrFoxVet.com.)