pets

Feral Cat Colony Questions

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | September 2nd, 2012

DEAR DR. FOX: For the past 17 months, I have been a feral cat colony caretaker. All of the cats were part of the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, and further breeding has ceased. The colony in which I am involved consisted of 10 cats originally; there are now five. Some have disappeared over time, and, sadly, one was found dead recently, with no obvious illness beforehand.

I have two beloved felines at home -- a tortoiseshell and a tuxedo. One was a rescue cat, the other a shelter adoptee. Needless to say, they are loved and respected for the wonderful animals they are.

I am writing to you today with the following questions regarding feral cats, as well as caretakers such as myself:

-- Are you an advocate of feral cat colonies, and, if so, what conditions must be met by the caretaker(s)?

-- Do you believe that euthanasia is a more humane approach for cats that are not receiving annual vet visits, such as feral cats?

-- Do you feel I am wrong in sustaining the lives of these innocent animals that are susceptible to disease and many other hardships?

My colony has ample shelter and fresh food and water provided daily. We clean feeding bowls, etc. We stress hygiene as much as possible in our efforts.

I decided to be a feral cat caretaker because we, as human beings, through neglect and disdain, have forced these innocent animals to fend for themselves through no choice of their own. Many of these cats have unique personalities, no different from my two at home. As a caretaker, I do whatever I can to lessen the hardships of these animals. -- G.L., Washington, D.C.

DEAR G.L.: I wish there were more compassionate and caring people like you helping animals. Unfortunately, the best intentions often go awry. Maintaining a feral cat colony is a full-time responsibility. Cats who are sick or injured and too fearful to be caught do suffer. Even with neutering, there is the ethical question of providing food and shelter to cats only to prolong their suffering until they expire.

My biggest concern, and the reason I oppose TNR programs, is cats killing birds and other wildlife.

As I have discovered, some feral cats can be socialized and make good indoor companions. Perhaps you may find more fulfillment facilitating adoptions at your local shelter (ideally for two or more littermates) and pushing for legislation and public education to deter people from letting their cats roam free.

I applaud your efforts to help these poor animals, and I respect all involved in TNR programs. But the consequences of humane intervention must be considered, for the road to hell is indeed often paved with good intentions. I would rather advocate TNA or TNE -- trap-neuter-adopt or -euthanize the unadoptable -- knowing that given time and patience, many wild, terrified cats can be rehabilitated. I kiss one on his tummy every morning.

DEAR DR. FOX: In one of your columns, you asked about animals showing emotion and shedding real tears.

Many years ago, we adopted a basset hound, Sadie, with her eight puppies. Our family loved her, and my mother knit her a sweater, which we presented to her on a cold Cleveland Christmas. It fit well and we all exclaimed over how beautiful she was, but Sadie hated it. She was obviously humiliated -- she hid behind a big chair and cried real tears. We tried one more time with a slow, private presentation, and we got the same results -- big tears ran down her face.

She cried one more time in her 12 years with us. Our daughter brought home an adorable longhaired guinea pig, and the family gathered and exclaimed over it. Suddenly, we realized that Sadie was watching with large tears running down her face. Her feelings were obviously hurt. She was the nicest, sweetest dog ever. -- J.A., Naples, Fla.

DEAR J.A.: Thank you for confirming that some dogs can be moved to tears. Just as people cry for different reasons, so do some of our canine companions.

In humans, shedding tears has evolved from being lacrimation to protect the eyes and lubricate the cornea to a social signal. A similar process may be under way with dogs after many thousands of years associating with humans. This association, confirmed by recent cognitive behavior research on dogs, is based on their innate capacity to learn the meaning of human gestures such as pointing at an object. Dogs, like other social animals, also probably possess so-called mirror neurons in their brains, enabling them to decode body language signals and underlying emotions on the basis of their own subjective feelings. Many dogs will show distress or concern and affection when a human family member is crying, often licking the tears. It is a relatively small step for a dog to then cry to express emotional distress. This may be a spontaneous rather than deliberate act, but one facilitated nonetheless by human social interactions.

OREGON COURT UPGRADES STATUS OF ANIMALS

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that abused and neglected animals will be considered sentient victims, not just property, for the purpose of sentencing a perpetrator in a recent case. The person in question was convicted of second-degree animal abuse regarding the mistreatment of dozens of horses, goats and other animals.

Most states allow people and corporations to be victims, but animals are considered property. The judicial system in the U.S. at both state and federal levels has long resisted such humane, enlightened initiatives. This is a sad, if not outmoded, attitude toward fellow creatures whose moral and legal standing in this culture need to be elevated if we are to call ourselves civilized.

(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.)

pets

Obsessive Licking Could Be Ocd

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | August 27th, 2012

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 4 1/2-year-old female Chihuahua named Angel. She is an alert and friendly dog, but she has one quirk that we do not understand.

The problem that causes concern is her licking. If you sit next to her on the couch, she will reach her paws out and pull your hand over to her. Then she will start to lick and may do so for 10 or 15 minutes if allowed to.

But it is not just people she licks. She will lick upholstered furniture like the couch until the area she is licking becomes soaked. Since she is something of a burrower, she may be under a blanket, licking away, and we are not even aware of it.

We feed her Purina Pro Plan for small breed dogs. We wonder if this licking is due to some kind of dietary deficiency, and, if so, what we need to do to correct it. -- P.B., Manassas, Va.

DEAR P.B.: Your dog's licking is probably a neurotic obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that should be evaluated by a veterinarian. It may be resolved, which will improve the quality of your dog's life -- and yours, too.

Compulsive licking can also be a sign of discomfort caused by periodontal disease or other oral problems, which the veterinarian will consider. Another strong possibility is digestive discomfort.

If there are no oral health issues, I would transition your dog onto one of the dog food brands that carry my seal of approval on my website, DrFoxVet.com, or look up my home-prepared dog food recipe. Soy ingredients and some cereal grains can cause serious digestive problems in dogs.

If your dog does not improve after six to eight weeks on a new diet coupled with safe chew toys to play with and as much physical activity outdoors as possible, she may have an anxiety-driven OCD. Psychotropic drugs such as Prozac have proved very effective for dogs with this condition.

DEAR DR. FOX: My indoor male cat is about 9 years old. Lately, he's been limping or favoring his right hind leg or hip area.

Sometime last year, he may have fallen from a cat climbing tower or window and landed wrong. We're not sure exactly what happened, but he avoids climbing the tower now. His vet thinks he has some arthritis due to the probable injury and the fact that he is a large-framed cat who weighs 14 or 15 pounds.

My vet has given me a sample of tramadol to try for him as needed for pain relief. I have heard that the taste of the tablet is very bitter and that he could foam at the mouth after taking it. Aside from the bitter taste, are there any serious side effects of using this drug as needed for my cat?

As a side note, he is also asthmatic and has been on a daily regimen of inhaled Flovent and albuterol for about six years. He is very good about this routine. -- L.W., Alexandria, Va.

DEAR L.W.: After middle age, many cats suffer from chronic arthritis, which is often only diagnosed when they take a tumble because of reduced mobility, like yours probably did.

The tramadol will give some pain relief, but I would not advise long-term use. Fish oil is something I recommend frequently because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Massage therapy and acupuncture can be beneficial, ideally done in-home by a qualified therapist or trained veterinarian. There are schools for pet massage -- just search the Internet -- and my book, "The Healing Touch for Cats," is used by many for in-home therapy.

You are fortunate that your cat accepts the inhalation therapy. Many cats protest this and are stressed by the experience. With patience, many often come to accept the treatment -- no doubt because of the associated relief.

In all cases of diagnosed asthma, food allergy and heart disease must be ruled out. A change in diet -- trying various formulations -- might be all your cat needs if this has not been considered before.

(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.)

pets

Owner Wonders About Dog With Oily Hair but Dry Skin

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | August 26th, 2012

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 7 1/2-year-old Yorkshire terrier. Ever since I've had him, he has had very dry skin. A few years ago, his hair became very oily, but his skin remained dry. Three days after giving him a bath, his hair is very oily.

I have tried aloe, oatmeal and lanolin, plus numerous other shampoos and different kinds of food. I have been giving him a bath about every three days because if I wait any longer, he looks like he has been dipped in oil.

The vet hasn't seemed very concerned about this. Two years ago in the spring, my dog's hair started falling out on his back, and he was itching. The vet said he had a flea allergy. I comb him once or twice every day with a flea comb -- he had a few, but never many, fleas. In the winter, his hair grew back.

This spring, the hair started falling out again. I took him to the vet, and the vet gave him Temaril-P tablets. He seemed to be a lot better while taking the tablets, but when he was through with them, the hair started coming out again with the itching.

I have put him on brewer's yeast tablets, and I spray him with a pennyroyal and water mix for fleas. I gave him Comfortis for a while and he was better, but I did not like giving him those types of things.

What do you suggest doing for the oily hair and dry skin? -- M.S., Archdale, N.C.

DEAR M.S.: Your Yorkie is at the age when the thyroid, and sometimes the adrenal gland, become dysfunctional, leading to hyperthyroidism and Cushing's disease.

The veterinarian should rule out these underlying possibilities; you should also discuss your dog's nutrition. He may be lacking omega-3 fatty acids, a common problem in dogs fed poor-quality dry dog foods. His digestive system may need enhancement with probiotics, which will also help his immune system. For more details, visit my website, DrFoxVet.com, and check the archives, which contain several letters from people with dogs sharing symptoms similar to your little Yorkie. I would not use the pennyroyal since it may cause liver damage.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 17-year-old female indoor cat's behavior has become increasingly unbearable in the past six months.

She leaves poop on my couch, on carpets and right next to her clean litter box, though she urinates in the box. She yowls constantly and for no apparent reason. These episodes wake us up three or four times a night. She will stop if we clap our hands or yell louder than her screams.

The tones of her vocalizations sound as though she is in severe pain. Our vet said that, but for the usual ailments of an old cat, she is fine.

What causes these horrific sounds, and what can we do to stop it? It is driving us nuts. -- J.C., Beltsville, Md.

DEAR J.C.: I am not sure why your veterinarian said your cat is fine but for the "usual ailments." What does that mean?

She is clearly suffering, most likely a combination of chronic constipation, possibly diabetes, arthritis and probably senile dementia. One form of feline dementia is virtually identical to Alzheimer's disease in humans.

There is much that can be done to improve your cat's quality of life -- visit my website for more information. For good measure, find a more empathic and informed veterinarian, and get a second opinion.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 7-year-old male domestic cat who has overgroomed himself from the belly to his behind. He is now starting on the inside of his back legs.

We keep his litter box clean and give him as much attention as we can with a newborn in the house. How can we change his behavior and make him happy again? -- S.D., Weaverville, N.C.

DEAR S.D.: A crying baby in the home and the associated change in daily routines can be extremely stressful for some cats. Obsessive-compulsive grooming can be one self-comforting response. The stress may have contributed to your cat's thyroid gland becoming overactive, one common sign being excessive grooming. So I advise a veterinary appointment. Other possible causes are allergens in the cat's food or home environment, which the attending veterinarian will also consider.

CATSWELL VITAKITTY CHICKEN BREAST VOLUNTARY LIMITED RECALL

Catswell, which also produces Dogswell treats, posted the following (abridged) announcement on its website:

"During routine testing of our products, we recently discovered that two batches of our Catswell VitaKitty Chicken Breast with Flaxseed and Vitamins tested positive for a limited presence of an ingredient called propylene glycol. Although this ingredient is 'generally regarded as safe' for both humans and dogs, the FDA does not allow it in cat food or treats, even at trace levels. Although no cases of illness in cats have been reported due to the two batches, we felt a voluntary recall was necessary."

For more information, including lot numbers of the recalled food, visit catswell.com/qualityassurance, call 888-559-8833 or email info@dogswell.com.

The propylene glycol in these treats is included in various food products to make it stay moist, but it was discontinued for use in semi-moist cat foods because it caused a type of anemia (heinz body) in cats.

(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.)

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