DEAR DR. FOX: Your recent column, "A Time for Compassion," is one of several I have read recently regarding painless deaths for aged or ill animals. I am beginning to wonder if euthanasia is always humane and would welcome your guidelines.

We have had cats for many years. We had a veterinarian perform the life-ending procedure several times. One cat had ingested leaked vehicle coolant, and another had chronic incontinence. One cat was hit by a car and died after surgery.

Three other pets, however, were simply old, though they were not in any discernible distress. They lived out their lives with us and died in their sleep. Where possible, isn't this the perfect method?

Pets grow old, as do we. I worry that our throwaway society may inappropriately shorten their valuable lives. -- W.S.S., Easton, Md.

DEAR W.S.S.: You raise an important ethical question that can also be applied to humans. When an elderly human or other animal is starting to shut down or is terminally ill -- without intractable physical pain, fear or other emotional distress -- caregivers aim for optimizing the patient's comfort. That means basic hygiene, hydration, nutrients and appropriate analgesics. Light massage therapy, which helps hospitalized human patients from sinking into "hospital psychosis," is helpful when coupled with interaction with loved ones and caring helpers.

Similar provisions should be made for companion animals under in-home hospice care. Some may die in their sleep, but others linger. Then the question of any foreseeable recovery must be weighed against the increasing exhaustion of the caregivers, which can mean letting go -- cutting off intravenous and nasogastric tube fluid and nutrient support. An intravenous injection with a barbiturate-based euthanasia solution is the choice for companion animals. But if an animal is showing fear or distress, an intramuscular tranquilizer may be given first. Where there is intractable pain and no likelihood of recovery or any reasonable quality of life, prolonging life by any and all means (a not uncommon practice with terminally ill humans) is highly unethical, albeit highly profitable for the providers.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a German schnauzer, Doogan, who is 13 years old. He is larger than most miniatures in height, but he is not overweight at 20 to 21 pounds. He has always been in good health -- until May 2011.

He ate very little, was sick when he did eat and was lethargic for two days. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis and hospitalized for three days for dehydration. He was put on Hills Prescription Diet w/d and is back to his old self.

My concern is that before he was ill, his eyesight was failing. He has since developed cataracts. He still tracks fairly well, but not consistently. His favorite treats are carrot and celery bites -- he can usually catch the carrots, or if he misses, he can find them easily, but he misses the celery bites and it takes a long time to locate them.

He has no problems in the house or outside during daylight, and is OK in the house at night with lights on. But at night outside, even with the yard light on, he has difficulty. Many times when I call him to come inside, he will stand to the side of the door, and I have to go out and lead him in so he won't hurt himself.

I know there is surgery for cataracts, but I don't know how successful it's been, the recovery time or precautions that need to be taken. Is it a once-in-a-lifetime procedure? I've been told that it's very expensive, and I wonder if it's still feasible considering his age. -- J.W., Lexington, N.C.

DEAR J.W.: Having your old dog's opaque lenses surgically removed would be expensive, but since Doogan might enjoy some years with improved vision, I think it is worth consideration.

Consult with a veterinary ophthalmologist who will see if your dog's loss of vision can be corrected by simply removing the lenses or if there are other issues for which there is no surgical corrective.

With the history of acute pancreatitis, now resolved, the eye specialist will be mindful of the potential risks of general anesthesia -- risks associated with poor kidney, liver, pancreas and heart functions, which tests may reveal.

If Doogan is not a good candidate for eye surgery, you may be surprised how well he adjusts to loss of vision. Dogs with good hearing and sense of smell adapt remarkably well, provided they are handled with understanding and are not fearful or panicked.

'LITTLE BOY BLUE' BOOK REVIEW

"Little Boy Blue: A Puppy's Rescue From Death Row and His Owner's Journey of Truth" is an excellent new book by journalist Kim Kavin and published by Barron's Educational Services. Who wants to read a book exposing the horrors of unwanted cat and dog euthanasia in publicly supported animal shelters? Who wants to read about animals being crammed together in abject terror inside gas chambers, struggling to escape and fighting one another before the gas kills them -- though not always. Everyone with a cat or dog, or who cares for animals and sees the link between saving animals and our own humanity, should get this book and learn what must and can be done to address this shame of America and end such inhumanity. Go to Petfinder.com to find a dog like Blue!

(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: My sister and brother-in-law adopted a black Lab awhile back. The dog was given to them by a family whose son was allergic to it. He was well cared for, but he got cancer in his nose and died during a related operation.

After that, they decided they wanted a dog who was bred from good stock. They didn't want to take a chance of any other illnesses. They had a chocolate Lab bred for them. The dog is a lively, friendly, wonderful dog. She is now 5 years old. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed recently with lymphoma.

I don't believe in breeding dogs, as so many dogs need homes. However, I love the dog dearly, and I have two questions:

-- Is there anything we can do to prolong the dog's life?

-- Are Labs prone to cancer? -- S.F., Rockville, Md.

DEAR S.F.: Yes, indeed, many good dogs are in adoption centers in need of good homes. The commercial puppy mill mass production of purebreds and designer varieties is a major factor contributing to full-to-capacity shelters and adoptable dogs being killed.

Lymphoma is one of the more common canine cancers and is prevalent in certain breeds such as the golden retriever, boxer, German shepherd and Scottish terrier. Exposure to lawn and garden herbicides, electromagnetic radiation, solvents and paints has been associated with increased incidence of the cancer. In cats, it is most commonly associated with feline leukemia virus infection.

Depending on the dog's overall health and the invasiveness of this cancer, chemotherapy can accomplish a complete recovery with the drugs doxorubicin and vincristine. The latter is an extract of the vinca rose, which I used successfully in India to treat dogs suffering from transmissible venereal tumors. I would like to see clinical trials conducted on dandelion root extract, preliminary tests of which indicate a promising and safe treatment for lymphatic cancer.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a cat who is 9 years old and weighs 19 pounds. We have her on Purina Pro Plan weight management food trying to get her to lose some weight. The biggest problem we have is her throwing up.

She just started this about two years ago. We have been to three vets, and each says something different. Her stomach has been X-rayed. They think she vomits because of hair balls. She gets one Capilex pill every morning to try to digest her hair balls, but she still throws up several times a week -- and sometimes more. -- B.K., Washington, Mo.

DEAR B.K.: You have a middle-aged, overweight cat who is probably suffering from the same related health problems we see in overweight people. These health issues include diabetes, arthritis, fatty liver and heart disease. A veterinarian should check this out.

The most common reasons cats throw up after eating are not only hair balls in the stomach, but eating too quickly -- usually because they are so hungry and are fed only twice a day -- or being allergic to one or more ingredients in their food.

I would transition your cat to a cereal-free cat food such as Organix or Wellness. Give 2 teaspoons of food six to eight times daily, along with probiotics or a little plain live yogurt or kefir. Try to get her to play more; physical activity is good therapy. This is one of the reasons I advise people to keep two cats. They stimulate each other and are more active and healthier than live-alone 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.)

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.)