pets

Horse Slaughter

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | March 2nd, 2014

DEAR DR. FOX: You occasionally write good advice for horse owners such as myself. Will you please write something about the cruelty involved in horse slaughter? Thousands of horses are being exported to killing centers, and some people want slaughtering to start up again in the U.S. -- S.J., Parker, Colo.

DEAR S.J.: The year of 2014 is China's Year of the Horse, where the price of horse meat is listed on the nation's consumer price index. In 2013, consumers in Europe were outraged at the discovery of horse meat in their beef hamburgers, some of which probably originated from the United States. The last two government-inspected horse slaughtering and processing facilities were closed in 2007. Still, America's racing, working and pleasure horses are being denied a peaceful end to their lives.

In 2006, a reported 104,899 horses were killed in the U.S. before the slaughter ban. Since the ban, horses have been transported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter, where humane practices are not monitored. In 2010, almost 138,000 horses were transported out of the U.S. to be slaughtered, enduring untold suffering while being collected, corralled, and transported vast distances to be killed and processed, and even being held in beef cattlelike feedlot fattening facilities prior to slaughter.

In a recent public address in the United Kingdom, Princess Anne, a former Olympic equestrian, caused a stir when she said that attitudes to the U.K.'s horse meat trade may have to change in light of the current numbers of horses being abandoned and mistreated. "Should we be considering a real market for horse meat and would that reduce the number of welfare cases, if there was a real value in the horse meat sector?" she asked. My response, having used a stun gun approved for cattle slaughter on horses in an emergency, is that this standard slaughter method used for livestock is not humane, reliable or safe. Mass killing of horses for human consumption can never be humane.

American horse lovers must answer this question and not abdicate their responsibilities to ensure a humane death. The presence of veterinary medications and euthanasia drugs -- in particular from injection-killed horses -- in pet foods is a significant concern.

Thousands of spent horses are being rescued by local animal shelters that are going broke in the process of caring for these animals. This tragedy should not be capitalized upon as a financial opportunity for those who seek to open horse slaughter plants in the U.S., which will only add to the blight across rural America. I urge all concerned persons to contact their legislators immediately to support bills H.R.1094 and S.541, known as the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, to prohibit the sale, transport, import, or export of equines to be slaughtered for human consumption. For more details, visit DrFoxVet.com and vetsforeqinewelfare.org.

DEAR DR. FOX: I buried my beloved cat, Jenny, on Friday. She was a 17-year-old Maine coon with long hair. I believe she had arthritis pain, although my vet's X-ray did not show any abnormalities of the spine or hips. She lost three pounds over six months.

We moved to a condo six months ago, and the owner had the carpets cleaned before renting it to us. Jenny would never sleep in her regular bed after we moved, but preferred to sleep in the hallway on the carpet where it was warm. She constantly groomed herself after we moved here because I think she did not like the smell of the carpet. I wonder if whatever shampoo was used on the carpet was toxic to her.

She vomited almost every day -- not just hairballs, but whatever she had eaten. She also craved water and would jump into the bathroom sink to drink whenever the faucet was turned on, even though she had a water fountain with fresh water. She had copious amounts of urine.

I am heartbroken over losing her. I would like for you to warn your readers about the shampoo they use on their carpets when they have cats. I have no way of knowing what was used on my carpets because it was done before we moved here, but I think it contributed to my cat's illness and death. -- S.C., Rolla, Mo.

DEAR S.C.: My deepest condolences. Losing an old, beloved feline companion can be very distressing -- even more so when you do not know why the animal died.

Some carpet cleaners can contain toxic residues, which the cat can pick up on the paws and fur and then ingest in the process of self-grooming. Steam cleaning and enzyme cleaners on stains are the safest methods. New carpets can be toxic from formaldehyde fumes and flame-retardant bromide compounds that can harm the thyroid gland.

The stress of moving to a new place could also have tipped the scales for your cat and caused chronic kidney disease and stress-associated diabetes to flare up. You should feel no blame for this sad end to your cat's life who, after all, had to move with you and most certainly had a good life under your care.

(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

Canine Dental Hygiene

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | February 24th, 2014

DEAR DR. FOX: My 11-year-old Havanese dog is suffering from tartar-encrusted teeth. Her front teeth -- both top and bottom -- have become loose and are beginning to fall out. At times she is unable to eat her dry food. Her breath is terrible. I am desperate to find a solution and put an end to her discomfort. A reply would be greatly appreciated. -- M.C., Raleigh, N.C.

DEAR M.C.: When a dog or cat reaches the stage of having difficulty eating because of dental calculi, scale, tartar and associated halitosis, you know that you have a serious health issue to address without delay. Chances are, there are one or more rotting teeth that must be removed. There may also be infection and inflammation of the gums (periodontal disease), which can spread via blood circulation and damage the heart, kidneys and other internal organs and also infect the jawbone.

Before your dog is subjected to any oral surgery, the veterinarian should advise you of the risks, including that of giving a general anesthetic. This is needed for extractions, but many veterinarians avoid it when minor tooth scaling and cleaning is needed. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed for human, canine and feline patients before major dental work.

I would also recommend using PetzLife oral care products for five to seven days prior to dental work being done. These gels and sprays applied to the teeth and gums help reduce infection and inflammation, which will help reduce possible complications associated with oral surgery and general anesthesia. PetzLife offers tried-and-true natural, herbal ingredient formulations for oral health maintenance along with safe chew toys and crunchy treats. Visit petzlife.com for more details.

DEAR DR. FOX: Some time ago, I came home with some sushi, and my 6-year-old Siamese cat Suzi went crazy for it. I now give her treats of raw fish every day, and sometimes thawed fish fingers. Is that healthy for cats? -- K.M.W., Potomac, Md.

DEAR K.M.W.: My answer is an emphatic NO! Most fish -- and some more than others, especially white fish and herring -- contain enzymes called thiaminases. They destroy an essential B vitamin, namely thiamine. Cooking the fish destroys both the enzymes and much of the thiamine, dietary deficiencies of which can result in gastrointestinal, neurological and other health problems.

So a diet primarily of fish, cooked or raw, is not good for cats. After all, they are originally a desert-dwelling species. To learn more about feline nutrition and the hazards of many manufactured cat foods, check the book which I co-authored with two other veterinarians, "Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat & Dog Food." Also, there are ethical reasons to reduce our consumption of seafoods. For more details, visit fishfeel.org.

(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

Cat With Possible Degenerative Joint Disease

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | February 23rd, 2014

DEAR DR. FOX: Our healthy 12-year-old domestic shorthair cat started limping about four months ago. The problem seemed to be one of her hind legs. I took her to her vet, who could not elicit any joint pain or tenderness, and for whom Molly wouldn't walk out of fear -- she crouches and shakes during vet visits -- so he never saw her walking or limping. He asked me to get a video of her limping on my smartphone and bring it in to him to view. I agreed.

Molly's limp went away a day or two after the visit, and I was unable to capture her limp on film prior to its disappearance. I was surprised when Molly's vet said that cats rarely, if ever, get arthritis. It seemed to me that her limp was more pronounced after she had been sitting, and the hind leg appeared to feel a little better after she moved around.

The limp has returned, and I have captured it on film and will take it to the vet's office. What could possibly be the cause of on-again, off-again leg and hip tenderness if not arthritis? Molly is an indoor cat. -- B.L., Chesterfield, Mo.

DEAR B.L.: Cats are notoriously difficult to examine in the veterinary clinic setting when they are tense and afraid. Pain symptoms are masked and palpation is difficult to perform when muscles and limbs are tensed.

Any veterinarian who says that degenerative joint disease and arthritis is rare in cats needs to have a refresher course in feline medicine and nutrition.

Check out my book "The Healing Touch For Cats" to learn the benefits of massage therapy for this common condition in older cats. I advise beneficial supplements, especially good-quality fish oils or omega-3s from algae if the cat does not like the fish oil source of these essential fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and help with arthritis and other conditions.

DEAR DR. FOX: My friend Dara rescued an elderly, medium-sized female dog, Josephine, from life on a short chain in the backyard. It took years for the "owners" to agree to surrender the dog, and only because the dog had become ill and would have died during the recent cold spells.

Josephine is still shy and reluctant in her new home, which she shares with Dara, her husband and two boy dogs. Josephine has taken ownership of the doggy door and will growl at the boys when they want to go outside. To my knowledge, she has not nipped anyone, but her growl is intimidating enough to stress out the boys.

What do you suggest? Josephine is still shell-shocked from her 10 years on a chain. Dara wants her to feel loved and accepted, but she cannot tolerate Josephine being the gatekeeper to the potty. -- H.S., St. Louis

DEAR H.S.: Dogs with post-traumatic stress disorder need great sensitivity applied to any behavioral correction or modification. It is good that she is beginning to assert herself with the two resident boy dogs -- up to a point. But if they are showing signs of anxiety, then some behavioral redirection is called for.

If she is not freaked out by the sound of a training clicker I would train her to come for a treat every time she hears it. Alternatively, you can use a squeaky toy; squeak it and the reward is for her to chase it.

This conditioning will have to be done with the other dogs in another room. Food reward rather than a squeaky toy reward may set up some rivalry between the dogs, so the choice of behavioral modification will have to be determined through trial and selection.

Alternatively, train the new dog to sit and stay on command, while on a leash. Give her a reward when she obeys. With her on the leash, close to the dog door, give the sit and stay commands when the boys want to go out. If she snarls at them, repeat the sit and stay commands. Coupling the verbal command with a raised then slowly lowered hand facilitate the learning process.

If these measures fail, I would set up a low, 4- to 5-foot-long railing on the doorframe so the dogs wanting to go out have some protection from her. I hope these ideas help.

RED FLANNEL CAT FOOD RECALL

PMI Nutrition in Arden Hills, Minn., is recalling its 20-pound bags of their Red Flannel cat food after routine testing by the Food and Drug Administration Detroit District Office identified possible salmonella contamination. There have been no reports of illness related to the product, according to the company.

For more information on the recall, customers can contact the customer service line for PMI products at 800-332-4738.

(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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