DEAR DR. FOX: I'm responding to a query from one of your readers, asking for help with feline asthma. One of my cats, Tummy, had bouts of pretty bad asthma three to four times a year. After he was diagnosed, he had several cortisone shots before I moved on to trying some alternative therapies. I had already done those other things that you mentioned to your reader regarding food sensitivities and other possible triggers. Then I started Tummy on some acupuncture treatments with a local practitioner who made house calls. I used Greta McVey (marylandpetacupuncture.com), and her treatments seemed to help. -- P.L., Silver Spring, Maryland

DEAR P.L.: I appreciate your confirmation of the benefits of alternative and complementary veterinary medical treatments for your cat. I advise pet owners to be open to unconventional treatment protocols and seek out those veterinarians who offer what is generically termed a "holistic" approach to animal health and treatment, as I detail in my book "Healing Animals & the Vision of One Health."

The best medicine is prevention, and a holistic, integrative approach to companion animal health. We are in the 21st century. It is time for a revision of vaccination protocols, to quit feeding highly processed commercial pet foods and over-medicating pets, especially with so-called preventive medications like those sold to keep fleas and ticks at bay, when there are effective -- and much cheaper -- alternatives available that pose far less risk to animals' health.

For further information, contact a holistic veterinarian in your area. A searchable list can be found at holisticvetlist.com. Veterinarians wishing to learn more are encouraged to become members of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association at www.ahvma.org.

POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS FOR ANIMALS AND ALL LIFE

In his wide-ranging encyclical letter, "Laudato Si'," Pope Francis has incorporated much of the philosophy and terms of the animal liberation and "deep" ecology movements to which I contributed in some of my writings and in a DVD a quarter-century ago.

Some highlights:

-- "The misuse of creation begins when we no longer recognize any higher instance than ourselves, when we see nothing else but ourselves."

-- "Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another."

-- "The Bible has no place for a tyrannical anthropocentrism unconcerned for other creatures."

-- "... Our indifference or cruelty toward fellow creatures of this world sooner or later affects the treatment we mete out to other human beings."

-- "Once the human being declares independence from reality and behaves with absolute dominion, the very foundations of life begin to crumble."

-- "It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly."

I applaud and pray his letter will touch every nation and community worldwide and that its assertions and directives will be embraced by all religious and secular authorities for the good of all.

(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.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Is there an epidemic of cancer in dogs and cats? My healthy 7-year-old German shepherd has a cancerous tumor in her mouth (lower jaw near the little front teeth). It was quite red and about the size of a nickel.

Our vet gave us several options, and we decided to have it removed with a laser treatment. After four weeks, it has returned. The vet said it might, but we thought it would be worth it to save her.

Since all this has been going on, I have found out that there are at least six other dogs in our

area with cancer problems. Over the 50-plus years that I have been married and have had German shepherd dogs, this was never a problem. We are absolutely devastated that we might lose her.

I have read some articles pertaining to immunotherapy for dogs and how that might help. What do you think? -- A.H., Wappinger Falls, New York

DEAR A.H.: Check the archives of my column, where I have written about this issue. In my opinion, cancer is one of the human-caused diseases where one or more environmental factors -- such as carcinogens in heat-processed meat -- damage cellular DNA, especially in those dogs who are genetically more susceptible to developing certain cancers. Anti-flea drugs may also be cancer-causing in some animals.

Immunotherapy is another big hope of the medical industry, but it can have harmful side effects on the immune system. Prevention and genetic screening are the way of the future, but it's not profitable! The politics of disease -- cancer in particular -- are a major issue, notably when government continues to "regulate" agricultural pesticides and food additives known to be carcinogenic.

DEAR DR. FOX: My veterinarian thinks that my 60-pound, 8-year-old pit bull-mix might have a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear in her right rear leg. She has had intermittent lameness in that leg for the past two years, but it seems that lately she is more lame than healthy. She can bear weight on the leg, but she does not use it when squatting to urinate. The vet prescribed a 10-day course of Rimadyl, which seemed to help.

Our vet discussed options that are currently available; the most expensive but best choice is tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO) or tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) surgery, given her weight and size. I called around to six veterinary surgery centers and even to one group that travels from vet to vet performing surgeries, and the average cost for that surgery is $3,500. I am currently out of work with two college-aged children. Do you know of any other less expensive surgical options for our dog? I was told that suture-based techniques (extra-capsular or tightrope) would not be a good option. I am worried that she is putting too much strain on her “good” rear right leg. The vet indicated that the lameness will only get worse over time. -- K.R., Washington, D.C.

DEAR K.R.: Many dogs suffer from torn cruciate (knee) ligaments. This common affliction may be due to several factors, including abnormal conformation (hind legs too straight), being overweight, being very active after a long period of relative inactivity or adverse reaction to vaccination.

All dogs suspected of cruciate ligament rupture or tearing should be confined and not allowed to run or jump for at least four to six weeks, then have the veterinarian evaluate your dog. After that time -- and if your dog seems better -- slowly increase the duration and intensity of physical activity. Avoid going back to high-speed running, and no jumping.

Powdered ginger, turmeric and fish oil nutraceutical food supplements can be beneficial and certainly safer than Rimadyl. Give a half teaspoon of each twice per day during the rest and possible recovery period.

Surgery is costly, not always effective and complicated by the other knee ligament giving way. Smaller and lightweight dogs can often self-heal and not require surgery. If your dog is overweight, work on that with a grain-free diet, or use my home prepared recipe using one-quarter of the suggested grain portion.

Keep me posted.

SECOND PENTOBARBITAL RECALL

Against the Grain Pet Food voluntarily recalled one lot of pulled beef due to potential contamination with pentobarbital. The 12-ounce Against the Grain Pulled Beef With Gravy Dinner for Dogs has an expiration date of December 2019.

Note: Against the Grain Pet Food is owned by and manufactured by Evangers Pet Food.

Read more at truthaboutpetfood.com/second-pentobarbital-recall-against-the-grain-pet-food.

For detailed documentation, see my article Changing Diets for Health's and Earth's Sake, posted on my website -- especially the postscript, The Vegetarian Imperative.

Additionally, the FDA has provided pet food consumers with another update to the Evanger’s Pet Food investigation. Some very interesting information can be found at truthaboutpetfood.com/fda-provides-qa-update-to-evangers-pet-food-investigation.

(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 DrFoxVet.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: We have an adorable corgi-bichon dog, Missy, who is 11 years old. She had a bout with arthritis lately that took her down. She was having great difficulty getting up and even had a couple accidents in the house, which she had never done before. After a disappointing appointment with her vet, we stopped at the Natural Pet Center in town and talked to them. They recommended Wapiti Labs Elk Velvet Antler Powder; they said we’d see a difference in seven to 10 days. In just a few days, she was getting up much easier; by day seven she was able to go for a walk!

She’s been doing absolutely amazing, and I can’t say enough about this product! It’s given us back our Missy! Have you heard of it, or do you have an opinion on it? We took her back to her vet -- they couldn’t believe the improvement. Maybe other readers will find help in elk velvet antler products. -- E.N., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR E.N.: Even though such "biologics" -- products and extracts from various parts of other animals -- may have some value as nutraceutical supplements that help alleviate various conditions in us and those animals under our care, there are ethical questions that need to be addressed.

An extreme example is the use of rhino horn and tiger bones for arthritis and impotence in Chinese folk medicine, along with a host of other products from animals domesticated and wild, captive, endangered and poached, that are purported to be of medical benefit.

I think it is always questionable when parts of one animal are used to improve the health of another. Harvesting krill for their oil as a nutraceutical supplement rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and as a protein source to feed farmed animals for human consumption robs whales and other marine mammals and birds of an essential food source. Another extreme example is harvesting kidneys from healthy cats to be transplanted into cats with kidney failure.

Other ethical questions need to be raised and answered, such as humane treatment of the donor animals and the environmental impact of raising and "harvesting" them. Harvesting the velvet from captive deer and elk can never be done humanely. Deer farms may be disease reservoirs, putting wild deer at risk, as with chronic wasting disease in Minnesota. So we must ask: Are there humane, ecologically and less environmentally harmful alternatives to many of the animal-derived products on the market today? There is a vegan source of omega-3 fatty acids from marine algae. For arthritic dogs, chondroitin and glucosamine, derived from such sources as ground chicken cartilage (a byproduct of the poultry industry) as well as beneficial herbal extracts like ginger and turmeric have proven beneficial.

I oppose in principle the commercial exploitation of ever more species such as deer and elk and also farmed salmon, a popular source of fish oil, because of captivity-related stress, disease and suffering. At least poultry are domesticated, better adapted to confinement and live short lives before slaughter. They have a far less negative environmental impact than cattle raised for their meat, bones, hides and other valuable byproducts, an industry having a worldwide presence and major factor in climate change and loss of wildlife and wild lands. 

DEAR DR. FOX: I just read your column about perfumed dogs and the calming effect on their owners. I would like to propose that the same thing exists with certain cats. I have a 16-year-old Himalayan who has a very distinctive, warm aroma. When I am stressed, I stick my nose in his tummy, inhale, listen to the purring and feel better instantly.

Ah, the healing power of our animals!

By the way, when Sam was very sick about 10 years ago, I used your book "The Healing Touch for Cats" to nurse him back to health. Thank you for the additional years you helped give him -- and me. -- S.N., Rockville, Maryland

DEAR S.N.: Your proposal is accepted with the understanding that cats have dry saliva from self-grooming, which can trigger a big sneeze when you sniff and nuzzle a cat!

As per my book "Cat Body, Cat Mind," cats have scent glands especially around their lips, chins, temples and along their tails, but I for one do not have a sensitive enough nose to detect any perfumelike quality like we find in many dogs. Our formerly feral cat Mark Twain had a wonderful fresh haylike odor on his flanks when I nuzzled him -- and then I usually sneezed!

(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 DrFoxVet.net.)