DEAR DR. FOX: My letter concerns the euthanasia of our pets. Our animal companions will suffer tremendous trauma simply due to their deep love for us, plus their ability to understand our need for them.

During euthanasia, stay beside your pet and stroke them lovingly as they leave this world. Speak familiar words of love as the injections are being administered, and say your goodbye then. I was blessed in having our well-trained, kind veterinarian make that suggestion and guide me through those difficult moments.

Make plans for taking care of your pet’s remains, too. In our case, the date was set, my working husband dug the grave the night before, and I took care of the rest. It’s just something we must learn to deal with. There may be times when one must leave a deceased companion with the veterinarian, or times when the weather doesn’t permit digging, there’s no one to do it for us, or our health problems prevent what our hearts long to do.

I still cry from the loss of Tater, Cujo, Harley Ray, Sophie Jordanna, Tia Xena, Prancer, Sally Ann, Tommy Tom, Pookie Tootie, and many more. Humans, be proud, and speak out for those dear and loved companions. Learn more from your veterinarians. Ask questions. -- M.L., Humboldt, Tennessee

DEAR M.L.: Many readers of my column will appreciate your concern and encouragement to be with their animal companions at the time of euthanasia administration.

It can be emotionally challenging for some people to be present with their animals at this time, but I agree with you that courage is called for to be with the animal -- to hold and comfort them. Not all veterinarians will allow every client to be present for a variety of reasons. Others offer in-home euthanasia and in-home palliative/hospice care -- humane, compassionate services which I advocate for those who can afford them.

Taking the deceased animal home and allowing surviving animals to view the body may help with their grieving and sense of loss. Some animals may seem indifferent, just as with some people after the death of a family member. I wish that more people understood how deep the grieving experience can be, for both animals and humans, after losing a beloved animal companion.

Burial on one’s own property may be prohibited in some municipalities, so do your research. Cremation services and legal burial plots are available in most communities.

DEAR DR. FOX: My husband and I are vegan. We feel bad having to feed our newly adopted cat, Timmy, meat and fish, but the vet says that is right. I have heard that there are special diets you can make or by so that cats will be healthy on a vegan or vegetarian (eggs and dairy) diet. Can you send me more information? -- Y.T., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR Y.T.: This question often comes up in my column, and I must reiterate that cats are obligate carnivores, and that we should not impose our own values and dietary choices on them. They must have a daily intake of animal protein and fats, ideally from various organ parts and different animal species, preferably organically fed and humanely raised.

As for your own diets, I applaud your veganism. In today’s world, with over 7 billion people, vegetarianism is an ethical imperative. Vegetarianism and veganism occupy the higher moral ground over daily meat and fish consumption for people in most parts of the world, where there are nutritious alternatives that do not involve the slaughter of billions of animals.

There are sound, scientifically documented reasons for such enlightened dietary decisions, including humane concerns over animals’ suffering and the economic, ecological, environmental and public health costs of a meat-based diet. But, as with those who deny climate change and global warming (to which the livestock industry is a major contributor), the politics of meat go deep in Western culture, much of it being subsidized at taxpayers’ expense in the U.S., where denial and disinformation continue to keep unacceptable industries in business.

For detailed documentation, see my review “Changing Diets for Health’s and Earth’s Sake“ on my website (drfoxvet.net), especially the postscript: “The Vegetarian Imperative.”

(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: I’ve got an odd question for you. As I was talking to my housemate, we got into the subject of schizophrenia and dementia. I wondered if all mammals can have such problems. And what about reptiles or birds? -- M.W.F., San Francisco

DEAR M.W.F.: Behavioral changes in animals caused by various factors can produce symptoms that resemble conditions seen in humans. In 1968, I brought together experts from around the world to contribute to the first textbook on the topic, entitled “Abnormal Behavior in Animals.” It served as a catalyst for more research and clinical studies of behavioral problems in animals captive and wild, including any and all mammalian and avian species. Reptiles and amphibians are more difficult to “read,” behaviorally. A more recent text on this topic was edited by veterinarian Franklyn D. McMillan in 2005 -- “Mental Health & Well-Being in Animals” -- again including chapters by experts from around the world.

In summary, many abnormal behaviors seen in humans are virtually identical to those seen in other animals, such as obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs, including self-mutilation and repetitive movements like crib-biting in horses), anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, catatonia or seizures -- even with hallucinations. The latter may be interpreted as a form of dementia triggered by some intense, often fear-evoking stimulus, especially when there is no escape. Many dogs developed “air-snapping” behaviors (also called “fly-snapping”) after air raids in England during World War II, and dogs in Pavlov’s Leningrad laboratory, terror-stricken during a flood, remained traumatized long after. These reactions can be interpreted as a form of dementia, mania or OCD, and are often triggered by fear and the inability to escape or hide.

Certainly, many captive species become demented as a consequence of extreme confinement, separation anxiety and boredom, a problem in dogs caged or crated all day in so many homes, as well as in sows on factory farms. Degenerative changes in the brain related to aging, and possibly genetics and nutritional deficiencies, can lead to dementia in humans and other animals; one form of dementia in cats shows virtually identical changes in the brain to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Changes in brain function and behavior in humans and other animals have an organic, rather than a psychological/emotional, origin. They can be attributed to various external environmental factors such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, viral and parasitic infections, adverse vaccine reactions and poisoning from mercury and lead.

An organic, biochemical basis for abnormal behavior which may be interpreted as schizoid is seen in some dog breeds with sudden, unpredictable, impulsive aggression, which may be improved by medications and nutraceuticals that increase serotonin levels in the brain.

As more studies are done on abnormal behaviors in animals, I predict there will be a significant change in how non-humans are regarded and treated. For centuries, animals have been treated as though they had neither emotions like ours, nor ways of suffering analogous to our own; we are beginning to learn how wrong those ideas are.

DEAR DR. FOX: Help! Our 20-month-old cockapoo has terrible separation anxiety. We put her in her crate at night downstairs, but when she wakes up (sometimes as early as 3 a.m.), she barks continuously until we let her out. We’ve tried letting her “bark it out,” but that isn’t working. Perhaps we are too impatient.

Obviously, we’ve not taught her well. Any ideas on how to change this behavior? -- J.H., Oak Hill, Virginia

DEAR J.H.: The problem is not that you are being impatient or that you’ve failed to train her properly. The issue is that dogs are pack animals. This means that your dog needs to be with the family and not put in a crate for the night.

Proper crate-training is a gradual process of helping the pup adapt to being in a confined space for a short period, gradually increasing in duration. Treats and toys in the crate often help. The goal is to help the young animal feel that the crate is a rewarding place of security, her den, and not some kind of punishment and deprivation of being with the family.

Try moving the crate into your bedroom, making it like a cozy den, with the crate door open so she can enter and leave as she chooses. She may prefer to sleep on the bed with you, or on your floor in a soft dog bed, if not in the open crate. This is normal behavior for a pack animal. I hope these are feasible options for you and your family.

SAY NO TO TRENDY ‘MUNCHKIN’ CATS

Veterinarians and animal welfare advocates in the U.K. and U.S. are alarmed by the deliberate breeding of cats with unnaturally short legs. So-called “munchkin” cats have a genetic mutation that predisposes the animals to painful osteoarthritis, and some also have spinal malformations and rib abnormalities, says veterinarian Carol Margolis of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

(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: My 5-year-old cat has been diagnosed with stomatitis, and the veterinarian says that he will probably have to have all his teeth taken out. His gums are sore and some of his teeth are getting loose, and the doctor says it is a kind of autoimmune disease where his body is reacting in a way that leads to this condition.

Is there anything I can try to stop it? -- R.K., Washington, D.C.

DEAR R.K.: This degenerative dental disease, called feline caries or feline odontoclastic resorption lesions, is not uncommon in cats and is often coupled with kidney problems in older cats.

The condition may be triggered by periodontal disease, herpes or other chronic viral infection and excess vitamin D in the diet. It causes discomfort, making eating difficult unless a mushy food is provided, and the associated bacterial infection can spread to internal organs.

My advice would be to have your veterinarian try VetzLife’s Feline Oral Care gel for stomatitis, which may help improve your cat’s condition -- and for many cats showing early signs of this condition, actually stop it in its tracks. For more details, visit vetzlife.com.

You can also read my review on this common feline malady, "Feline Stomatitis Complex: Preventing and Treating the Oral Plague of Cats," posted on my website, DrFoxVet.net.

DEAR DR. FOX: A few months ago, a young male cat was in the neighborhood. I would see him at various times for a week or two, and then he would leave. After another few weeks, he would be back.

I have three cats, but this other one seemed to need a home. No one else would take him for various reasons. He is used to being inside, and he is litter box trained.

The only problem is he eats like he is starved. He gobbles his food and, if I let him, everyone else's food before they are finished. He even jumped on the kitchen counter and stole a bite of my breakfast sandwich.

I've had cats before whose previous owners have put them out to fend for themselves. I got one of my older cats this way about 10 years ago, but none of them had this food obsession.

I spend 30 minutes or more making sure he doesn't eat everyone's food before they finish. This is a big problem. Is there any way to change this? -- M.M., Kansas City, Missouri

DEAR M.M.: I appreciate your predicament, which your feeding of this semi-feral cat who roams your neighborhood has created.

His hunger seems to indicate he has no home where he would be fed, and you are the sole source of his sustenance.

If he is not neutered, you are fostering a prime multiplier of ever-more cats in your community. He could also have a communicable disease that could infect your cats and even you.

So call your local animal control agency or animal shelter and ask then to help you get the cat to a veterinarian for blood tests and neutering, since he seems like a very adoptable cat who would adjust well to an indoor life.

The cat's ravenous appetite could be because he is actually starving outdoors, but he could also have tapeworms or other internal parasites that need to be checked for and eliminated with appropriate medication.

MUSIC MIGHT HELP SHELTER DOGS RELAX

A study at a shelter in Scotland found that dogs spend more time lying down and relaxing when music is played, and heart rate measurements suggest dogs' stress levels were lowest when listening to reggae or soft rock. Scottish SPCA officials plan to buy sound systems for shelters that lack them.

(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.)