pets

Grieving Pet Loss, and How We Care for Animals

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | May 28th, 2017

DEAR DR. FOX: The other day, my husband was reading your column and when he was finished he threw the paper down and started to cry. He looked at me and said, “Well, it’s pertinent.” I picked it up and read it, and then I began to cry. The subject you wrote about was happening to us right then.

Our beloved 16-year-old cat, Gracie, was terminal, and it was only a matter of time until she would be gone. Your column dealt with a man who had two cats and lost one. The surviving cat suffered with grief for a long time, so when the situation arose again, this time he took the surviving cat with him when the other cat was euthanized.

After reading this advice in your column we decided to take our Koko with us when Gracie was euthanized. Koko had been through this several years ago when his brother, Kiki, died. Koko was depressed after, and we made sure that we touched, petted and played with him extra to help him get over the loss -- and us, too.

Koko did not like being there, but after we got home, he went into a basket that was always Gracie’s. As soon as Gracie took it over, Koko never went into it until she was gone. It’s been only four days now, but he is taking over some other things that were Gracie’s alone. We are heartsick that we lost our very special kitty, even though she had been lucky as she had an ectopic ureter that was diagnosed when she was 2. She dealt with it very well, so did we, so to have 16 years with her was amazing. -- D.H. and J.H., Estero, Florida

DEAR D.H. and J.H.: You have my sympathy; I understand how devastating the loss of an animal companion can be. I am very glad that one of the issues in my newspaper column coincided with your situation and you found it helpful.

Koko's behavior is interesting in that he clearly accommodated or deferred to Gracie when she was alive. Being conscious that she is now gone, he is essentially filling in some of the spaces that she formerly occupied, both physically and psychologically.

Behavioral and neurological sciences have helped advance our understanding and appreciation of animals' consciousness and emotions. Such evidence that warm-blooded animals are more like us than they are different deflates the erroneous belief in human superiority. It forces us out of anthropocentrism to face the realities of animal use and abuse around the world. For instance, consider the suffering of billions of animals raised for human consumption and used for experiments to find cures for human disease.

For the views of some of history's deepest thinkers and social reformers, I would highly recommend a book by an old colleague and dear friend in Germany, Johanna Wothke. She is the founder and director of Pro Animale, an organization that has set up 25 animal shelters across Europe and Turkey and rescued thousands of dogs, cats, equines and abused and neglected farm animals. Her philosophy is captured in the book's title, "Memento," a derivative of the Latin "memento mori," which suggests being mindful of your death. Such mindfulness, she contends, can move us all to examine how we live in relation to the lives and eventual deaths of others, and lead us along the "paths of suffering and the destruction of our fellow creatures -- the animals -- as caused by us humans."

People in America can support her international animal rescue work and learn more by purchasing copies of "Memento" through email at proanimale-sw@t-online.de.

EXERCISE HELPS DOGS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Two veterinarians in Taiwan have documented the benefits of an exercise regimen in addition to standard prednisolone treatment in small-breed dogs living a sedentary life and suffering from chronic diarrhea. This was after other dietary treatments (hydrolyzed and hypoallergenic elimination diets) and various supplements either failed or only partially improved their inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although this was a small study inspired in part by the clinical improvement in human patients suffering from IBD who are able to participate in a regular exercise program, it offers a safe and potentially effective additional therapeutic approach to this all-too-common canine condition.

Living a sedentary life, rarely aroused and often being trained to evacuate inside, especially when living in high-rise apartments, could lead to longer retention times of fecal material prior to evacuation. This may cause inflammation of the bowels, exacerbated by various dietary ingredients and their metabolites with further possible health problems due to bacterial endotoxins. Physical activity may help improve circulation and help alleviate and prevent lymphangiectasia, the accumulation of lymph in the bowels seen in some forms of canine IBD.

Mental arousal with physical activity may increase peristaltic tonus of the bowel’s smooth muscles that may become flaccid with a placid temperament and an unstimulating indoor environment. Megacolon and fecal impaction, commonly seen in under-stimulated and under-active indoor cats, and weak urinary bladder tonus with urine retention and consequential cystitis may also be related to a lack of arousal and physical activity.

So walk more with your dogs and play more with your cats, some of whom may also enjoy outdoor walks in a harness or on a leash!

(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.)

pets

Helping Dog With PTSD

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | May 22nd, 2017

DEAR DR. FOX: We rescued our Labrador-mix, Mandy, about a year ago when she was about 5 years old. She was obviously beaten and abused for most of her life, and after a year, we are still unable to loosen her up.

We have never heard her bark, nor will she come or play ball -- ever. She doesn't hear well because she apparently had ear problems that went untreated for years. She will not drink water out of a bowl, but only out of large plastic cups. She stays in our bedroom all day and will come out for a walk only with a treat.

We would never return her and would welcome any thoughts on what we can do to bring her around. She is extremely sweet but backs away from any people and all dogs, no matter how friendly or nice they can be. She will not look anyone in the eye, either, and always looks away and backs off. -- R.K. and B.K., Wellington, Florida

DEAR R.K AND B.K.: Poor Mandy does seem to be a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder, and I applaud your devotion and patience with her. Professional help from a veterinarian specializing in behavioral problems or a referral to a certified animal behavior therapist would probably be your best option to help improve her quality of life.

If there is a safe place, such as a quiet backyard or enclosed area where she can be off-leash and not run away if frightened, I would start from there. Lie on the ground and have her come over to you for a treat with your partner releasing her off the leash some distance away. Repeat and repeat so she gains self-confidence being out in the open and has two people close by whom she trusts.

If possible, find another dog owner with a friendly, easygoing dog with whom Mandy can meet when out walking on the leash. Let them get to know each other and eventually have the "therapy" dog brought in to the enclosed area to meet and hopefully begin to play with Mandy.

Try an elevated water bowl on a stand, which many dogs prefer.

Essential oil of lavender can have a calming effect, so try 2 to 3 drops on a bandanna around her neck two to three times a day. Give her 3 mg of melatonin in the evening. Visit petzlife.com and learn about another supplement, @Eaze, which has natural ingredients that can increase brain serotonin and have a calming effect.

A short treatment trial with medication such as alprazolam prescribed by a veterinarian would be the next step to take if these treatments do not help.

Good luck and keep me posted.

DEAR DR. FOX: I will be on vacation for 18 days, and I want to know how I can make my cat most comfortable during my absence.

I have someone to care for him at least twice a day while I'm away. I worry that he will be lonely as there are no longer any other cats in the house. His littermate passed in June.

I did vacation for a week in February, and all went well. He has plenty of toys. He snuggles with me on the sofa and lies next to me in bed. What more can I do for him while I'm away? Should I worry? -- L.N., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR L.N.: Be sure the person coming in to care for your cat has your vacation contact information and will stay as long as possible to play, pet and groom your cat. Have the sitter make sure your cat is eating and drinking well and that the litter box is kept clean.

If there is a time in the evening when you normally have the TV or radio on, set up a timer so it goes off at your normal bedtime. Maintaining familiar sounds can help animals feel secure. If you pull the drapes in the evening -- or any other such routines -- be sure they are continued in your absence. Leave two or three T-shirts or other items of clothing that you have been wearing where your cat likes to nap so your scent will be there when you are away.

Have a good vacation!

(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.)

pets

Dog Digestive Problems

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | May 21st, 2017

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a young dog with diagnosed gastritis. He is currently taking the following medications: Medrol, Spasmex, Efloran, Acipan, Ranital and omega-3 acid pill supplements. I feed him wet Hill's Prescription Diet i/D, but he rejects it; instead of the prescribed 2 1/2 cans per day, he eats only one can per day. No nematodes were found in his body.

At the moment, he has no diarrhea, but his stomach is still upset, and he munches a lot, especially during the nights. He also has swollen tonsils from the stomach acid.

His status is not improving. He's losing weight by the day, and I am wondering if you have any suggestions. -- M.S., Slovenia, Europe

DEAR M.S.: Many special prescription diets are unpalatable, may actually bring on other health problems and are often a profit-making scam, as documented by Meg Smart in her contribution to my book "Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods."

First, your dog may have acid reflux aggravated by a high-cereal-content diet. Some dogs improve when given a human antacid tablet like Tums before each meal. Others do better when their food bowl is elevated so they do not have to reach down low to eat and swallow.

While there may be other health issues with your dog that have not yet been diagnosed, I would wean him off the prescription diet and all the various medications (other than giving an antacid for a few days) and feed him my home-prepared diet, as posted on my website (DrFoxVet.net). Give him no treats or snacks other than a tablespoon of live plain organic yogurt or kefir, half a canned-in-water sardine with a half-teaspoon of chia seeds and a half-teaspoon of unsweetened canned pineapple. Also try Dr. Fox's Good Dog Cookie Recipe, posted on my website.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 13-year-old male Maine coon cat, who is, of course, quite special.

Last week, he apparently had a blood clot. After some delay and an adamantly pessimistic ER vet, he finally got some heparin, fluids, etc. He is now home and much improved, though he has some significant compromised function in his back legs, one worse than the other.

I was wondering if there is some therapy that might help, or if time is our only option. -- J.B., Springfield, Missouri

DEAR J.B.: The pessimism of the emergency veterinarian is well founded. This is a common malady in cats, and the blood clots can result in a fatal stroke or partial paralysis wherever the clot or clots are blocking major blood vessels.

One reason why this condition may be so prevalent may well be diet-related -- blood cells are more likely to clot when there is a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids, as in fish oil and vitamin E. Many of these essential nutrients are destroyed by the heat processing of manufactured cat foods. Before surgery, people are advised not to take such supplements because they may bleed more, since they are natural anti-coagulants, as is aspirin.

For your cat, I would advise a few drops of fish oil in his food daily and giving him half a sardine (canned, in water). As I say for cats, a sardine a day keeps the vet away -- though some cats are allergic to fish, so try a quarter teaspoon of spirulina as an alternative.

A daily full-body massage, as per my book "The Healing Touch for Cats," will also help the impaired circulation.

MORE REVELATIONS ABOUT PENTOBARBITOL-CONTAMINATED MEAT

Pet food watchdog group the Truth About Pet Food has posted: “Evanger's Pet Food Company files a $20 million lawsuit against its meat supplier that had supplied them with meat contaminated with pentobarbitol, but in the court documents, the pet food company discloses they directly lied to consumers. The meat used by Evanger’s was labeled 'inedible'; it was not ‘human grade’ as the company told consumers and retailers.”

See more at truthaboutpetfood.com/evangers-sues-meat-supplier-but-makes-a-big-disclosure/.

(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.)

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