DEAR DR. FOX: I have a beautiful, healthy 14-year-old wheaten. She recently had an ear infection, and I cleaned her ears and then used MalOtic medicine to treat the infection. I noticed a few hours later that she was deaf.

When I contacted my vet, I discovered that this is a possible side effect from the gentamicin in the medicine. While they said it could be reversible, sometimes, especially in geriatric dogs, it is permanent.

It has been a week now, and I believe her personality has changed. She sleeps a lot, pants and has been having accidents in the house, which is not her normal behavior. Is there anything I can do to restore her hearing? Can you tell me more about this side effect and why these medicines are still on the market? -- J.R.C., Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

DEAR J.R.C.: I am sorry to hear about your dog’s adverse reaction to the medication, from which a recovery may or may not be in the offing. There is no remedy to reverse the damage to the inner ear.

Of potential concern in veterinary practice are the antibiotics known as antibacterial aminoglycosides -- gentamicin and amikacin -- as well as “loop diuretics,” like furosemide. Some ototoxic (hearing- and balance-damaging) potential might also be associated with the antibiotic erythromycin. Some of these substances also exhibit renal toxicity, as has been documented for aminoglycosides as well as some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Ear inflammation and infection should not be neglected. Seek immediate veterinary examination and treatment when a dog is showing signs of ear trouble: head-shaking and scratching one or both ears. Some may not show significant discomfort, even when the infection (caused by bacteria, often combined with a fungus) has become well-established.

Many factors can lead to external and deeper ear infection and inflammation, with loss of hearing and/or balance. Acute episodes may call for opiate analgesia, anti-anxiety medication and anti-inflammatory prednisolone treatment. The selection of antibiotic may be refined by taking a sample of the ear exudate and testing for bacterial antibiotic sensitivity. Less toxic polymyxin B and silver sulfadiazine, after a thorough cleaning of the ear, can help many patients.

Underlying factors -- from ear mites and genetic anomalies (as with pendulous ears and hairy ear canals), to food allergy, nutritional deficiency and complications associated with hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease -- all play a role in ear conditions affecting dogs and cats.

Old remedies such as diluted, organic apple-cider vinegar, organic cold-pressed olive oil, various essential oils and dietary omega-3 fatty acids can provide considerable relief and healing in many instances.

Your dog may benefit from a few drops daily of Nordic Naturals cod liver oil or fish oil for dogs. For older dogs, I also recommend a daily tablespoon (1 tablespoon per 50 pounds body weight) of coconut oil mixed in with the regular food, plus a half-teaspoon each of powdered ginger, brewer’s yeast and turmeric.

It is some consolation that dogs do generally adapt quickly to losing their hearing, and learn to attend and depend more on our hand signals and body language to communicate.

DEAR DR. FOX: My “baby” dog (a spitz) is now 13 years old. She’s very active; at 6, we got her spayed.

Now she has developed two lumps in her breasts. One was very fast developing, so on advice, we got her operated on in September. The biopsy report said cancer. The wound healed up, but in December, it again started growing and leaking pus. Now it looks like a volcano, and the outer rim started bleeding. On the vet’s advice, I clean it with betadine on cotton, then sprinkle with Cipladine powder. In the X-ray, there is one small patch in her lungs.

She’s still very active, looks good and has lovely fur; still no problems with passing stool and urine. Please advise any treatments or natural remedies. I will be very grateful. I can’t imagine my life without her. -- S.D., Faridabad, India

DEAR S.D.: Your dog should see a veterinarian about the infected lesion. Breast cancer often spreads to the lungs, as well as sometimes the spleen and other organs.

I recommend you do not opt for any major surgery. Your beloved dog is old, and her quality of life is not likely to be improved. Just make your dog comfortable; feed her a grain-free, good-quality protein diet, as per my recipe on my website, drfoxvet.net (delete the grain ingredient).

S.D. REPLIES: Yes, I am trying to switch her food to an only-protein diet. Yesterday again, we had taken her to the vet, and also got an X-ray done. Latest developments: many small tumors under her armpit, and a patch in the lungs has grown bigger. Thank you for responding to my concerns. -- S.D., Faridabad, India

(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.)

Genetic engineers have generated mouse pancreases in rats, and then transplanted them into diabetic mice. They were then able to show almost a complete cure in the diabetic mice, without using any immunosuppressant drugs. The next step is to implant human stem cells into sheep embryos that have been genetically modified so they cannot grow a pancreas, in the hope that human DNA will fill in the missing code. If successful, a human pancreas should appear inside the animal’s body. The Stanford University team, led by Dr. Hiro Nakauchi, is about to apply for permission from regulators to lengthen their experiment to 70 days to see if the human cells really can create an organ. He estimates that organs grown in animals will be available for transplant into humans within the next five to 10 years. -- The Telegraph, Feb. 17

From a bioethical perspective, I would question the wisdom of investing in this kind of biotechnology to save human lives in the future. Certainly there will always be people needing replacement organs, their own having been damaged by our environmental toxins, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Others have suffered from genetic mutations, birth defects and childhood cancer. But we would be better off investing in preventive medicine rather than profit-driven treatments, and that calls for greater international effort to improve the quality of our air and water, along with the safety, security and nutritive value of our food -- all of which climate change is compromising.

There is only false hope in harvesting human organs from future animal farms, because they will supply only an affluent few, some currently served by the illicit trade in human organs. There is nothing to celebrate in such biotechnological prowess, because we should not be applying it to keeping some humans alive in an increasingly poisoned world while millions are currently malnourished, diseased, at war and dying.

DEAR DR. FOX: I read with interest the article regarding wound-healing and aloe gel.

Our terrier Abbey had a lot of trouble with healing a wound from cancer surgery. With no clear answer from our vet, I got some local honey and applied it several times a day on the wound. Within several days, it seemed to be improving. Very soon after that, it was completely healed! The vet seemed very surprised.

I also used the honey on a bad hand wound my doctor-averse husband had, and it healed remarkably quickly. It seems this old-time remedy helped. Perhaps this information may be useful to others. -- C.R., Freehold, New Jersey

DEAR C.R.: You are one of several readers confirming the healing powers of honey.

It was also used in the old days for maggot-infested wounds and bedsores in humans; when not available, refined sugar was used, which was nowhere near as effective in healing and preventing infection. Honey can also be used in an emergency to alleviate inflammatory eye conditions.

I learned from readers decades ago that locally produced honey and bee pollen can help alleviate seasonal allergies in dogs. With such safe, naturopathic remedies, finding out what an effective dose is often becomes a matter of trial and error. Start by giving an allergy-prone dog 1 teaspoon per 30 pounds of body weight daily, with food, for five to seven days. If there are no signs of improvement, try doubling that amount for another five to seven days. Then stop and repeat at weekly intervals as needed. Often one to two weeks of treatment with a local honey product will suffice. Animals who are diabetic would be better off with the lower sugar content of bee pollen.

We owe so much to the insect kingdom, and in particular the bees, who have helped us put food on our tables since the beginning of time by pollinating our crops and orchards, as well as the wild plants whose fruits and nuts we harvest. These insects are now being destroyed by toxic chemical-addicted industrial agriculture with its armament of insecticides and insect-killing genetically engineered crops, which we should all oppose, choosing instead to support insect-friendly, organically certified producers. These include our local beekeepers, whose bees can help us -- and our dogs -- cope with seasonal allergies with their pollen and honey.

EASTER WARING

Easter was once a pagan celebration of the renewal of life with the advent of spring. Now, Easter’s deep cultural roots and Christian traditions have been commercialized and debased by the wholesale marketing of “Easter” bunnies, chicks and ducklings. Most die, in a total inversion of the spirit of Easter. They often carry salmonella and other infectious organisms, and pose a heal risk for families, leading some responsible municipal authorities to ban such seasonal sales. My appeal is to go to your local shelter at this time of year and save a life by adopting an animal you know how to care for. This is a much better option than encouraging more commercial breeding by purchasing an animal that could endanger your health, die soon after purchase or have to be given away.

(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 read your advice regarding the rescued 3-year-old German shepherd with a traumatic prior life. I’m dealing with some issues also related to a prior owner, although we inherited those issues at only 8 weeks old.

Our Rottweiler mix is very loyal and friendly to our immediate and extended family, and has no real health issues. But there have been times when she sees someone she doesn’t know and goes berserk, and in some cases it’s caused her to bite. She cannot be trusted with other dogs and sometimes with other people.

Sometimes she’ll be with other dogs in an open play area, and when they run from her, instead of playing, she’ll run them down and start a fight. Or if another dog nearby is feisty (such as many small terriers), she’ll retaliate. Occasionally she’s overly protective of her area, and won’t let another dog pass without her “body checking” them.

We have also had incidents where she has growled or bitten a person who is too close, thinking she’s being protective. So we’ve resorted to keeping her carefully under control and not letting her socialize -- very frustrating, but necessary.

She’s only 5, is big and a great athlete and companion, but a handful! Giving her away isn’t an option. -- P.M., Trenton, New Jersey

DEAR P.M.: From my early research into dog brain and behavior development, I would say your dog’s behavioral issue is more likely to be genetic than associated with some environmental/experiential trauma. I say this because you first got the dog at the early age of 8 weeks, which is in the middle of the socialization period.

This is not so much a nature-versus-nurture argument, but rather an illustration of how an innate predisposition to certain behavior becomes self-reinforcing if not nipped in the bud at an early age.

I doubt very much that your dog has PTSD, since she was adopted during the best age for developing a close bond with humans, and I am sure you never abused her. However, one of my research studies showed that there is a sensitive period around that age at which pups will learn to avoid human contact if it is associated with discomfort rather than reward. This is why I have advised avoiding stress and any kind of physical or psychological trauma to pups at this age in particular, especially long-distance transportation and ear cropping (the latter of which should be prohibited).

I have visited with experienced Rottweiler rescue people, and have seen dogs like yours: difficult to train not to be protective, and often aggressive when restrained. Your task will be a combination of changing the dog’s cognitive processing, and of altering her virtually automatic aggressive response -- whether defensive or offensive -- in certain situations.

This is worth trying, provided you can accomplish the first step: having your dog sit and stay on command, at all times and in all situations. Until that time, you need to treat your dog responsibly as a potentially dangerous animal, while giving her all the love and security she needs, along with consistent daily training sessions to develop internal inhibition/self-control.

Feeding her more turkey meat -- rich in tryptophan, a precursor of brain serotonin -- to see if that changes her disposition, is worth a try, along with tryptophan supplements or another precursor of serotonin, L-theanine. This can be found in PetzLife’s dog-calming natural herbal product. A trial prescription of Prozac to elevate brain serotonin may be worth discussing with your veterinarian.

PET FOOD AND PRODUCTS SALES UP

Research firm Euromonitor found that sales of pet foods expanded at three times the pace of packaged human foods last year. Americans spent nearly $70 billion on pet products in 2017, up from $55.7 billion in 2013, according to the American Pet Products Association. -- CNBC, Feb. 23

(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.)