The recently posted issue of dogs developing acute kidney disease (Fanconi syndrome) from meat jerky treats imported from China may be due to such products being subjected to irradiation. Meat-based treats imported from Canada and Germany are also subjected to irradiation. According to the Center for Food Safety:

“Food irradiation uses high-energy gamma rays, electron beams or X-rays (all of which are millions of times more powerful than standard medical X-rays) to break apart the bacteria and insects that can hide in meat, grains and other foods. Radiation can do strange things to food, by creating substances called ‘unique radiolytic products.’ These irradiation byproducts include a variety of mutagens (substances that can cause gene mutations), polyploidy (an abnormal condition in which cells contain more than two sets of chromosomes), chromosome aberrations (often associated with cancerous cells) and dominant lethal mutations (a change in a cell that prevents it from reproducing) in human cells. Making matters worse, many mutagens are also carcinogens.

“Research also shows that irradiation forms volatile toxic chemicals such as benzene and toluene -- chemicals known, or suspected, to cause cancer and birth defects. Irradiation also causes stunted growth in lab animals fed irradiated foods. An important 2001 study linked colon tumor promotion in lab rats to 2-alkylcyclobutanones (2-ACBs), a new chemical compound found only in irradiated foods. The FDA has never tested the safety of these byproducts. Irradiation has also been shown to cause the low-level production of furans (similar to cancer-causing dioxins) in fruit juice.”

Essentially, food irradiation creates “mummified” food, killing off bacteria that cause spoilage (a natural process) to prolong shelf-life. It’s done primarily for financial, rather than health, reasons. Endotoxins, which can cause illness and death, are produced by some bacteria prior to irradiation; they remain in the various animal parts recycled into pet foods, and are not destroyed by irradiation.

As I reported in 2009, cats in Australia developed neurological problems from being fed an irradiated brand of imported cat food. Consumers beware. As with the “GMO-free” label that manufacturers and allied government agencies have sought to prohibit, all foods, beverages and ingredients that have been subjected to irradiation should be labeled as such, and countries of origin should be indicated, as well. At this time, it is best to avoid all pet foods and treats not manufactured in the U.S. And avoid products with evasive phrases like “manufactured for” or “distributed by” on their labels.

DEAR DR. FOX: Last February, we had a fire in our home while we were at the store. (My landlord had replaced some outlets, and left some loose connections.) We found our 2-year-old dog, Sugar, on the kitchen floor, unresponsive. I gave her CPR until the firefighters got there and saved her. After the fire, we took her to the vet. He told us that she was fine health-wise, just a bit weak, and just needed to rest from the trauma she had suffered.

Two days after we took her to the vet, we noticed that Sugar was bumping into walls and furniture, startling easily and acting apprehensive. She had a sudden inability to find toys or her food and water bowls.

My poor Sugar went blind. Is there anything that can be done to help her get her vision back? -- National City, California

DEAR N.C.: I am so sorry to learn about the terrible ordeal you and your poor dog went through, for which there should be some financial remuneration under insurance liability with the property owner.

That your dog survived and you were there in time to save her life is remarkable. I regret that the brain damage -- caused by toxic fumes and lack of oxygen, which caused blindness and possibly other neurological and respiratory complications -- may be irreversible. But all may be not lost; the brain does have some recuperative abilities, which may be helped by various nutraceutical supplements. A few to try: coconut oil, brewer’s yeast, vitamin B complex or Nordic Naturals cod liver oil. Try my home-prepared dog food recipe (drfoxvet.net), and add some blended fruits and vegetables for antioxidants.

For the anxiety and PTSD, I would put drop or two of lavender essential oil on a bandanna around your dog’s neck three times a day. Keep her on a long leash connected to you much of the time, and get her to respond to sound commands since she can no longer read your body language and anticipate your actions. Walk her frequently around the house and along your usual walk routes, on a harness, which will be more comfortable, and talk to her about what you are seeing. Give her plenty of whole-body massages and 3 milligrams of melatonin at bedtime.

The California fires and mudslides this year have been a tragedy, with many pets lost and wildlife populations diminished. This is surely a lesson in better controlling our encroachment on vulnerable ecosystems prone to floods, fires and droughts, and a call to adopt “green” real estate principles with limited growth and population densities.

(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 READERS: I watched the Westminster dog show on TV, alternately admiring and weeping for the various descendants of wolves and dogs in their selectively mutated, purebred forms. Some were beautiful, graceful and extraordinary in body and mind. Others were handicapped by extreme breeding for sloping quarters or flat faces, the latter being called brachycephalics (“brachys” for short).

A brachy -- a pug called Biggie -- won the Toy Group category, regrettably enhancing the breed’s public appeal and demand. Biggie’s handler said, laughing, “They sleep with you and snore.”

Such snoring is no laughing matter: It is a sign of partial asphyxiation, so-called obstructive airway syndrome, for which corrective surgery may be needed. It is cruel and unnecessary to breed dogs with extreme genetic deformities, especially the pushed-in faces of bulldogs (including the increasingly popular French bulldogs), pugs, Pekingese, Boston terriers and boxers. All are prone to chronic respiratory and eye problems, often compounded by spinal, ear, dental and joint problems -- along with not-unexpected heart disease.

So have a heart, and don’t ever buy such a human-compromised sentient being (adopt one, though, by all means). And breeders: Get it together! These loving souls should not be born with the burden of such human-selected genetic abnormalities. Hopefully, commercial breeders and the breed clubs, along with the AKC, will address these animal welfare concerns and work to eliminate these problems by changing breed standards.

The only good news in this regard is that in the U.K. and New Zealand, veterinary organizations and animal welfare groups are reaching out to inform the public about these breed-related health problems. These issues are costly, and can mean a life of suffering for the dogs -- unable to really play, run and sleep well.

The overseas groups are also discouraging advertisers from using such dogs in their ads. I see pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers almost every night in TV advertisements and various shows. It must stop, like wearing furs in public did. Displaying one’s insensitivity to cruel animal exploitation is nuts.

DEAR DR. FOX: I recently wrote to you about our cat Sasha, who had taught herself to urinate on the toilet. I believe I have an explanation, and it may be even more interesting than the fact that she taught herself.

The past two days, this cat has sat on my lap for hours, simply purring and staring at me. Every so often, she sits up and taps my shoulder with her paw, then lies back down. This told me something else was going on, since this cat has never sat on my lap, ever (and she’ll be 9 years old in July).

Last night, I heard her using the toilet, and when I went to flush, I noticed there was blood in the bowl. I took her to the vet today and they found blood in her urine, and an X-ray revealed a large bladder stone. The vet wants to do a laparoscopic cystotomy, since he feels the stone is too large to break up with any special diet. This cat has always been fed a diet of Primal Raw freeze-dried nuggets (rehydrated), drinks plenty of water and has never been outside.

Previously, I was amazed that Sasha taught herself to use the toilet. Now I wonder if she was smart enough to do that so that I would notice something was wrong with her, since I would not have seen blood in her urine within her litter box. She seemed to have no other symptoms. -- G.S., Brandon, Vermont

DEAR G.S.: Since your cat only recently started to evacuate in your toilet, I would consider that happened because she associated pain with being in the litter box, leading to aversion.

This happens with many cats who have painful lower urinary tract problems, and usually they soil elsewhere in the house. On occasion, they will strain and urinate in front of their caregivers, clearly signaling with intent that they are in distress. Your cat coming onto your lap was her way of letting you know something was wrong. It is a fortunate and rare coincidence that you saw blood in her urine in the toilet bowl.

I am glad that she got immediate veterinary attention, and trust that all goes well.

(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 just read your “Effective pain relief for old dogs” column, and wanted to share another thought with you.

Years ago, I had a Brittany spaniel who wouldn’t forgive me if I went out without her out to hunt, even though she was old and would spend several days in pain from the exertion. While hunting, I met a man and told him I felt a little bad about bringing her out, knowing how much pain it would cause her. He told me that he gave his old dog a child’s chewable vitamin C tablet whenever his dog was going to get a workout, and it relieved her pain. I tried it with my Brit, and it seemed to work wonders!

Thoughts? -- T.R.K., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR T.R.K.: Anecdotal evidence, such as yours regarding vitamin C as a treatment for activity-related pain, calls for clinical evaluation.

Many holistic veterinarians have long recognized vitamin C as a beneficial antioxidant, helping reduce oxidative stress. I would caution readers to give this vitamin with a little food, since it could otherwise irritate the lining of the stomach. Give your dog 25 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. This could be done on a daily basis, or on occasion, with a larger dose a few hours before exercise.

I would like to hear other readers’ experiences along these lines, and reiterate that the widely prescribed analgesic for dogs, tramadol, has questionable benefits. And NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), widely used by humans, can be fatal for dogs.

While humans need an external food source of vitamin C, healthy dogs do not, since their livers normally produce this essential vitamin. But where there is liver disease, vitamin C supplementation is advisable. It is not advised for dogs with urinary calculi of the oxalate type, since it may aggravate the condition.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 17-year-old female Siamese cat who has been diagnosed with dementia.

She still eats and uses the litter box. The vet says he finds nothing else wrong, but she is howling at night to the point of keeping us awake. She sleeps on a heated pad on a dining room chair.

Do you have any suggestions on what we can do to help stop the howling at night? I do not want to drug her. -- J.N., Fort Myers, Florida

DEAR J.N.: This is a common problem in older cats. With already-vocal Siamese cats, it can be very disturbing.

There could be concurrent painful arthritis, and other conditions that the heating pad can help alleviate. To help further, try anti-inflammatory fish oil, a canned sardine or two a day and a prescription of tramadol or gabapentin (discuss with your veterinarian), along with glucosamine and chondroitin.

A session of full-body massage later in the evening (as per my book “The Healing Touch for Cats”) and 3 milligrams of melatonin a half-hour before you go to bed may also give your cat -- and your disturbed nights -- some comfort. (I take melatonin myself for a good night’s sleep, and it is also a purported super-antioxidant.)

Many cats like catnip, another gift from the plant kingdom we humans are rapidly wiping out around the world, along with the indigenous peoples and their herbal knowledge. It is related to valerian, from which we get diazepam (Valium). Try making a tea of catnip: Steep 1 heaped tablespoon in 1 cup of boiling water. Strain when cool, and encourage your cat to drink it, or mix it in her food (about 2 tablespoons a day). If acceptable, double the concentration to 2 tablespoons per cup of water. Be sure it is labeled “organically certified herb.”

Your cat may well just like a pinch or two of catnip at night to chew, roll on and go into a relaxed, trancelike state for a short while. But not all cats are attracted to this herb.

(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.)