DEAR DR. FOX: I appreciate C.L.’s concern for pit bulls, but take off the rose-colored glasses: Yes, a pit bull can be a loving pet, but in our cities, most people who own pit bulls would not own other dogs. The pit bull is a prop to a “badass” persona, and the dogs are often abused to make them “tough.”

I’ve checked out our local shelter, and at any given time, nearly all dogs taken in are pit bulls. I love dogs, but to me, attempts to “rescue” shelter pit bulls, who probably were abused, is a dangerous tossing of the dice. It may sound cruel, but euthanasia is preferable, especially given the number of other breeds waiting for homes. -- R.F., Bridgeport, Connecticut

DEAR R.F.: Your point is very important, and one that I have made on many occasions. I have been criticized for being a closet racist -- not only for singling out a particular breed of dog, but also the people who live in violent communities where these dogs are kept for personal protection, often left in outdoor yards, and forced into illegal dog fights.

All of this is a sad reflection of the times. The more openly we can discuss these kinds of issues, getting beyond “racist” epithets, the better chance civil society has in the Divided States of America. Without the right breeding and the right rearing, the American pit bull, like those who mistreat them, is yet another tragic product and victim of dystopia.

Expert Paul Scimone of St. Louis, who has rescued and rehabilitated many traumatized, neglected and abused pit bulls, writes to me on this topic:

“Folks in impoverished communities mistreat this breed much like they did Rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherd dogs in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. It’s not a racial issue, but a cultural issue. The problem begins with those who mistake racism for cultural criticisms -- very complex, divisive forces that will no doubt be here for a long time.

“Street ‘pitties’ (pit bulls) have been bred to assume a dominant role in their pack for a long time, from their origins in England to their journey to the States (with exceptions, of course), so I understand the writer’s concern here. Even the role they played as ‘nannies’ at the turn of the last century was one of protection and assertiveness. From there, they were used for ‘sport’ fighting.

“It has been a mess from there. In fact, most of the behavioral cases I get calls on are about pitties that are aggressive with other dogs or strangers. You are spot-on, though, in that it is people who have cultivated this aggression -- not nature itself, or just genetics.”

MICHIGAN SENATE APPROVES BILL BANNING DOG BREED-SPECIFIC ORDINANCES

The Michigan Senate voted to prohibit cities, counties and other local governments from instituting dog breed-specific regulations, including ownership bans, compulsory neutering, muzzling rules and requirements for owners to carry additional liability insurance.

A study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) found that specific dog breeds are not more prone than others to aggression. AVMA animal welfare scientist Dr. Emily Patterson-Kane says human behavior is more to blame for dogs’ aggression. (Detroit Free Press/Associated Press, April 13)

AVMA’S VIDEOS TEACH KIDS ABOUT DOG BITE PREVENTION

National Dog Bite Prevention Week focused on educating people about preventing dog bites. The AVMA has developed a series of videos featuring Jimmy the Dog, a helpful pooch who shares tips for kids on how they can be safe around dogs and prevent bites. Search for “AVMA Jimmy the Dog” on YouTube.

DEAR DR. FOX: Over the years, I’ve heard so many conflicting opinions on giving bones to dogs. A friend of mine has a 25-lb. mixed-breed dog who loves to grind up all kinds of bones, mostly ribs and chicken bones. She has incredibly strong jaws (I think she has some pit bull in her).

Other dog owners I know say, “You should NEVER give a dog a bone, because the slivers can tear their insides.” My friend says the dog enjoys this, and he won’t stop giving them to her.

What is your opinion? Is he running a big risk doing this? He loves his dog dearly and would be devastated if he were responsible for her death. Is it OK for some breeds? -- J.M.K., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR J.M.K.: I appreciate your concern for your friend’s dog, and you should lay down the law with him about giving bones to dogs.

The so called “BARF” diet for dogs (“bones and raw food”) gives the false impression that it is OK to give dogs bones to chew and swallow. A proper BARF diet has some bones already ground up in the formula to avoid the serious, costly and sometimes fatal penetration of the digestive tract by bone splinters.

Cooked bones, rather than raw, are more likely to splinter. The only safe raw bone, in my opinion, is a raw beef knuckle or stewing marrow bone. Avoid all cooked, smoked and otherwise processed bones, along with the bull penises and pig parts sold widely in pet stores, because of the risk of fragmentation and internal damage or obstruction. Obstruction is a not-uncommon consequence of dogs swallowing the knotted end of rawhide chews. Salmonella and other bacterial contamination are also of concern with these items. Hard bones and deer-antler dog chews can crack dogs’ teeth, another painful and costly consequence of purchasing a product from a store that one believes to be safe.

Dogs do enjoy chewing, and I just bought our dog some rawhide made from U.S. cattle that comes rolled into tubes without any lumpy knot on each end. I let her chew on those for 10-15 minutes a day. But her safe and tasty chewy delight, which she has twice daily, is a natural dental chew called PetzLife Complete Treats. Our dog’s teeth need no cleaning! Visit petzlife.com for more details.

(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.)

The U.S. Postal Service reports that the number of postal employees attacked by dogs nationwide was 6,244 in 2017 -- a reduction of over 500 from 2016.

If you have one or more dogs, follow these tips:

-- If a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Some dogs burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.

-- Parents should remind their children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the handing over of mail as a threatening gesture.

-- The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the resident may be asked to pick up mail at a post office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If your dog is roaming the neighborhood, any nearby neighbors might also be asked to pick up their mail at the post office until the area is deemed safe.

I advised the USPS some years ago to use training videos to educate mail carriers on reading dogs’ behavior, and how best to behave around those that aren’t restrained. They should especially be taught never to stare at the dogs. Most dogs who bark don’t bite, unless threatened or afraid. Many dogs greet mail deliverers once they know and trust them.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have two wonderful 14-year-old cat brothers who have always gotten along well. Out of the blue, one day in January, Spunky attacked Gus. It was definitely not play, and was unprovoked.

They have occasionally turned on each other if they have seen a strange cat walk through the property, but it is over quickly and they are friends again. This time has been different. For weeks, we could not comfortably leave them alone if we had to go out for a while.

There has been some improvement, but this has been going on for almost three months. We can now leave them, but they are usually sleeping. They can be very loving -- bathing each other, sleeping in the same room and sometimes even sleeping on the bed together. But often when Gus walks away and Spunky follows him, Gus will look back, spit, growl and run, which causes Spunky to pursue him. If I don’t get there in time, there is a very vicious attack. This can also happen if Gus walks into a room where Spunky is and Spunky chases him out. It does not always happen, but we are on high alert in case it does.

They do have an enclosed yard with special fencing that prevents them from getting out. They are never out there without being observed, and when out there, they never fight. Gus has no problem if Spunky follows him outside, and vice versa.

I have used Feliway plug-ins and spray. Early on, I rubbed them with familiar scents, but nothing has changed the behavior. After an altercation, they are almost immediately loving and licking each other, so I don’t think this is triggered by scent.

It is as if Gus cannot forget the original attack, and when Spunky follows him, it brings back the memory and he cannot help himself. Then his growls and hisses get Spunky going. I use a spray water bottle to break them up, but it has been going on for so long I am afraid the behavior is just being reinforced.

I should also mention they are both in very good health. Gus has been on thyroid medication (methimazole) for the past year and is doing very well.

I would appreciate any suggestions you can give that could bring back our happy, peaceful household. -- J.M., Fairfield, Connecticut

DEAR J.M.: This problem is all too common, and you are correct in assuming that it was the stray cat outdoors (scent, sounds and sight) that made one of your cats redirect aggression toward the companion cat he lives with.

This traumatic event will not be forgotten by Gus for a long time, even though they may groom each other and sleep together. This is one of many reasons why cat owners should not allow their cats outdoors to roam free.

Gus will be especially on edge when walking past and away from Spunky. His thyroid condition is adding to his stress, along with any spray-bottle or other discipline/intervention you may instigate; such things will scare both cats and probably make matters worse.

Since you have tried what I would have suggested to help Gus get over the attack, I would try grooming each cat in turn, early in the evening, while they are both on the floor or sofa with you. Then try massage and any interactive games you can engage in to draw them both together, such as chasing a laser light or a lure on the end of a string. Find what treats they like, such as freeze-dried chicken or fish, and call them to you at random times so they both come and receive a treat at the same time. Try some catnip herb.

Repeated close proximity provided by these pleasurable activities may be the best hope of Gus overcoming this traumatic event.

REQUEST TO READERS

If you have ever had dogs who eat their own and other dogs’ stools, so-called coprophagia, please let me know the age and breed of your dog, what kind of dog food was being given at the time, and what you found to be the best remedy to prevent such behavior.

(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: Biomin, a company that provides products to support the animal-feed industry, has identified poisons called mycotoxins in moldy crops around the world, including corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, rye, peanuts, cotton seed, sugar beets and sugar cane. The U.S. stands out as a major source of these toxins, being found in livestock feed and pet foods.

Companion animals are in double jeopardy, being fed animal parts potentially contaminated by these cumulative toxins (along with glyphosate and other agrichemical residues). Some of these substances can cause cancer, liver damage and other serious health problems. Triple jeopardy arises for companion animals from bacterial endotoxins, especially from the remains of slaughtered animals condemned for human consumption. When both endotoxins and mycotoxins are found in an animal food, the synergy of the two increases the risk of each.

From a post on Biomin.net, mainly about the risk to livestock:

“Mycotoxins and endotoxins can also have an impact on the intestinal barrier function, and so increase the risk of endotoxin uptake into the bloodstream. ... Both mycotoxins and endotoxins can trigger inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects (through reducing response or directly affecting immune cells), and both toxin types can affect, and be exacerbated by, liver damage.”

So I advise cat and dog owners to read the labels on their animals’ manufactured foods and avoid those containing any of the above ingredients. Look for the Organic Certification label. And to find some of the safer pet foods -- if you do not make your own from quality, human-grade ingredients -- visit truthaboutpetfood.com and support their continued efforts to make pet food safe and wholesome.

DEAR DR. FOX: I enjoy reading your column every week. Can cats, as well as dogs, benefit from local honey for wounds and allergies? -- K.S., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR K.S.: Local honey, or better still, bee pollen, may help cats with certain allergies to local grasses and other plant pollens.

Put a pinch in the food daily and work up to a half-teaspoon for a 10-pound cat during the pollen season, which in some areas can be year-round. Caution is called for with diabetic animals. Also, ask your veterinarian to determine what kind of allergy the cat may be suffering from, since skin and respiratory problems alike are often caused by certain food ingredients such as fish and rice.

As for wounds: In an earlier column, a reader told of her veterinarian using honey to facilitate wound healing in a cat.

(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.)