DEAR DR. FOX: I have had a sweet rescued cat for two years. She is declawed. I recently decided, as per your advice, to adopt another cat so Megan would have company.

Phil is 2 years old and so cool -- very playful. He is not declawed, and I thought that could lead to problems, but no! Phil is so gentle, and they play, chase and wrestle every night.

Megan seems much fitter and less depressed. Phil regularly uses their two scratching posts, generally just before play and when he gets up in the morning. But what impresses me how he uses his claws to hold things, pick up small objects like pipe cleaners, and zip up his 7-foot condo tower in a second. He is so dexterous compared to Megan. It’s so sad; she just watches him pick things up with a claw or two like she wishes she could.

Comparing the two cats, it is my conclusion that declawing cats reduces their quality of life and is just plain wrong. People who get scratched by kittens need to learn how to play with them, rather than having their claws removed. -- G.L., Alexandria, Virginia

DEAR G.L.: I appreciate your observations. Many people with declawed cats will say they are just fine, but many develop serious paw and mobility problems stemming from this all-too-common mutilation.

Even if they do seem OK, they lose considerable dexterity as well as their first line of defense, which is essential if they get outdoors. Veterinarians who do this surgery as a routine when also neutering young cats should reflect on this. In many countries, declawing or onychectomy (amputating the first digit, which is equivalent to amputating all our fingers at the first joint) is not done at all.

There are many things cat owners can do to keep cats from clawing upholstery. Good scratching posts and cat condos are ideal for satisfying the behavioral need to scratch, which is so strong that many declawed cats will do it, too. Cat-owner education is critical, and veterinarians who neglect this essential service and instead opt for routine declawing are violating their professional responsibility to first “do no harm.”

DEAR DR. FOX: I read about the poor man who had his hands and legs amputated when he got an infection from being licked by his dog.

You have said in your column that it’s OK to let dogs lick us, and that their saliva has healing properties. Our two rescue dogs lick us, but now I worry about my kids. What is your opinion? -- H.L.G., St. Louis

DEAR H.L.G.: Yes, I was concerned about this very rare case, and a similar one diagnosed subsequently. The American Veterinary Medical Association recently shared this information with its members:

EXPERTS SAY NO NEED TO FEAR DOG DROOL

Veterinarian Jennifer McQuiston, a CDC expert on capnocytophaga (the bacteria at play in these cases), says that most capnocytophaga infections respond well to common antibiotics. People with alcoholism, the elderly, people with weak immune systems and those who do not have a spleen are at highest risk of sepsis from capnocytophaga infections. Recognizing the symptoms, which can include pain, swelling, fever and discharge, is key to recovery. (USA Today, Aug. 14)

(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: Recently, we acquired a rescue dachshund we named Fritz. He is 3 years old and doing great now.

When we first brought him home, he had two days of vomiting and diarrhea. Our vet prescribed medication, but what really helped was your food recipe.

I made a batch and froze it in portions, and Fritz loves it! No more diarrhea and vomiting. I believe I shall make it from now on, and mix Iams for Dachshunds dry food with it. Thanks for the recipe. -- D.D., Arnold, Missouri

DEAR D.D.: Thanks for confirming the benefits of good nutrition and known ingredients in improving your dog’s health.

You are one of now hundreds of readers over the years who have reaped such benefits for their animals. Don’t give much dry kibble, and ideally find a brand with organically certified, GMO-free ingredients. Dogs should not be fed only dry kibble, which may impair their immune systems and trigger inflammatory reactions. Also, grain-free dry kibble with potato, pea or lentil flour as a binder may play a role in the genesis of heart disease in some dogs.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 6-year-old Chihuahua who has been having seizures for the past three years. He is on phenobarbital: first it was one pill a day, and now it is two.

Sometimes he can go a few months with no seizures, and then he can have two in a week. I thank God they are very mild, and last maybe two or three minutes, max. He basically stiffens up, sometimes with a little shaking. I take him to the vet and all his numbers check out OK. He eats good, and he runs and plays shortly after he has the seizure.

I am worried that an 8-lb. dog has to take two pills a day. It really bothers me. My wife has been searching online and she found a site that sells a product called CBD hemp non-GMO organic cannabidiol. Could this help?

Any recommendation will be very much appreciated; my dog Vinney says thank you, too. -- R.W., Jackson, New Jersey

DEAR R.W.: Chihuahuas are prone to develop epilepsy, for which there can be several causes. My first concern in this breed is low-grade hydrocephalus, a developmental issue related to the abnormal skull shape. Adverse reactions to anti-flea and tick meds, and dietary ingredients such as wheat and corn, can also play a role in dogs having seizures. There are also some inflammatory brain disorders that may improve with the use of fish oil supplements and judicious use of prednisolone, which you should discuss with the attending veterinarian.

Long-term use of barbiturates is to be avoided. Some dogs with seizures benefit from a grain-free diet, which you can make from my basic home-prepared dog food recipe posted on my website. Make coconut oil the main source of fat, probably around one teaspoon in the food at each meal, feeding twice daily. Coconut oil has been shown to help many dogs with seizures have fewer, less intense episodes.

Your vet may be amenable to trying a low dose of CBD: It might help, but not much research of its benefits for dogs is yet available. It is also important to avoid over-excitement and stress, which in small breeds can trigger hypoglycemia and seizures in susceptible dogs.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ANIMAL SELF-MEDICATION

Thanks to dedicated field biologists and ethologists studying the behavior of wild animals, along with ethnobotanists researching healing plants, we are getting glimpses of Nature’s treasures. We should all rise up to defend these treasures in the name of planetary CPR: conservation, protection and restoration.

A healthy humanosphere depends upon a healthy biosphere, rich in natural biodiversity. The following extraordinary documentation of animals’ intelligent use of natural resources to prevent and treat disease is a case in point.

Researchers reported in the journal Primates that red-fronted lemurs in Madagascar chew on toxic millipedes, then rub the resulting foam on their genitals and tails to prevent and treat parasite infections. The millipedes secrete benzoquinone, which repels mosquitoes and might prevent pinworm infections.

(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.)

Cats who are always kept indoors rarely, if ever, suffer physical injuries/wounds or get fleas and develop associated flea-bite allergies.

These health issues can be costly in terms of cats’ quality of life and cat owners’ time and money. In the U.K. -- where cats are commonly allowed outdoors, and sustain injuries from fights and vehicular traffic -- “wounds” are the most common cause for insurance claims for medical treatment of cats.

In the U.S., the most common allergy treated in cats is flea-bite allergy, with a 67-percent increase being reported over the past decade. Fleas are the most common external parasite seen on patients, according to the 2018 Banfield State of Pet Health report. Fleas can transmit zoonotic diseases such as plague, putting family members at risk; anti-flea drugs, meanwhile, put cats at risk, and possibly family members who come in contact with externally applied treatments.

In both countries, and most others, it is a culturally accepted tradition to allow cats to roam free, as many cat owners believe that an indoor-outdoor life is best for their cats’ satisfaction of behavioral needs and quality of life. Many such cats bring home dead and live prey, which is also accepted as natural predation, but in many communities has a negative impact on biodiversity and small mammal and songbird populations.

Surely it is time for the veterinary profession to move forward and support municipal ordinances prohibiting cat owners who live in high-density suburban communities -- and especially rural communities where wildlife is at risk -- from allowing their cats off their property. Similar ordinances are in place for responsible dog ownership. The Florida panther is at risk of extinction in part because of viral diseases from domestic cats, who can also infect lynx and bobcats.

Concerted efforts to provide cat owners with the information needed to help their cats adapt to, and enjoy, life as indoor-only animals is called for, regardless of the potential for alienating some clients. We must also advise against declawing (onychectomy), which is an all-too-common practice in North America.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have been heartbroken since the end of June, when I discovered large lumps on my cat’s neck. It seemed like they developed almost overnight, as I regularly snuggled with my darling cat, Julius.

I had taken him for his yearly checkup not long before this, and the vet gave him a perfect report, including bloodwork. About two weeks later, I found the lumps.

His previous appointment had been in November, when I had taken him to the same veterinarian facility. The vet I saw that day insisted I purchase the Seresta flea collar for him. The collar was put on, and we went home. After a few weeks, I noticed scablike places underneath the collar. I called the vet, and was advised to remove the collar, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to the area, and bring the collar back for a refund, which I did.

When I found the lumps this summer, I asked if the collar may have caused them. Of course, I was told it was unlikely. After reading your blog, I found the story of the poor dog owners who lost two healthy dogs to lymphoma shortly after getting the collars for them -- lymphoma was what my cat had after using the collar.

If only I could go back and follow my instincts, and simply say NO! It makes me sick to think Julius would still be here if I had done that, but I trusted the vet. Last time for that!

Please spread the info and tell pet lovers not to use Seresta brand products! You have my permission to use my name concerning this. Maybe Julius can save other pets and their owners some of the grief and heartbreak I am still trying to get through. -- A.H., Pittsville, Maryland

DEAR A.H.: I am indeed so sorry about the demise of your beloved cat. You should feel no blame, and the veterinarian involved should inform the manufacturer and the government about the adverse reactions -- first the skin lesions and then the lymphoma.

While the chemicals in the collar may not have directly triggered the cancer, they could have impaired immune and other cell-regulation systems to precipitate the cancer.

I would like to hear from other readers whose dogs and cats have had adverse reactions to the various anti-flea and tick products provided by veterinarians and sold over the counter, and urge all readers to visit my website (drfoxvet.net) for my latest review article on this issue, entitled “Companion Animal Risks of Flea and Tick Insecticides.” I consider this one of the most serious companion animal health concerns not yet widely recognized by many veterinarians.

A BOOK FOR ALL WHO CARE

Book review: “Rescuing Ladybugs: Inspirational Encounters With Animals That Changed the World” by Jennifer Skiff. New World Library, 2018.

The rising public anguish over the state of the natural world, the suffering of our own kind and of other fellow creatures is informed and affirmed by the many voices in this exceptional book. “Rescuing Ladybugs” is a clarion call to awaken our empathy, ignite compassionate action and help recover our humanity in these dystopian times.

It should be required reading for all high school students, and will inspire all who care and have communion with other sentient beings. Do visit the author’s website: jenniferskiff.com

(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.)