DEAR READERS: The labels on pet foods are often in such small print that a magnifying glass is needed. I read the contents of one widely marketed canned food that indicated, in bold print, “Prime Filets” and “Turkey Dinner with Gravy” and claimed “100 percent Complete and Balanced Nutrition for Adult Cats & Kittens.”

The main ingredients, in descending order, were: turkey liver (not turkey meat), meat byproducts, wheat gluten (not good for cats), soy flour (cheap protein, not good for cats), chicken (very small percentage), corn starch (not good for cats), modified natural and artificial flavors (probably monosodium glutamate), and Red 3 (not good for any animal, possibly carcinogenic).

“Meat byproducts” are defined by the pet food industry as the non-rendered parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals (mainly pigs and cattle). They include, but are not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, and stomachs and intestines emptied of their contents.

Turkey livers may contain residues of drugs used to prevent disease and stimulate growth, including antibiotics and ractopamine, a drug that stresses animals and makes them grow more lean muscles -- widely used by pork producers.

This kind of food is not appropriate for cats, which are carnivores. As per the book I co-authored with two other veterinarians, “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods,” these foods are likely to contribute to a variety of health problems -- from diarrhea /inflammatory bowel syndrome to a host of other conditions, including skin disease and constant hunger, which gives the caregiver the false impression that the cat really likes the food.

Consumers beware.

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE POISIONING: SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY

Exposure to toxic blue-green algae is suspected in cases of liver failure in a 5-pound miniature Pomeranian and a 65-pound golden retriever in the Stuart, Florida, area. The owners of both dogs sought veterinary care quickly when their dogs began showing symptoms, which probably saved their lives, said veterinarian Cristina Maldonado.

“If you have any suspicion that your dog is vomiting or having diarrhea because of contact with blue-green algae, get it to a veterinarian -- quick,” Dr. Maldonado said. (TCPalm.com, 9/4)

Read on for more on this topic.

DEAR DR. FOX: I live in Florida, and I am scared for my dog if she gets out and drinks from any water with that poisonous blue-green slime. She does like to run off-leash. It’s never been this bad down here. Any advice? -- S.A., Tampa, Florida

DEAR S.A.: I am afraid that your dog must have limited freedom, and be kept away from any and all open freshwater sources where you live.

Your area also has the red tide, washing all those dead sea creatures up on your shores: a tragedy, indeed. The freshwater problem with blooms of toxin-producing blue-green algae is spreading nationwide as seasonal temperatures rise, which calls for extreme vigilance by public health and municipal water authorities.

I see these critical environmental health problems as arising from climate change. We have accelerated the metabolism of the planet by burning coal and oil, causing global pollution and warming, compounded by deforestation. These and other anthropogenic causes of climate change are compounded by forest fires, as well as by cosmogenic causes that some scientists have identified: notably, increased solar radiation. The impact may be lessened if we effectively rectify our contribution to climate change and engage in planetary CPR: conservation, protection and restoration.

VETS HAIL ENGLAND’S BAN ON ELECTRIC SHOCK COLLAR USE

Environment Secretary Michael Gove’s announcement banning the use of “cruel” electric shock collars in dogs and cats in England, following a public consultation earlier this year, has been applauded by the British Veterinary Association. It is time for such an initiative in other countries, including the United States, where these devices cause much suffering and are no substitute for proper training.

(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: As a regular reader of your column, I am impressed at the devotion so many people seem to have for their pets.

As a longtime cat owner, I can say they give me more than I give them, so I don’t mind paying for regular veterinary wellness exams. I give them a home, food, games and regular grooming, and in return they give me companionship, affection, sympathy (expecially when I have a migraine!) and so much more. I wonder what your other readers can say about what their animals give them. -- O.M.S., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR O.M.S.: As my mentor, the late professor Konrad Lorenz, would say, “I could not disagree with you less.” The Nobel Prize laureate and one of the founders of the science of ethology (animal behavior) asserted that you must first love animals before you can begin to understand them, and that those who believe that other animals do not have emotional experiences -- feelings -- similar to our own should be “in a psychiatric clinic.”

When our ability to love opens us up to what animals can give, we are indeed blessed in countless ways physically, mentally and spiritually. And this means that we suffer with them when they are ill, and commit to ensuring their quality of life is the best we can provide.

I would indeed enjoy hearing from other readers about what their animal companions have given them. Animals have given us so much since the beginning of human history, and payback is long overdue: namely, to acknowledge their basic rights and interests and apply the Golden Rule to all living beings.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have been hearing a lot more about cancer in dogs, and may have a theory. If you agree, I would love for you to educate the public about it in your forum.

So many dogs like to run and fetch balls. But if your grass is regularly fertilized, the chemicals may be getting on the ball, which Rover is happily chewing. We have lost three vizslas to mouth cancer.

Also, believe it or not, many people allow their dogs to drink reclaimed water. Down South, so much of the irrigation water is reclaimed -- it stinks, and is not fit for human OR dog consumption!

People need to be more vigilant about what their dogs are consuming. Don’t let them eat fertilized grass, even if your landscaper says the fertilizer is organic. And let’s not even talk about Roundup! -- L.B., Southport, North Carolina

DEAR L.B.: I agree with you that we need to exercise far greater caution when out with our dogs along sidewalks and grassy areas, especially when they come into contact with recently sprayed areas. When they lie down and run around, picking up a ball or other thrown toy, they also pick up any chemicals present. Municipal authorities and homeowners need to exercise due vigilance and post warning signs in treated areas.

I would add another concern to your plausible hypothesis: that potentially carcinogenic chemicals are present in various synthetic (especially plastic) chew toys and treated rawhide chews, ranging from phthalates to arsenic compounds. Dog owners should seek natural chew products, such as untreated rawhide strips and raw beef shank bones. Cooked bones can splinter and cause internal damage, and hard pieces of deer and elk antlers can break dogs’ teeth.

DEAR DR. FOX: I would just like to chime in that my vet recommended and sold me a Seresta collar for my 8-year-old female Doberman pinscher. ($60!) She became lethargic and wouldn’t eat, so I removed it. Within days, she recovered. I shudder to think what residual poison might be lurking in my home and threatening my grandchildren, who love dogs. We never really had a flea problem anyway. -- L.P., St. Louis, Missouri

DEAR L.P.: My article on this topic (posted on my website) should be read by all veterinarians who are selling these products to their clients, especially when there are no fleas or ticks around. The risks are not worth it, and the long-term consequences essentially unknown.

Treating cats and dogs with insecticides to prevent infestation is like taking antibiotics to prevent disease. This is a practice adopted by the livestock and poultry industries to compensate for poor animal care, especially overcrowding, and it has led to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

“Meet disease as it comes” -- Venienti Occurrite Morbo -- is the motto of my alma mater, the Royal Veterinary College in London. Only when all efforts to control fleas and ticks have failed should these insecticides be used. Insecticidal products are no substitute for safe, effective prevention.

PET ADOPTION SCAMS PROMPT BBB WARNINGS

Scammers are setting up websites purporting to be pet adoption organizations, or individuals who need to rehome a pet. While they do not charge an upfront adoption fee, they require payment by wire service or prepaid cards for veterinary and shipping fees.

The Better Business Bureau’s tips for avoiding scams include adopting locally, avoiding online-only adoptions, picking up adopted pets in person, paying only with a credit card, demanding veterinary records and contacting the veterinarian. (The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, West Virginia, Aug. 20)

(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 am worried about this “dog flu” virus that is going around, but I do not want to have my 12-year-old dog vaccinated. Should I stop taking her to the groomer and to our local park until winter comes? Will it be safe then? -- D.K.W., Springfield, Illinois

DEAR D.K.W.: Ask your veterinarian if it is safe now. This virus, of which there are at least two strains that can affect dogs, tends to appear and then move on from state to state.

Vaccines to protect dogs against both H3N8 and H3N2 canine flu are available in the United States. Your veterinarian can provide additional information about these vaccines and whether you should consider vaccinating your dog. If you feel uncomfortable about having your old dog vaccinated, then don’t be persuaded. Just keep the dog away from others if the veterinarian says that cases have been seen recently in your area.

Dog flu, also known as canine influenza virus (CIV), was first recognized in 2004 following an outbreak of severe respiratory illness at a greyhound racing facility in Florida. Eight of 22 affected dogs died due to extensive hemorrhage in the lungs. Fortunately, this was a small outbreak, due to the rapid institution of containment measures. Since that time, however, dog flu has been identified throughout the United States. The virus isolated was virtually identical with the H3N8 virus in equine influenza.

In March 2015, a severe outbreak of respiratory disease affecting over 1,000 dogs in the Chicago area was documented. The virus was typed as canine influenza virus H3N2, which had never been isolated previously in the U.S. The virus is of avian origin, and closely related to the South Korean canine influenza H3N2 strain. As of June 2017, this virus had spread to 31 states, and some cats were also infected. Both these and other strains of influenza virus can mutate and infect other hosts, including humans and other animal species. High concentrations of humans and of factory-farmed pigs and poultry, coupled with mobility/travel, create the ideal conditions for epidemics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the signs of this illness in dogs are cough, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge and reduced appetite, but not all dogs will show signs of illness. The severity of illness associated with canine flu in dogs can range from no signs to severe illness resulting in pneumonia, and sometimes death. Most dogs recover within two to three weeks. However, some dogs may develop secondary bacterial infections, which may lead to more severe illness and pneumonia. The percentage of dogs infected with this disease that die from it is very small.

(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.)