DEAR DR. FOX: I'm hoping you have experience with the NuVet Plus K-9 Wafers immune-system builder. Per the company website, "the supplement provides full-spectrum nutritional support that focuses on boosting your pet's immune system and overall health."

I'm aware that you advocate the use of a daily multivitamin multi-mineral supplement, such as a good-quality human one-a-day supplement equivalent, as part of your homemade dog food recipe, which I am looking to transition to.

In your opinion, would this NuVet Plus supplement be advisable to use instead of a human one-a-day supplement? This would be for a healthy 2-month-old miniature schnauzer, as well as a 10-year-old miniature schnauzer that receives insulin and Zycortal shots for diabetes and Addison's disease, respectively.

My local vet has not heard of this product and offered no real opinion on its validity but otherwise showed no concern over its use. -- B.C., Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

DEAR B.C. I asked veterinarian Dr. Rob Silver, an expert on supplement issues, to respond:

"I went to the website to see what I could find there, and the ingredient list is quite impressive: herbs like cat's claw and pine bark have been found in a few studies to have immune-enhancing properties. There are a number of vitamins and minerals, for which there is a guaranteed analysis telling you how much is in the formula, but there is no information telling you how much pine bark or cat's claw is actually in the formula.

"I find this disturbing because there could be a trace amount or there could be an effective amount, but they aren't telling us.

"As a multivitamin multi-mineral for supplementing a homemade diet, I'd say it is sorely lacking in adequate calcium for balancing a homemade meal. If you are already putting extra calcium in the homemade food, then this might be OK for that, but it wasn't designed to be used as a source of calcium for homemade meals.

"Also, you have two dogs that are very far apart in age and in health status, so it's probable that what is good for one dog may not be good for the other dog.

"When looking for a supplement, I think it is important to purchase from a company that is transparent and gives you complete disclosure of everything in the formula. This doesn't mean that this formula wouldn't be helpful, but I don't have any information about the product from the manufacturer that would help me to better understand how effective it would be for what it was designed for.

"There are some reputable products available in retail stores and online. I suggest looking for the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) seal of approval. The NASC (NASC.cc) is a nonprofit association that performs inspections of member manufacturing facilities to assure that they follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and that their products meet label claims and are not adulterated or unsafe.

"Look for the NASC seal when purchasing a product, and you will be more likely to select a quality product." -- Robert J. Silver, DVM, MS, CVA; Boulder, Colorado

CHLORPYRIFOS: COURT TO RULE ON PESTICIDE'S USE

According to a story in Reuters earlier this month, "(t)he Trump administration has persuaded a U.S. appeals court to reconsider its recent decision ordering the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos, which critics say can harm children and farmers." (From reuters.com, Feb. 7.)

After much time, cost and effort, environmental and consumer protectionists had succeeded in getting the U.S. government to ban most residential uses of DowDuPont's pesticide in 2000. The Obama administration sought to ban its use completely in 2015.

But in 2017, the Trump administration and then-EPA administrator Scott Pruitt refused to implement the ban on the pesticide, an organophosphate like the highly toxic nerve gas sarin. Last August, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the ban on chlorpyrifos should be implemented.

According to an article in The New York Times last December, "(t)he (Trump) administration's choice not to curb the use of chlorpyrifos is a case study in how ideological and special interest considerations outweighed decades of evidence about the potential harm associated with its use." (From nytimes.com, Dec. 27.)

This "potential harm" includes neurodevelopmental disorders such as cognitive impairment and autism spectrum disorder.

As a consumer and a taxpayer, I am outraged. As a veterinarian, I urge people to support organic farming and look for USDA Organic Certification. They should also demand the same organic options from grocery chains that serve most communities contaminated fruits, nuts and vegetables.

The reality of the business world, devoid of virtue and in a morally inverted ethical vacuum, is ransacking and poisoning our living planet. We all should seek to implement planetary CPR: conservation, preservation and restoration.

(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 tribute to your cat, Pinto Bean. I had to put down my beloved Bella Charlotte last month after a protracted pancreatitis. She was 13 years and 7 months. I adopted her as a parvo survivor at age 3 months. She was just a little poodle mix that never had a good hair day in her life.

I am a critical care nurse and deal with death on a regular basis. But this was nothing like I've ever experienced. When Bella Charlotte became septic, my capable and trusted veterinarian and I knew we were in the fight of Bella's life.

From the onset, it was 33 days and my Bella was gone. Subsequent hydration and IV antibiotics were to no avail. There were multiple hospital days and sleepless nights for all of us.

My heart breaks for you. The guilt I felt and still feel is haunting. My Bella trusted me. I know she was suffering, and it was the humane thing to do. However, holding my sweet girl as she fought death was an image that I cannot escape. I believe I let her down, even though I know she was not ever to be well again.

Our babies are now free from this earthly chain. Your beloved Pinto Bean and my Bella are surely best buds, as they look for us to join them. Blessings and Peace. -- J.W., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR J.W.: Thank you for your kind words. I have received several letters of condolence from readers about my having to euthanize an animal who loved and trusted me. It is a haunting experience regardless of any rational justification.

Your letter is a reminder that many animals don't have such lucky adoption stories. Regrettably, more animals are surrendered to often overcrowded shelters around Christmastime than at other times of the year, according to a recent report. (For more on this, see my commentary below on last December's Boston Globe story.)

The former owners may want their pets to be adopted, but do they follow up?

There are excellent adoption networks to assist people who face economic hardship with surrendering their animals to a shelter. Most, especially their children, would be better off keeping their cat or dog.

I am encouraged by pet food banks that are set up to help people keep their animals, along with community-supported veterinary outreach and care. These kinds of social services, along with grief and other emotional and spiritual support groups, are spreading among millions of people who treasure their animal companions.

PET EUTHANASIA RATES RISE DURING HOLIDAY SEASONS

The year-end holiday season brings with it as much as a 50 percent spike in pet euthanasia procedures, says veterinarian Dani McVety of Lutz, Florida-based Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice.

These pets have been declining for some time in most cases, says Boston-area veterinarian Jeremy Gransky. In addition, their poor health may be exacerbated by the fact that they are susceptible to the stress their owners experience during the holidays. (From The Boston Globe, Dec. 29.)

VETERINARIAN HELPS ANIMAL LOVERS SET UP CLINIC FOR STREET DOGS

Veterinarian Catherine Cortright worked with Fort Collins, Colorado, nonprofit The Street Dog Coalition to create a pop-up clinic in her hometown of Ithaca, New York, that provides veterinary care for the pets of patients in transient housing. (The Street Dog Coalition works to provide free veterinary care to homeless people's pets across the country.)

In Ithaca, veterinary specialists have volunteered to provide basic care for approximately 25 dogs and cats so far, and the clinic has moved from a parking lot to a dog grooming shop. (From The Ithaca Journal, Jan. 8.)

(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.)

Everyone is trying to save money these days, including pet owners. But in an effort to cut back on costs, you may receive advice that could end up compromising your pet's health and cost you more money in the long run.

With that in mind, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has developed recommendations on how you can manage the cost of your pets' care with less risk with its "Money Tips for Caring Pet Owners" (avma.org). I encourage readers to check it out.

Good nutrition and exercise help prevent obesity in our pets, allowing them to live healthier lives and saving us money in the long run.

Still, there's one suggestion the AVMA makes that I would add a qualifier to: "Routine monitoring for tick-borne diseases and parasites (including heartworm), as well as keeping your pets up-to-date on medications, can save their lives," said Dr. Meghan McGrath, a Philadelphia-area veterinarian.

Anti-flea and tick insecticides should never be given for preventative purposes, especially for the millions of indoor cats, and dogs having only seasonal exposure. Ivermectin to prevent heartworm is my one seasonal medication for our dog here in Minnesota, but always check with your veterinarian first because this drug can harm some breeds.

Read on below to see my advice for one reader who is questioning whether to continue giving flea treatment to two indoor cats.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have two neutered male tuxedo cats. Each was found at about 7 to 8 weeks of age; one is now nearly 2, the other closer to 1. They are indoor cats and have never been out of the house except for vet visits. They are in exceptionally good health.

I have been using Advantage Multi as long as we have had them, but I am wondering if they really need this medication. We do not have mosquitoes in our home, so they shouldn't have heartworm. They are never outdoors, so they shouldn't have contact with fleas, ticks, etc.

Should we continue with this or another treatment? -- S.I., Sapulpa, Oklahoma

DEAR S.I.: I am disgusted, frankly, that the attending veterinarian is selling you this product. It could put your cats' health at risk with long-term use. Also, there are environmental concerns with the main ingredient being a broad-spectrum neonicotinoid, which has been linked to the demise of bees and other vital crop pollinators as well as to the starvation and death of other creatures dependent upon healthy insects for food.

Advantage Multi contains imidacloprid, the most well-known and widely used representative of the neonicotinoid insecticides. It is a broad-spectrum neonicotinoid with systemic and contact activity that supports its use on many food crops, turf and ornamentals, and for termite and flea control.

Because your cats never get outdoors, this product is not needed. Traces of the Advantage Multi's insecticide in cats' urine and feces raise environmental concerns with improper disposal of contaminated cat litter (such as spreading it in your garden as fertilizer or putting it in compost).

The less such insecticides are used on companion animals and elsewhere, the better for everyone. You should not need any anti-parasite drugs for your cats if they have no fleas or internal parasites. Instead, check for fleas with a flea comb, and check for internal parasites by taking stool samples to the vet for further examination.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our toy poodle loves to crawl underneath the covers in our bed at night and stay there. He always seems perfectly fine, but we worry at times that he will not get sufficient oxygen. Have you ever heard of anything happening to a dog engaging in this behavior? -- B.R., Boynton Beach, Florida

DEAR B.R.: I have never heard of an animal suffocating as a result of this behavior. However, sleep apnea is good for neither man nor beast, and this can be problematic for cats and dogs with pushed-in faces, like French bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats.

So, just as airlines refuse to fly such animals because of their breathing difficulties, I would not encourage them to get under the sheets in bed. They have difficulty breathing at the best of times, and being under the sheets with limited oxygen could cause even more cardiovascular strain.

Give your toy poodle his own loose, light blanket or towel to snuggle under.

(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.)