DEAR DR. FOX: I have been reading about feeding dogs vegan diets, or vegetarian ones (including no meat, but still eggs and dairy). What is your opinion on this?

I am concerned about the environment and animal welfare, so I am a vegan, and I must say I feel better since I changed my diet. I know vegan diets are wrong for cats, but what about my dogs? -- R.F., Washington, D.C.

DEAR R.F.: Many dogs, especially German shepherds, get pancreatic insufficiency (run out of starch-digesting enzymes) when on a high-grain/starch diet. Some other breeds develop irritable and inflammatory bowel diseases and colitis, along with associated allergies from the secondary leaky gut syndrome.

Dysbiosis -- an unhealthy population of gut bacteria associated with biologically inappropriate diets -- can lead to other health problems that can be rectified by dietary corrections and supplements. Corn and wheat can cause seizures in dogs, and soy causes bloating and indigestion, indicative of food intolerance. A high-fiber diet can lead to constant hunger and malnutrition, while a high-carbohydrate diet can lead to obesity, diabetes, arthritis and other health problems.

Alternative dietary inclusions such as potato, pea flour and lentils (pulses) have been recently linked with dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. High levels of lectins in these ingredients may interfere with uptake of taurine, which is an added supplement in most manufactured dog and cat foods. Deficiencies in omega-3, DHA and EPA fatty acids, and high levels of omega-6 from corn in vegan and vegetarian diets (for both dogs and people), are also a major concern. These fatty acids are essential for the neurological and visual development of puppies (so pregnant dogs, especially, should not be given vegetarian diets), and may also slow down cognitive decline in aging animals and help sustain cardiac health. Deficiencies can underlie serious skin disorders and inflammatory conditions.

Dogs and cats are often allergic to eggs and dairy products, or have varying degrees of dietary intolerance to them. Adding synthetic supplements to vegan and vegetarian diets in order to correct deficiencies can be problematic, as per recent recalls of dog foods containing excessive, toxic levels of vitamin D. (One recent example: truthaboutpetfood.com/seven-class-action-lawsuits-against-hills-pet-nutrition/)

My ultimate concern is that dogs (and cats) on biologically inappropriate diets may present clinical problems that some veterinarians will address primarily, and possibly exclusively, believing that the animals are being fed an adequate diet. Treating the symptoms and consequences of improper nutrition, rather than addressing the root cause, has happened in many instances -- especially with dogs and cats being fed manufactured pet foods sold by the veterinarians, along with profitable prescription diets.

These concerns and others about many conventional manufactured pet foods with “junk” and hazardous plant and animal ingredients condemned for human consumption are documented in the book that I co-authored with two other veterinarians, “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods.” For more details and home-prepared recipes for dogs and cats, visit drfoxonehealth.com.

DEAR DR. FOX: I was reading this 2014 column of yours, about behavioral changes associated with flea and tick treatments, with great interest: is.gd/YdQhv3.

I have an 18-month-old Lab/golden mix who has shown aggressive behavior after receiving flea and tick medicine. Last year, we used a topical treatment and it totally changed her behavior. I called the vet and asked about this, and they said to wash it off of her and not to use it again. This year, we decided to use an oral medication (Bravecto) from the vet. Now, I read this article and realize that we have really harmed her for three months. She just got her first dose two weeks ago, and the behavior has restarted.

She is such a sweet girl, but right now I fear when other dogs come towards her, as she gets protective and aggressive. She usually loves everyone and everything.

My question: Is there any way to detox her body? -- M.G., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR M.G.: Your letter is important, and I am impressed that you found the reference to my earlier article on this issue.

I would like to hear from other readers whose dogs (and cats) have shown behavioral changes after application or oral treatment with insecticides to kill ticks and fleas. I am opposed to the routine preventive use of these drugs for animal health and environmental reasons, as documented on my website (drfoxonehealth.com). I also provide an integrative and safer approach to help prevent these and other external insects from infesting companion animals. It is only a matter of time before they evolve drug resistance.

Your dog will naturally detoxify and rid her body of these chemicals, a process you may facilitate by encouraging plenty of water intake with chicken- or beef-bouillon flavored water and a daily (human) dose of vitamin E, vitamin B complex, and milk thistle for seven days. These will support liver function, the main detoxifying organ of the body.

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: I harp a lot in this column about not allowing cats to roam free, while knowing that many cats do like the outdoors and need some environmental enrichment. This is ideally achieved by living with another cat and having an easy-access outdoor enclosure through a flap door set in a window or door. These cat patios, or “catios,” are becoming more popular and easier to construct.

The company Catio Spaces offers DIY catio plans in a variety of designs and sizes for windows, decks, patios or yards. Each plan is a downloadable PDF with detailed directions, illustrations, a materials list and a tools list. Each plan is easy to follow and rewarding to build. Bonus information includes guidelines to acclimate a cat to a cat door and a new outdoor space, plus tips for cat-safe plants, decor and accessories to promote exercise and enrichment.

Catios can be left natural, or painted and decorated to complement the home, the owner’s personal style, or each cat’s personality. Catio Plans start at around $40, and 10 percent is donated to animal welfare organizations. For more, see catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/diy-plans.

Special offer for veterinarians: Catio Spaces offers DIY Catio flyers and tips for vets to pass on to interested cat owners. To request a sample flyer or quantity of 50, email info@catiospaces.com. And veterinarians can help educate cat parents on the benefits of catios using this guide: https://is.gd/iq0Wxt.

DEAR DR. FOX: What types of pain are associated with Cushing’s disease in dogs? -- S.M., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR S.M.: This endocrine disease is quite common in dogs.

A tumor in the brain or in the adrenal glands results in the production of high levels of adrenal hormones. These affect the dog’s physiology and behavior, causing panting, weak muscles, and evident discomfort from a swollen abdomen. Anxiety and chronic discomfort -- but little actual pain, until the onset of peripheral neuropathy -- are of primary concern after appropriate medications are prescribed. The painkiller tramadol, widely prescribed for dogs, is actually not an effective analgesic for dogs with this disorder.

Discuss your concerns with the attending veterinarian. If the disease has not progressed far enough to cause damaged vision and high blood pressure, and provided thyroid function is normal, I would highly recommend 6 mg of melatonin and 200 mg of L-theanine at bedtime, along with and 3 mg of melatonin in the morning and mid-afternoon.

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: In India, dozens of Muslims have been killed, and many more injured, by extremists calling themselves “cow protectionists” while the police simply stand by, according to the recent BBC TV documentary, “India’s Cow Vigilantes.”

Traditionally, Muslims and low-caste Hindus (Dalits) ate the meat of cows and working bullocks; the dominant Hindu populace does not consume beef for religious reasons, but consumes a lot of cows’ milk. Now, spent cows and exhausted bullocks, food for many people, instead go to “cow shelters.” In many of these shelters -- as my wife, Deanna Krantz, and I documented in our book “India’s Animals: Helping the Sacred and the Suffering” -- the animals slowly starve to death or die from injuries and infections due to a lack of proper veterinary care.

The government that claims to provide feed for all these impounded animals is riddled with corruption, the shelter cattle being worth only their skin and bones. Poor people cannot afford feed for their family milk cows or goats.

The Hindu veterinarian whose work we help fund (and whose name we will not give, for his own safety) writes:

“Humane slaughter is highly preferable and must be practiced. Changing food habits by enforcing law is unacceptable and will jeopardize the very secular nature of the country, constituted as a ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with unity in diversity.’ Many Muslims and others are vegetarian, and many Hindu men eat beef when away from home.”

This is the first instance to my knowledge where animals regarded as sacred have been made to suffer on such an enormous scale because of politico-religious fundamentalist bigotry. The Indian government should outlaw violence in the spurious name of cow protection, and recognize the ecological and economic good that comes from recycling the cows who gave them milk and meat. After all, India is the world’s second-largest exporter of beef (primarily from water buffalo). For more details, visit drfoxonehealth.com.

I should add that vegetarian Hindus and Jains caring for captive carnivores, from lions to eagles, have crippled and starved them, forcing them to accept a lacto-vegetarian diet. Imposing such dietary restrictions on obligate carnivores because of religious beliefs and customs is clearly unethical and culturally absurd.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have an 11-year-old female cat, Tina, who started to lose weight over the last four months. At first, I did not notice, as she is a fluffy cat and sleeps most of the day in my room.

Last week, I was petting her and felt her bones. I called my vet, and he came to check her out. He took blood and palpated her neck and showed me a lump on her thyroid. The blood test confirmed that she has hyperthyroidism. We immediately ordered thyroid medicine from a pharmacy, but it will take five days to be delivered.

What can we do in the meantime? I have been giving her dry food all day, and wet food two to three times a day. Is there a recommended food for cats with hyperthyroidism? I can supplement her food with eggs, meat, etc., but I would rather give her something with vitamins and minerals geared towards caloric intake.

She was 12 pounds in October. Now, she is 8.2 pounds. I am afraid that she will continue to lose weight and suffer. -- K.I., Freehold, New Jersey

DEAR K.I.: Your cat is one of thousands with this disease.

The domestic cat is the modern-day canary down the mineshaft, sharing with us the same environment and exposure to harmful chemicals in our air, food and water. Many of these chemicals cause cancer in cats, dogs and their caregivers, as well as the general population exposed to the DNA-damaging fallout from the Age of Chemistry. The incidence of many cancers in children is also increasing.

The definition of “progress” must now be recalibrated from the perspective of One Health, though disease prevention is politically unpopular and financially threatening to responsible parties. The political influence of the pharmaceutical industry, with its exorbitant, seemingly unstoppable price hikes in the U.S., is evidence enough that we, the public, must become more responsible for maintaining our own health and that of those we care for.

It is too late to turn the clock back for your cat, but you can help improve her condition -- which is often associated with increased irritability, appetite and anxiety with excessive fur-pulling and grooming -- by offering her a pinch of catnip, which most cats like for its arousing, then calming, effect. I call it “cat Valium.”

If she’s not allergic to fish, I would give your cat a canned sardine daily, and feed her a high-quality, grain-free canned or freeze-dried cat food.

Your cat may otherwise be healthy enough for treatment with a radioisotope that destroys the tumor and the thyroid gland, which is the most effective treatment when available and affordable.

AN OUTSTANDING BOOK

In the emerging field of One Health that recognizes the benefits of caring relationships between us, animals and the environment, we have a very valuable contribution by Carol Novello with Ginny Graves. They have written the outstanding book “Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too” (Grand Central Publishing, 2019).

The beauty of this book is not only in the personal accounts of the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits that animals provide, but also in the referenced documentation of scholarly articles that validate these claims. There is no sentimentalizing or anthropomorphizing in this book, but some parts may make readers cry.

Those who have not yet experienced the affection and trust of an animal, or who, for various reasons, are disconnected from realizing the many profound benefits of having animals in their lives, should be given this book, as should all high-school students, whose education and well-being will be enhanced. Helping rescue or foster animals, walking neighbors’ dogs and volunteering at the local animal shelter or wildlife rehabilitation facility are antidotes to “climate grief” -- the paralyzing and depressing anxiety over the state of the environment. Becoming activists for good causes can improve mental health.

(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 DrFoxOneHealth.com.)