DEAR DR. FOX: When our son was 5 years old, a friendly dog jumped up and knocked him down. Since then, he has been scared of dogs. We are thinking getting a puppy may help. Rob is 9 now. What do you think we should do? -- K.L., Fargo, North Dakota

DEAR K.L.: Where there is fear, there can be neither trust nor understanding. That goes for animals as well as our children, and our relationships with each other. Unresolved fears can lead to categorical ignorance, prejudice and hatred.

I would first take your son to a dog park and let him observe dogs playing together. Stay at a safe distance, since dogs can knock people down while chasing and playing with each other. Explain how they enjoy running, chasing toys and each other, along with how they communicate by wagging tails, body language and even wrestling/play-fighting. Make a few visits, and perhaps a quiet and friendly dog will come close to Rob and you. Pet the dog so your son will see that dogs are not a danger. Have him remain quiet and still and extend his hand to let the dog sniff him, if the dog wants to. If you have a neighbor with an easygoing dog, have your son accompany you and the neighbor while walking the dog, and explain why dogs like to sniff and mark along the way. Also, go over and visit the dog in the home.

All of this will help desensitize Rob, and hopefully, convince him that dogs are really cool, after all -- especially if he can throw a ball for one to retrieve. Then ask him if he would like one of his own. If that is his wish, visit the local animal shelter and see what dogs are available of the size and temperament you feel is best. (Remember that pups, while cute, require extra care and attention to become housebroken.) Shelters can be very unsettling, with loudly barking caged dogs, so I would not take your son with you; he may feel overwhelmed and afraid.

DEAR DR. FOX: In your columns about cat nutrition, you really missed discussing an important diet for cats with hyperthyroidism. Are you aware of the research done by Hill’s, and the Prescription Diet y/d food that was developed as a result of their findings?

After practicing for 51 years, I prescribed this diet for some patients, and over time, it brought their thyroid function to normal levels. -- Dan Merkey, DVM; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

DEAR DR. MERKEY: I appreciate your confirmation that this prescription diet can help cats recover from hyperthyroidism.

I would expect some recovery of thyroid function, provided the condition is caught early on. But not all cat owners are that vigilant, and I wish more would get their cats in for annual wellness examinations before this and other chronic diseases take hold.

One issue is that cats can be so difficult for owners to get into a carrier. Getting the cat used to sleeping in an open crate makes all the difference when it is time for an annual checkup. Some veterinarians do house calls, though these are generally more costly.

Since thyroid disease is so common in cats, it does become the responsibility of cat food manufacturers to address excessive levels of iodine in their products containing seafood/seafood byproducts, along with fluoride. This is one of the ironies of the pet food industry: It makes animals ill with some of its conventional dietary formulations, then profits by selling corrective prescription diets -- most of which are very costly, generally unpalatable and include biologically inappropriate ingredients.

My advice to cat owners to prevent this disease is to avoid cat foods containing seafood ingredients; visit feline-nutrition.org for home-prepared diet recipes; get rid of flame-retardant, chemically treated carpets, and cover treated upholstery with cotton sheets; and avoid large cans of cat food lined with BPA, a chemical that can disrupt thyroid function.

DOG BITE PREVENTION: WHY BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION IS NOT THE ANSWER

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) targets specific breeds of dogs that are wrongly thought to be dangerous -- most frequently “pit bull types” -- and places stricter regulations on these dogs or even makes ownership of them illegal. While BSL may look good on the surface, it is not a reliable or effective solution for dog bite prevention. This position, taken by the American Veterinary Medical Association, is detailed at avma.org/public/Pages/Why-Breed-Specific-Legislation-is-not-the-Answer.

(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.)

Sally Jenkins’ May 9 Washington Post article, “Horse Racing Is Just a Gussied-up Vice,” documents some of the ethical and animal welfare concerns this industry needs to address, especially the fact that horses are raced at too young an age. They are not skeletally mature until they reach 4 years of age. However, prize money for 2-year-old racing continues to climb, making these immature horses a more profitable option, despite the huge risk of injury. Allowing them to properly mature would take too long and cost too much.

Most racehorses are retired by the end of their fourth year due to injury, chronic illness or an inability to win in higher classes. Most horses in training are confined to a stall for as long as 22 hours per day. Ninety percent of horses suffer from ulcers as a result of stress and an unnatural feeding regimen. Horses control their stomach acids by continuously grazing, which they are unable to do confined to a stall. Some 90 percent suffer from bleeding in the lungs due to overexertion when racing. For more details, visit horseracingkills.org.

Horses have served humanity in countless ways for millennia. It is now time for us to cease their unwarranted, money-driven exploitation and suffering. Selectively breeding, cloning and drugging horses for speed, and then racing them when they are too young and therefore prone to injury, should be prosecuted as felony animal cruelty.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have had four outdoor rescue cats (who became indoor cats) over the years. I am also allergic to bee stings, so I had my outdoor deck screened in. All four cats have enjoyed the fresh air and being able to see the yard. The best part is that we can sit together and enjoy the view. It’s a great idea for cat and dog lovers. -- B.M., Rhinebeck, New York

DEAR B.M.: I hope cat owners will take note of your initiative.

No cat should ever be allowed to roam free. Cats really do enjoy the visual stimulation and ability to sniff the outdoors from a cat-proof deck. In a pinch, a very secure window screen and a padded shelf by the windowsill will give many apartment-dwelling cats some environmental enrichment. Hanging a bird-feeder close to the window or in front of the patio screen provides additional stimulation -- it seems to be more entertaining than frustrating for most cats, as they watch for hours.

CANINE BRUCELLOSIS CONFIRMED AT IOWA FACILITY

Several cases of canine brucellosis were confirmed at a commercial small-dog breeding facility in Marion County, Iowa, according to state public health officials.

The disease is transmissible to humans. In dogs, it causes fever, lethargy and spontaneous abortion. In humans, it leads to fever, headache, joint pain and weakness.

All animals from the facility are undergoing testing, although State Veterinarian Jeff Kaisand advises testing for any dog obtained recently from a source in the county. (Des Moines Register, 5/13)

I would add the warning not to purchase a pup online from any commercial breeder.

(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 DR. FOX: Except for rabies, may I opt out of annual shots for my dogs, and any other suggested vaccines at vet offices? -- L.A., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR L.A.: You are raising an issue that is politically controversial in the human health care sphere -- so much so, that members of the Kennedy family have spoken out against Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his information on childrenshealthdefense.org. His views and concerns about the plethora of vaccines given to children, and what they contain, are backed by sound science and reason. They parallel many of mine when it comes to vaccinating companion animals. But neither he nor I are totally opposed to the cautious and appropriate use of safe and effective vaccines.

Too many veterinarians still advocate annual booster vaccinations, and some boarding and grooming facilities will refuse animals who are not “up to date” on their shots. This is analogous to schools forcing parents to have their children vaccinated regardless of pre-existing vaccination status, and barring them from school otherwise. Problems arise when irresponsible parents send sick children to overcrowded, poorly ventilated schoolrooms. Relying on vaccinations for so called “herd health” in humans is a poor substitute for personal hygiene, public health education, sanitation, good nutrition and healthful lifestyles.

If your dog has had prior basic “core” vaccinations, revaccination may not be needed. A blood test called a titer can be done to determine the status of immunity. Your dog may well need no other vaccinations aside from the mandatory (and questionable) three-year-duration anti-rabies vaccine. My website (drfoxonehealth.com) provides the basic vaccination protocol for dogs and cats, and a critical review article on the subject entitled “Animal Vaccination Concerns.”

I have been receiving more letters over recent years from people whose dogs have severe allergies and who are spending a small fortune on medications, many of which have harmful side-effects. One significant contributing factor may be repeated vaccinations. And some of the ingredients in current pet vaccinations are also present in vaccines given to children, who are showing a rising incidence of food allergies.

I implore doctors, veterinarians and other health care providers to read about this issue at: childrenshealthdefense.org/news/no-enigma-vaccines-and-the-food-allergy-epidemic/

DEAR DR. FOX: I have written to you before about renal support for my dog, who was suffering from kidney failure. Thank you for your advice, which was very helpful. He was much happier and, I think, healthier with a good diet instead of his old prescription dog food. Sadly, he died recently -- not from everything he was being treated for, but from a likely brain tumor.

A couple of months ago, he’d started having seizures, and within just a few days, it was obvious this was not a temporary condition. We had to put him down. I was able to hold him and comfort him during the procedure, and although he was pretty much out of it by that time, I think he knew he was in his favorite place: daddy’s lap.

One of our sons passed away from a heart attack at the same time we had to put Skeeter down, so it was doubly hard. I’m actually writing to you today about his dog: He and his fiancee had/have a rescue mix, about 35 pounds. His fur is not really short like a shepherd’s, and not long like a retriever’s, but in between, and he sheds something awful.

His fiancee has lint removers all over the house to remove dog hair from clothes, furniture, just about everything. He’s very active and friendly, so anyone who interacts with him ends up with hair on their clothes. She brushes and vacuums him regularly, but he still sheds a lot. I don’t see any skin conditions or fleas; he doesn’t scratch a lot, and his fur is clean and soft.

I know short-haired dogs stay clean by shedding, but I checked online for information about excessive shedding and found a lot of products, both oral and topical, that purport to control this problem. Do you have any advice about controlling shedding? -- J.S., Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

DEAR J.S.: I am so sorry to hear about the double loss of loved ones in your family. But I am glad that my help regarding nutrition for your kidney-compromised dog proved beneficial and improved your dog’s quality of life.

Shedding’s causes can be hormonal, environmental, genetic and nutritional. Stress, such as separation anxiety, can increase shedding. But most often, it is because of poor-quality dog food. It is amazing that so many dogs survive on a diet of dry kibble, which too many veterinarians sell in their clinics, only to turn around and treat dogs and cats for various health problems caused by such a diet! Anyone in doubt of this fact can check the book that I co-authored with two other veterinarians, “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods.”

Regrettably, many new veterinary graduates know better, but are still obliged to sell such biologically inappropriate and harmful pet foods in order to generate income for their pet practices and pay off exorbitant student loans. At least some more progressive practices are now supporting local community members starting up their own pet food initiatives, and linking with veterinary-directed special diet recipes at secure.balanceit.com.

For the dog in question, I would recommend my home-prepared diet (on my website: drfoxonehealth.com) as at least half his daily meals. And be sure to give a few drops of fish oil and a half-teaspoon of brewer’s yeast in his food daily.

(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.)