DEAR DR. FOX: We have two senior springer spaniels with a sensitivity to fleas, and I have reviewed your articles on flea prevention for dogs. We are currently giving them Bravecto as a flea treatment. Living in New Jersey, we only dose them twice per year.

While we don’t like using this, it is the only preventative that has not caused side effects (at least, that we can see). Frontline and Advantix both caused vomiting and lethargy for a few days after application.

We almost lost our older girl to a hot spot that became infected, which our vet believes was caused by a flea bite. Any other suggestions? -- B.H., Trenton, New Jersey

DEAR B.H.: Many dogs get by OK with seasonal use of Bravecto, but I would never use it on my dog here in Minnesota. In India, we had to use Frontline all the time, and at least one dog had seizures.

I would rely on a flea comb after each trip outdoors; check for ticks at the same time, especially between the toes and ears. Best to avoid brushy areas where there could be ticks and fleas from other animals.

As a preventive measure, make a “tea” of one sliced lemon boiled briefly in 2 cups of water. Let cool and store in fridge. Apply to each dog with a sponge, getting the underbelly, legs, under the neck, and along the back, head and ear-tips. This will repel mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. Essential oil of eucalyptus lemon is also excellent, and you can make a spritz out of it with water, but cover their eyes when applying.

These natural herbal products have been used effectively for centuries but their use has been supplanted, and even outlawed, by the big pharmaceutical companies, which are in the human and animal health business primarily to make a profit. Their reticence to take action and recall or relabel drugs that have adverse side effects is a matter of public record.

As for Bravecto, and other insecticides widely sold in most veterinary clinics and some grocery stores, I am of the same opinion: These chemicals should only be used as a last resort. Eventually, insect tolerance and resistance to these insecticides will evolve, and using them year-round as prevention will accelerate this process.

Also, these products will not prevent biting insects from transmitting allergens, Lyme, heartworm and other diseases, as they only kill or sterilize the pests after they have bitten and fed off your dog or cat. For details, check my website (drfoxonehealth.com) for the article on this issue, “Companion Animal Risks of Flea and Tick Insecticides.” Dogs treated with such chemicals should be kept out of streams and lakes to avoid harming the life therein.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 8-year-old neutered tabby, Samson, has been coughing up fur for some time, and I find bits on the floor. In the early evenings, especially, he starts to groom himself, licking and pulling out bits of fur. Later, he coughs and hacks something terrible.

The veterinarian sold me some cat food that’s supposed to help stop furballs, but after two months, it’s made no difference, and he does not like to eat it.

What will help? -- N.McC., Fort Myers, Florida

DEAR N.McC.: It can be very distressing living with a cat suffering like yours, as I know from personal experience.

The latest instance was with our rescued “feral” cat Fanny, who left small tufts of fur around the house for several weeks. This stopped when she settled down and became attached to our dog, at which point she even allowed me to touch her when she was in her bed for the night.

My first question for you to consider is whether Samson is under some emotional stress. What, for instance, is going on in the home when he starts to pull out his fur? Either make it a quiet time or engage him in play to distract him.

Another two possibilities that your veterinarian should have discussed with you are food allergy/intolerance and thyroid disease. If a change in diet to one free of additives, fish, corn and soy does not help, then a blood test for hyperthyroidism would be in order.

HELP VETERINARIANS HELP ANIMALS WORLDWIDE

The mission of World Vets, a nonprofit based in Washington state, is to improve the health and well-being of animals by providing veterinary aid, training and disaster relief worldwide. Your donations will make a big difference for animals in many countries, as volunteer veterinarians donate their time and expertise in poor countries and communities where a few dollars make a big difference for animals in need. For more details about this excellent veterinary initiative, visit worldvets.org.

(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.)

For most of human history, we humans were gatherer-hunters with an intimate knowledge of the natural world. This knowledge was the basis of our animistic religious sensibility that felt and respected the life force in all things, as in ourselves, which gave us a sense of kinship with all life.

Lakota author Luther Standing Bear, in his 1933 book, “Land of the Spotted Eagle,” wrote: “The animal has rights -- the right of man’s protection. ... The concept of life and its relations was humanizing and gave the Lakota an abiding love. It filled his being with the joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal respect for all.”

Missionary doctor Albert Schweitzer later echoed this spiritual realization in his philosophy of reverence for life, especially from the perspectives of world peace and disease prevention. I see this as the fundamental bioethical principle of One Health.

Contemporary religions have taken us away from such affinities with other living beings and the natural world, long condemning such views as primitive paganism, heretical to the divine order of man under God and man over all else. It is surely time to make amends to all indigenous peoples and species, and the natural environment that sustains us all.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our little mixed-breed Cavalier King Charles spaniel yawns widely every few minutes when she is awake.

She is a rescue, about 5 years old and 21 pounds, full of joy and playfulness. She eats well and seems healthy, but the yawning bothers me because I have never seen a dog do this so much. Have you? -- G.T.W., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR G.T.W.: Yawning in some animal species is thought to be a social signal of relaxation or a tension-reducing behavior. In humans, it may help cool the brain.

You have a breed of dog that can suffer from neurological problems associated with a skull that is misshapen in the back by the neck, putting pressure on the brain. This is called a Chiari type 1 malformation. It may lead to syringohydromyelia: a painful condition of fluid buildup in the brain cavities that can affect locomotion; cause pain, irritation and scratching of the shoulders, head and neck; and even seizures. Yorkshire terriers and miniature and toy poodles can also develop this condition, which can be treated with surgery and medication.

If your dog is showing no other signs of discomfort or neurological impairment, she may have a very mild form of this malady, or else her yawning has another cause yet to be determined. Yawning may indicate a lack of oxygen due to a heart problem -- common in small breeds, especially -- or low blood pressure.

Dogs, like humans, have mirror neurons in their brains that make them highly responsive to others’ faces and actions. Some dogs actually sneeze or yawn when a person in front of them does so, and so your yawning could be a trigger for your dog. Or else there is an external trigger that sets her off, and you need to note the time and conditions that might be a trigger, such as turning on the TV or other electronic devices. Some emit non-ionizing radiation or high-frequency sounds, which could upset your dog, who then yawns as a sign of anxiety or as an attempt to relax.

Another possibility: Is she doing it simply to get your attention away from the TV, computer or smartphone? These devices do affect how animals behave around us, and dogs, like infants, seek attention from their distracted caregivers. In my opinion, these devices should be used for very limited periods in both homes and workplaces because of the potential harm of non-ionizing radiation, as well as the potential damage to the brain development of younger users.

I never thought there could be so many reasons for yawning! I am sure there are more. In any case, a full veterinary checkup would be advisable.

ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH HOMELESS SHELTER TO COVER CARE FOR PETS

Nonprofit organization Pets of the Homeless works with Lighthouse Mission Ministries in Bellingham, Washington, to cover the costs of food and veterinary care for the pets of homeless people.

Allowing pets extends the shelter’s reach, says Lighthouse Executive Director Hans Erchinger-Davis, adding that having a pet brings feelings of safety and connection to people as they “start their journey towards health.” (KCPQ, May 9)

I hope more communities and civic leaders will pick up on this kind of good Samaritanism and extend their concern and compassion to people’s companion animals. The mental health savings are well worth the cost of helping the homeless and the poor keep their animals with them, and to help ensure they are kept well-fed and healthy.

(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: 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.)