DEAR DR. FOX: My widowed friend adopted a formerly abused older dog a few years ago. It was love at first sight for both human and dog. They went everywhere together, even to church.

When her pet became very ill one day (spitting up blood), she brought her dog to a 24/7 veterinary facility called BluePearl. They insisted on taking her credit card and told her to sign for an estimated cost of $1,800 before even examining the dog. The animal hospital reportedly ran 40-plus tests on the dog who, sadly, had to be put down two days later.

My friend was given of bill of over $5,000 for the dog's "care." She has been crying every day over the loss of her best friend, and has no means to pay these outrageous charges. Within the last few days, her hair has begun to fall out due to stress. I have written letters to BluePearl asking them to reduce the bill, to no avail.

Is there anything you can do to prevent excessive charges by corrupt animal care facilities being levied on lonely, vulnerable animal lovers? One other interesting fact about BluePearl: The Lee County (Fort Myers) Better Business Bureau has given the facility a D- rating. -- L.C., Lehigh Acres, Florida

DEAR L.C.: BluePearl Veterinary Partners is owned by Mars Inc., and currently has hospitals in 28 states. The Mars pet care website (mars.com/made-by-mars/petcare) touts the company's commitment to improving the lives of pets through nutrition and "high-quality medical care," mentioning its Banfield Pet Hospitals and BluePearl facilities by name.

"We take action to achieve our purpose every day," the website continues, "whether it's working to end pet homelessness, collaborating with governments and nonprofits to make 'Better Cities for Pets,' alleviating student debt for veterinarians or advocating responsible pet ownership."

All of this sounds wonderful, but in my opinion, this monopolistic trend in companion animal care -- coupled with promoting often-dubious pet health insurance packages -- parallels what has happened in the profit-driven human health care sector. Both sectors have seen declines in patient care and satisfaction, and increasingly outrageous charges.

I am shocked at the bill your friend had to pay, with its $1,000 for "miscellaneous" expenses and hundreds more for "consultations" and ultrasound "review."

Mars Inc. is a privately held multinational corporation. It has a moral obligation to the animals and their owners, from whom they profit, to establish more low-cost veterinary facilities in low-income communities. To this end, the company should follow the U.K.'s tried-and-true model of the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals).

I addressed this issue in the following communication, which I sent to Mars Inc., on July 6:

"What funding and projects, current and planned, does Mars Inc. have to address the issue of adequate veterinary care for the poor and homeless at home and abroad? Having communities of dogs and cats in segments of society lacking basic veterinary care and preventive medicine is of considerable public health and animal welfare concern.

"Several years ago, I gave lectures in Europe at the behest of Mars Inc. on cat behavior, care and wellbeing, and I trust the company will honor my query with a detailed and timely response. -- Michael W. Fox, BVetMed, Ph.D., D.Sc., MRCVS; member, British Veterinary Association, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association; honor roll member, American Veterinary Medical Association"

I have yet to receive a reply from the corporation, which seems to be allowing some of its divisions to put profits before compassion -- especially with regard to companion animals, from whom they generate significant revenue from their pet foods and veterinary services. Providing discounted, expired, overstock Mars cat and dog kibble to animal shelters does not quite fulfill this obligation.

MERCK DRUG COMPANY STEPPING UP

AVMA members can now apply for grants of up to $500 per client for cases related to COVID-19, and unlimited grants for domestic violence-related cases, as long as funds are available. This is supported by $200,000 in grants from Merck Animal Health and individual donations. Learn more at avmf.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.)

DEAR READERS: Please see the following news release from the office of Michigan's attorney general:

"Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum have submitted an amicus brief in the Wolf Delisting litigation fighting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ('the Service') decision to remove gray wolves from the list of endangered species. Nessel previously urged the Service not to use Michigan's successful recovery efforts of the species to delist the gray wolf nationwide, but the Service did just that. This brief argues that the Service made this move contrary to the Endangered Species Act and to the detriment of gray wolf populations in other states.

"The brief -- filed (July 23) in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California -- asserts that the Service unlawfully delisted gray wolves based on the species' status in Michigan and other Great Lakes states. This is improper for three reasons: 1. The Service must look to a species' current range, i.e., where it currently exists, to determine whether it is endangered. 2. The Service must analyze the five statutory factors for delisting for each state in which a species is actually located. 3. The Service may not break a species into recovered populations in a way that cuts out orphan populations that would otherwise be entitled to protection.

"In the brief, Nessel argues that the Endangered Species Act does not authorize the Service to pick and choose where endangered species should recover. In fact, the Service must protect the gray wolves where they are also currently found: in Washington, Oregon, California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Kansas."

DEAR DR. FOX: Since cats and dogs can be infected with COVID-19, is anyone working on a vaccination for them? I believe most pet owners would want to protect their fur babies. -- V.D., via email

DEAR V.D.: Your question is very relevant in the midst of this pandemic. Interestingly, blood samples from 8% of cats and less than 1% of dogs who came to the University of Minnesota veterinary hospital for unrelated conditions tested positive for antibodies against COVID-19. This (and other studies) indicates cats are more susceptible than dogs, though most cats quickly recover. Rather than advocating vaccinations for cats, I recommend always keeping them indoors, with limited outdoor access.

Vaccines are being given to animals at risk from public exposure in zoos. Nearly 70 zoos in 27 states are getting an experimental veterinary vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 from Zoetis, which is authorized by the USDA on a case-by-case basis in partnership with state veterinarians. Veterinarians and zoologists at the Denver Zoo are developing plans to vaccinate vulnerable animals, and the Oakland Zoo has already vaccinated tigers, mountain lions, bears and ferrets.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MUST INCLUDE COMPANION ANIMALS

From the American Veterinary Medical Association:

"Does your family's emergency plan include your animals? Planning and preparation are critical when it comes to protecting the health of your family, pets and livestock. AVMA's 'Saving the Whole Family' booklet includes detailed information on assembling emergency kits and plans for a wide variety of animal species."

The booklet can be downloaded as a free PDF from avma.org.

ANOTHER PET FOOD RECALL

Sunshine Mills recalled six brands of dog food due to the potential for higher-than-allowed aflatoxin levels. The recall involves certain varieties of Triumph Wild Spirit, Evolve Classic Super, Wild Harvest Premium, Nurture Farms Natural, Heart to Tail Pure Being and Elm Pet Foods Naturals. (Full story: Food Safety News, 7/29)

(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: With great interest, I'm reading through all the information on your website, particularly your post on flea and tick insecticides. It contains a lot of useful information that pet owners should know before using these poisons.

For us, it's too late: Our vet gave one tablet of NexGard Spectra to our 4-month-old puppy, Obi, during his first checkup. Twelve days later, he started having seizures.

Currently, he's being hospitalized for the second time. He was given Keppra to control the seizures, which worked for a few days. But a couple of days after we stopped the meds, it started all over again and we ran him back to the hospital.

It has been a struggle so far convincing vets that the cause of the trouble is the NexGard pill. They just have trouble believing it, or they tell you it's extremely exceptional. Last weekend, we were lucky to get a neurologist who really listened and did not rule out the possibility of the NexGard story -- although she told me she was having trouble with the timing between application and the symptoms showing.

The veterinary college neurology specialist has completed brain MRI and brain fluid tests, and reported finding nothing abnormal.

Yesterday, we received an update that Obi was indeed probably poisoned by the NexGard. I've been searching day and night over the last week to get as much info as possible on the product -- adverse effects, half-life of the toxin, etc. -- in order to provide any info I can to the team caring for Obi.

My next step would probably be a full detox. I've been given a lot of suggestions -- one vet advised me to give Obi milk thistle, chlorella and other supplements -- but I can't confirm if the dosages are correct for Obi's weight, and whether it's safe to mix the supplements with his Keppra.

I had asked to do a blood transfusion, and that's an option, though they've warned me about the possible development of pancreatitis. Our previous dog went through months of hell with pancreatitis, so I don't want to risk that with our pup.

I'll be discussing all this with the team at the university vet hospital here, and would like your view on it, as well. I'm just trying to get decent, reliable info on how to help our Obi. -- D.A., Ninove, Belgium

DEAR D.A.: I am glad that some of my writings on this issue are spreading around the world. No pup as young as yours should have been given this product.

For detox and additional seizure control, I recommend giving Obi 1 teaspoon of coconut oil twice daily in his food, and 3 mg of melatonin midmorning and in the evening. I have emailed a veterinary expert on this issue, Dr. W. Jean Dodds, to advise you further on the detox; she will send you her articles and advice.

Belgium is no different from many other countries where veterinarians -- along with drug and grocery stores -- are selling insecticides for people to give to their cats and dogs. They consider that the benefits of preventing fleas and ticks outweigh the risks of a few dogs and cats having acute adverse reactions. But what of the long-term effects on animals' health and the environment that they inevitably contaminate? Not to mention rapidly evolving insect resistance, and the die-off of insect-controlling birds poisoned from eating contaminated bugs.

NexGard Spectra, from German company Boehringer Ingelheim, does some innovative research into improving farmed animal productivity and efficiency with vaccines and various drugs, including parasiticides. But this industry is unsustainable; the petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals involved are harming both the environment and the human populace.

It took a lot of time and money for concerned people just to get some of these insecticides to be labeled with their possible seizure and other health risks. Pet owners who purchase these insecticides do so against my advice. I offer many other preventive measures on my website (drfoxonehealth.com). In my opinion, no one should purchase these products from any other source than a veterinarian who will guarantee full compensation by the manufacturers for any veterinary-verified adverse reactions.

As a final note, I hope you will question any billing from the neurologist, whose tests I consider dubious, at best.

(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.)