Treat the Immune System, Not Just the Infection

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Dear Dr. Fox:

Angus is my 9-year-old Labrador retriever adopted from Lab Rescue when he was 1 1/2 years old. At that time, he was about 100 pounds and had such severe infections in both ears that black goo would fly out of them when he shook his head. It took three months of constant cleaning and medication to get it under control.

In late 2005, Angus was found to have anal furunculosis (boils). He was on high-dose antibiotics, ketoconazole and Atopica, for nearly a year before it was under control. The drugs made him sick, and he was depressed. I asked my vet whether his diet had anything to do with his getting this disease, and she said no. He has been on Atopica since his diagnosis, and it seems to keep his rear from flaring into an infection. I give him one 100-milligram tablet three times a week and wipe his rear every time he has a bowel movement to keep the area clean. He tolerates the Atopica well, but I'd rather treat him holistically, if possible.

He eats 1 1/2 cups of Iams dry dog food twice daily. He also has a few small Milk-Bone-type treats and sometimes table scraps. I also give him one Pedigree Dental Styx every day (which he really loves), and this has improved his breath and keeps his teeth clean.

Do you think diet has anything to do with this disease?

S.I.

Ashburn

Your poor dog has an impaired immune system that makes him prone to infections, unable to throw them off without medication, and he is experiencing harmful side effects.

I am not surprised that your veterinarian does not think that diet and nutrition have any role to play in your dog's chronic illness or in his recovery. Too many animal doctors believe pet-food manufacturer claims that all the nutrients cats and dogs need to be healthy are in their products because they have been "scientifically formulated" and are "complete and balanced."

I urge you to transition your dog onto a fresh, whole-food diet as per the recipe on my Web site at http://www.doctormwfox.org. Your veterinarian should also visit http://www.RxVitamins.com/pet and explore a more integrative treatment approach using beneficial nutrient supplements. Fish oil is one that tops the list for many conditions.

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have a 7-year-old Lhasa Apso that is a treasure. Last year, I began making your recipe for homemade dog food, and my dog loves it!

My vet has suggested glucosamine as a supplement to his food because one of his back legs goes out of joint periodically. Can I cook this supplement into his food, or will heat destroy its effectiveness?

We live in Florida, and I've given my dog Revolution for seven years, and he tolerates it well. Can you recommend a different prescription for heartworm and a more conservative treatment for ticks and fleas?

N.

Fort Myers, Fla.

Supplements such as glucosamine, fish oil and flaxseed oil should not be cooked because heat can destroy and denature them.

For dogs with joint problems, the chondroitin glucosamine MSM supplement can work well, coupled with turmeric (one 250-milligram capsule) and half a teaspoon of cod liver oil (per 20 pounds body weight). Apply massage therapy as a routine over the afflicted joints and a general body massage. My book "The Healing Touch for Dogs" is a guide for all who wish to learn how to give a therapeutic massage to an animal.

If your dog has had no adverse reactions to Revolution, then I would stay with it. People living in such states as Florida and Texas where there is no significant winter die-off of fleas and other noxious insects are in a bind. The benefits of new-generation anti-flea and anti-tick drugs might outweigh the risks to most animals, provided the animals are not over-vaccinated and are on a good, healthful diet.

Dear Dr. Fox:

In one of your columns, you answered a question about hyperthyroidism in cats.

My 18-year-old cat was found to have this condition in 2005. I tried an oral Tapazole regimen, but she became very ill. I found out later that close to 20 percent of cats tolerate Tapazole orally.

My vet suggested a transdermal application of Tapazole (methimazole) applied to the skin part of the ear. She has been able to tolerate this, and it has lowered her thyroid for close to two years. The last blood work showed the T4 was slightly elevated, so I have increased the dose from once a day to twice.

I would suggest to your readers who have older cats with hyperthyroidism that can't tolerate oral Tapazole and are not candidates for surgery or radioactive-iodine treatment to ask their vets about transdermal application of methimazole. They'll need to find a compounding pharmacy to make the cream -- it's not that expensive.

Also, because kidney failure is usually concurrent, they might get the BUN and creatinine checked. My vet has put my cat on Epakitin, which is added to her food. Her last blood work showed BUN only slightly elevated and creatinine actually down.

M.I.K.

St. Louis

Since this disease has reached almost epidemic proportions in cats today and is the most common endocrine disease afflicting the feline population, many readers will appreciate the knowledge that there is an alternative way to give the medication for this condition without causing some cats so much nausea and distress.

How to prevent this disease: Vacuum the house at least once a week to get rid of dust and carpet and upholstery particles that are probably imbued with flame-retardant chemicals that are implicated in feline thyroid disease; avoid giving cats food and water in certain kinds of plastic containers (use stainless steel or glass); and do not feed cats seafood contaminated with these and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals. All these might also contribute to this feline malady.

Dear Dr. Fox:

About five years ago, my daughter adopted a neutered 2-year-old large-breed shepherd mix named Max.

He is a sweet dog except when he is around another dog. He chases it and mounts it continuously. This is not a playful act. He snaps and snarls and forces the other dog to comply.

At a recent family gathering, he tried to force a smaller dog to comply, grabbing her at the neck and head, breaking the skin and making her cry. Then he mounted her.

My daughter has another dog, and Max mounts this one often throughout the day. My daughter thinks this is normal behavior -- Max is showing that he is the leader of the pack. I think my daughter should be the leader and stop Max from terrorizing other dogs.

His aggressive behavior is the same with every dog he meets: no running or playing, just forced mounting.

Shouldn't this behavior be stopped?

J.F.

Grand Blanc, Mich.

Max is a bully of a dog and needs to be disciplined by being taught self-restraint and boundaries.

As you correctly assert, your daughter needs to assume the role of female leader of the pack and teach Max his manners. A behavioral counselor or good dog trainer should be called in. Max's aggressive behavior could some day get him into a serious fight that might result in great harm -- to either dog or humans trying to break it up.

Max should be encouraged to learn how to run and play with other dogs. He needs to learn how much he is missing.

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have a 12-year-old neutered half-Siamese black-and-white cat that does strange things. I have an idea why, but I want your opinion.

When I am sitting on my couch watching television, he will meow loudly, then jump on the back of the couch and start kneading with his feet around my head. Then he begins to make a thrusting motion. If I try to pet him when he does this, he meows loudly. He does this for a couple of minutes then jumps down and licks his privates. I think his affection for me is very strong. My hair excites him.

He also will pick up one of my slippers and, while meowing loudly, will bring it into the room I'm in, drop it near me, then walk away.

What are your ideas on these behaviors?

E.S.

Red Bank, N.J.

Cats do many curious and seemingly bizarre things. They are copycats and are extremely observant of our behavior and creative in their game play.

Much of this creativity is partly their way of adapting to captivity. (Most domestic cats are still wild at heart.) Often, and regrettably, with no feline companion to interact with naturally, they will displace and redirect various instinctual behaviors toward their human companions.

What you are witnessing are elements of kittenish nursing and sexual behavior when your cat is by your head, and kitten or mate prey-giving behavior when you are in bed and given a slipper.

Such is the nature of feline affection in the distorted realm of domesticity. Some animal-derived products and scents in your hair may indeed trigger ancient longings and instinctual reactions.

Michael W. Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. More pet care information is available at Dr. Fox's Web site, www.doctormwfox.org. Write to Dr. Fox at United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016.

Copyright 2008 United Feature Syndicate Inc.