DEAR READERS: The following is an excerpt from a blog post by Susan Thixton (truthaboutpetfood.com/prescription-pet-food-lawsuit-will-continue/).

“An appeals court in California has ruled that a lawsuit against prescription pet foods’ ‘deceptive practice’ will continue. This is a big win for pet owners.

“The California District Court dismissed the lawsuit in 2017, but in July 2020, the California Appeals Court ruled ‘the district court erred in dismissing’ this important lawsuit. An excerpt from the ruling: ‘The panel concluded that under the reasonable consumer test, plaintiffs sufficiently alleged that the sale of the prescription pet food exclusively through vets or with veterinarian approval was a deceptive practice. In addition, plaintiffs satisfied the heightened pleading standard for fraud because they alleged sufficient facts to show that prescription pet food and other pet food were not materially different.’”

Dr. Fox here. For more details about the limitations of many of these costly special prescription diets for dogs and cats, and the irony that most would not be warranted if animals were fed biologically appropriate diets to begin with, see “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods.” This book was written by myself and two other veterinarians: former Hill’s pet food company vet Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins and veterinary professor Dr. Marion E. Smart.

DEAR DR. FOX: In regard to the recent column headlined “Agnostic angry, feels called out”: I read your column in the Palm Beach Post, and I find it to be helpful, informative and enjoyable. Please keep up the good work. I would not have written to you except for the column referenced above: It was excellent. It is disheartening to see that K.P. of Naples decided to politicize the Golden Rule. -- P.D., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR P.D.: Thank you for your words of support for some of my opinions, which I feel professionally and ethically impelled to express in these times of socioeconomic, public and environmental health crises.

Some other readers disagree, writing to me that I have been “brainwashed”, and that my “left-wing,” “communist” political agenda is evident in my columns.

It saddens me that people are so set in their points of view that they are cognitively impaired, feeling threatened when their values, actions and harmful consequences of the same are questioned. A life unexamined is a life unlived, and leads to the rationalization and denial of the harmful consequences of one’s beliefs, values and actions as they affect others -- human or not.

I offer a note of optimism in my essay “The Second Coming? Existential Reality of Global Environmental Crisis,” posted on my website (drfoxonehealth.com).

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DRECTION FOR PET SUPPLY STORES

The Reno (Nevada) City Council approved an ordinance banning the sale of dogs and cats at retail stores, though the stores may still provide space for organizations that offer dogs and cats for adoption. Home breeders may also continue selling dogs and cats. (Full story: ThisIsReno.com, 7/29)

DOG IN LOUISIANA TESTS POSITIVE FOR SARS-COV-2

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has reported that a pet dog tested positive for a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evidence is emerging that people can, in rare cases, transmit the novel coronavirus to animals during close contact, and anyone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should avoid close contact with pets. (Full story: TheAdvocate.com, 8/4)

The first animal to test positive for the virus in the U.K. was a cat whose owners had COVID-19, had mild symptoms and quickly recovered. Cats are prone to various coronaviruses and may have some cross-immunity to other strains, as do people.

(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: I have been reading your Animal Doctor columns for years, and I am so glad you have been showing how politics can harm animals as well as the environment. We should all be involved. You have gotten flak from some readers demanding you just “stick to pet health issues,” but all things are connected! You make the connections and help us think about and see the “big picture.” -- T.U., Minneapolis, Minnesota

DEAR T.U.: I appreciate your words of support. I am sure you would enjoy my book “Bringing Life to Ethics: Global Bioethics for a Humane Society,” wherein I lay the groundwork for what I call trans-species democracy.

Those who advocate for democracy commit the hypocrisy of human-centeredness and supremacy when they put their own interests over the rights and interests of other species. Such speciesism is of the same currency as racism. The political corruption of the ethics and spirituality of such democratic principles is at the root of the cultural, socioeconomic and environmental crises that we face today.

DEAR DR. FOX: Just wondering your thoughts on using CBD oil to manage seizures in dogs. We have a 10-pound dog on phenobarbital to help with her seizures, but she still has several each week. I’m wondering if there are any studies that support the use of CBD oil for dogs. -- W.B., Alva, Florida

DEAR W.B.: There are many reasons why dogs have seizures. In many cases, dogs have fewer or no seizures when given a whole-food diet without corn, wheat or added chemicals, as per the home-prepared recipe posted on my website (drfoxonehealth.com). And recent veterinary reports show some benefits in reducing and even preventing seizures when coconut oil, with its medium-chain triglycerides, is the main fat ingredient in a dog’s food.

My veterinary friend Dr. Rob Silver is perhaps most widely known for his pioneering work on CBD in veterinary medicine. He’s found that CBD can help dogs that suffer from conditions such as anxiety, seizures, pain, inflammation, digestive problems and cancer. (His book, “Medical Marijuana and Your Pet,” is considered an excellent resource on the subject.)

THC content may have some adverse effects for dogs, so pure CBD is advisable. Silver finds that it’s best to start out with low doses of CBD for a few weeks; you can always increase it slightly down the road. Conditions like anxiety, in particular, respond well to low doses of CBD, because it seems to help the brain make better use of serotonin -- the happiness compound.

CANNABIS EXTRACT (CBD) HELPS ARTHRITIC DOGS

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Immunology, dogs with osteoarthritis improved after being given cannabidiol for four weeks. Mobility and signs of pain did not improve in dogs given a placebo or a low dose of CBD, but both improved significantly in dogs given the highest CBD dose or a CBD liposomal formulation, said study leader Matthew Halpert. (Full story: Forbes.com, 7/1)

TEXAS A&M RESEARCH PROJECT IDENTIFIES COVID-19 POSITIVE PETS IN BRAZOS COUNTY

The transmission of COVID-19 to pets has been the source of much discussion within the scientific community. Reports have confirmed a small but growing list of positive cases among companion animals and exotic cats in the U.S. Now, new efforts within The Texas A&M University System are beginning to shed additional light on the topic.

A team led by Sarah Hamer, Ph.D., DVM, associate professor of epidemiology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is further exploring the degree to which pets are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

In and around Brazos County (home to Texas A&M), the team has found evidence that the pets of people who have COVID-19 may also become infected. So far, the team has identified two asymptomatic cats that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The cats, from different households, were both living with a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19.

“At the time we collected samples from these cats at their houses, the owners did not report any signs of disease in the animals coinciding with the human diagnosis, but one of the cats had several days of sneezing after we sampled it,” Hamer said.

“Our study was not designed to test the directionality of transmission of the virus (whether pets become infected from owners, or vice versa). But what this does tell us is that pets can become infected in high-risk households,” Hamer said.

“The American Veterinary Medical Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 One Health Working Group emphasize that people who test positive should isolate from their pets or wear a face mask around their pets, just as they should do with other people,” she said. “We know that is probably really hard if you are quarantined at home and just want to snuggle with your pet, but it is important to do.”

Hamer reiterated that the veterinary and scientific consensus still maintains people shouldn’t be afraid if their animals test positive, and there is no indication that infected pets should be surrendered. To learn more about the project, visit tx.ag/BCSCovidResearch.

I hope that veterinary colleges around the world will set up similar projects, which will be of value in the years to come for other zoonotic diseases.

(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: We have a 3-year-old female German shepherd/whippet mix who rushes to my husband’s side every time he sneezes! She appears to be concerned about him when he sneezes. -- M.S., South Bend, Indiana

DEAR M.S.: Thanks for sharing how your dog responds to a sneeze. She may interpret the sound as a sign of distress -- many dogs are highly empathic.

Animals can get confused around humans making different sounds, some of which mimic the “paralanguage” of animal sounds indicating various emotional states and intentions. I know of dogs who bark when their human companion coughs or sneezes, possibly thinking the human is barking at something and giving a warning.

Many dogs give a deep sigh or two when they lie down to rest, much like we do; when I lie down and sigh next to our dog, she will often sigh in response. A baby crying in the crib often upsets dogs and cats living in the same home.

One sound in particular that can upset animals is the screaming of excited children, which I never allowed my children to engage in, especially around animals. Such high-pitched sounds can upset animals, since they are analogous to primal alarm signals. These sounds could make them more defensive and likely to snap, scratch or flee if the screamers get close.

There are reports of cats and dogs who have been stressed during this pandemic with children being at home all day. Many animals seek refuge away from these insensitive noisemakers, whose parents are either oblivious or think loud children are cute and spirited.

On a more humorous note, I am allergic to our local newspaper, and have several sneezes soon after I open the pages. The only one to complain is my wife. Our cat and dog ignore me!

WHY MANY DOGS ARE FEARFUL

A recent essay was published in Scientific Reports by University of Helsinki researcher Dr. Jenni Puurunen and her colleagues, entitled “Inadequate socialization, inactivity and urban living environment are associated with social fearfulness in pet dogs.”

Data were collected on almost 6000 companion dogs, varying in age from 2 months to 17 years, using a behavioral survey completed by their humans to assess how they responded to unfamiliar dogs and humans. It was found that fearful dogs had been socialized less during puppyhood, were small in body size, tended to be female and/or neutered, and participated less frequently in training and other activities. They also found a novel association between the living environment of the dog and social fearfulness: Dogs living in a more urban environment were more likely afraid of dogs and strangers. There also were differences among breeds.

ANOTHER ZOONOTIC DISEASE TO WATCH FOR

Vesicular stomatitis virus primarily affects horses, donkeys and mules, but cattle, hogs and people are also susceptible. The disease can spread like wildfire if flies that spread it aren’t controlled, and animals that have it aren’t isolated.

An outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus that reached Kansas in mid-June has now spread to 10 counties, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and Missouri recorded its first case of the year this week. Cases have also been documented in Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Kansas Animal Health Commissioner Justin Smith urged horse owners to prioritize insect control to limit the further spread of disease. (Full story at agriculture.ks.gov)

CAT IN U.K. RECOVERS FROM CORONAVIRUS INFECTION

The U.K.’s Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cat believed to have contracted the infection from its owners, who had confirmed cases of COVID-19, and both the cat and its owners have recovered. The cat’s preliminary diagnosis was feline herpes virus, but the cat was tested for infection with the novel coronavirus as part of a study. “The data overall continue to suggest that cats may become infected by their owners if their owners have COVID-19, but there is no suggestion that they may transmit it to owners,” said veterinarian James Wood, head of the University of Cambridge’s veterinary medicine department. (Full story at CNN.com)

DOGS TRAINED TO SNIFF CORONAVIRUS HIT 94% SUCCESS RATE

It took about a week to train eight scent-detection dogs to differentiate saliva and mucus samples from people with and without COVID-19, say scientists at Germany’s University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover. The dogs achieved about a 94% success rate when both types of samples were used in the pilot study. (Full story at dw.com)

(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.)