Community ClicksHypothyroidism questions
Dear Dr. Fox,
I have an 18-year-old tabby cat that has developed hypothyroidism.
What do you suggest I feed her?
Should she be taking supplements?
— J.K., Lake Worth, Fla.
Dear J.K.,
There are various treatments for your cat, from medication to radiation.
These need to be considered in relation to your cat’s age and cost of treatment.
If your cat only has mild signs of this all-too-common feline endocrine disease, consider trying her on various supplements such as kelp, chlorella and spirulina and transition her, if possible, onto a no-cereal diet.
High-cereal-content diets can disrupt normal carnivore metabolism and trigger abnormal endocrine gland responses, especially thyroidal and pancreatic.
Give her catnip to nibble on and inhale (if she likes it — some cats don’t). It can have a brief, feel-good stimulating effect and then sedating effect not unlike valerian or Valium.
Time to take a walk
Dear Dr. Fox,
This is to the lady with the Pekingese that was difficult to potty train.
We acquired a poodle puppy who, as he grew, wouldn’t housebreak.
We also had a 2-year-old son I was potty training.
Between the two, I was tearing my hair out in frustration.
Finally, the day came that I became angry and I put the dog on a leash and walked for blocks and blocks.
I came home calm and discovered I enjoyed the walk.
Thereafter, I walked the dog daily and achieved two things: 1) the dog became housebroken; and 2) I lost weight and firmed up.
No crates or newspapers, just walking the dog every day.
My 2-year-old boy took longer, but he eventually got it right, too.
— M.K., Naples, Fla.
Dear M.K.,
Many readers with house-soiling dogs will appreciate your experiences and learn from what you had to go through to find a solution.
Yes, get out and walk the dog on a regular basis.
Dogs aren’t potted plants to keep indoors all the time.
Getting out is good for you and your dog, both mentally and physically.
Stimulated by the outdoors, dogs’ internal systems get fired up, especially the circulatory and digestive systems.
I always take my dogs out for a long walk (even in winter) about a half-hour before their regular meal.
Irregularity in walking animals
fosters toilet irregularities.
Is flaxseed oil OK for cats?
Dear Dr. Fox,
My 14-year-old Maine coon mix recently showed signs of diabetes.
I immediately stopped all of his dry food, “greenies” and wheat bran I had been giving him for constipation.
I put him on Wellness canned food, and all of the symptoms ceased.
His urine tests negative for glucose.
I have begun giving him flaxseed oil because he over-grooms and sheds a bit.
Is the flaxseed oil OK?
Or should I switch to “good-quality fish oil,” as you recommend?
— B.R., New York, N.Y.
Dear B.R.,
Your letter is confirmation that regular high-grain-content dry cat foods are making cats ill with diabetes and other serious health problems.
A pox on the peddlers of such foods!
Only animal fats and oils have the spectrum of essential fatty acids that are lacking in flaxseed and other vegetable oils.
Aside from bottom-of-the-food-chain sources like spirulina, put your cat on good-quality fish oil like Nordic Naturals and New Chapter products.
Butter, yogurt and eggs from grass-fed, free-range animals and their meat also have more omega-3 fatty acids than from conventionally fed animals raised in cruel factory farms.
Dry-food diet questionable
Dear Dr. Fox,
I have two 9-month-old Cornish Rex cats. They eat only dry food (Solid Gold Katz-n-Flocken) and like it.
They also eat some cooked chicken a couple of times a week.
They seem healthy and happy, except that their stools are frequently loose.
Is that a problem?
— B.C., Naples, Fla.
Dear B.C.,
Having loose stools is one of the first signs of dysbiosis — a problem in the alimentary tract/digestive system.
First, parasites or bacterial or other infections must be ruled out.
Then do a careful review of all ingredients in your cats’ food.
They may have a hypersensitivity (which is genetically shared) to one or more ingredients, byproducts or supplements in this better-quality cat food.
Encourage your cats to drink plenty of pure water because it is a challenge for many cats to stay healthy on an all-dry, manufactured diet.
Try various other dry cat foods such as Organix from Castor & Pollux and both dry and canned organic cat foods from Evanger’s, PetGuard and Natura — to name a few.
You should also give your cats some fish oil and probiotics.
