Q. I'd like your opinion on how cat litter affects unbornchildren. My family doctor claims the germs in the litter can evenbe transmitted through the air. Also, sometimes when my cat comesin, she has a messy bottom, forcing me to clean her up. I understandthere is a test to take before pregnancy to determine if I would beaffected by the litter. Since there is such a danger, I think it'sdisgusting that doctors don't discuss this more with women. I neverheard of it until now.
A. The disease your doctor is concerned about is calledtoxoplasmosis. Your vet can easily check your cat for this disease.The most common source of this disease is poorly cooked meat - notpets! Germs are not transmitted through the air. If your cat doeshave the toxo 'germ,' you still don't have to get rid of her - justwash your hands carefully after handling her, and have your husbandchange the litter.
Q. I hope you know of some magic to help my German shepherd.She is 11 years old, very spry and will chase a piece of firewoodlike a race horse. She would protect me with her life, yet she isgentle. She was spayed after her first year. The last few months Ihave noticed that she leaks urine in the morning. Now she hasstarted leaking in the evening when she sleeps. The vet says there'snothing I can do - that it's the result of spaying.
I do not want to put her outside because she would feelpunished. Do you know of anything I can do? Would she surviveoutside in a pen? I doubt if she would go in a doghouse.Incidentally, our house is carpeted throughout.
A. Sex-hormone replacement therapy may help your dog'sbladder-weakness problem. However, considering her age, she may havea bladder tumor or large calculi and these possibilities should bechecked out. Don't put her in an outside pen because this couldcause too much distress. Let her sleep on pads of newspaper and awashable blanket, and take up the carpet in the room she frequentsmost. Her minor inconvenience is no reason to get rid of her.
Q. I read in one of your columns that you would not use noradvise the use of oral pesticides to control fleas. Could you pleaseexplain why?
A. I feel that oral pesticides and pesticide powders and dipsshould be used only as a last resort to rid animals of fleas.Chronic exposure to pesticides can weaken the immune system andpossibly harm your family members who are exposed to them. There areother ways to control fleas without routinely using dangerouschemicals. Your veterinarian should be able to advise you aboutthese.
Q. My cat has terrible breath. She loves to eat chicken liver.Could that be causing the odor?
A. Halitosis does not result from the foods a cat eats. Youshould have your cat's gums and teeth checked. Most likely they areinfected. That's the usual cause of bad breath. Have your vet checkher out soon, before oral disease sets in. Also, start feeding herdry food. Experiment until you find one she likes. All moist foodstend to collect between the teeth.
Q. Our two parakeets have grown scales on their beaks, eyes andlegs, and one has a horny growth on the membrane at the base of hisbeak. Am I feeding them too much calcium?
A. Your birds are infested with mites called cnemidocoptespilae. These mites burrow into the bird's tissues, and theirritation causes the scales and growth. Remove all deadencrustations and paint the afflicted areas with a 10-percentemulsion of benzoate in water (which your veterinarian can prescribe)daily for three days and repeat once seven days later. Also,thoroughly scrub out the cage and put in new perches.
Send questions to Dr. Fox to Chicago Sun-Times, 401 N. Wabash,Chicago 60611. The volume of mail received prohibits personalreplies, but questions and comments of general interest will bediscussed in future columns.
