Stick with bunnies made of chocolate

Dear Readers: Many people will be soon celebrating Easter with chocolate bunnies and decorated eggs. But please resist the temptation of purchasing a fluffy, adorable live bunny, duckling or chick for your children.

This time of ancient celebration of the return of spring and the renewal of life should not involve the suffering and death of these young creatures, all of which require proper expertise in keeping them alive and healthy.

Many children learn about death not long after Easter, while burying their Easter animals. And some can infect children with Salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria and diseases.

It is best for all to stick with chocolate bunnies (in moderation). And keep dogs away from chocolate and any xylitol-sweetened consumables, which can be lethal for them.

Dear Dr. Fox: I am looking for the right dog for our young family. I have read your article “Recovering Canine Health and the Natural Dog” on your website, and a friend sent me an article about the cost and complexities of pet health insurance and a list of various breeds associated with 70 genetic disorders. Many of these disorders can cause suffering and are expensive to treat.

What advice can you offer? Some of the smaller breeds we love, but they can have so many problems!

R.W.McC., Arlington, Virginia

Dear R.W.McC.: My advice is to first read “Choosing to Live With a Dog” on my website (drfoxonehealth.com). Then read my review on pet health insurance.

I always advise considering adoption from a local shelter, and never buying online.

If you want a particular breed, think long and hard and read all about it. Only buy a pup when you can see the parents and assess how they behave and are cared for. Also, many people do best with an older dog who is fully house-trained.

Embrace Pet Insurance has posted the top five most common conditions in dogs, and their treatment costs, based on 200,000 claims filed in 2018. They are:

Intestinal issues, average cost of $790

Allergies, $390 Ear infections, $290 Lameness, $620

Cranial cruciate ligament tear, $4,160

As I document in my articles on canine nutrigenomics, many of these conditions are associated with various manufactured dog foods, and are preventable and generally treatable with good nutrition and appropriate supplements. Breed and genetics can play a role in some of these conditions, as can obesity, an all-too-common health problem in companion animals. It calls for immediate attention, since it is a major factor in reduced quality of life and a host of secondary adverse health consequences.

I strongly advise against people having their pups’ DNA tested and then euthanizing the dog if it carries some inherited diseases. As with our adopted dog Kota (mainly Australian red heeler), these genes are often recessive — meaning in Kota’s case that she is a carrier, but she is very unlikely to get the disease (degenerative myelopathy) herself. If bred to a male dog with the same recessive gene for that disease, their pups would probably develop this neurological disorder.

Write c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 or email animaldocfox@gmail.com. Visit Dr. Fox’s Web site at www. DrFoxVet.com.