The Animal Doctor

DEAR READERS: We are all witness to the tragic loss of lives, personal suffering, and social and economic chaos that have accompanied COVID-19, along with a lack of governmental and personal responsibility in stemming the pandemic. It is time to pause amid the rush to market new vaccines and drugs, and consider the origins of this virus. It is not so much “from China” as it is from our continued cultural acceptance of consuming other species for food, and of encroaching on the last of the wild lands.

If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that becoming vegetarians -- and ideally, vegans -- is the best preventive for future pandemics. This is consonant with the ethical One Health imperative of seeking to restore and maintain a healthy environment, clean air and water, and safe, sustainably produced food.

Two independent scientific reports have determined that several species of mammals, some endangered wild species, and others raised for food or kept as pets could become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus from people who have the COVID-19 disease. The animals could then become a source of infection to humans and other species. Every precaution must therefore be taken by all of us -- especially farmers, staff and visitors at ranches, horse stables, zoos, aquariums, safari parks and pet stores with live animals (especially ferrets).

THOUSANDS OF MINK DIE FROM COVID-19 INFECTED WORKERS

Two of the largest mink farms in Utah were put under quarantine in August after animals and employees tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (Salt Lake Tribune, 8/17). Subsequently, nine mink farms in three Utah counties were quarantined after thousands of mink died of SARS-CoV-2 infections, likely spread to the animals from workers at the farms, says Utah State Veterinarian Dean Taylor. Most of the deaths have occurred in older mink, and the farms have not resorted to euthanasia to stop the virus’s spread, Taylor said (Kaiser Health News, 10/20).

Internationally, SARS-CoV-2 infections were confirmed in mink at 41 farms in Denmark and suspected at 20 more. Around 1 million animals might be culled at the affected farms and at others nearby (Reuters, 10/2).

DEAR DR. FOX: You wrote in a recent column that “science loses its credibility when it serves vested interests, and the current anti-science political ethos in the U.S. seeks to silence the informed who speak truth to power.”

I really want to thank you for not polarizing your perspective -- to choose not to be antithetical to one narrative to facilitate your stance. I think it’s helpful to have individuals like yourself who are willing to admit that politics and science need to divorce from each other when it comes to health and profit margins.

Even in my field, I catch a lot of flak from my colleagues because I take a mix of science and personal experience to facilitate change. I can see the benefit of having more people who are willing to listen to experts, but also hope to have room to speak on “case dependent” situations. -- M.P., Aberdeen, Maryland

DEAR M.P.: I hope that other readers share your view of my position concerning the politicization of facts, evidence and science in these times of division, duplicity and disinformation. We must all examine the truths we live by, as well as our own motives, before we criticize others.

In my case, my motive is not to make money or sell anything, but to promote the concept of One Health and justice based on what I call trans-species democracy: respect for all life. Politics and economics that are contrary to these principles and cause harm to the environment -- and ultimately to ourselves and other living beings -- must be confronted and changed.

The cultural and socioeconomic crises in the U.S. and many other countries, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, are collisions of truths. Profits can no longer be put before public health, environmental justice and animal protection, nor can personal “freedom” (such as the right not to wear protective masks) take precedent over personal responsibility. (For details, see my book “Bringing Life to Ethics: Global Bioethics for a Humane Society.”)

(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: Halloween will soon be here, and every year around this time, I read about black cats being caught and tortured. I know it is irrational, and goes back to the fear of the bubonic plague across Europe in the Middle Ages, but some people still believe this nonsense. Please set the record straight. -- A.M., Trenton, New Jersey

DEAR A.M.: My immediate response is to advise all cat owners to keep their cats indoors during this time -- and all the time -- regardless of their color. Fear, ignorance and prejudice bring out the worst in humans, to which we are all witnesses. Black cats are considered the least adoptable by some rescue organizations because of superstitious beliefs that may, indeed, go back to Europe’s Black Death pandemic, when cats were blamed and destroyed in many communities. Even today, as you rightly point out, reports of black cats’ mistreatment are all too common. But in Japan and a few other countries, black cats are associated with good luck!

The irony in the case of the Black Death is that it was the fleas and lice on the people, and their unsanitary living conditions, that caused its rapid spread, killing up to one-third of the European population. The cats were not to blame!

The origin of the bubonic plague, pockets of which persist today in some countries, has been traced historically to fleas in imported textiles that came along the Silk Road during the first wave in global trade. A second wave was attributed to rats coming off boats from distant places where the plague was endemic, infecting Europeans with plague-carrying fleas.

Global trade and international travel remain major public health risks today, calling for much greater government surveillance and heightened vigilance.

HUGE DECLINE IN WILDLIFE ABUNDANCE WORLDWIDE

Wildlife populations plunged by 68% between 1970 and 2016, and only 25% of the planet can still be considered “wilderness.” The grim numbers come from a report by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London, based on global data on 20,811 populations of 4,392 vertebrate species. Worst hit are Latin America and the Caribbean, where the animal population dropped by an average of 94% during that period. Food production is the biggest driver of nature loss, says the report, with about half of the world’s habitable land area already used for agriculture. “We are wrecking our world -- the one place we call home -- risking our health, security and survival here on Earth,” says WWF chief executive Tanya Steele. (Reference: Living Planet Report, livingplanet.panda.org)

WORLD LEADERS PLEDGE TO SAVE LIFE ON EARTH

The leaders of 71 countries have pledged to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The commitment comes ahead of a major U.N. biodiversity summit, to be hosted virtually from New York. “We commit ourselves not simply to words, but to meaningful action and mutual accountability to address the planetary emergency,” says the pledge, which is signed by Pakistan’s Imran Khan, Germany’s Angela Merkel, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and the United Kingdom’s Boris Johnson, among others. Leaders from the United States, Brazil, India, Russia and China are notably absent. (Reference: leaderspledgefornature.org)

CALIFORNIA MOST PROGRESSIVE IN ANIMAL PROTECTION

California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed two new bills to protect animal welfare -- including one, AB 2152 from assembly member Todd Gloria, that officially ends the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in the state. This law does allow pet stores to partner with shelters and rescue organizations for animal adoption events.

(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 an 18-month-old mini-labradoodle. He was bred for good temperament, and in fact, many dogs from his breeder work as therapy dogs.

When he was a wee pup, the vet treated him with NexGard. Quickly the dog became aggressive and a biter. I discontinued the NexGard after reading about side effects online, and my dog became less aggressive.

Then this summer, the vet recommended Frontline Gold. I had used the original version of Frontline on a previous (large) dog with no side effects, so I tried it on my mini-doodle. Instantly, the mini became aggressive again, and bit me! Since discontinuing the Frontline Gold, he has begun to return to his gentle self.

I would like to see more publicity about this dreadful side effect, and I applaud your efforts to spread the word. -- K.J., Tampa, Florida

DEAR K.J.: I regret what you and your dog have gone through. These insecticidal products’ labels say we should avoid contact with the substance if applied topically (although family members often make contact when petting their animals), which is a sign that all is not necessarily well. Pets treated with these products seem OK for a while. But what of the long-term consequences, including possible carcinogenicity, immunosuppression, epilepsy, and behavioral changes like aggression and depression? I wonder about the dogs who are not so reactive to these insecticides, who may suffer chronic, unnoticed side-effects.

This insanity should stop. The veterinary profession should adopt an integrated approach to dealing with fleas, ticks and internal parasites -- even more so in the livestock sector, where insecticides and parasiticides often end up in the soil and water, damaging the essential micro-organisms found there, and potentially contaminating what we eat and drink.

Please ignore those veterinarians who offer these quick-fix (for a big profit) products, except in dire emergency situations. These products are not needed as a routine preventive for dogs and cats, most of whom are at very low, if not zero, risk of exposure for infestation. The exception is heartworm, for which oral preventive medication is advisable during the mosquito season (which means year-round in only a few states).

For an integrative approach to preventing fleas and ticks, which can transmit diseases to humans, see my article “Preventing Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes” on my website (drfoxonehealth.com).

I would like to hear from readers whose animals have had adverse reactions to these insecticides. While walking my dog this morning, I talked to a woman whose sister had one of her dogs euthanized because of seizures. When her other dog started to have seizures, too, she did some research about a product the vet had given both dogs -- Bravecto -- and found that seizures can occur.

Veterinarian Rosemary Perkins, in her article “Are pet parasite products harming the environment more than we think?” (Veterinary Record, September 2020), notes that few studies have been done on this issue. She presents some references that indicate that the neonicotinoid insecticides applied externally to cats and dogs, or in impregnated neck collars -- notably neurotoxic fipronil and imidacloprid -- are highly toxic to a wide range of invertebrate species and have high environmental persistence.

The European Commission has banned fipronil and imidacloprid for agricultural use to kill insects because of the impact on honeybees and other beneficial insects, yet their widespread use as a pet flea treatment has been ignored. Perkins references studies showing the dust in homes with pets receiving these topical insecticides contains sufficient amounts of these chemicals to kill bees; also, these chemicals are found in urban rivers at levels exceeding published environmental toxicity limits. This likely comes from dogs and their beds being washed in homes, and from treated dogs being allowed to play in outdoor waterways.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 6-year-old spayed shepherd. She has had pannus and hip problems from birth. I have her on good supplements, but am concerned about her food.

At the moment, she eats Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe, Fromm-brand salmon kibble and canned pumpkin. Lately she has not been interested in her food, so I added fresh chicken. I feed her enough to keep her weight at 70 pounds.

She has frequent ear infections, her skin is flaky and she is developing hot spots. I need a better diet for her. Please help. -- S.C., North Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR S.C.: Where you live is not one of the best places for non-native dogs, allergies being common, so I would suggest a holistic approach. Various supplements can help boost her immune system and improve the condition of her skin.

First, if you bathe your dog often and allow her in water, stop. Use Selsun Blue medicated shampoo (for humans), and only bathe her when she does not smell like a sweet-hay-healthy dog. Stop giving any anti-flea medications, and instead follow preventive steps posted on my website.

What you are feeding her right now is excellent. These supplements should help. Give her, daily: a good-quality, over-the-counter human probiotic; a tablespoon each of kefir, sauerkraut, canned crushed pineapple (no added sugar) and blueberries; and a half-teaspoon each of powdered ginger, turmeric and local bee pollen. Every other day, give her one canned-in-water sardine.

Let me know how she does after three or four weeks with these additions to her diet. These are natural nutraceuticals with a variety of health benefits -- for us, too! (Many vegans take marine algae as a source of essential omega-3 and other fatty acids rather than fish oil or sardines.)

Sprinkling a little Parmesan cheese on your dog’s food may spark her appetite. I do this with our dog, and adhere to my rule of exercise or an off-leash walk before, and not after, meals (a light morning one and a larger one in early evening). Any time a dog or cat stops eating for more than 24 hours, a veterinary consultation is called for.

(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.)