DEAR DR. FOX: We spend the winter in southern Texas and need something for fleas. Our dog had been taking Simparica, but the last time, he had an adverse reaction: He got kind of catatonic and it took several days for him to be back to normal.

What could I use instead? We are in an RV park, and although we don’t go to the dog park, he likes to go on walks. So coming in contact with fleas is unavoidable. -- J.R., Mercedes, Texas

DEAR J.R.: I am sorry to hear about this frightening adverse event, and am glad your dog survived. Year after year, I hear accounts like yours, and wish the veterinary profession -- as well as dog and cat owners -- would wake up and use safer alternatives for flea control. I wonder about the long-term consequences on animals who recover from adverse reactions, or who do not develop immediate adverse reactions but could eventually become epileptic or more aggressive, or develop cancer or chronic spasmodic bowel conditions.

Safer flea-control suggestions are posted on my website (drfoxonehealth.com) under the titles “Companion Animal Risks of Flea and Tick Insecticides” and “Preventing Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes.”

DEAR DR. FOX: Regarding cat TNR (trap, neuter, release): After being trapped and neutered, these cats are returned to the only places they have ever known, where local caregivers supply them with food, water and care. Of course, if they can be adopted, they are. If they have kittens when trapped, the kittens are provided a better life.

These volunteers are helping the cats and their environment. What other alternatives are there? -- M.C., Vero Beach, Florida

DEAR M.C.: Volunteers could better help the environment and the cats by permanently removing them.

The alternative to TNR, for reasons spelled out in the article “Releasing Cats To Live Outdoors” on my website, is for our communities to provide cat sanctuaries: indoor-outdoor enclosures for lost, stray and feral cats and kittens. This is far preferable to releasing them to risk being killed or injured by traffic, or to catch and spread various diseases -- some transmissible to humans and wildlife. After all, these cats are domesticated animals, even though some can thrive independently as predators.

We are starting a movement in Minnesota of advocating for cat sanctuaries. When properly designed, these facilities can be places for people to commune with and adopt cats, many of whom do eventually recover from the mind- and spirit-changing experience of having to survive outdoors. Before being introduced to group housing, any new cats should be neutered, tested for feline viral leukemia and immunodeficiency virus, treated for any external and internal parasites, then quarantined for 10 to 14 days.

A GOOD DOG FOOD SUPPLEMENT

I advise adding shredded, unsweetened coconut to dogs’ food (1 teaspoon daily per 30-40 pounds of body weight). Coconut contains inulin fiber, a highly fermentable soluble fiber that helps sustain beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. Inulin fiber is one of the most well-studied functional fibers. Readers who already have my dog food recipe should add this ingredient!

(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 READERS: A team of Indigenous scientists from the Yukon have published a letter in the prestigious academic journal Science, “arguing that Indigenous principles and knowledge should inform a global strategy for recovering from the pandemic,” per coverage by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

“This is a big breakthrough, I would say, for the two world views and two knowledge systems to begin to acknowledge each other,” said Joe Copper Jack, a Ta’an Kwach’an Council elder and lead author on the letter.

The letter addresses the One Health approach, which links human health with the health of animals and the environment, in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors say that “scientists and policymakers often ignore the fact that Indigenous people have used this interconnected approach for thousands of years,” wrote the CBC.

From my perspective as a European immigrant -- coming from the dominant culture where the unbridled exploitation of nature and animals is the accepted norm -- and as a veterinarian, I have come to realize the critical importance of advocating the One Health philosophy. If it were an integral, global element of politics, public health and the stock market, the COVID-19 pandemic would most likely never have occurred, and any forthcoming ones could be prevented.

Animals’ rights and environmental ethics are not new concepts in Western civilization, despite them now being branded in the U.S. as “left-wing extremism” (which some readers have accused me of promoting!). Rather, these concepts were integral to the Indigenous peoples of North America long before the genocidal and ecocidal European incursion.

So it is no irony that hundreds of mink at a fur farm in Wisconsin have died of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Three people who work at the farm had mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Veterinarians and farmers are culling shocking numbers of mink in northern Denmark due to a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak that has affected more than 60 farms. This tragic consequence is a call to conscience and accountability.

Perhaps the only blessing of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it forces us to examine our relationships and responsibilities toward all lives and all creatures, great and small.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 9-year-old once-feral cat, Buddy, was rescued 1 1/2 years ago and had a whole host of issues, many of which were resolved. Recently he stopped eating as much, and his vet said that he had bad stomatitis. He wanted to extract all of Buddy’s teeth. Instead, I started giving him a product called George’s Always Active Aloe liquid (1/4 teaspoon), and his eating habits resumed miraculously.

I’m wondering if the gel is a better option over the liquid, as I hear aloe gel has minimal alpine or latex, which can be toxic over time. Please advise.

Also, the cat had ringworm, which started to disappear with the usage of the aloe liquid given internally. At the same time, I had started giving Buddy L-lysine (125 mg), but I discontinued that for fear of toxicity. I’m not sure if that helped in the immune response. -- C.G.R., Gardiner, New York

DEAR C.G.R.: I applaud your diligent approach and successful use of aloe vera and L-lysine in helping to improve your cat’s health. Significant progress in determining the safe and effective use of such herbal and nutraceutical supplements is being made by holistic veterinarians. This, of course, infuriates Big Pharma, and has yet to be embraced by conventional veterinary and human medical practitioners.

Aloe vera in liquid form is beneficial in treating gut-related health problems, in part because it is a food for beneficial microorganisms in the gut’s microbiome. It may also help prevent the “leaky gut” issue associated with allergies and impaired immune system function.

Applied topically for various skin problems, aloe vera liquid or gel accelerates healing by stimulating capillary and cellular proliferation.

Applied orally, aloe gel can help improve various gum and tooth problems, and could help prevent kidney disease and various chronic inflammatory conditions later in life. I would add two drops of essential oil of thyme (which is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal) to 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel. Get kittens and puppies used to having their gums and teeth rubbed with a gauze-wrap finger covered in these gifts from the plant kingdom!

As for beneficial supplements, you are on track using L-lysine, which is purportedly antiviral. I advise supplementing at weekly intervals -- one week on, one week off -- and I also recommend 250 mg taurine and a few drops of anti-inflammatory fish oil (not krill, for ecological reasons spelled out on my website). You can also try half a canned-in-water sardine (if your cat is not allergic to fish) or a marine algal product containing the essential fatty acids all cats need.

For more details on the feline stomatitis plague, its treatment and prevention, check my website www.droxonehealth.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.)

DEAR READERS: Here is some important information about isoxazoline parasiticides (as in Bravecto, Simparica and Nexgard) that are commonly given to dogs. This is a synopsis of the report “Survey of canine use and safety of isoxazoline parasiticides” by Valerie Palmieri, W. Jean Dodds et al. from the journal Veterinary Medicine and Science:

“A veterinarian and pet owner survey (Project Jake) examined the use and safety of isoxazoline parasiticides given to dogs. Data were received during August 2018 from a total of 2,751 survey responses. Forty-two percent reported no flea treatment or adverse events, while 58% had been treated with some parasiticide for flea control. Of those that received a parasiticide, 83% received an isoxazoline. When any flea treatment was given, adverse events were reported for 66.6% of respondents. Adverse consequences included death, seizures, shaking/tremors, behavioral issues, neurological/cognitive issues, muscular/balance issues, skin problems/itching, internal bleeding, anemia, vomiting, diarrhea and not eating or drinking.

“The Project Jake findings were compared to a retrospective analysis of publicly available Food and Drug Administration-reported and European Medicines Agency-reported adverse events. The number of total adverse events reported to FDA and EMA were comparable, although a 7- to 10-times higher occurrence of death and seizures was reported from the EMA or from outside the United States. Serious adverse events (death, seizures and neurological effects) reported in our survey were higher than the FDA reports, but moderately lower than the EMA reports. These sizable global data sets combined with this pre- and post-parasiticide administration survey indicated that isoxazoline neurotoxicity was not flea- and tick-specific. Post-marketing serious adverse effects were much higher than in Investigational New Drug submissions.

“Although the labels have recently been updated, dogs, cats and their caregivers remain impacted by their use. These aggregate data support the need for continued cross-species studies and critical review of product labeling by regulatory agencies and manufacturers.”

DEAR DR. FOX: My male German shepherd’s urine is killing my grass. I’ve had four previous German shepherds, two male and two females, and none of them spotted the grass. Should I be concerned why this one does?

We try to water the area after he urinates, but that is not always possible as sometimes he has to go out in the middle of the night (and/or sometimes the hose will not reach; we live on an acre). This will probably be our last German shepherd, as we are in our 70s and have outlived the previous four. Our dog gobbles up Nutro Essentials, and we make sure that he always has plenty of water. -- S.M. and M.M., Loxahatchee, Florida

DEAR S.M. and M.M.: There are various quack remedies that will supposedly correct this problem. However, my remedy and advice for all dog owners is not to feed the dog only dry kibble. Feeding only dry kibble is not a biologically appropriate diet for dogs (or cats). Give him a small amount of kibble, along with a rotating variety of frozen, freeze-dried and canned dog foods. This will give your dog more moisture for digestion and metabolism, which in turn will change the acidity and concentration of the urine.

It is also possible that chemicals in the kibble passed in the urine act like an herbicide -- residues of which, especially glyphosate, are present in most all commercially produced grains (which we also consume) when not USDA Certified Organic and GMO-free.

Read on for another issue from a longtime German shepherd owner.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have an 8-year-old male German shepherd who is not fixed. He has a constant drip from his penis, which leaves greenish markings throughout the house (quite annoying). He has had this since we got him at 18 months old.

He is the love our life. Best dog we have ever had. This is our fourth German shepherd, and our other dogs never had this problem. -- R.B., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR R.B.: I am surprised this problem has been going on for so long. Surely your dog had regular veterinary wellness evaluations, as well as anti-rabies vaccinations, heartworm tests and preventive medications. There are various glands and tissues in the sheath around your dog’s penis that can become chronically infected and inflamed, and he cannot clean himself thoroughly in this area. Horse owners will know what I am talking about.

I would waste no time and get a veterinary appointment for this condition, which is probably no less distressing for your dog than it is for you.

(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.)