DEAR DR. FOX: The letter from "D.H., Ph.D., Tulsa," which you published and commented on approvingly, contains counterfactual statements that falsify its premise. The most egregious is the assertion that "We are currently experiencing a sixth major mass extinction." D.H. attributes this to the human injection of CO2 into the atmosphere. Can we agree that we are not in the midst of a "sixth major mass extinction"? To say otherwise is either a delusion or a deception.

My quarrel with the whole concept of CO2 causing climate change is that it has sucked all the air out of the room regarding environmental issues. Everything is being sacrificed on the altar of CO2 emissions reduction. Real problems, which could be addressed intelligently, scientifically and economically, are being brushed aside on the totally false assumption that everything will be just fine if CO2 emissions drop to "net zero."

Consider the wildfires in California. Some local politicians insist that they are due to climate change. However, blaming climate change for their wildfires only gives them an excuse to neglect effective short-term actions that could reduce the risk by around 80%. Forest management, and a rational program to cut branches away from power lines and generally maintain the 100-year-old grid, would effectively reduce wildfires to a fraction of their present danger.

Overfishing is another excellent example. Overfishing is quite serious, as anyone who has studied the question will admit. But the problem has nothing to do with CO2 emissions or climate change. The problem is very firmly rooted in the widespread government subsidies that keep otherwise uneconomical fishing fleets at sea chasing ever-dwindling stocks of fish with ever-finer mesh nets. Spain is one of the worst offenders. -- D.R.M., Ph.D., Bartlesville, Oklahoma

DEAR D.R.M.: I am getting rather overloaded regarding the climate crisis discussion in my column, and had to shorten your communication. I agree totally with your concerns that the focus on greenhouse gas emissions is distracting policymakers, and the public, from addressing other critical issues.

However, I disagree radically with you concerning the sixth mass extinction: This is happening now. Also, overfishing has been documented as a major contributing factor to climate change. For documentation, see the new article "A Reflection on Animals, Nature and the Human Condition" on my website (drfoxonehealth.com), also cited in my response to M.S. below.

DEAR DR. FOX: I'm a 67-year-old center-right lifelong outdoorsman who -- surprise! -- believes that the climate is changing pretty fast. But I think that too much emphasis is being placed on the global warming/fossil fuel connection, as though that's all there is to it. I believe that completely out-of-control overpopulation is the real problem.

Yes, I do know the numbers about fossil fuels, and they're staggering, but it seems that no one talks about population! Nigeria has 200 million people, with 20 million in Lagos alone! Can you imagine the quality of wastewater treatment there? Ditto for Indonesia (270 million), the Philippines (110 million) and Mexico (125 million). Places like Haiti are nearly completely out of control, rapidly approaching failed-state status.

I feel for these guys, but I didn't do it! When we talk about a cessation of fossil fuel utilization, we also need to address this issue. These places are making bad choices that affect us all, just as much as Big Oil does. -- M.S., Fairview, Pennsylvania

DEAR M.S.: Thanks for contributing to the ongoing discussion about the climate crisis. You raise an issue that is central to addressing the fate of the Earth and the future security and quality of life of humankind. I have addressed overpopulation, overconsumption and related concerns in my new article "A Reflection on Animals, Nature and the Human Condition," which can be read at drfoxonehealth.com.

We are indeed on the brink of a sixth major extinction, not so much of individual species but of their habitats, both aquatic and terrestrial. Ecosystem collapse is predictable where there is evidence of dysbiosis and when human "civilization" becomes dystopian. Focusing exclusively on reducing carbon emissions will not be enough.

Already, we have millions of economic, environmental and political refugees; millions of acres of misused, nonproductive agricultural lands; and devastating consequences from climate change-driven droughts, floods and fires -- all getting worse.

(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: Several years ago, my sister suffered a cat bite and the cat was never caught. As a precaution, she went to the hospital for rabies shots.

She has terrible plaque psoriasis. Strangely, the rabies shots completely cleared up her psoriasis -- but after several weeks, it came back. Do you have any explanation for this? -- C.M.C., Cumberland, Maryland

DEAR C.M.C.: It is my educated guess that cellular elements of your sister's immune system, which was over-reactive to her own skin and causing the autoimmune disease of plaque psoriasis, were temporarily "distracted" and redirected to respond to the rabies vaccine. This could open up a new approach to autoimmune diseases, rather than prescribing often-risky drugs to suppress the immune system. It may also have some resonance with homeopathy (treating like with like) and possibly acupuncture -- both therapeutic fields beyond my scope.

Our collective knowledge of immune system functions is still relatively rudimentary, as demonstrated by recent discoveries about how the gut microbiome and genetics influence immunity and susceptibility to autoimmune and degenerative diseases.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our pup, a 3- or 4-year-old rescued shepherd, developed a tumor the size of a small walnut near her left shoulder. Our vet aspirated it, said mast cells were present and suggested removal of the tumor. We did have it removed, and have also started a regimen of Benadryl.

Is there a pro-immune-system additive or supplement that you recommend? We feed her Blue Seal kibble and canned meat. -- T.D., Poughkeepsie, New York

DEAR T.D.: Sorry to hear that a dog so young as yours has developed cancer. Mast cell tumors seem to be on the rise, and I wonder what is going on to trigger this kind of multifactor disease in our animal companions.

Not so long ago, chatting with friends while walking our dogs, they had me feel a lump on their dog Gunnar's hip. Their vet had just diagnosed is as a fatty tumor and said not to worry. I palpated it and urged an immediate second opinion, fearing it was a mast cell tumor. A biopsy confirmed my suspicions.

When caught early, before it can spread to internal organs, dogs can recover from such tumors, but the surgical removal must be very thorough. Antihistamines can help subdue the histamine release from these tumors. I strongly advise diets that are low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat for dogs with any cancer. Add a few drops of fish oil to their food daily, plus antioxidants like grated raw carrots and scalded blueberries (1 tablespoon of each per 40 pounds of body weight), mixed with cottage cheese for enhanced palatability. Also, try melatonin (3 mg per 40 pounds body weight) at bedtime and one daily (human) dose of a supplement with chelated magnesium, zinc, selenium, B complex and vitamins A, D and E. Do this for five to seven days, then stop for about three days, then repeat. Nordic Naturals cod liver oil (just a few drops) is also a good supplement for vitamins A and D and omega-3 fatty acids.

All these supplements are good for aging dogs and may help prevent cognitive decline -- same for us!

Your dog may develop more mast cell tumors and, after correct diagnosis, there is an alternative to surgery worth your veterinarian considering. A new treatment for mast cell tumors that are less than 8 cubic centimeters in size is to inject them with an extract from the seeds of the Australian blushwood tree. The company behind the treatment is Virbac; ask your veterinarian to look into it if this issue does recur.

DEAR DR. FOX: My dog is 12 years old, and she has been coughing for the past eight months. We took her to vet and they ran lots of tests, including radiographs, to see if it could be her heart. They said it wasn't kennel cough. They gave us cough tabs, which didn't help. We took her to another veterinarian and they told us the same thing -- that they don't know what it could be.

She has a lump in her neck area, which they looked at but said it wouldn't have anything to do with the cough. Could you please help? -- J.S., via email

DEAR J.S.: I am sorry to hear that your dog's condition has neither been diagnosed nor effectively treated. There are many reasons why old dogs cough, ranging from chronic heart failure with congestion in the lungs to lung cancer, bronchitis (either bacterial or parasitic), and even a foreign body such as an inhaled grass awn in the upper respiratory area.

I always request people writing to me to give their city of residence, which can help me in many ways: Some health issues are geographic, and some readers may be close to a state veterinary college to which I would refer cases like yours. See below for one such localized disease outbreak.

INFECTIOUS CANINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE WARNING

An infectious canine respiratory disease caused by mycoplasma bacteria appears to be spreading in places where dogs congregate. Veterinarian Angela Lusty says she and her colleagues in central and southeastern Michigan have seen a rising number of cases over the past two to three weeks. The disease is neither kennel cough nor COVID-19. It can progress to severe disease if untreated, but usually resolves quickly with veterinary care. (Full story: MLive.com, 9/29)

(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: One often-overlooked cause of tachycardia (rapid heart rate) in animals, as well as of other heart arrhythmias and high blood pressure, is wireless radiation in the environment -- or attached to an animal's body, like GPS trackers. This is because the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in cell membranes are affected by these human-made frequencies.

Medications such as amlodipine can reduce blood pressure in affected animals, but making the environment safe is the better option since long-term use of such drugs can impair kidney and liver function. The heart, brain and reproductive organs have the most VGCCs, so they are the most affected by non-ionizing radiation. Aside from heart issues, such radiation can deform sperm, harm DNA, cause inflammation, suppress the immune system, disrupt hormone production and cause sleep disturbances -- to name just a few of the problems.

Pet parents should make sure their animal's beds or resting areas aren't anywhere near routers (people shouldn't be, either). If people aren't willing to simply use ethernet cords to connect to the internet, they should at least turn routers off when not in use. Don't use or keep cellphones and tablets near animals (or children).

These radiation levels are not safe for anyone's health. On Aug. 13, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that the 30-year-old FCC guidelines on this issue were not based on "reasoned decision making" (Environmental Health Trust et al. vs. FCC). Obviously, when one-third of the population is being made sick from wireless radiation, the guidelines need to be changed! Please look on ehtrust.org for more information on the lawsuit, as well as on the adverse effects of radiation on people, animals and the environment. -- N. Van Dover, DVM

DEAR DR. VAN DOVER: Thank you for this warning; I hope readers will take your concerns to heart and address the risks of electronic devices in their homes. For more details, see the article on electropollution on my website (drfoxonehealth.com).

There is mounting scientific evidence that this problem is increasing as we get further into the "information age" of telecommunications and cybertechnology, with its electromagnetic fields, non-ionizing radiation and escalating energy demands. The electropollution generated globally may cause as much, if not more, harm to life on Earth than pesticides and other products of the "chemical age."

Some forms of electromagnetic field exposure can, however, be therapeutic. For instance, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is being used by the Veterinary Emergency Response Team at the University of California, Davis, to treat wild and domestic animals with forest fire burns and injuries. The beneficial effects of some energy frequencies affirm the reality of electro-sensitivity.

BUMBLEBEE CRISIS

The American bumblebee (a species different from the honeybee) has declined by nearly 90% across the United States, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. It has disappeared entirely from eight states and is critically endangered in several others. Two species of bumblebees are already considered extinct.

DOG FOOD RECALL ALERT

Tuffy's Pet Foods recalled approximately 1,600 cases of Pure Vita Salmon Entree dog food in 12.5-ounce TetraPak cartons with best-by dates of June 29 and Sept. 1, 2023. The recalled product might contain too much vitamin D, which can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst and urination, drooling, weight loss and renal dysfunction. (Full Story: KIRO-TV Seattle, 10/12)

(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.)