The Animal Doctor

DEAR DR. FOX: Pet Poison Helpline, an independent, trusted source for pet toxicology advice, has developed an interactive online tool designed to help pet lovers and veterinary professionals research dangerous and potentially poisonous plants in their local area. I am including more information on Toxin Trends, which analyzes data from the company's exclusive database of emergency calls. -- C.F., Bloomington, Minnesota

DEAR C.F.: I have long been aware of your group's good work, and hope you continue the excellent veterinary services that have certainly helped save many animals' lives.

Readers, see below for a press release from the helpline.

Release from Pet Poison Helpline, dated Sept. 14:

"PET TOXICOLOGY EXPERTS RELEASE REGIONAL POISONOUS PLANT MAP

"The toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline analyzed five years (2017-2022) of proprietary call data and have developed Toxin Trends, a new online tool designed to help consumers and veterinary professionals research dangerous and potentially poisonous plants in their local area. For example, Toxin Trends visually illustrates that Arizona pets may be more at risk for oleander poisoning, while pets in Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States are more likely to be exposed to sago palms. Calls regarding daffodil exposures are clustered in the northeast U.S. and Canada.

"The tool confirms that Peruvian lily exposures were overwhelmingly cats (96.1%), while exposures to lantana were predominantly dogs (96.1%). Meanwhile, calla lily exposures were split between cats (51.6%) and dogs (47.3%).

"Pet Poison Helpline plans to release future iterations of the Toxin Trends dashboard that will highlight additional insights gleaned from the company's database of emergency calls. The goal of sharing this exclusive data is to save pets' lives and make the world safer for animals.

"Pet Poison Helpline ... is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy ... Our veterinarians and board-certified toxicologists provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. ... Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $75 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found at petpoisonhelpline.com."

DEAR DR. FOX: Greetings from Tabby's Place! We are hoping you will share our story. Tabby's Place is a cage-free, no-kill sanctuary for cats from hopeless situations, and we've rescued nearly 4,000 extraordinary kitties over the past 19 years. Our heart and soul are our special needs cats, such as those living with diabetes, paraplegia, behavioral issues, blindness and cancer.

Tabby's Place welcomes dozens of desperate cats every month, caring for them via our "Linda Fund." Named for an injured kitten saved in 2009, the Linda Fund provides world-class medical care for sick and injured cats. Cat lovers are encouraged to visit tabbysplace.org to make a lifesaving, tax-deductible gift. Donations of any amount will be matched by benefactors, going twice as far for cats in crisis. Donations may also be mailed to the sanctuary at 1100 U.S. Highway 202, Ringoes, NJ 08551.

For additional information, please contact Tabby's Place Development Director Angela Hartley at ah@tabbysplace.org. -- A.H., Ringoes, New Jersey

DEAR A.H.: Good to hear about your sanctuary. I wish there were more facilities like it, and I hope this will secure some donations and adoptions.

(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: Reporter Greg Stanley's article in the Sept. 11 Star Tribune, "Majority of deer exposed to toxin," cites some of the continuing research by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the University of Minnesota on the topic of neonicotinoid contamination in deer and in the environment, including lakes, primarily from treated seeds.

This is all very well, but is more research really needed? A complete national ban should be applied to the use of this class of insecticides on commodity crops such as wheat, corn, soy and cotton, along with all ornamental plants, lawn and turf treatments and pet flea-and-tick collars.

The Environmental Protection Agency released final biological evaluations on June 21, confirming that three widely used neonicotinoid insecticides -- imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin -- likely harm roughly three-fourths of all endangered plants and animals, including all species of amphibians protected under the Endangered Species Act. Species found to be harmed by all three of the neonicotinoids include northern long-eared bats, rusty patched bumblebees, chinook salmon, whooping cranes and orcas.

Imidacloprid is also one of the active ingredients in Seresto flea collars, which have been linked to the deaths of more than 2,500 family pets. A scathing report by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform's Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy chastises the EPA for ignoring evidence of the collar's harm and called on the agency to ban the collars.

According to one scientific review on the toxicity of neonicotinoids, "Available toxicological data from animal studies indicate possible genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, impaired immune function and reduced growth and reproductive success at low concentrations, while limited data from ecological or cross-sectional epidemiological studies have identified acute and chronic health effects ranging from acute respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological symptoms to oxidative genetic damage and birth defects. Due to the heavy use of neonicotinoids and potential for cumulative chronic exposure, these insecticides represent novel risks and necessitate further study to fully understood their risks to humans." (Full study: "A critical review on the potential impacts of neonicotinoid insecticide use: current knowledge of environmental fate, toxicity, and implications for human health" by Darrin A. Thompson et al, in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts)

In 2013, the European Commission (the EU's executive branch) banned the use of these three neonicotinoids on flowering crops attractive to pollinators, as well as on cereal crops. In May 2018, it went further and banned all outdoor uses of the trio. And in February 2020, it decided not to renew the approval of a neonicotinoid called thiacloprid, resulting in its de facto ban.

Climate change and human encroachment are accelerating the loss of biodiversity, which should not be compounded by the use of neonicotinoids and other pesticides on crops raised primarily to feed livestock and poultry. As I emphasized in my 1986 book "Agricide," when commodity crop producers get on the pesticide treadmill, evermore toxic chemicals are called for as "weeds" and insect "pests" develop resistance.

Clearly, the powerful agribusiness industry, both abroad and in the U.S., is enabling the continued, widespread use of this class of harmful insecticides, which is now confirmed to play a major role in the demise of bees, other beneficial insects, and insectivores such as amphibians, reptiles, birds and bats. This needs to be confronted by our congressional representatives -- independent of their corporate sponsors.

All involved in public and environmental health, as well as food safety and security, should move to prohibit neonicotinoids without any exceptions. Their use amounts to ecocide: a crime against nature, just as genocide is a crime against humanity.

(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: Through various religious, spiritual rituals, and our communion in nature, we of the Earth community may gain the understanding needed to heal ourselves and the planet. Chief Black Elk of the Oglala Lakota people put it this way: "Nothing can live well except in a manner that is suited to the way the sacred Power of the World lives and moves."

Black Elk witnessed and suffered the genocide of his people, just as many people today are suffering as they witness the ecocide and extinction of many species due to human incursion and mass extermination. As he foresaw, we must either evolve or perish as a species.

As the late Dr. Albert Schweitzer advised, "Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace." Reverential respect for all life is the foundation of One Health in recognition of the interdependence of human and nonhuman, animal, plant and microorganism life; of a global democracy; of justice and rule of law; and of a viable and sustainable economy. The Gaia Hypothesis, proposed by the late British scientist James Lovelock in 1972, is based on the fact that living organisms on the planet interact with their surrounding inorganic environment to form a synergetic and self-regulating system that created, and now maintains, the climate and biochemical conditions that make life on Earth possible. Respect for all life is therefore enlightened self-interest.

PROGRESS IN PET FOOD NUTRITION: ECO-FRIENDLY SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHFUL FOOD RESOURCES

For an excellent video presentation on pet foods and proper nutrition, see the presentation by Dr. Bob Goldstein at vimeo.com/744411904/9518763fa1.

Readers can also sign up at holisticactions.com to join the Holistic Actions community.

DEAR DR. FOX: Please resolve an issue about cleaning out our dog's food and water bowls. I say we should do this every day. My husband says, just add fresh water as needed, and the dog licks the food bowl clean, so there's no need to clean it. What is your opinion? -- G.F., Trenton, New Jersey

DEAR G.F.: Clean them both daily. The water bowl will develop a biofilm of bacteria overnight, which needs to be cleaned out. Use filtered rather than tap water, which is not safe in many municipalities. I use a ZeroWater filter for our family.

Food bowls should be cleaned daily because pet foods can contain potentially harmful bacteria which could proliferate and could make your pet and other family members sick.

(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.)