DEAR READERS: Our forests are in peril from fires, high winds and droughts. An estimated 11% to 16% of U.S. tree species are threatened with extinction, with the most common threat being invasive and problematic pests and diseases.

We need the trees to hold the hills and mountainsides to prevent erosion; to sequester carbon emissions, thereby reducing global warming and mitigating climate change; and to produce the oxygen we and most other life forms need to live. Regardless, trees are still seen primarily as a resource to be harvested.

What is utterly absurd is that taxpayer subsidies for the federal logging program ranged from $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion annually in fiscal years 2013 through 2017 (source: the Center for Sustainable Economy). A report on TennesseeHeartwood.org states, "The Forest Service attempts to justify these losses by hiding commercial timber sale projects within larger ecological restoration projects -- a move that consistently lands the agency in court. Selling timber from federal lands below cost is a form of environmentally harmful subsidy that runs afoul of international agreements."

If the Biden administration is serious about climate change, a significant initiative would be to end the timber industry subsidies, which should be diverted to reforestation and conservation.

Aside from economic issues, the country's trees are plagued by insects that have been given free range thanks to the spraying of insecticides and the wholesale applications of pesticides by the agricultural and agroforestry industries. In the process, beneficial pollinators are killed and insectivorous reptiles, amphibians and birds are either poisoned or starve to death.

The loss of America's trees, and those of other nations, may indeed culminate in the ancient prophetic warning that when the trees are gone, the sky will fall. As Franklin Roosevelt said, "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people."

I have the greatest sympathy for the many residents and animals of Florida now recovering from Hurricane Ida. Such devastating and costly events are predicted to become more frequent and intense. Deforestation, in part a contributing factor to this climate crisis, will intensify with the escalating demand for timber to restore damaged buildings and construct new homes.

Part of the Florida tragedy can be attributed to the Army Corps of Engineers and other groups, which altered watersheds and drained wetlands and coastal marshlands for real estate and agricultural development. In eliminating these natural water-catchment and containment sinks, they made residents and farmers -- along with their crops and animals -- more vulnerable to flooding.

Massive quantities of precipitation, punctuated by periods of drought, are predicted for the coming years, due to the additional moisture in our warming atmosphere from the melting of polar ice. More hurricanes and cyclones will be energized by warming oceans. Rebuilding without first restoring the woodlands, wetlands and coastal marshlands would be imprudent.

There is good news for wildlife and biodiversity in some towns along the Mississippi River, where acres of corn and soy fields, once flood-plain wetlands and prairie grasslands, are being returned to nature as an effective method of community flood control. With increased rainfall caused by climate change, the locks, dams and levees are no longer effective, so nature-based solutions are being initiated. This is an example of enlightened ecological thinking and restoration.

On the homefront, those who are able should plant indigenous trees and native grasses. The practice of "rewilding" is preferable to wasting water and energy mowing monoculture grass lawns, and applying harmful chemicals to both lawns and golf courses. Many neighborhoods and cities are creating or restoring tree canopies to provide shade, reducing residents' utility bills for air conditioning and creating a healthier environment.

If we had all respected and empathized with the wildlife in the forests and wetlands, we would have protected them. How many mourn the silence of the frogs? All of us who do must rise up, voice our concerns and vote for political leadership dedicated to eco-justice.

Democratic principles of justice, the rule of law and the common good are ill-served when there is no ethical basis for the practice of law by attorneys who put winning over the morality of right and wrong. Every law student should have to read Christopher D. Stone's 1972 book "Should Trees Have Standing? Toward Legal Rights for Natural Objects." We might then, eventually, have a Supreme Court that better serves the collective good.

(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: I am posting this warning to all dog owners. When being walked outside on a leash, most dogs can be spooked by loud, sudden noises or by an off-leash dog rushing at them. If they pull backwards while the leash is being held, their collars can quickly slip over their heads, putting them at risk of getting lost or running into traffic.

I strongly advise that all dogs be walked wearing their regular collars with ID and rabies vaccination tags, but with the leash attached to a well-fitting harness around the dog's chest and shoulders. This will prevent any panic-triggered escape and possible tragic loss of a beloved canine companion. It will also prevent injury to the trachea, which can be damaged when dogs pull hard on the leash and the collar puts pressure on the windpipe. And remember: Never use a choke-chain collar.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have befriended a stray cat who is probably an abandoned pet. I believe this cat would be happy to come inside and stay there. Unfortunately, I have two dogs who are not cat-friendly.

I got them as puppies and had cats at the time, but I was never able to leave them alone with the cats. I had a system where the cats had the run of the house at night, and the dogs during the day. But I don't currently have a house where this system is possible.

All the shelters in my area are full, winter is coming and no one in my circle wants this cat. Do you have any suggestions about curbing my dogs' aggression? -- B.K., Central Point, Oregon

DEAR B.K.: Good for you for rescuing this cat! But you do have a problem, especially if you have terrier-type dogs. After all, a cat is something fun to chase! But a nearby cat who does not run will not trigger their chase response. If the cat is very calm and will come to your lap, simply sit down with the cat -- while wearing a protective scarf and thick, long-sleeved jacket -- and call the dogs to you. Have them sit and stay and then receive treats while you are petting the cat and letting the dogs sniff your hands.

Alternatively, your best hope to rescue and socialize this poor cat is to place her in a large crate or cage in the room where you spend the most time with the dogs. Feed the dogs where the cat can see them, and feed the cat at the same time. Your veterinarian might prescribe some gabapentin to help reduce the cat's stress.

Several times a day, have the dogs come beside the cage and make them sit, stay and then give them a treat to associate being close to the cat with receiving a reward. After doing this for a week, open the cat's cage soon after feeding time. Have the dogs on leashes, and if they get ready to rush the cat, give the command to sit and stay. Give them treats. Be sure to have all doors closed, so the cat will not run off and hide somewhere else. Good luck!

STOPPING NON-VETERINARIANS FROM OPERATING ON PUPPIES

A bill in Ohio would ban commercial dog breeders from performing surgical procedures on dogs -- including docking tails, bobbing ears and cutting vocal cords -- without a veterinarian present and without anesthesia and pain medication. (Full story: The Toledo Blade, Sept. 21)

Sadly, Ohio is not the only state where such legislation is sorely needed.

DOG FOOD RECALL

Pet food company Spot & Tango is recalling its Chicken and Brown Rice UnKibble Dog Food, distributed directly to consumers nationwide, which might be contaminated with salmonella. For details and lot numbers, see truthaboutpetfood.com/spot-and-tango-recall.

(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: My wife and I are exhausting every single resource, looking for information about feline hyperesthesia. We knew nothing of this condition until a few days ago, and now we feel it's turning our world upside down. We've read a couple of your articles about the matter, and hope you'd consider looking at our case.

Louie is our 2 1/2-year-old cat, whom we adopted at 6 weeks old. He had been extremely social and loving his whole life, but the last three months have been very different. We're worried he has feline hyperesthesia.

In the past few months he's become extremely jumpy and skittish. He'll be sleeping and then wake up to immediately and intensely groom his back and tail. His back has been twitching, and we've noticed that his skin ripples during these outbursts. The worst parts have been his aggressive attacks -- three total, two in the last month.

All symptoms have been heightened in the evening. We have not introduced any new smells into the house that we can think of.

We're getting desperate for help, as we can barely live our lives. Louie has us scared to even be at the house, as his outbreaks are incredibly aggressive and frightening. At this point we're desperate for help. -- B.T., Prairie Village, Kansas

DEAR B.T.: Who has diagnosed your cat with hyperesthesia? It is a symptom, not a medical condition, with several possible causes, and it can present with or without aggression and excessive grooming and fur-pulling.

B.T. REPLIES: No one has diagnosed Louie with feline hyperesthesia yet. We came up with that possibility after doing a lot of research ourselves. It's the first thing we've come across where he's displayed nearly every single symptom. We are still trying to get in contact with someone who can help us.

DEAR B.T.: Discuss your cat's diet with your veterinarian and also look into medication such as gabapentin.

B.T. REPLIES: Louie has been on a consistent diet of Now Fresh cat food for the majority of his life. We now understand this has a very high fat percentage, so our vet prescribed him Hill's Science Diet w/d, which we have slowly started incorporating over the past couple days. We've also been incorporating Welactin (an omega-3 supplement) to his diet, about 100 mg with his morning breakfast.

We now have him on 100 mg of gabapentin in the mornings and another 100 mg in the early evenings. It's been a great stabilizer, but we're looking to switch to amitriptyline as a more permanent solution to the problem. Thanks to your good advice, our cat is quickly improving!

DEAR READERS: See below for more information about feline hyperesthesia.

SYNOPSIS OF MAJOR CAUSES OF FELINE HYPERESTHESIA

Feline hyperesthesia, also known as "twitch-skin syndrome" and "psychomotor epilepsy," is a symptom, not a single disease, of feline discomfort. It is often accompanied by other behaviors such as touch aversion and sometimes aggression or excessive self-grooming. A full veterinary checkup is warranted if these symptoms and behaviors are present.

There are several potential contributing factors, notably: food allergy/intolerance or nutritional deficiency; inflammatory bowel disease; hyperthyroidism; chronic pancreatitis; brain tumor, inflammation or infection, as with toxoplasmosis; painful ears or anal glands; dental problems; fleas and other parasites; neurotoxic anti-flea/tick insecticides, which could also cause mini-seizures; fear or anxiety, whether genetic in nature or due to lack of socialization or PTSD, which can also lead to paw- and tail-sucking.

I have had several cases where cats have developed trichotillomania (fur-pulling) when one family member died or moved out of the home. Other environmental factors include: disturbance by cats outside; sounds from electronic devices; volatile chemicals from room fresheners, floor-cleaners and new carpets; dust and dust mites; volatile fragrances and cedar oil in various cat litters; contact with wool blankets, which can also lead to obsessive chewing and ingestion; and perfumes and scented lotions, notably any containing civet cat musk.

Signs to watch for in your cat: periodic irritability in spayed cats, who may have remnant and active ovarian tissue and therefore come into heat; un-neutered male cats, who may also spray-mark in the home and are frustrated, wanting to get out; boredom and frustration. The latter calls for interactive play, especially in the evening. Ideally, every cat would have a compatible companion cat to interact with, along with scratching posts and window seats -- and best of all, an environmentally stimulating outdoor enclosure or "catio."

Feline veterinary specialist Fern B. Slack, DVM, states, "Diet is always my first question for cats with any symptoms that might be pruritic (itch-related) in nature. After five years of having my patients on evolutionarily appropriate diets, I have been astounded at how much dermatitis and pruritus goes away. This makes sense to me: Bad diet leads to dysbiosis, which leads to IBD, which leads to leaky gut syndrome, which leads to systemic inflammation, which leads to dermatological manifestations."

In other words, many health issues in cats are more than skin-deep. They are like the canaries in the coal mine, alerting us to conditions in our shared environments that can also impact our own health -- an aspect of One Health now being more widely recognized.

(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.)