The Animal Doctor

DEAR READERS: Below is a report from nonprofit organization As You Sow, originally published Nov. 8, which I encourage all to read.

From AsYouSow.org:

As You Sow released its third ”Pesticides in the Pantry” report today (Nov. 8), ranking 17 major food manufacturing companies on their progress in pesticide reduction and the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. Compared to As You Sow’s 2021 report, the overall average scores dropped from a “D” to an “F” due to continued heavy pesticide use in major food supply chains and a lack of progress in reducing harm to farmworkers, fence-line communities, ecosystems, pollinators, farm resiliency and climate health.

While overall and individual scores were low, General Mills achieved the highest score of “C.” ADM’s overall grade jumped from an “F” in 2021 to a “C-” in 2023 and received the highest score for pesticide risk-reduction strategies. ADM was also the only company that has effectively banned glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant across its supply chain. General Mills and Conagra adopted, maintained or improved their pesticide reduction practices, with Conagra also significantly improving its pesticide risk-reduction strategies from 2021 to 2023. Kellanova, previously Kellogg, lost ground this year as it eliminated its goal of phasing out glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant by 2025.

“Low company scores highlight the industry’s stagnation in making the systemic changes necessary to increase the resilience of our food supply chain and reduce the destructiveness of the current chemical-based agribusiness system,” said Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow. ”Shareholders, policymakers, communities, workers and advocates want cleaner, healthier foods. As the documentary 'Common Ground' points out, the time to transition to regenerative agriculture is now or never.”

The report grades 17 companies under seven pillars, including Pesticide Reduction Policies, Regenerative Agriculture, and Farmworker Health and Safety. The report relies on a grading curve to determine companies’ letter grades, as no companies received more than 10 out of 27 possible points.

“Current farming practices that depend on monocrops and high pesticide use deplete the soil, allow dangerous levels of topsoil loss, harm people and ecosystems, and put food production at increasing risk under current climate-altered, high-risk weather patterns,” said Cailin Dendas, lead author and As You Sow’s environmental health coordinator. ”These practices also continue to harm farmworkers. In the U.S., 83% of farmworkers are Hispanic, and many are likely to experience pesticide poisoning. This creates reputational risk associated with environmental racism as well as litigation risk to food companies.

”These companies are at a crossroads that will determine the health of our land, our communities, and their own viability as an industry,” said Dendas. ”All companies need to monitor pesticide use in their supply chain strictly. But they can’t stop there. Food companies must ensure that regenerative agriculture policies are adopted to protect farmworkers and nearby communities and reduce harm to soil, waters, ecosystems, and climate.”

DEAR READERS: I was deeply disturbed when I read about the research below, and would like to know what you think. Should there be any ethical boundaries on using animals in biomedical research where there is a promise of human benefit?

From Nature.com:

Scientists have created an infant "chimeric" monkey by injecting a monkey embryo with human stem cells from a genetically distinct donor embryo. The resulting animal is the first live-born chimeric primate to have a high proportion of cells originating from donor stem cells.

The finding, reported today (Nov. 9) in Cell, opens the door to using chimeric monkeys, which are more biologically similar to humans than are chimeric rats and mice, for studying human diseases and developing treatments, says stem-cell biologist Miguel Esteban at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou, a co-author of the study.

But the monkey had to be euthanized when it was only 10 days old because of hypothermia and breathing difficulties, highlighting the need for further optimization of the approach and raising ethical concerns, say researchers. (Full story: Nature.com, Nov. 9. Study: "Live birth of chimeric monkey with high contribution from embryonic stem cells" by Jing Cao et al., published in Cell, November 2023)

ADVICE FOR BEEKEEPERS

Residues of various insecticides, herbicides and fungicides were found in beeswax at managed honeybee colonies in New York, and because bees reuse wax, the compounds can accumulate and pose significant threats to bee health, researchers reported in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. Beekeepers should remove old wax every few years to reduce colonies’ exposures to toxic compounds, says veterinarian Karyn Bischoff, the study’s lead author. (Full story: Cornell Chronicle, Nov. 9)

RAW PET FOOD RECALL

North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Beef recalled Breeders Choice brand raw dog food sold in 2-pound logs in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The FDA notified the company that samples had tested positive for salmonella, and said that people who bought the food should not handle it, feed it to animals or donate it. Pets that have eaten it and shown signs of illness should be seen by a veterinarian. (Full story: PennLive.com, Oct. 30; FDA.gov, Oct. 27)

(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 wish you would write about something I find shocking: the way some people jerk on their dogs’ leashes when they are out walking them. This must cause some harm to the dogs.

I just wonder how many pets are wrongly disciplined by such people, who probably do not even know how to raise their children. I am a retired grade school teacher, and never forgot to spare the rod and save the child. Same for pets, too! -- J.T., Alexandria, Minnesota

DEAR J.T.: I see this kind of abuse of dogs very rarely, and when I do, I take note of the body language of the owners. We must all control our anger and frustration and not redirect our feelings toward others, hurting them in the process.

Between humans, our feelings can be communicated verbally. Between humans and other animals, it can be done with tone of voice, body language, gestures and facial expressions. Horses respond positively to friendly human faces, and cats and dogs respond to higher-pitched human voices, especially female ones. My wife, Deanna, could control 30 dogs at feeding time at her refuge in India, getting them to stop stealing and fighting over food, with nothing more than a loudly resounding “YO!”

There is never any need to strike or kick or half-strangle any dog to stop some undesired behavior, such as pulling too hard on the leash or jumping up on people. Such dogs simply need to be taught self-control, and that comes with maturity. This calls for owner patience and understanding, plus a dog behavior consultation or two.

Canine handling and education classes of any worth promote positive reinforcement: rewards with treats, petting and/or words of praise. This brings out the best in dogs, while negative reinforcement -- punishing discipline -- can create an anxious biter or a depressed, dispirited canine companion.

Rubbing pups’ noses on spots where they have house-soiled is one such traditional disciplinary action, one that is both cruel and ineffective. Some dogs respond well to aversive clicker-training since it can divert them from doing whatever they should not. But clickers can terrify and confuse sensitive dogs, for whom a loud “NO!” should suffice.

I would like to see the sale of electronic “dog-training” collars, which are used to deliver electric shocks to deter various unacceptable dog behaviors, prohibited. Too many fall into the wrong hands.

When a dog suddenly exhibits some undesired behavior -- such as rubbing the anus on the carpet, snapping/growling when petted in a certain area or failing to respond or come when called -- the animal should not be punished. Rather, they need immediate veterinary attention, without question.

ANIMAL SHELTERS IN CRISIS

Animal shelters across the U.S. are trying to manage a growing number of surrenders amid a staffing shortage without having to resort to euthanasia. Denver Animal Shelter provides spaying and neutering services, as well as free vaccinations, microchips and pet food, and has brought a social worker on board to help pet owners find low-cost care. (Full story: CBS News, Nov. 4)

This is indeed a tragic situation, where we are going back to a “disposable pet” era. Shelter staff are having to euthanize unadopted animals who were surrendered due to lack of finances and people not realizing responsible pet care is not cheap. Find out what the situation is at your local animal shelter and see what you can do to help as a donor, volunteer or foster care provider for surrendered animals.

DEAR DR. FOX: I found this on YouTube: a brief clip of you playing your flute at your wife's (Deanna Krantz’s) refuge in India, and how your rescued dogs responded! Link: youtu.be/Bczu8EjONxY.

I thought your readers might enjoy it. -- B.K., Washington, D.C.

DEAR B.K.: I was not aware that this had been posted on YouTube. It was filmed by volunteer Frank Kaesser and shows me playing my flute, which I did every morning at the request of the lead dog of our rescued pack of village dogs in the beautiful Nilgiris area. The dog's name was Dean, and he would whine at me at the breakfast table to come out and play my flute. His pack would howl/sing as I played, and soon, in the distance, other dogs would join in from surrounding villages. I felt this wave of togetherness sweeping across the entire country.

Whatever truth we live by determines the kind of light we give. Dean, his pack, and some 300 other animals at my wife's refuge were all shining because they were free to live in accordance with their natures -- to be true to themselves and express the light of their spirits where they were safe and loved. For more details about her refuge and wildlife conservation, see our book “India’s Animals: Helping the Sacred and the Suffering.”

Our work continues there, and we welcome hearing from would-be donors as we garner funds to support two dedicated veterinarians. These doctors are continuing what we started in 1996: helping care for village and tribal community animals, the health of which is critical for the surrounding endangered wildlife population, including elephants, tigers, panthers and wild dogs/dholes.

(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: Please read this news release from the Center for Food Safety (CFS) about a recent victory for organic standards and animal welfare.

The full release is available at centerforfoodsafety.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today (Oct. 25), the USDA released the final Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) rule, delivering an important victory for farmers, consumers and animal welfare advocates. OLPS is a vital step in providing strong animal welfare protections under the USDA Organic label. (This) decision is a direct result of Center for Food Safety (CFS) litigation, which six years ago challenged the Trump administration’s decision that organic standards could not cover animal welfare. Following court order, the Biden administration has now reversed that determination and reaffirmed that organic includes protecting animal welfare.

“We are gratified that the new rule confirms what we have long argued in court: Organic farming means farming with integrity, and that must include animal welfare,” said Amy van Saun, CFS senior attorney and counsel in the case. “While there are more steps to go, this rule should once and for all put to bed misguided and unlawful views to the contrary that we have successfully fought to prevent from becoming law the last six years.”

The finalized rule comes almost a year after USDA’s proposed changes to the original Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rule, which was first implemented in 2017 and then rescinded by the Trump administration in 2018. CFS, representing organic farmers, certifiers, retailers and animal welfare groups, sued the Trump administration to reverse its unlawful withdrawal of the original OLPP. After years of litigation, the Biden administration reconsidered the withdrawal, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California allowed USDA to revise and update its rulemaking. The Court stayed the case awaiting USDA’s new decision but kept jurisdiction. (This) final rule is the result of that process.

Once implemented, this set of rules will immediately improve the lives of millions of animals raised organically, especially chickens. Thanks in part to CFS’s litigation, the OLPS will make several significant improvements, including:

-- Confirming in detail the USDA’s authority under the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) to protect the health and welfare of organic animals.

-- Confirming the economic benefits to farmers from improving animal welfare and the benefits to consumers, who can more fully rely on the USDA Organic seal to ensure good animal welfare.

-- Setting indoor and outdoor spacing requirements for chickens and eliminating the “porch” loophole that some factory farms exploited to avoid providing birds with meaningful outdoor access.

-- Prohibiting cruel, painful and unnecessary physical alterations, such as de-beaking and tail docking.

-- Setting new standards to ensure animal welfare during transport and slaughter.

SALMON FARMING, SALMON SUFFERING

In their overcrowded floating enclosures, farmed salmon are stressed and in constant contact with each other -- creating ideal conditions for the spread of sea lice. Pesticides have been used against sea lice, but these poison wild fish, other sea life and birds where they are in operation. So alternative controls for this parasite, which must drive the fish crazy, are being evaluated.

Thermal de-licing methods, as well as brushing or rinsing live salmon to remove lice, can make the fish substantially more susceptible to a disease known as pasteurellosis. Thermal de-licing was associated with a 177% increased risk for pasteurellosis the following month, while brushing and rinsing were associated with a 164% increase. However, freshwater de-licing raised the risk by only 17%, according to researchers at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. (Full story: Fish Farmer Magazine, Oct. 31)

A massive outbreak of sea lice struck a fish farm in Iceland recently. The problem only got worse after the farm operators used an insecticide, suggesting that pesticide resistance has evolved in the lice, says fish disease specialist Berglind Helga Bergsdottir. (Full story: The Guardian, Nov. 3)

This industry should be closed for humane and environmental reasons, as well as for public health reasons, since the oceans connect us all. Salmon are fed fish “bycatch” -- all the sea life caught by the fishing industry that does not go into the public market or pet foods. Dioxins and other contaminants in farmed salmon, which they accumulate as apex predators, call for reconsideration by all advocates of salmon as a “health food.”

(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.)