DEAR READERS: Take a look at the alarming title of this recently published scientific report: “Glyphosate presence in human sperm: First report and positive correlation with oxidative stress in an infertile French population.”

The report, by Claudine Vasseur and associates, was published this month in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. It concerns the widely used herbicide Roundup, which Bayer took over from Monsanto in 2018. Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, may well be involved in the fertility decline in the U.S. and other countries where in vitro fertilization is in rising demand.

This harmful herbicide is widely used on many human and animal feed crops. It is also sprayed on wheat and other grains at harvest so the plants die and dry faster. It is used by municipalities, corporations and homeowners to kill “weeds” on their properties.

The adverse effects of glyphosate on the reproduction of rats, mice and other animals have been documented and ignored for years. For instance, see the 2017 study “Effects of glyphosate exposure on sperm concentration in rodents: A systematic review and meta-analysis” by Wenyan Cai and associates (Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology) and the 2018 study “The Effect of Glyphosate on Human Sperm Motility and Sperm DNA Fragmentation” by George Anifandis and associates (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health).

The potential negative effects on human reproduction systems merely add to the long list of reasons not to use these chemicals. Herbicide residues in many pet foods can disrupt the healthy gut microbiome and lead to irritable and inflammatory bowel conditions, interfere with digestion and trigger allergic reactions when the so-called leaky gut syndrome develops. And lawsuits by users of glyphosate who got cancer (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) have pushed Bayer to take steps to avoid bankruptcy and further liability.

In my opinion, the harmful effects of glyphosate and other herbicides on our health, wildlife (especially aquatic life) and ecosystems -- marine, freshwater and terrestrial alike -- amount to crimes against humanity and nature.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 6-year-old, 11-pound shih tzu. About three years ago, she became terrified of thunder and fireworks.

When she hears those noises, her eyeballs look like saucers, she hyperventilates with her tongue hanging out, and she runs around the house looking everywhere for the noises. Nothing calms her down. If I am in bed, she tries to jump up. Once up, she immediately jumps off, runs around and tries to jump up again. Even once the noises stop, she continues hyperventilating, sometimes for a couple of hours afterwards.

I have tried holding her, which does not work for very long, and she scratches to get down. I have tried to drown out the noises by blasting the television, to no avail. I have tried to play soothing music -- again, no luck.

One vet recommended trying a ThunderShirt -- did not work. Since my dog is not fond of being held when she hears these noises, she tried desperately to rip it off.

After that, vets have recommended giving her 25 mg of trazodone one hour prior to any expected stressful events. It does not seem to do much, other than perhaps calming her down a little quicker afterwards. Also, it is hard to always anticipate when these things will occur.

Twice this past summer, I was out walking with her in the evening (after dark), when suddenly there were thunderclaps in the distance. Both times, she pulled me back to the house as hard as she could. Ever since, she refuses to go out in the dark, clearly associating it with the noise. Now I must get her out before dark for her last walk of the day.

Thunder and fireworks seem to be the only noises that trigger her. Other sounds like lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trucks and sirens have no effect.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can better calm her? I'll even try a different medication, if necessary. I am even worried she may one day have a heart attack from this stress. -- D.L., Wellington, Florida

DEAR D.L.: As my dog Kota became older, she developed some agitation when a thunderstorm was coming. I simply turn up the TV and close the curtains -- but as you know, this doesn't work for every dog. You have done everything to help your poor dog cope with her phobia, which could indeed have dire consequences if left unchecked.

The widely prescribed trazodone can make some dogs even more anxious and accelerate their heart rate. A dose of melatonin (3 mg to 6 mg) about half an hour before a storm or fireworks may help, along with having the curtains drawn and the TV or music up loud.

Some dogs, like some of us, also respond to sudden changes in barometric pressure associated with a storm front, setting up a conditioned anxiety reaction. For this and for the noise-related stress, I would ask your veterinarian to prescribe a course of treatment with alprazolam (Xanax) or clomipramine. These can be very effective in reducing dogs’ anxiety and can certainly help desensitize your dog to going outdoors as darkness falls.

(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 recent study found that pea-protein-based dog food provides dogs with all essential amino acids, while maintaining L-taurine and L-carnitine levels. Also, the plant-based diet may have addressed a nutritional deficiency: “Almost half (7 of 15) of the dogs presented with insufficient levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D at baseline,” the researchers wrote. They found that "vitamin D levels normalized in most dogs at six months ... and in all dogs at 12 months," which was accomplished without the use of supplements.

The authors assert that this study is “of major relevance to One Health paradigms since ingredients produced independent of industrial food animal production are both more sustainable and help to circumvent ethical dilemmas for maintenance of health in domestic dogs.” For details, see the full study: "Domestic dogs maintain clinical, nutritional and hematological health outcomes when fed a commercial plant-based diet for a year" by Annika Linde et al., published in PLOS ONE, April 2024.

Readers should also check out this summary of the impact of conventional pet foods on the environment and on farmed animals: faunalytics.org/the-impacts-of-conventional-cat-and-dog-food. If conscientious consumers become aware of these numbers, they will start looking at alternative proteins not just for themselves, but for their companion animals as well.

I would add that properly formulated plant-based dog foods can help reduce the incidence of food allergies, which are most often triggered by animal proteins.

On a different note, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made his state the first to criminalize the sale of cultivated meat May 1, signing bill SB 1084. DeSantis declared that cultivated meat is a plot by “global elites ... to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals.” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey followed suit on May 7 by signing SB23, which makes it “unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute any cultivated food product” in Alabama. I say “nuts” to both!

Cultivated algae may soon be opposed by the fishing industry as consumers and pet food manufacturers turn to algae-based omega-3s -- a rich, natural source of DHA -- as an alternative to fish, with zero impact on the ocean. For instance, a product from Corbion called AlgaPrime DHA P3 is produced in closed fermentation tanks that are powered by renewable energy. In these tanks, sugar cane is converted into sustainable algae-based omega-3s. Some mushrooms also provide a nonanimal source of vitamin D, which is then used in some plant-based pet foods.

INSECTS IN CAT FOOD: A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOURCE

Researchers at the Animal Welfare Epidemiology Lab at the University of California, Davis, are surveying cat owners about their perception of insect-based pet foods. The potential benefits: Some insects are highly nutritious; insect-based diets are unlikely to trigger allergic reactions; and the production process for insect-based foods may be more environmentally sustainable than that of conventional meat-based foods. And many cats naturally eat insects anyway! (Full story: Gizmodo, April 17)

Insects also provide a variety of nutrients that can benefit the gut microbiome, immune system, joints, oral health and brain function. For details, visit: petfoodindustry.com/insect-based-cat-and-dog-food/article/15670490/7-insectbased-pet-food-health-benefits-beyond-nutrition.

Insect-based food additives do not carry the risks of bacterial diseases found in meat and slaughterhouse byproducts, which can sicken pets and the people handling their food.

PET FOOD NEWS

Per Susan Thixton at Truth About Pet Food, 971 pet food complaints were reported to the FDA in January of this year. And 91% of the complaints concerned Purina products.

For more details, go to truthaboutpetfood.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 DR. FOX: We have two Labs. One of them is 12 1/2 and has recently developed laryngeal paralysis. Both dogs wear shock collars for an invisible fence system. I wondered if anyone else has had the same issue.

Your findings on electropollution (which I read on your website) were very interesting. -- L.K., Nova Scotia

DEAR L.K.: It is surely no coincidence that your dog has developed laryngeal paralysis. I would like to hear from other readers who use, or have used, an “invisible” electric fence system to keep their dogs within their property with the use of sensors around their necks.

I have written earlier about the potential risks of electric fence containment. Some dogs become fearful of going outside; others, when highly motivated, will simply run off the property. Free-roaming and off-leash dogs will not be stopped by this barrier if they want to interact with, or even attack, resident dogs on the other side of these invisible systems.

In my neighborhood, I see such invisible-fence-confined dogs left alone outside for long periods of time, and their general demeanor gives me the impression that they are depressed. Some friends of mine have an invisible fence for their cockapoo, Charlie, and on more than one occasion he has rushed at leashed dogs walking by with their owners. My friends now fear Charlie may get injured if a fight erupts.

Veterinarians are looking more closely at electronic containment systems and their effects on dogs’ health and behavior. It is notable that as of Feb. 1, the use of electronic training collars on dogs has been prohibited in England.

For more details, see my review of the hazards of exposure to electromagnetic fields and nonionizing radiation here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/electropollution-existential-threat-to-public-health-and-life-on-earth.

A veterinarian friend who is electrosensitive sent me this response to your issue:

“This is terrible to read, and certainly no coincidence. I would bet the electric field levels are quite high. If L.K. is unwilling to refrain from using the invisible fence, I would suggest they purchase a Cornet ED88T meter from Safe Living Technologies and ask that it be calibrated to the standards on the Building Biology Institute's website (buildingbiologyinstitute.org). This meter will measure electrical, magnetic and radio frequencies accurately. Measure the electrical levels on the necks of the dogs and compare it to BBI's guidelines for safety. L.K. can use the meter for their own safety in their house, as well.”

See below for another item about electropollution.

TELECOM ELECTROPOLLUTION HARMING WILDLIFE

Wireless radiation is contributing greatly to the loss of our pollinators and bird populations. For disturbing details and scientific evidence, visit Environmental Health Trust’s new website for wildlife: wildlifeandwireless.org.

CHICK-HATCHING PROJECTS IN SCHOOLS NEED TO STOP

In her poignant May 11 article in the Star Tribune, former teacher Julie Knopp of Compassionate Action for Animals detailed the widespread, yet highly questionable, practice of letting young students hatch chicks in the classroom. Many chicks are deformed from defective incubation, and many hatchlings are injured by improper handling. Those who do survive eventually need to be placed in animal sanctuaries.

There are risks to the children, as well: Chicks can carry salmonella, E. coli and now possibly the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Putting schoolchildren in contact with them poses unnecessary risks to all.

In my opinion, no live animals should be in classrooms. There is now a rich variety of alternative educational materials available to teach children about animal behavior, intelligence and sentience -- none of which will potentially traumatize them like the death or injury of a classroom animal can. Keeping animals in classrooms can even desensitize children by treating animals as objects and learning tools, rather than fellow creatures worthy of compassion.

MICROCHIPS HELP OWNERS FIND LOST CATS

A cat that was adopted as a kitten from an Arizona shelter 12 years ago and went missing from his Nevada home five years ago has been found in Arkansas. Two women who found the Russian blue at a gas station took him to a veterinary clinic, where the cat’s microchip revealed the owner’s contact information. (Full story: KARK-TV, Little Rock, Arkansas, April 19)

Cats love hiding in boxes, but a cat whose owners accidentally shipped her to Amazon along with some boots they were returning might be staying out of boxes for a while. A warehouse worker in Los Angeles took the cat to a veterinarian, who tracked the owners in Utah through a microchip and arranged the reunion. (Full story: KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, April 24)

All cat owners should microchip their cats!

(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.)