DEAR DR. FOX: I was raised as a Christian, but I find it hard to believe in a God who would create a world where there are predators that must kill to live. What are your thoughts? -- L.H., Cleveland, Ohio

DEAR L.H.: I sympathize with your quandary but, as I detail in my numerous essays about wolves, there are lessons to be learned about predation. First, predators -- other than humans, who domesticate and eat billions of animals annually -- never kill more than they need. Otherwise, they would run out of food and become extinct.

Second, predators practice birth and population control: Only top-ranking wolves breed, for example, and male lions kill the existing cubs of females they seek to mate with.

Third, life gives to life in the ecological food chain; little fish eat plankton and in turn are eaten by bigger fish, who are then eaten by seals and other marine mammals and seabirds.

Those who believe in a god should respect and protect that god’s creation, learning to live simply so that others may simply live. It's an ethic of peaceful coexistence that agnostics and atheists should also embrace.

The world was not created simply for human use, but as an incredible, dynamic, sustainable system of biodiversity. I see all animals experiencing life as spiritual beings in different forms and functions, all of whom can inspire and inform us as we evolve into a wiser and more compassionate species.

DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 2-year-old boy, Robbie, and recently adopted a gentle 1-year-old dog. They get along just fine, but the dog likes to chew Robbie’s fluffy animals and plastic toys, and I wonder if the plastic ones are safe. I worry he might swallow pieces, though none have broken up yet. They are soft and squishy, but I worry.

It is difficult to keep the dog away from them, especially when Robbie drops them. What is your advice? -- K.H., Lima, Ohio

DEAR K.H.: Your dog chewing on fluffy toys that your child later plays with should be safe for the child: It has been shown that children have fewer allergies and develop an immune system-boosting microbiome when there is a dog in the home passing on beneficial bacteria to infants. But as a precaution, I would put the soft toys and shared blankets in the washer from time to time.

For both your child’s health and the dog’s, I would get rid of all plastic toys because most contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates. Go online and look up safe toys for children. There are companies that are aware of this health problem, and more parents need to be informed.

As far as other options for your dog to chew on, avoid bones and deer antlers, which can crack dogs’ teeth. Bone fragments can also penetrate the guts. Never buy dried animal parts sold in pet stores, notably pigs’ feet and ears. An FDA investigation into 154 human cases of Salmonella infections cases between June 2015 and September 2019 linked seven Salmonella serotypes to samples from pig ear treats for pets, and some of the Salmonella species were resistant to three or more antimicrobial drug classes. The study, published in Lancet Public Health, found that Salmonella was transmitted to people through direct contact with pig ear treats and infected dogs. (Full Story: FoodSafetyNews.com, June 18)

Also, avoid rawhide dog chews, which can disintegrate and cause intestinal blockages, and which may well contain toxic processing chemicals. I give my dog plant-based No-Hide dog chews from Earth Animal that keep her teeth clean, her gums healthy, and provide her the chewing pleasure so many dogs enjoy that also helps relieve anxiety.

MINNESOTA WARNS CAT OWNERS ABOUT TULAREMIA

Tularemia is a bacterial disease carried by various animals, including squirrels, rabbits and mice, which can be spread by animal bites and scratches, bites from ticks and other insects, or even inhaled in aerosol form from a dead animal. The Minnesota Department of Health found tularemia in 21 animals last year, which is three times the usual number of cases for the state. Seven cases have been reported so far this year.

Health officials are warning that outdoor cats who develop a fever, swelling and skin sores are likely to have tularemia. The MDH is urging Minnesotans to avoid contact with wild animals and to wear tick repellents when outdoors, and cat owners are instructed to prevent their cats from going outdoors and hunting small animals. Infected cats could transmit this disease to family members, although the disease is not transmissible from person to person. So, again: Keep cats indoors!

This zoonotic disease, and others such as insect-borne West Nile virus and dengue fever, are likely to rise in many states with climate change-associated rising temperatures and moisture levels.

(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 am a cat lover, and appreciate that you write about declawing as a cruel mutilation. I am sending you this article to share with your readers: "Declawing Cats Provokes a Billion-Dollar Debate" by Peter Funt, which ran in The Wall Street Journal in June. The subtitle states: "Surgically removing a cat's claws has long been a profitable business for veterinarians. Now animal advocates are hoping to ban what they call a 'cruel and torturous procedure.'" -- E.K., Washington, D.C.

DEAR E.K.: Thank you for sending this excellent review of the contentious issue of feline mutilation, about which I have written in an effort to discourage and outlaw the practice. (See my post here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/declawing-cats.)

Here are some highlights, paraphrased, from Funt’s article:

-- Nearly two dozen countries, including England, Australia and Japan, have prohibited or severely restricted declawing. Exceptions are given to owners who are immunocompromised and at risk from infection from cat scratches (as an alternative to euthanizing or rehoming their cats).

-- More than a dozen states have sought to ban the practice, but only New York and Maryland have succeeded.

-- America’s largest provider of veterinary services, Mars Inc., with some 2,200 animal hospitals, has opted out of declawing. A position paper states that removal of the third toe bone from each digit of a cat’s foot “has been shown to lead to chronic pain and, in some cases, to cause long-term behavioral issues.”

I encourage readers to seek out the full article.

People who opt for declawing their cats usually do so in an effort to curb the animal's scratching behavior, which can be destructive. A new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science finds that stress triggers cats to scratch more than any other factor -- and it is exacerbated when young children are around. The study also notes that scratching increases after long play sessions and nocturnal activity.

Veterinary researcher Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas says the study suggests several ways to calm scratching, including short play sessions (which mimic successful hunting), safe hiding places, elevated observation perches and the provision of scratching posts in low-traffic areas. In addition, children must be instructed not to overexcite their feline companions. (Full story: Popular Science, July 3)

DEAR DR. FOX: I’ve always loved that you respect all life, and I’ve learned a great deal from your weekly articles. However, your timing with regard to the story about Orthodox Jews sacrificing chickens has made you a cog in the wheel of antisemitism. With everything going on in the world, specifically with antisemitism here in the U.S., couldn’t you have delayed this item until next year or whenever?

This is the type of thing that gets added to a list of vilifying grievances that haters use to stoke their hate. I expect more nuance from you. -- T.S., Lake Worth, Florida

DEAR T.S.: I appreciate your concerns, and I do not wish to perpetuate or contribute to discrimination in any form. However, I have found there is no perfect time for posting concerns about animal cruelty.

I have published concerns over ritual halal (Islamic) slaughter in my column, as well, and discuss these matters on my website (see drfoxonehealth.com/post/farmed-animal-slaughter-ritual-and-conventional). As I emphasize, goats and sheep should be stunned and rendered unconscious before their throats are cut because there are arteries in their vertebrae that continue to supply blood to the brain -- meaning the animals are conscious while they bleed out.

Religion-based ritual slaughter practices need to be made more humane, and science-supported criticism must not be dismissed as antisemitic or anti-Islamic. A life unexamined is a life unlived, and we should all examine our cultural and religious beliefs and practices.

(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 company that bred beagles for medical research agreed to pay a record $35 million as part of a criminal plea admitting it neglected thousands of dogs at its breeding facility in rural Virginia. Prosecutors said the penalties amount to the largest ever levied in an animal-welfare case. The plea deal also bars the company that operated the facility, Envigo RMS, as well as parent company Inotiv, from breeding or selling dogs in the future.

The federal investigation of Envigo drew national attention in May 2022 when federal authorities conducted a search of the breeding facility in Cumberland County, Virginia, and found nearly 450 animals in acute distress. The company later agreed to relinquish all 4,000 beagles at the facility, which were sent around the country for adoption. For more details, go to npr.org/2024/06/04/nx-s1-4991678/envigo-beagle-breeder-35-million-fine-animal-welfare.

Decades of efforts to find and adopt alternatives to using animals in biomedical research and testing have met limited success. This prosecution is good news, but it also reveals that wholesale use of animals continues.

WISE INITIATIVE TO BAN BALLOONS

A new Florida law prohibits the intentional release of balloons, aiming to curb the devastating impact on sea turtles, whales, manatees and other animals that are harmed by eating balloons. The law prohibits intentional balloon releases, which previously banned releasing 10 or more balloons within 24 hours. The new regulation includes fines for releasing a single balloon, with children under 7 being exempt.

Balloons are a significant threat to marine life, as animals often mistake them for food, leading to fatal intestinal blockages. For more details, see apnews.com/article/balloon-ban-environment-florida-sea-turtle-10c6e21aaf3baa9c340052d3f3b34dbd.

All states should follow suit, since balloons can travel many miles and end up in the ocean, and should outlaw the dumping of plastic waste and reduce the manufacture and use of nonbiodegradable plastics.

DEAR DR. FOX: What would you recommend for a cat in the early stages of kidney disease who isn’t keen on eating the KD and Hill's wet food for kidney disease? My husband and I fed our respective previous kitties, who were in late-stage kidney failure, with any wet food they would eat, knowing that they were on their last legs. But for a cat who may have several years ahead, and knowing the need to keep protein content down, we would be interested to hear what you would recommend. -- C.F., San Francisco

DEAR C.F.: It was good that you gave your old cats the food that you did, but much more can be done for cats both old and young. For details, see my post: drfoxonehealth.com/post/care-for-dogs-cats-with-chronic-kidney-disease.

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR GREYHOUNDS

DEAR DR. FOX: Today we bring you news of yet another major victory in the fight against greyhound racing! Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs just signed our bill to outlaw remote gambling on greyhound racing. Every year, millions of dollars are bet on cruel dog races by Grand Canyon State residents, a harmful practice that will soon end. SB 1260, an act relating to dog racing, was proudly championed by Sen. John Kavanagh. As a representative, Kavanagh also led the fight to prohibit live dog racing in the state. This is the sixth major greyhound protection law we have helped pass since 2022. Arizona is the latest state to outlaw remote betting on dog races, joining Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Two-thirds of all American states now prohibit greyhound simulcast betting. The walls are closing in on the final remnants of dog racing in the United States. But until we end this cruelty for good, gentle greyhounds will continue to suffer and die. To learn more about campaigns to end dog racing across the globe, visit GREY2KUSA.org.

(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.)