DEAR READERS: Please see the following development in the world of meat alternatives, summarized in this July 11 post on AgFunderNews.com:

“The Better Meat Co (BMC) has received a ‘no questions’ letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in response to its determination that its ‘Rhiza’ mycoprotein is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).

“The FDA letter is the first to cover a meat-replacing mycoprotein strain outside of the Fusarium genus ... (and) is also the first to include a U.S. Department of Agriculture evaluation of mycoprotein as a meat enhancer, claims BMC cofounder and CEO Paul Shapiro.

“‘Meats enhanced with Rhiza mycoprotein not only have dramatically superior yields after cooking, along with improved texture, but they also have substantially less saturated fat, cholesterol and calories, while boasting more fiber and potassium,’ said Shapiro. ...

“According to BMC’s GRAS notice, Rhiza mycoprotein is safe to consume in dairy analogs, meat analogs, and as a meat enhancer, has no capacity for producing mycotoxins, and is not associated with any common food allergens.”

Dr. Fox here: Neurospora crassa -- the subject of this specific GRAS notice -- has a well-documented, lengthy history of safe human consumption in a variety of Asian foods as well as animal feeds. Readers wanting to learn more should visit bettermeat.co.

VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DIETS, PROPERLY FORMULATED, APPROVED BY THE BRITISH VETERINARY ASSOCIATION

In a new policy position dated July 24, 2024, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has shifted its stance on nutritionally sound vegan diets for dogs, marking a significant step forward for ethical and sustainable dog nutrition. The BVA noted that 42% of companion animal veterinarians reported having clients who feed their dogs meat-free diets. This shift is largely driven by concerns over the health impacts of meat-based diets, as well as their environmental and animal welfare implications.

STOP BIRTHING COW, PIG EXHIBITS AT STATE FAIRS

The Star Tribune reported last month that Minnesota State Fair organizers do not plan to have pregnant cows giving birth at the fair this year because of fears of bird flu.

This is a timely action. The fair’s Miracle of Birth Center (MOBC) is one of a few similar exhibits in other states, including New York, Iowa, Michigan, California and Kansas, which sometimes feature pigs instead of cows. Pigs can carry swine flu, which can infect people. And the highly infectious H5N1 strain of influenza now infecting dairy herds, farm cats and farm workers can be transmitted by houseflies and blowflies.

Would it not be prudent, regardless of testing, to have no cows, pigs or poultry at any state fair? Even putting aside illness concerns, what thought is given to the stress of transporting pregnant cows and sows from farm to fair, and the need of most animals for seclusion and security while giving birth?

ARE YOUR DOGS GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP?

The U.K. PDSA Animal Wellbeing report (published in the Veterinary Record in July) reported that dogs show confrontational behavior with other dogs in the home when they get less than 10 hours of sleep, compared to dogs who get more than 13 hours of sleep. Behaviors included growling, snapping or biting toward other dogs in the household. So let sleeping dogs lie undisturbed!

(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: We are facing a serious health issue of dysbiosis: the disruption of beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms in our soil and our bodies.

One tablespoon of healthy soil contains more microorganisms than the entire human population of Earth. Unfortunately, the focus on monoculture commodity crops, especially corn and soy, has essentially killed the microorganisms in the soil with pesticides in many places. These farmers and agriculture companies now must rely on chemical fertilizers and animal manure, which do not provide proper nutrients for these and other food crops.

Healthy soils are being restored with regenerative and organic agricultural practices. Such soils are better retainers of water and a defense against flooding, and serve as a “carbon sink” to reduce climate change. Fungi, which are neither plants nor animals, play many crucial roles in healthy soils. They provide nutrients for crops via their mycorrhiza connectivity and act as decomposers, decontaminators, recyclers, soil-makers and plant healers.

Crops from improved soils are also more nutritious. Good nutrition supports a strong immune system and a healthy, diverse gut microbiome. A healthy microbiome would include some species of bacteria that produce precursors of oxytocin -- the “bonding” and metabolism-regulating hormone. Higher oxytocin levels in the populace could theoretically increase the overall sense of well-being and decrease depression and aggression.

On the other hand, there is mounting evidence that some antiparasitic drugs and herbicide residues, such as glyphosate, in food can disrupt the gut microbiome, deplete oxytocin levels and cause behavioral and health problems, including sudden aggression in dogs. (For details, see this post on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/antiparasitic-products-and-the-gut-microbiome.)

Dogs who have various health issues can benefit from microbiome restorative therapy, as pioneered by Massachusetts veterinarian Dr. Margo Roman, who was one of the first to make the oxytocin-gut connection in her animal patients.

DEAR DR. FOX: I stumbled upon your website today when I was researching the adverse effects of the chemicals found in the Seresto collar. I was looking into this after the sudden death of my 5-year-old cocker spaniel from adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

He was raw-fed and I was very conscious of household chemicals, etc. I had no idea how dangerous this collar was, and am devastated to think I am responsible for his death by using this awful product. I am based in the U.K. and vets here push all of these toxic flea and tick medications, saying they are totally safe -- when clearly, they are not! -- D.A., Salisbury, Wiltshire, U.K.

DEAR D.A.: It is a challenge to separate all the factors, including genetic and environmental variables, that can trigger certain forms of cancer in dogs (as well as in humans). According to one review, stomach inflammation and ulceration leading to stomach cancer in dogs was associated with the presence of some species of Helicobacter bacteria. What role your dog's raw-food diet played, if any, is an open question. Some raw ingredients could trigger gastric inflammation.

Whatever the case, you should not blame yourself for your dog’s early mortality. My condolences go out to you for all your shock and grief, as well as the suffering your dog experienced.

I wish veterinarians would follow what I advocate when it comes to all such pest-control products: the precautionary principle. The medical oath “First, do no harm” (primum non nocere) should be honored and practiced by human physicians and veterinarians alike.

(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: Re: Catan dog tag. Is there any possibility that this tag would work as a flea and tick repellent? Thank you for your wonderful support for the healthiest ways to take care of our pets. -- J.W., Naples, Florida

DEAR J.W.: Rather than putting insecticides on cats or even giving them orally, which can put cats’ health at risk, try adding 250 mg of nutritional yeast to cats’ daily diet, along with 500 mg of fish oil or marine algae, and spritzing them with 1 part eucalyptus lemon and 100 parts water around the ears, neck and along the back. The same preventives can be given to dogs (500 mg nutritional yeast and 1,000 mg fish oil for a 40-pound dog), and all should be carefully inspected around the ears and between the toes after being outdoors where there is vegetation.

I have looked at the Catan magnetic tag instructions for use and found them rather confusing and wonder if any readers have had success with them on their dogs and cats. I would like to know and share in a future column.

It is notable that there is no published scientific study of the use of magnets for repelling insects, but there is clear clinical evidence published in peer-reviewed human medical and veterinary journals that specially designed magnets can alleviate osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

PETS HELP TRUCKERS COPE WITH LONG-DISTANCE HAULS

About half the truckers responding to a survey last year said they bring their pets along, which nurse-researcher Mona Shattell says can help truckers overcome loneliness and boost their mental health. Trucking with pets can also help truckers get much-needed exercise, but getting veterinary care on the road is among the challenges, truckers say. (Full story: FreightWaves, June 12)

FATHER’S DIET CAN AFFECT SONS’ HEALTH

A father’s sperm records his diet, which affects his sons’ metabolism -- in both mice and in humans. The male offspring of mice that ate high-fat foods were more likely to have problems such as glucose intolerance, a characteristic of diabetes. And the sons of human dads with a high body-mass index had similar problems, according to an analysis of more than 3,000 children. In mice, an unhealthy diet changed certain types of sperm RNA, which could alter the offspring’s epigenome -- the collection of chemical tags hanging from DNA and its associated proteins. (See Tomar, A., et al. Epigenetic inheritance of diet-induced and sperm-borne mitochondrial RNAs. Nature 630, 720–727. 2024.)

(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.)