DEAR READERS: In July, amid a local outbreak of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), the Delaware Department of Agriculture issued a 30-day ban on transporting dogs in or out of the state. A spokesperson for Brandywine Valley SPCA, Delaware's largest animal welfare organization, said the group vaccinated all of the dogs housed in its shelters and foster homes and is also vaccinating any dog brought in as a stray. It is also offering two-dose canine influenza vaccines for dogs in the community. (Full story: WMDT-TV, Salisbury, Maryland, July 30)

No single infectious agent has been identified in these local and regional outbreaks of CIRDC. One factor may be the increase in airborne pollen and fungal spores in many areas, which is linked to climate change. But in my opinion, fine particulate matter is a major contributing factor. Consider the many particles and pollutants from automobile exhaust, various industries and forest fires that dogs sniff up while walking and running close to the ground.

Drastically reducing the burning of fossil fuels is called for, not only to reduce the severity of climate change, which triggers forest fires (which in turn exacerbate climate change), but also to prevent diseases caused by air pollutants. Certain tiny particles can damage our lungs, hearts and possibly our brains. The impact on wildlife is potentially extensive, affecting animals' survival behaviors as well as their neuroendocrine, immune and reproductive systems.

According to the EPA, certain particles that contain aluminum, zinc, lead and sulfuric acid are "making lakes and streams acidic; changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins; depleting the nutrients in soil; damaging sensitive forests and farm crops and affecting the diversity of ecosystems." (For details, see epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm.)

It is notable that outbreaks of CIRDC have become more prevalent in many states where air quality has been declining precipitously from the burning of forest fires. According to the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, CIRDC had reached at least 16 states as of December of last year: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

DOGS CAN SMELL OUR EMOTIONAL STATES

Recent research published in Scientific Reports suggests that dogs can tell whether people are stressed or relaxed based on their scent, and the animals may be able to modify their behavior accordingly. British researchers noted that dogs apparently can interpret odors even when they do not know the person well. (See "The odor of an unfamiliar stressed or relaxed person affects dogs’ responses to a cognitive bias test" by Zoe Parr-Cortes et al., published in Scientific Reports, July 2024.)

DEAR DR. FOX: Have you read this book? It's by John Clifton: "Stop the Shots! Are Vaccinations Killing Our Pets?" -- J.L., Minneapolis

DEAR J.L.: Yes, indeed I have. Clifton included interviews with several veterinarians in his groundbreaking book. It is not an anti-vaccination diatribe, but a well-reasoned documentation of the risks of giving our animal companions too many unwarranted vaccinations. Regrettably, this practice continues, even though various veterinary associations have set new guidelines to minimize vaccinations and optimize their protective value, which I fully endorse.

See my previous posts on the subject:

-- drfoxonehealth.com/post/cat-vaccination-protocols

-- drfoxonehealth.com/post/dog-vaccination-protocols

-- drfoxonehealth.com/post/animal-vaccination-concerns-vaccine-associated-autoimmune-and-other-diseases

There are also rising concerns about genetically engineered mRNA vaccines, which I will address in a future column.

DOG THEFT CAN EVOKE SAME EMOTIONS AS PERSON’S DEATH

People may experience the same degree of despair, hopelessness and emotional pain after a dog is stolen as they do when a beloved person dies, according to a small study in Animal-Human Interactions. Those feelings can be compounded by a lack of understanding as well as laws that consider pets property, researchers found. (Full story: HealthDay News, April 26)

(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: Do you know about the American think tank Rethink Priorities? They research and investigate animal and environmental issues worldwide. Such a good resource. -- D.K., Minneapolis

DEAR D.K.: Yes, indeed, Rethink Priorities covers many serious issues. Readers will be interested in their extensive coverage of animal issues needing immediate attention. For details, go to rethinkpriorities.org/animal-welfare.

The group is focusing, currently, on the stressful and inhumane conditions under which some 230 billion shrimp are being raised in several countries. There is currently no protective legislation for these and other farmed, decapod crustaceans, despite advances in our understanding of the behavioral needs and sentience of these creatures.

VEGAN DOG FOODS HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE

In an experiment last year, researchers tested two mildly cooked human-grade vegan dog foods from the Bramble company. Ingredients included organic pea protein, lentils, whole peas and garbanzo beans as primary protein sources.

Both formulations were found to be highly digestible for dogs, advancing the market potential of feeding dogs less (or no) farmed animal produce. This will also help reduce the suffering of factory-farmed animals and lessen the contribution of this industry to climate change and loss of biodiversity.

For details, see the report by Leah J. Roberts et al., "Amino acid digestibility and nitrogen-corrected ...", published in Translational Animal Science in 2023.

In a 2022 public poll in the U.K., vegans and vegetarians were less likely to say they would eat cultivated meat (16.4%) than meat-eating respondents (40.3%). However, among vegans and vegetarians who would not consume cultivated meat themselves, 55.9% indicated that they would still feed it to their pets.

For details, see the report by Alice Oven et al., "Investigating the market for cultivated meat as pet food," published in PLOS ONE in 2022.

COMPANIONSHIP REDUCES STRESS ON DOGS IN SHELTERS

Matching dogs in shelters with compatible canine companions reduces stress on the dogs and may result in quicker adoptions compared with dogs kenneled alone, according to a recent study. Dogs housed with matched companions exhibited fewer stress behaviors such as lip-licking and whining. Their urinary cortisol and creatinine levels were lower than those of solo dogs, and they were adopted an average of four days sooner.

For details, see the report by Grace Hecker et al., "Effects of single- or pair-housing on the welfare of shelter dogs: Behavioral and physiological indicators," published in PLOS ONE in June.

All animal shelter managers should consider these findings, for which I advocated several years ago when I helped Pro Animale, an animal rescue organization in Germany, fight a government mandate that all dogs must be kept in separate enclosures. They won their case for group housing of compatible canines.

(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: The group Earthday.org has released a new report regarding the effects of exposure to plastics on our pets. The "Pets Vs. Plastics" report examines the risks posed by pet toys, foods and packaging.

One section of the report -- entitled “So What is Your Pet Actually Chewing On?” -- states: “Polyvinyl Chloride is a hard form of plastic which is most commonly called ‘vinyl.’ It’s too hard for dogs to chew and could potentially even damage their teeth, so toxic chemicals known as phthalates, often referred to as plasticizers, are added to PVC pet toys to make them softer, flexible and essentially more chewy. The issue is that when your dog or cat chews on a toy made from this plastic cocktail, the phthalates leach out of the toy and can be absorbed through our pets’ gums and skin.”

Phthalates have been linked to cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, infertility, abnormal genitalia, asthma and other health problems. For details, go to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587442.

For the kind of safe, plant-based dog chews that I give to my dog and to my friends with dogs, go to earthanimal.com.

DEAR DR. FOX: My cats are not allowed outside (not safe). I personally have found that Avon Skin So Soft bath oil keeps ticks off me; is it safe to use sparingly on my cats? I am reluctant to use chemicals or even Heartgard. -- K.B., Wallingford, Connecticut

DEAR K.B.: Yes, Skin So Soft bath oil has long been touted as a good insect repellent for humans -- by consumers, not by the company. (For details on how it fared in tests, search for the product name on ConsumerReports.org.) Either way, I would not advise putting it on your cats, since they will ingest it when they groom themselves and each other.

I am glad that you do not let them out, both for their own safety and to protect the birds and small mammals in your area. Going outdoors can also lead to cats picking up fleas, ticks, feline diseases from infected cats, and rabies from infected skunks and other wildlife.

Your cats should need no anti-parasite medications since they are kept indoors. Be sure all porch and window screens are secure to keep out mosquitoes and other biting insects.

Anti-parasitic medications for cats can have adverse consequences because cats, unlike dogs, lack the liver enzymes to detoxify these drugs. Instead, try Bragg’s nutritional yeast: Over several decades, there has been significant evidence showing that mixing a quarter teaspoon of nutritional yeast (NOT baking yeast!) to cats’ wet food helps repel biting insects. Use just a pinch when starting out, then gradually increase.

MINNESOTA URGES PET, LIVESTOCK OWNERS TO UPDATE RABIES VACCINES

Health officials in Minnesota are urging owners of pets, horses and cattle to ensure their animals’ rabies vaccinations are current. So far this year, rabies has been documented in 14 bats, 12 skunks, six cattle and a cat, and 17 people in the state have undergone preventive treatment after being bitten by or exposed to saliva from an infected animal. (Full story: Duluth [Minnesota] News Tribune, July 31)

This is a warning to people in all states, especially those living near wildlife, to be sure that their animals have anti-rabies vaccinations and to never let their dogs and cats roam free.

PARVOVIRUS INFECTING DOGS CAN BE PREVENTED

Kentucky has the fifth-highest number of documented canine parvovirus cases in the nation, and the virus is spreading quickly across the state. The highly contagious virus lingers in fecal matter and soil, and can cling to clothing and kennel surfaces. Prevention is key: Parvovirus vaccines are effective. A vaccination campaign in Warren County has kept the number of cases there below a dozen in the past several months, says Brandon Taylor, operations manager for the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society. (Full story: WBKO-TV, Bowling Green, Kentucky, July 31)

This news item is a red flag for all dog owners, especially those who have recently obtained a puppy. Parvovirus is a terrible disease -- costly to treat and often fatal. So be sure your canine companions are protected with a vaccination.

(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.)