DEAR READERS: Our oceans, and the lives therein, are in trouble. Climate change is warming the oceans, which energizes hurricanes and typhoons, while the rising levels of carbon dioxide acidify the waters and kill many species.

The Gulf of Mexico now has a "dead zone" expanding over 6,700 square miles where there is little to no life. This is because of the over-application of nitrate and phosphate fertilizers by farmers in the Midwest, which the rains wash into the Mississippi River to empty into the ocean. The fertilizer triggers an overgrowth of algae that decompose, sink to the bottom and deplete oxygen from the water so nothing can live in the dead zone.

Some of these algae are toxic to wildlife. Domoic acid poisoning from algal blooms appears to be the cause of recent multiple sea lion strandings along a 155-mile stretch of California’s coast. Adult female sea lions have been the primary victims. The neurotoxin affects the brain and heart, and the substance can sicken other marine mammals, as well as humans.

There are also freshwater concerns. Runoff from people fertilizing their lawns, along with sewage spills after heavy rains, create algal blooms in lakes and streams across the U.S. Keep dogs out of fresh water with algal growth, because some algae are highly toxic. And no dog should be allowed in any aquatic habitat if they are wearing an anti-tick and flea collar or have a spot-on product on their skin since these pesticides are lethal to aquatic life.

Communities restoring kelp forests and the sustainable farming of this carbon-sequestering, oxygen-releasing seaweed offer a glimmer of hope.

DEAR DR. FOX: I was a student of yours when you were associate professor of psychology at Washington University. I really enjoyed your course in animal behavior. I am now retired from teaching high school, and I was wondering what you think kids should be taught today -- when they are not stuck on social media and gaming. -- K.K., Sarasota, Florida

DEAR K.K.: You bring back fond memories of my time at that excellent university in St. Louis, and you raise an interesting question about today's students. I feel the generations to come will be challenged on many fronts, from the ravages of extreme climatic events to internecine strife and rising costs of food and other basic resources.

After checking out various school curricula in social studies and civics, I would add humane and environmental ethics and conservation, coupled with sustainable living: adopting ways to reduce the carbon footprint of conspicuous consumption. I would also add home economics, focusing on healthful food selection and preparation. Learning basic survival skills, self-reliance and collective action and support would also be prudent, considering the uncertainties that the future holds.

RISKS AND TIPS FOR HANDLING PET FOODS AND TREATS

Analyses of 14 raw meat diets and 41 processed diets for pets found multidrug-resistant E. coli in 10 of the raw diets, multidrug-resistant salmonella in one raw diet, and neither in the processed foods. The findings “strongly suggest that conventionally processed pet food is a safer option ... (and) indicate a need for proactive actions involving the pet industry, food safety agencies, and pet owners to mitigate risks for public health,” researchers wrote in the journal Eurosurveillance. Relatedly, a survey of pet owners in Slovenia revealed that many pet owners are unaware of the health risks posed by raw diets. (Full story: Food Safety News, May 7)

Just like "people" food, pet foods can sometimes be contaminated with bacteria like salmonella or listeria, which can cause serious illness in both the pets that eat them and the people who handle the food and treats. Commercially prepared pet foods and treats can provide nutritious diets and delicious rewards for pets, but it is important to handle them with health and safety in mind.

The AVMA has developed resources on safe handling practices for pet food and treats, including when to dispose of them, hand-washing guidelines and other tips. View the guidelines here: avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/safe-handling-pet-food-and-pet-treats.

(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: 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.)