DEAR READERS: Keeping wild animals inhumanely in cages and raising them for their fur and/or for medicinal products needs to be prohibited. Not only is it cruel, but these animals act as "potential reservoirs of emerging pathogens," per a recent study.

A research team examined tissues "from 461 individual fur animals that were found dead due to disease," reads the study's abstract. "We characterized 125 virus species, including 36 that were novel and 39 at potentially high risk of cross-species transmission, including zoonotic spillover."

Some of those viruses have already spread to humans, but some were new. One virus previously only detected in bats was found in the lungs of two farmed mink. This virus is a relative of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS), which can be deadly to humans. Several types of bird flu were detected in guinea pigs, mink and muskrats, and seven types of coronaviruses were also spotted.

For the full study, see "Farmed fur animals harbour viruses with zoonotic spillover potential" by Jin Zhao et al., published in Nature, September 2024.

FOOD SAFETY ALERT

There has been a recent recall of eggs due to salmonella contamination. Details from FoodSafetyNews.com:

"Sixty-five people from nine states have gotten sick from the same strain of salmonella. The nine states include the three states where the eggs were sold -- Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin -- in addition to California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Utah and Virginia."

People handling eggs, including those using my home-prepared dog food recipe, should take note. Handle all meat, poultry, dairy and egg products with caution!

DEAR DR. FOX: In a recent column, you included a letter from S.W. in Palm Beach, Florida. She was so upset after reading your column and learning the truth about the cruelty done to animals in research laboratories, not to mention slaughter facilities, puppy mills, etc. The Florida person said they only wanted to read positive, uplifting news.

I have spoken with many people over the years who do not want to know the truth. They live in an all-is-well dream world. It is so frustrating that people refuse to acknowledge the horrors so many innocent animals are subjected to. Sticking your head in the sand does not make the facts of what is happening disappear.

Dr. Fox, please continue your informative dialogue for those of us who want to stay informed. Having knowledge is key to understanding what is going on! -- E.T., Edwardsburg, Michigan

DEAR E.T.: I greatly appreciate your words of support, and I agree that empathizing often hurts. Some people who truly do care about these issues may still withdraw into a bubble and do nothing because of that pain. But when we do empathize and become informed, we can be drawn into action because of how we feel about the plight of others.

I firmly believe that it is our ability to empathize and put compassion into action that provides the foundation of civil society. Extending the golden rule to all sentient beings under the banner of equalitarianism is the hallmark of a democratic civilization.

Many Indigenous peoples across cultures, continents and centuries have regarded animals as their relations -- beings to be treated with reverential respect and gratitude. In contemporary society, many people regard their companion animals as family members, which is a short step away from extending that affection to all creatures great and small -- and becoming involved in their protection from animal cruelty and exploitation.

DEAR DR. FOX: Have you read about the discovery in Sweden of the ancient remains of a dog, buried with some gifts beside it? It seems like early humans cared very much for their animals. -- B.K., Washington, D.C.

DEAR B.K.: Yes, I have read reports about the 8,400-year-old remains of a dog, buried with gifts to enjoy in the next realm, recently unearthed in Sweden. My theory is that early dogs helped make us human by showing us the nature of loyalty, trust and devotion. In this dog's case, these qualities were respectfully acknowledged in the animal's treatment after death.

I wish that humans would continue to evolve and show respect for all sentient beings, and that every country would prosecute animal neglect and cruelty as felonious offenses.

(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 outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in U.S. dairy cows has been confirmed in 200 herds in 15 states, and now the virus has been found in pet cats. Previously, cats on dairy farms had contracted H5N1 after drinking infected milk, but two of the six pets now identified in Colorado were indoor animals.

“The identification of H5N1 in indoor-only cats is a big concern” because it is unclear how they became infected, says Meghan Davis, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

It is possible that these indoor cats were infected by mice in their homes, or by contact with an infected person with mild symptoms such as pink eye. Outdoor cats are at more obvious risk because of potential contact with infected birds. Cats seem especially susceptible to this strain of influenza, and there are legitimate concerns that they may become a significant source of transmission of this highly infectious virus to humans.

Tips for all pet owners: Don’t feed them raw milk (or any raw animal-based food products), and watch for changes in behavior. Read more here: scientificamerican.com/article/bird-flu-is-infecting-pet-cats-heres-what-you-need-to-know.

ELEPHANT SEAL H5N1 INFECTIONS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN

A mass die-off of 17,000 elephant seal pups and mothers in Argentina caused by a highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 avian influenza serves as a warning that mammals -- including humans -- are vulnerable to the virus, says Marcela Uhart, a wildlife veterinarian at the University of California, Davis. The virus had adapted well to marine mammals, which then transmitted it -- along with its new mammal-adapted mutations -- back to birds, posing risks to people and other mammals.

This subtype of H5N1 avian influenza, which has encircled the globe in recent years and was recently found in various birds in Antarctica, is “quite a baffling virus, and there’s still a lot we need to learn about it,” says seabird ecologist Norman Ratcliffe of the British Antarctic Survey. Some research projects have already been scaled back to avoid spreading the virus further. While many infected birds have died, some Adelie penguins and an Antarctic cormorant are among the ones that have survived -- raising concerns that healthy birds can carry and transmit the virus to new locations. (Full story: Science.org, March 28)

DEAR DR. FOX: I had written to you a while back regarding our 17-year-old orange tabby, Rusty, and his dewclaw injury. Sadly, he went downhill and never bounced back from that; we saw it as almost the equivalent of a human breaking a hip. He had to be laid to rest last October.

We have discussed getting another cat, but we fear spraying or other territorial behaviors due to Rusty having lived in our home for so long. He had the run of the house, and had many favorite nesting spots. He never had accidents or made messes, other than hairballs, but he “marked” every table corner and chair leg with the corner of his mouth! Also, we have wall-to-wall carpets, which I know will retain pet scents even when we believe they are clean.

Given all this, my question is: How long do you believe Rusty’s scent will remain in our house? -- C.M.C., Cumberland, Maryland

DEAR C.M.C.: I am saddened to hear of Rusty’s passing.

Most cats regularly mark their home environments with their saliva and with the scent glands on their faces and tails. I see no way to completely remove these scent markings, beyond the basic steps of laundering linens and giving furniture a wipe-down with Nature’s Miracle enzyme cleaner.

While your home will inevitably still have some residual scent from Rusty for some time, you can still welcome a new cat into your lives. Feliway, the feline pheromone plug-in room diffuser, should help a new cat feel less threatened in its new environment.

(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: Dog owners may be tempted to think that because animals eat “raw diets” in the wild, the same is appropriate for their canine companions. But wild carnivores and carrion eaters have acidic stomachs that probably aid in killing potentially harmful bacteria in the animal parts they consume. Dogs, after millennia of domestication, may not fare so well.

A warning from the American Veterinary Medical Association:

“The AVMA recognizes public interest in feeding raw diets to dogs and cats. However, the AVMA discourages feeding any raw or undercooked animal-sourced protein (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, egg, milk) to dogs and cats because of their risk to human and animal health. ...

“Animal-sourced proteins of concern include beef, pork, poultry, fish, and other meat from domesticated or wild animals, as well as milk and eggs. Several studies reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals and product recalls have demonstrated that raw or undercooked animal-sourced protein may be contaminated with a variety of pathogenic organisms, including (various species of) Salmonella, Campylobacter, (and) Clostridium; Escherichia coli; Listeria monocytogenes; and Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus. Dogs and cats may develop foodborne illness after being fed animal-sourced protein contaminated with the organisms listed above if adequate steps are not taken to reduce or eliminate pathogens.

“Apparently healthy dogs and cats can develop subclinical infections with these organisms and pose a risk to other animals and people, especially young, elderly, pregnant, and immunocompromised individuals. People handling contaminated raw pet foods are also at risk of becoming sick.”

To read the full statement, visit: avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/raw-or-undercooked-animal-source-protein-cat-and-dog-diets.

I feed my dog some plant-based raw foods, and she enjoys nutrients from organically certified blueberries, grated carrots, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and sprouted mung beans.

PIG WELFARE CONCERNS FROM MINNESOTA TO CHINA

I took note of a full-page photo in the Aug. 26 Minnesota Star Tribune’s Scene at the Fair section, which depicted a newly born piglet in the fair’s Miracle of Birth Center being petted. Pigs are highly sentient animals, and sows giving birth seek seclusion and security -- neither of which they are afforded at state fairs, with milling crowds witnessing the birthing process. The disconnect between being moved to touch such an adorable creature and then proceeding to eat various pork products is evidently a cultural norm.

This disconnect persists in China, as well: According to the August 2024 edition of the British Veterinary Association’s journal, Veterinary Record, farm animals in China are often viewed as “production tools” or “animal-based protein products.” On July 2, the South China Morning Post reported about a 26-story pig factory in central China with the capacity to produce 1.2 million pigs per year.

It is notable that as of March 2024, Smithfield Foods, which is owned by the Chinese WH Group, controls more than a quarter of U.S. pig production. Smithfield is the largest pork producer in the U.S., raising and slaughtering nearly 18 million pigs each year.

A CAT BOOK TO INSPIRE ALL

I encourage all who love cats, as well as nature photography, to seek out the book “Rescue Cats: Portraits and Stories” by animal photographer Traer Scott. It features full-color portraits of cats alongside their stories, many of which include recovery from injury, illness, starvation and neglect.

Per the book’s description, “‘Rescue Cats’ pays tribute to these amazing felines who have undergone remarkable transformations and found their forever homes while conveying the profound impact of rescue and adoption. For cat lovers, photography enthusiasts, and advocates for animal welfare, this joyful cat book is a poignant reminder that every rescue is a chapter in a larger story of compassion and redemption.”

(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.)