DEAR READERS: We are becoming mindful of our collective carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, but as society moves to increasing dependence on technology for data storage, as well as the development of artificial intelligence, constraints and caps are called for.

"According to a Guardian analysis," reports Isabel O'Brien, "from 2020 to 2022 the real emissions from the 'in-house' or company-owned data centers of Google, Microsoft, Meta and Apple are probably about 662% -- or 7.62 times -- higher than officially reported. Amazon is the largest emitter of the big five tech companies by a mile -- the emissions of the second-largest emitter, Apple, were less than half of Amazon’s in 2022." (Full story: The Guardian, Sept. 15)

The escalating amount of water needed to cool these data centers, in addition to their energy use, is now raising concerns, especially in regions of high water demand from agriculture and cities.

Nature.com reports: "Tech giants Amazon, Google and Microsoft have all recently announced plans to support nuclear power generation as part of efforts to become carbon-neutral. Amazon and Google’s plans involve companies that are pioneering the design of 'small modular reactors,' while Microsoft will support the restart of a decommissioned 835-megawatt reactor in Pennsylvania. These plans come as the energy requirement of data centers supporting artificial intelligence skyrocket. Sourcing geothermal energy is also being developed, which is a promising initiative."

The U.N.'s International Monetary Fund reports: "Crypto mining and data centers now account for 2% of global electricity use and nearly 1% of global emissions, and their footprint is growing."

As a consequence of climate change and escalating energy demands from these sectors, homeowners pay more to cool and warm their houses, and for home insurance.

WILDFIRE SMOKE POSES SERIOUS RISKS TO PETS, LIVESTOCK

Wildfire smoke poses significant health risks to pets, causing issues such as coughing, eye irritation and breathing difficulties, says Dr. Sandra Faeh, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Particularly vulnerable are animals that already have a cardiovascular or respiratory condition, brachycephalic breeds, birds, and young and senior pets of all types.

All pet and livestock owners in areas affected by wildfire smoke should watch for coughing, gagging or difficulty breathing, and they should keep animals indoors, use air purifiers, limit outdoor exercise time and have an evacuation plan in place. (Full story: NorthJersey.com, Nov. 10)

As for humans, the health implications of wildfire smoke exposure can range from elevated susceptibility to asthma and viral infections, to increased risk of heart attacks, cognitive impairment and dementia.

PESTICIDES CONTAMINATE WATERS WHERE DOGS PLAY, SWIM

Imidacloprid and fipronil, two pesticides that treat and prevent flea and tick infestations in pets, have been found -- at levels that can harm invertebrates -- in ponds where dogs swim, according to a study in Science of the Total Environment. “Dog owners can play an important part in reducing the overall impact on the water that dogs enjoy by checking if they really need to use these products,” says veterinarian and study author Lauren Yoder. (Full story: TechnologyNetworks.com, Oct. 8)

(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: This Animal Doctor column covers some human health and well-being issues, especially those affecting children, because humans are animals, too. One important such topic is children's use of smartphones in schools.

The research is clear: Smartphones undermine attention, learning, relationships and belonging. Even if every school prohibits children's access to social media while at school, that will not significantly reduce the adverse impact to their brains; their social, emotional and cognitive development; and their learning ability. For more details, see Jon Haidt’s essay here: www.afterbabel.com/p/phone-free-schools.

Another issue of concern for today's children is “climate change anxiety” or “eco-anxiety,” which the American Psychological Association recognizes as a significant mental health concern in children. As they become aware of the effects of climate change, many kids feel fear, hopelessness and distress about the future of the planet. This may drive them to seek escape via social media -- which creates other issues, as noted above. To help relieve these feelings in young children, I recommend the book "Small Steps, Big Change" by Annemarie Cool, illustrated by James Jones. It is an uplifting picture book filled with simple tips for building a better world for the future. Every family should have a copy!

Another concern for pets and young people alike: The rates of obesity and weight-related diseases are rising in both pets and children in the U.S. This has many factors, including genetics, sedentarism, ultra-processed foods and, possibly, microplastics and various other food contaminants disrupting the gut microbiome. Healthful, whole-food diets and physical activity are the best preventives for everyone, human or not!

A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR BATS -- AND A WARNING FOR US ALL

Researchers are studying the fungi and bacteria on the wings of bats in Lillooet, British Columbia, because bats in that region have shown no signs of infection from the devastating white-nose syndrome that has nearly wiped out other North American bat populations. The research may lead to a probiotic cocktail that helps bats resist the devastating disease. A previously developed probiotic mix has shown promise at test sites in Washington state and British Columbia. (Full story: Phys.org, Oct. 23)

Bats help us in many ways -- from consuming insects that can carry diseases and decimate crops, to fertilizing the forests. (They also fertilize the agave plants that give us tequila -- no bats, no tequila!) But bats are declining everywhere from loss of habitat, malnutrition (from insecticides eliminating their food sources) and immune system impairment from pesticides. The latter makes them susceptible to diseases, especially white-nose syndrome.

International conventions on protecting biodiversity will amount to nothing without prohibiting the use of agrichemical poisons. Every government should support farmers transitioning to ecologically sound, regenerative and sustainable organic farming practices. This would improve public health and reduce the high incidence of cancer and birth defects in the populace and protect aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.

DEAR DR. FOX: There is a lot of research being conducted now on the sentience of insects. I’ve done some reading and attended a few talks on the subject. While there is a wide spectrum of opinion on this, in my naive view, there is a difference between using black soldier fly larvae as a protein source and using crickets. I believe crickets are quite possibly sentient. -- P.S., San Francisco

DEAR P.S.: I appreciate your concern over whether insect farming, which is expanding worldwide, is humane. Humans have been eating wild insects as a sustainable source of various nutrients since we first evolved. As for our companion animals, many cats (and some dogs) will chase and eat bugs found in the home. I advise stopping them from going after spiders, since some are venomous; these should be caught and released outdoors.

Black soldier fly larvae provide nutritious fatty acids and proteins, and can be humanely killed, in my opinion, by lowering the temperature. They are a good nutrient supplement for humans and companion animals.

Adult crickets are obviously sentient -- try to catch one! -- and their primary nutrient value is chitin. An alternative source is chitin-rich dried, powdered mushrooms, which I have mentioned in a recent column.

For consumers who choose to consume farmed insects, whatever the insect larvae and adults are fed should be organically certified and tested for heavy metals and other contaminants.

(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: Salmon have been spotted in upstream tributaries of the Klamath River at the California-Oregon border just two months after hydroelectric dams were removed, allowing the river to follow its natural path once more.

“The fact that the fish are going up above the dams now, to the most prolific spawning and rearing habitat in North America, it definitely shines a very bright light on the future,” said Ron Reed, a member of the local Karuk tribe, to the Los Angeles Times. Biologists are keeping a close eye on the fish as they spawn. (Full story: L.A. Times, Oct. 24)

The construction of dams as an energy source was celebrated as techno-triumphalism -- funded by taxpayers and constructed, with the best intentions, under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Now we bear witness to the devastating ecological consequences of arrogant eco-imperialism with the increasing unreliability of hydroelectric power. Prolonged droughts, atmospheric rivers bursting, and deforestation-exacerbated mudslides have cast doubt on dams as a “renewable” source of energy.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a friend who is looking for help for his cat -- specifically, effective hyperthyroid medication and options for managing kidney disease, whether through food or medicine. Any advice? -- D.G., Minnetonka, Minnesota

DEAR D.G.: Get the cat on a wet food -- a special prescription diet for renal disease. The more the cat will drink, the better. Flavoring the water with chicken bouillon (low-salt or homemade) may help.

This cat's attending veterinarian can offer thyroid treatments, which can range from injecting radioactive iodine, prescribing methimazole or surgical removal of the cancerous gland, followed by thyroid hormone replacement. Survival times are probably longer following surgical removal. The cat’s blood pressure and body weight should be closely monitored. A few days’ treatment with gabapentin to help the cat feel less hyperstimulated may be advisable.

My post about helping dogs and cats with kidney disease is available here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/care-for-dogs-cats-with-chronic-kidney-disease.

Many cats suffer from hyperthyroidism, a multifactor disease in which high levels of fluoride in cat foods play a role. Also at fault are a host of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that our high-polluting industrial economy has released into the environment and our food chain, to the detriment of us all.

This is one of many companion animal diseases that make them the modern-day equivalent of canaries in the coal mines, warning us of an unsafe environment. It will be interesting to see what Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as secretary of Health and Human Services under the new Trump administration, will do about this.

(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.)