DEAR DR. FOX: I met veterinarian Crystal Heath at two recent conferences. She’s quite the hero for animals, and her organization (OurHonor.org) represents a new generation of vets taking a stand. She is currently working to expose dangerous practices at dairies, poultry farms and other agricultural facilities that could enable the H5N1 virus to spread even quicker.

Like anyone speaking out against factory farms, she’s getting a ton of pushback. I would like your opinion. -- P.S., San Francisco

DEAR P.S.: I have closely followed the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus for several years, reading reports of it infecting all manner of wildlife, including wild birds, polar bears and walrus. Big cats in zoos have also been infected, as have domestic cats. Millions of poultry have been cruelly “depopulated” by ventilation shutoff in efforts to control the virus's spread.

It is quite evident that the U.S. and other countries have failed to contain this virus, and it is predicted that more variants and other microbes are on the way from these potent pathogen sources: factory farms.

Fast-growing, high-yielding, overcrowded and confined animals are immunocompromised by intensive, inhumane husbandry practices and production goals, making them prone to infections. Full biosecurity measures, practices and policies would not be cost-effective, and would make animal products from safe, humane facilities prohibitively expensive. All animal factories should be closed for reasons of public health and animal welfare.

FDA ISSUES AVIAN FLU GUIDANCE FOR PET OWNERS

The FDA issued guidance advising dog and cat owners not to feed their pets unpasteurized milk, or raw or undercooked meat, in order to reduce the risk posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has killed both domesticated and wild felines. Pets should also be kept away from wild birds.

The FDA's guidance included advice from the American Veterinary Medical Association, which says pet owners should seek veterinary care if their cat or dog develops eye inflammation or discharge, tremors, seizures, incoordination, fever, lethargy, poor appetite, or difficulty breathing. (Full story: FDA.gov, Dec. 13)

S.C. SHELTERS OVERWHELMED WITH BULLY BREED DOGS

Animal shelters throughout South Carolina are overcrowded with "bully breed" dogs such as rottweilers and pit bulls. Efforts to pass mandatory spay and neuter laws have stalled, forcing some shelters to resort to euthanasia. Illegal breeding of these dogs for fighting contributes to the problem, as many are abandoned and become strays. (Full story: The Post and Courier; Charleston, South Carolina; Dec. 16)

This is one of several states where illegal dog fighting is widespread, and its practitioners should be prosecuted for felony animal cruelty. In the U.K., these bully breed dogs -- and I will note that it is the owners' treatment that makes most of them dangerous -- must be registered and neutered. This government initiative is supported by the veterinary profession. Given the resources, every state should follow suit.

MICROPLASTICS HEALTH CONCERNS

Microplastics are “suspected” to harm the health of humans' reproductive, digestive and respiratory systems, with suggested links to colon and lung cancers. For details, see the study "Effects of Microplastic Exposure on Human Digestive, Reproductive and Respiratory Health: A Rapid Systematic Review" by Nicholas Chartres et al., published in Environmental Science and Technology in December.

This disturbing analysis raises the question of microplastics' impact on other species, aquatic and terrestrial, as a potential contributor to biodiversity declines with catastrophic consequences. Future research on microplastics should investigate and identify strategies to reduce exposure.

(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 Greek philosopher Plato asserted in "The Republic": “Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike ... Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty.”

English social critic D.H. Lawrence, in "Apocalypse and the Writings on Revelation," wrote, “But a democracy is bound in the end to be obscene, for it is composed of myriad disunited fragments, each fragment assuming to itself a false wholeness, a false individuality. Modern democracy is made up of millions of frictional parts all asserting their own wholeness.”

These fragments coalesced in the 2024 democratic election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United Sates, which some see as being purely in the service of mammon -- that is, wealth as an object of worship and devotion.

Empathy and compassion temper impulsive, narcissistic, antisocial behavior. They engender respect and equalitarianism. These qualities of our humanity and civil society have atrophied rapidly in American politics and governance, and at levels corporate and personal.

A resolution for 2025 to bring empathy, compassion and ethics back to life would surely help make America "great" again, which Trump has promised, and in the process, restore justice and extinguish fascism. True egalitarianism embraces other species and their habitats and calls for the protection of both. Regrettably, all nations are not yet aligned under the shared banners of peace and planetary responsibility.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have been reading your column for many years, and my husband and I really appreciate your communications. I wonder, though, how you deal with so much disturbing information. -- B.L., South Bend, Indiana

DEAR B.L.: You are asking a very difficult question. I will say this: At this moment of writing, I feel an outpouring of disbelief, despair and loving concern for all animals around the world.

This includes those succumbing to the H5N1 influenza virus and those suffering from the impacts of climate change, as warming oceans kill fish, leaving marine mammals and birds starving to death. Meanwhile, the media floods my mind with reports of wars and school shootings, acts of genocide and ecocide, and the latest catastrophic extreme weather events.

My best medicines are walking and grooming my dog; feeding her, as well as my rescued cat; making a vegetarian meal; and then playing a flute or waiting quietly for the raccoons and opossums to come onto my deck for their supper. On cold nights, they do not come. On clear nights, I can see the three stars of Orion’s belt, and then I know in the silence that all is well. They are the shining constants of my life -- the consonance of cosmic harmony and of the love that conquers all.

Indeed, there are many blessings in my life that support my spirit and my work. My book “Animals and Nature First: Creating New Covenants with Animals and Nature” offers insights and inspiration for all of us who care to make this world a better place for all the generations to come.

DEAR DR. FOX: My 16-year-old dog has arthritis, and I was wondering if Librela would be effective to treat it. My vet says it’s OK, but I worry about some of these medications and their possible harmful side effects. -- P.S., Larkspur, California

DEAR P.S.: I was watching TV last night and saw an advertisement for this medication. I would strongly advise against it. In December, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine notified veterinarians about possible adverse events in dogs treated with Librela, which is a monoclonal antibody for osteoarthritis pain. Reported issues include ataxia, seizures and urinary incontinence. Veterinarians are encouraged to report adverse events to the manufacturer (Zoetis) or to the FDA. (Full story: FDA.gov, Dec. 16)

There are alternatives for treating your dog's arthritis, including supplements of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM; doses of turmeric and ginger; and veterinary therapies including laser heat, soundwaves or hydrotherapy (warm-water swimming).

Of course, my standby treatment for all older dogs is massage therapy, as per my book “The Healing Touch for Dogs.”

(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: Millions of people spend hours at a time on computers, some working on them all day. Like all electronic devices, computers create electromagnetic fields and ionizing radiation, and emit positive ions into the surrounding environment. These discharges can have harmful health consequences that all users should know about and try to prevent. A good resource is here: ruanliving.com/blog/how-to-protect-yourself-from-laptop-radiation.

Cats and dogs should not be allowed to snuggle next to or under laptops and other computer equipment. I think this is a very common source of exposure for cats and dogs, with many staying close to these electronic devices while their human companions are off in cyberspace. Many laptops come with a warning for men not to put them on their laps because of possibly reduced sperm count, which is clearly no trivial matter. Children should have very limited time on any computer device in order to avoid the documented impairment and cognitive rewiring of their developing brains.

In my opinion, if protective measures are not immediately taken, we may have epigenetic and phenotypic mutations that will infuse society with what I call electro-zombies: victims of addictive online gaming and social media.

MITIGATING OWNERS' STRESS MAY IMPROVE DOGS' WELL-BEING

A study finding that dogs’ heart rates mirror those of their owners suggests that veterinarians should incorporate methods to reduce owner stress, as well as give dogs time to adjust to the novel setting of the clinic before beginning an exam. “The impact of veterinary professionals implementing the results of this research in their practices may improve the welfare of both dog owners and their dogs,” said veterinarian Aoife Byrne, one of the study’s authors. (Full story: BelfastLive.com, Dec. 4)

When this study came to my inbox, I had just finished grooming my dog, Kota, and cat, Fanny. I had felt my heart rate and blood pressure both go down as Fanny begin to purr and Kota rolled over for more. We all benefit from the reciprocal release of the feel-good hormone oxytocin during such interactions.

GOOD NEWS: N.Y. BAN ON ANIMAL SALES HAS TAKEN EFFECT

A New York law banning the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores took effect Dec. 15, aiming to curb the flow of animals from puppy mills and abusive breeders. A coalition of breeders and retailers called the Pet Advocacy Network had filed a lawsuit hoping to stop the law from going into effect. (Full story: WTEN-TV/WXXA-TV, Albany, New York, Dec. 13)

Breeders and retailers need to get a life and not make money by breaking hearts: those of the people who know about commercial puppy-, kitten- and rabbit-breeding mills, and those of the people who purchase these animals unknowingly and later suffer the consequences. Many such animals have serious health issues.

All pet stores should be part of their local communities. They should, under veterinary supervision, only put animals in their stores from local shelters -- animals that are healthy and available for adoption.

(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.)