DEAR DR. FOX: I appreciate all your warnings about anti-flea and -tick insecticides in pet collars posing health risks to dogs and cats, and to any family members who pet them.

I am especially concerned about the chemical TCVP. According to a 2021 article on InvestigateMidwest.org, a "study by the Obama administration, in late 2016, had found that children are exposed to TCVP at such high levels in the collars that they are at risk of delayed mental development, lowered IQ scores and increased chances of autism and attention disorders."

Why isn’t more being done to take these poisons off the market? There are safer alternatives available. -- R.S. Minneapolis

DEAR R.S.: Many thanks for alerting readers to this issue. TCVP -- short for tetrachlorvinphos -- is a dangerous organophosphate insecticide used in pet flea collars. The Environmental Protection Agency made the decision in 2022 to ban TCVP, but reversed that decision in 2023 to scathing criticism.

These insecticides being given by veterinarians and sold in stores across the U.S. affect the developmental cycles, reproductive and nervous systems of ticks, fleas and other nontarget insects, so it should be no surprise to see similar effects on other life forms, including us.

The ecological impact of these insecticides, widely used by Big Ag and livestock keepers around the world, is catastrophic. They decimate the insect species and communities that keep the fabric of life together. Consequently, insect eaters -- such as birds, reptiles and amphibians -- are dying from starvation or, with weakened immune systems, succumbing to obliterating diseases.

I recently learned that short- and long-chain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals") have been detected in some pesticides given to pets, notably Frontline Plus and Seresto collars. These chemicals are known to harm the immune system, weaken the antibody response to vaccinations and increase the risk of infectious disease. (See the study "Invited Perspective: The Far Reach of PFAS -- Inert Ingredients and Adjuvants in Pesticide Formulations" by Neha Sehgal et al., published in Environmental Health Perspectives, 2024.)

In addition, fipronil was one of the most prevalent contaminants in nearly 500 streams across five regions of the United States. (See the study "Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment" by Nathan Donley et al., published in Environmental Health Perspectives, 2024.)

The Natural Resources Defense Council is now suing the EPA to at least get the impregnated flea collars -- that put children, as well as companion animals, at risk -- off the market. For details, see: nrdc.org/bio/miriam-rotkin-ellman/no-more-poisonous-pets-epas-delay-flea-collars-threatens-our-kids.

All responsible veterinarians should not pander to owner convenience by prescribing toxic anti-flea and other antiparasitic medications without evident need, and certainly not as a “prevention.” This profit-driven Big Pharma ideology of regular preventive treatments is as absurd as taking aspirin in case one gets a headache or antibiotics to prevent some future infection.

Dogs and cats with fleas and ticks can be safely treated with alternative products, as detailed on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/preventing-fleas-ticks-and-mosquitoes. Safe and effective flea and tick repellants and oral supplements that boost resistance to these ectoparasites, and that also should be part of treating dogs and cats with mange mite and fungal skin infections, are available at earthanimal.com and core-pet.com.

SNAIL’S-PACE GOVERNMENT FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATION

Leaving a long trail of slime behind, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is finally considering a ban on food dye Red No. 3. The agency has been reviewing a petition to ban the colorant since 2022.

The petroleum-based dye has been used for more than 50 years in thousands of products including candy, snack foods and sodas. It is one of several coal-tar derived azo dyes widely used in pet foods. When present in cat treats, Red No. 3 may trigger feline hyperesthesia, even seizures.

My book “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Foods,” co-authored by two other veterinarians, underscored that these food additives were considered carcinogenic by the European Food Safety Authority and called for better oversight and restrictions. That was in 2009!

No veterinarian will deny that many of the dogs and cats they see develop cancer, and that is not because they are simply living longer. The longer our companion animals live, the more they are exposed to DNA-damaging chemicals in their food and environments, as are we. Azo dyes have no place in our foods, especially children’s cereals (along with sugar and high-fructose corn syrup), or in pet foods.

(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: 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.)