DEAR READERS: Greyhounds, like racehorses, are exploited for money-driven races around the world, too often kept under deplorable conditions and are abandoned or killed when they sustain racing injuries. Such injuries are often initially masked with drugs so the dogs can race until they collapse.

According to GREY2KUSA.org, on Dec. 9, the New Zealand government announced its plans to outlaw dog racing. Even more, legislation was immediately passed to safeguard nearly 2,500 racing greyhounds and guarantee their protection during a 20-month phase-out period. This wonderful moment was preceded by years of advocacy by concerned citizens and animal welfare organizations.

One such organization, GREY2K USA Worldwide, has an inspiring book that I urge readers to purchase. In the process, readers can help put an end to the unethical exploitation of these canid embodiments of grace, gentleness and speed. The book is “Brooklyn Goes Home: The Rise and Fall of American Greyhound Racing and the Dog That Inspired a Movement” by Christine A. Dorchak and Carey M. Theil, with a foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall.

SOME TRENDS IN U.S. COMPANION ANIMAL OWNERSHIP

Dog ownership in the U.S. has increased steadily since 1996, reaching 89.7 million dogs in 2024, while the cat population has remained stable overall, according to the AVMA’s 2024 Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook. Demand for veterinary services is likely to grow along with the pet population. (Full story: AVMA.org, Dec. 12)

DOG OWNERS’ AGE, LOCATION INFLUENCE FOOD CHOICES

According to a study in the Journal of the AVMA, most dogs are fed kibble, but for dogs fed other diets, dog owner demographics -- particularly age and geographic location -- significantly influence what foods owners choose to feed their canine companions. Older owners are more likely than younger ones to feed canned or home-cooked diets, while active dogs in rural areas often receive home-prepared raw or cooked meals. (Full story: Texas A&M University, Dec. 6)

The younger generations need to shape up and not make kibble their dogs’ only food source, unless it is of high quality like the formulations from Earth Animal by veterinarian Dr. Bob Goldstein. A good read about conventional, highly processed kibble is the book “Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and How To Do Better by Our Dogs” by Shawn Buckley and Dr. Oscar Chavez.

STUDY RESETS TIMELINE ON HORSE DOMESTICATION

New archaeological and genetic evidence suggests that horses were domesticated around 2200 B.C.E. in the Black Sea steppes, which is much later than previously believed. The study highlights the rapid spread of horses across Eurasia once they were domesticated, and the significant role of Indigenous knowledge in understanding this history. (Full story: Scientific American, Nov. 19)

(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 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.)