A story in The Guardian earlier this month warns that "(m)ore than 40 percent of insect species are declining and a third are endangered," citing a study from the journal Biological Conservation. (From The Guardian, Feb. 10.) The main culprit? The newspaper quotes study author Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, an environmental scientist at Australia's University of Sydney, who says, "The main cause of the decline is agricultural intensification" through "synthetic fertilizers and pesticides."

Insects are a foundation class of animals, far more ancient than we are. They sustain life on Earth, from pollinating plant life to being the primary food source for other creatures. In damaged ecosystems, some insect species, such as disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes and crop pests like locusts and weevils, can suddenly flourish because natural biodiversity controls have broken down. Asian longhorned ticks, for instance, which can transmit several diseases, are now invading the United States.

Insect decline is but one issue on the agenda of civil society awakening to the importance of planetary CPR (conservation, protection and restoration). This is the foundation for our own health and future viability.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our 11-year-old Cardigan Welsh corgi is eating and exercising normally, but he has all but stopped having bowel movements.

On a walk, he stops and appears to strain until one or two nuggets come out. Our longtime vet can't feel any organ abnormalities or impacted stools, and an X-ray showed nothing special. He has the dog on the laxative Lactulose, which has had little effect after nine days. Other than straining, the dog seems happy. What are your thoughts? -- R.H., Red Bank, New Jersey

DEAR R.H.: Unless your dog is on a special low-fiber diet that results in a small fecal load, the animal could well have an intestinal blockage, possibly cancer. I would advise more tests and a second opinion referral to a veterinary internal medicine specialist. Treat this as an emergency, and do let me know the outcome.

DEAR DR. FOX: Thanks for responding. We took the dog for a second opinion and ultrasound. The exam and ultrasound image showed an enlarged bladder and his prostate impinging on the colon. The dog's condition improved within a few hours of catheterizing to empty his bladder. The specialist recommended we neuter the dog to reduce prostate enlargement, and we are working on that. I hadn't noticed his reduced urination during walks, but there you are. -- R.H., Red Bank, New Jersey

DEAR R.H.: Do contact the first veterinarian who found nothing wrong with your dog and get your money back. Ask why your dog was not properly examined. A finger up the rectum is a diagnostic tool par excellence!

DEAR DR. FOX: I woke up one morning to find my 11-year-old, 9-pound cat dead. He had always been an indoor cat and never had fleas or ticks. He was playing and seemed healthy the day before. The vet thought it might have been a stroke or blood clot.

Was there anything I could have done to prevent this from happening? I did not do yearly checkups with the vet. Now, of course, I regret not doing this to keep my cat alive longer. -- T.A., Trinity, North Carolina

DEAR T.A.: I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Your cat probably died of a massive brain hemorrhage associated with high blood pressure or a blood clot, which better nutrition might also have prevented.

Cats need regular veterinary health checkups; most cat owners are seriously negligent in this regard. Getting the animals used to a cat crate (and keeping it as an open den in the home) should be standard care.

The suffering of your cat was blessedly brief in all probability.

EUTHANASIA DRUG IN INGREDIENT SHIPPED TO PET FOOD MANUFACTURER

Last month, TruthAboutPetFood.com (a site I contribute to) reported that two shipments of an ingredient laced with pentobarbital were sent in March 2018 to Champion Petfoods, the maker of Orijen- and Acana-brand dog and cat foods. Pet food industry monitor Susan Thixton confirmed the shipments through a Freedom of Information Act request. Still, no FDA recall was required.

Thixton, who runs TruthAboutPetFood.com, writes: "No uniform enforcement of pet food regulations leaves pet owners confused at what the FDA is actually doing to protect pets ...

"If pentobarbital was considered an adulterant in so many other recalls -- just the Smucker's-manufactured Gravy Train, Kibbles 'n Bits and Skippy pet foods was over 107 million cans recalled -- why wasn't it considered an adulterant in Champion Petfoods?" (For more information, go to truthaboutpetfood.com/pentobarbital-champion-pet-food-and-no-uniform-enforcement-of-law.)

(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 DrFoxVet.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I have two indoor cats and have inherited my former neighbor's outside cat, Mickey, who is about 5. I feed him, and I have a small heated shelter for him on our porch.

My husband and I tried to bring him inside and get him used to our indoor cats, but they have not gotten along. Now he is trying to come back in, and it is breaking our hearts. I know he should go to the vet before I really introduce him to our cats, but I cannot pick him up, and he attacks if he feels threatened; he has done it to me inside and outside our house.

I suggested maybe we should have Mickey put down, but my husband does not agree. I am really torn as to what would be best. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. -- E.H.K., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR E.H.K.: You and your husband are what my wife and I know only too well: captives of your own compassion!

You will have to trap Mickey. Then the veterinarian should first do a blood test. If it comes back positive for feline immune-deficiency virus and/or feline leukemia virus, the humane decision would be euthanasia. This would also protect your other cats.

If he is OK, then Mickey needs to be neutered if that has not already been done. That will make him easier to handle. Vaccinations are also necessary, and the veterinarian should check for fleas, ringworm, ear mites and internal parasites.

If all works out well for you and Mickey, follow the steps posted on my website on introducing a new cat into a family with cats, or continue to care for him outdoors. (If he stays outdoors, putting a collar with a bell on him would help limit his predation abilities and save some wildlife.)

DEAR DR. FOX: A few times since your column began appearing our paper, you have mentioned your "home-prepared cat food recipe," which you direct us to find on your website.

You write a newspaper column, Dr. Fox. Your objective is to get readers to affix their eyeballs on your column. My eyeballs are affixed thusly. I would love to have your cat food formulation, but for crying out loud, Doc, put it where you wanted my eyeballs to be: right in front of me on the page. -- D.L.H., Bartlesville, Oklahoma

DEAR D.L.H.: Thank you for reading my column every week! Please understand that there is limited space in my column, and the recipe, which includes essential feeding advice, would take up more than a whole one. There are many issues to cover every week, and so listing my recipe is not feasible.

If you do not use a computer, ask someone who does to print out my basic cat food recipe from my website. Or ask someone at your local library for assistance.

NEW LAW FORBIDS CALIFORNIA PET STORES TO SELL FROM BREEDERS

A state law that took effect New Year's Day restricts California pet stores to selling dogs, cats and rabbits obtained from shelters or rescue nonprofits. The first of its kind in the nation, the law allows only individuals to buy from breeders. (From CNN.com, Dec. 30.)

(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 DrFoxVet.net. You can find past columns at www.uexpress.com/animal-doctor.)

On Jan. 31, Hill's Pet Nutrition announced a voluntary recall of 25 different types of canned dog food because of a risk of elevated levels of vitamin D. According to a press release from the Food and Drug Administration, vitamin D is essential for good canine health, but "ingestion of elevated levels can lead to potential health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure, and dogs may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling and weight loss. Vitamin D, when consumed at very high levels, can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction."

Obviously, if your dog has consumed any of these foods and is showing signs of illness, you should take the animal to a veterinarian immediately. "In most cases," the FDA notes, "complete recovery is expected after discontinuation of feeding."

DEAR DR. FOX: I have read that some dog foods, which have no grains, can cause heart disease. I thought grain is good for dogs. Can you please explain? -- R.E., Washington, D.C.

DEAR R.E.: When pet food manufacturers started putting more alternative, non-grain sources of carbohydrates from various plant sources -- such as potatoes, tapioca, pea flour and other beans/pulses -- into their products, the incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs began to increase. Some breeds may be more susceptible than others.

This heart disease is associated with taurine deficiency (especially in cats that cannot manufacture taurine from other amino acids in their diets as dogs can).

There could be a taurine deficiency because the pet food is too low in animal protein/amino acids to begin with, or because taurine and other nutrients in the food are destroyed by the heat from cooking and from the prolonged storage of frozen meats. And some pet food ingredients, such as beet pulp and rice bran, may interfere with the digestion and absorption of taurine and other nutrients. Also, a high carbohydrate diet that results in the proliferation of certain bacteria at the expense of others may play a role in the absorption of taurine and other nutrients.

Dogs should ideally receive some fresh meats in their diets. Try giving your dog a daily sardine or two, or even chicken or turkey hearts. You can also consider giving your dog daily doses of taurine supplement. For a 30-pound dog, give 500 mg taurine twice daily.

DEAR DR. FOX: I would like to know if a dog could have a condition resembling autism. I have an 8-year-old Yorkie/Maltese mix, and she seems to exhibit the signs. She is very intelligent and easily trained. She has an uncanny sense as to what we are going to do (go for a ride, a walk, etc.). It's almost as if she can read our minds.

She does not like crowds and loud noises. She is not aggressive, but dogs and people other than my husband and me upset her. She likes everything to be the same (bed, food dish, toys, etc.) and done on schedule. She will sit by the door or in the kitchen as if letting us know what time it is. She is not comfortable when one of us is not home and will stay by the door or window until that person comes home.

I have tried to remedy this situation: extra socialization, puppy school, walks, trips to the pet store -- but nothing seems to work. Also, in these situations, she becomes extremely fearful. It's like she is in a panic.

This behavior has been going on for years. It seems to have gotten worse after our two other dogs passed last year.

She also has had some digestive issues that may be related to her hyper-nervous demeanor. I had all areas checked out -- bloodwork, etc. -- and everything was normal. Any insight you could supply would be much appreciated. -- H.H., Kansas City, Missouri

DEAR H.H.: I am not aware of any dog being diagnosed with a neuro-behavioral disorder resembling autism. From what you describe in your letter, you have a physically normal dog with an anxiety/panic disorder. She is shy, sensitive, intelligent and probably felt more secure with the other two dogs who were with her all her life.

Treat her with sympathetic understanding and avoid putting her in unfamiliar situations that would be stressful or leaving her all alone for any extended time.

You are correct that her digestive issues could be stress-related. Discuss with your veterinarian trying her on a low dose of CBD oil (cannabidiol derived from hemp). Also, one or two drops of essential oil of lavender on a bandanna around her neck in the morning and 1 to 3 mg melatonin at bedtime may help, along with a daily full-body massage and lots of physical activity outdoors.

(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 DrFoxVet.net.)