DEAR READERS: According to BBC News, using satellite data, an area of Amazon rainforest roughly the size of a football field is now being cleared every single minute.

The rate of losses has accelerated as Brazil’s new right-wing president favors development -- for beef and soybean production -- over conservation. The Amazon, the largest rainforest in the world, is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming.

Shaley Lensegrav, writing for Tri-State Livestock News, March 28/19, reports:

“A recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro set specifications into motion that could lead to the return of Brazilian beef to United States markets if the processing facilities pass inspection. The introduction of Brazilian beef could negatively affect herd health and the beef markets in the U.S., say some.”

For more details, visit: theecologist.org/2019/jul/02/jbs-brazilian-butchers-take-over-world.

It should be noted that the U.S. government has blocked efforts to indicate the country of origin of the beef in its markets. The United States imports beef from Australia, Canada and much of Latin America. If that same beef passes a USDA inspection, it receives a label saying “Product of the USA.” (Western Organization of Resource Councils: worc.org/were-importing-beef-and-labeling-it-product-of-the-usa/)

Most U.S. beef producers are opposing protection of wolves under the Endangered Species Act, and are largely responsible for the virtual demise of the mountain lion and the wolf across their natural ranges, which has led to a decline in biodiversity and ecosystem health. In the Amazon, indigenous tribes are experiencing a similar fate as native American Indians a century ago from such commercial expropriation.

Much of the “beef” in pet foods is recycled cattle remains condemned for human consumption and classified as “4-D” meat: parts from cattle who are diseased, debilitated, dying or dead on arrival at the processing plant. Some could soon be coming from Brazil.

Aside from consumer health concerns with the association of high beef consumption with cancers of the breast, prostate and colon, animal welfare and environmental concerns call for informed consumers who wish to eat beef to purchase local, grass-fed and organically certified beef.

Globally, beef production has an incredibly negative impact on the environment and use of water and land for feed, especially when compared with poultry production. So, from now on, the animals in our home will not have any pet foods containing “beef,” “beef meal,” “beef tallow” or unspecified “meat meal,” “meat by-products,” “bone meal” or “animal fat.”

DEAR DR. FOX: Did you receive the wolf adoption gift I paid for with a donation to the World Wildlife Fund in your name? I know how much you have done to spread the good word about these wonderful animals. -- S.C., Bar Harbor, Maine

DEAR S.C.: Your gift has arrived from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Thanks so much for your generous contribution to help protect and conserve wildlife, wolves in particular, via this “WWF symbolic adoption.”

The box included a furry toy wolf labeled “handmade in Indonesia,” made of washable polyester fibers and stuffed with plastic pellets. It was beautifully made, with bright eyes, and stands some 8 inches at the shoulder. It actually startled our resident rescued cat and dog!

But it would seem that the WWF is more concerned with fundraising than distributing gifts made from sustainable materials. Why not stuff with organic or recycled cotton or hemp and fabricate with natural materials, rather than non-recyclable petrochemicals? How can we protect nature when we continue to manufacture and distribute materials that nature cannot recycle?

Clearly, the marketing division of the WWF needs to be more attentive to the kinds of materials they are mailing to raise funds. They are not alone in this regard, since other nonprofit animal and environmental protection organizations offer various goods -- mostly manufactured in China, and many of which, being derived from petrochemicals, cannot be recycled and are toxic to the environment and terrestrial and aquatic life.

I would urge the WWF and other organizations purporting to help wildlife and nature to consider employing indigenous peoples, such as those my wife, Deanna Krantz, could quickly assemble in India with the assist of the veterinarian whose work we support in a UNESCO-designated Global Biosphere Reserve. She established a large shelter and free veterinary services for the villagers and tribal peoples, who could create animal artifacts from forest products including natural fibers, native beeswax and vegetable dyes. Such materials would be exported only with provisions of disease and contamination inspection and prohibition on live seeds.

(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: Osteoarthritis is on the rise in the pet population. The 2019 State of Pet Health Report from Banfield Pet Hospital documents a 66% increase in canine osteoarthritis prevalence in the past decade, and a 150% increase in feline cases. Carrying excess weight can aggravate the condition, and the report found that 52% of dogs with OA were also overweight or obese, along with 41% of cats. (Pet Product News, June 25)

Read on for more advice on osteoarthritis and joint pain.

DEAR DR. FOX: Some years ago, I heard you on public radio and I called in about my 7-year-old dog, Chip.

He had very bad hips and had difficulty getting around. He was in obvious discomfort. Not overweight. The vet wanted to do hip surgery that would have cost thousands of dollars. You suggested I give him turmeric.

Thank you! Chip is now 14 and has had no surgery, only a daily dose of turmeric. He is close to the end of his life now (heart problems), but enjoyed a wonderful, active life until now. He thanks you! -- M.S., Monticello, Minnesota

DEAR M.S.: I am glad that the turmeric helped your dog avoid surgery and enjoy a long life without further joint problems.

There are other beneficial supplements and various treatments for dogs and cats that can help reduce the problems of osteoarthritis and joint discomfort. Prevention is the best medicine, and can maintain our animal companions’ quality of life, which these maladies can greatly impair. Joint pain means less physical activity, which can lead to animals becoming overweight. And cats with joint issues often find it painful to get into a litter box with high sides, and also to squat, so they develop litter-box aversion and evacuate elsewhere in the home.

A few daily drops of fish oil in the pet’s food can help with joint issues, and holistic veterinarians are also prescribing yucca root, boswellia, alfalfa and CBD oil. Massage therapy, as per my books “The Healing Touch for Dogs” and “The Healing Touch for Cats,” can make a big difference, as can regular exercise and, if possible, swimming for dogs (in safe waters) and active games for cats.

Afflicted animals can also benefit from acupuncture, cold laser and acoustic compression therapy. There are some veterinarians who are certified in veterinary chiropractic, which can also be highly beneficial. Above all, keep cats and dogs lean, since obesity produces inflammatory substances and hormones from fat cells that may exacerbate arthritic problems.

DEAR DR. FOX: My husband and I are vegans and we do not, therefore, buy honey or bee pollen. You suggest these may help dogs with allergies. Is there an alternative? -- K.C., LaBelle, Florida

DEAR K.C.: I applaud your choice to be vegan, and I hope it is for more than health reasons, as the environmental, economic and humane reasons are paramount, in my opinion.

But in my opinion, vegans should include honey and bee pollen in their diets, and also give it to their non-diabetic dogs with allergies, so as to help support beekeepers staying in business. Their bees, and wild species also, are vital pollinators of many of the fruits and vegetables you consume -- all ideally organically certified! (Non-certified fruits and vegetables can mean that insects have been needlessly killed in the growing of such foods.) And many plants will soon be extinct, along with the birds and other wildlife that cannot live without a supply of healthy bugs.

FLAME RETARDANTS AND FELINE HYPERTHYROIDISM

Exposure to flame retardants in household products such as furniture and air fresheners might raise the risk for hyperthyroidism in domestic cats, according to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology. Researchers found links between exposure to a specific ester compound and high concentrations of a hormone associated with hyperthyroidism, as well as rates of diagnosed hyperthyroidism. (HealthDay News, July 10)

This is further confirmation of earlier studies drawing the same conclusions. The dust from chemically treated carpets and upholstery fabrics are inhaled or ingested when cats groom themselves after being in contact with these surfaces.

Regular vacuuming may not suffice. Putting cotton sheets over treated furniture, replacing old carpets with natural, untreated fibers -- cotton, hemp etc. -- and putting slipcovers on cat beds that have also been treated with flame retardants may help reduce exposure.

Additional contributing factors include the chemical linings of pet-food cans, which manufacturers have not yet addressed, to my knowledge. Another issue is the high level of fluoride in some cat foods from seafood products. Safer, more sustainable food sources for cats are chicken and turkey.

(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 would appreciate knowing your opinion about Purina’s new additive in cat food that can help make people less allergic to their cats. It sounds too good to be true! -- S.T., Boston

DEAR S.T.: This is what has been posted on this remarkable development in immunology research:

ANTIBODY ADDITION TO THE FELINE DIET MAY NEUTRALIZE POTENT ALLERGEN

Research from Purina reported in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease suggests it is possible to safely neutralize the “Fel d1” allergen in cat saliva by integrating an antibody to the substance into the feline diet. The company says the finding could enable control of allergies among humans who have contact with cats.

“Taking advantage of natural allergen-antibody interactions, Purina researchers discovered how to safely neutralize Fel d1 in hair and dander by incorporating an egg product containing anti-Fel d1 antibodies into a cat’s diet. Ultimately, this will reduce active Fel d1 levels in the environment. This approach maintains normal allergen production by the cat, without affecting the cat’s overall physiology,” Purina shared in a statement.

”These allergens have created a huge barrier to cat ownership and may limit the loving interactions between cat lovers and cats,” immunologist Dr. Ebenezer Satyaraj, Director of Molecular Nutrition at Purina and lead investigator on the research, said in a statement. “Our discovery has the potential to transform how people manage cat allergens.” (People, June 17)

I would say to all cat “dander” allergy-sufferers to first wipe their cats down morning and night with a moist sponge; vacuum all areas where the cat has been every 3-7 days and change your air filter regularly. Some exposure to these feline allergens can actually lead to desensitization.

Also, there are some cats whose dried saliva presumably does not contain this allergen because they do not affect people who are extremely allergic to cats. Purina’s research is groundbreaking, but sometimes the ground is best not broken. Some cats are allergic to eggs, and therefore might have negative reactions to the ”egg product” used in this research. I hope this new biologic product will cause no harm, and save many cats from having to be abandoned.

DEAR DR. FOX, I am concerned about my cats who get outdoors on occasion, picking up fleas. I hear that the fleas can cause an infection that leads to anemia.

What do you advise? -- R.E., Arlington, Virginia

DEAR R.E.: Feline hemotrophic mycoplasmosis (FHM) is the name of a relatively uncommon infection of cats. In the past, this disease was called feline infectious anemia, or hemobartonellosis.

This bacterial disease, transmitted by biting fleas, causes destruction of the infected red blood cells, resulting in anemia. Indoor-outdoor cats are more likely to be exposed and bring this and other infections home, which could infect other family members, human and non-human.

TICK-BORNE BOBCAT FEVER SPREADING AMONG DOMESTIC CATS IN OKLAHOMA

Bobcat fever, caused by a blood parasite carried by Lone Star ticks, is usually fatal to domestic cats and is spreading in Oklahoma, says veterinarian David Biles. Early signs include lethargy and lack of appetite, progressing to fever and rapid breathing. Treatment is most effective when the disease is at an early stage, Dr. Biles says. (KFOR-TV, Oklahoma City, June 3)

With the climate crisis in full swing, conditions are favorable for the spread of ticks and associated diseases across the states. Local public health authorities need to set laws prohibiting cat owners from allowing their cats to roam free in order to reduce the chances of such cats bringing ticks and diseases transmissible to humans into their homes.

A bite from the Lone Star tick can cause people to develop an allergy to certain types of meat, including beef and pork. The Lone Star tick has been implicated in initiating the red meat allergy in the U.S. This tick is found predominantly in the Southeast, from Texas, to Iowa, but has also been found as far north as New England. This tick does not transmit Lyme disease, but can cause southern tick-associated rash illness. The rash may sometimes be accompanied by fatigue, headache, fever and muscle pains.

(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.)