DEAR READERS: A message from the British Veterinary Association:

“As animals have more acute hearing than humans, many show stress, fear or even phobia responses to loud and high-pitched noises.

“Loud and high-pitched fireworks can cause stress or fear responses across a range of species, including companion animals, wildlife, horses, livestock and zoo animals. Fireworks can reach up to 150 decibels -- as loud as a jet engine.

“It is estimated that 45% of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. [A 2018 report from PDSA, a U.K. veterinary charity,] highlights that 51% of veterinary professionals said that they have seen an increase in pets with phobias such as fireworks in the last two years, and 40% of dog owners report that their dog is afraid of fireworks.

“Debris and remnants of fireworks can also pose a risk to the health and welfare of livestock and wildlife. Current controls on the use and sale of fireworks don’t go far enough to protect the health and welfare of animals in the U.K. Easy access to fireworks is putting the U.K.’s animals at risk of avoidable pain, suffering and fear.”

Some of the BVA’s recommendations, which should be advocated by veterinary organizations in the U.S. and adopted by all municipalities, include:

-- Reduce the noise limit of fireworks for public sale and use to 97 decibels, with a 15-meter safety distance;

-- Clearly label fireworks to indicate their noise level to consumers, e.g., “low-noise firework” or “loud firework: risk to animal welfare”;

-- Restrict the private use of fireworks to agreed-upon traditional dates. This would align controls on use with controls on sale, which require retailers to have a license to sell fireworks outside of specific dates;

-- Introduce licensing of all public displays and organized events using fireworks.

If your pet suffers from these types of stressful reactions, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on evidence-based therapies, or refer you to an animal behaviorist.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a 7-year-old longhaired male Chihuahua.

He is the love of my life and very spoiled. Twice now, he has needed veterinary care and had horrible results.

The first visit, I had them trim his nails. He was so scared and fought them so much that they had to hold him very tightly, and he cried for the next two days whenever I would pick him up.

The second time, he snagged a nail in my bedspread and pulled so hard to get free that he almost pulled the nail out. I rushed him to my veterinarian’s office, where they took him in the back, removed that nail and trimmed the others. When the doctor came in, he told me what they had done and that Sammie was so scared he had stopped breathing and was turning blue. I almost died right there.

I am a firm believer of spaying and neutering dogs, but because of these two visits, I am scared to take him in for the procedure. I’m scared of the chance that he’ll be so frightened that he’ll stop breathing again, or have a problem with the anesthesia.

I want him to live as long as he can. I am hoping you can ease my anxiety with a way I can get him neutered safely, so he can live a long, healthy life with me. -- S.M., Cape Coral, Florida

DEAR S.M.: What an upsetting experience for you and your poor dog.

Your veterinarian should prescribe an oral sedative to give to your dog in the future, prior to an ideally in-home visit, a trip to the hospital being a stressful event to be avoided.

It is important, as a preventative measure against terror and even heart attacks, to get dogs used to having their paws and gums massaged, teeth brushed and nail-tips clipped from as early an age as possible.

Also, get them used to being held; puppy “cradling” is essential conditioning. Properly hold the pup in your arms, gently and securely, and hold on if there is struggling. Do not release until the pup is calm and relaxed.

Many veterinarians are backing away from neutering small dogs, for various reasons. I see no reason you should consider neutering your dog, considering his age and temperament, which could indeed pose a potential anesthetic risk.

(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 Indiana State Board of Animal Health reports that 10 horses have either died or had to be euthanized because of the impacts of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) on their nervous systems.

EEE is one of several New World encephalitis viruses. It is also what is known as an arbovirus: a virus that is spread by a mosquito or other arthropod. (West Nile is another.) To combat it, veterinarians prescribe vaccinations for susceptible horses, donkeys and mules. EEE can be spread to humans, and is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. It is fatal to approximately 30 percent of people who contract it; survivors are likely to have severe chronic neurological problems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around seven human cases of EEE are reported in the U.S. each year, mainly in the eastern or Gulf Coast states. Positive tests in northern Indiana came in the wake of at least seven human deaths from the disease so far this year. There are reports that at least 27 people have tested positive for the disease in six states.

The EEE virus has killed two Mexican gray wolf pups at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan, which means that dogs could also become infected.

In my opinion, the climate crisis is a major factor creating more favorable habitat (longer, warmer and wetter summers) for mosquito proliferation, along with the biodiversity extinction crisis, where widespread use of pesticides have killed off natural predators of aquatic mosquito larvae and flying, breeding adults.

The best personal and companion animal protection is to apply a spritz of oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). Use citronella candles outdoors, check screens on your windows, porches and patios; and avoid going out unprotected in the early evening. Note: I would not use OLE on self-grooming cats. Keep them indoors!

For more details, go to consumerreports.org and search “insect repellent.”

DEAR DR. FOX: From time to time, we see two shorn English sheepdogs locally.

I assume they are shorn because the owner believes them to be cooler in the summer if they have less hair. I seem to remember hearing or reading somewhere that canine hair follicles were hollow, and therefore, the fur acted as insulation against the heat.

Am I misinformed? I asked my son’s wife, who is a veterinary tech, and she didn’t have a clue, so I thought that I would ask the master. -- D.L., Washington, D.C.

DEAR D.L.: The coat of these dogs, coupled with high humidity, probably resulted in the dogs suffering some heat stress and distress this summer.

Dogs of different breeds and with different coats may need close attention in summertime, since coats that get moist can lead to fungal/yeast infections and other skin problems, along with a nasty odor.

Hollow hair is an adaptation of animals that live in very cold climates. Reindeer, caribou, llamas and alpaca have soft hollow hairs, densely packed together to help retain body heat. Polar bears have hollow hair: Each hair is a clear, hollow tube that reflects the light, making polar bears’ fur appear white, though each hair is actually transparent.

In dogs, wolves, Arctic foxes and other mammals, air is trapped between the under-fur and the longer upper guard hairs, serving as a layer of insulation against cold and heat.

I am not aware that dogs have any hollow hairs. Muscles in the dog’s skin can fluff up the coat, creating even more insulation. Most hair follicles have an associated oil gland that works to keep the skin pliable and the hair smooth. Dog breeds that were developed to retrieve game from water have very active oil glands, a factor that helps to waterproof their fur and skin.

(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 recent trend of pet food manufacturers to market “grain-free” cat and dog food has been a contributing factor in some animals developing heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy). The various kinds of fiber in the complex carbohydrates of whole grains (and buckwheat) can help prevent obesity and other health problems in both dogs and people. Note: Such grains have no place in cat foods, but some fiber in cat foods can be beneficial.

High-calorie, -meat and -fat diets and treats play a major role in the companion animal obesity crisis. In 2018, an estimated 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the United States were overweight or obese. (See petobesityprevention.org.)

Genetic factors, owners’ lifestyles, eating habits and activity levels of both the animals and their caregivers also play a role. Such diets are also a major factor in some dogs developing pancreatitis with secondary diabetes. High-carbohydrate diets are in large part responsible for obesity, diabetes and other health problems in cats, and for pancreatic enzyme insufficiency in some dogs, especially German shepherds.

Complex carbohydrates in grains and seeds -- ideally organic, minimally processed ones such as brown rice, barley, oats, quinoa or amaranth -- include fibers that are beneficial for gut bacteria and starches that break down into energy-providing glucose, or can be stored in muscle as an energy reserve of glycogen or be converted into fat. Complex carbohydrates facilitate and slow down digestion, making for regular bowel movements and firm stools. They also play a role in satiety, which is important in weight control, with lower fat intake. Pregnant and nursing dogs and their pups thrive better with complex carbohydrates in their diets than when fed grain-free foods.

Food preference studies find healthy dogs prefer a diet of 36% carbohydrate, 30% protein and 41% fat. Some individual dogs, and breeds such as the Irish setter and Wheaten terrier, can have dietary intolerances to wheat. Wheat and soy are the most common causes of adverse food reactions in dogs; some are also allergic to beef, dairy or chicken.

My advice to people whose dogs do not require special diets (information about which is available at www.Secure.balanceit.com) is to make sure, as per my home-prepared recipe posted at drfoxonehealth.com, that some complex carbohydrates are included in their daily meals.

DEAR DR. FOX: I continue to be confused on the issue of vaccinations. Over the years, I have had three dogs and two cats, all of whom lived healthy lives to at least 16 years of age.

Each year when I received a postcard from my veterinarian that my pets were due for their annual vaccinations, I dutifully scheduled an appointment (and seldom left the office without a payment of approximately $100 per animal).

I now own three kittens that each came from dire and desperate conditions. I took all three into the vet for examinations and vaccinations (including follow-up vaccinations at intervals, which I understand are common for young animals). All three kittens are healthy, exclusively indoor cats.

I am getting reminders that they are due for their annual examinations and vaccinations -- one of which is rabies, which I understand and support. It is the other annual vaccinations that I question: annual distemper and “boosters.” Are these necessary? I have read some articles that suggest they are not, and a couple people have suggested that these vaccinations are not only not necessary (if they were vaccinated as kittens) but unhealthy.

I am sure you have commented on this issue in the past, but could you provide some guidance on this issue? -- R.F., Frostburg, Maryland

DEAR R.F.: I appreciate your concern, since vaccinations are of value in preventing various diseases, and yet there are legitimate concerns about possible harmful consequences (so-called vaccinoses). There is little consensus with regard to optimal protocols, and also about what to do about revaccination when animals have adverse reactions. There is also the fact that the vaccination needs for cats who never go outdoors are quite different from indoor-outdoor cats.

Check the vaccination protocols posted on my website (drfoxonehealth.com: go to Articles at the top, then click on CATS). So long as young cats have had all their “core” vaccinations by 1 year of age and are never outdoors, revaccinations, with the exception of legally mandated anti-rabies vaccination every year, are not warranted, in my opinion. But this does not mean the cats should not have annual wellness examinations -- ideally, for most cats, by a veterinarian who does house calls.

Some practices may refuse to see cats who are not up to date on their vaccinations because of the risk of exposure to other cats coming to the hospital who may be diseased. For good measure, be sure your kittens have been tested for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus.

PETS MIGHT STAVE OFF DEPRESSION AFTER DIVORCE, DEATH OF SPOUSE

Older people who lose a spouse to death or divorce are less likely to experience depression and loneliness if they own a dog or cat, a study published in The Gerontologist found:

“When we take care of animals, we have a purpose to get up for in the morning,” said study leader Dawn Carr. (HealthDay News, 9/18)

(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.)