DEAR READERS: Operation Thunderball, a joint action by Interpol and the World Customs Organization, is cracking down on the global illegal wildlife and plant trade.

In the first strike this year, covering 109 countries, there were 2,000 seizures and nearly 600 suspects identifed. Seizures included a rare lion cub from India, over 400 protected species from Uruguay, and 1,850 birds from Italy. Nigerian officials intercepted a half-ton of pangolin parts going to China for medical concoctions; 4,000 tortoises in one container were found in Russia.

Collectors and the exotic pet trade fuel this ecologically devastating illegal market, with countless animals dying soon after capture and in transit. This is a sad reminder of our inhumanity toward fellow creatures, and to ourselves. In addition, the serious potential public health risks from zoonotic diseases, transmissible from wild animals to humans, call for concerted action by all governments and international agencies. It is imperative for all nations to protect wildlife and wild plants, all of which are essential components of biodiversity and environmental health.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our son and daughter-in-law have a beautiful female golden retriever who is 4 years old. They also have a 3-year-old son and three cats.

My daughter-in-law has read about canine depression and is convinced the dog is depressed because she is sometimes indifferent about eating, and just seems to hang around a lot “looking sad.”

At our home, which the dog visits fairly often, she seems to prefer staying out in our breezeway rather than in the house. We initially kept her out there whenever she came over because we weren’t sure how our cat would respond. We have since discovered they are absolutely fine together, no problems whatsoever, but she keeps attempting to go out there.

Our son is a runner and used to bring the dog on runs with him, but he has stopped because he says her energy just seems to flag after a while. He says it might be because she gets too animated and excited at the beginning of the run. He has brought her to work several times, and she’s well-behaved. She has even sat calmly through a recent public outdoor fireworks display.

They walk her (or have her walked) at least twice a day, and I have walked her as well. After a few seconds of initial animation, such as jumping up, we have her sit quietly for a moment, then put her leash on and she is well-behaved after that. There do not appear to be any health problems.

On the subject of depression: Our son has critical depression and went through a difficult time a year ago, but his condition is well-managed at present.

Can you advise us on further assessment and/or response to the dog’s mood and well-being? -- M.C., Trumbull, Connecticut

DEAR M.C.: Does this dog get out to play with other dogs and have regular opportunities to explore around the neighborhood?

Many in-home dogs seem to be taken for granted and live dispirited, unstimulating lives, spending much of the day sleeping. They are virtually ignored because they are non-demanding of attention, having long given up seeking regular playtime, grooming and outdoor activities.

This may not be true in the case of your son and daughter-in-law’s dog; indeed, some dogs, especially golden retrievers, are super-mellow and actually need to be encouraged to be more active. Obesity is one issue on the horizon for their dog, and associated arthritis and other health issues.

I would advise a through veterinary checkup, testing for thyroid function and any other underlying issues such as hip dysplasia, which may give the impression that the dog is depressed.

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(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: A couple of months ago, my brother and my sister-in-law traveled to Pismo Beach with their three dogs.

That evening, the smaller dog got something caught in its throat, and they could not get it out. They took the dog to a pet hospital, where they gave him a shot and took an X-ray, then put a scope down his throat. They tried to get the object out of his throat for two hours.

This didn’t sound right to me, but they said they couldn’t get it out, so they would have to call another vet to massage the object down to his stomach and then do surgery. But they needed some money down before they would call the vet; the bill was already at $1,100, and if the other vet came in, it would be $10,000.

Well, my brother and his wife didn’t have $10,000, so their only option was to put the dog down. So sad. And by the time it was all done, it cost them $2,500.

Is this what it’s coming to, that we can’t even afford to have our animals? Isn’t this way out of line? -- D.N., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR D.N.: I do not know the details of this dog’s obstruction issue, which sounds serious and complicated, so I cannot give you my opinion.

All I can say is that for some dogs and their owners, veterinary accident insurance may be wise. It is a significant stress factor for veterinarians to have to euthanize animals whom their owners cannot afford to have healed.

DEAR DR. FOX: I brought home a cat, Pepper, from the shelter about five months ago.

She was taken right from the Baltimore city streets and had a litter of kittens with her at the time (all of which died, due to her malnutrition and extreme mastitis). She was estimated to be about 1 1/2 years old when I got her, and had already lived a really hard life, but a few vet visits and lots of TLC have done wonders. She seems so grateful to have been adopted, and is very, very sweet and loving.

I couldn’t be happier with her as a companion, but she has a few behaviors that concern me. I would like to know where these tendencies of hers stem from, and how to deal with them appropriately to make both of us a little happier:

1. She is obsessed with anything SLIGHTLY protruding from a surface in my house. For instance, she loves to remove the covers/caps off of the screw and nail holes in furniture all over my house. She has systematically removed every one of these caps/covers (numbering around 40 at this point). I will find her batting them around the house or chewing on them. Each time she removes one, I put it in a container so she won’t remove it again and possibly choke on it. My guess is they remind her of nursing. Maybe she was weaned too early?

2. She licks me a lot. Which is mostly sweet, but I also know how dirty cat mouths can be, and their tongues are rough! It started as occasional nipping (which she still does to ankles sometimes -- exclusively men’s ankles), but then evolved to licking with a few light nips/chomps here and there. She mostly does this to my arms and face, especially in the morning and anytime I pick her up. Again, I think this might be related to weaning -- or is she treating me like a kitten?

3. She loves chewing on electrical wires, leaves of houseplants, and lampshades. She loves knocking small cylinders (lighters, lip balms, batteries, laser pointers) off the table and chewing on/batting them around. She mostly only does these things when I am occupied with something and not giving her my full attention, especially when I am watching TV (she also loves pawing at the TV when it’s on). It seems like she is acting out and trying to get my attention through these bad behaviors, some of which are kind of dangerous.

4. She never covers her poop. This means my house smells much more like cat poop than it would if she covered it. I’ve tried a few types of litter to see if maybe it’s a texture or scent thing, but nothing is helping. Is there a way to teach her to cover it? Or is it something we’ll just have to live with? -- E.S., Baltimore, Maryland

DEAR E.S.: The more people ask questions about the animals with whom they share their lives, the more it means, in my opinion, they are being especially observant and seeking a closer understanding. Not being mindful or curious leads to a more disassociated, self-involved existence, and the neglect of those in need of attention and loving care. To answer your questions:

1. Many cats are very curious and dexterous, getting into anything they can, which means super-vigilance to keep them safe. Give them safe, non-plastic toys. Many cats like to collect and hoard toys, or carry them around like prey.

2. Licking is an expression of affection/caregiving, which can be followed by love-bites and sometimes -- especially in cats weaned too early -- in sucking on one’s arm or earlobe, or occasionally self-sucking on the tail or a paw.

3. Cats do like to chew on electrical cords, plastic bags and other plastic materials, and houseplants. So hide or cover cords and get rid of cat-poisonous plants, especially any lilies. Grow sprouted grass or wheat for your cat to nibble on, and offer some catnip in the evenings. More than one cat with whom I have shared my life has knocked objects off tables, dressers and shelves to get my attention, especially to wake me up. One even pulled my hair. It can be difficult for them to communicate their needs to us dumb creatures, so they must be creative!

4. In my experience, cats sometimes seem to forget to cover their feces -- possibly because they are so relieved that they rush off to play after pooping. Other times, it is because they are constipated and associate being in the litter box with pain. Feral cats we have rescued have always used the litter box, tending not to cover their feces at first, possibly because of fear or because the odor helps them feel more secure. This is one reason why cats rub and mark objects around the home with the scent glands on their heads. Once these cats were settled, they usually covered their feces.

I wish for you and Pepper to adopt another cat. Two cats are happier and healthier, as a rule, than those who live with no contact with their own kind, which is arguably inhumane. Check my website (drfoxonehealth.com) for tips on introducing a new cat.

(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: Many people believe that cats help prevent the spread of bubonic plague by killing the rats that can harbor the disease. In reality, they can help spread it.

This plague, also called the Black Death, is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It swept through Asia and Europe in the 14th century, killing over 25 million people (a third of the population) in Europe between 1347 and 1352. These days, an average of 10 human plague cases are reported each year in the United States; the majority are from New Mexico, California, Colorado and Arizona.

Yersinia pestis is maintained in the environment in a natural cycle between susceptible rodent species and their associated fleas. Commonly affected species include ground squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits and wood rats. Cats are usually exposed to the bacteria by oral contact with secretions or tissue of an infected rodent or rabbit -- for example, eating an infected animal -- or by the bite of an infected flea.

To decrease the risk of pets and humans being exposed to plague, pet owners in areas where the disease may be found should keep their pets from roaming and hunting.

While rats and cats were blamed for the plague and killed in the Middle Ages, the disease mainly spread person to person via fleas and lice. But cats can transmit plague to humans by biting or scratching them. People can also be exposed to the illness through direct contact with an infected cat’s draining lymph node material. An infected cat may also carry fleas that can transmit Yersinia pestis to humans by biting them. If a cat has the pneumonic form of plague, it can easily be spread to humans through the air. Owners and veterinarians are at risk of contracting plague when dealing with an infected cat.

There are more than 30 other diseases cats can transmit to humans which, aside from their predation on birds and other wildlife, should mandate owned cats not being allowed to roam our neighborhoods.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am looking for any help for my 22-month-old cocker spaniel. He is my baby, but now I am afraid of him.

I gave him Bravecto one week ago, and he has become very aggressive and has attacked everyone in the house. He went directly after my grandson’s face. He appears fearful and confused at times.

This pill lasts three months. What can I do to help him and get through the next months? I cannot have family over for the holidays. Is there a detox protocol or anything I can do? -- Y.H., Fort Myers, Florida

DEAR Y.H.: This is a most distressing side effect of this widely used insecticide, which is a neurotoxin and should not be given to dogs, in my opinion. Some dogs will panic when they have a strange odor put on them, and show fear and defensive aggression when they experience side effects such as muscle tremors and incoordination.

There is also a condition known as cocker hysteria, which the drug may have triggered in a susceptible dog like yours.

I would have the vet check his thyroid function and prescribe him a low dose of Valium for five to seven days. Keep your dog quiet, with no visitors, and give him 250 mg each of milk thistle, vitamin E and vitamin B complex to help his liver detoxify the Bravecto.

Another veterinarian I consulted, Dr. Ava Frick, suggested an alternative to Valium: the natural herb valerian (namely, the Valerian Complex supplement from the Australian brand MediHerb), which can often reduce the amount of anticonvulsants and sedatives dogs are on. You could also give the dog calcium and magnesium to help calm the nerves.

Keep me posted. This is an unusual side effect of this drug, and I would like to hear from readers with similar experiences.

For details about the risks of these insecticides in our animal companions, check my website (drfoxonehealth.com) for the article entitled “Companion Animal Risks of Flea and Tick Insecticides.”

(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.)