DEAR DR. FOX: I recently met a brilliant student and animal rehab worker, who said she has heard from hunters that animals don’t feel pain the way people do.

I remember you sending me very quotable words on that subject, but can’t find it just now. I wanted to pass those words on to the student I met, and also have them available to quote in the book I’m writing about my field studies of bears. Do you still have those lines you sent me previously, or could you send them again? -- L.R., Ely, Minnesota

DEAR L.R.: I, and many others, will certainly enjoy your book about your dedicated field studies of the bears in the north woods of Minnesota when it is published.

The belief that other animals do not feel pain like humans do is patently absurd. This is probably a form of denial to allow hunters not to feel guilt or remorse from taking another’s life. Just in Minnesota this season, some 250,000 hunters of white-tailed deer will “harvest” up to a third of the million deer that currently overpopulate the state. By contrast, for traditional indigenous and native American subsistence-hunters, killing is a sacred, solemn ritual involving deep respect and gratitude. I wonder how often such sentiments and ethics are passed on by non-native people to younger generations.

All mammals, the class to which we belong, feel pain as a natural mechanism to avoid physical injury. Individuals have different pain thresholds, be they humans or dogs, deer or deer mice. But we share the same neural pathways that mediate the pain response from receptors in the skin, joints and various internal organs and linings of the body.

Natural opiates may be released following injury to reduce the intensity of pain -- even in earthworms -- and to facilitate escape and recovery. The adrenal glands produce a surge of adrenaline, noradrenaline and corticosteroids following injury and stress/distress. These glands, and the central (cognitive) nervous system, are intimately linked with the nociceptive (pain-response) system, and they are associated with the fright, flight or fight response. They are also linked with alarm signals (visual, auditory and scent) to others and, in some instances, with catatonia (“playing ‘possum”) -- a freezing response of immobility that may help avoid predators. This is seen in some people who are “paralyzed” by fear.

If I were a hunter, I would follow the native American teaching to all young hunters: Kill the deer (or other food-prey) swiftly, with one arrow, otherwise you would be feeding the animal’s fear to your family. All hunters should be concerned about animals’ fear. Indeed, animals that are stressed and fearful prior to slaughter have poor meat quality, sometimes called “slimy pork” and “dark-cutting beef” by the meat industry. In Japan, I learned that fish gourmets can taste the difference between a fish that was caught and killed swiftly and one that struggled and fought to be free from a hook in its sensitive mouth, or struggled and slowly suffocated in nets.

KIDNEY DISEASE TOPS MORTALITY CAUSES IN PERSIAN CATS

Some of the features that make Persian cats popular might also contribute to health problems in the breed, according to a scientific report in Nature. Nearly 65% of Persian cats in the U.K.’s VetCompass database have at least one disorder, including coat, dental and eye problems; kidney disease is the most common cause of death in the breed. (VetSurgeon U.K., Sept. 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.)

MIND WHAT YOU SAY AROUND YOUR DOG

Dogs appear to be able to differentiate between words with slightly different vowel sounds, according to findings published in Biology Letters. Dogs of various breeds were played recordings of people saying six words that varied only by their vowels, and a majority reacted when either the voice or the word changed, meaning “they (might) comprehend more than we give them credit for,” said researcher Holly Root-Gutteridge. (New Scientist, Dec. 4)

DEAR READERS: I wish you all the very best for this coming year. I also wish that the voting public, politicians who serve the public and corporate leaders have “2020 vision,” because this new year is a decisive one if we are going to make any progress for the greater good of all life on planet Earth.

2020 vision sees through the disinformation, rationalizations and denial of human activities, products and industries that are part-and-parcel of the climate crisis and associated extinction crisis. 2020 vision will enable us to restore our relationships, long regarded as sacred by many indigenous peoples, with nature -- all species, plant and animal, aquatic and terrestrial, all of which are increasingly endangered by anthropocentrism. Such vision is the only foundation for a sustainable economy, social justice, eco-justice, and public and environmental health.

There are many who fear their “freedoms” and vested interests are threatened by such radical 2020 vision. But they must accept that their own vision is impaired if they see no legitimate reasons for the validity of these threats, and do not accept what must be changed for the good of all. This is a challenge for us all as consumers, workers and investors in the commercial web of this dystopian age.

One antidote to helplessness, despair and depression is to join the Extinction Rebellion with 2020 vision for a viable future for all life on Earth! The climate and extinction crises will not be addressed so long as politicians, governments and corporations continue to wrestle internationally for power and control over fossil fuels and other finite resources and market monopolies.

Over 50 years ago, Jesuit priest and scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote: “The day is not far distant when humanity will realize that biologically it is faced with a choice between suicide and adoration.” That day has surely come!

DEAR DR. FOX: I am greatly moved by your concerns and perceptions presented in your book “Dog Body, Dog Mind.” I was blessed to have 13 years with my Corgi-dox mix; our relationship grew until the time she went to Heaven, changing my life.

Her name is Ruthie Ann Marie Grace. I’m writing a book about our experiences. She got my socks, leash, hat, keys and shoes every day before leaving the house. We hiked, did agility, nose work and so much more. I tried to fulfill her breed potential, making her a happy and fulfilled dog.

I wasn’t prepared for her death. Vets can help more by instructing us better on how to say goodbye. -- G.N., San Dimas, California

DEAR G.N.: I am glad that you enjoyed my book about dogs.

You may also enjoy “Animals and Nature First,” which opens many doors for those seeking more information about animals’ well-being and what we can do to improve their welfare and protection. We owe them no less.

We usually outlive our dogs, and the final gift of their departure is the realization of how deeply that bond with another species was: a gift indeed, measured by the intensity of our grieving. Those who have never had such a heart-centered relationship with another species have difficulty understanding and empathizing. Most veterinarians are extremely understanding, and some will shed tears with the owners when they have to euthanize their animals or when they die naturally. This is one of the stresses of being a veterinarian, and can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout.

We all need support in dealing with the death of loved ones, human and nonhuman.

(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: My dog Remi is a 1-year-old German shepherd, and she was recently diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).

She is on enzymes and Tylan, and I just switched her to a food called Sport Dog Food Elite, which I found through a recommendation from epi4dogs.com. It is a grain-free food, which many of these dogs do well on. But I have read in your column that grain-free foods can cause other health problems, and my vet told me the same.

Now that I have found a food that works for her, which means her stools are formed and no longer mush, I want to stick with it. Do you have any dietary recommendations for dogs with EPI, or do you think once you find a diet that works, it’s best to stay with it? They say the dietary piece is often the hardest part to figure out. -- F.H., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR F.H.: I appreciate your sharing information about the nonprofit organization dedicated to helping provide nutraceuticals to help dogs recover after suffering from pancreatic enzyme depletion.

This condition, common in some breeds like the German shepherd, can be brought on by diets too high in carbohydrates, as your veterinarian has pointed out. Some raw-food advocates, and others, say “no” to any carbohydrates, but I say “all things in moderation.” Some whole grains (complex carbohydrates) are good for most dogs.

But herbicide contamination, especially with Roundup, is problematic, and could contribute to inflammatory bowel disease and leaky gut syndrome by causing imbalances in the gut microbiome. In humans, these herbicides in food may be a contributing factor in the epidemics of many ailments.

Some vegetable ingredients, such as soy, in dog foods, especially in dry kibble, are pro-inflammatory. Inflammation leads to a variety of health issues in humans and dogs alike. The grain-free pet food craze has caused another set of health problems in dogs -- dilated cardiomyopathy -- which, in my opinion, is attributable to high levels of legumes/pulses like pea flour and potatoes. These foods are high in lectins, which can block uptake of essential nutrients like cardio-protective taurine.

For good measure, I would be sure your dog has a daily intake of 500 to 1,000 mg of taurine, plus a good-quality probiotic, along with the special diet you have found so beneficial.

DEAR READERS: I was stunned that a severely deformed dog -- who had great difficulty breathing and walking, and had several facial and other deformities that jeopardize his quality of life, and likely that of all his offspring -- won the 2019 Westminster dog show, promoted by Purina.

The dog is a bulldog named Thor. I also noted many breeds with cropped ears and docked tails, but Thor’s deformities -- shared by other breeds, like the Pekingese, French bulldog and pug -- are a sad reflection of how many people have become so accepting of such things. These deformities can be life-threatening and may require veterinary intervention, while these dogs’ owners parade them around in public as though nothing is wrong.

DEAR DR. FOX: Looking at the extinction crisis worldwide reveals that the extinction of not just the animals is occurring, but also the human race.

It isn’t just climate change but also the pollution of the air, water and soil that continues to increase daily. Plastics in the oceans, pesticides and other poisons will doom life as humans have experienced it on this tiny planet in a tiny solar system. Species come and go, with most already gone. Humans are on that path, and humans will, by their nature, continue to destroy their environment. It’s already too late. -- R.Q. Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR R.Q.: Many people feel as you do. Such environmental pessimism, along with the interconnected global problems of political, economic and social turmoil, is making people feel despair, depression and existential angst. I believe this also contributes to the nihilism of terroristic movements and mass shootings.

Tragic indeed. The evident nihilism behind the Trump regime’s actions -- gutting the Environmental Protection Agency, rolling back clean air and water standards and regulations, and giving the fuel, timber and mining industries free access to protected wildlands -- is another form of terrorism, which civil society must continue to fight against.

I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist, but a realist who may join apocalyptarians and “rage, rage against the dying of the light” (as poet Dylan Thomas wrote). Yet I do what I can within my personal and professional spheres to reduce my “carbon footprint”: I eat as a vegetarian; adopt and shelter animals; tend a wild garden free of pesticides; and help others to move from paralytic despair to some beneficial actions that contribute to planetary CPR (conservation, protection and restoration).

We can all support humane and organic farming practices and vote for those whose economic, social and political goals are consonant with such essential, and still possible, principles of planetary and cultural CPR.

CLEANING UP OUR WATER

The disturbing report that 56% of state waters are “impaired” in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, is the tip of the iceberg nationally. Contaminants from conventional agriculture not considered by this agency include insecticidal toxins produced by genetically modified corn and soy, which are also genetically resistant to glyphosate and other widely applied herbicides. Also, neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used on seeds, and glyphosate is sprayed on crops to accelerate pre-harvest drying.

All these pesticides harm aquatic life, depleting and contaminating the food source (microorganisms and aquatic insects and their larvae) of fish and other animals higher up the food-chain -- including us. Neonicotinoids in agricultural runoff have been recently documented as causing fishing industry collapse in some coastal areas in Japan.

It is time to address the use of such chemicals in commodity crop production in particular, mainly to feed livestock and poultry and for export abroad since their long-term adverse environmental consequences, negative impact on biodiversity and potential risks to consumer health can no longer be denied.

(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.)