DEAR DR. FOX: Are you aware of the newest version of declawing cats, which is a laser surgery procedure? It only removes the nail itself.

I am truly a cat lover, but I would never consider having a cat that hasn't been declawed. I've been in the ER several times from a cat's scratch. -- C.W., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR C.W.: I maintain my continued assertion that declawing cats is an inhumane mutilation -- an unwarranted decision of convenience for people who do not want their furniture upholstery damaged.

A description of the procedure you cite, from 365petinsurance.com, explains that it is essentially very similar to traditional declawing: "Despite its higher cost, declawing with lasers is much simpler than the traditional declawing. It's similar to traditional declawing in that it removes the third toe bone. However, the toe bone is removed with a laser and not a scalpel."

People who are immunocompromised and might get scratched, or who do not know how to safely handle, socialize and communicate with cats, should first read my book "Cat Body, Cat Mind." They should then decide if a cat with intact claws should be in their lives. If one is already in their lives and has not been declawed, this book offers viable and time-tested alternatives.

DRUG GIVEN ON RACE DAY HARMS MANY HORSES

According to a study, American thoroughbred racehorses given furosemide on race day were at 62% increased odds of sudden death compared to those not given the medication. The study, published in October in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association, also found multiple other risk factors associated with sudden death, which related to race circumstances and the horses' individual histories.

Study authors based their findings on data extracted from the Equine Injury Database, which holds detailed records of 92.2% of all official race starts made in the United States and Canada during the study period. Furosemide was administered to 94% of horses in the study, but the authors cautioned that more research is needed to understand the association with sudden deaths. (Full study: "Fifteen risk factors associated with sudden death in thoroughbred racehorses in North America [2009–2021]," Euan Bennet and Tim Parkin; Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association; Oct. 20, 2022. Link: doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.08.0358)

Furosemide is an anti-bleeding medication used by veterinarians in horse racing to prevent respiratory bleeding in horses running at high speeds. Blood entering the lungs during high physical activity can cause a pulmonary hemorrhage and result in death. Furosemide's diuretic actions reduce the severity of lung bleeding by reducing blood volume, and therefore reducing blood flow and pulmonary arterial pressure. The diuretic action results in a loss of sodium, potassium and chloride in the urine and predisposes horses to electrolyte abnormalities, which can affect heart function and cause a heart attack.

Surely, no matter how spirited young horses may be, they should not be forced to such extreme exertion, nor be given this potentially fatal medication. And all for what purpose -- money? It is telling that one factor associated with higher death rates was the prize for the race: The higher the purse for winning, the higher the mortalities.

After millennia of exploitation and abuse, it is surely time for humans to assess all of our relationships with other animals and to begin to make amends.

(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 am a law student, and I'm writing a paper for my animal law class on the pitfalls of the American Kennel Club (AKC) -- specifically, how the lack of regulation leads to detrimental health issues for dogs. In my research, I found an article that mentioned your friend, journalist Herm David, as an "ombudsman" of the AKC. I understand that you also joined the good fight against puppy mills and the "purebred problem."

I would love to receive any input from you for my paper: your perspective on the AKC, your perception of the problems over the years, etc. Have things gotten better? Worse? Stayed the same? And can we do anything about it? -- C.F., address withheld

DEAR C.F.: I have written about my concerns with purebred dogs on my website and in this column many times, urging people NEVER to buy a puppy online without seeing the parent dogs and learning how they are kept and treated. Often regarded as some kind of guarantee of quality, the official "papers" of puppies registered with the American Kennel Club, just like other national club registries in other countries, are of dubious value. For more information, check out these articles on my website (drfoxhealth.com): "Recovering Canine Health and the Natural Dog," "Concerning Puppy and Kitten Breeding Mills," "Dog Mutilations," "Dogs Need Their Whiskers" and "Animal Eugenics: For Better or For Worse."

Aside from the questionable ethics of breeding dogs for profit when there are dogs and puppies in shelters needing homes, there is the reality of the link between commercial dog breeders and the livestock and poultry industries. Commercial dog breeders are inspected and licensed by the USDA under standards of animal care equivalent to those applied to farmed animals. The livestock and poultry industries support commercial puppy mills in fighting against legislative initiatives that would, for instance, limit the number of dogs kept and improve standards of care -- in the fear that such regulations could be imposed next on them. Their overcrowded factory farms are inhumane, environmentally harmful and a serious threat to public health and wildlife.

Many illnesses and behavioral problems in dogs, cats and other companion animals can be prevented, and others cured, if their caretakers/guardians would adhere to six basic principles, which contribute to a simple formula for animal health and well-being. I call them the Six R's: right understanding, right relationship, right breeding/genetics, right nutrition, right environment and right holistic veterinary care. These basic principles are essential, ethical standards that all breeders, clubs, kennel registries and dog shows, in all countries, need to adopt.

The so-called "Breeder of Merit" certification of the AKC falls lamentably short on these six counts. Rather, a designation of "6R Certification," to be determined and confirmed by veterinarians, is feasible. It would be applied to both male and female dogs used for breeding purposes to ensure they are kept under conditions satisfying their behavioral, social and emotional needs. It would also include genetic screening to avoid or eliminate diseases of hereditary origin and prevent breeding for extreme traits (e.g. flat faces/brachycephaly). Good nutrition, healthy gut microbiomes and robust immune systems would be ensured as part of dogs' holistic veterinary care, with judicious use of vaccines and antiparasitic medications.

Under this model, only dogs with 6R Certification would be allowed to become "Best in Show" winners. And no dogs would be allowed to enter the ring if their ears had been cropped or their tails or whiskers trimmed!

These are my hopes based on sound veterinary science and bioethics -- and compassion, which is in short supply in this consumer-driven society where the empathy deficit appears to be reaching epic dimensions!

Do send me your final paper on this issue. I commend you for your choice of topic. I will send you my telephone number to answer any questions you may have, as I do for many students researching various animal and environmental issues.

DACHSHUNDS: ANOTHER EXTREMELY CHALLENGED BREED

All clubs for dog breeds with physical traits that can affect the animals' health and quality of life should emulate the Dachshund Breed Council of the U.K. The club's health committee continues to put the word out about the health implications of exaggerated physical characteristics, urging breeders to avoid extremes.

From dachshundbreedcouncil.wordpress.com: "Our Health Committee is concerned that, despite the many messages about desired proportions and ground clearance that have been communicated at seminars for over a decade, some breeders and judges still seem inclined to favour undesirable exaggerations. The Health Committee's concerns are that dogs with excessive length and lack of ground clearance cannot be considered to be 'fit for function' and that such exaggerations are likely to increase their health risks. Intervertebral Disc Disease is one of those risks, as is bloat, which is reported in dachshunds and other breeds with proportionately more depth of chest."

In contrast, the American Kennel Club's Breed Health Testing Requirements (akc.org/breeder-programs/breed-health-testing-requirements) are clearly deficient. In the entry for dachshunds, the recommended health tests are simply "patella evaluation" and "cardiac exam." Breeders completing these tests can gain the AKC Breeder of Merit certification! And for the French and English bulldog breeds, there is no mention of evaluating dogs' ability to breathe and tolerate some physical activity.

The AKC also touts its Bred With H.E.A.R.T. program, which "requires health testing of breeding stock in accordance with recommendations of their breed's parent club. Breeders who meet the requirements of the Bred With H.E.A.R.T. program are eligible for many benefits, including a 10% discount on insurance for their puppies through AKC Pet Insurance."

All of this I see as window-dressing nonsense. I advise all who are seeking some particular purebred to visit the breeding facility; never buy online. Or go to a breed rescue website and adopt from there. All commercial puppy mills should be closed down.

(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: As a longtime advocate of One Health, I am very encouraged by this Dec. 23 press release from the American Veterinary Medical Association:

"A provision directing the development of a One Health Framework across the federal government was included in the final spending bill of the year. The legislation passed derives from the AVMA-championed Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act that was introduced at the beginning of the 117th Congress. With passage, Congress will now direct federal agencies to develop and submit a national One Health Framework to collaboratively address zoonotic diseases and advance public health preparedness.

"One Health is the concept that human, animal and environmental health are all intertwined. This collaborative effort will result in government agencies working together to help better prevent, prepare for and respond to zoonotic diseases.

"'The One Health legislation passed today will help strengthen the nation's preparedness for diseases that can spread between animals and humans,' said Dr. Lori Teller, AVMA president. 'We have all witnessed the significant threat that zoonotic diseases pose to our society. With animals, humans and the environment being more interconnected than ever, the AVMA applauds Congress for taking this crucial step forward in fully implementing a One Health Framework so we can better protect public health.'

"By developing a comprehensive federal One Health Framework, there will be improved coordination between federal agencies that study human and animal health and the environment. This will provide a more integrated approach to One Health work across the federal government. Once enacted, the AVMA will work with Congress and federal agencies on the implementation of the legislation."

MORE VETERINARIANS NEEDED IN RURAL AREAS

The U.S. has too few large-animal veterinarians in rural areas, posing a threat to food safety, public health and economic growth. A study by the Farm Journal Foundation found only 3% to 4% of new veterinary school graduates focus on livestock, writes Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, formerly that state's agriculture commissioner. Congress should pass a bill eliminating taxes on veterinary student loan repayment program funds, adequately fund programs that support veterinary practices in rural areas and work with veterinary schools to boost enrollment of students from rural communities, Hyde-Smith writes. (Full story: The Washington Post, Dec. 21)

DOCUMENTED: FIREWORKS HARM BIRDS

Please think twice about buying fireworks and supporting community firework displays. Every year, there are distressing accounts of birds flying in panic from their roosts, colliding with trees and dropping to the ground in frigid weather.

We can now add data to these accounts: Scientists analyzed the GPS tracks of 347 wild migratory geese, of four species, during eight New Year's celebrations in Western Europe, quantifying the effects of fireworks on individuals. They found that when there were nearby fireworks displays, the geese flew an average of 5 km to 16 km further and 40 meters to 150 meters higher, and more often shifted to new roost sites than on previous nights.

Likely to compensate for the extra energy spent on additional flight, most geese moved less and ate more in the following days. The study's findings indicate negative effects of fireworks on wild birds beyond the previously demonstrated immediate response. (Study: "Wild goose chase: Geese flee high and far, and with aftereffects from New Year's fireworks," Conservation Letters, Nov. 24, 2022)

(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.)