DEAR READERS: Caring for all creatures great and small in the diminishing wild is a responsibility all communities and countries must adopt. The harmful incursions of people, along with our free-roaming and feral domestic animals and unattended livestock, cannot continue.

Allowing cattle, sheep and goats to roam free in and around wildlife areas should be prohibited, yet is actually subsidized by government "predator control" programs that have all but exterminated the wolf and cougar in most states. These animals, when pushed into developed areas in desperate search of food, can spread diseases that put other wildlife at risk. They can also infect cattle, sheep and goats with Lyme disease and spread other tick-borne illnesses.

Feral pigs -- "feral" meaning any domestic animal that adapts to living in the wild -- are becoming an increasing problem in the U.S. and Canada. The swine have established themselves in Canada and are encroaching on border states like Montana and North Dakota. Feral pigs can put domestic pigs at risk from diseases such as African swine fever.

There is also a feral dog problem. Feral dogs have been documented in all 50 states, doing an estimated $620 million of damage in the U.S. annually. In Texas alone, it is estimated that over $5 million in annual damage to livestock can be attributed to feral dogs. Feral dogs spread diseases such as distemper and parvovirus that put endangered and protected species like the wolf at risk, as well as other wild canids -- the various fox species and coyotes.

The feral cat problem is also a major factor in the loss of songbirds and small mammals. Cats spread diseases to wild felids such as the Florida panther and the northern lynx and bobcat. They also spread toxoplasmosis, which infects many species, including humans. According to one assessment of predation by domesticated cats, "When reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals are included in the tally, scientists estimate that feral cats in the U.S. kill 6.9 to 20.7 billion animals annually. Outside of human-driven habitat destruction, there is arguably no greater threat to small wildlife species -- especially birds -- than feral cats." (Source: the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, bard.edu, citing numbers from abcbirds.org)

As potential carriers of rabies, feral cats and dogs pose a greater public health risk than wild carnivores such as coyotes and foxes. Collectively, the negative impact of feral animals on biodiversity must be addressed.

The Biden administration has yet to sign and support the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity 2022 resolution to take concerted action to protect at least one-third of the world's natural ecosystems, aquatic and terrestrial. The issue of invasive species (both plants and animals) and free-roaming livestock cannot be ignored.

We must make fundamental changes in how we treat domesticated animals for food and other purposes, and those who become feral at home and abroad. For detailed references, go to drfoxonehealth.com/post/wildlife-protection-reducing-domestic-animal-insurgents.

DEAR DR. FOX: Our latest rescue dog, Shaney, lived in a filthy neglectful situation her first six years of life. She had to have bilateral inner ear surgeries because of longstanding untreated infections, and is now joyful.

The problem is that she sleeps in our bed. The first night she arrived, she made it clear that our bed is her bed. If I accidentally touch her during the night, she growls and is immediately prepared to fight. She opens her mouth to bite the offender. She bit my foot once and it took two months to heal.

I assume she's become protective after all the pain she suffered, and she probably has PTSD. But I'm afraid she'll bite me again and it could be worse.

Can I give her melatonin every evening? Might CBD help? Anything else you can recommend would be appreciated. -- L.H., Cleveland, Ohio

DEAR L.H.: This happens on occasion when a dog is evidently having a bad dream: The owner pets and comforts the dog, who then awakens partially and bites. Dogs with a history of emotional trauma -- the equivalent of humans' post-traumatic stress disorder, as you reference -- can react by defensive biting when suddenly disturbed. It is always important to rule out some underlying painful injury or chronic condition such as arthritis, which can make animals react this way when disturbed.

Try coaxing Shaney onto a soft dog bed, placed next to your own, with tasty treats during the day and at bedtime. This could take several days and nights. Hopefully she will come to accept the dog bed as a rewarding and safe place.

If she will not accept a dog bed and continues to insist on joining you, you are putting yourself at risk. A facial injury or deep bite on any part of your body is a serious possibility. I am sorry to hear that this has already happened once. For the time being, when in bed, wrap yourself in a thick robe or blanket and set a row of pillows between yourself and Shaney.

There are long-acting melatonin supplements worth trying. I would begin with 6 mg, given a half-hour before bedtime, plus 250 mg of L-tryptophan, which will convert into relaxing serotonin. In the morning, give her 200 mg of L-theanine. This will help elevate levels of GABA, a neurochemical that promotes relaxation without feelings of drowsiness. My other thought is a veterinary prescription for an anxiolytic psychopharmaceutical such as clomipramine.

I am not an expert on CBD, relaxing mushrooms or other herbal products which could be of help for dogs suffering from anxiety and related behavioral problems. For information on these matters, I suggest you contact Dr. Robert Silver, president of the American College of Veterinary Botanical Medicine, via his website, wellpetdispensary.com.

Good luck and keep me posted on your progress.

(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: 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.)