DEAR READERS: A couple of weeks ago, I almost spilled my coconut milk when I saw the Star Tribune article "Feedlot fight raises cries of bullying" by reporter Greg Stanley.

A feedlot dairy operation that seeks to expand -- actually, it seeks to triple in size when it is already larger than the local county allows -- is suing individual members of the nonprofit Land Stewardship Project, with which I have worked in the past. The group opposes the feedlot's expansion.

Beef and dairy feedlot operations are well-documented sources of air contamination, water quality deterioration and water depletion, compounded by the land and water and agrichemicals used to produce the animals' feed. This sector of industrial agriculture is recognized as a major contributing factor to climate change and should be immediately phased out with government support.

As a veterinarian, I was disappointed that the article made no mention of the cows' health problems, overall welfare and quality of life in these factory-scale feedlot operations. Similar CAFOs -- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations -- are used to raise billions of poultry and pigs in the U.S. and around the world, and these facilities are petri dishes for viral and bacterial disease proliferation. This is a public health issue as well as a serious environmental one, which could be easily solved with the adoption of humane, sustainable agricultural practices and new biotechnologies that can produce cultivated meat, dairy and seafood products.

Governments are in lockstep with the powerful agribusiness, livestock and poultry industries and their lobbyists, so the changes needed can only come through what I call the power of the fork and the plate: consumers choosing what they eat. It's not what comes out of our mouths under the "freedom of speech" so much as what we put into them, and it can make a difference!

Nonetheless, we should all be grateful for the generations of good farmers who do their best for their animals and the land to put food on our tables and feed a hungry world. We should support them in adopting long-overdue changes to make agriculture and our food healthful, organic, humane, ecologically sustainable and socially just.

DEAR DR. FOX: I am hoping to get Roundup banned due to the possible link between its use and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in companion animals. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma claimed the life of my Australian cattle dog/mini Australian shepherd. Six months of expensive chemotherapy could not save her.

I hope to find better research into the effects of herbicides on animals. Any help would be appreciated! -- S.T.S., Minneapolis, Minnesota

DEAR S.T.S.: I am saddened to hear about the death of your dog from this cancer of the lymphatic system. Our exposure, and that of our dogs and other animals, comes from many sources.

I have complained in the past to the park service director where I live in Golden Valley, Minnesota, over the spraying of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. I was told they needed it to kill clumps of grass on the park's playing fields because they might be sued if a child tripped and got injured! Then I complained about hired companies spraying glyphosate (Roundup) on corporate lawns and along the banks of waterways to control invasive "weeds," including edible, nutritious sting nettles. This herbicide is very toxic to aquatic life. All of this is insanity, and the nickname "Monsatan" has some validity, since there have been concerns over this herbicide for decades.

When wild herbs and flowers are wiped out with herbicides, insect populations -- including bees and other pollinators -- are decimated, along with the amphibians, reptiles, birds and small mammals that depend on those insects for food.

For years, I have been raising the issue that contamination of our food and drinking water with herbicides would harm the bacteria in our guts, and that without a healthy gut microbiome, we and our companion animals alike would experience a variety of adverse health consequences. (For details, see these posts on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/companion-animals-harmed-by-pesticides and drfoxonehealth.com/post/genetically-modified-gmo-pet-food-ingredients-put-dogs-cats-and-other-consumers-at-risk.)

Below are some additional references on the subject. We must all support efforts to prohibit any further use of such agrichemicals, along with the growing of crops genetically engineered to be herbicide-resistant.

-- "Where is glyphosate banned?" Link: wisnerbaum.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/where-is-glyphosate-banned

-- "Our Pets (and Other Animals) at Risk From Glyphosate." Link: gmoscience.org/2020/03/04/our_pets_at_risk_from_glyphosate

-- "Glyphosate and Your Companion Pets." Link: hemopet.org/glyphosate-your-companion-pets

(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 have read and followed your articles and website posts for many years, and they helped enormously in giving our little Yorkshire terrier a long and happy life.

Amy had many health problems. Many were due to poor breeding -- the breeder was a vet, so we thought the dog would be healthy, which turned out not to be the case -- but others were caused by bad food, which the vet had recommended. As soon as I discovered your work, I started your food regimen with such positive results that our sick little dog lived to be 16 years old.

After losing Amy, we realized that we cannot live without a dog, but this time, I researched breeds and their common health issues. We decided on a breed (Havanese) and found a reputable breeder who offers health guarantees, but we realize these are only the first steps. We want to be certain we start this pup off with great nutrition and care.

I used a modified version of your dog food recipe for Amy, but it was a lot of work, and now there are many more human-grade dog foods that do not have harmful additives or ingredients. However, we are bewildered by the many different types: raw, freeze-dried raw, dry, fresh, cooked, canned and frozen.

The breeder recommends a Purina dry kibble, which I find unacceptable. We would greatly appreciate your recommendations both for the type (I know you are not fond of dry kibble) and particular brands. -- M.W., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR M.W.: Your communication underscores the lack of knowledge about good nutrition evident in some breeders and veterinary practices; I am shocked that a vet was evidently breeding a not-so-healthy lineage of Yorkshire terriers.

My basic dog food recipe (posted on my website and periodically updated with advances in canine nutrition) has, as you confirm with the evident benefits to your previous dog, helped thousands of dogs enjoy better health and quality of life over the years. It also saves dog owners money in avoiding health issues that require veterinary attention.

I put all the Purina dry kibble for dogs (and cats) in the "junk food" category. Far superior is the Wisdom dry kibble from Earth Animal (earthanimal.com) Another good selection of dog foods with human-grade ingredients comes from The Honest Kitchen (thehonestkitchen.com).

I wonder why you want to purchase a particular breed rather than adopt a right-sized-for-you mixed breed -- which are generally healthier than purebreds -- from a shelter. If you are set on a Havanese, be sure the breeder has had the mother and father of the pups DNA-tested, as by the excellent company Embark, to see if the parents are carrying heritable abnormalities.

According to the Havanese Club of America (havanese.org), the breed is relatively healthy, but there are several inherited health issues new owners should know about. These include cataracts, chondrodysplasia, hip dysplasia and patellar luxation (slipped kneecaps).

OHIO TOXIC CHEMICAL DEBACLE AFFECTING ANIMALS

Three days after the train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, officials began a "controlled release" to prevent an explosion. This controlled burn sent toxic and potentially deadly fumes of vinyl chloride into the air. Sporadic reports came in of pets becoming ill, and even dying, following exposure. At least one cat who died received veterinary care and a confirmation that the death was, indeed, due to chemical exposure.

According to BuzzFeed News, local resident Taylor Holzer said, "I've been having headaches, chest tightness and eye pain. What else could happen down the line for both me and (the) animals? I'm worried about cancers and organ issues." Holzer, 28, lives about a mile from the accident and has about 100 rescued animals, including coyotes, foxes and parrots. BuzzFeed reports, "Some of his animals have swollen faces, weeping eyes, and stomach issues. ... One of his foxes broke its leg trying to run away from the commotion, and another died." (Full story: buzzfeednews.com/article/amandagardner/animals-dying-after-ohio-chemical-spill.)

The impact of this debacle on horses and farmed animals and wildlife in contaminated fields remains to be determined. This event should be a warning to all communities around the world that release toxic fumes in the widespread practice of burning municipal waste. The collective contribution to reduced air quality and contamination cannot 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.)

DEAR DR. FOX: I read with interest the letter from L.H. in Cleveland, Ohio, regarding a 6-year-old rescue dog that attacked her during the night. I had the exact same situation with an English bulldog I rescued.

Suki insisted on sleeping in my bed and could not be convinced to sleep elsewhere. If I moved or touched her during the night, she would snarl and snap at my offending body part. At the time, I had an exceptional veterinarian, who also practiced homeopathic medicine. He prescribed a course of treatment with something called Lachesis. Of course, I was skeptical, as I had tried everything I could think of. But within a week, she was "cured." For the remainder of her nine years with me, I never experienced a repeat episode.

I cannot begin to explain the science behind this cure, but I thought it was worth sharing. I know how difficult it is to have a dog you love, but cannot trust. -- M.E., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR M.E.: I am not opposed to homeopathic treatments for humans and other animals, but I have no clinical experience in this field. Philosophically, it is based on "like treats like," with the aim being to help balance physical and mental reactions to infection, trauma and various emotional and psychosomatic conditions.

Homeopathic Lachesis is a hyper-diluted preparation of the venom from the bushmaster snake; there is a considerable amount of literature on this for the treatment of a number of maladies in humans. I am glad to hear that it benefited your bulldog, but my first step would have been to consider airway obstruction and sleep apnea caused by the pushed-in facial deformity in the breed. This could have caused your dog to panic during the night. In many instances, surgery to help make breathing easier is a practical and reliable solution.

It is challenging when the animals under our care suffer from a failure to thrive. Failure to thrive is associated with a weakened will to live, whether by disease, injury, poor nutrition, exhaustion or other factors. It can be relieved by whatever inspires the spirit without harming the psyche, interactively healing mind and body. (For details, see this post on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/mental-effects-on-physical-health-the-mind-body-connection.)

I equate such inspiration of the life force as awakening what Albert Schweitzer called the physician within, saying, "Each patient carries his own doctor inside him. They come to us not knowing that truth. We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides within each patient a chance to go to work."

M.E. REPLIES: Thank you for your prompt response and for sharing your opinion regarding the facial deformity in bulldogs.

I purchased two French bulldogs in my early years of dog ownership (1990s). Both had breathing issues, and one of them had surgery to improve his breathing. Although I loved the breed, I resolved to never own one again because I refused to contribute to the breeding and selling of dogs who have no chance of a normal life.

I did, however, continue to rescue bulldogs; it was one of these rescues who received the Lachesis. She had been terribly abused, chained to a tree in the Florida heat. If she had a breathing issue, it was not obvious to me at the time. I was just grateful that after the Lachesis, she and I could coexist in the same space!

A BOOK TO HELP HEAL AND RESTORE A GREENER AMERICA

Book review: "Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design" by Benjamin Vogt.

The author is the owner of Monarch Gardens in Lincoln, Nebraska, and has also written the groundbreaking book "A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future." His new book, "Prairie Up," is richly illustrated with over 150 color photos. It is an inspiration and a practical guide to enable landowners, including corporations and municipal authorities managing public spaces, to rewild with selected indigenous plant varieties that are good for pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Creating more natural habitat and needing to mow just once a year would be a major contribution to increasing biodiversity and ameliorating climate change.

In my opinion, this is an ethical imperative for all who own land, from those living in gated communities (where mowing chemically treated lawns is mandatory) to farmers who can create wild strips of prairie and buffers to protect our increasingly polluted rivers and lakes.

Vogt should be given a Nobel Prize for his work in putting the tools for conservation and nature restoration right into our hands. It is our responsibility to pick them up, beginning with the purchase of this book.

(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.)