DEAR READERS: The following 12 core duties of responsible animal care are essential veterinary bioethical stipulations, which can and should be adopted by all companion animal caregivers and veterinarians for the common good.

1. No "designer" dog or cat breeds that have hereditary anomalies that will impair their quality of life, or that are at predisposed risk for them, should be propagated, shown or sold.

2. No animals should be subjected to elective surgical mutilations such as declawing, ear-cropping and tail-docking.

3. Every purchased and adopted cat, dog, kitten and puppy should be immediately given a full wellness examination, preferably by a holistic veterinary practitioner.

4. Every companion animal should be microchipped or tattooed for identification.

5. All owners should be educated by veterinarians and adoption agencies to understand animals' behavioral communication, as well as how to provide proper care, exercise, play and socioenvironmental enrichment.

6. The health benefits of partial neutering for many breeds of dogs (preserving the ovaries and testicles) should be discussed with informed veterinarians.

7. The benefits of fully neutering cats, especially male cats, and not allowing them to roam free should be explained by informed veterinarians.

8. All dogs and cats, puppies and kittens should be provided with healthful diets, rather than those that contribute to a host of health problems like dysbiosis. These health issues then create a revenue stream for costly special prescription diets from manufacturers and prescribers.

9. All vaccinations should be based on an animal's risk exposure, which is limited for indoor cats and greater for dogs going to play groups and dog parks.

10. The use of parasiticides that can harm companion animals and cause environmental and in-home contamination should be limited in accord with seasonal risks and diagnosed presence of parasites.

11. All animals should be provided a humane death to end incurable suffering and where there are no resources to sustain their health and well-being.

12. All animals should be accorded legally binding rights aligned with the "Five Freedoms": freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition; freedom from discomfort and pain; freedom from injury and disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress.

DEAR DR. FOX: I just read your article about a dog with Cushing's disease. I am a retired neurosurgeon, and back when I was working, I had a wonderful Australian blue heeler who had Cushing's disease.

I was also in the Navy, and I was activated for deployment around the same time my dog was diagnosed (mostly due to a ravenous appetite and weight gain). I was able to start her on mitotane before I left, but when I got back four months later, she had gained even more weight.

The vets had confirmed the diagnosis, so I took it upon myself to quadruple her dose. That worked almost immediately: She slimmed down within a couple of weeks, had much more energy and was a happy dog again. She was almost 13 when she died, having lived for about two years after the diagnosis.

I would not necessarily recommend quadrupling the dose for a dog unless the owners were pretty vigilant as to the dog's energy level. If the owners who wrote to you can be vigilant, I think mitotane would be a very good idea for their dog. -- T.C., via email

DEAR T.C.: I applaud your military service and your diligence with your beloved dog diagnosed with Cushing's disease. As a rule of thumb, most veterinarians insist on follow-up blood tests to determine the effectiveness of the dosage of mitotane, and I would not encourage dog owners without any medical or veterinary experience to increase the dosage of any medication on their own.

I am concerned about the prevalence of this endocrine disease, and there is increasing evidence that not neutering dogs can help prevent its occurrence. Many veterinarians are offering partial sterilization such as vasectomies and hysterectomies, leaving the ovaries and testicles intact. Another benefit for some dogs: Not entirely neutering large breeds such as Great Danes and wolfhounds has been shown to reduce their incidence of bone cancer.

A NOTE FOR CAT OWNERS

Veterinarian Julianne Miller speaks out about keeping cats safe: Outdoor-only and indoor-outdoor cats are more likely to suffer trauma, develop infectious diseases and fight with other cats than indoor-only cats, writes Miller in a newspaper Q&A. Bite wounds from these fights can become infected and progress into abscesses that must be lanced and drained. Cats can also transmit feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses when they bite other cats, Miller warns. (Full story: Arizona Daily Sun, April 10)

(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: The latest government-sanctioned hunt in Yellowstone National Park has killed 1,150 bison in a controversial attempt to prevent the spread of brucellosis in cattle. (Full story: New York Times, April 4)

Reading this news, I was speechless and mortified. Bison cause less trampling and erosion damage to the plains than cattle; their diet is higher in grasses and thus less damaging to the long-term chances of the plain's environment, and bison poop functions as a natural fertilizer to their habitats. Also, they may emit less methane, a gas that contributes to climate change, than grass-fed cattle.

The mass slaughter of bison is a mindless contribution to climate change because it disrupts the carbon sink established by the ecological links among plants/vegetation, bison and their predators, like wolves and bears. This is a self-evident crime against nature and humanity.

The environmental harm, loss of biodiversity and near-annihilation of Indigenous peoples wrought by America's cattle ranchers over the centuries is a call for accountability and a boycott of all beef products, including the many tons of imported beef from the Amazon forest-decimating Brazilian cattle industry.

DOG BITES AND THEIR PREVENTION

The week of April 10 was National Dog Bite Prevention Week, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association to protect the bond between dogs and people, emphasize veterinarians' role in canine behavior and educate people about preventing dog bites.

While most of the 88 million pet dogs in the U.S. coexist peacefully with their people, over 4.5 million Americans are bitten by a dog each year, according to the AVMA. "While dog bites are a serious public health issue, the good news is that most dog bites are preventable," said AVMA President Dr. Lori Teller in an April news release. "By taking steps to train and properly socialize our dogs, and educate ourselves and loved ones on dog bite prevention, we can help reduce bites and keep dogs in loving homes, where they belong."

First step: Protect the dog from wild children who do not know how to be gentle and have not learned to interpret dogs' body language. According to the National Canine Research Council, there were 46 verified fatalities related to dog bites in the U.S. in 2020. But injuries, including fractures and concussions, are not recorded. These are often caused by non-aggressive dogs jumping up while playing and running into people, especially children.

It is essential that parents constantly supervise infants when with the family dog, no matter how gentle and trustworthy, and never leave them alone together. I recall one case where an autopsy was performed on a Saint Bernard who had bitten the face of a toddler. A broken pencil was found deeply embedded in one of this poor dog's ears.

The AVMA has gathered several resources, including tools that veterinarians can share with their clients, to help educate the public on reducing dog bites. To learn more, visit avma.org/events/national-dog-bite-prevention-week.

(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 submitted some questions to ChatGPT on topics that you write about, and I would like your response to the answers it generated. Here is what I asked:

-- Does human meat consumption harm wildlife and biodiversity?

-- What is the meaning of One Health and how is it put into practice?

-- Can dogs' diets be plant-based?

-- Do killing contests work to control predators?

-- Are wolves positive for the environment?

-- Which animal is more dangerous for children: dogs or coyotes?

I did not edit any of the answers. -- P.S., San Francisco

DEAR P.S.: My initial response is that these answers (included in your email, but not published here) are all plagiarized from my own writings on these issues! And the chatbot got at least one point wrong: To your question "Can dogs' diets be plant-based?", the AI's response states, "Dogs with certain medical conditions such as pancreatitis or kidney disease may require a specialized diet that is not plant-based." On the contrary, a plant-based diet for dogs may help prevent pancreatitis and kidney disease! (For details, see this post on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/health-benefits-of-vegan-dog-food.)

I do not mind being upstaged or even replaced by AI, provided this new technology is put to good use. These chatbots could be a quick source of information for all of us, and they could help set students on the path of searching for original reference citations.

While I am concerned about the misuse of AI, as with every technology, I do not share the fear-mongering technophobia displayed by some. My concerns include the energy needed for data storage and transmission, along with the associated electropollution hazards. The precautionary principle should not be overridden by the profit motive or other means and ends, especially for disinformation purposes.

Also, the interfacing of the human bioelectrical field with the electrical fields of AI delivery, monitoring, surveillance and diagnostic systems raises health and safety issues that need to be addressed. Some forms of nonionizing radiation and electromagnetic fields can affect physiology, brain function, development and behavior. (For details, see drfoxonehealth.com/post/electropollution-existential-threat-to-public-health-and-life-on-earth.)

Humans' self-anointed title of Homo sapiens, or "Man the wise," speaks to our arrogance, which AI may help rectify. Intelligence is universal -- in every living cell and all our relationships.

Human freedom and justice and animal liberation will come when we unshackle ourselves from human-centered religious fundamentalism and imperialism. We must also jettison the persecuting judgment of moralists, the materialism of wealth-worshippers and the arrogance of scientific determinism. All of these contribute to what I call empathy-deficit disorder.

Empathic sensitivity is our best template and foundation for bioethical sensibility, which could be incorporated into the emergent properties of self-learning AI. As I detail in my book "Bringing Life to Ethics," this can lead us to embrace equalitarianism and reverential respect for all life, not just human life. Our emotional intelligence will help ensure the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, and help support the bioethical basis for the philosophy of One Health.

DUBIOUS PROMOTION OF RISKY ANTI-PARASITE DRUG

During a recent episode of Stephen Colbert's "Late Show," I was disturbed to see actress Jennifer Garner cuddling puppies to promote their adoption -- in front of a sign promoting Simparica Trio. The sign included the statement, "Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures."

In actuality, even dogs without "a history of seizures" can start having them after being given this product from Zoetis pharmaceutical company. One of the ingredients is a neonicotinoid that can cause seizures in dogs. Many dog owners using these products have reported to me that their dogs became more fearful, anxious and even aggressive when on these medications, and that these behavioral changes were resolved when treatments were discontinued.

Neonicotinoids are also linked to the drastic decline in bees and other beneficial insects around the world. There is concerning evidence from the U.K. of rivers being contaminated with these products and killing the life therein. These substances are also used in similar products like Nexgard, all of which should be prohibited.

I wish that veterinarians in every country would follow the protocol of Danish veterinarians, who are not allowed to prescribe parasite treatments without a positive diagnosis or a justifiable, documented suspicion that an individual animal has a parasitic disease that needs treatment. The profit-driven incentive to overprescribe is removed when veterinarians are not allowed to supply these products themselves, but rather must send a prescription to an external pharmacy.

Overprescription of these products is the norm in most countries, putting dogs, wildlife and the environment at risk. The medicines are often unwarranted, even being used when certain parasites are out of season. All of this is driven by consumer/pet owner fear -- and the significant revenue stream for veterinary providers and profit for drug manufacturers. This is not to discount the contribution of climate change, which has increased the spread of some disease-transmitting insects such as ticks and mosquitoes. But for many dogs, especially those who have had seizures with these kinds of preventive parasiticides, a wiser, safer choice would be a natural and effective insect repellant spray. This and other preventive measures are detailed on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/preventing-fleas-ticks-and-mosquitoes.

(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.)