DEAR DR. FOX: Is Advantage II dangerous for cats? In a recent article, you mentioned that the combination of imidacloprid plus fipronil is dangerous. Is imidacloprid safe if it is not combined with fipronil?

Two of my cats are feral, not domestic. They are second-generation Savannah cats, and raw meats are included in their diet. Bones, fat and skin -- nothing ever heated or cooked. Since their stomachs are different from domestic cats, I didn’t know if their other organs were, also. One of these cats is almost 5 years old and the other is 17 months.

Our third cat is a 15-year-old silver Bengal male. We have had both male and female Bengals for 30-plus years. All have been neutered or spayed. All are pets; we don’t breed our cats. -- K.R., West Palm Beach, Florida

DEAR K.R.: One of the ingredients in Advantage II is pyriproxyfen, which mimics a natural insect hormone to disrupt the growth of young insects and eggs. It can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in cats, and may cause excessive salivation and gastrointestinal upset. The product’s other active ingredient, imidacloprid, is a neonicotinoid insecticide that may cause seizures in animals. It is one of a group of insecticides used on nonorganic crops that is killing pollinating bees and other beneficial insects.

No spot-on insecticides are risk-free. There is the possibility of one cat grooming another after treatment, and of family members (children, in particular) petting cats and dogs who have been treated and thus being exposed to these insecticides. These products should, in my opinion, be prohibited for companion animals.

There are safer alternatives to such insecticides. I advise you to follow the directions posted on my website: drfoxonehealth.com/post/preventing-fleas-ticks-and-mosquitoes. Rubbing food-grade diatomaceous earth into your cats’ fur will help kill any fleas that may get on them outdoors. Adding a daily pinch of brewer’s yeast (or 100 mg of crushed vitamin B complex) to their food may help repel fleas.

I advise against feeding raw poultry to companion animals because of the documented risk of the avian influenza virus now infecting cats and some people. Other raw meats run the risk of Salmonella and other bacterial contaminants.

I am opposed to the breeding and purchasing of Savannah cats and other wild-domestic cat hybrids for reasons spelled out in my review of this ethical issue. (See: drfoxonehealth.com/post/exotic-hybrid-cats-neither-propagate-nor-purchase.) They are indeed quite beautiful, but like wolf-dog hybrids, they are prone to developing behavioral problems. This leads many owners to get rid of them, which is a sad end for these human-creations.

The Jan. 18 Veterinary Record, the journal of the British Veterinary Association, contains an article by Josh Loeb entitled “Hybrid cat breeding should be banned.” This conclusion is based on the same reasons I have posted on my website.

AQUATIC MOLD KILLS DOGS IN FLORIDA

A rare fungal infection called pythiosis has killed at least four dogs in the past month in Sarasota and Manatee counties, Florida. The infection, caused by the aquatic mold Pythium insidiosum, which thrives in stagnant water, affects the skin and gastrointestinal tract, and it is difficult to treat. Veterinarian Morgan Pearl advises pet owners to prevent their animals from drinking from puddles, stormwater retention ponds, swamps or other standing water. (Full story: WWSB-TV, Sarasota, Florida; Feb. 12)

There is also a toxic species of blue-green algae to watch out for, plus contamination by nitrate and phosphate fertilizer runoff. Dogs should not be allowed near such contaminated waters. Livestock and wildlife are also at risk.

(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 closure and defunding of several federal agencies -- organizations dedicated to human welfare at home and abroad; children’s health and education; and consumer, environmental and wildlife protections -- are being heralded by some as the start of an American “golden age.”

Much suffering in this world can be rectified by egalitarianism and obedience to the golden rule of treating others as we would have them treat us. However, this new age of mammon represents an inversion of the golden rule: In this version, those who have the gold make the rules. It is spiritually corrupt and ethically untenable, and it is a turning point in determining the quality of life for future generations, human and nonhuman.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely, leading to an evident lack of empathy and compassion and destroying the democratic principles embedded in the U.S. Constitution. Some feel that a constitutional crisis is looming as nationalistic isolationism escalates under right-wing nihilism and a rising autocracy.

The term “woke,” originally referring to an awakening of conscience regarding race relations, is now being used in a broader context as a term of ridicule in the cesspool of American politics. Those of us who are “woke” -- that is, concerned about racism, sexism and speciesism, calling for environmental protection and equal justice for all sentient beings -- are being dismissed by the powerful elite. The current executive dismantling of various federal agencies -- in particular, the Environmental Protection Agency, which is so essential for the protection of nature, wildlife and public health -- is evidence enough.

These executive actions call for a spiritual revival of empathy, compassion, justice and the rule of law to prevent the extinction of civil society and, inevitably, democratic governance and freedom for all. All who care must rise in the name of peace and justice for all sentient beings.

MAN GETS 475-YEAR SENTENCE FOR DOGFIGHTING RING

There is still some hope for our justice system. A Georgia jury convicted Vincent Lemark Burrell, 57, of multiple charges of dogfighting and animal cruelty, and a judge sentenced him to 475 years in prison. Authorities rescued 107 dogs, mostly pit bulls, from Burrell’s property near Atlanta, many of which were emaciated and bore signs of abuse. “The average person doesn’t realize how prevalent dogfighting still is,” said Paulding County Chief Marshal Trevor Hess. (Full story: National Public Radio, Feb. 4)

HSUS TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO AVOID MORE CONFUSION

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is changing its name to Humane World for Animals, although organization officials insist that its work will not change. The 70-year-old animal rights and welfare nonprofit has been criticized because it does not operate any pet shelters, despite receiving about $170 million in donations annually. HSUS also has been questioned about possibly misleading donors who believed the organization financially supported local humane societies. A 2023 poll found that 64% of pet shelter operators believe the name confusion led to fewer donations to their local operations, according to the Washington Times.

(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: While the below information may be depressing, it is also a call to action at state and federal levels. We must improve wildlife protection and habitat conservation and restoration.

From The Guardian, Jan. 29: "Genetic diversity in animals and plants has declined globally over the past three decades, an analysis of more than 600 species has found. The research, published in the journal Nature, found declines in two-thirds of the populations studied, but noted that urgent conservation efforts could halt or even reverse genetic diversity losses."

Promising remedies include protecting and expanding natural habitats, connecting isolated populations and introducing new individuals. See the full study: "Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss" by Robyn Shaw et al., published in Nature, Jan. 29.

MINNESOTA’S WHITE-TAIL DEER, HUNTERS AND WOLVES

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in 2011, “the total annual economic impact of hunting in Minnesota exceeded $725 million, and more than 85% of hunters in Minnesota hunt deer. There are more than 500,000 deer hunters in Minnesota, which means that about 1 out of every 10 Minnesotans hunt deer each year. The 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation estimated that more than 1.5 million people spent $621 million to observe, feed or photograph wildlife in Minnesota during 2011.”

Likewise, hearing, observing and photographing wolves is a major income-generator in states where there are still wolves. Reporter Dennis Anderson, in his recent article “Wolves more likely to be delisted under Trump,” asserts that “wolves have gained a lot of friends in recent decades, making politics, not biology or policy integrity, the major force driving their management.”

This politicization of ethics, compassion and respect for wolves and other wildlife is lamentable, as is wildlife “management” being based on commercial considerations rather than on sound ecological science. According to the nonprofit Faunalytics, wild mammals now make up just 4% of Earth's total mammal biomass. Farmed animals make up 60%, and humans, 34%.

The prevailing attitude toward wildlife, exemplified by the sanitized language of “harvesting,” is a sad reflection of a state of mind that sees the natural world as a source of exploitable resources. Such a mindset completely disregards animal sentience and the intrinsic and ecological value of wolves, as well as other predators that humans continue to annihilate. Such disregard has contributed to climate change and the accelerated loss of biodiversity around the world.

Better “management” of our own species is long overdue, along with a revision of our values and appetites.

HIGH CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOUND IN COMMON GAME BIRDS

Contaminants such as organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances were found in every sample tested from five species of commonly hunted waterfowl in the northeast Atlantic Flyway. American black ducks, green-winged teal and mallards had higher levels of contamination than Canada geese or wood ducks. The findings highlight the importance of protecting high-quality habitats, and suggest that current consumption advisories may need updating. (Full story: news.cornell.edu, Jan. 23)

MONARCH BUTTERFLY TALLY CLOSE TO RECORD LOW

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation reports a 96% decline in numbers of monarch butterflies between 2023 and 2024 -- a 30-year low. The decline is attributable to a combination of pesticides, drought and wildfires, plus the loss of habitat for milkweed, the host plant for monarch caterpillars.

(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.)