DEAR DR. FOX: I appreciated your column addressing the risks to dogs and cats of using insecticides even when they don’t have fleas, ticks or internal parasites. Giving pets these pesticide treatments as a preventative is like taking an aspirin every day just in case you might get a headache.

I found FDA data on the internet about reported adverse reactions and deaths after administration of flea and tick treatments, and the numbers are horrifying. As just one example, the FDA reports that Simparica Trio killed 6,700 dogs in less than a year. It took Trifexis 10 years to kill roughly the same number of dogs (6,600). It's no wonder that the petition below has over 24,000 signatures to pull this killing drug off the market!

Add your signature to pull Simparica from the marketplace and start a class-action lawsuit: change.org/p/petition-for-the-immediate-withdrawal-of-simparica-flea-tick-treatment-from-the-market.

Also, see this related news release from 2021: beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2021/03/despite-1700-dog-deaths-from-flea-collars. -- B.G., Minneapolis

DEAR B.G.: You have certainly done some research on these products, which are widely used and unconditionally endorsed by too many veterinarians. These drugs are also documented as serious environmental contaminants that affect aquatic life when dogs get into freshwater ecosystems.

Over-the-counter sales of flea and tick products that contain neurotoxic, endocrine-disrupting and possibly carcinogenic ingredients should be prohibited. Veterinarians should never prescribe them as routine preventatives in uninfested pets, but only as a last-resort emergency treatment. This also includes collars for dogs and cats containing tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), an organophosphate insecticide that works by disrupting the nervous system of the targeted insects. Exposure to organophosphate insecticides can cause a range of health problems in humans -- from respiratory failure and seizures to developmental issues and increased risk of certain cancers. Children exposed to these insecticidal chemicals on pets in their homes are at risk. Acute exposure to these chemicals can be fatal, especially if it leads to respiratory failure.

Additionally, many chemicals that contaminate our home environments can cause hypothyroidism. Per a 2023 study: "There is considerable evidence to indicate that exposure to the insecticides organochlorines, organophosphates and pyrethroids increased (the) risk of hypothyroidism. Exposure to herbicides also increased risk of hypothyroidism." (See the study "Exposure to pesticides and the risk of hypothyroidism: a systematic review and meta-analysis" by Wachiranun Sirikul and Ratana Sapbamrer, published in BMC Public Health, 2023.)

The 2022 debacle with Seresto flea collars -- where nearly 2,700 animal deaths were reported, along with more than 100,000 incidents of harm, according to the EPA’s records -- was deplorable. Sadly, even with this evidence presented to the EPA, Elanco has been allowed to continue sales. Absolutely absurd -- and, of course, not good for dogs and cats. For details, find the news release by going to biologicaldiversity.org and searching for "Seresto."

Visit earthanimal.com and adorepet.us to find various botanical products that help prevent fleas, ticks and mosquitoes from infesting and possibly infecting dogs and cats with insect-borne diseases. Earth Animal products include supplements, repellant collars, sprays, topical treatments and shampoos. AdorePet sells an Herbal Defense Powder, to be mixed daily with your pet’s food, that contains several natural ingredients that help repel biting insects.

With the documented harms of using insecticides on companion animals -- as well as the risks they pose to humans, especially children in the home -- these safe and effective alternatives are a wise choice. For more ways to prevent fleas, ticks and mosquitoes from harming your pet, see my post here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/preventing-fleas-ticks-and-mosquitoes.

Another concern of mine is the widely advertised and prescribed drug Apoquel to treat dogs with itchy skin, with the side note “not to be used in dogs younger than 12 months.” This drug suppresses the immune system and can have harmful side effects. It provides a quick and profitable way to stop dogs from scratching themselves without addressing the cause, which could be dietary or environmental. See my critique posted here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/apoquel-risks-and-alternatives-for-dogs-with-atopic-dermatitis.

(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 wanted to alert you to this: Missouri State Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican, is sponsoring a proposal to overturn local declawing bans. The bans in question were approved in the city of St. Louis in 2019 and adopted by St. Louis County in 2022. -- D.L., Maryland Heights, Missouri

DEAR D.L.: Any veterinarian supporting this proposal should lose their license to practice. Declawing is an inhumane mutilation of cats that lessens their quality of life, and it is outlawed in many countries (drfoxonehealth.com/post/declawing-cats).

It seems to me that the Republican party is afflicted with what I call "empathy deficit disorder." Elon Musk even declared empathy to be “the fundamental weakness of Western civilization."

H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA FOUND IN MORE CATS, SKUNKS, MICE

The USDA recently confirmed 15 cases of H5N1 avian influenza in mammals, including domestic cats in Kansas, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Illinois, as well as skunks, mice, foxes, a raccoon and a bobcat. The department also reported H5N1 outbreaks in poultry in Indiana and Maryland, and in another dairy cattle herd in California. (Full story: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, April 2)

REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE EXPLOITATION, TRADE

Below, please find the abstract from an important new study: "Chains of Commerce: A Comprehensive Review of Animal Welfare Impacts in the International Wildlife Trade" by Helen Lambert et al., published in Animals, 2025.

"Abstract: The commercial wildlife trade involves billions of animals each year, consumed for various purposes, including food, fashion, entertainment, traditional medicine, and pets. The experiences of the animals involved vary widely, with negative welfare states being commonplace.

"To highlight the broad scope of animal welfare impacts across the commercial wildlife trade, we present 10 case studies featuring a range of species traded globally for different purposes: 1. ball pythons captured and farmed to serve as pets; 2. Zebra fish captive-bred to serve as pets; 3. African grey parrots taken from the wild for the pet industry; 4. sharks de-finned for traditional medicine; 5. pangolins hunted for traditional medicine; 6. crickets farmed for food and feed; 7. frogs wild-caught for the frog-leg trade; 8. crocodilians killed for their skins; 9. lions farmed and killed for tourism; and 10. elephants held captive for tourism.

"The case studies demonstrate that wild animals commercially traded can suffer from negative welfare states ranging from chronic stress and depression to frustration and extreme hunger. The individuals involved range from hundreds to billions, and their suffering can last a lifetime. Given the welfare issues identified and the growing recognition and scientific evidence for animal sentience, we propose reducing and redirecting consumer demand for these consumptive wildlife practices that negatively impact animals."

DR. FOX HERE: When we stop treating other species as commodities, we may recover our humanity. To that end, a think tank called Interspecies Internet is working to accelerate our understanding of interspecies communication. Those interested in learning more should go to interspecies.io.

ZOO ELEPHANTS SURROUND JUVENILES DURING EARTHQUAKE

Adult elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park formed a protective circle around juvenile elephants during an April earthquake. In the wild, elephants form similar “alert circles” around juveniles to protect them from threats. (Full story: Los Angeles Times, April 14)

(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: Although I am not a follower of Catholicism, I join the billions of people mourning the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. He was the embodiment of humility, courage and universal love. He was critical of the Trump administration’s mistreatment of immigrants and its denial of climate change, which is affecting the poor in many countries.

In his encyclical "Laudato Si," Francis railed against “unbridled anthropocentrism,” which is harming all of God’s creation. Ultimately, only that which we hold sacred is secure. He stated that if we are cruel or indifferent to any living creature, we inevitably end up showing similar treatment to one another.

“Every act of cruelty towards any creature is contrary to human dignity,” he wrote. “Everything is related, and we human beings are united as brothers and sisters on a wonderful pilgrimage, woven together by the love God has for each of his creatures and which also unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river and mother earth.”

While the Catholic faith views human beings as uniquely made in the image and likeness of God, Francis assures us that the “dominion” we were given over creation in the Book of Genesis was not meant to mean destruction -- but rather, stewardship and care.

From a spiritual perspective, every sentient being is a theophany: a manifestation of divinity or of creative power and mystery. As such, each being deserves reverential respect and understanding. I think the door of our collective human consciousness is opening, cognitively and empathically, with this realm of being -- the universal in the particular and the particular in the universal.

Is it any coincidence that the state of the environment -- with dying, drought- and fire-ravaged forests and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reaching new heights -- mirrors our own condition? Medical and mental health costs are escalating, with health insurance and prescriptions becoming unaffordable for many. Globally, 733 million people are estimated to be hungry. Shamefully, half of all child deaths (ages 5 and under) are linked to malnutrition. This has less to do with overpopulation than with unequal distribution of wealth and resources.

It has been predicted that, out of the chaos and suffering of this Anthropocene era, we will be faced with an evolutionary choice. We must renounce dualistic thoughts and usher in what I call the Empathocene era, and what my friend Father Thomas Berry called the Ecozoic era: being mindful of the sacred ecological connections that sustain us and all life on Earth. The realization that all life is interconnected and interdependent is paramount. For details, see my book “Bringing Life to Ethics: Global Bioethics for a Humane Society.”

May the spirit of Pope Francis live on in the name of compassion and justice for all beings.

PROPOSAL WOULD END CERTAIN HABITAT PROTECTIONS

A rule proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service would remove habitat protections for threatened and endangered species, a move experts say could lead to extinctions. The rule would change the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act so that habitat alteration or destruction would not be considered harmful unless a species was intentionally targeted. (Full story: The Associated Press, April 16)

This ruling highlights the Trump administration’s alignment with vested interests that are ethically illiterate and morally bankrupt. Nature is part of us and we are part of nature.

Government should serve the common good, as ecologist Garrett Hardin reasoned in his seminal 1968 essay, "The Tragedy of the Commons." Harvard University biologist E.O. Wilson, in his book “Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight For Life,” asserts that in order to stave off the mass extinction of species, including our own, we must move swiftly to preserve the biodiversity of fully half the Earth's surface for nature.

Crimes against nature -- such as destroying vital wildlife habitat and eliminating the protection of endangered species -- are coins of the same currency as crimes against humanity. Genocide and ecocide go hand in hand with racism and speciesism under the tyranny of inhumanity. Industrial civilization is facing an existential crisis, calling on all of us in civil society to embrace our ethical responsibilities for nature, animals and each other.

(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.)