DEAR READERS: Please see this writeup from PetFoodIndustry.com regarding an upcoming industry convention. Angelique Myburgh, a development specialist at Montego Pet Nutrition, will discuss the suitability of South African game meat as a protein source for pets.

Myburgh spoke with Lisa Cleaver of PFI ahead of the conference. Cleaver writes:

"As pet food manufacturers seek sustainable protein alternatives, African game meat from South Africa -- with its rich nutrient profile and eco-friendly production practices -- is emerging as a promising solution for enhancing pet nutrition while supporting sustainable development initiatives. ...

"As a novel protein, African game meat offers hypoallergenic properties, making it ideal for pets with dietary sensitivities to traditional meat proteins.

"'Because these animals roam freely and feed on natural vegetation, the meat is organic and free from artificial additives,' added Myburgh." (For details, see petfoodindustry.com/news-newsletters/pet-food-news/article/15739400/african-game-meat-emerges-as-a-sustainable-protein-for-pet-food.)

DR. FOX HERE: I say expanding our exploitation and killing of wildlife for commercial purposes, including pet foods, is ethically and ecologically untenable.

Two examples that should be curbed: kangaroo meat, which is an increasingly popular protein source in Australian pet food, and venison. Using venison in pet foods poses the risk of spreading chronic wasting disease, along with lead poisoning from hunters’ lead shot.

Dogs thrive on properly formulated vegan foods. A study conducted by PLOS One found that dogs on vegan diets had fewer health issues than those on conventional meat diets. (See "Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health" by Andrew Knight et al., published in PLOS One in 2022.)

Dogs, like us, are flexible omnivores and do not need meat. Both dogs and people can thrive on vegan and vegetarian diets. Companies like Wild Earth, Evolution Diet and V-Dog are producing fully plant-based offerings for dogs, and the movement is gaining momentum.

Vegan cat foods, however, are not biologically appropriate because cats are obligate carnivores: They need meat. Until the production of cultivated meats via cellular bio-fermentation scales up and is affordable for manufacturers, they must rely on animal sources. Often, those sources are discards from factory pig, beef, poultry and fish farming systems -- the output deemed unfit for human consumption. (The inclusion of nutrients from farmed insects in pet and human foods, as a more humane and ecologically regenerative resource, is yet to expand.)

Cat owners indirectly support these inhumane animal industries; many are aware of the dilemma and desire an alternative. There is an opportunity here for cat food manufacturers to facilitate the processing of humanely raised animals -- fed organically certified foods and not given antibiotics and other production-enhancing drugs -- into their products. My veterinary and environmental health colleagues are calling for increased corporate responsibility in protein sourcing for cats.

Choosing instead to include wild game in pet foods endorses unsustainable "wildlife farming" practices. Harvesting wildlife, including sea life, contributes to climate change and biodiversity loss, and it must end. The economically driven scale of exploitation is not ecologically sustainable or regenerative.

(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: All who care about our shared planet are suffering varying degrees of despair and disbelief about current events. Take, for instance, the COP30 climate summit scheduled for November in Belem, Brazil. Ironically and nonsensically, a massive highway is under construction -- through protected Amazon rainforest -- to accommodate the estimated 50,000 attendees.

Then we have the executive branch of the United States government, which is opening millions of protected acres in Alaska, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to mining and drilling for oil and gas. This is being opposed by Indigenous peoples and environmental protection organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which plays a vital role in public health, is being dismantled. The Department of the Interior has moved to free the mining and petrochemical industries from any legal liability for polluting the environment and killing wildlife.

In March, a North Dakota jury found environmental advocacy group Greenpeace liable for defamation and ordered it to pay more than $660 million in damages to the Texas-based Energy Transfer oil company. The lawsuit stemmed from Greenpeace's role in the 2016-17 protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline -- one of the largest protests against fossil fuels in U.S. history. "Greenpeace, which vowed to appeal, said last month it could be forced into bankruptcy because of the case, ending over 50 years of activism," reported the BBC. (Full story: BBC.com, March 19)

Clearly, our justice system is out of phase with reality in its dedication to serve corporate interests, regardless of the risks and harmful consequences.

In defense of this new status quo of unbridled harm to the natural environment and everything in it -- and to discredit the validity of rising public concern -- the term "Trump derangement syndrome" has been coined. This is a derogatory phrase used to dismiss criticism of, and negative reactions to, President Trump’s statements and political actions.

But when we frame our perceptions objectively, as per my new book “One Health: Veterinary, Ethical and Environmental Perspectives,” we bear witness to the empathy deficit disorder in this administration. This deficit is evidenced in how it treats all immigrants as criminals; how it fires public servants, who had been serving the common good, from federal agencies; and how it strips legal protections from wildlife, including endangered species.

Elon Musk’s response to all this was to say, in a podcast interview, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy. ... They’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.”

America can surely regain its diplomatic role as a global peacemaker, rather than engaging in disruptive trade wars and siphoning public funds -- needed for social services and environmental protection and restoration -- into the military-industrial complex. It is tragic that so many countries are investing trillions of dollars into weapons of defense and mass destruction rather than uniting to save the planet and humanity.

Those of us who care must bear witness to this ethical and spiritual corruption in America. This is a critical time for humankind to evolve, spiritually and empathically, for the benefit of generations to come, or else risk burdening them with the ravages of climate change, suffering and extinction. The core principle of equalitarianism, of treating each other and all living beings with respect and compassion, is the ethos of a truly democratic society.

EMPATHIC MICE: MORE COMPASSIONATE THAN SOME PEOPLE

Mice have been observed rendering a form of first aid. As summarized on Nature.com:

"Mice that find another mouse unconscious will attempt to resuscitate it in a similar manner to people giving first aid. Researchers found that if a mouse encountered an anaesthetized friend, it would begin a grooming routine focused on the head. If that didn’t rouse their companion, the rescuer began to bite around the mouth and pull at their tongue. This behavior was more forceful in mice that had spent more time with the unconscious individual, and resulted in a quicker recovery time." (See full study: "Reviving-like prosocial behavior in response to unconscious or dead conspecifics in rodents" by Wenjian Sun et al., published in Science, February 2025.)

So think twice before using a glue trap to catch a mouse in your home! My cat Fanny caught one in my kitchen recently, holding it unharmed between her paws so I was able to grab the mouse in a towel and take it outside.

(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: Please see the following post from veterinarian Dr. Bob Goldstein via EarthAnimal.com:

"Recently, there have been reports in several European countries of dogs developing 'Werewolf Syndrome.' While not a recognized medical condition, it causes neurological symptoms such as aggression, excessive barking and agitation, howling, restlessness, excessive chewing and even more serious symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. When grouped together, these symptoms align with the category of inflammation affecting the brain and nervous system.

"In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising pet parents to immediately stop giving these (rawhide) products to their pets and to closely monitor them for any unusual behavior or neurological symptoms (see food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/precautionary-advice-issued-to-pet-owners-on-dog-chews-linked-to-illness). More specifically, the FSA is urging consumers to stop purchasing Barkoo and Chrisco rawhide products, which are available online. Additionally, if a dog exhibits any concerning symptoms, the FSA strongly recommends seeking prompt veterinary care.

"The category of rawhide chews and treats has long been a topic of controversy due to the processes involved in their production. Rawhide chews are a byproduct of the leather industry, where a cow’s skin is split -- the upper layer is used for leather, while the lower layer is processed into dog chews. However, the methods used to store, process and preserve rawhide are widely debated, particularly concerning the use of chemicals such as formaldehyde and bleach, which have raised concerns about the impact of rawhide chews on a dog's health.

"The most popular advantage of rawhide chews is their long-lasting nature, which helps exercise a dog’s teeth and gums while also reducing boredom. However, the potential side effects, along with the risks of choking and intestinal blockages, require careful consideration."

DR. FOX HERE: Regarding the symptoms Goldstein mentions, I suspect possible cadmium poisoning. Many countries -- including China, by far the biggest producer of cattle hides -- use trivalent chromium salts, vegetable tannins, synthetic tanning agents, aluminum sulfate and various additives to tan hides. Rawhide dog chews are processed with chemicals like sodium sulfide, lime, chromium salts, bleach and hydrogen peroxide to preserve them and enhance their flavor, and traces may remain even after washing.

FRESH WATER DAILY FOR PETS

An often-neglected part of responsible companion animal care is the daily provision of fresh drinking water, ideally filtered and purified. I use a ZeroWater filter for my municipal tap water, which is sourced from the agriculture-polluted Mississippi River.

Water bowls should be cleaned out daily to remove the bacterial biofilm that develops within hours of animals drinking and putting bacteria and food particles from their mouths into the water. Many dogs and cats are taken to emergency veterinary clinics, at significant cost, because of diarrhea caused by bacterial infection. Providing purified water in clean bowls daily could help reduce this health crisis. For more details, go to: drfoxonehealth.com/post/pure-water-for-cats-and-dogs-and-all.

Regarding fluoridated water, I agree with R.F. Kennedy Jr. that adding fluoride to municipal drinking water needs close review (as I posted years ago: drfoxonehealth.com/post/fluoride-in-pet-food-a-serious-health-risk-for-both-dogs-and-cats). I part company with him regarding vaccinations, especially against measles, which should be mandatory for children going to school -- just as vaccinations for a related virus, distemper, should be mandatory for all puppies to create a community or “herd” immunity. Unvaccinated human and canine survivors of such infections can have permanent neurologic and other health problems.

But I join him again on the issue of "azo dyes" and other chemical coloring agents being added to foods, against which I railed in my book “Not Fit for a Dog: The Truth About Manufactured Cat & Dog Foods,” co-authored with two other veterinarians.

There are alternatives. In an online statement, food additive company Oterra says, "By leveraging natural pigments like turmeric, Hansen sweet potato, etc., brands can create visually appealing, stable, and regulatory-compliant products that meet pet owners’ growing expectations.” (For details, go to: oterra.com/application/pet-food.)

Another benefit to plant-based dyes: easier carpet cleaning when pets vomit! Synthetic chemical coloring agents, some of which are carcinogenic, often leave permanent stains.

(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.)