DEAR READERS: If you are anything like me, you will support the Union of Concerned Scientists because of your conviction that science can and should be used in service of people and the planet. The scientific community and academia are under attack for being “woke” by the current administration, notably about the reality of climate change and optimal vaccination protocols for children.

See the new UCS report, "Science and Democracy Under Siege: Documenting Six Months of the Trump Administration’s Destructive Actions," here: ucs.org/resources/science-and-democracy-under-siege. The report details how President Trump’s second administration has targeted the public science that we all depend on. Perhaps most importantly, it offers recommendations and resources to counter these attacks and hold the administration accountable.

The report covers five main areas of attacks: gutting scientific expertise, halting science and innovation, ignoring public input, cutting out independent experts, and censoring and suppressing scientific information. It also features a case study on how these attacks have impacted climate policies and programs.

On July 23, the International Court of Justice delivered an advisory opinion on nations' obligations regarding climate change. The message: Countries that fail to meet their climate obligations will be liable to pay damages to other countries affected by climate change.

At the same time, the Trump administration proposes to essentially reverse a landmark scientific report, commonly called the "endangerment finding," that links greenhouse gas emissions to the endangerment of human health. This action is "mind-bogglingly out of touch with reality," said David Doniger, a senior federal strategist at the Natural Resources Defense Council to CNN.

These actions by the current administration should be seen as crimes against humanity and nature. I encourage readers to check out Extinction Rebellion (rebellion.global), a nonprofit organization that is attracting many young people around the world. It offers an antidote to eco-anxiety, depression and despair: to become informed and involved in civil initiatives that benefit people and planet alike.

DEAR DR. FOX: Thank you for sharing your articles about the impact that free-roaming cats have on wildlife, and the potentially serious public health risks they pose. I am trying to get an ordinance passed in my community for cats just like the one we already have for dogs: No owned animals are allowed to roam free off their owners’ property.

Also, please consider urging the entire veterinary profession to become certified in both CAETA euthanasia protocol (caetainternational.com) and low-stress handling protocol (cattledogpublishing.com/LSH), so that un-owned, un-homed cats can at least die without being additionally traumatized. As you may know, Dr. Sophia Yin pioneered the gentle, respectful method of handling unsocialized cats. -- M.J.R., Medford, Wisconsin

DEAR M.J.R.: For reasons beyond my comprehension, many municipalities and some veterinarians feel that it is OK for owned cats to roam free. I see this as a cultural tradition, evident in many other countries, that is out of step with reality. The domestic cat has become an invasive species in many parts of the world, decimating songbird and other wildlife populations.

As I document on my website (drfoxonehealth.com) and in my new book “One Health: Veterinary, Ethical and Environmental Perspectives,” free-roaming cats pose a significant threat to public health. Owned cats should be kept indoors, only allowed out in contained yards and enclosures popularly termed “catios.”

HOPE FOR CAPTIVE MONKEYS

Most primates kept as pets in the U.S. suffer from chronic stress, malnutrition and illness, and countless animals die each year in illegal poaching operations, say Oakland Zoo veterinarian Andrea Goodnight and vice president of animal care Colleen Kinzley. A proposed bill in Congress would ban the private ownership of primates throughout the U.S. All should endorse this legislative initiative. (Full story: National Public Radio, July 26)

(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: On July 10, Merck Animal Health said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its once-yearly injectable product to treat and protect dogs older than 6 months of age from fleas and ticks. Bravecto Quantum is expected to be available soon nationwide. The product was first approved in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, then by the European Union in 2024, and is now approved in more than 50 countries.

Bravecto Quantum’s active ingredient is fluralaner, which works by targeting the nervous systems of insects and parasites, leading to their paralysis and death. Common adverse reactions in field studies include lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes and itching.

Fluralaner is part of the isoxazoline class of antiparasitic drugs, a class linked to adverse neurological reactions like tremors, loss of coordination and seizures. Caution is advised for dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders.

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting this class of insecticides may impact the canine gut microbiome, potentially leading to dysbiosis. In some cases, dysbiosis may contribute to the development of food allergies and skin conditions. Research indicates that isoxazolines might reduce the beneficial part of the gut microbiome by 50%, creating an environment where harmful bacteria can thrive.

My concern is that this insecticide only kills fleas, ticks and mosquitos after they have bitten a dog, cat or another treated animal, and therefore does not stop infective insects from transmitting various diseases and triggering allergic reactions.

I use Earth Animal’s Flea and Tick Herbal Bug Spray on my dog -- and on myself -- when we go for walks in our bug-infested woods. It works, and is nontoxic! Earth Animal also has this product as a spot-on, as well as a Daily Internal Powder Supplement to put in pets’ food. The supplement includes ingredients that I have long touted as helpful in repelling biting insects. Such natural products do not contaminate the environment, which is a rising concern when dogs treated with insecticides contaminate lakes and rivers when they go for a dip.

Some insecticides, along with glyphosate-contaminated pet foods, can trigger sudden aggression in dogs. This may be a consequence of the depletion of the "bonding hormone," oxytocin (as detailed in my post here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/antiparasitic-products-and-the-gut-microbiome). From a One Health perspective, I think it would be advisable to check oxytocin levels in persons engaging in acts of violence. Of course, there are multiple factors in the etiology of human aggression, but oxytocin deficiency and its role what I call the empathy deficit disorder should be considered. (For more, see the study "Neurobiology of aggression and violence" by Larry Siever, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2008.)

On July 17, the FDA approved a liquid form of this insecticide -- Exzolt, a fluralaner oral solution -- to be given in the drinking water of poultry for the treatment and control of northern fowl mites in laying hens and replacement chickens.

"In addition to establishing that fluralaner is safe and effective in laying hens and replacement chickens," reads a statement from the agency, "the FDA determined that residues in edible tissues or eggs from birds treated with Exzolt will not represent a public health concern when the product is used according to the label."

The overcrowding of birds in commercial factory farms creates ideal conditions for this mite to spread and infest the entire flock. Less crowding, and the provision of dust-bathing areas that include food-grade diatomaceous earth, would probably prevent the spread of these mites as effectively as insecticides, and with zero risk.

Many avian species regularly dust-bathe, and some engage in reciprocal preening to rid themselves of various external parasites. For details, go to bhwt.org.uk/blog/health-welfare/chicken-dust-bath.

(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: You will be interested in a recent article in The New York Times by Rachel Nuwer: "We Love Our Dogs and Cats. But Are They Bad for the Environment?" (Link: nytimes.com/2025/07/29/climate/dogs-cats-pets-environment-impact.html.)

Here is a sample passage:

"Gregory Okin, a geographer at the University of California, Los Angeles, calculated in a 2017 study that the estimated 163 million cats and dogs in the United States consume a whopping quarter of the country’s animal-derived calories. 'If U.S. dogs and cats were their own country, they would rank fifth in global meat consumption,' he said in an interview. ...

"To reduce these effects, Dr. Okin recommends pet food brands that meet dietary requirements but contain less animal-derived protein."

What is your opinion? -- P.S., San Francisco

DEAR P.S.: Thanks for alerting me to this significant article. Dogs and cats are part of the recycling of the remains of farmed animals and seafoods from the vast tonnage most people consume, contributing to the loss of biodiversity and associated climate change. Less animal-derived protein in pet foods will mean less human consumption at top of the food chain.

We also must consider the impact on biodiversity of free-roaming cats hunting and killing wildlife, and of dogs and cats spreading diseases to indigenous carnivores. The latter puts these predators at risk, many of which are also being killed by farmers and ranchers.

The health benefits of vegan and vegetarian diets have been well documented. Many also choose these diets on the grounds of compassion for animals, and in favor of reducing their carbon footprint.

Another dietary health consideration: A new study suggests that animal fats might drive the growth of certain cancer cells more than vegetable oils do. Melanoma growth was accelerated in mice fed lard, beef tallow or butter, but not in mice fed coconut oil, palm oil or olive oil, reads the study.

“Our study provides an important proof of principle that dietary fat can regulate immune function in obesity-related cancers,” write the authors. While this is "a significant conceptual development," they write, "we cannot draw conclusions about how changes in human consumption of a particular fat, such as palm oil, will impact immune function or tumor growth." (See the full study: "The source of dietary fat influences anti-tumour immunity in obese mice" by Britta Kunkemoeller et al., published in Nature Metabolism in 2025.)

INTEGRATED CLINIC EXPANDS ACCESS TO CARE

The Seattle One Health Clinic, which offers free medical and veterinary care in the same facility, increased access to preventative care as well as housing and services for young homeless people and their pets, researchers reported in the Journal of Primary Care and Community Health. More than two-thirds of health clinic visits were initially for veterinary care, and nearly 80% of all visits resulted in human health care. (Full story: University of Washington, Seattle, Aug. 4)

This is the essence of compassion-in-action that all communities can emulate for the common good.

(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.)