DEAR DR. FOX: I was raised as a Christian, but I have a hard time believing in a God who would create a world where there are predators who must kill to survive. What do you think? — LH, Cleveland, Ohio
DEAR LH: I understand your dilemma, but as I explain at length in my numerous essays on wolves, there are lessons to be learned about predators. First, predators—apart from humans, who domesticate and consume billions of animals each year—never kill more than they have to. Otherwise, they would run out of food and die out.
Second, predators practice birth and population control: only wolves of the highest ranks reproduce, for example, and male lions kill the existing cubs of females with whom they want to mate.
Third, life feeds on life in the ecological food chain: small fish eat plankton and are in turn eaten by larger fish, which are then eaten by seals and other marine mammals and seabirds.
Those who believe in a God should respect and protect his creation and learn to live simply so that others can also live simply. It is an ethic of peaceful coexistence that agnostics and atheists should also adopt.
The world was not created simply for human use, but as an incredible, dynamic, sustainable system of biodiversity. I view all animals as spiritual beings in different forms and functions that can inspire and inform us all as we evolve into a wiser and more compassionate species.
DEAR DR. FOX: We have a 2-year-old boy, Robbie, and recently adopted a gentle 1-year-old dog. They get along well, but the dog likes to chew on Robbie’s fluffy animals and plastic toys, and I’m wondering if the plastic pieces are safe. I’m worried he might swallow pieces, although none have broken yet. They are soft and squishy, but I’m worried.
It’s difficult to keep the dog away from them, especially when Robbie drops them. What do you advise? – KH, Lima, Ohio
DEAR KH: If your dog chews on stuffed animals that your child later plays with, it should be safe for the child: Children have been shown to have fewer allergies and develop an immune-boosting microbiome when there is a dog in the house, which passes on beneficial bacteria to infants. But as a precautionary measure, I would put the stuffed animals and shared blankets in the washing machine from time to time.
For the health of your child and your dog, I would throw away all plastic toys as most of them contain endocrine disrupting phthalates. Search online for safe toys for children. There are companies that are aware of this health issue and more parents need to be informed.
As for other chews for your dog, avoid bones and deer antlers, as these can break the dog’s teeth. Bone fragments can also penetrate the intestines. Never buy dried animal parts sold in pet stores, especially pig feet and ears. An FDA investigation of 154 cases of human salmonella infections between June 2015 and September 2019 linked seven salmonella serotypes to samples of pig ear pet treats, and some of the salmonella species were resistant to three or more antimicrobial drug classes. The study, published in Lancet Public Health, found that salmonella was transmitted to humans through direct contact with pig ear treats and infected dogs. (Full story: FoodSafetyNews.com, June 18)
Also, avoid rawhide chews, which can disintegrate and cause intestinal blockages and may contain toxic processing chemicals. I give my dog Earth Animal plant-based chews, which keep her teeth clean and her gums healthy, and provide her with the chewing pleasure that so many dogs enjoy and also help reduce anxiety.
MINNESOTA WARNS CAT OWNERS ABOUT TULAREMIC
Tularemia is a bacterial disease spread by various animals, including squirrels, rabbits and mice. It can be transmitted through animal bites and scratches, bites from ticks and other insects, or even by inhaling aerosols from dead animals. The Minnesota Department of Health identified tularemia in 21 animals last year, which is three times the number of cases normally seen in the state. Seven cases have been reported so far this year.
Health officials warn that outdoor cats that develop fever, swelling, and skin ulcers likely have tularemia. The MDH urges Minnesota residents to avoid contact with wildlife and use tick repellent when outdoors. Cat owners are advised to keep their cats from going outside and chasing small animals. Infected cats could transmit this disease to family members, although the disease is not transmitted from person to person. So again, keep cats indoors!
This zoonosis and other diseases such as insect-borne West Nile virus and dengue fever are likely to become more common in many countries due to rising temperatures and humidity caused by climate change.
(Send all emails to [email protected] or to Dr. Michael Fox, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of emails received does not permit personal responses, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.
Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)
