Pet owners will do well to observe the behaviors and health of their pets as they assess the health of their home. What can we learn about pets and the environment?
The link between environmental exposures and animal health is not new.
More than a hundred years ago, miners took caged canaries into the coal mines to warn them of toxic gasses. In the 1950s when thousands of people in Japan died or were injured by mercury-poisoned fish, animals provided the first clue when cats were seen dancing in the streets before collapsing and dying.
Today, professional dog trainers encourage veterinarians to address “factors in the physical environment that have a potential to impact the dog’s health, nutrition, and physical condition.”
Pets and Toxic Mold
I wish we had known to consider our indoor environment when we moved into our toxic home in 2000. (Read our family’s story here.)
Our parakeet, Gabriel, died soon after moving into the home. We continued to buy parakeets, and each one died within months. One of them developed a strange fungus all over his body and even chewed off his foot!
Our two cats became sick with bladder infections. Our Bichon Frise, Pippen, became insulin dependent within the first two years. After our botched remediation, when our family’s health declined rapidly, Pippen, already blind, developed red eyes, became disabled, and repeatedly chewed on his fur.
Interestingly, and certainly not coincidentally, the parakeet we purchased soon after leaving our home is still thriving seven years later.
Florida veterinarian Douglas Mader discovered a connection with toxic mold when two cats died of a pulmonary hemorrhage after a routine dental procedure. (View his study here.)
Further reading on toxic mold and pets:
Pets and Chemicals
Pets are especially vulnerable to lawn, garden, and household chemicals. Chemicals quickly accumulate on lawns outdoors and in dust or carpeting indoors. Research suggests that lawn-care chemicals may increase the risk of canine lymphoma and bladder cancer. Hypothyroidism has been closely linked with exposure to flame retardants used in furniture and electronics, and also ingested via cat food. Clearly, the fewer chemicals we use in the home, the better for our pet’s health (and ours).
Relevant studies:
- Case-Control Study of Canine Malignant Lymphoma: Positive Association with Dog Owner’s Use of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Herbicides
- Epidemiologic Study of Insecticide Exposures, Obesity, and Risk of Bladder Cancer in Household Dogs
- Higher PBDE Serum Concentrations May Be Associated with Feline Hyperthyroidism in Swedish Cats
Pets and Wireless Radiation
A surprising environmental issue may be your pet’s exposure to wireless radiation. Many people do not associate their own health with electronic devices, let alone the health of their pet. However, one professional dog trainer does. In the July/August 2015 issue of The Scoop, a newsletter for dog trainers, Jennifer Berg, BA, BEAD, CPDT‐KA, points to the BioInitiative Report 2012, which closely links adverse health effects with radiation frequency (RF) exposure:
These studies support the consideration of wireless devices as a factor when trainers are addressing behaviors such as hyperactivity; learning/training difficulties due to memory, cognition, and/or attention deficits; behaviors related to stress and anxiety (e.g. restlessness, reactivity, separation anxiety, aggression); and because of the effect of RF/MWR on the digestive system, house soiling, excessive licking, fussy eating, or eating everything (including non‐ food items).
What can pet owners do to reduce exposure?
The easiest way to reduce a pet’s exposure is to choose wired devices instead of wireless. Cordless DECT phones are one of the worst sources because they continuously emit, even when not in use (as do wireless baby monitors). Ethernet cords and cables provide superb quality Internet and TV without the RF/MWR. If removing wireless devices from the home is not an option, the wireless can be turned off when not in use, especially at night and when no one but the pet is home. This can be as simple as unplugging the router (or entire device) or disabling the wireless in the settings. Cell phones emit constantly and should be put into Airplane Mode whenever possible.
Whether we’re protecting our pets or ourselves, it behooves all of us to reduce our exposure. For more, see Sleep, Melatonin and Electronic Devices.
When it comes to assessing the safety of an indoor environment, it makes sense to consider your pet’s health. The connection may prove life-saving, not only for your pet but for you as well!
Related Posts
- 35
Our family recently attempted a weekend digital detox experiment with great success and interesting results. The more I learn about electromagnetic radiation, the more concerned I am with the impact on the brain and overall health. I am determined to reduce our exposure. My goal is to help my kids… - 30
How can couples stay together when confronted with serious illness due to a toxic exposure? Dr. Lisa Nagy has a passion to educate doctors and medical professionals in the area of environmental medicine. Ten years ago Dr. Nagy became severely ill following a toxic exposure in her home. Trained in… - 30
Can toxic mold cause type 1 diabetes? While potential triggers vary, research suggests that environment plays a critical role in the onset of autoimmune disease. (See Environment, Not Genes, Dictates Human Immune Variation, Study Finds.) As a mom of a son with type 1 diabetes, I am convinced our encounter…
Our cat’s health declined right along with ours after vacating the toxic mold house. She lived about 2 years, then had to be put down. Based on the story I shared with the veterinarian about my family’s experience, he agreed with me that mold was the cause of her illness. He could not find anything visibly wrong with her. Extensive testing may have shown more, but we didn’t have the hundreds of dollars it would’ve taken to find out. And as you can relate, one medical test after another proved nothing to the various medical doctors puzzled at trying to find out what was behind the mounting health issues my family was experiencing.
I’ve developed a keen awareness, and have learned so much since then. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Andrea!
In addition, the chemicals, the wireless radiation…it all makes sense.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Angela! I know it will help others.
I find this interesting. For some strange reason, I figured pets were immune to mold problems. When I lived in Denver they had a news story about a beagle that sniffed out mold in homes. I thought it was a fabulous idea and recently thought it might be a great business to have. Now I’ve completed changed my mind. Poor dog.
Also, I wonder what your thoughts on humans and on genetic testing and the snps having a HLA-DQA2 heterozygous? Do you have anything about mold on your site about those folks. I hear it’s not good and I hear it’s good because it protects you, in some cases. Wish there was more research on this.
The only article on genetics I have on my site is this one:
http://it-takes-time.com/2014/08/toxic-mold-lyme-and-genetics.html
The link is broken. Is there another way to search.
Sorry here it is!
http://it-takes-time.com/2014/08/22/toxic-mold-lyme-and-genetics/
Hi! I know this comment has nothing to do with this post, but I am desperate! I’m trying to find your cranberry-orange chutney recipe; I have made it the past few years for Thanksgiving, but now I’m here to look for it to start the ferment tonight, and I can’t find it anywhere! Is it still on your site and I’m missing it, or have you taken it down?
Hi Erica!
I’m going to move it over to this site, but for now, here it is!
http://moldrecovery.blogspot.com/2012/11/fermented-cranberry-orange-chutney.html#.WDMKg6IrL6Y
In November last year my area went from ADSL to Broadband internet (no choice in the matter). I began to have joint pains and produce strong smelling urine a month later. In February, my 2 year old healthy cat had a grand mal seizure and I was told she now had epilepsy. Even with medication, she had an average of 1 grand mal seizure every 7-10 days, and I continued to have joint pain.
About a month ago I finally realised that it might be the broadband connection. I now have it turned completely off unless I’m using the computer. My cat has had only one seizure in 4 weeks, and I’ve halved her medication. My joints are slowly getting better. Unfortunately, the home phone goes through broadband. If the modem is switched off – no home phone. I’m stuck with a mobile phone for communication. Right now, it’s the lesser of two evils, and I have to have a mobile phone for my work anyway.
Thanks for sharing your story, Louise! Yes, the mobile phone sounds like the lesser of two evils. Have you considered Voice Over Protocol? VoIP. This is a way to communicate via the computer. That might be an option.
Hi Andrea, I’m such a fan of Chris’ show daily, and love it when you’re on with all the Lord has taught you through some very rough years. Anyway, I’m searching your websites regarding flea/tick treatment for our puppy. We have always given what the vet says, but lost 2 Shelties to liver failure and cancer. Part of that was toxic dog food we found out about, but we know traditional flea/tick products are poison. Do you have any recommendations you have discovered? If so, thank you for sharing! Blessings to you and your family.
Hi Christy, I would suggest diatomaceous earth as a flea and tick treatment! See what you think. https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/natural-flea-control-for-dogs/
WiFi is a huge culprit with many health issues but 5G & Smart meters will be this generations health crisis. Because the FCC and Telecommunication corporations are in this together it is hard to fight, they have not done the correct research and testing. These industries (utility) will be the next trillion dollar industries. EMF & RF meters can be bought online and there are remediation companies as well as you can remediate your own home against these up and coming radiation exposures.