Pets and Animals

*cat attacks

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:18:00 +0000

Yahoo7

My cat Puss'n attacks everyone and everything. Groceries have to be put away immediately, otherwise she rips them apart. It's as if she's being spiteful and I don't know what to do. Marj Wilson, 77, NSW
Puss'n sounds like a handful! Although animals share many emotions with us, such as fear and pain, spite is not one of them. The reason behind her destructive and aggressive behaviour is more likely a result of instinct. Cats are built for hunting and although they've been domesticated, they still have that instinct. Puss'n is hunting when she rips apart the groceries and attacks people. You need to give Puss'n an outlet to express natural behaviours such as hunting and stalking. Buy some toys for her. Toys that mimic prey, such as fake mice and birds, are best. Make some time each day to have a play session with Puss'n and rotate her toys regularly to stop her getting bored. If you satisfy her desire to hunt you'll find she is less likely to attack people and your groceries!

*Animal friends: Ozboz, a cat with a legacy of heroism

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:27:00 +0000

By Linda Goldston
lgoldston@mercurynews.com

Once when Sarah Hammer was just a baby, lying on her back in her crib, she spit up — a lot. The family cat, Ozboz, saw this and knew something was wrong.

Ozboz raced to Sarah's parents in the living room of their Palo Alto home and started yowling and running back and forth between the two rooms.

"My parents knew something had happened, so they followed Ozboz into my room," Sarah said. "If Oz had not reacted, I might have aspirated and developed pneumonia.

"Instead, all my parents had to do was clean up a big mess."

Sarah, who told me she might become a marine paleontologist when she grows up, is now 13. Ozboz died in November at the age of 18.

But neither Sarah nor her parents will ever forget their own cat hero.

"I know this story can seem very funny and gross to some people, but to me it is very special," Sarah said. "I will never forget what a special cat he was, nor how he saved my life when I was too young to get help for myself."

Sarah's mother, Leslie, who is so funny she made me laugh out loud when I called to confirm the e-mailed story, said she knew from the beginning that Oz was a special cat.

Leslie was single and had gone to the shelter in Palo Alto in 1992 to look for a 1-year-old cat.

"They had only very old cats and a big pile of kittens," she said. "I was about to leave when one of the volunteers said, 'Look UNDER the pile of kittens.' "

Leslie carefully lifted the kittens, one by one, from the furry pile and found "this big cat who was serving as a surrogate mother. It was Oz, a pre-neutered, 6-month-old male. How could I resist?"

Later, when Philip, her husband-to-be, visited her the first time in her apartment, Oz jumped onto his lap, settled in and went to sleep.

"Not being used to pets, Philip was very startled," Leslie said. "It was obvious that Oz was giving his paw-print of approval."

Then, when Sarah was born, "Oz was most puzzled by this creature who looked human, yet was so obviously helpless," Leslie said. "He stuck by her side throughout her entire babyhood, until she learned to walk on her own."

Stories about beloved family cats don't come much better than this. And a heroic family cat to boot. The volunteer at the Humane Society in Palo Alto told Leslie that Oz had been rescued after a man stopped his car and threw him out the window.

In his advanced years, Oz "had become a nice old guy," Leslie said. "He enjoyed lying in the sunlight through the window — he was an indoor cat his whole life — and being brushed and sleeping in our laps.

"Like many older cats, he developed kidney failure and one night, when he hadn't eaten or taken water all day and didn't pass the 'purr test' by not purring when we brushed him, we knew it was time, so we had him put to sleep. He died in my arms."

His memory lives on at Sarah's house. The family has two new cats, Midnight and Buddy, who are about a year old. "They befriended each other in the death room" at the local shelter, Leslie said. They were facing euthanasia when a cat rescue group found them, she said.

I never got to meet Ozboz but I, too, will never forget this special cat that even as a young kitten was a caretaker, letting the babies find comfort on his warm, larger body, all piling in and sleeping on top of him. And to know his reward for being born was being thrown from a car. What a special soul he was to overcome that.

*Nip-and-tuck planned for mutilated pup

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Buckley's ears and tail were cut off with scissors in a cruel attack. (Nine News)
ninemsn
Buckley the abused puppy will face another challenge this week when he undergoes plastic surgery.

The eight-week-old collie-staffordshire terrier cross will spend about 45 minutes in the operating theatre while his severed ears and tail are repaired.

"We'll probably have to remove a little more from the stump of his tail so that the skin can be sealed over the top of it to avoid infection," Lost Dogs' Home manager Sue Conroy said.

"We will also trim up the ears and give them more of an even surface."

The operation, estimated to cost between $800 and $1000, will be paid for by donations that have flooded into the North Melbourne centre since the horrifying attack on July 11.

Buckley will also be de-sexed before the home makes the difficult choice of choosing his new home from hundreds of offers.

"He'll have stitches and fairly intensive care for the next 10 days to fortnight, and then about another fortnight after that before we adopt him out," Ms Conroy said.

But gifts delivered to Buckley will be appreciated by abused and neglected animals long after the puppy leaves the home.

"We're still getting people dropping in blankets, food and presents, so it's not only Buckley but the other animals in our care that are benefiting from people's generosity," Ms Conroy said.

"We've also had a very big weekend with animal adoption and that's continuing with an increase in phone calls."

A St Albans man, 32, was arrested on Friday over the incident following a tip-off to Crime Stoppers.

He is yet to be charged but is undergoing psychiatric assessment.

Puppy found with ears, tail cut off

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0000

By ninemsn staff

A puppy has been found with its ears and tail cut off with scissors after it was abandoned in a Victorian schoolyard.

Buckley, an eight-week-old border collie-cross-staffordshire bull terrier, was discovered by a passing ambulance on July 11 before being rushed to a veterinarian, Nine News reports.

Staff at the Lost Dogs' Home in North Melbourne gave Buckley emergency treatment, with shelter manager Sue Conroy saying the attack had left staff distraught.

"We've got to get him over these physical injuries that he's had to face … he's on lots of pain relief and some antibiotics for infection," Ms Conroy said.

"My concern is that he also has to get over this emotionally so it's going to take some time.

"In my 23 years of working at the dogs' home, I've not seen anything like this … for this little puppy to endure what he has, it's just unspeakable cruelty.

"It's really upset us terribly."

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Wanted: love for pound pups

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:26:00 +0000

yahoo7
Unfortunately, 144,000 animals are surrendered to the RSPCA each year - and 63,000 of those are dogs.

Just after Christmas, when people go away on holidays, or when their cute puppy is becoming an adult, are the busiest time of year for animal shelters.

In December, Bree from the RSPCA was shocked to discover a young Rhodesian Ridgeback out the front of their shelter.

'The dog had been dropped off and he was in a really bad state. His ribs were sticking out and his fur was matted and dirty.

'He was so nervous, and he had obviously been mistreated by people who couldn't cope with him. While I wanted to break down and cry, I knew I had to be strong and do all that I could to save this poor, helpless dog.

'A month on, with love and constant care, he's put on 5kg and has learnt to trust humans. We've called him Tyson and he's like a different dog.

'We're still working with him but have started looking for his new home. He deserves it after all he's been though.'

Michelle Minehan from the RSPCA encourages people to consider the life-long commitment of owning a pet before they take one on.

'You should only buy a pet if you can dedicate time to playing, walking and taking care of the animal as part of the family, not just a pet in the backyard,' Michelle says. She has this advice for anyone who's thinking about adopting an animal.

Look past the cute and cuddly factor. Will you still be devoted when your pet is no longer a cute baby?
Pets cost money, not only initially, but over their entire lifespan. Can you afford it?
Weigh up whether or not you can give the animal a good life. Are you at work all day, leaving the pet home alone? Who will look after them while you're on holiday?

If you are struggling to look after your pet, especially during the current economic crisis, you can surrender them to your local RSPCA.

'We prefer people to bring their pets to us, rather than dump them,' Michelle explains. 'Once an animal has been surrendered, they go through behavioural and vet checks, which determine if the animal will go up for adoption.'

2 British police dogs die after being left in car during heat wave

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Associated Press

LONDON — Two British police dogs died after being left in a car during a heat wave, police said today.

The German shepherds were left in a car Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of police headquarters in Nottingham, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) north of London. Temperatures topped 84 F (29 C) that day.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was investigating the incident under animal welfare legislation. The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary distress to an animal is six months' imprisonment or a 20,000 pound ($33,000) fine, or both.

The dogs' police handler was on duty and had gone inside the building. Police did not say how long the dogs were in the car.

"This is a tragic incident and we value the important work our police dogs carry out on a daily basis," Nottinghamshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Davies said in a statement.

The Dogs Trust, an animal welfare charity, said heat can kill dogs in just 20 minutes, and that temperatures inside cars can top 104 F (40 C).

Police: 2 Michigan men rescuing turtle hit by driver

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:23:00 +0000

Associated Press
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. —

Police in Michigan say two men were seriously injured when they were hit by a car as they tried to help a turtle crossing a road.

Macomb County sheriff's deputies found a truck stopped on the Harrison Township road early today and discovered the injured men nearby.

Derek James Redmond of Mount Clemens was arraigned on charges that include drunken driving. A preliminary hearing is set for July 1.

Redmond didn't have an attorney on record with the court.

Animal Friends: Muttville rescues Bay Area senior dogs

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:39:00 +0000

By Linda Goldston

Wee Willy is about 12 years old and only has one tooth left but he... ( Courtesy of Muttville )«12»The cocker spaniel was found wandering on the streets of San Jose two weeks ago. He is blind and deaf, and his fur was so matted you couldn't see his eyes.

He would have been put down if someone hadn't thought to call Sherri Franklin in San Francisco. She is the founder and executive director of a wonderful organization called Muttville, which rescues and seeks homes for senior dogs, at least 7 years old.

Franklin describes herself as "Muttville Central" because she takes in so many dogs herself, but she has a network of 23 foster homes around the Bay Area, including on the Peninsula, where dogs are given a second chance. Some of them have cancer and other diseases, but these kind people take them in to give them a warm, loving place for their last days.

Others might call them rescuers and foster parents. I call them saints.

"It's the passion that keeps me going," said Franklin, a hairstylist by profession. "The dogs just keep you going."

Look at the pictures of the dogs on the organization's Web site at www.muttville.org to see why. Some of them, like Wee Willy, are too cute for words, and some look as if they're ready to jump into somebody's arms.

In the past, most of the dogs that came to Muttville were from shelters that called with pleas to save the dogs. But lately the group is also seeing canine victims of the economy — dogs that were given up by families because

they have to move and the new landlord won't allow dogs. Or the owner has to go into a convalescent home. Or the owner can't afford the dog food or the medication.

"I just rescued a 15-year-old pit bull," Franklin said. "The shelter in Alameda had already kept it for a year."

Lately, "there's a huge increase in family pets," she said. "At first they pace back and forth in the house and they whine a little. They're looking for their owners."

Placed in such careful hands, though, the dogs settle down and start loving their foster parents.

Since its founding 21/2 years ago, Muttville has taken in more than 350 senior dogs and found homes for about 300 of them.

Franklin is hoping to find a home for the blind cocker spaniel. She thinks the dog is 10 years old, and she named him Geronimo. He has been cleaned up and has a new haircut. He wags his tail "like crazy" when he's petted, Franklin said.

Muttville recently placed a 14-year-old dog found wandering the streets in Hayward with a woman about to turn 100. No shelter would allow the woman to adopt because she was so old. Still, she had her heart set on a little white poodle.

One grooming and a couple of baths later, the scruffy little dog found in Hayward turned into a gorgeous white poodle. Franklin made sure there was a support network to help the 100-year-old woman with the dog, and the little poodle rarely leaves her arms.

That's the way the world should work.

This all-volunteer organization spends the majority of donations on vet bills and could use your help if you have a little extra cash. There's also a wish list on its Web site for such things as a steam cleaner for the shelter's floors, laundry detergent and a pressure sprayer.

Donations may be made through PayPal on the organization's Web site or checks may be mailed to Muttville, Box 410207, San Francisco, CA 94141.

Chihuahua races

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:07:00 +0000

10 Reasons Why Pet Insurance Is A Must

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:50:00 +0000

Pets and Animals

Pets today need insurance as the cost of medical treatments are very high and in breeding and other problems have made pets more susceptible to diseases and other problems.

Pet insurance can cost anywhere between USD 2000-6000 over the life of a pet and the amount of premium to be paid would depend on many variables like breed, age, and more.

Pet insurance can be bought online or offline from leaders like: Pet care Insurance Companies; Veterinary Pet Insurance Company; Pets Best Insurance; and Vet Insurance. The best way to insure a pet is to ask your vet for advice. Pet insurance at affordable rates can be purchased online from websites devoted to pet insurance and pet care. The premium to be paid depends on age of pet, general health of pet, breed of pet, potential risks for susceptible diseases and so on.

Before investing in insurance you must do your homework and find out all you can about polices, how to keep premiums low, and how to buy the best pet insurance at the most affordable rate. The internet is a knowledge highway and has great information on pets, insurance options, and more. Make the effort to educate yourself.

Medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars. And treatments for hip diseases, cancers, kidney failure and more can cost between USD 1000- 5000. In case of disease or accidents pets can be treated and nursed back to health instead of “put down.”

Here are a few reasons why pet insurance is to be considered:

1. A pet is a family member and death due to accident or illness can upset children. Insurance coverage could save the life of the pet.

2. Pet insurance gives peace of mind and owners can stop worrying about unpaid bills or pets crossing roads.

3. Pet insurance ensures longer life spans of pets.

4. Insurance offers preventive health care, which means diseases can be detected in pets at early stages when treatments can offer cures.

5. Pet insurance covers expensive diagnostics and hospitalization expenses for pets.

6. Pet insurance can save the life of the pet as it covers treatments like radiation therapy and kidney replacements.

7. Pet insurance releases the burden of having to pay when the family is going through lean times such as being “laid off” or having a personal illness to deal with.

8. Pet insurance can help you get a deductible which is cost saving and the insurance will protect the pet.

9. Pet insurance offers regular health checks, shots, elective and non elective surgeries, and sometimes extended stays at a pet boarding house.

10. In general pet insurance can cost as little as USD 20-40 a month and this brings good health and cheer to the pet, very much a family member.

Pet insurance could save the life of a dear one without straining your wallet.

About The Author

Timothy Rudon is a writer for http://www.1855petinsurance.com/

, the premier website to find Pet Insurance, pet health insurance, veterinary pet insurance, pet care insurance, best pet insurance, pet health care insurance, vpi pet insurance and many more.

Your pet: On the nose

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:11:00 +0000

yahoo7
We’ve all heard the term ‘dog’s breath’. For some reason we’ve come to expect our furry friends to have bad breath – but the truth is if they do, there’s something wrong.

Halitosis is usually caused by bacterial by-products present in plaque, a soft material that builds up on teeth and gums, irritating gum tissue.

Tartar, a hard, calcified material, develops on top of teeth and provides a rough surface for more plaque to stick to. Untreated, the pet’s gums will become infected – this is gingivitis. Eventually, a painful condition called periodontitis sets in. By this time, all the structures around the teeth, including the bone, will be infected and teeth become loose.

Dogs and cats should have a dental check-up during their annual vaccination. Older pets will need a professional scale and polish under anaesthesia.

Root of the problem
Oral disease is the most common infection in our pets, with 80 per cent of dogs and almost as many cats having a degree of periodontal disease by the age of three. While bad breath may be the only sign noticed by pet owners initially, gums will turn red and bleed as the disease progresses. Pets’ eating habits will also change – usually they’ll develop a preference for softer foods as chewing becomes painful.

The effects of periodontal disease don’t stop at the mouth. Bacteria surrounding roots enters the bloodstream and harms other organs. Studies show dogs with severe periodontal disease have increased microscopic damage to kidneys, heart muscle and liver.

Prevent plaque
The key to managing gum disease is prevention. If teeth are cleaned frequently, plaque will not build up and gums will stay healthy. Oral health is maintained by daily hygiene, as with humans.

The gold standard of care is daily brushing. Diets and chews approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (www.vohc.org) will also help.

How to clean your pet’s teeth
This experience can be challenging for all! But if you can do it effectively, it will make a big difference. Here’s what I find works best:

Start by getting a soft cloth, then apply something your pet likes the taste of (Vegemite or anchovy paste, for example) and gently open its mouth, rubbing the cloth on the teeth. Don’t worry about trying to clean them the first time – just getting the pet used to you opening its mouth is the aim of the step. Reward your pet with a treat.
Over a two-week period, use the cloth to work your way around the outside of the teeth at the front and back. Give a little treat and a big cuddle as a reward for cooperation.
Once your pet has accepted the cloth, you can change to a soft child’s toothbrush. You can also use a pet toothpaste product – never use human toothpaste as pets hate the taste, and it’s too high in foaming agents and fluoride for them. Pet toothpaste comes in a wide range of flavours including malt, chicken, beef and prawn.

Amazing Dog Birth!

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Animal Friends: Cat turns out to be an escape artist

noreply@blogger.com (leila) — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:46:00 +0000

By Linda Goldston
Mercury News
This story begins when Katherine Filice of Gilroy adopted a feral kitten from Town Cats in Morgan Hill.
She named him Pixel and learned right away that he could still be "a little wild sometimes." So Katherine's husband, Dean, asked that Pixel, who's now 1-year-old, be kept in a spare room at night and when Katherine wasn't at home "so he didn't claw too much of our furniture."
That didn't stop Pixel from falling in love with Katherine and adopting her as his own. (Katherine is creative director at a graphic design agency, which was the inspiration for his name.)
Almost nightly, Pixel climbs into Katherine's lap and "just stares my husband down — as if he is saying, 'She's mine, and there
Video: Pixel opens the door is nothing you can do about it.'''
That includes keeping little Pixel locked up.
Katherine and Dean came home one day, and Pixel was out of his room, the door left open. The couple feared a burglar had broken in.
But nothing else was amiss and after a few days of finding Pixel out of his room when they came home, they had their suspect.
"We realized he must be doing it!" Katherine said.
Pixel had learned how to turn the handle and open the door. He jumps up, pulls down on the lever until the door pulls open a crack. Then Pixel drops down and listens at the door — making sure the coast is clear and the big bad husband is not there — before venturing out.
Not to be outdone, Dean tried stretching
a bungee cord to Pixel's door and the door knob across the hall "so he can't open the door when he isn't allowed out," Katherine said. "It is a total man thing — I am surprised he didn't use duct tape."
Still, friends and family refused to believe that Pixel was actually doing this. That's when Katherine decided to set up a video camera to catch her feline escape artist in the act. The video is so charming — and funny.
"It turns out that he only lets himself out near the time I am supposed to be home," Katherine said. "If just my husband is home, he stays in his room, as if he knows he would get in trouble."
Pixel has learned to stay away from the family's 13-year-old German shepherd, Franklin, a female who is blind, deaf and hates cats. And when Katherine is outside with her horse, Styx, Pixel yells — meows — at them from a window.
Ever active and curious, Pixel also likes to play fetch — and catch when he gets bored with that.
"He jumps on my lap and drops a toy mouse," Katherine said. "I throw it and he runs after it and brings it back to my lap. He will do this for hours.
"One time I didn't throw the mouse far enough, and he jumped up and caught it between his paws, so now sometimes we play catch and sometimes we play fetch. I am worried someday he will find a real mouse and drop it into my lap."
Most endearing to Katherine — and frankly to me — was when Pixel went up to her daughter Aly's room and found one of her stuffed kittens.
"He brought it to me and ever since that has been his 'buddy.' He will put that little stuffed kitten in his bed and sleep with it. I was shocked to see out of the dozens of stuffed toys, he picked a little gray kitten."
Alas, Pixel mostly has the run of the house.
No doubt he'll be moving those bungee cords from his room to the couple's bedroom — at least when Dean is there — in no time.

Animal Friends: The kitten that won them over

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:44:00 +0000

By Linda Goldston

Mercury News

Rho was just a handful of dirty fur when Randy Thompson of Livermore found... ( Randy Thompson )«1»Some people spend days, even weeks, trying to decide on their next pet. Some people just luck into one.

Randy Thompson was sitting at his desk in Milpitas working away in August when a co-worker said she saw a tiny cat outside the window.

Randy ran outside and saw "a little fluff of fur in the bushes." The kitten was terrified and would hiss and growl when Randy tried to get close.

After several trips outside to talk to the cat, Randy and another co-worker were able to corral the kitten, throw a towel over him and quickly place him inside a cardboard box. Randy still had several more hours of work before he could take the kitten home, and the scared animal "was very noisy and hostile. Any noise or movement around him would set him off on a hissing, meowing fit."

When the towel was taken off, "we found a tiny little dirty, white, furred ball of teeth and claws," Randy said. The kitten appeared to be 4 to 5 weeks old and obviously had been on his own for several days.

Randy put water in the box and soaked some dry food he had in the car in water so the kitten could eat it. After the food disappeared, Randy wrapped his hand in the towel and picked up the kitten: "He became a totally different kitten. He was shaking and meowing incredibly loud — he was no longer the tiny scared kitten; he was wanting his mommy!"

The Livermore resident knew he couldn't keep the little critter because his housemate, Larry Pelz, is allergic to cats. But home he went with the kitten in the box.

They made it through the first night, with a make-do litter box and kitty litter borrowed from a neighbor, but first on their to-do list for the next day was take the kitten to the local animal shelter. They were getting ready to go to the shelter when the phone rang. Larry's new Toyota Prius had come in; could he come pick it up?

Well, you know what happened after that. By the time the two housemates got back that night, the kitten had become pretty adorable. Randy had given him a Beanie Baby teddy bear to sleep and play with the night before, and the mini tiger loved taking a running lunge at the bear, tackling it and then embedding his claws and teeth into it.

The next day, on Sunday, both men helped give the kitten a bath. As soon as they started drying off the kitten, "Larry said that he looked like a drowned rodent," Randy said in an e-mailed story. Larry started calling the kitten Rodent and the name stuck, though it was refined to Rho Dent or Rho for short.

About eight months later, all is well. The dirty kitten has grown into a beautiful cat, as you can see from the photo of Rho; Larry is taking allergy shots; the cat's teddy bears are piling up; and both Larry and Randy are taking the two daily alarms set by Rho in stride.

"Rho has two alarm settings — 4:15 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.," Randy said. "No one gets to sleep past those two times, and anyone who tries gets to feel the feline alarm go off: jumping, licking, more jumping, banging the window blinds and general obnoxious cat behavior until everyone is up and showering."

Go, Rho!

And never doubt the potential of a rescued pet. They don't come with papers — they come with love and joy. Still, if Larry's Prius hadn't arrived when it did, would Randy and Larry have missed out? Nah, they were hooked by then.

Doggy drive-in

A new dog group in the Santa Cruz area — called Woofers and Walkers — has some fun things lined up for dog owners there. There's an "adventure walk" every Sunday and planned movies for dog owners and their canine friends. This Sunday, it's "Best in Show" on the patio of the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz. For more information, check out www.woofersandwalkers.com or call 831-427-0350

My dog is itchy

noreply@blogger.com (charbel) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:11:00 +0000

Ask Our Vet with Dr Michelle Coles

Provided by Your Pet Magazine

Spring and Summer is the time of year when owners might notice their pets starting to scratch. It is very unpleasant to watch our loved ones biting or scratching and chewing at themselves. This constant self-trauma can lead to other problems such as secondary infections and further skin inflammation.

There are many different causes for itchy skin in our pets and your veterinarian can determine what is causing your loved one to scratch.

There are certain parasites which can cause our pets to be itchy, such as fleas and mites. Fleas breed rapidly in summer, so flea allergy problems are worse at this time of year. There are many good preventative treatments on the market. Your vet is able to do a number of small simple tests to check whether your pet has a parasite problem. Some parasites such as fleas can be seen on your pet but others such as mites can only be seen under the microscope.

Certain infections (including bacterial and yeast infections) can also cause your pet to scratch. Your vet can also check for this and treat your animal accordingly.

Similar to humans, pets can suffer from allergies and there are many different things that give your pet an allergic reaction. Dogs and cats can be allergic to foods. By feeding your animal a different type of food (under the guidance of your vet) you may see an improvement. Food allergies are usually due to a particular protein source. Feeding your pet a different type of protein may help to resolve this allergy. There are commercial diets available from your vet specifically made for animals suffering with food allergies. Your vet can advise if your pet should have one of these diets.

Dogs and cats can also be allergic to pollens, dust mites and things in the home such as carpets and certain bedding. Some pets are allergic to flea bite saliva. Your vet can help you to determine what your pet may be allergic to. Some of these things can be controlled by preventative measures, such as flea control and removal of bedding, whereas other triggers such as pollens - that can increase at this time of year - are very difficult to eliminate from your pet's environment. In these cases, your pet may need medication to help reduce the signs associated with this disease.

So, if you see your pet scratching do not hesitate to ask your vet for help. There are many different causes and your vet will work out the best treatment option for your beloved friend!

Dr Michelle Coles is Veterinary Technical Manager with Royal Canin Australia.

The singing chihuahua

noreply@blogger.com (charbel) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:20:00 +0000

A Medical Miracle

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:44:00 +0000

by: Christa Grunzinger
photography by: James Kellogg and Eric Althin

It's profound brilliance without a doubt. It's becoming more apparent than ever before, and it's reaching extraordinary heights beyond belief. Contemporary adult stem cell innovations are crusading for canines and their battles against bone disorders.

Recently, adult stem cell treatments produced striking benefits for ailing dogs; especially those struggling with arthritis and dysplasia. Although human stem cell practices have yet to plunge towards medical breakthroughs, veterinary professionals are finding its advantages significantly practical for small animals.

Maggie Mae, a beautiful ten year old Australian Shepherd, has a story of her own to share about this exciting practice. She, with the support of her owner, Terry Hays, has recently undergone a stem cell treatment performed by Dr. Jaceck de Haan, with Affiliated Veterinary Specialists (AVS) in Orlando, FL.

AVS is central Florida's only specialty veterinary hospital, housing state of the art technology and board-certified orthopedic surgeons, internal medicine practitioners, radiologists, oncologists and neurologists. AVS was the first hospital in Florida to have magnetic resonance imaging machines specifically used on pets. The AVS facility is remarkably equipped with some of the finest technology available to man, such as cancer radiation treatment, water therapy, CAT scans, ultrasounds, and so much more. AVS staffs approximately 30 outstanding, specialty veterinarians.

With a fine veterinary team supporting her, on May 2, 2008, Maggie Mae used adult stem cells from her own belly fat to treat the dysplasia in both of her hips as well as her arthritic elbow. Performed in two separate procedures, the belly fat was first taken from Maggie's stomach and then sent to Vet Stem, one of the nation's leading stem cell regenerative laboratories, located in California. At Vet Stem, Maggie Mae's adult stem cells were extracted from her belly fat, then deposited into syringes, and returned to AVS for reinjection of the cells into Maggie Mae's three problem areas.

“The injections took a total of fifteen minutes and Maggie Mae didn't need to be anesthetized for the procedure,” said Dr. de Haan, who has performed six other stem cell treatments before Maggie Mae's.

Since the procedure, Maggie Mae has shown signs of considerable improvement. The procedure gave her sensational relief compared to the more conservative approaches she previously attempted, such as acupuncture, herbs, supplements like Glycoflex, and pain medications such as Deramaxx. Maggie Mae now gallops about, barking happily at the world around her.

“I truly think everything has helped in some ways,” conveyed Terry Hays, “but since the procedure, she's able to get on the couch, and she couldn't ever do that before.”

For the first time in quite a while, Maggie Mae is able to express excitement through her own body language. In less than two months after the procedure, her activity levels have increased and her spirits have lightened.

“You can tell she's happier and in less pain, but her improvement window is still wide open,” said Hays.

“Typically, we see improvements take place within two to four weeks after the procedure. However, we sometimes see continual improvement even months later,” expressed Dr. de Haan.

Compared to a more aggressive treatment alternative for animals with dysplasia, the recovery and improvement period is significantly less than that of a total hip replacement, which can take at least three to four months for recovery. Stem cell treatments are also a more cost effective option for pet owners instead of total bone replacements. At AVS, the cost is approximately $2500 for a stem cell procedure and up to $5000 or more for a hip replacement on small animals.

So, what do other experts think about this new-age stem cell treatment? When we asked Dr. Derek Fox, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Missouri, he said that once conservative approaches to regenerative medicine were deemed unsuccessful, that stem cell treatments are not considered harmful by any means, and can, in fact, produce terrific results for animals. Unfortunately, like any other donor procedure, stem cell treatment may not fully solve the problem for every animal. However, this is also a truth for total bone replacements.

Dr. Fox, who is also an expert in orthopedic disorders in animals, suggested, “It's extremely intriguing, but I think there's a lack of adequate research on stem cell treatment, which is why it's still so infrequently utilized in human medicine. I do have high hopes that it will continue to show promising results towards veterinary medicine. I don't think there's any greater risk of complication with stem cells than there is for any other surgical procedure used to address the problem.”

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), stem cells have remarkable potential to develop into many other types of cells, and can serve as a repair system for the body. Theoretically, stem cells can continue to divide without limits. As stem cell treatments progress, we may begin to see their uses in medicine for more critical human treatments, such as cancers, diabetes, spinal cord and brain injuries, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease.

The National Academies, which advises our nation on science, engineering and medicine, created a committee of respectable representatives to focus on the topic of stem cells. They believe stem cell treatments are quite promising for debilitating illnesses, and should not be confused with issues of reproductive cloning. The National Academies also hopes for the government, as well as all of society, to give much consideration to their advice.

Even the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) supports stem cell research and therapy. The AAMC is a charter member of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CMR). The Coalition is comprised of universities, scientific societies, patients' organizations, and other entities devoted to ensuring that federal funding is available for stem cell research.

While using embryonic stem cells for treatment is still highly controversial, it's certainly not the same concern for those practicing with adult stem cells, such as in Maggie Mae's procedure. At present, President Bush denies financial support from the government towards stem cell research. Nevertheless, after a few more outstanding occurrences, as Maggie Mae's, this notion may eventually change over time.

Despite lack of governmental support, experts continue to strive for safe experimental practices. In order to perform stem cell procedures, stem cell laboratories require doctors to also have a license and board certification in surgery, and they must complete an extensive certification course through Vet Stem, or the laboratory used to assist with the process. Therefore, stem cell treatments are presumably performed by highly-trained veterinary specialists.

“I'm hopeful Maggie's story is a real influence for stem cell treatments to become more common. I think it's been more than a blessing that it was available to us at all,” said Terry Hays.

There are performing stem cell specialists all over the United States, and with a referral from a primary veterinarian, anyone can seek veterinary specialist advice on stem cell treatments for their pet. Whether your pet is younger or older, doctors believe the results are ultimately worthwhile.

“Although Maggie Mae is approximately ten years old, I do believe we may have added another five or more years to her life span. So, yes, the treatment was well worth it,” conveyed Dr. de Haan.

In the company of unconditional love, Maggie Mae and Terry have touched one another in undreamed-of ways. Maggie Mae, once abandoned in a Florida residence without food, now has a sanctuary in Terry's loving home. In return, complete with her favorite Santa Moose toy and a wagging tail, Maggie lavishes Terry with devout adoration. She displays clear evidence of her appreciation by the silly smile positioned upon her face. It could be that Maggie realizes she was rescued not only once, but twice. Together, Terry Hays and Maggie Mae make each other's lives complete.

With the facilitation of new-age medicine, stem cell treatments can contribute to the quality of life, while still allowing for natural functioning of the body. This magnificent treatment has the capability of providing new hope for our world's future. Throughout history, progression begins with one small, yet remarkable, step like Maggie Mae's, and eventually strides to create realism in what was once unobtainable to mankind.

Maggie Mae's story is one of the first successes of stem cell breakthroughs. Like most pet owners, Terry Hays proves that pets are just as precious to us as our own children. Through experience, pet owners like Terry value the fact that pets are the only creatures on earth who love us more than they love themselves. As a selfless being, there isn't anyone more deserving of a second chance than the pet in our lives

Back from the brink of death

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:28:00 +0000

By Aly Walsh
A Derbyshire woman was so moved by the sight of a dying dog on the side of a dusty Sri Lankan road that she has raised £3,000 to bring it back home.
Sam Noon (46), of Repton, first came across 'Little Bo', who at the time had no fur and was a lifeless creature covered in sores, during a month's visit to Sri Lanka last December.
After five months of endless negotiation, exchanging documents, travelling, fund-raising and heartbreak, Miss Noon has managed to get Little Bo, safe and well, over to this country.

The mongrel arrived in England at the end of last month and is now in quarantine kennels
in north Derbyshire, where Miss Noon visits her twice a week.

She will not be able to take Little Bo home until December.

Miss Noon, who runs her own business selling cards and books, said: "When I first spotted
her on the side of the road she was so weak she couldn't even make a noise.

"She had no fur and was covered with an horrendous skin condition, which gave off a horrible smell. She also had a discharge running from her eyes and had a damaged leg from being hit by a motorcycle."

Miss Noon said the dog would have died if she had done nothing to help. But she decided she would rescue it and contacted a vet in Sri Lanka.

Miss Noon said: "The vet put me in touch with an animal hospital where Little Bo could be cared for and I could visit her every day.

"When I had to come back to England, she went to stay with a lady who looks after rescued cats and dogs.

"So many people have been involved with this little dog over the last six months, it's unbelievable."

On returning home Miss Noon set on a mission, with the help of friends and family, to raise the money to get Little Bo to this country.

Miss Noon said Little Bo was just one of the thousands of stray dogs in Sri Lanka and she is now setting up a charity called Little Bo's Rescue Fund to raise money for the sterilisation and vaccination of these animals.

International Animal Rescue (IAR) is an organisation that helps control the population and spread of disease amongst the large stray dog population in India.

Carrie Colliss, development director of the organisation, said the conditions in Sri Lanka were similar to those in India.

Source - http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?
nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode
=124519&contentPK=10337094#

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:50:00 +0000

how to keep your pets smiling?

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:21:00 +0000

By Dr. Julie Schell
PETS Magazine online
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems for dogs and cats. In fact, an estimated 85 per cent of all dogs and cats suffer some degree of dental disease.

However, some animals that have very poor dental hygiene show no outward symptoms at all.

If your pet’s mouth is neglected, teeth may fall out, painful infections of the tooth root can occur and your pet may develop further diseases in other body organs, such as the kidneys, liver and heart. Keeping your pet’s mouth healthy can improve both the quality and the length of its life.

Your veterinarian can advise you on how best to maintain your pet’s dental health. Many pets require scaling (i.e. gentle removal of tartar and plaque on the tooth surface and under the gum line) and polishing, much like their owners—the main difference being the teeth are cleaned when the pet is under general anesthesia.

Some of your pet’s teeth may require X-rays, as these enable your veterinarian to study the roots and the bones around them. Root canals or extractions can be performed if necessary. Some pets even require braces.

Daily brushing with pet-specific toothpaste, feeding plaque-reducing foods or treats and using mouthwash and tooth gels will all help prevent dental disease in your pet.

Even older pets can be trained to accept daily toothbrush use. Some pet toothpastes are flavoured with poultry, beef or salmon to make them more attractive.

Oral hygiene solutions can also be added to your pet’s drinking water to further fight plaque and bad breath. For more information about keeping your pet happy and healthy through proper dental hygiene, talk with your veterinarian.

Julie Schell, DVM, is based at the Bow Bottom Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Centre

in Calgary. For more information, visit www.bowbottomvet.com.

Bird Sets Flight Record With 7,257-Mile Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:42:00 +0000

Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News
The Home Stretch Video: Discovery Animals

Forgoing layovers and snack stops, a bird known as the bar-tailed godwit has broken the record established for the world's longest known non-stop bird flight, according to a new study.
The honor goes to a female named "E7" that continuously flew 7,257 miles across the Pacific Ocean, breaking the previous record set by a Far-Eastern curlew, who flew 4,038 miles nonstop.
She didn't even glide.
"Bar-tailed godwits use forward flapping flight and seldom ever glide," lead author Robert Gill, Jr., told Discovery News.
Gill, project leader of the shorebird research program at the U.S. Geological Survey, explained that climbing midair while gliding is costly in terms of energy for birds, so continuous wing-flapping surprisingly saves on "fuel."
Related Content:
He and his team tracked multiple bar-tailed godwits as they flew from their summer breeding grounds in the western Alaska tundra to New Zealand, where they spend the rest of the year. Females were surgically implanted with transmitters, while males, which in this species are smaller and lighter, were affixed with external transmitters.
The migrating birds' flights lasted between five and 9.4 days.
The findings, published in the latest issue of Proceedings of The Royal Society B, suggest that oceans, mountain ranges, deserts, ice fields and other vast, open spaces may not always be barriers to migration, as had previously been thought. Instead, like a fast lane on a low-traffic highway, they might provide some animals with optimal, near hassle-free travel routes.

Military Dogs Get New Vet Hospital

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:25:00 +0000

Michelle Roberts, Associated Press
Dog Rehab Video: Discovery Animals

A new $15 million veterinary hospital for four-legged military personnel opened Tuesday at Lackland Air Force Base, offering a long overdue facility that gives advanced medical treatment for combat-wounded dogs.
Dogs working for all branches of the military and the Transportation Safety Administration are trained at the base to find explosive devices, drugs and land mines. Some 2,500 dogs are working with military units.
Like soldiers and Marines in combat, military dogs suffer from war wounds and routine health issues that need to be treated to ensure they can continue working.
Dogs injured in Iraq or Afghanistan get emergency medical treatment on the battlefield and are flown to Germany for care. If necessary, they'll fly on to San Antonio for more advanced treatment -- much like wounded human personnel.

WATCH VIDEO: DNA analysis can reveal a mutt's heritage...or can it?
"We act as the Walter Reed of the veterinary world," said Army Col. Bob Vogelsang, hospital director, referring to the Washington military medical center that treats troops returning severely wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The dogs can usually return to combat areas if they recover at the Military Working Dog Center, he said.

Putin's Dog Gets Satellite-Guided Tracking Collar

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:52:00 +0000

Associated Press

Doesn't Lie in Puddles Video: Discovery Animals

Russia's satellite navigation system isn't fully operational yet, but it seems to work on Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's dog.
Putin listened Friday as his deputy, Sergei Ivanov, briefed him on the progress of the Global Navigation Satellite System. Then footage broadcast on Russian TV showed them try a collar containing satellite-guided positioning equipment on the prime minister's black Labrador Koni.
Ivanov said that the equipment goes on a standby mode when "the dog doesn't move, if it, say, lies down in a puddle."
Putin interrupted him jokingly: "My dog isn't a piglet, it doesn't lie in puddles."
"She wags her tail, she likes it," Putin said after watching Koni outside his collonaded residence on Moscow's western outskirts.

The navigation system, which goes by acronym GLONASS, was developed during the Soviet era as a response to the U.S. Global Positioning System, but it has been slow to take shape amid the post-Soviet economic meltdown.
The government had promised to make the system fully operational by the beginning of this year, but it was delayed by equipment flaws and other technical problems.
Ivanov told Putin that the system would have 21 satellites by the year's end -- enough to provide navigation services over the entire Russian territory.
Ivanov said it would be available worldwide by the end of 2009, for which it would need to have 24 satellites.

'Extinct' Cockatoo Rediscovered in Indonesia

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:15:00 +0000

AFP
A species of cockatoo feared to have become extinct has been "rediscovered" with the sighting of a handful of breeding pairs on a remote Indonesian island, researchers said Thursday.
Ten Yellow-crested Abbott's cockatoos were found on the Masalembu archipelago off Java island, the Indonesian Cockatoo Conservation group said.
"We were excited when we found them in residential areas on Masakambing island," researcher Dudi Nandika said.
The group included four breeding pairs and two juveniles.
Despite the discovery the Yellow-crested Abbott's cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea abbotti) remains the rarest species of the bird on earth, he said.
Discovery channel

Discovery news

Jealous rage ends in murder: of a cat

noreply@blogger.com (lily) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:05:00 +0000

Norman the cat
Some men apparently need all of the attention, even when they’re competing against a cat for a woman’s affection.
Trial began in New York on Wednesday for former New York Mets minor leagurer Joseph Petcka, 37, who is accused of kicking his girlfriend’s cat to death. The prosecutor told the jury that the cat, named Norman, died a very painful death: broken teeth, broken ribs, a broken leg, a torn tongue and massive internal injuries.
Petcka “killed Norman simply because he was an angry, jealous and and drunken bully, Assistant District Attorney Leila Kermani said in her opening remarks, according to the Associated Press.
If convicted, Petcka faces up to two years in jail, but that isn’t enough. Norman’s owner, Lisa Altobelli, a Sports Illustrated writer, said Petcka had complained six weeks before Norman’s death that she “loved that cat more than you love me.” With a jerk like this, who can blame her.
As you can tell from the photo, Norman was a sweet cat and even if he did bite Petcka, as the sometime actor — who has appeared in Brawny paper towels commericials and had small parts in “Sex and the City” — claimed, I have no doubt he deserved it.
If Petcka is Norman’s killer, he didn’t even have the balls to tell Altobelli what he’d done. She found Norman’s battered body under her bedside table.
You can read a longer version of the story here What punishment would fit this awful crime?

Mercury News.com