Archive for the ‘Health & Wellness’ Category

« Older Entries

Appeals court allows autism helper dog in class

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

An Illinois appeals court has agreed to allow a central Illinois student to keep his autism helper dog in school.

The Fourth District Appellate Court sided with the family of Kaleb Drew. They had argued that the boy’s yellow Labrador retriever is a service animal allowed in schools under state law.

The boy’s mother had testified that the dog prevents the boy from running away, helps him focus on his homework and calms him when he has a tantrum.

The appeals court upheld the November decision of a Douglas County judge. The court issued its opinion Tuesday.

The Villa Grove school district had opposed the dog’s presence and argued that it isn’t a true service animal. A telephone message for the school district’s attorney was not immediately returned.

Source

Posted in Health & Wellness, Mutterings | Comments Off

Caring for pets shaped human evolution

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Dogs, cats, cows and other domesticated animals may have been vital to human evolution, a new theory suggests.

The uniquely human habit of taking in and employing animals — even competitors like wolves — spurred on human tool-making and language, which have both driven humanity’s success, paleoanthropologist Pat Shipman of Penn State University, says.

“Wherever you go in the world, whatever ecosystem, whatever culture, people live with animals,” Discovery News quoted Shipman as saying.

For early humans, taking in and caring for animals would seem like a poor strategy for survival.
“On the face of it, you are wasting your resources. So this is a very weird behavior,” Shipman said.

But it’s not so weird in the context something else humans were doing about 2.6 million years ago: switching from a mostly vegetarian diet to one rich in meat. This happened because humans invented stone hunting tools that enabled them to compete with other top predators. Quite a rapid and bizarre switch for any animal, Shipman said.

“We shortcut the evolutionary process,” said Shipman. “We don’t have the equipment to be carnivores.”

So we invented the equipment, learned how to track and kill, and eventually took in animals who also knew how to hunt — like wolves and other canines. Others, like goats, cows and horses, provided milk, hair and, finally, hides and meat.

Managing all of these animals — or just tracking them — requires technology, knowledge and ways to preserves and convey information. So languages had to develop and evolve to meet the challenges.

Tracking game has even been argued to be the origin of scientific inquiry, said Peter Richerson, professor emeritus in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of California, Davis.

One of the signs that this happened is in petroglyphs and other rock art left by ancient peoples. At first they were abstract, geometric patterns that are impossible to decipher. Then they converge on one subject: animals.

“Think what isn’t there: people, landscapes, fruit and edible plants,” said Shipman. This implies that animals and information about animals was of great importance.

There have also been genetic changes in both humans and our animals, Shipman argues.

For the animals those changes developed because human bred them for specific traits, like a cow that gives more milk or a hen that lays more eggs.

But this evolutionary influence works both ways. Dogs, for instance, might have have been selectively taken in by humans who shared genes for more compassion. Those humans then prospered — a.k.a. reproduced — with the dogs’ help in hunting and securing their homes.

The theory has been published in the latest issue of Current Anthropology.

Source

Posted in Health & Wellness, Training | Comments Off

Why city folks treat dogs as their kids

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

A researcher at Indiana University South Bend found that city people tend to treat animals as their children, especially if the animal is a dog.

“If you have kids, you have less time to spend with your pets. That’s part of it, but not the whole story. People who think of their pets as their children often re-evaluate this thought when they have human children of their own,” said David Blouin.

Blouin’s study found that 93 percent of dog owners and 77 percent of cat owners took their pets to the veterinarian at least one time a year.

Some admitted that they spent significant sums of money on their pet’s health, addressing routine care, such as vaccinations, as well more serious conditions such as skin allergies, Crohn’s disease and diabetes.

The frequency of interactions owners had with their pets, as well as how often they took them to the veterinarian, were closely tied to how owners viewed their pets — whether as a child, a companion, or just another, albeit, useful animal, said Blouin.


Source

Posted in Health & Wellness, Mutterings | Comments Off

Stem cells for doggies?

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Super-expensive pet medical treatments revealed

Stem cell transplants, state-of-the-art image-guided radiation, sophisticated diagnostic procedures to pinpoint everything from cancer to lung disease. New and improved health care for the uninsured or underinsured? Nope. Medical treatment for the nation’s pets, some of whom have a better shot at being healed than people living in the same state.

Last year, Americans spent $12 billion to pay their vet bills, according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That’s twice what pet owners spent just 10 years ago.

For many people, investing in an ailing pet’s life “improves the quality of a human life immeasurably more than, say, buying a luxury car,” Dr. Patty Khuly, a vet at Miami’s Sunset Animal Clinic, told the AP.

These days, vets are using increasingly sophisticated medical techniques on the 77 million dogs, 90 million cats, and all the other pets that live in the U.S. The treatments are neck in neck with what humans can expect if they fall ill. The reason for all the high-tech pet care? “The changing role of the pet in our society,” Khuly told the AP.

The Animal Medical Center in Manhattan is home to a half-million-dollar, cutting-edge 3-D imaging scanner that was a present from a client whose pet was saved there. The AMC, which is a not-for-profit research and teaching facility, has 81 vets. No fewer than 27 have certification in fields like endoscopy, neurology, oncology, radiology and cardiology.

The center treats pets like Alpha, a Bernese mountain dog with terrible back pain, who gets electrical neuromuscular stimulation via a light laser. He also exercises on an underwater treadmill and lies beneath a heat pack to help his lumbo-sacral disease.

Painful arthritis in a pet now can be healed with a $4,000 stem cell transplant not approved for humans, according to the AMC. And a surgical procedure to repair dogs’ torn knee ligaments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine is proving to be so successful it is now used to treat NFL players, according to the AP. Also pioneered at this school is an image-guided radiation technique that targets pet tumors and leaves surrounding tissue unharmed. Called TomoTherapy, it’s also used on people – several hundred machines are used globally on human cancers.

The AMC sees 40,000 patients a year and not all are cats and dogs. They’ve also treated lambs, iguanas and even a ring-tailed lemur- a primate that hails from Madagascar.

Who’s paying for all this care? Some people have pet insurance, some have interest-free credit cards for vet bills, and hospitals offer payment plans. And for those who can’t afford treatment for pets with illnesses that could prove fatal, the AMC raises funds.

Source

Posted in Health & Wellness, Technology | Comments Off

Summer park patrols to focus on dog control

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Pooches in Burnaby parks will have to be on their best behaviour now that city parks staff are patrolling parks as part of a new dog education program approved by the parks commission recently.

Previously, the B.C. SPCA has patrolled parks in the summer—on weekends in May and June and on a rotating five-day schedule July through Labour Day—augmented by a part-time city parks staff person. Internal staffing changes mean the SPCA is no longer able to do the seasonal work.

In response, the Burnaby parks department has developed its own program this year with patrols expanded to five days a week from April 30 to Sept. 20, according to a city staff report.

The parks staff aim to take a proactive approach in parks where the majority of complaints are received—Ron McLean, David Gray, Deer Lake, Robert Burnaby, Barnet Beach and Burnaby Heights parks, as well as parks near and on the route to these locations.

The complaints mainly involve dogs being off leash, owners not picking up after their dogs, dogs on sports fields and trails and loud, noisy dogs at dog parks.

Parks staff will hand out information pamphlets to dog owners, inform them of parks bylaws, gather feedback and look at possible improvements to written material, signage and maintenance issues.

“A longer term goal of the program would be to have responsible dog owners provide assistance to new dog owners in proper etiquette on park sites,” the report said.

In the first nine days of the program, the patrols spoke to 167 dog owners and a number of park users without dogs.

“Immediate compliance regarding dogs off leash has been possible on all but nine occasions where patrons did not have a leash with them.”

Source

Posted in Health & Wellness, Mutterings | Comments Off

Give a dog a drink, and don’t let it overheat

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

If you exercise outside, you know how miserably hot it is. Imagine doing so without having enough water, or being heat-acclimated, or being able to go indoors when you want. Now you have an idea of what your pet might deal with.

“They can overheat so quickly,” says Maura Davies, senior director of communications for the SPCA of Texas. “We had a sad situation recently where someone had taken a dog running in the heat of the day. The dog got heat exhaustion and passed away. It was awful. It broke that person’s heart, and it broke ours.”

Davies and Tricia Bracksieck, a 22-year vet technician and hospital manager for VCA Pet Doctor in Richardson, offer these tips for keeping pets safe:

Watch for symptoms of heat illness. Excessive panting, listless eyes and gasping for air are all telltale signs, Bracksieck says. “Like humans, it comes on when they’re not fully hydrated and don’t have enough shade,” she says. Bring your pet indoors and offer water. If the symptoms continue, call your vet.

“Even with water, dogs can overheat,” Davies says. “Their bodies don’t cool off as efficiently as ours.” If your pet passes out, take it to the vet immediately.

Acclimate your dog. If you exercise outdoors, you know the importance of gradually building up so you’ll adjust to the heat. Your dog needs that, too, Davies says. Also, limit strenuous walks or runs to before the sun rises or after it sets. Check with your vet to make sure your dog is up to the exercise. Bracksieck suggests carrying a foldable water bowl and offering water from the bottle you’re no doubt carrying for yourself.

Know which dogs are especially prone to heat illness. Those being treated for heartworm or those who have fleas tend to be more at risk, Bracksieck says. So do old and young dogs, as well as those with snub noses such as boxers, pugs, Pekingese and some spaniels, Davies adds. “Their throats and breathing passages are smaller and more flattened. That can tend to decrease the ability to get air in and out of the upper airways. It can lead to serious issues, especially if you’re talking about running with a dog who’s trying to pant to cool off.”

Don’t leave your dog in the car while you run, or ever. “Even if you have the windows rolled down a little and the temperature is in the 80s, it can reach well over 100 in a matter of minutes,” Davies says. “If you see an animal in a car, you can contact local authorities.”

More questions? Call the SPCA (604) 879-7721

Source

Posted in Health & Wellness | Comments Off

Paint Thinner Alert for New West

Friday, July 9th, 2010

New West vet issues warning after cats ‘tortured’ with paint thinner

A New Westminster family is horrified after their cat was allegedly dipped in paint thinner last week.

Jennifer Szoke said Harley, her two-year-old orange cat, is suffering from a burnt tongue and throat after trying to groom the toxic substance out of his fur.

“I’m just so upset,” Szoke said. “It looks like it was deliberate because he was only soaked waist down.”

Szoke’s eight-year-old son, Nate Milanov, has taken to hugging a stuffed toy that is the same colour as Harley, who is currently under a veterinarian’s care.

“He keeps on saying he wants his cat to come home, but I just don’t know how to tell him his cat has been poisoned,” she said.

Szoke said the incident happened last Friday when Harley and another cat, Linden, were both “tortured.”

“I saw my cat running down the street and she was completely drenched,” said Linden’s owner, Corrine, who didn’t want to to give her last name. “I picked her up and she just reeked of paint thinner.”

She was able to wash Linden, who is recovering well despite being lethargic.

Corrine also saw Harley but he unfortunately ran off and was not found until two hours later. By then, the cat had attempted to groom himself clean and swallowed the chemical in the process.

“I just can’t imagine what kind of sick person can be so cruel to do this to an innocent cat,” said Tammy McEvoy, Szoke’s former roommate said.

She and Szoke have been forced to take out a loan to cover Harley’s medical costs.

Dr. Trevor Enberg at the Canada West Veterinary Hospital said Harley’s chances of a full recovery are good.

“He is actually in better condition than we expected, although he is not able to breathe by himself and needs a feeding tube,” Enberg said.

Sukh Deepak of New Westminster Animal Services is warning pet owners to be extra vigilant. He has also informed New Westminster police, who are now investigating the crime.

Meanwhile, the cat, nicknamed “Mr. Davidson,” for his loud Harley Davidson-like purr, remains affectionate to his doctors and owners.

Harley’s treatment costs range from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on how his condition worsens, but Szoke is determined to raise the money she can ill-afford.

“He’s just part of the family and we won’t give up until he gives up fighting,” said a teary Szoke.

McEvoy and Szoke also approached Trev Deeley Motorcycles, located near the vet hospital, for a partnership to raise money.

“His voice is almost gone, so hopefully we can get his roaring meow back,” McEvoy said.

To donate money for Harley’s care, please visit here. A drop box will also be set up at the Deeley motorcycle dealership at 1875 Boundary Rd.

Source

Posted in Dog News, Health & Wellness, Mutterings | Comments Off

Austrian dog license law sparks debate

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Carolin Fabian jokes that the only thing her American Staffordshire terrier Tobias fights for is a place on the couch.

“He’s very calm — he’s happy when he can sleep, eat … go for a bit of a walk when it’s not too hot or raining,” said the 35-year-old Fabian.

Sounds harmless. But starting Thursday, Fabian and owners of 11 other breeds known as aggressive “fight dogs” will be under stricter scrutiny: a hotly debated new law requires Viennese and longterm visitors who own such dogs to carry a license proving they can keep their pets in check.

Some say the measure will make public spaces safer, critics call it canine profiling.

The dog magazine “Wuff” tried to make that point in a highly controversial manner — by publishing a flyer that showed a young pit bull wearing a yellow star with the word “bad” inscribed in it, seated next to a labrador puppy. A headline above the two asked: “What differentiates us?” The magazine dropped the yellow star from its campaign after protests from the Jewish community.

Months later, emotions are still running high.

Alexander Willer, a spokesman for Vienna’s main animal shelter, said the list of affected dogs — which includes Rottweilers, pit bull terriers, Mastiffs, and others — was compiled “at random” and has made it harder for abandoned breeds of this kind to find new homes.

“The image of these dogs has hit rock bottom,” Willer said, adding that since Christmas, the number of “fight dogs” seeking refuge in the shelter increased from 123 to 170.

“The majority of people who own these kinds of dogs are normal — they aren’t psychopaths,” Willer said.

Maybe not — but dangerous incidents still happen, said Valentina Simic, 21, whose young son narrowly escaped an attack by a Rottweiler.

“Dogs are cute and all but if people can’t handle them properly then they shouldn’t be allowed to own them,” she said as she sat on a park bench on a recent balmy evening.

Officials estimate that about 2,500 dogs will be affected by the new law in a city where man’s best friend is often spotted snoozing in cafes, riding the subway and sitting outside shops.

If owners don’t comply by this time next year and are caught without a permit, they face fines and could even see their pet confiscated by police.

“The animal doesn’t have to know any tricks, fetch the paper or do a double back flip — all the owner has to do is show that he has it under control in a city setting,” city councilor Ulli Sima said.

“This is not about the criminalization of any types of dogs,” added fellow councilor Sandra Frauenberger.

Elsewhere in Europe, the situation varies. Denmark on Thursday added 12 more dog breeds — the American Staffordshire terrier, Brazilian Fila, American bulldog and Dogo Argentino, among others — to an outright ban on dangerous dogs that already included pit bull terriers and tosa inus.

Under a 2007 law in Portugal, owners of seven breeds identified as dangerous must get a license and can only do so if they are over 18, have passed a physical and mental aptitude test and don’t have a criminal record.

In the Slovak capital of Bratislava, regulations for about half a dozen type of “fight dogs” were axed a year after a successful lobbying campaign by owners of such breeds.

Source

Posted in Dog News, Health & Wellness, Mutterings, Training | Comments Off

Take your dog to work – today!

Friday, June 25th, 2010

First celebrated in 1999, Take Your Dog To Work Day was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. This annual event asks pet lovers to celebrate the humane-canine bond and promote pet adoption by encouraging their employers to support TYDTWDay by opening their workplace to employees’ four-legged friends on this one special day.

Visit the official site: Take YOur Dog to Work Day!

1. Having existed since 1999, Take Your Dog to Work Day has clearly proven to lighten everyone’s day in the office one day out of the year.

2. TGIF takes on a whole new meaning when your office goes furry for the day.

3. The day just flies by when you have someone keeping you “busier” at your desk.

4. Employees won’t have to leave the office to run home to let the dog out.

5. Having pets around is proven to lengthen life expectancy, so if everyone brings their dogs to work on the same day, everyone you work with will no doubt live for an extra day.

6. Employers might be more keen to start doggie daycares in the office to keep their employees happy on their lunch break.

7. Your dog will make new playmates.

8. You might talk more about your dog with other employees than usual, and get tips on good dog walkers in the area.

9. As witnessed on YouTube , working with your furry pal beside you will lead to a more creative work environment, no doubt.

10. Most Americans think having pets in their offices decreases absenteeism.

11. Co-workers are happier which leads to a happier work environment, as long as they aren’t allergic.

12. Most people who bring their dogs to work end up staying later and working longer hours, while being even more productive.

Posted in Dog Events, Dog News, Health & Wellness, Training | Comments Off

American Pit Bull Terrier

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Undoubtedly no dog breed has stirred the same amount of fear and controversy that the American Pit Bull Terrier has.

Indeed, it is difficult to turn on the local news without hearing about a Pit Bull attack. Conversely, Pit Bulls are the most commonly abused breed known to man. Animal shelters are overflowing with unwanted and abused Pit Bulls. These dogs are also the most common breed used in dog fighting. Yet, there is a lot more to the American Pit Bull Terrier than negative stereotypes. Hopefully the following information provides some insight to the Pit Bull’s rich history and characteristics.

Origin

In the nineteenth century, the English developed the Staffordshire Bull Terrier by crossing the Bull Dog with other terriers. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier earned its name due to the region in which it was developed. Breeders brought this dog to the United Sates where American breeders altered it a bit. American breeders increased the dog’s weight and gave it a more powerful head.

Appearance

The Pit Bull maintains a strong, muscular body and is quite agile. It is a medium-sized breed and commonly weighs between 40 and 60 pounds. Its eyes are round and usually black. The Pit Bull maintains semi-erect ears that are usually docked slightly. The tail is rather short and horizontal. Often, man docks the Pit Bull’s tail in addition to the ears. This breed’s coat is usually thick, short and shiny. The coat can also come in nearly any color.

Personality

The Pit Bull is an extremely courageous dog and expresses much vitality. This breed maintains the ability to fight an opponent to the death. However, just a minimum amount of training usually produces a gentle and loving companion. Because this breed is often suspicious of strangers, early socialization and training are absolute requirements.

Uses

This breed makes an excellent guard dog. In modern times, it has also been known as a good companion dog. The Pit Bull’s devotion to its master makes it a good companion breed.

Overall, it should be known that the Pit Bull is far more than a myriad of negative stereotypes. With proper training, this breed makes a good family dog. In fact, the Pit Bull is adaptable to living indoors with the family and often prefers to. Just remember to never leave a child unattended with any dog – regardless of the breed. Hopefully this information had cleared up some of the common misconceptions about the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Source
Kristen Moore

Posted in Health & Wellness, Mutterings, Training | Comments Off

« Older Entries