How sneezing hamsters sparked a COVID outbreak in Hong Kong.

How Sneezing Hamsters Sparked a COVID Outbreak in Hong Kong Hamsters are only the second species known to have spread SARS-CoV-2 to humans

 

Pet hamsters probably carried the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 into Hong Kong and sparked a human COVID-19 outbreak, according to a genomic analysis of viral samples from the rodents. 

The research confirms earlier fears that a pet shop was the source of the outbreak, which has so far infected about 50 people and led to the culling of some 2,000 hamsters across the city. 

Hamsters are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and so are a popular model for studying the virus. But the Hong Kong study — posted online as a preprint1 and yet to be peer reviewed — is the first to show that hamsters can become infected outside the laboratory, and that they can pass the virus on to both other hamsters and humans. 

 Hamsters are only the second animal known to be able to infect people, after mink. In late 2020, small outbreaks of COVID-19 in people in Denmark and the Netherlands were linked to farmed mink, sparking panic and mass culls. 

 The latest study points to the pet trade as a route for viral spread, says co-author Leo Poon, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong. But “to be fair to the hamsters”, people are still much more likely to be infected by each other than by pets, he says. 

             NEW ROUTE FOR VIRAL SPREAD .

Nevertheless, it is important to monitor the pet trade closely, says Marion Koopmans, a virologist at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. SARS-CoV-2 could continue to circulate in animals, evolving in unexpected ways, and then spill back into people, she warns, adding that “we don’t need more surprises with this virus”. 

 Hong Kong has maintained a strict zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19, so when a 23-year-old pet-shop worker tested positive for Delta on 15 January, Poon says it was “a bit bizarre”. The last time the city had seen Delta in the community was in October. 

 Within days, public-health officials had swabbed more than 100 animals at the pet shop and another 500 at the warehouse supplying it. They detected SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA or antibodies against the virus in 15 of 28 Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), but in none of the dwarf hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas or mice. 

 The researchers then analysed genomic sequences of samples collected from 12 hamsters and the first 3 infected people, including the pet-shop worker and a visitor to the shop. 

All of the samples contained a variant of Delta that had not previously been detected in Hong Kong and probably originated from the same source. 

 The team also noticed some diversity in the sequences, and concluded that the hamsters were probably first infected in November, before their arrival in Hong Kong, and that the virus had been spreading undetected among the animals, accumulating a few single-nucleotide mutations along the way. 

  JUMPING BETWEEN SPECIES The pet-shop worker and visitor were probably infected on separate occasions, and Poon says there could have been more jumps. 

Most surprising, he says, was that even after replicating in hamsters, the virus could still “transmit between humans quite effectively”.

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Cats, Dogs and COVID: How Safe Are Your Pets?

                    Cats, Dogs and COVID: How Safe Are Your Pets?

Nadia, a tiger at New York City's Bronx Zoo, tested positive for the corona virus. A few pet cats in the United States and some dogs  have  also tested positive.

The novel corona virus causing the current pandemic is thought to have originated at a live animal market in China, some people have wondered if they need to worry about their own pets.

 The good news is that any risk to humans from to pet is very low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  Humans with COVID-19 infections could pose a slight risk to certain animals, such as cats or ferrets. but not dogs.

 The basic thing to do is to stay safe and keep your pet safe. All personal hygiene protocol of hand washing, use of face mask is advised. The frequency of hand washing must be increased especially after handling your pet.

 When you take your dog out for walks its advisable to wipe the dog when you return paying particular attention to paws.

DOGS: HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR DOG'S DRY FOOD MORE PALATABLE?

DOGS: HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR DOG'S DRY FOOD MORE PALATABLE? The common fluid to use as a mix for your dog's dry food is water, here are some tips on other things to explore. 1) Add Meat and Fish – Animal protein is essential for your pet because it is of higher quality, easier to digest and promotes a healthy metabolism by facilitating the oxidation of fat. Therefore, topping dog food with meat or fish will allow your pet to thrive and feel fantastic because it will meet its nutritional requirements 2) Add Stock – Bone broth will improve the health of your dog because it is an excellent source of collagen, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, glucosamine and amino acids like glycine and arginine. In addition, it is helpful for treating the leaky gut syndrome, arthritis and detoxing your pet from pollutants and heavy metals 3)Add Cottage Cheese and Yogurt – Two super-foods because they are a great source of minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, and high-quality proteins. Furthermore, they introduce novelty to the diet of your dog, especially if it has been eating only dry dog food. Thus, it’s a good idea to integrate them. DOGS: HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR DOG'S DRY FOOD MORE PALATABLE? 4)Add Fish Oil – Only add water to dry dog food and then fish oil and you will bring your pet a dish it will love. It is anti-inflammatory, and therefore, it is recommended for dogs that suffer from canine OA and cannot take traditional analgesics. 5)Add Some Steamed Vegetables – You can add some steamed cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, carrots or asparagus. Like yogurt and cottage cheese, it is a great way to bring a surprise factor to the food of your dog. Hence, if you to make your dog’s food more interesting, here you have an option 6)Add Eggs – They are an amazing source of folate, iron, selenium, fatty acids, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin A, which are compounds that are necessary for the optimal health of your dog. However, make sure to only add eggs (no salt or spices). Additionally, you can mix it along with meat, fish, vegetables or stock.

DOGS: Teaching Your Dog THIS Cue Could Save His Life.

DOGS: Teaching Your Dog THIS Cue Could Save His Life. Is your dog trained to reliably come when called? Most dog owners are working on a reliable "recall," but our pooches haven't entirely gotten the hang of it...yet. A reliable recall could save your dog’s life. Dog’s aren’t born knowing they should run right for us when we call them. And most of us are only beginning to understand how our dog’s think and learn. It’s our responsibility to positively train our dogs so that they respond instantaneously to a recall cue, whether you’re calling him in for dinner—or stopping him from making a mad-dash into a busy road. Learn how to train your dog to respond to your calls immediately.Teach Your Dog to Come When Called. In this life-saving guide, our expert-trainers and contributors show you …1) Why it’s important to learn how your dog values his rewards, and which one’s work best. 2) Why your dog sprints over to you in some places, but runs the other way in others. 3)What to do if you’ve “poisoned” your recall cue and your dog just won’t respond. Learn all the tricks here: a complete guide.

DOGS : Tick Bite? Here's What To Do.

DOGS : Tick Bite? Here's What To Do.A dog in the wrong place at the wrong time can be bit by dozens or even hundreds of ticks. Deer ticks go through three stages of life (larva, nymph, and adult), and feed only once in each of these stages; a blood meal ends each stage. Larval ticks feed off mice and other small rodents, but nymphs and adults are a threat to dogs. These ticks are small and their bites don’t itch so they are easily overlooked, especially adult deer ticks and the nymphs of any species. Ticks thrive in warm, moist conditions thus its important to always check under collars and around ears. If you observe a lump or bump inspect it critically you can seek help or better still use a magnifying glass. Tick Bite? Here's What To Do. Be careful when removing a tick to grasp it with tweezers firmly at the head, as close to the dog’s skin as possible, and slowly pull straight back. Never twist, press, burn, or apply irritating substances like kerosene to an attached tick because doing so can cause the parasite to expel the contents of its digestive tract, creating an unwanted hypodermic effect. Three-percent hydrogen peroxide, the common disinfectant, is recommended for tick bites because the oxygen it contains destroys the Lyme disease bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide can be liberally poured over bites on light-haired dogs (keep away from eyes and apply directly to the skin) but because it’s a bleach, this method is not recommended for black or dark-haired dogs. The use of an eyedropper to apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the bite will prevent unwanted bleaching. Get the guide here

Veterinary medicine: Strangles outbreak kills 4000 donkeys in Niger.

Veterinary medicine: Strangles outbreak kills 4000 donkeys in Niger.An outbreak of strangles has claimed the lives of more than 4000 donkeys in the west African country of Niger since early December. Officials say that more than 8000 donkeys were affected by the contagious bacterial infection, which is also known as equine distemper, and more than half succumbed since the infection appeared in the first 10 days of December in the north of the country in Agadez, Niger’s gateway to the Sahara. Official statistics show Niger has a population of more than 1.5 million donkeys. The Ingall area was the worst affected, and the government’s minister for pastoral issues, Mohamed Boucha, visited Agadez this week to assess the impact of the outbreak.Veterinary officials said the strangles risk was heightened as the treatment of a sick animal can take several weeks, and the infection can be transferred between equines and through the pasture itself. Herders in the area have been invited to have their donkeys immunised for free by government veterinary services.

Veterinary Medicine: A dog's color could impact longevity, increase health issues.

Veterinary Medicine: A dog's color could impact longevity, increase health issues.New research led by the University of Sydney has revealed the life expectancy of chocolate Labradors is significantly lower than their black and yellow counterparts. Veterinary Medicine: A dog's color could impact longevity, increase health issues.

Agro-Veterinary : 5 Simple Ways To Drink Turmeric & Get Its Benefits.

Agro-Veterinary : 5 Simple Ways To Drink Turmeric & Get Its Benefits. 5 Simple Ways To Drink Turmeric & Get Its Benefits. Turmeric can be used to make tea, turmeric milk, smoothies, soups, and drinks. Adding turmeric in these foods will help you incorporate it into your diet on a daily basis. These drinking options are not only very healthy but also quite delicious for man and pets. Turmeric and its constituent curcumin have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. Agro-Veterinary : 5 Simple Ways To Drink Turmeric & Get Its Benefits. Taking it on a regular basis may help in the prevention and treatment of several disorders, infections and assist in eradicating toxins from the body.

Veterinary Medicine : Causes And Treatment Of Constipation In Dogs.

Veterinary Medicine : Causes And Treatment Of Constipation In Dogs. Dog constipation is defined as the inability to defecate normally. Much like humans, older dogs are more prone to this condition, though it can happen to any breed of dog at any age. Constipation in dogs should not be ignored, as extended periods of distress can cause serious health concerns. A constipated dog, especially if it is well-trained and evacuates at regular intervals daily, is described as being constipated if it is experiencing difficult bowel movements and physical distress. (In addition, severe diarrhea and colitis may lead to straining.) Grass particles, matted feces, string, or other objects in or around the anus is also indicative of constipation. The size of the feces will be abnormally small and once the condition has progressed, lethargy, vomiting, and loss of appetite may develop. Dog Constipation Causes and Treatment. The primary cause which is the most common is swallowing objects that are not easily digested, if at all, such as a piece of dry bone. However, other causes are as follows: 1) Slower intestinal processes. 2)Enlarged prostates. 3)Concurrent kidney disease. 4)Hernias 5) swallowing grass or hair. Veterinary Medicine : Causes and Treatment Of Constipation In Dogs. The immediate intervention is as follows: If you can see a thread or string in the anus, do not pull it. This can cause internal damage. Other important things to note: 1)Always wear rubber gloves when dealing with feces and related anal problems. 2)If you can see grass in the anus, gently ease it out. 3)If feces are matted around the anus, trim carefully with scissors. 4)Wash the anal region with warm, soapy water and apply a soothing, water-soluble jelly to the inflamed area. 5) Take the dog’s temperature. If it is abnormally high or there is blood on the thermometer or resistance when inserting the thermometer, see your veterinarian immediately (within 24 hours). Veterinary Medicine : Causes And Treatment Of Constipation In Dogs.

AGRO-VETERINARY :7 Safe and Healthy Human Foods for Dogs That You Can Serve for the Holidays.

AGRO-VETERINARY :7 Safe and Healthy Human Foods for Dogs That You Can Serve for the Holidays. AGRO-VETERINARY :7 Safe and Healthy Human Foods for Dogs That You Can Serve for the Holidays. Do you want to include your favorite furry friend in your holiday celebrations? There are plenty of traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas foods that are perfect for sharing. So, if you want to create a festive meal for your special four-legged companion, here are some safe human foods for dogs you can fill your pup’s holiday dog bowl with. AGRO-VETERINARY :7 Safe and Healthy Human Foods for Dogs That You Can Serve for the Holidays. Can Dogs Eat Green Beans? Green beans served without all the trappings (like salt, seasonings and butter) are great for dogs. They are a low-calorie snack that is high in iron and several other vitamins and minerals that dogs need. Their high-fiber content also helps fill your pup’s belly and keep them full, which may help aid in weight control. As a treat, you can simply serve your pup unsalted green beans—canned, frozen or fresh. If you want to incorporate green beans into your dog's regular diet, look for a nutritionally complete and balanced dog food like Purina Beyond Turkey and Green Bean Recipe canned dog food. Pups love sweet potatoes! They’re a good source of B vitamins, vitamin A and fiber. In recent years, this veggie has gained popularity with canines across the country and is frequently included in limited ingredient diets like American Journey limited ingredient grain-free turkey and sweet potato recipe dry dog food. You can also cut up raw sweet potatoes, cook them and serve them in cubes; steam and mash them; or bake or boil them—the possibilities are endless with this versatile veggie. You can even give your dog dried sweet potato treats like Fruitables sweet potato and pecan flavor crunchy dog treats.more

RESEARCH : Cattle, sheep and goats may transmit leptospirosis to humans in Tanzania.

RESEARCH : Cattle, sheep and goats may transmit leptospirosis to humans in Tanzania. Cattle, sheep and goats may transmit leptospirosis to humans in Tanzania. Leptospirosis, which affects more than one million people worldwide each year, is known to be transmitted to humans from a wide range of animals. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have discovered that more than 7 percent of the cattle and 1 percent of sheep and goats in local slaughterhouses in northern Tanzania are infected with Leptospira bacteria. RESEARCH : Cattle, sheep and goats may transmit leptospirosis to humans in Tanzania. Leptospirosis is a disease caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans, the disease can range in severity from mild to severe disease leading to kidney damage, liver failure, or death. The disease is most common in tropical environments, but occurs worldwide, particularly in people who work outdoors or with animals. Acute leptospirosis is an important cause of febrile disease in Tanzania, where little is known about the most common sources of infection in humans. In the new work conducted in northern Tanzania, Kathryn Allan, of the University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues tested rodents, cattle, goats and sheep for Leptospira infection.

VETERINARY MEDICINE : Not just bite, dog’s scratch too causes rabies.

VETERINARY MEDICINE : Not just bite, dog’s scratch too causes rabies. 

 Fifty-year-old Savita (not her real name) was brought to rural doctor Himmat Bawaskar's hospital in Mahad on a May afternoon with an undiagnosed condition, but the diagnosis became obvious when the doctor mentioned 'pani' (water). 

 Savita severely choked just as patients with rabies do on developing its well documented symptom - hydrophobia (fear of water). 

 "She was brought to us on the fourth day of fever, body ache and breathlessness. She heard 'water' and got a laryngeal (vocal cord) spasm," said Dr Bawaskar. Soon, doctors noticed another rabies symptom -extreme sensitivity to light.  : 

Not just bite, dog’s scratch too causes rabies. Dr Bawaskar, who is credited with several researches on snake and scorpion venom, has written about Savita's case in the latest edition of the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine to highlight poor awareness and dangerous societal practices vis-a-vis rabies. 

"People in rural areas go to tantriks after a dog-bite though the vaccine and immunoglobulin shots are available at government centres," said the doctor. 

 Savita died after four days at the Mahad hospital, managing to relate how a rabid dog in her village had bitten four people before tugging at her saree 'pallu'. She got a few abrasions on her feet. 

 According to the medical journal, Savita washed the wound and didn't bother about a vaccine as she felt only dog bites cause rabies. She only took herbal medicine from a tantrik.

 Dr Bawaskar, who has been in the news for filing a case against a diagnostic chain for offering him a cutback for referring a patient for a CT scan, said Savita must have got infected as dogs' nails and claws too harbour the virus as they keep licking them. 

"This case busts the myth that cuts don't result in rabies," he said. Vaccine is advised for any cut where blood flows out. #rabies #bites #cuts #vaccination.#travel

Amazon Nipping at Its Heels, Petco Becomes a Digital Ninja.

Amazon Nipping at Its Heels, Petco Becomes a Digital Ninja. The pet industry is upwards of a $60 billion market just in the U.S., and the competition by brands to woo and win over pets and their humans has never been more fierce. It’s estimated by the ASPCA that approximately 44% of American households have at least one dog and 35% are cat households, for an estimated 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats in the pet category. Cue Petco, which is stepping boldly into the fray and evolving the very notion of a pet store. Beyond the requisite kitty litter and dog toys, it’s now offering veterinary services, life stage-focused subscription boxes and e-commerce strategies, appealing to pet owners and creating a buttress against competitors PetSmart and king of kings, Amazon.

Pet insurance : When is it a good time to buy pet health insurance?.

When is it a good time to buy pet health insurance?. As with anything you own and want to protect, the time to buy insurance is when you do not need it. Pets are part of our family, but we also own them. We plan to have enough money to cover their feeding, housing, and entertainment needs. 

 We also plan for routine medical care and wellness needs such as for vaccinations and parasite preventatives. It is the unexpected need for medical care that catches people unprepared. For some owners, having an insurance policy for their pet could make the difference between getting the needed medical care done or having to choose from another, less favorable option. Pet health insurance needs to be purchased ahead of need and before your pet develops any lifelong conditions that would be considered pre-existing and not covered.

Veterinary staff like to discuss pet health insurance with owners of puppies and kittens as enrolling them at such a young age means they have not had time to develop lifelong conditions. Allergies, chronic ear conditions, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease are just some of the chronic illnesses that take time to develop. Also, puppies and kittens tend to get into mischief and injure themselves. Puppies tend to explore their world via their mouth and swallow many things they should not such as socks and plastic items. 

Kittens sometimes swallow strings or other parts of fabrics. Surgeries to remove foreign objects would often be covered by insurance. Adult dogs and cats also can benefit from health insurance. As pets age, some will develop cancer. There are more options now than ever before in diagnosing it. Cancer treatments are also improved with targeted radiation therapies and chemotherapy. 

Veterinary bills for specialty cancer care can range easily from $5,000 to $10,000, and pet health insurance may pay for a significant chunk of it. Hip and knee problems tend to plague older dogs and high-energy, active dogs. They may need costly knee operations or hip replacement surgery. Multiple alternative and complementary therapies such as chiropractic care for animals, acupuncture, and therapeutic laser for chronic pain are available and covered by many insurance policies.

Importance of Wellness Exams For Pets.

Importance of Wellness Exams For Pets can not be over emphasized as veterinarians recommend regular wellness exams for the same reason your physician and dentist recommend them . The logic is prevention is better than cure so if you can detect a problem in its early stages, it's more likely to be treated and resolved with less expense, less difficulty and better success. Vaccinations, heartworm prevention and routine deworming are important components of wellness care and can prevent diseases that are not only life-threatening, but very expensive to treat,thus prevention should be a better option. A wellness programme can be recommended based on your pet's breed as some breeds are predisposed to certain health problems, age, lifestyle and overall health.

Early exposure to pets can reduce allergy and obesity.

A new study by University of Alberta has shown that early exposure to pets can reduce allergy and obesity by altering gut bacteria in immune-boosting ways. This new study has showed that babies from families with pets of which 70% were dogs showed higher levels of two types of microbes associated with lower risks of allergic disease and obesity. The theory is that exposure to dirt and bacteria early in life from the dog's fur or from its paws can create early immunity.The study shed more light by understanding the connection and identifying that exposure to pets in the womb or up to three months after birth increases the abundance of two bacteria, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, which have been linked with reduced childhood allergies and obesity, respectively. The numbers of the two bacteria were increased twofold when there was a pet in the house, meaning that the pet exposure was shown to affect the gut microbiome indirectly -from dog to mother to unborn baby -- during pregnancy as well as during the first three months of the baby's life. In other words, even if the dog had been given away for adoption just before the woman gave birth, the healthy microbiome exchange could still take place.

Puppy with braces regains pain-free smile.

Wesley, a golden retriever, is normally an active puppy.When Molly Moore, 23, of Spring Lake, noticed that her dog was chewing his food kind of funny and stopped playing with his toys, especially his chew-based toys, she became concerned.When Wesley started losing weight, a red flag went up. Moore, who works in her father's veterinary clinic, got the dog checked out and eventually decided that Wesley needed braces to alleviate the pain he was evidently experiencing. The dog's adult teeth weren't coming in properly. Dr. Jim Moore, Molly's father, as a "doggy dentist," performed the procedure at Harborfront Hospital for Animals in Spring Lake. He owns the clinic. "Dental care is just as important for the pets we love as it is for us and we are glad that his cute 'brace face' brought such interest."Wesley is treated as a member of the family. Moore said he will even play a key role in her upcoming wedding.Wesley was back at the veterinary clinic , to have one of his brackets re affixed. The dog will go under anesthesia for this procedure. Orthodontia in pets is normally not for aesthetic purposes, but because of health concerns. That was the case for Wesley.Braces with brackets were affixed to the top part of the dog's mouth and different orthodontia elements with braces were affixed to the bottom part.Jim Moore also does Endodontics, root canals that are often necessary because of pain, and oral surgery, such as for fractured jaws. According to Jim Moore, it is quite common for dogs to have problems with their teeth that may require an oral surgeon to move some teeth. He said he completes that procedure about once a week. As far as putting braces on dogs, that happens about four times a year at the Spring Lake clinic. When asked about why Wesley needed the procedure, Jim Moore said the dog "couldn't close his mouth." A recent check of the dog's teeth showed that "he's nearly perfect," Jim Moore said. Molly Moore said that dental procedures for pets tend to cost less than those for humans."Dental care for our pets is much more affordable than most people realize," she said. Wesley has lived with Molly Moore and her fiancé since they purchased their first house. culled from ;http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/03/brace_face_puppy_regains_pain-.html.

PETS,APPS AND VETS.

There is a new way to stay in touch with your pets while you are away. Read about this sleek innovation;http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/04/petchatz-pawcall-idUSnPn56z6LT+83+PRN20151104#SBBv7PyI0CVP9U16.97 Pet lover # animal lover # pet care.

APPS,PETS AND VETS.

Vets,pets and apps ,this combination is a new industry that has opened up massive opportunities for other businesses.See how the million dollar company works; http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/mobile-and-wireless/fit-fido-10-apps-to-keep-pets-healthy/d/d-id/1297550