THERAPY DOGS FOR PATIENTS WITH ADDICTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

Researchers in Saskatchewan say regular visits with a therapy dog can improve your mental health and well-being. A team went to three addictions and mental health treatment sites in the Saskatoon Health Region and spent six months at each one.Therapy dogs have often been praised for their abilities. In this particular study, the words from the adult clients, staff, and observers speak volumes. According to the researchers, one staff member reported, "Client rolling in grass laughing while dog was licking her, snuggling. Heard the client state, 'I love you. I want to take you home.'" "I could see it on her face the love she felt from [the therapy dog]. She kept on smiling during her entire session." "The meeting was more than I thought it would be," one client at the Calder Centre said. "Animals are in the moment and live each moment in the present. It was a nice reminder." "The word love was said many times. With the one-on-one experience the person felt comfort — able to open up," an observer cited in the research project said. "I could see it on her face, the love she felt from [the therapy dog]. She kept on smiling during her entire session.""The dogs can have an impact on an individual's healing journey in a multitude of ways, from providing comfort through to increasing therapeutic alliances with service providers," Dell said in a news release. Read more about research here;http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-researchers-praise-dogs-healing-therapeutic-1.3322183

READING DOGS HELP CHILDREN STUDY.

“Reading” Dogs Help Children Learn | The Bark Reading is indeed fundamental, but for many, acquiring the skill is daunting. Fortunately, thanks to some innovative programs and cooperative dogs, the challenge is getting easier to meet. Across the nation, dogs are lending their ears, and thousands of children who need extra help with reading and interpersonal communication couldn’t be happier. Imagine this scene, described by Brooklyn’s Good Dog Foundation founder and executive director, Rachel McPherson: “For each session, the dog and the child-tutor settle down onto a blanket-covered pad on the floor in a corner of the school media center or in the library. Either the dog picks out a book or the child selects a picture book, brings it to the dog, holds it flat and begins to read.” Though the children believe they are teaching dogs to read, in fact, with the dog as a comfortable, attentive audience (and an occasional gentle assist from the dog’s adult volunteer partner), they are actually teaching themselves. As far as the child is concerned, however, reading is about the dog, not about the child. No pressure. No embarrassment. No humiliation. Learn the technique and those involved;http://thebark.com/content/reading-dogs-help-children-learn

VETERINARY MEDICINE : Diabetic alert dogs.

Diabetic-alert dogs, Orion is a Labrador Retriever who has been trained at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars. Orion was trained by Canine Hope for Diabetics to do his job, which is to detect odor changes that indicate a low blood sugar level and alert Domi. When Domi is awake, Orion alerts him by pulling at the bringsel (which looks like a small foam roller) that Domi wears at his waist. That’s the cue to Domi that he should check his blood sugar, which he does 15-20 times most days, but around a dozen times before, during, and after each game in addition to the rest of that day’s tests. When he is asleep and his blood sugar drops, Orion wakes him up by barking and jumping on him. If that doesn’t rouse Domi, then the dog will use his paws to wake him up with some well-placed contact to the face. Low sugar levels in his blood can be especially likely after a late-night game, so Orion’s tenacity about waking him up is especially critical at those times. Orion travels with Domi to all their games so he must be able to handle the air travel, the huge crowds, hotels, the ice rinks and the generally complex and crazy life of a professional hockey player. One challenge for anyone with a service dog is preventing other people from petting him or otherwise distracting him while he is working. All the other players along with coaches and other staff of the Arizona Coyotes know that they cannot interact with Orion when he is working. When he is off duty, though, he is just as friendly and loving as you might expect, and everybody cherishes the time they get to spend with Orion when he is not working. Domi treasures all his time with Orion and is grateful for how much easier it makes it to concentrate on hockey. At only 20 years old, he’s arguably the best rookie in the NHL, so any fan of Domi or his team should appreciate that, too.Read how he got Orion;http://thebark.com/content/professional-hockey-player-and-his-service-dog

5-STAR HOTEL FOR YOUR DOGS.

Traveling? need to board your dogs? imagine this in your neighborhood.A 5 star hotel for your dogs,every need is attended to and they have their own bed and flat screen TV. The dogs are given royal treatment @ 200 dollars a night!! Thinking of a business in the pet industry? boarding is just a part of pet business. Read here for details of how the hotel operates;http://www.businessinsider.in/At-this-New-York-City-pet-hotel-dogs-can-sleep-in-suites-bigger-than-some-Manhattan-apartments/articleshow/49794435.cms

2-LEGGED DOG GETS WHEELCHAIR FOR MOVEMENT.

- A puppy born without his front legs is rolling into a new life with the help of a new 3-D printed wheelchair.Tumbles was rescued from the cold when he was just 2-weeks-old, according to Friends of the Shelter Dogs in Athens, Ohio. The little guy has been able to adapt and scoot across the floor using his nose and back legs, but a veterinarian recommended he be fitted for a cart so he can build muscle in his back legs more naturally. The puppy got a new lease of life by using a wheel that allow movement easily.See more here;http://abc7.com/pets/meet-tumbles-2-legged-puppy-gets-3-d-printed-wheelchair/1085244/

SURGERY ON TURTLE TO REMOVE FISH HOOK.

A fishing hook has been removed from a turtle's stomach in a delicate operation undertaken by vets from Murdoch University.The animal was discovered by a member of the public, attached to a jetty in Bibra Lake by fishing line.She was taken to a vet in Hilton, where staff affectionately named her Paris Hilton, before she was taken to Perth Zoo.zoo vet Alisa Wallace said discarded fishing tackle often poses problems for oblong turtles, which live in lakes, rivers and swamps throughout WA's south west. "If they see some bait in the water they'll think that looks really tasty and they'll go and grab it," Dr Wallace said"It's quite common for fishermen to bring in turtles that they've accidentally hooked, or for people to find them with line hanging out of their mouths."The 90 minute operation saved the turtle; read about it;http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-12/fish-hook-dislodged-from-turtle27s-stomach/6936860

WHY HORSES BITE.

Possible reasons horses bite;Fear-induced,Pain-induced, irritation, dominance, playful bite, protection,self mutilation and as an act of sex.All of these act of biting can be described both in terms of horse-horse aggression and horse-human aggression. If we can understand why a horse is biting we’re better equipped to stop the behavior. The most sustained horse-on-horse aggression that include a lot of biting are the inter-male interactions.Probably the worst nippers and biters toward people are stallions. This might be the testosterone talking, but it also might be complicated by other factors. We sometimes see redirected aggression when a stallion can't get to another stallion or to a mare. Read more http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35863/why-does-a-horse-bite?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=06-02-2015

HYDROPONICS FOR EQUINE FEED.

Hydroponics for horse diet, with the develoment and availability of products called fodder systems. Fodder refers to food grown for and fed in a living state to livestock. Rising feed prices are also responsible for the growing interest in fodder systems. Different varieties or combinations of grains or legumes , to cereal grains such as barley, oats, and wheat are available for different animal species, but the most common crops grown for horses are wheat and barley. The seeds germinate and grow rapidly, and in approximately six days a “crop” is ready to feed to livestock. The 6- to 8-inch-tall sprouts grow in a thick layer called a mat. You can remove the mat from the tray and feed it to horses in its entirety—roots and all. The idea is to have fresh, live, natural food that you’ve grown yourself within mere days. Sprouting grain is 80% digestible, and some of its vitamins are more readily available in this fresh crop than in dry hay. Proponents claim that benefits include a quick crop yield in a very small area that offers horses increased hydration (the sprout mats are very lush—think early spring grass). Two pounds of seeds equals 15 pounds of fodder. Manufacturers claim that horses consuming fodder recover more quickly from competition due to the increased hydration and to a more efficient uptake of nutrients and highly digestible fiber the fodder affords. They also purport that this natural feed is compatible with the equine digestive system, reducing ulcers, laminitis, tying-up, and impactions and other types of colic, along with increasing growth in young animals. read more here; http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35871/is-hydroponic-feed-in-your-horses-future?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=06-02-2015

STARCH AND HORSE 'S DIET.

Starch is a highly digestible energy form and can provide energy needed for exercise, growth, metabolism, and other equine life functions. However, when fed improperly, this nonstructural carbohydrate can be detrimental to your horse's health.Most of the energy contained in grains, such as corn and oats, and a percentage of the energy from forage is starch. During digestion, starch is broken down primarily in the horse's small intestine by an enzyme called amylase. This process efficiently produces glucose, a type of simple sugar essential for fueling some bodily functions. Horse health problems tend to arise when the large intestine is overloaded with undigested starch. Several studies have reported the negative effects of excess starch in the large intestine, such as decreased colon and/ or cecal pH level. This can lead to dangerous problems such as colic, founder, or laminitis. Read more http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29677/starch-in-horse-diets?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=07-21-2015

ATOPIC DERMATITIS.

Atopic dermatitis, defined as an allergic reaction to environmental allergens (such as pollens, barn dust, molds, etc.), is more common in horses. It can be seasonal or precipitated by allergens. The common signs are urticaria (“hives”), urticaria with pruritus (itching), and pruritus alone. Pruritus most commonly affects the face and trunk. Seasonal signs would be most consistent with allergy to pollens and year-round signs would be more consistent with an allergy to molds or barn dust. Urticaria, secondary to atopic dermatitis, could be a familial problem in some horses. Treatment;Medical therapy can include corticosteroids; prednisolone or dexamethasone are the most commonly used. Prednisolone seems to be better absorbed orally in horses than prednisone. The injectable dexamethasone solution can be used orally. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is based on clinical signs and the exclusion of other diagnoses . Horses can have a secondary bacterial skin infection (pyoderma), typified by excess scale, particularly in the shape of a circle.. Read more here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36122/atopic-dermatitis-in-horses?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=07-21-2015

ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE IN ANIMALS AND EFFECT ON MAN.

The world organisation for animal health aims to reduce misuse of antibiotics, because of growing threat of antibiotic resistance bacterial.

An awareness week has been organized in collaboration with world health organization, read details here;http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/Animal-health-body-targets-misuse-of-antibiotics?utm_source=copyright&utm_medium=OnSite&utm_campaign=copyright

FEEDING ORPHANED FOALS.

Orphaned foals are a breeding reality that all caretakers should consider and learn how to manage.The mare milk (colostrum) is what a foal needs, there are 2 options that we can consider.The owner can get from a colostrum bank or a milk replacement can be purchased or formulated. The colostrum usually is 1 to 1.5 liters total--divided into multiple 8 to 12 ounce feedings is needed to achieve an (acceptable antibody level), but colostral quality greatly affects this, and adequate (antibody levels) can be achieved with less. When colostrum is not immediately available, the foal can be fed with milk or milk replacer within two hours of birth. The foal is fed about 15% of the body weight on the first day, and increasing that amount to 18-22% over the next weeks. Foals should not consume more than 25% of their body weight daily. Read more here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/29123/how-to-feed-an-orphan-foal

VITAMIN E AND HORSE METABOLISM.

Vitamin E it benefits all horses, but will green grass and sunshine be enough? Would a high level performance horse benefit from additional vitamin E? What does vitamin E do in the horse? Vitamin E is a term used to describe a group of compounds known as tocopherols and tocotrienols. In equine nutrition most attention is paid to alpha-tocopherol. Alpha-tocopherol plays an important role in something called the glutathione pathway, which protects cells from oxidative damage, as well as reacting with free radicals produced by processes such as the lipid peroxidation chain reaction. Free radicals cause damage in cells because they have an odd number of electrons, which gives them an unstable electrical charge. In an attempt to become stable they “steal” electrons from other molecules. This causes a new molecule to be unstable, and it might not be able to perform its function within the body. A chain of oxidative destruction can result within the cell, which can negatively impact cell function and potentially cause cell death. Free radical formation is a natural consequence of various molecular processes within the cell, and we often hear it referred to as “oxidative stress.” It’s easy to label free radicals as “bad,” but they are in fact a perfectly natural consequence of the body using fats and carbohydrates for energy.Read more here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36737/when-do-horses-need-vitamin-e?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=11-16-2015

COLIC SURGERY.

Colic surgeries are common procedures in equine veterinary medicine, but do you know what to expect after your horse recovers from anesthesia? Equally as important as knowing whether you should send a horse to surgery is understanding what to prepare for once he’s back in his own stall.Learn all you need to know here;http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36718/what-to-expect-after-colic-surgery?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=11-16-2015

COLIC AT A GLANCE.

Colic refers to disturbances in the gastrointestinal track,it could be a mild discomfort to extreme abdominal pain.A mild case can resolve on its own,severe cases require surgery and extreme cases results in death. The common cases are usually associated with 1) changes in exercise routine. 2) changes in stabling routine 3) changes in feed,feeding portions and feeding times. 4)worm load and 5) teeth problems. The common symptoms are 1)restlessness .(frequent getting up and down) 2)flank watching(turning to look at abdomen frequently). 3)Frequent unsuccessful attempts to urinate. 4)fever. 5)high pulse rate. 6)pawing.(scrapping the ground). Colic cannot be prevented in all cases but certain procedures can be implemented to prevent occurrence; 1)Feeding protocol, give a little portion of feed at meal times,do not overfeed and dont allow access to excess water after exercise.When feed is to be changed,introduce new feed gradually and give cool fresh water. 2) Health protocol regular vet checks.2)follow a routine worming program. 3)clean paddock regularly to remove feces,this will reduce contamination of pasture with fecal eggs. 3)keep teeth rasped. Horses are use to routine so do not change routine suddenly. The changes to exercise routine should be gradual and also reduce stress on the horses.

WASTE MANAGEMENT AND POWER GENERATION.

Waste management is a global issue with developing countries having the biggest task.The management technique varies as different methods are used to prevent the environmental pollution and health hazard attached to this menace. The generation of electricity from the waste is a possible route,but the methodology and cost implication has always been an issue; see how a minimal investment in a biogas plant can generate power ,save the environment and generate revenue.See this

THE GEKO BRA!!! # ANIMAL INSPIRED FASHION.

A gecko's toe consists of a microscopic hierarchical structure of stalk-like setae - 100 microns in length, 2 microns in radius. From individual setae, a bundle of hundreds of terminal tips called spatulae - approximately 200 nanometers in diameter at their widest - branch out and contact the climbing surface. These hairs create an electrostatic force known as Van der Waals. It causes neighbouring molecules to be attracted to each other. Although very weak, the effect is multiplied by thousands of tiny hairs that cover a gecko's toes, allowing them to stick firmly to surfaces. Read how the geko provided the raw material for this adhesive bra!.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3315822/Women-rejoice-Finally-strapless-bra-stays-inspired-GECKO-FEET.html

CLAY AND VETERINARY PRACTICE.

A lot of protocols come in handy when treating animals, from the conventional to the very unconventional and all works well.The holistic,alternative,herbal practice are just some of the medical interventions used.Acupuncture is also another area of practice,where needles are stuck into different body parts to relieve certain pains associated with certain diseases.This works on the theory that different sectors of the body have receptors that actually governs certain body function/metabolism ,thus these areas are prodded with needles. Bonding with glue is another common protocol, use of water resistant bonds to fix tortoise shell is also fairly common. Vets are really dynamic bringing so many properties to play in practice[ see how vets used CLAY to save an elephant's foot;http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3129674/Baby-elephant-died-caught-poacher-s-snare-Kenya-saved-vets-pack-severely-injured-foot-CLAY.html

VITAMINS FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

Vitamins are handy and vital for your animal health.When animals are exposed to stressors such as fatigue, diseases,vaccination,environmental changes,dehydration e.t.c. Give this vitamin supplement to restore health. Vitamins very beneficial to regulate metabolic reactions, keep it in your box.

TETANUS IN HORSES!!!

Caused by clostridium tetani, prevalent in soil and feces.Wound contamination is common route of infection.The classical signs are stiffened gait and prolapse of 3rd eyelid .Prevention is by vaccinating horses and treatment will include antitoxin and wound treatment and management.