DANDRUFF IN DOGS: CAUSES AND TREATMENT.

Dandruff refers to flaking off of dead cells,when skin cells die. Dandruff in dogs is usually a pile up of dead cells in the coat of the dog.

The flakes are obvious when dogs scratches the coat.The normal dying of cells is the main cause of the dandruff but other underlying factors  may result in the condition.

COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY PET OWNER.

Every pet owner needs a kit for emergencies or to provide a quick fix before you get to a veterinarian.

These items are so common around the home but it will make a lot of sense to have them handy and in a dedicated bag.

        The items are:

 1) Thermometer.: necessary to ascertain the correct temperature status of your pet.An elevation or a low temperature both indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

 2)Bandages: useful to hold limb in place in cases of injury.

 3)Gauze: sterile gauze useful in wound treatment,also useful to make a muzzle when you need to restrain your pets.

 4)Cotton wool: useful to clean wounds,ears and eyes.The cotton moistened with warm water is useful to remove sleepy dust from eyes. The cotton can be used to apply ointment on wound sites. 

5)Adhesive tapes: to close up a wound after cleaning and treatment. 6)Antiseptic cream;to prevent infection in wound site.

 7)Tweezers:to pick ticks from dog's coat,crush and destroy.Its also useful to pick sterile swabs and apply on wound.

 8)Scissors:useful to cut gauze,bandage or pieces of material to make a tourniquet, or cut material to make a splint.

 9)Sterile dressing:useful in wound dressing,

 10)Iodine: for wound treatment.

 11)hydrogen peroxide: to induce vomiting in cases of poisoning.The peroxide is also used to clean wound surfaces.

 12) Towel: used to cover pets to conserve heat in patients with shock.Towels are handy to carry pets in cases of accidents.

 13)Alum block,corn starch and baking soda; this acts as hemostats to stop bleeding .

MEGA-ESOPHAGUS.

This refers to a condition where peristalsis is altered because of an enlarged esophagus.The esophagus is the passage of food from mouth to stomach,thus when its enlarged the food passage is stalled leaving food in the throat for a prolonged time,the food is usually regurgitated or inhaled in lungs resulting in aspiration pneumonia The food often times decays in the throat resulting in foci of infection. The condition is common in horses,cats,dogs and humans,and it could be inherited as in the Friesian horse. The common signs associated with mega-esophagus are 1) inappetence 2) frequent episodes of regurgitation 3) severe weight loss. There are certain breeds predisposed to mega-esophagus, these include 1) great Dane,2) German shepherd 3)golden retriever 4)corgis,5) Siamese cat 6)Persian cat 7)Boston terrier 8)rottweiler 9)french bulldog e.t.c. The prognosis of the condition is guarded and the remedy is feeding the subject in a raised position; where the neck is stretched vertically to receive food and create an easy passage to the stomach. Dogs are usually fed in special chairs,to ensure they have required calories and prevent food stasis. photo credit; The telegraph.

TELECOMMUNICATION AS A TOOL FOR FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY.

The role of telecommunication as a tool for food security,food safety and sustainability. This is how to use telecommunication to trace,track and report food fraud thus promoting food safety.

This involves creating a platform , a central data pool of various farmers and agricultural value chain.This platform will be multifaceted, linking all the aspects of the agricultural chain thus providing a tracking and tracing model. This will be a planning tool,marketing tool and learning platform.

 The platform will have data of those involved in the various aspect of the chain,their location, the aspect of production they are involved in and the population of the animals.

This information will give data on vaccination/medication, so that at any point in time the health status of various sets of animals can be accessed.




The platform will be a vital tool for planning,because you know the number of birds in chain,the vaccines can be acquired, medications/vitamins can be sourced and distributed.

 The platform will be a marketing tool,where manufacturers of drugs,feed,farm tools can reach out to customers.Each chain operator will have a code,this will allow tracing,tracking and tailored medical interventions.

 The platform will grant open access to all strata of the chain; linking all aspects together so that customers can access all sale information on the site.

Training and learning will be available on site,with hand outs,webinars and interactive forum;where farmers can be tutored and also create an opportunity for interested farmers and investors to be trained.

BENEFITS OF ACETIC ACID.

Common household products that can be useful in bio-security but you never thought about. I love to clean,its a passion for me. This passion has seen me using some un conventional agents as cleaning agents. There are products in your shelf that can rid you and your environment of germs thus preventing sickness and diseases. VINEGAR, normally you use it to wash your salad,but there is more to it. I normally mix a part of vinegar with water to clean my kitchen table. I also use it in the same dilution to wash meat and chicken . Add 4 tablespoons of vinegar to my washing soap in the washing machine. When floors need to be disinfected, i just add my vinegar to water, and i use it to clean the washed floors. Cleaning glass doors and dinning just got easy,just damp your cleaning rag with diluted vinegar,and wipe= super clean surfaces. OOps! spilled coffee on your rug,no worries; mix the vinegar and spot it on= =,no more stains. Vinegar is actually acetic acid,that is capable of killing bacteria.

TRACING WITH QR CODES TO PREVENT FOOD FRAUD.

The recalls concerning a lot of food items and pet products have sensitized the public about food sources,handling and codes.

The recalls are usually done per batches or dates of manufacture depending on where the error occurred, this has led to various means of tracing and tracking products that are fast,cheap and easy to use.   A company recently came up with an innovation using QR CODE

 A traceability system developed in New Zealand uses Quick Response (QR) codes so consumers with smartphones can have an easily accessible history of the source and status of an item, whether it happens to be a dairy product, a car, or any other merchandise.

 ID locate is a relatively new product developed by a company based in Auckland, NZ. Companies implementing the system pay a one-time setup charge and then a monthly maintenance fee, while consumers interested in their brands can use it for free.

 Woman scanning food with phone at storeSimon Bell, who handles technical and operational issues for the company, explained that the generated information can alert consumers to a food fraud problem, a related recall, or other issues involving a particular product.

 “It’s all database-driven so when they scan the QR code, it generates a particular URL so whatever information we have around that particular product is unique. It could be anything.

When a consumer scans it, it instantly tells them whether there’s a recall on that product,” “We’ve got a really good understanding of unique coding and imaging and a really good understanding of the application process.

 It’s incredibly secure and incredibly mobile; we can roll and do it in 15 minutes. We haven’t found anybody else who can do what we can do,” he said.

 There is almost no limit to the information which can be tracked on a food item. Besides the origin and recall history, it could be data from an outbreak investigation, video footage, or other content specific to that individual product,

 Bell noted. Lots of research is being done these days involving genetically engineered foods and various product investigations, but nothing has systematically been done linking that research with the consumer, he said.

 Read more here;http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/11/food-traceability-tool-developed-in-new-zealand-uses-qr-codes/#.VlRqzHarSM8

Most Turkey Producers Allow Routine Antibiotic Use.

A report shows that most turkey producers allow the indiscriminate use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Humane farming advocates Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) have released an overview of the antibiotics and other drugs used in turkey production.The organization is part of the Keep Antibiotics Working coalition, which recommends that food animal producers limit the use of medically important antibiotics to disease treatment in order to prevent overuse and subsequent spread of antibiotic resistance. FACT found that among the top 20 turkey producers, only Hain Pure Protein, marketed under the Plainville Farms Brand, and Tyson Foods, marketed under the Hillshire Brand, stated that they don’t allow their producers to routinely use antibiotics related to those used in humane medicine either for disease prevention or for growth promotion. FACT recommends that consumers avoid companies that allow ractopamine or routine antibiotic use and seek out companies that are transparent about the drugs they use in food production. The report also recommends that consumers look for products that are produced under a third-party certification that includes controls on veterinary drug use. read more here; http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/11/report-most-turkey-producers-allow-routine-antibiotic-use/#.VlRn23arSM8

NANO TECH WOUND HEALING OPTION FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS.

Scientists have developed antibacterial nano fibres of cellulose acetate loaded with silver that could be used in a new type of dressing to promote tissue repair. People with diabetes mellitus often suffer from impaired wound healing. Now, scientists in Egypt have developed antibacterial nanofibres of cellulose acetate loaded with silver that could be used in a new type of dressing to promote tissue repair. They reveal details of the new materials and their properties in the International Journal of Nanoparticles. The dressing absorbs fluids exuded by the wound, but also protects the wound from infectious agents while being permeable to air and moisture, the team reports. The use of this dressing also promotes collagen production as the wound heals, which helps to recreate normal skin strength and texture something that is lacking in unassisted wound healing in diabetes mellitus. The nano fibres from cellulose acetate, an inexpensive and easily fabricated, semisynthetic polymer used in everything from photographic film to coatings for eyeglasses and even cigarette filters. It can be spun into fibres and thus used to make an absorbent and safe wound dressing. The report is available here; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150810123758.htm

THE POWER OF VINEGAR!!!

Vinegar is acetic acid and it has antibacterial properties aside from it being a powerful cleaning agent.The benefits of acetic acid are utilized in the food industry where its utilized to clean food,table tops,food cabinets e.t.c. Check out older posts on vinegar. Vinegar can be used in various strength depending on what you want to use if for; the vinegar-water combination can be used as follows 1) can be used to clean and disinfect wounds. 2) as a flea repellent. 3) clean and disinfect tables,kitchen utensils. 4) wash fruits and vegetables. A new study now reveals that vinegar can be used in treatment of burn wounds;Infections of burn wounds are difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics as they do not effectively reach the wound, and the infecting organisms are often highly antibiotic resistant.The study, published in PLOS ONE, demonstrated that low concentrations of acetic acid can be used to treat bio films, and therefore could be used as alternatives to topical (surface applied) antimicrobials and traditional antimicrobial dressings for preventing bacterial colonization of burns. Miss Fenella Halstead, NIHR SRMRC Clinical Scientist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, explained, "As resistance to antibiotics grows, we need to find ways to replace them with alternative topical agents that can kill bacteria and help our burns patients. The evidence in this study offers great promise to be a cheap and effective measure to do just that." Read more about study here; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150915105208.htm

SNAKE VENOM USED TO STOP BLEEDING.

In what seems to be an ironic twist 2 scientist have demonstrated the ability of snake venom to stop bleeding even in the presence of anticoagulants.Rice University researchers Jeffrey Hartgerink, and Vivek Kumar developed SB50;an hydrogel. The product a nano fiber an hydrogel called SB50 incorporates batroxobin, a venom produced by two species of South American pit viper. It can be injected as a liquid and quickly turns into a gel that conforms to the site of a wound, keeping it closed, and promotes clotting within seconds.The hydrogel may be most useful for surgeries, particularly for patients who take anti-coagulant drugs to thin their blood. Batroxobin was recognized for its properties as a coagulant -- a substance that encourages blood to clot -- in 1936. It has been used in various therapies as a way to remove excess fibrin proteins from the blood to treat thrombosis and as a topical hemostat. It has also been used as a diagnostic tool to determine blood-clotting time in the presence of heparin, an anti-coagulant drug. The batroxobin combined with the Rice lab's hydrogels isn't taken directly from snakes, Hartgerink said. The substance used for medicine is produced by genetically modified bacteria and then purified, avoiding the risk of other contaminant toxins. read more here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151026111913.htm

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN HORSES.

The use of antimicrobial s in food animals have been linked to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in man and animals as well.The emergence of the super bugs has been the light on the way food animals are raised and managed,with people clamoring for antibiotic-free livestock production.Antibiotics in livestock should be used as treatment protocol and not as growth promoters in animals,because these residues do more harm to man that consume these animals.These antibiotic residues have been linked to several ailments plaguing man today. The antibiotic resistance war has enveloped the companion animals as well as other pets, a lot of pet lover/owners and handlers abuse the use of antibiotics as well resulting in resistance which affects their owners as well.The E.coli infection affecting man and animals are borne from gross misuse of antibiotics ; a recent study shows the resistance in horses; new review in the Equine Veterinary Journal reveals that antimicrobial resistance is prevalent in bacteria from horses, particularly E. coli. Also, while methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) can be common in hospitalized horses, it is less frequently present in the general equine population. The emergence of multidrug resistance in many other bacterial species, however, represents a huge challenge for society. Read more here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151120182819.htm

A BREECH IN BIOSECURITY PROTOCOL FINGERED FOR SPREAD OF BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA.

Bovine viral diarrhea that affected about 5,000 cattle of which 500 were destroyed in Germany,indicates a breech of bio security protocol as the cause of high incidence. Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) leads to severe disease and significant economic losses Caused by the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV). Bovine Viral Diarrhea suppresses the immune system and causes a variety of symptoms, including respiratory problems, infertility, and abortion. "A dairy farmer first noticed a reduction in milk yield, respiratory symptoms, nasal discharge, fever, sporadic diarrhea and sudden deaths -- these symptoms were also noted on other farms as the infection spread, but did not immediately indicate BVD as the cause," said Dr. Jörn Gethmann, lead author of the study from Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute. "We were surprised by the high morbidity and mortality an induced by a BVDV strain in this outbreak." The researchers supported the competent local authorities in tracing the spread of the virus. They visited eight farms and obtained data on a further 13 farms. They discovered that the virus was not transmitted directly by infected cattle, but mostly by people such as vets and traders who were moving between farms. "We were surprised to see the effective transmission to other farms without persistently infected animals involved," commented Dr. Gethmann. Bio security is very important at all levels of production; a simple hand washing ,wearing protective clothing,tyre dips,foot baths and use of protective gloves will prevent spread of infectious agents. Read more here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150921090151.htm

A VIRUS IN CATTLE LINKED TO HUMAN BREAST CANCER.

A study has revealed the link between bovine leukemia virus and breast cancer; researchers analyzed breast tissue from 239 women, comparing samples from women who had breast cancer with women who had no history of the disease for the presence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV). They found that 59 percent of breast cancer samples had evidence of exposure to BLV, as determined by the presence of viral DNA. By contrast, 29 percent of the tissue samples from women who never had breast cancer showed exposure to BLV. Bovine leukemia virus infects dairy and beef cattle's blood cells and mammary tissue. The retrovirus is easily transmitted among cattle primarily through infected blood and milk, but it only causes disease in fewer than 5 percent of infected animals.This is another reason to handle animals,organs and blood with utmost care. Read more about the study here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150915105004.htm

Pigeons can identify cancerous tissue on x-rays.

A new study shows that pigeons can distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissue in x-rays and microscope slides with an accuracy rate of up to 99%.In a series of three experiments, led by Richard Levenson, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, it was found that pigeons have the capacity to learn how to identify whether an image shows healthy or cancerous breast tissue. The birds “share many visual system properties with humans”, according to the study.“With some training and selective food reinforcement, pigeons do just as well as humans in categorizing digitized slides and mammograms of benign and malignant human breast tissue,” read more here;http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/19/pigeons-can-identify-cancerous-tissue-on-x-rays-study-finds

HORSY INNOVATION.

An accident while trotting down the street on a horse, brought on a mission to develop an innovated light safety system. The system showcases LED lights, on both the front and tail units to warn, oncoming motorists that there is a rider on the road.Read more; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3327748/That-really-tail-light-Firm-unveils-clips-light-horses-improve-rider-safety.html

Horses and humans share facial expressions.

Horses use similar facial muscles to humans, suggesting an evolutionary parallel in how horses and humans use the face to communicate.Horses share some surprisingly similar facial expressions to humans and chimps, according to new University of Sussex research.Mammal communication researchers have shown that, like humans, horses use muscles underlying various facial features -- including their nostrils, lips and eyes -- to alter their facial expressions in a variety of social situations.read more here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150805144820.htm

HUMAN WASTE HAS HIGH ENERGY VALUE.

Biogas potentially available from human waste worldwide would have a value of up to US$ 9.5 billion in natural gas equivalent, UN University's Canadian-based water institute estimates. And the residue, dried and charred, could produce 2 million tonnes of charcoal-equivalent fuel, curbing the destruction of trees. The large energy value would prove small, however, relative to that of the global health and environmental benefits that would accrue from the safe treatment of human waste in low-resource settings. read more about the research here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151103064551.htm

WEEKEND MAKEOVER FOR YOUR DOG.

Its the weekend and a great time for a makeover for your pets; wash,shampoo and groom them. Check out these funny grooming options ; photo credit= internet. https://veterinarymedicineechbeebolanle-ojuri.blogspot.com/2019/01/veterinary-medicine-emerging-viruses-in.html https://veterinarymedicineechbeebolanle-ojuri.blogspot.com/2015/12/egg-powder.html

Tackling plastic pollution with worms

Scientists report that mealworms can biodegrade Styrofoam and other types of plastic in their gut. The findings could potentially lead to new methods to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution, according to researchers. watch video here; http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2110b19db9d2bc66c1f29c8a86647587.htm

Horse sickness shares signs of Alzheimer's.

Horses with a rare nerve condition have similar signs of disease as people with conditions such as Alzheimer's, a new study has found. The findings shed new light on the causes of the rare but predominately fatal horse condition and could help to develop new tools for diagnosing the illness. Scientists say that horses affected by the disease -- called equine grass sickness -- could also hold clues to human conditions.Grass sickness attacks nerve cells in horses but the causes of the disease are unknown. It causes gastric upset and muscle tremor and can kill within days. If diagnosed quickly, animals can sometimes be nursed back to health.They found that the horse tissue contained proteins that are commonly seen in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease -- such as the build-up of amyloid protein.This knowledge could help to develop tests for detecting the condition in horses, which can be tricky to diagnose. read more here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151005121140.htm