National dog day!!!

Antibiotics the cornerstone of modern and veterinary medicine .

A familiar public education campaign uses the catch phrase “Not all bugs need drugs.” It has been around for the last few years in an effort to get the public to think about the need for prescription drugs to treat minor ailments. This program has been largely brought out by our health care profession and the government agencies that administrate health care. Why is this important and how does this relate to us and our pets and our farm animals? To start, let’s look at the history of antibiotic use in medicine. Penicillin and sulfonamide antibiotics were discovered in the period between the First and Second World Wars. The first use of these drugs was at the time of the Second World War. They were miracles! Lives previously lost to infections were saved by the hundreds and thousands. A great rush to find more of these bacteria fighters was soon undertaken and new families of antibiotics came forth. Soon these wonderful medical tools were brought into the veterinary world to save our pets and our livestock animals as well. However, bacteria adapt. By chance mutation, under pressure from the antibiotics that wipe out the weaker sensitive bacteria, stronger resistant bacteria developed. In the space of one human lifetime, the infections that penicillin and sulfonamides used to easily treat have developed resistance to nearly every known antibiotic. They are now called “superbugs.” They are kind of scary. Antibiotic use has been a cornerstone of modern medicine and, secondarily, veterinary medicine. In fact, some of the largest volumes of antibiotics are used in animals to maintain health and even prevent health problems in our food production systems. First, the health of human patients is at risk and superbugs are very difficult to treat with the antibiotic tools we have. We do not want to lose the last tools that work to save lives. At the most recent Canadian Veterinary Convention, there was a full day summit about antimicrobials in animal health. One speaker compared antimicrobial resistance on the scale with the current war on ISIS. Potentially many more lives could be lost than by a war displacing millions of people from their homes as they flee to safety! continue -

Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick tearfully describes his veterinary passion on cancer centre's year anniversary

Noel Fitzpatrick, known as Channel 4's Supervet, has been speaking passionately about his work, saying my "job is to look after that hope until death do us part". Prof.Fitzpatrick was speaking to mark the one year anniversary of the opening of Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology and Soft Tissue Centre, which has cared for more than 1,000 patients. Mr Fitzpatrick said his original aim was, and remains, for it to become the most advanced veterinary cancer centre in Europe. “When I meet patients they do for me far more than I will ever do for them,” said Mr Fitzpatrick, who runs Fitzpatrick Referrals in Eashing. “They allow me to have a reason to exist and I feel I can make a real difference in that moment in time. “That keeps me going because some days are better than others. It isn’t all joy and rapture. It is also not all despair and the reality is it is a mixture of the two. Noel said another aim of the center is, by 2017, to be the home to a linear accelerator - a machine which customizes high beams of photos to conform to a tumour’s shape and destroy cancer cells, whilst protecting surrounding healthy tissue. continue

The new 100% complete & balanced vegetarian range for pets.

If you are vegetarian, chances are, you are feeding your pet home-cooked vegetarian food. But the fact is, dogs are different from humans and have different nutritional requirements. Introducing Pedigree 100% Vegetarian. A complete and balanced pure vegetarian meal for your pet. Pedigree Vegetarian offers the goodness of high quality protein and is fortified with minerals and vitamins. Try Pedigree Vegetarian and see the 5 Signs of Good Health in just 6 weeks! - Try our new 100% complete & balanced vegetarian range | Pedigree

Agriculture industry looks to refugee population for labour shortage solution.

A pilot project aimed at matching immigrant and refugee job-seekers with agricultural employers has found some success in Alberta, though the program's partners acknowledge that longer-term solutions for the province's labour-starved farms and processing plants are needed. Since January, 29 newcomers to Canada have found employment in southern Alberta's agriculture industry as a result of a partnership between the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council and the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. The program — which has worked with 155 newly arrived job-seekers in total, including 18 Syrian refugees — seeks to raise awareness among newcomers about opportunities available in an industry that consistently struggles to attract and retain workers. There are many reasons why agricultural employers report difficulties attracting labour, including the hollowing out of the rural population base as well as the seasonal nature of farm work. New restrictions on the federal government's temporary foreign worker program have also exacerbated the problem. While some agricultural employers — including JBS and Cargill, owners of the Brooks and High River plants respectively — have been successfully tapping into immigrant and refugee populations for years as a source of labour, it's a new concept for others who may not know how to go about accessing this potential work force. In addition, employment agencies and immigrant settlement organizations — who are usually based in larger cities — haven't always been aware of the opportunities that exist in agriculture and as a result, may be less likely to present farm jobs as an option to their clients. continue

Crowdfunding for agricultural projects at TICAD-VI.

Agriculture is the new global currency and various countries are trading their products,expertise,innovations and ideas to ensure economic growth of their countries.The world itself is a global village making it easy to transfer ideas,technology and trading boundaries. Countries participating in crowdfunding for agricultural projects are engaging through partnerships ,investment drive and private participation. Investors forum for agricultural projects has become common place in many countries and also various states,wherein the countries showcase their agricultural products,the benefits of their products,the profitability of their value chains and the policies that will attract investors. Technology in terms of agritech are showcased to enhance collaborations with nations that are technologically savy so that there could be tech-transfer, tech-exchange and tech -collaborations. The Tokyo international conference of African development(TICAD) is one of such forum to provide a platform for the facilitation and promotion of high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and Africa’s development partners on issues pertaining to economic growth, trade and investment, sustainable development, human security, peace and stability and government. TICAD was launched in 1993 by the Government of Japan, to promote Africa’s development, peace and security, through the strengthening of relations in multilateral cooperation and partnership, particularly with the country. TICAD 2016 is in Nairobi,Kenya and the country aims to sell agriculture,infrastructure and innovation for funding to development financial institutions. The kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Chief Executive Carole Kariuki believe these ` three areas will transform the country’s economy. Kenya's aim is to negotiate with development partners that include the World Bank Group, African Development Bank, Japan External Trade Organisation, and the Africa Union Commission during the high level policy dialogue. President Muhammadu Buhari will attend the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya, this the first-ever TICAD Summit to be held in the African continent in its over 20 years of history. The hosting of TICAD is an indication of increase African ownership in the TICAD process which has been attracting much attention from African states and all TICAD partners,which include the the United Nations System , the African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency), as well as civil society and the private sector. The highest-level of representations from African states and TICAD partners are expected at TICAD-VI. Watch here

Girl caged like a dog .

A four year old girl has been living in a cage like a dog because her aunt claims she has HIV and she is a witch. The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old woman, Mary Matthew, for allegedly locking away a four-year-old foster daughter in a kiosk in the bush for over five months in Imafon Village area. The state Commissioner of Police, Hilda Harrison while parading the suspect said she was arrested on the strength of the information given to the police.She said, “Mary and her husband, who alleged that the girl was possessed, decided to lock her outside the house. On receipt of the information, the personnel attached to the Juvenile Welfare Centre of the police command visited the scene and met the girl in the cage as reported. “She (Precious) was immediately rescued and taken to the police clinic for medical attention, while the suspects are under interrogation and will soon be charged to court.”Olayemi Ojumu (ASP), who led the team that rescued the victim said Precious tested negative to HIV. She said, “When we got to the village, we saw the girl with a swollen body. She was holding a loaf of bread. She had defecated on her body inside the cage where she was kept in the bush. They didn’t allow her to come out to live with them. They gave her food and water inside the cage. Ojumu said Precious was taken to the police clinic after her rescue. it was also gathered that Ojumu donated blood to the victim. more