Edible insects for man.

Animal protein is sourced from different creatures nowadays, a select group have been craving for a shift to insects for protein needs.The argument is that they produce no emission thus preventing changes in the environment.Insect farming require less space for rearing than other animals and are cheap to raise. Insects can be raised anywhere,thus its suitable for urban agriculture and its not labor intensive. Thinking of a lean startup idea, with rapid turn over then INSECT FARMING is a good option. The plus for this type of farming is that man and animals can feed on the products to satisfy their protein needs. The inclusion of insects in animal feed is on the rise and many more are looking at the option see and in man many more are moving to this type of farming because of climate changes see

Water relief for 8,000 thirsty elephants neglected by Zimbabwe.

Drought-inducing El Niño settled over southern Africa in 2016, leaving the animals of Hwange national park in Zimbabwe faced desperate water shortages. During a heatwave in October, conservation worker Prince Sansole spotted an elephant partially submerged in a muddy pool. His movements initially looked no different from the water games routinely played by the giant creatures. Only a closer look revealed that the young bull was in trouble, struggling to get up. His limp trunk kept dropping back into the water, unable to catch a fresh breath. A postmortem later revealed that the elephant had succumbed to heat stroke on arrival at Chamabonda waterhole, after days of searching in vain for water amid the heat and sand.But thanks to an emergency effort by a local conservation group, water is now reaching at least 8,000 elephants and up to 10,000 other animals. Alerted by the predictions of drought, the Victoria Falls-based Bhejane Trust started drilling and setting up solar-powered boreholes in the park in May last year.continue

Water a super booster for dogs.

Water,the essential but forgotten nutrient is a super booster for health and wellness of dogs. Water should be clean,fresh and readily available to dogs.dogs should drink approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. Factors that can affect the quantity of water a dog will drink, are as follows ;1) environmental temperature 2) Level of exercise 3) nature of food as dogs on dry food require more water Water flushes the system and moves important nutrients into and out of the cells of the body. It promotes digestion of food and helps the body to absorb the nutrients. Water also serves to cool the body down and works to maintain a normal body temperature. It prevents constipation. Water lubricates and cushions joints and makes movement easier. The spinal cord and other internal tissues are also cushioned by moisture and wastes are removed from the body through urination and bowel movements. All body functions requires water and without adequate supply, dogs will become ill quickly and become dehydrated. Organs will eventually become damaged with sustained water deficiency. If the deficiency lasts long enough, kidneys and liver will begin to shut down and death will follow. Water deficiency will lead to organ failure,arthritis , shrinking of cartilage , rough dry skin and dehydration often becoming fatal if not addressed. Wet dog food contains some amount of moisture but this is not sufficient to meet required levels,so supply cool and fresh water to dogs daily.

Kissing your dog is a dangerous affection protocol..

Dogs are man's best friend and as such live in close quarters to man,often sharing rooms, work space and gardens with owners. Dogs nowadays are regarded as part of the family strengthening the bond and extending the display of affection. The dogs saliva contains a lot of pathogens which when passed to man in cases of kissing results in periodontal disease. Dogs spend most of their time sniffing and going through various stuff such as waste,poop,dead animals and even poisonous substance. The dog also grooms self with tongue especially the anal region thus transferring fecal matter and pathogens therein into the mouth which can easily be passed to man such as salmonella,E coli and campylobacter that causes severe gastroenteritis .This can be fatal in immune suppressed patients,young children ,old people and pregnant women. The Campylobacter organisms can be isolated from both healthy and sick dogs thus these tips will be useful to prevent spread. Prevention is by 1)good hygienic practices like removing feces from your house on a regular basis.2) cleaning any soiled areas in your house .3) Thorough hand washing after handling an infected dog and prevent dogs from licking people's faces, particularly those of young children. The effect of contact of the dog's saliva on intact skin is not as dangerous as when the saliva is in contact with moist,wet mucous membrane and a wound or cut on the body. The kissing of your dogs or face licking by dog is a potential way of infection.

Orangutan brings pregnant woman to tears by 'kissing' her stomach at zoo.

A simple "kiss" from an orangutan left a pregnant woman smiling through tears after a tender encounter at her local zoo. Morgain Cole Abbott, 27, was at the Colchester Zoo in Essex, England, last month when an orangutan named Rajang noticed her baby bump and gave it a tender smooch from the other side of the glass in his enclosure. Rajang, a 48-year-old orangutan who is half Bornean and half Sumatran, also "kissed" the pregnant belly of a woman in July 2015 and then again on a different expectant mother in September of last year. Morgain said it really shows how intelligent and knowing these incredible creatures are and made her so emotional as I honestly feel humans and animals can have a connection, and I felt I could have stayed there with him all day. continue

A New App Brings Veterinary House Calls to Portland.

Health care for Portland pets is about to be even more convenient than it is for humans,as a new app will bring veterinary house calls.Portland already has a cat rapper, dog hotels and even a short-lived dog cafe. It's also the home of the Licki Brush, a silicone tongue that humans can put on their tongues to lick their cat to increase bonding. VetPronto, a San Francisco startup that allows pet owners to connect with mobile on-call vets, will soon launch in Portland. It's kind of like PostMates, but instead of a guy delivering a crispy chicken sandwich, a veterinarian will deliver pet care. VetPronto wanted to increase the transparency using on simple pricing. They work with local vets and charge a flat rate of $150 for any issue, plus ten other conditions with flat rates. For example, if your dog has diarrhea, you pay $150 for the house call, $50 for the fecal test and $25 for the medication. continue

WHO reports suspected plague outbreak in Madagascar.

WHO reported that health officials are currently investigating a suspected outbreak of pneumonic and bubonic plague in the Southeastern region of Madagascar that resulted in 62 illnesses and 26 deaths. The cases, six of which have been confirmed, occurred in two adjacent districts in two neighboring regions —Befotaka district in Atsimo-Atsinanana Region and Iakora district in Ihorombe Region. These are the first cases to be reported in the area since 1950. Five of the cases were classified as pneumonic plague and the remaining as bubonic plague. Retrospective investigations revealed that the outbreak may have started in mid-August. The remote area of infection has allayed fears that be an it might be an international threat,but however calls for more surveillance to control situation The bacteria Yersinia pestis, is responsible for plague and maintain their existence in a cycle involving rodents and their fleas. In urban areas or places with dense rat infestations, the plague bacteria can cycle between rats and their fleas. Dog owners,keep pets safe and most especially importation of dogs must be restricted to prevent spread of infections. Use flea repellent for dogs,and rodent proof your homes and kennels.