New bird flu case reported in China.

New bird flu case reported in China. A new bird flu case today reported in Chinas Hunan province, taking the total number of human H7N9 avian influenza cases in the South Central province to 17 this year. H7N9 is a bird flu strain first reported to have infected humans in March 2013 in China The 67-year-old patient in Hengyang city, who was diagnosed with the flu, was critical, the Hunan provincial disease control and prevention centre said. He had come in contact with poultry and fell ill, the centre said. People who have had close contact with the patient have not shown symptoms of fever or coughing. Hunan has reported as many as 17 human H7N9 infections, including five fatalities this year, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. In addition to Hunan, human infections have also been reported in Guangdong, Guizhou, Hubei, Henan, Jiangxi and Shandong provinces and in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao. An early onset of this years human H7N9 virus, which is more active this winter, has resulted in more infections in Hunan and the whole country, Liu Fuqiang, an official with the Hunan disease control and prevention centre said. The public are advised to avoid direct contact with poultry and wear masks when symptoms such as headache, fever, coughing and chest congestion appear.At least 10 people have died from the virus since the start of the year, according to disease control centers in Henan, Guangdong and Hunan provinces. SOURCE.

How to bathe a cat.

These steps are important; 1) trim cat's claw to be prevent been clawed. 2) put a rubber mat in the tub,to prevent slipping. 3) partly fill tub with warm water,just some few inches. 4)carefully handle the cat,latter the coat with cat shampoo. 5) rub the shampoo on coat and wash all areas avoiding the eyes. 6) rinse shampoo off thoroughly and wipe the head region with wet cloth. 7) wrap cat in towel to dry.

VETERINARY MEDICINE: Chocolate toxicity in dogs.

VETERINARY MEDICINE: Chocolate toxicity in dogs. Chocolates are harmful or rather toxic to dogs. The level of toxicity depends on the type of chocolate and quantity consumed,the rule of thumb is the darker the chocolate the higher the rate of toxicity. VETERINARY MEDICINE: Chocolate toxicity in dogs. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is a stimulant similar to caffeine. Theobromine also found in tea has negative effects on the heart, kidneys and nervous system. When level of toxicity is high as in very severe cases the heart rhythm can be stimulated enough to cause the heart to stop. Theobromine also cause seizures and induce comas. Signs of chocolate toxicity include ;1)vomiting. 2)diarrhoea. 3)trembling/shaking 4) fever 5)tachycardia 6)rapid breathing. When next you decide to give your dog a treat,stay away from chocolate. Read labels and avoid food with theobromine,caffeine and cocoa.

Periodontal disease in dogs.

Periodontal disease is caused by plaque,plaque contains 100 trillion bacterial cells in every gram under the gum line. This causes “pockets” to form around teeth as bone and gum tissue, which normally fit tightly around each tooth, are destroyed.Plaque bacteria are 100 times more resistant to antiseptics, and antibiotics won’t resolve the problem either, but mechanical removal will. The purpose of periodontal therapy is to prevent bone loss, because bone loss has severe consequences that can be fatal. The prevention of plaque is the best therapy and this can be initiated by oral hygiene using by routine brushing of dog's teeth. A large number of dogs have periodontal disease as high as 85% which is partly due to the early onset in younger dogs,thus its important to incorporate oral hygiene early. Oral hygiene can be in form of brushing,use of oral rinse or dental chews. Stages of periodontal disease. 1) Gingivitis: This is the only reversible stage and signs include bleeding, swelling and glistening gingiva. Identifying and treating gingivitis early on can successfully prevent more serious problems from developing, and there is no bone loss. 2)There is bone loss of less than 25% and periodontal pocket depths of 3 to 5 mm. This is not severe for a large-breed pet such as a golden retriever or Rottweiler, but it can be extremely severe in a pets under 6kg. 3) The bone loss of more than 25% and less than 50% is characteristic and treatment plan is based on the tooth size and amount of attachment loss. 4) There is about 50% bone loss, teeth in this stage are loosely attached and extractions are the only option.

Telemedicine in veterinary practice.

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide clinical health care from a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities. The benefits of telemedicine in veterinary practice

NEWS: The cry of an African girl.

The real life experience of an African girl, her sorrows,struggles and cry for freedom. The journey starts; Aloby

How to brush your dogs teeth.

Dogs need to have their teeth brushed to maintain oral hygiene. Teeth are an important part of a dog’s health to maintain,but sadly 4 out of 5 dogs over the age of 3 have gum disease, which suggests that thorough dental care in dogs are overlooked. In most areas,people hardly care for the oral health of their dogs not realizing the overall effect oral health has on the wellness and health of their dogs. Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar around the gum line. If teeth are not routinely cleaned the buildup will result in gingivitis, bad breath and potential tooth loss. Dental work can often be very painful, both for the dog and for the owner’s bank balance, but brushing your dog’s teeth is a great way to reduce the risk of gum disease and can also be a fun activity. Brushing the dog teeth you need the following 1) a pet toothbrush 2) dog toothpaste 3 ) a lot of patience to clean the teeth properly. Starting off,you need to allow your dog to get accustomed to brushing the teeth,this you can achieve by putting a small amount of the pet paste on your finger which the dog will lick up. This is the advantage of using a pet paste as the pet paste can be swallowed but not the human paste. The pet paste come in various flavors and it will make a lot of sense to try out different flavors and settle for your pets favorite. Brushing can be done b2-3 times a week. How to brush:1) Position the brush at a 45 degree angle against your dog’s teeth and ensure you massage the gum line. 2) Brush in small circles to reach where the gum meets the teeth . 3)The majority of plaque accumulates on the outer surfaces of all the teeth, so brush there first then move to the inside surfaces.