Tips to keep your cat happy.

Cat lover these are tips to keep your feline friend happy, There are some great advantages to be gained by keeping your cat confined indoors. These include decreased risk of injury and disease and as a result a significantly longer life expectancy. Not to mention the benefit for wildlife and the appreciation of the non-cat lovers in the community. With a bit of extra effort, these cats can still have a lifestyle that meets their needs. Even cats that spend some time outdoors can benefit from additional opportunities for mental and physical activity in their home environment. This is particularly true for individuals prone to anxiety disorders. The following suggestions allow cats to focus their energies in a healthy, positive way that helps to relieve stress. Cats are individuals so it is important to trial as many of the following as possible so that you can identify the elements that your cat appreciates the most. 1) Toys Cats are very sight sensitive to moving objects, so providing toys with an element of motion. This will help to attract your cat’s interest and enthusiasm for play. These can vary from simple home-made items such as scrunched up pieces of newspaper on the end of a piece of elastic,attached to a stationary object or tied to your belt so they bobble around on the floor behind you as you walk. Various types of toys are also available commercially and these include such things as balls containing bells, cat dancers and various furry items such as mice. Some cats have a genetic predisposition to respond pleasurably to catnip. Toys are available that contain this substance or you might like to grow your own indoor garden and include catnip, catmint or catgrass. Simple items such as table tennis balls or non-toxic soap bubbles can provide avenues for fun interaction. continue

Migrating birds may bring bird flu to North America.

Migrating birds may bring bird flu to North America,according to a report. Influenza is a virus that emerges periodically to cause epidemics in different birds or mammals, like the two types of canine flu now in North America and the recent feline influenza outbreak in New York City. The highly pathogenic influenza strain currently infecting wild birds and domestic poultry in several European countries could be transmitted to birds in North America as migratory flyways of some European and North American wild bird species overlap in the northern reaches of Canada, an expert on influenza viruses and the spread of the virus in animals . According to Colin Parrish, John M. Olin Professor of Virology at the Baker Institute for Animal Health in Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, an expert on influenza viruses and the spread of the virus in animals, the strain circulating among birds in Europe is known as the H5N8 subtype and this particular virus is a highly pathogenic influenza strain that appears to be readily transferred into poultry flocks and other domesticated birds from wild birds. Migratory birds in Europe and in America normally follow separate north-south migratory pathways, and there is normally not much mixing between birds in each region, but there are areas where they come in contact. This virus seems to be quite transmissible, so there's a reasonable possibility that it could be picked up and brought over to the North American flyways. It looks like H5N8 is very effective at transferring from the wild birds into domestic poultry operations, so this raises a concern.

Meconium aspiration syndrome in foals.

Meconium— refers to the dark, sticky feces foals first pass, and its basically a composition of gastrointestinal secretions such as bile, pancreatic enzymes and mucous, desquamated cells, lanugo, vernix caseosa, water, amniotic fluid and other cellular debris. When a foal becomes hypoxic in utero, a vicious cycle can ensue. Hypoxemia can stimulate gastrointestinal peristalsis that passes meconium in utero. It can also trigger the foal to reflexively gasp for air and aspirate meconium and amniotic fluid into its lungs.When aspirated, meconium is toxic due to the damaging effect on surfactant and lung tissue. Meconium occludes the airways, from the upper airway to the alveoli creating a valve-like effect such that during inspiration air may be able to pass through a partial obstruction and fill the deeper portion of the lungs and in the expiratory phase, air can become trapped behind the meconium obstruction and accumulate to the point where it ruptures lung tissue, causing a pneumothorax. more

Researchers highlight link between feral pigs , vampire bats and rabies.

Researchers highlight alarming link between feral pigs and vampire bats,according to results of a study published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. The number of vampire bats, which transmit rabies and are a concern for livestock breeders, may be increasing in Brazil and the Americas along with growth in the populations of invasive feral pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa). The researchers recently reported an alarming rise in the numbers and distribution of S. scrofa, as well as showing that the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus is now feeding on the blood of these animals. As numbers of invasive feral pigs increase, so does the damage to crops and native fauna, among other problems. S. scrofa is also a growing source of blood for vampire bats, so the population of D. rotundus is also likely to increase. Only three of the approximately 1,200 known bat species feed exclusively on blood, and all three are found only in the Americas. D. rotundus is the most widely distributed, inhabiting a territory that ranges from Mexico to Argentina. This species feeds mostly on livestock and poultry, but it has also been documented to prey on mammals such as tapirs and deer. In Brazil's Atlantic Forest biome, about 1.4% of vampire bats are infected with rabies. The proportion may be as high as 10% in the Peruvian Amazon. Transmission of rabies by vampire bats is a major concern for ranchers in Brazil, even in areas where cattle are routinely vaccinated. Wild animals, including feral pigs, are not vaccinated and may therefore pose a serious threat by spreading this disease. The researchers have used camera traps to monitor mammals in the Brazilian Pantanal and Atlantic Forest for the past 12 years. These are remotely activated infrared cameras that film at night when triggered by sensors that detect the presence of an animal. After checking 10,529 photos and videos with several examples of vampire bats feeding on feral pigs, cattle, tapirs, and red brocket deer (Mazama americana), the researchers selected 158 independent events in the Pantanal (101 with feral pigs, 38 with deer, and 19 with tapirs), and 87 events in the Atlantic Forest (35 with feral pigs, 29 with deer, and 23 with tapirs). Based on these events, they estimated that the probability of vampire bat attacks on feral pigs was as high as 10% for nights in which recordings were made.

Yoga for the Veterinary Student.

Yoga for the Veterinary Student, this is a new wave thats running through to help eliminate stress and boost productivity. Lying in savasana, or corpse pose, the purpose of this pose is to still the body and mind. The intention is to be awake, but completely relaxed. You use this time (5-10 minutes typically at the end of practice) to become still, focus on your breathing, and just let go. Savasana is one of the hardest poses during a yoga practice, not because it is physically demanding, but because it requires you to shut off your thoughts. This is difficult for a person with an extremely busy mind. more

Young people embracing agribusiness.

The younger generation have decided to create jobs for themselves instead of seeking employment and agribusiness is their choice. Young graduates and young school leavers are tossing their professions to start agribusiness. The common ventures are poultry ,fish farming and cattle rearing,these are explored to the fullest by investing in the production and processing increasing the demand for their products by maximizing the value chain of their ventures. The poultry farmers,produce live birds for sale at peak seasons but sell other products like eggs,eggpowder ,chicken nuggets.sausages e.t.c. see African youths have embraced agriculture and agribusiness,whether is production ,processing or even selling the products many more are in the race and changing their pocket books.Young people from Subukia sub-county have been urged to turn to agriculture as one of the avenues where they can sustain themselves rather than looking on getting employed in offices to earn a living.read

How to stop stress and enjoy life.