Dog reunited with owner after two-year absence and 2200-mile journey.

Dog reunited with owner after two-year absence and 2200-mile journey.Tammy Crews waited anxiously in the Nashville airport to be reunited with her dog named Trixie Love Crews. Trixie had been missing for two and a half years, and it wasn’t until Crews got a call from an animal shelter in California – more than 2,000 miles away – that she had any hope of seeing her again. As she sat by the baggage claim, Crews thought she heard whimpering but couldn’t be sure it wasn’t just a squeaky wheel. Then she saw the dog carrier and broke into tears. As the Maltese pawed at the bars of her cage, an airport employee cut away the last bit of wiring holding the door shut. The two reunited with a hug and affectionate kisses. full story

Importance of Wellness Exams For Pets.

Importance of Wellness Exams For Pets can not be over emphasized as veterinarians recommend regular wellness exams for the same reason your physician and dentist recommend them . The logic is prevention is better than cure so if you can detect a problem in its early stages, it's more likely to be treated and resolved with less expense, less difficulty and better success. Vaccinations, heartworm prevention and routine deworming are important components of wellness care and can prevent diseases that are not only life-threatening, but very expensive to treat,thus prevention should be a better option. A wellness programme can be recommended based on your pet's breed as some breeds are predisposed to certain health problems, age, lifestyle and overall health.

Antibodies from Ebola survival protects against deadly virus.

Antibodies from Ebola survival protects against deadly virus. Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases report in the journal Cell that two antibodies from an Ebola survivor protected ferrets and mice from infection. The antibodies blocked various types of Ebola from causing infection in the animals, and they protected human cells from infection in a laboratory setting. Antibodies from Ebola survival protects against deadly virus. Previous studies have identified one antibody from a mouse that was able to protect other mice against multiple different species in Ebola virus lineage. more

Animal immunotherapy shows promise against 11 types of cancer.

Animal immunotherapy shows promise against 11 types of cancer. Veterinarian Mark Suckow pioneered a new veterinary cancer treatment called VetiVax, an injection series that primes an animal's immune system to fight cancer, and the $1,200 treatment has been used in over 150 animals, demonstrated initial response against 11 types of cancer and given 60% of patients longer life than expected. "Immunotherapy is the future of cancer medicine, not only for animals but for humans as well," said Ashley Kalinauskas, CEO of Torigen Pharmaceuticals, the maker of VetiVax. source

Diet predisposes black rhinos to insulin resistance.

Diet predisposes black rhinos to insulin resistance. A new study shows that captive black rhinos – but not their wild counterparts – are at high risk for two common health problems suffered by millions of humans which are inflammation and insulin resistance. The finding suggests captive black rhinos have metabolic problems. In humans, these same conditions can both result from a rich diet and sedentary lifestyle and contribute to obesity and other diseases. The African black rhinoceroses living in captivity are known to be at higher risk for a number of unusual diseases that include anemia, degraded muscle tissue, skin ulcers, liver disease, iron overload and low phosphate in the blood. Low phosphate in the blood is common to most of the health problems observed in captive black rhinos and low phosphate has been linked to insulin resistance in humans as well. While some of these conditions can be treated, they often lead to death. In one large study of black rhinos living in North American zoos over a 70-year period, 73 percent of the captive-born animals died before reproducing. more

Veterinarians change white rhino's diet to promote fertility.

Veterinarians change rhino's diet to promote fertility. Researchers at the San Diego Zoo are using dietary changes to help endangered white rhinoceroses give birth in captivity. Scientists found that phytoestrogens in the rhinos' soy and alfalfa feed may have been interfering with fertility, so they removed the compounds from the animals' diets, and since 2014, three rhinos that previously could not successfully reproduce have done so. A rhino calf was born at the Safari Park on April 30 to a 16-year-old mother, Kiazi, whose age was well past the the average for first-time births. Christopher Tubbs, a senior scientist at the zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research, and his colleagues determined that compounds found in the soy and alfalfa pellets fed to rhinos were limiting their fertility. The researches said it is likely that a number of species living in zoo settings receive diets containing levels of phytoestrogens capable of affecting reproduction. source

How to make cat scratching posts.

Scratching is an innate behavior, it is difficult to stop or even curb. It is like trying to stop a cat from grooming, or burying its waste. However, cats can be taught to scratch on more appropriate objects like scratching posts and tree stumps. Some owners get creative and build their own scratching posts and kitty activity centers. You can cover pieces of wood with carpet, fabric, sisal, or other materials, then nail them together to create a "cat tree" with climbing perches. This will help keep your cat entertained and satisfy her need to scratch. Any scratching post you buy or build should be sturdy enough so that it does not topple over when your cat uses it, and should be at least as tall as your cat standing on her hind legs with her front legs outstretched. The proper placement of the scratching post is an important part of redirecting your cat's scratching behavior. Place the post next to an area your cat likes to scratch. It can then be moved gradually to a location of your choice as your cat develops acceptable scratching habits. If your cat scratches in several locations, provide a post near each of these. Take your cat to the new scratching post, and reward her with treats, strokes, and praise for using it. Some posts come with toys attached. You can also place food treats or catnip on top of or around the post as an added enticement. Once you get your cat to use a scratching post, do not discard it when it looks ragged and worn—that means the post is well used and serving its intended purpose. In addition to altering the accessibility, appearance, or scent of household items, you can further minimize scratching damage by regularly trimming your cat's nails. Also available are plastic claw caps, or sheaths, that can be glued over your cat's claws. These should only be applied to cats that allow you to handle and manipulate their paws. While wearing these sheaths, your cat is able to go through the motions of scratching, but because the claws are hidden, no damage is done. The sheaths need to be replaced every six to 12 weeks. Declawing, or permanent removal of the claws, should be considered only as a last resort when the above strategies have been unsuccessful, and in cases where a cat's scratching would otherwise necessitate its removal from your home. Declawing will not curb your cat's desire to scratch, but will prevent scratching damage. Declawed cats should never be allowed outside, as they are less able to climb trees or defend themselves.