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.

Super-foods to enhance dog’s intelligence.

Dogs benefit from super-foods which can help maximize and enhance dog’s intelligence. This can help them to learn simple commands thus enhancing training,social behavior ,improve responsiveness when out and about and even delay some of the cognitive signs of aging. Feeding your dog a healthy diet made up of foods such as salmon, peas and sweet potato will ensure they are getting good levels of nutrients like vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants, which have been shown to improve intelligence, memory and cognitive abilities. The common but overlooked super-foods for dogs are 1) fish and fish oil ,those rich in for omega 3 .2) Sweet potato a ready source of betacarotene in the same class with carrots. 3) Peas 4) Maize for lutein and zeaxanthin .5) Eggs its a complete meal with all essential nutrients for growth. All body functions benefits from feeding dogs with eggs see more

Here is why the dangote tomato paste factory might not reopen in February.

Here is why the dangote tomato paste factory might not reopen in February.Earlier this month, the Managing Director of the Dangote Tomato Processing Factory, Abdulkadir Kaita, had disclosed that the company is set to begin the production of tomato pastes in February. However, with the economic condition in the country, it is unlikely that the factory will open in February. Executive Director, Dangote Group, Edwin Devakumar explained that the plant is unlikely to open due to the shortage of dollars to import raw materials. Though, he highlighted that the factory would open when if it is able to obtain an adequate supply of raw tomatoes locally. Last year, the Union of Tomato Paste Manufacturers in Nigeria through its spokesman, Mr. Nnamdi Nnodebe, hinted that the once vibrant tomato industry might stop existing in 2017 if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) did not amend its policy on Forex to exclude triple concentrate tomato paste from the scope of the 41 items on the restricted list. The triple concentrate tomato paste is used as raw material by manufacturers for further processing into tomato paste, ketchup, and sauces. Dangote’s influence in the country has enabled him to gain a reasonable level of preference by Nigeria’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Between March to May 2016, Dangote’s companies bought at least $161 million in hard currency from CBN, estimated to be 9 percent of the total hard currency sold during that period. In a single week in March 2016, one in every eight dollars sold by the CBN went to Dangote group. continue

Agribusiness can help to unlock the true potential of Africa.

Agribusiness can help to unlock the true potential of Africa. The challenges faced by small farmers are similar across the developing world – pests, diseases and climate change. Yet in Africa the challenges are even greater. If farmers are to survive at current rates (let alone grow), they need to have access to high-yielding seeds, effective fertilizers and irrigation technologies. These issues threaten the region’s ability to feed itself and make business-growth and export markets especially difficult to reach. Other factors include the rise in global food prices and export subsidies for exporters in the developed economies, which leave African farmers struggling to price competitively. Organizations such as The International Finance Corporation (IFC) provide and mobilize capital, knowledge and long-term partnerships in agribusiness. It has provided over $25 billion in financing, mobilized investments from partners and provided advisory services across the continent. Connecting the private sector with global and regional NGO’s and the public sector is one of the most important steps. Of the $3.7 billion invested in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2015 by the IFC, $1.8 billion came from other investors. Modernization of technologies, innovative technologies and widening access to markets is central to turning such huge sums of money into results. In Kenya, a mobile app called M-Farm allows farmers to directly send messages requesting guidance and data on crop prices. It also helps farmers to connect directly with food suppliers; thus reducing reliance on middlemen and market buyers. Cutting costs in this way can go some way to mitigating the impact of subsidized exports from the developed economies. continue