How to use the canine pregnancy test kit.

How to use the canine pregnancy test kit. Pregnancy diagnosis using the blood is a sure form of diagnosis in cats and dogs. The relaxin hormone is the pointer to the pregnancy,as the presence or absence is conformation of diagnosis. There are various types of kits made by various manufacturers but all still follow same procedure to check the level of relaxin. WITNESS® Relaxin is a convenient, easy-to-use, in-clinic test that offers an early, inexpensive and reliable means for determining pregnancy status in dogs and cats. WITNESS Relaxin can also be used to distinguish between pseudo-pregnancy and gestation. WITNESS® Relaxin test identifies the presence of relaxin hormone produced by the developing placenta(s) in the bitch or queen. WITNESS® is fast and reliable with results in approximately 10 minutes, so veterinarians can give clients the immediate test results they want, knowing right away whether their dog is pregnant. Factors such as the breed, size of the bitch, and litter size may influence the level of serum relaxin. Negative results should be retested at least 7 days later. Weak positive results should also be retested 7 days later to confirm pregnancy, continue

Pregnancy diagnosis in your dog.

Pregnancy diagnosis in your dog ,this is a big issue for pet lovers and especially for breeders who are dreaming of the money from the sale of the puppies. The outcome of mating your bitch can be any of these 1) pregnant 2) not pregnant 3) pseudo pregnancy. The gestation period for the bitch is 63 days,leaving a short window for preparation and care of the bitch. The signs of pregnancy in the bitch are not visible until about the 3rd week of gestation giving pointers for pregnancy diagnosis. The signs of pregnancy are : 1) Mood swings/behavioral changes. 2) Increased appetite/ reduced appetite in some bitches. 3) Frequent urination. 4) Weight gain. 5) Firm abdomen with enlarged nipples. 6) Tiredness with little exertion. The method of diagnosis of pregnancy in dogs depends on the age of pregnancy and the purpose of diagnosis. In the early stage of pregnancy as early as at 3 weeks, the use of the ultrasound machine is useful. The ultrasound is safe and it uses sound waves to create a picture of the uterus. This form of diagnosis will confirm that the bitch is pregnant,but will not the number of pups in the uterus. The use of a canine pregnancy diagnostic kit is another form of diagnosis, which is done by checking for relaxin in the blood of the bitch. A blood sample from the bitch and tested,if there is relaxin in the sample then the pregnancy is confirmed,but when a sample is tested and there is no relaxin,then there is no pregnancy. When the pregnancy is at an advanced stage between the 28-35th day, palpation is the method of diagnosis. The bitch at this stage has firmer abdomen and gentle palpation by the veterinarian will reveal the presence of pups. The palpation should be smooth and stress-free to prevent hurting the pups and bitch. The use of X-ray machine for pregnancy diagnosis is useful at the late stage of pregnancy at about 45th day . The use of X-ray machine serves 2 purposes, the first is to know the number of the pups and the second is to show position of pups and bone structure.

Tell tale signs your dogs love you.

A study by Miho Nagasawa of Azabu University in Japan and colleagues, found that dogs making puppy dog eyes at their owner experienced a spike in oxytocin, the love hormone and this is mutual as researchers found that a held gaze between dog and guardian caused an spike in oxytocin in the person as well, creating a positive feedback loop. This same oxytocin release occurs when a mom gazes at her newborn infant, leading the researchers to conclude that their finding was “a manifestation of attachment behaviour” and that a sustained gaze between a dog and their human shares similar properties to mother–infant relationships. Dogs that love their owners always like to be around them,approaching you with wagging tail and playing around you even if they are not looking for a treat.

Activity-health Monitors for Dogs.

Activity-health Monitors for Dogs. At the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), veterinarians are using activity trackers in the form of a collar, to help keep dogs healthy. The activity monitors the CVM uses contain technology that can accurately monitor canine patients' key vital signs and health indicators, such as resting heart rate, resting respiratory rate, quality of rest, amount and level of activity, and expended calories. The trackers can also help identify early indicators of some diseases, such as heart failure and osteoarthritis by alerting the dog’s owner and veterinarian when vital signs and health indicators are abnormal. They can also be used to help monitor disease progression and evaluate the efficacy of therapy in a variety of conditions, such as pain management and weight loss management in obese patients. continue

Sheet mulching and its benefits.

Sheet mulching is a method of building a massive compost pile across the surface of a field or garden, instead of piling manure, leaves, crop residue, and other organic materials in a squat pile, you spread it all out where the compost is needed. This saves you the effort and time to build a pile, turn it, water it, and otherwise coerce it to break down into rich, brown earth, a process that can go on for months. Sheet mulching traps moisture in the soil, as mulching is a must to cut down on irrigation. Sheet mulches includes a layer of cardboard to keep grass and weeds from growing through ,and its a great way to remove unwanted vegetation and turn a dry lawn into a garden. The cardboard used in sheet mulching is much more effective at trapping moisture than typical wood chips or straw normally used in other mulches. Another reason to use sheet mulching is that earthworms love cardboard and when they eat it they excrete rich, dark compost that contains five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus and 11 times more potassium than ordinary soil. This dark compost improves soil structure and this increases yield of fruits and vegetables that taste better and last longer in the field without any need for chemicals for packaging. How to do sheet mulching ; Materials needed are 1) cardboard 2) mulch 3)organic matter. The size of cardboard will depend on area /space,cardboard. It is better to use biggest sheets of cardboard you can find,such as boxes from bicycles and kitchen appliances, to make things easier. Cardboard with glossy color print, as the ink which are not biodegradable should not be used. The use of thick layers of newspaper instead of cardboard is efficient for sheet mulching small spaces. The cardboard is spread and if the soil you’re planning to sheet mulch is already very moist, you dont need to wet it.When the soil is not moist then you need to soak the soil before spreading the cardboard . All the tape must be removed from the cardboard before the cardboard is laid over the soil/weeds while working from one end of the space to the other. Its important to overlap the pieces of cardboard by six inches to prevent the more tenacious weeds from weaseling through the gaps to the surface, where they will quickly become re-established in the rich soil you’ve made for them. Once the cardboard is in place, wet it down until it becomes heavy and limp so it doesn’t shift around or blow away in the wind as you add layers of mulch and/or compost materials on top. The next step is to spread what you intend to use as mulch in an even layer at least 2 inches thick on top of the cardboard and the process is complete.When you want to use manure,then spread it in two-inch layers alternated with a one-inch layer of organic material between each one,and finish with a final layer of mulch on top.

Early exposure to pets can reduce allergy and obesity.

A new study by University of Alberta has shown that early exposure to pets can reduce allergy and obesity by altering gut bacteria in immune-boosting ways. This new study has showed that babies from families with pets of which 70% were dogs showed higher levels of two types of microbes associated with lower risks of allergic disease and obesity. The theory is that exposure to dirt and bacteria early in life from the dog's fur or from its paws can create early immunity.The study shed more light by understanding the connection and identifying that exposure to pets in the womb or up to three months after birth increases the abundance of two bacteria, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, which have been linked with reduced childhood allergies and obesity, respectively. The numbers of the two bacteria were increased twofold when there was a pet in the house, meaning that the pet exposure was shown to affect the gut microbiome indirectly -from dog to mother to unborn baby -- during pregnancy as well as during the first three months of the baby's life. In other words, even if the dog had been given away for adoption just before the woman gave birth, the healthy microbiome exchange could still take place.

Sunflower seeds are sources of toxic mold and potent liver carcinogen.

Sunflower seeds traced as sources of toxic mold and potent liver carcinogen.Sunflower seeds are frequently contaminated with a toxin produced by molds and pose an increased health risk in many low-income countries worldwide, researchers at the Michigan State University have discovered. The study carried out in Tanzania and documented in PLoS ONE, the team of scientists documented frequent occurrence of aflatoxin -- a toxin produced by Aspergillus molds that commonly infect corn, peanuts, pistachios almonds and in sunflower seeds and their products. This is one of the first studies to associate aflatoxin contamination with sunflower seeds. Chronic exposure to aflatoxin causes an estimated 25,000-155,000 deaths worldwide each year, from corn and peanuts alone and it is one of the most potent liver carcinogens known. The aim of study was to detect and limit the presence of aflatoxin in sunflower seeds and their products could help save lives and reduce liver disease in areas where sunflowers and their byproducts are consumed. Smallholder farmers in Tanzania grow sunflowers for the seeds, which are sold to local millers who press the seeds for oil and sell it to local consumers for cooking. The remaining cakes are used as animal feed. When the seeds become infected by Aspergillus flavus or Aspergillus parasiticus, molds that produce aflatoxin, the feed spoilage caused by the growth of these undesirable molds will cause heating of feed. This thus reduces the energy, vitamins A, D3, E, K and thiamine available to the animal. These moldy feeds tend to be dusty reducing their palatability and causing respiratory distress in animals. Animals fed with moldy feed or in contact with heavily contaminated bedding are usually prone to abortions due to Mycotic placentitis. Infection by mold organisms that grow in the fetal membranes (mycotic placentitis) is a common cause of abortion in individual animals. The ingested mold localize in the cows’ intestinal tract and then spread to the placenta through the blood,and this condition is rampant during raining season.