Infectious Can Be Transmitted

New studies found that transmission of an infectious superbug from dogs and cats to humans. It can be transmitted by animal bites and most threaten young children, the researchers from of South Florida College of Medicine and colleagues lay out the latest thinking on MRSA note.

“As community-acquired strains of MRSA increase in prevalence, a growing body of clinical evidence has documented MRSA colonization in domestic animals, often implying direct acquisition of S aureus infection from their human owners,” they write. “MRSA colonization has been documented in companion animals such as horses, dogs, and cats, and these animals have been viewed as potential reservoirs of infection.”

Some facts presented in the journal:

Women and the elderly are most at risk of being bitten by a cat.
Men in general and those aged under 20 of both sexes are most likely to be injured.
Most bite exposures occur in young children, involve unrestrained dogs on the owner’s property, and about 20 percent involve a non-neutered dog.
Risk is highest in young boys aged 5 to 9 years, due to their small size and lack of understanding of provocative behavior.

Severe infections can occur in about 20 percent of all cases, the researchers state, and are caused by Pasteurella, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium, and Capnocytophaga bacteria from the animal’s mouth, plus possibly other pathogens from the human’s skin.

“Proper treatment of dog and cat bites should involve treatment of the immediate injury (whether superficial or deep) and then management of the risk of acute infection, including washing with high pressure saline if possible, and antibiotics in selected cases,” the researchers suggest.

“Bites to the hands, forearms, neck, and head have the potential for the highest morbidity,” the scientists warn. They conclude: “Much more remains to be learned about MRSA and pet-associated human infections.”

Malay Eagle Owl – Kitty

Malay Eagle Owl acts like a dog!:-)

Most Dangerous Animals

Daily Telegraph has published recently the list of 10 deadliest animals on the planet which includes

1. Mosquitos was cold the most dangerous parasites that cause malaria which is responsible for the deaths of two million people every year.

2. Asian Cobra – 50,000 deaths by snakebite per year in India although it is not the most venomous.

4. Great white shark – Since 1876 this shark has been responsible for 65 deaths worldwide and will develop a taste for human flesh once it has fed on a person. Each year 30-100 people die of shark attacks.

5. African lion kill around 70 humans per year in Tanzania. In total, lions are responsible for over 250 deaths each year.

6. Australian saltwater crocodile – Every year, over 2,000 deaths are caused by crocodiles.

7. The elephant – 600 deaths every year through stamping and goring.

8. Polar bear – The largest meat eater living on land, polar bears are extremely protective of their cubs and attack viciously when there is a perceived threat.
9. Cape buffalo – Each year it kills more humans in Africa than any other creature.
10. Posion dart frog – Native to the rainforests of South America their venom is enough to kill ten men and exudes from their skin. Natives run darts against their skin to use in hunting

Funny Hedgehog

Summer Care Tips

Summer is a time for both you and your pet to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors, but along with the fun, the season also offers up situations that can endanger your pet. By taking precautions, you can decrease the chance that disaster will happen. The HSUS offers these tips for pet owners to keep their furry friends safe this summer.

Never Leave Your Pet in the Car
In nice weather you may be tempted to take your pet with you in the car while you travel or do errands. But during warm weather, the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if you’re parked in the shade. This can mean real trouble for your companion animals left in the car.

Dogs and cats can’t perspire and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. Pets who are left in hot cars even briefly can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and can even die. Don’t think that just because you’ll be gone “just a minute” that your pet will be safe while you’re gone; even an air-conditioned car with the motor off isn’t healthy for your pet.

Don’t Put Your Pet In the Back of a Truck

It is very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injury, but a dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

Watch Out For Fertilizers and Deadly Plants

Summer is often a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. But beware: Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them. In addition, more than 700 plants can produce physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.

Stay Bite-Free

With people and dogs spending more time outside, dog bites are likely to increase in the summer months. Spaying or neutering your dog reduces the likelihood that he will bite and provides many other health benefits.

Pet Care 101

Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar and identification tag. If you are separated from your pet, an ID tag may very well be his or her ticket home.

Check with your veterinarian to see if your pets should be taking heartworm prevention medication. Heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal in both dogs and cats. Another summertime threat is fleas and ticks. Use only flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Some over-the-counter flea and tick products can be toxic, even when used according to instructions.

Water Wisdom

Pets and pools can equal disaster. Prevent free access to pools and always supervise a pet in a pool. Provide plenty of water and shade for your pets while they’re enjoying the great outdoors so they can stay cool.

Travel Tips

If you plan on traveling with your pet during the summer, take the time to prepare for your furry friends in advance and dont forget about pet supplies and pet meds. Many airlines have summer pet embargoes, and most trains and ships do not allow pets other than service animals. The HSUS has information on traveling with your pet that may make the difference between a pleasant trip and a vacation nightmare.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat…

Pets need exercise even when it is hot, but extra care needs to be taken with older dogs, short-nosed dogs, and those with thick coats. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws. Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips. Pets with light-colored noses or light-colored fur on their ears are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer.

Play It Safe on the 4th

Don’t take your pets to crowded summer events such as concerts or fairs. The loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat, can be stressful and dangerous for pets. For your pet’s well being, leave her at home. Be especially aware of these threats during holidays, such as the Fourth of July.

Help Us Spread the Word!

The HSUS has educational posters available to download and print here [PDF file], or purchase them in bulk ($3 for 10, $5 for 25). Store managers can post inside their windows to remind shoppers that leaving your pet in a parked car can be a deadly mistake. In addition, 4″ x 9″ two-sided flyers are also available (50 for $3). To order please send a check, your mailing address and the number of posters or flyers that you would like to receive to the following address: HSUS/Hot Cars, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. You can also receive a free sample flyer by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address.
©iStock.com

Obama New Pet

As we remember Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said during the presidential campaign that they had promised their two girls a dog after the election. So they have redeemed the pledge.

Enter Bo, a 6-month-old puppy given up by his first owner and matched with the Obamas through his breeders. Because he was given up by his first owner as a poor fit and is now with his second owners, the Obamas, but never spent time in a shelter or with a rescue group, Bo is a “quasi-rescue dog,” says Wayne Pacelle, chief executive of The Humane Society of the United States, Associated Press reports.

The Humane Society’s Pacelle acknowledged that the Obamas never flat-out promised to get a dog from a pound or rescue group. And the society has kind words for Obama on its Web site: “Thanks, Mr. President, for giving a second-chance dog a forever home,” it says.

“He’s in a gray area,” Pacelle said of Bo. “But I will say that many animal advocates are disappointed that he (Obama) didn’t go to a shelter or breed rescue group, partly because he set that expectation and because so many activists are focused on trying to reduce the number of animals euthanized at shelters, and there’s no better person to make the case to the American public that you can get a great dog from a shelter than the president.”

Show, Festival, Events

It’s funny but 10-year-old golden-red Sussex spaniel called Stump won Westminster Kennel Club became the oldest America’s top dog in show at the Westminster show. Just imagine in human years, he’s almost 70! It’s really miraculous and Stump merits all kinds of praise.

The main goal of such events as pet’s shows and festivals is to promote kindness to animals and that’s great. By the way right now annual New England Pet Rock Festival celebrates its 10 years anniversary. This pets festival is well known with hundreds features such as breed rescues, shelters, animal welfare organizations and more for any type of pets to attend. And looking for tickets don’t forget about an opportunity to buy or sell tickets for any show, concerts, theatre or sporting events with Seatwave that can help you on the way.

So, in case you are planning to visit some of your favorite music festival this summer, Reading Festival 2009 for instance, then most likely you would have to leave your loved pets at home even it were such heroic dog like mentioned above, famous spaniel called Stump. Every year thousands fans from around the world are hurry to purchase Tickets for Reading Festival in time looking forward to meet with their idols of rock, pop, alternative, indie, punk and metal music Friday, 28 August 2009.

2008 Animals Best Photos

I guess you‘ve seen already photos that were awarded as the best of 2008 by Telegraph.co.uk. I’d like to place here 2 most favorite ones.

Puppies Save Three-Year-Old boy

According to nydailynews.com, Jaylynn Thorpe, 3, wandered away from his baby-sitter at 4 p.m. Friday and was missing for 21 hours as hundreds of friends, family and law enforcement officials searched for him in the thick woods of Halifax County, fearing the worst.

“The only thing we wanted to do was just keep searching until we found him,” Halifax County Sheriff Stanley Noblin told reporters.

Jaylynn’s frantic family knew time was not on its side.

“We didn’t forget the issue that 17 degrees was almost unbearable,” said his father, James Thorpe.

“People all over the State of Virginia was down there looking for that child. For a while there, one time, I didn’t know whether they would find him or not,” said the child’s grandmother and guardian, Katherine Elliot.

Officials said the lost little boy and the two family puppies wandered up to a mile in the dark, even across a highway, but it wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that members of the search team found him sitting by a tree, the two puppies nestled against him.

The little boy didn’t say anything, according to rescue team member Jerry Gentry, but instead “just opened his arms up like, ‘I’m ready to go.’”

“When I first saw him, he was like, ‘Momma, I got cold. I slept in the woods last night. The puppies kept me warm.’ He told me that … the dogs slept up against him. And I’m sure the body heat kept him warm,” said his mother, Sarah Ingram.

Billie Jo Roach, another member of the search party that found the boy, said the puppies refused to leave his side.

As the child was placed in an ambulance to be taken to a local hospital for examination, “The puppies were watching where he went.

“Where he went, they went,” Roach said.

As word went out that the child was alive and well, family members cheered and cried for joy.

“Praise the Lord! Welcome home, Jaylynn!” yelled his aunt, Amy Zimmerman.

Close to 300 people from North Carolina and Virginia joined in the search to find Jaylynn.

“I love you! God bless you,” Ingram told the rescue teams.

“I think I just said, ‘Thank you Lord’ … for us to have another chance!” said the child’s father.

The boy spent Saturday night under observation at Halifax Regional Hospital and chowed down on a double cheeseburger, a hot dog, strawberry ice cream and French fries.

Meanwhile, the furry heroes, their tails wagging, were rewarded with food.

“I definitely call this a miracle,” said Nobl.
via BY JANE H. FURSE
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Found the Oldest Turtle

According to National Geographic the oldest turtle was found unearthed in southwestern China, that will may help answer an evolutionary enigma—how did the turtle get its shell.

The discovery supports, NG reports? that the theory that turtle shells formed from the underside—plastron first—and grew bony extensions of ribs and backbones that eventually joined to form the classic shell that exists today.

An alternate theory of shell evolution suggests that turtle shells developed from the fusion of bony armor plates in the skin, known as osteoderms, seen in some dinosaurs and some modern-day reptiles, including crocodiles.

But the prehistoric turtle, dubbed Odontochelys semitestacea and described in a recent edition of the journal Nature, has no osteoderms.

“So far there is no direct evidence for the osteoderm theory,” said study co-author Chun Li of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

“On the contrary, here, in our hands, there is an ideal missing link for turtle evolution. It has no osteoderms on its back, but only ossified neural [central] plates and expanded ribs.” The study also notes that embryonic evidence from modern turtles suggests that their shells begin to form in a similar manner.