Chicken soup for colds, chicken eye research for blindness

The whole “dogs are color blind” myth was disproved quite a while ago, and now science shows that chickens and other birds may have better color vision than people do.  It may be due to evolution – as birds evolved, they spent more time in sunlight than most mammals did – but chickens (and other birds) have better organization of the receptors in their eyes that detect color.  Learning more about chicken eyes could help researchers find treatments and cures for many eye diseases that can cause blindness.

Read the full story on HealthDay.

One Health

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Roles of Veterinarians

Veterinarians care for the health of pets, livestock, and animals in zoos, racetracks, and laboratories. That work ultimately affects the health of human beings both directly and indirectly. Veterinarians use their skills to protect against diseases that can infect both animals and humans (called “zoonotic’) and conduct clinical research on health problems like diabetes, arthritis or cancer that affect humans and animals. Others work in basic research, broadening our knowledge of animals and medical science, and in applied research, developing new ways to use knowledge.

Did You Know...

Depending on the breed, dogs can have 6-13 major blood types.  Compare that to the 3 major blood types... 

Haiti, at the intersection of human health and animal health

The tragic effects of the recent earthquake in Haiti have brought the intersection of human health and animal health to the forefront once again.  A large population of Haitians rely on livestock to survive, and these animals are threatened.  Sure, the livestock weren’t in the buildings that collapsed, but their lives are no less in danger.  Right now, relief efforts include addressing public health issues – even though Haiti is surrounded by water, quality drinking water is in short supply for animals and humans alike.  Haiti has a large population of feral dogs, and the disaster and its after effects are increasing conflict between these animals and people.  Rabies is a big concern, as are other diseases that can be spread by poor quality water (including leptospirosis).  Keeping the human and animal populations healthy is critical to the country’s survival.

Please keep them in your thoughts and help however you can.  For more information and updates, visit the AVMA’s Haiti earthquake page.

Read about the US Army’s 43rd Medical Detachment veterinary team on its way to Haiti.