Aardvarks to Zebras

Of Newfie’s knees and bad knees

Editor — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:21:43 +0000

When you mention the Newfoundland breed of dog, most people think of big, beautiful, loving, black-furred dogs. Many “Newfies” are beloved family pets, and some owners say these dogs are more likely to be found comfortably dozing on the sofa than running around outside. Not that they’re lazy, mind you…but they do like their lives of leisure. Don’t we all wish we had it like that?

You might not really think that Newfies have much in common with pro athletes…but they do. Newfies, and many other large dog breeds, are at higher risk of cruciate ligament injuries. (The cruciate ligaments are ligaments in the knees – or, in dogs, the “stifle” – that help stabilize the joint and resist movement of the bones in the wrong direction.) By studying cruciate injuries in Newfoundlands, including the study of potential genetic factors, researchers may shed some light on these common athletic injuries. It’s a win-win situation for animals AND people!

Read the full article in the Guardian.

One Health and the Gulf oil spill

Editor — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:06:56 +0000

The Gulf oil spill is obviously a disaster of immense proportions, but it’s also an excellent example of how human health, animal health, and ecosystem health are interrelated.

We already know that the spilled oil poses a serious threat to fish, sea birds, and other wildlife - from oil spilling into the sea as well as washing ashore and affecting land animals. We know that fish and other animals have died from being exposed to the oil, and that’s a tragedy in itself.

But many of us haven’t realized the long-term effects this spill could have on our food supply and public health. Because oil contains some chemicals that can cause cancer, it’s likely that we won’t be able to eat fish harvested from the Gulf for quite some time…in fact, it may be decades.

Disease detectives

Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:29:38 +0000

Thanks to modern DNA technology, researchers are collecting samples that will shed some light on how deadly diseases such as HIV and Ebola jumped from animals to humans. By collecting samples from all kinds of environments – ranging from areas where there are no people to areas where humans and animals are in close contact – the researchers hope to not only shed some light on how and why diseases jumped from species to species, but also detect emerging or potential diseases that might jump species, all in an effort to prevent new diseases.

Read the full article on the Chicago Breaking News Center.

World Veterinary Day is April 24

Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:40:53 +0000

It’s the 10th “birthday” of World Veterinary Day, and this year’s theme is “One World, One Health: More Cooperation Between Veterinarians and Physicians.” What’s the big deal, you ask? Why is it so important that doctors and vets work together? Two words: zoonotic disease. Zoonotic (pronounced “ZOO-oh-NOT-ick”) diseases are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. (A reverse zoonotic disease is passed from humans to animals, which is less common but can happen.)

Here’s an example:

If your pet is sick, you take it to your vet. When you’re sick, you go to your doc. What if your sickness was something that started with your pet? Your doctor might not originally make that connection unless you make it a point to tell them that your pet has also been sick. However, if you take your pet to the vet and they find your pet has a disease that is or could be zoonotic, then you’ll know to give your doc a heads-up that it might be affecting you, too. By working together, vets and docs can help detect, prevent, and treat zoonotic diseases.

Editor — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:14:03 +0000

The U.S. federal government is taking a deeper look into the effects of climate change on animals and their habitats. Seventeen research projects in all areas of the country have been funded and will provide insight that could guide future regulations or legislation.

To learn more, read the article on UPI.com.

Toads with environmental ESP?

Editor — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:10:23 +0000

Toads have to have one of the best scientific names: bufo bufo. It’s rivaled only by the water buffalo, bubalus bubalus.

…but I digress. Here’s an important tidbit: if you live in an earthquake-prone area, maybe you ought to pay more attention to the toads. A recent study suggests that toads can sense an impending earthquake and will leave the area. This was based on observations made before and during an earthquake in Italy. They found that 96% of the male toads left the area 5 days before the earthquake hit – we’ll spare you the jokes about the male gender that were probably told after that discovery!

To learn more, read the article in the Washington Post.

Dogs and Order: SDU

Editor — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:57:20 +0000

There’s not much in life that’s more comforting than a warm, fuzzy dog. In addition, they seem to know when we need their comfort. Fortunately, more and more dogs are being used for therapy to help people through tough situations.

For someone testifying in court about a traumatic experience, it can be a terrifying and unsettling experience. There’s a growing interest nationwide in providing therapy dogs for people in these situations, and the results so far have been very promising.

Chicken soup for colds, chicken eye research for blindness

Editor — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:45:05 +0000

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.

Editor — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:37:03 +0000

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

PTSD prescription…get a pet

Editor — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:35:48 +0000

Pets for Vets is one of several non-profit organizations that matches veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or other war-related disorders with homeless pets. They’ve found that pets help these veterans better cope with their problems as well as providing that unconditional love that pets do so well. To read more about these programs, read the news story on CNN.com.