Florida Dairy Workers Seen Beating And Kicking Cows In Undercover Video

A Florida dairy farm is under criminal investigation after an undercover video from an animal rights group revealed workers kicking cows in the head and beating them with metal rods.

The video was shot by a member of Animal Recovery Mission who went undercover in August as a farm worker at Larson Dairy in Okeechobee County. The footage shows men brutally abusing cows as the bovines cower and duck their heads. In some cases, the cows are unable to get away because they are confined by bars meant to restrain them for the milking process.

Larson Dairy was a supplier of Publix Super Markets, which has announced it suspended deliveries from the farm in the wake of the video, the Associated Press reports. Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen announced Thursday that he had launched a criminal investigation into the farm.

To read more on this story, click here: Florida Dairy Workers Seen Beating And Kicking Cows In Undercover Video

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Tips on Trimming Your Dog’s Nails

If you hear your dog's paws clicking like they have on tap shoes…. it’s time for a trim! You can usually here it when they walk across a hard surface, like hardwood flooring.

Most dogs detest having their feet handled, however, if you, so clipping their nails at an early stage, they will get used to it. Always reward your dog with a treat after the trimming session.

A dog’s toenail is made up of the nail itself and the quick. The quick is the pink part of your dog’s toenails that provides the blood supply to the nail. Try to avoid cutting into the quick because it bleeds quite a bit and it’s quite sensitive.

If your dog’s nails does bleed, use kwik stop to stop the bleeding. Kwik stop is a sulfer product.  When packed on the bleeding nail it stops the bleeding almost immediately.

Dogs with black nails:

Both of my dogs had black nails.  I went out and purchased the nail clippers. After seeing that their nails were black,( I hadn’t noticed because hair usually covered their nails), I decided to let the professionals do it. I had them trimmed with they went for grooming.

The groomer told me that I can cut their nails, and showed me under the nail there is a groove and the quick has a more fleshy look to it. She said that I should always cut about an 1/8 of an inch in front of that groove.

Here is a step by step chart showing exactly how to cut dark nails. With dark nails when you trim just a bit off it will look chalky. That means you can trim a bit more. Then when you see a wetness appear and then a small dot appear stop! Usually the same length is good for all nails.

Please view the videos below showing how to properly trim your dog’s nails.

If your dog’s nails does bleed, use kwik stop to stop the bleeding. Kwik stop is a sulfer product.  When packed on the bleeding nail it stops the bleeding almost immediately.






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Foods You Should Never Give Your Cat

Do you know that you should not give your cat milk every day? According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) most cats like milk, but do not need it if properly nourished. Also, many will get diarrhea if they drink too much milk. If it is given at all, the amount should be small and infrequent.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, unless they are spoiled or moldy, milk, cheese and other dairy foods are not considered to be poisonous to pets. However, cats do not possess significant amounts of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk. Feeding milk and milk-based products to cats can actually cause them to vomit or have diarrhea, which in severe cases could lead to inflammation of the pancreas. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian before offering any “people food” to your pets.

Listed below are some of the foods that you should never give your cat:

Bones from Fish or Poultry - Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system

Canned Tuna (for human consumption) - Large amounts can cause malnutrition, since it lacks proper levels of vitamins and minerals. It can also lead to thiamine deficiency in cats.

Chocolate and Cocoa contain a chemical called theobromide  that can adversely affect the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system.

Citrus oil extracts - Can cause vomiting. Cats are more sensitive than dogs.

Dog Food - If accidental ingestion, will not cause a problem; if fed repeatedly, may result in malnutrition and diseases affecting the heart.

Fat Trimmings - Can cause pancreatitis.

Fish (Raw, Canned or Cooked) - If fed exclusively or in high amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.

Milk and Other Dairy Products  - Some adult cats and dogs may develop diarrhea if given large amounts of dairy products.

Mushrooms - Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.

Onions and Garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) - Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.

Persimmons - Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.

Raw Eggs - Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Rhubarb Leaves - Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.

Salt - If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.

String - Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body."

Table Scraps (in large amounts) - Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.

Sugary Foods - Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.

Yeast Dough - Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Macadamia Nuts - Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.

Human Vitamin Supplements Containing Iron - Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.

Grapes, Raisins and Currants - Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.

Baby Food - Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to cats .

Alcoholic Beverages - Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.

Poison Control Hotline
888-232-8870  (TOLL FREE)

For anyone who may not know, the poison control number charges you $35. This goes to pay the vet in case of a phone consultation. If you ever have to call, make sure to have credit card ready.

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Does Your Pet Have an Extra Toe? – It is Called a Dewclaw

I will start off first by identifying the additional toe that your pet has…it is not a toe as I have heard people say, it is call a dewclaw.

What is a Dewclaw?

A dewclaw, commonly referred to as a Dog's thumb, is a vestigial digit  on the foot of many mammals, birds, and reptiles (including some extinct orders, like certain theropods). It commonly grows high on the leg so that in digitigrade species, when the animal is standing, it does not make contact with the ground. Dewclaws are perhaps best known in dogs, and they are often removed in young puppies, though there is debate on whether this is necessary.

I was first told about a dewclaw from my vet when I took my puppy to get shots. I asked him why he had an extra toe. He informed me that it was not a toe….”dogs don’t have toes”, he said. Then he got serious and explained what a dewclaw was and that I had the choice to have it removed. Because my dogs fur covered their dewclaws he told me to always call it to the attention of the groomer.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  says, don’t forget to trim your dog’s dewclaws as well. Most dogs just have dewclaws on their front legs, but some dogs have one, and sometimes even two, sets of dewclaws on their rear legs. If your dog doesn’t have dewclaws on his front legs, he had them surgically removed earlier in his life.

                                   

What do you if your dogs dewclaw broke and hanging?

Do not pull or cut unless you can see that it is almost not attached. It is preferable to bandage the part of the leg for giving time to it falls by itself.
Veterinarian Chevy Chase, MD

Polydactyl Cats

A polydactyl cat is a cat with a congenital physical anomaly called polydactyly (or polydactylism, also known as hyperdactyly), a type of cat body type genetic mutation that causes the cat to be born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more of its paws. Cats with this genetically inherited trait are most commonly found along the East Coast of North America (in the United States and Canada) and in South West England and Wales.





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Tips on Trimming Your Cat's Claws

Trimming your cat's nails is the humane answer to declawing. The best time to trim your cat's nails is when your cat is  relaxed or sleepy. Never try to trim your cat’s nails right after a stressful experience or an energetic round of play.

The Humane Society of the United States says, trimming a cat's claws every few weeks is an important part of maintaining your pet's health and protects him, you, your family and visitors as well as the sofa, curtains and other furniture.

The more regularly you clip the claws the less anxious the cat will get. Always reward your cat with a treat when you are finished. Keep a barber's styptic pen or styptic powder handy in case you accidentally cut into the quick. If this should happen, apply the powder to the nail to stop the bleeding.

Gently press the cat's toe pads to reveal sharp nails in need of a trim.

                       Trimming cat's nail diagram showing the quick

Videos:




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Funny or Sad? Children Terrified at Sight of Purple Panda (VIDEO)

I wasn't sure if we should laugh or just feel bad for these kids, but this video is definitely worth watching.

The staff at Pennsylvania’s Center in the Woods preschool thought they would surprise their toddlers with a visit from Mr. McFeely, the delivery man character from the PBS Kids show
  “Mr. Rogers’.”

The youngsters eagerly listened to Mr. McFeely as he sat in front of the classroom and introduced another special guest, Purple Panda, one of the costumed characters also on the PBS show.

Mr. McFeely stood up to welcome his friend, and as he entered the classroom, Mr. McFeely held Purple Panda’s hand. The kids however, were not so welcoming.

Chaos immediately ensued. Screaming and crying children scattered to a far corner of a classroom, seemingly petrified by the sight of the Purple Panda, which was actually a person wearing a panda suit.

Confused, Mr. McFeely just told the kids to “stand right here” and as he waved at them. He then tried to calm them down by admitting that it’s not actually Purple Panda but “somebody pretending” to be the panda. His words did not soothe the children.

The Youtube clip has received over 770,000 hits and thousands of ‘Likes’ since it was first uploaded on April 9.



I must admit, as an adult...I would probably take off running if I saw someone dressed like that!

I think the purple panda should have immediately left the room when he saw that the children were upset. A little more thought should have been put in the designing of the costume. I understand that the characters have a whimsical look...however kids love Barney, the purple dinosaur.

Take a look at how receptive the kids are in the pictures below. I only hope that these kids are not scarred for life, and become afraid of animals.

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Goldfish - One Of The Most Common Type Of Pets In The World

Did you know that the goldfish are one of the  most common type of pets in the world? They were one of the first fish species to be kept in ponds by humans. By nature, goldfish are social creatures and prefer to live with other goldfish.

Many people think that goldfish are pets for someone who doesn't have much time for pet care. The lifespan of your goldfish depend upon how much care you provide goldfish.  If  cared for properly your goldfish could live for many years!

Goldfish start off small, but grow to be quite large, sometimes even a foot long, if you take good care of them. First time goldfish keepers usually buy a small tank or bowl to house their goldfish, only to discover that they need to keep buying ever-larger replacement tanks. You should buy a large enough tank at the beginning. You should provide a 20 to 30 gallon tank for your fish. Then add at least 10 gallons to that volume for each additional goldfish you might add. They grow large, excrete a lot of waste and need room to swim in order to be happy!

Food:    Goldfish like a diet of flakes, pellets, wafers and sticks

Goldfish Facts:
Do goldfish have ears? They have internal ear bones called an otolith that can feel vibrations. Avoid tapping on the glass since it will stress or even kill them.

A goldfish can survive in an outdoor pond where water temperatures dip down below 40*F (5*C). Some ponds might even freeze over during the winter and the goldfish still survive through to the spring.

      Exterior Parts of A Goldfish

                         

Goldfish Synchronized Swimming



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Giant George: Great Dane Is Guinness World Record Holder for Tallest Dog Ever

Weighing in at over 245 pounds and standing 43 inches tall, George is the Guinness World Record holder for the "Tallest Living Dog and Tallest Dog Ever".

The Great Dane, now 6 years old, is almost 100 pounds bigger than other dogs of his breed, twice as tall as an average Golden Retriever and about the same weight as four German Shepherds, 11 Beagles or 26 Shih Tzus.

George’s owner, Dave Nasser has written a book, “Giant George: Life with the World’s Biggest Dog,” http://www.giantgeorge.com/ chronicling his life with the enormous Great Dane. George, who stands 43 inches tall, must sit on the couch like a human.

George sleeps on a Queen Size Bed ... alone.

George was born on Nov. 17, 2005.  Dave and Christie adopted him at seven weeks old. He was ironically the runt of the litter.

Click on video below to see this Gentle Giant at home!

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