A dog has a clear lens in its eyes to help him focus, similar to a camera. But much like humans, cataracts in dogs is serious and painful. A cataract usually isn’t painful, but it can impair vision and can eventually cause complete vision loss. What is Cataracts in Dogs? Cataracts in dogs are a disease that clouds the lens of the eye. Smaller cataracts in dogs typically do not impact vision as larger cataracts; however, all cataracts in dogs must be closely monitored to prevent blindness. Cataract formation is typically caused by old age, disease (such as diabetes mellitus), and eye trauma. It appears as a murky, cloudy, grayish-blue color while some can also become red and irritated. As the disease worsens, the eye lens can become completely opaque, causing total blindness. Stages of Cataracts in Dogs A cataract is an opacity in the eye lens that can range in size and severity. A very small (incipient cataract) does not typically impair vision. Incipient cataracts is the very first stage of cataracts in dogs and caught early and treated by a veterinary ophthalmologist can lead to a good outcome for your dog. Cataracts in dogs that are more opaque (immature cataract or also known as a “juvenile cataracts”) are more serious and typically cause blurred vision. To read more on this story, click here:Cataracts in Dogs: Stages, Causes, Treatments, And More
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If you’ve noticed a change in your cat’s eye color or their vision seems impaired, you may suspect cataracts of being the cause. Cataracts are sometimes viewed as a condition that only affects the eyes of seniors, but this is not the case with cats. In fact, age is generally not the main factor when cats develop cataracts, and it’s more rare for cataracts to appear in cats than in dogs. You should always take your cat to the vet if you notice abnormalities when it comes to their eyes. Here’s what you should know about cataracts in cats. What Are Cataracts? Cataracts refer to cloudiness in one or both eyes that causes the lens to lose transparency. This can result in partial or complete opacity in the lens, preventing light from passing to the retina. Vision can be impaired or lost completely due to this process. Cataracts are easy to confuse with nuclear sclerosis, a normal change in the eye color of older cats over seven years of age. This change can make the lens appear white, but doesn’t affect vision. If you notice a change in eye color that is concerning, your vet will be able to if it is nuclear sclerosis or cataracts. To read more on this story, click here:Cataracts In Cats: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments
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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.
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Inverness, Scottish Highlands - Humans and bees have a pretty symbiotic relationship: We steal their honey, and in return, they sting us sometimes. It works! There’s one woman who took this level of companionship even further, though, when she saw a bee in need and decided to give it a lifeline. Fiona Presly, a library assistant from Inverness, Scottish Highlands, came across a wingless bee in her garden last spring, which became that way due to a virus that hampered its wing development. She decided to take care of it, and, grateful for the compassion, the bee ended up becoming very friendly towards her and actually outlived the typical bee lifespan. As warm and fuzzy as this is, Presly warns in a recent Facebook post that her experience was atypical, and that generally speaking, bees shouldn’t be kept as pets: “My experience with Bee was somewhat unique as she was unable to fly. If you find a bumblebee and it has got caught out from cold or damp and is perhaps lacking in energy, help it by giving it some sugary water and a wee bit warmth. Once it has recovered send it on the way as it has a short life cycle and really needs to be outside to keep that cycle going. They are not meant to be pets. Plant some bee friendly flowers and have a place in your garden that isn’t quite as manicured and the bees, butterflies and others will love it.”
Fort Collins, Colorado — A baby raccoon that tested positive for rabies in Weld County, Colorado came into contact with 21 people before being tested. A woman found the raccoon on her property and took it into her home after it was abandoned by its mother, according to a news release. The raccoon was frequently held and would climb and lick the exposed individuals, Weld County health communications supervisor Rachel Freeman said. Everyone who was exposed has already begun post-exposure treatment, the release stated. “It is very important that people not touch or go near wild animals," Mark Wallace, Weld County health department executive director, said. How to prevent being exposed to rabies:
Don't touch, feed or handle wild animals and be cautious around stray dogs and cats.
Leave orphaned animals alone. Baby animals often appear to be orphaned when they are not. The parent animal may not return if people are too close.
If you find a wild animal that appears to be sick, injured, or orphaned, contact your local animal control or a local veterinary clinic.
Do not feed, touch or handle wild animals and be cautious of stray dogs and cats.
Have dogs, cats, horses and livestock vaccinated regularly by a licensed veterinarian.
Keep food inside. Feed pets inside and do not feed wild animals.
Spay or neuter your pets to reduce the number of stray animals.
If you think you have been exposed to rabies, contact your doctor immediately. Rabies is almost always fatal if left untreated, but medicine is available if treatment is started before symptoms appear, according to a news release.
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West Medical Lake, Washington - The West Medical Lake has been overrun with goldfish over the past few years, and now they're having an adverse effect on the native trout. Washington Fish and Wildlife stock West Medical Lake with thousands of baby trout every year. Letting nature run its course and letting the fish grow. But sometimes they run into problems. “This works really well until an undesirable species gets put in the lake and established,” said Randy Osborne, a Fisheries Biologist with Washington Fish and Wildlife. Osborne says once these goldfish become established their population explodes. They take food sources and oxygen in the water, which directly impacts the trout. Goldfish or Koi in West Medical Lake is not something new. Fish and wildlife have been battling this problem for more than two decades. "If they get caught doing that and get prosecuted, they could be responsible for the restitution of fixing the problem that they created," added Osborne. Fixing this problem won't be cheap. Fish and Wildlife said it will take $150,000 to rehab the entire lake. That's money most people don't have floating around. Fish and Wildlife Field Sergeant Mike Sprecher says sometimes pet owners think they're doing right by their fish by letting them go free. But the good deed is bad news for Mother Nature. “The good deed of somebody here locally saying, 'Well I can't keep this anymore, I don't want to keep this anymore' and they let it go in the lake. I call it bucket biology," added Sprecher. Fish and Wildlife tell KHQ they have submitted a proposal to the state with hopes to rehab the lake in October 2018.
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The Mexico native said he crossed the border into the United States more than 20 years ago with just $100 and the desire to be the “greatest dog trainer in the world.” “When I was 21 years old, on December 23rd I went to my mom again, ‘Mom, I’m leaving,’” Millan, 48, shared on Monday’s episode of “Red Table Talk.” She wondered where he was going so close to the holiday and Millan responded, “I’m going to America … I have to go right now.” “So my dad saved $100, he gave it to me. He put it in my sock and that’s all I had,” the famed animal trainer shared. “I took a bus. It took, like, two days to get there.” Millan says things got scary when he finally reached the border and encountered people ready to take advantage of his desperation. He says there were people waiting to either kill him or sell him for organs. “Dead is more likely than jumping it,” he said of crossing the border. “It’s not a piece of cake. I’m respectful about it. I know I broke a boundary and a rule. But it was for a dream.” After being apprehended on more than one occasion, Millan finally crossed the border and by chance met a guy who would lend a helping hand. “The guy said to me, ‘I’ll charge you $100,’” Millan said. “That’s all I had. That’s a sign.” Millan said he trusted the man, who said he knew the path. The man was aware of all the potential obstacles, including when the border patrol changes. “Finally, we cross and we get to the gas station. The guy says, ‘I’m going to get you a taxi. And the taxi is going to get you to San Diego.’” By this point, Millan was out of money. Fortunately, the stranger gave Millan a break and paid the taxi driver $20, keeping the remaining $80 as payment. Once he arrived in Southern California, Millan immediately began searching for work. The reality-TV star says he found the Yellow Pages and called local kennels. “I knew that I had to start at the bottom and cleaning kennels is not a problem. Those are the jobs, we immigrants we get,” he said. But things didn’t last long at the bottom. He soon developed a dog-walking business in the Inglewood neighborhood of Los Angeles. He quickly developed a name for himself and the Los Angeles Times caught wind, which exploded his business. And in 2009, he became a US citizen. He also credits Jada Pinkett Smith, whom he’s known for 28 years, with helping him along his journey. He told her one day that he wanted to have his own television show, but that his English was limited. So, as a kind gesture, Pinkett Smith sent a tutor his way.
An Apopka golden retriever that became the face of Bush’s Baked Beans commercials died last week, the company confirmed Tuesday. His real name was Sam, and he was one of several dogs that portrayed the loyal companion in more than 20 years of Bush’s commercials. “The relationship between Jay and his beloved dog Duke is the embodiment of the BUSH’S brand,” the company wrote in a Facebook post. “While Sam has not worked with us in years, we are saddened by the news of his passing and are grateful to have had him depict Duke.” “We continue to be overwhelmed by fan interest and their love of Duke,” the post said. Meanwhile, a friend of the dog’s owner posted on Facebook that Sam had been battling an aggressive cancer and he had to be euthanized on Wednesday. “He was a very special dog to all who ever knew or had the pleasure of meeting him,” David Odom wrote. “He is and will be missed.”
