Muscular Dystrophy in Cats

Muscular Dystrophy is an inherited, progressive, and non-inflammatory degenerative muscular disease caused by a deficiency of dystrophyin, a muscle-membrane protein. This generalized muscle disorder is primarily seen in newborn cats or those less than one year old. Domestic short-haired and Devon Rex cats are also more prone to this form of muscular dystrophy.

Symptoms and Types

Vomiting
Increased muscle mass
Stiff gait
Exercise intolerance
Weakness
Downward flexion of head and neck

Causes
Dystrophin deficiency due to inherited defect.

Diagnosis
You will need to give a thorough history of your cat’s health, including the onset and nature of the symptoms, to your veterinarian. He or she will then conduct a complete physical examination as well as a biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and complete blood count (CBC). Creatine kinase enzyme levels may be elevated due to the dystrophin deficiency. Liver enzymes are also elevated in cats with this disorder.

The most hopeful test for reaching a definitive diagnosis, however, involves taking a muscle biopsy. The muscle tissue sample is sent to a veterinary pathologist to verify abnormal levels of dystrophin.

Treatment
No treatment is proven to be effective. Glucocorticosteriods are often given to cats suffering from non-inflammatory muscular dystrophy, but their effectiveness is variable and their exact mode of action in this disease is still unknown.

Living and Management
Cats with this disorder are prone to aspiration pneumonia or cardiac disease and must evaluated at regular intervals for such complications. Be vigilant of complications and contact your veterinarian should problems arise.

Unfortunately, the overall prognosis is very poor in cats with non-inflammatory muscular dystrophy. Often, your veterinarian will discourage breeding the animal, due to the genetic nature of the disorder.


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The Irish Setter

The American Kennel Club (AKC) says, that the Irish Setter is one of the most distinctive sporting breeds.  The mahogany red Irish Setter is an active, aristocratic bird dog. That was originally bred to be red and white. The solid red color appeared in Ireland the 19th century and became a mark of quality and superior sporting ability. Standing over two feet tall at the shoulder, the Irish is known for his style, powerful movement and clown-like personality.

Facts about the Irish Setter:

1. One of the Irish Setter's most distinguishing characteristics is their flowing, shiny coat. While most all long haired breeds are prone to tangling or matting at least once in a while, for whatever reason it seems to be a much more prevalent problem for the Irish Setter. The Irish Setter needs to be brushed, and combed twice a week and trimmed every three months.

2. The Irish Setter gets along well with children, other dogs, and any household pets, and will enthusiastically greet visitors. However, even though they do well with household pets, small animals may pose a problem for this breed, as they are a hunting breed. Some Irish setters may have problems with cats in the house, and may be too rambunctious with small children.

3. Irish Setters are also widely used as therapy dogs in schools and hospitals. Therapy dogs are permitted in hospitals that allow service dogs and can visit patients on the assigned floors.

4. Caution: This breed can be reckless if they do not receive the proper exercise, and may be destructive.

5. The American Society for the Prevention of Curelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, that this breed tends to bloat. You should feed 2 to 3 meals a day instead of one big one.

6. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA) also says, that the Irish Setter is prone to blindness.

7. These dogs are not recommended for apartment living.  They do best in a big yard.

8. Irish Setters life expectancy tends to be around 12 to 15 years.

9. It is important to obtain an Irish Setter from reputable breeder.

10. They must be allowed to run free in a secured area every day.

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Animal Control Removed a 7-Foot Alligator from a Kansas City Home During an Eviction: Owner Vows To Get Him Back

Animal control officers removed a 7-foot alligator from a Kansas City home Wednesday during an eviction, and the gator's owner says he`ll fight to get him back.







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Meet Jack the Donkey and His Girlfriend, Diane the Emu: Looking For Their Forever Home Together

The adorably odd couple, who are named Jack and Diane, bonded together on an abandoned farm and were miserable when they were separated.

Here’s a little story ’bout Jack and Diane.

Jack, a male donkey, and Diane, a female emu, are an unlikely animal pair who have fallen in love. And although the two lovebirds (lovedonkeys?) are undeniably adorable, their tight bond is creating an obstacle for a North Carolina animal rescue.

According to Jennifer Gordon, executive director of Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, the odd couple was discovered in “a very small pen together” on an abandoned farm in Kershaw, South Carolina, last week. Gordon told HuffPost that their extremely close relationship wasn’t apparent to rescuers at first, and the team decided to load Jack onto a truck before Diane.

“The emu went kind of crazy,” Gordon said. “She was sticking her head through the fences and we were worried she was gonna hurt herself.”

Gordon said she was a little worried about putting the two animals in a trailer together, but decided to try it and see what happened.

“As we got on the road, we looked back there and they were both laying down together and snuggled up.”

Once the duo arrived at the Indian Trail-based rescue, Gordon said they decided to pair Diane up with another emu.

But it was a big mistake.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Diane “got frantic,” according to Gordon. Jack “started crying” and “paced around like an expectant father.”

“The donkey did not want other donkeys around the emu and the emu didn’t like [her new mate],” Gordon explained to HuffPost. “So we just decided to keep them together and they were very happy.”

The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue is currently trying to find a permanent home for Jack and Diane together, but the task is proving to be difficult. They don’t want to split them up, but neither Jack or Diane get along with other donkeys or emus. Gordon also noted on Facebook that they “can’t be put in with other animals.”

Gordon said she’d prefer placing the two in a nonprofit sanctuary, but will consider private adopters if that doesn’t work out.

“It wasn’t easy trailering them and we don’t think it’s in their best interest to get moved multiple times all over the country,” Gordon wrote on Facebook. 

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Foods You CAN Give Your Pets at Thanksgiving

If you have family members two- and four-legged joining your feast on Thanksgiving, it’s important to know who can eat what. Human food and dogs don’t get along that great, especially the flavorful, seasoned dishes served on Thanksgiving. Diarrhea in dogs is extremely common as a result of overfeeding rich foods. Too much of a good thing can result in pancreatitis, a painful inflammatory condition that is expensive to treat and can have lifelong effects on your pet.

It doesn’t mean you have exclude your pets from the festivities, but it does mean you need to watch what they eat, and what you (and other guests) feed Fido. Whip up some Thanksgiving-themed homemade dog treats to distract your dog from the main meal, or take him for a pre-dinner walk around the block to tire him out.

Certain Thanksgiving foods are safe and even healthy for dogs! However, only the pure, raw, unseasoned forms of these foods are acceptable to give to pets. These Thanksgiving foods are dog-friendly, but they should still be served only in moderation.

Sweet Potatoes
Typically served baked with marshmallows or in sweet potato pie, this seasonal superfood is a hit with dogs. Orange sweet potatoes are packed with beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber, and many other much-needed nutrients.  Feed your pup raw or dried pieces of sweet potato, not the canned mix. Never give your dog marshmallows, which contain xylitol – an artificial sweetener dangerous to pets – as well as large amounts of sugar.

Turkey
The main course, Thanksgiving turkey is a dog’s ultimate dream dish. Cooked turkey is safe for both cats and dogs, but it must be unseasoned. Turkey bones are also off-limits for dogs, as they can easily crunch and splinter, causing an intestinal obstruction or internal bleeding. The turkey’s skin is also out of bounds for dogs, as its rich flavor can cause gastrointestinal upset. Feeding too much fatty meat can lead to pancreatitis in dogs, an inflammatory disease of the pancreas.

Green Beans
Green beans are a Thanksgiving casserole staple for some families, but dogs prefer these snappy veggies raw. High in fiber and vitamins C and K, toss your pup a handful before you add Grandma’s secret seasoning. Mushrooms and onions – common casserole additions – are toxic to dogs, so avoid these vegetables.

Carrots
Another orange-hued veggie, carrots are also loaded with beta-carotene, vitamins and fiber. Raw carrots are a dog’s best friend thanks to their satisfying crunch, but cooked (unseasoned) carrots are also a tasty treat. This root vegetable is high in antioxidants too, beneficial for pets with cancer.

Pumpkin
Fall is full of orange, including its signature gourd. Pumpkins are perfect for pets raw or cooked, but always use fresh, pure pumpkin – not your leftover Jack-O-Lantern or canned pie filling! Full of fiber, pumpkin flesh and seeds add texture to homemade dog treats. Remember to avoid any sugar or spice when feeding pumpkin to pets.

Rolls and Bread
Bread and rolls are another Thanksgiving table staple. Chock full of carbs, there’s really no nutritional benefit to feeding your dog bread or rolls. A minute amount of fiber can be found in whole grain bread and dinner rolls, but who’s eating that on Thanksgiving.


*Make sure your dog does not eat any of the above items that are highlighted.

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Dogs with Expensive Taste – One Swallows $10,000 Worth of Diamonds- The Other Swallows a Diamond Worth $20,000!

I would first like to say that both dogs in this story are okay.

I always thought that diamonds…were a girl’s best friend! Not any more, apparently dogs have taken a liking to them!

In Albany, Georgia a dog named Honey Bun, had a special attraction to the sparking little gems, or at least a curiosity that got him in a lot of trouble. He consumed close to $10,000 worth of diamonds.

The co-owner of John Ross jewelers Cuck Roberts says, “he’s a staple of the jewelry store, but this appears to be the first time he's dined on the gems.”

Roberts got up from his chair to greet a customer when one of the four packs of diamonds (each containing about $10,000 in loose 1-karat diamonds for earrings) on his desk went missing. Upon finding an empty pack on the floor, the shop owner immediately had a suspect.

X-rays later confirmed Honey Bun's guilt. While carbon doesn't show through on an x-ray, two blank spots made him the likely culprit

The diamonds were cleaned up and sent back to the supplier, while the dog seemed unfazed by the incident. Roberts is now a bit more cautious about where he leaves his chair.

Now, Honey Bun isn’t the only diamond stealing dog. In January 2010, at Robert Bernard Jewelers, in Rockville, Maryland, Sollie, a golden retriever swallowed a $20,000 3-karat diamond after it was simply
dropped on the floor in a jewelry store.

George Kaufmann brings his dog Sollie to his store, every day. On the evening of January 26, Kaufmann and his business partner, Robert Rosin, were meeting with a diamond dealer and were taking a look at a 3-carat stone when it fell on the floor right next to Sollie. The men watched in horror as Sollie ate it.


The men quickly called a veterinarian to find out what they should do to retrieve the diamond.

The doctor said nature would have to take its course, so for three days Kaufmann walked Sollie hoping to find the gem in Sollie's stool.

"When we took a walk in the morning and evening I collected and went through everything. It wasn't glamorous, but you gotta do what you gotta do," said Kaufmann.

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Can Cats And Dogs Really Live Together?

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, Absolutely! Dogs and cats can become fast friends. Ideally, they should become accustomed to the other species as youngsters. This early exposure teaches them that it is normal to co-exist in a household.

The sensitive period of learning regarding social acceptability is between 3 and 12 weeks of age in dogs and between 2 and 7 weeks of age in cats. During this time a plethora of unlikely liaisons can be engineered using appropriate ploys. During the sensitive period it is possible to arrange seemingly impossible feats like lions being made to lie down with lambs. However, it is often not possible to raise kittens with puppies to create such "bon accord au naturelle."  But a huge step in the right direction involves introducing puppies and kittens to friendly members of the opposite species during this window of time.

It is not uncommon for dogs and cats to enjoy each other's company. Take the time to manage your cat-dog introduction properly, and you could be setting up a friendship that will last for the rest your pets' lives.

Can cats and dogs really live together? What do you think?

Facts to consider when cohabiting cats and dogs:

1. Gentle, sweet-natured, or lazy dogs are more likely to be good with cats than strong-willed, active, alert dogs.

2. Strong-willed cats that stand their ground and hiss and spit, or swipe with a paw, are more likely to cope with a new dog, than the timid sort that run from everything.

3. As a cat owner who wants to own a dog, never choose a stray, or ones you don't know the history of.

4. Consider its temperament, breed and past history. Ask the advice of shelter staff, your vet and friends, if you are inexperienced. Choose a cat that has been used to dogs if possible, preferably one which is not timid and shy.

5. Some dogs have a very high predatory drive and cannot be trusted with any small, fast moving creature.

6. Allow your cat to go where it likes, but not to leave the room. Most of these encounters will be, or should be, uneventful.

7. If you are a dog owner who wants to own a cat, think carefully about whether your dog would be suitable first.

8. A word of caution to owners of more than one dog. One dog will act as an individual, more than one will act as a pack which could have dire consequences for a new cat.

9. Introductions must be supervised, and they must be handled with planning, care and patience.

10. Ask if the dog has been used to living with cats and take the advice of shelter staff on the likelihood of it settling with cats.

11. .Do not force them together, let them move at their own speed - which will probably be very slowly.

12. You will need time and patience if these two animals from entirely different species are to become friends. It probably will happen eventually, but until you are absolutely sure, do not leave them alone together.

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Are You Feeding Your Dog Table Food?

Sometimes you will hear people say…he’s just a little chubby, or he really doesn’t eat that much…and besides he’s cute! Yes, he is a cutie, but is he overweight?

We sit down to eat...and there they are those big cute begging eyes! I am sure you may think a little bit of this…and a little bit of that won’t hurt him. But do you really know what table food does to your dog? Combining table food, treats and lack of exercise are all factors in making your dog fat, which can cause health problems.

While an extra 10 pounds on the average person can be a bit uncomfortable, for a normal 40-pound dog the excess could put it 25 percent over its ideal weight.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a dog. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.

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