The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning dog owners about store-bought "bone treats," saying they have led to multiple reports of pet illnesses and even death. In a consumer update, the FDA said they have received nearly 70 reports of pet illnesses related to "bone treats." The illnesses reported by owners and veterinarians include: Gastrointestinal obstruction (blockage in the digestive tract) Choking Cuts and wounds in the mouth or on the tonsils Vomiting Diarrhea Bleeding from the rectum Death. Approximately fifteen dogs reportedly died after eating a bone treat. To read more on this story, click here:These Store-Bought Bone Treats Could Kill Your Dog, FDA Warns
A performing elephant, famous for his appearances in movies and commercials, recently trampled and gored his handler to death in Thailand. Phlai Ekasit, a 32-year-old elephant who has spent most of his life in the entertainment industry, has turned on his handler. An English-language Thai news site called Khaosod English reported that the unprompted, yet enraged Asian elephant turned toward his handler, grabbed him with his trunk, and trampled and gored the man with his feet and tusks. According to Agence France-Presse, witnesses at Chiang Mai Zoo said elephant handler Somsak Riangngern had just unchained the animal so that Ekasit could drink and bathe. Other handlers insist that Ekasit had never been violent, and that Somsak hadn’t agitated the elephant in any way that day. To read more on this story, click here:Famous Elephant Tramples and Gores His Owner to Death in Thailand
A performing elephant, famous for his appearances in movies and commercials, recently trampled and gored his handler to death in Thailand. Phlai Ekasit, a 32-year-old elephant who has spent most of his life in the entertainment industry, has turned on his handler. An English-language Thai news site called Khaosod English reported that the unprompted, yet enraged Asian elephant turned toward his handler, grabbed him with his trunk, and trampled and gored the man with his feet and tusks. According to Agence France-Presse, witnesses at Chiang Mai Zoo said elephant handler Somsak Riangngern had just unchained the animal so that Ekasit could drink and bathe. Other handlers insist that Ekasit had never been violent, and that Somsak hadn’t agitated the elephant in any way that day. To read more on this story, click here:Famous Elephant Tramples and Gores His Owner to Death in Thailand
Has life got you down today? We’ve got exactly what you need to turn it around – a baby bat going absolutely HAM on a banana until her tiny cheeks are stuffed to the brim. The young flying fox, lovingly named ‘Miss Alicia,’ was rescued in Queensland, Australia, after a scary encounter with a car left her in need of urgent care. She was taken into the loving arms of bat conservationist Denise Wade (Batzilla The Bat), and is poised to make a full recovery with no major injuries sustained. She’s also still managed to look adorable as hell in the aftermath, if you haven’t noticed. While little Miss Alicia was resting and recharging, swaddled in a cozy blue towel, Wade shot a video of her feeding time. Given the fact that flying foxes have a known sweet tooth (their diet consists mostly of fruit and nectar), you can imagine how Alicia reacted when a fresh banana was presented to her. Scroll down to see the precious clip for yourself, and tell us in the comments if you’ve actually ever seen anything cuter. To read more on this story, click here:Rescued Baby Bat Stuffs Her Cheeks With Banana After Being Hit By Car, And This Video Will Make Your Day
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If you get lost at sea and find yourself on an island, you’d probably try to build a fire, pile some sticks and stones into a makeshift home and maybe even try to signal for help. When one misguided bird found himself in the same situation, he didn’t wallow in self-pity — he created his own entirely new species. Over the past 36 years, scientists have been closely studying the incredible story of an entirely new bird species that seemingly came out of nowhere, and it all started with one poor finch who lost his way. The peculiar tale takes place on a remote island in the Galapagos chain tucked away in the Pacific Ocean and it’s helping scientists to understand how new species can form much faster than we typically imagine. To read more on this story, click here:Bird Gets Lost and Accidentally Spawns a New Species
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Shelby’s Oklahoma room is filled with thousands of roaches, but the pests don't bug her at all. This second grader has been taking care of a colony of Madagascar hissing cockroaches for the last five years as her pets. She began with a small batch of male cockroaches, but she later decided that she wanted them to breed and brought in females. The African insects, which have no wings and a single pair of antennae, began multiplying exponentially. The girl's mother Meg says that her daughter first became interested in creepy crawlies when she was 18-months old. However the invertebrate keeper was shocked when she heard a local news anchor, News on 6's, LeAnne Taylor, say that she detested the hissing bugs. So Shelby sent a picture to the journalist and invited her to fight her fears and meet her beloved pets. The elementary school student keeps her pets in special plastic containers, as well as aquariums with vaseline linings to keep her prized possessions from escaping and scampering around the house. The Countermans also keep a bearded dragon lizard named Toothless in case any members of the bug collection, which also includes Indian cockroaches, escape. Madagascar hissing cockroaches are one of the largest species of roach, and can grow up to three inches in length, according to Orkin. Males make a hissing sound for mating by expelling air through slits in its stomach, though the bugs also make their namesake noise when they are alarmed. The scavengers, active mostly at night, eat fruits and vegetables and can live for as long as five years. Some states place restrictions on the importation of the roaches because of fear they could become an invasive species in the wild.
Follow these tips to have a fresh smelling home, and a healthy cat! Cleaning Up After Kitty Your fabulous feline may think cat hair is the ultimate accessory. If you don’t agree, start by getting a good vacuum cleaner. Look for one with strong suction that has a pet hair attachment. Don’t forget to vacuum chairs and curtains. Wear wet rubber gloves and run your hands over your cat’s favorite spots. Brush tape, sticky-side out, over your clothes. Buy pet bedding that’s easy to clean. And if your kitty goes outside, place a washable cushion where she goes in and out to catch muddy paws. Keeping Your Cat Clean Cats do a good job of cleaning themselves, but yours may need a bath if he gets really dirty -- or if someone in your house has allergies. Start by trimming your cat’s nails to prevent scratches. You can do it yourself with cat nail clippers -- ask your vet to show you how. Brush your cat to remove loose hair or mats. Use only shampoo for cats or kittens and keep water out of his face and ears. Dry him with a towel or blow dryer on low. Give him a treat at the end, so he’ll start to associate a bath with something pleasant. No More Fleas and Ticks No matter what type of flea prevention you use -- spot-on-the-back, flea collar, pills, or shampoo -- follow the directions carefully. Don’t use products for adult cats on kittens, and never use dog products on cats. Whether prescription or over-the-counter, don't touch treated areas until they're dry. Get Fleas out of the House If your cat brings in fleas, it’s time for serious cleaning. Vacuum every day, including upholstered furniture, cracks in the floors, and along baseboards. Then replace the vacuum bag or wash the canister in warm, soapy water. Wash or replace any bedding where she sleeps (including yours), and consider steam cleaning your carpets. Use a flea comb on your cat, and then treat her with flea meds. Flea sprays are better than flea "bombs" to treat your home. Loving the Litter Box Cats are creatures of habit, even when it comes to their litter. Some like the clumping clay kind without a scent. Try a little baking soda on the bottom to help with odors. Scoop litter at least once a day. Dump it all out and wash the whole box once or twice a week for clay litter or every 2 to 3 weeks for clumping. And while you may like liners and covers, your cat may disagree. Liners can interfere with scratching. And, to cats, covered boxes can stink like port-o-potties. Litter Box: Location, Location, Location Like people, cats want a little privacy when they’re doing their business. But they also like to keep an eye on their surroundings. Tuck boxes out of sight but make them easy to reach, preferably at least one per level of your home. Keep them away from hot or loud appliances and noisy kids. Cats have sensitive noses, so keep smelly litter far from their food. When Accidents Happen Cats would rather use a litter box, so accidents are a sign something’s wrong. If your kitty’s upset about a change in your home, give her a little extra TLC. Don’t yell or punish her -- that will make things worse. Accidents also can be a sign of health problems like diabetes, kidney disease, urinary tract infections, or arthritis. Get her checked quickly before missing the box becomes a habit. Use an enzymatic cleaner to treat spots. Why Do Cats Spray? Spraying urine is how both male and female cats mark their territory. The urge is strongest if they haven't been fixed, so try to neuter or spay cats by age 5 months before the behavior starts. Stress can make your cat spray. So can scented cleaners, if he wants to cover the strange smell. Feed or play with him in areas he’s prone to mark. Keep likely targets -- new things, guests' belongings, and items he's already sprayed -- out of reach. Keep Food Safe Both people and animals can get food poisoning from spoiled pet food, so treat your cat’s food like you do your own. Don’t buy damaged packages. Store food in sealed containers. Refrigerate leftover wet food right away. Replace dry food every day. Wash your hands well after you feed your cat. Keep her food and dishes away from areas where you prepare and serve your meals. When You're Allergic to Your Cat As long as your allergy’s not serious, you don’t need to give up your kitty. Keep her out of your bedroom, and buy bedding made for people with allergies. Use air cleaners with high-tech filters. Special anti-allergy room sprays can clear the air, too. Avoid dust-catching rugs, curtains, and cloth furniture. Clean your house (and cat) often. Better yet, get someone else to do it. And talk to a doctor -- preferably a cat lover -- about medicine that will help. Should You Declaw? Declawing is much more serious than just removing a cat's nails. It usually involves taking out the last bone of each toe and can mean a life of problems for them. There are easier options. Cats need to scratch, so give yours scratching posts and toys. Teach them what’s off limits by using a squirt gun or noisemaker, not by yelling or swatting. Can Cats Make You Sick? It’s rare for healthy people to get sick from touching cats. Wash scratches and bites right away with water and mild soap. Always see a doctor for any bite, or if a scratch gets infected (red or swollen). Always wash your hands with soap after you clean litter boxes. If you’re using litter that can’t be flushed, throw away scoopings in sealed plastic bags. Cats and Babies Give your cat time to get ready for a new baby. Let him explore the nursery and get used to new smells like baby lotion. If you have to move his litter box, do it gradually. Let him get comfortable, but don’t let him nap on the nursery furniture. Cats cuddling up next to newborns can make it hard for babies to breathe. Close the door or tent the crib when your baby’s asleep to keep kitty out.
The bizarre world of social media fame has reached a new level of weirdness. Petlandia, a London-based company that makes books featuring people's pets as the star, is looking for the world's first "social petworking coach" to help people turn their cat, dog, pig, or other animal friend into a social media star. Sound like a joke? It's not. According to Petlandia, one in six pet-owners have social media accounts for their pets (even Mark Zuckerberg's dog Beast has his own Facebook page), and celebrity pets can make enough money from product sponsorships and media appearances to keep their human parents financially afloat. Job responsibilities for the Petworking coach include creating online webinars for interested humans around the globe, doing private consultations with VIP clients, and mentoring clients on social media best practices and strategies for growing online audiences. To read more on this story, click here:A Startup is Hiring a 'Social Petworking Coach' to Help People Make Their Furry Friends Instagram Stars
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RICHMOND, Va. -- The director of Richmond Animal Care and Control saved a bobcat that was hit by a car on Thanksgiving. Officials posted on Facebook that a person driving to work in Richmond Thursday morning knew that she had hit something. However, it was not until the woman parked at VCU that she discovered she had hit a bobcat, which was still lodged in the grill of her car. To read more on this story, click here:‘Beautiful’ Bobcat Stuck in Car Grill Rescued on Thanksgiving
As much as you might like to bring your dog on your travels, sometimes it’s just not possible or practical. And you may have used up all your pet-sitting favors from family and friends. It’s time to go kennel shopping. As with other travel arrangements, planning in advance is the key to success in making sure the kennel is a good fit for your best friend. The options (and prices) vary from spa-like to spartan, so take the time to get references and visit the place. Go on a tour Key signals separate good kennels from bad: Cleanliness. It must smell as well as look clean–not just in the areas where your dog will stay, but also in play areas and other places your dog will go. Ventilation. Is the air fresh, or is there a stale-air smell? To read more on this story, click here: Dog Kennels: When You Can’t Bring Them With You
Just the thought our dogs suffering silently from hidden pain breaks the heart of any dog parent. Sadly, research shows that 4 out of 5 dogs over the age of 8 are suffering from some kind of joint pain. And while we humans have the ability to reach for pain meds and talk to our doctor about symptoms, are precious pups do not. In fact, dogs are quite good at keeping their joint pain a secret. Why do dogs hide signs of pain? As pack animals, not showing their suffering has clear survival benefits. The ancestors of modern dogs would commonly leave behind a member of the pack who was in pain and slowing down the group as a whole. As a result, dogs have learned to hide their pain very well. To read more on this story, click here:4 Out of 5 Dogs Over The Age Eight Have This Painful Condition, But Usually Hide It Well
After hours of competition across seven canine classes, Newton the Brussels Griffon took home Best in Show at the 2017 National Dog Show. The four-legged furries gathered in Oaks, Pennsylvania, last weekend and the show was broadcast Thanksgiving afternoon on NBC. To read more on this story, click here: Meet Newton, the 2017 Best in Show
