Chagas disease, a parasitic infection that can cause heart disease and stroke, has spread from South and Central America to the United States in recent decades, according to a statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) published this week in the journal Circulation. The statement aims to help U.S. doctors better recognize, diagnose, and treat the infection, which is transmitted by an insect called the kissing bug. About one-third of people who are infected with the parasite that causes Chagas disease develop chronic heart problems at some point in their lives. The infection often goes undiagnosed until it’s too late, experts say, which is why early screening and prevention practices are so important. To learn more about Chagas disease, Health spoke with Paula Stigler-Granados, PhD, assistant professor at Texas State University's School of Health Administration. Stigler-Granados was not involved in the AHA’s new statement, but she has researched Chagas disease extensively. Here’s what she, and the AHA, want people to know about this scary-sounding and often silent disease. To read more on this story, click here:Heart Doctors Are Warning About Chagas Disease, a Fatal Infection Caused by the 'Kissing Bug'
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that deteriorates the muscles of dogs and cats because of low amounts of dystrophin. There isn't a cure for the disease, but there are treatments available that can help slow down the progression of the disease. Find out more here. Muscular dystrophy is a type of genetic disease that dogs, cats, humans, and a few other species can get. It is very serious, but you can still be there for your animal. WHAT IS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY? Muscular dystrophy refers to any of a group of disorders in which low levels of the protein dystrophin causes progressive muscle degeneration. Which muscles are affected, when the disorder manifests, and how quickly the disease progresses depends on which of several possible genetic mutations the patient has. In both cats and dogs, the most common forms of muscular dystrophy begin at birth or shortly thereafter. While the condition is very serious, animals who survive to adulthood can often live fairly well as indoor companion animals for a number of years. MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY IN DOGS In dogs, males are much more at risk than females, although females can be carriers and pass the mutation on to their sons. When females do get the disease, they often get a less severe form. Although muscular dystrophy is always rare, some breeds, particularly Golden Retrievers, are more at risk than others. Japanese Spitz dogs and Labrador Retrievers also have their own, even less common, versions of the disease. Signs and symptoms always involve weakening of the muscles.
Did you know that cats meow to people, but not to other cats? Adult cats, living apart from humans, have very clear communication with one another. Cat language is spoken mostly through scent, then through facial expression, complex body language and touch. Cat sounds for vocal communication involve caterwauls for mating, chattering upon spotting prey, hissing to ward off an intruder or shrieking when hurt or terrified. Meowing is not part of natural cat language, it was developed almost exclusively for humans. The only meowing in cat language is done between a mother cat and her kittens. A kitten’s tiny “mew” is a cute, endearing sound, used to solicit attention and care from mom cat. Once the kittens are grown, the mews and meows would stop, if not for communicating with humans. So why do cats meow to people? Because meowing is what works. Your cat is dependent on you and quickly learns that you are clearly not picking up the scent messages she leaves on your belongings or the body language she is attempting to use. The meows and mews are what get you to do what she wants. So the meowing develops into a second language to communicate to you. Some scientists would go so far as to say that cats have refined their meows specifically to manipulate people. And we have to admit, it works! Cat people know cat language Dr. Nicholas Nicastro, Ph.D., did his thesis on humans’ ability to understand meows. He recorded hundreds of meows cats used in real settings with their owners. He had people listen to the meows, then asked what they thought the cats were communicating. Part of the experiment asked general interpretations (Does the cat sound angry or pleasant?) and part were more specific translations (Is this cat asking for food or does he want you to go away?). Not surprisingly, the more experience the people had with cats, the better they were at understanding meows. People who owned cats could correctly translate 40% of the meows. That’s pretty remarkable considering the respondents did not have the benefit of seeing the cat. Normally, when a cat meows, we get more clues to the meaning from the context—including location (by the door, near a dirty litterbox) time of day and body language. Different meows. Different meanings. There are dozens of meows that cats can use, they vary in pitch, length and volume. Most cat owners learn the language easily. A short, high-pitched meow is a standard “Hello!” Several of those strung together can communicate excitement,“You’re home! YAY!” Cats use pleasant meow sounds to solicit you for food, to go outside or to simply get attention. Your cat learns which meow is going to get the results she wants. Cats use unpleasant, harsher, louder meows for demands, reprimands or to express annoyance. These meows have a lower pitch. Even though there is a distinct “demand meow,” for example, your cat may have separate variations for each of her regular demands. Generally, the following meows have these meanings:
Short meow or mew: Standard greeting. “Hello!”
Multiple meows or mews: Excited greeting. “Great to see you!”
Mid-pitch meow: Plea for something. “I’d like to eat.”
Drawn-out mrrroooow: Demand for something. “Open the door. NOW.”
Low-pitch MRRRooooowww: Complaint of a wrong you have done. “Hey—why’s my bowl still empty?”
High-pitch RRRROWW!: Anger or pain. “That’s my TAIL you just stepped on!”
Darius weighs 49 pounds and measures 4ft 4in, making him the world’s biggest rabbit, according to Guinness World Records. His owner, Annette Edwards, 62, from Worcester, is considering putting him on a diet after revealing that he eats 12 carrots a day – more than 4,000 a year. He also gets through piles of cabbage, apples and two large bowls of rabbit mix - at an annual cost of $2,400.
Carrot cruncher: Darius with six-year-old Mia, a family friend of his owner Annette Edwards.
Darius the rabbit munches his way through a staggering 4,000 carrots a year costing over $2,000 a year.
Darius weighs over 49 pounds and measures 4ft 4in - making him the world's largest.
Ms. Edwards is well used to looking after bunnies with big appetites as Darius’s mother Alice held the record title before him. And Ms. Edwards couldn’t believe the speed Darius grew at when he was born – and she never thought after just five years he would hold the crown for biggest rabbit in the world. "Darius is from a family of giant rabbits but he is the biggest bunny in history. It’s amazing just how big he is." "If Darius had his way he would never stop eating," she said. "He is very greedy. I have to really watch him." "He has a great personality and so I can’t be too angry when he is trying to sneak more food."
Darius' owners say he has a great personality and so gets away with sneaking extra snacks.
Owner Annette Edwards, 62, from Worcester says if the greedy creature had his way, he'd eat all day.
As the bunny's birthday is in April, the family say he really is the real-life Easter Bunny
"Darius eats me out of house and home but he is very active which is good for his health.’ graphic." "Luckily he likes to hop around all the time. I had to put a child gate on the stairs to stop him going up there." "I treat him like a dog. He even sits on the sofa with me to watch TV. People love coming round to see Darius – he is bigger than most dogs." "The family all love him and he has a mischievous glint in his eye." "He really is the real-life Easter bunny, as his birthday is in April and it always falls around Easter." "There is no secret to growing the world’s biggest rabbit. I treat him really well and indulge him in the odd carrot or 12." Continental giant rabbits usually live to four or five years, but can last up to seven if well cared for. They are considered docile, friendly and intelligent, and are relaxed around humans if socialized when young. They were originally bred for their meat and fur.
The family treat Darius like a dog - and let him sit on the sofa and watch television.
The rabbit enjoys a stroke on the sofa after hopping around the family home.
The most widespread allergy symptom that dogs manifest is scratching. Because constant scratching can result in open sores, raised welts, and even loss of hair, dog owners have to be careful when it comes to feeding and exposing their pets. Dog owners have to educate themselves about the symptoms and treatment options of dog allergy in order to keep their best friend as comfortable as possible. Understanding the Basics There are several types of allergies: the airborne, food, flea, and contact. All dogs are prone to one or a combination of these allergies. It usually affects them when they are a couple years of age; though some cases report that even dogs as young as five months have already suffered from it. Dogs that have been affected by allergies frequently suffer all throughout their lives, and the symptoms usually become worse as they age. Common Allergy Symptoms You should suspect your dog is having allergies if he relentlessly: 1. Scratches his ears 2. Licks or chews his feet or other parts of body 3. Rubs his face against the floor or furniture 4. Sneezes or has a runny nose 5. Vomits or has diarrhea 6. Coughs or wheezes 7. Has a rash, pimples, bumps, or open sores 8. Has a reddish hair discoloration on the paws or between his toes 9. Has red or watery eyes 10. Has ear infections Diagnosing Dog Allergies Once you suspect your dog is suffering from allergies, you should immediately see your vet. Veterinarians will oftentimes make a preliminary diagnosis as well as treatment plan based on several data. These include the season of the year when the dog manifest the most allergy symptoms, the specific body locations that are found to be the most itchy, and the response of the itches to particular medications such as shampoos, steroids, and antihistamines. If the initial treatment plan does not offer your dog relief, your vet will likely recommend a more specific allergy testing. This procedure is commonly done either by taking a blood test or by performing intra-dermal skin testing. The blood tests are reliable for airborne allergy detection, but not as good when it comes to identifying food or contact allergies. Skin tests, nonetheless, are considered to be more accurate as it involves shaving a small patch of hair on the dog’s side, and then injecting a minimal amount of allergens underneath his skin. Just like people, dogs can be allergic to a wide range of things like pollen and grasses, certain foods, even cats! Working closely with your vet to diagnose an allergy and treat it will make your dog much more comfortable.
After Tristan Burns and Luke Karshagen said their vows on Saturday, their photographer suggested they take their wedding party to a nearby picturesque park for great lighting and a beautiful backdrop. That much is typical for any wedding photo scenario. But this couple got an extra scenic addition to their shoot at Areena Riverside Resort near East London, South Africa: a curious giraffe named Abby. “Areena always has wildlife roaming around, but I really wasn’t expecting Abby to pop his head among the trees,” Burns tells Yahoo. “Honestly, I was a little worried at first. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, nor did I know the nature of Abby. He just popped his head out of the trees. He must have heard us and just came waltzing into our party.” Photographer Stephanie Norman has shot at Areena before, but this was the first time her subjects had ever been photobombed by a giraffe. While the wedding party was all rather startled by the enormous creature — even in South Africa, this is rather unusual — he soon put them at ease. To read more on this story, click here:This Giraffe Is The Best Wedding Photobomber Anyone Could Hope For
A tortoise named Jonathan is believed to be the world’s oldest known living land creature and resides at an old plantation house in St. Helena. This village is located on one of the British Isle Territories out in the South Atlantic and has been home to the old tortoise since around 1882. Jonathan is just one part of the amazing world of animals which surround everyone on planet Earth. There are so many striking, beautiful and wonderful creatures that cover the entire world. Several of them are able to flabbergast both scientists and the regular lay-person as well, especially when they happen to be this one such tortoise which probably started its life during the first part of the 19th century. The large home where Jonathan lives at St. Helena is the official residence of the British Territories Governor Mark Capes. On this island, the tour guide and Jonathan’s chief caregiver, who is also a veterinarian, strikes against a huge bowl made out of metal. This causes Jonathan, Fredrika and Myrtle to approach closer. There are two other huge tortoises which decide to stay hidden in the shadows. It is explained that Jonathan, being the oldest of the five, is almost sightless from cataracts and does not have any sense of sense, yet he is able to hear very well. With him being the age of 182, that is an accomplishment in itself. Jonathan comes from the rare tortoise breed known as Seychelles Giants . His fellow tortoises come from the Aldabra Island, which is located in the Indian Ocean. Aldabra Giants are believed to be numbered around the 100,000 mark, but there only just one tiny breeding population left of the Seychelles tortoises. St Helena came into existence as a ferocious volcano, along with both Tristan du Cunha and Ascension in the Southern Atlantic. It is known for its seclusion and very closed off society. Back in the 17th century there was numerous slave trade victims who ended up dying on the sandy shores of St Helena. Napoleon also was put into exile there. Its residents, which are called Saints, all share this multifaceted past, and have the varied ethnic traits of Europeans, Africans, Chinese and Americans. It is really not known for sure just how Jonathan arrived in St. Helena in the first place. During the 19th century, there were numerous ships traveling around that held over hundreds of easily stackable tortoises. In the Galapagos Islands only, there were believed to have been over 200,000 tortoises which had been trapped, killed and consumed during this time period. Jonathan was extremely lucky to have escaped such a grim fate. He has lived through the passing of 33 different British Territory governors and no one wants to lose Jonathan while they are in the government seat. Mr. Capes definitely desires to see that Jonathan is treated well, given much respect, and all the care and attention he deserves he receives. One thing he enjoys tremendously is having his long neck rubbed. He is able to extend his head from out of his shell a decent length. The tortoise makes a loud snapping sound in response for his food. He dines mostly on carrots, cabbage and his favorite which are bananas. He makes the loud noises because he has trouble in finding his food with his eye and nose troubles. He also enjoys scrapes at blades of grass with his horny beak. It is made out of keratin, just like human nails are. The Seychelles species can reach up to weights of over 650 lbs. and may grow to be over four feet in length. Jonathan’s life has not over covered the 30+ British governors, but has also extended through the passing of eight British monarchs who reach from George IV down to Elizabeth II and also over 50 British prime ministers. If his age is truly correct and he is actually age 182, than that would mean he was around 10 years too young to have been able to meet Napoleon, who passed away in the year 1821 Because of his advancing age, Jonathan was starting to suffer from malnutrition. This was causing his beak to start to soften up and become blunt, which in turn, added to his feeding problems. He was also having problems with his head and neck. He was stuck in a Catch-22 of sorts. However, now his caregivers have come up with a new feeding system. Jonathan is delivered a full bucket of fresh vegetables and fruit each weekend as extra nutrition along with his regular meals. This added dietary boost has given Jonathan’s skin a new plump feel and it is soft. One thing that is unfortunate about Jonathan’s mating trysts is that none of them ever produced any young tortoises. So it is fairly certain that he is the last of his line. Because of this, and even though giant tortoises from his species can survive for 250 years, the community of St. Helena has already set up a rough draft of his obituary for when he does finally pass away. The island wants everything to go smoothly when his death occurs. There will no such thing as stuffing the old animal because everyone feels that would be very outdated and also morbid to do. Instead his shell will be well-preserved and will be put up on display in St Helena for everyone to see. The Saints also want to start a monetary fund in order to be able to create a true to life bronze statue of him. When the giant tortoise passes away, Jonathan will be deeply mourned by both friends and devotees on St. Helena and all over the entire world. The tortoise named Jonathan is believed to be the world’s oldest known living land creature.
The amazing animal is blind because of the cataracts and has no sense of smell. He has trouble finding food. Luckily, he can still hear pretty good. He is fed with fruits and vegetables, so he has no problems with malnutrition. The tourists and inhabitants of the island of Saint Helena regard the old tortoise with respect and kindness. The authorities made plans about keeping Jonathan healthy, building a bronze statue, and even the procedures that should be undertaken after Jonathan will die.
Jonathan was brought on the island in 1882. He did not produce any offspring until now, but a giant tortoise can live up to 250 years. Have a look at a video about the amazing tortoise Jonathan, the oldest living creature in the world:
Jonathan lives at the Plantation House with the governor of St Helena. He doesn’t reside at his awesome digs alone, he shares the property with a crew of 5 other tortoises. Without a doubt, Jonathan is the oldest of the pack. Jonathan is still going strong, but he feels the effects of aging. His smell has started go, along with his eyesight. Surprisingly though, he hasn’t lost his libido and he is rather interested in the youngest female tortoise he lives with. According to the the famous tortoise’s vet, Joe Hollins, this behavior is a good sign of more healthy years to come. As an active libido indicates health and a youthful spirit.
Those responsible for Jonathan don’t set these rules to be mean, instead, they only want to help Jonathan live a good long life. You can never be too careful considering he has already exceeded maximum life expectancy, especially considering Jonathan might be the last of his breed.
In 2004, Lindsey Wolko adopted a British cocker spaniel, Maggie, that loved to roam the inside of her car during drives — an unnerving habit that sent Wolko in search of a harness to protect the formerly abused pup. A few months later, with Maggie belted into the harness, Wolko had to slam on her brakes. Maggie went flying, crashing into the back of the front seat. “Because of the design, her legs were hogtied and thrown forward,” Wolko told The Huffington Post. “Luckily she wasn’t hurt or paralyzed, but it took her a while to heal.” Maggie suffered a strained spine and strained hips. She was on painkillers and confinement for weeks. To make matters worse, Wolko had to pay all of the vet bills out of her own pocket. The harness manufacturer was not accountable for any of Maggie’s injuries. Wolko, shocked, learned that pet restraints aren’t regulated by any government agency and manufacturers’ claims of safety weren’t put to the test by any outside organization. So she founded the nonprofit watchdog Center for Pet Safety, which has since conducted crash tests showing most pet restraints — even those claiming to be crash-tested — don’t work in sudden maneuvers. To demonstrate the problem, the Center for Pet Safety performed a crash test in 2011 on four popular brands of pet restraints, using crash test dummy dogs. “We had a 100 percent failure rate, and a lot of those products are still on the market,” Wolko said. The results stirred enough of a ruckus for Subaru to catch wind. Because more than half of Subaru owners have pets, the carmaker agreed to sponsor additional crash tests for Center For Pet Safety. Of 29 pet restraints tested since the alliance, 25 failed. You can see some of the tests in the video below. Be forewarned that some of the clips may be unsettling to animal lovers. To read more on this story, click here:Most Pet Car Safety Products Can Endanger Your Dog, Cat And You
