Speedlinks: February 9, 2011

Your portal to the most interesting, absurd, and unbelievable animal stories in the news today.


1. Dog Breeds I've Recently Seen:
Labrador retriever. Check.
Husky. Check.
Xoloitzcuintli. Che- Wait! What?
Follow the link to see three new breeds that were recently added to the AKC.

2. Has your veterinarian ever told you that your pet needs to eat better? Well it seems more and more people are taking that advice and doing something about it.

Read more...

Giardia: The Tiny Bug That Makes Fido (And Us) Mighty Sick

Some Facts About Giardia:
-Giardia is the most common nonbacterial cause of diarrhea in the United States.
-Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites worldwide, infecting up to 20 percent of the world's population.
-Giardia is most prevalent in developing countries, where infections are associated with poor sanitary conditions.
-Giardia infections are more common in children than in adults.

What Is Giardia:
Giardia are sometimes confused with worms because they invade the gastrointestinal tract and can cause diarrhea. They are not worms; instead, they are one-celled parasites classified as protozoa.

Most dogs that are infected with Giardia do not have diarrhea or any other signs of illness. When the eggs (cysts) are found in the stool of a dog without diarrhea, they are generally considered a transient, insignificant finding. However, in puppies and debilitated adult dogs, they may cause severe, watery diarrhea that may be fatal.

Infection:
A dog becomes infected with Giardia when it swallows the cyst stage of the parasite. Once inside the dog's intestine, the cyst goes through several stages of maturation. Eventually, the dog is able to pass infective cysts in the stool. These cysts lie in the environment and can infect other dogs. They may also be transmitted through drinking infected water.

Diagnosis:
Giardiasis is sometimes diagnosed by performing a microscopic examination of a stool sample. The cysts are quite small and usually require a special floatation medium for detection, so they are not normally found on routine fecal examinations. Occasionally, the parasites may be seen on a direct smear of the feces. A blood test is also available for detection of antigens (cell proteins) of Giardia in the blood. This test is probably more accurate than the stool exam, but it requires several days to get a result from the laboratory performing the test.

None of the tests for giardiasis are completely accurate. Therefore, some veterinarians choose to treat the dog with one of the safe and very effective medications. If successful, this approach will eliminate the parasite even though a confirmed diagnosis is not made.

Transmission to Humans:
Giardia can also cause diarrhea in humans. Therefore, environmental disinfection is important. The use of chlorine bleach, one cup in a gallon (500 ml in 4 liters) of water, is effective if the surfaces and premises can be safely treated with it.
Read more...

250 Years And Better Than Ever!

2011 is a special year for veterinary medicine.  It marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the first school dedicated solely to teaching veterinary medicine. Although there are records of individuals providing animal care and treatment dating back as far as 1900 B.C. it wasn't until the opening of the first veterinary school in Lyon, France in 1761 that the veterinary profession was officially "born".  A lot has changed in the field since that time but one thing has remained constant... the compassionate and dedicated care your veterinarian offers your pets.

Further information about this worldwide event can be found by visiting the American Veterinary Medical Aassociation's official website. Read more...

While visions of sugar plums dance in our heads...

our holiday traditions of candy and good cheer may not be so cheerful to our pets. Hit the jump to learn more.

In 2009, the ASPCA's Animal Poison COntrol Center took over 17,000 calls regarding pets ingesting, and being poisoned by, "people" food. Here is a list of "people" foods that our pets might not thank us for giving them.

-Chocolates, coffee and caffeine
-Alcohol
-Avocados
-Macadamia nuts
-Grapes and raisins
-Yeast dough
-Raw/undercooked meat and meat
-Xylitol (a sweetener found in many products)
-Onions, garlic and chives
-Milk
-Salt

To learn about even more foods that may be dangerous (or not) for your pet during the holidays and all year-round, visit the ASPCA website. Read more...

When the weather outside is frightful...

don't forget to watch out for your furry friends. Hit the jump to find a few seasonal tips to keep your pets safe during extreme weather this winter.

1.) Keep pets inside when the temperature is below freezing.
2.) For outdoor pets, be sure they have proper shelter and their water is not frozen.
3.) After walks in the snow or anywhere that rock salt or other chemical de-icers are in use, be sure to wipe off your dog's legs and belly to prevent them from licking and ingesting those potentially dangerous substances.
4.) Don't leave your cat or dog in the car during cold weather.
5.) If your pet gets stuck outside in freezing weather for a long time it may get hypothermia. Signs include a slow pulse, shallow breathing, disorientation, collapse and unconcsciousness. If wet, dry your pet thoroughly, and then place warm (not hot) water bottles wrapped in towels around your pet. The ears, paws and other poorly insulated parts of the body may have frostbite; DO NOT RUB OR APPLY SNOW OR WATER TO THESE PARTS. Thaw the area slowly and get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
6.) Antifreeze is a lethal poison to cats and dogs. Clean up any spills and consider using products that contain propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. Read more...