Johnny Depp May Face 10 Years in Australian Jail For Bringing Dogs Into Country Illegally

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Actor Johnny Depp might face a term in jail for bringing his two dogs into Australia illegally.

 

An Australian Senate committee said if the matter goes to court and the 51-year-old is found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in jail or a maximum fine of $265,000, reports people.com.

 

Mr Depp landed in hot water earlier this month after flying into Australia in a private jet with his Yorkshire Terriers – Pistol and Boo – breaking the country’s strict quarantine laws.

 

As per reports, an ongoing investigation found that Mr Depp, his fellow passengers and the flight crew did not declare the dogs’ presence, and they were only discovered after the pups were taken to a local groomer and photos were posted on social media.

 

Australian Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce then threatened to have the Yorkies euthanised unless they were flown out of the country within 50 hours.

 

Categories: country, depp, Dogs, jail, johnny depp, nbsp

The Four-legged Stress Buster

 

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

It may be one of the more unusual ways to improve office life but more and more companies are allowing staff to bring their dogs to work due to the health benefits associated with the company of our canine friends.

 

In a study conducted in the US, researchers found that when dogs were allowed in the workplace, stress levels dropped and staff morale improved.

 

The health benefits that dogs provide outside the workplace have been widely reported. For example, taking a dog for a walk can be great for improving exercise levels. But now more and more people are finding that taking dogs to work can promote good health too. It is thought that the presence of dogs makes staff more friendly towards one another, encourages people to take regular breaks and can lower stress when people stroke the dogs.

 

Of course, having dogs in the workplace won’t suit every working environment. It’s important to carry out risk assessments for both humans and dogs before allowing dogs into the office. In particular, check if anyone has a phobia of dogs or a pet allergy before bringing a dog to work. But if you can overcome the practical challenges, allowing canine companions to join you at work could be a positive move.

 

If you fancy finding out if dogs could provide benefits in your workplace, why not trial the idea on the annual ‘take your dog to work’ day. Find out more at: www.takeyourdog.com

 

Categories: catton, Dogs, health, Health Benefits, jenny, nbsp, work, workplace, written

Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

Categories: Children, Dogs, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Doggie Dread: Can You Leave Your Pet Home Alone?

Separation anxiety can really influence a person’s wellbeing, but what about man’s best friend? A happy dog is an important part of family wellness, because a panicky pup can end up destroying your household belongings, as well as slowly damaging his own mental and physical wellness. It’s essential to note the difference between separation anxiety and misbehaviour, as your dog isn’t simply miffed about being left alone, and taking it out on your furniture. At best, he’s bored, but the worst case explanation is that your dog is in a state of serious panic.

 

There are many causes of separation anxiety, but it sometimes involves a traumatic experience. Your dog may have been caught in a traffic accident, lost in unfamiliar surroundings, or become saddened by the death of a person or pet in your home. In most cases, no single event causes separation anxiety; it’s just your dog’s genetic predisposition. It’s hard to tell whether or not your dog is affected, as you’re not there to witness his behaviour, but certain signs can give you a clue as to whether or not you should be concerned:

 

1. Destructive behaviours: Your dog may have been chewing pillows or furniture, mutilating plants, or relentlessly scratching at doors and windows while you’ve been out.

 

2. Nervous noises: When you leave the house, your dog constantly barks, whines or howls.

 

3. Unpleasant odours: You come home to find an unwanted present on your carpet, be it the smell of urine or something worse, when your dog is fully-trained to urinate or defecate outside.

 

4. Worried walking: Your dog may pace intensely and persistently when he’s kept in another room away from everyone.

 

5. Harmful Houdini: If you keep your dog in a separate room or crate, he may try to escape to the point that he injures himself.

 

6. Anxious body language: Your dog may show certain physiological responses, such as dilated pupils or excessive panting.

 

Remember, there’s a difference between the disorder and just nuisance behaviour. Your furry little friend may just enjoy chewing on your slippers from time to time – he’s not doing it as a cry for help. The way to tell the problem is serious is if the behaviour occurs every time you leave, the behaviour occurs only in your absence, and if the anxious behaviours begin even before you go. Your dog may start acting out as soon as you put your shoes on, as he knows this means you’ll soon be leaving.

 

Your vet may recommend medications if your dog’s separation anxiety is serious. A new drug, Reconcile, is based on Prozac and can help pets to relax. However, the most commonly used separation anxiety treatment is desensitisation, or gradually getting your dog used to your departure. If you think this is the best treatment option for your pet, it’s highly recommended that you seek assistance from a reputable behaviourist or your vet. The process can usually be successful within eight weeks, but rare cases have taken much longer.

 

If you’re starting with a puppy, it is possible to prevent separation anxiety as long as you teach him that leaving him alone actually means good things. Follow these tips to get your pet associating your departure with something positive:

 

• Leave Kongs filled with peanut butter or cottage cheese so he has something to dig up when you’re gone.


• Hide treats in his crate or around the house.


• Hide his toys in places he knows to search.


• Tire him out with plenty of exercise so he’ll be more content to sleep or just take it easy when you leave.

Categories: anxiety, behaviour, behaviour occurs, Dogs, leave, nbsp, prevention, separation, Separation Anxiety

What Are the Most Serious Home Hazards for Your Pet?

Pets are an important part of their family, and yet their wellness and wellbeing is often unknowingly put at risk by having harmful plants, foods or other substances around your home. To keep your pet healthy, it is important that you know what is safe for them and what is not.

 

Chocolate, for example, may be your absolute favourite thing, but did you know that it can be terribly toxic for your dog? There is a component in chocolate called theobromine and it can cause increased heart rate, hyperactivity, arrhythmias, diarrhoea, vomiting and even seizures if chocolate is consumed by dogs. If a dog eats a lot of chocolate it can even lead to sudden death. Keep all chocolate well away from your dog, and if your dog eats chocolate by accident then contact your vet immediately as a precaution.

 

Antifreeze is also terribly dangerous for pets. In colder weather like we are currently experiencing in the UK, people start to add antifreeze to their car engines. It’s great for protecting cars from extreme temperatures but it can be deadly if a cat or dog laps it up from a puddle in the driveway. Just a few licks of antifreeze (such as a cat might get from cleaning its paws after standing in some) can be enough to cause kidney failure and even death in your cat. If you do spill whilst filling up your car then ensure that you hose down your driveway thoroughly and let it dry again before you let our pet outside.

 

If you transport your dog around in the car then make sure that you put a seatbelt on them. Larger dogs especially should be harnessed in the back seat of the car, which prevents them from distracting the driver and also keeps them safe in the event of an accident. Smaller dogs should be in a carrier or pet crate, secured with a seatbelt.

Categories: antifreeze, chocolate, Danger, dog eats, Dogs, hazards, nbsp, pet, seatbelt

How to Use Dogs to Improve Your Performance in the Workplace

Dog is man’s best friend in all areas of life, and that now includes the workplace. You may question how a dog can have any positive influence on a corporate environment, but a new study by Virginia Commonwealth University has revealed that taking a dog to work can help to benefit your wellness and wellbeing by reducing your stress levels and making you feel more positive about your place of work. You then have better job satisfaction and feel happier and more productive at work as a result.

 

It is well known that stress is one of the biggest causes of absenteeism in the workplace. Many high level professions see their employees suffering from burnout as they put too much into their jobs and then become incapable of functioning properly. Absenteeism costs companies millions of pounds in productivity and resources every year. The study, however, found that having dogs in the workplace reduced stress – and not just for the dog’s particular owners, but for all those who came into contact with the dog.

 

During the study, people who brought their pets to work were identified, and studied alongside those who had pets but did not bring them to work, and those who did not have pets at all. The factors that were looked at were stress, organisational commitment, job satisfaction and support.

 

The study was published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, and revealed that dogs in the workplace could have a positive impact on employee wellness and satisfaction. There were notable differences in stress between the days that the dog was present and the days that the dog was absent. Employees had higher job satisfaction as a whole when compared to other industry norms. The stress hormones of the employees, when measured through saliva, gave a clear indicator that having the dog on site was a positive thing for their wellbeing.

Categories: Dogs, job satisfaction, positive, Stress, study, work, workplace

Pooch Pounds: How to Help Your Dog Get to a Healthy Weight

Obesity isn’t a just a people problem; dogs are getting fatter too. While shocking statistics reveal that 53% of dogs in the United States suffer from obesity – according to the Association  for Pet Obesity Prevention – what’s more concerning is that 22% of dog owners characterized their pet as normal weight when they were actually obese. Your furry little friend is counting on you to take care of his weight wellness. Otherwise, you could be putting his wellbeing at risk for other illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis. So how can you help keep your dog’s weight in check?

 

1. Be realistic: Setting a reasonable goal is the primary step in helping your pup shed a few pounds. You don’t want to overwork your dog or overdo his diet. Therefore, you need to consult a vet about the most compassionate and caring when plan for your canine, determining how much weight your pet needs to lose to achieve a healthy weight and a moderate, patient way in which to get there. These things take time, so don’t rush it.

 

2. Try to squeeze in a little exercise every day: Exercising is one of the most effective ways to lose weight, whether you’re person or pooch, so try to get your dog moving every day. Taking him for a daily brisk walk will work wonders for the both of you. The PPET (People and Pets Exercising Together) Study showed that working out with your dog enables you to stick with your diet plan better than non-dog owners. Just remember to gradually build up the routine. Once your dog is comfortable with a brisk walk, go for a quick jog or play a game of fetch in the park.

 

3. Get him to eat little and often: Portion control is vital to helping dogs lose weight, but how do you know how much your dog should actually be eating? It’s easy to overfeed your pet, so take pains to check your dog’s food package for the proper amount suggested, and feed him on the lower end of that suggested amount. In 2002, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine found that a calorie-restricted diet helped canines to live nearly two years longer than dogs consuming additional calories. The best thing to do is divvy up your dog’s daily calorie needs into smaller portions – just like eating little and often is recommended for humans who want to lose weight. Feeding your dog at least every 12 hours improves his digestion, and also makes him less likely to binge during one big meal.

 

4. Choose the right foods: It’s not just how much you give your dog and when, but the kinds of foods that are the solution to your canine’s weight loss journey. Again, look on the label of your dog food package – what order are the ingredients in? The earlier the ingredient is listed, the more of it there is in the dog’s food, and so you should be seeing high-quality ingredients at the top of the list. Dehydrated dry foods are often bad examples of this, and your pet will find fresh proteins, carbohydrates and fat sources to be more energetically useful to. To dilute your pet’s calories and add more fibre, add steamed or pureed vegetables such as broccoli or carrots to his packaged meal.

 

5. Give him fewer treats: You love your dog and want to show him how much, but giving him treats is a bad way to do it. Those tiny snacks can really add up in the calorie department, and so you’re doing your pooch no favours. Don’t let treats equal more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories, unless you’re dishing out healthful treats such as fresh fruits or vegetables. Carrots, cucumbers, green beans and apples are all good choices.

Categories: brisk walk, dog owners, Dogs, food package, Goals, healthy weight, Lose, Lose weight, meal nbsp, nbsp, treats, weight

Quirk or Cause for Concern? Nine Signs Your Dog Needs a Vet

The chances are that you dog does a lot of weird stuff, and that’s just why you love her, but how do you know when her little quirks are actually a sign that her wellbeing is in trouble? She’s not just man’s best friend; she’s family, so how do you get family wellness back on track? Ask yourself the following questions:

 

1. Does she have odd eating habits?

On a hot day, it’s not unusual for your dog to skip the odd meal. However, if she goes for two days without eating, or begins raiding the kitchen cupboards and bins when she’s usually well-behaved, it’s time to take her to the vet.

 

2. Is she always thirsty?

As dogs naturally produce a lot of saliva, an excessive need to drink is cause for concern. If your furry little friend keeps urinating, she may have a kidney disease or diabetes.

 

3. Is her coat rough or dry?

Your dog’s coat should be thick, shiny, and soft, so if it is otherwise she may be eating the wrong kind of food, or have an allergy or skin disease.

 

4. Is she sluggish or tired?

If your dog simply isn’t interested in going for a walk or playing, it may just be because of the heat or sore muscles. However, if it goes on for more than two days you should consult a vet.

 

5. Has she been vomiting?

It’s not unusual for dog’s to vomit to get rid of something that doesn’t agree with them, but if your dog is vomiting frequently, several times in a row, is vomiting blood or she has a fever, you should call the vet as soon as possible.

 

6. What does her stool look like?

Unless your dog’s stool is small, firm and moist, you should be wary. If, for more than two days, your dog’s stool is dry or hard, contains blood or mucus, or your dog is constipated or has diarrhoea, visit your vet immediately.

 

7. Have there been any sudden changes to her weight?

Sudden weight loss of 10% or more should be brought to your vet’s attention. Remember, if your dog is only small, this could be as little as one pound.

 

8. What do her eyes look like?

Your dog may have an infection if her eyes are cloudy, red, squinty or producing excessive discharge. This can easily be sorted with medication from the vet.

 

9. Is she scooting or dragging her rear?

This is an indication that your dog has worms, blocked anal glands, kidney disease or diabetes.

Categories: days, Disease, Dogs, eating, kidney disease, nbsp, stool, Vet, vet nbsp, warning signs

Could Constant Arousal be a Hidden Symptom of Rabies?

When it comes to sexual health problems, you’d probably think those to do with arousal would tend towards the lack thereof, rather than too much. However, this was not the case with a 28-year-old woman in India, who recently came to her doctor with the unusual complaint of a sudden and persistent increase in her sex drive. Her wellness was affected by constant arousal, often with no stimulation at all. The woman was referred to the department of emergency medicine at the Sri Gokulam Hospital and Research Institute in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Four days later, however, she was dead.

What disease could affect your wellbeing with distressing sexual symptoms, and then progress to death in less than a week? The answer is a virus that has practically been eliminated in this country but still threatens the health of many in the developing world; rabies. Although the first symptom associated with rabies is a fear of water (which actually a sign that the virus has paralyzed your swallowing muscles), hypersexuality is occasionally the primary symptom in some cases of the disease. The virus inflames the brain, causing hypersexuality and, when this happens, the disease has reached the point whereby it is incurable.

The researchers, who published the woman’s case in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour, noted that a small bite from a puppy two months earlier caused the disease, and the woman was dead two months later. According to Peter Costa, the communications director for the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, who was not involved in the Indian woman’s case, ‘Often people will say, “Well, if I have any symptoms I’ll go to the doctor,”’ but this is often too late. ‘If you’ve been bitten or suspect you’ve been licked or scratched by an infected animal, you should seek treatment within 24 hours,’ Costa notes.

While vaccination programmes have made staving off rabies almost a certainty in this country, Costa points out that between 55,000 and 70,000 people around the world die of rabies each year – that’s someone every eight minutes. More often than not, deaths occur in children under the age of 15 and in areas where there is a lack of public health resources and preventive treatment such as vaccinations. The main culprit behind the transmission of the disease is our furry little friends. Costa says, ‘The dog is responsible for more than 99% of human rabies cases.’ However, before you throw out your pets, Costa explains that in many cases in the developing world, the dogs aren’t family pets but strays or semi-strays that hang around communities.

In fact, the focus of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control is on promoting vaccination for domesticated and semi-domesticated animals, including semi-feral dogs. Costa asserts that cases of human rabies plummet when 70% of dogs in a country are vaccinated. However, Costa also believes that education is a key component in stamping out the spread of rabies for good. Had the Indian woman sought medical attention as soon as she was bitten, early treatment could have saved her life. Costa advises, ‘If you’ve been bitten, wash the wound with soap and water for about 10 minutes and then seek appropriate medical treatment.’ Costa adds that cases like the Indian woman’s are also a reminder of why mandatory vaccines for pets are so important. ‘The public health system in the United States and Europe has done just a tremendous job, to the point where I think people forget why we vaccinate our animals,’ he says. ‘Rabies is just outside the front door.’

Categories: constant arousal, costa, developing world, Dogs, global alliance, human rabies, Hypersexuality, indian woman, public health, Rabies, rabies control

Three Simple, Natural Remedies to Rid Your Dog of Fleas

When your dog has fleas, you can find yourself bulking up on ointments and collars to get rid of the pesky little pests. However, these anti-flea products are laden with chemicals – they’re designed to kill fleas, after all – and your pup’s wellbeing could be at risk. According to The Humane Society, 1,600 pet deaths in the last five years have been attributed to flea treatments. Moreover, family wellness could also be threatened by these treatments, as many of the ingredients in flea medications are known carcinogens. Then there are poisonings and allergic reactions to consider, the signs of which include salivating, pupil dilation, tremors, vomiting, hiding, shivering and skin irritation. Still, why let it get to that point, when you can use natural and effective flea remedies instead?

 

1. Homemade spray: Although this spray won’t kill fleas or eggs once they arrive, you can prevent them from appearing in the first place. The spray contains citrus oil and lavender oil, both of which are harmless to dogs but you might find your pooch is more relaxed, as lavender has a calming effect. This herb can be unsafe for cats, however, so avoid using lavender on them. For your homemade spray, slice six lemons into thin round slices with the skin intact, and add them to a pan filled with water. Bring the water to a boil, remove it from the heat and let it sit overnight. Then, strain the liquid into a spray bottle and add 50 drops of lavender essential oil. You should use this spray whenever your dog goes outdoors or has a bath. Alternately, soak his collar in the mixture to make a flea collar of your own. You can also spray your rugs, carpeting, furniture and garden to prevent fleas from settling in.

 

2. A healthy, balanced diet: Much as it is with your wellness, your furry little friend can benefit no-end from a healthy, balanced diet, especially with regards to fleas. You may find that the right amount of nutrients can give your dog all he needs to properly combat all the toxins he is exposed to daily, and fight off pests naturally. Flaxseed oil, probiotics and digestive enzymes can help to boost his immune system and help him resist pests on his own, while small pinches of garlic can keep fleas at bay and support your pet’s liver and kidneys. Too much garlic can be toxic to dogs, but a small amount will be emanated through his skin (you won’t notice it, but the fleas will – think of them as vampires). Apple cider vinegar is also a beneficial addition to a doggie diet, as it makes the skin more acidic and, as a result, less appealing to fleas.

 

3. Topical remedies: Essential oils, such as peppermint, lemongrass, cedar and pennyroyal, can help fend off fleas, just make sure you dilute them and put them in places your dog cannot easily lick, as large doses are dangerous to pets. Simply mix a few drops into a teaspoon of olive oil and rub on the top of your pooch’s neck or base of the tail. You can also steep rosemary in two cups of boiling water, let it cool, and add it to up to a gallon of warm water which you can then pour over your dog. Finally, try sprinkling diatomaceous earth on your dog’s food or skin, or on your carpet (as long as you remember to vacuum it up later). This is basically ground-up algae, but it kills parasites internally. Just make sure to purchase a food-grade version of DE or it could cause breathing problems and other serious side effects for both your dog and you.

Categories: balanced diet, Dogs, flea, Fleas, healthy balanced, homemade spray, natural remedies, skin, spray, Water

Doggy Diet: How to Ensure Proper Nutrition for Your Pet

There’s no denying the importance of nutrition to family wellness, but what about the wellbeing of your furry little friend? It’s just as vital for your dog to eat well if he’s going to live long and avoid wellness problems, and so you need to ensure you’re making the right food buying decisions. The next time you’re in the pet food aisle, ask yourself the following questions:

 

1. What does the label say? Although commercial brands of pet food are more expensive, this generally means they meet strict government ingredient standards and are more digestible for your dog. Make sure the label states that it meets these standards, and as well as a clearly listed expiration date.

 

2. What are the ingredients? The breed and age of your pup will affect the quantities it needs of certain ingredients, but this should include a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. When it comes to proteins, you need food that is high in meat content and low in grain content. The fats should come from chicken or beef rather than general “animal fat” as this means the meat is healthy and easily digestible. Processed grains are really harmful to man’s best friend, so instead go for whole grains, such as oatmeal, brown rice, and barley.

 

3. Is there enough variety? Your pet needs variety to ensure his diet is balanced and that he is happy and satisfied. This means rotating three or four foods containing different meats, and giving your dog an occasional treat of a small amount of fresh meat, vegetables, rice, plain yogurt, and plain pasta.

 

4. Is it going according to schedule? Dogs thrive on routine, so you need to know the proper amount of food to be given and the time and frequency of meals. Set specific feeding times and locations.

 

5. Is the diet age-appropriate? As puppies are still growing, they need to be fed more often. Give four meals a day to puppies aged eight to 12 weeks, three meals up to the age of six months, and reduce it down to two meals for dogs aged six to 12 months. Most adult dogs can be fed once daily, but this might need to be two small meals per day if your dog is a larger sized breed.

Categories: diet, Dogs, Food, ingredients, meals, nbsp, nutrition, pet food, Variety

Allergy Myths Busted: Hypoallergenic Dogs, Mould and ADHD

When your child’s wellness is affected with allergies, you can hear some confusing and crazy theories about everything from hypoallergenic dogs to ADHD. But are these theories fact or fiction? Guard your child’s wellbeing against the confusion, and be in-the-know about allergy myths.

Firstly, if your child with allergies is a dog lover, you may be tempted to get a hypoallergenic dog. However, the sad fact of the matter is that there really is no such thing. At some point, the myth arose that certain short-haired breeds were hypoallergenic because they had hair, not fur. Others have perpetrated the notion that you can become sensitised and therefore not allergic to your own pet, even if you still have symptoms when you’re around other dogs.

Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest that either of these theories is true. People react to dogs because of proteins which all dogs have, albeit possibly in varying amounts. Your child may become tolerant to these proteins and have no more symptoms, but this will be the case with all dogs – not special hypoallergenic ones or your own pet specifically. Analysis has shown that some breeds of dog incur a slightly more allergenic response than others, but this isn’t significant.

Another common myth that has done the rounds is toxic mould. About 10 years ago, some Ohio babies died from pulmonary haemorrhage, which is quite rare. Doctors at the time thought that the infants’ deaths were due to so-called toxic mould found in their homes, but this was subsequently refuted. Toxic mould is a misnomer as term. Yes, black mould could cause your child to have an allergenic or asthmatic response, but your child would have to either ingest the mould or directly inhale it on a 24-7 basis in order to experience toxic effects.

Finally, there is currently no evidence linking allergies to autism or ADHD, no matter what other worried parents might say. Anecdotal reports of food reactions, such as “but it makes him so…” have fuelled this myth, but when there is absolutely no scientific basis for the assertion and no correlation with your child’s allergies. Parents could be looking for a reason why a difficult diagnosis may have occurred, but a lot of the “science” they turn to, such as Andrew Wakefield’s controversial paper on the vaccine-autism connection, has actually been fabricated.

Allergy Myths Busted: Hypoallergenic Dogs, Mould and ADHD

Categories: ADHD, allergy myths, Child, Dogs, Hypoallergenic, hypoallergenic dogs, mould, toxic, toxic mould

Type 1 Diabetes – Treatable with Gene Therapy?

A step forward in gene therapy may mark further benefits for those suffering from Type 1 Diabetes.

By applying gene therapy to dogs for up to four years, minus the effects of hypoglycaemia, the advance could prove advantageous for diabetics. The change from using the methods on mice and using dogs (namely Beagles) instead has shown positive success.

“Moving from mice to large animals is a big step,” said Dr. Fatima Bosch, Director of the Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy. “If something works well in large animals, we have reason to believe, based on the previous experience in the field of gene transfer, that it is likely that we will see a similar outcomes in humans. For example, gene therapy that worked well in large animals to treat haemophilia is now seeing positive results in clinical trials with humans. We hope that in a few years, we’ll be able to test this therapy for type 1 diabetes in humans as well.”

The dogs were given insulin and glucokinase through an adenoassociated virus (AAV) vector – a vehicle which transports DNA using a virus that is not designed to harm its host. It can still “infect” them, but the cargo could contain whatever the creator wishes. In this case, the insulin and glocokinase is the cargo, which is beneficial.

Insulin is a very familiar component for those suffering from either type of diabetes, which helps to regulate the glucose in the blood. Whilst naturally created by the pancreas, those suffering from diabetes go through the issue that the pancreas produces too little, meaning that the body’s blood sugar is not regulated properly. Through injections and (or) a healthy diet, this is often maintained quite well. Glucokinase is partnered to insulin, which also helps to regulate the rise and fall of circulating glucose levels.

By injecting them into the dogs, researchers found that the dogs maintained normal blood glucose levels for up to four years without any signs of hypoglycaemia and without any need of further injections.

With further testing proving to be promising, the researchers hope to be able to test on humans in the future.

Type 1 Diabetes – Treatable with Gene Therapy?

Categories: Animal Testing, Blood glucose, Diabetes, Dogs, gene, gene therapy, Glucose, glucose levels, large animals, therapy, treatment, type, type one diabetes

Are Canine Supplements a Doggy Do or a Doggy Don’t?

Popping a multivitamin every morning can help you to maintain your wellness, but what about man’s best friend? Should you look after your dog’s wellbeing with a canine supplement as well?

Just like in humans, vitamins and minerals are essential components of a doggy diet. In your pooch’s body, vitamins and minerals help to regulate his heartbeat, boost the ability of the circulatory system to deliver nutrients to his body, and govern his neural activity. But, if high-quality dog foods are specifically formulated to deliver all the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy, why do manufacturers produce so many different dog dietary supplements?

Some tail-waggers have special needs, such as a weakened immune system, and so supplementation can be a smart choice. Various people attest to the fact that their dogs have overcome chronic diseases, or experienced relief from certain symptoms, with the help of canine supplements. Supplementation can also be used as a preventive measure against future health problems, but you should consult your little mongrel’s vet beforehand because some advise against supplementation if your dog’s diet is nutritionally complete. This is due to the face that certain vitamins, minerals, and herbs given in large doses may be harmful to some dogs.

However, processed commercial dog food has lost much of the nutrition present in the original ingredients, and so some vets do advise supplementation as an important safeguard against deficiencies. This is because some deficiencies are too minor to detect, but could still eventually lead to chronic health problems. As long as you administer the supplements according to the directions on the label, these vets argue that supplementation is a safety net and will not hurt dogs.

At present, dog supplements are not closely regulated, and so you should inform your vet before starting your mutt on a supplementation programme, as he or she will have more access to the latest doggy news and advice. Make sure you buy your supplements from reputable manufacturers, and adhere to animal specifications. This means never giving your dog a supplement packaged for a human or for a different type of animal, or vice versa, because when it comes to small animals, accurate dosage matters. Finally, remember to treat herbs and supplements like any other medication or dietary change: if your dog experiences any sudden change in health or behaviour, consult your vet immediately.

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Are Canine Supplements a Doggy Do or a Doggy Don’t?

Categories: disease prevention, Dogs, vitamin deficiency