The Animal Hub!

A Thought!!!!!!

2013-07-20T07:23:00.002+05:30

Animals are such agreeable friends; they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. -George Eliot

Create love for animals

2011-07-02T20:37:00.002+05:30

Love for animals sometimes come from within and sometimes has to be created. It is so difficult for me to understand how some people just coolly say that they are just dogs or the are just cats or whatever.
I remember once when I was giving a piece of chilly chicken to my pet dog chinnu my uncle on seeing it said why do you do that after all it is a dog we use it for our convenience and thats all. I guess he still doesnt know the difference between living and non living things.
No one actually taught me to love animals but my dad through his little actions taught me to love and care for them.My dad used to take care of my chinnu like his own kid, take him out for walks even when he was down with his problems and in depression.He also adopted a dog that was looking starved from a poor family groomed it fed and gave it to his sister.
I remember whenever my chinnu used to fall sick my dad used to care for it so much, stroke its head make it lie on its lap. Looking at his gestures would bring tears to my eyes.

Like this each of us - only if we could just show a little compassion to the living things around us it would not only make people treat animals better but also help each one us be better human beings.

so go out there and show u care ..............there will be many to follow you

Leopard Kills Pregnant Baboon Then Saves Its Newborn Child

2010-10-25T22:58:00.003+05:30

Do you think that animals are sympathetic in nature? Watch this video and tell me why it does such a compassionate act.

Graham Hill: Why I'm a weekday vegetarian

2010-05-18T20:52:00.002+05:30

Six amazing hybrid animals

2010-05-06T10:41:00.009+05:30

Ligers, tigons and grolar bears, oh my! Take a look at some of these otherworldly hybrid animals and you'll realize the possibilities are endless.

Though they rarely occur in nature, individuals from different but closely related species do occasionally mate, and the result is a biological hybrid — an offspring that shares traits from both parent species. You may have heard of the mysterious sheep-pig creature, but it turns out that one isn't a true hybrid.

Here are six bizarre, but truly unique half-breeds.

Zebroids

A zebroid is the offspring of a cross between a zebra and any other equine, usually a horse or a donkey. There are zorses, zonkeys, zonies, and a host of other combinations.

Zebroids are an interesting example of hybrids bred from species that have a radically different number of chromosomes. For instance, horses have 64 chromosomes and zebra have between 32 and 44 (depending on species). Even so, nature finds a way.

Savannah cats
Savannah cats are the name given to the offspring of a domestic cat and a serval — a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. The unusual cross became popular among breeders at the end of the 20th century, and in 2001 the International Cat Association accepted it as a new registered breed.
Interestingly, savannahs are much more social than typical domestic cats, and they are often compared to dogs in their loyalty. They can be trained to walk on a leash and even taught to play fetch.

Ligers
Ligers are the cross of a male lion and a female tiger, and they are the largest of all living cats and felines. Their massive size may be a result of imprinted genes which are not fully expressed in their parents, but are left unchecked when the two different species mate. Some female ligers can grow to 10 feet in length and weigh more than 700 pounds.
Ligers are distinct from tigons, which come from a female lion and male tiger. Various other big cat hybrids have been created too, including leopons (a leopard and a lion mix), jaguleps (a jaguar and leopard mix), and even lijaguleps (a lion and jagulep mix).

Wholphins
A cross between a false killer whale and an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, wholphins are hybrids that have been reported to exist in the wild. There are currently two in captivity, both at Sea Life Park in Hawaii.
The wholphin's size, color, and shape are intermediate between the parent species. Even their number of teeth is mixed; a bottlenose has 88 teeth, a false killer whale has 44 teeth, and a wholphin has 66

Grolar bears
The offspring of a grizzly bear and a polar bear, a grolar bear is one beast you don't want to meet in the woods. Interestingly, unlike many hybrid animals on this list, grolar bears are known to occur naturally in the wild.
Some experts predict that polar bears may be driven to breed with grizzly bears at an increased frequency due to global warming, and the fact that polar bears are being forced from their natural habitats on the polar ice.

Beefalo
Beefalo are the fertile offspring of domestic cattle and American bison. Crosses also exist between domestic cattle and European bison (zubrons) and yaks (yakows). The name given to beefalo might be the most suggestive, since the breed was purposely created to combine the best characteristics of both animals with an eye towards beef production.

A USDA study showed that beefalo meat, like bison meat, tends to be lower in fat and cholesterol. They are also thought to produce less damage to range-land than cattle.

Dogs Smell Diabetic Attacks Coming

2009-07-19T11:01:00.001+05:30

Some dogs can smell odors given off by humans with bladder cancer and diabetes, researchers say. In some cases, the canines warn of oncoming attacks.

Paul Jackson and his son James walk their collie Tinker on the riverbank overlooking Durham Cathedral just outside London.

Paul has type-2 diabetes. His body cannot process insulin. As a result he's in constant danger of collapsing if his blood sugar levels fall beyond a certain point.

His family noticed that whenever he was about to have an attack, Tinker would get agitated.

SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Jackson, Diabetic: "It was his behavior around me when I was having a hypoglycemic attack. The way he would lick my face, or cry gently while I was sitting down, or bark even. And then we noticed that this behaviour was happening while I was having a hypoglycemic attack so we just put two and two together."

This led to Tinker, now aged six, becoming trained as a qualified hypo-alert dog - and he has a smart red jacket to advertise the point.

Now he accompanies Paul everywhere and warns him when he needs to boost his sugar levels, allowing Paul to venture out more often.

Tinker's story prompted the organization Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs to investigate whether dogs really can detect early signs of a hypoglycemic attack.

Kimberley Cox is a dog trainer at the centre who suffers from diabetes. She's training a golden retriever called Rory.

When Kimberley has a hypoglycemic attack, she captures her body scent in cotton wool and bottles it.

Sitting with Rory in a room at the center, she simulates an attack by opening a bottle.

Rory immediately leaps onto her and licks her face. He then fetches her insulin kit, so she can check her sugar levels. Having achieved his task, Rory is rewarded with a food treat.

SOUNDBITE (English) Kimberley Cox, Dog Trainer and Diabetic: "I've taught him to recognize the odor, and the odor signals to him a big reward, so he knows to come up to me and recognize that odor."

The center also trains dogs to sniff out bladder cancer, following evidence that suggests certain types of cancer can be detected from chemicals found in the sufferer's urine.

Eight urine samples are placed on a carousel. Only one of them is cancerous.

Jake, a springer spaniel, can smell the difference. When he passes the cancerous sample, he sits down and sniffs wildly. His trainer rewards him with food.

SOUNDBITE (English) Rob Harris, Dog trainer: "Dogs have a highly-developed sense of smell. Their nose is in use every day. We just use that part of their nose to help us identify the odor of cancer."

Claire Guest from Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs hopes further research will lead to new breakthroughs.

SOUNDBITE (English) Claire Guest, Chief Executive, Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs:

"Now that we know that dogs are able to detect human disease by its odor, and that different diseases have different odors, the potential is just incredible to help individuals with life-threatening conditions but also to have new ways of looking at diagnosis of life-threatening diseases such as cancer."

Its a hope that others can benefit from dogs the way Paul Jackson has, and live a fuller life.

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

2009-07-19T10:46:00.000+05:30

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''
The Six-year-old continued,''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

WHEN I THOUGHT I WASNT LOOKING

2009-06-08T08:40:00.003+05:30

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING.

A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'

I AM SENDING THIS TO THE PEOPLE I KNOW
WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS,
BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES.
LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT.

Each of us parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend
influences the life of a child. so let us show that we care, feed a stray today for they have no one to look up to and nothing to look forward to except the harsh streets. we don't have to make a speech we dont have to preach just a small gesture and there will be plenty to follow us. Let us act today let us help create a generation that truly cares for animals for in this big bad world they are always forgotten

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God .

WHEN A LIZARD CAN, WHY CAN'T WE?

2009-06-05T08:04:00.000+05:30

This is a true story that happened in Japan.

In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan breaks open the wall.

Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls.

When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck
there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet.

He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when he
checked the nail, it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first
built.

What happened?

The lizard has survived in such position for 10 years !

In a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving, it is impossible
and mind-boggling.

Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years!!! Without
moving a single step - since its foot was nailed !

So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been
doing, and what and how it has been eating.

Later, not knowing from where it came appears another lizard, with
food in its mouth.

Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply.

For the lizard That was stuck by nail, another lizard has been feeding
it for the past 10 years...

Imagine ! it has been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without
giving up hope from partners

Think.

Think. Would you do it for your Mom who brought you after a big
struggle of nine long months ?
Or for all at home and colleagues at work ?

Imagine what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a
brilliant mind can't.

contributed by Kevin johns

Man hid turtle on his back

2009-05-19T08:56:00.001+05:30

Man hid turtle on his back

A Chinese man pretended to be a hunchback to smuggle his pet turtle on to a plane.

Wu, who is in his 60s, strapped the turtle to his back before boarding the plane to Chongqing.

He got through security but was then stopped by a guard who thought his hump looked odd.

A quick search uncovered the turtle which had a 20cm diameter and weighed about 5kg.

Wu, who was flying home to Chongqing after eight years in Guangzhou, said he knew he was not allowed to take live animals on board but was too attached to his turtle.

Finally, he changed plane and checked the pet in as baggage, reports the New Express.

Doctors remove maggots from woman's nose

2009-05-19T08:45:00.001+05:30

Bangkok - Threating what appears to be becoming a common complaint in the kingdom, Thai doctors recently removed 34 maggots from a woman's nasal cavity after she came to hospital complaining of a swollen cheek, media reports said on Tuesday.

Doctor Tawee Thanuparp-rangsan, of Nakorn Ping Hospital in Chiang Mai, 560 kilometres north of Bangkok, said the 38-year-old woman had checked in to the hospital complaining of severe pain in her left cheek.

"I checked her nasal cavity and found a lot of fly maggots there," Tawee told The Nation newspaper. Doctors had to operate on the woman, a pig farmer, removing 34 maggots from inside her nose.
"Probably while she was sleeping, a fly went up her nose and laid its eggs, which then hatched into larvae," Tawee speculated.

It was the second such operation reported in Thailand in recent weeks.

On April 26, Thai doctors removed 50 maggots from an 84-year-old man's ears who had sought treatment at a hospital in Phuket, 660 kilometres south of Bangkok, for extreme itchiness in the orifices.

Doctors speculated that the octogenarian may have gotten the ear infestation while working at an open-air market, notorious for their flies. - Sapa-dpa

PLS DONATE FOR A GOOD CAUSE

2009-03-29T19:12:00.002+05:30

Hi this is Katherine from ekm. i along with my friend Dr. Gigin is planning to start an animal welfare centre in vytilla. We have already got a house, since it is in vytilla the rent is a little high we need to give a big amount as down payment too. Animals lovers everywhere please contribute small amounts pls help us make it happen

TWO CATS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

2009-03-28T17:56:00.001+05:30

TWO CATS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Cats that have a playmate tend to be more socially well adjusted and avoid behavior problems like shyness, biting, hissing, being frightened and hiding in the company of people they don't know.

*
They are much less likely to gain weight due to lack of movement and to suffer related illnesses.

*
They are less likely to ruin furniture out of boredom.

*
If you must work long hours or travel for a couple of days, 2 or more cats keep each other company and are more tranquil during your absence.

*
By having 2 or more cats you are able to enjoy the true social nature of cats and their relationship with each other.

*
It's more likely that people bring back an adopted cat due to behavior problems when only one has been adopted rather than two.

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Your cat will remain more playful and youthful into his or her later years with a companion.

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The workload to care for two cats remains relatively the same.

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You don't need more space for a second cat.

Demodicosis (Red Mange) in Dogs

2009-03-22T10:12:00.000+05:30

Demodicosis (Red Mange)

Demodicosis (red mange) is a skin disease caused by a small mite not visible to the naked eye. This mite lives down in the root of the hair. All normal dogs have a small population of mites, but only certain animals will get a disease from mite overgrowth. In some cases, the tendency to develop demodectic mange runs in families.

The disease is seen in TWO FORMS in dogs. There is a localized form where only small areas of the skin are affected, and a generalized form where the majority of the body and/or the feet are involved. Symptoms include loss of hair and reddening of the skin. Affected areas may be scabby, crusty and sometimes itchy. Skin infections due to damage by the mite are common. Skin infections can become so severe that they threaten a dog's life, with ulcers, swelling and fever. Juvenile-onset generalized demodicosis is a familial disease and affected dogs and their parents should not be bred. Diagnosis of demodectic mange is made by examining debris from deep skin scrapings under the microscope. Dogs with generalized disease also require further testing for underlying health problems.

Treatment of demodectic mange depends on the patient's age and the severity of the disease. In the localized form, the dog may heal on its own. Many times a cream or gel will be used to aid in healing. It is important that dogs with the localized form be observed for a worsening of the condition or spread to other areas. Dogs that are intended for breeding should be observed without treatment to be sure the generalized form does not develop. Infrequently the topical medication may cause the affected areas to look worse before the areas begin to heal. If a skin infection is present, antibiotics will be needed.
Dogs with generalized demodicosis may require intensive treatment with amitraz (Mitaban®) dips or oral medications. If a skin infection is present, antibiotics will be needed.

Mitaban dip is the only FDA-approved drug for this disease. WHOLE BODY CLIPPING is required throughout treatment so that the dip solution can reach the mite down in the hair follicle. Dips are usually preceded by a medicated shampoo to fight infection. The Mitaban is packaged in individual dosing vials of concentrate which is diluted in water just prior to applying to the patient. Side affects of Mitaban can be encountered, especially in small dogs, including sedation, decrease in body temperature, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment with an antidote, yohimbine, can be used to decrease the severity of some side effects. Dips are usually applied either weekly or every two weeks according to the veterinarian's prescription. We generally recommend that dips be applied by grooming technicians in the veterinarian's hospital.

If no severe side affects are seen, treatment will be continued until repeated skin scrapes reveal no mange mites (typically 6 to 9 treatments) and for one more month after that. Scrapings will be performed every 2 to 4 weeks to evaluate response to treatment. Occasionally, another form of amitraz (Taktic®) is chosen because of lack of availability of Mitaban (but it is not an approved formulation). Different dilution instructions are required for Taktic.

Ivermectin or Milbemycin Treatment: Some dogs are very sensitive to amitraz and others do not respond even after many months of therapy. For these dogs, veterinary dermatologists often turn to extra-label use of oral parasiticides that can be used for generalized demodicosis. Ivermectin is available as a cattle worming agent (Ivomec® and generics) and milbemycin is available as a heartworm preventive pill (Interceptor®) for dogs. At very high daily dosages, these can be used to treat generalized demodicosis successfully in a majority of cases.

NOTE: Some Collies and other English breed herding dogs such as Australian shepherds, Border collies, Shelties, and Old English Sheepdogs have a nervous system sensitivity to high dose ivermectin and should not be treated with this drug except in unusual circumstances under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, who will build up to the needed dose very slowly. For mixed breed dogs of unknown lineage, the ivermectin rule is "White feet, don't treat!"

Neutering

At our hospital, our policy is that all generalized demodicosis patients be neutered as soon as their disease is under control. This is in the best interest for your dog since stress (breeding, heat cycles) can cause recurrence of the disease. This policy is intended to reduce the incidence of this hereditary disease in purebred dogs.

Animals with localized demodicosis have a good prognosis with proper care. As the severity of the disease increases, the prognosis worsens. Some dogs with generalized mange must have regular treatment for the rest of their lives while others may be cured after a variable number of months of treatment.

In all cases it is important to keep your pet as healthy and stress free as possible including a good nutritional diet, regular checkups, routine deworming and heartworm prevention.

Treatment For Your Pet

(your veterinarian will provide specific details)

1) - Amitraz therapy:
Medicated shampoo ____ to be used the day before the MitabanR dip is scheduled.
No bathing at any other time is allowed.
MitabanR dip: ____ in hospital; ____ at home. Dip every ______ days. Please make appointment for a drop-off for the day for in hospital dips. If dipping at your home or your local veterinarian's clinic, please make a recheck appointment at LSU after _____ dips.
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOG TO BECOME WET IN-BETWEEN DIPPINGS. Please call if any side effects from the dip are seen.

2) - Ivermectin therapy:
Give _____mls of liquid ivermectin (Ivomec®) by mouth once a day. It may be mixed with soft food or a treat, but be sure the entire dose is ingested. Skin scrapes are scheduled once a month in a drop-off morning appointment. Please make a recheck appointment for skin scrapes on ______________________. Ivermectin may cause neurological side effects in some dogs: wobbly gait, disorientation, change of personality, and occasionally vomiting. If you see any of these problems, discontinue the drug and call us the next business day. You should discontinue using monthly heartworm medications throughout your dog's ivermectin therapy for demodex.

3) - Milbemycin therapy:
Give _____ tablets (Interceptor®) daily with food. These may be disguised in soft food or treats, but be sure the entire dose is ingested. Skin scrapes are scheduled once a month in a drop-off morning appointment. Please make a recheck appointment for skin scrapes on ______________________. You should discontinue using monthly heartworm medications throughout your dog's milbemycin therapy for demodex.

4) - Antibiotics:
Give ______ caps/tabs ______ times a day for ______ weeks.
Drug: _____________ Strength: __________
Please call for a refill or if any side effects are seen.

Cat Rescued from Deli Wall

2009-03-17T09:26:00.003+05:30

Molly the cat spent her days with her owner, Peter Myers, at his British deli in New York City, Myers of Keswick. Most of the time, she enjoyed lounging around the dining area with the clientele—but one day in 2006, she got a little too curious, and crept into the basement, where she became stuck in a maze of beams and pipes. No one knew where she’d gone until she began to mew for help. By that point, she’d been stuck in the wall for 12 days.

Firefighters, animal rescue groups, police officers, and even a pet psychic all came to the deli to coax the cat out of the wall, but she refused to budge. Finally, two days later, volunteers drilled a hole in the wall, and discovered that her leg had become stuck in debris. When her rescuer, Kevin Clifford, got her out, “paws were flying everywhere; it took a little struggle to get her in a cage,” he said.

Fortunately, Molly survived the ordeal—though she probably hasn’t felt like venturing too far outside the deli since then.

The Dutch Horse Rescue

2009-03-17T09:21:00.002+05:30

We all hear so many sad stories of animal abuse—of pit bulls being forced to fight and kill one another; of pets left outside to suffer through the coldest and hottest of days; of dogs and cats left behind to die when their owners move; and of the millions of unwanted pets that are dumped at animal shelters, where they’re often euthanized before they can find new families.

Luckily, there are still many people who care enough about animals to go to extreme measures to save the life of an innocent creature.

The Dutch Horse Rescue

In November 2006, a ferocious storm stranded a herd of more than 100 horses on a tiny knoll in Marrum, the Netherlands. The animals were up to their knees in water, and by the third day they’d been stuck there, 18 of the horses had slipped off the small piece of dry land and drowned. It seemed likely that the rest of the herd would die as well—until rescuers launched a remarkable effort to save the horses, traveling in boats and on horseback to guide the stranded horses through the water-covered fields to safety. Watch the incredible video of the rescue effort here.

Monkeys That Floss With Human Hair Learn From Mom?

2009-03-15T09:47:00.002+05:30

Macaques living near a Buddhist shrine in Lopburi, Thailand, are known to pull out hair from visitors to use as floss.

Worshipers see the monkeys as divine servants, the researchers said, which helps explain why people let the macaques pull out their hair.

About 50 of these monkeys have been seen jerking strands of hair back and forth between their teeth. Similar behavior has been seen before using coconut fibers or twigs.

To find out how the macaques learn to floss, primatologist Nobuo Masataka at Kyoto University and his colleagues scattered 8-inch-long (20-centimeter-long) hairs from a wig throughout the shrine and videotaped the primates in action.

The researchers focused on seven female adult macaques, each with a one-year-old infant.

When the mothers sat face-to-face with their young, each bout of flossing took roughly twice as long as usual, and the mothers paused and repeated themselves about twice as often.

Markedly similar exaggeration of actions occurs in humans between mothers and children, Masataka said. Scientists have dubbed this teaching behavior motionese.

"These findings suggest education is a very ancient trait in the primate lineage," Masataka said. The last time humans shared an ancestor with macaques, according to genetic analysis, was roughly 25 million years ago.

Your Dogs Stools Reveal Clues

2009-03-15T09:28:00.002+05:30

Be watchful when your dog displays watery bowels. If the diarrhea in dogs is compounded with lack of appetite, and inactivity among several other symptoms, it may be caused by intestinal worms.
Dogs normally have high resistance for diseases, but they are highly susceptible to worm infestation. It is due to their nature in eating substances and handling body functions usually by mouth, tongue or teeth. And while it is literally impossible to safeguard your dogs into contracting intestinal worms, you can however be watchful for symptoms that appear whenever an infestation has taken place.

There are several kinds of worm infestation common to dogs. These are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Most worms are acquired from the ground when contact is made. For instance, when your dog plays on an open space, there might be a patch in the ground that harbors worm eggs which might stick to a dogs fur, which then he licks thus acquiring the worm. Dogs also usually sniff at fecal matter of other dogs, and a transition of worms can take place.

Roundworms are the most annoying worm infestation in dogs. As eggs, they can be passed from mother to pups, for instance and mature in the pup’s intestines. Due to weaker constitution, the pups could never fight off these invaders and usually an infected pup will succumb to higher stages of infestation, where roundworms will begin invading other parts of the body, eating tissues while the body is still alive.

Hookworms are another cause for diarrhea in dogs, especially if the bowels include blood in it. Hookworms attached themselves on the intestine of the host’s body, sucking out blood. Hookworms, in smaller concentration, may be asymptomatic but larger concentration could result in a sickly, severely anemic dog that gets weak easily, despite voracious feeding remains frail.

Tapeworms may be the only most visible worm infestation of dogs. While they might cause diarrhea in dogs, the best proof would be the visible segments of the tapeworm in the fecal matter, and also of the hind quarters of the dog, usually attaching to the furs.

Another cause for diarrhea in dogs could be poisoning, though it has lesser occurrence since dogs normally won’t eat anything that smell of substances dangerous to them. These substances include chocolate (cocoa), onions, grapes, some types of nuts (macadamia nut) and raisins. The onions usually are swallowed accidentally since it accompanies most food and sometimes used as powder. That makes the reason of feeding exclusive dog feed to dogs a more optimum choice than feeding it with what’s left of the tables.

Animal Actors: Unpaid and Abused

2009-03-11T08:16:00.000+05:30

Animals used in movies and television programmes are often treated as little more than props, and many suffer terribly behind the scenes.

There have been numerous cases of animals being severely beaten during filmmaking, and others have suffered serious injuries or even death. For example, elephants have been burned while trying to escape from staged fires. A horse was seriously injured during the shooting of Bhola Bhala after being deliberately tripped. The dog Jaani, of Parivaar fame, was killed during the filming of a glass-breaking stunt on a South Indian movie set. Filmmakers stitched the blind tiger Uma Devi’s mouth shut during the shooting of Insaaf Kaun Karega. In a similar incident, animal activists convinced the Central Board of Film Certification to censor parts of the film Betaaj Badshah after learning that a leopard’s mouth had been sewn shut. Animals featured in advertisements fare no better: A television commercial for Siyaram’s fabrics depicted a cockfight, despite the fact that cockfights are illegal in India.

Behind the scenes, animal actors are commonly corralled or caged in unfamiliar settings, exposed to all extremes of weather, and forced to interact with other animals who are not part of their herd or family, which causes hormonal disturbances and mental anguish. The manner in which animals are rounded up, transported from one location to the next and confined on the set can be upsetting, both physically and mentally.

If you see a movie or television programme that includes scenes containing possible animal abuse, speak out: Write letters of complaint to the production company or TV station. Ask companies that use animals in their advertising to switch to inanimate ‘props’.

Massage therapy for animals

2009-03-06T10:15:00.003+05:30

Like you, your dog could probably benefit from a good massage. In fact, canine massage is considered one of the best things you can do to bond with your dog. Massage therapy can help with behavior problems and help your dog feel better. Plus, it's fun to do.

Massage can be simple or complex. At its simplest, massage is really just rubbing the dog gently all over his body. It helps with circulation and any muscle aches the dog may have. Plus, it forces you to notice what is going on with your dog health wise. As you touch the dog, look for any problems, such as burrs, parasites, cuts, scrapes, bumps or mats in the fur.

To massage your dog, have him lie down on the floor. Start at the head and rub the dog gently, moving down the dog to the feet and tail. Be gentle and talk quietly to let the dog know you aren't doing anything weird. If you have a high-energy dog or a dog that isn't used to being touched very much, you may have to start with short sessions.
If your dog has behavior problems, you may want to look into more specialized massage techniques. Tellington Touch or TTouch (http://www.tellingtonttouch.com) is a specific massage system that was developed by Linda Tellington Jones and is designed to help reduce stress and tension. Originally, TTouch was used on horses, but it benefits other animals as well. Unlike traditional massage, with TTouch you make small circles with your fingertips in a clockwise motion. Because it is so subtle, even nervous dogs start to relax.

Although TTouch can sound a little bit "off the wall" as a solution to behavior problems, it does seem to help. being prepared for anesthesia. Doing the tiny TTouch circles did seem to relax them.

No matter what type of massage you decide to do, it's probably better than not massaging your dog at all. Dogs and humans both benefit from being touched. Massage can be a positive, fun way to improve the relationship you have with your dog.

A Caring Puma

2009-03-02T17:50:00.004+05:30

This is a true story of a puma
Daniel Olin was 11 years old when his parents moved to Edmonton in Canada. He liked his new school and made friends there, but then things at home started to change. His mum and dad began to argue and the arguments got worse and worse until one day, Daniel's mum left. With his father working long hours, Daniel felt very alone and very unhappy. He wanted to escape, to run away. And that's what he did.

Very early one bitterly cold morning when the snow was deep on the ground, he packed a bag with some clothes, his Walkman, some chocolate and a map of Canada and set off. He ran and ran until he could hardly breathe. His feet were heavy with the snow but he staggered on through deep snowdrifts, not even watching where he was going.

Then, disaster struck. A rock hidden by the deep snow caught his ankle and Daniel fell to the ground, crying in pain. He had broken the bone. And no one knew where he was to help him. He was bitterly cold and was starting to feel tired, but he knew that if he fell asleep in the snow, he would almost certainly die from the cold.

A spruce tree stirred ahead. From within the branches, a pair of yellow eyes watched Daniel. The puma had been stalking him. A puma is a powerful cat with claws that could shred Daniel into strips. But instead of moving in for the kill, the puma approached Daniel and lay across his chest and limbs. Daniel was too frightened to move, but soon the warmth of the animal reached Daniel and he began to feel better. From time to time, the puma pressed his muzzle against Daniel and rocked his head gently. Clearly, the puma knew that Daniel must not fall asleep. This animal should have been a real danger to Daniel and yet the boy began to feel safe.

They remained like that for several hours until Daniel and the puma heard voices. The rescue team had found them.

This makes me wonder aren't animals better than humans. I agree that there may be many cases of animal attacks and so on but let us not forget to remember incidents as these in which we owe our lives to these mute creatures. Let us remember to appreciate them atleast once a while

Zoos in India......A place for amuse or abuse?

2009-02-07T23:05:00.003+05:30

Zoos in itself are horrendous places for animals and we make them even worse and this is how. Every zoo has a sign board about rules for visitors among which one prominent rule is not to tease or feed the animals .But there are lots of people who don’t even bother to read the rules and think animals have no rights at all. Then there are those who know the rules but don’t care about them. These are the few accidents that have happened over the years due to such inhuman visitors :-
# Few years ago, a hippopotamus had died after swallowing a shoe thrown at him at the Alipore Zoo.
# On an inspection of the Byculla Zoo by the Plant & Animals Welfare Society, the society found that visitors were openly feeding the ducks, monkeys & even crocodiles and were banging the glass cases of the snake enclosures & literally teasing snakes. For the full report click here
# Late in the 1990s, a tiger, Shiva, mauled a drunken visitor who crossed the ditch separating the enclosure from the deck and tried to garland the tiger. The tiger, at first frightened, struck the young man with a blow at which he fell unconscious. Shiva then bit the man who later died in hospital.
# At the Alipore Zoo in Calcutta some years ago, three endangered giant Al Debra tortoises were killed after visitors repeatedly pelted them with stones to see if they were alive. The stones cut through the shells, leaving open wounds that turned septic and finally lead to death.
# Recently a chimpanzee at the Alipore Zoo hurled a stone on the visitors after being irritated by them and injured a woman.
One must understand that a zoo is not a natural habitat for the animals. And Indian zoos are in much more pitiable conditions than their foreign counterparts. Vijay Jung Thapa rightly says in his article on Indian zoos that
The cardinal principle of any modern zoo is to serve the needs of the creatures it exhibits. But zoos in India do just the opposite; they serve the needs of the visitors. The Indian zoos suffer from congenital problems that they’ve found hard to shake off. They are run by unqualified and ignorant staff. They run on tight budgets, leading to food-shortage for animals. They are poorly designed, with no understanding of animal behaviour.
Insensitive visitors just add to the misery of the animals. Among all these existing deplorable conditions, the least we require is our future generation to grow up to be so heartless and uncaring for the mute living beings.

please learn and teach your children that animals have feelings too they are not things they are just like us with the only difference that they are much better than us. Just imagine ourselves being in a prison and being mocked at and thrown stones at, atleast we can protest these poor creatures cannot do even that

And a word to parents pls do not take your kids on visits to the zoo, because the less the people to see animals the less the number of animals will be kept captive and hence at least so much less misery. Every person counts. This is the least that we can do. Please join my effort.Pls pass on my message.Let us live atleast up to our name...HUMANS....thats what we are ...or are we?

MAN-ANIMAL BOND

2009-02-04T09:34:00.003+05:30

Elephant gets a new lease of life

This is a story of the bond between elephant and man. Their amazing attachment became 28 years ago at Paravur,Kerala. It was in 1977 that Ashokan (the elephant) was offered to Mahadevar Temple when 40 people bought the 12 year old elephant for Rs 41,001 in the fulfillment of a vow.As they grew up, between Biju the then 10 year old Mahout and Ashokan developed a strong bond. As an adult Ashokan was not a cool elephant, he had caused many accidents. Even at the height of rage , the tusker used to calm down if Mr. Biju issues a command. One day the temple authorities signed a deal to send Ashokan to work at a timber depot in Karnataka. There, something had gone wrong between Mr.Biju which compelled him to return. Then Ashokan fell into bad times. Food was poor and soon he went into musth. Tethering him to a tree the first mahout returned. The tusker went starving and was always in rage. When the owners were informed of the condition of Biju and a close friend rushed to the tusker's rescue. The tightening shackle had caused a deep wound in his right leg. He was soon brought to Paravoor. After year long treatment and recovery at a cost of Rs 6 lakhs, the temple authorities sold him to a timber depot and Biju lost his job. He then went to Dubai but whenever on leave he along with his friend used to go and visit Ashokan.
The tusker would immediately recognize the two. But Biju wanted to relieve Ashokan from work. So, he saved up money and bought him for 10 lakhs in May 2008.
This is the story of Ashokan and Biju. Elephants are peaceful creatures but there are many incidents of elephant torture at the hands of their mahouts and owners and then there are people like Biju. Please raise your voice against animal torture and if u see any incidents of the sort pls let me know on katherinesaju9@gmail.com or pls contact Dr. Gigin on 9847335759

Sray pups and kittens available for adoption

2009-01-31T15:49:00.003+05:30

PLease give these little helpless animals a home. Pls contact Dr Gigin at 9847335759 (Kerala number) if you would like to adopt a pup or kitten. Please give these little things a little place in your hearts and homes

PLEASE HELP FIND LOST PUP......

2009-01-24T22:12:00.002+05:30

A Great Dane Pup(3 months old), Brindle colour with black stripes has been lost from :Sreepadam' Padom Road, Elamakkara,Kochi,Kerala
The dog has congenital disease and requires medical attention, pls help find this missing pup.
Anyone who finds this pup pls contact 9995802904
Pls cross post,tell ur friends, anyone who can help, pls..pass on the message.........