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Glow-In-The-Dark Cats Provide Insight to AIDS Research

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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1

A special group of cats have helped researchers make significant strides in AIDS research, due to their ability to glow in the dark.  Yes, you read that right, these glow in the dark cats were specially engineered by a Mayo Clinic team to produce a protein that helps their bodies resist the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which causes AIDS in cats.  Because FIV is so similar to HIV in humans, scientists consider the findings to be a great leap in the future of protecting humans and preventing HIV. Details of this extraordinary research included a team of American and Japanese scientists from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., and Yamaguchi University injecting an antiviral gene from a rhesus macaque monkey into the cats, as well as one that produces the fluorescent protein GFP, which allows them to glow in the dark.  The infection fighting proteins from the monkey are able to fight HIV and ...

How to Litter Train Kittens

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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0

Kittens are born with certain instincts, but it will always be in your best interest to help them out with litter training.  Training them properly from the beginning will teach them the proper place to go to the bathroom, avoiding any accidents that could result from lack of training.  So how do you train a kitten to use the litter box? Note: As a general rule, it is important to know that even if you are planning on your kitten being an outdoor cat, you must first train them to use a litter box as they will need to be kept indoors for the first two to three weeks of life, or until they have had all of their vaccinations. Choose the litter box and type of litter The first step in preparing to litter train your new kitten is to choose the appropriate litter box and type of litter.  The litter box should be ...

Top 5 Mistakes Pet Owners Make

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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1

Having a healthy, well-trained, lovable pet is every pet owners goal when the decision is made to make a dog or cat a member of the family.  Did you know there are quite a few mistakes that pet owners make that can interfere with their health and desired lifestyle?  Here are 10 common mistakes that pet owners should avoid. 5. Not Pet-Proofing Your Home No matter the age of the pet, it is important to make sure you are providing a safe environment for them, including things like putting dangerous house plants out of reach and keeping their food in tight containers.  When it comes to cats, keep the home pet-friendly by making sure the litter box has a specific place so the cat knows where its bathroom is.  With dogs, they should have a specific bed or comfortable spot they can call their own. 4. Lack of Exercise and Mental Stimulation Again, ...

8 Ways to Tailgate Safely with Your Dog

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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1

Now that football season has officially started, people all over the nation will be tailgating with friends, family, and hopefully man's best friend!  It is important to keep in mind that not all places are pet friendly, so before you even begin planning to take your dog, double check that it is ok to do so.  Tailgating has become one of America's favorite pastimes, so why not be able to spend it with the WHOLE family? Whether you are attending someone else's tailgate party, planning your own, going to be at a college campus or major stadium, here are 10 tips to make it dog-friendly. 1. Verify a Dog-Friendly Area - I mentioned this already, but it would make for a terrible start to a tailgating party to show up with your dog and then see the sign that says "No Dogs Allowed".  Depending on where you are tailgating, most likely there is a ...

Results Are In: Long Term Health Impacts of Search and Rescue Dogs From 9/11

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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14

It has been just about ten years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but none of the effects have been forgotten.  Since the tragedy, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has been conducting a study to measure the long term health impacts on the 95 search and rescue dogs deployed to provide their help.  The results of the Medical Surveillance Study are in and are surprisingly uplifting! While many of the human rescuers sent to the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Staten Island landfills have developed respiratory health problems during the course of the decade, the search and rescue dogs did not show any signs of problems with their lungs or sinuses when compared to the control group of non-deployed search and rescue dogs. Dr. Cynthia Otto, DVM, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine associate professor of critical care and principal investigator of the ...

Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention for Dental Disease in Pets

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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1

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that by age 2, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats will have some form of dental disease if the proper precautions are not taken to avoid the problem.  Dental disease was the most common problem found among the 2.2 million dogs and 450,000 cats treated at Banfield Pet Hospitals in 2010, according to the group's "State of Pet Health 2011 Report."  With 770 hospitals in 43 states, Banfield is the world's largest general vet practice. Infections in the mouths of dogs and cats have been linked to other serious conditions including diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, as well as other life threatening issues.  Gum disease, dental calculus, abscesses, as well as loose and missing teeth is the most common reason throughout the United States for taking your pet to see his veterinarian. Symptoms There are quite a few ways to tell if your ...

9 Tips to Keep Pets Safe During Labor Day Weekend Fun

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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1

Everyone looks forward to an extended weekend, no matter what the reason, but Labor Day weekend is especially anticipated because of the planned events, food, fun, that extra day off, and don't forget about the possibility of fireworks!  While the festivities are something pet owners can't wait for, the pets feel entirely differently about the whole situation.  Don't get me wrong, dogs especially will enjoy being taken to those end of summer barbeque's, but it's your job as the owner to make sure they don't eat harmful things.  While these dogs may like the change of scenery, keep in mind that when it comes time for the fireworks, pets should be put in a safe environment, far away from the noise and commotion. Pets at Parties Dogs will surely love to be taken to the parties that are in abundance over Labor Day weekend, however there are some things to keep in mind when letting them join in the ...

Prevent Pets From Being Stolen; an Increasing Crime

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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12

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has compiled statistics that bring an unsettling feeling to pet owner's across the nation.  Last year there were over 224 pets stolen, a number that was up 32 percent over the year before, according to the AKC Companion Animal Recovery National Pet Theft Database.  Pet owners try to do everything they can to keep their pet out of harm's way, from installing electric fences and keeping them on a leash, to taking health precautions and maintaining check-ups at the vet, that it's hard to believe that there are people out there who would commit such a crime. Why would someone possibly want to steal your dog or cat?  Well there are a few reasons why your family pets are becoming the victim of theft. -The most common reason is sell them, especially purebred dogs. -To give them away as gifts, simply so the thief doesn't have to buy the pet themselves. -To hold them ...

Ferrets Make Perfect Pets for Cat and Dog Lovers

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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3

Dogs and cats are the number one and two most popular pet choices, whether you are adopting for yourself, your family, apartment lifestyle, or farm environment, but what if you love them both so much you can't decide which to choose?  While cats are more easily taken care of in terms of the attention they need and dogs bring that fulfillment of a companion, it can be hard to choose which is right for you. If this sounds like you, why not consider making a ferret part of your family?  Ferrets are the perfect combination of cat cleanliness and dog friendliness, and make for a fun and unique companion.  Like cats, one of the best things about ferrets is that they are easily trained to use a litter box, eliminating the need to take them outside every few hours.  Ferrets are generally clean like cats, and they also can be found sleeping...a lot! On the other hand, ferrets ...

Treating Separation Anxiety in Puppies

By
Lori Thomas Dickert
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3

It can be heartbreaking to watch your puppy become anxious and upset when he knows you are leaving him.  Simply put, your puppy misses you.  From barking and whining to chewing and other destructive behavior, puppies who are dealing with separation anxiety will act out in ways that can lead to serious problems.  Separation anxiety is common in puppies that were purchased at pet stores or adopted from shelters, but there are ways to help relieve this problem and make for a happy, calmer puppy when he has to stay home! What to do about it: Treating separation anxiety is best accomplished when you start early and be consistent.  Helping your puppy to understand that everything is okay when you leave is the first step.  Start by providing your puppy with a comfortable place to lay down when you are not home.  A dog bed that he is familiar with or even a ...

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