Rat Bite Disease

TOPEKA, KAN. — Hill's Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, announced a relaunch of its Prescription Diet pet food line on Feb. 24. According to Colgate-Palmolive, the relaunch will focus on new formulations, packaging redesigns and stronger veterinary outreach. "What we're most proud about is that we've been true to what the brand really represents, which is that science is the way to lead to healthier lives for pets," said Noel Wallace, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Colgate-Palmolive at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York 2022 Virtual Conference. "…While the pet food category is obviously benefiting from underlying trends like the humanization of pets and premiumization, we believe it is also continuing to swing back toward science and expertise, and Hill's is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this trend." Although Wallace didn't address specific formulation changes to Hill's Prescription Diet, th

DETROIT – A Detroit mother is speaking out about the alarming call she got from her child's school when dogs attacked children on the playground during recess . The incident happened Thursday (April 28) at Bates Academy on Detroit's west side. The dogs were in a field next to the school when children were out for recess. The children started playing with the dogs and the adults told the children to get away. Students ran into the building and the dogs gave chase, following them into the school and attacking two girls. The school was put on lockdown as parents rushed to get their kids. Hunter said she started getting chaotic calls. "It felt like an active shooter situation because, you know, you're getting calls from your children and they're frantic," mother Andrea Hunter said. "What if that was an actual active shooter situation? And they were that loud, the teacher wasn't really calming them, doing a good job calming them down. They would have bee

5. Don't bring treats. Unless you want to start a feeding frenzy and potentially trigger a possessive dog's aggression, leave the treats in the car or save them for the walk home. 3 Commonly Asked Dog Park Questions Here are a few dog park etiquette questions that give many owners pause. Our experts weighed in with some very helpful insights. 1. Can I reprimand someone else's dog? When it comes to reprimanding someone else's dog for bad behavior, Reed encourages folks to respond with the best intentions of the dogs involved. If you feel comfortable speaking to the owner, go for it. Whenever possible, ask the pet parent how they prefer you handle something. For instance, some people use commands like "Stop," "Down," or "Wait." If you're not sure whose dog is misbehaving, Dr. Richter says, "It's best just to leave the scene and play with other dogs." 2. What do I do if my dog was bullied or attacked?

Do you think that ticks really have been weaponized? I'm only kind of kidding. But really, when I was a kid, they just weren't as bad as they are now. We literally used to live in waist-high grass when I was young. These days, it seems if I just take my dog out for a five minute walk through the yard so he can do some business, and I have to pull half a dozen between the two of us. To make matters worse, there are some 14 different species of ticks in Maine, but only some are out to get you. And even then, with some of the ones that aren't out to get you, they just look like gigantic mutant ticks that could gnaw your leg off if they felt like it. A lot of Mainers are quite aware of the difference, but if you don't... There's two main kinds of ticks you'll see typically. Deer ticks and dog ticks. You've probably already seen a bunch of deer ticks this spring, but I'm already seeing people on Reddit and Facebook who are talking about dog ticks. And if you&

With the rolling back of mask requirements and physical distancing, many people have been on a search for a new normal. But there is still reason to be cautious. The highly transmissible and contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant—dubbed "stealth" Omicron—is now the dominant strain in the United States, causing more than 85% of all COVID-19 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This has led to more questions. Based on the CDC's genomic surveillance, the BA.2 or stealth Omicron subvariant is responsible for most new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S. BA.2 is a subvariant of the original SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), along with BA.1.1 and BA.3. The BA.2 subvariant has been referred to as stealth Omicron because it contains genetic mutations that can make it harder to distinguish from the Delta variant using PCR tests compared to the original Omicron variant. That means that while the test can detect a BA.2

Mice and rats can spread disease through their saliva, feces, or urine. They also often host mites, fleas, and other parasites that can transmit diseases to people. Luckily, mice aren't aggressive and usually only bite people when they feel threatened or cornered. Unless you're handling them, you're very unlikely to get bitten. Mice bites usually aren't serious, but it's still a good idea to see a doctor if you get bitten. The main threat of rodent bites is the risk of infection. Mice carry bacteria and viruses that can lead to potentially lethal conditions. Let's take a look at what mice bites look like and the potential risks. Mice have strong front teeth that can break your skin if they bite you. Their bite can cause a sharp pinching sensation and draw blood. Usually, their bite causes a single puncture wound. You're most likely to get bitten by a mouse if you're handling it. However, in rare circumstances, a mouse may bite you if it feels threatened,

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Secret Service agents were outraged last year by the White House's attempt to downplay bite injuries caused by then-first dog Major — even trying to get President Biden to personally pay for a damaged coat, newly released documents show. Secret Service leaders also sought to keep attack details out of official paperwork — at one point rejecting an agent's "excessively detailed" account to avoid upsetting the first family — after Major bit agents on eight consecutive days. The records, released in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by Judicial Watch, show that attacks occurred both earlier and later than previously known. They also show internal discord at the Secret Service, which has been embroiled since last week in a bizarre infiltration scandal that involves at least four agents. White House press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged just one biting incident at a briefing on March 9, 2021, saying that o

Canine aggression is a stressful, unwanted behavior for owners and veterinarians alike. According to Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, aggression is utilized when an animal is attempting to change the outcome of a social encounter. Usually they do this by using threats to indicate potential harm should the encounter continue. During a lecture at our Fetch dvm360® conference, Horwitz delved into the various facets of canine aggression, including how to best understand and recognize dogs' motivations to help prevent clients from experiencing human-canine aggressive encounters. Classifying aggression Aggression is a threat or harmful action directed at 1 or more individuals. 1 Horwitz explained that the behavior can comprise vocalizations, facial expressions, body postures, inhibited attacks, and physically injurious attacks. Classifying and categorizing animal aggression can include: The victim or target The location where the aggression occurs The type of aggression (eg, offensive or de

The decision to euthanize your dog is never an easy one. Your dog is a beloved family member and it's incredibly difficult to say goodbye. But it's even more complicated and distressing when the reason for the euthanasia is based on your dog's behavior rather than their health. You might feel guilty and wonder how you let your dog down. But in rare situations, behavioral euthanasia is the only responsible and ethical decision. What is Behavioral Euthanasia? Behavioral euthanasia is the term used for humanely ending a dog's life because of severe behavioral issues. This is not usually related to physical health, and it's not about nuisance behavior like pulling on leash or jumping on guests. It's about aggression – a dog who could or has caused harm to people or other animals. Simply put, some dogs are euthanized because they are unsafe for life in our society. These dogs aren't necessarily snapping and growling all the time. In fact, they m

Cats are a wonderful addition to any household, with the pets providing warmth, love and a mischievous sense of fun. However, a less welcome trait is when felines attack the humans in their households, seemingly out of the blue. The good news is that by understanding the psychology of why kitties attempt to sink their teeth into our hands, you can help change this behavior. Zazie Todd, author of the upcoming book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy , reassures readers while is never nice when cats attack, "there's plenty you can do." She told Newsweek : "It involves paying close attention to your cat's body language so that you learn to recognize the signs before it happens, and it also helps to give your cat choices. "There are several things that could be going on if it seems that your cat is attacking you at random." Why does your cat bite you? Newsweek asked the experts about why your pet can occasionally cross the line between healthy inter

Case # 1 A 53-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain. His medical history included meningitis at 3 years old, amebiasis and alcohol consumption without cirrhosis. Physical examination at admission was remarkable for fever (40 °C core temperature), low blood pressure (88/55 mmHg), tachycardia (140 bpm), upper right abdominal pain, marbling and fulminant purpura with petechial bleeding and necrotic toes. Abdominal CT scan performed at admission was normal. The first laboratory results evidenced compensated metabolic acidosis (pH: 7.44; PaCO 2 : 24 mmHg; base excess: − 7 mmol/L) with hyperlactatemia (6.1 mmol/L), acute renal failure (serum creatinine: 149 µmol/L) and rhabdomyolysis (CK: 7600 UI/L), leukopenia (3.96 G/L) with lymphopenia (0.15 G/L), and thrombocytopenia (27 G/L) together with a low prothrombin ratio (48%), confirming a DIC. Blood culture

Dog walks are one of the great joys of having a four-legged friend, with the twice-daily routine a great way to exercise and bond with your pet. However, what can start as a quiet stroll through the local park can suddenly transform into a loud and frenzied hunt at the merest hint of a nearby squirrel. Dogs that hunt squirrels can be a real worry for both owners, other animals and people nearby trying to enjoy the great outdoors. It is therefore little wonder that these small animals are one of the trickiest training distractions. Why do dogs chase squirrels and is there anything you can do about it? Here's what the an expert had to say. Why Do Dogs Chase Squirrels? Dr. Mary Burch, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and American Kennel Club (AKC) Family Dog Director, suggests "several reasons" dogs are so captivated by squirrels. The most likely reason is your pet's innate prey drive. Certain dog breeds are wired with this predatory instinct, hailing back from whe