Robert Zakar gives back to community
Is There A Way To Stop Biden's Dog From Biting People?
Call this a dog-bites-almost-everyone story.
President Biden's dog Commander is in the doghouse this week after new reports detailed 10 incidents in which the German shepherd bit Secret Service agents (including one that required a hospital visit) or exhibited "aggressive behavior" between October 2022 and January 2023.
Erin Hecht says it might not entirely be Commander's fault. Hecht, an assistant professor in Harvard's Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, spearheads "The Canine Brains Project" to help us to better understand why dogs are the way they are. She said he might just be triggered by a number of stressors at the White House (by all accounts, a pretty stressful place).
"Dogs are individuals, like people. And like people, they have different reasons for responding aggressively or fearfully in different circumstances," said Hecht, whose research focuses in part on neural and behavioral variation in domestic canine breeds. She added that, "prior traumatic experiences can influence their behavior later in life."
Commander arrived at the White House in 2021 after the Bidens sent another German shepherd, Major, who was a rescue and also had problems with biting and aggression, to live in a quieter environment with family friends.
Hecht said most dogs bite out of fear, not anger, and that dogs are hardwired to avoid biting their humans.
"As a species, their brains are wired to trust us and partner with us," she said. But, like people, fear can give them a short fuse, and push them to act out.
"Other dogs," she added, "behave aggressively out of a need to defend a resource, like food, a toy, or a favorite person. Understanding an individual dog's profile is important for management and treatment."
Hecht said in addition to knowing what triggers a dog may have, most dogs also show physical warning signs before biting. To prevent incidents, she said, dog owners should learn the signs to keep themselves and others safe.
"Most dogs will communicate that they feel threatened before they bite through body language like freezing, turning away, and lip-licking."
For those dealing with stubborn behavioral issues, such as the Bidens, Hecht said the owner should have their dog evaluated by a professional to rule out underlying medical issues, identify situational and motivational triggers, and work out a management plan.
"Depending on the dog, that plan might include medical treatment, training strategies, adjusting the dog's environment, adjusting the behavior of the people in the environment, or choosing to move the dog to a different environment," she said. "A veterinarian is a good first step and can refer you to other resources and professionals."
In the case of Commander, Hecht said it's a good example of dog reactivity and aggression, exemplifying how much we still don't know.
"This news story is a high-profile reminder of an issue that affects the lives of many dogs and humans in this country every day," she said. "Despite this, science still doesn't know very much about the biology of canine aggression."
Provided by Harvard Gazette
This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.Edu.
Citation: Is there a way to stop Biden's dog from biting people? (2023, July 31) retrieved 25 August 2023 from https://phys.Org/news/2023-07-biden-dog-people.Html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
How To Stop Bug Bites From Itching
Itching, stinging, and swelling really take the fun out of being outdoors and opening windows in the summer. Most bug bites (usually from mosquitoes) stop itching after a day or two. Others can leave you or your child with bacterial infections, parasites, or viruses.
"During the summer we provide insects more opportunity to bite," says pediatric allergist and immunologist Joel Brooks, MPH, DO, "and the number of reported cases of disease from mosquito, tick, and flea bites has more than tripled in recent years according to the CDC."
Most bug bites do not cause problems and will resolve on their own, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to avoid them. Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas cause the most bug bites—and carry diseases like West Nile and Lyme disease, which can be serious—so it's worth trying to avoid bug bites as much as possible.
We asked Brooks to tell us everything we should know about bugs and their bites.
Why do bug bites itch?When bugs bite, they inject saliva, triggering your body to react. Your immune system fights substances in the bug saliva with a variety of mediators, such as histamine, which causes swelling, inflammation, and itchiness.
If you scratch a bite, it becomes more inflamed, causing more itch, and you increase the potential for infection.
What does a bug bite say about your immune system?Everyone thinks their immune system is off when they see something they have not experienced before: a larger bump, a redder lump, an itchier itch, a stingier sting. But most of the time, any local reaction to a bug bite says you're functioning normally. It's an appropriate response.
If you have a systemic reaction—symptoms beyond the site of the bite—your body is mounting a bigger immune response. Examples include an allergic reaction or infection that can be life-threatening.
What's a sign a bug bite is something more serious?As long as the reaction stays localized—around the bite—it's usually not serious. It's normal for a bite or sting to swell and itch, which can last up to 48 hours, getting slightly better over time.
If the bite is getting worse after 24 hours, call your doctor and take photos to record the changes.
If you have reactions off-site—you were bit on the elbow, but your leg is swelling; you have hives everywhere; you are coughing, dizzy, nauseated, or vomiting; you have diarrhea or trouble breathing; or you fainted immediately or shortly after the bite or sting—it's time to call 911.
Why do some people get bit more than other people?You may have heard that certain blood types are more appealing than others to insects, but the evidence is not there. We do know there is a genetic component and that certain people secrete chemical signals that insects are more attracted to
We also know mosquitos are attracted to people who exhale more carbon dioxide, have a higher body temperature, and have a limited variety of bacteria on their skin.
Insects are also attracted to people who are pregnant (possibly because they exhale more carbon dioxide and have a higher body temperature), certain colors of clothing, and beer.
Is it OK to scratch a bug bite?No. When you scratch an itchy bite you cause more inflammation and release more histamine—which is what caused the itch in the first place. So, scratching causes the bite to become more and more itchy and the swelling to become larger and larger.
Also, when you scratch, you're breaking down your skin. Scratching creates greater risk for developing skin infections and abscesses that cause systemic symptoms: fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. An infection can last for days or longer and can be very serious without treatment.
When you see a bite or feel itchiness, it is best to treat the bite, and do not scratch.
How do you stop bug bites from itching?The best way to stop feeling itchy is to not get bitten. Wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts is not everyone's favorite thing to do during the summer, but shorts and short sleeves put you at higher risk of bites and stings. Prevention is No. 1:
Bites and stings can look like many things and come in many shapes and sizes. As allergists we break it down by the offender to determine what is a concern:
MosquitosMosquito bites appear as flesh, pink, or red-colored bumps on the skin and range in size from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. These bumps are usually harmless; the swelling and itch can last for a couple of days. Sometimes these bites cause local inflammatory reactions that appear as a large area of swelling, heat, redness, and itching/pain, which can mimic a skin infection. Unfortunately, mosquitos can also transmit harmful infections such as the West Nile virus, malaria, and Zika virus.
Bees/Wasps/HornetsBee, wasp, and hornet stings can look like mosquito bites in size and shape, but often occur with sharp pain and swelling that usually fade into a dull ache after minutes to hours. Unlike bees, wasps and hornets are capable of stinging multiple times since they do not lose their stinger during the process. Some people are allergic to the venom in wasp and hornet stings, which can lead to severe, life-threatening, reactions. What to watch for: Yellowjackets are wasps that nest underground; hornets have cone-shaped nests in trees.
SpidersMost spider bites only cause minor symptoms and appear as red bumps that can be itchy or painful with localized swelling. They may be scattered on different areas of the body. However, spider bites are not as common as people think.
The two most dangerous spider species in New York are the black widow and the brown recluse. Bites from these spiders are painful and they sometimes blister, causing areas of the skin to die off. They can also lead to systemic symptoms such as muscle pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting, fevers, high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and, in rare cases, death.
TicksTicks are large, blood-feeding insects that are responsible for the transmission of a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is not always possible to distinguish the initial bite from other insect bites. Rashes that spread across the body and other systemic symptoms such as fevers and joint pain develop several days later. Lyme disease is famous for the "bulls-eye rash," but it is not always present!
Bed BugsBites appear as small, red papules or bumps that last for several days. They are sometimes clustered or arranged in a line called "breakfast, lunch, and dinner." These bites are very itchy!
ScabiesScabies is caused by mites that burrow into the skin, which results in a rash of small bumps and papules, often with scaling between fingers and toes, and intense itching. Scabies is very contagious with direct, skin-to-skin contact, including shaking hands and hugging.
Citation: How to stop bug bites from itching (2023, August 9) retrieved 25 August 2023 from https://medicalxpress.Com/news/2023-08-bug.Html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Want To Get Your Puppy To Stop Biting? Try This Trainer's Genius Solution
If you're anything like most pet parents, trying to figure out how to stop a puppy biting, mouthing or nipping is likely high on your priority list. And we can't say we blame you!
Puppies explore the world with their mouths, so this is typically very normal behavior. It's also common during the puppy teething phase when your little one is looking for ways to ease pain and discomfort.
That being said, being mouthed or nipped constantly is enough to give any dog owner a serious case of the puppy blues. Thankfully, there is a solution.
In a video shared to Instagram, expert trainer Adam Spivey, who is also the founder of Southend Dog Training, says the answer is simple — put your puppy down for a nap. To find out more, you can check out the clip below, or read on for a summary of what Spivey has to say...
"Puppies turn into little land sharks when they're over tired," explains Spivey. "If we don't recognize this, it will get worse and worse."
In the clip, Spivey can be seen sat on the couch with a puppy he's just been training. They've had a super productive training session, but all of a sudden the puppy has started getting silly and biting — according to Spivey, that's because he's tired.
The solution is to pop the puppy in a crate. "The puppy needs a nap, that's why it's biting," he explains.
"Lack of sleep leads to puppy biting and more severe behavior issues down the road, such as separation anxiety, destructive behavior, obsessive barking, shadow chasing, and accidents in the house, to name a few."
When your puppy starts to bite, mouth, or nip, it's nap time. This is important as it will help your little one learn limits and how to switch off and sleep.
If you require additional support with your puppy, it's always worth reaching out to a professional trainer or behaviorist who will be able to help you navigate that first year of your fur friend's life.
View comments
Comments
Post a Comment