Rat Bite Disease

Working dog breeds are not for the faint of heart for three major reasons. First of all, they're enormous dogs. These canines have spent centuries hauling heavy carts for trade workers, standing alongside soldiers in wartime and keeping watch over cows and sheep, among other immensely important jobs. Naturally they're going to be big and strong! Second, working dog breeds are known for their headstrong personalities. Many tend to make their own decisions and do what they believe is right. This brings us to reason number three: their undying loyalty. When presented with danger, working dog breeds will defend their people and their turf no matter what. This means making split second decisions based on the information at hand. The result is a collection of pups who love deeply, don't take kindly to strangers (for the most part) and excel at making you feel safe. Owning a working dog breed Technically, you'll never own a working dog breed. These animals see the...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] A rattlesnake bites your dog on a California hike. Here's what to do (and not do) next    Sacramento Bee

Cat bites can make deep puncture wounds that are hard to clean. The nature of these wounds allows bacteria or other organisms to become trapped deeper in the skin. Due to this, and the fact that cats carry many types of bacteria in their mouths, a bite can lead to infection. In the United States, cat and dog bites make up 1% of all emergency room visits. Cat bites are responsible for up 3–15% of these cases. This article has more information on cat bites, safety tips, first aid, and when to seek medical attention. Cats can bite when they become spooked or scared. Cats carry a variety of pathogens in and on their bodies. In some cases, cat bites may lead to mild to severe infections. Though the chance of infection can vary, general estimates of infection rates of cat bites range from 20% to 80%. Some estimates indicate that up to 50% of children bitten by a cat will develop an infection. As a result, a person should watch for signs of infection if a cat bites them. In addition to an in...

Loading Something is loading. Bark collars are designed to help break excessive barking habits. We spoke with veterinary behaviorist Katherine Houpt, a professor at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, to better understand how these collars work. It's important to understand that barking is a natural way that dogs communicate with each other and with humans. Training your dog to stop barking by identifying the root of the behavior...

Have you ever wondered: why does my dog lick my feet? For some owners, this behavior may seem odd. And for those with ticklish feet, it can be downright unpleasant, especially if your pup's licking becomes a regular occurrence. But licking is a perfectly normal behavior for dogs. They lick to communicate and to take in their surroundings. Your dog has an additional sensory organ, called the Jacobson's organ, which connects his nasal cavity to the roof of his mouth. This organ allows him to taste and smell at the same time, so he's able to take in even more information. Bitches lick their pups to communicate affection and to provide necessary care. Licking can also be used to express a wider range of emotions in dogs, including submission and anxiety. For some dogs, licking even takes on a compulsive nature. Excessive licking is a bit like biting your nails and can be very irritating for owners. So, Why Feet? Sweaty, stinky feet are full of biological information, su...

At a time when several new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are being reported in poultry all over Europe, one needs to focus on building stronger immunity in livestock. Pullet vaccination is essential for supporting their health and help them spread protective antibodies to the flocks. Many animal conditions require routine programmes against highly infectious disorders, such as Gumboro disease, which responds to no alternative treatment. Routine immunization must be adapted regionally to each disease and production sectors by veterinarians who are the best suited professionals to advise on which vaccinations to perform, proper methods and correct timing. Wherever hand injection applies, high-end syringes should be selected, rather than low-cost models, wrongly perceived as a bargain. Precision instruments guarantee that all chickens receive the prescribed dose for optimal efficiency and pharma cost saving control. Ergonomic design providing for fatigue-free op...

Your skin can serve as a window to your health—especially when it's flaring up with abnormal symptoms. Now, experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are warning the public about a serious but preventable condition which causes blisters on the skin in one location in particular. Their experts say that if you notice a blister in this spot, you should request a blood test to be screened for a potentially life-threatening disease which affects roughly 12,000 people per year, hospitalizing 500. Read on to find out what to look for, and to learn whether you're at high risk of complications. RELATED: If You Notice This on Your Skin, Get Your Kidneys Checked, Experts Warn. Shutterstock/Maria Sivtseva Even if your cat is your closest companion, they may still bite or scratch for a wide range of reasons. As natural predators, many cats attack instinctively when they are afraid, showing domina...