September 19, 2011
by thegreenwoodvet Leave a comment

Are Pets Good For Human Health? The Truth Is “Nobody Really Knows”

How often do you read about a study that says a pet is good for your health? Most of us would say fairly often. Apparently, only those that demonstrate health benefits hit the headlines, while others that either have no evidence or reveal some unpleasant data are ignored, researcher Howard Herzog revealed in the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Professor Herzog, from Western Carolina University Psychology Department, says that prior studies on the impact pets might have on longevity and health have produced a mishmash of conflicting results.

Herzog wrote:

“While pets are undoubtedly good for some people, there is presently insufficient evidence to support the contention that pet owners are healthier or happier or that they live longer (in comparison to those with no pets).

While some researchers have reported that positive effects accrue from interacting with animals, others have found that the health and happiness of pet owners is no better, and in some cases worse, than that of non-pet owners.” “

Herzog accepts that there have been several studies, like a 1980 one he cited which showed that pet owners are four times more likely to live for at least a year after a heart attack than others. However, he adds that studies with negative results tend either to be ignored, or simply do not reach the headlines.

Herzog explained:

“While the media abounds with stories extolling the health benefits of pets, studies in which pet ownership has been found to have no impact or even negative effects on human physical or mental health rarely make headlines.”

Herzog quoted a 2010 study which showed that people who owned a pet and had a heart attack were more likely to die within a year or suffer another heart attack, compared to petless people. He added that the study was not picked up by the media.

Another study apparently found that the blood pressure of elderly pet owners was no different from other people of the same age.

Pets bring with them diseases and allergies for humans, including skin mites, worms, salmonellosis, giardia and other parasites.

Some large scale studies performed in Europe, Australia and the USA did not appear to show any physical or psychological benefits associated with owning a pet.

Herzog stresses he is not anti-pets, he is a pet owner himself. He can see the benefits in specific cases, such as for children with autism. However, he believes humans need to approach studies on the benefits of pet ownership scientifically.

Until proper research is done and reported, whatever effect having a pet might have on humans will remain a hypothesis, and not an established fact, he wrote.

A study earlier this year, carried out by researchers from Miami University in Ohio, found that pet owners are generally fitter, have better self-esteem, are more conscientious and more socially communicative than people without pets. (Link to article)

A study by Michigan researchers found that dog owners had a 34% higher likelihood of attaining federal physical activity targets. (Link to article)

September 19, 2011
by thegreenwoodvet Leave a comment

The Scent Of Lung Cancer Recognized By Sniffer Dogs

Sniffer dogs could be used for the early detection of lung cancer, according to new research published in the European Respiratory Journal.

The study, carried out by researchers from Schillerhoehe Hospital in Germany, is the first to find that sniffer dogs can reliably detect lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the second most frequent form of cancer in men and women across Europe with over 340,000 deaths per year. It is also the most common cause of death from cancer worldwide.

The disease is not strongly associated with any symptoms and early detection is often by chance. Current methods of detection are unreliable and scientists have been working on using exhaled breath specimens from patients for future screening tests.

This method relies on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are linked to the presence of cancer. Although many different technological applications have been developed, this method is still difficult to apply in a clinical setting as patients aren’t allowed to smoke or eat before the test, sample analysis can take a long time and there is also a high risk of interference. Because of these reasons, no lung cancer-specific VOCs have yet been identified.

This new study aimed to assess whether sniffer dogs could be used to identify a VOC in the breath of patients. The researchers worked with 220 volunteers, including lung cancer patients, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and healthy volunteers. They used dogs that had been specifically trained.

The researchers carried out a number of tests to see if the dogs were able to reliably identify lung cancer compared with healthy volunteers, volunteers with COPD and whether the results were still found with the presence of tobacco.

The dogs successfully identified 71 samples with lung cancer out of a possible 100. They also correctly detected 372 samples that did not have lung cancer out of a possible 400.

The dogs could also detect lung cancer independently from COPD and tobacco smoke. These results confirm the presence of a stable marker for lung cancer that is independent of COPD and also detectable in the presence of tobacco smoke, food odours and drugs.

Author of the study, Thorsten Walles from Schillerhoehe Hospital, said: “In the breath of patients with lung cancer, there are likely to be different chemicals to normal breath samples and the dogs’ keen sense of smell can detect this difference at an early stage of the disease. Our results confirm the presence of a stable marker for lung cancer. This is a big step forward in the diagnosis of lung cancer, but we still need to precisely identify the compounds observed in the exhaled breath of patients. It is unfortunate that dogs cannot communicate the biochemistry of the scent of cancer!”

September 19, 2011
by thegreenwoodvet Leave a comment

Orangutan Will Have To Quit Smoking, Malaysian Official Says

Shirley, an orangutan, who used to be regularly given cigarettes by zoo visitors will have to quit because a Malaysian wildlife official said “smoking is not normal behavior for orangutans.” Shirley used to live in a state-run zoo in Johor, a state in southern Malaysia. She and several other animals were found to be living in poor conditions and are being re-housed in different zoos and wildlife centers around the country.

At the moment, Shirley is in quarantine in Melaka Zoo in a neighboring state. She will soon be sent to a wildlife center on Borneo island, officials have announced.

Ahmad Azhar Mohammed, director of Melaka Zoo, said in an interview with The Associated Press:

“I would say she is not addicted, but she might have formed a habit after mimicking human beings who were smoking around her.”

He stressed that the orangutan will not be getting any more cigarettes.

Zoo officials cannot report on her present state of health, they are still waiting for blood test results to come back. However, it appears Shirley has not displayed any of the signs and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, and her appetite is good.

Malaysian officials first heard about Shirley’s smoking when a British activist group – Nature Alert – informed them about an orangutan at Johor Zoo which would pick up lit cigarettes thrown to her by visitors.

Shirley lived in a pit-like enclosure and was described as sometimes looking drowsy. Malaysian officials were also told that in her old zoo she would become quite agitated after spending some time without a smoke. Some people noticed she used to be very moody.

Conditions of other animals at Johor zoo were also said to be poor. A tiger and baby elephant, which were both kept chained, have also been seized and are being housed elsewhere.

Shirley is about 20 years old. Captive orangutans can live up to 60 years. Nobody knows how long Shirley has been a smoker.

Apes include:

The great apes:
Chimpanzees (genus Pan)
Gorillas (genus Gorilla)
Orangutans (genus Pongo)
Lesser ape:
Gibbons (family Hylobiatidae)

September 7, 2011
by thegreenwoodvet Leave a comment

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has Osteoarthritis?

Knowing there may be something wrong is the first step to identify osteoarthritis (OA).

The best way to know if your dog is in pain is through constant observation. Watch how your dog looks, acts and “feels” doing his normal everyday activities. Sometimes it may be difficult to notice subtle changes, but it is the first step in determining if your dog may be suffering from osteoarthrits pain.

Watch our video to better understand what are considered healthy and unhealthy movements, and learn how to identify the potential signs and symptoms of osteoarthrits pain.

Click here to watch video

Slowing down because of “old age” is a myth

There are numerous signs, symptoms and signals your dog may show if he has osteoarthritis pain. Here are the most common signs of OA:

Reluctance to go up or down stairs
Difficulty jumping into the car or on furniture
Lagging behind or tiring easily during walks
Increased stiffness, particularly after resting
Limping after strenuous exercise
Difficulty rising, sitting or squatting to eliminate
Prefers lying to sitting or standing
Restlessness or insomnia
Whimpering, growling or snapping when touched
Loss of appetite

Keep in mind these warning signs and symptoms may come and go.

The OA Checklist

We’ve provided a handy, printable checklist [OA Checklist ] you can use to help spot the signs, symptoms and signals your dog may show if he has osteoarthritis pain.

September 2, 2011
by thegreenwoodvet Leave a comment

“Call My People”

Why are ID tags important?

According to the ASPCA website, approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized. Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos, or microchips.

The most common way to identify a pet is the standard pet ID tag. List the pet’s name, your name, contact number, and if the pet has any medical needs. My dog has a second ID tag that states, “On medication, please contact my owner immediately.” Some may put, “dog may have seizures” or other similar statements.
If your dog tends to knock ID tags off, try a higher quality ring to attach them to the collar or consider a nameplate that can be attached directly to the main part of the collar.
Another way would be to get a microchip implanted in your dog. Most local vets will scan a pet for free to see if they have an implanted chip.
Finally, be sure to inspect your pet’s identification on a regular basis and replace when worn or if your contact information changes.