pets

Blindness in dogs–X-linked retinitis pigmentosa cured

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A team from the University of Pennsylvania announced that they have cured X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, a blinding retinal disease in dogs when caught early. XLRP causes gradual vision loss starting at a very young age in dogs, often as early as five weeks. It is an inherited retinal disease.

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/retinitis-pigmentosa

Continuing the research the veterinarian researchers found that the gene therapy helped dogs at 12 weeks of age (mid-stage disease) when about 40% of the eye’s photoreceptor cells were dead and then at 26 weeks of age (late-stage) when 50 – 60% of the cells were dead.  What the researchers found was that they were able to halt the degeneration of the photoreceptor cells in the treated area.

Now they’ve shown that they can cure the canine disease over the long term, even when the treatment is given after half or more of the affected photoreceptor cells have been destroyed.

To date, dogs have maintained their vision for over two years after treatment. This is very exciting because humans suffer from the same type of blindness. With that in mind, researchers are already examining human patients to determine how to treat their blindness and who might qualify for future treatments.

Again, man’s best friend is offering hope to humans who suffer from this type of cell death that causes blindness. Since this is an inherited disease, breeders should have their dogs examined by a certified canine ophthalmologist and register their dogs with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, CERF. http://www.tctc.com/~maplerg/cerf-.htm   This will help researchers continue to develop cures for blindness as well as prevent the breeding of dogs who have this inherited disease.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151012174519.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fplants_animals%2Fdogs+%28Dogs+News+–+ScienceDaily%29

Sue’s Note: All pets who are blind can live a happy life. My cat is blind and is happy and safe. It helps if things are not moved around or left out in the open where the blind pet will bump into them. Blind pets should never be allowed outside unless they are in a fenced area or on a leash.

My blind cat, Mimi

New research about overeating

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UCLA psychologists have discovered a circuit in the brain of mice that makes them crave food and seek it out, even when they are not hungry. What is interesting about this discovery is that when the group of cells is stimulated, the mice seek fatty and pleasurable foods such as chocolate instead of healthier foods such as carrots.

The area of the brain where the cells are located is called the periaqueductal gray which is in the brainstem. When these cells are stimulated, the mice are so driven to eat that they will endure foot shocks to get to the food. The opposite occurs when the researchers inject a virus that produces a protein that reduces the cells activity even hungry mice foraged less.

“Like mice, humans also possess vgat PAG cells in the brainstem. It could be that if this circuit is overactive in a person, they might feel more rewarded by eating or crave food when not hungry. Conversely, if this circuit is not active enough, they could have less pleasure associated with eating, potentially contributing to anorexia. If found in humans, the food-seeking circuit could become the treatment target for some kinds of eating disorders.”

Sue’s Note: If mice have this cluster of cells, it stands to reason that other animals have it as well. Could this be why some of our pets overeat and some have low appetites?

Journal Reference:

  1. Fernando M. C. V. Reis, Sandra Maesta-Pereira, Matthias Ollivier, Peter J. Schuette, Ekayana Sethi, Blake A. Miranda, Emily Iniguez, Meghmik Chakerian, Eric Vaughn, Megha Sehgal, Darren C. T. Nguyen, Faith T. H. Yuan, Anita Torossian, Juliane M. Ikebara, Alexandre H. Kihara, Alcino J. Silva, Jonathan C. Kao, Baljit S. Khakh, Avishek Adhikari. Control of feeding by a bottom-up midbrain-subthalamic pathway. Nature Communications, 2024; 15 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46430-5

Cite This Page:

University of California – Los Angeles. “Craving snacks after a meal? It might be food-seeking neurons, not an overactive appetite.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 March 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240320122517.htm>.

Heart murmurs in dogs

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Researchers at the University of Cambridge have perfected an algorithm that can accurately detect heart murmurs in dogs. A heart murmur is the main indicator of cardiac disease such as mitral valve disease. About one in thirty dogs develop this, especially small dogs such as the King Charles Spaniels. The algorithm was originally designed for use on humans, but the team was able to adjust the program to detect and grade heart murmurs in dogs.

In humans, mitral valve disease can only be corrected by surgery, but medication is available for dogs. This program will allow the general practitioner veterinarian to accurately determine if a dog has heart disease earlier and treat the dog, increasing its quality of life and longevity.   

Journal Reference:

  1. Andrew McDonald, Jose Novo Matos, Joel Silva, Catheryn Partington, Eve J. Y. Lo, Virginia Luis Fuentes, Lara Barron, Penny Watson, Anurag Agarwal. A machine‐learning algorithm to grade heart murmurs and stage preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2024; DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17224

Cite This Page:

University of Cambridge. “AI algorithm accurately detects heart disease in dogs.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 October 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241028211501.htm>.

Dogs understand words from a soundboard

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A new study investigated whether dogs understand the words on a soundboard or if they were responding to cues from their owners. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California San Diego as well as other institutions and have proven that dogs who are trained with soundboard buttons can comprehend specific words and will perform contextually appropriate responses. The study was led by Federico Rossano who is an associate professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at UC San Diego and is head of the comparative Cognition Lab. This study was the first empirical study from the world’s largest longitudinal or panel study of button-trained pets.

The way the study was conducted removed bias, owner cues, and showed that the dogs truly did understand the words on the sound board. One of the more important findings is that it shows the complexities of dog cognition and communication.

Sue’s Note: Since I first started training dogs and working as a behaviorist, we have come a long way in understanding how intelligent dogs (and other animals) are. One of the key lessons that we as pet owners must keep in mind, is that dogs are much smarter than previously thought and understand much more than most people give them credit for. This is important to keep in mind when training any animal. What you do and how you do it is critical in building your relationship with your dog or other pet and having them understand what you are teaching them or want them to do. This is why it is very important to use the same word for a specific command. For example, do not use the word DOWN to tell your dog to get off you or furniture and then say the same word to tell your dog to lie down.

Journal Reference:

  1. Amalia P. M. Bastos, Ashley Evenson, Patrick M. Wood, Zachary N. Houghton, Lucas Naranjo, Gabriella E. Smith, Alexandria Cairo-Evans, Lisa Korpos, Jack Terwilliger, Sarita Raghunath, Cassandra Paul, Hairou Hou, Federico Rossano. How do soundboard-trained dogs respond to human button presses? An investigation into word comprehension. PLOS ONE, 2024; 19 (8): e0307189 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307189

Cite This Page:

University of California – San Diego. “Dogs understand words from soundboard buttons.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 August 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828154926.htm>.

Faithful Friends: Holocaust Survivors Stories of the Pets Who Gave Them Comfort, Suffered Alongside Them and Waited for Their Return

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Imagine that your family is frightened, you know it even though they are trying to hide it from you. People who were your friends now ignore or avoid you. War has gripped your country, and some people are leaving everything behind to flee. Yet at night, you sleep soundly because your faithful pet, whether it be a dog or cat, lays by your side. You pet still loves you and thinks that you are the best person in the world. Then one day, you and your family are taken away, forced to leave your best friend behind. Faithful Friends is the story of these devoted animals. All are true, all are treasured memories, and all are special to the people who shared them for this book, the only book of its kind to tell the stories of these devoted animals. Available in English and Italian.

Order a copy at www.sbulanda.com, https://cladach.com/bookstore/

Decoding dog vocalizations

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Researchers at Mexico’s National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE) along with the researchers at the University of Michigan, have devised a program using AI to begin the process of understanding dog vocalizations.

They found that AI models used for human speech can be used as a starting point to develop new systems that understand animal vocalizations. The human voice models can encode the very complex patterns of human languages and speech, so the researchers have started to develop similar programs to decode canine barks.

If they are successful, they feel that it will benefit biologists as well as animal behaviorists and other people who work with animals. Of course, it will benefit dogs as well. Such a system could enhance the care of dogs by letting people interpret their emotional and physical needs. This information could prevent potentially dangerous situations.

Sue’s Note: While this is very good, understanding dogs and any other animal depends heavily on their body language. Will this program take that into consideration? To the best of our knowledge, animals do not have a word by word vocal communication system.

Journal Reference:

  1. Artem Abzaliev, Humberto Pérez Espinosa, Rada Mihalcea. Towards Dog Bark Decoding: Leveraging Human Speech Processing for Automated Bark Classification. Submited to arXiv, 2024 DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2404.18739

Cite This Page:

University of Michigan. “Using AI to decode dog vocalizations.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 June 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240604132204.htm>.

Sleep apnea in dogs

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Many people may not be aware that brachycephalic dogs breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and other breeds with short, flat noses can suffer from sleep apnea. It has been found that these dogs suffer from disordered breathing that is similar to human obstructive sleep apnea which is caused by upper airway obstruction. The result is daytime fatigue and interruptions in sleep.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki Lung Insight group found that a neckband system that is used in people, was successful in determining if dogs suffered from sleep apnea.  

Their research showed that brachycephalic dogs snore and suffer from sleep disorders more than dogs with long snouts. Sleep apnea causes health issues in humans such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. It affects the body’s immune system, hormone secretion and metabolism. Since dogs and humans share similar health issues, it is important to monitor your dog’s sleep habits and if you think that your dog has sleep apnea contact your veterinarian.   

Journal Reference:

  1. Iida Niinikoski, Sari‐Leena Himanen, Mirja Tenhunen, Liisa Lilja‐Maula, Minna M. Rajamäki. Description of a novel method for detection of sleep‐disordered breathing in brachycephalic dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2023; DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16783

Cite This Page:

University of Helsinki. “A short snout predisposes dogs to sleep apnea.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 June 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230613110050.htm>.

Stress causes overeating in pets

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Researcher Sora Shin, an assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech has discovered a molecule that triggers the need to eat high fat foods in mice 24 hours after being exposed stress in the form of the scent of cats.

This molecule is found in the hypothalamus section of the brain which is the part of the brain that is connected to changes in the brain that lead to emotional overeating.

 The same molecule is found in people as well as animals. This discovery may lead to treatment methods that can help people who react to the emotionally driven need to overeat, even when they are not hungry.

Sue’s Note: There are many animals, particularly dogs and cats that tend to overeat which result in them becoming obese. Pet owners who have pets that have this problem should consider stress as a factor that causes their pets to overeat. First be sure that the family or friends are not over feeding the pets. If this is not the case the pet owner should evaluate the possibility that stress may be a cause. Since the study showed that the effects of stress can cause overeating 24 hours later, the pet owner should consider events that happened in the last 24 hours. An example would be someone or something that passes the pet’s home when the owner is not home that causes high stress in the pet. In situations where stress is a factor, reducing the amount of food that the pet has access to may cause a greater amount of stress. In this case over the counter calming remedies may help the pet. If not a visit to your veterinarian would be in order explaining to the veterinarian that you suspect stress is a cause of the overeating. Print a copy of the article in the link below to show your veterinarian if necessary.

Journal Reference:

  1. In-Jee You, Yeeun Bae, Alec R. Beck, Sora Shin. Lateral hypothalamic proenkephalin neurons drive threat-induced overeating associated with a negative emotional state. Nature Communications, 2023; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42623-6

Cite This Page:

Virginia Tech. “Scientist discovers potential brain link between stress, emotional eating.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 November 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231127180702.htm>.

Unlock the Healing Power of Animal Companionship in Overcoming Addiction

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by guest blogger Cindy Aldridge

Embarking on the path to overcoming addiction, you might discover solace and support in unexpected places. Among these, the companionship of pets stands out as a source of unconditional love and understanding. These furry friends offer companionship and become critical pillars in the journey toward sobriety, providing a unique form of support that nurtures emotional and physical well-being. Susan Bulanda shares more:

Providing Companionship and Sense of Purpose

In the throes of addiction recovery, the presence of a pet can imbue your life with a newfound sense of purpose and belonging. The unconditional love and unwavering companionship pets offer can fill the void of loneliness, giving you a reason to push forward. 

Their dependence on you for care and affection instills a routine and responsibility that can be incredibly grounding. This bond is crucial to the recovery process, offering a comforting presence that reassures and motivates you to continue healing.

Navigating Through Inpatient Treatment

When grappling with the complexities of addiction recovery, acknowledging the potential for relapse becomes pivotal. In such instances, opting for inpatient treatment emerges as a decisive choice, offering a structured and supportive setting for individuals navigating the trials of recovery. While concerns about the expense of rehabilitation may arise, it’s reassuring that numerous treatment centers readily accept health insurance from major providers. 

Mitigating financial worries requires proactive engagement with insurance companies to ascertain the extent of coverage. Selecting the right inpatient facility involves a multifaceted approach; start with this list of best rehab centers in the US. Take into account accommodations, accreditations, treatment approaches, location, and the testimonials of former patients. 

In parallel to choosing a rehabilitation center, it’s crucial to ensure your pet’s well-being by arranging temporary housing. Research local pet boarding facilities or consider pet-sitting services that can offer personalized care in your absence. Engaging with a trusted provider early on will give you peace of mind, knowing your furry friend is in safe hands while you focus on your recovery.

Alleviating Stress Through Pet Interaction

Petting or simply being near an animal has been shown to reduce stress and significantly lower cortisol levels. This interaction promotes a sense of calm and well-being, which is particularly beneficial during the unpredictability of addiction recovery. 

The routine of caring for a pet provides a distraction from stressors and a way to channel energy positively. This natural form of stress relief can make a significant difference in managing recovery’s emotional ups and downs, offering a peaceful respite in moments of turmoil.

Overcoming Loneliness with the Company of Pets

The companionship of a pet combats the loneliness and isolation felt during addiction recovery, offering comfort and a sense of security that diminishes the risk of relapse. Their simple, unwavering support lightens the complexities in human relationships, making the path to sobriety feel less intimidating. This bond is a constant reminder that you are never truly alone in your journey toward healing.

Fostering Emotional Healing Through Pet Bonding

Pets provide a unique outlet for emotional expression, offering a safe space to express feelings without fear of judgment or reprisal. This aspect of pet ownership can be particularly therapeutic during addiction recovery, where emotional vulnerability is often a key part of the healing process. Caring for an animal can help redirect focus from personal struggles to the well-being of another, facilitating a form of emotional healing that is both subtle and profound.

Promoting Physical Health and Activity

Engaging in physical activities with a pet, such as walking or playing, strengthens your bond and promotes your own physical health. This routine encourages regular exercise, which is an essential component of a healthy recovery process. The physical benefits of activity and the emotional support of pet companionship contribute to a holistic approach to overcoming addiction, enhancing mental and physical resilience.

Encouraging Mindfulness and Presence

Caring for a pet requires mindfulness and presence which can be incredibly beneficial during addiction recovery. This responsibility encourages you to live in the moment, focusing on your pet’s needs rather than dwelling on past mistakes or future anxieties. This mindfulness practice fosters a sense of peace and connection, grounding you in the present and supporting a more mindful, purposeful approach to recovery.

In the challenging journey of overcoming addiction, the companionship of pets offers a powerful source of healing and support. Beyond mere companionship, they provide love, purpose, and a unique form of unconditional support that can significantly impact your recovery process. As you navigate the path to sobriety, consider embracing the therapeutic power of pets to find strength, resilience, and comfort in their presence.

Tips on How to Juggle Looking After Your Faithful, Furry Friend While Tending to Your Business

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by Guest Blogger Cindy Aldridge

Congratulations, you”ve got a new pet! But there’s one small problem, you’re starting a new business at the same time and have no choice but to bring him along with you in the beginning.

Certainly, this could prove to be immensely challenging if you don’t have a plan of action to help guide you on the right path. Today, A Blog by Susan Bulanda looks at some tips to help you juggle the roles of pet owner and owner without losing the reins of them both.

Choose the Best Structure for Your Business

This is one of the first things to consider when including your pet in your new business venture. It is important to decide what business you want to start. A limited liability company (LLC) is a great option for new business owners who are looking for a bit more

flexibility in the start-up phase. LLCs have other advantages as well, including tax benefits, less paperwork to file, and limited liability. Also, be sure what the different regulations are regarding filing an LLC, as these may differ from other states.

You’ll also need to plan a marketing campaign, too, notes i7 Marketing. Spreading the word via social media is a great way to start, but you should also invest in some old-fashioned approaches like business cards. And if you’re on a tight budget, you can use a business card design tool and take advantage of the free templates.

Upgrade Your Marketing Game

Even in the digital age, the value of tangible marketing tools like business cards remains significant. They are a physical extension of your brand and an essential part of your overall marketing strategy. Business cards offer a personal touch in a digital world, providing a direct and memorable way to share your contact information and reinforce your brand identity.

Design a Standout Logo

A logo is more than just a pretty image. Entrepreneurship in a Box points out that it is the cornerstone of your visual identity, and it should be designed with care and purpose. A well-designed logo can communicate your brand values and give customers a positive impression of your business. It can also help you to stand out from the competition and attract new customers. Investing in a professional logo is an essential part of any good marketing strategy, and it can pay off in a big way over time.

Create a Pet-Friendly Routine

Pets, more specifically dogs, tend to thrive on routine, especially when trained to follow through on a specific set of orders. So, if you intend to bring your pet with you to work daily, making small changes to accommodate your pet and familiarizing your pet with these changes could be the ice-breaker your pet needs to grow fond of his new home away from home. Also, you could consider buying them some new toys and treats to make them more comfortable.

Make Them Feel Welcome and at Home

One way to make your pet feel more at home in your new office is to make them feel as much at home as possible. Therefore, you should ideally bring along with you his favorite bed, toy, feeding, and water bowl so that he gets to know that this new space is his space, too. If you’re a tenant, consider looking for a place that offers more pet-friendly accommodations or amenities.

Some apartment complexes even offer dog washing stations and green areas specifically for pets. Keep an eye out for new potential places where you and your pet can be more comfortable.

Get Assistance

Perhaps your pet is a little rambunctious, and you envision needing assistance from professionals to help your pet get used to his new surroundings. For example, your pet may be a bit apprehensive around new people. Or perhaps, he requires a little more training on the potty-training side of things. Enrolling your pet in a pet training school could help your pet cope better with these issues. Be sure to only use a trainer who uses positive training techniques.

Improve Your Skills

Balancing the demands of running a business and caring for a pet can be challenging, but pursuing a cybersecurity degree online can be a strategic move to help your business grow while managing these responsibilities. With a cybersecurity degree, you’ll gain valuable knowledge in protecting your business’s computers and network systems, a crucial aspect in 0today’s digital world.

The convenience of online learning means you can acquire this vital skill set without having to sacrifice time spent on your business or neglect the needs of your pet. All-online classes offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace and schedule, allowing you to be present at home for your pet. This approach not only ensures your business is fortified against digital threats but also provides the peace of mind that comes with being able to take care of your pet’s needs throughout the day.

Make Use of Pet-Friendly Gadgets

Suppose you need something to keep your pet busy while you get to work on building your business from the ground up. There are plenty of pet-friendly gadgets that can help you keep an eye on your pet while you’re busy working, and you can even interact with them when you have a free moment in your busy day. Before investing in any new pet gadgets, be sure to seek out products that have been reviewed by veterinary professionals first.

Make Some Time for Them in Your Day

You’re probably going to feel pulled in every direction when starting your new business (at least in the beginning). And this probably won’t leave much time for downtime. But it is vital that you make time for your pet every day, and taking them for a walk around the block is sure to make their day, as well as get them more acquainted with their new role as your office companion at work.

Find the Right Balance for You and Your Pet

Taking your pet along with you on your new business venture is sure to be an enlightening experience as you bond with your pet on a whole other level. But as stressful as it might be in the beginning, working with formation services and getting your rambunctious pet some training can make things easier. It’s also sure to be comforting as you get the privilege of having your pet by your side through all the ups and downs of your new journey.

Susan Bulanda is the author of nine books including Faithful Friends: The Never-Before-Told Stories of Pets during the Holocaust which won the prestigious Maxwell Award by the Dog Writers Association of America for being first in its category (2013) and numerous additional awards. Visit her online today! http://www.sbulanda.com