Archive for the ‘pet rx’ Category
Tales of Arthritis, Fish Oil, and Not-Luxating Patella
Gida turned 10 this year, among showers of adoration and Pupcake. I wrote previously about how, in the context of her milestone birthday, some elderly seeming canine behaviors have become more apparent. Maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s not.
How Studying Cancer in Our Pets Can Help Us, Too
I doubt that any Pawesome reader didn’t already know this, but studying our pets is really important. Researchers at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine found that studying patterns of cancer development in animals can help identify cancer risk factors and treatments not only for our furry friends, but for humans, as well. A recent large-scale study on cat intestinal cancer, uncovered some interesting findings: most feline intestinal cancers were lymphoma (cancer of the immune system), and developed in the small intestines. They also found that Siamese cats, particularly males seven years old or older, had an increased risk of developing intestinal cancer. But what the researchers also realized is that what applies to cats can also apply to us, as well. Kim Selting, associate teaching professor of oncology explains that tracking animal cancer is important because they share the environment with us humans. Studying the development of cancer in cats can make doctors and veterinarians aware of environmental factors that could be causing tumor progression in different animals, including humans.
What To Do If Your Dog Gets Stuck With Porcupine Quills
Over a decade ago, my parents bought a little cabin in Pennsylvania so they could get out of New York on weekends. They love the undisturbed 50 acres of land the house sits on, they love the trees and they love the wildlife. But every so often, they look out the window and see an animal that could, out of self-defense, hurt their pets (remind me to tell you about the Bear Incident in another post). The other weekend, for example, they saw this young porcupine ambling down the drive.
Snoutstik: A Cure for Dry Dog Nose?
Dog owners with puppers who suffer from dry nose take note: San Francisc0-based pet solutions company Opie&Dixie, LLC has created a new product called Snoutstik Nose Balm for Dogs. Owners of breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boxers might know that their dogs are prone to having dry, cracked noses, but really, any dog can suffer from the condition (which can sometimes be a sign of dehydration, allergies, or illness, so watch for it!). Snoutstik comes in a Chapstick-like tube, that you can easily apply directly to your pooch’s sniffer, and is made out of natural ingredients like shea butter, almond oil, jojoba seed oil, and essential oils.
