Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com Paw Nation http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.pawnation.com/media/feedlogo.gif Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Top 10 Animal Videos of the Yearhttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/16/top-10-animal-videos-of-the-year/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/16/top-10-animal-videos-of-the-year/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/16/top-10-animal-videos-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

As 2009 draws to a close, Paw Nation is taking a look back at our favorite viral videos of animals from this year. They're the clips you stumbled upon, friends forwarded or were even featured by big news outlets -- simply for being cute, ridiculous, eye-opening or hysterical (or all of the above).

Go ahead and treat yourself to a few minutes of fun by reflecting on these awww-worthy moments:


1. Tickling Slow Loris


Sonya, a Slow Loris owned by Dmitry Sergeyev, made her ascent to web fame at an ironically lightning-fast speed. The sluggish primate with saucer-like eyes and what appears to be a smile on her face lazes in pure bliss as she gets "tickled" in this clip. The popularity of the video lead to hundreds of thousands of Web viewers asking the same two questions: "What is that creature and where can I get one of my own?!" Well, we don't know where to get one, but we suggest you don't. They're illegal in the U.S.

Continue reading Top 10 Animal Videos of the Year

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>best animal videosbest animal videos of the yearBestAnimalVideosBestAnimalVideosOfTheYearsam the koalaSamTheKoalaslow lorisSlowLorisstroller pugStrollerPugturtle orgasmTurtleOrgasmviral videoViralVideoElizabeth BradyWed, 16 Dec 2009 13:00:00 ESTNarcolepsy in Dogshttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/30/narcolepsy-in-dogs/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/30/narcolepsy-in-dogs/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/30/narcolepsy-in-dogs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Getty Images

Animal lovers have a special place in their hearts for viral videos of cute creatures uncontrollably falling asleep. But there's a difference between a tired animal and a narcoleptic one, and the obscure condition does indeed affect non-humans, specifically canines. The routine is predictable and almost constant: a dog seems healthy, happy and active, then suddenly lapses into immobility and deep sleep.

Skeeter the poodle is one such example. "Inside Edition" has highlighted the struggles that Skeeter endures while trying to accomplish the most basic of canine tasks, like going for a walk or climbing onto a couch to cuddle.

Skeeter's story might seem absurd or even humorous at first, but most viewers feel a combination of sympathy and curiosity for unique pooches like him.

According to experts, narcolepsy isn't as debilitating or traumatic for dogs as it is for humans. However, the quirks of the condition continue to amaze veterinarians. Canine narcolepsy was first identified as a hereditary disease in the early 1970s, and seems to be limited to specific breeds, including dachshunds, poodles and dobermans. Narcolepsy in cats has also been reported, but is said to be extremely rare. Most dogs will develop the condition when they are young and symptoms tend to present themselves when animals become excited, as Stanford University researchers demonstrate in this video.

Treatments for canine narcolepsy, such as anti-depressants, are available, but vets have yet to identify a cure. If you think your pet might be sleeping inordinately often, consult PetWave's list of symptoms and discuss the issue with your vet.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Elizabeth BradyMon, 30 Nov 2009 17:00:00 ESTDr. Papidies Wins "Cutest Dog" Titlehttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/27/dr-papidies-wins-cutest-dog-title/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/27/dr-papidies-wins-cutest-dog-title/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/27/dr-papidies-wins-cutest-dog-title/#commentsFiled under:

cutestdogcompetition.com

The Cutest Dog Competition has come to an end as Dr. Papidies, the Chihuahua from Colorado, was crowned the winner to take home $1 million.

The prize is especially meaningful for the dog's owner, Dr. Leslie Capin. Several years ago, Papidies was diagnosed with Addison's Disease, an endrocine disorder which almost cost him his life.

Capin plans on using the cash prize to help other pets in need. She has said that she'll donate half a million dollars to the Dumb Friends League and half a million dollars to the Max Fund Animal Shelter "because thousands of pet owners have been forced to surrender their animals at shelters as they can't afford to care for them."

According to the Cutest Dog staff, "The decision was obviously very difficult for the judges. Each of the top 12 dogs was extremely cute and had a great back story, a loving family and many thousands of supportive fans."

Do you think they made the right decision? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cute dogsCuteDogscutest dog competitionCutestDogCompetitiondr. papidiesDr.PapidiesElizabeth BradyFri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTThanksgiving Tips for Pet Ownershttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/26/thanksgiving-tips-for-pet-owners/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/26/thanksgiving-tips-for-pet-owners/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/26/thanksgiving-tips-for-pet-owners/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Flickr/cranrob

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and giving, but when it comes to including your pets in the festivities, you should share with caution. Turkey Day celebrations can lead to animal dangers or discomforts, especially when owners attempt to treat their pets too much like "one of the family."

Keep Human Food on the Table
According to the ASPCA, feeding your pet table-scraps is the biggest Thanksgiving Day hazard. They recommend avoiding problems altogether by leaving your pet in the kitchen, yard or elsewhere with a chew toy or snack while the humans eat the good stuff. If you feel an uncontrollable urge to let Fido sample your meal, scale it back to a small amount and avoid food with lots of seasoning, onions, raisins, garlic or chocolate (all of which can cause abdominal pain, complications or even death).

Meats and Doughs
Be sure to not feed your pets any uncooked dough or meat. Salmonella is present in raw eggs and meat, and the ASPCA notes that "when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency requiring surgery." Even cooked meat can be harmful if it is coated in gravy or grease. If you are going to allow your dog to scarf down turkey, make sure there are no bones that could splinter and be harmful to the pet.

Continue reading Thanksgiving Tips for Pet Owners

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>holiday tips for pet ownersHolidayTipsForPetOwnersThankgiving for PetsThankgivingForPetsThanksgivingElizabeth BradyThu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTThe Best Twitter Accounts for Animal Lovershttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/26/the-best-twitter-accounts-for-animal-lovers/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/26/the-best-twitter-accounts-for-animal-lovers/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/26/the-best-twitter-accounts-for-animal-lovers/#commentsFiled under:

The Quack Pack

Twitter has exploded this year by providing a new platform for the public to rant and communicate about the things they love. And while the 140 character updates can be mundane, they're not all meaningless. Groups like PetMD, PETA and the ASPCA now use Twitter to post useful information for their followers. And naturally, pet owners and "celebrity animals" like Jenny the Stroller Pug have added their tweets to the mix. Search tools and hash tags such as #TwitterACritter are also used to help facilitate animal adoptions.

On behalf of animal lovers on Twitter, Paw Nation did some research to find the 12 most useful and entertaining animal Twitter accounts for our readers to follow:

1. @ASPCA
The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has taken to the Twitterverse to reach out to the animal-loving masses, and it's working. With more than 14,000 followers so far, @ASPCA brings the latest updates about their campaigns, victories and efforts.

2. @TheQuackPack
No, it's not an afternoon animated series with Huey, Dewey and Louie. The Quack Pack's tweets are deployed by the "parents" of two mallard ducks (named Laylah and Saydee) who are being raised as children. Think "My Monkey Baby," with ducks.

Continue reading The Best Twitter Accounts for Animal Lovers

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>animal loversAnimalLoversanimalsitesweloveTwittertwitter for animal loversTwitterForAnimalLoversElizabeth BradyThu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 ESTCutest Dog Competition: Final Four Announcedhttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/24/cutest-dog-competition-final-four-announced/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/24/cutest-dog-competition-final-four-announced/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/24/cutest-dog-competition-final-four-announced/#commentsFiled under:

cutestdogcompetition.com

Remember all the hoopla back in August surrounding the "Cutest Dog Competition"? It's down to four furry finalists, and on Thanksgiving day, the grand-prize winner will be chosen.

For three months, dog owners around the country uploaded pictures of their pups and rallied votes on a quest to win $1,000,000 for being crowned the Cutest Dog. And since "cuteness" is a subjective evaluation, the contest quickly evolved into a social media popularity contest. Some celebrities intervened to help canine candidates get semi-finalist status.

After the grueling months of voting and submitting, making it to the final four has perks. Even the three dogs who don't win the million will automatically bring in a $5,000 prize for their owners to stock up on Snausages or whatever else on which they'd like to splurge.

While you probably still think your dog is way more adorable than any of these little cuties, Paw Nation wants to know which one of the final four you think should be crowned the Cutest Dog. Discuss your pick in the comments!

View Poll

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cutest dogcutest dog competitionCutestDogCutestDogCompetitionElizabeth BradyTue, 24 Nov 2009 16:00:00 ESTOperation Migration Tweets and Saves Whooping Craneshttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/12/operation-migration-tweets-and-saves-whooping-cranes/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/12/operation-migration-tweets-and-saves-whooping-cranes/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/11/12/operation-migration-tweets-and-saves-whooping-cranes/#comments
Whooping Cranes Migration

operationmigration.org

North American Whooping Cranes have begun their winter migration with a bit of help this year.

These wild birds make a journey of over 2,000 miles each fall from a forest in Canada to a refuge in Aransas, Texas. Whooping Cranes have long been heralded as one of the most magnificent species in America. They're the tallest birds on the continent, and the spectacle of their migration and breeding rituals have captured the minds and imaginations of writers, artists and conservationists alike. Unfortunately, Whooping Cranes have also been edging frighteningly close to extinction. Estimates put the number of live wild cranes at roughly 300 today.

Now a collective of conservationists known as Operation Migration has launched an innovative project to teach the birds the safest migration route. The scientists fly alongside the flock in ultralight aircraft, leading the cranes from a sanctuary in Wisconsin to one in Florida. Guiding them on a safely plotted route "protect[s] the Aransas/Wood Buffalo natural flock and establish[es] two additional flocks in efforts to safeguard the whooping crane from possible extinction," according to their website.

Throughout October and November, Operation Migration's Whooping Crane flock has made progress, and they are currently located in Illinois. You can follow @OperMigration on Twitter to help support their cause and to see updates on weather, the distance they've traveled, and other news.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>whooping cranewhooping crane migrationWhoopingCraneWhoopingCraneMigrationElizabeth BradyThu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST