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/Is Your Dog's Pet Food Making Him Sick?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/is-your-dogs-pet-food-making-him-sick/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/is-your-dogs-pet-food-making-him-sick/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/04/is-your-dogs-pet-food-making-him-sick/#commentsFiled under: ,

TheGiantVermin, Flickr

Your dog is scratching like crazy, or sick to his stomach. Could his food be the culprit?

Food allergies aren't extremely common in dogs, but they aren't uncommon either. Food allergies affect dogs in two primary ways, says Korinn Saker, a clinical nutritionist at the North Carolina State School of Veterinary Medicine who specializes in canine allergies. "We either see skin issues, or GI [gastrointestinal] issues," she says. If your dog is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea on a regular basis, or is itching constantly and licking or biting at his skin or fur, allergies may be to blame. (Your vet can help you rule out other ailments, like parasites or infections, that could cause similar symptoms.)

Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell whether an allergic dog is having a reaction to his food or to an environmental allergen such as pollen. (Dogs can also become allergic to food they've happily eaten their entire lives making detection even more difficult.) Still, there are ways to tell if food is the foe, Sakar says. "The most definitive way to do that is to do a feeding elimination trial," she says. In other words, try removing the suspected ingredient or ingredients from the dog's diet, and see what happens.

Choose a dog food with novel ingredients the dog hasn't had before. The new food should have a single source of protein, such as fish, duck or lamb, and a single source of carbohydrates, like rice or potatoes. (And don't give him any treats or table scraps during the feeding trial!) If the allergy symptoms go away on the new diet, you can then try adding back the suspected allergens, one by one. If the symptoms come back, she explains, you'll know what ingredient (or ingredients) to avoid from now on.

Continue reading Is Your Dog's Pet Food Making Him Sick?

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]]>allergicallergiescorndiarrheadogsfooditchingvomitKirsten TaylorThu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:00 ESTExotic Pet Trade is Emptying Asia's Forestshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/24/exotic-pet-trade-is-emptying-asias-forests/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/24/exotic-pet-trade-is-emptying-asias-forests/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/24/exotic-pet-trade-is-emptying-asias-forests/#commentsFiled under: ,

afternoon/Flickr

Families all over the world are enjoying exotic monkeys, birds and reptiles as pets, not realizing that criminal gangs may have taken these animals from Asia illegally -- leaving some forests almost completely empty of natural creatures.

According to a report by the UK newspaper The Observer, countries in Southeast Asia are being drained of their wildlife species to fuel the exotic-pet trade, particularly in Europe and Japan.

'Empty forest syndrome' is what researchers are calling the damaged habitats left behind by the exotic animal business. "There's a lot of forest where there are just no big animals left," Chris Shepherd, of the wildlife trade monitoring group Traffic, told The Observer. "There are some forests where you don't even hear birds."

Criminal gangs control a lot of the wildlife trade, Shepherd said, and the kidnapped creatures often wind up in cages or aquariums in the homes of European families who are unaware of how they were acquired.

While hundreds of millions of these exotic animals may be have been taken illegally, they aren't the only threat to these natural habitats. There is also a brisk legal trade in exotic pets contributing to this empty forest problem. More than 35 million animals who were lawfully exported out of Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries in the last ten years, The Observer reported. Of those, 30 million were taken from the wild.

Turtles, lizards, snakes, birds and macaque monkeys are among the most common species plucked from the forests of Southeast Asia. Seahorses and coral are removed in great numbers from the region's oceans.

In the U.S., responsible pet owners are (rightfully) quick to condemn puppy mills and other unsavory sources of dogs and cats. But few probably realize where their exotic snakes, geckos and aquarium fish may be coming from. It's time to start paying attention.

What do you think Paw Nation? Do you believe exotic animals should be pets? Or should they be left in the wild?

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]]>asiaexoticlizardpet tradePetTradereptilesseahorsesnaketurtleKirsten TaylorWed, 24 Feb 2010 10:00:00 ESTCooking Show Host Fired for Recommending Cat Stewhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/cooking-show-host-fired-for-recommending-cat-stew/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/cooking-show-host-fired-for-recommending-cat-stew/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/cooking-show-host-fired-for-recommending-cat-stew/#commentsFiled under:

Ah, Italian food. Fresh pasta, sweet basil, fine cheeses and apparently... cat stew.

That last horrific item has landed an Italian cooking-show host in his own pot of boiling hot water. Beppe Bigazzi, a well-known food writer, was fired from the cooking show "La Prova del Cuoco" after telling viewers that stewed cat is a "succulent dish," the Times of London reports.

"I've eaten it myself and it's a lot better than many other animals. Better than chicken, rabbit or pigeon," the 77-year-old Bigazzi told viewers.

The show's presenter Elisa Isoardi, who mentioned her own cat Othello in protest, looked awkwardly horrified as Bigazzi explained that cat meat should be soaked in spring water for three days before cooking.

Bigazzi was suspended indefinitely from the show as critics around Italy spoke out against the idea of eating cats.

"Cats are pets protected by law," from "cruelty, maltreatment and abandonment," said Health Ministry Undersecretary Francesca Martini, according to the Associated Press. Bigazzi's stunt, she said, "hurts sensibility, which is fortunately steadily growing, of citizens toward animals."

Martini also called for the show's producers to be investigated for criminal offenses for inciting the mistreatment of animals, the Times reported.

Bigazzi is off the air (for now). With all that extra free time on his hands, though, we just hope he's not planning any dinner parties.

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]]>beppe bigazziBeppeBigazzicatfooditalystewKirsten TaylorFri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 ESTShould Dogs Go Everywhere With Their Owners?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/11/should-dogs-go-everywhere-with-their-owners/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/11/should-dogs-go-everywhere-with-their-owners/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/11/should-dogs-go-everywhere-with-their-owners/#commentsFiled under:

e³°°°, Flickr

Last week, the New York Times "Complaint Box" column took on a thorny issue: Are dogs too welcome in the city's public spaces?

After seeing dogs cavorting around Banana Republic, the Gap, furniture stores and even grocery stores, Barbara Rosenblatt wrote that she's had enough. "Animals are joining the ranks of small, bored children who must accompany their grown-ups just about everyplace," she wrote. "Perhaps what it will take to keep animals out of stores is a few too many paw prints on the merchandise, or a deposit by a dog that mistook a rug for a sidewalk."

Erica Manfred fired back, arguing that her 11-pound mutt deserves to go where she goes. "Well, I'm into my second adolescence and I've become a rebellious old lady. I take Shadow wherever I go because he makes my life bearable, and I don't care what anyone thinks," she wrote.

Whether or not Manfred cares if she's annoying other patrons with her canine cutie, plenty of readers were worked up enough to get into the fray. In fact, the Times received more than 500 comments from readers on both sides of the debate. One reader complained about health violations of dogs sniffing, licking and even pooping in food-service stores.

Another was more irritated by dog owners than dogs themselves. "Dog owners are worse than smokers in their inflated sense of entitlement," the reader commented. "Because they think their dogs are 'cute,' you should excuse their rude behavior."

Not surprisingly, there were dissenters. One commenter argued that most dogs are better behaved than most kids. "I don't like listening to wailing babies and whining children or their parents hissing at them," one reader wrote. "Leave the kids at home, please, and bring the dogs on!"

Clearly, New Yorkers are sharpening their claws over this contentious issue. Which side of the debate do you stand on?

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]]>complaintsdebatedogsnew yorkNewYorkKirsten TaylorThu, 11 Feb 2010 16:00:00 ESTSusan Boyle's Cat Has a New Homehttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/10/susan-boyles-cat-has-a-new-home/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/10/susan-boyles-cat-has-a-new-home/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/10/susan-boyles-cat-has-a-new-home/#commentsFiled under: ,

Getty Images

Has fame already changed Susan Boyle? The singer once made headlines for being a bit of a crazy cat lady. These days she's so busy traveling the globe that she's moved her beloved cat, Pebbles, out of her house, TVNZ reports.

Susan Boyle rocketed to fame after stunning the world with her voice on the U.K. television show "Britain's Got Talent." But last summer, Boyle had a breakdown over her cat Pebbles, the Daily Mail reported at the time. After throwing a tantrum in a Liverpool hotel, in which the confused singer screamed repeatedly that she needed her cat, 48-year-old Boyle missed a concert and was ordered by doctors to get some rest.

Just look at Boyle now. These days the jet-setting vocalist is touring the world, and has moved Pebbles out of her home in West Lothian, Scotland, and into the home of a retired accountant in London, TVNZ reports.

According to that report, Boyle's mentor, Simon Cowell, helped find the cat temporary new digs, since Boyle was so rarely home. Her new caregiver, 76-year-old Pamela Eaton-Browne, gets $9 per day to care for the cat, according to TVNZ. The 11-year-old Pebbles has been living with Eaton-Browne since July, and is lavished daily with treats like premium wet food, chicken and fish.

With Boyle and her cat in the news yet again, fans are jumping to defend her. "There is no need to blow this out of proportion -- Pebbles is temporarily living with retired accountant Pamela Eaton-Browne whilst Susan is travelling all the time," notes the Susan Boyle fan site.

What do you think? Is this a case of a cat abandoned for fame and fortune, or is Susan Boyle once again the victim of media scrutiny overload?

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]]>catlondonpebblessimon cowellsingersusan boyleSusanBoyleKirsten TaylorWed, 10 Feb 2010 14:00:00 ESTAre Avocados Bad for Pets?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/04/are-avocados-bad-for-pets/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/04/are-avocados-bad-for-pets/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/04/are-avocados-bad-for-pets/#commentsFiled under:

Flickr/Muffet

We recently wrote about the ASPCA's top 10 pet poisons of 2009. Included on the list were human foods that can make pets sick, including avocados. Little did we know that one little green fruit would inspire such a flurry of comments from people who argue that their dogs love the key guacamole ingredient. So we decided to set the record straight.

According to the ASPCA, the avocado plant contains a substance called persin. "Different species of animals have different toxic reactions to avocados," said Dr. Tina Wismer, the senior director of veterinary outreach and education at the ASPCA. "Animals such as birds can develop respiratory distress, fluid build-up around the heart, and death. Horses, rabbits and goats can develop both mastitis [inflammation of the mammary glands] and cardiac problems. They also get a build-up of fluid under the skin in the face and chest."

"In dogs, cats and ferrets there are no reliable reports of poisoning," she added. "However, dogs commonly ingest the pit and it can get stuck in the digestive tract."

One other thing to keep in mind: different varieties of avocado contain different amounts of persin. So even if your pet rabbit or horse has eaten avocados without a problem in the past, the same might not be true in the future. The common Guatemalan variety seems to be the most worrisome, the ASPCA notes. And avocado leaves contain the most persin, Wismer told Paw Nation.

So what's the verdict? If you have a pet bird, horse, or rodent, absolutely keep it away from the guac. If your dog adores avocados, he can probably keep on enjoying them. Just make sure to keep those pesky pits far out of reach!

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]]>aspcaavocadodiarrheadogdogsgoathorsepersinpoisonrabbitsickvomitKirsten TaylorThu, 04 Feb 2010 15:00:00 ESTWestminster Profile: Portuguese Water Doghttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/03/westminster-profile-portuguese-water-dog/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/03/westminster-profile-portuguese-water-dog/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/03/westminster-profile-portuguese-water-dog/#commentsFiled under:

Rob Gerity

With the Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show almost upon us (Feb. 15-16), Paw Nation will be talking with some of the show dogs' owners for some insight into this year's contestants.

Dog Breed: Portuguese Water Dog

Group: Working

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch Ebb Tide's Upcountry Titan

Nickname: Sage

Dog's Age: 5

Owner's Name: Arnold and Sandra Brown

Hometown: Cheshire, Conn.

Tell me about your dog's personality.
Sage is a people magnet who endears himself quickly and easily to all those he meets. We consider Sage to be our "dog of a lifetime." He is a robust and remarkably caring dog with extraordinary temperament and intelligence. He's very spirited, with a strong work ethic and drive, and a great sense of humor. He takes his jobs very seriously. Sage's favorite job, as part of his role as a certified R.E.A.D. dog, is to welcome children to our home and then snuggle up beside them as they learn to read.

Sage is extremely devoted to his canine and human family. He loves to play chase in his own clever way (using his uncanny ability to pivot like an NBA star). He is persistent and tenacious when tracking, playing hide-and-seek or in locating hidden toys. Sage is also athletically competitive, having earned several first-place ribbons at agility trials. He "attacks" water competition trials with gusto!

What is your dog's favorite treat?
Sage's favorite treats are beef liver and dog biscuits.

What is your dog's best trick?
Sage can count upon command. He will bark (count) to 4. He also sings with our daughter Allison. He mimics her voice with a high-pitched tone that sounds like country music yodeling.

Continue reading Westminster Profile: Portuguese Water Dog

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]]>dog showDogShowportuguese water dogPortugueseWaterDogsagewestminsterKirsten TaylorWed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 ESTWestminster Profile: Belgian Malinoishttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/02/westminster-profile-belgian-malinois/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/02/westminster-profile-belgian-malinois/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/02/westminster-profile-belgian-malinois/#commentsFiled under:

Pix'n Pages

With the Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show almost upon us (Feb. 15-16), Paw Nation will be talking with some of the show dogs' owners for some insight into this year's contestants.

Dog Breed: Belgian Malinois

Group: Herding

Dog's Full Registered Name: CH TriSorts Zorro del Mango, RE, TT, HIC, CGC

Nickname: Zorro

Dog's Age: 6

Owner's Name: Sara Donadei-Blood

Hometown: North Lauderdale, Fla.

Tell me about your dog's personality.
Malinois as a breed typically are aggressive. They're very reactive to their environment. Malinois are super dogs when it comes to competitive obedience. I noticed that my Malinois was developing into a sweet, affectionate boy. He showed that sweetness of nature to strangers, which is unusual to the breed. He loves people, especially elderly people.

He's very bright and extraordinarily willing to please. In a dog show, he's literally the only Malinois wagging his tail. He's a happy dog. He's a lover, not a fighter!

What is your dog's favorite treat?
He likes raw chicken backs. I give them to my dogs from time to time to clean their teeth. I think it brings out the wild dog in him.

What is your dog's best trick?
He retrieves anything I drop: a paper clip, a pen, a dime. He knows how to bring me my purse from the kitchen counter. He brings the remote control. However, because I always reward him, when he's feeling bored he takes it upon himself to bring me all those things. At the end of the day I have a whole pile of things I didn't ask for.

Continue reading Westminster Profile: Belgian Malinois

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]]>dog showDogShowmalinoisservice dogServiceDogwestminsterzorroKirsten TaylorTue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:00 ESTIce Floe Dog Drifts 75 Miles Out to Seahttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/ice-floe-dog-drifts-75-miles-out-to-sea/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/ice-floe-dog-drifts-75-miles-out-to-sea/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/ice-floe-dog-drifts-75-miles-out-to-sea/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ryszard Moroz, AP

Talk about a cool story. Actually, make that "frigid." A dog in Poland was rescued after apparently floating down the Vistula River and into the Baltic Sea, traveling 75 miles atop an ice floe, according to the Associated Press.

The male dog, now nicknamed "Baltic" (naturally), was adrift on the ice floe when he was spotted by a crew of ocean scientists on the ship Baltica. Researcher Natalia Drgas told the AP that rescuing the dog proved difficult. "It kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point it vanished underwater, under the ship and we thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet," Drgas said.

Finally, the crew lowered a pontoon boat down to the icy water and pulled the shivering dog to safety.

Three days earlier, Baltic had been spotted 60 miles inland, drifting on his ice floe down the Vistula River. Firefighters in the town of Grudziadz reportedly tried to save the dog, but were unable to reach him when the river's ice sheets shifted, the AP reported.

Baltic's thick fur kept him from suffering any frostbite, and a veterinarian declared him in surprisingly good shape. He's now warm and happy in the port city of Gdynia. A number of people have come forward to claim the dog, but the Baltica crew were skeptical when the friendly pup didn't show any signs of recognizing his supposed owners. For now, the crew are hanging onto Baltic in hopes that his real owners will turn up soon.

If not, the research team is prepared to adopt the adventurous seafaring dog for good.

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]]>balticdogfloeicepolandseavistulaKirsten TaylorMon, 01 Feb 2010 13:00:00 ESTASPCA's Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2009http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/28/aspcas-top-10-pet-poisons-of-2009/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/28/aspcas-top-10-pet-poisons-of-2009/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/28/aspcas-top-10-pet-poisons-of-2009/#commentsFiled under:

Flickr/BigTallGuy

Sometimes it seems like our trouble-making pets will eat anything. Their hoovering ability comes in handy when you spill chicken soup on the floor (tongues being just as good as mops). But unfortunately, it's all too easy for our pets to get into substances that can harm them.

The ASPCA Poison Control Center recently released a list of the top 10 poisons that affected cats and dogs in 2009. So take note, and be sure keep these toxic substances far away from your pets in 2010!

Human Medicines
Human drugs were the top cause of pet poisoning in 2009, the ASPCA reported. Last year, the Poison Control Center managed more than 45,000 calls from people whose pets had swallowed pills such as pain relievers, cold meds and antidepressants.

Insecticides
One of the most common insecticide problems was misuse of flea and tick products. Make sure to talk to your vet about how to properly use these products.

Human Food
Most people know chocolate is dangerous to dogs. But did you know that grapes, raisins, avocados and products containing xylitol (like sugar-free gum and candy) can also be harmful to your pets?

Plants
Dozens of common houseplants, including azaleas, rhododendrons, sago palm and kalanchoe are dangerous for pets. Lilies are particularly toxic for cats, and can cause deadly kidney failure.

Vet Medicines
Almost 8,000 cases of pet poisonings in 2009 involved pets that were given medicines incorrectly. Make sure you follow instructions and talk to your vet about how to safely apply over-the-counter and prescription medicines for your cat or dog.

Continue reading ASPCA's Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2009

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]]>aspcaCatsAndDogsdogsinsecticidesmedicineplantspoisontoxicxylitolKirsten TaylorThu, 28 Jan 2010 15:00:00 ESTPetSmart Employee Fired for Bringing Dog to Workhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/petsmart-employee-fired-for-bringing-dog-to-work/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/petsmart-employee-fired-for-bringing-dog-to-work/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/petsmart-employee-fired-for-bringing-dog-to-work/#commentsFiled under:

Flickr/Dan4th

PetSmart encourages customers to bring their pets to the store when they shop. But when it comes to employees' pets? Not so much.

PetSmart gave New Jersey resident Eric Favetta the axe after he brought his 3-year-old Belgian malinois, Gizmo, to work with him one night, the (Newark) Star-Ledger reported.

According to the Star-Ledger, Favetta, a former dog handler at military units in Afghanistan and Bahrain, had worked as an operations manager at PetSmart since July 2008. Last spring, because of his success cleaning up the Wayne, N.J., store, he was transferred to the busy Seacaucus, N.J., store to help make improvements.

One night in December, PetSmart staff asked Favetta to work a special overnight shift to get the store spiffed up for a viewing the following day by potential business partners. "I brought my dog with me because I knew if I didn't, he would have been home alone all day and all night until I returned home at 6 a.m. the next day," Favetta told the Star-Ledger.

Favetta put Gizmo in the store's empty daycare facility and got to work. Two weeks later, he was fired for "theft of service."

PetSmart spokeswoman Jessica White told the Star-Ledger that the daycare service is an item the company charges for, just like the toys and treats on the store shelves. Using the facilities for free, she said, qualified as theft.

Continue reading PetSmart Employee Fired for Bringing Dog to Work

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]]>dogsfavettafirefoxnew jerseyNewJerseypetsmartworkoutKirsten TaylorFri, 22 Jan 2010 14:00:00 ESTPoll Asks America: Dogs or Cats?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/19/poll-asks-america-dogs-or-cats/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/19/poll-asks-america-dogs-or-cats/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/19/poll-asks-america-dogs-or-cats/#commentsFiled under: ,

Flickr/hoangnam_nguyen

A new Associated Press/Petside.com poll asked 1,967 people, including 1,166 with pets, how they feel about pooches and kitties. And the results are in. Seventy-four percent of adults surveyed said they liked dogs a lot, while only 41 percent said they liked cats a lot, the AP reported.

On the flip side, 15 percent of the respondents said they disliked cats a lot, compared to just 2 percent of people who dislike dogs a lot.

The results stirred up heated reactions among pet owners. "Cats are "nasty, stinking creatures," Mark David of Warrensburg, Mo., told the AP. "Cats are 1,000 times smarter than dogs," Bonnie Hanson, of Sioux Falls, S.D., countered in the AP article.

Here at Paw Nation, we're equal-opportunity pet lovers. But we have a theory about why dogs came out on top. In our experience, cats are more likely to bond with one or two people, while most dogs will wag their tails for almost anyone willing to rub their bellies. It's easy for non-dog owners to witness the canine's cute side. But unless you've lived with a cat, you haven't truly appreciated that unique feline charm.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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]]>APcatsdislikedogslikepollKirsten TaylorTue, 19 Jan 2010 15:00:00 ESTFDA Warning: Salmonella Found in Dog Treatshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/15/fda-warning-salmonella-found-in-dog-treats/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/15/fda-warning-salmonella-found-in-dog-treats/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/15/fda-warning-salmonella-found-in-dog-treats/#commentsFiled under: ,

Majorvols/Flickr

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning pet owners not to feed their dogs Merrick Beef Filet Squares after routine tests detected salmonella in the treats.

Tests conducted in December first showed evidence of salmonella in the dog treats produced by Merrick Pet Care. Follow-up inspections found problems with both the manufacture and packaging of the snacks, the FDA reports. Yesterday, the agency issued a warning recommending dog owners steer clear of the Beef Filet Squares with a package date reading "Best By 111911."

Dogs that contract salmonella infections can be sluggish and suffer from diarrhea, vomiting and fever, though some infected pets may only experience a decreased appetite. Humans are also susceptible to the illness, and could become infected if they don't wash their hands thoroughly after handling the infected treat, the FDA warns.

So far, no illnesses linked to the treats have been reported in dogs or humans. If you or your dog experience symptoms of salmonella, contact your doctor or veterinarian immediately.

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]]>dogfdamerricksalmonellatreatKirsten TaylorFri, 15 Jan 2010 14:00:00 ESTKitten Born Without Feet Needs a Homehttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/13/kitten-born-without-feet-needs-a-home/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/13/kitten-born-without-feet-needs-a-home/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/13/kitten-born-without-feet-needs-a-home/#commentsFiled under: ,



When a litter of kittens was born in Boston recently, all quickly found homes -- except one. Nubbins, who was born without hind feet, was surrendered to the MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center.

Nubbins was placed in foster care for several weeks, where he learned to walk on his malformed limbs, according to an MSPCA-Angell press release.

Now Nubbins needs a permanent home. His ideal home will be fully carpeted, since hard surfaces would be hazardous to his tender back legs. And his future adopters will need to have regular visits with a veterinarian who can keep a close eye on Nubbins' legs as he grows.

MSPCA-Angell staff are optimistic he'll find a loving home. "We care for thousands of homeless animals every year and we frequently encounter those with special needs," Meagan Rock, director of the MSPCA Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center, said in the news release.

Despite his special situation, Nubbins is a typical kitten. "This was something he was born with," Rock told Boston's WHDH News. "It's a deformity that he has and he overcomes all the time. He loves to play."

Here's hoping adorable little Nubbins finds his new home soon.

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]]>adoptionbostoncatfeetmissingmspcanubbinsKirsten TaylorWed, 13 Jan 2010 17:00:00 ESTDo Dog Genes Hold Clues to Human Disease?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/11/do-dog-genes-hold-clues-to-human-disease/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/11/do-dog-genes-hold-clues-to-human-disease/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/11/do-dog-genes-hold-clues-to-human-disease/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Flickr/pato_garza

Four years ago, scientists decoded the canine genome. Already that research is beginning to pay off -- not only for our four-legged friends, but for human medicine, too.

A team of scientists from Tufts University, the Broad Institute and the University of Massachusetts Medical Center recently zeroed in on a gene in Doberman pinschers that's associated with compulsive behavior like licking and pacing, the Boston Globe reported. Now researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health are taking a close look at that same gene in humans with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Compulsive behaviors are common in certain dog breeds, according to a news article on the Broad Institute's Web site. Bull terriers can chase their tails repeatedly. Compulsive Dobermans may lick or suck their flanks until they develop bleeding and skin infections. "It really is a hindrance for other normal activity and it often doesn't stop at bodily harm," Broad Institute scientist Kerstin Lindblad-Toh said in the article.

To get to the root of the abnormal behavior, the research team took DNA samples from 150 Dobermans, some of which showed compulsive behaviors. They then scanned the dogs' genomes and singled out a gene called CDH2 that seems to be linked to the condition, the Broad Institute reported.

Understanding the genetic basis of compulsive behavior could someday lead to treatments for dogs -- and perhaps for people with OCD, which affects some 2.2 million American adults, according to the Boston Globe.

Continue reading Do Dog Genes Hold Clues to Human Disease?

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]]>diseasedobermandoggeneshumanmedicineOCDKirsten TaylorMon, 11 Jan 2010 17:00:00 ESTTarantula Hairs Can Damage Eyeshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/07/tarantula-hairs-can-damage-eyes/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/07/tarantula-hairs-can-damage-eyes/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/07/tarantula-hairs-can-damage-eyes/#commentsFiled under:

Flickr/Furryscaly

Think pet tarantulas are super creepy? Then brace yourself for this next report. Doctors are warning spider owners to protect their peepers after a 29-year-old man in Leeds, England, suffered eye damage when his pet Chilean rose tarantula blasted tiny hairs into his face, Live Science reported.

The unlucky arachnophile had been suffering from a red, stinging, light-sensitive right eye for three weeks when he visited a Leeds hospital last February. Antibiotics didn't clear up the problem, so doctors took a closer look. Under magnification, they discovered tiny hairy projections lodged in his cornea, Fox News reported.

That's when it clicked. The man remembered that he'd been cleaning his tarantula's tank when the spider got spooked, releasing a "mist of hairs." Chilean roses, like some other tarantulas, are known to kick hairs off their abdomens toward potential attackers as a defense mechanism, according to Wikipedia. The barbed hairs, called "urticating hairs," lodge in the skin and eyes and cause irritation.

According to Live Science, the man was treated with topical steroids and his eye irritation eventually cleared up. The hairs, however, are too tiny to be removed, and might well be stuck in his eyeball forever. (*shudder*)

The case was unusual enough that it was written up in the medical journal "The Lancet", and the man's doctors are now advising eye protection for anyone handling tarantulas.

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]]>chilean roseChileanRoseeyehairsmisttarantulaKirsten TaylorThu, 07 Jan 2010 15:00:00 ESTCat Rescued After Spending a Week in a 75-Foot Treehttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/06/cat-rescued-after-spending-a-week-in-a-75-foot-tree/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/06/cat-rescued-after-spending-a-week-in-a-75-foot-tree/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/06/cat-rescued-after-spending-a-week-in-a-75-foot-tree/#commentsFiled under: ,



A Louisiana cat is kicking off 2010 with all four feet on the ground, after having spent more than a week stranded atop a 75-foot tree, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.

Residents in the town of Slidell first noticed the cat in the boughs and tried to lure him from the tree, but to no avail. He'd been there at least eight days before Beau Gast, an investigator from the Humane Society of Louisiana, and Ron Hastings, owner of a local tree service, showed up to rescue the high-flying feline. After a 45-minute rescue operation, Hastings finally collected the frightened cat and lowered him to safety, The Times-Picayune reported.

The male cat, about 18 months old, was taken to Lakeshore Veterinary Hospital and Pet Lodge in nearby Mandeville. He was dehydrated and had some superficial wounds on his head and face, which looked to be about a week old, Lakeshore veterinarian Lee Capone told Paw Nation.

"My guess is he might have gotten into an incident. Maybe he was chased by dogs and ran up the tree," Capone said.

Capone and his team treated and neutered the cat. "Today he's doing fine," Capone assured Paw Nation.

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]]>catLouisianatreeweekWhodatKirsten TaylorWed, 06 Jan 2010 15:00:00 ESTDog Survives Freak Tongue-Swelling Incidenthttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/06/dog-survives-freak-tongue-swelling-incident/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/06/dog-survives-freak-tongue-swelling-incident/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/06/dog-survives-freak-tongue-swelling-incident/#commentsFiled under: ,

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That's a freakishly large tongue! A tasty snack of pig's heart (yum!) nearly killed Penny, an 18-year-old dog from Scotland, when a membrane from the pig's aorta became wrapped around the base of her tongue, the (U.K.) Metro reported.

The aorta cut off blood supply to the tongue, leading it to swell to four times its normal size. The elderly dog could easily have suffocated or died from a blood infection as parts of the tongue died from lack of blood. Fortunately her owner, Linda Donnelly, rushed Penny to a Glasgow vet hospital as soon as she saw the ghoulish tongue dangling from the dog's mouth.

Penny had eaten the pig heart hours before the incident, Donnelly told the Metro, so at first she had no idea what the problem was. But once the dog was put under anesthesia, the vets spotted the fibrous aorta membrane wound around the base of her tongue and were able to cut it free, the Metro reported.

"When [the vet] told us what had happened I felt awful. She has them as a treat now and again but I never for one moment thought anything like this could have happened," Donnelly told the Metro. "Pigs hearts are now completely off the menu."

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]]>aortadogheartpigswelltongueKirsten TaylorWed, 06 Jan 2010 13:00:00 ESTWhat to Do If Your Pet Is Afraid of Fireworkshttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/31/what-to-do-if-your-pet-is-afraid-of-fireworks/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/31/what-to-do-if-your-pet-is-afraid-of-fireworks/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/31/what-to-do-if-your-pet-is-afraid-of-fireworks/#commentsFiled under:

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It's that time of year: champagne cocktails, "Auld Lang Syne" and, in many neighborhoods, the bangs and booms of celebratory fireworks.

About one in five dogs experience noise phobia, animal behavior consultant Jo Jacques, owner of dog behavior consulting company Wigglebums, told Paw Nation. Cats aren't quite as sensitive as dogs, she said, but plenty of kitties have been known to run and hide when firecrackers are exploding outside the windows. Fortunately, Jacques explained, there are steps you can take to keep your nervous pet happy on New Year's Eve, or anytime noise is an issue.

First, figure out how severe the problem is, Jacques says. Cats usually hide when they're scared, but dogs can react in a number of ways. "When does the dog start to get upset? Where does the dog go when it storms or when the fireworks start? What does the dog do, exactly?"

Some dogs might tremble a bit, while others pant, cry, pee on the floor or hide in the closet. If the problem is severe, you might want to call in a behavior consultant or talk to your vet about anti-anxiety medications. Even mild noise phobias should be addressed, Jacques said, since such fears often get worse over time. She suggested some steps that owners can try on their own.

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]]>dogsfireworksNoiseCancellingscared of needlesScaredOfNeedlesKirsten TaylorThu, 31 Dec 2009 15:00:00 ESTCrafty Octopi Use Coconut Toolshttp://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/22/crafty-octopuses-use-coconut-tools/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/22/crafty-octopuses-use-coconut-tools/http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/22/crafty-octopuses-use-coconut-tools/#commentsFiled under:



Scientists in Australia discovered an Indonesian octopus that builds shelters from discarded coconut shells, the Associated Press reported. The veined octopus selects choice coconut halves, cleans them out, and carries them as far as 65 feet across the seafloor. Then the octopus climbs inside one shell and pulls another over its head, forming its own private pod.

Octopuses already have a history of crafty behavior. They can eerily mimic other sea creatures, like flounders and coral, to avoid being eaten by predators. They have been known to unscrew jars of food using their rubbery legs. Captive octopuses even appear to play with toys tossed into their tanks, as a Slate.com article reported last year.

To scientists, the coconut-carrying octopus is more than just another cool cephalopod story. It's the first example of tool use by an invertebrate.

Sure, critters like hermit crabs and even other octopuses are known to hide inside empty seashells and discarded objects. But this octopus does something more sophisticated: It plans ahead, cleaning out the coconut shells and carrying them around so that it can build a hideaway later on. That counts as tool use, Australian researcher Julian Finn, of the Museum Victoria in Melbourne, said in an interview with the AP.

"I was gobsmacked," Finn told the AP. "I mean, I've seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I've never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh."

What's next for these eight-legged Einsteins? Another few million years of evolution, and maybe they'll have moved on to making piña coladas.

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]]>australiacoconutindonesiaoctopustoolsKirsten TaylorTue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST