April 3, 2013
March 30, 2013
Giant Panda Artificially Inseminated At National Zoo
Mei Xiang, a giant panda at the National Zoo in Washington, was artificially inseminated today, after natural attempts at breeding failed. A team of scientists and veterinarians performed the insemination using a mixture of fresh and frozen semen provided by Tian Tian, the male panda at the zoo.
“We are hopeful that our breeding efforts will be successful this year, and we’re encouraged by all the behaviors and hormonal data we’ve seen so far,” Dave Wildt, head of the Center for Species Survival at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute said. “We have an extremely small window of opportunity to perform the procedures, which is why we monitor behavior and hormones so closely.”
A second insemination will most likely take place later on today. You can read more about the giant Pandas and watch the live Panda cam on the National Zoo website. (Note: the panda cams may be offline today due to the insemination procedures but should be back online on Sunday)
Natura Pet Expands Recall Of Dry Pet Foods Due To Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release – March 29, 2013 - Natura Pet
Products is voluntarily expanding its recall of dry pet food because it
has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No
Salmonella-related illnesses have been confirmed to date
Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.
Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Sampling conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella in additional dry cat food and a cat pet treat. In an abundance of caution, Natura is also recalling product made in the surrounding timeframe. This affects dry foods only; no canned wet food Is affected by this announcement.
The affected products are sold through veterinary clinics and select pet specialty retailers nationwide and in Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Costa Rica, as well as online.
The dry cat food expiration dates for this expanded recall range from 1/1/2014to 3/24/2014. The dry cat treats have expiration dates from 7/1/13 to 9/27/13. Consumers who have purchased thesepet foods should discard them.
For additional information, and a complete list of recalled products, consumers may visit http://www.naturapet.com/recall.
For further information or a product replacement or refund call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123.(Monday –Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM CST).
Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.
Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Sampling conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella in additional dry cat food and a cat pet treat. In an abundance of caution, Natura is also recalling product made in the surrounding timeframe. This affects dry foods only; no canned wet food Is affected by this announcement.
The affected products are sold through veterinary clinics and select pet specialty retailers nationwide and in Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Costa Rica, as well as online.
The dry cat food expiration dates for this expanded recall range from 1/1/2014to 3/24/2014. The dry cat treats have expiration dates from 7/1/13 to 9/27/13. Consumers who have purchased thesepet foods should discard them.
For additional information, and a complete list of recalled products, consumers may visit http://www.naturapet.com/recall.
For further information or a product replacement or refund call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123.(Monday –Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM CST).
March 29, 2013
Oil Change Leads To Kitty Rescue
A routine oil change turned into a kitty rescue operation for one Nebraska driver and one lucky cat
March 28, 2013
March 26, 2013
These Elephants Live In Luxury
The elephants at the Smithsonian National Zoo have a new home and what a home it is! Here are some pictures of their new enclosure. Learn more about their new enclosure and see more pictures from an elephants point of view on their website.
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| Here is the sand-filled Elephant Community Center. Here they find fresh cut bamboo, a new toy hanging from the scratching post, and a splash pool equipped with a foot pedal that allows the elephants to activate an overhead shower. The skylights allow for natural light to filter into the enclosure. |
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| Shanthi is carrying her favorite toy into the community area of the enclosure. |
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| One of three pools in the new enclosure. This one is shallow and safer for older elephants and young calves. The other two pools are deeper and perfect for swimming and community bathing. |
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| The elephants even have their own walking trail. The Elephant Trails trek is a one-of-a-kind 1/2 mile path that winds around a hill and overlooks American Trail. Here you see Shanthi foraging the vegetation that runs along the side of the trail. |
March 23, 2013
Dog Has His Own Seeing Eye Dog
CNN photojournalist John Torigoe introduces you to Issac, a blind dog, and his friend Isabella who guides him.
source: YouTube
March 22, 2013
March 21, 2013
Panda Cub Gets Cold Feet
San Diego Zoo's baby panda, Xiao Liwu, got to experience snow for the first time on Tuesday. When he first came out into his enclosure, he was a little hesitant but Mama Bai Yun went right for the snow as soon as she saw it. It didn't take long for little Wu to figure out just how much fun the snow can be. After 30 minutes of romping in the snow with momma, he was all tuckered out and slept for the next 2 hours.
source: San Diego Zoo
March 19, 2013
March 17, 2013
March 16, 2013
Medical Marijuana For Pets?
We have all heard of the benefits of medical marijuana. It can and is used successfully to treat many health disorders, with historical evidence dating all the way back to 2737 BC. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs of traditional Chinese medicine. It is prescribed for a broad range of indications and can be used for nausea and pain relief, and as an appetite stimulant.
After all these years of proven success, more states are now allowing the medical use of marijuana for human use. But if it's helpful for humans, wouldn't it also be helpful to animals who are going through cancer treatments or suffering from any number of illnesses affecting their quality of life? Dr. Doug Kramer, a California veterinarian thinks so and his mission is to improve pets' quality of life by outlining safe and effective marijuana dosing guidelines.
Dogster.com - Medical marijuana for dogs?
March 15, 2013
Leafcutter Ants Get Shamrocks For St Patrick's Day
Leafcutter ants received tiny candy shamrocks as an enrichment activity at the Saint Louis Zoo's Monsanto Insectarium. Stop by the Insectarium on St. Patrick's Day to see ants on parade!
Female worker ants cut and carry leaves and other organic matter, often several times larger than their body size, high over their heads to the "fungus garden" in their nest. The garden ultimately produces a source of food for the queen and the rest of the colony.
Zookeepers vary the types of matter offered to the ants on a daily basis, which can include fruits and vegetables, plant leaves and flowers. Ants would come across nectar and other sugary items in their environment, and the candy shamrocks are a fun and visual way for our visitors to observe and learn about behaviors of these tiny invertebrates.
The Zoo provides enrichment activities for all animals from the largest to the smallest. These activities encourage the animals to forage and investigate their environment.
For more information on leaf cutter ants, visit The St Louis Zoo
March 13, 2013
March 12, 2013
March 11, 2013
More Pet Food Recalls
Click on the links for detailed information about each recall
- March 10, 2013 Premium Edge, Diamond Naturals and 4health Dry Cat Food Formulas Voluntarily Recalled Due to Possibility of Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Low level of thiamine (Vitamin B1)
- March 07, 2013 Diggin’ Your Dog Recalls Strippin' Chicks Pet Treats Distributed in Colorado and Nevada Due to Possible Salmonella Hazard Salmonella
- March 07, 2013 Steve’s Real Food Recalls Turducken Canine Recipe Patties Because of Possible Health Risk Salmonella
- March 05, 2013 Cargill’s animal nutrition business conducts voluntary recall of select mineral product used in ruminant feed Deficient in vitamin A, D, and E
Wild Gorilla Is Reunited With the Man Who Saved Him
What does a billionaire casino owner have in common with a wild gorilla? That sounds like it could be the opening line of a cheeky joke, but in actuality, what they have in common is a very heartfelt bond.
Damian Aspinall may be a billionaire casino owner, but he's also the founder of The Aspinall Foundation, a conservancy group dedicated to supporting global wildlife. Among its myriad conservancy projects, its most outstanding endeavor may be that it rehabilitates and reintroduces once captive gorillas back into the wild.
For Aspinall, one of those gorillas in particular, a youngster named Kwibi, captured his heart. The conservationist personally raised the animal for several years before setting him free in the Foundation's million-acre reserve in West Africa.
Five years later, Aspinall traveled back to Africa in order to check on Kwibi, who was now a fully-grown adult.
The following video shows their touching reunion.
The following video shows their touching reunion.
What’s of particular note is that conservationists on the reserve warned Aspinall that Kwibi had previously attacked the last two people who came in contact with him.
Nonetheless, it’s clear that this gorilla viewed his former protector with a higher regard than he had towards other human beings. And more surprising than abstaining from an attack, showed an attachment to him even five years after their last meeting.
It's not unheard of for wild animals to form bonds with their protectors. Anna Julia Torres, a well-known animal conservationist in Columbia, often cuddles with the lions she keeps on her nature reserve. But Torres sees her animals daily, while Aspinall hasn't been a presence in Kwibi's life for some time.
The work of the Aspinall Foundation and others like it are crucial to gorillas' survival. These animals remain on the precipice of extinction due to the presence of so many man-made threats, not the least of which is rampant poaching.
Human industry continues to view them as things, commodities to be bought and sold, or simply discarded. But as we continue our destruction of gorilla populations unabated, videos like this one demonstrate that these creatures have their own internal lives—ones which are very much worth honoring and protecting.
The Aspinall Foundation
source: news.yahoo.com
March 8, 2013
The Most Helpful Dog Ever!
Meet Jesse. He's a great housecleaner!
I wonder if Jesse will come and clean my house?
source: JustJesse197
March 6, 2013
Woman Reunited With "Dead" Dog
A Denver woman gets the surprise of a lifetime after getting a call to pick up her dog she believed was dead
source: A Place To Love Dogs
March 5, 2013
March 4, 2013
Why I Otter...
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| Hey you guys!! |
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| I coulda had a V8! |
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| I wanna hold your hand.... |
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| Oh Noes! |
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| What?! I wasn't doing nothin'! |
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| Oh Hai! |
In other Otter news...Otters' penises are shrinking — and why yours might be too. Click to find out why.
picture source: the interwebs
story aource: TheWeek.com
March 2, 2013
March 1, 2013
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