Animals Unfolded

Toys and play are a big part of life with pets, and I'm sure that my household is no different than yours — assorted pet toys, especially dog toys strewn about the house. When mine was a two-dog household, before my Labrador passed last year, it was clear that he and my now 15-year-old St. Bernard/shepherd mix, Gretchen, had different play styles. Fast forward to now, and things haven't changed much. Gretchen has more toys than ever, and it's not for her being spoiled: with her arthritis ever-advancing, mobility that is changing and a mind that is impeccably sharp, it's important to me that she have the opportunity to use her mental skills and retain as much of her physical ability as possible. She still loves her food puzzles, chew toys and though the occasional tennis ball isn't high on her list, it's hard to ignore the sparkle in her eyes when she was first presented with a "fresh" one. Yes, even in her twilight Gretchen continues to be an ardent ne...

Enrichment and playtime is crucial for pets, but during these colder months, it can be a challenge to keep our canine friends occupied. Indoor games can be devised or purchased, but having as many ideas on hand is surely helpful to both dogs and humans.  I'm always looking for fun ideas to employ with my charges and my now-15 year old pooch, Gretchen, (who cannot play games like fetch as well, due to arthritis) no matter the weather, and one came my way this week by way of a friend, Mary Bilyeu who lives in Toledo. Food puzzles are a great way to engage a dog's mind as well as their body, and although there are plenty on the market, they can be pricey. Understandably, that can make buying them prohibitive for some families, but it doesn't mean that a dog needs to miss out on some serious fun. Why not make a food puzzle? I'm a fan of putting resources where are they are most needed in the household, so whenever I can upcycle, recycle or repurpose an item ( cl...

Connecticut-based Oma's Pride  has initiated a voluntary recall of one of it's products, Purr Complete Poultry Feline Meal as it may be contaminated with Salmonella. There have been no reported illnesses related to the product. These types of recalls reiterate two important points when handling pet consumables: the need for safe handling and handwashing techniques , and saving the UPC code information from product packaging . Salmonella, also referred to as salmonellosis , causes digestive problems, and dogs will typically present with fever, diarrhea, vomiting and weakness. Other symptoms can occur. Salmonella can affect other animals —  not just the dogs who consume the treats. There is risk to humans just the same, from handling contaminated pet products. People handling dry pet food and/or treats can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the food or any surfaces...

Dogs have long been used to work alongside humans, and one of the oldest ways is in herding sheep.  In order for the effort to be successful, there are two simple concepts that are in place. Sheep, by their nature as a prey species, employ what is called the " selfish herd theory ": putting something — in this case, other members of the herd — between themselves and a threat, thusly making every effort to move toward the center of the group.  Herding dogs capitalize on the "selfish herd theory" to bring the sheep together and manipulate them to be where they want. With a joint effort on the part of researchers from Swansea University, Uppasala University, University of London and University of Cambridge were eager to learn how dogs bred for this purpose get the cooperation of the sheep, but their interest went a little further than that. The researchers are hoping that the knowledge gleaned from the study might be able to facilitate new ways that ...

The sensory systems of animals play a crucial role in the way that each animal interacts, whether that is intraspecifically (as in locating a mate or fighting over food) or interspecifically, where animals of different species might compete for resources, like light, or if they are engaged in a predator-prey interaction. The latter is a good example of how the limitations of sensory systems work within the construct of different species: having the ability to track fast-moving objects like prey, or avoid being an unwitting target becomes essential. Sensory limitations and spacial acuity in animals have been studied before, but the temporal resolution at which the information that an animal perceives hasn't garnered as much scrutiny. The way that animals process information over fine time scales is basic to how they survive in their habitat. Researchers from the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and Universities of Edinburg and St. Andrews set out t...

Pain management has come a long way in terms of our companion animals, and it's a three-fold approach: anticipating pain (post-surgically, as an example), accessing any level of pain and of course alleviating it via prescription medication or nonpharmacologic techniques. We know that the neural pathways and neurotransmitters of animals and humans are similar, so it's safe to say that we experience pain in much the same way. That said, we are able to manage pain for pets using some (not all) of the same medications, however not all drugs are created equal, as they metabolize and affect dogs and cats differently and can even be toxic. For that reason, they are used under the direction of a veterinary doctor. We partner with vets in managing our pet's health, but accessing if an animal is in pain — not to mention the intensity of their discomfort — can be tough, given the obvious language barrier. It's really up to us humans to be vigilant and decipher what we see as b...

Pet rabbits often live out healthy lives so long as they get diligent care, but they can present with an occasional illness or injury, just like any other pet. Rabbit owners can find one symptom especially disconcerting: seeing their delicate companion present with a head tilted sideways (which can sometimes accompanied by disorientation, rolling or even not able to move about at all). Though the causes of what is referred to as "head tilt" can be numerous, the good news is that most often can be treated successfully and your furry friend can go about their business. The key in getting there is getting to the bottom of why head tilt is occurring. But first, it's important to understand that head tilt, or torticollis, is not a disease in itself, only a symptom of a problem in the vestibular (or balance system). Just as in humans, this is comprised of things like the inner ear, the Central Nervous System (CNS), and even the extremities — rabbits use their sense of to...