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Study: Classical music de-stresses dogs   Classical music might be the best way to calm an anxious pooch, a new study finds. Lead author Lori Kogan of Colorado State University found that Mozart, Beethoven and the like may reduce stress in dogs, according to a study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. The study found that classical music was more soothing than “psychoacoustic” music or specially-made Pet CDs that were designed to calm animals. Kogan said the study may be helpful for the welfare of animals in stressful shelter environments. “Social isolation or restriction, a major stresser for many dogs,…

It’s about time….Dr. Sakas   1st national monument for war dogs honors four-legged pup soldiers of World War II and beyond Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc./ Associated Press ) – This undated publicity photo provided by John Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc., shows the frontal view of the U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. It is the first national monument ever to pay tribute to dogs and honors every dog who has served in combat since World War II. By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, October 30, 10:45 AM LOS ANGELES — The act of Congress is in the books, the bills are paid,…

Dog Yawns – A Learned Behavior?  From the AVMA Pet Health SmartBrief    Puppies Learn to Catch Yawns As They Grow Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer This Hungarian Vizsla is either really sleepy or just spied its owner yawning. Watching someone else yawn can be a one-way ticket to doing the same. Now, research finds that the same is true for dogs — but not puppies. In fact, dogs become more susceptible to the contagion of yawning as they age, a pattern that holds true for human children, as well. Kids begin to yawn in response to seeing others yawn…

Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated To paraphrase the famous quote by Mark Twain, when he was erroneously reported as dead, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” So too, I have to respond to rumors/innuendos of my own demise of sorts. Let me explain. I was at the TASC (The Avicultural Society of Chicago) Expo this spring. Typically, I will do a question /answer session and sometimes a lecture at the show. As I was at the question /answer booth, several people came up to me, acting like they were surprised to see me and said…

Some statistics about dog bites and their cost. (From Veterinary Practice News July 2012)   Dogs vs. People State Farm Insurance, reported its top ten states for dog bite claims in 2011.   Rank                        State                 Number of Claims                               Claims Paid (# of Claims)                                                                                                    (Estimated)   1                                California                   527                                                $20.3 million 2                                Illinois                        309                                                $10.0 million 3                                Texas                         219                                                $5.1 million 4                                Ohio                          215                                                $5.4 million 5                                Pennsylvania              197                                                $4.9 million 6                                Michigan                   181                                                 $7.0 million 7                                Florida                      157                                                 $5.1 million 8                                Indiana                      139                                                 $3.5 million 9                                New York                 133                                                 $6.1 million 10                              Minnesota                 117                                                  $3.5 million…

An article I had written which is very topical. Feel free to share it with friends and family. Halloween Hazards for Your Pets Peter S. Sakas DVM Niles Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center 7278 N. Milwaukee Ave. Niles, IL 60714 Ph. 847-647-9325 FAX 847-647-8498 www.nilesanimalhospital.com Halloween is a holiday that is great fun. Through the years more and more people have really become involved with extensive decorations in and around the house. In addition, there is the candy and trick or treating. Candy is around the house in bowls for the trick or treaters as well as the candy…

From the AVMA Pet health SmartBrief Pet food company recalls dog treats that could be contaminated with salmonella By Associated Press, Published: October 13 TRENTON, N.J. — A pet food company is voluntarily recalling dog treats that could be contaminated with salmonella. Nature’s Recipe announced Saturday the recall of a limited supply of its “Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken,” which were manufactured at its plant in Topeka, Kan., and distributed nationally — primarily through pet specialty retailers. The company says the product has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella, which can affect animals eating the products and…

From the AVMA_ Dog Bite Prevention Dog Bite Emergencies If you are bitten by a dog, here is a checklist of things you should do: If the dog’s owner is present, request proof of rabies vaccination, and get the owner’s name and contact information. Clean bite wound with soap and water as soon as possible. Consult your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if it’s after office hours. Contact the dog’s veterinarian to check vaccination records. Did you know that … 4.7 million people in this country are bitten by dogs every year children are by far the…

From the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) NEWStat:   Vets can help researchers learn about human-to-pet flu transmission  Humans can transmit the flu to their pets – that much is known. But how often does it happen, and what are the potential big-picture consequences for pets and humans? Those are the tough questions that Christiane Loehr, Dr. med. Vet., PhD, is seeking to answer. Loehr, an assistant professor and pathologist for Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says “reverse zoonosis” probably happens more often than people might think. Infections may be underreported because pets exhibiting flu symptoms are often…

This article was from the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Animal Health SmartBrief. Very interesting and it could explain the strange behavior of older cats. Cognitive dysfunction is already recognized in dogs, but the Alzheimer’s link has not been verified in them yet. Hopefully, as they study this phenomenon more closely, it can help in the discovery of a cure/prevention. There are some many theories that abound about the cause……..hopefully, researching the condition in other animals will find out the cause. That Cranky Old Cat May Have Alzheimer’s Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center That incessant meowing and aimless walk in the…