SPAYING AND NEUTERING

Wow, is it possible that football season is back already? Well, sports fans, the NFL training camps all opened over the weekend...so, those of you who aren't baseball fans now have something to pick you up. As our regular readers here at Questions On Dogs and Cats know by now, Helpful Buckeye is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. It has been nice basking in the glow of the Super Bowl victory, but, as they say, it's a brand new season. As our readers also know, Helpful Buckeye lives in Flagstaff, AZ, where the Arizona Cardinals hold their training camp, on the campus of Northern Arizona University. Since the Cardinals played the Steelers in this last Super Bowl, and almost won the game, there has been a lot of interest in their practices. In past years, the crowds have numbered in the low hundreds, while this year, they've been in the 3000-4000 range. Helpful Buckeye has already been to two of the practices and the Cardinals do look like they might be for real. It's hard for me not to like them...their best player, Larry Fitzgerald, went to my undergraduate school (Pitt) and their #1 draft choice this year, Beanie Wells, went to Ohio State. Add to that the fact that most of their coaching staff has roots in the Steelers' system and you can see why they've become my second favorite team. There are a surprising number of Steeler fans out here in Arizona...I see their logos, license plates, shirts, and hats almost every day. The picture to the left is from the back yard of a house in my neighborhood, only 3 miles from the Cardinals training fields. I ran this next photo last year, but it still represents the spirit of NFL fanaticism.



Not very many readers voted in the polls this past week. The poll on Internet pharmacies revealed that most of you have not used one. The poll on Michael Vick and his dog-fighting conviction showed that most of you probably don't care whether or not he plays again in the NFL. Be sure to vote in this week's poll question in the left column...the more votes received, the better the results reflect our readers' feelings.

CURRENT NEWS OF INTEREST

Helpful Buckeye did receive quite a few e-mails this week about the American Humane Association's response to the Michael Vick situation. Most of you felt their President, Marie Belew Wheatley, gave a well-thought out response about their willingness to give Michael Vick a second chance. However, there were a few of you who wrote that he deserved NO second chance because the dogs never had a second chance. Now, the American Kennel Club has entered the discussion as well. Their Chairman, Ronald Menaker, and their President, Dennis Sprung, co-wrote a letter to the Commissioner of the NFL, asking him to NOT reinstate Michael Vick's playing privileges. You can read the text of their short letter at: http://www.akc.org/pdfs/press_center/LetterToFootballCommissioner.pdf

Then, the Humane Society of the United States weighed in with this response by their President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle: http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story=8d09fc74f54d20d16c14af3bdd09b79016a3c51a&rf=bm As you can see for yourself, opinions on this situation are all over the map. Helpful Buckeye feels that Mr. Pacelle's approach is probably the best scenario for all concerned. The dogs that died are not coming back to life and, if anything positive at all can come from this, the HSUS approach provides the best hope. On the video of Mr. Pacelle, continue watching and you will get to see the HSUS Anti-Dogfighting Training Camp program as it demonstrates some of its activities.

DISEASES, AILMENTS, AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS

This week's topic of SPAYING AND NEUTERING does not initially conjure up the idea of a disease, ailment, or medical condition. However, there are some medical considerations that come into the picture once in awhile after these procedures have been done. Several weeks ago, one of our new readers, Martine, from CA, sent an e-mail asking that we discuss spaying and neutering and any medical issues that might be associated with those procedures. So, Martine, this is for you and "Sugar."

For this week, Helpful Buckeye will discuss the actual surgical procedures, along with a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Next week, the discussion will cover the medical aspects of the benefits of this surgery as well as the potential negative effects.

From the AVMA:

Is there a pet population problem?

Yes, every year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens, are needlessly euthanized. The good news is that every pet owner can make a difference. By having your dog or cat surgically sterilized, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens and enhance your pet's health and quality of life.

What is surgical sterilization?

During surgical sterilization, a veterinarian removes certain reproductive organs. If your cat or dog is a female, the veterinarian will usually remove her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. The medical name for this surgery is an ovariohysterectomy, although it is commonly called "spaying." If your pet is a male, the testicles are removed and the operation is called an orchiectomy, commonly referred to as castration or simply "neutering."

While both spaying and neutering are considered major surgical procedures, they are also the most common surgeries performed by veterinarians on dogs and cats. Before the procedure, your pet is given a thorough physical examination to ensure that it is in good health. General anesthesia is administered during the surgery and medications can be given to minimize pain. You will be instructed to keep your pet calm and confined for several days after surgery until the incision begins to heal. After the surgery, there may be some discomfort, but this is a part of the normal healing process and can usually be controlled with various medications.

What is the best age to spay or neuter my pet?

Generally speaking, as early as possible. Most veterinarians recommend that a female be spayed BEFORE her first estrus or "heat" cycle, which usually occurs around 6 months of age (although this can be a little earlier in small breeds and a little later in the larger breeds). A male dog or a tomcat can be neutered at 6 months to a year of age. Consult with your veterinarian about the most appropriate time to spay or neuter your pet based on its breed, age, and physical condition. The best time to have this conversation would be during the 2-3 month age period while getting the puppy or kitten vaccinations. Some veterinarians are spaying and neutering pets as early as 4 months of age without any problems.

Is the operation expensive?

Professional fees for spaying and neutering reflect the difficulty of the procedures involved. The actual fee may vary from one area to another, depending largely on the economics of maintaining a veterinary hospital in a particular community. The size, age, sex, and health of your pet may also affect the cost of the surgery.

If the fee seems high, remember that surgical spaying or neutering is permanent. It's a life-time investment in your pet that can solve a number of problems for you, your pet, and a society already burdened with too many dogs and cats. In fact, it could save you money in the long run. The cost of boarding your female pet during just one or two "heat" cycles, for example, probably would pay for an ovariohysterectomy. This surgery can dramatically improve your pet's quality of life and prevent some behavior frustrations for you.

If you are still uncertain whether or not to proceed with the surgery, consider the expense to society of collecting and caring for all the unwanted, abused, or abandoned animals being house in shelters. Having your pet spayed or neutered is a part of responsible pet ownership.

Next week, we'll discuss the medical and behavioral benefits that can be gained from spaying or neutering your pets. We'll also address some of the common myths associated with spaying and neutering, in addition to discussing some of the potential detriments to the procedure.

Any comments, please send an e-mail to: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com or click on the word, Comment, at the end of this issue and leave your comment.

NON-MEDICAL CONCERNS

This past week, a press release got a lot of people's attention. This release detailed the account of a veterinary dentist using a laser to shorten the sharp teeth of a dog that had become a habitual biter. Take a few minutes to read this account and then think about where you would stand on this question. You'll be able to express your opinion in the poll question of the week in the left column. Go to: http://www.pawnation.com/2009/07/31/is-canine-disarming-the-solution-for-agressive-dogs/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl6link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2009%2F07%2F31%2Fis-canine-disarming-the-solution-for-agressive-dogs%2F

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

If this product is not available on the market, it should be! You can get almost anything else for your dog...why not something in their favorite scent?

GENERAL INTEREST

1) According to the folks at Petside.com, they asked 1110 pet-owning Americans whether they are pet friendly or pet frenzied. These pet owners responded that they have done these things with their pets:

• Taken them along on vacation--42%


• Included them in a family portrait--35%


• Included them in a holiday card--33%


• Taken them to work--17%


• Taken them places they're not allowed--16%

You can draw your own conclusions from these numbers, but Helpful Buckeye thinks pets are pretty well involved in our family's lives.

2) Speaking of being pet friendly, here's an article that asks the question, "Can a pet friendly hotel actually save you money?" Before you quickly answer, "No way," go to: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/27/can-a-pet-friendly-hotel-actually-save-you-money/

3) There were 2 interesting stories this week about dogs surviving falls of great height. The first one involved a Golden Retriever that ran off a 40-ft. cliff on the Isle of Wight (English Channel) and landed on the rocks below. His injuries and subsequent recovery make for a nice ending: http://www.pawnation.com/2009/07/28/miracle-dog-survives-40-foot-cliff-plummet/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl5link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fmiracle-dog-survives-40-foot-cliff-plummet%2F

4) The second story involving a dog falling a great distance originated with a New York City man feloniously throwing his dog off the roof of a 6-story apartment building. Like the dog in England, this one also suffered fractures to its front legs and is expected to do OK. For the rest of this story, go to: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/07/31/20090731dogthrownoffroof31-ON.html

How many of you would like to be on the jury for this case?

5) Helpful Buckeye has previously discussed some of the problems associated with feral cats: http://questionsondogsandcats.blogspot.com/2008/08/hot-august-night.html and http://questionsondogsandcats.blogspot.com/2008/08/raining-cats-and-dogs.html

Now, the subject of how to deal with thousands of feral cats has encompassed the Phoenix metropolitan area and this article from the Arizona Republic presents the considerations at hand: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/08/01/20090801feralcats0801.html

6) Also in Phoenix, a city parks employee has come up with an idea that is saving the city a lot of money: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/08/01/20090801phxdogbags0801.html

7) Questions On Dogs and Cats has covered the "Ugliest Dog" contest in California the last 2 years, but now, an "ugliest" dog has made the news in England. "E.T." has been in a dog rescue pound for months because he can't seem to attract an adopter. Read the story and decide if you'd like to adopt him: http://www.pawnation.com/2009/07/31/englands-ugliest-dog-cant-find-a-home/?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl5link4http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2009%2F07%2F31%2Fenglands-ugliest-dog-cant-find-a-home%2F

8) England seems to be pretty well represented in this week's stories, and this one is no exception. Casper, the cat, has been taking a free 11-mile bus ride every day for the last 4 years, unbeknownst to his owner. Read the details of Casper's escapades at: http://www.pawnation.com/

SPORTS NEWS

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves tonight to end their road trip at 3-4. Helpful Buckeye told you last Sunday that we would have a problem with St. Louis...and we did. Back home to Chavez Ravine Monday evening and some home cookin'....

PERSONAL STUFF

Holly, Helpful Buckeye really appreciates the way you always seem to hit the ground running on Monday morning. Your comment is almost always the first one in line and your feedback has been invaluable! Thanks....for you, from Voltaire, French philosopher and writer, who said, "Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."

Life is good...the fire-roasted Hatch chilis are back at the Farmers Market! I can smell them right now....

~~The goal of this blog is to provide general information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian. When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~

RAINING CATS AND DOGS...

The probable source of "raining cats and dogs" is the prosaic fact that, in the filthy streets of 17th/18th century England, heavy rain would occasionally carry along dead animals and other debris. The animals didn't fall from the sky, but the sight of dead cats and dogs floating by in storms could well have caused the coining of this colourful phrase. Jonathan Swift described such an event in his satirical poem 'A Description of a City Shower,' first published in the 1710 collection of the Tatler magazine. The poem was a denunciation of contemporary London society and its meaning has been much debated. While the poem is metaphorical and doesn't describe a specific flood, it seems that, in describing water-borne animal corpses, Swift was referring to an occurrence that his readers would have been well familiar with:
Now in contiguous Drops the Flood comes down, Threat'ning with Deluge this devoted Town....Now from all Parts the swelling Kennels flow, And bear their Trophies with them as they go: Filth of all Hues and Odours seem to tell What Street they sail'd from, by their Sight and Smell. They, as each Torrent drives, with rapid Force, From Smithfield or St. Pulchre's shape their Course, And in huge Confluent join'd at Snow-Hill Ridge, Fall from the Conduit, prone to Holbourn-Bridge. Sweeping from Butchers Stalls, Dung, Guts, and Blood, Drown'd Puppies, stinking Sprats, all drench'd in Mud, Dead Cats and Turnip-Tops come tumbling down the Flood.

WOW, did Helpful Buckeye get everyone's attention last week! Our "all cat" issue definitely aroused some comments. Most of your comments were positive, but a few came through with a slightly negative tone. A complimentary response from Charlie, in Indiana, read: "Thanks, Helpful Buckeye, for all the neat cat stuff. Most of it was new to me and very interesting!" Meanwhile, from an anonymous reader, came this: "OK...enough Cat stuff all ready...Time to get some more real animal stuff in the blog...like on DOGS!" What was that famous quotation about not being able to please ALL the people ALL the time...?

Helpful Buckeye is back this week with a potpourri of tales...and not just from cats!

CURRENT NEWS OF INTEREST

1) This unsettling news report comes from the AP: ST. LOUIS (Aug. 13) -- More than 360 domestic and farm animals, many of them emaciated, injured and suffering from mange and parasites, were rescued Tuesday from a filthy southwest Missouri property where they were hoarded and bred, authorities said.
The owner of the property was charged with child endangerment because six children, ages 1 to 11, also had been living in what authorities described as an unbelievable scene: 12 to 15 house trailers stacked to the ceilings with junk, trash and debris, crawling with cockroaches. The only water source was a bunch of garden hoses strung together.

"These homes are not fit for anyone to live in," human or animal, Polk County Sheriff Steve Bruce said. The 363 animals include more than 70 dogs and more than three dozen cats, plus donkeys, rabbits, ducks, chickens, and exotic fish. The Humane Society of Missouri and Polk County also found 12 to 15 dead rabbits, dogs, cats, and poultry.

It's really unfortunate that we continue to hear this kind of story from just about anywhere in the USA. It would be nice to think that we, as a culture, have risen above this type of abuse to animals, but it doesn't seem likely to happen. If any of our readers have any knowledge of this type of behavior, please do the right thing and report it to the proper local authorities. For more reading on this story from Missouri, go to: http://news.aol.com/article/more-than-360-animals-seized/130904?icid=200100397x1207324835x1200414182

2) Speaking of "our culture," there are cultural differences around the world that might seem a bit unusual to us, while being perfectly normal where they are observed. Such a story comes to us recently from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Capital Bans Dog-walking by Men, By Donna Abu-Nasr, ASSOCIATED PRESS


Every single man knows: Walking a dog in the park is a sure babe magnet. Saudi Arabia's Islamic religious police, in their zeal to keep the sexes apart, want to make sure the technique doesn't catch on here.
The solution: Ban selling dogs and cats as pets, as well as walking them in public. The prohibition went into effect yesterday in the capital, Riyadh, and authorities in the city say they will strictly enforce it -- unlike previous bans in the cities of Mecca and Jiddah, which have been ignored and failed to stop pet sales.
Violators found outside with their pets will have their beloved poodles and other furry companions confiscated by agents of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the official name of the religious police, tasked with enforcing Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic code. The commission's general manager, Othman al-Othman, said the ban was ordered because of what he called "the rising of phenomenon of men using cats and dogs to make passes at women and pester families" as well as "violating proper behavior in public squares and malls."
"If a man is caught with a pet, the pet will be immediately confiscated and the man will be forced to sign a document pledging not to repeat the act," al-Othman told the Al-Hayat newspaper. "If he does, he will be referred to authorities." The ban does not address women.
The Saudi-owned Al-Hayat announced the ban yesterday, saying it was ordered by the acting governor of Riyadh province, Prince Sattam, based on an edict from the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars and several religious police reports of pet owners harassing women and families. Commission authorities often do not formally announce to the public new rules that they intend to implement. Officials from the commission and Riyadh city government could not be reached for comment today, which is a weekend day in Saudi Arabia. The English-language Arab News reported on the ban today.
So far, the prohibition did not appear to have any effect in Riyadh. It's extremely rare, anyway, to see anyone in the capital walking a dog -- much less carrying a cat in public -- despite the authorities' claims of flirtatious young men luring girls with their pets in malls.
Salesmen at a couple of Riyadh pet stores said today they did not receive any orders from the commission banning the sale of pets. Cats and dogs were still on display.
"I didn't hear of the ban," said Yasser al-Abdullah, a 28-year-old Saudi nurse, who was at one pet store with his 3-month-old collie, Joe. Al-Abdullah, who also owns an 8-month-old Labrador, said a couple of Western friends had been told to get off the streets by the religious police for walking their dogs. "I won't allow the commission to take my dogs from me," he said.
There was no word whether commission authorities intend to expand the dog and cat ban beyond the capital. The prohibition may be more of an attempt to curb the owning of pets, which conservative Saudis view as a sign of corrupting Western influence, like the fast food, shorts, jeans and pop music that have become more common in the kingdom.
Although it has never been common to own pets in the Arab world, it's becoming increasingly fashionable among the upper class in Saudi Arabia and other countries such as Egypt.
In Islamic tradition, dogs are shunned as unclean and dangerous, though they are kept for hunting and guarding. In large cities around the Middle East, stray dogs are considered pests.
The ban on cats is more puzzling, since there's no similar disdain for them in Islamic tradition.
One of the Prophet Muhammad's closest companions was given the name Abu Huraira, Arabic for "the father of the kitten," because he always carried a kitten with him, and a number of traditional stories of the prophet show Muhammad encouraging people to treat cats well.

You can draw your own conclusions about this report, but there is no doubt about the "socialization" benefits enjoyed by dog walkers in the USA.

3) There has been another pet food recall. This week, August 13, Mars Petcare US voluntarily recalled a limited number of 52-pound PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites bags from limited Costco stores in Northern California and Nevada only, due to potential Salmonella contamination. Costco has notified all of its customers in Northern California and Nevada about this issue directly. Additionally, one hundred of the 20-pound bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, Albertsons locations were also recalled.

This problem with Salmonella contamination, first with tomatoes, then serrano peppers, now with dog food, has occupied our news headlines for most of the summer. Food-borne pathogens will be a topic for an upcoming issue of our blog.

4) Vote Now! Poodle and Wheaten Terrier Neck-and-Neck in Race for White House (OK, now that I have your attention, here's a news item that is somewhat on the humorous side of the news spectrum...what we call light, or fluff, news). Enjoy this report from the American Kennel Club, that delves into the "dog" aspects of the upcoming Presidential election: Less Than Two-Weeks Left to Cast Your Vote for The Best "Canine Candidate" for the Obama Family @ www.presidentialpup.com
The American Kennel Club® (AKC) reports a tight race between the Poodle and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in their poll to determine America's breed of choice for the Obama family. Preliminary results indicate that the Poodle is up by a (dog) hair, with just a few hundred votes separating the top two contenders. But, with 13 days until the polls officially close, the Miniature Schnauzer and Bichon Frise are still in the running. Cast your vote at www.presidentialpup.com before August 19, 2008.
AKC Midway Mark Polling Results On A Dog for Obama, August 6th, 2008Based on voting since site launch on July 2nd:
Candidate %
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
25%
Poodle
26%
Miniature Schnauzer
20%
Bichon Frise
19%
Chinese Crested
10%
The AKC launched www.presidentialpup.com after reports that – win or lose – the Obamas promised their two daughters a dog after the presidential election. "With 158 breeds registered by the AKC – each with its own unique temperament, coat type, size, energy level and appearance – we felt the Obamas' interest in getting a dog was an opportunity to underscore the many factors that go into deciding whether to acquire a dog, and into determining what characteristics match your lifestyle so that a successful match can be made," said Lisa Peterson, AKC spokesperson. "Every family is unique, but for the Obamas who have a daughter with allergies, a hypoallergenic breed with a very consistent and predictable coat is crucial. This factor informed our choices first and foremost but we also chose dogs that have affable temperaments."
Once the Obama family is ready, the AKC can assist them in responsibly acquiring a dog. The AKC's puppy buyer resource page at www.puppybuyerinfo.com offers links to responsible breeders who are members of AKC clubs as well as to affiliated breed rescue groups. For instance, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and Poodle National Breed Club web sites can be located at http://www.scwtca.org/rescue/rescuecontacts.htm and http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/usamap.htm.
The Obama family may be adding a dog to their household for the first time, but Republican nominee John McCain is ahead of the pack with 24 pets, including four dogs. Therefore, animal lovers may be ready to help him "fetch" the election. According to a recent Associated Press survey,"pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner."
"It's no surprise that presidents and other politicians love their dogs. Dogs give unconditional love and can even help reduce stress levels," added Lisa Peterson. "And, from an image standpoint, nothing humanizes a candidate more than seeing him lovingly dote on his pet."
Place your ballot online at www.presidentialpup.com before August 19, 2008. Check back on the site after August 25 for the announcement of the winning breed.

After reading this report and, perhaps, checking out the web sites listed, our readers can determine how important this issue will be for the upcoming election. In a future issue of the blog, Helpful Buckeye will provide a list of former "Presidential" pets.

DISEASES, AILMENTS, MEDICAL CONDITIONS

A medical condition that has been receiving a lot of justified attention lately is Methicillin-Resistant Staph aureus, more commonly known as "MRSA." It is normally associated with humans, antibiotic usage, and hospital settings. However, there are some valid concerns for pet owners as well. The disease associated with this resistance is caused by a form of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which is pictured below. Note the structure appears like a cluster of grapes, hence the prefix, "Staphyl," which is Greek for "bunch of grapes."



Some advice for pet owners about how to avoid any confrontation with this disease comes from the Delta Society at: http://www.deltasociety.org/MRSA.htm



MRSA Informational: FAQs
By Gregg K. Takashima, DVM

What is MRSA:
This stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Typically causes skin and soft tissue infections (flesh eating bacteria), but can cause pneumonia and “toxic shock syndromes” too
Important because it is becoming more common

How does this affect you?
Important since there is now evidence that MRSA infections can affect animal species.
Only a very small percentage of animals ever show signs of illness

Tell me about transmission of this pathogen.
MRSA is generally carried on all body surfaces, but mainly the nose and gastrointestinal tract.
Animal to animal, animal to human, human to animal, and human to human transmissions are possible

What are the best treatment and preventation strategies for pets?
Stringent control: avoid contact with known MRSA individuals (humans)
Most pets exposed to a MRSA patient, if kept in a clean environment, will eradicate the infection on their own.
Most common disinfectants kill MRSA
Do NOT use antibiotics unless advised to by your veterinarian….

What is the single most effective prevention and control measures for humans and animals?
HYGIENE
Washing hands between all pet and human contact
Keeping counters, sinks, tabletops cleaned and disinfected
Food areas kept clean
Keeping your pet bathed routinely.

PETS OF THE WEEK

Cat Breeds--Exotic Shorthair

The Exotic Shorthair came into existence in 1960 when breeders crossed the American Shorthair with the Persian creating what is essentially a shorthaired Persian. Curious and playful, they are friendly to other cats and dogs with a gentle and calm personality reminiscent of the Persian, but livelier and more playful. Their calm and steady nature can make them ideal apartment cats for city dwellers. Unlike the high-maintenance Persian, the Exotic is able to keep its own fur tidy, though weekly brushing is always recommended. As with all flat-faced animals, the Exotic's tears are prone to overflowing the nasolacrimal duct, dampening and staining the face, so periodic cleaning is necessary.

Cat Breeds--???

Last week, Helpful Buckeye asked you to identify a "mystery" cat. A few of you sent in guesses, but none of them were the correct answer. To refresh your memory, here it is again:

This is Felis silvestris, which is an African wildcat (Helpful Buckeye discussed this cat last week in the "Interesting facts about cats" portion of the blog). Looks pretty much like one of our domestic cats, doesn't it?

GENERAL INTEREST

1) A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that 5 clones of a Pit Bull dog were produced in South Korea. "An American woman received five puppies Tuesday that were cloned from her beloved late pitbull, becoming the inaugural customer of a South Korean company that says it is the world's first successful commercial canine cloning service." Read the rest of the story for the details at: http://news.aol.com/article/woman-gets-five-clones-of-her-pitbull/118644

Helpful Buckeye knows that some of our readers are already stating the obvious, "yeah, just what this world needs is 5 more Pit Bulls...." However, the important part of this story, if it is true, is that the cloning was successful.

Then, after digesting all the facts of this story, check out this further news item about the owner of the Pit Bull clones. Sometimes, it just doesn't pay to be recognized in public! http://news.aol.com/article/did-dog-cloner-jump-bail-on-sex-charge/126452?icid=200100397x1207434435x1200379480 If this part of the story also turns out to be true, this is why people say that truth is stranger than fiction.

2) Trying to control feral cats has become a major task for most localities in the USA. Feral cats produce a lot of kittens, which only adds to the already existing burden of way too many homeless cats in our country. A regular contributor to the Arizona Republic, Jim Burns, has addressed this problem from the perspective of a birdwatcher: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/07/18/20080718greenbirdcolumn0718.html

Read his column, which makes some interesting points and suggestions, then read the column by Clay Thompson, from the same newspaper for his take on how to start solving this problem: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/07/21/20080721clay0721.html

3) If your pet is leaving too much odor around the house despite your best efforts to vacuum and groom, Fresh Wave, maker of odor-neutralizing products, eliminates the odor without leaving any telltale chemical or artificial odor. Their products are available at certain hardware stores and also online at: http://fresh-wave.com/products/index.html

4) Several weeks ago, Helpful Buckeye discussed the fun of trimming your pet's nails. From time to time, new ways of doing this appear on the market. Most of these "newer & better" techniques quickly disappear because they really aren't any better. Nonetheless, this new product appears to provide a different approach to this sometimes difficult to deal with art of pet nail trimming. Check it out at: http://www.getpedipaws.com/Default.asp?tcode=asp3&bhcp=1

The Pedi-Paw nail trimmer is a little more expensive than the conventional trimming instruments but, if it works better and is easier to use, the extra expense might seem negligible.

5) For those readers of Questions on Dogs and Cats who enjoy a little diversion from time to time, Helpful Buckeye suggests you try the "Suburban Cat Herder" game. Go to this web site and spend a few minutes trying to herd cats, which everybody knows is not easy to do: http://www.yukyuk.com/games_downloads/cat_herder/cat_herder2.shtml

6) A new book was reviewed recently in the New Yorker magazine that would be of interest to many of our readers. The title is New York's Poop Scoop Law: Dogs, the Dirt, and Due Process, by Michael Brandow, and it details the wide ranging history and ramifications of this law requiring pet owners to clean up after their dogs. The review sounds pretty positive for the book...Helpful Buckeye intends to read it! This subject brings to mind an earlier issue of this blog dealing with being a good pet neighbor. Isn't it interesting how this topic keeps coming around? Here is a photo of a perfect illustration for this subject:

7) Bearing the reported incident at Roswell, New Mexico, 1947, in mind, this news story also brings an unusual happening to the land of "believe it or not."

STOLEN CERAMIC LAWN DOG These people with way too much time on their hands kidnapped a ceramic dog from a Portland, Ore. woman's yard. Edwina Cramer-Norris said she had assumed the dog was gone for good when it disappeared last month, but then she began receiving postcards addressed "To Master" from "Lucky Dog." Cramer-Norris said she saw a blue van leave her driveway Sunday and when she went outside to investigate, she found her missing lawn decoration sitting in a makeshift dog house alongside a photo album documenting its adventures. She said the pictures depict the dog with a family at locations including Disneyworld, Graceland, the Mississippi River and New Orleans. She said a note accompanying the pictures explained that the dog had needed a vacation from Oregon because the weather was too rainy. "It's a strange thing," she said. "We're happy to have him back and it gives us something to share with others. It's some kind of a strange story." Cramer-Norris said the missing dog returned with two new additions to the family--a pair of ceramic puppies. Uh, right...let me get this straight...this little guy disappears, then mysteriously returns, along with 2 new puppies?

8) Just when you think you've seen the last "all-in-one" tool advertisement, here is an item that might interest you. For just $2.99 or less, this little gem of a multi-tool just might come in handy when you're out for a long walk with your dog in the woods or on a remote trail. The compact Adventure Plus Tool has a small light for map-reading in the dark and a floating-dial compass should you need to get back on course. A thermometer, safety mirror, whistle, and dry storage for matches give you tools to use in an emergency. Bottom Line: This little item does it all... it gives you lighting and safety tools for any adventure! And at this low price you'll want to pick up a few... they make wonderful gifts. Both kids and adults love 'em. Check out the Adventure Plus Tool at: http://www2.pulsetv.com/prodinfo.asp?number=4697

9) Just 2 days ago, on 15 August, was the 39th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival in 1969 on Max Yasgur's farm, in Woodstock, NY. This was a seminal event in the history of Rock and Roll music, including many musical performers who became legends. Enjoy Matthews Southern Comfort as the story is retold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaEEj4J4ydY

10) On 16 August, 1948, baseball legend Babe Ruth died of cancer at the age of 53.

11) Also, on 16 August, 1977, Elvis Presley died in Memphis at the age of 42. Enjoy this video tribute to the King of Rock and Roll (Helpful Buckeye's favorite Elvis tune): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4p9USIZ8y0

SPORTS NEWS

The LA DODGERS pulled out an extra-inning win today to remain in a tie for 1st place with the Diamondbacks. Manny Ramirez remains hot as a firecracker at the plate! Walt Whitman, the beloved American poet, wrote of baseball: "Baseball will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us." Stoicism refers to the repression of emotion and indifference to pleasure or pain...so, Helpful Buckeye has to assume that Walt Whitman never has watched the Dodgers play baseball!

PERSONAL STUFF

1) Helpful Buckeye just finished reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, a NY Times best-seller in 2006. For an intriguing account of why we eat what we eat, this book is a gem and qualifies as one of the best books I've ever read! From the US poet, Carolyn Wells, comes this verse: "To make a library. It takes two volumes, And a fire. Two volumes and a fire, And interest. The interest alone will do. If logs are few."

There was plenty of interest when reading this book!

2) Let's close this issue with another quote, this one from that famous philosopher, Mae West: "An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises." Helpful Buckeye hopes that you have found many "ounces of performance" in the issues of our weekly blog and that you will continue to anticipate "pounds of promises."

I'm tired and I need to get some sleep...

HOT AUGUST NIGHT....

We've moved further into the Dog Days of Summer...to a Hot August Night! Helpful Buckeye and Desperado have been braving the heat and humidity of western Pennsylvania the last 10 days and we only need to survive that combination for 2 more days. The visit has been a lot of fun, seeing members of the family...both close relatives and several of the extended family. This issue of the blog will necessarily be a little shorter than normal due to time constraints. Next week's issue should get us back into the normal pattern of blogging. As you dig into this shorter morsel (mostly hors d'oeuvres), enjoy listening to Neil Diamond as he performs Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show (be sure to catch the first words of the song...then look back at this week's title)...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEv0qWi_AeE&feature=related


CURRENT NEWS OF INTEREST

1) If you've been a faithful reader of the blog, you remember our discussion of the "Smoking Gun" concept a few weeks ago. Well, the CDC has finally announced the discovery of the elusive culprit for the nationwide Salmonella infections. Notice the words in the headline:

'Smoking Gun' Found in Salmonella Case

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, AP

WASHINGTON (July 30) - The salmonella strain linked to a nationwide outbreak has been found in irrigation water and in a sample from a batch of serrano peppers at a Mexican farm, federal health officials said Wednesday.

Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief, called the finding a key breakthrough in the case, as did another health official.

Federal health officials said Wednesday they have had an important break in the hunt for the source of a nationwide salmonella outbreak. The same strain has been found in serrano peppers and in irrigation water at a farm in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. "We have a smoking gun, it appears," said one official.

"We have a smoking gun, it appears," said Dr. Lonnie King, who directs the center for foodborne illnesses at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Acheson said the farm is in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Previously, the FDA had traced a contaminated jalapeno pepper to a farm in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Both farms shipped through a packing facility in Nuevo Leon, raising the possibility that contamination could have occurred there.

The FDA advised consumers to avoid raw serrano peppers from Mexico, in addition to raw jalapeno peppers from Mexico, and any foods that contain them.

Jalapenos and Serranos are fairly similar in appearance:













2) There was an interesting story out of New Jersey this week about an extremely large feral cat that was living in the area around a local humane society facility. The cat, after being "captured," was weighed and found to be 44 lbs!!! Look at the video as well:
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=12882&aid=



This is "only" about 20 lbs. more than the heaviest cat Helpful Buckeye ever had to pick up! She has been adopted by the animal shelter and will be going on a diet, don't you think?

WORD AND DEFINITION OF THE WEEK

Feral--Adjective; an animal having either escaped from or set free from domestication and returned, partly or completely, to its wild state. Due to the vast number of feral cats in the USA, there are now more cats than dogs in our country...and that makes for a bunch of cats! This will be a subject for an upcoming issue.

GENERAL INTEREST

1) On July 22, 1822, Gregor Mendel was born in Brno, in the Czech Republic of Austria. He went on to study the breeding combinations of peas during his time as an Augustinian monk. He grew his peas in a courtyard at the monastery and has become known as "the father of genetics."

2) Also on July 22, 1947, Don Henley, one of the founders of the Eagles, was born. Helpful Buckeye and Desperado favor the Eagles as their all-time favorite musical group.

3) On July 27, 1909, Orville Wright set a world record by staying aloft in a plane for 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 40 seconds. Helpful Buckeye and Desperado are counting on our plane this coming Tuesday being able to stay aloft for at least 4 hours!!!

4) On July 27, 1921, Canadian Scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best, of the University of Toronto, isolated the hormone insulin for the first time. This discovery allowed physicians to start controlling diabetes. Diabetes will also be a topic for discussion in an upcoming blog issue.

5) On July 27, 1986, Greg LeMond of Sacramento, CA, became the first American to win cycling's toughest and most prestigious contest, the Tour de France. Helpful Buckeye often is teasingly called Greg LeMond or Lance Armstrong by his friends...the only similarity here is that we all ride a bike!!!

6) On July 29, 1914, the first transcontinental telephone linkup was completed between San Francisco and New York City.

7) In a related story to #6, less than 95 years later, we get this news about the next generation of telephones, the cellphone (take a few minutes to read this...make up your own mind on this one):

CANCER DOC warns about cellphone risks…7/24/08

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cellphone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don't find a link between cancer and cellphone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman is basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He says it takes too long to get answers from science and he believes people should take action now — especially when it comes to children.

"Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn't wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later," Herberman said.

No other major academic cancer research institutions have sounded such an alarm about cellphone use. But Herberman's advice is sure to raise concern among many cellphone users and especially parents.

In the memo he sent to about 3,000 faculty and staff Wednesday, he says children should use cellphones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing.

Adults should keep the phone away from the head and use the speakerphone or a wireless headset, he says. He even warns against using cellphones in public places like a bus because it exposes others to the phone's electromagnetic fields.

The issue that concerns some scientists — though nowhere near a consensus — is electromagnetic radiation, especially its possible effects on children. It is not a major topic in conferences of brain specialists.

A 2008 University of Utah analysis looked at nine studies — including some Herberman cites — with thousands of brain tumor patients and concludes "we found no overall increased risk of brain tumors among cellular phone users. The potential elevated risk of brain tumors after long-term cellular phone use awaits confirmation by future studies."

Studies last year in France and Norway concluded the same thing.

"If there is a risk from these products — and at this point we do not know that there is — it is probably very small," the Food and Drug Administration says on an agency website.

Still, Herberman cites a "growing body of literature linking long-term cellphone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer."

"Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cellphone use," he wrote in his memo.

A driving force behind the memo was Devra Lee Davis, the director of the university's center for environmental oncology.

"The question is do you want to play Russian roulette with your brain," she said in an interview from her cellphone while using the hands-free speaker phone as recommended. "I don't know that cellphones are dangerous. But I don't know that they are safe."

Of concern are the still unknown effects of more than a decade of cellphone use, with some studies raising alarms, said Davis, a former health adviser in the Clinton Administration.

She said 20 different groups have endorsed the advice the Pittsburgh cancer institute gave, and authorities in England, France and India have cautioned children's use of cellphones.

Herberman and Davis point to a massive ongoing research project known as Interphone, involving scientists in 13 nations, mostly in Europe. Results already published in peer-reviewed journals from this project aren't so alarming, but Herberman is citing work not yet published.

The published research focuses on more than 5,000 cases of brain tumors. The National Research Council in the U.S., which isn't participating in the Interphone project, reported in January that the brain tumor research had "selection bias." That means it relied on people with cancer to remember how often they used cellphones. It is not considered the most accurate research approach.

The largest published study, which appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2006, tracked 420,000 Danish cellphone users, including thousands that had used the phones for more than 10 years. It found no increased risk of cancer among those using cellphones.

A French study based on Interphone research and published in 2007 concluded that regular cellphone users had "no significant increased risk" for three major types of nervous system tumors. It did note, however, that there was "the possibility of an increased risk among the heaviest users" for one type of brain tumor, but that needs to be verified in future research.

Earlier research also has found no connection.

Joshua E. Muscat of Penn State University, who has studied cancer and cellphones in other research projects partly funded by the cellphone industry, said there are at least a dozen studies that have found no cancer-cellphone link. He said a Swedish study cited by Herberman as support for his warning was biased and flawed.

"We certainly don't know of any mechanism by which radiofrequency exposure would cause a cancerous effect in cells. We just don't know this might possibly occur," Muscat said.

Cellphones emit radiofrequency energy, a type of radiation that is a form of electromagnetic radiation, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though studies are being done to see if there is a link between it and tumors of the brain and central nervous system, there is no definitive link between the two, the institute says on its website.

"By all means, if a person feels compelled that they should take precautions in reducing the amount of electromagnetic radio waves through their bodies, by all means they should do so," said Dan Catena, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society. "But at the same time, we have to remember there's no conclusive evidence that links cellphones to cancer, whether it's brain tumors or other forms of cancer."

Joe Farren, a spokesman for the CTIA-The Wireless Association, a trade group for the wireless industry, said the group believes there is a risk of misinforming the public if science isn't used as the ultimate guide on the issue.

"When you look at the overwhelming majority of studies that have been peer reviewed and published in scientific journals around the world, you'll find no relationship between wireless usage and adverse health affects," Farren said.

le="font-style: italic;" class="inside-copy">Frank Barnes, who chaired the January report from the National Research Council, said Wednesday that "the jury is out" on how hazardous long-term cellphone use might be.

Speaking from his cellphone, the professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder said he takes no special precautions in his own phone use. And he offered no specific advice to people worried about the matter.

It's up to each individual to decide what if anything to do. If people use a cellphone instead of having a land line, "that may very well be reasonable for them," he said.

Susan Juffe, a 58-year-old Pittsburgh special education teacher, heard about Herberman's cellphone advice on the radio earlier in the day.

"Now, I'm worried. It's scary," she said.

She says she'll think twice about allowing her 10-year-old daughter Jayne to use the cellphone.

"I don't want to get it (brain cancer) and I certainly don't want you to get it," she explained to her daughter.

Sara Loughran, a 24-year-old doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh, sat in a bus stop Wednesday chatting on her cellphone with her mother. She also had heard the news earlier in the day, but was not as concerned.

"I think if they gave me specific numbers and specific information and it was scary enough, I would be concerned," Loughran said, planning to call her mother again in a matter of minutes. "Without specific numbers, it's too vague to get me worked up."

SPORTS NEWS

As this issue is being written, The LA Dodgers are playing the D'Backs, trying to get a split in this 4-game series. We'll either be 1 or 3 games out of first place tonight. We did make a couple of big acquisitions this week...Casey Blake, a pretty decent 3rd baseman, and Manny Ramirez, a so-so outfielder and a great hitter. They both contributed big-time to our win last night over the D'backs. Addendum...the Dodgers won and Manny was 4 for 5 batting...maybe the acquisition will be a big plus?

It has been refreshing to spend a few days amongst the Steeler Nation here in western Pennsylvania...we've already lost our punter to a torn ACL the first day of training camp. If the offense does well enough, perhaps we won't have to punt very often?

PERSONAL STUFF

1) Here I am (Helpful Buckeye), sitting in a Panera Bread, putting this issue together, and across from me sits Dick Hoak, former Steeler player and coach for 45 years! How lucky get a guy get?

2) Helpful Buckeye and Desperado were able to visit the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh this past week and tour the newly renovated Dinosaur Exhibit. This is a "must see" for anyone interested in dinosaurs!

3) Helpful Buckeye was really lucky this week. Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to meet (through my Uncle Drew) and have a nice visit with Harold Betters. For those of you who don't follow jazz, you probably haven't heard of him, but...Harold Betters has been playing the trombone (Hello...Casey!) in the Pittsburgh area for a lot of years. Helpful Buckeye and Desperado fondly remember him from some of his gigs in the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh back in the late 1960s. I even got a few autographed CDs from him yesterday!!! If you can find any, I think you'll enjoy his music!


4) One of my all-time favorite movies finally made it to DVD this week...Serial. My VCR tape of Serial was getting a little frayed, so this is just in time. For an entertaining look at life in Marin County, CA in the 1970s, give this one a try.

Helpful Buckeye has gotten a lot of positive comments this week about the blog and some very helpful input for future ideas. Please don't hesitate to send any comments you have to: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com

~~The goal of this blog is to provide general information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian. When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~