Newsletter

Cats are well-known for their independence and resistance to doing as they're told. Training a cat to do most anything is a difficult task, but according to a new study, cats are masters at training their people. A study in the latest issue of Current Biology found that cats use a unique purr - a sort of cry or meowing sound combined with the purr you might hear while petting your cat - to prod humans into feeding them or giving them attention.

Loud meowing might not get a cat what he or she wants, according to Karen McComb of the University of Sussex, one of the study's authors. But insistent purring - which McComb called "solicitation purring" - sends a kind of subliminal message that taps into a person's nurturing instincts, McComb said. The solicitation purr contains a high-pitched sound that somewhat resembles an infant's cry, which is part of the reason why humans can't help but rush to meet their feline friend's desires.

McComb's own cat, which wakes her up in the mornings with a prodding purr, inspired the study. After talking with other cat owners, she found that other felines use a similar tactic when craving food or attention. To identify the purr that cats use, McComb's study team had cat owners record their cat's cries (the researchers found early on that cats did not use solicitation purring when strangers were present). The cries were then played back and humans were asked to judge the cries based on urgency and pleasantness.

"We found that the crucial factor determining the urgency and pleasantness ratings that purrs received was an unusual high-frequency element - reminiscent of a cry or meow - embedded within the naturally low-pitched purr," McComb said. "Human participants in our experiments judged purrs with high levels of this element to be particularly urgent and unpleasant." When the high-pitched sound was removed from the solicitation purr and played back for the human test subjects, they reported the purr was less urgent.

Not all cats use this purr, according to McComb; however, some use it exceedingly well and might "dramatically exaggerate it when it proves effective," she said. Most often, the insistent purr is used in smaller households where a cat is likely to have a close relationship with his or her owner. When other cats or many people are present, McComb believes cats find a regular old meow to be the best way to get noticed.

While the phenomenon of solicitation purring may be news to scientists, cat owners have always known the old saying is true - dogs may have masters, but cats have servants.

Despite preventives that are nearly 100 percent effective, veterinarians continue to report increasing numbers of canine heartworm disease cases. Some owners blame the heartworm preventives for failing their pets, but the reality of the situation is much different. Watch this video to learn how the veterinarian, the pet owner and even the pet could be at fault for rising numbers of infected pets!

1. What is the mother's first priority for her new kitten?

A. To smell it
B. To give it a bowl of food
C. To get it to feed
D. To get it breathing

2. As well as sustenance, what does a mother's milk pass on to her kittens?

A. Sense of his mother's smell
B. Immunity from diseases
C. Thicker fur
D. The substance which makes cat's tongues rough

3. There are 4 basic stages to a cat's development. The Neonatal Phase, the Socialisation Phase and the Adult Phase are three of them. What is the fourth?

A. Juvenile phase
B. Infantile phase
C. Youth phase
D. Childish phase

4. When do kittens' eyes open?

A. 2 months
B. 1st day
C. 1 to 3 weeks
D. 4 to 6 weeks

5.When does the kittens' hearing develop?

A. 5th week
B. In the womb
C. 2nd week
D. 1st day

6. Which week do the kittens' milk teeth start to appear?

A. Day 1
B. 3 months
C. Week 7
D. Week 3

7. What week does the mother begin to discourage kittens from suckling, thus starting weaning?

A. 1st day
B. 5 Weeks
C. 3 months
D. 10 weeks

8.Once kittens start interacting with other cats and humans, they begin to use body language. For example, pricked ears and tail held high mean that a cat or kitten is feeling friendly and approachable. What does it mean when a cat's or kitten's ears are flat against the head, the back is arched and the tail is completely erect?

A. The cat wants to eat
B. The cat is asleep
C. The cat is frightened
D. The cat is ready to fight

9.Kittens can purr.

A. Yes
B. No

10. What is the earliest date that a kitten should be brought home?

A. 8 Weeks
B. 4 Weeks
C. 2 Weeks
D. 6 Weeks

Without proper oral care, more than 80% of dogs and cats will show signs of gingivitis or even periodontal disease by the time they are three years old. Watch this video to see the new advances in pet dentistry and what you can do to keep your pet’s mouth healthy!

Avian influenza, though a recent concern, has appeared from time to time in regions all over the world, including in the United States. Avian flu spreads easily among wild birds, but can also infect domesticated birds including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and pet birds. Humans and a variety of other mammals are also affected. Because it is highly pathogenic and viral, avian influenza can devastate entire flocks of poultry, though it is uncommon in most commercial poultry and most identified with poultry raised outdoors.

Most often spread via direct contact between healthy birds and infected birds, avian flu may be spread indirectly through contact with contaminated equipment and materials. The virus is found in secretions from the nares (nostrils), mouth, and eyes of infected birds and is also excreted in their feces. Contact with contaminated fecal matter is the most common means of bird-to-bird transmission, though airborne secretions are another major means of transmission within poultry houses.

The most virulent form of avian flu can be spread from birds to people as a result of extensive direct contact with infected birds (i.e. de-feathering during home slaughter of poultry). Fortunately; however, transmission of the flu to humans is rare. Because the virus is found in the droppings, nasal secretions, and saliva of infected birds, bird-to-human transmission most commonly occurs when particles from contaminated feces are inhaled. Inhalation and contamination of mucous membranes such as eyelids are the most common routes of infection for humans. Currently, the risk of contracting avian flu for anyone who does not have close contact with infected poultry is quite low. Although human-to-human transmission is theoretically possible, so far, there are only a few cases where human-to-human transmission is thought to have occurred.

Although dogs and cats are not usually susceptible to influenza type infections, there have been cases of cats contracting avian flu. In each case, however, the cat either consumed raw meat from an infected bird or lived in an animal shelter in close proximity to infected chickens. Since the dangerous strain of avian flu that has been circulating in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe has not yet been identified in the United States, the risk of a cat contacting the disease in this country is currently very low. Preliminary recommendations for cat owners living in high risk areas include keeping domestic cats indoors, avoiding contact with semi-domestic and feral cats and refrain from feeding raw poultry to cats. Owners are also encouraged to have their cats examined by a veterinarian if they have been exposed to sick or dead birds.

Most people would be happy to live out their lives never having to see a tick. These eight legged parasites invoke almost as strong of a negative reaction as spiders do. However, dog owners especially need to be aware of the potential for their pet to acquire ticks and the possibility of their dog contracting a serious tick-borne disease. As vectors of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, and Lyme Disease, ticks can be found in every state and have even been known to survive longer than a year. Due to the small size, many ticks will go unnoticed by pet owners. Fortunately, veterinary science has several options available to protect our pets. Watch this video to learn more.

Canaries are delightful pet birds pets that don't require as much attention from their owners as other pet bird species. Often kept in pairs, Canaries are usually thought of as being sweet yellow songbirds, although there are many other variations in color. Canaries are divided into groups by color, type and song, depending upon which trait is the most dominant. Color canaries colors include new color and red factors. Some red factors are fed a food additive called canthaxanthin which helps keep the red vibrant. Type canaries are bred to have a certain "look." Common ones include the Gloster, with its Beatles-style haircut, the elongated Belgian fancy, and the frilly look of the appropriately named frills, which include Parisians, Padovans and the Gibber Italicus. Song canaries include rollers, waterslagers and American singers. Some song canaries sing as part of a group, while others sing individually.

3 Canary Hens

The American Singer

1. I check my dog's stool in the yard everyday and do not see any worms; therefore, he / she does not have intestinal parasites.
   True
   False
2. Which of the following is NOT a dog vaccine?
   1. Rabies
   2. Parvovirus
   3. Distemper
   4. FeLV
3. Of the following, which is the BEST way to keep my dog's teeth and gums healthy?
   1. Rawhide
   2. Brushing with a vet approved dental paste and soft tooth brush
   3. Chew toys
   4. Tartar control diets
4. My dog has an ear infection. The best treatment is?
   1. Use a prescription from my other dog's ear infection
   2. See your veterinarian immediately
   3. Clean the ears with baby oil or rubbing
   4. Clean the ears with a cotton swab
5. Which breed is known for its dark purple tongue?
   1. Papillon
   2. Chow Chow
   3. Puli
   4. Irish Wolfhound
6. My dog only goes out for walks in the yard, so he doesn't need to be on a heartworm preventative.
   True
   False
7. My housebroken dog is suddenly urinating in the house. What could this possibly mean?
   1. Bladder infection
   2. Diabetes
   3. Kidney failure
   4. Any of these
8. My dog scoots his rear on the floor everyday after going to the bathroom. This is just a silly behavior problem.
   True
   False
9. The best way to treat my older dog's achy joints is?
   1. Tylenol
   2. Acetaminophen
   3. An approved canine anti-inflammatory drug
   4. Any of these are fine
10. When is the usual time to spay or neuter my dog?
    1. 5-6 months old
    2. 1 year old
    3. 18 months old
    4. After he or she is fully grown

Answers

1. False, 2. 4, 3. 2, 4. 2, 5. 2
6. False, 7. 4, 8. False, 9. 3, 10. 1