10 dogs were observed and depending on their trainers’ comments about dogs obedience and all kinds of behaves. We tried to figure out if there really is a difference in getting a female or male dog. The genders are not so different at all, they both want to make the owners happy and be trained and played with. Mainly male dogs do need more food and they can develop a nasty habit by marking their territory. Females could be too aggressive towards strangers and when there are two dogs fighting it is probably between females than males. The question whether to take a male or female dog ought to be not so important. The breed or no breed should be the main crucial quality when taking a dog.
Dry cat food was considered the “best” food to feed cats until recently. This essay tries to answer the question: how does kibble affect cat’s health. Hard and crunchy dry food helps prevent tartar formation. The two feline trials were conducted at a Feline Unit in New Zealand which proved this argument. However, some specialists believe that the kibble does not clean cats’ teeth. In any case, whoever's opinion is correct, kibble is not harmful to cats’ teeth. Much more of a problem is that diets of dry cat food have been linked to a higher incidence of chronic dehydration, urinary tract disease and renal failures.
Sight is important for all living things. We can communicate in this way with the outside world. Construction of the eye is difficult, therefore, all see differently. It lies in just differentiating colors. Dog’s sight differs from human one. The eye structure is also different, dogs are more sensitive to light. Their vision depends on several factors: perception of light, color and motion, visual perspective and acuity and visual field of view. A number of studies have been done to investigate the color vision of dogs and results have been different. Dogs only have two different color receptors in their eyes. It is said that dogs can see colors, but are at the same time colorblind. Colorblindness means that thy can not see the same color range as a human being with normal vision. However,others say that dogs can see colors, but the colors they see are neither as rich nor as many as those that human see.
I chose to write about sand-crack because it seemed interesting and useful. Sand-crack itself is a solution of continuity of the horn of the foot, occurring usually in the wall, and following the direction of the horn fibres. They may occur on any part of the wall, but ordinarily are only seen directly in the front. It is a horn disease, which usually occurs in forefeet. It is important to know that if the crack deepens it is going to cause pain for the horse and as a result the horse will start to limp. Sand-crack is curable.
„Mad itch”causing sudden deaths of domestic animals
Pseudorabies is a viral disease in swine, caused by porcine herpesvirus 1, which is called pseudorabies virus (PRV). It is endemic in most parts of the world. The pig is the main host. Other animals infected from swine die from pseudorabies, which is also known as Aujeszky's disease and „mad itch“. The virus can remain hidden in nerves of the pig in a carrier state for long periods of time and then be reactivated. Acute outbreaks of disease occur when the virus infects an unvaccinated susceptible herd. It crosses the uterus and placenta and infects the foetus.
Correcting aggressive behavior of a dog by using clicker training
Dogs behaving aggressively towards other dogs are a problem for which clicker training offers a solution. Clicker training is based on operant conditioning and positive rewarding where the desired behavior is marked by a distinctive sound. In this study a male dog with a problem of behaving aggressively towards other male dogs and acting out while on leash was trained for four weeks by using clicker. He met with an assistant dog for five times on leash and running free. The dog met other dogs on leash several times and three times running free. His on leash behavior improved significantly but the progress with meeting male dogs while running free was minimal. More time to train and other methods such as castration might be needed to cut the aggressive behavior completely.
Strangles disease is the most common equine respiratory infection in the world which can affect horses. This highly contagious disease is caused by Streptococcus equi bacteria, which are also sometimes referred to as equine distemper. Horses usually get this disease from another infected equine. An infected equine will start to develop symptoms of strangles within two to six days. The first symptoms are high fever, poor appetite, the horse appears dull. Horses often appear listless and depressed, and may experience pharyngitis, laryngitis, and rhinitis. The treatment depends on the stage of this disease. Strangles are almost always very difficult to treat. Horses can be vaccinated in order to prevent strangles.
Swine flu , virus that origins from pigs ,may cause a global outbreak of flu , that spreads quickly. It is a new type of virus and that is why it`s manifestation and affect on people are so important. The symptoms of swine flu are analogous to other influenzas (may include a fever, cough , headache)and it`s transmission is similar to other viruses that is why it caused serious outbreak in 2009. Currently worldwide, over 25,000 cases of the swine flu virus have been confirmed, in 76 countries, 26 in Europe. Researchers confirm that swine flu could spread around the world within nine months that is why people should treat swine flu symptoms seriously and start treatment in time .
Some scientists predict the koalas to be extinct by the year 2020 and there are several reasons for that. A growing demand for urban development causes deforestation which leaves koalas with less of their only source of food – eucalyptus trees. The ones who have been relocated because of that, often return to where they used to live, feeling lost and getting hit by cars. Extending human living areas moving closer to the koala habitat is a second problem. The third big issue would be the public not acknowledging the problem. As in some parts of the country there are still a lot of koalas, they do not seem to be in big danger.
Most pet owners know that our animal friends love us unconditionally. One cannot be either too young or too old to win a pet´s love for their affection does not know criticism. Pets have many influences on human health. Usually people have heard about pets relieving stress but they can also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and many other problems. They take our mind off troubles by demanding attention and care no matter how depressed the owners may be. This way, owners can not mull over their problems.
Aggression in dogs is a serious behaviour problem that can be dangerous for humans and the dogs themselves. Dog aggression depends mostly on the owner's behaviour and a dog's genes have their role in it, too. Also, there are numerous cases, where aggression has been caused by medical conditions. My essay describes the reasons, why a dog may become aggressive and how we can stop it.
Inbreeding makes pedigree dogs diseased and deformed
For breeders, inbreeding is a useful way of fixing traits in a breed, but animal breeding can have beneficial or adverse consequences for their welfare. Inbreeding-related disorders are increasingly showing up in pet dogs. Hip dysplasia, respiratory or spinal problems and rectal prolapse are some conditions such dogs suffer from. In general, inbreeding results in an overall lowering in performance. It is reflected in poorer reproductive efficiency, including higher mortality rates and a higher frequency of hereditary defects.
A pointless battle or a chance for living? The canine osteosarcoma.
Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in dogs. It occurs more often in the dog than it does in other species. Most dogs diagnosed with the disease are 7 or older but they may be as young as 1 year old. It is known that only 10 % of dogs who have canine osteosarcoma are actually cured, although without treatment dogs usually die 1 to 2 months after the diagnosis. Recent researches show that radiation combined with chemotherapy have median survival time for 7 months. Surgery together with chemotherapy have median survival time for 235-366 days. 28% of the dogs live 2 years and more. These methods are used for osteosarcoma in the limbs.
Canine elbow dysplasia, its prevention and treatment
Elbow dysplasia is a common disease in young dogs, in particularly bigger breeds. Elbow dysplasia is in an elbow joint. Elbow dysplasia occurs in a growth period and it is an inherited polygenetic disease. Enviromental factors have also some kind of role in developing elbow dysplasia. First symptoms normally starts when a dog is four to six months age, but it could start earlier or later. Symptoms are lameness and joint pain in forelegs. Elbow dysplasia has three specific etiologies that makes up the disease. Prevention of elbow dysplasia is very difficult. Three important things of prevention elbow dysplasia are genotype, nutrition and right amount of exercise
Different types of horse colic and methods of treatment
Colic means pain in horse abdomen. A horse can get colic for example from a change in a diet, stress or overwork. There are many different types of colic and here are the most common ones: Impaction colic, Gas colic, Spasmodic colic, Gastric distension, Sand impaction and Intestinal parasites. When your horse shows signs of a colic, like getting up and lying down many times, turning the head towards the stomach, kicking at the stomach or rolling, you must immediately call a vet. When you are waiting for the vet to come you should take all food away from the horse, walk the horse because it is a useful way of distracting it from the pain and you must also prevent the horse from rolling. There are few things that can prevent colic and the most important thing is to have a regular exercise and feeding schedule.
Eugenics is the discipline of the factors that influence the hereditary qualites of future generation. Main ideas of eugenics have not changed through history. It is argued that eugenics is unethical. Centuries ago eugenics improved thanks to „mad“ scientists, but nowadays eugenics is driven by market, where demand is growing rapidly. China already has government-run Sperm Bank, which accepts only donors, who have special qualities. In future scientists try to find cure for countless retardations and cromosomatic bodily dysfunctions and actually we are already practicing the ruling out of such problems by simply eliminating them in early stage, replacing the yet undeveloped body.
Vampire bats are known for their blood-sharing and Vervet monkeys give alarm calls to warn fellow monkeys, when the threat is near. Co-operation and helping others, actions which can be seen in nature and life, do not suit together with Darwin's famous "survival of the fittest" principle. Many theories, like kin selection, reciprocity and differences between biological and human thought altruism, try to find reasons for such behavior in nature. Theories give insight, but true answers are still to be found and human-like altruism seems to be a quality only given to us.
Exercise induced collapse (EIC) is a hereditary disease in Labrador Retrievers. During the exercise otherwise healthy and normal adult Labrador becomes weak in rear limbs and they usually collapse after a short strenuous exercise. Most dogs recover fairly quickly, do not feel any pain and have no consequences. Unfortunately, some EIC affected dogs have died during the seizure or more commonly after it. How severe it is for the breed? How much does this newly discovered gene mutation influence breeding choices in Labrador retrievers? Does it changes the breed eternally?
Every mammalian fetus has a large liver shunt before born. This liver shunt is a blood vessel that carries blood around the liver instead of through it. Under normal circumstances the shunt closes down after birth. In some cases the shunt doesn’t close down and the liver won’t process the blood as it is supposed to. This poisonous blood will be sent to every body tissue causing a poisonous state for the whole body. A dog with liver shunt doesn’t develop normally staying small and weak. This disease may cause a death in short time. It can be managed with proper diet and medicine but surgery provides the best chance for a long healthy life.
Equine leg bone fractures and their treatment possibilities
Horses have dense bone matter with weak blood supply, which makes their bones prone to become fractured and their healing difficult. The most obvious sign of a fracture is lameness. The outcome and possibilities in the treatment depend on the location and the extent of the fracture. The injury is untreatable if the bones have broken through the skin, or the horse has a compound bone fracture. If the fracture is minor, bones may be screwed together, often using plates of surgical metal to stabilise the bone. In minor fractures of the fetlock, the pastern or the coffin bone, a strong cast or special shoeing may be enough.
A local bacterial infection, abscess, is typical for horse hoofs. There are many reasons for it, for example a sharp object piercing the hoof. Luckily it can be prevented and easily healed. Proper trimming is a good way to prevent it and veterinary is the expert who can do the healing. Only thing is to recognize it in an early stage and start the healing right away.
Daschunds are predisposed to spinal difficulties dealing mainly with the discs. Serious cases are referred to as Daschund Paralysis. Being overweight is a serious issue for these dogs as the extra weight puts added stress on the back. The best cure is prevention. Advice is to discourage daschunds from jumping or taking stairs and to carry them with full support to both front and back legs. Falls especially need to be avoided, any sort of fall can greatly increase the chances of back injury. Surgery is generally viewed as the best option to daschund paralyses. The most important thing to remember is this; if you suspect your pet has a disc problem, be sure to contact your Veterinarian as soon as possible.
Different ways of teaching Agility Weave Poles in dogs
Agility is a fun hobby for dogs and their owners. It is an obstacle course for dogs and the course consists of different kind of obstacles. Weave poles consist of 10 to 12 poles that are in strait line and they are said to be the hardest obstacle in agility courses. The ideal way of doing poles is fast, low and independent. Agility poles can be taught for example with the help of a channel, lure the dog to follow owner’s hand or with a clicker. With different methods we get slightly different results with different kind of dogs.
Coat colour is a trait with a great variation among our domesticated animals. Breeders and animal owners have always been affected by and paid attention to coat colour variation. The knowledge of how certain genes and their gene products affect coat colour is of great interest for basic research. The Silver gene is one of the recently discovered dilution genes that changes horse’s appearance. The Silver gene affects only black pigment and has no effect on chestnut based colours, and is dominant. Usually, the Silver effects include an extreme lightening of the mane and tail and partial dilution of the body colour. Variations depend on the basic colour and other genes, and can vary from dark chocolate to light silver. Colours that Silver gene makes are often highly valued because of their beauty.
Animal protection is a very important part of every society, as there are always pets, who might be abandoned to their fate or need some help. That is why many animal protection agencies and associations, like Farm Animal Welfare Council or Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, have been founded all over the world. These organisations deal with distressed animals and also with reckless and irresponsible pet owners. In Estonia, in 2000, Estonian Society for the Protection of Animals was founded to prevent animal illtreatment and raise public awareness on such subjects. ESPA deals with several things, for example it co-operates with animal shelters, organises different charity works and searches volunteers to animal pounds.
Boa constrictors are ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young. They will generally breed in the dry season—between April and August—and arepolygynous, thus males may mate with multiple females. During breeding the male will curl his tail around the females and the hemipenes will be inserted. Copulation can last from a few minutes to several hours, and may occur several times over a few week period. When the female ovulates, a mid-body swell can be noticed that appears similar to after the snake has eaten a large meal. The gestation period is approximately 100-120 days.The female will then give birth to young that average 38-51 cm in length.The litter size varies between females, but can be between 10 and 40 young although some of the young may be still borns or non fertilised eggs known as "slugs". The young are independent at birth.
The Causes and Prevention of Wobbler’s Syndrome in Horses
Wobbler’s syndrome in horses refers to the compression of the spinal cord, that causes weakness in the horse’s limbs by blocking nerve signals from the brain. The disease may be caused by the malformation of the cervical vertebrae or mechanical trauma to the spine. Young horses at their stage of rapid growth are most often diagnosed, with nutritional imbalances and early training being important contributing factors. The condition is often incurable, which is why prevention is the optimum method of decreasing the risk of having one’s horse diagnosed a wobbler.
Use of Alternative Medicine in the Last Couple of Decades
People of all nationalities have been able to rely on medical care for centuries now and it is difficult to imagine the world without it. Nevertheless, medicine has not always been on the level it is nowadays and, as it has developed, we have forgotten many of the methods used thousands of years ago. But not all of the knowledge is lost as much has been handed down from generation to generation. Although it is not believed in by most people, alternative medicine is still used relatively much around the world these days. For instance, several medical colleges provide students an opportunity to learn it and many hospitals offer alternative and complementary therapies. However, less and less people believe in this kind of treatment and therefore it’s popularity is on the decrease.
"Centre of Blood Vascular System or Heart is a Body Engine" Abstract Heart is an important central part of the body. Some people even consider that the soul also is situated in the heart. How can we estimate the importance of this organ? Obvious case is to be the similarity between heart and engine of the machine. The purpose of a gasoline car engine is to convert gasoline into motion so that the car can move. The purpose of heart is similarly to supply tissues with energy and important matter so that the body can live. However the cardiovascular system cannot exist on its own account. Similarly the engine cannot either. Only aggregate of systems provides vital activity of the body or functionality of the machine. Thanks to the newest technologies difficult heart operations and microsurgery of the vascular system are possible. Unfortunately the main forces are concentrated on human heart diseases and their treatment. The major task of the essay is to draw attention of young vets that we need specialists in particularly this and a lot of others fields to treat our lovely pets who became members of the family Jekaterina Polshakova
and also the website with informative video "How the heart works" http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hhw/hhw_pumping.html P.S. two pages forward is another interesting video "Your Heart's Electrical System"
Testicular morphology and cauda epididymal sperm reserves of male rats exposed to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil.
Potential negative effects of exposure to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil on the reproductive system of male rats was investigated. Exposure to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil was achieved via oral administration of increasing doses (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 ml/rat) every other day for 4 weeks. The results described here showed a significant (p < 0.01) dosedependent reduction in the cauda epididymal sperm reserves of rats that received crude oil treatment relative to the control group. Findings indicate that exposure of male rats to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil may have adversely affected their reproductive systems. This may imply possible reproductive health hazards for animals and humans that may be exposed to this environmental pollutant, especially in areas where oil spillage is a common feature.
Comparative analysis of heart functions in micropigs and conventional pigs using echocardiography and radiography
The severe shortage of human donor organs has stimulated interest in the potential use of animal organs for transplantation into humans. At present, many of the studies about application of animal organs to human have been focused on pig because of the number of advantages involved and due to their similarities with human. This study analysed whether or not there were physiological and morphological differences in the hearts of conventionally reared pigs and micropigs, using radiographic and echocardiographic equipment. In the lateral radiographic view was no significant difference in the length of the the long axis observed, but there was a difference in the lenght of the short axis. In the micropig, the cardiac length of the short axis was shorter than in the conventional pig, but a significant difference in the vertebral heart score was not observed. In addition, there were no morphological differences on the X-ray fluoroscopic view. In the series of echo section there were no differences observed between the conventional pigs and micropigs, except in the left ventricle traces. Since the LV outflow track velocity, gradient, and LV fraction shortening were significantly lower in the micropigs, in addition, cardiac function of the micropigs were compared with that of the human. There were similarities in the echocardiographic values between human and micropigs. In conclusion, it is expected that the values measured in this study will contribute to understanding the physiological characteristics of micropigs.
Organotypic slice culture of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of rat
There is growing demands for models which can replace or reduce animal experiments. One possibility could be organotypic slice culture. This study evaluated a stationary organotypic culture developed for the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rat. The topographical organization of the hypothalamic PVN on the cultured slices was examined by performing immunocytochemistry against oxytocin, vasopressin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone, which are the major cell groups in the magnocellular and parvocellular regions of the PVN. The immunoreactivity for oxytocin and vasopressin in the neurons of the PVN indicates that the neurons of the magnocellular region retained their anatomical properties in cultured slices and the electrophysiological properties of PVN neurons for up to 3 weeks in vitro. The PVN neurons in the culture expressed the green fluorescent protein gene that had been delivered by the adenoviral vectors. Overall, the organotypic slice culture s of the PVN established in this study preserve the known properties on the known paraventricular nucleus neurons , which highlight their potential use as an in vitro model for the long-term study of the morphology and physiological mechanisms in the PVN of the hypothalamus.
Here is my summary of the abstract.
ReplyDelete10 dogs were observed and depending on their trainers’ comments about dogs obedience and all kinds of behaves. We tried to figure out if there really is a difference in getting a female or male dog.
The genders are not so different at all, they both want to make the owners happy and be trained and played with. Mainly male dogs do need more food and they can develop a nasty habit by marking their territory. Females could be too aggressive towards strangers and when there are two dogs fighting it is probably between females than males.
The question whether to take a male or female dog ought to be not so important. The breed or no breed should be the main crucial quality when taking a dog.
Triinu Tereping
“How does kibble affect cat’s health?”
ReplyDeleteAbstract
Dry cat food was considered the “best” food to feed cats until recently. This essay tries to answer the question: how does kibble affect cat’s health.
Hard and crunchy dry food helps prevent tartar formation. The two feline trials were conducted at a Feline Unit in New Zealand which proved this argument. However, some specialists believe that the kibble does not clean cats’ teeth. In any case, whoever's opinion is correct, kibble is not harmful to cats’ teeth. Much more of a problem is that diets of dry cat food have been linked to a higher incidence of chronic dehydration, urinary tract disease and renal failures.
Kerti Ruttu
Sorry, I forgot the title of my essay "Main behavioural differences between male and female dogs".
ReplyDeleteTriinu Tereping
"What do dogs see"
ReplyDeleteSight is important for all living things. We can communicate in this way with the outside world. Construction of the eye is difficult, therefore, all see differently. It lies in just differentiating colors. Dog’s sight differs from human one. The eye structure is also different, dogs are more sensitive to light. Their vision depends on several factors: perception of light, color and motion, visual perspective and acuity and visual field of view. A number of studies have been done to investigate the color vision of dogs and results have been different. Dogs only have two different color receptors in their eyes. It is said that dogs can see colors, but are at the same time colorblind. Colorblindness means that thy can not see the same color range as a human being with normal vision. However,others say that dogs can see colors, but the colors they see are neither as rich nor as many as those that human see.
Gerli Luhtaru
Sand-crack a disease of horse feet
ReplyDeleteI chose to write about sand-crack because it seemed interesting and useful. Sand-crack itself is a solution of continuity of the horn of the foot, occurring usually in the wall, and following the direction of the horn fibres. They may occur on any part of the wall, but ordinarily are only seen directly in the front. It is a horn disease, which usually occurs in forefeet. It is important to know that if the crack deepens it is going to cause pain for the horse and as a result the horse will start to limp. Sand-crack is curable.
Kaisa Kask
„Mad itch”causing sudden deaths of domestic animals
ReplyDeletePseudorabies is a viral disease in swine, caused by porcine herpesvirus 1, which is called pseudorabies virus (PRV). It is endemic in most parts of the world. The pig is the main host. Other animals infected from swine die from pseudorabies, which is also known as Aujeszky's disease and „mad itch“. The virus can remain hidden in nerves of the pig in a carrier state for long periods of time and then be reactivated. Acute outbreaks of disease occur when the virus infects an unvaccinated susceptible herd. It crosses the uterus and placenta and infects the foetus.
Maari Aru
Correcting aggressive behavior of a dog by using clicker training
ReplyDeleteDogs behaving aggressively towards other dogs are a problem for which clicker training offers a solution. Clicker training is based on operant conditioning and positive rewarding where the desired behavior is marked by a distinctive sound. In this study a male dog with a problem of behaving aggressively towards other male dogs and acting out while on leash was trained for four weeks by using clicker. He met with an assistant dog for five times on leash and running free. The dog met other dogs on leash several times and three times running free. His on leash behavior improved significantly but the progress with meeting male dogs while running free was minimal. More time to train and other methods such as castration might be needed to cut the aggressive behavior completely.
Satu Pulkkinen
Highly contagious strangles disease in horses
ReplyDeleteStrangles disease is the most common equine respiratory infection in the world which can affect horses. This highly contagious disease is caused by Streptococcus equi bacteria, which are also sometimes referred to as equine distemper. Horses usually get this disease from another infected equine. An infected equine will start to develop symptoms of strangles within two to six days. The first symptoms are high fever, poor appetite, the horse appears dull. Horses often appear listless and depressed, and may experience pharyngitis, laryngitis, and rhinitis. The treatment depends on the stage of this disease. Strangles are almost always very difficult to treat. Horses can be vaccinated in order to prevent strangles.
Kadri Oru
Swine Flu and its Affect on People.
ReplyDeleteSwine flu , virus that origins from pigs ,may cause a global outbreak of flu , that spreads quickly. It is a new type of virus and that is why it`s manifestation and affect on people are so important. The symptoms of swine flu are analogous to other influenzas (may include a fever, cough , headache)and it`s transmission is similar to other viruses that is why it caused serious outbreak in 2009. Currently worldwide, over 25,000 cases of the swine flu virus have been confirmed, in 76 countries, 26 in Europe. Researchers confirm that swine flu could spread around the world within nine months that is why people should treat swine flu symptoms seriously and start treatment in time .
Why are koalas in danger?
ReplyDeleteSome scientists predict the koalas to be extinct by the year 2020 and there are several reasons for that. A growing demand for urban development causes deforestation which leaves koalas with less of their only source of food – eucalyptus trees. The ones who have been relocated because of that, often return to where they used to live, feeling lost and getting hit by cars. Extending human living areas moving closer to the koala habitat is a second problem. The third big issue would be the public not acknowledging the problem. As in some parts of the country there are still a lot of koalas, they do not seem to be in big danger.
Does having petshave any impacts on human health?
ReplyDeleteMost pet owners know that our animal friends love us unconditionally. One cannot be either too young or too old to win a pet´s love for their affection does not know criticism. Pets have many influences on human health. Usually people have heard about pets relieving stress but they can also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and many other problems. They take our mind off troubles by demanding attention and care no matter how depressed the owners may be. This way, owners can not mull over their problems.
Reelika Kruuda
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAggressive Dogs´ Behaviour and Treatment
ReplyDeleteAggression in dogs is a serious behaviour problem that can be dangerous for humans and the dogs themselves. Dog aggression depends mostly on the owner's behaviour and a dog's genes have their role in it, too. Also, there are numerous cases, where aggression has been caused by medical conditions. My essay describes the reasons, why a dog may become aggressive and how we can stop it.
Maarja Arras
Inbreeding makes pedigree dogs diseased and deformed
ReplyDeleteFor breeders, inbreeding is a useful way of fixing traits in a breed, but animal breeding can have beneficial or adverse consequences for their welfare. Inbreeding-related disorders are increasingly showing up in pet dogs. Hip dysplasia, respiratory or spinal problems and rectal prolapse are some conditions such dogs suffer from. In general, inbreeding results in an overall lowering in performance. It is reflected in poorer reproductive efficiency, including higher mortality rates and a higher frequency of hereditary defects.
Iris Heinsoo
A pointless battle or a chance for living? The canine osteosarcoma.
ReplyDeleteOsteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in dogs. It occurs more often in the dog than it does in other species. Most dogs diagnosed with the disease are 7 or older but they may be as young as 1 year old. It is known that only 10 % of dogs who have canine osteosarcoma are actually cured, although without treatment dogs usually die 1 to 2 months after the diagnosis. Recent researches show that radiation combined with chemotherapy have median survival time for 7 months. Surgery together with chemotherapy have median survival time for 235-366 days. 28% of the dogs live 2 years and more. These methods are used for osteosarcoma in the limbs.
Maarja Ruusmann
Canine elbow dysplasia, its prevention and treatment
ReplyDeleteElbow dysplasia is a common disease in young dogs, in particularly bigger breeds. Elbow dysplasia is in an elbow joint. Elbow dysplasia occurs in a growth period and it is an inherited polygenetic disease. Enviromental factors have also some kind of role in developing elbow dysplasia.
First symptoms normally starts when a dog is four to six months age, but it could start earlier or later. Symptoms are lameness and joint pain in forelegs. Elbow dysplasia has three specific etiologies that makes up the disease. Prevention of elbow dysplasia is very difficult. Three important things of prevention elbow dysplasia are genotype, nutrition and right amount of exercise
Isa Sandström
Different types of horse colic and methods of treatment
ReplyDeleteColic means pain in horse abdomen. A horse can get colic for example from a change in a diet, stress or overwork. There are many different types of colic and here are the most common ones: Impaction colic, Gas colic, Spasmodic colic, Gastric distension, Sand impaction and Intestinal parasites.
When your horse shows signs of a colic, like getting up and lying down many times, turning the head towards the stomach, kicking at the stomach or rolling, you must immediately call a vet. When you are waiting for the vet to come you should take all food away from the horse, walk the horse because it is a useful way of distracting it from the pain and you must also prevent the horse from rolling.
There are few things that can prevent colic and the most important thing is to have a regular exercise and feeding schedule.
Heidi Halme
Eugenics - past, present and future
ReplyDeleteEugenics is the discipline of the factors that influence the hereditary qualites of future generation. Main ideas of eugenics have not changed through history. It is argued that eugenics is unethical. Centuries ago eugenics improved thanks to „mad“ scientists, but nowadays eugenics is driven by market, where demand is growing rapidly. China already has government-run Sperm Bank, which accepts only donors, who have special qualities. In future scientists try to find cure for countless retardations and cromosomatic bodily dysfunctions and actually we are already practicing the ruling out of such problems by simply eliminating them in early stage, replacing the yet undeveloped body.
Eeva-Maarja Raamat
Examples and reasons of animal altruism
ReplyDeleteVampire bats are known for their blood-sharing and Vervet monkeys give alarm calls to warn fellow monkeys, when the threat is near. Co-operation and helping others, actions which can be seen in nature and life, do not suit together with Darwin's famous "survival of the fittest" principle. Many theories, like kin selection, reciprocity and differences between biological and human thought altruism, try to find reasons for such behavior in nature. Theories give insight, but true answers are still to be found and human-like altruism seems to be a quality only given to us.
Kadri Kuusk
Exercise induced collapse in Labrador Retrievers
ReplyDeleteExercise induced collapse (EIC) is a hereditary disease in Labrador Retrievers. During the exercise otherwise healthy and normal adult Labrador becomes weak in rear limbs and they usually collapse after a short strenuous exercise. Most dogs recover fairly quickly, do not feel any pain and have no consequences. Unfortunately, some EIC affected dogs have died during the seizure or more commonly after it.
How severe it is for the breed? How much does this newly discovered gene mutation influence breeding choices in Labrador retrievers? Does it changes the breed eternally?
Gredi Pikani
The portosystemic shunt in the liver of dog
ReplyDeleteEvery mammalian fetus has a large liver shunt before born. This liver shunt is a blood vessel that carries blood around the liver instead of through it. Under normal circumstances the shunt closes down after birth. In some cases the shunt doesn’t close down and the liver won’t process the blood as it is supposed to. This poisonous blood will be sent to every body tissue causing a poisonous state for the whole body. A dog with liver shunt doesn’t develop normally staying small and weak. This disease may cause a death in short time. It can be managed with proper diet and medicine but surgery provides the best chance for a long healthy life.
Elina Koivisto
Equine leg bone fractures and their treatment possibilities
ReplyDeleteHorses have dense bone matter with weak blood supply, which makes their bones prone to become fractured and their healing difficult. The most obvious sign of a fracture is lameness. The outcome and possibilities in the treatment depend on the location and the extent of the fracture. The injury is untreatable if the bones have broken through the skin, or the horse has a compound bone fracture. If the fracture is minor, bones may be screwed together, often using plates of surgical metal to stabilise the bone. In minor fractures of the fetlock, the pastern or the coffin bone, a strong cast or special shoeing may be enough.
Tinja-Maria Vuori
Equine hoof abscess
ReplyDeleteA local bacterial infection, abscess, is typical for horse hoofs. There are many reasons for it, for example a sharp object piercing the hoof. Luckily it can be prevented and easily healed. Proper trimming is a good way to prevent it and veterinary is the expert who can do the healing. Only thing is to recognize it in an early stage and start the healing right away.
Linda Lammi
Daschund paralysis
ReplyDeleteDaschunds are predisposed to spinal difficulties dealing mainly with the discs. Serious cases are referred to as Daschund Paralysis. Being overweight is a serious issue for these dogs as the extra weight puts added stress on the back. The best cure is prevention. Advice is to discourage daschunds from jumping or taking stairs and to carry them with full support to both front and back legs. Falls especially need to be avoided, any sort of fall can greatly increase the chances of back injury. Surgery is generally viewed as the best option to daschund paralyses. The most important thing to remember is this; if you suspect your pet has a disc problem, be sure to contact your Veterinarian as soon as possible.
Different ways of teaching Agility Weave Poles in dogs
ReplyDeleteAgility is a fun hobby for dogs and their owners. It is an obstacle course for dogs and the course consists of different kind of obstacles. Weave poles consist of 10 to 12 poles that are in strait line and they are said to be the hardest obstacle in agility courses. The ideal way of doing poles is fast, low and independent. Agility poles can be taught for example with the help of a channel, lure the dog to follow owner’s hand or with a clicker. With different methods we get slightly different results with different kind of dogs.
Katri Mäkinen
Silver Dilution in Horses
ReplyDeleteCoat colour is a trait with a great variation among our domesticated animals. Breeders and animal owners have always been affected by and paid attention to coat colour variation. The knowledge of how certain genes and their gene products affect coat colour is of great interest for basic research. The Silver gene is one of the recently discovered dilution genes that changes horse’s appearance. The Silver gene affects only black pigment and has no effect on chestnut based colours, and is dominant. Usually, the Silver effects include an extreme lightening of the mane and tail and partial dilution of the body colour. Variations depend on the basic colour and other genes, and can vary from dark chocolate to light silver. Colours that Silver gene makes are often highly valued because of their beauty.
Triin Visamaa
How We Can Protect Animals?
ReplyDeleteAnimal protection is a very important part of every society, as there are always pets, who might be abandoned to their fate or need some help. That is why many animal protection agencies and associations, like Farm Animal Welfare Council or Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, have been founded all over the world. These organisations deal with distressed animals and also with reckless and irresponsible pet owners. In Estonia, in 2000, Estonian Society for the Protection of Animals was founded to prevent animal illtreatment and raise public awareness on such subjects. ESPA deals with several things, for example it co-operates with animal shelters, organises different charity works and searches volunteers to animal pounds.
Asti Kuuse
Reproduction of Boa Constrictor
ReplyDeleteBoa constrictors are ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young. They will generally breed in the dry season—between April and August—and arepolygynous, thus males may mate with multiple females. During breeding the male will curl his tail around the females and the hemipenes will be inserted. Copulation can last from a few minutes to several hours, and may occur several times over a few week period. When the female ovulates, a mid-body swell can be noticed that appears similar to after the snake has eaten a large meal. The gestation period is approximately 100-120 days.The female will then give birth to young that average 38-51 cm in length.The litter size varies between females, but can be between 10 and 40 young although some of the young may be still borns or non fertilised eggs known as "slugs". The young are independent at birth.
Kristin Tõnise
The Causes and Prevention of Wobbler’s Syndrome in Horses
ReplyDeleteWobbler’s syndrome in horses refers to the compression of the spinal cord, that causes weakness in the horse’s limbs by blocking nerve signals from the brain. The disease may be caused by the malformation of the cervical vertebrae or mechanical trauma to the spine. Young horses at their stage of rapid growth are most often diagnosed, with nutritional imbalances and early training being important contributing factors. The condition is often incurable, which is why prevention is the optimum method of decreasing the risk of having one’s horse diagnosed a wobbler.
Ingrid Pärg
Use of Alternative Medicine in the Last Couple of Decades
ReplyDeletePeople of all nationalities have been able to rely on medical care for centuries now and it is difficult to imagine the world without it. Nevertheless, medicine has not always been on the level it is nowadays and, as it has developed, we have forgotten many of the methods used thousands of years ago. But not all of the knowledge is lost as much has been handed down from generation to generation. Although it is not believed in by most people, alternative medicine is still used relatively much around the world these days. For instance, several medical colleges provide students an opportunity to learn it and many hospitals offer alternative and complementary therapies. However, less and less people believe in this kind of treatment and therefore it’s popularity is on the decrease.
Martin Karindi
"Centre of Blood Vascular System or Heart is a Body Engine"
ReplyDeleteAbstract
Heart is an important central part of the body. Some people even consider that the soul also is situated in the heart. How can we estimate the importance of this organ? Obvious case is to be the similarity between heart and engine of the machine. The purpose of a gasoline car engine is to convert gasoline into motion so that the car can move. The purpose of heart is similarly to supply tissues with energy and important matter so that the body can live. However the cardiovascular system cannot exist on its own account. Similarly the engine cannot either. Only aggregate of systems provides vital activity of the body or functionality of the machine. Thanks to the newest technologies difficult heart operations and microsurgery of the vascular system are possible. Unfortunately the main forces are concentrated on human heart diseases and their treatment. The major task of the essay is to draw attention of young vets that we need specialists in particularly this and a lot of others fields to treat our lovely pets who became members of the family
Jekaterina Polshakova
and also the website with informative video "How the heart works" http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hhw/hhw_pumping.html
P.S. two pages forward is another interesting video "Your Heart's Electrical System"
Testicular morphology and cauda epididymal sperm reserves of male rats exposed to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil.
ReplyDeletePotential negative effects of exposure to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil on the reproductive system of male rats was investigated. Exposure to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil was achieved via oral administration of increasing doses (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 ml/rat) every other day for 4 weeks. The results described here showed a significant (p < 0.01) dosedependent reduction in the cauda epididymal sperm reserves of rats that received crude oil treatment relative to the control group. Findings indicate that exposure of male rats to Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil may have adversely affected their reproductive systems. This may imply possible reproductive health hazards for animals and humans that may be exposed to this environmental pollutant, especially in areas where oil spillage is a common feature.
K. Piller
Comparative analysis of heart functions in micropigs and conventional pigs using echocardiography and radiography
ReplyDeleteThe severe shortage of human donor organs has stimulated interest in the potential use of animal organs for transplantation into humans. At present, many of the studies about application of animal organs to human have been focused on pig because of the number of advantages involved and due to their similarities with human. This study analysed whether or not there were physiological and morphological differences in the hearts of conventionally reared pigs and micropigs, using radiographic and echocardiographic equipment.
In the lateral radiographic view was no significant difference in the length of the the long axis observed, but there was a difference in the lenght of the short axis. In the micropig, the cardiac length of the short axis was shorter than in the conventional pig, but a significant difference in the vertebral heart score was not observed. In addition, there were no morphological differences on the X-ray fluoroscopic view.
In the series of echo section there were no differences observed between the conventional pigs and micropigs, except in the left ventricle traces. Since the LV outflow track velocity, gradient, and LV fraction shortening were significantly lower in the micropigs, in addition, cardiac function of the micropigs were compared with that of the human. There were similarities in the echocardiographic values between human and micropigs.
In conclusion, it is expected that the values measured in this study will contribute to understanding the physiological characteristics of micropigs.
K. Piller
Organotypic slice culture of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of rat
ReplyDeleteThere is growing demands for models which can replace or reduce animal experiments. One possibility could be organotypic slice culture. This study evaluated a stationary organotypic culture developed for the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rat. The topographical organization of the hypothalamic PVN on the cultured slices was examined by performing immunocytochemistry against oxytocin, vasopressin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone, which are the major cell groups in the magnocellular and parvocellular regions of the PVN. The immunoreactivity for oxytocin and vasopressin in the neurons of the PVN indicates that the neurons of the magnocellular region retained their anatomical properties in cultured slices and the electrophysiological properties of PVN neurons for up to 3 weeks in vitro. The PVN neurons in the culture expressed the green fluorescent protein gene that had been delivered by the adenoviral vectors. Overall, the organotypic slice culture s of the PVN established in this study preserve the known properties on the known paraventricular nucleus neurons , which highlight their potential use as an in vitro model for the long-term study of the morphology and physiological mechanisms in the PVN of the hypothalamus.
K. Piller