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Deafness in Dalmatians: A Controversial Topic
Deafness is a genetic problem which afflicts many Dalmatians. The statistics vary, but the Dalmatian Club of America estimates that between 10% and 12% of Dalmatians suffer from deafness.
Everyone agrees that deaf Dalmatians should not be bred. However, the Dalmatian Club of America has issued a controversial position statement advocating that deaf Dalmatian puppies automatically be humanely euthanized by a veterinarian.
Unsurprisingly, this position statement has upset a lot of Dalmatian lovers. The organization Deaf Pets of America posted an online petition protesting the DCA's statement, which received 3,534 signatures.
Many people, including the spokesperson for Deaf Pets of America, believe that deafness was deliberately bred into the breed "so that they can't hear the fire engine's sirens." This is considered a myth by most Dalmatian breeders. Deafness in Dalmatians seems to be linked to the genes for blue eyes. Interestingly, the combination of white coat and blue eyes is linked to deafness in other animals, including cats and horses.
A deaf Dalmatian requires more training and security measures - to keep them from running into the road and being hit by an unheard car, for example. However, they can still become a wonderful and productive member of your family. (In 2002, a deaf Dalmatian rescued a drowning girl from a river in Scotland!)
The Deaf Dog Education Action Fund offers a comprehensive look at life with a deaf dog, from clicker training ("clicker" in the procedural sense - they offer several deaf-friendly alternatives, such as using a flashlight or laser pointer) to desensitization exercises. And if you're looking for a deaf dog to adopt, they have those, too!
No Subject
I was thinking about mormonism (I think that is what it is called) and i was wondering whether the majority of people hold any strong political beliefs.
Do you lean more to the left or the right or are you central? I'm going to assume that nobody is a big fan of Mr Bush or Mr Blair.
Please reply as I'd be interested in finding out about it.
Lots of love
He Who Shoots Mormons
PS. Hope there is no tension between us.
my 14 yr old cat
in the last week my cat seems to be not using her back legs. Today I found her in a bush just lying there i had to pick ehr up and her back legs were stiff and couldnt move? has anyone seen this or had their cats go thrui the same problem. I took her to the vet they are doing x-rays tomorrow. She isnt in any pain, she still purrs and meows and eats. ITs seems to be nerves or no muscle? She is a pure bred cat a maincoot or something like that....please anyone help me
Diarrhea in Cats: What to Do and When to Do It
In and of itself, a bout of loose stools isn't necessarily cause for alarm. Stress or a change in diet can easily give your cat the runs for a day or two. Occasionally it happens to the best of us, am I right? (Never give your cat dairy products like milk. These are guaranteed to upset your cat's tummy.)
Diarrhea as a stand-alone problem can cause dehydration and loss of electrolytes, but this isn't a concern right away. The bigger issue is that it could be a symptom of another, more serious problem.
How do you know if it's time to take your cat to the vet?
- The diarrhea is bloody. Check the litterbox leavings carefully, looking for blood which is red (fresh) or black (from internal bleeding).
- Your cat shows other signs of illness. Is your cat listless? Has she lost interest in food or water? Do her eyes seem dull and/or goopy? Runny nose? Sneezing or coughing? Are her gums pale? If you gently press her chest and abdomen with your hands, does she cry out?
- The diarrhea has persisted for more than 48 hours. Even if the root cause is minor, after 48 hours of diarrhea your cat can suffer from dehydration. The vet can give her a dose of subcutaneous fluids and electrolytes to help her through it.
- Your cat can't make it to the litterbox and loses control of her bowels suddenly, everywhere, and repeatedly.
past issues
Would it be possible to get six issues of the December 20 issue? Will check back.
TDZ Therapy Medications Doubles Risk of Fractures
Common oral medications used in type 2 diabetes patients have recently undergone studies. Studies from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and University of East Angela have concluded that thiazolidinediones (TDZs) used by the elderly and post menopausal women over a course of a year have now doubled their chances at fractures.
Women aged around 70 years old with type 2 diabetes who have taken this medication for a year or more, one additional fracture would occur among every 21 women. Those women who are around 56 years old and have taken TDZs for a year or more resulted in one additional fracture for every 55 women. The concern is that the agents in TDZs are doubling the risk for those that are already at a higher risk before the therapy.
Thiazolidinediones or TDZs are medications to control diabetes by lowering your blood sugar levels. Common drugs that are widely prescribed that fall into the thiazolidinedione drug family are Rosiglitazone also called Avandia TM made by GlaxoSmithKline. The second is Pioglitazone, but if in your medicine cabinet, ActosTM produced by Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
The study performed by Wake Forest University School of Medicine and University of East Angela had their researchers review 10 previously completed trials that lasted a minimum of 1 year. All persons in the studies had type 2 diabetes and an impaired glucose tolerance. They closely compared the risk of fracture among patients who were taking TDZ therapy to those that were not. Close to 14,000 patients were included in the studies. In conclusion of the study, the data ended up being broken down by gender. TDZ medications only seem to double the risk of fractures in women and not men. Researchers are not sure as to why it is gender specific but plan on beginning studies to find out more.
Areas of concern for bone density change is at the lumbar area of the spine and always a common concern for the elderly, the hip. As the women age and pass through menopause their bone density automatically starts changing resulting in most women taking calcium supplements among others. That is what puts elderly women in the mentioned age groups already at a high risk for fractures. Adding TDZ therapies to the mix could seal the deal on a long hospital stay after a fall. Working in geriatrics I know how hard it is for the elderly to recover from such a fall that usually results in surgery. The elderly have a much harder time healing and working through physical therapy to get back to where they left off before the fall. This is why it is necessary to prevent falls and their risk in fractures and breaks.
Concerning the thiazolidinedione therapy treatments in type 2 diabetic patients, the 2008 Guidelines of American Diabetes Association and European Association for Study of Diabetes have also advised against these medications. They have stated that they do not recommend TDZs for core therapy treatments and specifically advise against the use of Rosiglitazone. Even though these two reputable sources advise against using the treatments, your doctor is not breaking any laws in prescribing them for you. If you are taking these medications, speak with your doctor about your concerns and possible alternatives.
NASA ISS Free Gift To Kids
In light of the 10 year anniversary of NASA's International Space Station, they have put together a calendar for teachers and the public that is free for everyone. The calender has photos taken from the International Space Station as well as highlights of historical NASA milestones. Each calendar month you can find fun facts about the young space station including the history and what led to it being built in 1998.
You can download your special NASA International Space Station calendar for free by visiting www.nasa.gov/station. In addition to offering the free calender for all to download, NASA is in the works of sending out over 100,000 copies to schools in every state. Wanting to keep kids interested in science, space and discovery, they hope that this calendar straight from NASA will inspire kids every where to learn more.
The making of and donations of the calender are made possible by NASA educational departments such as NASA Central Operation of Resources for Educators, NASA Education Resource Centers, NASA Explorer Schools and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education of Alexandria, VA. For more information on all of NASA's educational programs you can check out www.education.nasa.gov.
Take a look at the ISS (International Space Station ) site with the kids and let them take an interactive tour of the space station. Using their interactive reference guide, access the virtual tour. You can see how the crew lives, how the ISS works, and a full 360 tour. Learn what the purpose of the ISS is and why it's there followed by a music video. During the introduction of the interactive tour watch the docking animation that shows just how big the station is. NASA's Mike Fincke, Expedition 18 Commander, is ready to give you and the kids the full introduction.
Taking a field trip to go see the International Space Station may not be an option but on the website you can click their link to find out when the space station might be flying over your house or in a city near you. You can also track down the space station any time to find out where it is and where it's headed as well as any other spacecraft that NASA might have out there.
Those curious about the space stations past missions you can get a full listing and timeline of what the International Space Station has been up to since it began in 1998. Find out what they are still working on to improve the station and what it has taken to make it what it is. Also, you can check out what their currently working on with the mission at hand as well as future missions. If you want to keep track, in addition to NASA's special ISS anniversary edition calendar, you can also get an International Space Station mission calender. It features all of the years up coming missions so you can check in on the site to stay updated.All the kids out there that love outer-space, the NASA site has wonderful resources and activities that kids of all ages can enjoy.
A Six Generation Tradition
Every family has their traditions and some have lasted for as long as anyone can remember. We all have holiday and new born in the family traditions. Larger families are even familiar with the hand me down tradition but how often do you hear about hand me downs lasting 148 years? Normally you wouldn't think any type of clothing would last that long and be in well enough shape for any one to wear, let alone even recognize what it once may have been after being passed down through even a couple children in the family.
In Michigan there is an article of clothing that has made it over the years and still gets to be passed down. It has become a family tradition that doesn't seem to have a worry about future generations getting to take their part in it either. For every Rewalt generation of babies born into this family, the guardian of the christening gown gets it down from storage and carefully packages one of the two very old but well used tradition to have it taken to or sent via UPS with the tracking option purchased.
The family has two cherished heirloom christening gowns. The oldest one being 148 years old isn't used as often but the other one, not being much younger at 124 years old is used frequently. Each time a baby is born in the family careful instructions are sent with the gown. This includes absolutely no ironing or washing. The guardian takes care of all that. When she gets the dress back she carefully washes them in Woolite. After they are wrapped in acid free tissue paper and stored away for the next bundle of joy to join the family and the christening gown tradition.
Classic in style the 148 year old gown is much longer that the younger. The 124 year old christening gown is shorter in length with delicate lace. The family claims that it is 100% original and there have been no alterations made to the gown. However, they do say that the christening gown is very delicate. The guardian of the gown can not stress enough the importance of being careful with the gown when she has to send it out to make it to babies born not so close to home and where the gowns are safely kept.
This gown has been used by 48 children in the family and a total of 6 generations of Rewalts. Spread between Ohio and all the way down to Florida, this gown has been the welcoming tradition for them all. I find it absolutely amazing that they have been able to keep both these gowns not only intact, but in good enough condition to send through the mail unharmed and then to be worn. With how delicate the material of these gowns have to be at this point I'd be afraid when washing it, even by hand, that it would simply unravel in my hands. The guardian of the gown must know what she's doing to be so confident in the care of something so precious. She's done a great job keeping the tradition alive.
Holiday Cookie Time is Here
Bring on the plague of locusts house guests! The internet abounds in holiday cookies and articles. Here's a quick round up:
- New York Times food writer Mark Bittman offers The Mother Of All Butter Cookies. This is a single recipe which can be divided into four parts and used to create four different kinds of cookies. (Citrus, chocolate chip, ginger, and spice cookies.) The recipe can be used to make drop cookies, or refrigerated to make rolled cookies. Bittman has written the recipe to be mixed in the food processor, just to make holiday baking a little bit easier.
- Martha Stewart is on the scene, offering three recipes from her book "Martha Stewart's Cookies." The recipes look delicious and surprisingly easy, given Martha's tendency to over-complicate things.
- The Toronto Star has published a recipe for beautiful Stained Glass Cookies. These are sugar cookies with a "stained glass" center made of melted Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers. The recipe looks easy, and the cookies look absolutely gorgeous. But I have to admit, the idea of a sugar cookie with a melted Jolly Rancher center gives me pause.
- For something both delicious and thematic, try these Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies from the Simply Recipes blog. (This is a recipe by guest blogger Garrett McCord, who runs the intoxicating cupcake blog Vanilla Garlic.)
- Once you've baked your cookies, then what? The Canadian Press offers Suggestions for what to drink with holiday cookies. The unusual but intriguing pairings include snickerdoodles with cream soda, and popcorn balls with farmhouse Belgian ale.
News Flash: College is Expensive
In a highly publicized report released recently by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, the forecast for college tuition rates was grim. Last year, the net cost of attending a four-year public college rose to 28% of an average middle-class family's income. For poorer families, the net cost rose to 55% of annual income. Ouch!
Here are five "big picture" ways to manage your finances as a college student:
1. DON'T APPLY FOR CREDIT CARDS.
Credit card company representatives slither onto campus in the dead of night and wait, lurking at their folding card tables, for unsuspecting students to wander past. Or perhaps they nest there overnight, curled up near the bases of trees and shrubs.
Either way, the credit card reps are not your friends. Even though they have glossy smiles and come bearing candy bars and free promotional Frisbees, they are the enemy. The worst thing you can do as a college student is apply for a credit card. (The second worst thing you can do is buy something with a credit card.)
Should you accidentally succumb to their wiles, do not despair! Cut up the card, then call the credit card company to cancel your account. If you have to pay an annual fee before you cancel, just pay it. You'll still be saving money versus paying their outrageous interest fees.
2. Economize on meals, but avoid pre-packaged food.
Banish Top Ramen and frozen pot pies from your diet. The calories are cheap, but the malnutrition isn't worth it.
If your dorm room doesn't allow for cooking or refrigeration, all is not lost. Stock up on healthy, ready-to-eat foods like apples, bananas, oranges, Triscuits, carrots, peanut butter, Balance bars, and granola.
3. Never buy or lease a new car.
If you must have a car, buy a used car. If you're worried about possible repair bills, haunt the dealership until you find a car that's 1-2 years old. When negotiating the lease, pay attention to the total amount (including the interest you'll pay) and not the monthly bill.
4. Get the right cell phone plan.
Read your bill carefully and do the math. I know the bill is 20 pages long and virtually incomprehensible. Think of this as prepping your brain for the organic chemistry class you're going to have to take next year.
How many minutes did you use last month? How many text messages did you send? How many cameraphone pictures did you send? Note these numbers, then choose a plan which covers exactly that - no more, no less.
If you send 20 text messages a month, and each sent message costs you ten cents, and you have an SMS package which is $5 for 500 text messages, then drop the SMS package. It's cheaper just to pay the $2 in SMS fees.
5. Don't buy the meal plan.
Most colleges have a cafeteria plan where you can buy X meals for $N per quarter. Break it down and figure out how much that costs per meal. The next time you visit the cafeteria, ask yourself, "Under normal circumstances, would I be willing to pay $12 for this meal?"
College cafeteria food is convenient, but overpriced and under-delicious. Keep a stash of cheap food in your room, and fix your own meals whenever possible (see #2).