Motion Sensors for Horse Lameness

Motion Sensors Detect Horse Lameness Earlier Than Veterinarians

ScienceDaily (July 3, 2012) — The most common ailment to affect a horse is lameness. A University of Missouri equine veterinarian has developed a way to detect this problem using a motion detection system called the "Lameness Locator." Now, Kevin Keegan, a professor of equine surgery in the College of Veterinary Medicine at MU, has found that his Lameness Locator can detect lameness earlier than veterinarians using the traditional method of a subjective eye test.

Equine veterinarians have developed a way to detect lameness using a motion detection system called the "Lameness Locator." (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Missouri-Columbia)

The Lameness Locator, which is now in commercial use, places small sensors on the horse's head, right front limb and croup, near the tail. The sensors monitor and record the horse's torso movement while the horse is trotting. The recorded information is then transferred to a computer or mobile device and compared against databases recorded from the movement of healthy horses and other lame horses. The computer is then able to diagnose whether or not the horse is lame.

In a new study published in theEquine Veterinary Journal, Keegan and co-author Meghan McCracken, an equine surgery resident at MU, put special adjustable shoes on horses that temporarily induced symptoms of lameness. The horses were then monitored by the Lameness Locator as well as by a number of veterinarians using any lameness testing methods they wished. If no lameness was detected by either the veterinarians or the Lameness Locator, the special shoes were adjusted slightly to increase the symptoms of lameness. This process was repeated until both the Lameness Locator and the participating veterinarians properly identified in which leg of the horse the lameness was occurring. Keegan and McCracken found that the Lameness Locator was able to correctly identify lameness earlier than veterinarians using subjective eye test methods more than 58 percent of the time and more than 67 percent of the time when the lameness occurred in the hind legs of the horse. Keegan attributes this to the sensors' high sensitivity levels.

"There are two reasons why the Lameness Locator is better than the naked eye," Keegan said. "It samples motion at a higher frequency beyond the capability of the human eye and it removes the bias that frequently accompanies human subjective evaluation."

Because equine lameness may begin subtly and can range from a simple mild problem affecting a single limb to a more complicated one affecting multiple limbs, veterinarians and horse owners know that early detection is the key to successful outcomes.

"If veterinarians can detect lameness earlier, before it gets too bad, it makes treatment much easier," Keegan said. "Lameness often goes undetected or undiagnosed entirely, which can cause owners to retire horses earlier than needed, simply because they cannot figure out why the horses are unhealthy. The Lameness Locator should be able to help with that as well."

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided byUniversity of Missouri-Columbia.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. M. J. Mccracken, J. Kramer, K. G. Keegan, M. Lopes, D. A. Wilson, S. K. Reed, A. Lacarrubba, M. Rasch.Comparison of an inertial sensor system of lameness quantification with subjective lameness evaluation.Equine Veterinary Journal, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00571.x

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120703162620.htm

Animal microchips

Animal microchips linked to causing cancer

(NaturalNews) Many veterinarians recommend them, and most animal shelters require them. Identification microchips injected into the necks of cats and dogs are touted as useful in recovering lost pets because the devices store owner and medical information. But are they safe? A new lawsuit against Merck & Co., Inc., maker of the HomeAgain pet microchip, says they are not, noting that they can cause cancer to develop in pets.



Featured at www.ChipMeNot.org, a website launched to raise awareness about the harm caused to animals by microchips, the lawsuit alleges that Merck's HomeAgain pet microchip induces cancerous tumors in pets. According to the suit, the defendant's cat developed cancer after getting a chip implant, and according to reports, other animals have gotten cancer after getting chipped as well.

"Based on the alarming number of microchip-induced cancers we're discovering, I predict this lawsuit will be just the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Katherine Albrecht, a consumer advocate and expert on side effects associated with implantable microchips. "Merck and organizations that advocate pet chipping should take this lawsuit seriously and start warning pet owners of the risk of microchip-induced cancer."

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, potential health risks associated with implantable microchips include "adverse tissue reaction". Based on data from the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, this can include "swelling", "infection", "abscesses", and "tumors".

Albrecht presented a paper on the subject called "Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990-2006" (http://www.chipmenot.org/pdfs/P074.pdf) at the June conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers that documents the increasing number of animals being harmed by microchips. Currently, there is no repository of data on adverse events associated with microchips in the U.S., but Albrecht organization, CASPIAN, is filling that void by compiling such information and making it available to the public.

To learn more about the dangers of animal microchips, visit: www.ChipMeNot.org

Sources for this story include:

http://www.chipmenot.org/mercksued.htm

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/030108_microchips_animals.html#ixzz1zccfhZOD

Castration

Sterilization as a means of contraception was practiced for a long time. After learning that castrating animals prevented pregnancy, early Chinese doctors did the same thing to men and were successful in their attempts.

By 1200 B.C., castration was performed on servants of the emperor. The Assyrians and Babylonians also castrated slaves which they kept in their homes. Most of the early procedures, however, were not only crude but dangerous, especially in the absence of antiseptic substances and effective anesthetics.

In the 20th century, doctors turned to X-rays as a means of sterilizing both men and women. This was later abandoned due to radiation's harmful effects and the risk of contracting cancer.

Today, sterilization is accomplished through vasectomy for men or tubal ligation for women. Both are considered non-reversible ways of contraception. Of the two, tubal ligation is more popular but vasectomy appears to be picking up.

Vasectomy was developed in the early 1900s and is one of the few birth control methods for men. In this minor surgical procedure, each of the vas deferens, the two tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis, is cut and sealed.

Compared to tubal ligation, vasectomy is less physically traumatic and less expensive. It takes only 20 minutes and the stitches usually dissolve in seven to 10 days. Strenuous activity should be avoided for the next 48 hours while sex can be resumed in a week provided there is no discomfort.

"You may notice some swelling and discomfort in the scrotum for a few days. However, if the pain persists for more than a few days or becomes severe or if fever develops, call your physician," said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book."

Many people prefer a vasectomy because it can be done quickly and involves less time away from work, the reason why more than 42 million couples throughout the world rely on this method. In the United States, more than 15 percent of men over 40 have had a vasectomy. These include celebrities like Dean Martin, Abbie Hoffman and Lord Snowden.

But things were different in the past. There was a time when interest in vasectomy declined because it was thought to lead to serious health problems. Early repots in 1977 and 1978 blamed vasectomy for a host of ailments ranging from arthritis to heart disease. Subsequent studies have refuted these claims.

"The procedure in no way interferes with a man's ability to maintain an erection or reach orgasm. Nor does it impede the production of male hormones or of sperm in the testicles. The only change is that the sperm's link to the outside has been severed permanently. After a vasectomy, you continue to ejaculate about the same amount of semen because sperm account for only a small part of the ejaculate," Larson explained. (Next: Vasectomy and prostate cancer.)

To enjoy sex in your later years, keep fit, eat right and love life. That simple advice can go a long way in preserving your sex life. For extra help, take Fematril, a safe and natural female sexual enhancer that can stimulate your mind and body. For details, go to http://www.fematril.com/.

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine [http://www.HealthLinesNews.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_A_Bell

Online Veterinary Practice

Veterinary software today comes in many flavors and sold on many platforms and technologies. Though Windows-based solutions are the most common there are a number of other other software solutions. There a number of downsides to non-hosted software that is not web-based. The world of computers is rapidly evolving and software systems that are closed and tied to a single platform are becoming increasingly obsolete when stacked against online veterinary software solution.The most common vet software program is a windows-based solution that either resides on a single machine or is networked and resides on both a PC and a server. The PC will host the software and the server will host the database.

The first biggest disadvantage becomes immediately apparent: the hardware requirement. Veterinary software vendors typically require the veterinarian to purchase and maintain expensive hardware. The networked server costs at least $2000 and almost as much to maintain on a yearly basis. The PCs that host the system might be cheaper, but by no means are they cheap to maintain, patch and upgrade to the latest software standards. Before purchasing any solution from a software vendor it is important that vet clinics research and understand what and how much hardware is required to operate the software.

A second, even more pressing concern that can't be expressed in dollars, is security. On-premise systems that reside on users machines or a practice's database server are typically woefully insecure. Software vendors will promise "automated backups" and "password protected" logins but typically these vendors are small or medium size businesses with little understand of the more sophisticated security vulnerabilities. Automated backups do not protect against the loss or theft of a machine nor from a hard drive crash. Password-protected logins do not protect from weak password policies or brute force password hackers. A veterinary software systems security will only be as powerful as the people coding the software and typically vet software vendors do not having the man power and expertise to make their systems very sophisticated.

The last and probably most pressing disadvantage of most of today's software offerings is the lack of portability. We live in the age of iPads and Blackberries, where data is expected to be always on the go like the rest of us. These software systems were never designed or programmed to work on many different platforms, let alone the software be accessed from somewhere outside the office. As long as the solution is secure, there is simply no concrete disadvantage to having a solution that works inside and outside the clinic than having one that works strictly in the clinic. Software today is meant to move and vets shouldn't have to settle for less. Online veterinary practice management software has none of these distinct disadvantages. If you choose the right provider, the software system will sit on one of the major "cloud infrastructures" that guarantees 99.99% uptime and enterprise-level security. The advantage of cloud hosted solutions are many:

1. No hardware requirement: you can use the existing machines in your office or even your home. And not be tied down to a single software platform like Windows.
2. Enterprise-grade security: A few online software vendors will offer their applications on existing, ultra-secure cloud infrastructures that are used by banks and other industries where security and privacy are paramount. Veterinary software shouldn't suffer from poor security simply because the vet market may be smaller than the bank industry.
3. Portability: When software is hosted on the web it means that any web-enabled device can access it, anytime and anywhere: at work, home, at a cafe, a bookstore or on vacation.

A powerful veterinary software solution I recommend is called VetBlue http://www.eveterinarysoftware.com and has all the advantages of online software we discussed in this article and suffers from none of the setbacks of on-premise, windows-based solutions since it is hosted and available 24/7 from any web enabled PC, Mac or smartphone.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Redding

Veterinary Practice

Another frequently asked question on How To Grow Your Veterinary Practice Is:

How Can I Track If My Marketing Is Working Within My Veterinary Practice?

This is a very good question because the key to any successful marketing campaign is tracking. This is also the difference between the sort of advertising that comes out of Madison Avenue and the sort that actually works for small businesses including veterinary practices.

So how do you go about tracking?

Here are four ways you can track if your marketing is working:

1. Campaign Specific Telephone Numbers

Did you know that it is possible to rent tracking telephone numbers? These are telephone numbers that you can put on your adverts, letters and web pages that when dialed will ring in your office but will be also be logged. For example, say you were running an identical promotion in two different local newspapers at the same time at the ad generated 50 new clients for your practice. If you used the same telephone number on both then you wouldn't know which newspaper had generated the most new clients. You might then be tempted to run the same ad again in both newspapers the following week when, in fact, one of the newspapers had generated 45 new clients and the other one had only generated 5! However, if each ad used a different tracking telephone number then you would know exactly how many had come from each.

2. Campaign Specific Codes

An alternative to using telephone numbers is to use different codes for each campaign. For example, you could specify in your ads or letters: Please mention offer code XYZ345 when making an appointment. This is a cheaper than telephone numbers but also not as reliable as you are relying on the client remembering to give the code and your reception staff remembering to keep track of it.

3. Campaign Specific Vouchers

Another well used tracking method is to include a voucher/coupon on your ad that the client has to bring with them to qualify for the promotion. Again not as good as telephone numbers but still a lot more than the majority of veterinary practice do.

4. Campaign Specific Web Pages

If you want to track clients that have come as a result of visiting your website then you could use different "landing pages" for different campaigns which could include any of the above tracking methods. You can also have Internet only offers so you know could only have been found on your website.

Use a simple spreadsheet which lists each campaign and the total cost of the campaign i.e. postage, paper, advertising costs etc. Then have columns for the number of responders (leads), the number of conversions (sales), the Cost Per Lead (total cost/leads), the Cost Per Sale (total cost/sales) and the value of the sales made. By doing this you can track if you are getting a return on your investment and determine if it is worth running the campaign again.

So don't waste money on advertising and marketing that doesn't work. Track your campaigns and focus on the ones that actually give you a positive return on investment.

Dean Biggs is co-founder of Veterinary Practice Profits based in Heathrow, FL. The aim of Veterinary Practice Profits is to teach veterinary practice owners the practice building and marketing strategies they were never taught at Veterinary school.

To get 20 FREE videos on 10 Frequently Asked Questions and 10 Questions You Should Be Asking about growing your veterinary practice plus a FREE book and CD on How To Consistently Grow Your Practice Every Year just click the following link http://www.FreeVetVideos.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Biggs

Embryo Transfer

Embryo transfer is the advance technique in animal breeding whereby a sexually mature female referred as donor is injected with exogenous hormone to produce more ova which is fertilized inside her by natural or artificial service are removed evaluated and transferred into the reproductive tract of surrogate mother where it is develop naturally into mature calf.

The history of embryo transfer is not too much longer. First embryo is transferred experimentally in 1949. The first embryo calf is produced in 1951 in England. Commercially embryo transfer technology is not used until 1970. In 1970's calf is produced industrially through the application of embryo transfer. And European dual purposes breed of cattle became popular with in short period of time. Day by day ET technology developed through different technique include artificial insemination, surgical recovery of embryo, rapid development of superovulation technique etc. After 1977 the embryo transfer technique became popular all over the world.

Embryo transfer is based on the development of genetic makeup of the progeny by insertion of either frozen semen or semen from genetically valuable bull into the donor which is also genetically superior. Then after fertilization embryo is transferred into surrogate mother which gives only physical support to the embryo.

Embryo transfer technique is involved many steps. Those are given below

1. Selection of donor.

2. Selection of recipient.

3. Management of donor and recipient.

4. Superovulation and synchronization of estrous.

5. Estrous detection.

6. Preparation of materials.

7. Insemination of the donor.

8. Collection of embryo (either surgical or non surgical method).

9. Handling of embryo (identification, evaluation of embryo).

10. Storage of embryo.

11. Transfer of embryo.

Selection of donor

There are two broad criteria that have to follow. One criteria is donor have to proven genetic value. A Second criterion is donor must have high reproductive rate. Beside these donor have to fulfill the following criteria:

- Donor should be free from reproductive disease.

- Proven genetic value containing cow are used as donor.

- Donor should have high reproductive rate.

- It should not be over fated.

- Donor should be healthy, regular cycling and a history of high fertility.

- Donor should not losing weight

- Non pregnant cows are usually referred to as donor.

Selection of recipient

Recipient cow selection is an important task for embryo transfer technology. Recipient cow must be fulfilling some basic criteria. Not all cows are able to be a recipient cow. Palpation must be done before selecting the cow or heifer as a recipient. It is done by putting the hand into the cow's bottom and try to fell around to see whether everything is in working order or not. Some cows have calving problem, twisted cervix so it is best to avoid these cows as recipient through the palpation of cow.

The feature of recipient cows are almost like donor but they need some extra criteria this are given below

- Less productive milking cow.

- Fertile and high capacity to conceive in AI programmer.

- Young cows for non-surgical transfers and heifers for surgical transfer programmes etc are used as recipient in embryo transfer.

Management of donors and recipients

Donors are managed in both the farm condition and embryo transfer center. But surrogate mother needs extra care in a care center. But both the cows need some basic equipment common such as chutes and head catches, refrigerator for keeping drug and an appropriate site to work with embryo.

Skilled person are needed for estrous detection, palpation, and AI. Health management programme should be available like vaccination, quarantine for incoming animal and testing programme.

Adequate physical facilities like feed storage are needed. Food planned nutrition programmes, record keeping system are also essential for the proper management.

Superovulation and synchronization of estrous

Once the recipient cow and donor cow are selected the first step is to superovulate to produce multiple ova (eggs). To do this donor cows are treated with the gonadotropin (hormone) like follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) twice daily for 4 days in the range of 8 to 14 days of estrous. So more eggs are released from each follicle then a low dose of prostaglandin F2 alpha is treated after 2-3 days later. Different types of hormone are used for the superovulation like PMSG, FSH, HCG, GnRH, Estradiol-17 B, prostaglandin F2 alpha etc.

Estrous detection

Estrous detection is very important and skilled person is needed for the detection. It's detected visually at least twice each day early in the morning and late in the evening. The detection of estrous is done by the following way---------------

- Move around in each cow for 10-15 min and observed carefully in a close contact.

- Suspicious sign for estrous is restlessness, bawling, nudging, mounting, sniffing, tail raising, discharge of clear mucus from the valve, swelling, inflammation of the valve etc.

- A calendar should be kept contain all records of donor and recipient. At the 18-24 days of estrous observe closely for estrous detection.

- Met estrus bleeding blood from valve are also the major detection sign of estrous

Insemination of the donor

Insemination of the donor is done either by natural mating with proven bull or by artificial insemination. Artificial insemination means insertion of semen from proven bull for fertilization artificially where by semen is also collected from bull artificially.

Collection of embryo

Embryo is collected from the donor by surgical or non-surgical method. But it is recommended that non-surgical method than surgical method. The recovery by non surgical method is really simple and done at approximately seven days after breeding. It needs only one hour. But a skilled persons and adequate equipments are required for this process.

Handling of embryo

Recovered embryos are needed to evaluate for stage of development and quality of the embryo under the microscope. After collection the embryo are usually in the morula stage and become blastocyst stage. The embryo then classified in a broad categories like excellent, very good, good, poor, very poor etc. Normally excellent, very good, good categories of embryo are selected for embryo transfer programme.

Storage of embryo

Selected embryos are preserved through cryopreservation at very low temperature. The embryo is frozen to extremely cold temperatures, using liquid nitrogen. At cold condition nitrogen exist in liquid form under these specialised conditions the embryos can remain dormant until such time when pregnancy is desired.

Transfer of embryo

Transfer of embryo is done by two methods surgical and non-surgical. But again non-surgical method is more effective. It is much easier to transfer embryo to the uterus than to the oviduct trough the non-surgical method.

Application of embryo transfer

• Very low risk of disease transmission.
• Increase reproductive rate of genetically valuable female.
• Obtain offspring from genetically valuable but infertile cow
• Easy to import and export.
• Used in MOET programme successfully.
• Cost of embryo transfer is not high.
• Passive immunity from native dam.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tamim_Kabir

a.i

Recently, I read an article in the newspaper about a veterinarian who specializes in artificially inseminating animals. Naturally, as anyone would assume that means the semen has to be collected by someone as well. The vet just happened to be a woman...not that there is anything wrong with that (apologies to Seinfeld...yes, I know that doesn't make her gay, but, really, come on.)

Is it my imagination or wouldn't that just take a whole lot of fun out of for the animal? Just think, a race horse is put out to stud after making millions of dollars for his owners by winning races and this is his reward?? He's been bragging to his buddies at the local feeding trough about all the fillies he'll be bedding soon and then he sees a woman coming at him with a glove on...please tell me she wears a glove! I guess it could be a lot worse, he could see a proctologist coming towards him as he snaps on a rubber glove like I did for my last physical, but it still just doesn't seem fair to the horse. Plus, what is it liable to do to the horse's complexion? And what about blindness?!? This is getting less and less fair the more I think about it.

The article said it is safer for the animals this way because it prevents injuries to the female...all the wild animal sex, I guess. But that was probably why the horse worked so hard to win all those races in the first place, so he could be rewarded with wild animal sex.

The vet doesn't just service horses, as it were, but other animals as well. Is it me, or do you also doubt the possibilities of turtles hurting themselves by rapid, wild sexual movements? ...And how do you collect semen from a snake? Or more accurately, from where do you collect semen from a snake?

My next thought is how big of a cup do you need to collect semen from a horse and who holds it? Also, do they have to show the horses pictures of female horses in suggestive positions or do they make horse porn for this purpose (or for exceptionally weird humans?)

Oh sure, someone is going to ruin this even further for the poor animals by telling me a human doesn't collect the semen but that it is done by some kind of a machine...or worse someone has written a software program that does it. COME ON PEOPLE! We're going to get these poor animals so ticked off at us the next thing you know they won't consent to be eaten by us anymore.

How about we examine the psyche of this woman who makes a living out of doing this thing to farm animals? Wouldn't Sigmund Freud have a field day with that? But, then, by the same token, what kind of a psycho becomes a psychiatrist?...or what kind of an...becomes a proctologist?.... or what kind of a....becomes a urologist? I think anyone who has ever divorced someone in those professions could tell you! But, alas, let us not cast aspersions...no forget that, I would.

I wonder what the female animals think of all this. Oh sure, the Jewish female animals (is that where kosher meats come from?) are happy, they no longer have to come up with the flimsy headache excuses. And this makes it easier on the one that are embarrassed by their heavy thighs, this is particularly true of the cows and the pigs. But what about the female animals in bars trying to attract a husband? They can't say, "Would you like to come up to my apartment for some coffee and who knows, maybe later my veterinarian will come over with her glove and semen cup."

Isn't it likely that the lonely sheepherder out in the hills for so long might find this whole idea of artificially inseminating his herd rather offensive...never mind. That really is a whole different subject.

Steve Yeich is a humor writer with over 25 years of experience. He has written jokes for numerous comedians who have performed on the Las Vegas strip, most notably Jay Leno and Joan Rivers. He has done various forms of script writing including for movies and TV. He has also written over 100 TV and radio commercials. To see more of his articles go to http://darnfunnyonline.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Yeich

Raw diet for dogs

The raw food diet for dogs combines fruits, vegetables, and meats. Variation in the diet is key, and the same food must not be fed more frequently than four consecutive days. Always make sure meals have green and yellow foods and do not have cabbage, which leads to gas. It is also important to leave out foods such as cucumbers, which are not properly digested.

This diet should be half raw meat, no less. If owners feel discomfort at feeding dogs completely raw meats, something slightly cooked can be fed at first. However, with time, meat must not be cooked at all for the best results.

Acceptable types of meat are lamb, beef, duck, venison, and turkey. It is okay to serve the same meat again for up to four days, but not more. After this time a new meat should be given. The reasons is that giving identical meals each day can contribute to hypersensitivities developing in dogs.

Appropriate side dishes include oats. Oats are exceptionally good because they are easily digested and well absorbed. To make them put them in a pot with boiling water and cover them. They should continue cooking and softening for about twenty minutes. Alternatives to oats include noodles, brown rice, or potatoes.

Another important component of this diet are vegetables and fruits. Carrots have many vitamins, calcium, and potassium. Adding parsley will help improve thyroid and adrenal gland health, heal the urinary tract, and improve oxygen metabolism. Celery gives a completely natural sodium source that leads to proper fluidity of lymph and the blood. It is also a diuretic that improves arthritis, water retention, and urinary complications.

Spices such as garlic and paprika may be combined with food. Bananas, mangoes, apples, zucchini, alfalfa, and watercress are also good additions. Anything raw contained within this same category that dogs like to eat are great choices.

It is important to add foods of a green or yellow color to meals. This is because these foods help eliminate toxins from the body. One of the best scavengers of free radicals is watermelon.

Every week some cheese, a boiled egg, and yogurt can be put in a dogs meal. The mixture is combined in a blender along with a half cup of water and several vegetables. This is then mixed with other foods. However, do not supply this more than once a week.

Never mix raw turnips, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, or beans in with food. These create intestinal gas, which is very unpleasant. It is also important to avoid tomato, cucumbers, peppers, spinach, and onions. None of these are easily digested in a canines system.

A raw food diet for dogs requires large amounts of meat. This is combined with multiple raw vegetables, including celery and carrots. Noodles or oats may be combined with foods but gas causing vegetables like turnips or cabbage should be avoided. Also should foods like peppers and onions which cannot be readily digested by dogs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Diet For Dogs

While the raw diet for dogs is becoming a more and more stylish topic among dog owners lately, it's really not anything new as many pet owners might suppose. It has gained a renewed awareness and found its way into the spotlight recently due partly to the many recalls of commercial dog food in the past year.

Alarmed for their dog's health, pet owner's have begun the search for healthy alternatives to commercial pet food and the raw diet for dogs has become the passionate topic.

The raw food diet for dogs, also called the B.A.R.F diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones And Raw Food), is relatively effortless and it basically mimics what your dog would normally eat if it lived in the wild: raw meat, raw meaty bones and raw vegetables.

If you are considering putting your dog on the raw food diet, here is some essential information to keep in mind:

Altering from commercial food to the raw diet for dogs, it may be best to start with just the meat and bones for the first few days until your pet gets adapted to it.

Raw meaty bones that can be eaten include beef, chicken backs, necks, wings, or turkey necks. The chicken and turkey bones are pliable enough for a dog to chew and eat and they provide and exercise for your dog's jaw and upper-body muscle. It is very important to know that the bones give your pet are raw. Cooked bones can splinter easily and these pieces can cause severe internal damage to your pet.

After your pet has becomes accustomed to the meat and bones, you can then start adding in some of the more bland vegetables like carrots. Once your dog has become adjusted to bland vegetables, the other kinds of vegetables you want to give your dog are completely up to you. However, besides understanding the basic nutritional value of vegetables, you should make yourself knowledgeable of any unwanted side effects they might cause.

For example, carrots are wonderful because of their vitamins, potassium and calcium. Watercress and mustard leaf help clean out the intestines. On the flip side, potatoes are not easily digested, large amounts of onions can cause stomach problems and broccoli and cabbage can increase the amount of your dog's gas.

Some of the advantages pet owners report as a result of putting their pet on the raw food diet for dogs include: lower veterinarian bills, nicer smelling breath, improved skin and coats and an improved immune system due to the balance of pure nutrients and fatty acids.

Is the raw diet for dogs correct for your pet? While it has its advantages, no one diet is right for every dog anymore than any one diet is appropriate for every human. You should fully examine dog diets and nutritional needs and carefully weigh your options based on your pet's individual needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

a.i

Career In Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Surgeons or Vets are doctors for animals, since similar to human beings animals will have a number of illnesses which need care and treatment. In order to become a Vet it's important first of all to have a passion for animal welfare. Even though earning a decent living from this job must also be your concern, this must not be your main reason for starting a career in this field.

The skills necessary to become a veterinarian are much like the ones essential to a pediatrician. Basically, animals much like kids are unable to communicate symptoms to you and so you will rely on the testimony of the owners in addition to your own skills to test and diagnose the condition of your patients and give the right treatment.

If you need to become a veterinarian you are required to get a veterinary degree, often known as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, from one of the reputable establishments and also obtain the required license to have a practice. This type of certification will not just enable you to treat animals that have regular complaints, but in addition to concentrate on animal healthcare niche markets. Needless to say, the regulations and rules for veterinary doctors are different in all countries and so you have to seek advice from your local licensing boards while doing your research.

Many people once certified decide to treat domestic pets because there is always a greater demand in this area and newly qualified vets will have many opportunities available. This will also be a good path to take for people who want to start their own practice in the future.

Normally it takes as much as 8 years to get the qualifications in order to become a veterinarian surgeon after leaving secondary institution. On top of that, the competition to get into the Universities which provide degrees in this medicine will be intense, but for individuals who are able to get a spot and then graduate the benefits will be great in both remuneration and job satisfaction.

For more great tips on how to become a vet visit http://www.becomeavet.org/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colin_Scott

Veterinarian

Are you between the ages of 8 and 12 years old and you want to become a veterinarian? I know exactly what you are going through. I am a veterinarian and I made my decision to become a veterinarian at 11 years of age. The truth is, you are at the age when most veterinarians make their career decision. Recently, I surveyed over a hundred veterinarians nationwide and 65% of them said they made their decision to become a veterinarian before they reached the age of 13. So you are in the most important years for a future veterinarian. Do all you can to explore animals and veterinary medicine right now!

OK, so I've got you ready to go, but what should you do? Let me be your guide on how to become a veterinarian. As a Vet for Kids, I focus my time on helping future animal doctors like you pursue their dreams. In fact, I recently connected with practicing veterinarians all over the country and I want to share the advice these veterinarians had for kids like you.

When I asked them how to become a veterinarian, by far, the top recommendation of the veterinarians I surveyed was for you to explore and study science as much as possible. When I meet children who want to be veterinarians, the first thing I tell them is "Many children love animals. The children who love both science and animals are the ones who become veterinarians." It's so important to explore as much science as you can in school, but don't stop there.

Science doesn't only live in the classroom. Visit a museum, go to a science camp or get involved with a science club. If you want to have an even greater impact, you can help scientists collect data on animals. There are many national programs like the Great Backyard Bird count and local programs like amphibian monitoring sponsored by organizations throughout the country. You can go out in the area around your home and help scientists track the animal populations across our country.

The veterinarians I surveyed also recommended that you get as many "animal experiences" as possible. What this means is that, when they were younger, many practicing veterinarians found unique ways to be around pets and learn all they could about the science of animals. Some took the leading role in caring for their family pets, some fostered pets for the local animal shelter and others pet-sat for their neighbors.

When I asked one veterinarian oncologist her advice on how to become a veterinarian, she shared what she did when she was young. She told me she made animals a part of everything she did at school. If she had to write a book report, it was always on an animal book. If she was drawing a picture for an art project, it was always of an animal. If she had to bring something in to share with the class, it was something she got from a trip to the local zoo or aquarium. Animals and the science of animals were a major part of everything she did at school.

So, there you have it. Remember, the key is to make certain that you are doing something everyday to become a veterinarian of tomorrow. As Walt Disney once said "All of our dreams can come true-if we have the courage to pursue them."

For more information on how to become a veterinarian visit Ichabod Ink.

Dr. Carpenter is considered the Veterinarian for Kids. He has written books and articles for children on veterinary science and presented at schools and camps. A member of the American Veterinary Association and the National Science Teachers Association, Dr. Carpenter recently launched IchabodInk.com. http://www.ichabodink.com/, the go to website for children who want to be veterinarians and parents who want to help their child explore their dream.

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Veterinary Training

If you excel at the sciences and love animals then you should consider exploring veterinary training and becoming an expert in animal care. This is a field where not only can you help improve the quality of life for animals but you can be well rewarded financially for your services.

Veterinary scientists and veterinary technologists/technicians are in high demand. This should come as no surprise. Millions of people In the US and Canada love their pets and are willing to spend good money to see those pets in the best of health.

But it may come as a surprise to you that the skills learned in veterinary training are not just applied to animal care. As a matter of fact, research breakthroughs in diseases affecting animals have been applied to human medicine. After all, many diseases affect both animals and humans.

It takes a special personality to become a veterinarian. It is a given that you need to be compassionate and patient when dealing with animals. But you also need to have a strong constitution to handle the sight of bloody animals. You need to be able to make the tough decisions - deciding that it is best to euthanize an animal rather than trying to treat it.

You should also be interested in understanding animal behavior, habits and the physical systems that they have. You need to be physically fit to be able to lift and restrain animals as well.

Not to mention the academic requirements you need to have. For entry into the veterinary science degree program, you need to excel at the sciences and mathematics.

Another way to demonstrate you early commitment to veterinary training is to get volunteer with your local animal shelter or vet. In fact, it is critical to being accepted into veterinary college that you show that you are committed to animal welfare outside of school as well as inside.

Prior to entry into the doctor of veterinary medicine program (DVM), you need to ensure the program is appropriately accredited. There are not many colleges in the US that offer accredited veterinary degrees. Neither can veterinary science training to be done online. So be careful of schools claiming to offer online DVM programs.

If you feel that veterinary training is not for you, consider doing a certificate in any of the various aspects of animal care. For example, you could do a certificate in dog obedience training or pet grooming.

These in general won't pay as well as having veterinary training. However if you manage to provide obedience training or pet grooming services to an affluent clientele - you can make serious money.

Next, find the top schools that offer veterinary training and find out if this career is suitable for you. Visit: http://www.distancelearningdegrees.org

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Veterinarians

A friend of ours who works at a local veterinary office stopped by the other day and happened to mention that she had a set of acupuncture needles and was learning how to use them. When I asked who she was going to use them on, she said that the veterinarian at her clinic intended to start offering acupuncture as an option for some of the pets that came in for treatment. Later I did a little research on the internet and it appears that her clinic isn't alone -- a good many veterinarians are turning to alternative medicine in certain cases, particularly the use of acupuncture.

According to traditional Eastern medicine, acupuncture is considered to be a method of correcting an imbalance in the flow of energy (or "qi") along certain pathways or "meridians" in the body. Small needles inserted in any of hundreds of specified acupuncture "points" redirect the flow of energy and restore the body to health. Western medicine explains the effectiveness of acupuncture by pointing out that most of these acupuncture points are located at clusters of nerves and blood vessels. Stimulating those areas through the insertion of small needles can trigger a number of reactions, including increased blood flow, the release of endorphins (the body's pain regulators), and the release of smaller amounts of cortisol, the body's own anti-inflammatory drug. The improved biochemical balance that acupuncture produces stimulates the body's natural healing abilities and promotes physical and emotional well-being.

Today veterinarians are using acupuncture to treat various conditions including chronic pain, digestive disorders, hip dysplasia, allergies, asthma, neurological problems and urinary tract disorders. Even behavioral issues can sometimes by alleviated through acupuncture treatments. Of course acupuncture by itself doesn't cure disease but it can help the body to heal itself by altering various physiological and biochemical factors.

An acupuncture session will usually involve inserting very thin needles (about the diameter of a thick hair) along the animal's bladder, kidney, and spleen meridians. The animal is conscious during the entire process and shouldn't experience any discomfort; in fact most animals actually tend to become relaxed during a typical session. The size and exact location of the needles varies depending on the size of the animal and the type of illness being treated, with short needles about half an inch in length being used on areas around the head while longer one-inch needles are used elsewhere. A typical session may last anywhere from a couple of minutes to a half hour, although a particularly complicated case can take somewhat longer. If the treatment is done by someone trained and experienced acupuncture is a very safe procedure and you should see some improvement in the animal's condition in a few days or a few weeks at most.

There are numerous documented examples of the successful use of animal acupuncture. In one instance, a woman's 16 year old border collie was diagnosed with kidney disease. Traditional veterinary medicine gave the owner two options -- dialysis or euthanasia. The collie's owner chose another option - acupuncture - and for over a year now acupuncture treatments have helped alleviate the border collie's symptoms and have relieved much of the discomfort. The disease hasn't been cured, but acupuncture has prolonged the dog's life and has done it in a way that provides a decent quality of life.

Another example from a local veterinary clinic involves a 12 year old German Shepard with degenerative spinal disease. The shepard gets weekly treatments using a number of needles in his back to maintain feeling in his spine and other needles at points in his lower legs to preserve feeling in his toes. There isn't any surgical cure for his condition and without these treatments he would soon begin to lose the use of his back legs.

While the examples above both involved dogs, acupuncture can be applied to dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, horses, cows, and even birds. Veterinarians first began to use acupuncture in the 1970's and today it's rapidly becoming an accepted part of the veterinarian's arsenal as an alternative to or in addition to drugs and surgery. It may or may not be something you would choose to have used on your pet -- but it's certainly something to think about when you look at the growing number of successes in providing help for animals, particularly those who have run out of traditional treatment options.

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