Dog owners warned over killer worm

 Dog owners warned over killer worm

Animal experts are warning dog owners to learn how to spot the tell-tale signs of a killer parasite which is spreading at an "alarming rate" around the UK.  

Lungworm, a potentially fatal infection for dogs, has become increasingly diagnosed by vets, the Be Lungworm Aware campaign has warned.

A spokesman said 37 per cent of vets in the UK have diagnosed at least one case of the parasite in 2010 compared to only 16 per cent in 2008.
Vet Luke Gamble said: "Once a problem seen only in isolated areas, lungworm is spreading at an alarming rate in the UK.
"While dog owners are becoming more aware of lungworm, there is still a real lack of understanding as to the warning signs associated with the condition and how to prevent or treat it."
Dogs become infected with lungworm after eating common garden slugs and snails carrying the larvae. A spokesman for the campaign said an infected dog may have breathing difficulties, be lethargic and cough. Other signs include weight loss, fits, reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, paralysis and persistent bleeding from minor cuts.
Sarah Wright, editor of Your Dog magazine, said: "While lungworm poses a real risk to all dogs, it can be easily treated if caught early enough and with new advances in veterinary medicine, even prevented.
"With the increasing number of reported incidents, it is more important than ever before that owners are aware of the signs to look out for."

 Source : Yahoo

Famous Celebrities with Pets

 Liv Tyler looks like she’s having a grand ol’ time frolicking in the snow, but her pup Neal looks like he could use two pairs of doggy snow boots. Brrr!

 Reese Witherspoon: “Oh, Bruiser, I’m so happy to see you! It’s been so long since we both starred in ‘Legally Blonde.’ Those were the days, right?”
Bruiser: “Yeah, whatever lady. I was told there’d be Snausages at this thing. Looks like I was foiled again.”

 Even Elvis the Koala knows that if Oprah Winfrey is embracing you, you hold on for dear life. Or at least until she gives you a free car and an iPad.

Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, their twins and their pooches take an adorable family stroll — just the six of them.

 Paris Hilton owns multiple pocket pooches — so many in fact that she has one for every day of the week. Hey you have to match your pet to your outfit, right?

 Parker Posey gives her curly furred buddy a rest from walking on the freezing New York sidewalk.

 You wouldn’t know this is Natalie Portman all bundled up on the streets of New York, but there’s no mistaking her adorable little Yorkie, Whizz.

 Peter Dinklage is one of the few people who can literally see eye to eye with his best furry friend.

 Selma Blair and her horse Taffy are the best of friends, though we’re sure there won’t be much riding going on now that she’s got baby no. 1 on the way.

 Kelsey Grammer’s pup may be teeny-tiny, but he sure has a way of getting the veteran actor all tangled up

 kristin Cavallari really hopes her precious little pup Rocco doesn’t do his business right in front of the paparazzi. The last thing Kristin needs is pics of her pooper-scooping in all the tabloid magazines.

 Michael Douglas braves the freezing-cold New York weather to make sure the family pooch gets some exercise…oh, and so he doesn’t soil the carpet.

 You think a guy with guns like Lorenzo Lamas would be caught walking a little fluff ball named Fifi? No way, he’s more of a pit-bull-named-Diablo kind of guy.

 Kelly Bensimon has an impromptu snuggle with her black lab and, coincidentally, paparazzi cameras just happen to be there to document the whole thing.

 As if Hugh Jackman and his silly daughter Ava weren’t adorable enough running around the streets of New York, the family had to go and get Peaches, the cutest French bulldog in existence.

 Elisabetta Canalis could leave her pooch at home while she shops at designer stores, but then who would be her style consultant? Everyone knows that Miniature Pinschers have the best fashion sense.

 Audrina Patridge introduces her little “Lady” to her brand-new ginormous dog mansion, courtesy of Bongo Jeans. Hey, celebrity endorsement deals also pay off for their pets!

Most people leave their dogs with a sitter to avoid the hassle of taking the pooches on an airplane, but not devoted dog dad Adrian Grenier. Why leave home without your best friend?
Source : MSN Wonder Wall

2010 Best Animals that Touch your Heart

The photo released in March, 2010 shows a five-year-old pet husky named "Ice", who has been popular on the internet after his images dressed as Superman were posted online

A panda cub is seen in this picture which released in March, 2010

National Geographic photographer Robert B. Haas captured this aerial photo of a flock of flamingo birds shaped like a giant flamingo in November, 2010.

An exhausted oil-covered brown pelican tries to climb over an oil containment boom along Queen Bess Island Pelican Rookery, 3 miles northeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana June 5, 2010. Wildlife experts are working to rescue birds from the rookery which has been affected by BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and transporting them to the Fort Jackson Rehabilitation Center.

Two pet dogs are seen in Lipsia 2010 trad show in Leipzig, Germany on 18 October, 2010.

Photographer Eric Lefranc caught this polar bear cub and his mum on camera as they found themselves stranded 12 miles from land after a melting iceberg started to drift in Svalbard, Norway in March, 2010.

A dolphin is seen in SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, US, February, 2010.

Two year-old octopus Paul, the so-called "octopus oracle" predicts Spain's victory in their 2010 World Cup semi-final soccer match against Germany by choosing a mussel, from a glass box decorated with the Spanish national flag instead of a glass box with the German flag, at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen July 6, 2010.

A dog shows off its surfing skill. This photo is released in December, 2010.

British media "The Sun" released a group of photo entitled "The world's top 10 fattest animals" in September 2010. In this photo is world's fattest seabird.