Latest news with #CornellUniversityCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 1 Thing You're Probably Doing On Walks That Drives Your Dog Nuts
Walks are critically important for dogs ― and their humans. They give your dog opportunities to get plenty of exercise, mental stimulation and socialization. And the same goes for you: It helps you get enough physical activity, which is key to preventing chronic diseases and boosts your mental health. Research shows people enjoy seeing their dogs happy on walks; it's a potent stress reliever. But it's the 21st century, which means many dog owners don't solely focus on their pets when they're out and about. Instead, they multitask by scrolling on Instagram, flipping through TikTok or getting lost in a gripping true-crime podcast. Some animal experts have likened this to 'distracted driving.' If you're not paying attention to your dog and the environment around you, you could easily wind up in a dangerous situation ― or lose out on bonding with your pet. As Dr. Katherine A. Houpt, a professor emerita of behavioral medicine at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, puts it: When you're out walking, 'your dog's safety should be paramount.' Here's why it's so important to be present with your dog when you walk them: Most dogs know exactly what they want to do on a walk, which is, most likely, to sniff or, perhaps, catch up with another dog that's a quarter mile ahead, Houpt said. But it's not all interesting scents and fun, new friends. Some dogs might want to battle the approaching hound, snap at a nearby child or snatch a sharp chicken bone lying on the sidewalk. Worse, they could gobble up something poisonous such as chocolate, marijuana or candy containing xylitol. 'Not keeping your eyes on your dog and what's around is bad because various things could happen,' Houpt said. Additionally, when listening to a podcast, your eyes may be on your dog, but you may miss important auditory cues like an approaching bicyclist ringing their bell, a skateboard zooming by or a nearby dog growling that may trigger your dog. 'Even that is probably not a good distraction when you're walking your dog,' Houpt said. If you're paying attention to your surroundings, however, you can stay on top of potential triggers or dangerous encounters. If, for example, you see a squirrel before your dog does, you can distract them and avoid having your elbow whipped around. You can prevent a dog fight or avert them from walking into the street right as a car pulls up. You can also enforce basic training by calling your dog closer to give them a treat before they have a chance to react to another dog or redirect them from an interesting ― but potentially dangerous ― snack on the ground. 'When an owner is more attentive to their surroundings, they can be proactive versus reactive to these things,' said Dr. Melissa Bain, a professor of clinical animal behavior science at UCDavis Veterinary Medicine. If for no other reason, it's worth keeping your phone in your pocket while walking your dog to bond with your pet. The human-dog bond significantly influences both the human and dog's psychological, physiological and physical health. Walking a dog reduces negative emotions and boosts emotional wellness and life satisfaction, data suggests. It also creates opportunities for more interactions and bonding with your pooch, which, in turn, can decrease loneliness and increase self-esteem, empathy and self-regulation, according to research. The benefits of the human-dog bond are profound. In our ever-busy, always-plugged-in world, it might seem like an aimless strut is useless. But walking is, as one scientific report points out: 'a highly sensual and complex activity where, '[d]ifferent encounters with objects and materiality, peculiar sensations and ineffable impressions may be experienced.'' You and your dog are exploring the world together. You're listening to them and understanding their wants and needs in various situations. Knowing their likes and dislikes, quirks and personality, again, further strengthens your relationship, which makes it all that more rewarding. 'When owners walk their dog, the hope would be that it is a time that they can spend one-on-one with their dog, enjoying their company with one another,' Bain said. This is all to say: Be present with your dog when you walk them. It'll probably make you both happier, healthier and emotionally closer than whatever fleeting stimulation is streaming on your smartphone. 6 Signs Your Dog Is Happy The 1 Thing Every Dog Owner Should Do With Their Pet On A Walk The Most Infuriating Things Dog Owners Do That Drive Other People Crazy
CBS News
21-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Michigan dairy workers' cats died from bird flu, but it's not clear how they got infected
Two cats that belonged to Michigan dairy workers died after being infected with bird flu. But it's still not clear how the animals got sick or whether they spread the virus to people in the household, a new study shows. Veterinary experts said the report, published Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lacks detail that could confirm whether people can spread the virus to domestic cats — or vice versa. "I don't think there is any way of concluding that there was human-to-cat transmission based on the data that is presented," said Dr. Diego Diel of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Cats in two separate households died in May after developing severe illnesses that were confirmed as the Type A H5N1 bird virus found in U.S. dairy herds, investigators reported. Both were indoor-only cats that had no exposure to infected cattle or birds and didn't consume raw milk. One cat that died belonged to a worker on a dairy farm in a county known to have bird flu-infected cattle. The worker reported symptoms of illness before the cat got sick. That cat fell ill, tested positive for H5N1 and had to be euthanized. A second cat in that household also got sick, but it recovered. A third cat in the household didn't get sick and tested negative. Meanwhile, an adolescent in the household got sick but tested negative for flu. The other cat that died lived in a different household. That pet belonged to a dairy worker who transported raw milk and reported frequent splashes of milk on the face, eyes and clothing. That worker reported eye irritation, a possible symptom of bird flu, two days before the cat got sick. The cat was known to roll in the worker's dirty clothing and died within a day of developing signs of infection, the study authors wrote. Another cat in that household tested negative for the virus. In both instances, the dairy workers declined to be tested for H5N1, the study said. That means it's impossible to know whether they directly transmitted the virus to their cats, said Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. It's more likely that the cats were infected by virus on the workers' clothing, boots or hands, he said. "We know that people at this point are not shedding large amounts of virus," he said. "I don't think it's because this person coughed on their cat." The study concluded that reports of bird flu infections in indoor cats are rare, but "such cats might pose a risk for human infection." In the months since the cats died, there have been several reports of domestic cats becoming infected and dying after consuming unpasteurized milk or pet food contaminated with bird flu. The new report underscores the need for more comprehensive testing for H5N1 in all arenas, Poulsen said.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Dairy workers' cats died from bird flu, but it's not clear how they got infected
Two cats that belonged to Michigan dairy workers died after being infected with bird flu. But it's still not clear how the animals got sick or whether they spread the virus to people in the household, a new study shows. Veterinary experts said the report, published Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lacks detail that could confirm whether people can spread the virus to domestic cats — or vice versa. 'I don't think there is any way of concluding that there was human-to-cat transmission based on the data that is presented,' said Dr. Diego Diel of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Cats in two separate households died in May after developing severe illnesses that were confirmed as the Type A H5N1 bird virus found in U.S. dairy herds, investigators reported. Both were indoor-only cats that had no exposure to infected cattle or birds and didn't consume raw milk. One cat that died belonged to a worker on a dairy farm in a county known to have bird flu-infected cattle. The worker reported symptoms of illness before the cat got sick. That cat fell ill, tested positive for H5N1 and had to be euthanized. A second cat in that household also got sick, but it recovered. A third cat in the household didn't get sick and tested negative. Meanwhile, an adolescent in the household got sick but tested negative for flu. The other cat that died lived in a different household. That pet belonged to a dairy worker who transported raw milk and reported frequent splashes of milk on the face, eyes and clothing. That worker reported eye irritation, a possible symptom of bird flu, two days before the cat got sick. The cat was known to roll in the worker's dirty clothing and died within a day of developing signs of infection, the study authors wrote. Another cat in that household tested negative for the virus. In both instances, the dairy workers declined to be tested for H5N1, the study said. That means it's impossible to know whether they directly transmitted the virus to their cats, said Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. It's more likely that the cats were infected by virus on the workers' clothing, boots or hands, he said. 'We know that people at this point are not shedding large amounts of virus,' he said. 'I don't think it's because this person coughed on their cat.' The study concluded that reports of bird flu infections in indoor cats are rare, but 'such cats might pose a risk for human infection.' In the months since the cats died, there have been several reports of domestic cats becoming infected and dying after consuming unpasteurized milk or pet food contaminated with bird flu. The new report underscores the need for more comprehensive testing for H5N1 in all arenas, Poulsen said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dairy workers' cats died from bird flu, but it's not clear how they got infected
Two cats that belonged to Michigan dairy workers died after being infected with bird flu. But it's still not clear how the animals got sick or whether they spread the virus to people in the household, a new study shows. Veterinary experts said the report, published Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lacks detail that could confirm whether people can spread the virus to domestic cats — or vice versa. 'I don't think there is any way of concluding that there was human-to-cat transmission based on the data that is presented,' said Dr. Diego Diel of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Cats in two separate households died in May after developing severe illnesses that were confirmed as the Type A H5N1 bird virus found in U.S. dairy herds, investigators reported. Both were indoor-only cats that had no exposure to infected cattle or birds and didn't consume raw milk. One cat that died belonged to a worker on a dairy farm in a county known to have bird flu-infected cattle. The worker reported symptoms of illness before the cat got sick. That cat fell ill, tested positive for H5N1 and had to be euthanized. A second cat in that household also got sick, but it recovered. A third cat in the household didn't get sick and tested negative. Meanwhile, an adolescent in the household got sick but tested negative for flu. The other cat that died lived in a different household. That pet belonged to a dairy worker who transported raw milk and reported frequent splashes of milk on the face, eyes and clothing. That worker reported eye irritation, a possible symptom of bird flu, two days before the cat got sick. The cat was known to roll in the worker's dirty clothing and died within a day of developing signs of infection, the study authors wrote. Another cat in that household tested negative for the virus. In both instances, the dairy workers declined to be tested for H5N1, the study said. That means it's impossible to know whether they directly transmitted the virus to their cats, said Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. It's more likely that the cats were infected by virus on the workers' clothing, boots or hands, he said. 'We know that people at this point are not shedding large amounts of virus,' he said. 'I don't think it's because this person coughed on their cat.' The study concluded that reports of bird flu infections in indoor cats are rare, but 'such cats might pose a risk for human infection.' In the months since the cats died, there have been several reports of domestic cats becoming infected and dying after consuming unpasteurized milk or pet food contaminated with bird flu. The new report underscores the need for more comprehensive testing for H5N1 in all arenas, Poulsen said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press
20-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Dairy workers' cats died from bird flu, but it's not clear how they got infected
Two cats that belonged to Michigan dairy workers died after being infected with bird flu. But it's still not clear how the animals got sick or whether they spread the virus to people in the household, a new study shows. Veterinary experts said the report, published Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lacks detail that could confirm whether people can spread the virus to domestic cats — or vice versa. 'I don't think there is any way of concluding that there was human-to-cat transmission based on the data that is presented,' said Dr. Diego Diel of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Cats in two separate households died in May after developing severe illnesses that were confirmed as the Type A H5N1 bird virus found in U.S. dairy herds, investigators reported. Both were indoor-only cats that had no exposure to infected cattle or birds and didn't consume raw milk. One cat that died belonged to a worker on a dairy farm in a county known to have bird flu-infected cattle. The worker reported symptoms of illness before the cat got sick. That cat fell ill, tested positive for H5N1 and had to be euthanized. A second cat in that household also got sick, but it recovered. A third cat in the household didn't get sick and tested negative. Meanwhile, an adolescent in the household got sick but tested negative for flu. The other cat that died lived in a different household. That pet belonged to a dairy worker who transported raw milk and reported frequent splashes of milk on the face, eyes and clothing. That worker reported eye irritation, a possible symptom of bird flu, two days before the cat got sick. The cat was known to roll in the worker's dirty clothing and died within a day of developing signs of infection, the study authors wrote. Another cat in that household tested negative for the virus. In both instances, the dairy workers declined to be tested for H5N1, the study said. That means it's impossible to know whether they directly transmitted the virus to their cats, said Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. It's more likely that the cats were infected by virus on the workers' clothing, boots or hands, he said. 'We know that people at this point are not shedding large amounts of virus,' he said. 'I don't think it's because this person coughed on their cat.' The study concluded that reports of bird flu infections in indoor cats are rare, but 'such cats might pose a risk for human infection.' In the months since the cats died, there have been several reports of domestic cats becoming infected and dying after consuming unpasteurized milk or pet food contaminated with bird flu. The new report underscores the need for more comprehensive testing for H5N1 in all arenas, Poulsen said. ___
