Latest news with #Methicillin-resistant
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientist reveals the stomach-churning reason you should NEVER let your dog drink from a communal water bowl at the pub
As summer draws nearer, millions of dog walkers will be letting their pets cool down with a refreshing lap of water from a public bowl. But according to a scientist, this seemingly harmless act can do your pooch more harm than good. Dr Jacqueline Boyd, a senior lecturer in animal science at Nottingham Trent University, says you should never let your dog drink from a communal water bowl. Commonly found outside the entrances to cafes and pubs, they can be a hotbed of harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. 'Shared water bowls can be a breeding ground for harmful bugs that could make your dog sick,' said Dr Boyd in a piece for The Conversation. According to the academic who is also a dog owner, communal dog bowls have been found to contain E. coli, a group of bacteria that can cause infections in the gut. Most types of E. coli are harmless or lead to a relatively brief spell of diarrhea, but unfortunately some strains of E. coli are potentially fatal. 'E. coli (or at least many strains of it) is a usual and normal commensal bacteria in the digestive tract of many animals including dogs and people,' Dr Boyd told MailOnline. 'Some [E. coli] strains are especially harmful and can cause significant digestive illness and have other consequences including renal issues in affected animals. 'Generally otherwise healthy animals can tolerate such challenges well, but young, old or immunocompromised animals are particularly at risk.' There's also the risk of water bowls spreading Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This potentially dangerous bacteria is responsible for skin and soft-tissue infections and can be difficult to control because it has grown resistant to several antibiotics. Worryingly, MRSA is among the microbes that can spread not just between dogs and other dogs, but between dogs and their human owners. 'There are actually a number of possible microorganisms (potentially harmful ones and more benign ones) that can transfer between dogs and people,' Dr Boyd told MailOnline. 'Salmonella is one example as it can be carried on dog fur and obviously also transmitted via contaminated surfaces such as bowls (especially food bowls).' The expert also warns that the dreaded kennel cough – characterised by a distressing, dry, hacking cough – spreads quickly when dogs are in close contact. What is kennel cough? Kennel cough is a respiratory infection caused by a number of bacteria and viruses. It is not usually dangerous and normally clears up without treatment within a few weeks. Apart from your dog coughing, the infection is unlikely to make them feel ill. But puppies, elderly dogs and those with existing medical conditions can be susceptible to complications from kennel cough, such as pneumonia. Source/more info: Blue Cross This respiratory infection is caused by a number of bacteria and viruses, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine influenza virus. 'The range of possible causative agents makes control, diagnosis and treatment of kennel cough tricky,' Dr Boyd adds. 'Respiratory infections with a bacterial or viral origin can easily be shared when water or bowls become contaminated with saliva or nasal secretions. 'Contaminated objects, including toys, bedding and water bowls, are likely to be heavily involved in its transmission.' So although it might be tempting to let your thirsty dog lap from the public bowl, a safer option is to bring clean water with you on your walk. Alternatively, seeing as many bowls are stationed outside of a pub or cafe, it might be worth politely asking a staff member for a fresh serve of water for your pet. 'A small effort can make a big difference in your dog's health,' said the academic, but she adds that getting dogs to make healthy choices 'can be a battle'. 'My dogs, despite my best efforts, still indulge in muddy puddles and the occasional snack of less-than-appealing things – all potential infection risks.' Humans sweat to release body heat, but dogs are limited in their ability to cool down by sweating in the same way as humans can. They rely on panting to regulate their body temperature, but water is essential to support the hydration process too – especially in hot weather and when there's exercise involved. Around the home, owners should ensure their dog always has access to clean drinking water. Also, food and water bowls should be regularly washed (at least daily) using hot water or in a dishwasher, Dr Boyd said. But it's natural that dogs eating high-moisture food such as raw meat or tinned food will drink less than dogs eating dry dog food. I'm a vet and here's how to keep your dog safe in warmer weather As the nation gears up for warmer and sunnier days ahead, dog owners are being cautioned against leaving their furry friends exposed to the sun for too long. Everypaw Pet Insurance's in-house vet, Dr Anna Foreman, warns that dogs are at risk of sunburn too, which can sometimes lead to skin cancer. Medium-sized dogs, in particular, face an elevated risk of developing cancer compared to their larger or smaller counterparts. She said: 'Dogs like to sunbathe for the same reasons we do - enjoying the warmth and bright light! 'However, much like with us, dogs can suffer from sunburn and heatstroke if they are in the sun for an excessive period of time.' Dr Foreman reveals how to keep your dog safe in warmer weather - and the breeds most at risk of falling ill.
Hamilton Spectator
25-04-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
NDP calls for investigation into Sudbury's Countryside Extendicare
Enter the building on Algonquin Road. The lobby fireplace and soft furniture appear friendly and warm. The sign says 'Welcome to Extendicare Helping People Live Better.' However, the state of affairs indicates not all is well at Countryside Extendicare, Sudbury's newest long-term care home with 256 beds. It opened last year after Extendicare closed its facility on Falconbridge Road. 'The place looks absolutely beautiful from the outside, but what goes on, on the inside, is a totally different story,' Kim Blanchette said about Countryside. Blanchette's father is at Countryside and she spoke to The Star shortly after problems began to surface. A visit by assessors prompted the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to issue a cease admissions order on Dec. 16, 2024. As a result, Countryside cannot accept new patients until non-compliance issues are corrected. Four months later, the order remains in effect. Meanwhile, families and people connected to residents living at Countryside Extendicare continue to be concerned. And Sudbury's two NDP MPPs - Jamie West (Sudbury) and France Gelinas (Nickel Belt) - said in a letter to Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Ontario's minister of Long-Term Care, that they want the province to investigate Countryside. They wrote that while Countryside management and the province have said many issues have been addressed, families are not convinced. The MPPs said they met the Extendicare Countryside Family Council on April 9. 'During that meeting, members of the council shared distressing concerns about the actual conditions in the home,' they wrote. 'Families describe the situation as nothing short of a crisis, and shared examples of residents feeling neglected, unsafe, and unheard. 'Furthermore, the families stated that these concerns have not been addressed, and they are frustrated that the compliance orders have been lifted despite no visible improvements. 'The contrast between what is being reported by Extendicare's senior management and the experiences being shared by those on the ground is stark. We respectfully request that your office investigate the growing discrepancies between the reports shared by senior management at Extendicare Countryside and the troubling accounts we are hearing from residents and their families.' They said the families are concerned about a range of issues, including poorly trained staff, poor wound care and hygiene, and inconsistent feeding practices. Worried about her father Blanchette said she has noticed many of these issues with her father, including poor hygiene. She is concerned about fungal problems and the possible presence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics so it can be difficult to treat. 'A lot of the residents I have talked to are so happy that all this information has come out publicly. I am very tired right now, as I just got home from Parry Sound, visiting with my husband's almost 96-year-old mother. 'She's in the Lakeland Long Term Care Facility, attached to the Parry Sound Hospital. She is being very well looked after there. Quite the contrast between both long-term care facilities. Just the quality of the meals is a significant contrast.' Blanchette said she takes some comfort that problems at Countryside have become public and that it 'wasn't just me going through such stress … and feeling so helpless ... 'My dad now has an open wound on his private area, and was put on four different medications to help heal his severe diaper rash.' Blanchette reported this problem to an RN on Oct. 28, 2024. She was called a 'couple days later to advise me that, after Dad was showered, they would be spraying a barrier cream on him … this is only the fourth infection he's had since entering the Countryside Extendicare since May 22, 2024. We have been dealing with a bed sore on his heel and two large toenail infections since June. 'No one told me about MRSA for three months, until his clothes piled up over his laundry hamper the Extendicare put in his room for quarantined laundry. A PSW came rushing at me, in the hallway, and said I couldn't put his clothing in the regular laundry and she grabbed it all out and put it back in his room. 'I asked why my Dad's laundry was quarantined and she had no idea. She said to go to the nurses' station and inquire there. The RN looked on the computer, and couldn't find anything about the quarantine order, so she told me to go to the Owl's Nest and speak to the RN there. 'This nurse, Jessica, I think, looked into it, and said 'Yes, they did a swab on Aug. 20, and it came back indicating MRSA.' This was now the middle of November and this is the first I heard that the infection had developed into MRSA.' Concerns growing Don Bourré also spoke to The Star after Countryside's problems became common knowledge. He attended a town hall last year at the facility to learn more. 'My girlfriend's mother is 97,' Bourré said. 'She was living in her own home up until recently' when she suffered a broken hip. The elderly woman stayed at the Clarion Hotel for a time, where the St. Joseph's Continuing Care Centre was treating patients temporarily. She then moved into Countryside. 'Prior to the meeting, we were extremely happy with Countryside. We thought Countryside was the Taj Mahal,' Bourré said. 'But getting the notice and attending the (town hall) meeting, fear has been set in. It was not there before. Hearing the horror stories, we are starting to doubt. Is it possible that it is happening more than what is being reported? This was an eye-opener. 'What struck me the most – I am basing this on my own work experience – is that they need to tackle this right away, and get things back into shape. As the former VP of a large company, I looked after 165 stores and know how to fix things fast. 'These complaints that were brought forward by the (town hall) audience should have been resolved. Why are issues lingering? It baffles me. That they needed an outside group to come in and tell them things are bad … I don't understand. My mother-in-law had a fall … now we are forced to reassess how it happened and what was done.' Laura Tamblyn-Watts, president and CEO of CanAge, is committed to better elder care and seniors' rights. She said the concerns expressed are not just a Countryside problem. 'At CanAge, we hear daily about the ongoing concerns of people in long-term care, the worries of their families and the mounting frustration that the levels of care and support needed for our most vulnerable are not being met,' Tamblyn-Watts said. 'Care staff will say the same. They are often stretched to the limit and have only minutes per resident to get people up, dressed, medicated, bathed and moving. It's not sustainable for anyone. 'New long-term care homes such as this one may have the benefit of more modern facilities, but (has) the risks of new staff and systems failing. It is clear that this home is in trouble and help needs to be given to the residents as well as staff support. 'In a home where people are completely reliant on others for their well-being, residents and families often fear complaining and being labelled a troublemaker. While this should never happen, of course, it happens regularly ... 'In the end, the core issue is that seniors' care isn't either funded or seen as high-priority work, with very high staff turnover and very low wages. Until we start fixing the whole of home and community care, helping family caregivers financially and recruiting and retaining well-trained staff with good jobs, the story will never change. 'The good news is that we know exactly how to change it. The bad news is that despite building new long-term care homes, we are not yet able to provide the kind of quality care our vulnerable seniors need.' How complaints addressed The Star contacted Countryside with a series of questions about how it responds to concerns. Below is a list of those questions and Countryside's answers: Q. How does Extendicare respond to complaints? A. We value the feedback of our residents and their families and encourage them to share concerns as they arise. Going forward, our focus is on listening more closely, increasing opportunities for direct engagement with our residents and families, and ensuring we report more frequently on home initiatives, care programs and how we are addressing challenges. Q. Is there a protocol or standard operating procedure? A. Our process includes: - Thorough investigations of all complaints brought to our attention. - Providing a response within 10 days, unless an extension is requested by the home if more time is needed to investigate properly. - Tracking the progress of complaints investigations. - Regular reporting back to the Ministry and our Resident Council and Family Council on the status of items of concern. Q. Is what we are seeing a result of the transfer from Falconbridge to Countryside sort of growing pains? A. The recent transition of our residents and team members to a new home, along with welcoming 50 additional residents, created new challenges that we are actively addressing. Like other healthcare providers in Northern Ontario, we also face challenges recruiting permanent team members due to the health human resources shortage, requiring the use of agency staff to meet and exceed provincial requirements. Q. Will those who expressed concerns be assured prompt attention, assurances and corrections? A. We are grateful for the open dialogue and support from our partners in the Ministry and will continue to work to strengthen trust with our residents and their loved ones. We will provide regular status updates and continue to seek feedback on our path forward. The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government. Bluesky: @ X: @SudburyStar
