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USA Today
14-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Looking to adopt a puppy? It's not easy. Tips to help start you on the right track
Hear this story Feeling the puppy fever after watching the thrilling, adorable Puppy Bowl? There are some things novice and experienced dog owners should know to raise a successful pup to adulthood. Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Associate Professor Dr. M. Leanne Lilly cautioned training a young dog requires intense work and special attention. A key to a canine's growth is socialization and regular veterinary visits, she said. "We want to make sure that our young puppies in their socialization period are basically flooded with good experiences," she said. "But we also need to remember that the dog or the puppy decides what's a good experience, and so we need to be really careful about watching their body language and not traumatizing them in hopes that what we get out is a well-socialized dog." No date this Valentine's Day?:Animal shelters offering dogs, cats for cuddly sleepovers Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Training, regular veterinary visits key to raising puppies Before introducing a pup to other dogs, Lilly urged owners to wait until after the puppy's first parvovirus vaccine. She recommended people seek out socialization classes so their pet learns good behavior in a clean, controlled environment. Socialization can begin at home before a puppy is fully vaccinated. The most basic ways are potty training and teaching a puppy commands, according to animal food manufacturer Hill's Pet Nutrition. They recommended establishing – and sticking to – a bathroom routine so the dog knows when to relieve itself. "When they successfully relieve themself outdoors, be sure to lavish them with praise and reward them with a treat," the food manufacturer said. More:The best veterinarian hospitals? Vets can help USA TODAY rank top animal hospitals Lilly advised dog owners not to get discouraged if the puppy doesn't learn or retain training quickly. If a puppy exhibits unwanted behavior such as chewing on items, owners should redirect the dog's attention to a toy or say "no" firmly. Lilly said good behavior can be reinforced by rewarding the puppy with a treat when it plays with a toy or calling the animal's name when it misbehaves. "We can set up the environment to improve our success in that regard," she said. Owners need to stay on top of vet visits before introducing their puppy to the outside world, Lilly said. The more questions asked, the better. The veterinarian will tailor care to the dog and the dog's needs. Many will also inform dog owners when it's time to switch the puppy's food, or determine if supplements are necessary. "One of the things is that when in doubt, your first line of defense for good information should be your veterinarian," she said. More:Which are the best veterinarian hospitals? USA TODAY wants to know what pet owners think Breed-specific training starts after the basics A Golden Retriever is naturally active. Bloodhounds excel in locating people. Great Pyrenees protect people and livestock. Border Collies herd. A Chihuahua is an affectionate and sociable toy dog. Despite breed classifications determined by the dog welfare organization the American Kennel Club, Lilly said owners should focus on standard training before tapping into a dog's instincts. "We sometimes fall into the trap of getting really focused on, 'What are the typical behaviors and characteristics,' instead of looking at the dog in front of us," she said. Certain dogs may always retain their breed's instincts, but Lilly said it's OK if a retriever is bad at retrieving or if an American Bully is a great play partner. Like the rest of her recommendations, Lilly said owners should regularly communicate with their veterinarian about the puppy's growth, behaviors and habits so an underlying issue isn't ignored. "We want to make sure that when you ask a question, you're getting the answer that's most intimately customized for the puppy that you have," she said. "Your veterinarian, who has met your puppy, is going to have that information plus the medical background." Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@ Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio State researcher takes part in CDC bird flu study
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A day after the first human case of the bird flu had been reported in Ohio, a new study from the CDC has been released on the topic, suggesting that some people didn't even know they had a bird flu infection. Helping with the research is a professor from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The study suggests bird flu cases are undercounted. The OSU researcher said that's not necessarily a reason to be alarmed. State medical board of Ohio investigating former Adena Health doctor 'So, bird flu is influenza viruses that are in avian species and so the one that we are monitoring, that we're seeing a lot of outbreaks is a specific strain of influenza viruses,' Jacqueline Nolting, an assistant professor and animal health and biosecurity extension specialist at the College of Veterinary Medicine, said. The strain – H5N1 — affects poultry, dairy cows and wild birds. 'The most, you know, risk is for people who are working with animals that are infected,' Nolting said. Nolting was one of the researchers who helped the CDC with its latest study. According to the CDC, more than 60 confirmed human cases of the bird flu in the U.S. have been reported with one fatality. 'It's probably, you know, a tip of the iceberg as indicated by some of those antibody studies,' Nolting said. Drug treatment center accepts mothers and their children She said it's likely that more people have been exposed and infected, but didn't get sick, which she said is good news. Right now, the main concern is the number of spillovers we're seeing. 'Within the last 30 days, I think it was USDA reported 56 premises in Ohio that have been confirmed, poultry premises and so having those continued spillovers from wild birds is definitely a concern,' Nolting said. 'The number of farms and the number of poultry that are being affected by this virus is definitely of concern.' Nolting said that for the general public, it's really unlikely they'd be exposed to the virus. She also said that as of right now, there is no indication that this virus can spread from human to human. 'People that maybe, like, hunt birds or are, you know, wildlife biologists, for instance, if they're coming across to sick or dead birds in the general public as well, like you see a dead Canada goose, don't go touch it, you know, don't let your kids touch it,' she said. Nolting said the most common symptom of bird flu is conjunctivitis. In addition to that, people may experience typical influenza signs. Ohio foodbanks face funding cuts in proposed state budget 'We would be looking for, you know, runny nose, coughing, body aches, fever, things like that,' she said. Anyone who tested positive would likely be started on Tamiflu treatment and it's recommended they try to rest and quarantine themselves. Nolting said that despite the bird flu hitting Ohio hard, poultry products are still safe to consume. Just make sure to clean up your workspace, wash your hands after touching raw meat and cook the food at the appropriate temperatures. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
