Latest news with #VCA
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Labrador Caught 'Taking a Bath' by Herself Delights Internet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video of a dog that managed to "turn the bath on" and was found helping herself to the water has gone viral on TikTok. The clip was shared by @bakedwithlo and has garnered more than 525,000 views since it was posted on June 3. Text overlaid on the video reads: "POV [point of view]: You find your dog taking a bath by herself." The video sees the camera walk toward the bathroom where a black Labrador retriever is standing inside a bathtub. The thumping sound of her tail wagging against the tub can be heard in the background. Hysterical laughter later erupts as the camera goes closer into the bathtub to reveal the dog wetting her head under the running water from the tap. A caption shared with the post says: "When they say labs love water … not sure how she managed to turn the bath on by herself." The pup's love for water is not surprising as Labradors are described as an "enthusiastic" breed with an "innate eagerness" and a love for swimming, notes the American Kennel Club. Water-based activities can also help keep our canine companions cool in hot weather conditions. However, "not every dog is a water baby," says the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity based in the United Kingdom. For example, canines with short legs, such as corgis, or ones with short noses, like pugs, find swimming to be difficult. Before allowing your pup to get in the water, they should be examined by a veterinarian for conditions such as arthritis, heart disease or epilepsy, a brain disorder that causes repeated seizures, says the VCA, the animal hospital chain. Dogs should also never be left unsupervised in water. "Even a regular swimmer can get into trouble if they encounter strong currents or can't figure out how to exit a pool," the VCA notes. 'The Happy Tail Thumps' Viewers on TikTok were delighted by the Labrador's adorable bath-time antics in the viral clip. User lenlenny22 said: "Awww she said it's time for a bath." StyleLynne 🇨🇦 simply noted, "It's the tail wagging for me," while Meghan Rose agreed, saying: "Such lab behavior. the happy tail thumps." Ing M noted the pup must have been thinking, "Please! A little privacy!!" and heirsignnnn said: "You totally walked in on her self care time!" Annie wrote: "Next thing you know you'll get exfoliating, hydrating and relaxing products in the mail....." Maggs posted: "She figured it out, so expect to find her in there every time the house gets quiet lol." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified. Stock image: A black-haired dog peeks over the edge of a bathtub. Stock image: A black-haired dog peeks over the edge of a bathtub. Getty Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Golden Retriever Puppy's Reaction to First Ever Social Event Melts Hearts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video of a golden retriever puppy appearing visibly wiped out following its first attempt at socialization has captivated the hearts of users on TikTok. The video, posted on May 31 by @farmttkoko, which documents the life of a dog named Chicken Nugget, has garnered over 9.1 million views. In the short clip, the golden retriever puppy is slumped in the passenger seat of a car, head leaning against the side, eyes cast downward in tired resignation. "How was your first socialization outing?" a voice off-camera asks. The puppy does not respond, maintaining a blank stare. "It was hard?" the voice continues. The puppy remains still, prompting the speaker to say, "You tired? Okay," as the video comes to an end. The golden retriever's reaction offers a relatable depiction of how young animals—and humans—might feel when confronted with the unfamiliar. It also underscores the challenges of early socialization for puppies, a crucial stage in their development. Veterinarians Ellen Lindell, Debra Horwitz and Gary Landsberg, along with licensed veterinary technician Monique Feyrecilde, emphasized the importance of early socialization in an article for VCA, the animal hospital chain. Socialization involves "the exposure of puppies to an assortment of stimuli and experiences they might encounter in their adult lives," the veterinary experts wrote. "This exposure is like a vaccination for physical disease—by providing safe, controlled social exposures to unfamiliar people and situations, we inoculate them from developing fearful behavior," the article explains. These experiences help puppies "learn social skills during carefully controlled, safe interactions with people, dogs, and other animals. They also learn how to explore their world." According to the VCA experts, puppies are most receptive to social learning between the ages of three and 14 weeks. However, they caution that this period must be handled with care. "Exposures must be done carefully, so the puppy remains calm and interested in engaging and does not become frightened or overwhelmed," the article notes. In the case of Chicken Nugget, the body language displayed in the video—drooping head, blank expression—might be interpreted as overstimulation, a common response for puppies in new environments. "For some puppies, every stimulus may seem overwhelming. If your puppy does not eat or play during a socialization session, he is telling you he is frightened," the VCA article warns. The advice continues: "Take your puppy out of the situation and plan for a quieter session. Never force your puppy to 'face his fears' or thrust him into new situations when he seems panicked or fearful, as it may worsen the fear. Ask your veterinarian or behaviorist for some guidance." 'Social Battery on Zero' The clip quickly struck a chord with viewers, many of whom empathized with the puppy's apparent post-socialization fatigue. User Car-mel commented: "Social battery on zero .. we get it," while 00___jay___00 wrote: "Your pup and I have a lot in common after socializing." Others observed that the experience may have been overwhelming. "Poor guy was overstimulated," noted crys_lyn4, and user tomtom simply said: "Poor little introvert." Some viewers mused on the unusual behavior for a breed known for its typically friendly nature. "This is my first time seeing an introvert golden retriever," said user ashes, while Alice noted: "She doesn't know she's a golden retriever yet." Bev noted: "Wait till he realizes he's a golden retriever." A stock image of a golden retriever puppy appearing sad while sitting on a wooden deck. A stock image of a golden retriever puppy appearing sad while sitting on a wooden deck. Getty Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Clever reason dogs tilt their heads when you speak and it's not confusion
A dog owner asked why do dogs tilt their heads when you're speaking - and it turns out there's a scientific reason behind it Since dog owners can't chat with their furry friends using spoken language, they often turn to interpreting body language to understand their pets ' thoughts and emotions. Yet, many are baffled by certain dog behaviours, such as why their pooch tilts its head when being spoken to about anything from dinner time to the day's activities. This confusion prompted one curious dog owner to pose a question on Reddit: "Explain like I'm five - why do dogs tilt their heads when they are confused or trying to comprehend something?" VCA Animal Hospital provides an explanation, suggesting that dogs tilt their heads while we talk to show they're paying attention and engaging with what's being said. It also shows that the dog is trying to pick up on specific tones and listen out for keywords like 'dinner', 'walk', or 'park' that might be part of the conversation. As VCA explained: "Dogs understand us by assessing not only what we say, but how we say it. "They assess our facial expressions, eye movements, tone of voice, body language, and inflection to translate human communications. "To understand us, dogs must clearly see our faces and tilting their heads may help in this process." The shape of a dog's head and face can also affect how often they tilt their heads during interactions. The report states: "Head and face shape may interfere with what a dog can see. To understand how a long snout obstructs vision, place your fist against your nose and look around. You'll need to turn your head to see an object directly in front of you. Dogs do the same thing. "They adjust their heads to navigate around their obstructive snouts and enhance their visual perspective. That endearing head tilt expands their field of vision and enables a dog to better observe a person's face. Seeing our facial expressions enhances communication. "It stands to reason that dogs with flatter faces, like bulldogs and Boston terriers, may tilt their heads less since their short noses do not get in the way as much as long muzzles. That cute head tilt may therefore be a result of physical conformation (structural arrangement of the facial and ear bones)." Owners often unintentionally encourage this behaviour because it's seen as "cute". Typically, dogs receive a pat, soothing words, or a smile when they exhibit a head tilt. The report further explains: "Another reason that dogs may tilt their heads is because we condition them to do so by offering positive reinforcement. "Our reaction to the head tilt prompts them to repeat the behaviour, so the more we express delight over the adorable canine head tilt, the more it becomes a frequent occurrence." Discussing canine behaviour, one Reddit user said: "Dogs can be pretty good at pointing their ears to hear where a sound is coming from. Think of a human turning the side of their head towards someone when they are having a hard time hearing. "I usually see our dogs cock their head towards a sound when they are moussing or hunting hare/grouse. Their ears open up and point towards where they believe the sound to be coming from." Another person explained: "Turning and cocking their head to one side helps to open up their ear canal so they can hear better. Dogs also tilt their heads because we make them feel good when they hear us say things like, 'Isn't that just so cute.' "We provide them with positive reinforcement because our tone of voice allows them to understand we are saying something good."
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
VCA champions ‘Inhalers for All' on World Asthma Day 2025
Nagpur: The Vidarbha Chest Association (VCA) held a press conference on Monday, on the eve of World Asthma Day 2025 , advocating for universal access to affordable asthma care in Vidarbha. Doctors highlighted a stark reality: despite the existence of effective treatments like inhalers, a significant portion of the population, particularly those in rural areas and individuals with low income, continues to be deprived of essential care. "In 2025, no one should die from asthma. Yet, in India, nearly 200,000 people die each year from this treatable illness," stated Dr Rajesh Swarnakar, President of VCA. He emphasised that this represents a very serious, but often ignored, public health crisis. Dr Swarnakar and other experts pointed out that many of these deaths are preventable with proper diagnosis and access to inhaled medications. The VCA leadership, including Dr Nainesh Patel, Dr Sushant Meshram, Dr Deepak Rathi, and Dr Sameer Arbat, presented a multi-faceted plan to tackle this challenge. A core component of their strategy is to ensure the consistent availability and affordability of inhalers, not only in urban centres but also in remote and underserved regions. They stressed the need to remove financial barriers that prevent patients from accessing these life-saving medications. Furthermore, the VCA plans to launch comprehensive public awareness campaigns designed to educate the general population about asthma, its symptoms, and the importance of early diagnosis and proper management. These campaigns aim to dispel misconceptions and reduce the stigma often associated with the disease. Another key element of their plan involves training frontline health workers, including community health workers and primary care physicians, to provide competent asthma care at the grassroots level. This will ensure that even those in remote areas can receive timely and effective treatment. The association also pledged to actively work towards combating environmental triggers, with a particular focus on addressing the growing problem of air pollution in urban hubs, which significantly exacerbates asthma symptoms.
Korea Herald
10-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Helio Fujita joins Mars as Global People & Organization VP for Petcare business
BRUSSELS, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Mars named Helio Fujita as Global People & Organization VP for their leading pet health, services, and nutrition business. Fujita, who will join the business in July, will lead the people & organization function for the $30B+ Petcare business, reporting to Loïc Moutault, President of Mars Petcare. Fujita is a distinguished HR leader with over 25 years' experience in diverse industries—including health, pharmaceuticals and automotive. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Mars business. Loïc Moutault, Mars Petcare Global President said:"We're thrilled to welcome Helio to Mars. His combination of deep experience across HR and commercial strategy coupled with his proven track record in building organizational capabilities to drive business growth will be incredible assets to our team. We are confident he will make a significant contribution to our business, our people agenda and in driving our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS." On joining Mars Petcare, Helio Fujita commented:"The Mars Petcare business is one that I have admired, their transformation over the last decade has been hugely impressive and Mars is an organization known for its special company culture and Principles. I'm excited to join the team." Fujita's career spans roles at leading global organizations, most recently at Fresenius Kabi, a global healthcare company specializing in lifesaving medicines and technologies. He has also held senior leadership positions across other leading healthcare companies including Abbott, Novartis and Sandoz gaining experience in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, as well as Europe. Rebecca Snow, Mars, Incorporated VP People & Organization/CHRO, added:"Helio brings a wealth of HR and business transformation experience across diverse industries and geographies, which will strengthen our People & Organization function across Mars and drive real business impact in Mars Petcare. We are excited to welcome him to our team." Mars Petcare believes that pets make the world a better place and are inspired to deliver on our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS – a world where they're healthy, happy and welcome. A global leader in pet care, spanning comprehensive veterinary care (including: AniCura, BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, Linnaeus and VCA™), nutrition (including PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®), breakthrough programs in veterinary diagnostics (ANTECH®), wearable health monitoring and pet parent platforms. With over 100,000 Associates helping pets, their owners and pet professionals in more than 130 countries. About Mars, Incorporated Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M'S®, SNICKERS® and BEN'S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom—inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.
