Thoughts And Emotions of Our Fellow Creatures
Virginia Morell, Animal Wise
Just how smart is your dog or cat? It turns out that scientific research says we've been underestimating the intelligence of a lot of animals. Take the earthworm for instance. Not only considered an animal, but able to make decisions; dolphins are self-aware and rats like to be tickled. Chimps grieve; dogs have thousand-word vocabularies; and birds practice songs in their sleep. Crows improvise tools; blue jays plan ahead; and moths remember living as caterpillars.
Virginia Morrell explains some of these discoveries to us, and states that dogs are very adept at reading our faces and taking emotional cues from that. So they not only look at our faces, but also our body language and can figure out what we are thinking.
But what about earthworms? There was an interesting test developed by Charles Darwin backing he 1870's where he decided to challenge earthworms. He gave them various materials to use to block their tunnels (their air holes) and they would come up out of their hole and with their feeling end, would touch the items. It turns out they were very selective about what they wanted. They were obviously making judgments and decisions, and nothing had surprised Darwin more than the discovery of some kind of intelligence in earthworms.
There was also another very interesting study at the Washington State University in Pullman by Jaak Pankseep. He was very interested in happiness, but had difficulty in getting funding to study happiness, so he studied depression instead. He had rats that were depressed, so he needed happy rats to compare them to. He discovered that the happy rats, as they played with one another, seemed to have their mouths open. He was very curious about that, so he decided to use a bat detector (a sophisticated instrument that register high-pitched sounds humans cannot hear) and discovered they were laughing and that they loved to be tickled. So how did he know the rats were depressed in the first place? Those rats were not allowed to play with other rats.
It is also amazing that moths remember living as caterpillars. These creatures have such a tiny brain, it is hard to imagine that they go through the pupa stage and come out transformed into a butterfly, and can remember it. This was tested when there was a food that the moth didn't like. When it was a butterfly, it remembered this food and also stayed away from it.
Read about this and other fascinating facts in Virginia Morell's book, Animal Wise. Virginia is also the author of Ancestral Passion; Blue Nile; and co-author of Wildlife Wars.
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Get Your Pet To the Vet Safely with No Escapees - Dr. Debbie
A frightening situation occurred at my veterinary hospital. Working inside my office, I heard a woman's shrieks coming from the parking lot. I ran outside to find a woman with one dog on a leash and the other dog skittering about the parking lot - the result of a slipped collar. The owner would approach the panicked dog and he'd retreat, darting under nearby cars. Those familiar with our hospital location understand its proximity to a busy intersection. Should the dog run in the wrong direction, he'd meet up with 45 mph traffic.
My staff was outside in moments to assist the owner in retrieving her dog and safely escorted everyone into the building. Thankfully, my client's few minutes of terror ended uneventfully. But that's not always the case. I've seen dogs run straight into the road, cat's leap from a family member's arms, and owners dive into oncoming traffic trying to catch an escaping pet.
The lesson is simple. Don't underestimate your pets' fears. Fear of car travel, new places or the veterinary office can cause a pet to behave in unpredictable ways. If you know your pet to be nervous with new people or new situations, be especially vigilant when transporting your pet in a vehicle.
Identify Your Pet
Use two methods of identification for best insurance your pet is returned to you if lost. Permanent identification with a microchip is a must and should be complimented with a collar and ID tags.
Restrain Pet in Vehicle
Keep your pet secure during travel and when the car door opens by using a doggie seatbelt. Small dogs and cats should be housed in a pet carrier which is secured with seatbelt to avoid undue carrier movement during travel. Do not allow cats and small pets to roam freely in the car. Cats have been known to take cover under car seats which may require sedation or seat removal to extract kitty from her hiding place.
Check for Proper Fit
A proper fitting collar allows 2 finger widths between the collar and pet's neck. Allow more than, and should your pet put on the brakes, he'll easily slip out of the collar. Poor fitting harnesses are just as dangerous and allow gap room which allows a back-peddling pet to wiggle out. Not sure if the collar is too loose? Snug the collar up one fitting in anticipation of your trip to the vet.
Try Other Collar Styles
Even if you don't normally use a choker or pinch collar, consider using one when going to the vet's office. For thick necked dogs with smaller head size, try the Martingale collar, a fabric and metal combo collar that snugs down should your dog try to back out. Boisterous dogs that jump and leap when on leash may benefit wearing a head collar that fits over the muzzle. Ensure your collar choice is properly fitted, since any of these styles can fail if improperly fitted or used incorrectly.
Call Ahead
If you anticipate difficulties getting your pet to the vet's office, call ahead. Veterinary staff members are on the ready to help ensure your pet's visit is a safe one.
So, take a few minutes to consider your pet's travel safety before heading out on that next car trip, whether it is to the park, groomer or veterinary office. Your four legged friend will thank you, but may pout on the way there.
Featured veterinarian known as "Dr. Debbie" on national pet radio program, Animal Radio. Ebook author of "Yorkshire Terriers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Pugs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Mini Schnauzers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; and "Shih Tzu: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend." Dr. Debbie's books.
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Animal Radio News with Stacey Cohen
Poison-Laced Mice
The U.S. territory of Guam went to extremes in order to get rid of an invasive species of snakes. The island airdropped poison-laced mice in an effort to eradicate the brown tree snake. Apparently, the reptiles were accidentally carried to Guam by U.S. military ships during World War 2. The snakes found paradise at the island because there they have no natural predators. The serpents then became a pest that nearly eradicated the island's bird population. To get rid of the slithering pests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture dropped dead newborn mice that had been stuffed with acetaminophen. The active ingredient in Tylenol happens to be poisonous to the brown tree snake.
Ever Wonder How The Word Crabby Got Started?
It turns out that noises from ships could be upsetting to crabs. A group of scientists from two British universities set out to test the effect of ship noise on crustaceans and published their results in the journal Biology Letters. The teams from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter played recordings of ship engines to a group of crabs and found that the critters had an increase in their metabolic rate. The raised rate indicated that the crabs had an elevated level of stress. Apparently, the added stress could have a dramatic effect on the animal's growth and result in a smaller size crab. Dr. Steve Simpson from the University of Exeter said the results "Could have implications for fisheries in noisy areas." He explained that because noise could stifle the crab's growth, "Quieter farms may be more profitable."
Pearls For Breakfast
One man in England found a small treasure in his odd breakfast choice. The man picked up a pair of fresh oysters for breakfast and found a pearl inside of one. He had just slurped up the mollusk when he felt a lump in his mouth. He admitted at first he "Thought a filling had fallen out," but spit out the oyster and discovered it was a pearl. He said the pearl was small, but perfectly formed. Apparently, he stops by his local fishmonger every Saturday and buys two oysters to nurse his hangover. He said the mollusks "Are the perfect hangover cure." Meanwhile, the fishmonger, was astounded that one of his customers found a pearl in his oyster. He said he had been at the job for 30 years and had never "Seen a pearl come out of one."
Threatening Monster Goldfish
Goldfish were being found in Lake Tahoe and scientists said they were a serious threat to the area. Lake Tahoe straddles the California-Nevada border and is the second-deepest lake in the nation. Researchers said goldfish, some weighing four pounds, somehow made their way into the crystal clear waters of the lake and threatened native species. Experts say goldfish are very good at getting what they need and can compete with native fish for food. It's thought the fish might have come from two sources: pet owners who no longer wanted them dumped them and others used as bait may have escaped into the lake over time.
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