arcvetservices.com Blog » General http://arcvetservices.com/blog News from ARC Veterinary Services Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:28:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 animal Behaviorists and Vets Take on Cesar Milan http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/14/animal-behaviorists-and-vets-take-on-cesar-milan/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/14/animal-behaviorists-and-vets-take-on-cesar-milan/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:28:43 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/14/animal-behaviorists-and-vets-take-on-cesar-milan/
clipped from www.boston.com

The debate over the Dog Whisperer

The Boston Globe

His TV show is a hit and celebrities swear by him. But his tough-love training has detractors barking that positive reinforcement is less cruel and fetches better results.

clipped from www.boston.com

Now widely used around the world by animal trainers in zoos, performing-animal handlers, and domestic pet trainers, the clicker method and other positive, noncoercive forms of training have scientific evidence backing up their effectiveness, according to Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University.

Now pediatricians and schools and parents have swung to a reinforcement-based model. In the dog world, I think that operant techniques are gradually sweeping the system.

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]]> http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/14/animal-behaviorists-and-vets-take-on-cesar-milan/feed/ 0 Whiskerology http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/03/whiskerology/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/03/whiskerology/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:01:15 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/03/whiskerology/

Maybe the Three Blind Mice didn’t really need their vision

Hartmann said one of the biggest surprises in her research was finding out how much independent control a rat has over its whiskers. Hartmann’s team found that whiskers do not bend and move the way people typically think– in sync and in a fluid brushing motion. A rat can shut down one side of its whiskers, while the other side goes to work.

Hartmann explained why it is important for scientists to study such seeminglyunusual systems as rat whiskers.
“By studying rat whiskers, what we’re really studying is the neural basis for the sense of touch and motor control. In the long run, understanding the rat’s neural circuits will greatly help us in understanding circuits of the human brain, and helping people with motor and sensing disabilities or injuries.”

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]]> http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/12/03/whiskerology/feed/ 0 Great Ape Cardia Disease http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/11/24/great-ape-cardia-disease/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/11/24/great-ape-cardia-disease/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:59:17 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/11/24/great-ape-cardia-disease/ Gorillas, particularly male gorillas, have a high risk of heart disease. They are not the only non-human primates at risk either. Other apes like the chimpanzees and monkeys are also at risk for heart disease. Diagnosing the extent of heart disease has challenges with these intelligent patients. Positive reinforcement training is a critical element in something as simple as a blood pressure measurements. It is not really training, but building trust and communicating what needs to happen and what the vet or trainer is willing to “pay” for cooperation. Read My Ampblog at http://dmccluredvm.amplify.com/2009/11/23/great-ape-cardiac-disease/

]]> http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/11/24/great-ape-cardia-disease/feed/ 0 From The Higher Chronicle http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/10/20/from-the-higher-chronicle/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/10/20/from-the-higher-chronicle/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:07:18 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/?p=49 Donna Haraway is capturing a fundamental truth in the way way humans in modern western culture interact with animals.  It isn’t about human domination over the animal world, but humans and animals as companions on Earth.  Her request that we take a serious and new look at the relationship between humans and animals from both a cognitive and scientific perspective is laudable.  I also value curiosity and  the inquisitive nature of humans as “precious and fragile and not very nice virtue.”

Read more in the Higher Chronicle about Donna Haraway and three other articles in a series called:  Confronting the Animal: 4 Perspectives

]]> http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/10/20/from-the-higher-chronicle/feed/ 0 CVMA Supported Bill Passes! http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/07/04/cvma-supported-bill-passes/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/07/04/cvma-supported-bill-passes/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:29:17 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/07/04/cvma-supported-bill-passes/ SB 762 was CVMA’s response to West Hollywood.

The Gov signed SB 762 by Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) – Professions and vocations: healing arts! Cities can not longer create laws that override the practice act…like declawing.This is key legislation for veterinarians and other health professionals.

clipped from gov.ca.gov

Legislative Update

NOTE: These
bills were sent to the Governor for his consideration prior to his announcement
yesterday that he would not sign any non-urgent legislation until a budget
agreement is reached.

SB
762 by Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) – Professions and vocations:
healing arts.
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]]> http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/07/04/cvma-supported-bill-passes/feed/ 0 Gail’s Story http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/29/gails-story/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/29/gails-story/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:35:44 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/29/gails-story/ I have the privilege of knowing Gail personally. I know making this video was a very difficult thing to do, but she did it anyway. I hope you will be able to recognize the true passion Gail has in her search for a cure.

]]> http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/29/gails-story/feed/ 0 Veterinarian on the Front Lines in the War on Viruses http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/27/veterinarian-on-the-front-lines-in-the-war-on-viruses/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/27/veterinarian-on-the-front-lines-in-the-war-on-viruses/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:38:41 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/27/veterinarian-on-the-front-lines-in-the-war-on-viruses/ Most don’t recognize the role veterinarians have in modern health surveillance and disease diagnosis. Dr. Fred Murphy is a wonderful example of just such a veterinarian.

clipped from www.philly.com

A life on the front lines against deadly viruses

Frederick Murphy remembers the day in 1967 that live viruses arrived at his veterinary research lab from Marburg, West Germany. Seven people were already dead from an unknown monkey disease that had jumped to humans, causing them to bleed uncontrollably.

He was not afraid. As part of a small government team in Atlanta, it was his job to investigate such outbreaks.

“It was pure adventure,” Murphy said, to be out on the front lines identifying deadly microbes – first Marburg, later Ebola – that were entirely new to humans.

Today, Murphy will be in Philadelphia to receive the $100,000 Penn Vet World Leadership Award, the biggest cash prize for veterinary research. His animal studies years ago laid the groundwork for understanding many of the latest emerging human diseases.

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]]> http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/27/veterinarian-on-the-front-lines-in-the-war-on-viruses/feed/ 0 Some Good Advice for Pets During This Financial Crisis http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/22/some-good-advice-for-pets-during-this-financial-crisis/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/22/some-good-advice-for-pets-during-this-financial-crisis/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:37:32 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/22/some-good-advice-for-pets-during-this-financial-crisis/
clipped from www.sfgate.com

Animals in crisis: how you can help

A new Petfinder.com survey found that 84 percent of a total of 700 shelters and rescue groups that responded from across the country are experiencing an increase in pets being surrendered as a result of job loss and foreclosures linked to the economic downturn.

How can you protect your pet from financial uncertainty?

  • Budget for vet care in advance: Setting aside a few dollars every month can help ensure that you have enough cash to cover basic medical costs.
  • Invest in preventative medicine: Make sure your pet’s vaccines are up to date and don’t skimp on their annual checkups.
  • Consider subscribing to a pet health insurance plan: A small monthly contribution can help you sidestep unexpected big bills in the future.
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    ]]>     http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/22/some-good-advice-for-pets-during-this-financial-crisis/feed/ 0     “Spay”ghetti Dinner http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/03/spayghetti-dinner/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/03/spayghetti-dinner/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:05:06 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/03/spayghetti-dinner/ The ‘Spay’ghetti Dinner has become a tradition at Western U College of Vet Med. It is an evening filled with plenty of pasta, bread, wine, prizes and entertainment! The event is hosted by the Student Association of Shelter Veterinarians as a fund raiser. 100% of sales will be donated to Upland Animal Shelter and H.O.P.E (Helping Out Pets Everyday). All proceeds from raffle sales and silent auctions are donated to the Humane Society of Tijuana, Mexico.

    Beyond good food and wine, there was entertainment provided by faculty, students and even Dean Phillips (in spite of the audiences’ inability to keep a beat).

    We hope to see you there next year!!!

    ]]>     http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/04/03/spayghetti-dinner/feed/ 0     An interesting tale of anti-terrorism… http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/03/02/an-interesting-tale-of-anti-terrorism/ http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/03/02/an-interesting-tale-of-anti-terrorism/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:44:20 +0000 ARCVetServices http://arcvetservices.com/blog/2009/03/02/an-interesting-tale-of-anti-terrorism/

    Animal terrorist group foiled by informant dressed as a beagle

    “If something came up in conversation, I would go to the loo and write it on
    my body. Later I’d pull up my shirt and show it to a handler.”

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