Food Poisoning and Pets, It's Not all about Listeria

Staph food poisoning and pets

Geni Wren, Bovine Veterinarian Magazine   |   Updated: July 11, 2011

Jenny Berner

Food animals are increasingly becoming the target for food-poisoning problems and zoonotic diseases. But we often forget about the role other animals play, including our own beloved pets and their closeness to us — and our food.I’ll never forget when I grew up as a child in the late 1960s and 70s when we’d pack up the family in our green station wagon (French poodle Amy along for the ride) and head to the Dairy Queen, and every one of us four kids let Amy have a lick off of our ice cream cone. And my dad is a veterinarian. I never remember any of us getting sick, but those were also different times when we spent our playtime out in the fields, the grass and the dirt with a variety of pets and/or livestock. We were exposed to a lot of natural microorganisms people today don't often see.
Recently Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc Guelph, Dipl. ACVIM, from the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, wrote in the Worms and Germs blog about potential food Staphylococcus food poisoning from the way we intimately engage with our pets and our food, countertops, etc.
Reading Weese’s article may give people pause (paws?) for thought the next time they share their food bowl with a pet or let that cat hang around the kitchen counter and traipse across the cutting board (do you know what litterbox those cat paws have been in?). But it also shows that companion animals can be a reservoir for foodborne disease and food animals should not bear the be-all and end-all blame. Food safety takes diligence — and cleanliness — on all of our parts and cannot be targeted to a few sources as it has many avenues to find its way into our food.
Weese's article follows:
Staph food poisoning…possible pet reservoir
Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc Guelph; Dipl ACVIM, Worms & Germs blog, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
When it comes to public health concerns about staphylococcal bacteria from pets, most of the attention gets paid to methicillin-resistant strains like MRSA. That's not surprising considering how important MRSA is in human medicine. However, staph that aren't methicillin-resistant can also be a problem since they can cause the same types of infections that resistant types can (they are just easier to treat). Another aspect that often gets overlooked is staphylococcal food poisoning.
Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most common foodborne illnesses and results from growth of certain strains of staphylococci in poorly handled or stored foods. If staph get into food and the food is kept at improper temperatures, the bacteria can grow. If the strain of staph that's in the food is one that can produce enterotoxins, these toxins can accumulate in the food at high enough levels to cause food poisoning when eaten. In most cases, people are probably the origin of enterotoxin-producing staph that contaminate food, but pets are another possible source.
A recent study in Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Abdel-moein et al 2011) looked at enterotoxigenic staph in 70 dogs and 47 cats. Swabs were collected from the mouth, nose and wounds. Nasal swabs were also collected from 26 people. They isolated enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus (strains of S. aureus that possessed genes encoding for enterotoxin production) from 10% of dogs and 2.1% of cats, as well as 7.7% of people. Most of the positive samples from pets were oral samples.
This study shows that dogs and cats can be potential sources of strains of S. aureus that cause food poisoning. Since the staph are often in the animals' mouths (and therefore presumably shed in saliva), animals should be considered possible sources of enterotoxigenic staph contamination of foods.
Prevention measures are pretty basic but should be considered, including:

• Keeping pets off kitchen counters.
• Discarding foods that pets have licked.
• Washing hands after pet contact, before handling food.
• Properly storing food, so that even if it gets contaminated with staph, the bacteria don't get the opportunity to grow and produce toxins.

Scott Weese is with the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.

Find this article at: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/bovine-vet/industry-news/Staph-food-poisoning-and-pets-125299013.html

Photographing Your Pets - 7 Tips for Better Photos

Taking memorable photos of your pets can be a difficult task. There are many professional photographers who focus on just this market and who make quite a profit by doing so. So what chance do us amateurs have? Frequently it can seem as if taking a good photograph of your pet is entirely based upon luck. However, that is not necessarily true. Before you "throw in the towel"--or throw away the camera--take a look at a few tips that may increase your chances of getting great photos of your pet.
1. Take Lots of Photos.
Professional photographers do this. In addition to their obvious skills, they take many photos to increase their chances of getting just the right ones. In this day of digital cameras, don't be hesitant to take a large number of shots. You don't need to keep them all. In the process, you might get that one perfect photo.

2. Catch Them in Action.
If Fido loves to fetch, have someone throw a ball or Frisbee and take lots of shots of him playing catch or running after the ball. If your cat tears up the toilet paper take a quick shot off before you clean it up. Often our fondest remembrances of them are the times they misbehaved.
3. Be a Sneak.
It can be a challenge to sneak up on your pet but it often leads to some great photos. Just capturing shots of your pets being themselves can result in your best photos of them. Even taking a shot of your cat or dog sleeping, especially if they are draped over the furniture or snoozing in a funny position, will provide memories.
4. Capture Favorite Tricks.
I know you have favorite tricks you like to see your pet perform--for you and for others. While some of these tricks might require sound and/or motion to capture just imagine having a photo of Fido sitting up or caching a jump in midair.
5. Reward to Maintain Interest.
In line with the precious tip, be ready to show your pets that paying attention is in their best interest. Be equipped with lots of their favorite treats or they will probably lose interest quickly. Treats can come in handy for getting your pets attention to look the right direction and they will also serve as a nice reward.
6. Get Down to Their Level.
One of the leading mistakes many owners make when photographing their pets is not taking photos from their pets' perspective. Kneel or lay down to get the best angle on your pet. This is the best method of causing them to naturally fill out the photo frame. This angle will also more accurately represent their appearance.
7. Be Patient.
Above everything else patience is key in photographing pets. Without it, the other tips will not be helpful. Your pet isn't going to comprehend what you're attempting to do but if you remain patient your pet will detect the difference. Pets can sense your emotional condition instantly. If you get frustrated, they will, too. If you begin to feel frustration just take a break and come back later to try again.
Keep the memory of your pets fresh and alive in your mind by photographing them frequently along with the human members of your family. A little time spent today will provide fond memories tomorrow.

Jack Lambert has interest in a wide variety of subjects and enjoys writing on them all.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_W_Lambert

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5026671

Photographing Your Pets

Our furry friends are a huge part of our lives. They offer us companionship and unconditional love. However obedient they may be, though, it can be difficult to make them sit still to take a beautiful pet portrait. Thankfully, there are several different methods and tricks that you can use to take a wonderful and lasting image of your furry friend.
The first thing to consider when taking pet photos is the setting. Natural light is the best bet for animals since you will not have to rely on a flash, which can be startling. Also, the green background of grass can provide a nice contrast to your pet's fur. However, if you have an indoor animal and want to take pictures inside, try taking them by a window or in a brightly lit room to avoid using the flash.
Next, you must think about your camera settings. Pets can move around and change positions in a heartbeat, so it is a good idea to utilize a fast-action lens to help you capture the perfect pose. Increasing your shutter speed can help you with this. Also, some people like to use macro lenses so they can get up close to their pet and highlight certain features, like enhance a cat's whiskers or a dog's soft nose.
Once you have your plans for the setting and camera in place, think about your pet. A great way to capture a pet's personality is to include his or her favorite toy or perch in the picture. For example, if you dog loves his tennis ball, you might want to take a photo with the ball in his mouth. If you have a cat who always hides on the bookshelf, try taking a photo of the kitty on her perch.
If you have tried taking photos of your furry friend before, you may have noticed that the camera angle held from human level can make your pet look strange in a photo. It can be helpful to get down on your pet's level to make him or her look more lifelike. Additionally, you may even try to get down below your pet. For instance, laying down on the grass and taking a picture of your cat up above you can create a funny picture.
Lastly, part of taking a beautiful picture of your beloved pet is sharing it with everyone. Once you take your perfect picture, you should consider turning it into a canvas so that you can easily display your furry friend. For more information on this process, check out YourCanvasPhotos today.

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3363640