Archive for August, 2009
A fire official says a man has died after getting trapped in a machine at a suburban Philadelphia packaging plant.
Investigators say it appears to have been an accident.
Firefighters …
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Tis the season of hurricanes, tornadoes and the flu and I'm delighted to welcome Dr. Susan Wright to guest blog on the topic of canine flu. No need to panic; she's got all the facts in hand. Read on…
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In June 2009, The United States Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine against canine influenza; however, if you spend some time researching the disease, you'll discover that canine flu may not be as big an issue as you may think.
Vets first identified canine flu in 2004 in Florida, but it is thought that it was prevalent in racing greyhounds from 1999. The virus seems to have evolved from the similar equine influenza virus.
Canine flu is quite a new disease, so most dogs won't have any immunity to the virus. Approximately 80% of dogs exposed to the virus will fall ill. The remaining 20% of dogs, although showing no symptoms, are infected and may still spread disease.
Dogs pick up the virus from the sneezes or saliva of dogs who are carrying the infection. It may take 5 to 7 days after infection before a dog shows any sign of being ill. Having said that, the period before the symptoms show is when an infected dog is most likely to spread the virus. A dog that looks to be perfectly healthy may well be spreading lots of virus in his environment.
There are two types of canine flu – one is a fairly mild form, and the other is a severe, possibly fatal form. The majority of infected dogs develop the mild form of canine flu.
In the mild cases, dogs may cough and have a runny nose. These symptoms can last a month or more. They don't eat, they have a high temperature, and are depressed and lethargic. It's not uncommon for people to think their dog just has the familiar kennel cough instead of canine influenza; the symptoms are very similar.
If a dogs condition worsens, they can develop pneumonia, and have difficulty breathing. Up to ten percent of dogs affected with the severe type of the disease will die. Dogs are much more likely to succumb to the more severe type of canine flu if they are already ill, such as those with cancer, or chronic disease.
To confirm a diagnosis of canine flu, an unwell dog will need to have a blood test, which will detect the presence of antibodies to the virus. A dog that recovers from canine flu infection seems to be immune to repeat infection for several years.
Whether you should vaccinate your dog depends on your circumstances, your dog's general health, and whether or not he will be at increased risk of severe canine flu.
The disease is likely to spread in environments where dogs are allowed to get close to each other. If your dog often stays in a boarding kennel, or you go to shows or training classes, you may want to consider vaccinating your dog. Similarly, if you take your dog to dog parks, or if he accompanies you as you help out in a shelter, your vet may recommend a vaccine for him.
You may also want to consider vaccination if your dog does have an underlying medical condition. These dogs are more at risk of developing severe canine flu. If your dog prefers to be a homebody, and doesn't venture out much apart from an occasional stroll in the neighborhood, many vets would suggest vaccination isn't really necessary.
The virus itself only lasts a week or so in the environment, and it is easily killed by regular household bleach. So, hygiene is very important in preventing the spread of the disease. Make sure you wipe down any show benches you use, and don't let your dog drink from public drinking bowls. The other thing to keep in mind is that the vaccine doesn't prevent infection, it just lessens the severity of any symptoms and reduces the spread of the virus.
If you need more information, speak to your vet about whether or not he or she recommends vaccination for your dog. And finally, there is no evidence that canine flu spreads to humans.
Dr. Susan Wright is veteran veterinarian who blogs for DogFenceDIY.com, a site that shows dog lovers how to safely contain their dog with an underground fence.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office say a fire in the EVRAZ Claymont Steel plant in Claymont was accidental.
Firefighters were called to the plant Monday evening for a report of a fire and …
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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So I recently got a call from hr at my job that starts tomorrow. Apparently the company has a really conservative legal, so they have decided to follow the letter of the law in the US and pay analysts time and a half for any hours we work past 5. Has anyone in banking heard of this happening?
I guess everyone knows that I-Banks break the law by not paying overtime, since analysts cannot be classified as managers, but does anyone think this change might actually take place? Are there any i-banks that do this?
To be honest I let out a freaking squeal after hearing from hr about it. This is a ridiculous amount of money if I pull an all nighter or something. She told me extra hours will be about 50 per hours. All I have to say is swish.
Cats are pretty mysterious, sometimes. They act so differently than dogs, we can sometimes take them for granted. But, in the end, despite the naysayers, cats are loving, affectionate, and loyal creatures. They have shown themselves so in many instances, not the least of which is their ability to offer consolation and support to women with breast cancer.
Because of this, Purina Cat Chow® has partnered with Susan G. Komen Cure, for the second year, to highlight that special bond between owner and cat – especially as it pertains to women with breast cancer.
Turns out, a recent national survey of breast cancer survivors with cats highlighted the connection between owners and their cats by revealing 84 percent of respondents felt their cat had a calming effect during their battle with breast cancer and 76 percent of respondents received daily support from their cat during treatment.
Obviously, we ladies with cats know this – not necesarily from the perspective of a breast cancer survivor, but just from the perspective of a cat Mom. It's encouraging and heartening to see the Purina Cat Chow 
Dr. Karen Sueda, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, says, "…cats are perceptive to their owners needs during an illness. Whether pet owners are fighting a disease such as breast cancer or going through a rough period in life such as a job loss or financial stress, their cats often display intuitive behaviors of knowing when they need extra love and support."
You know this is true. I know this is true. It's time to tell the world. I invite you to visit the Connected for the Cause website and join the conversation. Explore the beautiful mosaic (click on the tiny boxes), watch the videos, and remember to tell a friend.
you a lower monthly premium but you will have higher out of pocket expenses. 
The rumors that DJ AM died is true. The celebrity disc jockey’s rep has confirmed his death. Here is the statement released by his rep:
“Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein was found deceased this afternoon in his New York City apartment. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear. Out of respect for his family and loved ones, please respect their privacy at this time.”
Sources say that DJ AM was not heard of for many days so a friend went to his apartment to check on him. When no one opened the door despite the knocks he made, the friend called the police. But it was the firemen who came and entered the apartment. They found the body of DJ AM inside. Sources say that drug paraphernalia was also found.
