LiveScience reports that the The Lancet Infectious Diseases has reported an increased risk of pets passing the MRSA to humans through bites.
Only about two years ago, scientists began to seriously suspect pets were transmitting the bacteria.
In the July edition of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Richard Oehler of the University of South Florida College of Medicine and colleagues lay out the latest thinking on MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and pets.
The infections can be transmitted by animal bites and most threaten young children, the researchers note.
"As community-acquired strains of MRSA increase in prevalence, a growing body of clinical evidence has documented MRSA colonization in domestic animals, often implying direct acquisition of S aureus infection from their human owners," they write. "MRSA colonization has been documented in companion animals such as horses, dogs, and cats, and these animals have been viewed as potential reservoirs of infection."
The journal also provided the following data about pet bites:
Women and the elderly are most at risk of being bitten by a cat.
Men in general and those aged under 20 of both sexes are most likely to be injured.
Most bite exposures occur in young children, involve unrestrained dogs on the owner's property, and about 20 percent involve a non-neutered dog.
Risk is highest in young boys aged 5 to 9 years, due to their small size and lack of understanding of provocative behavior.
The Lancet researchers said, "Proper treatment of dog and cat bites should involve treatment of the immediate injury (whether superficial or deep) and then management of the risk of acute infection, including washing with high pressure saline if possible, and antibiotics in selected cases. Bites to the hands, forearms, neck, and head have the potential for the highest morbidity. Much more remains to be learned about MRSA and pet-associated human infections."
It's not just cats and dogs getting microchips. The BBC reports that exotic animals like snakes are getting the pet-tracking chips too.
One man who keeps dozens of snakes has taken two of the valuable pets to the surgery for the chips to be implanted.
Dave Ward, Ilkeston, owns 30 snakes including two adult Dumeril boas, which have undergone the procedure.
The 6ft (1.82m) long reptiles have been injected in the neck with a microchip at Buckley House Vet Centre in Hucknall.
Graham Oliver from the Buckley House Vet Centre told the BBC that many animals get chipped. He said, "We chip all sorts of animals - eagle owls, you can do fish, birds, cats and dogs, horses, wives and children, all sorts."
Mr. Oliver also told the BBC that exotic pets are often chipped for commericial reaons - so they can found if they are stolen. Dogs and cats are generally microchipped so they can be found if they get lost.
This cute version of the Whack-a-Mole game involves kitten. In the game the kittens are not really being whacked, they are being gently pushed. Eventually all the kittens escape from the silly game. A statement on the website says they had a lot of fun making the video and so did the kittens. Update: CNN says PETA has said the video is cute and harmless.
A cat named Kit-kat has adopted some baby squirrels after they fell out of a tree. The baby squirrels and the kittens seem to be getting a long so far.
Veterinarian Scott Bainbridge was on CBCtv's Steven and Chris show to talk about exotic pets. He also talked about some of the exotic pets carrying diseaes like salmonella. Space can also a big issue with exotic pets. Exotic pets can also carry a higher price tag especially if it gets sick.
UPI.com reports that pets are being mentioend in obits with increasing frequency. The Raleigh News & Observer said they are starting to see as many of 25% of obits now mentioning surviving pets.
The Raleigh News & Observer said pets are being mentioned alongside surviving relatives so commonly that one day last week saw five obituaries -- more than a quarter of the day's total -- with mentions of animal companions, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
Deborah Bowen, a social work professor at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and author of "A Good Friend for Bad Times: Helping Others Through Grief," said mentions of pets in obituaries is part of the changing way that people in the United States view their pets. She said families are increasingly paying veterinarians $1,000 or more for medical procedures that were once strictly humans-only.
It's a nice thing that pets are getting mentioend in obits. Pets lose a friend too when their owner dies.
Well, you don't see this everyday. Here is a video of a rat named Peanut that really likes a cat named Ranj. The cat also seems very tolerant of the rat.
Beloved White House pet cat India has passed away at age 18 reports the AP. India spent a good portion of his life at the White House.
"The president, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India ("Willie")," press secretary Sally McDonough said in a statement.
"India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed," she said.
The black American Shorthair, which lived with President George W. Bush and his wife at the White House, died Sunday.
India is pictured looking grumpy wearing a party hat while celebrating a birthday. India is said to have preferred being indoors and loved the White House library.
A dog shoplifted a Utah grocery store for a dog bone. Surveillance cameras caught the dog as he went to obtain the bone from the pet food section. The dog starts running out of the store once he has obtained the bone. (via Huffington Post)
Beloved White House pet cat India has passed away at age 18 