Mitral Valve Disease and Dogs

What is the mitral valve disease?
It is a heart condition where the mitral valve (the valve on the left side of the heart) fails to function properly.

Who are most commonly affected?
Studies show that this disease are common in adult dogs or older dogs that are small to medium sized breeds. High prevalence of the disease were found in King Charles spaniel, Chihuahua, miniature poodle, miniature pinscher, terriers and miniature schnauzers.

What causes mitral valve disease in dogs?
This condition is caused by the accumulation of plaque in a dog's heart valve. Because the mitral valve is unable to function properly, blood is leaked back to the atrium (upper chamber) of the heart. As a result, the heart tries to pump harder to deliver blood to the atrium which can lead to congestive heart failure.

What are the symptoms of this condition?
Symptoms may not be obvious right away but as the condition worsens, a dog with this condition may have difficulty breathing and may experience frequent coughing. Clinical examinations on dogs may show heart murmur, a weak pulse and an increased heart rate.

How can this disease be prevented?
Although the exact cause of plaque accumulation cannot be specified, studies show that a dog's diet and physical activity plays a big role in preventing complications. Medical experts suspect that genetic predisposition is also a major factor in acquiring the disease.

What tests are needed to diagnose this condition?
A complete blood count(CBC), urinalysis, chest x-rays, electrocardiogram, and ultrasound heart examination are usually conducted to diagnose the problem. A regular check-up with your veterinary is must since early detection can help improve your dog's condition.

What is the treatment for mitral valve disease?
As of yet, there is no cure for this disease. Although mitral valve replacement is done in humans, mitral valve surgery or mitral valve repair is not done in dogs.Presently, medications are available to help improve the dog's heart and alleviate some of its symptoms. A low sodium diet can also help prevent further complications.

How to Make Your Home Dog-friendly

Every pet lover should be concerned about making his home as safe and as friendly for both people and pets. If you have a dog, here are some tips on how you can create a comfortable space for your dog and your family:

Choose durable furniture. Choose furniture and fixtures that are made out of durable materials. For example, leather is a suitable fabric for seats and table covers because they don’t stain, they’re easy to clean, and they hold up well to scratches (Check out dog trade show exhibits for a variety of dog-friendly furniture, seats, and table top display choices). Stay away from carpets and rugs especially if you have large, long-haired dogs that shed a lot.

Give your dog some space. If possible, think about giving your dog his own special room. This way, you can train your dog about his boundaries in the house and teach where he could stay and which rooms are off-limits. For your dog room, don’t forget to consider your dog’s grooming. A tiled room where you can bath your dog at the same time and wash off the floor with water would be great! Don’t forget to add built-in cabinets that are out your dog’s reach where you can keep all your dog supplies and accessories. Add a comfortable dog bed or a couch where your dog lounge around and of course, dog toys are also a must!

Schedule regular cleaning. A dog lover should also know the importance of regular cleaning. Potty train your dog to make things easier for you. If you have puppies, clean up their mess immediately to get rid of the stain and odor. A clean environment for both you and your dog would certainly make life a breeze.

Don't leave kids and dogs unattended. Even if your dog is well-trained, it still isn't advisable to leave young children playing with dogs on their. A dog can also have a temper or mood swings at unexpected moments, or a child may unwittingly hurt the dog which can cause it to startle and bite in defense.

Air Conditioner History

Air conditioners use the same technology as refrigerators except that an air conditioner is built to cool an entire room instead of just a small limited space like refrigerators.

Willis Haviland Carrier invented the first air conditioning machine in 1902, only one year after graduating his Masters Degree in Engineering at Cornell University.

It was Stuart H. Cramer, a textile engineer who originally used the term “air conditioning” in 1906.

Rational Psychrometric Formulae is the standard formula used all throughout the air conditioning industry today. Willis Haviland Carrier submitted it to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1911.

In 1915, Carrier along with other 6 engineers founded the Carrier Engineering Corporation which began the development of air conditioning technology.

The 'Weathermaker' is the first residential air conditioner introduced by Carrier in 1928.

Shoe Trivia

The ancient Egyptians were first shoemakers in the world. However, it was the Greeks who introduced boots made out of solid leather for their soldiers. In time, different types of shoes were made not just to protect the feet but as a fashion statement (sometimes at the cost of comfort).

One of the earliest references to the term “sneakers” for running shoes was in a 1873 James Greenwood movie, “In Strange Company”.

In 1983, New Balance was the first shoe company to charge $100 for a pair or 990 New Balance shoes.

In 1629, Thomas Beard ( a shoemaker), opened the first shoe shop in America.

The first basketball shoe was introduced in 1900 by A. G. Spalding.

Jerry Seinfeld owns over 500 pairs of mint condition white sneakers.

The Air Force 1, introduced in 1982 was the first basketball shoe to use air technology.

The five-strip design of K-Swiss is more than just a design, it actually helps prevent stretching.

The earliest styles of New Balance shoes was designed by its found William Riley and was based on chicken’s feet.

The most expensive sneaker ever sold is the Jordan XVII which was retailed for $200 in 2002.

Cinderella’s slippers were supposedly not really made of glass but fur. The French word for fur was “vair”, but may have been written as “verre” which means glass.

Imeldific - is a term coined by Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines to describe ostentatious extravagance.

Imelda Marcos - wife of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos is known to be the woman who owns the most number shoes in the world. It is said that she had 3,000 pairs of shoes.

Credit Card Trivia

First charge card. Diners Club issued the first charge card in the 1950 when Frank McNamara forgot his wallet while dining with his business partner Ralph Schneider in New York Major’s Cabin Grill.

First Plastic Credit Card. The first credit card made of plastic was introduce in 1959 by Amex. (credit cards were used to be made of celluloid or cardboard).

Credit card sizes. All credit cards are the same in size based on the ISO 7810 (International Organization for Standardization ) standard which is 3.375” width, 2.125” length, and 0.76mm thickness.

The Magnetic Credit Card Strip. This strip contains three sets of data: the first track is alphanumeric and contains the card holder’s personal information, the 2^nd contains credit card processing information and the 3^rd track is oldest track and is optional. In fact, most credit card companies today do not use this track to reduce the size of the magnetic strip.

Credit card Numbers. The numbers are picked using the Luhn algorithm sequence, where each number in a credit card sequence is doubled, added and then divided by ten. As long as the answer is a whole digit, it is valid as a credit card number.

Bank Identification Number. The first six digits determine the credit card issuer. For example, all Visa cards begin with 4xxxxx, MasterCard begins with 5xxxxx, American Express cards with 34 and 37xxxx, and Discover credit cards begin with 6011xx.

Guinness World Record Holder. Walter Cavanagh is the Guinness World Record holder for the person with the most number of credit cards with 1,397 credit cards in his name.

No Mr. President. In 1999, President Clinton was declined using his American Express credit card for a bookstore purchase.

Credit card holders. According to the Center for Media Research, 51% of the total US popular are credit card holders.

Multiple credit cards. According to Experian’s “National Score Index” 1 in 10 consumers own more than 10 credit cards while the average number of card per consumer is 4.

Credit card debt. According to a survey by Cardweb in 2002, the average debt for every household with at least one credit card was $8,940.

Credit repair. In a similar study by Georgetown University’s Credit Research Center reveals that in the same year, about 2 to 2.5 million Americans sought bad credit repair or credit repair services instead of filing for bankruptcy. Furthermore, 75% of consumers who need to repair credit own at least one credit card.

Top Names. According to FDIC, the top 10 credit cards in the market are Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, American Express, Capital One, Discover Card, HSBC, Wash. Mutual, Wells Fargoand US Bancorp.

Favorite. The top picks among credit card holders are Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Discover Card – with Visa leading the pack.

Looking Backward (a novel). In 1887, the author Edward Bellamy used the term credit card 11 times in his book, almost a century before the first credit card was introduced.

Google. Rumor has it that Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin bought their computers and equipment using their credit cards to launch their company.

Things to Consider When Buying a Dog Leash

Every dog owner knows the importance of the leash and collar. What are the important things you must consider when choosing a dog leash?

Type of Leash. Standard dog leashes are usually 6 ft. in length and are great for walking your pets. For dog training, a retractable leash which can be extended up to 25 to 30 feet is advisable.

Material. Leashes can be made out of a variety of materials such as cloth, nylon, leather, and chain. Most professional dog trainers discourage chain leashes because they can easily cause injuries on you or your dog. Nylon is an inexpensive and versatile leash material which can be used for walking and training dogs. Leather are stronger and more durable but it may not be the best leash material for dogs who love the water.

Size. How wide or how long your dog leash depends on how big your dog is. Larger dogs may need a wider leash for more control and protection.

Ornamental Leashes? Some dog leashes are embellished with fur, rhinestones, beads, studs, etc. However, bear in mind that if these things come off, they can cause choke on your dog so a plain, simple, functionable dog leash may be best.

For a selection of dog leashes and dog accessories, check out Shopwiki, a search engine especially dedicated to shopping. If you're a dog lover or a pet owner, check out the site for more buying guide on which products are best for your pets.

For Dog Lovers with Pet Allergies

Are you a dog lover? Are you allergic to dogs or pets? Is your condition keeping from doing what you love most- take care of dogs. If so, here are some things you need to know about pet allergy:

What causes dog allergy?

People with allergies have very sensitive immune systems. Some people are allergic to dusts, pollen or dander while there are some who are also allergic to dog saliva. Dog hair or pet hair itself is not the allergen but they do collect dander, dusts and pollen. Thus, larger dogs, long-haired dogs or dogs with thick fur collect more allergens and highly trigger allergic reactions to people with pet allergies.

Reactions differ from person to person. The most common reactions of pet allergy are watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, itchiness, skin rashes, wheezing and coughing. Other more serious reactions include fatigue, shortness of breath and asthma attacks. When exposed to cats, dogs or other pets (carrying allergens), a person with pet allergy may experience one or a combination of these reactions.

Are there really dogs that are hypoallergenic?

For people with severe allergies, it isn’t recommended to get a pet and compromise his health. Nevertheless, some people have milder forms of allergies and may be able to tolerate exposure to certain dog breeds.

Hypoallergenic means less allergy causing. Although there is no dog that is completely and totally non-allergenic or 100% allergy proof, smaller dogs with short hair and hairless dogs are known as allergy-friendly dogs. Examples of allergy-friendly dog breeds are Airedale Terrier, American Hairless Terrier, Bichon Frisé, Greyhound, Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, just to name a few.

If you have a mild dog allergy, you may consider these tips to lessen the degree or avoid triggering allergic reactions.

Choose a breeder that breeds hypoallergenic dogs. Choose breeder that breeds only one breed of dog or breeds only hypoallergenic dogs.

Spend some time with the dog first before choosing. Before you take the dog home, spend at least 30 minutes with the dog to see how you’ll react to it.

Pay attention to cleanliness. Keeping your surroundings clean is crucial if you really want to keep a dog. Use a lint roller to pick up hair, dusts, and dirt more easily. If your dog makes a mess (poops or pees), be sure to clean up that area with a detergent right away. Never leave it unattended. Arm yourself with cleaning agents to make cleaning tasks easier for you. (Paper towels, stain removers, lint rollers, disinfectants, anti-allergy products, etc)

Keep your dog clean. Bathe your dog frequently using a mild dog shampoo to keep hair from shedding and skin from flaking. Ask your vet about the frequency of bathing that is ideal for your dog breed. Wash your dog’s clothes, beddings, leash, collar and toys frequently with an anti-allergen detergent.

Brush your dog’s fur everyday. If brushing your dog’s fur doesn’t trigger allergic reactions in you, do it on a daily basis as brushing helps clean up the fur and prevents shedding.

Wear a mask when in close contact with your dog. When grooming your dog, wear a face mask to avoid inhaling airborne allergens.

Always, wash your hands after playing or grooming your dog.

Get rid of the unwanted dog smell. Use cleaning products that are especially made for getting rid of pet odor. Adding baking soda or vinegar to water is also a cheap and effective way to eliminate bad odors.

Teach your dog about boundaries. Certain areas of your home should be strictly restricted from your dog. You may choose a room where your dog can hang out but don’t let him step into your living room, your kitchen or your bedroom. This way, you control the dander to only certain areas of the house.

Avoid furniture that collects dander. Leather furniture picks up less dander than furniture with fabric and is also much easier to clean. Avoid carpeted floorings where allergens stick and stay.

Don’t let your dog sit/lie on your furniture. Give your dog his own bed to sleep in and his own cushion to sit on. Teach him about limits.

Train your dog well. A properly trained dog will make life easier especially if you have a pet allergy.

Limit your interaction with your dog. Don't kiss your dog or let your dog lick your hands and face. Nor should you let your dog sit on your lap. If you want to bond with your dog, choose activities that involve less touch such as playing catch, frisbee, walking or running together.

WARNING: Be sure to see a doctor first, before deciding that your allergy is tolerable or mild enough to keep a pet.