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Stern warning not to kill flies and wasps coming into your house this summer

It’s no secret that as we begin opening our windows during the warmer months, all manner of critters may enter. But now the public has been urged not to kill any flying insects this summer.

We may actually see fewer flying insects this summer, so it may be a good idea not to kill them - even if they’re driving you potty. It’s because flying insect numbers have plummeted by 60 per cent over the last 20 years, according to a new study , reports YorkshireLive.

Conservation charities Buglife and the Kent Wildlife Trust asked members of the public to count the number of insects splatted against their vehicle number plates, reports The Natural History Museum, and compared it to a similar study from 2004. They found that counts were down the most in England, where 65 per cent fewer insects were recorded, and the least in Scotland, which recorded a 28 per cent fall.

2021 John Keeble Flying insects are not to be killed this summer

Paul Hadaway, the director of conservation at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "The results from the Bugs Matter study should shock and concern us all. We are seeing declines in insects, which reflect the enormous threats and loss of wildlife more broadly across the country.

"These declines are happening at an alarming rate and without concerted action to address them we face a stark future. Insects and pollinators are fundamental to the health of our environment and rural economies.

"'We need action for all our wildlife now by creating more and bigger areas of habitats, providing corridors through the landscape for wildlife and allowing nature space to recover."

People online have in the past shared their techniques for killing flying bugs at home including traps, electric rackets and sticky fly paper, or sicking their cats on them. But in the face of such startling figures, the best bet might be to shoo flies and wasps back outside rather than kill them.

The Natural History Museum goes on to paint quite the grim picture of how badly our world will be affected if we carry on seeing insect numbers dropping: "The decline in insects affects all the major groups. In the next few decades, as many as 40 per cent of the world's species could become extinct, including bees, ants and butterflies.

"These insects represent some of the most significant pollinators of plants. While plants are pollinated in many different ways, insect-pollinated crop plants such as apples, pears, cucumbers, watermelons and almonds, will become significantly less productive without pollinators, and could fail altogether.

"The impact of insect loss goes far beyond our food supplies, however, as animals such as birds which depend on them for food will also be hit."

Rather than killing bugs, you could set up an insect house in your garden, and stick to real grass rather than astro turf. Other tips include mowing the lawn less regularly (as longer grass provides a home for more insects), and creating log piles for beetles to chow down on.

Reference: My London: Alex Evans & Rafi Mauro-Benady

Hypoglycemia in dogs: A vet's guide

Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by low blood sugar. Although not considered a disease itself, it can be an indication of an underlying health issue. It is commonly seen in diabetic dogs, but it can occur with a wide range of disease processes. Read on to learn more about hypoglycemia and what to do if your dog shows any signs of it.

 Provided by Pets Radar Sick Bulldog on table at vet

• Best diabetic dog treats
• Diabetes in dogs: a vet's guide
• Diabetes insipidus in dogs: a vet's guide

What is hypoglycemia in dogs?

“Hypoglycemia” means that there are low levels of glucose in the blood. Glucose is required for life, as it is the predominant energy source used by the brain. The brain has a high and continuous requirement for glucose, and it cannot create or store glucose, so hypoglycemia causes many neurological symptoms and can be life-threatening if left untreated.

In healthy animals, blood glucose levels are kept within a normal range by the actions of the glucose-lowering hormone insulin and glucose-elevating hormones such as glucagon, cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and growth hormone. Hypoglycemia can result when there is insufficient dietary glucose, an increased demand for glucose, dysfunction of glucose-producing pathways in the liver, or abnormal levels of glucose-regulating hormones.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs

Although hypoglycemia can have effects throughout the entire body, most symptoms are neurological in nature because of the brain’s sensitivity to low glucose levels. Symptoms commonly seen in hypoglycemia include:

• Anxiety or change in behavior
• Inappetence
• Muscle tremors
• Incoordination
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Collapse
• Convulsions or seizures
• Coma
• Death in severe cases

These symptoms vary depending on the severity of hypoglycemia and how quickly it comes about. If you suspect that your dog is hypoglycemic, you should rub a sugary substance such as honey on their gums and take them straight to the vet.

What causes hypoglycemia in dogs?

There are numerous causes of hypoglycemia in dogs, including but not limited to:

• Insulin overdose: Hypoglycemia is the most serious side effect of insulin treatment in dogs with diabetes mellitus, as well as the most common complication. It occurs when too much insulin is given to a diabetic dog or when they eat too little or exercise too much, subsequently lowering blood glucose levels.

• Insulinoma: Insulinomas are functional tumors of the beta cells of the pancreas, which secrete insulin. These tumors secrete excessive amounts of insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia. The resulting high insulin levels also inhibit glucose-producing pathways, further contributing to low blood sugar. Insulinomas are more common in middle-aged, large-breed dogs.

• Other cancers: Cancers in other areas of the body can also cause hypoglycemia due to tumors consuming glucose and sometimes stimulating the release of insulin or insulin analogs. The most common tumors outside the pancreas associated with hypoglycemia are located in the liver and muscles.

• Toxins: Several toxins have been reported to cause hypoglycemia in dogs, the most common being xylitol, a sugar substitute used in many sugar-free candies, chewing gums, and peanut butters. Other toxic causes include some human prescription medications, human non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, illicit drugs, pesticides, and plants.

• Breed/size/age: Hunting dog hypoglycemia occurs because of their lean build and high energy requirements for work. Toy-breed dogs and young puppies are predisposed to hypoglycemia due to insufficient glycogen stores (a source of glucose) and limited fat and muscle mass to break down and convert into glucose. Additionally, neonatal puppies have immature livers, which may affect their ability to regulate blood glucose.

• Liver disease: Severe liver diseases can result in decreased glucose production via reduced glycogen stores and decreased conversion of broken-down fats and proteins into glucose. Some liver diseases that can cause hypoglycemia include hepatitis, liver cancers, hepatic lipidosis (“fatty liver”), cirrhosis, and congenital portosystemic shunt.

• Addison's disease: Addison’s disease is characterized by insufficient cortisol production by the adrenal glands. Because cortisol is a hormone that counteracts insulin and helps regulate blood glucose, a lack of cortisol can result in high levels of insulin in some Addisonian dogs.

• Infection: Infections such as parvovirus, babesiosis, and sepsis can cause hypoglycemia due to excessive glucose consumption in these disease processes.

How is hypoglycemia diagnosed in dogs?

Hypoglycemia is diagnosed in dogs using a simple blood test to check the concentration of glucose in the blood. If it is under a certain level, the dog is considered hypoglycemic.

The veterinarian may wish to perform further diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of hypoglycemia, which include additional blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging.

It should be noted that human glucometers may underestimate canine blood glucose levels, resulting in readings consistent with hypoglycemia despite normal glucose levels. For this reason, only veterinary glucometers should be used to monitor diabetic dogs receiving insulin therapy.

How to treat hypoglycemia in dogs

Hypoglycemia can be life-threatening in dogs if left untreated, and it can cause permanent brain damage if treatment is delayed. It is imperative to seek immediate veterinary attention if a dog is showing signs of hypoglycemia to reestablish normal glucose levels.

In the case of a hypoglycemic episode, a sugary substance such as honey, syrup, or glucose solution can be rubbed onto oral mucous membranes like the gums, cheek, and tongue. If the dog is unconscious, care should be taken with liquids due to the risk of aspiration. Oral glucose is not as effective as intravenous glucose, however, so dogs should be taken directly to the vet for treatment and possible hospitalization.

Hypoglycemic dogs are generally given dextrose (a concentrated glucose solution) intravenously to increase blood glucose levels. They may also receive a steroid like prednisone to counteract insulin in the circulation. In cases that don’t respond to intravenous dextrose, glucagon infusions may be used.

What is the prognosis of hypoglycemia in dogs?

The prognosis of dogs with hypoglycemia depends on the underlying cause of low blood sugar. While some dogs have one-off cases that resolve quickly and don’t recur, others may have repeated episodes with more severe symptoms. In these cases, veterinarians can work with owners to investigate the reason for hypoglycemia, and complicated cases may require referral to a specialist to determine the underlying cause. 

Reference: Pets Radad: Dr. Diana Hasler BVM&S MRCVS

Kurt Zouma banned from keeping cats for five years over 'reprehensible' video

 DANIEL LEAL /AFP Kurt Zouma banned from keeping cats for five years after 'reprehensible' video - DANIEL LEAL /AFP

Footballer Kurt Zouma has been banned from owning cats for five years as he was sentenced for animal cruelty.

The West Ham defender was widely criticised after social media footage emerged of him kicking his pet Bengal cat across his kitchen before throwing a pair of shoes at it, slapping its head, and saying: "I swear I'll kill it."

District judge Susan Holdham described the actions as "disgraceful and reprehensible" as she sentenced the 27-year-old to 180 hours' of community service, banned him from caring for cats for five years, and ordered him to pay £9,000 in court costs.

Zouma showed no emotion on Wednesday as he was handed the sentence at Thames Magistrates' Court in east London, where he was greeted by a man dressed in a cat outfit.

His sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty last week to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat, after blaming the family pet for damaging a chair.

 Provided by The Telegraph Kurt Zouma banned from keeping cats for five years over 'reprehensible' video - Yui Mok /PA

The court was told the "premeditated" attack was filmed by his younger brother, lower-league footballer Yoan Zouma, 24, in February, and sent to a woman he was due to go on a date with.

But the woman was so shocked that she called off their meeting, telling him: "I don't think hitting a cat like that is OK - don't bother coming today."

The court heard Yoan had 80 followers on Snapchat, and only five accounts viewed it before it was deleted a few minutes after being posted.

Yoan admitted one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring his older brother to commit an offence.

Provided by The Telegraph Kurt Zouma banned from keeping cats for five years over 'reprehensible' video - RSPCA / SWNS.COM /South West News Service

Sentencing the pair, the district judge said: "Both of you took part in this disgraceful and reprehensible act with this pet cat.

"You must be aware that others look up to you and many young people aspire to emulate you."

The court heard Hammers defender Zouma had been subject to racist abuse and threats, lost a "substantial" sponsorship deal with Adidas, was fined £250,000 and had no longer been picked for the France national team since the furore over the footage emerged.

A West Ham spokesman said the club hopes "everyone will allow Kurt the chance to learn from his mistake and move on".

In a statement, RSPCA chief inspectorate officer Dermot Murphy said: "We hope this case will serve as a reminder that all animals deserve to be treated with kindness, compassion and respect, and that we will not tolerate cruelty by anybody."

Reference: The Independent: Izzy Lyons 

Sniffer dogs ‘can accurately detect airport passengers infected with Covid-19’

Trained sniffer dogs can accurately identify airport passengers infected with coronavirus, new research suggests.

PA Archive A dog is put through its paces in demonstration by the charity Medical Detection Dogs, which trains dogs to detect the odour of human disease

Scientists say this method of detection is likely to be especially valuable, not only in the early stages of a pandemic when other resources might not yet be available, but also to help contain an ongoing pandemic.

They add that their findings highlight the importance of continuous retraining as new Covid-19 variants emerge.

Preliminary data suggested dogs could be trained within weeks to detect samples from patients with Covid-19 infection, with a degree of accuracy comparable to a nose and throat swab test.

But these results needed to be replicated in real-life conditions, so researchers trained four dogs – previously trained to detect drugs or dangerous goods, or cancer – to sniff out the virus in spring 2020.

The animals each sniffed skin samples from 114 people who had tested positive for the virus and from 306 who had tested negative.

According to the study, led by experts at the University of Helsinki, Finland, overall the dogs were able to detect the virus with 92% accuracy.

The four dogs were also put to work sniffing out 303 incoming passengers at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport between September 2020 and April 2021.

The dogs correctly identified the samples as negative in 296 out of 300 (99%) negative tests and identified three positive cases as negative.

Writing in BMJ Global Health, the researchers suggested “dogs could be used both in sites of high Sars-CoV-2 prevalence, such as hospitals (to prescreen patients and personnel), as well as in low prevalence sites, such as airports or ports (to prescreen passengers).”

A key finding was that the dogs were less successful at correctly identifying the alpha variant as they had been trained to detect the wild type.

The researchers added: “This observation is remarkable as it proves the scent dogs’ robust discriminatory power.

“The obvious implication is that training samples should cover all epidemiologically relevant variants.

“Our preliminary observations suggest that dogs primed with one virus type can in a few hours be retrained to detect its variants.” 

Reference: Independent: Nina Massey