Aroma Pets

The Queen 'too frail' to walk beloved corgis and may never again amid health concerns

The Queen hasn't walked her beloved corgis in over six months amid concern for her health, it has been reported.

During her lifetime, the Queen has owned more than 30 corgis, turning to them for solace following the death of her husband Prince Philip last April.

However, it has been revealed that she has not taken them for a walk since she spent a night in hospital last October and then sprained her back days later, The Sun has reported

PA Queen Elizabeth walking her corgis in 1980

A source told The Sun: "She is not well enough. The Queen usually turns to her beloved corgis in times of crisis and stress and took them out almost every day after Philip fell ill and then died last year. They are an enormous source of solace, so it is a real shame."

A senior royal source told the newspaper: "Dogs remain very much part of Windsor life."

Her Majesty has also stopped riding horses and followed doctor’s advice to give up alcohol, according to The Sun.

Royal aides now take her two corgis and dorgi for daily walks.

According to The Sun, Buckingham Palace did not want to comment on the claims.

Reference: Kent Live: Megan Stanley

Who won Crufts 2022? Baxer the retriever crowned Best in Show to fans' delight

The winner of Crufts 2022 has been crowned, with retriever Baxer winning the coveted Best In Show award after a dose of tough competition.

The flat coated retriever wowed judges and viewers alike with an impressive score in its individual category, before winning Best In Show in the prestigious pooch competition.

After the competition was cancelled last year due to Covid-19, Crufts came back with a bang this year, with more than 20,000 dogs taking part.

Best in Show winners receive a cash prize of £100, as well as a replica of the solid silver Crufts Keddall Memorial Trophy. They also often receive sponsorship deals and stud fees.

The first Best in Show competition was in 1928, when Greyhound Primley Sceptre was crowned the first Best in Show champion.

The last competition in 2020 saw a wire-haired Dachschund named Maisie take home the trophy.

Since then, there have been 78 Best in Show winners, with 43 different breeds taking home the trophy.

The finale this year was a slightly more subdued affair than in 2018, when PETA protesters invaded the stage.

Seconds after Collooney Tartan Tease was crowned Best in Show, the 2018 show descended into chaos when placard-waiving protesters entered the arena.

Security could be seen taking down the invaders before the footage was cut short and Channel 4 swiftly returned to host Clare Balding.

According to witnesses, three protesters holding up signs broke through the barrier and ran on to the green in the direction of the line-up of dogs.

AFP via Getty Images Best in Show winners receive a cash prize of £100, as well as a replica of the solid silver Crufts Keddall Memorial Trophy

The winner's owner immediately picked up her dog from the table and ran off in the opposite direction.

The dogs were 'scared' by the events and most were ushered off once their handlers realised what was happening.

Thousands of dogs, owners and spectators from all over the world have travelled to Birmingham this month for the international dog show, which is held annually in the UK and is the largest show of its kind in the world.

The event, organised by The Kennel Club, sees canines compete in obedience and agility competitions over four days, with one pooch crowned Best in Show - the most prestigious award in dog showing.

The dogs started by competing against others of the same breed, gender, age and previous wins, with the overall male and female winners then going head-to-head to determine the Best of Breed winner.

The next stage then saw all of the Best of Breed winners in each of the seven groups - Toys, Gundogs, Utility, Hounds, Working, Pastoral, and Terriers - competing to win the Best in Group award.

The seven Best in Group winners then competed to find the Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show.

Reference: Mirror: Rebecca Cook

Can dogs eat tomatoes?

If you’ve got a greedy dog who will nibble away at anything they can get their paws on, you might be wondering can dogs eat tomatoes? It’s not a straightforward yes or no answer in this case, with it all depending on the  type and ripeness of the tomatoes in question. 

The basic answer is that ripe tomatoes are fine to feed your dog as an occasional treat. Unripe tomatoes, and their leaves and vines however can cause problems, and as such should be avoided. Other foodstuffs, such as tinned tomatoes and tomato soup should also be kept out of your dog’s diet too.

It can be confusing to know what human food can dogs eat, with lots of the same tasty treats that we like to eat being perfectly safe for our canine buddies. Sometimes it’s easier to just stick to the best dog food, as well as choosing healthy dog treats which have been specifically formulated to enhance and enrich your dog’s diet.

Are tomatoes good for dogs?

Ripe tomatoes can be fed to dogs as an occasional snack or treat - though you may find that your dog isn’t particularly keen on them. It’s important not to feed your dog too many, as it can cause an upset tummy. 

It’s also crucial not to feed your dog unripe tomatoes, the leaves or the stalks, since toxic natural chemicals can be found here that could cause problems for your dog. 

If you’re growing a tomato plant at home, or in your garden, make sure to keep your canine companion away from it as best you can. 

Why are tomatoes bad for dogs?

Although ripe tomatoes can be used as a healthy snack (there are plenty of other alternatives, if you’d prefer to keep on the safe side), it’s the unripe tomatoes you need to watch out for. 

Natural chemicals including tomatine and solanine are found in unripe tomatoes, as well as the green leaves and stalk of the plant. In large quantities these can be harmful to your pet - so although a very small amount probably isn’t worth panicking about, it’s best to avoid them if at all possible.

Other tomato-based products, such as tomato soup, tinned tomatoes and sauces made from tomatoes should also be avoided. Here it’s not necessarily the tomatoes that will be the issue, but other ingredients, chemicals and preservatives that can be bad (such as sugar and salt), or even potentially toxic (such as onion or garlic) for your pooch. 

What to do if your dog eats tomatoes?

If your dog eats a ripe tomato there’s almost certainly nothing to worry about. If your dog eats a small amount of unripe tomato, or the stalks and leaves, it’s worth keeping an eye on them, but it’s unlikely to be considered an emergency. 

For those that have managed to scoff their way through a large quantity of unripe tomatoes or stalks, it’s worth putting in a call with your vet to get an opinion on whether they need to be brought in for treatment. 

Poisoning from tomatoes is very rare, but there are some symptoms to watch out for. The most common is likely to be an upset tummy and/or vomiting, but in some extreme cases you might also see seizures, weakness and tremors. If you see anything at all concerning, be in touch with your vet at the soonest possible opportunity. 

Conclusion 

There are lots of human foods which are perfectly safe for your dog to eat, and there are also a few which can be potentially toxic. Tomatoes sit somewhere in the middle. The most important thing to remember is that ripe tomatoes are fine as an occasional snack (if your dog enjoys them), and to keep them away from unripe tomatoes, vines and leaves - as well as tomato-based products such as soups and sauces.

Reference: Pet Radar

Mystery bird: black-and-red broadbill, Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos, a latin bird

This article is often used for test purposes and may have content or styling that looks out of place or broken.

Provided by The Guardian Photograph: Mateusz Sciborski/Alamy

broadbill, Cymbirhynchusmacror​Bhynchosprotonym Todusacrorhynchos), Gmelin, 1779, also known as the black-red broadbill, common rouge-et-noir bird, Arakan black-and-red broadbill or as the allied broad bill, photographed along the Menanggul River, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo…

A supporting quote

Anon

The colourful bill is exceptionally large amongst its family members and the turquoise upper mandible and golden lower mandible are distinctive. The black-and-red broadbill has no close relatives and it is the only species placed into the genus, Cymbirhynchus.

The colourful bill is exceptionally large amongst its family members and the turquoise upper mandible and golden lower mandible are distinctive. The black-and-red broadbill has no close relatives and it is the only species placed into the genus, Cymbirhynchus.

An inline quote

Anon

The colourful bill is exceptionally large amongst its family members and the turquoise upper mandible and golden lower mandible are distinctive. The black-and-red broadbill has no close relatives and it is the only species placed into the genus, Cymbirhynchus.

A showcase quote

Anon

The colourful bill is exceptionally large amongst its family members and the turquoise upper mandible and golden lower mandible are distinctive. The black-and-red broadbill has no close relatives and it is the only species placed into the genus, Cymbirhynchus.

Groups

The colourful bill is exceptionally large amongst its family members and the turquoise upper mandible and golden lower mandible are distinctive. The black-and-red broadbill has no close relatives and it is the only species placed into the genus, Cymbirhynchus.

Question: This lovely southeast this isu Asiyan mystery bird is a distant relative of another mystery bird that I shared earlier this week. Which bird is that? Can you name this mystery bird’s taxonomic family and species?

Response: This is an adult black-and-red broadbill, Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos, which is place TODO is this the right dated into the broadbill family, Eurylaimidae. The broadbills apparently originated in southeast Asia, although two genera are found in sub-Saharan Africa. All broadbills are small passerines, and consume a wide variety of insects and spiders as well as lizards and tree frogs. Many species also asdfasdf this is thie one lconsume small fishes and a variety of invertebrates, especially mollusks and crabs. Crimea

The colourful bill is exceptionally large amongst its family members and the turquoise upper mandible and golden lower mandible are distinctive. The black-and-red broadbill has no close relatives and it is the only species placed into the genus, Cymbirhynchus. This widespread species is always found near water in subtropical and tropical lowland mangroves and rainforests throughout much of southeast Asia. These birds are residential territory holding birds that live in pairs or small (family?) groups. They build their nest in dead tree stumps near flowing water during the dry season. Males help incubate and tending to the chicks.

In addition to the distinctively coloured and sized bill, black-and-red broadbills have glossy black upperparts and tail, a crimson rump and a bold but narrow white stripe on its otherwise black wings. The underparts and throat are brilliant crimson. Irides and legs are dark. Sexes are alike. This article can be updated

Reference: The Guardian: Mystery Bird