Scientists at a Sydney veterinary clinic in Australia have used stem cell
technology to help old dogs to walk again.
The vets took adult stem cells, which have the unique ability to turn
into a variety of other cells, from the dogs' fat and placed them into
arthritic joints, according to the Australian Associated Press.
One 12-year-old border collie-cross, Cassie, whose hips meant that walking
was an ordeal, has started chasing other animals since the treatment.
Treatment costs between $5,000 (£2,335) and $6,000 but this no
longer includes the long-term course of anti-inflammation or pain-killing
drugs as they are no longer necessary.
Professor Ben Herbert, who worked on the research, said that it provides
hope for human treatment: "There is nothing really different about
doing that in a human to doing it in a dog ... [but] the regulatory regime
is easier to deal with in dogs."
The world's oldest dog, a 20-year-old Daschund which does not have
arthritis but does have to wear cataract glasses, is still going strong
according to its owner Denice Shaughnessy.
Sofa buyer finds cat inside
A couple who bought a sofa from a thrift store for $27 (£20) literally
got more than they bargained for when they found a cat stuck inside it.
Vickie Meddenhall and her boyfriend Chris Lund bought the seat from Value
Village in Spokane, Washington, USA, and became concerned when they began
to hear strange squeaking noises.
After searching the house to no avail, a surprised Mr Lund felt a kick
from the sofa, telling reporters: "I grabbed the knife, cut the corner
out, enough so that I could see what's going on and sure enough there
were eyeballs staring at me."
It is thought that the nine-year-old cat had been stuck in the sofa for
at least ten days.
The cat, nicknamed VV, short for Value Village, was taken care of by
local animal shelter SpokAnimal, which Ms Meddenhall happens to work for,
and was later returned to its owner Bob Killion who saw the news story
on television.
Another cat which found itself lodged in a hard to reach place was recently
rescued from the inside of a car engine by fire-fighters in Sussex.
The world's oldest dog!
Chanel, a wire-haired Dachshund from Port Jefferson Station in New York
is the world’s oldest dog, at 20 years old or 102 in dog years.
The dog’s owner is Denice Shaughnessy who is a retired Army veteran
who now works as a school secretary, has had Chanel since 1988.
Denice reports how Chanel, who suffers with cataract problems now has
to wear special goggles whenever she goes outside.
”She has to wear the goggles because she has cataracts and is very
sensitive to the light” said Denice.
Chanel, who is generally in good health also has to wear a jumper in
the winter and a T-shirt in the summer, as she is more sensitive to the
change in temperature.
Chanel’s Vet, Dr. Philip Zangara says “She is an old dog
and an incredible dog. It’s amazing she can still walk”.
Denice said that Chanel sleeps most of the day but when she comes home
she’s like a ”ball of fire”.
“She walks around the house looking in every closet
until about 10 o’clock. But has had very senior moments like any old
person. Sometimes I find her walking around at night and I have to give
her a little snack and then she goes back to bed”.
Chanel eats a special diet, where Denice boils her chicken and mixes
it with her dog food.
Chanel replaced a dog called Bella, who was a Labrador cross from Lincolnshire
UK, as the world’s oldest dog.
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