The Amazing Applications of 3D Printing

3D printers have been around for a number of years now, long enough that everyday people have access to them at reasonable prices. Scientists have also developed a number of incredible applications for 3D printing.

Prosthetic leg! (Source)

In the human health world, 3D printing has progressed so much that it has been used to create living tissue, including parts of the skull and jaw bones, muscle and cartilage. It will be amazing to see how much more will be able to be created with 3D printing in the near future. 3D printing has already been used to create a rib cage and sternum, with many scientists expecting that organs will eventually be able to be printed too.

3D printed sternum and ribs

In the veterinary/animal world, things aren’t so advanced, but hopefully we will catch up eventually. 3D printing has been increasing in prominence in the veterinary world since as early as 2014. 3D printed models are sometimes used by surgeons to give them a clearer idea of their approach to surgery, and therefore help with greatly with the surgical repair for animals. 3D printing has even been used successfully to create prostheses to help animals to walk again.

It will be amazing to see how much more 3D printing will progress!

 

Links:

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-35581454

http://www.csiro.au/en/News/News-releases/2015/Cancer-patient-receives-3D-printed-ribs-in-world-first-surgery

https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/140701j.aspx

Boarding Kennels and Natural Disasters

Picture: Dylan Coker. Click for original article. 

Yesterday, a bushfire in South Australia tore through the north-east of Adelaide and some parts of the Hills. Fortunately, no human lives have been lost at this time, but devastatingly, the fire destroyed a boarding kennel and cattery, killing many of the pets staying there most likely while the owners were on holiday. I can’t imagine how all those affected are feeling – and those who have lost their homes. Amazingly, about 45 dogs were rescued.

The size of the fire

This made me think about evacuation procedures in natural disasters and a hypothetical that I’m sure would never be allowed. I imagine the logistics would be a nightmare – having to somehow move all the animals in, likely a short amount of time; finding new shelter/homes for each of them; maintaining records of where they’re all going; all while ensuring legal obligations are fulfilled. This seems even more impossible when considering how quickly natural disasters can develop.

In my hypothetical situation, where legalities can be ignored, would it be better to free all the animals/unlock all cages and runs before evacuating yourself and your family?

In my mind, this might give the animals at least a chance of leaving and escaping the natural disaster rather than being trapped where they are as it comes.

Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence

Recently, I came across this fascinating but sad topic on the link between animal abuse and domestic violence. While the everyday person will probably never be in a position to recognise this (I would think vets, doctors, friends, etc. have more opportunity), it might be good to bring some awareness to this issue. You never know what you might come across.

Some terrible stats:

• 71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims
• 68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. 87% of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75% in the presence of the children, to psychologically control and coerce them.
• 25-40% of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave.

See more stats and information at the American Humane Association.

On the vet side of things, a recently published study in Australia reported that there were 5 features of fractures that could be indicative of a non-accidental/abuse injury. These include fractures in multiple parts of the body, or at different stages of healing. Interestingly, these features correlate with fracture patterns seen in humans suffering the same ‘non-accidents’.

What We Can Do:

Encourage women’s shelters to add questions about pets and build kennels.

Encourage animal shelters, vets and rescue groups to establish foster care programs for the animal victims.

Links:

http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/support-the-bond/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html

http://aldf.org/resources/when-your-companion-animal-has-been-harmed/animal-cruelty-and-domestic-violence/

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023313003948

Merry (Belated) Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! As the celebrations and weekend come to a close, enjoy this video of Wilson trying to catch his toy 🙂

Fundraiser: Shot in the Head and Left to Die – Can You Help?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been so busy that I’ve barely posted on this blog, but I thought I’d take the time to share THIS. (Click here) Please share this page/link and help out if you can.

This is how Licia was found.

This poor dog was found wandering the streets, and after being rescued and taken to the vet, they discovered she had been shot in the head. She will soon be having a CT scan to see where all the bullet and bone fragments are in her head. Funds are being raised for this and for the potentially complicated surgery/surgeries or treatments that may be required for this. Every dollar and share counts!

Wilson Dreams (with his mouth)

I haven’t posted in a while, I’ve been on holidays! I hope everyone had a good Easter.

In this video, you have to turn your volume up, Wilson makes funny movements and sounds with his mouth! I wish I could have gotten a better camera angle, but I would’ve woken him up. Has anyone else seen funny things happen when/if your pets dream?

 

I will soon upload a post about pet obesity, which I am passionate about, and did a research project on in university.

Wilson ate a balloon!

In the beginning of this week, Wilson became the stereotypical lab (that eats anything and everything) and ate an un-inflated balloon! We missed the time period where you can still make your dog throw up, but thankfully, it passed in his poo about 2 days later. If it wasn’t disgusting, I would have taken a picture! Balloons can get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract and cause obstructions and all kinds of bad consequences. So don’t leave weird objects within reach of your pet! I certainly won’t be blowing up balloons near him again any time soon…

#throwbackthursday Puppy Plays with Sprinkler

The good old days! (although the days are still good) This was back when Wilson didn’t know how sprinklers worked. These days he waits and stares until you turn the tap to turn the sprinkler on!

Watch at 0:35 to Wilson’s response to being told off (he starts digging)

Don’t Anthropomorphise Animals

Anthropomorphism is attributing human characteristics and behaviours to animals and other non-humans. It’s so easy to do, and I’m sure I do it often with my own dog, but a study has found that using anthropomorphism in children’s books leads to less learning and influence their conceptual knowledge of animals. Using more realistic books leads to more accurate biological understanding.

Source: http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/6434/20140325/anthropomorphism-in-childrens-books-leads-to-less-factual-learning-about-animals.htm

As well as this, misinterpreting behaviours in wild animals, or even perhaps pets you don’t really know, could potentially lead to serious consequences.

Wilson the Lab Loves Grass

Wilson loves grass so much I can use it as a dog treat! Do your pets like to eat weird things?