Fall 2021 Children's Sneak Previews

Your Dog's Diarrhea Might Be Riddled With Superbugs

Your dog's poop might be a dangerous source of bacterial superbugs. In a new study, researchers in China detail evidence that dogs experiencing diarrhea are commonly carrying multi-drug resistant strains of Escherichia coli—around 50%, in their study.

The research was led by scientists at Sichuan Agricultural University. According to lead author Zhijun Zhong, an increasing number of studies have found that dogs can be a reservoir of E. Coli superbugs, including strains resistant to more than one antibiotic. But there's been relatively little data on how common these multi-drug resistant strains are among dogs in China, particularly within the Sichuan Province, which is known for its major pet-owning population.

To get a better sense of the issue, Zhong and his team studied poop samples taken from more than 100 pet dogs that had been brought to the university's veterinary hospital and diagnosed with diarrhea. About 50% of these samples contained E coli bacteria that had resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics. And when the researchers analyzed the genetic make-up of these strains, they found that the bacteria carried a diverse arrangement of genes that promoted drug resistance and increased virulence (a microbe's ability to cause illness to their host); they also tended to belong to groups of E. Coli that commonly make people sick.

"In short, there was a high risk of antibiotic resistance causing disease in the [multi-drug resistant] E. Coli isolated from dogs with diarrhea," Zhong, a professor at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine, told Gizmodo in an email. The team's findings were published Wednesday in the journal PLOS-One.

The research only looked at dogs from a particular region of China, so the prevalence of these superbugs may differ in other parts of the world. But dogs are plenty popular globally, and studies elsewhere have suggested that companion pets often carry resistant strains of E. Coli and other bacteria that could be dangerous to humans. Even healthy-looking dogs (and cats) can harbor relevant drug-resistant bacteria, and this study can't tell us whether dogs with diarrhea are more likely to have them. But sick dogs might be more likely to have virulent strains that can cause disease in humans, Zhong notes.

There's still more work that has to be done to understand the exact risk that dog-sourced E. Coli and other bacteria pose to people, the authors say. But if nothing else, the current research should emphasize the need for safely scooping your dog's poop, especially when they're sick.

"If our findings are confirmed by further studies, they will provide a reference for the clinical use of antibiotics in pets and remind people to properly handle the feces excreted by dogs with diarrhea to prevent the spread of MDR E. Coli to the environment, humans or other animals," Zhong said.

The team next hopes to follow up on their research by studying more dogs and performing extensive genetic sequencing to better detail the superbugs that can lurk in their poop.

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Paws & Pals: Dogs Up For Adoption At Remember Me Rescue NY On June 17

In this week's Paws & Pals, Remember Me Rescue NY presented four dogs looking for their 'furever' homes.

News 12 Staff

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Jun 17, 2024, 10:13 AM

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Updated 12 days ago

Max is a small senior Maltese mix. He was abandoned at a fire house in Queens in pretty poor condition. He was matted to the bone. Max is good with kids, cats, and dogs. He still has some spunk but doesn't ask for much. He deserves to spend the rest of his life being spoiled.

Lala is about 7. She is a Yorkie / Cocker mix. Lala is smart, loving, affectionate, and playful . She has had a hard time finding a home, but sometimes the best dogs do. Lala can be grumbly with strangers, but once she knows you, she is great dog. Lala would love to be the only pet (she can be a bully but has lived and loved a senior boy in her foster home) in an adult home with a fully fenced yard. Lala is very protective of her home and person so when new people come in, it's best you leash her or put her in another room.

Charlie is a 7-year-old chunky terrier mix. He bonds quickly. He loves his toys and hanging out in the yard. He likes to sit in your lap and give you kisses. He's good with dogs. Kids 14 and up. He'd appreciate a fenced yard and lots of healthy treats.

Alma was rescued on the day she was going to be killed at ACC in Manhattan. Alma's previous owner tied her to a fence and kicked her repeatedly in the face. You would never know it though because she holds no grudges. While at the shelter, Alma got pneumonia. She was on antibiotics for months. Unfortunately, it caused a lot of damage to her lungs and we could not spay her or remove some pretty big mammary masses without risk of her dying on the table. Alma is hospice for several reasons, she also has cancer in her paw. Alma is one of the most loving dogs you will meet. She has a zest for life and deserves to have a great life. Alma is approximately 9 years old. She needs to be an only dog. She is on allergy medications.

RHOC's Shannon Beador Says Dog Archie 'Will Be OK' After Being Attacked And Bitten By Another Dog

Shannon Beador's dog, Archie, was attacked by another pup during a recent outing.

"Archie was bit by another dog when we went on a walk today," the Real Housewives of Orange County star, 60, captioned Instagram pics of Archie and his injured nose on Monday, June 10. "The dog was enclosed in his front patio, but started to bark and stuck his face out to bite Archie through the slats in the fence."

Beador noted that the attack "happened within seconds" and that she "tried to pull Archie away" from the other dog. "The owner said that maybe I walked too close to his fence 😡," she added. "Archie has never been in a dog fight in all of his 8 years!!"

Beador concluded her post by offering a "word of advice to people walking their dogs in Corona del Mar [California]." She wrote, "Some dogs can attack yours through their own fence. Archie has been checked by the vet and is on antibiotics for the wounds. He will be ok. Love him beyond!!! 🥰🥰🥰."

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The post featured snaps of Archie lying on the floor with a bloody snout. Beador zoomed in on her dog's nose to show the scratches and cuts Archie sustained during the incident. Fans flooded the post's comments with well-wishes for Archie as recovers from the attack.

Beador adopted her sweet pup in 2016 after a fan tweeted her a photo of Archie asking if her family was looking to adopt a dog. "He was raised in San Francisco at the Four Seasons hotel because they have residences up there. And the people worked, so the dog was home alone all the time. But yeah, he's been raised fancy," she recalled in a 2019 Bravo video. "He's so much fun and so protective. He has these little sweet quirks, and we're all in love."

Archie made headlines with Beador last year after she was arrested for a hit-and-run accident and driving under the influence. The reality TV star drove onto a residential property and hit a house in September 2023, after which she got out of the car with Archie and pretended to be walking him as police arrived on the scene.

Animal control became involved with the investigation into the incident as Archie was in the car while Beador was driving while intoxicated. "We are looking into if there were any issues or cruelty related to her dog," Steve Oberon of the Newport Beach Police Department told Us Weekly in September 2023. "There are no animal endangerment laws, but there are animal cruelty laws and we are looking at it." (The animal control investigation was reportedly dropped one month later.)

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Beador was ultimately charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of a hit-and-run with property damage. She was sentenced to three years probation and required to pay multiple fines and complete a nine-month alcohol program and 40 hours of community service.

Shannon Beador with dog Archie. Courtesy of Shannon Beador/Instagram

"I am grateful that no one else was injured besides me in this incident," Beador said in a statement to Us after her sentencing. "I have learned so much from my terrible mistake that night and realize that driving any distance while impaired is too far."

Beador returned to RHOC season 18 filming in January. The trailer for the new season, which premieres on July 11, revealed that Beador's DUI will be a hot topic of conversation among the cast.

"Shannon is not taking responsibility for what she did," Tamra Judge stated in the teaser. In another clip, Beador was seen firing back at Judge, 56, stating, "I need to stop what? Uncovering your bulls—t."

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