This Is NOT Just Another Bug And They’re Showing Up Everywhere. If You See One, Do THIS…

Owning a pet is a big responsibility, and besides simply feeding or grooming it, care must be taken to make sure you’re both kept healthy when new diseases make their rounds. One of the ways that humans and animals both can find themselves in danger is from outside forces such as bugs and parasites.

Ticks and fleas are common, but a new threat, the Kissing Bug, has been making it’s way out of South America and Mexico into the southern United States, like Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. This little bug passes along a pretty serious parasitic infection to both humans and animals alike, that if left untreated can cause congestive heart failure.

Worse still, many people are unaware they – or their pets – have it until it’s gotten to an advanced stage where it’s already started attacking the heart muscles. If you’re in one of the areas where the Kissing Bug may have started showing up, a good level of due diligence is in order! To start with, most symptoms are mild and start 2 months after infection.

If you live in any of these places, look out for fever, headache, enlarged lymph glands, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, swollen abdomen, chest pain, or weakness and fatigue to name just a few. If you even suspect you’ve gotten this parasite, get these symptoms checked out fast because the next phase starts over 10 to 30 years later! This is when it moves into the heart muscles and really does some damage.

The disease is passed through the feces and urine of the bug, so there are steps you can take to keep you and your pet safe; good hygiene is a must, for you as well as your food.

Never crush or squish the bug or touch it with your bare hands, and keep your pets indoors at night since these bugs are nocturnal. Keep your eyes open for the Triatomine Bug whenever you’re outside – not all kisses are sweet!

Share away, people.

“I’m Not Leaving You, Mama!” This is What Love Looks Like.

UPDATE: Lizzie and Phantom are currently recovering in an outdoor koala ward within the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital . They’re doing swimmingly; Phantom is both gaining weight and exploring his temporary habitat. And of course, mama and baby are sharing more adorable cuddles! For most species in the animal kingdom, the bond between mother and baby is incredibly strong. That's pretty much inarguable. But last week, two koalas in Australia further proved it. After they were hit by a car, Lizzie and her joey, Phantom were welcomed into the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Six-month-old Phantom had escaped the accident unscathed. Lizzie, however, wasn’t looking so good, what with facial trauma and a collapsed lung. In order to survive, she needed to go under the surgeon’s knife. But this marsupial mama wasn’t alone during the life-saving procedure. Phantom accompanied her and clung to her as she received treatment. The vets let them be; Phantom was too y...

The Sound Of This Baby Rhino Wailing After Its Mother Was Killed By Poachers Will Haunt You

It’s one of the most sorrowful sounds you’ll ever hear, but it’s also a sad reality check for anyone who thinks protected species are safe from illegal poaching. In a video released this in July, a baby rhino named Davi cries for his mother after she was shot and killed by poachers. Most rhinos spend at least three years with their mothers before weaning, the Dodo reports, but Davi’s childhood was cut short at just 8 months old. The baby rhino stood close by his mother’s lifeless body until rescuers arrived. They fitted her with earplugs and a blindfold to calm his anxiety on the way to The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa. Source: YouTube/Terrence Daniels Davi huddles close to his mother’s dead body. It was there that Davi spent the night crying. “His calls for mom echoed deeply and urgently throughout the night, but two carers have been with him every step of the way,” caretakers posted . “At least he is in good physical condition [and] has no injuries...

Protect Our Waters: Say No To Plastic Waste!

Plastic garbage. It’s something we all see everyday. Don’t be fooled to think that these plastics are merely an eyesore. We’ve become so accustomed to using plastic utensils, straws, water bottles and bags that it’s easy to forget the impact this has on our environment and climate. My name is Tyler and I’m in my fourth year of university in Canada, where I’m earning a degree in Environmental Studies. I'm also an environmental activist. Even for someone like me, it’s hard to avoid using plastic at places like fast food restaurant, and that needs to change. I’ve started this movement to highlight calls to action happening around the world, and to grow a community of everyday citizens pressing governments and companies to get serious about cleaning up our rivers, lakes and oceans . When we work together, and keep the pressure on, we really can make an impact. I know this firsthand, after collaborating with activists across Canada to successfully urge th...

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