Bird Flu resurfaces. Vietnam reported 5 deaths from the deadly Avian bird flu. After remaining somewhat dormant with no new cases reported for a year and a half, 5 deaths are reported.

Four of the cases were in the North, once was from central Vietnam. The total deaths in the country are registered at 44 from the disease. Worldwide, 191 people have been killed by the virus according to the WHO.

Apparently, the virus resurfaced in 18 provinces forcing the slaughter of 200,000 birds. The government bought 200 million doses of the vaccine medication. The big fear is if it mutates into a for that spreads rapidly.

The poison melamine is found in pet foods and has been fed to fish and farm animals according to news sources. Melamine and it’s compounds hold food stuff together. That’s all it does. It’s a cheap sort of glue.

Because of the large number of brands affected, vet offices are unable to respond to all pet owners seeking recall information. Check Web sites to confirm the safety of their pet's food.
About the pet food recall: The food manufacturer's site, listing all recalled brands and lot numbers, is www.menufoods.com/recall

To prevent heartworm infection in your pet, the American Heartworm Society encourages the use of monthly medication year-round.

How far can they swim and for how long can they hold their breath?

Polar bears can swim steadily for many hours in order to get from one piece of ice to another. They have water-repellent coat and partially webbed feet, which both are adaptations to swimming. Although known individual bears have only been recorded swimming about 100 km (1km = .621 miles) or so, they are likely capable of swimming much further if necessary. However, this kind of effort is very expensive in terms of energy, so swimming such long distances is likely not done frequently. The longest a polar bear in the wild has been timed holding its breath while diving is 72 seconds. 

according to  http://pbsg.npolar.no/pb_faq.htm

Others say polar bears can swim hundreds of miles if they want to. They kinda just float and paddle as they see fit. They politicos use a polar bear hopelessly stuck on polar ice poster to suck you into their brand of emotional group think.

Research at the University of Belfast said that dog owners are physically more healthier than cat owners. Dog owners they found have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels that most likely comes from walking their dogs.

Dog obesity appears to be increasing along with their masters over eating habits. Portly dogs are now able to get prescription diet pill to fight obesity. Since pets seem to mimic their owners, the obesity epidemic has spread to the 4-footed creatures as well.