Pup's Surgery Could Help Humans

Raleigh — North Carolina State University veterinarians hope that a high-tech surgery on a little dog could revolutionize treatment for other pets and humans.
Pez, a beagle with a big, toothy grin and plenty of energy, arrived at N.C. State's School of Veterinary Medicine, in September with a big problem: a large hole in the roof of his mouth that made it hard to eat or and drink.
N.C. State's School of Engineering teamed up with the veterinarians to create a titanium plate to cover Pez's hole.
"This was a new case for us," Dr. Ola Harrysson, with N.C. State's School of Engineering, said. "This was something that we hadn't done before."
Engineering students used computed tomography scans to create three-dimensional computer images, and then physical models, of Pez's head.
Veterinarians used the models to practice the surgery, tweaking the methods to ensure a perfect fit before Pez reached the operating table.
"When you can rehearse a surgery, then you have less complication," Dr. Guillaume Chanoit, with N.C. State's School of Veterinary Medicine, said.
Pez rebounded well from the surgery, becoming again playful, happy and healthy, Chanoit said. Pez, whom Sound Pet Animal Rescue found, was living with a foster family while he recovered.
"We are very, very surprised by how fast the healing in the mouth is going on," Chanoit said.
Doctors believe that the pint-sized pup's successful recovery from the cutting-edge surgery could have a big impact on the treatment of animals. N.C. State's School of Veterinary Medicine has already lined up new patients for similar operations, veterinarians said.
"We think there is a tremendous amount of dogs that can benefit from that type of surgery," Chanoit said.
Professors with N.C. State's School of Engineering believe the impact of the surgery might also be felt by humans, such as troops wounded in Iraq.
"This gives us confidence to move on and offer this to humans as well," Harrysson said.
The engineering and veterinary schools at N.C. State have teamed up on other projects, including creating prosthetic limbs.

Urban coyotes on the prowl

Don't let the high lonesome howl of a coyote in the middle of Boston unnerve you. January and February are active times for the area's populations.
"It is not uncommon for coyotes to pass through urban areas, including areas of Boston and Cambridge," said Lisa Capone, spokeswoman for the state's office of energy and environmental affairs. In fact, the state's 10,000 coyotes have been spotted in every city and town in Massachusetts except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket over the years.
But Mark McCabe, director of animal control in Cambridge said that their numbers are on the rise, at least in his 20 years on the job.
"When I first started, coyotes weren't seen," he said.
Years of development have eaten away at coyote habitat, and years of adapting have made coyotes accustomed to the bustle of city life. In Cambridge, they like to lay low in the Cambridge Cemetery during the day and have been spotted near Antrim Street, Wendell Street and the Third Street areas so far this year.
This time of year is especially active because juvenile coyotes are leaving the pack for the first time, and all coyotes are about to breed, said Tom O'Shea, assistant director of wildlife for the Massachusetts division of fisheries and wildlife.

Spotlight On ... Alicia

First-year dancer Alicia said she could survive on her own in the wilderness (with a cell phone), talked about her various pets and about playing Oscar and Rosita on the Sesame Street Live Tour.MT: First of all, give us a bit of background info.Alicia: I was born in Coon Rapids, and lived there for a little while. Then I moved to Minneapolis and went to a Catholic school there ... So I'm a Catholic school girl. Then I moved to Blaine where I am right now and went to Centennial High School. Now I'm going to college.MT: There we have it. You said your favorite person in the world is your best friend Christine.Alicia: She is. Christine and I have been best friends, since, oh gosh, maybe fifth grade? We've danced together our whole lives. I've from Shoreview and she's from Blaine, so it's maybe five minutes away. Christine is the best. I love her.MT: You're a big nature person, listing fishing and camping as two of your favorite things. How long could you survive in the wilderness without and help or supplies? Alicia: As long as I had my cell phone, I'd be good. I need my cell phone.MT: You can't have your cell phone. That defeats the purpose.Alicia: True. I guess I'd be OK. I could eat the berries and plants. I don't hunt ... I'd fish, but no hunting.MT: What would you do if a Grizzly bear were chilling at your campsite while you were in your tent?Alicia: I'd probably start crying. Definitely hide and be quiet. But if I had my cell phone, I could call somebody...MT: Touché. You're studying to be a veterinary technician. What do you have against animals?Alicia: I started off going to school to be a nurse and then I decided I didn't want to do that. But I've always loved animals - they don't talk back. I decided to go to school, and one opened up right by my house, and they had veterinary technician there. I don't want to call it an animal nurse, but that's pretty much what we are, assisting the veterinarian.MT: Let's hear more about your pets.Alicia: I have three dogs, a cat, and a fish. I have two goldens: Sadie, the mom and Maggie, her daughter. Then I have a Yorkie Poodle, that's Zoey. It's a Yorkshire Terrier (mixed with) a poodle. She's tiny. Really little. Then I have a rag doll cat named Frankie. She's pure white, and supposed to just lie in your arms, but she's a brat.MT: Any of them fight each other?Alicia: Yeah. My cat and my Yorkie Poodle fight all the time. They chase each other around ... it's funny. The cat will bite the dog and the dog will run back ... it's really funny.MT: Changing over to entertainment news: On January 22, actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment in New York City. What was your reaction?Alicia: That was so sad. My mom just came in the room and told me and at first I was thinking, "Who's that?" She said, "10 Things I Hate About You," and I remembered. Oh, my god.MT: Real sad. Apparently, the Batman movie set to come out this summer, in which he played the Joker, is supposed to be terrific. Any other movies you're excited to see?Alicia: Yes, "Strange Wilderness" with the fat kid (Jonah Hill) from Superbad. It looks super funny. It's just them videotaping in the wilderness. There are so many good actors in that. I'm excited to see that. MT: What's been the best part of being a Timberwolves Dancer this year?Alicia: Dancing in front of thousands of people. That's the best thing.MT: Fair enough. It took us a while to get dancer Kristi to admit any pet peeves. Do you have any for us?Alicia: Bad drivers. I mean, I'm probably a bad driver too, but that's about it.MT: You used to dance with the "Sesame Street Live" tour. Is there a sought after character to play? Alicia: They just assigned us randomly. I was Rosita and Grover. I liked them both, and I got to speak Spanish with Rosita. It's a show for little kids where everyone dressed up as Sesame Street characters and we'd use a thing in our hand that we squeezed to opened our mouth up.MT: Why is Elmo so cool, anyway? Oscar, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Grover all used to be much cooler.Alicia: Maybe because he's so cute. But I didn't get jealous.MT: You also danced on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Not a bad gig?Alicia: It was great. I auditioned one day and they called a couple weeks later and asked me to come. It was more like I was on vacation and not like I was working. It was just dancing on vacation. Really fun.