Supreme Court Hears Social Media Censorship Case (The Twitter Files Goes to Court)

Sometimes it pays off to have a second look at something even over 100 years later. The fossil remains of a marine reptile that lived 247 million years ago have been re-examined 106 years after it was first described. The researchers have concluded that this means Trachelosaurus fischeri is the world's oldest long-necked marine reptile. Trachelosaurus fischeri was first discovered back in 1918 in the layers of Buntsandstein sandstone in Bernburg an der Saale‚ Germany. At the time there was some degree of confusion and controversy about what kind of animal this fossil represented. This is because the fossil is something of a mess with remains scattered across the rock in which it was preserved and not arranged in an anatomically organized way. Originally‚ Trachelosaurus fischeri was thought to be a reptile of 150-170 centimeters (4.9-5.5 feet) long with a small head and very long neck with around 21 vertebrates‚ short limbs‚ and a moderately long tail‚ the team write in their paper. However‚ other researchers came to look at the fossil and several revisions and changes to the classification of T. fishceri have been made over the years. Some suggested that the fossil was a protorosaur that fitted into the Squamata order‚ while others thought that T. fischeri should be assigned to its own family the Trachelosauridae. The fossil has always been something of a mystery with various researchers unsure which other specimens it was closely related to. Comparison of Trachelosaurus fischeri with other marine reptile tanysaurians.Image Credit: Image Credit: Spiekman et al.‚ Swiss Journal of Palaeontology‚ 2024 (CC BY 4.0)"Trachelosaurus fischeri is the first fossil of this reptile group to be found outside of China. It is also the oldest long-necked marine reptile known to date‚" Dr Stephan Spiekman‚ an expert on this group of animals at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart‚ said in a translated statement.Since the discovery of Trachelosaurus fischeri‚ many more fossils of similar looking marine reptiles have been found‚ however‚ most of these are known from Chinese deposits. By looking closely at these fossils‚ the team came up with criteria that group T. fischeri and other Chinese fossils‚ most notably the fully marine reptile Dinocephalosaurus orientalis‚ creating a clade to classify them called Tanysauria. "Through research on Chinese fossils of the long-necked marine reptile Dinocephalosaurus‚ which I published with colleagues just a few weeks ago‚ we were able to solve the mystery of Trachelosaurus fischeri. The anatomy shows us that it is closely related to Dinocephalosaurus‚" continued Dr Spiekman.At the beginning of the Triassic period‚ there was a large increase of new reptile species both in the seas and walking on land after the extinction event approximately 252 million years ago. The team think the marine reptile was washed into shallow waters as tetrapod footprints can also be seen on some of the seven slabs that make up the fossil.The authors emphasize the use of museum collections in the understanding of this fossil and how valuable they are as resources to better understand the fossils that have been discovered in years past.The paper is published in the Swiss Journal of Palaeontology.

Rinsing out your sinuses can be part of ritual ablution‚ and might also be useful when you have a blocked nose. However‚ a new study has illustrated the importance of using sterile liquids to do so‚ as people using unsterilized tap water can become ill with a rare type of amoeba infection.Amoeba species like Naegleria fowleri and those in the genus Acanthamoeba are surprisingly prevalent in the environment‚ found in soil and many sources of water‚ including from the tap. This can make pinpointing the source of an amoeba infection difficult‚ and thus‚ how best to try and prevent them – something that’s pretty important considering how dangerous they can be.However‚ researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) think that bringing awareness to safe nasal rinsing could make a suitable target. According to a 2023 study looking at the US population‚ of 1‚004 respondents to a survey‚ 62 percent thought that tap water is safe for nasal rinsing – despite it not being sterile. Examining 10 patients infected with rare nonkeratitis Acanthamoeba infections – which are fatal 82 percent of the time – the team found that all had performed nasal rinsing prior to infection‚ and at least half had used tap water.Though they couldn’t say definitively that nasal rinsing was the cause of the infections‚ they suggest that the amoeba may well have been transmitted by it. As a result‚ the researchers called for increased awareness of carrying out safe nasal rinsing‚ particularly for people with compromised immune systems – all 10 infected patients were immunocompromised.The US has also seen infections with Naegleria fowleri‚ also known as the “brain-eating amoeba”. Described as primary amebic meningoencephalitis or PAM‚ the amoeba doesn’t technically “eat” the brain‚ but it does destroy brain tissue‚ causing initial symptoms similar to bacterial meningitis. N. fowleri infections are rare – only 29 cases were reported in the US between 2013 to 2022 – but the death rate for the disease is over 97 percent. Again‚ safe nasal rinsing might become a good target; it’s suspected that a Florida man who died last year after infection with the amoeba had been clearing out his sinuses using unsterilized tap water.So how do you make nasal rinsing safer?According to the CDC‚ “it is safest to use boiled‚ sterile‚ or filtered water. If that is not possible‚ disinfect the water using chlorine; the cloudiness of the water can affect the ability to disinfect the water.”The study is published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Shirts designed for men and women button on different sides‚ with men's buttons appearing on the right hand side and women's buttons on the left.This is a bit odd given that humans are predominantly right-handed‚ and women a touch more likely to be right-handed than men. So how have we ended up in a situation where nearly half the population has to button up their shirt using their non-dominant hand?The answer appears to be as old as shirt buttons themselves. One oft-repeated theory is that men had their buttons on the right-hand side just in case they got themselves caught up in a sword fight‚ as is so often the case in modern times."A gentleman's sword was always worn on the left side‚ so that it could be drawn with the right hand‚" Paul Keers‚ author of A Gentleman's Wardrobe‚ explained to The Guardian. "If a jacket buttoned right over left‚ the handle of the sword would be likely to catch in the jacket opening when drawn‚ so any serious swordsman would demand a tunic which buttoned left over right. As an indication of a masculine lifestyle‚ this tradition was then extended to other items of menswear."This could explain why men's buttons are on the right‚ but why make the effort to have them on the other side for women? While it would be nice to provide a definitive answer‚ there are a number of theories why the difference emerged‚ and remained as standard practice.One theory‚ supported by several historians‚ is that buttons were placed on the opposite side on women's clothing to make it easier for somebody else to dress them."When buttons were invented in the 13th century they were‚ like most new technology‚ very expensive‚” Melanie M. Moore‚ founder of women’s blouse brand Elizabeth &; Clarke‚ told Today. “Wealthy women back then did not dress themselves – their lady’s maid did. Since most people were right-handed‚ this made it easier for someone standing across from you to button your dress.”This likely developed into a sign of wealth‚ having buttons on the wrong side to show you're far too rich to dress yourself. Another theory is that women's shirts button on that side as wealthy women tended to ride horses sidesaddle‚ and having buttons the opposite way stopped cold air from getting inside their shirts.It's unclear why this tradition remained‚ as men stopped feeling the need to be prepared for swordplay at all times‚ and the wealthy stopped riding sidesaddle and (presumably) began to dress themselves. There are a number of possibilities though‚ including manufacturing processes.“In the 19th century buttons were incorporated more in everyday women’s clothing due to advances in sewing technology‚” Natalie Hicks‚ a designer at Our Visn‚ told Huffington Post. “The difference in placement between menswear and womenswear is essentially a holdover from the 13th century that has never been corrected. Designers are creating new looks [based] on old patterns.”It could be‚ though‚ partly to do with evading the actual fashion police.“In the 1880s‚ it was fashionable for women’s clothing to look more traditionally masculine‚" fashion historian Chloe Chapin told Today. "However‚ it was illegal in many places to be dressed like a man in public‚ so perhaps having a difference in buttoning confirmed that you were wearing a female dress.”[H/T: Huffington Post]

Marine biologists are trying to make sense of a set of 49 killer whales whose physical characteristics are a mix of those normally associated with separate populations. They have been seen attacking sperm whales‚ a northern elephant seal‚ and a turtle‚ while also carrying the marks of frequent duels with sharks. There’s a reason Orcinus orca have been lumped with the popular name they have – but it looks like even among killer whales‚ this group is fearless.“The open ocean is the largest habitat on our planet and observations of killer whales in the high seas are rare‚” said first author of the new study on the population‚ University of British Columbia masters student Josh McInnes‚ in a statement. Consequently‚ McInnes and colleagues were intrigued by reports of the whales well off the coast of California and Oregon. That interest grew the more information they found on them.Orcas are distinguished by the fact that different populations have highly varied diets and behaviors. Some live on fish‚ but others go for bigger (but rarer) marine mammal prey. Off America’s west coast‚ some are considered "residents"‚ sticking to the same territory‚ while others are classified as “transients” or “offshores”.Although the population in question has been seen since 1997‚ encounters with humans – at least that have been reported – have been rare. McInnes and co-authors have put together nine reports that appear to be of the same group. These come from fishers and whale-watching tourists as well as researchers‚ made between 15 and 370 kilometers (10-220 miles) offshore.Orcas that live closer to shore get seen often enough to become very familiar. Without such reports‚ McInnes and coauthors needed to be sure that reports over that time related to the same population. They were surprised to find traits normally associated with different population types together in the one group.“While the sizes and shapes of the dorsal fins and saddle patches are similar to transient and offshore ecotypes‚ the shape of their fins varied‚ from pointed like transients to rounded like offshore killer whales‚” said McInnes. “Their saddle patch patterns also differed‚ with some having large uniformly gray saddle patches and others having smooth narrow saddle patches similar to those seen in killer whales in tropical regions.”A comparison of known killer whale lifestyles and the newly described population.Image Credit: University of British ColumbiaIf such a mixed population was found among humans‚ one might conclude they were outcasts from different societies‚ coming together as outlaws to make the badlands their own. Too much anthropomorphizing can be dangerous‚ but observations suggest something similar. McInnes stressed to IFLScience this is not a new species‚ as some media outlets have reported.“In one of the first encounters researchers had with a pod of these oceanic killer whales‚ they were observed taking on a herd of nine adult female sperm whales‚ eventually making off with one. It is the first time killer whales have been reported to attack sperm whales on the west coast‚” McInnes said. “Other encounters include an attack on a pygmy sperm whale‚ predation on a northern elephant seal and Risso’s dolphin‚ and what appeared to be a post-meal lull after scavenging a leatherback turtle.”Taking on larger whales such as humpbacks can be dangerous enough for orcas‚ but sperm whales are likely to be tougher again. There’s a reason Moby Dick was not written about a blue whale – sperm whales are not as big as some of their baleen counterparts‚ but they’re much fiercer. It was sperm whales that may have worked out how to fight back against whalers‚ and shared the information around.Nevertheless‚ it is clear from the reports that it was the orcas who had the upper flipper."The sperm whales were in a rosette formation‚" the authors write. "Small concentrated groups of four to five killer whales randomly targeted and attacked individual sperm whales in the rosette [...] rushing in and lunging at the sperm whales or striking them from below. Fresh blood and an oil slick of animal fat could be seen at the surface following each attack. Multiple sperm whales had extensive injuries [...] One of the sperm whales was killed and dragged away from the rosette with several killer whales seen feeding on the carcass. The remaining sperm whales were believed to all have been seriously or mortally injured." On the other hand‚ five days later‚ an attack was foiled – additional sperm whales arrived to relieve a vulnerable group‚ and the orcas retreated.Nevertheless‚ these killer whales are not the only tough guys in the sea. All but three of the 49 carry the marks of bites from cookiecutter sharks. Since cookiecutters favor tropical waters‚ the frequency of the bites indicates that the orcas probably spend a lot of time in deep waters further south.Maybe they should team up with Starboard‚ the orca recently seen consuming a great white on its own‚ although there is the small matter of an ocean and continent between them.“We hypothesize that these killer whales may represent a distinct oceanic subpopulation of transient killer whales or an undescribed oceanic population that feeds on marine mammals and sea turtles in the open ocean beyond the continental shelf break‚” McInnes and co-authors write.Hopefully further observations will reveal more.The study is published in the journal Aquatic Mammals.

A treasure chest of unique biodiversity has been discovered along the strip of mountains that runs from northern Mozambique to Malawi’s Mount Mulanje in southeast Africa. Unfortunately‚ the area suffers some of the highest deforestation rates in Africa‚ leaving this rich array of wonderful wildlife with an uncertain future. The plethora of life was recently documented by an international team of scientists in the South East Africa Montane Archipelago (SEAMA). An "archipelago" typically refers to a cluster of islands‚ but this name has an altogether different meaning.High up in the mountains‚ there are around 30 fragmented pockets of grasslands and evergreen forests that have remained relatively cut off from each other. These isolated "sky islands" provide the perfect setting to harbor unique collections of wildlife.An international team of scientists has been closely researching this exceptional region for decades and recently collated their work in a new study. A newly discovered freshwater crab from Mount Namuli.Image courtesy of Julian BaylissAs per their findings‚ the region is home to over 200 species that can not be found anywhere else on Earth‚ including 90 species of amphibians‚ reptiles‚ birds‚ mammals‚ butterflies‚ and freshwater crabs‚ plus 127 plant species.Among the strictly endemic species – meaning they are unique to the area – there were three species of birds‚ six freshwater crabs‚ four mammals‚ 11 amphibians‚ 22 reptiles‚ and 39 butterflies. Some of these species have never been identified by scientists before and can be considered new species.Off the back of these discoveries‚ the team believes this unique area needs to be recognized as a new ecoregion to receive the protection it deserves. “Ecological regions (ecoregions) are widely used to inform global conservation priorities. They define large expanses of land or water‚ characterised by geographically distinct assemblages of animals and plants. New ecoregion definitions are rare‚ and typically follow many years of research across a range of scientific disciplines‚” Professor Julian Bayliss‚ lead study author from Oxford Brookes University and National Network for Community Management of Natural Resources in Mozambique‚ said in a statement. An endemic species of bird living in the South East Africa Montane Archipelago.Image courtesy of Julian Bayliss“It took decades of international collaboration to gather sufficient evidence to define the ecoregion. We documented hundreds of previously undescribed species‚ and researched the geology‚ climate‚ and genetic history of the ecosystems‚ to piece together what makes these mountains so unique. This new ecoregion will create an important platform from which to develop regional conservation initiatives‚” explained Bayliss.The SEAMA owes its unique biodiversity to its abundance of mountains that were formed hundreds of millions of years ago. On top of hosting heaps of mountainous grasslands‚ the region has the largest and the smallest mid-elevation rainforests in southern Africa: Mount Mabu and Mount Lico‚ respectively. A bush viper found on Mount Mabu.Image courtesy of William Roy Branch“The ecoregion is fragmented across small isolated pockets of rainforest‚ montane grasslands‚ and shrublands‚ each with their own unique‚ but distantly related‚ plants and animals. There is so much more to discover‚ but many of these species may go extinct before we can record them‚” explained Dr Harith Farooq‚ a biologist from the University of Lúrio in Mozambique and co-author of the study.It’s a region that’s facing massive change‚ however. Since 2000‚ the SEAMA has lost 18 percent of its humid forest cover on average – and that figure is as high as 43 percent in certain parts of the region.Most of the region's small mammals‚ birds‚ reptiles‚ and amphibians are dependent on the rich forest‚ underscoring the urgent need for better conservation efforts in the area. The Mabu leaf-nosed bat.Image courtesy of Ara Monadjem“Our study highlights the need to protect this unique‚ rather understudied‚ ecoregion‚” commented Dr Gabriela Bittencourt‚ a co-author‚ and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Natural History Museum in London. "Encouraging conservation of the South East Africa Montane Archipelago is paramount as it's clear we've only begun to scratch the surface of what we can learn about this diverse region as well as consider how these learnings can be applied to global biodiversity conservation efforts.”The new study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

If you’ve got half a million dollars to splash on a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience‚ then you may want to consider eating at the world’s highest table. Carried to the very limit of Earth’s atmosphere by a high-altitude balloon‚ the stratospheric eatery is the work of New York-based SpaceVIP and Florida-based Space Perspective‚ which has been described as “the world's first carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company.”The newly-launched experience will see six guests join Michelin-starred Chef Rasmus Munk from renowned Copenhagen restaurant Alchemist for a unique six-hour sitting‚ all for the price of $495‚000. Taking off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida‚ diners will rise above the clouds aboard the Spaceship Neptune‚ where they will enjoy a multi-course meal before slowly descending  and landing in the ocean.“Featuring a pressurized capsule lifted gently by a SpaceBalloonâ„¢ – not a rocket – the spacecraft will take Explorers and ascend 100‚000 feet [30‚500 meters] above sea level where they will dine as they watch the sunrise over the Earth's curvature‚” SpaceVIP said in a statement. “With no rockets‚ weightlessness‚ heavy g-forces‚ or training required‚ the experience is designed to be as gentle on Explorers as it is on the Earth‚” the company adds.To ascend‚ the space balloon will be filled with hydrogen gas‚ which is lighter than air. When fully inflated‚ the giant balloon has a height of 200 meters (650 feet). According to the company‚ the descent will involve the release of a “tiny amount of gas that turns into water‚ so the vehicle is technically near-zero emissions.”The Spaceship Neptune is described as "near-zero emissions". Image credit: Space VIPAs for the food‚ the precise menu has not yet been shared‚ but apparently will include “dishes inspired by the role of space exploration during the last 60 years of human history.” Based on “Holistic Cuisine”‚ these recipes “will inspire thought and discussion on the role of humanity in protecting our planet‚ challenging the diner to reexamine our relationship with Earth and those who inhabit it.”Having faced criticism for the extravagance of this exclusive endeavor‚ the company has defended the idea by claiming that experiences such as this can enhance “space literacy”‚ which it says can help us to collectively meet the existential challenges faced by our species. “Private sector participation in the space industry is accelerating space-based innovation and giving us a chance to tackle the critical social‚ economic‚ and environmental challenges facing our planet‚” insists SpaceVIP.Moreover‚ it claims that “seeing our planet from the edge of space has the power to create a cognitive shift and inspire a greater appreciation for Earth and a deep connection to humanity as a whole.”“We’re aware that it’s an expensive first journey. But this is after all the first launch with these food experiences on board‚” Munk told Bloomberg.Perhaps most importantly of all‚ though‚ the dining ship does have a “proper restroom”‚ known as the Space Spa.

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are dramatic releases of energy and plasma from the Sun. When they are directed at Earth‚ they can affect radio communications‚ harm satellites‚ and create spectacular aurorae. But Earth is not the only target that can be affected by these events. The other objects in the solar system are fair game and it appears that Mercury might have been hit by one earlier this month.On March 9‚ the Sun released a lot of energy and plasma. NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) did not see exactly what went off‚ as whatever was happening did so on the far side‚ beyond the area that we can see – but what was visible was a massive filament stretching beyond the limb of the Sun.SOHO view of the coronal mass ejection.Image credit: LASCO/NRL SOHO team/NASA/ESAIf NASA's STEREO Behind mission was still in operation‚ it might have spotted it‚ but only its twin STEREO Ahead is working; their names come from the position in the orbit of the Earth‚ either ahead or behind. The coronal mass ejection was big enough that hiding behind the Sun wasn’t enough to stay hidden. The joint European and NASA mission‚ the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)‚ also saw the dramatic release of plasma‚ and in that direction was Mercury.Mercury is currently moving towards its furthest apparent distance from the Sun‚ which will happen this Sunday. But from a top view of the solar system‚ we would see the smallest and closest planets to the side of the Sun where that release of plasma was launched.SDO view of the same event happening on the far side of the Sun.Image credit: NASA/SDO/AIAThe effects on Mercury‚ as suggested by Spaceweather.com‚ are speculative. Currently‚ there is not a probe around the planet to confirm what happened – but soon there will be two. The European-Japanese mission BepiColombo will arrive at the planet in December‚ splitting into two orbiters.The mission has been using Mercury’s gravity to slow down and so it has passed near the planet several times already. During those flybys‚ observations revealed that Mercury experiences X-ray aurorae. Plasma from the solar wind is trapped by the weak magnetic field of the planet (one percent of Earth’s own) and sent slamming into the rocks below. This process makes the rock fluoresce in X-rays.If the probe Mio was already around the planet‚ it could be seeing something intriguing following that coronal mass ejection. Although the solar maximum – the point of maximum activity for the Sun – is expected to be reached before December‚ the Sun will continue to be active for a while longer‚ so such an opportunity might present itself again soon.

This is absolutely not surprising. A study conducted by psychological researchers in Finland and published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology suggests that individuals who have a commitment to wokeness have poorer mental health and overall happiness levels. I guess believing and living in a delusion isn’t all that the left makes it out to be. The study surveyed 5‚000 adult participants in Finland and found that those who are “woke” are more depressed‚ have more anxiety and lack happiness. As reported‚ “Being more anxious and depressed and less happy was more pronounced in” those who consider social justice to be a huge issue. “I had been paying attention to a development in American universities‚ where a new discourse on social justice became prevalent in the 2010s‚” study author Oskari Lahtinen said‚ hence her desire to investigate.  The study identified seven truisms of woke people: “If white people have on average a higher level of income than black people‚ it is because of racism.” “University reading lists should include fewer white or European authors.” “Microaggressions should be challenged often and actively.” “Trans* women who compete with women in sports are not helping women’s rights.” (reverse scored) “We don’t need to talk more about the color of people’s skin.” “A white person cannot understand how a black person feels equally well as another black person.” “A member of a privileged group can adopt features or cultural elements of a less privileged group.” (reverse scored) Those that agreed with the scale had a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. As New York Post summarized‚ “More broadly‚ they found that those who identified as left-wing were most likely to report lower mental well-being.” The study noted that these attitudes are way more common in American society but have slowly been adopted by other geographical areas and countries. Lahtinen suggested that U.S. researchers conduct a similar study to see how their results compare. Related: George Mason Prof Claims Marriage Promotes 'White Supremacy'  “I encourage colleagues in the United States to study the prevalence of these attitudes in the country where they originate from‚” Lahtinen said. It makes total sense that those who put their identity in worldly things‚ like the left does‚ are unhappy. They’re putting their worth in something that is artificial rather than something‚ or someone (Hint: GOD)!  No wonder why they’re miserable. Follow us on Twitter/X: Woke of The Weak: The Left Celebrates International Women's Day With Dylan Mulvaney The trans community always manages to make everything about themselves. pic.twitter.com/OxnDgIggPC — MRCTV (@mrctv) March 12‚ 2024

Click to Skip Ahead How Often Should I Weigh My Dog?  Tips for Weighing Your Dog How to Weigh a Small Dog or Puppy at Home How to Weigh a Large Dog at Home What If My Dog Doesn’t Like Being Weighed?  Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Weight Unfortunately‚ canine obesity is a prevalent problem that can be avoided. Therefore‚ as dog owners‚ we must monitor our dog’s weight and overall health. Getting your dog to hop on the scale to be weighed is one of the best ways to determine whether they are overweight or underweight. While some dogs may not object to the process‚ especially if rewarded with a treat‚ others may not enjoy it or struggle to sit still. If you need to monitor your dog’s weight at home‚ we have a step-by-step guide to help you. How Often Should I Weigh My Dog?  Most veterinarians suggest that dogs should be weighed at least once a year‚ but weighing them every 6 months is ideal for dogs with no health concerns. Sometimes‚ your dog may need to be weighed more frequently‚ depending on their health conditions and age. Frequent weight checks may be necessary for chronic illnesses‚ especially those that affect appetite or water intake‚ such as diabetes or cancer. Puppies must be weighed more often‚ at least every 3–4 weeks‚ for the first 6 months of their life. Image Credit: Anne Richard‚ Shutterstock Tips for Weighing Your Dog Although weighing your dog at the vet’s office is more accurate‚ you can keep track of their development by weighing them at home. Here are some tips for weighing your dog at home: Try to use the same scale every time you weigh your dog. If you use a different scale‚ their differences may mislead you to believe that your pet has gained or lost weight. Weigh your dog every day at the same time‚ ideally when they have an empty stomach and have been to the bathroom. Weigh your dog on a level surface‚ preferably a bathroom or kitchen floor‚ since carpeting can affect the accuracy of the scales. How to Weigh a Small Dog or Puppy at Home Here is how you can weigh a small dog at home step by step: If you can easily pick your dog up‚ you can use a bathroom scale. Pick your dog up and hold them firmly so they don’t wiggle or attempt to jump. Once you have your dog in your arms and they’re calm‚ step onto the scale. Look down at the final number on the scale screen and write it down. This number is the weight of you and your dog. Now‚ let your dog go and stand on the scale on your own. Record the number on the scale. Take the first number you recorded‚ which included your dog‚ and subtract your weight. The answer will be your dog’s weight‚ which you can now compare to the breed’s ideal weight. This can vary though so ask your vet to determine the ideal weight for your individual dog. Image Credit: Adam Hoglund‚ Shutterstock How to Weigh a Large Dog at Home Large dogs are too heavy to pick up‚ but you can still weigh your large dog at home with a scale by placing a platform over the scale. You can use a large cardboard box or a large piece of wood or plastic. Ensure the scale supports the platform and you can read the weight on the display screen. Lure your dog onto the scale platform and get them to sit. You can use a treat and the “sit” command. Read the weight on the scale and offer your dog a treat for their cooperative behavior. Now‚ weigh the platform independently to determine its weight. Subtract the weight of the platform from the total weight of your dog on the platform. What If My Dog Doesn’t Like Being Weighed?  Many dogs don’t enjoy being on the scale or even being held‚ which can make the process difficult. While it’s best to begin weighing your dog often while they’re still a puppy and positively reinforce the process with praise and treats‚ your dog may be older and not used to the scale or has possibly had a bad experience with one. Clicker Training Regardless of your dog’s age‚ clicker training can help your dog become used to being weighed without stress. Click and give your dog a treat each time they sniff the scale. Do the same every time your dog places a foot on the scale‚ and work your way toward getting your dog to sit on it. Image Credit: Dora Zett‚ Shutterstock Veterinarian’s Scale The best and most effective solution is to take your dog to the veterinarian’s office since they have large scales that are big enough for all breeds. Your vet can also provide you with all the information you need to maintain your dog’s ideal weight. Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Weight for Your Dog Your dog’s weight can significantly affect their health‚ so it’s important to ensure you are taking the necessary steps to maintain your dog’s ideal weight. The best approach to keep your pet at a healthy weight is to follow a dietary plan recommended by your veterinarian. Do research on your dog’s breed and talk to your vet to understand their appropriate dietary and exercise needs. Try to follow a schedule by feeding your dog at the same time every day. Avoid feeding your dog too many table scraps. As hard as it is‚ try not to give in to begging! Make sure there is no leftover food from other pets or yourself that your dog can eat. Ensure you don’t offer too many treats to your dog‚ and make sure the treats you do offer are in line with their daily recommended allowance. Ensure your dog gets daily exercise. Maintain regular veterinary check-ups to ensure your pup is in good health and at an ideal weight. Conclusion While it’s best to have your dog weighed at the veterinarian’s room from a young age‚ it can’t always be done‚ and in some cases‚ you will need to weigh your dog at home. Fortunately‚ it is possible‚ but it is easier for smaller dogs or puppies since you can hold them in your arms and climb onto the scale. Bigger dogs need a wide platform placed on the scale and sometimes a little coaxing. Getting your dog comfortable with stepping onto the scale can make it much easier to weigh them. Sources https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-weigh-your-dog-home https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/your-pets-healthy-weight https://www.pdsa.org.uk/get-involved/our-campaigns/weigh-up/your-dog https://www.marsden-weighing.co.uk/blog/weigh-your-dog-home https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/obesity-dogs Featured Image Credit: Tikhonova Yana‚ Shutterstock The post How to Weigh Your Dog at Home: Vet Approved Tips &; Steps appeared first on Pet Keen.