sillybuttmunky

I have a golden retriever. She's about to turn 8. I've noticed over the years, as she's turning gray her nose is turning pink. It used to be jet black and is now almost all pink.

I've noticed this with some (but not all) other dogs also. I'm just curious to know why the pigmentation in the nose is lost when the dog ages.

Thanks in advance!

DENVER - A puppy found hobbling in the Kuwaiti desert has ended up at Colorado State University, where she might be a candidate for an experimental prosthesis that could one day help humans.

Sally, a Saluki, was spotted in the desert several months ago by a volunteer with animal welfare group PAWS and taken to a shelter in Kuwait City. It's unclear how the dog was injured.

Part of the dog's left hind leg had been severed and a veterinarian in Kuwait wanted to amputate the remaining leg. PAWS volunteer Steve Holden e-mailed his alma mater, CSU, and its veterinary hospital to ask whether that was sound advice.

CSU animal surgeon Erick Egger responded that it was, but that Sally, who he estimated was about a year old, might make a good candidate for new research on grafting prosthetics to bone, which would prevent her from losing more of her leg.

PAWS then flew Sally with Holden to Fort Collins, arriving Tuesday.

While humans can be fitted with a prosthetic limb to be strapped on, dogs don't take to them well. Egger wants to try an "ingrowth" prosthesis.

One concept involves inserting a metallic implant at the bone, attaching an artificial limb to the implant, and then allowing bone to grow around it.

"The real critical part that will make it work or not is whether we can get soft tissues like skin and muscle to grow into the metal that extends into the body," he said.

Veterinarian Robert Taylor in Denver has been working on the concept, which perhaps one day could be transferred to humans, Egger said.

It could be a month or two before Sally gets her new leg, he said. He is looking at ways to raise funds to pay for materials, which he estimates could cost about $5,000.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070628/ap_on_sc/rescu...

My friend has a 2001 Nissan Altima and anytime it goes over 30 mph it shuts off. When it goes long distances (20 miles+) it shuts off. He's checked the spark plugs, did a complete tune up, oil change etc. And they are still having problems.

What could it possibly be?

I'm working on my business plan and I'm currently on the budget analysis and projected revenue portion, I just don't know what to do after. I know I'll have to ask for a loan but I'll also need investors. The business I'd like to start is a Pet Resort so it's a HUGE amount of $. I don't know where to go to ask for such a large amount I don't know what it would take to be approved for a bank loan. Any advice as to where I should start, what steps I should take, where to look, what information I might need, would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you in advance.