Health

Tips from the Vet for Your Pet: Heartworm

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Stewart Morgan, Ph.D., D.V.M.

Heartworms are parasites that live in the arteries (blood vessels) going from the heart to the lungs. These worms can be between six inches to one foot long and can cause weakness, difficulty breathing, cough, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and even death. Heartworm is spread by mosquitos, including the Asian tiger mosquito, and dogs with heartworm have been found in all 50 states. In short, where there are mosquitoes, there is heartworm!

When a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae bites a dog or cat, the heartworm larvae enters the animal’s bloodstream and matures.…

New Rules for Food Establishments

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

The State of Hawaii has new rules for food establishments that may bring big changes for local restaurants and groceries.

“It’s kind of a big deal,” said Department of Health (DOH) Inspector Cathleen Sakamoto, of Molokai. “Chapter 50 is very different from Chapter 12 [previous law]. The whole point is to lessen food-spread illness.”

Sakamoto held two workshops on the new Chapter 50 regulations last week to educate business owners and pass out information on the changes.

While the new law has been years in the making, she said, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed it into law in February. As soon as Sakamoto has notified all food establishments on Molokai of the new regulations, inspections will begin, she said.…

Fill the Boot

Thursday, August 28th, 2014

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has supported the fight against muscle disease for more than 60 years through a yearly fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. On Molokai, local firefighters will be participating in the annual event, called Fill the Boot, on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Rawlins’ Chevron from 9 a.m. to noon. They’ll be collecting contributions from drivers and passersby.

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Honoring the Fight

Thursday, August 28th, 2014

As the lights at Kaunakakai Ball Park shut off and darkness fell across the field, the grounds were illuminated by a huge-circle of candle-lit luminaria lanterns at Molokai’s eighth annual Relay for Life. Each lantern bag was decorated with names and pictures in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer. Family and friends surrounded the decorated bags that lined the track, many wiping away tears and holding on to loved ones, as the names of everyone listed on the luminaria scrolled on the screen during the ceremony.

“[The luminaria] represents the light we carry within ourselves for our loved ones that have been affected by cancer,” said board member U`ilani Lima.…