Helping pet owners make tough choices

Perhaps the hardest part of owning a pet is making difficult decisions when a beloved companion becomes seriously ill. That's why researchers are developing a new tool to help people assess their ailing pets' quality of life, a key factor in decisions about when to order life-prolonging procedures and when an animal's suffering means it's time to let go.

Dogs, humans affected by OCD have similar brain abnormalities

Another piece of the puzzle to better understand and treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has fallen into place with the publication of new research that shows that the structural brain abnormalities of Doberman pinschers afflicted with canine compulsive disorder (CCD) are similar to those of humans with OCD. The research suggests that further study of anxiety disorders in dogs may help find

Dogs help improve moods among teens in treatment

Researchers have come up with a new, mood-boosting therapy for teenagers in drug and alcohol treatment: Shelter dogs. Dog-interaction activities have been found to improve mood among teenagers living in residential treatment centers.

Fetch, boy! Study shows homes with dogs have more types of bacteria

New research shows that households with dogs are home to more types of bacteria -- including bacteria that are rarely found in households that do not have dogs. The finding is part of a larger study to improve our understanding of the microscopic life forms that live in our homes.

Over 80% of dogs suffer from hypothermia after surgery with anesthetic

Veterinarians have completed the first global study that clinically documents the prevalence of hypothermia in dogs after surgery and after diagnostic tests that require anesthetic. The 83.6% of the 1,525 dogs studied presented this complication, whereas in humans this percentage is between 30 and 60% of cases.

Gene associated with eczema in dogs identified

A novel gene associated with canine atopic dermatitis has been identified. The gene encodes a protein called plakophilin 2, which is crucial for the formation and proper functioning of the skin structure, suggesting an aberrant skin barrier as a potential risk factor for atopic dermatitis.

Pets may help reduce your risk of heart disease

Owning a pet, particularly a dog, could reduce your risk of heart disease. It is unclear whether owning a pet directly reduces risk. Despite the likely positive link, people shouldn't get a pet solely to reduce heart disease risk.

An electronic nose can tell pears and apples apart

Engineers have created a system of sensors that detects fruit odors more effectively than the human sense of smell. For now, the device can distinguish between the odors compounds emitted by pears and apples. Scientists have created an electronic nose with 32 sensors that can identify the odors given off by chopped pears and apples.

Killer entrance suspected in mystery of unusually large group of carnivores in ancient cave

An assortment of saber-toothed cats, hyenas, an extinct 'bear-dog', ancestors of the red panda and several other carnivores died under unusual circumstances in a Spanish cave near Madrid approximately 9-10 million years ago. It now appears that the animals may have entered the cave intentionally and been trapped there, according to new research.

When dogs are most likely to pick up ticks

It may be slighter later than expected but spring finally seems to be upon us. Unfortunately, this also means the start of the tick season, both for humans and for their pets. But when exactly is the risk of dogs’ picking up ticks greatest?

Is pet ownership sustainable?

There has been much talk about sustainability, but little attention has been paid to its nutritional aspects. Scientists have raised a number of important questions on the sustainability of pet ownership.

Spayed or neutered dogs live longer

Many dog owners have their pets spayed or neutered to help control the pet population, but new research suggests the procedure could add to the length of their lives and alter the risk of specific causes of death.

Bear baiting may put hunting dogs at risk from wolves

Wisconsin permits bear baiting for much longer than Michigan does. Wisconsin also pays reparations for wolf attacks on hunting dog, but Michigan doesn't. These factors make Wisconsin's risk of wolf attacks up to 7 times higher.

Parents tend to share more bacteria with family dogs than children

As much as dog owners love their children, they tend to share more of themselves, at least in terms of bacteria, with their dogs.

Molecular techniques are 'man's new best friend' in pet obesity research

Molecular biology technologies are making the mechanisms underlying the pet obesity epidemic more easily understood.

The equine 'Adam' lived fairly recently: Close relationships among modern stallions

The analysis of DNA inherited from a single parent has provided valuable insights into the history of human and animal populations. However, until recently we had insufficient information to be able to investigate the paternal lines of the domestic horse. This gap has now been filled with new information on the genetic variability in the horse Y chromosome. Researchers have shown how various breed

More fat, less protein improves canine olfactory abilities

From sniffing out bombs and weapons to uncovering criminal evidence, dogs can help save lives and keep the peace. Now, researchers have uncovered how to improve dogs' smelling skills through diet, by cutting protein and adding fats.

Pavlov inverted: Reward linked to image is enough to activate brain's visual cortex

Once rhesus monkeys learn to associate a picture with a reward, the reward by itself becomes enough to alter the activity in the monkeys' visual cortex.

How does the price of cheese influence perceptions of wolves?

Relationships between humans and wolves are often linked to conflicts with livestock breeding activities. Contrary to a widespread belief among western environmentalists, these conflicts don’t only occur only in western countries, even though their intensity often appears lower in other places. Indeed, in many countries, livestock breeding activities have been dealing with wolves for centuries and

Five-million-year-old saber-toothed cat in newly discovered genus discovered in Florida

A new genus and species of extinct saber-toothed cat has been discovered in Polk County, Florida. The 5-million-year-old fossils belong to the same lineage as the famous Smilodon fatalis from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, a large, carnivorous apex predator with elongated upper canine teeth. Previous research suggested the group of saber-toothed cats known as Smilodontini originated in the O

European invader outcompetes Canadian plants even outside its usual temperature range

Vincetoxicum rossicum, commonly known as dog-strangling vine, is an alien invasive plant from the Ukraine and southwestern Russia that has now established itself in the northeastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada. This species successfully displaces local native plants, demonstrating high tolerance for environmental variables such as light and soil moisture.

Hope for threatened Tasmanian devils

New research paves the way for the development of a vaccine for the Tasmanian devil, currently on the brink of extinction because of a contagious cancer.

Prairie dogs disperse when all close kin have disappeared

Prairie dogs pull up stakes and look for a new place to live when all their close kin have disappeared from their home territory -- a striking pattern of dispersal that has not been observed for any other species.

Siberian fossil revealed to be one of the oldest known domestic dogs

Analysis of DNA extracted from a fossil tooth recovered in southern Siberia confirms that the tooth belonged to one of the oldest known ancestors of the modern dog.

Children with autism show increased positive social behaviors when animals are present

The presence of an animal can significantly increase positive social behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders, according to new research.

New insight into dogs' fear responses to noise

A study has gained new insight into domestic dogs' fear responses to noises. The study provides an important insight into dogs' fear of noises, and could improve our understanding of behavioral signs of fear or anxiety.

Same genetic defect causes Pompe disease in both humans and dogs

Pompe disease, a severe glycogen storage disease appearing in Lapphunds is caused by a genetic defect in acid α-glucosidase gene. The same genetic mutation also causes the equivalent disease in humans. Based on this finding, canine Pompe disease can now be diagnosed with a genetic test.

Dog spots the dog: Dogs recognize the dog species among several other species on a computer screen

Dogs pick out faces of other dogs, irrespective of breeds, among human and other domestic and wild animal faces and can group them into a category of their own. They do that using visual cues alone, according to new research. Their work is the first to test dogs' ability to discriminate between species and form a "dog" category in spite of the huge variability within the dog species.

Dogs may understand human point of view

Domestic dogs are much more likely to steal food when they think nobody can see them, suggesting for the first time that dogs are capable of understanding a human's point of view.

Putting our heads together: Canines may hold clues to human skull development

Researchers have reviewed research on dog cranium development, suggest future research and how it may inform human skull development.