Articles tagged with Dogs
A study published in PLOS Genetics reveals that Patagonian sheepdogs share a common ancestor with modern UK herding breeds, dating back around 150 years. The breed's unique genetic makeup reflects the pattern of European colonization in South America.
A new study analyzed 30,563 records of dog deaths in the UK, finding that Jack Russell Terriers have the highest life expectancy at birth (12.72 years), while French Bulldogs have one of the lowest (4.53 years). Neutering also appears to increase life expectancy for dogs.
A new virtual reality (VR) experience is educating children aged 10-12 about bushfires, helping them learn how to be safer in emergencies. The project demonstrates the effectiveness of immersive VR experiences in delivering positive learning outcomes for primary children.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that shelter dog hair cortisol levels increased by one-third after six weeks in the shelter, indicating elevated stress. After adoption, cortisol levels decreased, returning to pre-shelter values. The results suggest that even well-managed shelters can cause stress in dogs.
A survey of veterinarians in the US and Canada reveals a significant increase in cannabis poisoning cases among pets since Canada's 2018 legalization, with most cases treated successfully. The study highlights the importance of understanding the effects of cannabis on pets to inform veterinary efforts and policies.
A survey of over 2,500 dog owners found that nutritionally sound vegan diets were associated with better health outcomes for dogs compared to raw or conventional meat diets. The study controlled for various factors and suggested that a well-planned vegan diet may be the healthiest choice for canines.
Research shows that children aged 9-11 believe farm animals should be treated like pets and think eating animals is less morally acceptable than adults. The study suggests that speciesism - a moral hierarchy giving different value to different animals - is learned during adolescence.
A study found that less than 5% of dog owners in the US are aware of and follow FDA guidelines for safe pet food and dish handling. The researchers suggest better education and implementation of these guidelines could reduce contamination and improve hygiene practices.
Researchers discovered that dogs have faster muscle fibers than wolves, enabling greater facial mobility and effective communication with humans. The study also found an additional mimetic muscle contributing to the 'puppy-dog eye' expression in dogs.
Researchers found that healthy companion animals and their owners can transmit antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes to each other, highlighting the importance of hygiene practices around pets. The study suggests that even low-level shedding of bacteria by healthy carriers can pose a risk to vulnerable individuals.
A new study found that dogs and cats are exposed to potentially toxic aromatic amines in their homes, which have been linked to cancer. The chemicals were detected in over 38% of urine samples from pets, with cats showing higher concentrations than dogs.
Researchers have identified avocado meal as a safe and palatable fiber source for dogs, rivaling industry standards in digestibility and energy intake. The study found that persin levels were undetectable in processed meal, contradicting long-held concerns about avocado toxicity in pets.
A survey of Finnish dog-owners found that repetitive behaviors like tail-chasing are more common among first-time owners, those living with larger families, and exercising for less than an hour per day. These behaviors were associated with a range of environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors.
Researchers have developed a gene therapy that restores night vision in dogs with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB), a condition affecting the ON bipolar cells. The treatment enables dogs to navigate mazes in dim light and has a lasting therapeutic effect, paving the way for potential human treatments.
A recent study found that genetic changes in dogs' brain tissues are primarily about the number of genes affected rather than their function. The researchers discovered that approximately 3,500 genes were differentially expressed between young and old dogs, with most genes showing reduced activity in older animals.
A new study reveals that intra-tumoral injections of a plant virus-based immunotherapy could lead to groundbreaking therapy for both canine and human inflammatory breast cancer patients. The treatment generated potent local and systemic anti-tumor immune responses, improving quality of life and survival in treated dogs.
Researchers at Clemson University have identified a genetic variation associated with congenital idiopathic megaesophagus (CIM) in German shepherd dogs, which is often fatal if left untreated. A genetic test using melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 2 and dog's sex can predict the risk of CIM with 75% accuracy.
A controlled trial found therapy dog visits significantly reduced pain, anxiety, and depression in ED patients. After just 10 minutes with a therapy dog, patients experienced notable reductions in these symptoms.
Researchers develop detailed canine gait analysis method to evaluate harnesses, providing a more accurate fit for dogs. The new method could lead to improved comfort and safety for dogs wearing harnesses.
A survey of 426 Italian dog owners found that 86% observed negative changes in surviving dogs' behavior after the death of their companion. These changes included increased attention seeking, decreased activity, and fearfulness.
A study of Finnish agility dogs reveals differences in training and competing between dog sizes and skill categories. Most dogs trained for under 20 minutes per week, but those at the highest level trained less to maintain their skills.
The study found that exposure to dogs makes consumers more promotion-focused, while exposure to cats makes them more cautious. This effect persists even in pet-unrelated domains, influencing decision-making and judgment.
An analysis of over 11,000 older Japanese adults found that current dog owners were approximately half as likely to have a disability. Regular exercise among dog owners further reduced the risk. In contrast, cat ownership showed no association with increased or decreased disability risk.
A study of 850 competing dogs found that most injuries were related to obstacle performance, particularly bar jump and tunnel obstacles. Many dogs experienced soft tissue injuries, lameness, and pain, but could recover in a few weeks.
Researchers at Washington State University found that liquid sildenafil can relax the esophagus and reduce regurgitation in dogs with megaesophagus. The study showed a significant reduction in regurgitation episodes and an average weight gain of over 2 pounds in moderately affected dogs.
A study of over 1,200 agility dogs found that core strength exercises and balance activities can lower the risk of cranial cruciate ligament ruptures. Dogs that engage in high-level agility events and flyball are at higher risk, while those with certain breeds and age factors may also be more prone to injury.
A study found that dogs can distinguish their owner's voice from many others, using specific voice properties like pitch and noisiness. In the experiment, dogs successfully identified their owners in 82% of cases, suggesting they use some of the same voice analysis mechanisms as humans.
A recent study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management found that vulture declines are linked to increased disease risks due to their absence. With no natural clean-up crew, diseases spread rapidly among scavenger communities, including feral dogs, which fill the ecological gap left by vultures.
Researchers found that dog faeces and urine add substantial nutrients to nature reserves, potentially detrimental to biodiversity. Studies suggest reducing fertilisation effects by encouraging owners to remove faeces and enforcing leash use could mitigate this impact.
The Dog Aging Project is a groundbreaking study that has enrolled over 32,000 dogs to understand the aging process. Researchers are using this dataset to identify biomarkers of canine aging and potential genetic factors contributing to exceptional longevity, which they hope will translate to human health.
The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization has awarded more than $143,000 to three projects led by researchers in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Veterinary Medicine. Guri Johal is developing a corn variant that could impact worldwide corn production with Trask funds supporting his project on clon...
Researchers have discovered a molecular signaling pathway associated with osteoarthritis (OA) pain, which plays a crucial role in producing and transmitting pain signals. By blocking this pathway, the study shows promise for developing new, effective pain treatments for human OA sufferers.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation associated with small body size in dogs that also occurred in ancient wolves over 50,000 years ago. This finding presents a new evolutionary narrative and challenges the long-held theory that humans domesticated large wolves to create small companions.
Researchers found that dogs with more extroverted, conscientious, and open personalities tend to rank higher in the hierarchy, while friendlier dogs tend to rank lower. Older dogs also dominate in multi-dog households. The study used a large-scale online questionnaire to analyze the personality traits of over 1,000 dogs.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that flat-faced breeds like Neapolitan mastiffs and English bulldogs are disproportionately affected by the condition. The study suggests that breed-specific characteristics may contribute to the development of cherry eye.
A new study by researchers from Eötvös Loránd University found that dog brains can differentiate between two languages, with distinct activity patterns in primary and secondary auditory cortices. The study used brain imaging to compare dogs' responses to speech and non-speech stimuli in Spanish and Hungarian.
University of Otago researchers suggest kurī have significant ecological impact on New Zealand's biodiversity, predating kiore and humans. Kurī may have contributed to extinctions of moa chicks, takahē, kākāpō, kiwi, and marine mammals.
A US survey found that dog owners experienced fewer negative psychological impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic compared to potential dog owners. The study suggests that dog ownership may have played a role in mitigating the mental health effects of isolation and confinement.
A recent study published in Canine Medicine and Genetics found that French Bulldogs have a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with 20 common health disorders compared to other breeds. The authors propose breeding towards more moderate characteristics to reduce these risks.
Researchers found that in 2020, 93% of Guinea worms detected worldwide were in dogs in Chad. Dogs eating infected fish carry the parasite larvae, which means they maintain the life-cycle and humans can still catch the disease.
A recent study published in Canine Medicine and Genetics reveals that most dog breeds are highly inbred, with an average inbreeding rate of 25% or sharing the same genetic material with a full sibling. This high level of inbreeding contributes to increased disease and healthcare costs throughout a breed's lifespan.
A randomized controlled trial found that assistance dogs significantly improved wellbeing, mental health and independence for people with severe or profound hearing loss. Participants reported better mental well-being, fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduced social isolation.
Researchers compared genetic expression profiles of canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma and human oral tumor ameloblastoma, finding similarities in molecular mutations. The study lays groundwork for potential translational medicine, as the dog model may represent a useful clinical model of the disease.
Researchers studied 4022 dogs fed different diets as puppies to see if it affected allergy and atopy related skin symptoms in adulthood. They found that puppies fed raw tripe, organ meats, and human meal leftovers had fewer allergies and skin issues.
A study conducted at the University of São Paulo analyzed how dogs living inside the home exchange looks with their owners to obtain food or other desired objects. The researchers found that 95.7% of those living inside the home used gaze alternation at least once, while those living outside communicated less intensely.
Researchers use 103 retired sled dogs to study aging-related diseases like arthritis and cancer. The study aims to characterize canine aging mechanisms and identify biomarkers for anti-aging treatments.
Researchers found that high-frequency, intermittent noises trigger more anxiety in dogs than low-frequency, continuous noise. Dog owners often underestimate their pets' fearfulness and respond with amusement rather than concern.
A new study by Hungarian researchers finds that dogs use complex computations and brain regions similar to humans to learn word boundaries in speech. Dogs can recognize syllable patterning, such as frequent words with consistent syllables, and use this information to extract words from continuous speech.
A new canine mutant model mimics human cerebrovascular disease by exhibiting severe arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and stroke. The ApoE knockout dogs show extensive and severe arteriosclerosis plaques and arterial stenosis, consistent with human cerebral arteries and coronary arteries.
Researchers studied head tilting in dogs that could learn toy names and found a relationship between head tilts and processing relevant stimuli. Consistent side tilts were observed for each individual dog over time.
A new vaccine has shown significant protection against Valley fever in dogs, offering hope for a potential human vaccine. The study found that two doses provided high levels of protection against the fungal disease.
A recent study by Washington State University researchers found that 75% of new first-year college students experience some level of pet separation anxiety, with one in four reporting moderate to severe symptoms. Students who treated their pets like people were more likely to experience high levels of anxiety.
A computer model developed by the University of Surrey researchers supports Bernard Williams' 40-year-old hypothesis that pressure changes cause fluid in the cavity to 'slosh', generating stress in the spinal cord tissue. The study shows that this process can lead to small cavities gradually expanding down the spinal cord.
Researchers found that jaguars are preying on guard dogs in a Mexican Caribbean village, mimicking the behavior of Indian leopards. The study highlights the threat of pet predation conflict to jaguar populations and the need for further research.
A survey conducted by Michigan Medicine found that nearly two-thirds of respondents experienced difficulty with pet care during hospitalization or knew someone who did. This stress can impact a patient's decision about staying in the hospital. Researchers aim to develop better resources and formalized services to address this need.
A new study reveals that some gifted dogs can learn up to 12 new toy names in just one week and remember them for at least two months. The researchers tested these talented dogs as part of the Genius Dog Challenge, a series of live broadcasted experiments.
Researchers found that ancient Siberian human populations interacted with outside dog populations at least 2,000 years ago, suggesting dogs were traded as goods. The study reveals that modern dog breeds like Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies maintain significant ancestry from a lineage established prior to 9,500 years ago.
Researchers find hookworms resistant to multiple drugs used to treat them, with high prevalence in racing greyhounds. The study's results highlight the importance of regular deworming and caution against dog parks as potential breeding grounds for drug-resistant parasites.
A textile-based implant containing cartilage derived from stem cells reduced pain and restored hip joint function to baseline levels in a study of dogs with moderate osteoarthritis. The implant successfully integrated into the hip joints, effectively resurfacing them and allowing the dogs to regain activity levels.
Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University discovered that dogs exhibit attachment behaviors similar to human infants, responding positively to their owner's speech. The study found that the reward center of a dog's brain is more sensitive to its owner's voice compared to a familiar person's praise.