Articles tagged with Dogs
A new study published in Scientific Reports found a link between geographical location and male reproductive health, with pollution levels varying by region. The researchers analyzed dog testes to identify correlations between environmental exposures and reproductive health.
A recent study published in PLOS Genetics has identified six genetic variants that add up to determine the risk of several blood cancers in pre-disposed dog breeds. The study found that dogs carrying five or more of these mutations had a very high risk of developing blood cancer during their lifetime.
A new gene therapy approach has been successful in restoring both normal structure and function to the retina's cone photoreceptor cells in dogs with a severe form of Leber congenital amaurosis. The treatment, which delivered a normal copy of the NPHP5 gene, was tested in nine five-week-old dogs and showed promising results.
A new study shows that almost all wild canines in Australia are genetically more than half dingo, highlighting the need to reevaluate lethal measures and terminology. Dingo-dog hybrids make up only a small percentage of the population.
A new poll shows that 10% of older adults between 50-80 years old obtained a pet during the pandemic, with 59% of those in this age range being pet owners. Pet ownership was higher among women, whites, and employed individuals, providing companionship and social support.
A study found that infected dogs emit an odor attractive to female sand flies, which transmit Leishmania infantum, the parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis. The researchers suggest parasites manipulate their host's scent to improve transmission opportunities.
Researchers found that dogs infected with Leishmania parasites have a more attractive odor to female sand flies than uninfected dogs. This increased attractiveness could lead to enhanced infection and transmission opportunities for the parasite.
The Morris Animal Foundation is partnering with Elanco Animal Health to better understand the incidence and prevalence of osteoarthritis in dogs. The partnership involves Elanco sponsoring a new section of the owner and veterinarian questionnaires that directly evaluates signs of osteoarthritis.
A raw diet from late suckling to 2 months old reduces inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk in dogs later life. Early dry food intake increases IBD incidence.
The partnership aims to improve understanding of CDS incidence, prevalence and risk factors. Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome affects about 14% of dogs 8 years and older.
The bones of a 35-50 year old male, identified as Ajpach' Waal, have shed light on his privileged yet difficult life. He suffered malnutrition or illness as a child but forged alliances between two powerful dynasties, only to die in relative obscurity.
A study by University of Bristol Veterinary School has identified 27 breeds at higher risk of osteosarcoma due to their body size and shape. The research used data from over 1,700 confirmed cases, finding that dogs with shorter skulls and legs have lower osteosarcoma risk.
A University of Illinois study reveals that milk oligosaccharides in canine and feline milk can boost beneficial microbes and establish a healthy gut microbial community. The research found that adding these prebiotics to pet diets improves palatability and has no adverse effects on health.
Researchers at Utrecht University discovered that assistance dogs' paws are cleaner than their users' shoe soles, invalidating hygiene reasons for banning them from hospitals. A pilot study of 25 assistance dogs and their owners found no significant presence of fecal bacteria or diarrheal bacteria on the dogs' paws.
Specially trained detection dogs can be used to find endangered species, including otters in Germany and crested newts. They have been proven effective in over 90% of cases, often detecting species faster than other methods.
Researchers have identified a new blindness gene, IFT122, associated with inherited retinal dystrophy in dogs. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the genetic background of the disease and developing novel treatments.
A new study uses multiple approaches to investigate the diet of ancient dogs in the Americas, revealing a diverse diet including maize, walnuts, grapes, fish, and duck. The analysis also sheds light on human-dog dietary overlap, providing insights into human health and diet.
A new study has discovered a bone fragment in Southeast Alaska that belongs to the oldest confirmed dog in the Americas, dated to around 10,150 years ago. The DNA analysis suggests that the dog's lineage diverged from Siberian dogs around 16,700 years ago, coinciding with human migration along a coastal route.
A genetic study found a DVL2 gene defect associated with screw tail and caudal vertebral anomalies in various dog breeds. The variant affects muzzle length and heart development, highlighting the importance of genetic testing for health problems.
A recent study has identified a novel gene, POU1F1, associated with a development disorder of pituitary origin in Karelian Bear Dogs. The research found that the disease is inherited recessively and can be diagnosed using a gene test, paving the way for its eradication from the breed.
A study from Oregon State University found that dogs synchronize their behavior with children, but not as much as they do with adults. The researchers observed that dogs exhibited behavioral synchronization with children at a higher rate than expected by chance, particularly in terms of active synchrony and proximity. However, the leve...
A large-scale study has identified more than 20 genetic loci associated with canine hip dysplasia in a cohort of 1,600 dogs from ten breeds. The loci were validated using blood samples and radiographic images, revealing a complex interplay between genetic variants and disease susceptibility.
Researchers tested dogs in a 'body as an obstacle' task, where they had to pick up a toy attached to a mat or the ground. The dogs left the mat more frequently when the toy was attached, suggesting body awareness and understanding of consequences.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University tested AI-powered hate speech detection software on over 680,000 chess comments and found that 82% of flagged comments did not contain hate speech. The study suggests that words like 'black' and 'white' are triggering phrases for the classifiers.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that dogs can recognize their body as an obstacle, a basic manifestation of self-representation. This ability is linked to the mirror mark experiment, where humans and elephants perform well.
A systematic review identified approaches to tackle loneliness and social isolation during the pandemic, including robotic dogs, mindfulness, and Tai Chi. The studies showed that these interventions could be effective even with social distancing measures in place.
A cross-disciplinary study combines canine olfaction with other detection methods to improve prostate cancer diagnosis. Dogs showed 71% sensitivity in detecting aggressive prostate cancer from urine samples, and an artificial neural network replicated their performance using spectroscopy data analysis.
Children in a social skills program with therapy dogs improved their moods and engagement levels, with many crediting the dogs for emotional well-being benefits. The study found that canine-assisted interventions can provide unique advantages in building social skills.
Scientists at MIT develop system that detects chemical and microbial content of air samples with greater sensitivity than a dog's nose. The miniaturized detection system, coupled with machine-learning process, can identify distinctive characteristics of disease-bearing samples, matching success rates of dogs in detecting prostate cancer.
A study by the University of New South Wales found that dingoes have more variable coat colours than previously thought, with no single colour distinguishing them from hybrids. Researchers analyzed 1325 wild canids and found that domestic dog ancestry is rare in the wild, representing less than 1.5% of the population.
Researchers found that trained scent detection dogs can accurately screen for COVID-19 with sensitivity and specificity comparable to standard testing procedures. The dogs' ability to detect volatile organic compounds associated with the virus has encouraging results.
Trained medical scent dogs have been shown to effectively screen individuals for COVID-19 with high accuracy and speed. The dogs' keen sense of smell allows them to detect the virus's volatile organic compounds in tiny concentrations.
A new, more complete dog reference genome has been built using DNA sequencing and annotation techniques. The improved genome will aid in understanding the link between DNA and disease in dogs and their human counterparts.
A study by the University of York found that animal owners in the UK reported increased appreciation for their pets during the pandemic, with many perceiving them as a reliable source of emotional and physical support. However, concerns about caring for animals, accessing veterinary care, and financial uncertainty were also expressed.
Researchers from Osaka Prefecture University have successfully isolated canine induced pluripotent stem cells, paving the way for regenerative therapies in dogs. The development of these cells could also have implications for human medicine, as they share similar environmental and genetic factors with humans.
A new University of Illinois study shows human-grade dog food is more digestible and produces less waste. Dogs fed human-grade diets had significantly less poop than those on traditional kibble, with some producing as little as 1.5 times less poop.
Researchers found that gifted dogs can rapidly learn novel words in social contexts but not in exclusion-based tasks. The study tested two exceptional dogs, Whisky and Vicky Nina, who learned new words after hearing them just four times.
A survey of 858 US dog owners reveals that lack of trust and cost are primary barriers to seeking veterinary care, affecting all demographics equally. Despite demographic differences in relationship with dogs and previous experiences, education is key to overcoming these barriers.
Dogs were likely domesticated from Eurasian wolves around 23,000 years ago, and later accompanied humans to the Americas. Genetic analysis suggests all ancient dogs belonged to a single haplogroup lineage, A2b, which is no longer found in the continent.
A new study suggests that the first people to settle in the Americas were accompanied by their dogs, implying a earlier dog domestication in Siberia. This discovery sheds light on the origins of dogs and their relationship with humans.
Researchers found that women's involvement with dogs strengthened the human-dog bond, leading to increased personhood and utility. Hunting cultures also showed a stronger connection between humans and dogs.
Researchers analyzed dog-owner pairs to identify key factors influencing treatment outcomes. They found a negative relationship between introverted owners and fearful dogs, suggesting proactive follow-up is crucial for optimal results. The study aims to improve behavioral guidance for veterinarians and inform potential follow-up research.
A recent redesign of a dog vaccination campaign in Blantyre city, Malawi, reduced the cost and time associated with rabies prevention by leveraging real-time data collection. The campaign vaccinated over 70% of local dogs using a combination of fixed locations and door-to-door vaccinations.
Researchers sequenced ancient DNA from dire wolf sub-fossils, showing they diverged from grey wolves over 5 million years ago. Dire wolves remained isolated in North America for millions of years, becoming genetically distinct from other canids.
A study suggests that sharing excess protein-rich meat from hunted prey species could have contributed to the early domestication of dogs. Humans feeding lean meat to wolves during severe ice age winters enabled companionship and potentially paved the way for full dog domestication.
Researchers discovered that some English bulldogs diagnosed with a common cancer may actually have polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis, a non-cancerous syndrome. This condition can save dogs from being misdiagnosed or euthanized unnecessarily.
A new study from North Carolina State University has established a baseline for understanding sleep patterns in healthy adult dogs, shedding light on the effects of age, sex, and weight on their activity cycles. The research aims to improve detection and treatment of chronic pain and cognitive dysfunction in dogs.
A study published by the University of Helsinki found that living environments significantly impact the microbiota and health of both dogs and their owners. In rural areas, dogs and owners share skin microbes, while gut microbes differ between species.
Dogs trained with aversive methods showed increased cortisol levels and stress-related behaviors compared to those trained with reward-based methods. The study suggests that aversive training techniques may have a negative impact on dog welfare, especially when used at high frequency.
A proof-of-concept study found that trained dogs can detect COVID-19 infected individuals by smelling their axillary sweat samples. The researchers used a total of six detection dog teams to identify positive participants with high accuracy.
A new study published by the University of Portsmouth has found that robotic animals, such as the MiRo-E robot, can be just as effective as real therapy dogs in providing calming interactions for children.
A study published in The BMJ found that dog owners with diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes themselves than owners without a diabetic dog. However, no shared risk was found between cat owners and their pets.
A large cohort study found that dog owners with diabetes are 38% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those without. In contrast, no shared risk was detected in cat owners and their cats.
Despite excellent auditory capacities, dogs fail to attend to differences between words with single speech sound variations. This may be why dogs' learned vocabulary remains low throughout life. Brain activity studies show dogs quickly differentiate known from nonsense words but not those differing in just one sound.
The ZOWIAC project will investigate the effects of invasive carnivores on biological diversity and human health, using monitoring, metabarcoding, and spatial analysis to understand their impact. Citizens will also be involved in the research through a citizen science platform.
Researchers at NIST have created a faster and safer method to train detection dogs using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) infused with vapors from explosives. This two-temperature method reduces the time needed to prepare training aids, allowing for quicker training of dogs to detect real substances.
Researchers found that both pigs and dogs stay close to their owners if alone, but only dogs stay near humans with a stranger present. Pigs prefer physical contact with their owners, often touching or climbing onto them.
Vaccination of endangered tiger population against canine distemper virus could reduce extinction probability from 15.8% to 5.7%
A new USC study reveals that AI models lack common sense to generate plausible sentences, despite advances in natural language processing. The research challenges the effectiveness of current benchmark tests and finds that even the strongest models can make silly mistakes.
A new study found that rising temperatures make brown dog ticks more likely to choose humans over canines, elevating the risk of Rocky Mountain spotted fever infections. As climate change expands areas with high temperatures, public health authorities must be vigilant for increased disease risks.