Aging affects the cognitive abilities of dogs, as a recent study shows. A team of scientists studied dogs of different ages working on a specially designed touchscreen and discovered that although all dogs were capable of learning, older dogs learnt more slowly than younger ones. No age-related differences were found regarding long-term memory.
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Dog owners are being urged to remember to be vigilant with their pets when walking near cows in the countryside, following a new review into cattle attacks. This project reviewed details of negative interactions between the public and cattle, to identify risk factors for cattle attacks, and highlight the availability and usefulness of guidance on walking among livestock.
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Rabies could be eradicated from street dogs in India with the help of a new smartphone app, a study has shown. Researchers are using the app to track free-roaming dogs that have been vaccinated against rabies.
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Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite that can cause an insidious onset of Chagas disease, a fatal cardiac disease in humans and dogs. The parasite is transmitted via triatomine insects, commonly called kissing bugs.
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New camera trap photos capture the elusive bush dog in Panama on its way North as it expands out of South America. Bush dogs, Speothos venaticus, are short-legged and stubby, standing only about a foot tall at the shoulder. They live mainly in tropical forests but have also been recorded in fragmented and altered habitats. Hunting in packs of up to 10 animals, bush dogs give high-pitched whines to maintain contact and yap like puppies when they chase their prey.
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A recent study shows that the social gazing behavior of domestic dogs resembles that of humans: dogs view facial expressions systematically, preferring eyes. In addition, the facial expression alters their viewing behavior, especially in the face of threat.
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Read a recipe for a do-it-yourself paw balm to protect your dog's feet during the winter months, plus grooming tips for the feet.
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A new method uses “detection dogs,” genetic analysis, and scientific models to assess habitat suitability for bears in an area linking the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) to the northern U.S. Rockies.
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An infectious disease expert, while stopping short of actually prescribing in-home “pet therapy” for colds or flu, says that if having your companion by your side makes you feel better, go right ahead. Pets won’t catch or spread human viruses.
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Sporadic outbreaks of plague among black-tailed prairie dogs is an ideal model for the study of infectious zoonotic disease, say biologists. Plague doesn't usually kill people these days, but it's alive and well among the millions of ground-dwelling rodents of Colorado and other western states, notably the black-tailed prairie dog. They're resilient critters, though: following wholesale destruction of colonies, they seem to repopulate with a vengeance.
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Dogs can recognize emotions in humans by combining information from different senses -- an ability that has never previously been observed outside of humans, a new study published today reveals.
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Dog domestication may have inadvertently led to harmful genetic changes, a new study suggests. Domestication of dogs from gray wolves more than 15,000 years ago involved artificial selection and inbreeding.
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A novel therapy tested scientists for treating a fatal heart disorder in dogs might ultimately help in diagnosing and treating heart disease in humans. The team also identified potential causes of inherited dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or "weak heart."
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The puff adder, Bitis Arietans, one of Africa's most abundant and venomous snake species has long been known to be a master of camouflage, but research has shown that it is the first land animal to be shown to make use of chemical crypsis (scent camouflage) to hide from predators and prey.
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Commonly known as Flagyl, Metronidazole is an antibiotic used to treat infections and inflammation. Here's what it does, how it works, and things to consider when using it.
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Transmissible cancers are believed to arise extremely rarely in nature. One of the few known transmissible cancers causes facial tumors in Tasmanian devils, and is threatening this species with extinction. Today, scientists report the discovery of a second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. The discovery calls into question our current understanding of the processes that drive cancers to become transmissible.
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A 17-year-old woman was infected with the rare, but treatable rat-bite fever, that developed from pet rodents that lived in her bedroom, report the doctors who treated her.
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Tapeworms look disgusting and they're irritating for our pets, but they are fairly easy to treat and rarely cause illness if they are found and addressed quickly.
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An international group of biologists say that policies regulating the hunting of large carnivores do not always align with basic scientific data, which can undermine conservation efforts.
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Article offers a comprehensive overview of this potentially deadly mosquito-borne parasite, and offers tips for prevention and treatment
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As a responsible dog owner, it's important to recognize the warning signs of pancreatitis, take steps to help prevent it and, if it strikes, know how to treat and manage it.
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