Dogs and humans have shared many things over their 10,000-year relationship. Now it seems that the two species may have shared some genetic material as well, exchanged through the transmission of viruses, according to a new study from Uppsala University in Sweden. The researchers studied the genome of a female boxer and looked for chains that corresponded to known retroviruses, which can integrate themselves into the genome of their hosts. They found that only 0.15% of the canine genome was made up of these endogenous retroviruses (ERV), compared to about 0.8% in humans and 2% in mice.

A new study from Harvard University shows that dogs drink the same way as cats do, using "adhesion of liquid to the tongue tip."

  A pair of unrelated studies sheds some light on a parasite spread by cats, and a canine virus that could help understand the human virus hepatitis C. Researchers at the University of Illinois studied the prevalence of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii within a large park in central Illinois. T. gondii reproduces only in cats, but it is the cause of toxoplasmosis, which can have serious or deadly effects on other mammals including humans, most notably the fetuses of pregnant women. Using several detection methods, the scientists found dozens of feral cats in the area, and trapped 18 of them. They found that one-third of the cats were infected with T. gondii, and large numbers of other wild animals in the park that were tested also carried the parasite.

Rabid animals are on the rise in Arkansas and Texas, according to local news sources.

A massive retrospective study by the University of Georgia analyzes causes of death for dozens of dog breeds. The scientists looked at data from nearly 75,000 dogs whose deaths were recorded in the Veterinary Medical Database (VMDB) between 1984 and 2004. They categorized the deaths by organ system and pathophysiologic process, and hypothesized that these could be segregated by age, breed and body mass. The result is a comprehensive look at the main causes of death in 82 breeds, which the authors say could help develop breed-specific wellness programs. "These results should facilitate development of tailored screening and health-maintenance practices," the authors wrote. "Eventually, these results may contribute significantly to ongoing work on the underlying genetic basis of breed-specific mortality."

Spanish researchers have for the first time documented sex reversal in a French bulldog.

A gene mutation found in Tibetan terriers can also be found in a fatal human neurological disorder related to Parkinson’s disease, researchers at the University of Missouri have found.

Copper can be an effective weapon in the fight against MRSA.

Could lives have been saved in Japan if people had been more alert to behavioral changes in their pets prior to the disaster?

If, for some reason, you happen to have camel steak for dinner tonight, make sure you dont feed any scraps to your dog.