Interesting & unusual
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February 27, 2019
Staff at AAHA-accredited hospital finds cure for potentially fatal canine heart ailment
Usually, scientists discover cures for human health conditions by testing them on animals. This time, it’s the other way around. In a refreshing change of pace, a veterinary cardiologist and her colleagues have discovered a way to cure a rare but life-threatening heart arrhythmia in dogs by adapting a treatment pioneered in humans. -
February 25, 2019
“You’re both so different since you came back from Cabo. What happened down there?”
Dogs’ personalities can change to reflect similar changes in their owners. Which means your midlife crisis could have life-changing consequences for your dog. “When humans go through big changes in life, their personality traits can change," said William Chopik, PhD, MS, an assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University. "We found that this also happens with dogs—and to a surprisingly large degree.” -
February 20, 2019
More bad news about longhorned ticks
Originally from East Asia, the longhorned tick, or Haemaphysalis longicornis, successfully established itself in other areas of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and, as of last November, eight states in the US, mostly in the East. These little guys get around. But where are they going next? -
February 4, 2019
Are big dogs smarter than small dogs?
It depends on what you mean by smart. A new study published in Animal Cognition indicates that bigger dogs, who have larger brains than smaller dogs, perform better than smaller dogs on some measures of intelligence. Specifically, bigger dogs with bigger brains do better on a specific type of intelligence called “executive functioning,” which is linked to self-control in both humans and canines. -
January 31, 2019
Weekly News Roundup 1/25 to 1/31
This week: Unhand that hedgehog! Plus, animal-free cosmetic testing closer to reality, and you might want to double check your dog’s cremains. -
January 30, 2019
Naughty dogs die young—And it’s not their fault
Aggression, disobedience, repeatedly running away, and too much barking can doom dogs to an early death, according to a new study by researchers in the UKat the University of London Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) VetCompass program. Per the report, one-third of dogs in the UK who die before the age of three die because of “undesirable behaviors” (UBs)—many by euthanasia. -
January 28, 2019
Study: We’re finding new feline viruses faster than we can figure them out
Things are moving fast in the world of feline pathogens. The authors of a recent review article in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery say “the rate at which novel [or previously unknown] viruses are being discovered now exceeds our understanding of their clinical relevance.” And it’s not just happening to cats: A 2008 paper in Nature described the discovery of 335 infectious diseases in the global human population between 1940 and 2004. -
January 23, 2019
Are dogs’ personalities hardwired into their DNA?
When we think of certain dog breeds, specific characteristics come to mind: Beagles are boisterous. Afghans are aloof. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are sycophantic and suck up to royalty (not really). But it’s well documented that different breeds have different personalities. Are those differences determined by DNA? -
January 16, 2019
World’s most successful mitral valve repair surgeon to teach his technique in the US
Open-heart mitral valve repair on dogs is a tricky procedure at best, and the usual success rate is 60% to 75%, depending on the dog’s size, age, heart status, and overall health at the time of surgery. Japanese cardiologist Masami Uechi, DVM, can boast a success rate of 90%. Soon, he'll be teaching US veterinarians how he does it. -
January 3, 2019
Weekly News Roundup 12/28 to 1/3
This week: New California divorce laws could mean custody battles over pets, a New Year’s Eve reveler wakes up in bed with a mastiff, and the most popular dog names of 2018.