The significance of pets in human existence varies between people. However, the emotional and social support that companion animals offer is an impactful driving force behind this attachment. Those who underestimate the strength of the bond drive a wedge between themselves and the bereaved.
Tag: pets
Smell of human stress affects dogs’ emotions leading them to make more pessimistic choices
Dogs experience emotional contagion from the smell of human stress, leading them to make more ‘pessimistic’ choices, new research finds. The University of Bristol-led study, published in Scientific Reports today [22 July], is the first to test how human stress odours affect dogs’ learning and emotional state.
What fat cats on a diet may tell us about obesity in humans
Pet cats may be excellent animal models for the study of obesity origins and treatment in humans, a new study of feline gut microbes suggests – and both species would likely get healthier in the research process, scientists say.
Gut microbiome – the key to our pets’ health and happiness?
This review highlights diverse influences of the gut microbiome on gastrointestinal, behavioral, cardiovascular, and immune health in cats and dogs as these health outcomes have the strongest evidence to indicate a role of the microbiome. We first look at local…
Fourth of July story ideas: Fireworks safety, economics and hot dog competitions, food safety and more
Ahead of Independence Day on July 4, Virginia Tech experts can speak on a variety of topics, including fireworks safety, economic lessons from eating contests, grilling safety tips, and more. To schedule an interview, please contact the media relations office at [email protected]. Fireworks safety The July 4th holiday brings a dramatic increase in eye injuries each year.
Purrrfect pet nutrition? Illinois expert available for National Pet Day
We all want to do right by our furry friends, but it’s difficult to know what trends are on point to optimize their health and nutrition. Should our dogs go vegan? Will a new type of food help to slim…
Study reveals five common ways in which the health of homeless pet owners and their companions is improved
A rapid scoping review has been conducted which reveals five common ways in which the health of homeless pet owners and their companion animals is improved. Ten percent of homeless people keep pets. But little information exists on specific interventions.
Do people everywhere care less about their cats than their dogs?
Scientists surveyed pet owners in three countries and found that owners were more attached to dogs than cats, but that the difference varied significantly between countries
Size matters: How body size shapes dogs’ aging patterns
Smaller dogs may live twice as long life as their larger counterparts. But does this size difference also impact how dogs age in terms of behavior and cognitive abilities?
Adoption of vegan dog and cat diets could have environmental benefits
A new analysis estimates a variety of potential benefits for environmental sustainability—for instance, reduced freshwater consumption and greenhouse gas emissions—that could result from switching all pet dogs and cats in the US or around the world to nutritionally sound, vegan diets.
Owners of cats on vegan diets report healthier pets than owners of meat-eating cats
In a survey of cat owners, those who fed their cats vegan diets tended to report better health outcomes for their pets than those who provided meat-based diets, though the differences were not statistically significant.
Take a stroll – with cats to increase health and well-being
Over 3 million cats enter shelters in the United States each year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Paw-some pets provide a voice for people with aphasia
Feathers, fins or fur, all pets can make us feel happier. Now, new research from the University of South Australia shows that pet ownership and pet care can also support communication and wellbeing, especially for people with acquired language difficulties such as aphasia.
Owning a pet does not reduce symptoms of severe mental illness, study shows
Living with and having a close bond with a companion animal does not necessarily lead to significant mental health improvements in people with a serious mental illness, say researchers.
“Dust Mites Repellent Herbal Spray” and “Pet Fragrance Spray from Mangosteen Peel Extract” – Two Nano Innovations from CUVET
Researchers of the Biochemistry Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University (CUVET) have developed “Dust Mites Repellent Herbal Spray” and “Pet Fragrance Spray from Mangosteen Peel Extract” by applying nanotechnology to pet products to enhance their potency. Certifiably safe, both products are now available through a CUVET startup company.
How animals are affected by Canadian wildfire smoke: University of Illinois expert available
URBANA, Ill. — Livestock and pets may be at risk due to poor air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke, according to animal welfare expert Angela Green-Miller at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Green-Miller is an associate professor in the Department…
Fourth of July story ideas: grilling safety, beer & food pairings, pets & fireworks, sun safety
Ahead of the July 4th holiday, Virginia Tech experts can speak on a variety of topics, including food & beer pairings for cookouts, pets & fireworks safety, grilling safety tips, and more. To schedule an interview, please contact the media relations office at [email protected]. Safeguarding pets on the 4th of July Summer heat and holiday travel can always be dangerous for pets, and so can the noise of fireworks.
WVU and partners pursue West Virginia’s first four-year veterinary technology program with $450K gift
The start-up funding gift from Cheat Lake Animal Hospital will allow West Virginia University to partner with West Virginia State University and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to launch the program, addressing veterinary staffing and animal care needs statewide.
Cats’ non-fearful and sociable personality as well as a clean litterbox appear to decrease litterbox issues
Researchers at the University of Helsinki identified several links between various risk factors and feline litterbox issues.
Pets create ‘pawsitive’ change for people in aged care
Researchers at the University of South Australia are calling for the Federal Government to mandate financial support for pets in aged care ¬¬¬to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of thousands of residents.
Veterinarians at Tufts Raise Awareness of Intravenous Fluid Therapy Complications
Clinicians at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University launch an initiative encouraging animal hospitals to rethink the use of intravenous fluid in hospitalized patients
Highly Emotional People Drawn to Cats for Stress Relief Programs
Cats are often left out of university-based animal assisted interventions aimed at reducing stress, but new research shows many people, especially those with strong and highly reactive emotions, want and would benefit from feline interactions.
Vets and pets to reap benefits from new drug to treat common infection in dogs and cats
Pets around the world look set to benefit from a more effective treatment for Giardia, a common intestinal infection in dogs and cats, thanks to a collaboration between academia and industry.
PetTrack Lets Owners Know Exactly Where Their Dog Is
PetTrack uses a combination of sensors to give the accurate, real-time indoor location of an animal.
Pets or threats? Goldfish might be harmful to biodiversity
A new study has highlighted the potential threat of pet fish to biodiversity.
Home sweet home: Pet cats rarely stray far
The domestic cat is one of our most popular pets. In Norway alone, 5.4 million people own approximately 770,000 cats.
SARS-CoV-2 variant detected in dogs and cats with suspected myocarditis
A new study in the Veterinary Record reveals that pets can be infected with the alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2, which was first detected in southeast England and is commonly known as the UK variant or B.1.1.7.
Many new college students report pet separation anxiety
Pets are not the only ones who experience separation anxiety; their people do too.
Human-Dog Relationship during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy
The isolation and abrupt interruption of social contacts and interpersonal affective relationships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have triggered greater fragility and uncertainty in people and this condition has also had repercussions in the human-dog relationship.
Stranded pets the latest concern after Miami building collapse
The planned demolition of what remained of the recently collapsed Champlain Towers South in Miami has brought to light another aspect of the tragedy: The pets left behind by those who died, were injured or had to vacate the property without…
Shelter from the storm
The new book “All Creatures Safe and Sound” examines how pets are managed during disasters and provides tips for keeping them safe. Sarah DeYoung, core faculty in the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center, talks about previous studies and the work that still needs to be addressed.
Video platforms normalise exotic pets
Researchers at the University of Adelaide are concerned video sharing platforms such as YouTube could be contributing to the normalisation of exotic pets and encouraging the exotic pet trade.
Dogs’ aggressive behavior towards humans is often caused by fear
A study encompassing some 9,000 dogs conducted at the University of Helsinki demonstrated that fearfulness, age, breed, the company of other members of the same species and the owner’s previous experience of dogs were associated with aggressive behaviour towards humans.
Dogs Act Jealously Even When They Don’t See Their Rival
Dogs are one of humanity’s most-beloved animal companions. They share our homes and seem to reciprocate our affections. But could this emotional bond extend into feelings of jealousy? To help answer that question, a team of researchers gauged the reactions of a group of dogs when their owners appeared to shower attention on a perceived rival.
New features of a gene defect that affects muzzle length and caudal vertebrae in dogs
A recent genetic study at the University of Helsinki provides new information on the occurrence of a DVL2 gene defect associated with a screw tail and its relevance to canine constitution and health.
Dogs synchronize their behavior with children, but not as much as with adults, study finds
Dogs synchronize their behavior with the children in their family, but not as much as they do with adults, a new study from Oregon State University researchers found.
Historic winter storm’s impact on COVID-19 safety, vulnerable populations and mothers
The University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center can provide experts on a variety of topics related to the unprecedented winter storm that has caused power outages and wreaked havoc in Texas and other parts of the south central U.S. Tricia…
Tips for recognizing heart disease in pets
February is American Heart Month – for your pets too!
To help keep cats from killing wildlife, add more meat and play to their day
Domestic cats are a major threat to wild species, including birds and small mammals.
Pets, touch and COVID-19: why our furry friends are lifesavers
A new study published by University of South Australia researchers points to the lifesaving role that pets have played in 2020 and why governments need to sit up and take notice.
New study shows associations between adolescents’ relationships with their pets and their social media use
A study published this week in Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal examines associations between adolescents’ relationships with their pets and their social media use. This is the first study to explore links between owning pets, online social competence, and…
Analysis of Australian labradoodle genome reveals an emphasis on the ‘oodle’
The creator of the Australian labradoodle set out to mix poodles and Labrador retrievers to develop a hypoallergic service dog.
Bat Tick Found for the First Time in New Jersey
A tick species associated with bats has been reported for the first time in New Jersey and could pose health risks to people, pets and livestock, according to a Rutgers-led study in the Journal of Medical Entomology. This species (Carios kelleyi) is a “soft” tick. Deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease, are an example of “hard” ticks.
UCLA team leading COVID-19 epidemiology study among animal health care professionals
A team led by Anne Rimoin, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of epidemiology and Director of the UCLA Center for Global and Immigrant Health, has just launched an epidemiologic study to understand occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens in high-risk populations, including veterinary medicine and animal care/welfare workers.
Where Did the Asian Longhorned Ticks in the U.S. Come From?
The invasive population of Asian longhorned ticks in the United States likely began with three or more self-cloning females from northeastern Asia, according to a Rutgers-led study. Asian longhorned ticks outside the U.S. can carry debilitating diseases. In the United States and elsewhere they can threaten livestock and pets. The new study, published in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health, sheds new light on the origin of these exotic ticks and how they are spreading across the United States.
How Old Is Your Dog in Human Years? Scientists Develop Better Method than ‘Multiply by 7’
By mapping molecular changes in the genome over time, UC San Diego researchers developed a formula to more accurately compare dog age to human age — a tool that could also help them evaluate how well anti-aging products work.
Rutgers Extension Agent Can Discuss How to Protect Against Ticks, Lyme Disease
New Brunswick, N.J. (June 15, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor Amy Rowe is available for interviews on how to protect you and your family from ticks and Lyme disease, including how to reduce tick habitat around your home. “Right now…
Link Found Between Pet Ownership and Health
Research found that pet ownership improves health in some instances, but increases risk in others.
Study confirms cats can become infected with and may transmit COVID-19 to other cats
In a study published today (May 13, 2020) in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists in the U.S. and Japan report that in the laboratory, cats can readily become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and may be able to pass the virus to other cats.
Researcher discusses at-risk communities during COVID-19 and how to help them
Almost no one has escaped the impact of COVID-19, but there are subsets of society that are more vulverable during this uncertain time than others. The unemployed, mothers and their children, those dealing with multiple disasters and companion animals are…