ScienceDaily: Veterinary Medicine News

Over 80% of dogs suffer from hypothermia after surgery with anesthetic

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:53:53 EDT

Veterinarians have completed the first global study that clinically documents the prevalence of hypothermia in dogs after surgery and after diagnostic tests that require anesthetic. The 83.6% of the 1,525 dogs studied presented this complication, whereas in humans this percentage is between 30 and 60% of cases.

Pets may help reduce your risk of heart disease

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

Owning a pet, particularly a dog, could reduce your risk of heart disease. It is unclear whether owning a pet directly reduces risk. Despite the likely positive link, people shouldn't get a pet solely to reduce heart disease risk.

Vets and medical doctors should team up to tackle diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:10:10 EDT

A new study analyses the impact of animal brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis (BTB) on animals and people in urban, peri-urban and rural Niger. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks them as major zoonoses, infectious diseases transmitted between species. The research maps risk factors for transmission of these diseases from animals to humans, indicating that closer collaboration between medical doctors and veterinarians is required.

When dogs are most likely to pick up ticks

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:09:09 EDT

It may be slighter later than expected but spring finally seems to be upon us. Unfortunately, this also means the start of the tick season, both for humans and for their pets. But when exactly is the risk of dogs’ picking up ticks greatest?

'Chink in the armor' of Schmallenberg virus identified

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:36:36 EDT

A key building block in the Schmallenberg virus could be targeted by anti-viral drugs, according to a new study.

Spayed or neutered dogs live longer

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:59:59 EDT

Many dog owners have their pets spayed or neutered to help control the pet population, but new research suggests the procedure could add to the length of their lives and alter the risk of specific causes of death.

Molecular techniques are 'man's new best friend' in pet obesity research

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:30:30 EDT

Molecular biology technologies are making the mechanisms underlying the pet obesity epidemic more easily understood.

More fat, less protein improves canine olfactory abilities

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:26:26 EDT

From sniffing out bombs and weapons to uncovering criminal evidence, dogs can help save lives and keep the peace. Now, researchers have uncovered how to improve dogs' smelling skills through diet, by cutting protein and adding fats.

Discovery may explain how prion diseases spread between different types of animals

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EDT

Medical researchers have made a discovery that may explain how prion diseases, like chronic wasting disease and mad cow disease, adapt in order to spread between various types of animals.

Siberian fossil revealed to be one of the oldest known domestic dogs

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:11:11 EST

Analysis of DNA extracted from a fossil tooth recovered in southern Siberia confirms that the tooth belonged to one of the oldest known ancestors of the modern dog.

New insight into dogs' fear responses to noise

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:25:25 EST

A study has gained new insight into domestic dogs' fear responses to noises. The study provides an important insight into dogs' fear of noises, and could improve our understanding of behavioral signs of fear or anxiety.

Horses don't get stage fright -- but their riders do

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:06:06 EST

It is well known that horses show symptoms of stress when ridden but relatively little attention has been paid to the effects on their riders. This is surprising, as equestrian sports rely on the close cooperation between the animals and their riders. How does the horse-rider team cope with the stress involved in competing in an equestrian event?

Dog spots the dog: Dogs recognize the dog species among several other species on a computer screen

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:37:37 EST

Dogs pick out faces of other dogs, irrespective of breeds, among human and other domestic and wild animal faces and can group them into a category of their own. They do that using visual cues alone, according to new research. Their work is the first to test dogs' ability to discriminate between species and form a "dog" category in spite of the huge variability within the dog species.

Dogs may understand human point of view

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:08:08 EST

Domestic dogs are much more likely to steal food when they think nobody can see them, suggesting for the first time that dogs are capable of understanding a human's point of view.

Forensic pathology: Tracing the origin of the Usutu virus in blackbirds

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:57:57 EST

It is generally a mystery how new diseases arise and how the pathogens that cause them first enter countries. However, clues may come from examination of specimens from similar outbreaks. This approach has recently been taken by scientists in order to trace the origin of the virus that caused a sudden decrease in the number of blackbirds in Vienna in 2001.

Can you predict how a disease will spread in a population?

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:21:21 EST

New research has laid the foundation for a new generation of zoonotic disease spreading models, which could allow for more targeted prevention strategies.

Caring for dogs to reduce spread of parasite eggs harmful to humans

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:21:21 EST

New research has shown that dogs act as a major source of the parasite egg, Toxocara, which can potentially contaminate the public environment and infect humans.

Klondike, puppy born from a frozen embryo, fetches good news for endangered animals

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:11:11 EST

Meet Klondike, the western hemisphere's first puppy born from a frozen embryo. He's a beagle-Labrador retriever mix, and although neither of those breeds are endangered, Klondike's very existence is exciting news for endangered canids, like the red wolf.

Misconceptions about a popular pet treat

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:29:29 EST

A popular dog treat, the "bully stick," could be adding more calories than pet owners realize, and possibly be contaminated by bacteria, according to a new study.

Schmallenberg virus genome engineered to understand how to reduce disease caused by the virus

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:23:23 EST

Researchers have developed methods to synthesize and change the genome of Schmallenberg virus (SBV). SBV is a recently discovered pathogen of livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats. The researchers have laid bare important ways by which this virus causes disease.

Virus-host co-evolution: How specialized should a strain of a multi-host virus be?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:31:31 EST

A new study of canine distemper virus (CDV) provides the first evidence that the virus occurs as specialist strains that emerge in response to strong evolutionary selection in the large global domestic dog population, and as generalist strains adapted to infect a broad range of carnivore species that occur as smaller host populations. The study not only unraveled one key mechanism which led to the evolution of specialist and generalist strains, it also showed that specializing on one host species comes at the cost of a reduced ability to infect other host species.

BPA in dog training aids: High estrogen-mimicking chemical concentrations found in dog training batons

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:07:07 EST

Sometimes orange, sometimes white, dog trainers often use plastic fetching batons called bumpers to teach dogs how to retrieve. But researchers have discovered that the dogs also may fetch a mouthful of potentially dangerous chemicals at the same time.

First direct evidence linking TB infection in cattle to local badger populations

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:39:39 EST

Transmission of tuberculosis between cattle and badgers has been tracked at a local scale for the first time, using a combination of bacterial whole genome DNA sequencing and mathematical modelling. The study highlights the potential for the use of next generation sequencing as a tool for disentangling the impact of badgers on TB outbreaks in cows at the farm level.

Brain inflammation likely key initiator to Prion and Parkinson's disease

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:33:33 EST

Researchers have shown that neuro-inflammation plays a crucial role in initiating prion disease.

Man's best friend: Common canine virus may lead to new vaccines for deadly human diseases

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:13:13 EST

Researchers have discovered that a virus commonly found in dogs may serve as the foundation for the next great breakthrough in human vaccine development.

Pig genome offers insights into the feistiest of farm animals

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:45:45 EST

The pig and its cousin the wild boar have much in common with humans. They are world travelers. They often damage their own habitat. They are easy to seduce (with food) and susceptible to domestication, but when conditions allow, they revert to a feral lifestyle. A new genomic analysis reveals some new, unexpected and potentially beneficial similarities between pigs and humans, and a few distinct differences.

Headshaking in horses: New treatment has 50% success rate

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:37:37 EST

A study has found a pioneering new surgical procedure, called caudal compression of the infraorbital nerve, could be a viable option for headshaking in horses with a long-term success rate of nearly 50 percent.

Resistant parasites in sheep in Norway

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:38:38 EST

Sheep in the Norwegian counties of Rogaland and Hordaland have an increased risk of hosting gastrointestinal parasites which cannot be efficiently treated with benzimidazole -- the most frequently used deworming agent for sheep in Norway. A national monitoring program, increased focus on good treatment procedures and reducing excessive treatment are measures that can prevent the spreading of resistant parasites to other parts of the country.

Call for global monitoring of infectious diseases in dogs and cats

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:10:10 EST

Most emerging infectious diseases of humans come from animals. International health agencies monitor these diseases, but they do so only for humans and livestock, not for companion dogs and cats. A new study recommends a global system is needed to monitor infectious diseases of companion dogs and cats.

Obese dogs at risk of health condition experienced by humans

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:14:14 EDT

Veterinary scientists have found that, like humans, obese dogs can experience metabolic syndrome, a condition that describes multiple health issues that occur in the body at the same time.

Pigs may look healthy but can test positive for flu at fairs

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:46:46 EDT

More than 80 percent of pigs that tested positive for influenza A virus at Ohio county fairs between 2009 and 2011 showed no signs of illness in a new study. A second study showed a 99+ percent genetic similarity among human and pig flu viruses from 2012, indicating interspecies transmission.

The hidden burden of bovine Tuberculosis

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:59:59 EDT

Up to 21 percent of herds clearing restrictions for bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain may be harbouring infection, according to a new study.

Crows don't digest prions, may transport them to other locations

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:12:12 EDT

Crows fed on prion-infected brains from mice can transmit these infectious agents in their feces and may play a role in the geographic spread of diseases caused by prions, such as chronic wasting disease or scrapie.

Onset of flu season raises concerns about human-to-pet transmission

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:10:10 EDT

As flu season approaches, people who get sick may not realize they can pass the flu not only to other humans, but possibly to other animals, including pets such as cats, dogs and ferrets. This concept, called “reverse zoonosis,” is still poorly understood but has raised concern among some scientists and veterinarians.

Psychology of equine performance and the biology behind laminitis

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:37:37 EDT

Achieving the best performance from a horse is the goal of not just professional riders, but also the millions of amateur and hobby riders all over the world. A new article looks at the issues surrounding training, competition environment and practices, and how the psychology of horse mood, emotion and temperament can be used to enhance performance.

A healthy bond: By improving pain treatment, therapy in dogs, research offers medical insight for humans

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:43:43 EDT

From the use of hot and cold packs to new forms of narcotics, a professor is studying ways to improve post-surgery pain treatment and osteoarthritis therapy in dogs. His research may help develop better ways to treat humans for various medical conditions.

New analysis tells how world eradicated deadliest cattle plague

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:14:14 EDT

A new analysis traces the recent global eradication of the deadliest of cattle diseases, crediting not only the development of a new, heat-resistant vaccine, but also the insight of local African herders, who guided scientists in deciding which animals to immunize and when.

'Siloed' agencies hindered in efforts to fight animal-to-human diseases, analysis finds

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:28:28 EDT

The "siloed" structure of U.S. health agencies is hindering efforts to spot and combat animal-to-human afflictions, such as West Nile Virus, New York University sociologist Colin Jerolmack has concluded after conducting an organizational analysis of their operations.

'Mad Cow' blood test now on the horizon

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:38:38 EDT

A simple blood test for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Mad Cow disease is a step closer, following a breakthrough by medical researchers in Australia.

Mushroom-derived compound lengthens survival in dogs with cancer, study suggests

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:15:15 EDT

Dogs with hemangiosarcoma that were treated with a compound derived from the Coriolus versicolor mushroom had the longest survival times ever reported for dogs with the disease. These promising findings offer hope that the compound may one day offer cancer patients -- human and canine alike -- a viable alternative or complementary treatment to traditional chemotherapies.

Scientists aim to put a pox on dog cancer

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:34:34 EDT

Researchers report that myxoma -- a pox virus that afflicts rabbits but not humans, dogs or any other vertebrates so far studied -- infects several different types of canine cancer cells in cell culture while sparing healthy cells. The study is unique in that it focused on spontaneously occurring cancers in dogs, not induced human cancers in mice.

University opens obesity clinic for pets

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 11:17:17 EDT

The United States' obesity epidemic reaches far beyond adults and children to our pets, who share our homes and often our dietary habits and lack of exercise. To address this, the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University has created the nation's first obesity clinic geared especially for pets and overseen by a full-time, board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Antimicrobials alter intestinal bacteria composition in swine, researchers find

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:01:01 EDT

Researchers, concerned about the use of antibiotics in animal production, have found that antimicrobial growth promoters administered to swine can alter the kind of bacteria present in the animal's intestinal track, resulting in an accelerated rate of growth and development in the animals.

Scientist creates test, treatment for malaria-like sickness in horses

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:21:21 EDT

A therapy used in an outbreak of equine piroplasmosis at the storied King Ranch in Texas is now being evaluated as a standard US treatment protocol.

The end of an era? Branding horses does not enable them to be identified

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:24:24 EDT

Despite increasing evidence that branding foals causes the animals stress, many horse breeders still claim that this practice represents the best method for identifying the animals. Although the debate has raged for some time, nobody has thought to pose the crucial question: How reliably can brand marks be read later? New results may well spell the end of the line for the traditional practice of branding horses.

Tail chasing in dogs resembles obsessive compulsive disorders in humans

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:36:36 EDT

New research revealed several similarities between compulsive behavior in dogs and humans: early onset, recurrent compulsive behaviors, increased risk for developing different types of compulsions, compulsive freezing, the beneficial effect of nutritional supplements, the effects of early life experiences and sex hormones and genetic risk.

Gut bacteria linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome identified

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:49:49 EDT

Researchers have identified 26 species of bacteria in the human gut microbiota that appear to be linked to obesity and related metabolic complications. These include insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, increased blood pressure and high cholesterol, known collectively as "the metabolic syndrome," which significantly increases an individual's risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Better ways for developing, testing cancer therapies

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:30:30 EDT

Scientists have made valuable findings in the search for cancer's cure. While researching ways to improve animal health, the scientists have made two important discoveries that can also improve human health. Not only have they found pigs with severe combined immunodeficiency but they are also the first to discover the connection with human cancer, particularly melanomas and pancreatic cancers.

Copper facilitates prion disease, scientists show

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:07:07 EDT

Many of us are familiar with prion disease from its most startling and unusual incarnations —- the outbreaks of “mad cow” disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) that created a crisis in the global beef industry. Or the strange story of Kuru, a fatal illness affecting a tribe in Papua New Guinea known for its cannibalism. Both are forms of prion disease, caused by the abnormal folding of a protein and resulting in progressive neurodegeneration and death.

Oral drops for dog allergies pass another hurdle

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:44:44 EDT

Placing allergy drops under a dog's tongue can be as effective as allergy injections for controlling skin allergies.

New compounds inhibit prion infection

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:48:48 EDT

Researchers have identified a new class of compounds that inhibit the spread of prions, misfolded proteins in the brain that trigger lethal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals. Scientists have now developed compounds that clear prions from infected cells derived from the brain.

Herding sheep really are selfish

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:46:46 EDT

Many animals spend time together in large groups not because they enjoy each other's company, but rather because it lowers their own chances of being eaten should an uninvited guest arrive on the scene. Now, researchers who have strapped GPS-enabled backpacks to flocking sheep and a herding dog provide some of the first hard evidence that this "selfish herd theory" is true.

Ordinary chickens may be extraordinary in fighting cancer and other diseases

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:32:32 EDT

The common barnyard chicken could provide some very un-common clues for fighting off diseases and might even offer new ways to attack cancer, according to a researchers.

'Mad cow disease' in cattle can spread widely in autonomic nervous system before detectable in the central nervous system

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:31:31 EDT

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or "mad cow disease") is a fatal disease in cattle that causes portions of the brain to turn sponge-like. This transmissible disease is caused by the propagation of a misfolded form of protein known as a prion, rather than by a bacterium or virus. Previous research has reported that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) becomes affected by the disease only after the central nervous system (CNS) has been infected. In a new study researchers found that the ANS can show signs of infection prior to involvement of the CNS.

Motion sensors detect horse lameness earlier than veterinarians

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:26:26 EDT

Equine veterinarians have developed a way to detect lameness using a motion detection system called the "Lameness Locator." Now, researchers have found that the Lameness Locator can detect lameness earlier than veterinarians using the traditional method of a subjective eye test.

Novel vaccine for strain of foot-and-mouth disease

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:41:41 EDT

Agricultural researchers have developed a novel vaccine for one of the seven strains of foot-and-mouth disease, paving the way for the development of the others.

Dog-associated house dust protects against respiratory infection linked to asthma

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:57:57 EDT

House dust from homes with dogs appears to protect against infection with a common respiratory virus that is associated with the development of asthma in children.

If your dog is aggressive, maybe it is in pain

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:21:21 EDT

Dogs can sometimes suffer sudden episodes of aggression without their owners understanding why. But, in many cases, the cause of these attacks can be pain that has never been diagnosed or treated. For the first time the study describes the characteristics of this irritability, which can make dogs violent and increase aggression in already conflictive individuals. There are many factors that explain aggression in dogs: the conditions of the mother during gestation, the handling of the puppy in the neonatal phase, the age at weaning, the experiences of the animal during the socializing phase, diet, exercise, genetics and learning techniques based on active punishment during adulthood. However, aggressive behavior also arises from the presence of pathologies and pain in the dog.

Nunavik sled dogs need first aid and care too

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:35:35 EDT

In Nunavik, there are many dogs – sled dogs, pets, and strays – but no veterinarian, so a veterinary student is designing and delivering a first aid guide for dogs in northern Quebec.

New method detects traces of veterinary drugs in baby food

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:24:24 EDT

The quantities are very small, but in milk powder and in meat-based baby food, residues of drugs given to livestock were found. Researchers have now developed a system to analyze these substances quickly and precisely. Antibiotics, such as tilmicosine, or antiparasitic drugs, such as levamisole, are given to livestock in order to avoid illness, but they can remain later in food.