https://phys.org/biology-news/veterinary-medicine/ en-us Veterinary medicine news stories about diseases, disorders and injuries in non-human animals When cats fall, they usually land on their feet. This uncanny ability to right themselves before hitting the ground has long puzzled scientists. Now, a team from Yamaguchi University in Japan has the answer, and it's all down to the thoracic spine being more flexible than the lumbar spine, as they detail in a study published in the journal The Anatomical Record. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-japanese-scientists-falling-cats.html Plants & Animals Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:24:53 EDT news692371449 Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School have found that viruses circulating in live poultry markets can be detected more effectively by sampling the surrounding environment than by testing individual birds. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that environmental sampling can uncover a broader range of poultry viruses—including highly pathogenic avian influenza strains that traditional surveillance may miss. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-environmental-sampling-poultry-viruses-bird.html Veterinary medicine Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:40:01 EST news691936741 Researchers from the University of Nottingham have uncovered a surprising biological quirk in domestic cats that may help explain why they are so prone to chronic kidney disease. Unlike dogs and most other mammals, cats appear to accumulate unusual fats inside the cells of their kidneys, sometimes from a very young age. This new study, published in Frontiers of Veterinary Science, and led by Professor David Gardner and Dr. Rebecca Brociek from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University, shows they are anything but ordinary. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-cats-prone-kidney-disease-unusual.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:00:04 EST news691851241 More than four out of every five dead black vultures examined by University of Georgia researchers tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports. The actual toll of the virus on the integral species is likely exponentially higher, though, the researchers warned. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-bird-flu-rampant-black-vultures.html Ecology Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:20:04 EST news691674121 Ehime University investigators measured 34 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in 100 commercial dog and cat foods sold in Japan and detected PFAS across many products, with higher concentrations in fish-based foods and dry products, and higher estimated intake from wet products. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-pfas-exposure-greater-pet-food.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:00:01 EST news691335789 Why does your dog rush to "help" when you are searching for something, while your cat seems… eh, less concerned? New research suggests that this difference may stem from deep evolutionary roots—and that, in certain situations, dogs behave more similarly to young children than to cats. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dogs-toddlers-cats-humans.html Evolution Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:40:05 EST news691329481 Scores of sea lions continue to beach themselves along the Southern California coastline, stricken with sickness. Toxic algae blooms are to blame, though a mechanical engineering innovation could shift the tide in favor of the marine mammals. Now, UNLV-led research published in Scientific Reports has successfully developed a synthetic California sea lion pelvic region, mimicking its bone and soft tissue. This allows medical professionals to conduct blood collection training on anatomically authentic models, improving efforts to treat the live animals. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-3d-synthetic-sea-lion-pelvis.html Biotechnology Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:10:01 EST news691258501 A horse's whinny is an unusually distinctive mix of sounds including both high and low frequencies. Reporting in Current Biology, researchers demonstrate how horses produce high-frequency sounds that defy their large size while simultaneously producing lower tones: they whistle through their larynx while vibrating their vocal folds as a human does while singing. Horses likely evolved these vocalizations to be able to convey multiple messages to one another at the same time, says the team. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-horses-whinny-helium-reveal-mechanism.html Plants & Animals Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:01 EST news690798966 A protein called neurofilament light chain (NfL)—studied in humans in the context of neurodegenerative diseases and aging—is also detectable in the blood of numerous animals, and NfL levels increase with age in mice, cats, dogs and horses. Experts from the DZNE and the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) at the University of Tübingen report these findings in PLOS Biology. In their view, this biomarker could help to assess the biological age of animals and estimate their life expectancy. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-blood-marker-dementia-track-aging.html Plants & Animals Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:40:01 EST news690808575 Scientists have identified a further 12 dog breeds as being at risk of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome—a condition that can cause serious breathing problems—including the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Boston terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, chihuahua and boxer. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-pekingese-shih-tzu-staffordshire-bull.html Plants & Animals Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:00:05 EST news690564661 Just as for humans, sufficient sleep supports learning and coping for horses. A recent study at the University of Helsinki indicates that short periods of REM sleep impair horses' perseverance and performance in demanding learning tasks. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, an entirely new learning test suited to field conditions was developed to measure the learning capacity and motivation of horses in their own enclosures and other familiar environments. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-horses-minutes-rem-persistence-tasks.html Plants & Animals Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:30:01 EST news690566952 Canine cancer patients receiving a new form of immunotherapy lived longer or shorter depending on the composition of their microbiome, the community of organisms living in their gut. Results of the clinical trial led by Oregon State University scientists were published in Veterinary Oncology. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-early-dogs-cancer-survival-gut.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:40:03 EST news690545910 What if cattle were selected not only for their productivity, but also for their resistance to disease? A study conducted by a team of scientists combining systemic immunology, genomics and machine learning provides a better understanding of what shapes animals' immunity, even before they fall ill. The work is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-animal-immune-response-based-genetic.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:35:29 EST news690050101 New research on avian malaria, which has decimated Hawaii's beloved birds, explains how non-native birds play a key role in transmission and contribute to the widespread distribution of the disease. This disease threatens many native species that are integral to Hawaii's identity and its unique and fragile ecosystems. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-hawaii-birds-contribute-avian-malaria.html Ecology Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:12:30 EST news689958722 Pet owners want quick answers when their beloved cat or dog is sick. And if these furry friends are experiencing digestive distress, lethargy and fever, it's important to rapidly rule out serious illnesses like feline panleukopenia (also called feline parvovirus) and canine parvovirus. Now, researchers report improved lateral flow assays for at-home screening. In tests on veterinary clinic samples, the assays demonstrated 100% sensitivity and reproducibility for both parvoviruses. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-simple-home-cat-dog-viruses.html Biotechnology Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:01:30 EST news689853661 More than 50 skuas in Antarctica died from the high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1 in the summers of 2023 and 2024, marking the first documented die-off of wildlife from the virus on the continent. That is confirmed for the first time in a study led by Erasmus MC in The Netherlands and the University of California, Davis. It was published this week in the journal Scientific Reports. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-skua-deaths-wildlife-die-due.html Ecology Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:50:41 EST news689514601 Dogs who scored well on the Wesen test, which is used to analyze a dog's temperament, tended to have lower levels of cortisol, often called the "stress hormone," and higher levels of serotonin, often called the "happiness hormone," according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Minjung Yoon from Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea, and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dogs-generally-cortisol-higher-serotonin.html Plants & Animals Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:00:04 EST news689414882 Some dogs are seemingly more talented than others. So-called gifted word learners (GWL) are rare canines that can rapidly learn the names of toys, a skill that most dogs don't possess. To understand why this is so, researchers studied how these dogs played and discovered that the key to their talent may be a desire to initiate interactions with their owners. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-play-social-dogs-words.html Plants & Animals Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:00:03 EST news689341960 Cats—unlike humans—are true carnivores: they must eat meat to survive because their bodies can't draw some essential nutrients from plants. By looking at tissues, researchers can get a good understanding of what foods animals ate. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-cats-vegan-meat-eaters-isotopic.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:01 EST news689244061 In a small study, dogs experienced both stabilization and destabilization of their balance upon hearing angry or happy human voices, but angry voices were linked to the biggest destabilizing effects. Nadja Affenzeller and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-angry-happy-human-voices-linked.html Plants & Animals Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:00:01 EST news688294681 Researchers at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute in the UK recently revealed a complete taxonomic and functional catalog of the canine gut microbiome after analyzing samples from 107 healthy dogs across the U.S. and Europe. The study, published in the journal Microbiome, unveiled an array of new bacterial strains and their role in gut health. The resulting catalog is now the most comprehensive resource for the gut microbiome in companion animal research. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-largest-canine-gut-microbiome-reveals.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:32:00 EST news688217485 Research led by the University of Sydney is reshaping scientific understanding of one of the world's most widespread canine parasites, suggesting heartworm disease has a far deeper and more complex evolutionary history than previously believed—including a possible ancient origin of Australian heartworms linked to dingoes. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ancient-spaghetti-dogs-hearts-reveals.html Evolution Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:03 EST news688034278 Ever see a basset hound and find yourself wanting to (gently) grab its long, floppy ears and give them a little waggle? The cute aggression caused by those droopy eared canines is real. And researchers at the University of Georgia recently found out what causes some dogs' ears to be so irresistibly appealing. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ears-ear-length-dogs.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:09:15 EST news688046941 Cancer is a leading cause of death in both humans and pets; studies suggest that between one-third and one-half of all dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-sniffing-cancer-dogs-hemangiosarcoma-scent.html Molecular & Computational biology Sat, 17 Jan 2026 08:50:03 EST news687775311 As with humans, the maternal bond in nature is important for animals to find their way in the world. In mammals, a mother does not just provide milk; she also teaches her offspring survival skills and how to play well with others. But according to new research into domestic horses published in the journal Nature Communications, staying with mom fundamentally changes the developing brain and body of foals. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-prolonged-maternal-horses-brains-social.html Plants & Animals Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:20:01 EST news687616978 Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have uncovered new details about how a once-deadly coronavirus disease in cats spreads through the immune system. The findings may help scientists better understand long COVID and other long-lasting inflammatory illnesses in people. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-cat-disease-scientists-thought-coronaviruses.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:40:01 EST news687443904 An international team of scientists has analyzed the ongoing colonization by two retroviruses of the germline of koalas and resulting deaths from cancer in multi-generational pedigrees of over 100 koalas in US and European zoos. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-scientists-infections-cancer-retroviruses-koalas.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:00:03 EST news687433926 "Honey, will you take Luna to the P-A-R-K?" Both parents and dog owners know that some words should not be spoken, but only spelled, to prevent small ears from eavesdropping on the conversation. At the age of 1.5 years, toddlers can already learn new words by overhearing other people. Now, a study published in Science reveals that a special group of dogs are also able to learn names for objects by overhearing their owners' interactions. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-dogs-words-eavesdropping-owners.html Plants & Animals Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:00:02 EST news686941261 Humans and dogs have been living together side by side for thousands of years, so you would think we know everything about our four-legged friends by now. But we may not understand them as well as we think we do. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-misreading-dogs-emotions.html Plants & Animals Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:30:02 EST news684492618 What's the value of one animal? When a wild animal is found badly injured, the most humane option is often euthanasia to prevent further suffering. That's what usually happens, and often for good reason. Even when the resources to rescue one animal are available, a rehabilitated animal brought back into the wild might be rejected by its group, or struggle to find food or escape predators. If it does survive, it may fail to reproduce, and leave no lasting mark on the population. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-africa-rarest-carnivore-story-ethiopian.html Plants & Animals Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:02:13 EST news685789321