https://phys.org/biology-news/veterinary-medicine/ en-us Veterinary medicine news stories about diseases, disorders and injuries in non-human animals A pilot study tested an electronic nose, called NOS.E, alongside human-remains detection dogs to see whether it could detect buried remains and help confirm dogs' signals. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-electronic-nose-police-dogs.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:30 EDT news711801841 Sounds have shapes. That might sound strange since sound waves are invisible, but a famous psychological experiment in the 1920s showed that our brains naturally link spoken sounds to visual forms. According to new research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, dogs may do this too. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-dog-link.html Plants & Animals Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:10:01 EDT news711189791 Giardia duodenalis is a microscopic, flagellated parasite that often calls the human and animal gut its home. In most cases, it coexists harmlessly with its host, and most infected pets and people show no signs of illness. However, when it becomes pathogenic, it can cause diarrhea, digestive issues or weight loss. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-house-cats-gut-parasite-infect.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:20:09 EDT news711014703 For decades, scientists have believed that a protein called interferon tau (IFNT) is indispensable for pregnancy in cattle. Produced by the early embryo, it was thought to signal its presence to the mother and prevent the hormonal changes that would otherwise end the pregnancy. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-cows-healthy-calves-embryonic-protein.html Biotechnology Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:20:01 EDT news710690701 Across mammals, larger species typically have longer lifespans, ranging from only a couple of years for mice to almost 200 years for some whales. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-genes-big-dogs-age-faster.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:00:48 EDT news710602201 Sleeping alongside your dog probably doesn't disrupt your sleep as much as you might think, according to a study published Oct. 7, 2026, in the journal PLOS One by Ming Fei Li of the University of Toronto, Canada, Lavania Nagendran of the University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada, and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-dogs-owners-disturb-night-pretty.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:00:07 EDT news710520001 National happiness is influenced by complex relationships beyond basic economic factors, according to a study by Javier I. Borráz-León of the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation in Mexico City and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-cats-key-happy-countries.html Plants & Animals Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:40:15 EDT news709969742 Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Baker Institute of Animal Health have published the first molecular characterization of Marfan syndrome in domestic cats in a paper in the Sept. 19 issue of Scientific Reports. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-case-marfan-syndrome-feline-siblings.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:20:08 EDT news709467367 Dog brains segment speech into words in a way previously seen only in humans, a new study from Hungary finds. This suggests that efficient speech processing is not necessarily a consequence of humans' unique language abilities: Regular exposure to speech alone can reshape how the brain functions, even in a mammalian species evolutionarily distant from humans. The discovery by the Neuroethology of Communication Lab at the ELTE Department of Ethology in Budapest is published in Science. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-dog-brains-track-consonant-patterns.html Plants & Animals Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:00:25 EDT news709392061 In a new study, cats and dogs showed a short-term preference for kibble containing some protein derived from microorganisms over kibble containing only standard animal-derived protein. Ally Motta de Matos and A.L.B. Cruz of MicroHarvest—an European company that produces protein ingredients through fermentation, with pet food as its first market—present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-kibble-microbial-proteins-appeals-cats.html Biotechnology Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:00:05 EDT news709290528 When we tell a dog "no" and it resists temptation, what happens in its brain? New research from the Department of Ethology at ELTE and the HUN-REN Research Centre of Natural Sciences suggests that dogs may do more than respond automatically: When they restrain their behavior, their brains show a pattern of activity resembling the human neural signature of self-control. The study is published in the journal Animal Cognition. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-dogs-human-brain-restrain.html Plants & Animals Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:30:01 EDT news708786513 Washington State University researchers have discovered how a group of coronaviruses circulating in hedgehogs invades host cells, a key to understanding their potential to jump between species and their risk of causing a pandemic in humans. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-hedgehog-coronaviruses-threaten-cats-humans.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:40:10 EDT news708779101 Dogs and cats may carry strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, a potentially serious bacterium that can cause infections and is also found in humans, according to new research from Bournemouth University published in the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-dogs-cats-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:00:04 EDT news708334861 Dogs trained in scent detection may be better at sniffing out the right smell after breakfast, with new research finding hungry dogs working for treats are more likely to falsely identify the wrong scent. The study, led by researchers from the University of Waikato and Adelaide University, explored how meal timing affected dogs' accuracy in detecting target scents. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-hungry-scent-dogs-cry-wolf.html Veterinary medicine Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:40:01 EDT news708248526 The scavenging behavior of many wild birds plays an important role in the type, number and variety of viruses they have, a new University of Otago–Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-led study has found. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-scavenging-linked-virus-variety-wild.html Ecology Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:03 EDT news708238921 A new study reveals that horse personality is not only a matter of genetics, age or breed but also systematically linked to how horses are housed, ridden and cared for, and to the quality of the relationship they share with their owners. The findings underscore the importance of everyday management decisions for equine personality and welfare. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-engage-horses-personality.html Plants & Animals Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:40:04 EDT news708166321 The human-animal bond is often so strong that pet owners may delay or forgo medical treatment or leave a health care facility against medical advice if they have no one to care for their pet at home. A perspective paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine explains why pet owners may need different approaches to care when hospitalized, according to an Emory University physician and an Ohio State University veterinarian. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-views-physician-veterinarian-barriers-pet.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:00:04 EDT news707734865 Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) featured prominently in the news during 2020 as it took the lives of millions of birds across the globe. While the worst seems to be behind us, population-level effects are just now emerging. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-ddt-flu-peregrine-falcons-san.html Plants & Animals Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:40:03 EDT news707644561 As dogs age, many develop more than one chronic health condition. New research from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) shows those conditions can dramatically shorten a dog's lifespan, highlighting the importance of managing multiple diseases together rather than individually. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-chronic-conditions-key-longer-lifespan.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:50:01 EDT news707414941 Blinking keeps eyes moist, sweeps away bits of dirt and dust, and helps the brain rest when processing visual information. But in dogs, it may also serve another function as a subtle social signal. That was one of the conclusions of new research published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, which found that dogs blink more often when they see their owners blinking. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dogs-subtle-social.html Plants & Animals Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:40:05 EDT news706954032 A mule has helped researchers build the most complete reference genomes to date for horses and donkeys, giving scientists access to complex regions of DNA that earlier versions could not fully capture. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mule-scientists-clearest-horse-donkey.html Evolution Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:20:04 EDT news706792861 At 61, Bill had begun showing changes in his health—decreased appetite, weight loss and abdominal bloating. But his bloodwork was normal, leaving the cause of his symptoms unknown. The next step was clear: Bill should get a CT scan to check for problems with his internal organs. There was just one hurdle: Bill is a nearly 400-pound (approximately 180-kilogram) Siamese crocodile. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ct-scan-pound-crocodile.html Plants & Animals Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:04 EDT news706780443 Many animals obtain information about others from scent marks left in the environment, including urine. Because these marks remain after the sender has left, they allow animals to communicate across space and time. But odor molecules evaporate, degrade and change after release. How, then, can a scent mark continue to convey reliable information about who left it? https://phys.org/news/2026-08-year-mystery-cat-kidney-linked.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:00:26 EDT news706194782 A benign but invasive canine oral cancer is often mistaken for a similar malignant one, leading to misdiagnoses in close to a third of cases. But a new diagnostic tool can now distinguish between the two, according to a new study that also identified a promising FDA-approved drug ready for clinical trials. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-drug-invasive-canine-oral-tumors.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:40:07 EDT news706273621 A distinctive black or dark brown lesion that appears on the eyes of some cats has long puzzled veterinarians. Now, researchers have identified two elements that may help explain what is happening inside the affected cornea. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-elements-clues-mysterious-black-eye.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:20:08 EDT news706181222 For many people, a trip to the zoo is a chance to watch playful otters dart through the water and chatter with one another. But while we may worry that crowds could stress the otter community, a new Australian study shows that happy onlookers may indeed be helping them flourish. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-otters-attention-humans.html Ecology Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:40:01 EDT news706179653 Humans love dogs, but petting them can leave some people sneezing and wheezing. About 15% of the world's population lives with a dog allergy, which can increase the risk of hay fever and asthma. The main culprit is Can f 1, a protein found mainly in dog saliva. Right now, staying away from furry friends or getting regular immunotherapy shots or tablets is the only way to deal with the symptoms. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-gene-beagles-major-dog-allergen.html Biotechnology Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:00:01 EDT news705919142 Canine sarcoptic mange (scabies) is a skin condition in which microscopic mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) infest dogs' skin. The condition is contagious and zoonotic and can be difficult to detect. If left untreated, it can cause bleeding sores, malnutrition, emaciation and secondary bacterial infections that may eventually lead to a dog's death. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-topical-clove-oil-canine-sarcoptic.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:40:01 EDT news705918202 For dogs with heart disease, a fraction of a centimeter can make a life-changing difference. Veterinarians often rely on chest radiographs to monitor subtle changes in heart size that help determine when treatment should begin. But those measurements can vary from one doctor to the next, making it difficult to know whether a dog's condition is truly changing or whether the difference is simply the result of human interpretation. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-tool-veterinarians-track-heart.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:30:01 EDT news705765121 University of Bristol–led researchers have identified a naturally occurring gut molecule that could strengthen chickens' immune response against a wide range of bacterial infections. This development, published today, Aug. 12, in The Journal of Immunology, offers a major step forward in sustainable farming and the global fight against antibiotic resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-immune-reprogramming-poultry-deadly-diseases.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:20:01 EDT news705747624