Feature Channels: Pets

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Simple, common, and mostly inexpensive genetic tests available for most breeds.

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A study done by Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine finds a large range in calorie content, density, and serving size among weight-control diets for pets.

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Pet owners who contract H1N1 flu may pass the disease along to their pets, especially if the pet is a cat or ferret.

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Adults who use pet therapy while recovering from total joint-replacement surgery require 50 percent less pain medication than those who do not. These findings were presented at the 18th Annual Conference of the International Society of Anthrozoology and the First Human Animal Interaction Conference (HAI) in Kansas City, Mo.

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When their family pet developed a life-threatening injury, a dyed-in-the-wool Ole Miss family turned for help to a gridiron rival: Mississippi State University.

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Dalhousie University researcher Mark Petter has been looking into whether dogs can recognize if humans had the intention of deceiving them. His results have been published in Behavioural Processes magazine.

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Animals shelter officials housing lost pets that had been implanted with a microchip were able to find the owners in almost three out of four cases in a recently published national study.

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Dr. Susan Nelson, a veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences at Kansas State University, said there are several guidelines to follow when feeding your pet to ensure that it maintains good health.

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A Kansas State University veterinarian explains why dog and cat bites can be dangerous and what to do if you've been bitten. She also offers tips on avoiding a bite in the first place.

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A veterinarian at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has advice for pet owners who want to consider how pets fit into their own household emergency plans "” especially if that includes evacuating.

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A new report from the CDC shows that many Americans, particularly the elderly, are falling over their dogs and cats literally"¦and hurting themselves. More than 21,000 elderly Americans are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for falls associated with their pet dogs and cats, and their injuries account for nearly one-fourth of all the fractures, contusions, sprains, and lacerations caused by falls associated with dogs and cats. A geriatrician from UMDNJ has some helpful tips.

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Dog owners who sleep with their pet or permit licks on the face are in good company. Surveys show that more than half of owners bond with their pets in these ways. These dog owners are no more likely to share the same strains of E. coli bacteria with their pets than are other dog owners.

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Acupuncture has proven to be a safe and relatively painless treatment for a variety of illnesses in animals. The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers this therapy to both large and small animals. Conditions that respond well to acupuncture range from skin disorders to musculoskeletal issues to neurological problems.

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Obesity in pets mirrors that of humans, as do the reasons -- decreased physical activity, age, and an increased caloric intake, even genetic predisposition. Like humans, there are also many health problems associated with being obese, such as diabetes mellitus.

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A new Cornell educational program, Partners in Animal Health, is offering state-of-the-art videos with 3-D animations on a variety of pet-care topics, including trimming a cat's claws and giving insulin to a diabetic cat.

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The incidents of pet food contaminated with melamine have now spread into pig feed. Dr. Gary Weaver, DVM, of the University of Maryland's Center for Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture Policy (CFNAP), explains why contaminations are likely to continue and what should be done to improve U.S. oversight of imported animal and human food ingredients.

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A new study from researchers at USC suggests that having a dog in the home may worsen the response to air pollution of a child with asthma.

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If your dog is in the wrong place at the wrong time, its life could be in danger from exposure to leptospirosis. Because many veterinarians see only one or two cases of leptospirosis each year, it is easy to miss the diagnosis.

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According to a new survey of animal shelters across Ohio, the outlook for sheltered dogs has improved considerably in the last decade. But conditions have deteriorated for cats.

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Research has suggested that pet ownership is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, lower use of family doctor services, and a reduced risk of asthma and allergies in young children.

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The holidays are a time for families and friends, but Lorraine Corriveau, a wellness veterinarian at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine, cautions that they aren't without risks for animal companions.

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Dogs may be a man's best friend, but they also might be an instrumental tool in weight loss. A new study has found that having a pet can encourage owners to get more exercise and results in more weight loss than most nationally known diet plans.

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Autumn is usually a big time for allergies in pets, and Lorraine Corriveau, wellness veterinarian at Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine, has some advice on what pet owners can do to help their pets make it through the season.

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A new faculty member is helping veterinary students understand some basics about pet loss and the grieving process, and to offer counseling to clients of Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

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Pets need dental care and special attention says Lorraine Corriveau, a wellness veterinarian from Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine, who recommends several ways to keep pets' teeth healthy.

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Don't believe the cartoon. When Tweety meets Sylvester, the cat almost always wins.

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When the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes, many pets become visibly frightened. Many pets, especially dogs, are fearful of thunderstorms. But pet owners can make the experience less traumatic.

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Taking FiFi and Fluffy on vacation is easier than it used to be, but still requires plenty of advance work, says an Iowa State University veterinarian. "It's really important to make a plan for your pet at the same time you develop your travel plan.

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As his name implies, Henry Arthur Cole is no ordinary dog. It's not just that he dutifully volunteers as part of the pet visitation program at Cedars-Sinai. No, what sets Henry apart is the fact that he now continues his volunteer work as a cancer survivor.

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For many allergy sufferers, winter is the worst season, says a professor of allergy and immunology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

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Holiday hustle and bustle can unleash hazards that put pets in peril, says an Iowa State University small animal veterinarian. She points out potential hazards. By simply being aware of these, she says pet owners can greatly minimize the risk to their animals.

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Holiday tips from two Virginia Tech faculty members: 1) Keep it simple; 2) Keep pets safe.

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The next time a dog comes bounding up to you for a wet, sloppy kiss and a good belly rub, don't back away. In an ongoing study, a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher has found that interacting and petting animals creates a hormonal response in humans that can help fight depression.

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Spring rains mean more opportunities for leptospirosis to spread to domestic and wild animals. A Kansas State University veterinarian and infectious disease specialist whose research emphasis is on Leptospirosis said lepto is more prevalent during the spring months because of weather conditions.

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Dogs in animal shelters can be helped to behave better by wafting special scents throughout their kennels and corridors, animal behaviour experts have found. The research may lead to more dogs being rehomed after they have been placed in shelters.

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Researchers have found 16 non-native species of fish "“ apparently set free from home aquariums "“ off the southeast coast of Florida. A recently published study is the first to convincingly demonstrate that well-meaning pet owners can cause a "hot spot" of non-native tropical marine fish.

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According to a recent survey at the 2004 North American Veterinary Conference, the top pet health risk that veterinarians predict are fleas, heartworms, and ticks this year. West Nile Virus for pets figures last in survey.