Veterinary

Cats have a reputation for being independent and even aloof, so it is no surprise that their facial expressions are difficult to read. Perhaps more unexpected are findings indicating that very few people can decode the emotions in feline facial expressions and that this ability has little to do with cat ownership. Share on PinterestThink

Researchers studying a group of dolphins in the Bahamas have made an intriguing discovery: Most of the group had a right-side bias, much in the way that most humans are right-handed. Share on PinterestMost dolphins, like humans, appear to have a right-side bias. Dolphins are cetaceans: water-dwelling mammals. Currently, scientists recognize at least 40 species

Many mammals gain weight and become insulin resistant during fall. However, these changes are easily reversible, and the mammals will not develop any further unhealthful symptoms. Researchers believe that the explanation for this lies in mechanisms associated with hibernation. Share on PinterestHibernating mammals may have genetic mechanisms that protect them from obesity. Image credit: Little

Currently, fixing a broken wing bone requires two intrusive operations. A recent study, however, concludes that using dog and sheep bone might reduce the number of surgeries and enhance recovery. Share on PinterestA new study in pigeons describes a better way to fix broken wings. Although veterinary science has advanced in leaps and bounds over

For the first time, researchers have managed to record the heart rate of the largest animal that has ever lived on planet Earth — the blue whale. Share on PinterestResearchers have recorded the heart rate of the world’s largest animal. The blue whale, also known as a sulfur-bottom whale, or by its Latin name, Balaenoptera

You may think you know how old your dog is — how their age translates into human years, roughly. But do you, really? Some researchers think that we have been calculating dogs’ ages wrong this whole time. In a new study paper, they explain why. Share on PinterestNew research suggests that we have been making

New research finds that the common fire retardant Firemaster 550 (FM 550) makes both male and female prairie voles less sociable and more anxious. The findings shed new light on how exposure to such chemicals affects the social brain. Share on PinterestVoles are usually very sociable, but new research shows that exposure to a certain

A recent investigation into the microbiome of bats finds that they follow different rules to other mammals. The authors wonder whether these differences might make them more susceptible to environmental changes. Share on PinterestA new paper investigates the gut bacteria of bats. Gut bacteria are vital to human health. Our resident microbes help us digest

New research examines the psychological effects of punishment based training on companion dogs and finds that such training methods are detrimental to the welfare of the dogs, both in the short and long term. Share on PinterestA new study explains why punishing your dog, by yelling, for example, may not be a good idea. What

Zoologists have found that a species of small-brained birds — the vulturine guineafowl of Kenya — organize themselves in multilayered societies. This finding has made the scientists question previous assumptions about which animal species can engage in complex social relationships and why. Share on PinterestVulturine guineafowl can form multilevel societies — previously, scientists had thought

Zombies have become staple figures of popular culture, and the zombie apocalypse is a trope that features in many books, movies, and TV series. But are there actual, real cases of zombiism in nature? Read this special feature to find out. Share on PinterestAre there any real cases of zombification? We investigate. Zombie. The walking

Recent sightings of swines using tools add to the evidence that humans are not the only intelligent and crafty animals around. Visayan warty pigs are fully capable of using tools to help them construct their nests, researchers have found. In the past, researchers used to think that the use of tools — using objects to

After canine surgery, it is relatively common for the wound to become infected. However, it is not clear how often this occurs, what increases the risk, and how much it affects treatment costs. A new study looks for answers. Share on PinterestA new study takes a fresh look at infections following canine surgery. Although scientists

New research in rhesus monkeys shows that when they experience social adversity for a significant period, the long lasting effects remain in their genes. The findings shed light on how humans also respond to socially stressful experiences. New research examines the effects of chronic social stress in rhesus macaques. Jenny Tung, a professor of biology

A recent study investigating cognitive flexibility concludes that in some situations, capuchin and rhesus monkeys are more adaptable than humans. Share on PinterestA recent study pitted capuchin monkeys (pictured) and rhesus monkeys against humans. Humans live in a complex world. As we learn to navigate it, we build up a series of rules in our

Raw meat based foods are becoming more popular among dog owners, based on the belief that a raw food diet may be more natural and healthful for some dog breeds. However, could raw dog food actually be harmful for both dogs and their owners? Some raw dog food products harbor harmful bacteria, a new study

Great apes, such as the gorilla and the chimpanzee, are the primates that are genetically the closest to humans. Yet new research suggests that if we want to find out more about how the human gut microbiome has evolved, we should turn to another class of primates: Old World monkeys. Researchers turn from chimpanzees to

An ingenious new experiment suggests that by drawing from their own experience, great apes can tell when others have false beliefs and can predict another agent’s actions by using their “theory of mind” — an ability that they share with humans. New research strengthens the idea that great apes, including chimps, have a theory of

Plenty of research has suggested that owning a dog can be beneficial to health. Two new studies now add to the existing evidence, finding an association between dog ownership and a significantly lower death risk following a stroke or heart attack. Owning a dog could help prolong the lifespan of a person who has experienced

A new study shows that the genomes of cetaceans, which include dolphins and whales, have changed in important ways to allow these animals to transition from terrestrial to aquatic environments. How did the loss of certain genes allow dolphins and other sea mammals to transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic environment? Although cetaceans, such

For centuries, humans have bred dogs for specific traits or behaviors, developing breeds with a wide array of “specializations,” from companionship to herding or scent hunting. A new study shows that this selectiveness has led to distinctive dog breeds with distinctive brains. Breeding dogs for different purposes has led to significant differences, not just in

Bonobos have some unique social habits that make them highly fascinating to zoologists. One of these habits is the females’ favorite pastime: sex with each other. Why is same-sex sexual behavior so important to these females? What makes female bonobos so eager to have sexual interactions with each other? Some people refer to bonobos as

A new study has concluded that following a threat, squirrels in the wild use the ambient chatter of birds to help determine when the danger has passed. A new study describes an interesting relationship between bird chatter and squirrel vigilance. Nature is an unfriendly place for small animals. For this reason, many have evolved to

Until now, scientists had only recognized one species of electric eel. However, a new study paper concludes that there are three species, and that one of these has the most powerful electrical discharge scientists have ever measured from any animal. A recent study has introduced two new species of electric eel. The electric eel (Electrophorus

Three rare sightings of young adult mountain gorillas playing on their own in a stream in the wild suggest that these large primates may take pleasure, just as humans do, in splashing around for the fun of it. In a rare occurrence, researchers have recorded adult mountain gorillas playing on their own in water, just

Scientists have recently discovered no fewer than five new species of roundworm in the saline soda waters of Mono Lake in Mono County, CA. The members of one of these species have a superpower: They are extremely resistant to arsenic. A newly discovered nematode can withstand 500 times the concentration of arsenic that is lethal

Summer is well and truly over. As I write this, we’re on our fifth consecutive day of rain here in Brighton, United Kingdom, home to Medical News Today‘s editorial office. I think it’s safe to pack the flip-flops away for another year. At MNT, we’ve expanded our offering to include coverage of animal health and

The first empirical study on the connection between cats and their caregivers refutes felines’ chilly image. New research examines how cats form attachments. While the attachment that dogs form to their owners is obvious, the same is not always true of cats. Indeed, cats have a reputation for being independent, even indifferent, and people have

A recent study concludes that the birds of Canada and the United States have taken a substantial hit in the last 49 years. According to the authors, North America’s bird populations have decreased by nearly 3 billion birds. Sparrows are among the most affected groups of birds. Although species extinctions tend to hog the limelight,

Researchers have found that antibiotic resistance is on the rise among farm animals in low-to-middle income countries. This could have a severe impact on the animals’ well-being and the health of consumers. For this reason, they urge the development of better farming policies around the world. Antibiotic resistance in cattle has doubled in under 20