Flat faces and difficulty breathing: how pet trends have harmed animal health – and what we can we do about it

The genetic mutations responsible for the unusual physical features in animals can also cause great harm.

Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
April 23, 2024 ~7 min

Could sharing a bedroom with your pets be keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep?

Pets provide a source of comfort and intimacy for many owners drifting off to sleep. But according to new research, they may also disrupt your ability to fall or stay asleep.

Brian N. Chin, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Trinity College • conversation
April 3, 2024 ~5 min


How to help children and the family dog stay safe when they play together

People often think about how it’s good for children to have a pet dog around. But what about the dog?

Anna Baatz, PhD Candidate and Associate Lecturer in human-animal interactions, University of Salford • conversation
Feb. 13, 2024 ~6 min

Perils of pet poop – so much more than just unsightly and smelly, it can spread disease

The signs that remind you to pick up after your pet are not just trying to keep public spaces clean; they’re urging you to help safeguard your community’s health.

Julia Wuerz, Clinical Assistant Professor of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida • conversation
Feb. 6, 2024 ~8 min

How long might your dog live? New study calculates life expectancy for different breeds

New research shows that certain breeds tend to live longer than others, and this could help potential owners decide which companion is best for them.

Angus Nurse, Professor of Law and Environmental Justice, Anglia Ruskin University • conversation
Feb. 2, 2024 ~7 min

Dog care below freezing − how to keep your pet warm and safe from cold weather, road salt and more this winter

Dogs might have furry coats, but they can still get cold when the temperature drops.

Erik Christian Olstad, Health Sciences Assistant Professor of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis • conversation
Jan. 30, 2024 ~7 min

Mutton, an Indigenous woolly dog, died in 1859 − new analysis confirms precolonial lineage of this extinct breed, once kept for their wool

Dogs have lived with Indigenous Americans since before they came to the continent together 10,000 years ago. A new analysis reveals the lineage of one 1800s ‘woolly dog’ from the Pacific Northwest.

Logan Kistler, Curator of Archaeobotany and Archaeogenomics, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
Dec. 14, 2023 ~12 min

What the world's oldest dog can tell us about ageing

There’s a surprising amount of crossover in what things help human and dog longevity.

Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Nov. 13, 2023 ~6 min


Your unique body odor could identify who you are and provide insights into your health – all from the touch of a hand

Human scent could one day be used as evidence in forensics and as diagnostic information in medicine.

Vidia A. Gokool, Postdoctoral Researcher, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory • conversation
Sept. 20, 2023 ~8 min

Can animals give birth to twins?

Animals often give birth to litters of more than one offspring at a time. But are those babies twins?

Tracy Jaffe, Assistant Clinical Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University • conversation
Sept. 11, 2023 ~7 min

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