By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times The immune system is the mechanism that protects and defends the body. Although its main purpose is defense against attack, the immune system is also a barrier, border patrol, soldier, police, doctor, parent, and amazingly, a fortune-teller, all in one package. Not only that, it exists in every living organism from bacteria to plants to animals to protect...

Plus, how to spot if they have been sunburnt Advice on how to spot the signs of sunburn in dogs and how to protect them from skin cancer. Dogs love to head outside during the hot summer months. From beach trips to running around the park and heading on dog-friendly staycations, there are plenty of ways for them to soak up the sun. But...

For devoted pet parents, the death of a pet is devastating, and we grieve the loss of our furry family member in much the same way that we would mourn for a human. And why shouldn’t we? Our pets are an important part of our lives. They share our joys and comfort us when we’re sad, and when we lose them they leave a...

For those interested in a more scientific and thorough study of different cancers and treatments in dogs, the USDA publishes abstracts, the articles from which can be accessed on line. These articles are from the journal: Veterinary and comparative oncology, publication year 2019. A complication probability study for a definitive‐intent, moderately hypofractionated image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiotherapy protocol for anal sac adenocarcinoma in dogs Author: Meier,...

“To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.” Milan Kundera We love our dogs or we wouldn’t be here. We survive puppy-hood, the teenage tear-up-everything stage, those few years of relative calm, and the declining years. We weather illnesses, seldom as well as our...

From: The Conversation By Kendra Coulter Many people have seen dramatizations of forensics on shows likes Bones and CSI. Forensics is the application of scientific principles and methods to criminal investigations at crimes scenes and in labs. In real life, forensic science is being applied to different victims: animals. Front-line officers undertake the trying, risky and under-valued work of initiating investigations into suspected animal...

By Elizabeth DeLomba From: Veterinary Practice News Anxiety is pervasive in our 24-7 society, and dealing with its consequences can be a frequent source of frustration. It’s not just us—our pets also are affected by stress and anxiousness. Both clinicians and pet owners are actively seeking prescription-free solutions to help minimize inappropriate behavior, phobias, fear, and anxiety that impact their pets. Fear and anxiety...

By Lauren Vinopal Ticks can cause Lyme disease, Powassan virus, and even the meat sweats, but that’s just ticks on humans. Ticks on dogs are an entirely different animal. There are many tick-borne illnesses that can be especially dangerous and deadly for dogs. Applying tick prevention medications and checking pups for bugs regularly for bugs can help, but that’s sometimes not enough. Knowing what...

Could a common sweetener that’s already in the kitchen cupboards in many American homes — stevia — prove to be an effective treatment for a disease as debilitating and persistent as Lyme disease? From: University of New Haven It’s too early to say that for sure, but research by Eva Sapi, a University of New Haven professor of cellular and molecular biology, and the...