SCIENCE

Furious Signals, Part 1

When Anita Stolze wanted a German Shepherd Dog, she found a reputable breeder and picked a a puppy from a beautiful litter. The father was an AKC champion. Some of the siblings went on to become successful service dogs. Stolze named her puppy Kruezer, and for 15 months everything was wonderful.  But one day Kruezer did something weird...READ MORE

Furious Signals, Part 2

Epilepsy is unique among canine diseases for the frustrating mysteries of its causes. But that mystery is also what attracts researchers and inspires many owners to devote tremendous energy and time into finding answers. Their efforts are beginning to pay off. In recent years, researchers have gained a better view of the organic systems responsible for seizures, yielding new treatments to control the frightening symptoms...READ MORE

Constructing Dogs

What is a dog?  It sounds like a simple question. But students at Indiana University, earning degrees in the History and Philosophy of Science department, can spend their entire college experience exploring all the implications of that very question.

In Defense of Purebred Dogs

The nation watched recently as the Obamas ended their search for a family dog, choosing Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog. While many Americans enjoyed seeing the first family walk onto the White House lawn with Bo, others were not so happy. Months earlier, President Obama had indicated that he was looking at shelter dogs, not purebreds. When he announced his final choice, some suggested that the new president had broken a campaign promise...READ MORE

Fighting Disease with DNA Tests

We have reached a day when breeders can find out exactly what their dogs are made of, right down to the molecules in the cells. Veterinary researchers have peered directly at canine genes, uncovering the story of how diseases originate and reading the instructions on how to prevent those diseases. How can breeders gain access...READ MORE

From the World, For the World

When researchers want to study the basic chemistry of canine diseases, they can put together various chemical compounds, or perhaps run tests on blood samples or specific types of skin samples donated from dog owners. The resuts scientists get from these investigations are valuable, yielding basic facts about cell function and interactions of various compounds. But what scientists cannot determine from this kind of research is...READ MORE

Healthy Integration

Perhaps you have heard about "holistic" veterinarians, or maybe you are considering trying a veterinarian who uses a holistic approach? But a part of you wonders what it really means to be holistic. If you choose this route, does it mean you abandon standard veterinary medications and technology in favor of massage, acupuncture needles, and herbs?  Quite the opposite...READ MORE

Researcher-Breeder Partnerships

Researchers at veterinary colleges across the country are using powerful new techniques to examine the genes of purebred dogs and pinpoint the causes of centuries-old afflictions. Breeders and breed clubs are often the ones who alert researchers about health problems, and researchers, after close study, respond with recommendations on...READ MORE

Twisted Inside

Late one night, when Red was nine, his abdomen suddenly swelled and he got a stricken look in his eyes that Williams had never seen before. "Once you see that look, you'll never forget it," she reports, her voice trembling even 20 years later. "It's like they know they are going to die. You see dogs get hurt sometimes while they're playing. This is different.  They stand in a strange manner, with their heads down. They start retching like they want to vomit, but can't. They try to listen to you and follow your commands, but they just have this hopeless look. They are in sheer pain."...READ MORE

Wisdom of Genetic Testing

After four decades as a breeder, William Newman naturally uses words like "glorious" and "magnificent" to describe his Mastiffs. But a few years ago, darker terms entered his vocabulary, such as "short life span." Mastiffs across the country were suffering from a serious...READ MORE

The Food Is The Dog

The way dogs eat may radically change, thanks to the fusion of nutrition and genetics, two sciences that, until now, maintained a clear separation. Not long ago, this partnership would have been a good basis for a science fiction story.

Care All the Way

Three years ago, my wife and I took our Standard Poodle for a checkup. Everything went fine. Then our veterinarian said, "With Kramer's next visit, we'll do a geriatric workup." Geriatric? Our happy, active dog was only eight years old!  My wife and I repeated that word sadly to each other throughout the day, on our dog walk and out hiking with friends...READ MORE

Collaborative Integrative Care

When speaking of "holistic" or "integrative," people often imagine particular methods – perhaps acupuncture or herbs. But being holistic means an openness to all possible ways, embracing the whole range of possibilities, no matter where they arise...READ MORE

In the Lab, In the Ring