The global population is ageing. According to recent UN data, the number of persons aged 60 years or over is expected to more than double by 2050, and to more than triple by 2100.

Results from the largest ever study of its kind show that genetic testing can predict if a dog is at risk for developing certain diseases.

New research from the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition and the University of Liverpool revealed overweight dogs are more likely to have shorter lives than those at ideal body weights.

7 May 2019 - Experts in public health, research, psychology, gerontology, and veterinary medicine are gathering in Washington, D.C. for the first-ever Social Isolation, Loneliness and Companion Animals Summit, supported by Mars Petcare and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI).

New research from Washington State University with support from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute has revealed animal-assisted stress intervention may help university students at high risk of academic stress and failure to concentrate, learn and remember information, as well as feel relaxed and accepted.

The results of the first-of-its-kind research were revealed today, July 3, at the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) conference in Orlando, Florida.

The study by experts in maths, physics, stem cell biology and equine medicine reveals new clues about the causes and potential treatment of specific hoof diseases. This includes the ‘Aladdin’s slipper’ conformation of the hoof and the potential onset of laminitis – a common and serious hoof condition linked to more than 7% of equine deaths worldwide.

The research reveals new evidence on the mechano-biology of the hoof and related pathologies and challenges traditional perceptions that horse weight is necessarily a significant risk factor.

Let’s take it back to basics. The foods and liquids we consume enter our digestive tract, which is essentially a tube that goes from our mouth to our anus. The body secretes enzymes and biochemicals into this tube to break down the food to smaller nutrient components. But, this process, which is called digestion, is also dependent on the help of microbes that live in the gut. Our bodies can then absorb these nutrients and use them for the growth, repair, protection – or survival - of the body. The same is true for people and pets.
 

Cleaning up dogs' excrement is probably one of least admirable tasks of looking after a pet. But it's important to pay attention when scooping it up. Just like ours, a dog's feces can provide information about how well things are functioning on the inside for our beloved furry friends.

We're advancing microbiome research because the more we understand about the combinations of bacteria, the better equipped we are to prevent diseases and improve pets' nutrition. But what have we learnt so far?

Here is a great explainer from our very own expert, Zoe Marshall-Jones, Microbiome Research Manager.

Antech Diagnostics, part of Mars Petcare, has launched a new diagnostic tool that was developed using artificial intelligence and veterinary records. The resulting biomarker model allows the accurate prediction of the disease that is the number one cause of death for cats over the age of five. The RenalTech™ tool is now available to veterinarians in the U.S.