CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychotropic chemical derived from hemp (Cannabis sativa). In recent years, it has received widespread interest due to its potential therapeutic effects on humans, including relief from pain, inflammation, and anxiety.

Research suggests the health benefits of CBD may extend to animals. Yet, while the availability of safety data is increasing in dogs, scant information is currently available about the safety of CBD for cats.

Puppy teeth generally fall out at around six months of age. When they don't fall out, but the permanent (adult) tooth is also present, they are referred to as 'persistent deciduous teeth' (PDT). And though they may be small, they can have a big impact on a dog's long-term health and wellbeing.

The positive benefits of owning and walking a dog have been well documented by both scientific research and anecdotal information for many years. The long list of physical and psychological advantages covers everything from lowering blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels to help tackle loneliness , depression and anxiety.

But what is less well known or researched is the impact certain, more potentially challenging, dog characteristics can have on the accepted benefits of dog ownership. 

Scientists at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute are seeking to understand the safety and efficacy of THC-free cannabidiol (CBD) in cats and dogs, specifically its potential benefits when it comes to aiding anxiety and pain. 

Previous Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) research has shown that older adults who walk their pets are in better physical health then those who don't. Now, a study supported by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute and published in Scientific Reports has found a clear link between pet ownership, dog walking and a slowdown in age-related cognitive decline. 

New research shows the complex nasal structures involved in a cat’s sense of smell function similarly to a gas chromatograph – powerful laboratory equipment that separates chemical components and is often used for aroma analysis of food. 

A new study, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science,

Waltham scientists and veterinary professionals across Mars Petcare are partnering with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to develop one of the largest open-access sets of cat and dog genomes in the world.

The aim is to sequence the full genomes of 20,000 pets entering the MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ over the next 10 years.

In a recent study, scientists and veterinary teams at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Antech and Banfield Pet Hospital, in partnership with Process Integration and Predictive Analytics (PIPA), have identified an early prediction model for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dogs.