The microbiome is the diverse community of microbes - including bacteria, viruses and fungi - living in a pet's body. While many of these microbes live in the gut, they're also found on the skin and in the mouth.
The microbiome plays an important role in keeping pets healthy, by supporting digestion, nutrient absorption and modulating the immune system. An unbalanced microbiome can lead to health issues like diarrhoea, gum disease or skin problems.
Our Institute’s scientists have been at the forefront of pet nutrition research for over 50 years. Through their collaborations, they have been focusing on finding the optimal balance between nutrients so that both cats and dogs can thrive at all moments in their lives.
Throughout the past decades, our teams have identified:
New research highlights the potential that the WALTHAM™ Puppy Growth Charts have to help owners an
The unconditional support dogs offer us may have been particularly valuable for some of us during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. On National Dog Day - and every today - we celebrate our companions’ role in our health and wellbeing, as well as the many ways in which our researchers, in partnership with veterinarians, data scientists and experts from across Mars Petcare, are advancing science to help dogs live healthy, happy lives.
In any animal-assisted therapy setting, the safety and welfare of all involved are paramount – from the students and other participants to the staff and the animals.
The field of human-animal interaction research has been growing rapidly over the past several decades. There is increasing evidence that owning a pet or simply interacting with one can bring physical and mental health benefits to people of all ages and from all walks of life:
Little or large, shaggy or smooth, ears pricked or floppy, today we’re celebrating our love of mixed breed dogs on National Mutt Day.
Billions of tiny bugs share our daily lives. They sample our food and drink, they experience the stresses we endure and they are affected by the illnesses we suffer. These bugs are the bacteria and their viruses that live in our guts. Their numbers are vast, topping 10 trillion; around 10 times greater than the number of cells that form our bodies.
Overall, the study found that pet owners are significantly more likely to meet new people in their neighbourhoods than non-pet owners. Around a quarter of those who met people through their pet said that this resulted in at least one new friendship rather than a mere acquaintance. Dog owners fare even better as they are five times more likely to get to know people in their neighbourhoods compared with other pet owners, with dog walking being one of the top five ways for people to meet new people.
8 March 2017 - Growing up with a pet can bring social, emotional and educational benefits to children and adolescents according to a newly published study. Youngsters with pets tend to have greater self-esteem, less loneliness, and enhanced social skills. This research adds strength to claims that household pets can help support healthy child development.