pets

Ancient wolf puppies add to mystery of domestic dog development

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In 2011 and 2015 at the Syalakh site in northern Siberia, researchers found two perfectly preserved wolf sisters that were about two months old. They are referred to the Tumat Puppies near the Tumat village. They were found near the bones of wooly mammoths that showed signs of being processed by humans.

The puppies were so well preserved in ice that researchers were able to determine that they ate solid food, including local vegetation, woolly rhinoceros meat, a small bird and were still nursing from their mother.

Because the woolly rhinoceros is a large animal, even a calf, it suggests that the wolves were larger than modern wolves. Also interesting was the fact that their coat was black, something that researchers previously thought was a mutation only found in dogs, however, genetic testing showed that these puppies were not related to dogs.

According to the researchers, “The research findings, however, means that the hunt for the oldest dog — and their place of origin — is still on.”

Journal Reference:

Anne Kathrine Wiborg Runge, Jonas Niemann, Mietje Germonpré, Dorothée G. Drucker, Hervé Bocherens, Kseniia Boxleitner, Jazmín Ramos-Madrigal, Anna Linderholm, David W.G. Stanton, Alexandr Kandyba, Jonathan Brecko, Martine Van den Broeck, Robert Losey, Jannikke Räikkönen, Mikhail Sablin, Julia Stagegaard, Shyam Gopalakrishnan, Sergey Fedorov, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Nathan Wales. Multifaceted analysis reveals diet and kinship of Late Pleistocene ‘Tumat Puppies’. Quaternary Research, 2025; 1 DOI: 10.1017/qua.2025.10

Cite This Page:

University of York. “These frozen wolf cubs ate a woolly rhino—and changed what we know about dogs.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 June 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250624044319.htm>.

Inuit sled dogs are unique

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According to studies by the University of California-Davis, the Inuit sled dogs are a unique breed, different from other Arctic dogs, including malamutes and huskies. The team studied the DNA from 921 dogs and wolves who lived during the last 4,500 years. These dogs are one of the last remaining descendant populations of indigenous, pre-European dog lineages in the Americas.

These dogs were essential for long-distance hauling of people and their supplies across the Arctic and helping to hunt food such as sea mammals. The dogs were essential to the Inuit people allowing them to survive the tough terrain of the North American Arctic 2,000 years ago.

Journal Reference:

Carly Ameen, Tatiana R. Feuerborn, Sarah K. Brown, Anna Linderholm, Ardern Hulme-Beaman, Ophélie Lebrasseur, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Zachary T. Lounsberry, Audrey T. Lin, Martin Appelt, Lutz Bachmann, Matthew Betts, Kate Britton, John Darwent, Rune Dietz, Merete Fredholm, Shyam Gopalakrishnan, Olga I. Goriunova, Bjarne Grønnow, James Haile, Jón Hallsteinn Hallsson, Ramona Harrison, Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Rick Knecht, Robert J. Losey, Edouard Masson-MacLean, Thomas H. McGovern, Ellen McManus-Fry, Morten Meldgaard, Åslaug Midtdal, Madonna L. Moss, Iurii G. Nikitin, Tatiana Nomokonova, Albína Hulda Pálsdóttir, Angela Perri, Aleksandr N. Popov, Lisa Rankin, Joshua D. Reuther, Mikhail Sablin, Anne Lisbeth Schmidt, Scott Shirar, Konrad Smiarowski, Christian Sonne, Mary C. Stiner, Mitya Vasyukov, Catherine F. West, Gro Birgit Ween, Sanne Eline Wennerberg, Øystein Wiig, James Woollett, Love Dalén, Anders J. Hansen, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Benjamin N. Sacks, Laurent Frantz, Greger Larson, Keith Dobney, Christyann M. Darwent, Allowen Evin. Specialized sledge dogs accompanied Inuit dispersal across the North American Arctic. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2019; 286 (1916): 20191929 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1929

Cite This Page:

University of California – Davis. “Unique sled dogs helped the Inuit thrive in the North American Arctic.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27 November 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191127161405.htm>.

Why I wrote God’s Creatures, A Biblical View of Animals

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by Susan Bulanda

Many people are passionate about animals. It could be a pet, a wild animal, or someone who works at a rescue organization. I am no different in my passion and as a young teen I started training dogs. I had a business established by the time I entered High School. I progressed to become a certified animal behavior consultant specializing in dogs and cats.

In some cases I would mention to my clients that I was a Christian to help explain my beliefs about animals. This would always result in several questions. As a result I compiled all the questions and put them into my book God’s Creatures. The book has been very successful and has been used in churches as a Bible study.

The Bible has many things to say about animals and how God has used them. There are also miracles that involve animals. For example, when Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem, he told his disciples to get an unbroken donkey colt for him to ride into Jerusalem. Many people today do not realize that no one rides an untrained equine of any kind into a city with hundreds of people waving palm leaves and throwing cloaks in front of the donkey. The donkey went where Jesus wanted him to go and did not panic. That was a miracle and illustrated how Jesus communicated to the donkey who understood and obeyed. There are many more miracles that involve animals. If you would like an autographed copy of my book, you can order one from my website at www.sbulanda.com The book is also available on Amazon and from the publisher, Cladach Publishing at http://www.cladach.com

The chapters are:

Created Wild and Domestic

Adam & The Animals

God Cares for Animals

Killing and the Eating of Animals

The Ownership and Use of Animals

Do Animals Have the Same Rights and Rules as Humans

Can Animals Think

Understanding and Communicating with Animals

God Communicates with Animals

Animals as Agents of God’s Judgement

Can Animals Be Evil

Animals Minister to Humans

Is The Bible Uncomplimentary to Animals

Will Animals Be in Heaven

Conclusion: Lessons From the Animals

Dementia in cats is similar to humans

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Scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and California, UK Dementia Research Institute and Scottish Brain Sciences studied the brains of 25 cats who showed signs of dementia after they had passed away. They found that there was a build-up of the toxic protein amyloid-beta in the brains of cats with the condition, which is one of the defining features of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

This finding will help scientists determine if the treatments for humans with dementia may help cats, dogs and other pets who suffer from dementia. Unlike rodents, cats naturally develop the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The research may lead to treatments for pets.

Journal Reference:

Robert I. McGeachan, Lucy Ewbank, Meg Watt, Lorena Sordo, Alexandra Malbon, Muhammad Khalid F. Salamat, Makis Tzioras, Joao Miguel De Frias, Jane Tulloch, Fiona Houston, Danièlle Gunn‐Moore, Tara L. Spires‐Jones. Amyloid‐Beta Pathology Increases Synaptic Engulfment by Glia in Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: A Naturally Occurring Model of Alzheimer\’s Disease. European Journal of Neuroscience, 2025; 62 (3) DOI: 10.1111/ejn.70180

Cite This Page:

University of Edinburgh. “How cats with dementia could help crack the Alzheimer’s puzzle.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 August 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250813083611.htm>.

Breeding Dogs Part 8

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase. The following is the last (eighth) part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are like puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Eight

The Stud

As the owner of a male dog that you wish to stud, you have responsibilities as well. As stated in Part One, only the best bitches and males should be bred. The only reason to breed is to better the breed.

The male should be evaluated by an ethical breeder to determine that he is the quality to breed. This should also be reflected by wins in either the conformation show ring or as a working dog in working competitions.

The male dog must have all the medical testing that the bitch has, to include all genetic issues that the breed may have. A temperament test is also necessary.

As the owner of the stud, you may be required to board the bitch for breeding. Often when two dogs are kept for breeding, they both will cry, howl and bark day and night.

Do you know how to handle the problem bitch who does not want to be bred or the male who has not been bred before and needs help?

Are you qualified to judge a five-generation pedigree to determine if the bitch is a good match with your stud dog?

If the owner of the bitch is not experienced, are you qualified to advise the owner about whelping, raising puppies and selling them?

Do you know at what point in the bitch’s season is the correct time to breed them and how often?

What kind of guarantee will you give to the owner of the bitch? If the breeding doesn’t take, will you provide your stud in six months for a re-breeding?

Are you prepared, if the owner of the bitch cannot cope with the litter, to take the litter and be responsible for caring for and selling the puppies? It has happened where the owner of the litter dumps the entire litter on the owner of the stud.

In conclusion for both male and female dog owners. Keep in mind that there are only so many people willing to own a dog. The shelters are loaded with dogs and cats that people have given up for many reasons. Often because they got tired of caring for the pet, or an elderly family member passed away, and no one wants the pet. Some dogs and cats are put up for adoption because the owners could not deal with the level of energy or could or would not train the pet to be a well-behaved companion. Every breeder or stud dog owner who produces a puppy or kitten, potentially condemns one to death. Therefore, make sure that you have a good reason for breeding. I am not saying that you should not breed, we need different breeds to perform the many jobs that they do for us but be sure that the puppies you produce are the best and worth it.

Breeding Dogs Part Seven

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase. The following is the seventh part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are like puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Seven

Now that your puppies are ready to sell, are priced according to their quality you are ready to advertise your puppies. If you are lucky and have worked with an ethical breeder, they may be able to refer potential buyers to you. Keep in mind that you are the breeder, the expert in the eyes of your potential clients. This means that as an ethical breeder you must give some sort of guarantee with your puppies. You are the go-to person if your puppy buyers have questions about grooming, training, feeding, housebreaking, and whatever comes up throughout the puppy’s life. Do you have all the paperwork for the puppies in order? This means that you registered the litter at the time of birth so that you have the papers to give with your puppies.

Are you going to have a puppy buyers’ contract that requires that non-breeding quality puppies must be spayed or neutered? How will you enforce this? Will you have nonbreeding stock neutered or spayed before they are sold? Are you willing to take a puppy back at any time in the puppy’s life if the owner cannot keep it? This should be part of the puppy buyer’s contract that you offer.

Breeding Dogs Part 6

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase. The following is the sixth part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are similar to puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Six

Many people who opt to breed their bitch do not fully grasp the amount of care that a litter of puppies requires. Once the litter is more than two weeks old, the real work starts. First, the litter must be kept in a place in your home that is easy to access and to clean. It is usually a whelping box and then a confined area in the home.

Typically, puppies will dump their food and water. They also eliminate in their area which needs to be cleaned and disinfected continually. If you do not clean the area quickly, the puppies will walk, roll or lay in their messes. If that happens then you will have to clean the puppies as well as their area. If their area is not disinfected the area and possibly your house will start to have an unpleasant odor and be unhealthy for the puppies. Even if you have an exercise pen outside to put the puppies for an hour or so, that area must be cleaned as well.

The breeder must be home for the puppies most of the day. Young, weaned puppies must be fed four times a day.

By the time the puppies are six weeks old they will need a veterinarian visit to check for worms and get their first shots. Remember, this cost will be times the number of puppies in the litter.

When the puppies are eight weeks old it is time to bring the litter to the breeder that is your mentor for evaluation. You need to do this so that you can price your puppies fairly. Not all puppies in a litter are show quality or working quality. A male puppy may only have one testicle descended; another puppy may not have the correct structure or have an improper bite. Another may have a bad topline or is cow hocked, and the rest may not be bad but are not outstanding either. If you are lucky, one puppy in the litter may be show quality.

Breeding Dogs part five

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase. The following is the fifth part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are similar to puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Five

Once the bitch is confirmed to be pregnant, it is a good idea to have an ultrasound done to see how many puppies are in the litter. This is a wise precaution so that when she whelps, you are assured that all the puppies were born. It is not unknown for a puppy to remain in the uterus and die, causing the bitch to die as well.

Be sure that you are clear about your breeding terms with the stud dog owner if the bitch does not conceive. What if the puppies are born dead or the bitch miscarries? What happens if you were not careful and the bitch has a mixed litter? One sperm fertilizes one egg and the bitch releases eggs over a period of time, so it is possible for a bitch to have a litter where some puppies are purebred and others are mixed breed, especially if she is bred by a roving romancer. What will you do if the some or all the puppies are breached? What if your bitch cannot pass the puppies and needs a caesarean? What are your plans if the bitch will not nurse the puppies? Are you prepared if your bitch dies while whelping the litter?

If the litter is born without major issues, you will still need to take your bitch to the veterinarian for a checkup and to get a hormone and antibiotic shot. You will want to bring the puppies to the veterinarian as well to be sure that they are all healthy and can nurse.

Breeding dogs, fourth installment

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Understanding the breeding process will help you identify the quality of the puppy or dog that you wish to purchase.The following is the fourth part in a series of eight articles about breeding dogs. Although it applies to a dog, it also applies to cats. People do not realize that there are cat mills which are similar to puppy mills. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire eight articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.

Part Four

If after careful thought you decide to breed your bitch, the process has just begun. First, if you purchased your dog from an ethical breeder, you should go back to your breeder to find out if your bitch is breeding quality. This will involve studying her pedigree or family tree. It is a good idea to consult with a few breeders. Find out what your dog’s good points and faults are.

You want to find out what inherited problems are associated with your breed. Next you want to consult with your veterinarian to arrange for any tests that are available to evaluate your dog. This could mean having your dog X-rayed for hip dysplasia and then registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). If your breed has a tendency for eye problems, you will need to have a canine ophthalmologist examine your dog and then register your dog with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation. You may also want your dog temperament tested by the American Temperament Test Society, Inc. These are just three examples of the type of tests that are required for ethical breeding. 

Your veterinarian should also check your dog for worms including heartworms (if your dog has not been on a monthly preventative), and any other disease that may cause problems with breeding or the puppies.

If a number of breeders have determined that your bitch is worthy to breed, you want to further prove your bitch by entering and winning a few conformation shows or working competitions even if it is only an obedience competition.

Next on the recommendation of the breeders that you have consulted, you want to seek out a decent stud dog. The stud dog should have had all the tests necessary for the breed. If possible, you want to match the lines of the stud dog so that they are compatible with the lines of your bitch. The stud dog should have been proven in several ways, such as having sired quality litters before, won dog shows or working trials. The stud dog should have at least the same qualifications as your bitch, ideally more. 

When your bitch comes in season let the owner of the stud dog know. There will be a stud fee and if necessary, a boarding fee while your bitch stays with the breeder of the stud dog. It is important that you have written contracts between you and the owner of the stud that outline what guarantees you are entitled to for the stud fee. In some cases, artificial insemination may be required. If this method is used, the litter is usually small.

Stud fees vary from a cash payment and/or first pick of the litter. If your breed is not known for having more than one or two puppies in a litter, this could mean you will only have one or no puppies to sell yourself.

Be prepared to make several trips to the stud dog for the breeding. It does not happen with one breeding.

First dogs in the UK treated with groundbreaking bee and wasp venom immunotherapy

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The University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital is the first in the UK to use a groundbreaking treatment for dogs suffering from serious allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings.

The treatment, Hymenoptera Venom Immunotherapy (VIT), has now been successfully used on a number of patients; and while the approach is still relatively new, clinicians believe it offers a hopeful approach to preventing recurrent anaphylaxis in dogs.

The Small Animal Hospital is one of just a few specialist centres around the world able to deliver this type of disease-modifying treatment.

Insect venom allergy is one of the most serious acute allergic conditions in dogs. Reactions can develop within minutes of a sting and can, in a very small number of cases, progress from hives and vomiting to collapse, respiratory distress, and in severe cases, death.

In addition, almost two-thirds of dogs who experience one severe reaction to a bee or wasp sting go on to experience the same, or worse symptoms after subsequent stings.

Hymenoptera Venom Immunotherapy treatment, which was first developed for use in humans, works by gradually introducing controlled, increasing doses of bee or wasp venom to the affected dog, training the immune system to tolerate future exposure and significantly reducing the likelihood of a recurrent severe allergic reaction.

At the Small Animal Hospital the treatment is led by Professor Ana Rostaher, a world-leading expert in the veterinary field on VIT, who alongside colleagues has contributed to research which shows encouraging clinical outcomes, including high levels of protection from recurrent severe reactions in treated patients.

Clinical experience and research from the University also suggests that many dogs undergoing VIT achieve strong protection against repeat anaphylaxis, with the treatment demonstrating a favourable safety profile when delivered under specialist supervision.

The process for treatment involves an initial diagnostic phase with allergy testing, followed by a closely monitored induction period and long-term maintenance therapy that may continue for several years.

Professor Ana Rostaher said: “Venom immunotherapy represents a major advance in how we can manage severe insect sting allergies in dogs. For affected animals, a single sting can make them very ill and even die. However, this treatment offers a proactive way to change that risk profile and provides owners with an option for further peace of mind for those animals who are severely allergic to insect stings.”

The severity of some cases was seen in the case of Claire and Matthew Preece’s dog Amber, a Vizsla breed dog who became the first patient in the UK to undergo venom immunotherapy at the University of Glasgow Small Animal Hospital after experiencing a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting in July 2021.

Amber’s owners, from Stratford-upon-Avon, experienced Amber becoming suddenly unwell after an unseen bee entered the home through an open window. The dog’s behaviour changed abruptly—she began barking unusually, followed by the rapid development of hives and vomiting, and her condition quickly deteriorated as she was rushed to the vet.

Her owners described the experience as devastating, with Amber treated as an emergency patient. The experience left Claire and Matthew with ongoing anxiety around bee and wasp exposure, particularly during warmer months and outdoor activity. The couple heard about the groundbreaking new therapy and opted to have Amber treated at the Small Animal Hospital in Glasgow.

Claire Preece said: “Amber became unwell very quickly at home—we didn’t even realise at the time that she had been stung by a bee that had flown in through an open window. Her behaviour changed first, then things escalated rapidly. It became clear within minutes that this was extremely serious.

“We chose immunotherapy to reduce the risk of another reaction and to regain a sense of control. The anxiety never fully went away—we simply wanted to do everything possible to protect Amber.”

Prof Rostaher added: “Amber’s story underlines why this treatment matters as, for some dogs, these reactions are sudden, severe, and deeply distressing for families. Venom immunotherapy offers a way not just to treat the condition, but to prevent the next emergency before it happens.”

The University of Glasgow Small Animal Hospital continues to develop its venom immunotherapy programme, aiming to improve outcomes for dogs at risk of anaphylaxis and expand access to this specialist treatment.

More information

Images of Amber the dog alongside caption details can be found here.

ENDS

For more information contact Elizabeth McMeekin or Ali Howard in the University of Glasgow Communications and Public Affairs Office on Elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk or ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk