Dogs' noses just got a bit more amazing, writes Virginia Morell referencing a study in Scientific Reports. The ability to sense weak, radiating heat is known in only a handful of animals: black fire beetles, certain snakes, and one species of mammal, the common vampire bat, all of which use it to hunt prey. . . . dogs' rhinaria are moist, colder than the ambient temperature, … [Read more...]
Dog life expectancy, the long and short of it
Research on dogs in the United Kingdom is helping identify breeds that live longest and those that live short lives. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the average life expectancy across all dogs showed male dogs was 11.1 years, females were about four months longer. Neutered dogs had a life expectancy of close to 12 years for females and 11.5 years for males. Life … [Read more...]