Pet Dogs to the Rescue!

​Dogs share our homes and environments.  They grow up with us and grow old with us.  As they age, dogs tend to get many of the same health problems that we do, such as obesity, heart problems, cancer, and mental decline.  Most of the genes found in dogs are also found in humans.  Because we share so much, it is not surprising that health-related discoveries in people can lead to better medical care for dogs.  Likewise, studies of dog biology can lead to better understanding and treatments for people.

Pet Dogs to the Rescue!
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

The National Institute of Health (NIH) supports large-scale projects that aim to learn how aging, genes, and other factors affect the health and biology of dogs.  Scientists partner with dog owners who share detailed information about their pets.  The researchers analyze their gathered data and then share their data and findings with other scientists to enable even more discoveries.

A large study called the Dog Aging Project seeks to enroll all types of dogs, including mixed-breed and purebred pets of every age.  The Dog Aging Project aims to follow pet dogs over ten years or more.  They track how genes, diet, exercise, and the environment affect their health and aging.  One lead scientist stated, “If we can understand what affects the health of dogs, that will be good for the dogs and the owners who love their dogs.”

A recent study found active older dogs are less likely to have dementia than inactive dogs.  Another study found that dogs living in environments with fewer opportunities to socialize with people and other animals often had worse health outcomes.  Yes, studying dogs over time could help to pinpoint potential causes.  It may lead to a better understanding of why activity and social relationships affect human health.