Predicting respiratory disorder mortality in dogs
Jill Lopez Jill Lopez

Predicting respiratory disorder mortality in dogs

Respiratory disorders in dogs can quickly become critical and are reported to be the second leading cause of cardiac arrest in canines. Therefore, it is necessary to take appropriate measures according to each patient’s condition. This, however, requires rapid and accurate disease severity assessments. In human medicine, scoring systems that incorporate physical examinations and blood tests results with respiratory function assessments exist, and enable more accurate severity assessments. In contrast, there are only a few reports on severity assessments that use tests other than respiratory function evaluations in veterinary medicine. Further, these evaluations usability remains unclear.

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What’s in the pet bowl? Heavy metals, reveals 10-state survey
Jill Lopez Jill Lopez

What’s in the pet bowl? Heavy metals, reveals 10-state survey

Two-thirds of dogs tested in a recent survey consume higher-than-recommended levels of heavy metals in their drinking water, according to a study published August 6, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS Waterby Audrey Ruple from Virginia Tech, U.S., and colleagues. The survey, which focused on well water households in 10 states, uncovered 13 instances where arsenic, lead and copper tested above EPA-recommended levels.

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Unraveling the Genetics of Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Insights from a Multiomics Study of 138 Cats
Jill Lopez Jill Lopez

Unraveling the Genetics of Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Insights from a Multiomics Study of 138 Cats

This article reviews a groundbreaking multiomics study investigating the genetics of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in 138 domestic cats. It discusses how whole genome sequencing and RNA transcriptomics revealed rare genetic variants and distinct molecular signatures linked to HCM. The findings highlight the complexity of feline HCM genetics and point to future opportunities for biomarker discovery and targeted therapies. Keywords include feline HCM genetics, RNA sequencing in cats, inherited cat heart disease, and veterinary precision medicine.

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