Scientists Seeking Dogs for Pet Illness Study

Tue, 13 Jul 2010

A team of scientists from Edinburgh University are seeking 20,000 Labrador retrievers to take part in their study examining how diet and exercise can determine a dogs vulnerability to illness. The owners of the animals will be asked to update a web page giving information about their pets eating habits and exercise routines.

Dylan Clements from the Royal School of Veterinary Studies commented that the study should enable vets and scientists to understand the factors which contribute to a dogs health, and will be useful in learning about how pet dogs are cared for in the UK. The ultimate aim of the study, however, is to learn about how to prevent dogs from becoming ill in the future.

The researchers have only just begun searching for the dogs, and want to recruit dogs aged less than a year old. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust are providing the £100,000 funding required to conduct the study, which is the first of its kind in the UK. Vets have welcomed the study, saying it will help them to overcome the obvious difficulties involved in treating animals who cannot relay information about their illness.

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