31 Aug Pet dogs to the rescue!

Furry friends can help human health.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Dogs share our homes and environments. They grow up with us and grow old with us. And as they age, dogs tend to get many of the same health problems that we do—conditions like 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’s 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.

That’s why 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 the massive amount of data they’ve gathered. Then they share their data and findings with other scientists to enable even more discoveries. Read more …