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Animals A horse's whinny is an unusually distinctive mix of sounds including both high and low frequencies. Researchers from Department of Biology demonstrate how horses produce high-frequency sounds that defy their large size while simultaneously producing lower tones: they whistle through their larynx while vibrating their vocal folds as a human does while singing.

Last Updated: 15 Oct 2025 19:00:10 Novel research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University, has revealed the epidemiology of phaeochromocytoma, a rare adrenal tumour, in dogs. The new study uncovers previously unreported breed predispositions and other demographic risk factors, which will contribute to improved recognition of canine phaeochromocytoma in general veterinary practice and deepen the understanding of the cancer.

For the first time, a research team from the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen and the Schöningen Research Centre have reconstructed the genomes of an extinct horse species Equus mosbachensis from the archaeological site of Schöningen in Lower Saxony, approximately 300,000 years old.

Scientists knew that horses were first domesticated began during the third millennium BCE. Yet, the exact nature of the genetic modifications that transformed this animal into a vector for human mobility remained a mystery.

A novel study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed new insights into how the highly contagious disease strangles spreads amongst horses in the UK. This research marks a significant step forward in understanding how owners and veterinarians can more effectively manage and prevent outbreaks of this devastating equine disease, through targeted interventions and outbreak management protocols.

Two new studies from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have revealed widespread public misunderstanding about the importation of puppies from countries within the European Union (EU). With growing concern about the scale and impact of this trade, including puppy welfare and illegal imports, the research highlights the need for greater education and policy change to tackle the growing risks.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College's (RVC) VetCompass Programme has revealed scavenging, digestive diseases and gastroenteritis as some of the most common causes of diarrhoea amongst dogs in the UK. The study sheds light on how frequently the condition occurs in different breeds, as well as on commonly used veterinary treatments and aims to help owners understand the condition more.

UdeM's veterinarians reveal that anxiety plays a key role in feline idiopathic cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder, highlighting the importance of reducing the stress that cats sometimes feel. Are recurring bouts of cystitis in cats linked to stress? Yes, indeed, according to a study of 33 cats by a behavioural medicine team at the CHUV, the animal hospital of Université de Montréal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

An UdeM study examines the effectiveness of giving a special poison to mice to kill the ticks that carry Lyme disease. To fight Lyme disease, you need more than one line of attack. At Université de Montréal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, researchers have started using tick poison on mice, which are key hosts for the bacteria responsible for the illness.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has identified a set of key recommendations to further improve canine health and welfare research in the UK. This includes the need for more efficient grant applications, stronger collaboration between funders and research institutions and the prioritisation of research that has direct welfare benefits for dogs.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with Utrecht University, is the first of its kind to report on the epidemiology of canine insulinoma. Findings reveal that Boxers, German Pointers, Flat Coated Retrievers and West Highland White Terriers are among the breeds at greatest risk of developing the condition.

Professor Emmeline Hill, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and Chief Science Officer at Equinome, and Professor Lisa Katz, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine Credit: Nick Bradshaw/Fotonic New research pinpoints genes associated with a disease seen as a major contributor to poor performance in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Doctoral candidate Sabrine Marangoni from UdeM's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has compiled 24 videos documenting signs of pain in cats. Cats are masters at masking their pain, a natural instinct to avoid attracting predators. However, this poses a challenge for the veterinarians and care teams who must assess and manage pain in cats.

Last Updated: 29 Oct 2024 13:48:07 A new study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the University of Southampton have suggested that flatter-shaped saddles may better fit horses that spend most of their ridden time in motion. From observing significant changes in the shape of horse backs when stationary and during locomotion, the study found that horse backs become much flatter during movement compared to when stood still.

Researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm to accurately detect heart murmurs in dogs, one of the main indicators of cardiac disease, which affects a large proportion of some smaller breeds such as King Charles Spaniels. The research team, led by the University of Cambridge, adapted an algorithm originally designed for humans and found it could automatically detect and grade heart murmurs in dogs, based on audio recordings from digital stethoscopes.

Most dog owners didn't know that flea and tick treatments are dangerous to aquatic life, suggesting more awareness could ease the problem. A study on Hampstead Heath shows that ponds where dogs are allowed to swim contain levels of two pesticides harmful to invertebrate life. These pesticides, imidacloprid and fipronil, are used as parasite treatments for flea and tick infestations in cats and dogs, using 'spot-on' formulas and flea collars.

What goes on in a horse's head? With a better understanding of horses' emotions, we can improve their well-being. That is the idea behind the project of researchers Ineke Smit and Nikae te Moller , started with financial help from the Veterinary Fire campaign. They measure muscle activity in horses' faces in cooperation with the Swedish University of Agriculture SLU.

The findings challenge previous claims that dingoes derived from pariah dogs from India or Thailand. New archaeological research by the University of Sydney has discovered for the first time clear links between fossils of the iconic Australian dingo, and dogs from East Asia and New Guinea. The remarkable findings suggest that the dingo came from East Asia via Melanesia, and challenges previous claims that it derived from pariah dogs of India or Thailand.

The RVC has undertaken the world's largest study into the health of designer crossbreed dogs and revealed that the overall health of three common designer crossbreeds (Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo) is largely similar to their parent purebred breeds. These findings debunk common public beliefs about the superior health of these designer crossbreed dogs and provide vital information to assist potential dog owners when deciding which type of dog to acquire.

New study reveals need for greater One Health understanding in antimicrobial resistance management A new study from researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC); Massey University; and AgResearch, a leading agricultural research institution in Aotearoa New Zealand, has found a need for greater engagement and collaboration between veterinarians, farmers and regulators to improve understanding and management of antimicrobial resistance and One Health amongst Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers.