Fascinating research has shown that adults recovering from common—and notably painful—surgery fare far better when animal assisted therapy is prescribed, rather than dangerous amounts of addictive narcotic painkillers. In fact, according to research presented at the First Human Animal Interaction Conference (HAI) in Kansas City, Missouri, US, in 2009, patients who engaged in “animal-assisted therapy” managed to recover from total-joint replacement surgery using 50% fewer opio

Some disturbing news emerged from the US in the past few years. The leading cause of malnutrition among pets there is obesity. That’s right. Even though they’re overeating, American pets are malnourished. It’s a two-for-one tragedy, and it mirrors what’s happening to pet owners. They’re also wolfing down too many calories, and getting too little beneficial nutrition, while simultaneously wrecking their health. And don’t imagine Britain is off the hook. According to the Britis

Researchers from the University of Lincoln, UK, say having a pet dog in the home significantly reduces stress in families with an autistic child. This sort of news probably comes as little surprise to savvy vets, who recognize the power of the pooch to bring peace and calm to troubled children. Published in the American Journal of Veterinary Behavior, the research concludes that having a dog in the home may significantly improve functioning in families struggling to accommoda