/oss/taxonomy/term/760/all en /oss/article/pet-allergies-feathers-may-be-unexpected-solution <p>The difference between hypoallergenic and anallergenic pet foods is subtle but important. The Greek prefix hypo- <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hypo-#:~:text=Rhymes%3A%20%2Da%C9%AAp%C9%99%CA%8A-,Prefix,)%20Deficient%3B%20less%20than%20normal.">means</a> “lacking” or “less.” Hence, someone who is hypothermic is lacking in heat, and someone who is hypoglycemic has less blood glucose than they should.</p> Fri, 30 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean M.Sc. 9343 at /oss /oss/article/covid-19/your-pets-may-be-susceptible-covid-19-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic <p>Since the pandemic began, news of animals becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 has been trickling in from across the world. From a 17-year-old Pomeranian in Hong Kong to a tiger from the Bronx Zoo, owners’ anxieties have been rising with each new report.</p> Fri, 01 May 2020 18:50:02 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 8233 at /oss /oss/article/general-science/should-i-attach-bell-my-cats-collar <p> </p> <hr /> <p><em>​</em><em>Reprinted with the permission of <a href="https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/bell-cats-collar/">Animal Wellness Magazine. </a></em></p> <hr /> <p><b>Consider these pros and cons before attaching a bell to your cat’s collar.</b></p> Thu, 26 Sep 2019 21:29:14 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7943 at /oss /oss/article/health-technology/can-allerpet-solve-your-pet-allergies <p>Want to cuddle cats but can’t stand the coughing? Want to romp with Rover but avoid the red eyes? Allerpet markets itself as the product for you! Sadly, though, it doesn’t work.</p> Thu, 07 Feb 2019 16:47:21 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7577 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/tigers-and-jaguars-are-attracted-scent-calvin-kleins-obsession-men <p>This surprising fact was initially discovered by researchers at the Bronx Zoo who compared twenty-three different perfumes’ abilities to attract tigers’ attention. One of the least successful was Estée Lauder’s <em>Beautiful</em> which kept cats occupied only for 2 seconds. Revlon’s <em>Charlie</em> worked for 15.5 seconds, Nina Ricci’s <em>L’Air du Temps</em> for 10.4 minutes, but the clear winner was Calvin Klein’s <em>Obsession for Men</em> which kept the cats concentrating on it for 11.1 minutes. </p> Fri, 25 Jan 2019 17:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7555 at /oss /oss/article/health/woofer-madness-cannabis-companion-animals-and-what-legalization-means-your-pets <hr /> <hr /> <p class="note"><strong>Take-home message:</strong><br /> - THC is very dangerous to most companion animals<br /> - Medical cannabis has only a few uses in humans, and even fewer in animals<br /> - Cannabis, hemp or CBD treats, food or supplements are not approved or regulated by Health Canada. They are illegal and could be quite dangerous for your pets.</p> Thu, 18 Oct 2018 16:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7396 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/are-cats-and-dogs-colourblind <hr /> <p>Si tu veux lire cet article en français, <a href="https://www.sciencepresse.qc.ca/actualite/detecteur-rumeurs/2018/08/16/chiens-chats-daltoniens-plutot-vrai">cliquez ici!</a></p> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 19:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7034 at /oss /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/hospice-cat-harbinger-death <p>16th century Italians looked on black cats with a wary eye. Especially if one snuggled up to a bedridden patient. The cat’s affection, they thought, signaled that death was approaching. Oscar the Cat is not black, he has patches of white and grey fur, but this modern feline seems to have an uncanny knack for sensing imminent death. The two-year-old cat was adopted by a nursing home in Providence, R.I. as a kitten, and has been living on the third floor, in the dementia unit, ever since.</p> Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:47:25 +0000 Melody Ko MD 1558 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/why-does-cat-urine-smell-so-bad-and-what-can-i-do-about-it <p style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/?attachment_id=3335" rel="attachment wp-att-3335"><img alt="cat" height="150" src="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2012/11/Cat-urine-150x150.jpg" width="150" /></a>Cat urine is not really different from other animals’ urine, yet many people think of cat urine as one of the hardiest smells in nature. Urine is a concentrate of metabolic waste and is comprised of urea, creatine, uric acid, various detoxified substances, sodium chloride and other electrolytes. It owes its characteristic yellow colour to urobilogen.</p> <p style="text-align:justify">What gives cat urine such a bad name is the fact that the urine is usually left unnoticed until it becomes a problem. Cats have a propensity to mark their territory outside the litter box, be it on the carpet or in hidden corners.</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/2012/11/18/why-does-cat-urine-smell-so-bad-and-what-can-i-do-about-it/">Read more</a></p> Sun, 18 Nov 2012 23:51:45 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1805 at /oss