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‘Dogs alter faces when humans are looking’ - study
While dogs made far more facial expressions when humans were watching, being offered food did not produce the same effect.
Research suggests dogs use facial expressions to communicate 

Dogs produce more facial expressions when humans are looking, according to new research.

Scientists from the University of Portsmouth’s Dog Cognition Centre, say they have found the first clear evidence that dogs alter their faces in response to human attention.

Most mammals use facial expressions but it has long been assumed that this is involuntary in animals - dependent on the individual’s emotional state, and not used in response to an audience.

Lead author Dr Juliane Kaminski said it is possible that dogs’ facial expressions have changed as a result of domestication.

Researchers observed 24 family dogs of various breeds, aged one to 12. They were kept on a lead about a metre away from a person, who displayed a range of behaviours, such as facing the dog, being distracted, and facing away from the dog.

The dogs’ facial expressions were monitored using DogFACS, an anatomically-based coding system that captures movements from the canine face muscles. Brow raising, which makes the eyes look bigger (otherwise known as ‘puppy dog eyes’), was the most commonly used expression in the study.

Researchers found that while dogs made far more facial expressions when humans were watching, being offered food did not produce the same effect, suggesting dogs use facial expressions to communicate, not just because they are excited. This is the first time scientists have systematically examined dog facial expressions that are used to communicate with humans.

The team say it is not yet possible to determine if dogs actually have an understanding of human perspective, or whether this is a hardwired or learned response.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.