University of Guelph research found that dogs who are unwell show signs of illness through their social interactions with other dogs.
Dr. Michael Brunt, a postdoctoral fellow at the Ontario Veterinary College and a researcher at the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, led a team of international researchers in a study where they observed the behaviour of 12 mature, female beagles in a controlled environment.
These dogs were fed a variety of diets, some of which were contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxin, a toxin produced by mould commonly found in cereal-based pet food and known to cause various health issues.
The researchers observed that dogs that had consumed Fusarium mycotoxin interacted less with other dogs, suggesting that an animal's behaviour can serve as an indicator of its overall well-being.
Read the full article on the U of G News site: OVC Research Finds Social Behaviour of Dogs Can Signal Potential Illness.