Veterinarians are warning that the number of mosquitoes increases following hurricanes and tropical storms, bringing risks for heartworm disease in pets, particularly in the Southeast. Heartworm is a mosquito-borne parasite that can kill dogs and cats, and North Carolina is among the top 10 states for heartworm cases. Pet owners can help protect their animals by ensuring that pets receive monthly oral or injectable heartworm preventives all year long.

Collaboration between the Houston Zoo and Baylor College of Medicine has led to the development of an mRNA vaccine to protect elephants from the often-fatal elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus. The partnership has also produced a PCR-based diagnostic test that has been adopted globally.

Boston authorities are warning dog owners to ensure their animals' parvovirus vaccinations are up to date after three sick golden retriever puppies were found abandoned. The puppies, all under 6 months old, were discovered by Boston Animal Control and required hospitalization.

The prevalence of a parasitic tapeworm in red foxes and coyotes in Prince Edward Island is higher than normal, according to researchers at the Atlantic Veterinary College. The tapeworm can cause alveolar echinococcosis, a liver disease, in people, but the risk for human infection is low, says epidemiologist Marguerite Cameron. Dogs, however, are at high risk and can become infected through contact with contaminated feces or by eating infected rodents or contaminated berries or greens.

Three rabies cases were reported within a 10-day span in Lincoln County, N.C., including two wild animals that were aggressive toward pets. Veterinary rabies vaccines have been proven safe and effective, and vaccinating pets is the best way to protect people. The county is offering free rabies vaccines through Oct. 3.

Oxytocin, known as the "love hormone," plays a key role in the bond between cats and people, according to research. Petting and interacting with cats can increase oxytocin levels in humans, providing stress relief and companionship. At the same time, cats that initiate contact with humans experience similar oxytocin boosts. However, cats with anxious or avoidant attachment styles do not release oxytocin, according to a study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

~ Laura Elin Pigott, senior lecturer in neurosciences and neurorehabilitation at London South Bank University

Biologists, veterinarians and fishers have been working together to assess mercury levels in endangered pink river dolphins in the Amazon River, which is contaminated primarily by illegal gold mining. "Basically, we're using dolphins as sentinels for the river's health," said marine biologist Fernando Trujillo, director of the Omacha Foundation, which focuses on aquatic wildlife and ecosystem conservation. "Any mammal with a huge amount of mercury will die," says Trujillo, and scientists have found pink dolphins with 20 to 30 times the maximum safe level in their blood.

The constant barrage of notifications and information has led to what researchers call "continuous partial attention," making it difficult to focus on important tasks, says author Danny Kenny, who notes that attention can be trained like a muscle. There are techniques people can practice to keep their attention on their goals, such as using specific points of focus for their eyes, thinking about how present actions connect to future outcomes and planning positive solutions to anticipated obstacles.