New Research: Pets Have Feelings Too

Information provided by BluePearl Veterinary Partners
New scientific research is proving what doctors from BluePearl Veterinary Partners have known all along: Pets have feelings, too.

This information is according to a recent editorial in the New York Times by Dr. Gregory Berns, a professor of neuroeconomics at Emory University and the author of “How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain.”

The editorial titled, “Dogs Are People, Too,” explains how Berns’ research has been confirming pets can differentiate between their owners and other people, and actually have emotion and feelings for certain things, people and smells.

Usually, when a pet is placed in an MRI, they have to be under anesthesia to remain still. However, Berns has trained the dogs in his study to get into the MRI and remain still voluntarily.

This allows scientists to study how the dogs' brains react to certain things while they are awake.

“This is absolutely wonderful research and proves what we have believed for years,” said Dr. Neil Shaw, chief medical officer of BluePearl Veterinary Partners. “At BluePearl, we have been operating based on this belief for quite sometime, that’s why everything we do here revolves around providing remarkable care for pets.”

About BluePearl Veterinary Partners
BluePearl Veterinary Partners employs more than 1,350 people including more than 350 veterinarians. BluePearl hospitals offer referral-only, specialty care services and most offer 24-hour emergency care. BluePearl does not provide primary care. The company is one of the world’s principal providers of approved veterinary residency and internship programs. BluePearl also participates in clinical trials that investigate the effectiveness of new veterinary drugs and treatments, providing pet families access to cutting-edge medicine that is not yet commercially available. BluePearl is headquartered in Tampa, Fla.