Telomere Tales: Exploring the Impact of Stress, Sociality, and Exercise on Dogs' Cellular Aging.

ABSTRACT: Animal welfare is influenced by the cumulative life experiences of an individual. Among these, exposure to chronic stressors has a significant impact on both physical and mental health, contributing to premature aging-a process linked to telomere shortening. Conversely, positive experiences have been shown to mitigate, delay, and sometimes reverse telomere attrition. This suggests that telomere length could be a reliable indicator for assessing animal welfare. This study explored the association between telomere length and characteristics such as life history, environment, and health in domestic dogs. Buccal swabs collected DNA samples from 250 dogs, and telomere length was quantified via qPCR. Our findings revealed that environmental factors significantly influenced telomere length. Dogs

SUBMITTER: Dutra LML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12115685 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature