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Dog gives birth to world's first identical twin puppies
Twin puppies
DNA profiling found that the puppies are monozygotic, or 'identical', twins.

South African scientists report incredibly rare finding

South African researchers have reported what is believed be the world's first known pair of identical twin puppies.


Writing in the journal Reproduction in Domestic Animals scientists from the University of Pretoria describe how they were presented with the puppies after they were delivered at a local vet.


DNA profiling found that the puppies are monozygotic, or 'identical', twins - something that has been reported in the horse and pig, but is incredibly rare in other species apart from armadillos and humans.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of monozygotic twinning in the dog confirmed using DNA profiling," they write.

The pups were delivered by caesarian section at South Africa's Rant en Dal Animal Hospital. Their mother, a four-year-old multiparous Irish Wolfhound, had been in labour for two hours without success.

Veterinary surgeon Kurt De Cramer helped to deliver seven puppies but noticed there was a bulge in the uterus. Initially, he thought the bulge was another foetus. But, upon further investigation, he was shocked to find that it was two puppies sharing the same placenta.

"When I realised that the puppies were of the same gender and that they had very similar markings, I also immediately suspected that they might be identical twins having originated from the splitting of an embryo," Mr de Cramer told BBC News.


When the pups were six weeks old, Mr De Cramer handed the pups over to the University of Pretoria for DNA testing.


The researchers confirmed that the puppies were genetically identical and did not share similar genetics with any of the other puppies in the litter.


Image (C) Dr K De Cramer

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Wales licenses Bluetongue vaccines for voluntary use

The Welsh government has approved three Bluetongue vaccines for emergency use in Wales.

From 1 March an online general licence will become available for the vaccines' use. They will then be obtainable on prescription and can be sold by veterinary practices.

After appropriate guidance, livestock keepers will be permitted to administer the vaccines themselves. The vaccines must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon and detailed vaccination records must be kept for five years.

The decision comes as Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) continues to spread across England. The three vaccines are already licensed for use in England.

Richard Irvine, CVO for Wales, said: "This decision to licence these vaccines was informed by our recent risk assessment indicating that Wales is now at high risk of experiencing an incursion of Bluetongue this year.

"Our primary aim is to keep Bluetongue out of Wales through biosecurity, vigilance and safe sourcing of livestock."