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Can Fido teach us about fertility? Since they have similar reproductive systems, share an environment with us, and are exposed to the same toxins as their owners, scientists consider dogs a sentinel species.
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In the early 1900s, coal miners used birds in cages to monitor air safety and alert them when they were inhaling noxious gas while they could still act to save themselves. Today, researchers are studying pet dogs to learn about the chemicals that men are exposed to at home in search of warning signs that human health may be at risk.
New Study Looked at Dogs, Rather Than Birds, for Early Signs of Toxicity