Animal Airwaves

There's nothing like the Sunshine State: warm weather, sunshine, beautiful beaches, endless outdoor adventure, palm trees and tropical vegetation. But one popular cycad plant that thrives in Florida's warm, humid...

For the past couple of years, folks in the U.S. and Canada have sporadically reported squirrels covered in bleeding sores, giving rise to the name “zombie squirrels.” But this isn't...

Poultry veterinarians have some practical tips for the care of small backyard flocks. Housing needs to protect flocks from the elements and predators, while staying well ventilated. Quality feed must...

Since 2013, a mysterious disease has killed over five billion sea stars — also known as starfish — along the Pacific coast of North America. Hardest hit was the sunflower...

Law enforcement is in a race to outwit wildlife poachers. A new technique in the battle uses robotic decoys. These aren't your father's decoys — they're taxidermy specimens come to...

Something amazing happens in Iceland's Westman Islands each summer. Baby puffins — or pufflings — are thrown from cliffs to save their lives. The Iceland population of Atlantic puffins is...

Our pets are family, so they often travel with us — and that means lots of car rides. Minding the travel environment can keep us all safe. Temperature is a...

A culprit moving our way from the south could devastate livestock and cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars. The New World screwworm — or NWS — fly produces maggots...

Each year, increasing areas of the country get hit with natural disasters. That's why it's important to have a disaster plan. But how do you keep your livestock safe? Some...

Most veterinarians recommend keeping cats indoors to reduce the risk of injury and disease and minimize their predation. But that can come at a cost if cats can't be cats....

As holidays near, it's time once again to plan how to keep our pets safe. Since food is such a big part of the fun, let's focus on that first....

Ticks are truly annoying pests, but the real danger lies in the diseases they spread. One is anaplasmosis [anna-plaz-MOH-sis], a potentially fatal bacterial disease that can affect both dogs and...

The country recently marked 20 years since the heartbreak of Hurricane Katrina. Back then, people were told to evacuate and leave their pets behind. It's tough to say just how...

October 31 is Halloween and Dr. Jim Wellehan is embracing spooky season for Animal Airwaves Live. An expert on the evolution and ecology of nondomestic animal pathogens, with an emphasis...

The successful identification of animal abuse – and deaths caused by such abuse – typically involve not just the veterinary forensic pathologist who can confirm the cause of death, but...

When it comes to saving a pet’s life, every second counts. On this archived episode of Animal Airwaves, Dr. Jake Wolf, an emergency and critical care specialist, discusses last year's...

Orangutans might not have access to nutrition labels or meal plans, but they seem to know a thing or two about balanced eating — and they're putting us to shame....

National Veterinary Technician Week is October 12-18, and we're incredibly grateful for the role our vet techs play on our patient care teams and within our hospital community. This week...

National Veterinary Technician Week is October 12-18, and we're incredibly grateful for the role our vet techs play on our patient care teams and within our hospital community. This week...

Young, fast-growing horses are prone to a condition called osteochondrosis [ah-stee-oh-kahn-DROE-sus] dissecans [DISS-ah-cans], or OCD for short. That's when rapid growth outmatches the normal progression of bone development. Bone or...

Cats love their sleep. That goes without saying, since most sleep 12 to 16 hours each day. Why do they do that? Instead of sleeping for long uninterrupted periods, most...

Nearly one thousand people per day in the US visit the ER for a serious dog bite. The simple fact is that dogs pay attention to our cues more than...

When folks began reporting wild rabbits with what appeared to be horns this summer, it wasn't just another tall tale. This was the real deal. The rabbits they were seeing...

Whether you're dealing with a horse, cow, sheep or goat, a hoof puncture is a veterinary emergency. That might seem counterintuitive since the hoof is such a tough structure. But...

Nearly everyone has heard about the havoc wreaked by the H5N1 virus on poultry, dairy cows and people. But what goes virtually unnoticed is its toll on wildlife. The so-called...

Veterinarians often recommend prescription foods for certain canine or feline health conditions. These specialized diets are available for particular gastrointestinal, kidney or thyroid conditions — just to name a few....

The bloodsucking northern fowl mite, or red mite, is the most economically important external parasite of US poultry. In July 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Exzolt™ [egg-ZOLT],...

This past summer, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Bravecto® [brah-VECK-toe] Quantum, or fluralaner [FLEUR-ah-lah-ner] extended-release injectable suspension, for use in dogs and puppies over six months old. It's...

Once again, US shelters are being inundated with surrendered animals — and, not surprisingly, the number one reason is economic hardship. The combined costs of feeding and caring for pets...

Pet ID tags have come a long way in the last few years. From metal tags that only held a pet's name and address to digital tags that may have...

Apoquel® [APP-oh-quell] chewable tablets can help dogs with certain allergic skin conditions, but they're dangerous to cats. Recently, 2 cats developed serious kidney damage after eating Apoquel® chewables. Because they...

Veterinary oncology is a specialized field in veterinary medicine centered on the diagnosis, treatment and management of cancer in animals. UF CVM clinical assistant professor and radiation oncology expert Dr....

As Florida fall slowly settles in and chilly weather arrives for winter in the U.S., manatees will begin their migration pattern south along the eastern coastline and further inland in...

In a world where we've grown accustomed to the digital convenience of scrolling, clicking and shipping in an instant, it may seem easy to take shortcuts when acquiring prescriptions and...

Keeping Fido fit isn't only important for pup's mental and physical health, but also a great way to build your bond and keep you active as well. However, just as...

The research on feline diseases and treatments has traditionally lagged behind that of dogs. But now with an estimated 220 to 373 million pet cats around the world, it's time...

To treat canine seizures effectively, they first need to be accurately characterized. That's challenging when pooch parents may be the only ones witnessing these events. Now, an international team of...

As increasing numbers of cannabis-derived products become available for people, veterinarians are often asked whether they are safe for pets. When state laws legalize marijuana for people, those laws don't...

Although we hear lots about raw food diets, cooked or processed commercial pet foods also need to be prepared and stored properly. First, make sure that bags and cans of...

Feline panleukopenia [pan-loo-kow-PEE-nee-ah] is a viral disease that often kills or severely debilitates cats — especially kittens and sick or unvaccinated adult cats. It's extremely contagious and can spread like...

Particularly heat-susceptible dogs, like double-coated breeds, need extra cooling strategies for protection in extreme heat. One family learned this in a tragic way. With their 4-year-old Newfoundland in the backseat...

Although healthy algae is an important part of aquatic ecosystems, the right conditions can promote the growth of dangerous types of algae. These harmful algal [AL-gull] blooms are most likely...

A 12-year study of more than 130,000 dairy cows showed that severe heat reduces their milk production by about 10 percent. What's more, that lower production can last up to...

Nearly 50,000 cases of the blood vessel cancer called canine hemangiosarcoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S. It's invariably fatal, although removing the dog's spleen and chemotherapy may extend...

Cats love their snooze time — in fact, they nap 12 to 16 hours a day. After analyzing hundreds of videos of sleeping cats, researchers found that two out of...

Skin grafts can provide lifesaving treatment for large soft-tissue wounds. That's true for people and animals, and sometimes these grafts have interesting origins. In 2024, a wounded adult bald eagle...

  The last half of 2024 was devastating for U.S. honeybees. Over 60% of commercial colonies were decimated — and that followed a 50% die-off the previous year. Funding cuts...

When it comes to cute canines with squishy noses and flat faces – or brachycephalic breeds of dogs – there's more than meets the eye. These breeds: pugs, bulldogs, Boston...

The decision to bring a new pet into your household is a big one, not to be taken lightly. Whether you're considering a cat, a dog, or some other species,...

The New World screwworm (NWS) is forecast to reach the United States later this year. Eradicated from the country in 1966, this flesh-eating parasitic fly affects all warm-blooded mammals and animals,...

The University of Florida's Veterinary Community Outreach Program provides valuable synergy between veterinary education and supporting local animal welfare. Veterinary students gain crucial hands-on surgical and medical experience while simultaneously...