Animal Airwaves

While pet-proofing our homes, potential exposure to heavy metals often escapes our notice — but it can make our pets really sick. Zinc intoxication usually results from swallowing pennies minted...

Creative benefit packages are becoming more common in today's workplace. Some companies are offering back-up care, which refers to temporary support for family members when regular care plans fall through....

Tetanus is caused by bacteria that live in soil and manure, lying in wait to infect wounds, surgical sites and umbilical stumps in horses and livestock. So, it's important to...

Colic — or abdominal pain resulting from gastrointestinal conditions — is one of the most common equine emergencies. While it can occur any time of year, there are specific causes...

Did you know that some of the longest animal migrations in the world are the river journeys of freshwater fish? You've likely heard of salmon or eel migrations, but billions...

Many dogs don't miss a trick, especially when it comes to behavior repeated right in front of them. That's how we inadvertently teach them the very dangerous habit of opening...

Both animals and people can overdose on opioids, like fentanyl or heroine. Dogs — especially those on police K9 units — are the animals most at risk, since they explore...

Canine epilepsy, which results in chronic intermittent seizure activity, is the most common neurologic condition in dogs. While most dogs with seizures fall down, shake and foam at the mouth,...

Spring and summer are boom times for newborn wildlife like raccoons, foxes, skunks and coyotes. As they learn to navigate the world, they're susceptible to many threats, including infection by...

For those of you pooch parents who really want to get inside the mind of your dog, Harvard University may be a place to start. Harvard's Canine Brains Project —...

Spring may feel fresh and bright, but the dry air and surges of pollen often trigger allergies that leave our animals' eyes irritated, itchy and uncomfortably dry. Add to that...

You may think of Toxocara, or roundworms, as parasites that only affect dogs and cats. But toxocariasis – roundworm infection – can cause serious disease in people, too. Dogs are...

Our pets love springtime just as much as we do. But even in balmy weather, we need to protect them against potential dangers. Topping the list are parasites, like fleas,...

Hanging on to your pet's old medications can be risky, but what's the best way to get rid of them? The safest method is to use take-back programs offered by...

Each year, thousands of animal and plant species are objects of illegal wildlife trafficking. Many affected mammals — like elephants and rhinos — are well known, but chances are you've...

Recently, dogs in need of critical first aid have received some positive news. Following a risk review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Mantel Technologies' canine freeze-dried plasma —...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has had a busy first quarter of 2026 approving medications for the animals that we care so much about. In early March—and...

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Numelvi™ tablets for the control of itch associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs six months of age or older. According...

As of April 2026, New World Screwworm, or NWS, still hasn't made its way into the U.S. But if, or when, it does, there's a new agent to fight it....

Both people and dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies — it's just that they're affected in different ways. In each case, allergic individuals overreact to certain environmental substances, like pollen,...

As the weather warms, dogs and their humans have something in common — that's the threat of Lyme disease caused by bacteria spread by blacklegged, or deer, ticks. As opposed...

Scientists have long known that cats have an uncanny ability to land on their feet when they fall. But just how they do it remained a mystery. Earlier this year,...

For bumblebees, beating the odds is old hat. After all, their ability to fly was once a mystery. Now we know that bumblebee queens can survive under water — sometimes...

Many families are hesitant to introduce more paws into their homes, unaware that they have the option to foster. Fostering gives animals a safe and stress-free environment while also providing...

Diagnostic laboratories are a key part of the veterinary care team, but one most people don't commonly interact with. Dr. Michael Dark, clinical associate professor and director of UF's veterinary...

Genetic testing can play a valuable role in human and animal health, alike. Canine genetic testing can screen for hundreds of inherited diseases, reveal traits and tendencies based on breed,...

While dog supplements aren't inherently bad, many are poorly regulated and unnecessary if your pooch is eating a complete and balanced diet. On this episode, Dr. Richard Hill, a professor...

The oldest wild bird on record has once again returned to her breeding ground. Wisdom is a 75-year-old Laysan albatross who's been breeding on Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean...

A new RNA rabies vaccine for pets is another target of misinformation. An online influencer said that Nobivac NXT Rabies is “even more lethal” than previous vaccines. The truth is...

Each fall, monarch butterflies take off from as far away as Ontario and fly to central Mexico where they overwinter. Now, for the first time, scientists can track individual monarchs...

When it's cold outside, our pets can feel the freeze, too. In fact, if it's too cold for you, it's probably too frosty for your furry friend as well —...

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, have you considered your pet's affect? In the U.S., over 25 percent of the environmental impact from meat consumption comes from dog...

New World Screwworm, or NWS, hasn't arrived in the U.S. yet and livestock owners want to keep it that way. NWS flies produce larvae that feed on live tissue, causing...

Traditional glucose monitoring in diabetic dogs and cats involves manual collection of blood for testing. Another option may be continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM. CGM is currently used off-label in...

A new study on how people perceive cats may contain valuable clues for feline care and welfare. Researchers showed 665 study participants images of 12 cats, which included AI-generated backgrounds...

With all the buzz about GLP-1 drugs in people, could they potentially benefit obese or diabetic dogs and cats, too? Several veterinary pharmaceutical companies are exploring these options. About 60...

Your senior cat's increased affection and chatty behavior may seem charming, but these could be early signs of feline cognitive dysfunction, or FCD, a type of progressive feline dementia. A...

As of early December 2025, 60 cases of equine herpesvirus-1, or EHV-1, have been reported in horses from eight states, with most showing neurologic signs. EHV-1 and EHV-4 are the...

After a family's pet goat was euthanized, the land on their farm precluded burial. Instead, they cremated the animal's remains, assuming that high heat would reduce them to ashes. Unbeknownst...

With the goal of reducing catastrophic fractures in racehorses, researchers in Australia aimed to stop bone damage altogether. They found that intensive training suppresses bone remodeling, which is how bones...

A recent study of nearly 45 hundred dogs linked stressful events during puppyhood to aggression and fear later on. Pet parents used a validated questionnaire to report their dog's history...

In many rural areas, there's no access to emergency veterinary care. That's why it falls to first responders to provide first aid. Recently, a veterinarian in the remote area of...

The expense of veterinary care, pet food and supplies is a key reason why pets are being surrendered to shelters, but pet care resources can be tapped before it comes...

Data from two case series involving infections in animals and humans  suggest that multidrug-resistant bacteria can spread from pets to people. Two separate investigations were initially undertaken. The first involved...

Waters around the San Juan Islands, lying between Washington and Vancouver, are home to critically endangered southern orca whales. Now numbering only 74 animals, efforts to monitor their health are...

Otherwise healthy cats with a genetic MDR1 mutation can develop severe neurologic effects after treatment with certain prescribed drugs. The mutation disrupts the function of P-glycoprotein, which normally clears harmful substances...

Two out of a thousand racehorses die due to fractures sustained during training or racing. There are few warning signs, but researchers are working to change that. In a recent...

Rabies in the United States most often involves wildlife species, especially bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. But among domestic animals, cats are most commonly affected. Of course, pet parents should...

Spaying and neutering aren't done just to fight pet overpopulation — they're also key to preventing certain cancers and infections. But some pet parents still have concerns. For example, spaying...

Among drugs of abuse, cocaine and methamphetamine are in the top five illicit substances to which dogs and cats are exposed. Both are the most common illegal stimulants in the...

Every cat is at risk of a complex medical condition called triaditis [try-uh-DYE-dus]. But what is it, and can it be treated? Triaditis is inflammation of three organs at the...