If you’re as comfortable seeing your nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant as you are with your doctor, this may resonate with you. We’ve not seen much recognition of this alternate concept to mid-level practitioners since April. See what you think. Registered veterinary technician Jodi Belongié suggests that the debate over mid-level practitioners in veterinary … [Read more...]
Tick-borne parasite killing cats in Kansas City metro, veterinarians warn
Veterinarians in the Kansas City metro are urging cat owners to act quickly as cases of a deadly tick-borne disease known as bobcat fever (cytauxzoonosis) appear to be on the rise. Source: KCTV5, July 14, 2026. Link. Bobcat fever is caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis, which is spread through the bite of an infected tick, veterinarians say. Bobcats are the parasite’s … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 17, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 9, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 9, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Beyond exercise: The role of stretching routines for dog joint health. Link. Review: Understanding the three stages of laminitis in horses. Link. Tick, tick-borne disease - requires integrated One Health approach. Link. Most-read … [Read more...]
Tick, tick-borne disease management requires an integrated One Health approach
A new review <Link> emphasizes that tick and tick-borne disease control in the United States now requires a coordinated One Health strategy that accounts for changing tick distributions, wildlife and domestic animal hosts, environmental conditions and human exposure patterns. Kristen Coppock Crossley, MA, shares the rationales in this article. The expanding range of … [Read more...]
A history of veterinary medicine as America celebrates its 250th anniversary
This evolution of the veterinary profession is a good read to accompany the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration this year. Julie A. Jacob shares resources from the American Veterinary Medical History Society that show great support for the profession from our country’s founding to current times. Source: AVMA, June 1, 2026. Link. Our country's founding fathers … [Read more...]
Pigeons are surprisingly good at detecting cancer
Fascinating! For every 10 scans containing an abnormality, a radiologist is likely to miss three of them. To prevent medical imaging misses, researchers successfully trained six pigeons to watch short CT scan videos and decide whether or not they showed a lung nodule. Pigeons were chosen since their visual system works a lot like the unconscious part of human vision. The … [Read more...]
Study of turmeric extract tolerance in cats
Turmeric extract has been widely studied in humans and increasingly in dogs but data on its safety in cats remains limited. The study reviewed in this article provides reassuring evidence that turmeric extract, at dietary levels up to 1040 ppm curcuminoids, can be safely fed to cats for four months. For veterinarians, this opens the door to considering TE as a functional … [Read more...]
Fear of rabies spreading in Upper Midwest cattle herds via skunks
Health officials across four Upper Midwest states are warning livestock owners about an uptick in rabies cases tied to infected skunks. Since 2024, 10 cattle have tested positive for rabies in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota, according to a joint notification from state agriculture and health departments. The infections have been linked to exposures from rabid skunks … [Read more...]
Plants that may help repel ticks naturally
We need all the help we can get to reduce exposure to ticks in yards, green spaces, wood lots and acreages. Gemma Johnstone shares 15 plants to consider growing that can help keep ticks at bay. Consider sharing this article on social media, in newsletters and with local flower and vegetable garden groups to let pet owners know what plants help keep ticks away. Source: The … [Read more...]
NAVC announces theme for VMX 2027
VMX kicks off January 16, 2027, with a new theme: Off the Grid. Attendees, in person and virtually, are invited to Disconnect to Reconnect and plan time for learning with more than 1,000 hours of continuing education, skill-specific tracks and brand-new electives. Source: NAVC, June 4, 2026. Link. We live in a busy, noisy world where finding time to disconnect is almost … [Read more...]
Florida’s new veterinary prescription law takes effect July 1st. Here’s what you need to do.
A new Florida state law requires veterinarians to formally inform clients of their right to fill prescriptions at a pharmacy of their choosing rather than purchasing medication directly from the clinic. The law creates specific disclosure, documentation and signage requirements that every Florida practice must have in place before the effective date. Source: Vet Candy, June … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 18, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 11, 2026. Link. Most read posts from June 11, 2026 AHD Bulletin – The missing piece in most pet physical exams. Link. Hard or easy, it’s your choice. Link. Employee engagement sinks, workers struggle with digital distractions. Link. Dog daycare lepto outbreak in L.A. reveals broader public … [Read more...]
Hot messaging helps keep livestock and pets cool
AHD’s editor Rick Purnell continues his “Seen, Heard, Trusted” series here focusing on keeping animals cool as the summer heats up. The article shares the temperatures when heat begins causing issues for cows, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens. Purnell advocates routine heat stress reminders because heat-related problems can begin at temperatures as low as … [Read more...]
Are mosquitoes outsmarting our repellents?
According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, mosquitoes may seek out the scent of the repellent. Scientists believe DEET protects people by masking the carbon dioxide that we emit, making it harder for biting insects to detect us. However, “If someone applies DEET and the concentration fades over time, but a mosquito still manages to feed, the … [Read more...]
Miniature horses: Fun for all
Outside of showing, miniature horses are proving their prowess as therapy animals, visiting hospitals and nursing homes. They are even working as service and guide animals. The American Shetland Pony Club is a breed (bloodline) registry. The American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) is a height registry. Shetland Ponies can be registered with the AMHR if they meet the … [Read more...]
Those #@$^&! flies
University studies routinely show that heavy fly pressure changes cow behavior and lowers production. Good fly control starts with sanitation and manure management. Clean facilities, dry bedding, strong airflow and regular monitoring all reduce fly pressure. As dairy farms focus more on cow comfort, animal welfare and disease prevention, fly control will remain an important … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 11, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 4, 2026. Link. Most read posts from June 4, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Kill the middle manager role? The data says don’t do it. Link. AVMA president breaks down pet insurance gaps. Link. The retirement wave is coming. Link. The impact of BCS on systolic blood pressure and glucose levels in cats. … [Read more...]
How honeybees really crown their queens
Scientists have long believed a queen honeybee was made almost entirely by diet: feed an ordinary larva enough royal jelly and a ruler emerges. But new research published in Nature suggests queens are created through a more elaborate process and food is only part of the story. Researchers found that wax chambers where future queens develop, called queen cells or royal cribs, … [Read more...]
Some ticks can survive longer in your home than previously believed, new study finds
Must read A study from The Ohio State University provides the first quantitative evidence that two tick species can survive for weeks on common household flooring. This underscores the need for veterinarians to reinforce year-round tick prevention and home risk mitigation strategies with clients. Gulf Coast tick and Lone Star tick survival minimums exceeded seven days … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 28, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 21, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 21, 2026 AHD Bulletin – What Fear Free actually built in 10 years. Link. Producer-veterinarian relationships matter. Link. Deciding is the first step. Link. How research is helping solve equine pregnancy mysteries. Link. Free webinar: Why clients … [Read more...]
What Fear Free actually built in 10 years
The principles that shape how animals experience professional care have lived in the apprenticeship layer of the pet industry—passed mentor to mentor, shop to shop, with no shared curriculum. Fear Free was built to close that gap, writes Collin Armstrong. The organization grew from Dr. Marty Becker’s conviction of, “Fear, anxiety, and stress in animals are not just welfare … [Read more...]
How to protect pets from the New World screwworm
There’s no need for owners to panic about NWS, but they need to develop habits to protect their animals from this emerging insect threat. Cochliomyia hominivorax are parasitic flies whose larvae infest wounds and can result in significant tissue damage if left untreated. Obligate parasites, the larvae consume the living flesh of warm-blooded hosts. When maggots are removed, … [Read more...]
What vet schools don’t teach about canine osteoarthritis
Matt Brunke, DVM, DCVSMR, CCAT, believes chronic, whole joint disease is primarily driven by pervasive inflammation, not a cartilage disease as it is often positioned in veterinary schools. His article asserts the need to reframe osteoarthritis as a disease of the synovium and to think in terms of inflammation management versus pain management. Brunke comments on NSAIDs and … [Read more...]
CDC: Tick season off to a fast start
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an early advisory to the public this week to guard against ticks. The CDC’s tracking system shows that weekly rates of emergency room visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017. The warning is a reminder to communicate with animal owners about the need to protect their animals and themselves … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 30, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 23, 2026. Link. Miss something? Here’s a link to all of April 2026 AHD posts. Link. ========================== The hardest-working staff at the airport? These two good boys. Source: The Washington Post, April 26, 2026. Link. Five days a week, and sometimes weekends, the herding dogs punch the clock … [Read more...]
Two industries, one mission, mostly disconnected
There is something about pets that overrides conventional career logic, writes veterinary nutritionist Megan Sprinkle, DVM. She shares her observations from a trip to Global Pet Expo 2026 and contrasts parallel industries with a common customer commenting on the opportunity of shared purpose. Source: Animal Health News and Views, April 2026. Link. Diverse perspectives and … [Read more...]
Reminder: Cattle need fly relief NOW!
Horn flies, stable flies, house flies or horse flies must be controlled NOW, writes Mark Z. Johnson. It’s not rocket science as flies multiply rapidly and dead ones don’t reproduce. He reviews fly species and how to get after them before they take over. Source: BEEF, April 22, 2026. Link. The beef cattle industry loses millions of dollars each year due to external parasites. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 23, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 16, 2026. Link. Most read posts from April 16, 2026 AHD Bulletin – When you start to find employee requests irritating. Link. The wise leader. Link. Credit card surcharges by veterinary practices may not meet resistance. Link. How to identify and address grooming neglect. Link. Erase 10 … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 16, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 9, 2026. Link. Most read posts from April 9, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Building adherence with CAPC data. Link. Personal responsibility. Link. 7 signs your executive team lacks leadership maturity. Link. Why relationship-centered care wins in veterinary medicine. Link. Keeping cows on track … [Read more...]
An update on fleas, flea-borne diseases, and flea control
Despite decades of effective ectoparasite control for cats and dogs, fleas on cats continue to be a major issue in veterinary medicine, writes Brian Herrin DVM, PhD. He provides an excellent review in this article that supports year-round adherence with highly effective flea control methods. Year-round adherence is key to preventing home infestations, reducing flea allergy … [Read more...]