For many veterinarians, zoo animals were part of their original dreams of becoming an animal doctor. It is at zoos that we encounter rare species, learn of captive populations held to preserve genetics and see species that pique our curiosities. The Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals, including 30 species that are endangered or threatened. This diverse population … [Read more...]
Coyote range expanding across North and Central Americas
News stories about coyotes snatching pets are not unusual these days. It’s no wonder. Despite widespread management as a pest species, coyotes have expanded their geographic range by an estimated 40 percent since the 1950s, at least twice as much any other North American carnivore during the same time period. Source: ZooKeys, May 22, 2018. Link. Various interacting factors … [Read more...]
New research shows cattle resist oral exposure to CWD
Cattle fed extremely high oral doses of chronic wasting disease (CWD)-infected brain material or kept in heavily prion-contaminated facilities for 10 years showed no neurological signs of the disease according to University of Wyoming Department of Veterinary Sciences researchers. The long timespan of the research is important, as CWD is a slow disease and these results are … [Read more...]
Protect bees from summer heat
Bees work to keep their hives at 95 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, according to Angi Schneider. But, when the sun bares down and the temperatures near 100 degrees, bees have to work to cool the hives to stay alive. She offers these recommendations to protect bees from the summer heat: Place hives where some afternoon shade will protect the hives Paint hives white and … [Read more...]
Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards accepting entries
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards (link) is in its fourth year and is delivering goofy animal moments caught on camera. The deadline for entries is June 30. Take a few, fun minutes to look at the photos that have already been received at the link below. You may even want to enter your own shots. Source: Huffington Post, May 23, 2018. Link. The entries for the 2018 … [Read more...]
Bats really do eat a lot of mosquitoes (includes video)
A recently published study by University of Wisconsin researchers found that bats they studied ate 17 types of mosquitoes, including nine that are potential carriers of the West Nile Virus. They studied two species of bats; the little brown bat and the big brown bat. The study was published in the Journal of Mammalogy. Source: Wisconsin State Journal, May 22, 2018. … [Read more...]
Pet reptiles or amphibians may pose health risks to humans
It is important for owners of reptiles, such as turtles, snakes and lizards, and amphibians, such as frogs, toads and salamanders to understand the health risks to themselves and others in their household. Animal health pros need to advise pet reptiles or amphibians owners about the risk for salmonellosis and the simple steps that can be taken to reduce risk to household … [Read more...]
Those extra coyotes you see are real
If it seems like coyotes are everywhere, it’s because they are. A North Carolina State University professor and graduate student mapped the historic range of coyotes using archaeological and fossil records. They then plotted the coyotes’ range expansion across North America from 1900 to 2016 and reviewed more than 12,500 records covering 10,000 years. The study adds to the … [Read more...]
Opinion: Fly services have potential
There is historical rationale in the recommendation for veterinary practices to add a fly control service for their clients. More than 35 years ago, we had master fly-baiter contests and awards to help promote fly control at a time when our industry was just learning the science behind preventing production losses and transfer of diseases such as pinkeye and anaplasmosis. In … [Read more...]
Opinion – Manage maggots and bots in dogs and cats
Images of screwworm infestations in newly born kittens, ferrets and rabbits before 1966 still bring nightmares. Clear are the memories of tiny, near-hairless, days-old animals lying across my palm while we systematically removed screw worms from holes nearly the size of a pencil eraser. Fly control product stations were everywhere on our farm. We bought ducks to help clean … [Read more...]
Regional guide to fleas and ticks on cats
Fleas and ticks on cats aren’t a one-size fits-all problem. Catster’s team surveyed pros across the U.S. to get information on regional pests and specific cat flea and tick treatments for by area. “It is a common misconception that fleas and ticks have a season,” Dr. Michelle Matusicky, DVM, says. “They have a life cycle that is constantly replicating.” Source: Catster, May … [Read more...]
Get to know ticks
Heidi Goethert, ScD, presents an image gallery showing the ticks of the northeast United States, though their range may extend throughout much of North America. The ticks were photographed on the author's hand to show scale. A close-up view is included to show details useful for identification. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 2008. Link. A clinician's ability to make an … [Read more...]
This animal kills more people in a day than sharks in a century (videos)
Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, has come to fear mosquitos. He discusses the global consequences of mosquito-borne disease in humans, fears and shares a clever video that reinforces mosquitos as a vector. The video’s mosquito character says, “I don’t want to kill, it’s just something inside me.” For animal health professionals, mosquitos are most notably vectors for dog … [Read more...]
Baby bison may save Siberian permafrost
To avoid releasing billions of tons of carbon from warming permafrost, scientists in the Pleistocene Park, in the wilds of Siberia, are attempting to reestablish the ecosystem as it was 20,000 years ago. They believe the actions of grazing animals can help keep the ground from thawing. Bison from Alaska will soon join other grazing animals there. Source: Fast Company, April … [Read more...]
Red wolf puppies born in North Carolina (videos)
In what appears to be a repeat performance, a new litter of red wolf cubs was born at The Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina. This litter appears to be half the size of the one reported last year. (Link) Nonetheless, these add to the limited population of these animals remaining. Source: WRAL-TV via AVMA SmartBrief, April 24, 2018, Link. The first 30 days … [Read more...]
Pet foxes; now what?
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, and Olivia Petritz, DVM, share different perspectives on all things pet fox with Sarah Wooten, DVM. There are different kinds of domesticated foxes that people buy. Chatfield shares, “It’s not our job to judge whether it’s right or not for a client to have a pet fox. It is our job to provide adequate healthcare and education to that client. With the … [Read more...]
Heed new pinkeye management protocols
Articles from AHD sponsor Addison Biological Laboratories provide information about how we should now manage pinkeye. Starting with a historical perspective helps. This is what we know: Pinkeye is a painful cattle disease that can reduce weaning weights as much as 17 lbs. to 65 lbs. per animal. Pinkeye is a multifactor disease. Once it begins to spread through a … [Read more...]
More than meat – raise critters for wool and more
Janet Garman provides an overview of wool-producing animals. Wool, fleece, and fiber can be harvested from a number of wool-yielding animals. These include sheep, goats, rabbits, camels, llamas, alpaca, bison, and yak. The fiber from bison, camels, and yak are the rare fibers. The fiber from the camelid family of animals is very soft and fine. It feels similar to alpaca and … [Read more...]
Zombie raccoons; 200 new viruses in reptiles, amphibians, fish
These two articles expose the reality of living with wildlife. Distemper is likely the cause of strange-acting raccoons in Ohio. Meanwhile, researchers indicate viruses that infect amphibians, reptiles and fishes are studied little compared to the ones that affect mammals and birds. Source: The Washington Post, April 5, 2018 (paywall). Residents in Youngstown, Ohio, … [Read more...]
Hoppy days; tips for a rabbit’s best life
A surprising number of pet house rabbits live with fear every day because their families, though they may love their rabbits, just don’t understand their needs, writes Steve Dale. He reviews eight rabbit facts from persons at the House Rabbit Society, the Rabbit Center and the National House Rabbit Society. This list can be used for new rabbit owners in print form and is ready … [Read more...]
Wild animals are not pets (includes video)
Richard Gerhold, DVM, says treating backyard opossums, raccoons and other undomesticated animals like companions is a mistake. He points out that getting close to wild animals can cause them unusual stress that may prompt them to act aggressively. This may lead to injury and even the spread of disease to people and pets. Source: Veterinary Medicine, March 21, 2018. My big … [Read more...]
Organic rat control, K-9s on duty (includes video)
Some dog owners seek to return breeds to their roots. Rat terriers are no exception. Historians say that Rat Terriers came about by crossing the Smooth Fox Terrier and the black and tan Manchester Terrier in the early 1800s. They were bred to create an efficient ratter for farms, as well as a competent hunting companion for the farmer. Fast forward to California where Jordan … [Read more...]
IDEXX research links tick-borne disease exposure, kidney problems in veterinary patients
Protecting pets from ticks and Lyme disease seems not to be enough. IDEXX Laboratories has released internal research connecting exposure to the pathogens causing Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis to kidney problems later in life, even in animals that seemed asymptomatic at the time of the screening. Dogs with antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme pathogen, were found to … [Read more...]
5 steps to safely remove ticks from dogs
Kate Eldredge, LVT, shares five steps to remove ticks from an animal. Note her reference about saving the tick for identification or testing. Remove the tick Clean the bite area Check for more ticks Review your preventatives Schedule blood work to check for tick-borne diseases Source: Whole Dog Journal, March 2018. It’s hard to say which is worse: running … [Read more...]
Clean up to reduce stable fly population
The manure and waste hay from a single feeding site can produce more than 1 million stable flies. On a smaller scale, the same thing happens on acreages or in backyards where manure and feces have piled up over the winter. Stable flies are also known as biting house flies and are slightly smaller than house flies. Source: Beef, March 8, 2018. Data from the “Managing Stable … [Read more...]
Rabbits die by the hundreds in Canadian city
Experts in British Columbia are advising rabbit owners to be cautious as the number of dead rabbits infected with rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) increases. The disease, caused by a calicivirus is native to domestic rabbits of European origin and pet rabbits are at risk, but not other animals. “I would be very careful if I had a domestic rabbit,” said Helen Schwantje, DVM. … [Read more...]
Telehealth, is reality
Telehealth, or telemedicine, is not a specific service. It is a collection of resources to enhance care and education delivery. The term, telemedicine is often used to refer to traditional clinical diagnosis and monitoring that is delivered by technology. However, the term, telehealth is now more commonly used. It better describes the wide range of diagnosis and management, … [Read more...]
Kindest Care for wildlife
Bonnie Chasteen offers tips for dealing with baby wildlife as spring births are just around the corner. She cautions people to be aware of what lives around you, to avoid drawing animals close to your home and to remember that your family can get sick when handling baby wildlife. This is basic information. Posting it on social media, in websites and in newsletters will … [Read more...]
Children, sandboxes, pin worms and pets
Here are the facts about the neighbors’ cats using the sandbox, even though my mother and grandmother told me differently: Human pinworms, such as Enterobius vermicularis are nonzoonotic intestinal parasitic worms of human hosts. Humans are considered to be the only hosts of E vermicularis; therefore, human pinworms cannot originate from pets or other animals and vice … [Read more...]
Opinion – Brain-eating pork tapeworm found in man’s eye (includes video)
A Florida man discovered a tapeworm living in the vitreous chamber of his eye—the fluid behind the eye lens, between the cornea. He believed he contracted the worm, Taenia solium, commonly called a pork tapeworm, after eating undercooked pork during the holidays. T. solium passes to humans from consuming raw pork or through contact with human fecal matter. It’s likely you … [Read more...]