Q fever is a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which infects cattle, goats, and sheep. It is found in an infected animal’s bodily fluids and excretions, such as placental tissues, amniotic fluid, urine, feces and milk. The main signs of infection in animals include abortion, infertility, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. C. … [Read more...]
Tick-borne pathogen threats to U.S. cattle operations
Serving as a reminder for cattle producers and their veterinarians, this article urges staying alert for signs of tick infestation within their herds. The authors say early diagnostic testing at the first sign of a suspect illness in their cattle should be considered. Major tick-borne threats to U.S. cattle producers include cattle tick fever (Bovine Babesiosis), Anaplasmosis … [Read more...]
Ticks are a concern in cats, too
Commentary After a jaunt in my suburban backyard I noted a deer tick on my sock. While checking for additional ticks on me and the dog, a neighborhood free-range cat jumped the fence in search of a field mouse, mole or songbird before Lil Buddy gave chase. The backyard incident was a stark reminder of the importance of year-round preventatives and my clothes as a … [Read more...]
Selling the emotion
Pet owners don’t see their animals as “just pets.” They’re family. They worry about their dog’s arthritis, their cat’s weight gain, and whether their rabbit is secretly plotting world domination. Source: Veterinary Advantage, March 2025. Link. When you tie the product to real-world outcomes, you help your customer see the immediate impact.” INSIGHTS: Speak your customer’s … [Read more...]
USDA develops resource to help veterinary professionals recognize, respond to screwworm
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are important in recognizing New World screwworm should an invasion of Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly, occur. To help in these efforts, the USDA National Veterinary Accreditation Program has developed the training module, Module 41: New World Screwworm: A 21st Century Perspective. It goes over signs of NWS, its life … [Read more...]
H5N1 in North America: implications for small animal veterinarians
The spillover of H5N1 from wild birds and poultry to dairy cattle, cats and more raises new questions about virus evolution and its implications for veterinary medicine. J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, FCAHS, shares an overview of the disease, cross-species infection potential, viral mutation, risk mitigation and symptoms. Staying informed, practicing good biosecurity, and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 17, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 10, 2024. Link. Most read posts from April 10, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Don’t assume, check to be sure. Link. ‘Treat Me Like a Dog’ campaign seeks to close the cat treat gap. Link. Factors affecting early pregnancy loss in cattle. Link. Mismatched background music affects employees. Link. … [Read more...]
Keeping chinchillas healthy
Asserting the importance of keeping a chinchilla’s diet consistent, this author warns against feeding rabbit pellets. Feeding them the right chinchilla pellets and a constant supply of hay will sufficiently meet all their dietary needs. The article reviews five things owners can do to keep their chinchilla healthy and comfortable, including safe chewing materials. Source: … [Read more...]
Considerations before getting a pet rabbit
Abigail Dial, DVM, provides would be rabbit owners with plenty to consider before buying one. Her list is good counsel and worth sharing on social media and in newsletters. Fragile, rabbits are often abandoned after the Easter holiday when they approach mature size. Source: News 9 Oklahoma City via AVMA Animal Health Smartbrief, April 12, 2025. Link. Photo by Pablo … [Read more...]
Free, 30-day pet parasite forecasts boost local value of CAPC’s forecasting service
Commentary Veterinary teams and pet owners can now be alerted to local parasite disease threats at no charge using CAPC’s monthly pet parasite forecast maps <Link>. These alerts provide excellent reasons to communicate timely parasite prevalence and associated risks with clients and local media. The Companion Animal Parasite Council just released its 2025 Pet … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 10, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 3, 2024. Link. Most read posts from April 3, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Top 7 drug classes to be tapered before discontinuation. Link. Bird flu expert discusses how H5N1 affects wild, domestic animals. Link. Orthobiologics in an equine veterinarian’s day-to-day practice. Link. Association for Pet … [Read more...]
Habitat a priority in saving honey bees but there’s more species to consider
As seasonal plants arrive in local garden and hardware stores, consider the opportunity to support pollinators. Beyond honey bees, there are more than 4,000 species of bees in the U.S that help pollinate flowers, plants and crops. As few as three or four pots of the right plants can attract bees and butterflies on city streets, balconies and decks. We’re sharing three … [Read more...]
Rendering important in today’s pet food supply chain
The research arm of North American Renderers Association, in partnership with IFEEDER, AFIA and the Pet Food Institute, released new research highlighting the essential use rendered ingredients have in pet food. In 2024, the U.S. pet food industry reached $51.7 billion in sales and produced 9.8 million tons of pet food. More than 600 safe, nutritious ingredients included over 4 … [Read more...]
National Pet Day is April 11th
Founded in 2006, National Pet Day is one of many designated days to celebrate the human-animal bond. The website’s content shares a plethora of pet statistics animal health pros will find interesting including: 22 percent of Americans are attracted to people whose pet is treated like family 94 percent of families with an autistic child benefit from having a pet 44 … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 3, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 27, 2024. Link. Most read posts from March 27, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Stretching others. Link. Spring health checklist promotes consistent routine for horse care. Link. Preventing mastitis in pregnant heifers. Link. ================================= New word, gigil describes seeing … [Read more...]
Handling the existing and looming threats of feral swine
Called wild, feral, pigs, boars, swine or hogs, these adaptable animals are an invasive species steadily encroaching into more than 35 U.S. states and several Canadian provinces writes Bruce Derksen. Wild pigs cause direct physical damage to pastures, forage fields, fences and crops and like deer are a direct competitor in pasture-based livestock management … [Read more...]
CSU avian influenza expert discusses how H5N1 affects wild and domestic animals
Understanding how the current H5N1 virus is affecting wild and domestic animals is a mission of the Colorado State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The VDL runs as many as 600 samples on a busy day, including a growing number from cats. The VDL has detected outbreaks in commercial poultry and backyard poultry flocks, dairy cattle, domestic pet cats, wild birds and … [Read more...]
House Rabbit Society offers free rabbit care classes via Zoom
Open to anyone, these HRS free online classes will help educate rabbit owners: Rabbit Care 101 covers the basics of taking care of a house rabbit Introducing Rabbits is a starter guide for how to bond two (or more) rabbits Rabbit Behavior offers ways to strengthen the human-rabbit bond Source: House Rabbit Society, April 1, 2025. Link. Also see: House Rabbit … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 27, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 20, 2024. Link. Most read posts from March 20, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Ego management. Link. 3 phrases no one should ever say in a negotiation. Link. A new approach to deworming. Link. Dog breeds being banned in the U.S. (slides). Link. AKC names Pet Honesty as official multivitamin … [Read more...]
Medgene’s RHDV2 vaccine now available in single-dose vials
Medgene will now have single-dose vials for vaccination against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, protecting rabbits from this fatal disease. This new presentation will assist veterinarians in better protecting their rabbit clientele. Source: Medgene, March 2025. Link. “This innovative technology goes well beyond concentrating existing product and putting it in a smaller … [Read more...]
Preventing canine-transmitted neosporosis in cattle
Neosporosis-related losses cost the beef industry an estimated $111 million annually, writes Lindsay Waechter-Mead. The disease is transmitted through Neospora caninum an intracellular parasite. Canines that feed on infected cattle carcasses or placenta become infected and become a host where the parasite multiplies in the intestinal tract. Stable neospora oocytes are shed in … [Read more...]
As National Pet Poison Month ends, the daily risks remain
Sponsor Content Each year, veterinary teams treat unfortunate animals that get exposed to toxic household substances and foods. When an accident happens, it’s a reminder to take steps to help pet owners prevent poison exposure. Education, preparation and action are critical to diagnosing and treating the exposed animals quickly. Providing pet owners with emergency phone … [Read more...]
Global Pet Expo underway in Orlando, Florida
Global Pet Expo is considered a premier event for pet products. It features more than 1,100 exhibitors, a showcase of new products and pet business education. The American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association present it. Source: Global Pet Expo. Link. The 20,000 expected attendees will be offered expanded specialty areas, a new keynote series, … [Read more...]
Peak migration is here
Every March, more than a million Sandhill Cranes gather along the Platte River Valley to rest and refuel before continuing their journey north to their nesting grounds. Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska’s Platte River Valley is home to one of the most spectacular migration events. Witness the Sandhill Crane migration live through explore.org’s nature cameras. Source: National … [Read more...]
Veterinarians, honey bees and beekeepers
Jörg Mayer, DVM, MS, DABVP, DECZM, DACZM, discusses the role of veterinarians in supporting bee health and wellness since the Veterinary Feed Directive was implemented. Source: AAHA, YouTube, March 13, 2025. Link. We don’t think of the honey bee as a farm animal . . . but it is.” Also see: Search results for: bees, AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
Increasing prevalence of E. multilocularis in wild, domestic canids
The Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm is becoming more prevalent in North America, with rapid expansion in the northeastern United States. Wild and domestic canid species serve as definitive hosts, with rodents being intermediate hosts. E. multilocularis proglottids are microscopic, making annual fecal flotations using centrifugation important for early identification of … [Read more...]
New study shows H5N1 is more widespread in cows than reported to date
Researchers and scientists are ringing alarms after identifying a genetic mutation in four dairy cow herds. The change is one researchers dread because it is associated with increased mammal-to-mammal transmission and disease severity. It’s the mutation that was found in the first human case and is extremely pathogenic in ferrets. Finding the same mutation in cows is … [Read more...]
Cornell launches website for bird flu information
Seeking to aggregate up-to-date information on avian influenza, Cornell University has launched a one-stop clearinghouse for the most current and trustworthy information on bird flu. The new Avian Flu Resource Center provides reliable and accessible information for members of the public, farmers, wildlife professionals, state and public health agency partners, and … [Read more...]
Save a swamp. Sauté a nutria.
In an effort to curb growing populations of invasive species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers a practical solution: Eat them. Nutria a large semiaquatic rodent whose population is increasing and disrupting marshland ecosystems, is the preferred menu item. Weighing 15 to 20 pounds each, they live along the Gulf Coast, in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeastern … [Read more...]
U.S. heartworm risks increasing as mosquito populations, species more than double
One can imagine a forboding silence come over those listening to Susan Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM, as she shared an update on the growing prevalence of heartworm disease in U.S. dogs. She urged veterinary teams to be diligent in educating clients and assertive with their recommendations, noting DVMs have more powerful preventatives than ever at their disposal. Source: DVM360, … [Read more...]