https://phys.org/biology-news/veterinary-medicine en-us Veterinary medicine news stories about diseases, disorders and injuries in non-human animals New research in PLOS ONE uncovers an important discovery in the study of marine mammal health by being the first study to detect Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 (OtGHV1) in free-ranging South American pinnipeds, as well as a novel herpesvirus Otariid gammaherpesvirus 8 (OtGHV8) in South American sea lions (Otaria byronia) in the Southern Hemisphere. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-reveals-herpesvirus-south-american-pinnipeds.html Plants & Animals Veterinary medicine Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:01:03 EST news628966862 New research finds around a quarter of Labrador retriever dogs face a double-whammy of feeling hungry all the time and burning fewer calories due to a genetic mutation. The results are published in the journal Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-genetic-mutation-quarter-labradors-hard.html Molecular & Computational biology Veterinary medicine Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:00:01 EST news628942750 Elephants are the natural carriers of a virus called Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) that can, for yet unknown reasons, cause profound clinical signs in some young elephants and be rapidly fatal. For nearly two decades, zoos and university partners have been working to study the virus and develop early detection protocols and treatment options. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-hematology-discovery-medical-elephants.html Plants & Animals Veterinary medicine Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:38:30 EST news628943907 Australian authorities are on high alert amid the spread of lumpy skin disease in cattle and buffalo across South-East Asia. While Australia remains free of the disease, the virus is likely to breach our borders at some stage. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-lumpy-skin-disease-threat-australian.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:33:42 EST news628864418 In a research milestone, the first koala to receive the QUT-developed chlamydia vaccine has been released from the program and back into the wild. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-milestone-healthy-koala-treatment.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:22:03 EST news628863722 Dogs have a remarkable ability to communicate through a variety of sounds, or vocalizations. Because each vocalization conveys a specific message or emotion, understanding the meaning behind different vocalizations can help owners address their pets' needs more effectively, leading to a stronger bond and a happier, healthier dog. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-dog-communicate.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:08:02 EST news628859281 A study of more than 5,000 Salmonella bacteria isolated over 15 years from dairy cattle samples in the Northeast reveals a significant increase in resistance to the antimicrobial medications ampicillin, florfenicol and ceftiofur. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-emerging-salmonella-variety-dairy-cows.html Cell & Microbiology Veterinary medicine Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:59:04 EST news628858742 When broiler chickens are busy fighting the parasitic infection coccidiosis, they can't absorb nutrients efficiently or put energy toward growth. With consumer sentiment pitted against antimicrobials and other drugs, producers still have some options to ensure optimal growth during inevitable outbreaks. New research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests diet changes might help. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-disease-broiler-chickens-nutrition.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Mon, 04 Mar 2024 15:05:03 EST news628787101 Owners of a popular dog breed are being encouraged to keep their pet pooch in tip-top condition after a James Cook University study found that Rottweilers could suffer from reduced lifespan after being neutered. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-neutering-rottweilers-affect-lifespan.html Plants & Animals Veterinary medicine Thu, 29 Feb 2024 17:15:02 EST news628449301 A team of Chinese veterinary researchers has found high levels of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in dogs with diarrhea. In their study, published in the open access journal PLOS ONE, the group tested fecal samples from 185 dogs with diarrhea. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-antimicrobial-resistant-coli-dogs-diarrhea.html Cell & Microbiology Veterinary medicine Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:40:01 EST news628421385 The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, posing an immediate threat to wildlife conservation, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-avian-influenza-virus-marine-mammals.html Evolution Veterinary medicine Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:34:04 EST news628353242 A team of veterinary students and scientists at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, in Brazil, working with the Cannabis Development and Innovation Center, also in Brazil, has found that oral administration of cannabis oil to dogs can reduce symptoms of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), a canine autoimmune-based skin disorder. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-cannabis-oil-effective-treatment-canine.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 28 Feb 2024 10:50:01 EST news628337832 As climate changes, temperature isn't the only factor to influence the spread of infectious diseases. Humidity plays a role, too, according to new research published this week (Feb. 25) in Ecology Letters. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-temperature-humidity-future-transmission-parasitic.html Ecology Veterinary medicine Mon, 26 Feb 2024 17:28:04 EST news628190881 Leptospirosis is a globally distributed infectious disease that affects both animals and humans. While the infection is endemic in tropical regions, its incidence seems to increase in temperate regions. The serological diagnostic test used in routine to detect antibodies against the bacteria responsible for the disease performs better when local variants are used. In Austria, however, no locally circulating strain has been available to date. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-isolating-genotyping-leptospira-bacteria-austria.html Cell & Microbiology Veterinary medicine Mon, 26 Feb 2024 11:58:08 EST news628171082 A recent study at the University of Helsinki reveals that dogs with epilepsy exhibit distinct alterations in trace elements and heavy metal levels in their blood and fur compared with healthy counterparts. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-dogs-epilepsy-elements-heavy-metals.html Veterinary medicine Thu, 22 Feb 2024 16:11:03 EST news627840661 Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, is calling on rural and regional Australians to join in the longest-running citizen science survey of rabbit diseases in the world, to help keep the invasive pest in check. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-australian-citizen-scientists-rabbit-virus.html Ecology Veterinary medicine Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:40:03 EST news627756001 Farmers often use antibiotics to keep their livestock healthy. They're sometimes used as "quick fixes", to avoid more costly management measures like regular disinfection, waste management, routine vaccination or provision of clean drinking water. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-antibiotic-kenya-dairy-farms-consumers.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:22:04 EST news627740522 Around the world, someone dies from rabies every nine minutes of every day. Uganda records more than 130 rabies deaths annually, but the number of unreported rabies fatalities there is presumably much higher. Dog bites are the cause of more than 95% of all rabies cases. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-veterinary-epidemiologist-combat-rabies-uganda.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 20 Feb 2024 14:33:04 EST news627661982 In the tranquil expanses of North America's woodlands and grasslands, a silent but concerning phenomenon is unfolding: chronic wasting disease (CWD). The condition, often dubbed "zombie deer disease", is stealthily spreading among deer populations, sparking concerns among scientists, conservationists and the public alike. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-zombie-deer-disease-scientists-humans.html Ecology Veterinary medicine Mon, 19 Feb 2024 13:15:04 EST news627570901 Since 1996, a deadly neurodegenerative disease of cervids (deer, elk, moose, caribou, reindeer) has been spreading across Canada. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-chronic-disease-british-columbia-deer.html Ecology Veterinary medicine Mon, 19 Feb 2024 11:44:04 EST news627565441 The pork industry provides people across different cultures a considerable source of protein, essential nutrients and a versatile ingredient for diverse culinary traditions. So, when the problem of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in the pork industry results in an economic loss of $650 million annually in the United States, finding a solution is of critical significance. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-qa-pork-pathogens-prrsv.html Cell & Microbiology Veterinary medicine Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:59:56 EST news627299990 In a recent PeerJ study, Professor Jennifer Vonk from Oakland University presents compelling evidence that exotic cats possess the remarkable ability to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar human voices. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-exotic-cats-ability-familiar-human.html Plants & Animals Veterinary medicine Thu, 15 Feb 2024 07:00:01 EST news627148897 Supplementing the feed of high-producing dairy cows with the botanical extract capsicum oleoresin, obtained from chili peppers, or a combination of that extract and clove oil resulted in the animals using feed energy more efficiently and emitting less methane from their largest stomach, according to a new study conducted by Penn State researchers. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-dairy-cows-fed-botanicals-supplemented.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:14:04 EST news627149642 Conflict and drought in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia has triggered a humanitarian crisis. The Ethiopian government says 16 million people across the country are facing food shortages, with almost half of those suffering emergency or severe levels of food insecurity. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-donkeys-unsung-heroes-ethiopia-humanitarian.html Plants & Animals Veterinary medicine Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:59:20 EST news627130754 For most dog owners, their four-legged friends are more than a trusty companion. They are practically members of the family. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-anti-aging-pill-senior-dogs.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 12 Feb 2024 13:16:04 EST news626966161 Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible, neurodegenerative disorder in deer that causes inability to eat, stumbling, drooling, and lack of fear of humans, and in all cases is ultimately fatal. "You can have deer that are infected live for two or more years, and it can take a very long time before they show clinical signs of it," says Michelle Gibison, diagnostic laboratory testing manager at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's Wildlife Futures Program. That means they can infect other deer in that time. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-chronic-disease-deer.html Cell & Microbiology Veterinary medicine Mon, 12 Feb 2024 13:15:03 EST news626966101 Cancer is common in dogs, with some breeds being more prone to certain variations of the disease than others. Recent studies have shown that nearly half of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer, making early screening a crucial precaution for dog owners of any breed. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-screening-cancer-fingerprint-dogs.html Biotechnology Veterinary medicine Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:31:03 EST news626621461 A series of five research publications on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) by APC Microbiome Ireland yields new data regarding the implications of antibiotic use in early life and the effects of antibiotics in standard dry cow therapy. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-highlights-implications-antibiotic-human-veterinary.html Cell & Microbiology Veterinary medicine Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:08:01 EST news626612876 Hemp cultivation has exploded in recent years, especially as CBD, a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, has grown in popularity. As a result, there have been increasing calls—including from the Association of American Feed Control Officers—for CBD's by-product, spent hemp biomass, to be investigated as a potential animal feed ingredient. Is this plentiful fiber source a reliable, healthy new feedstuff for livestock, including dairy cows? https://phys.org/news/2024-02-spent-hemp-biomass-production-dairy.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Wed, 07 Feb 2024 10:35:47 EST news626524540 Sometimes it hurts to dispel facts with science, but a Texas A&M AgriLife expert said even though there is a National Snuggle a Chicken Day (celebrated on Jan. 8), he hopes people don't hug and kiss baby chicks and chickens without proper awareness and precautions. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-snuggle-chicks-chickens.html Veterinary medicine Agriculture Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:19:51 EST news626451588