https://phys.org/biology-news/veterinary-medicine/ en-us Veterinary medicine news stories about diseases, disorders and injuries in non-human animals A rat first frees a cagemate rat and then shares food with it. Is this animal just as empathetic as humans? In an American study from 2011, researchers observed that rats first freed their fellow rats from a cage and then shared food with them instead of leaving them in the cage and eating alone; this means they showed empathy. But do they have the same capacity for empathy as we humans, or do we differ in that regard? https://phys.org/news/2026-07-rats-empathy.html Plants & Animals Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:00:03 EDT news702217587 As human cases of flea-borne murine typhus continue to occur in South Texas, researchers are working to better understand the role cats and their fleas may play in the disease's transmission cycle. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-feline-fleas-bacteria-linked-human.html Veterinary medicine Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:00:01 EDT news702210631 In the northern hemisphere, the summer season is rolling in, and the heat is on the rise. For horses, these high temperatures also mean an increased risk of respiratory issues, such as recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). https://phys.org/news/2026-07-pressure-recurrent-laryngeal-neuropathy-horses.html Plants & Animals Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:20:04 EDT news702136442 The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been found in seabirds in two Australian states. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-bird-flu-deadly-backyard-chickens.html Veterinary medicine Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:30:01 EDT news701605428 A new Cornell University study helps deepen the understanding of skull shapes in dogs of different sizes and draws a link between cranial and facial shapes, body weight, and the risk of syringomyelia, a spinal condition common in some dog breeds. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-dog-skull-body-weight-linked.html Veterinary medicine Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:20:12 EDT news701609361 Scientists have shown that the stride length of the front legs (but not the hind legs) of senior and geriatric dogs decreases as their cognitive performance worsens. In contrast, chronological age itself was a poor predictor of stride length. A similar reduction in step length has been well documented in people with dementia. These results suggest that a decline in stride length could be an early warning sign of canine dementia, and so an informative new tool for veterinarians. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-shorter-front-leg-early-dementia.html Plants & Animals Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:01 EDT news701451602 Scientists have detected the highly contagious H5 bird flu strain in a second Australian state, the nation's agriculture minister said Wednesday. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-h5-bird-flu-australia-state.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:10:02 EDT news701491836 Sight-threatening antibiotic-resistant eye infections are becoming a significant threat to vision in dogs, cats and horses, according to a new comprehensive review published in Veterinary Ophthalmology by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The study examines global trends in antimicrobial resistance in animal eye infections and warns that multidrug-resistant bacteria are becoming more common in referral veterinary settings. The review also highlights a critical challenge for veterinarians: Standard laboratory tests may not always predict how well topical eye treatments will work in practice. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-antibiotic-resistance-threatens-vision-pets.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:40:03 EDT news701438821 The dried larvae of the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) are comparable to beef or poultry in nutritional value, but the mealworm has a far smaller ecological footprint. It was recently approved for human consumption by the European Food Safety Authority. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-yellow-mealworms-anatomically.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:20:12 EDT news701432655 Domestic cats age in remarkably similar ways to humans and show comparable age-related patterns of brain deterioration, according to an international collaboration among the University of Bath in the U.K., Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in the U.S. and École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse in France. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cats-age-humans-brains-reveal.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:10:03 EDT news701367962 Cats are the most popular companion animals worldwide, and many people have multiple cats at home. In these multicat households, not all the cats get along equally well. Until recently, it was thought that if a cat licks another cat (a behavior known as "allogrooming"), the two cats were friends. But is this really true? Researchers at Ghent University and the University of Lincoln have investigated this behavior. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cats-groom-friendly.html Plants & Animals Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:20:01 EDT news701352831 On a remote beach near Esperance, Western Australia, two sick seabirds have brought the bird flu crisis to Australia. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-australia-h5n1-cases-wild-birds.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:40:02 EDT news701330882 Scientists have detected the H5 strain of bird flu in Australia for the first time, the country's agriculture minister said Saturday, meaning the highly contagious variant has now spread to every continent. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-australia-case-contagious-h5-bird.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:55:27 EDT news701142893 When H5N1 bird flu first began infecting U.S. cattle in early 2024, diagnosis was elusive because, in cows, the disease looked completely different. Instead of affecting the lungs, as H5N1 does in other mammalian species, it caused severe infection in the cows' udders, largely sparing the lungs. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-h5n1-bird-flu-hid-unrecognized.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:05 EDT news700991161 See the vet reports during any yearling sale and you'll hear it—a ripple of concern when a veterinarian flags a bone chip on a radiograph of the horse's leg. Buyers often step away. Prices drop. The horse, in the minds of many, is already compromised. However, findings of a study from the University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center challenge that assumption, which carries real financial weight for sellers and consignors. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-buyers-assumptions-carpal-chips-thoroughbred.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:00:01 EDT news700914741 Husker scientists have developed a new swine influenza vaccination technique whose low cost and adaptability can greatly strengthen disease protection. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-swine-influenza-vaccination-technique-greatly.html Biotechnology Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:00:06 EDT news700910041 Just 10 viral particles of the H5N1 bird flu that caused hundreds of influenza outbreaks in U.S. dairy cattle can cause infection in cows, a new study shows. The research also hints at why the outbreaks have confounded scientists, farmers and livestock handlers hoping to contain and prevent the disease—an effort likely complicated by the fact that the virus has an affinity for cow mammary glands rather than airways. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-viral-particles-h5n1-avian-flu.html Ecology Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:00:03 EDT news700758451 University of Melbourne researchers have uncovered several animal welfare issues in the United Kingdom's greyhound racing industry, reigniting public debate about whether the sport should be banned worldwide. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ai-tool-spotlights-welfare-greyhound.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:02 EDT news700736761 Taylor & Francis has announced the publication of the first Plain Language Summary of Publication (PLSP) in veterinary research, a milestone in making discoveries in animal health more accessible, engaging and impactful. This new initiative bridges the gap between complex scientific findings and practical understanding. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-plain-language-summary-veterinary-science.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:00:06 EDT news700728302 The same biological signals that help predict lifespan in humans also appear in dogs, according to new research from the Dog Aging Project—a finding that could help scientists better understand aging in both species. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-dogs-humans-alike-thought.html Molecular & Computational biology Sat, 13 Jun 2026 17:00:02 EDT news700146606 Pets form an important part of many people's lives, providing meaningful companionship. However, our pets can sometimes also be a source of unwelcome pathogens and diseases, particularly if they frequently roam outdoors. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cat-home-unwelcome-pathogens.html Plants & Animals Sat, 13 Jun 2026 08:00:05 EDT news700145650 A new study shows that horse owners' psychological characteristics, including their attachment styles and personality traits, are systematically linked to how frequently they ride, train, and spend quality time with their horses, as well as the equipment they choose to use. The findings offer new insights into how human psychology shapes horse welfare and management. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-horse-owners-personality-style-interact.html Veterinary medicine Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:40:04 EDT news700479011 Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is generally associated with animals. But a new study by researchers from the University of Calgary and international collaborators explored the potential for CWD to spread from deer, elk and other cervid (hooved, plant-eating) animals to other species. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-silent-prions-reveal-species-chronic.html Ecology Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:00:04 EDT news700401961 The fungus that causes sporotrichosis is typically transmitted among cats and results in serious lesions. Recently, it was found in the internal organs of wild animals. The study was published in March in the journal Mycopathologia. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-pathogenic-fungus-transmitted-domestic-cat.html Ecology Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:40:01 EDT news700328401 Just like left- or right-handed humans, domestic dogs have a preference for their left or right paw, a trait known as laterality. This can vary depending on the tasks they perform, which has made it difficult to create a standardized test that captures a dog's natural paw bias. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-dog-lefty-doginburgh-captures-paw.html Plants & Animals Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:30:01 EDT news700303821 At a Maryland vineyard, Debi Persing guided her Boston terrier, Xephyr, slowly down a row of grapevines. Vineyard workers and scientists had already identified several invasive spotted lanternfly egg masses hidden among the vines. They believed they had found them all. Then Xephyr stopped at a vine they had marked clear. The little dog sat and pawed at the plant insistently. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-dogs-uncover-invasive-pests-experts.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:00:02 EDT news700152121 The horses at the Children's Zoo in Gothenburg don't mind being petted by children and adults. However, they do get stressed by the noise from an excavator. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg discovered this after fitting heart rate monitors to eight Gotland Russ horses. The research is published in the journal Zoo Biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-horses-unaffected-petting-children-zoo.html Plants & Animals Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:56:04 EDT news700131340 Humans can communicate various instructions to dogs without using actual words—simply by modulating the tone of their voice, a new study from ELTE University's Department of Ethology shows. By repeating the nonsense syllable 'bü' in different intonations, humans successfully signaled "Yes," "No," "Here," and "There" and, remarkably, dogs responded correctly, despite receiving no prior training. The findings reveal ancient acoustic codes, interpretable across species, that predate language itself. The study was published in Cognition. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-dogs-human-tone-words-hinting.html Evolution Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:30:01 EDT news699720301 A new predictive model developed at Washington State University could help scientists more efficiently identify the reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses and dangerous pathogens like Ebola that can spill over from animals into humans. Confirming a reservoir species is critical to understanding and preventing those spillovers, but it requires detecting live virus in an actively infected animal. That can be a significant challenge, as infections are often rare, short-lived, and fluctuate seasonally, reaching detectable levels only during brief windows each year. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-track-deadly-viruses-source.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:20:01 EDT news699698701 Research into a common environmental germ that can cause severe infections in people and animals has raised concern that horses are starting to develop antibiotic resistance towards it. The University of the Sunshine Coast study examined the prevalence of the bug P. aeruginosa in Australian wild birds, native wildlife, livestock and domestic animals. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-antibiotic-resistance-australian-horses-animal.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:00:07 EDT news699616830