https://phys.org/biology-news/veterinary-medicine/ en-us Veterinary medicine news stories about diseases, disorders and injuries in non-human animals The human-animal bond is often so strong that pet owners may delay or forgo medical treatment or leave a health care facility against medical advice if they have no one to care for their pet at home. A perspective paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine explains why pet owners may need different approaches to care when hospitalized, according to an Emory University physician and an Ohio State University veterinarian. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-views-physician-veterinarian-barriers-pet.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:00:04 EDT news707734865 Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) featured prominently in the news during 2020 as it took the lives of millions of birds across the globe. While the worst seems to be behind us, population-level effects are just now emerging. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-ddt-flu-peregrine-falcons-san.html Plants & Animals Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:40:03 EDT news707644561 As dogs age, many develop more than one chronic health condition. New research from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) shows those conditions can dramatically shorten a dog's lifespan, highlighting the importance of managing multiple diseases together rather than individually. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-chronic-conditions-key-longer-lifespan.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:50:01 EDT news707414941 Blinking keeps eyes moist, sweeps away bits of dirt and dust, and helps the brain rest when processing visual information. But in dogs, it may also serve another function as a subtle social signal. That was one of the conclusions of new research published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, which found that dogs blink more often when they see their owners blinking. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dogs-subtle-social.html Plants & Animals Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:40:05 EDT news706954032 A mule has helped researchers build the most complete reference genomes to date for horses and donkeys, giving scientists access to complex regions of DNA that earlier versions could not fully capture. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mule-scientists-clearest-horse-donkey.html Evolution Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:20:04 EDT news706792861 At 61, Bill had begun showing changes in his health—decreased appetite, weight loss and abdominal bloating. But his bloodwork was normal, leaving the cause of his symptoms unknown. The next step was clear: Bill should get a CT scan to check for problems with his internal organs. There was just one hurdle: Bill is a nearly 400-pound (approximately 180-kilogram) Siamese crocodile. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ct-scan-pound-crocodile.html Plants & Animals Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:04 EDT news706780443 Many animals obtain information about others from scent marks left in the environment, including urine. Because these marks remain after the sender has left, they allow animals to communicate across space and time. But odor molecules evaporate, degrade and change after release. How, then, can a scent mark continue to convey reliable information about who left it? https://phys.org/news/2026-08-year-mystery-cat-kidney-linked.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:00:26 EDT news706194782 A benign but invasive canine oral cancer is often mistaken for a similar malignant one, leading to misdiagnoses in close to a third of cases. But a new diagnostic tool can now distinguish between the two, according to a new study that also identified a promising FDA-approved drug ready for clinical trials. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-drug-invasive-canine-oral-tumors.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:40:07 EDT news706273621 A distinctive black or dark brown lesion that appears on the eyes of some cats has long puzzled veterinarians. Now, researchers have identified two elements that may help explain what is happening inside the affected cornea. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-elements-clues-mysterious-black-eye.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:20:08 EDT news706181222 For many people, a trip to the zoo is a chance to watch playful otters dart through the water and chatter with one another. But while we may worry that crowds could stress the otter community, a new Australian study shows that happy onlookers may indeed be helping them flourish. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-otters-attention-humans.html Ecology Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:40:01 EDT news706179653 Humans love dogs, but petting them can leave some people sneezing and wheezing. About 15% of the world's population lives with a dog allergy, which can increase the risk of hay fever and asthma. The main culprit is Can f 1, a protein found mainly in dog saliva. Right now, staying away from furry friends or getting regular immunotherapy shots or tablets is the only way to deal with the symptoms. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-gene-beagles-major-dog-allergen.html Biotechnology Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:00:01 EDT news705919142 Canine sarcoptic mange (scabies) is a skin condition in which microscopic mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) infest dogs' skin. The condition is contagious and zoonotic and can be difficult to detect. If left untreated, it can cause bleeding sores, malnutrition, emaciation and secondary bacterial infections that may eventually lead to a dog's death. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-topical-clove-oil-canine-sarcoptic.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:40:01 EDT news705918202 For dogs with heart disease, a fraction of a centimeter can make a life-changing difference. Veterinarians often rely on chest radiographs to monitor subtle changes in heart size that help determine when treatment should begin. But those measurements can vary from one doctor to the next, making it difficult to know whether a dog's condition is truly changing or whether the difference is simply the result of human interpretation. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-tool-veterinarians-track-heart.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:30:01 EDT news705765121 University of Bristol–led researchers have identified a naturally occurring gut molecule that could strengthen chickens' immune response against a wide range of bacterial infections. This development, published today, Aug. 12, in The Journal of Immunology, offers a major step forward in sustainable farming and the global fight against antibiotic resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-immune-reprogramming-poultry-deadly-diseases.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:20:01 EDT news705747624 According to new research, viewers often dismiss, trivialize or even romanticize signs of cat distress during "play" interactions, raising concerns for cat welfare. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-internet-cats.html Plants & Animals Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:20:06 EDT news705745323 Scientists—and dog lovers—have long known that dogs are remarkably good at interpreting our laughs, frowns and tears. But the biology behind this ability has remained largely unexplored until now. In a study published in the journal iScience on Aug. 7, researchers peered inside the brains of dogs as they viewed images of various human expressions. The brain scans revealed that dogs process smiles in a unique brain region and, for the first time, provided evidence that dogs can distinguish between negative facial expressions, including anger, sadness and fear. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mri-dogs-distinguish-human-sadness.html Plants & Animals Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:00:07 EDT news705246541 We call them "man's best friend," and the evidence supports it. Dogs have been found buried alongside humans in graves dating back 14,000 years. They appear in ancient art from every continent, and they feature in the mythology, religion and folklore of virtually every culture. Archaeological evidence shows they have helped us hunt, protected our homes, hauled our possessions, herded our livestock and provided companionship through the entirety of recorded history. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dogs-evolved-differently-globe-human.html Evolution Sun, 09 Aug 2026 19:10:01 EDT news705243839 A highly contagious herpes virus causes Marek's disease, a deadly illness that mainly infects chickens. While it does not make people sick, the virus causes tumors and paralysis in chickens and, if unchecked, can spread rapidly through entire flocks. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ten-viral-genome-regions-deadly.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:40:04 EDT news704979061 A new study by the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research at the University of Oxford reveals that industrial poultry farming has led to a more than 100-fold increase in the movement of Campylobacter, allowing strains that once circulated in wild birds to mix extensively in commercial poultry populations. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-industrial-poultry-farming-major-foodborne.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:00:07 EDT news704357396 Blood transfusions are crucial in human and veterinary medicine, yet human blood reserves are in constant need of donors, while blood bank systems in veterinary care are nearly nonexistent. This leaves canine transfusions largely reliant on donations from healthy dogs, but securing compatible blood remains a major challenge because dogs also have different blood types. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-generating-red-blood-cell-cells.html Biotechnology Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:00:05 EDT news703496702 Horses know a predator when they see one—even if it's only on a video screen while they're standing in a stall, with no sounds, smells or previous experience providing context for what they're viewing, a new study suggests. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-eyeing-predator-horses-poker-hearts.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:07 EDT news703325708 Cats may be cute and adorable, but stray and feral cats can sometimes pose a risk to human health. Veterinary researchers have discovered that more than 50% of free-roaming cats in New York City carry parasites that could potentially be transmitted to humans. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-hidden-health-york-city-free.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:30:01 EDT news702895994 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 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 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 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 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 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 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