https://phys.org/biology-news/veterinary-medicine/ en-us Veterinary medicine news stories about diseases, disorders and injuries in non-human animals 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 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 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 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 A 2021 outbreak of leptospirosis that sickened more than 200 dogs in Los Angeles County reveals critical gaps in vaccination practices and raises broader concerns about the spread of the disease between animals and people, according to new research led by the University of California, Davis. The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-dog-daycare-leptospirosis-outbreak-los.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 26 May 2026 15:40:05 EDT news699018621 People often look to dogs' behavior, especially their facial expressions, for indications of their states of mind. Numerous studies show that this is a popular interpretation strategy. However, modern dog breeds vary greatly in size and structure, and few studies have explored how breed-specific morphology might affect humans' ability to assess visual cues from the faces of different breeds of dogs. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-brachycephalic-dogs-facial-requires-extra.html Plants & Animals Tue, 26 May 2026 15:20:01 EDT news699000697 Snakes are threatened with extinction in many places around the globe. Disease, often caused by parasites or fungi, is thought to be one of the key factors alongside habitat destruction. Prominent among fungal diseases is ophidiomycosis—also known as snake fungal disease—which is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo). In the 20 years since its discovery, it has been found in many snake species. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-rattlesnakes-vulnerable-fungal-disease-parasitic.html Ecology Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:01 EDT news698917321 Anesthesia makes life-saving procedures as painless and stress-free as possible for the animals we love and care for. But not a lot is known about the effects of anesthesia on animals that we don't typically consider pets—like butterflies and other invertebrates. Insects are often valuable members of nature centers, zoos and museums, but even if they're just being evaluated in the wild, they can need anesthesia during physical examinations and injury treatment. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-anesthetize-butterfly.html Plants & Animals Fri, 22 May 2026 07:33:54 EDT news698652062 Cows eat grass...everyone knows that. But climate change is forcing producers and scientists to rethink some of our long-held assumptions about livestock nutrition. Crop costs are climbing. Traditional pastures are under pressure. And researchers are casting a wider net for unconventional feed sources that might help the industry adapt. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-seaweed-solution-cattle-nutrition-sustainable.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 19 May 2026 17:00:04 EDT news698422669 What plant do cats love most? In Europe and North America, many people would probably answer "catnip." In Japan, the answer would more likely be silver vine (matatabi in Japanese). Both plants are famous for triggering the well-known feline response: cats rub their faces and bodies against them, roll on the ground, and sometimes lick or chew the leaves. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-silver-vine-catnip-cats.html Plants & Animals Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:04 EDT news698400570 Sticking needles into arms—or rather, haunches—is often the hardest part of distributing an effective agricultural vaccine. Now, University of Connecticut researchers show in the April 15 issue of Advanced Healthcare Materials that a patch can deliver a safe, temperature-stabilized vaccine against foot and mouth disease, no needles required. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-microneedle-patch-vaccine-farming-stubborn.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 18 May 2026 17:10:01 EDT news698342101 Pet owners love their dogs but may not always love the smell of their breath. Because this bad odor can signal oral disease, veterinary clinics will prescribe daily toothbrushing, antibiotics, or chemical rinses as treatment. Now, researchers reporting in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry propose an alternative: polyphenols from molasses. They developed a spray that reduced stinky breath and harmful oral bacteria in dogs. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-smelly-dog-breakthrough-based-spray.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 18 May 2026 11:00:15 EDT news698318761 Breeding programs could alter heritable dog characteristics to reduce the rates of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), a breathing disorder common in dogs such as Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs—according to a new study led by Dr. Joanna Jadwiga Ilska of the Royal Kennel Club, published May 13, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-flat-dogs-easier.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 13 May 2026 14:00:12 EDT news697821901 Whether a dog owner rewards their dog with a treat or corrects it by pulling on the leash is not simply a matter of what they believe to be the most effective training method. According to the study, owners' choice of training methods is linked to their ethical stance on how animals should be treated and used. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-dog-choices-owners-ethical-views.html Plants & Animals Tue, 05 May 2026 16:00:03 EDT news697202041 Climate change is likely to drive rodent-borne arenaviruses into parts of South America that have never faced these diseases, putting new communities of people at risk, finds a study from the University of California, Davis. For the study, published in the journal npj Viruses, scientists incorporated climate projections, shifting rodent populations, and the risks of human infection into a model to offer an early risk projection for arenaviruses and other diseases in the next 20 to 40 years. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-climate-spillover-rodent-borne-arenaviruses.html Ecology Mon, 04 May 2026 17:40:04 EDT news697125781 Around the world, millions of camels are farmed for milk and meat while others are used in leisure activities like racing and riding. Yet the treatment of these animals as livestock can be harsh, especially during transport. New international research, led by Southern Cross University animal welfare expert Associate Professor Barbara Padalino and published in the journal Animals, shows that more humane camel transportation is possible by using food as an incentive in place of physical punishment. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-camel-food-incentive-physical.html Plants & Animals Mon, 04 May 2026 08:40:01 EDT news697101555 A new study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that pet cats allowed to roam outside unsupervised carry infectious diseases at rates comparable to feral cats, even when they receive veterinary care, regular meals, and shelter. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-pet-cats-roam-outdoors-similar.html Plants & Animals Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:20:03 EDT news696692821 Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have developed a vaccine approach that shows promise in protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu, demonstrating strong efficacy in both mice and cattle. Avian influenza (H5N1) has disrupted agricultural systems globally, leading to the culling of more than 166 million commercial poultry birds in the United States since 2022. In 2024, the virus spread to dairy cattle—an unprecedented interspecies transfer—and subsequently caused illness in about 70 farm workers with close contact to infected animals. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-h5n1-vaccine-dairy-calves-mice.html Plants & Animals Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:00:01 EDT news696176724 Australian scientists have developed an injectable therapy that helps clear blocked airways in flat-faced dogs. Melbourne-based biotechnology company Snoretox and RMIT University have shown early success using the first therapy from a new technology, known as Snoretox-1. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-technology-flat-dogs-easy.html Biotechnology Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:20:05 EDT news696070743