https://phys.org/biology-news/veterinary-medicine/ en-us Veterinary medicine news stories about diseases, disorders and injuries in non-human animals 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 Playing a little extra with your dog improves the emotional bond between owner and dog, according to a new study from Linköping University. However, training did not give the same results. The study is relevant for all dog owners, whether they have young or adult dogs. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-extra-minutes-daily-play-bond.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:10:02 EDT news695893202 New research has revealed dairy calves that are fed less complete tasks faster and remember more in pursuit of milk, but miss out on play. Calves that were given more food were more inclined to play. The study, led by the University of Bristol and published in Scientific Reports, sheds new light on how hungry animals sacrifice play and put finding food first. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-fed-calves-play.html Plants & Animals Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:04 EDT news695990342 An international group of scientists mapped the spread of the current dominant strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus through North American bird populations in 2024. Led by scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the collaboration provides a comprehensive view of this novel flu spreading through birds in North America. The investigators collected and sequenced samples from birds across the continent, letting them map the virus's spread. They also compared the virus from birds to those causing human infections, showing that current human vaccine stockpiles will likely work well against both. Closer evaluation of the viruses led the researchers to classify them as low risk for human-to-human spread in their current form. The study was published today in Nature Medicine. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-emerging-alaska-dominant-h5n1-strain.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:07 EDT news695486799 Among dog breeds, Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers (tollers) have an unusually high rate of Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones, notably cortisol and aldosterone. In humans, Addison's disease is thought to occur when the body's immune system attacks the adrenal glands, making it a type of autoimmune disease. Affected tollers typically develop Addison's disease at a young age and the condition appears to be inherited. Now scientists have identified a gene variant in tollers, RESF1, which is strongly associated with the disease in dogs. The research is published in the journal Scientific Reports. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-discovery-addison-disease-gene-dogs.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:40:01 EDT news695398562 The wave-shaped chart Ratul Chowdhury pulls up on a computer monitor in his office captures the evolutionary cat-and-mouse game his research lab is up against. The undulating curves track variants of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, which causes a swine disease that annually costs the global pork industry more than $1 billion—damage attributable in part to how quickly it adapts to escape from immune defenses. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-future-proofing-livestock-vaccines-viruses.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:20:06 EDT news695300942 African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting domestic pigs and wild boars worldwide. Since its introduction into Europe, this deadly virus has spread widely, threatening pig production and causing significant economic losses. Understanding the mechanisms of transmission between domestic pigs and wild boars is essential for developing effective control strategies. However, this has proven to be highly challenging—not only due to the multiple transmission pathways between animals and farms, but also because surveillance data on ASF in wild boar populations remain limited. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-african-swine-fever-transmission-domestic.html Plants & Animals Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:20:10 EDT news694970161 A quick heart trace taken during a warm-up trot could identify racehorses at risk of cardiac arrhythmias during high-intensity exercise, according to a new study led by the University of Surrey. The screening method analyzes short, routine electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings that could be used to help prevent cardiac events in otherwise healthy horses, where no obvious signs of arrhythmia have been detected. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-simple-ecg-flag-racehorses-arrhythmias.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:00:01 EDT news694177860 In the search to replace antibiotic growth promoters with effective alternatives in modern swine production, plant-based essential oils are showing potential to provide lasting benefits. In a rare long-term public study that compared the effects of phytochemicals from rosemary and oregano with antibiotic growth promoters, animal scientists with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station found that the natural agents given to weaned pigs supported favorable gut health and growth performance later in their lives by preserving microbial diversity to improve nutrient utilization. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-oregano-rosemary-term-swine-natural.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:01 EDT news694278434 A critically endangered monkey has given birth just months after pioneering surgery saved her from undergoing an amputation. Masaya, a 15-year-old roloway monkey at Chester Zoo, had a golf-ball-sized mass removed from her foot last summer in a complex operation carried out jointly by zoo vets and surgeons from the University of Liverpool's Small Animal Teaching Hospital. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-critically-endangered-monkey-birth-surgery.html Plants & Animals Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:02 EDT news693133332 In a new, survey-based study of three kinds of "designer" crossbreed dogs, cockapoos, cavapoos and labradoodles, all three showed more undesirable behaviors than at least one of their purebred progenitor breeds, with cockapoos displaying the most unwanted habits. Gina Bryson of the Royal Veterinary College, U.K., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-crossbreed-dogs-problem-behaviors-pure.html Plants & Animals Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:10:01 EDT news693043261 Livestock breeders could soon have more tools to improve the health and quality of their animals, thanks to a recent study that sheds new light on regulatory elements in the sheep genome. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-insight-tissue-specific-gene-sheep.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:10:06 EDT news692897701 When cats fall, they usually land on their feet. This uncanny ability to right themselves before hitting the ground has long puzzled scientists. Now, a team from Yamaguchi University in Japan has the answer, and it's all down to the thoracic spine being more flexible than the lumbar spine, as they detail in a study published in the journal The Anatomical Record. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-japanese-scientists-falling-cats.html Plants & Animals Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:24:53 EDT news692371449 Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School have found that viruses circulating in live poultry markets can be detected more effectively by sampling the surrounding environment than by testing individual birds. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that environmental sampling can uncover a broader range of poultry viruses—including highly pathogenic avian influenza strains that traditional surveillance may miss. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-environmental-sampling-poultry-viruses-bird.html Veterinary medicine Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:40:01 EST news691936741 Researchers from the University of Nottingham have uncovered a surprising biological quirk in domestic cats that may help explain why they are so prone to chronic kidney disease. Unlike dogs and most other mammals, cats appear to accumulate unusual fats inside the cells of their kidneys, sometimes from a very young age. This new study, published in Frontiers of Veterinary Science, and led by Professor David Gardner and Dr. Rebecca Brociek from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University, shows they are anything but ordinary. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-cats-prone-kidney-disease-unusual.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:00:04 EST news691851241 More than four out of every five dead black vultures examined by University of Georgia researchers tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports. The actual toll of the virus on the integral species is likely exponentially higher, though, the researchers warned. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-bird-flu-rampant-black-vultures.html Ecology Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:20:04 EST news691674121 Ehime University investigators measured 34 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in 100 commercial dog and cat foods sold in Japan and detected PFAS across many products, with higher concentrations in fish-based foods and dry products, and higher estimated intake from wet products. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-pfas-exposure-greater-pet-food.html Veterinary medicine Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:00:01 EST news691335789 Why does your dog rush to "help" when you are searching for something, while your cat seems… eh, less concerned? New research suggests that this difference may stem from deep evolutionary roots—and that, in certain situations, dogs behave more similarly to young children than to cats. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dogs-toddlers-cats-humans.html Evolution Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:40:05 EST news691329481 Scores of sea lions continue to beach themselves along the Southern California coastline, stricken with sickness. Toxic algae blooms are to blame, though a mechanical engineering innovation could shift the tide in favor of the marine mammals. Now, UNLV-led research published in Scientific Reports has successfully developed a synthetic California sea lion pelvic region, mimicking its bone and soft tissue. This allows medical professionals to conduct blood collection training on anatomically authentic models, improving efforts to treat the live animals. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-3d-synthetic-sea-lion-pelvis.html Biotechnology Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:10:01 EST news691258501