Animal Airwaves

Orangutans might not have access to nutrition labels or meal plans, but they seem to know a thing or two about balanced eating — and they’re putting us to shame.

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that wild Bornean orangutans have mastered the art of adapting their diets and activity to match their environment.

Led by a scientist from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, researchers spent 15 years observing these great apes in the steamy peat forests of Borneo. The team learned that orangutans instinctively adjust what they eat — and how much they move — based on food availability. During fruit-filled seasons, they pack in carbs and fats, while maintaining adequate protein consumption.

Then, when fruit is scarce, the apes pivot to leaves and bark while also reducing their physical activity and spending more time sleeping. They tap into stored fat and muscle for fuel. In short, they fast intuitively — without ever hearing the phrase “intermittent fasting.”

Unlike most of us, researchers pointed out, the orangutan is not faced with constant access to processed, high-calorie, low-protein foods engineered to be delicious. Orangutans naturally cycle between abundance and scarcity. According to the study, this ebb and flow helps them avoid obesity and metabolic disorders like diabetes. And unlike us, they don’t out-eat their energy needs. Rather, they adjust.

These metabolic and behavioral adaptations offer a powerful lesson for humans: Balance, not abundance, is the secret to long-term health. Who knew the secret to a trim waistline might rest in the overlong, hirsute arms of the orangutan?

National Veterinary Technician Week is October 12-18, and we’re incredibly grateful for the role our vet techs play on our patient care teams and within our hospital community. This week on Animal Airwaves live, UF veterinary technician Billi Wilson, CVT, will celebrate the week by shining a light on the role of veterinary technicians. Billi will touch on her training and education to become a vet tech, her areas of expertise in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia, and the many hats she wears at UF Vet Med, including her dynamic experiences with RECOVER-CPR – evidence-based veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation – and animal technical rescue as part of the UF Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service team.

National Veterinary Technician Week is October 12-18, and we’re incredibly grateful for the role our vet techs play on our patient care teams and within our hospital community. This week on Animal Airwaves live, UF veterinary technician Billi Wilson, CVT, will celebrate the week by shining a light on the role of veterinary technicians. Billi will touch on her training and education to become a vet tech, her areas of expertise in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia, and the many hats she wears at UF Vet Med, including her dynamic experiences with RECOVER-CPR – evidence-based veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation – and animal technical rescue as part of the UF Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service team.

Young, fast-growing horses are prone to a condition called osteochondrosis [ah-stee-oh-kahn-DROE-sus] dissecans [DISS-ah-cans], or OCD for short. That’s when rapid growth outmatches the normal progression of bone development. Bone or cartilage fragments may loosen within the joint, causing inflammation and pain.

OCD occurs most often in large breeds, like draft horses, although other breeds may have genetic predispositions. Additional contributing factors include nutrition and physical trauma — like early training that places undue stress on developing joints.

Common signs of OCD include lameness — especially after exercise — as well as joint swelling and decreased performance. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of these signs or other abnormalities. Without treatment, OCD can result in permanent loss of mobility.

Cats love their sleep. That goes without saying, since most sleep 12 to 16 hours each day. Why do they do that?

Instead of sleeping for long uninterrupted periods, most cats take frequent naps lasting up to half an hour. Light versus deep sleep allows them to react quicker to environmental changes. Cats are hunters by nature and that takes lots of energy. They need plenty of restorative rest to stay alert — even if they’re only playing or exploring. Cats tend to be most active at dusk and dawn, and nighttime shenanigans can make them sleepy during the day.

Still, some cats sleep more for abnormal reasons. They may be bored, stressed, sore or just not feeling well. If your cat is sleeping more than usual, it may be time to check in with your veterinarian.

Nearly one thousand people per day in the US visit the ER for a serious dog bite. The simple fact is that dogs pay attention to our cues more than we do theirs — and that goes for our own pets, too. Up to 80 percent of dog bites happen at home — and most happen to kids under the age of 10.

So, let’s teach children how to safely approach dogs. First, always ask if it’s okay to pet a dog and look to see if the dog is interested, too.  Is she wagging her tail? Or is she backing away, bristling or growling? Approach slowly and offer the back of your hand for a sniff. Never reach over a dog’s head — that’s scary to them. The best places for pets are on a dog’s neck, chest, side and upper back.

Kids and dogs are a classic pairing, so let’s teach them how to stay safe together.

When folks began reporting wild rabbits with what appeared to be horns this summer, it wasn’t just another tall tale. This was the real deal.

The rabbits they were seeing were infected with the Shope papilloma virus. Classic signs of infection include wart- or horn-like growths, primarily involving the head but sometimes affecting other areas of the upper body or the feet.

Pet and other domestic rabbits can be affected too, but other animals and people are spared. Left untreated, infection can progress to malignant cancer in about 75 percent of affected pet and domestic rabbits.

Shope papilloma virus is spread through tick and mosquito bites, and it flares in the summer and fall. So, it’s important to supervise pet rabbits when they’re outside, especially during warm weather.

Whether you’re dealing with a horse, cow, sheep or goat, a hoof puncture is a veterinary emergency.

That might seem counterintuitive since the hoof is such a tough structure. But underneath the hoof wall lie many crucial and sensitive tissues. If they get damaged, the results can be disastrous.

The first sign of a hoof puncture is usually sudden lameness. If you notice anything embedded in the hoof, do not remove it. Instead, call your veterinarian right away. This too may seem counterintuitive, but your veterinarian knows the proper treatment sequence to help prevent serious infection.

After your veterinarian assesses and cleans the wound, that’s when you can get involved — by administering antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and changing leg wraps.

Nearly everyone has heard about the havoc wreaked by the H5N1 virus on poultry, dairy cows and people. But what goes virtually unnoticed is its toll on wildlife.

The so-called bird flu has been around for a couple of centuries, with some animal species being hit harder than others. H5N1 viruses readily swap genetic material, morphing into more dangerous versions as they do.

The current form of H5N1 is a wholly sinister variation that’s more unpredictable than ever. The wildlife deaths have been staggering — over 17 thousand elephant seal pups in Argentina, 25 thousand Cape cormorants in South Africa and 26 thousand northern gannets in Canada, just to name a fraction of the millions involved. The unprecedented extent of these die-offs could push some of the 450 affected species to extinction.

Veterinarians often recommend prescription foods for certain canine or feline health conditions. These specialized diets are available for particular gastrointestinal, kidney or thyroid conditions — just to name a few. But how do you manage individualized feeding in a multi-pet household?

For dogs, some veterinarians recommend establishing a set meal time — for example, from fifteen to thirty minutes — when each dog is fed separately before the food is removed. Dogs are pretty adaptive and most learn to eat during this dinner time.

That might work for some cats, but most need a bit more attention. One answer is using automatic “smart” feeders that dispense food at set times. Unique digital ID tags attached to each cat’s collar can then be read by individual feeders so that every cat gets what they need.