Animal Airwaves

Like those of us who feel the sneeze, some of our feline friends suffer from seasonal allergies. Although cat allergies can occur any time of year, spring, summer and fall are usually the toughest seasons.

Feline allergies can cause sneezing and respiratory abnormalities, but signs of skin irritation are often more common. These include scratching, licking or biting at the skin, which can result in hair loss. Some cats develop red, watery eyes or ear infections made evident by head shaking, ear scratching or discharge. The discomfort can cause allergic cats to lose their appetite or develop behavioral changes.

If your cat shows any of these signs, see your veterinarian to get to the root of the problem.

About 1 in 10 dogs will develop heart disease, and though it’s less common in cats, they’re at risk too. That’s why heart disease should be on every pet parent’s radar.

Heart disease comes in many forms, some present at birth but most developing over time. Some breeds are at higher risk of specific cardiac problems, but heart disease can affect any dog or cat.

Clinical symptoms often first appear only once the disease has progressed. That’s when dogs may develop a cough or breathing problems. However, cats may never show any symptoms.

The average survival time from symptom onset to heart failure is  months to a year. But if a veterinarian detects a murmur or abnormal heart rhythm before symptoms develop, pets can often have more time. That’s why frequent wellness exams are crucial.

Brachycephalic [brake-ee-cef-AL-ick] — or flat-faced — dogs have lots of health challenges related to their altered anatomy. Their respiratory issues get lots of press but their ear problems, not so much.

Compared with dogs with normal facial anatomy, brachycephalic dogs have narrower ear canals, allowing dirt and bacteria to get trapped deep in the canal next to the eardrum. From there, infections can break through into the middle ear cavity near the brain. Nerves regulating balance, eye movement and blinking traverse this area too, so affected dogs can get dizzy and nauseous, develop a head tilt and even lose the ability to blink, which can severely damage their eyes.

That’s why any ear odor, shaking or discharge should be addressed right away with a veterinary visit — before a problem spirals out of control.

Animal-assisted intervention, or A-A-I, includes three types of animal interactions beneficial to people.

An example of animal-assisted therapy is using animals during counseling sessions. Animal-assisted activities use animals to decrease stressors — for example, in visits to hospital patients. In animal-assisted education, animals are used to improve educational activities — for example, in reading programs.

Mental health professionals agree that AAIs are calming and great for stimulating social connections, fostering emotional awareness and boosting academic success. And just to ensure such interactions work for the animals too — and we’re talking about a variety of species — the American Veterinary Medical Association has developed best practices for AAIs.

Every year, when kids are surveyed about their dream jobs, being a veterinarian is near the top of the list. But it takes more than a big heart for animals to get there.

In the United States, veterinary school — like medical school — is a four-year graduate program that follows college. Admission to veterinary school is super competitive: Applicants usually need excellent grades just to get a foot in the door, but experience with animals is also a prerequisite. Leadership skills and community involvement are strong selling points, too.

If you’re a veterinary hopeful, you can’t start the process too early. A keen focus on math and science classes, hands-on animal experience and work with veterinarians are all money in the bank. Speaking of that, routinely contributing to a savings account will help fund the path to your dream goal.

Do animals dream? Some researchers are convinced they do.

After scouring years of research on sleeping animals, they’ve found three categories of evidence. First, in numerous species, the brain’s electrical activity during sleep intermittently mimics that of their awake activities, such as zebra finches singing.

There’s behavioral evidence too. Many chimps taught American Sign Language periodically sign in their sleep.

The anatomic evidence may be the most compelling. There’s a part of the brain that keeps us from literally acting out our dreams. Cats missing that site leap up while asleep and physically perform their dream sequences.

Our dreams have been touted as proof that humans are superior to animals — but maybe that dividing line isn’t so distinct after all.

Snake bites are a common problem in veterinary hospital emergency rooms in the summer months, and prompt medical attention can make the difference between life and death. On this show, Dr. Michael Schaer, a professor emeritus of emergency medicine and critical care, will discuss different types of snake bite, the kinds of snakes associated with the most serious bites, and how veterinarians assess and treat snake bite in the ER. He’ll also discuss what pet owners should do if they suspect their animal has been bitten by a venomous snake.

Join us on Animal Airwaves-Live with Dr. Ronald Goncalves, clinical assistant professor of emergency and critical care at UF’s Small Animal Hospital, discussing pneumonia in dogs. This potentially life-threatening lung disease requires immediate veterinary attention. Dr. Goncalves will share insights on recognizing warning signs like coughing, labored breathing, and lethargy, plus emergency interventions including oxygen therapy and antibiotics. Learn how prompt action can make a crucial difference in your pet’s recovery from this serious condition, and about a new UF study that dogs with pneumonia may qualify for.

Having your horse vaccinated routinely is important to ensure it stay protected against infectious diseases. However, each horse’s immune system is different, so horse owners should talk to their veterinarian about which immunization program makes the most sense for their animal. On this show, Dr. Martha Mallicote, an equine internal medicine specialist, will discuss the importance of vaccination as a part of routine health care for horses. She’ll also address why keeping your horse healthy involves more than just adhering to a vaccination protocol, and why good nutrition, deworming, pasture management and minimizing stress and overcrowding are also important factors.

Veterinary oncology today makes use of increasingly sophisticated tools and methods for treating cancer in pets. In addition to surgery and medical therapy, or chemotherapy, radiation oncology is a veterinary specialty that entails the use of controlled radiation to treat certain types of cancer. On this show, Dr. Marilia Takada, a clinical assistant professor and veterinary radiation oncology specialist, will discuss what radiation therapy is, how it works and types of cancer it’s used most frequently to treat. She’ll also discuss why radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with other therapies to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.