UF Health Podcasts

Keeping Fido fit isn’t only important for pup’s mental and physical health, but also a great way to build your bond and keep you active as well. However, just as people can hurt themselves by engaging in too much or the wrong types of exercise for their bodies and ages, dogs, too, are susceptible to injury if a fitness plan isn’t carefully curated. On this archived episode, Dr. Christina Montalbano, a clinical assistant professor of integrative and mobility medicine at UF, will discuss safe exercise for dogs of all ages. She’ll also offer recommendations for safe levels of exercise for dogs of different ages, from puppy to senior, surface considerations, safer ways to play fetch and how to identify signs of fatigue and injury.

If someone put a teaspoon of sugar in your morning coffee, you might be able to smell it. Maybe. A dog, researchers say, could detect the same amount of sugar in a million gallons of water, or about two Olympic-sized pools.

The canine sense of smell is a remarkable product of nature. Depending on the breed, it’s up to 100,000 times more sensitive than our own.

Now, scientists are putting those noses to the test with Parkinson’s disease, a movement disorder that can be challenging to diagnose early.

Typically, human skin produces a waxy skin oil that helps maintain our skin and hair health.

These skin secretions, however, are altered in Parkinson’s patients. That results in a unique musky odor even years before the onset of noticeable symptoms.

British researchers in a recent study said dogs can be trained to detect the smell, opening the possibility that they might one day aid neurologists.

Of 10 dogs screened, two showed an affinity for the task — a male golden retriever named Bumper and a male labrador-golden retriever mix named Peanut. Each received 53 weeks of training.

They were exposed to skin swabs from people diagnosed with Parkinson’s and those who were disease-free. Peanut and Bumper were rewarded when they correctly identified the signature musky smell.

A final test involved 100 new samples. Bumper identified 28 out of 40 Parkinson’s samples, or 70%. He also correctly dismissed 54 of 60 negative samples, or 90%

Peanut, however, was the star. He identified 32 of 40 Parkinson’s samples, or 80%, and correctly dismissed 59 of 60 negative samples, or 98%.

Sometimes the far-fetched ideas could just end up being the right ones.

The research on feline diseases and treatments has traditionally lagged behind that of dogs. But now with an estimated 220 to 373 million pet cats around the world, it’s time our feline friends get the attention they deserve.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition recently published the inaugural 2025 World of the Cat Report, which showcases advances in feline diagnostics, treatments and nutrition.

In the past, veterinarians often treated cats like small dogs. Thankfully, they’ve learned that cats respond differently to drugs, some of which can even be toxic to feline patients.

Currently, only about 40% of cats — compared to over 80% of dogs — have annual veterinary visits. With more ways to make cats comfortable in the clinic, the goal is to even those numbers up.

To treat canine seizures effectively, they first need to be accurately characterized. That’s challenging when pooch parents may be the only ones witnessing these events.

Now, an international team of veterinary researchers has developed a questionnaire that standardizes the description and classification of canine seizures. Pet parents are presented with practical descriptions of clinical signs — developed from data collected from over 600 dogs and 96 breeds — along with clear video examples. Using these aids, pet parents can accurately describe seizures up to 97% of the time.

Researchers hope this tool will help both clinical diagnostics and genetic research. The questionnaire is now available for use by veterinarians and researchers around the world.

As increasing numbers of cannabis-derived products become available for people, veterinarians are often asked whether they are safe for pets.

When state laws legalize marijuana for people, those laws don’t apply to animals. Also, any product claiming to be therapeutic must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before it can be legally manufactured and distributed.

So far, no cannabis-derived products have received FDA approval for therapeutic use in animals. Although some cannabinoids [cah-NAB-in-oids], like CBD, may have potential in treating epilepsy or osteoarthritis, there’s scant scientific evidence for their use in animals. That’s the main reason why the American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend them.

Although we hear lots about raw food diets, cooked or processed commercial pet foods also need to be prepared and stored properly.

First, make sure that bags and cans of food are undamaged when you buy them. Then store dry food in an airtight container in a dry area kept lower than 80 degrees. Keep the original bag with all the manufacturing data. Refrigerate moist food and discard any that’s left out for more than a couple of hours.

Use a dedicated utensil — and never an unwashed pet food bowl — as a scoop. Make it a habit to wash pet food, water bowls, utensils and mats frequently in warm, soapy water. Also get used to washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds after handling any pet food and keep young tots away from all animal food.

Feline panleukopenia [pan-loo-kow-PEE-nee-ah] is a viral disease that often kills or severely debilitates cats — especially kittens and sick or unvaccinated adult cats. It’s extremely contagious and can spread like wildfire through shelters and kennels.

The feline panleukopenia virus, also called FPV, attacks rapidly growing cells, like those in the intestines, bone marrow and developing fetuses. Kittens under five months of age are most vulnerable to dying from FPV. Those that survive often have brain damage, resulting in tremors and coordination problems — even seizures and blindness.

Vaccination against FPV is recommended for all cats. Because pregnant cats can pass infection to their unborn kittens, it’s important that they have a series of initial vaccinations followed by a booster every 3 years.

Particularly heat-susceptible dogs, like double-coated breeds, need extra cooling strategies for protection in extreme heat. One family learned this in a tragic way.

With their 4-year-old Newfoundland in the backseat of their air-conditioned SUV, a couple headed off for a summer pooch play date. With the car running constantly and the windows cracked, everything seemed fine — until suddenly it wasn’t.  Before they could reach a veterinarian, their dog had died from heatstroke.

Most fans in large vehicles are located up front. To prevent overheating, consider a pet-specific air-conditioning unit that directs cold air to the rear of the vehicle. Keep the AC on high for the entire trip and even have your dog wear a cooling vest. Frozen treats and cool water also help.

Although healthy algae is an important part of aquatic ecosystems, the right conditions can promote the growth of dangerous types of algae.

These harmful algal [AL-gull] blooms are most likely to occur during warm weather — even into fall. However, they can crop up at any time of the year. Other ideal conditions include low water levels and slow-flowing water.

Harmful algal blooms produce toxins that can seriously sicken — and even kill — animals and people who come into contact with contaminated food or water. There’s no way to tell if an algal bloom is harmful just by its appearance, so it’s important to stay on top of public health announcements. Still, if you’re concerned about the smell or appearance of algae on the water, it’s best to steer clear — and keep animals away, too.

A 12-year study of more than 130,000 dairy cows showed that severe heat reduces their milk production by about 10 percent.

What’s more, that lower production can last up to 10 days after just one sweltering day.

This effect is expected to become more pronounced by 2050, as heat stress worsens. South Asia is likely to feel the most severe consequences, since it’s expected to account for more than half of the world’s increased milk production over the next decade.

Although producers must rely on cooling strategies for their cows, these methods may only be able to reduce heat’s effects on production by about 40%.