UF Health Podcasts

After recent high-profile cases, hantavirus came roaring back into the headlines as a potentially deadly human pathogen.

Hantavirus is spread by rodents — most commonly the deer mouse in the United States. However, a recent study identified fifteen rodent species as carriers in North America and revealed hantavirus hotspots in Virginia, Colorado and Texas.

That said, hantavirus is a global pathogen. It has pandemic potential with symptoms akin to those seen with severe COVID-19. It’s transmitted through aerosolized droppings, urine or saliva from asymptomatic rodent hosts.

In short, hantavirus is more adaptable than we ever knew. Emerging data from studies like this may help us get a foothold on hantavirus before it gets a bigger grip on us.

Before another summer of celebrations, certain pet-friendly precautions bear repeating.

First and foremost, always keep your pet cool and well-hydrated. That means never leaving them unattended in the car and always offering plenty of water.

The Fourth of July is a big celebration for many of us, but a terrifying time for most pets. That’s why it’s best to leave your buddy at home in a quiet, comfortable indoor spot with the windows and curtains closed and the air conditioning on as needed. Remove any items your pet may destroy if agitated, and plan ahead with your veterinarian if your pet needs stress-calming medication.

Finally, keep your pet away from festive foods that could be harmful, like chocolate, sugar-free or rich foods, onions, grapes and — of course — alcohol.

For nearly a century, widespread vaccinations have saved the lives of countless animals. Beyond that obvious benefit, vaccinations are often required by pet boarding and daycare facilities, as well as local and state laws. But which vaccinations does each pet need?

Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs and cats unless there’s a medical risk to vaccination. In contrast, non-core vaccines are only important for certain animals, based on their risk of disease by way of their location or lifestyle. These vaccinations may be recommended by your veterinarian depending on your pet’s situation.

Remember that the first series of vaccinations is recommended during the first few months of a puppy’s or kitten’s life. From then on, your veterinarian can recommend your pet’s vaccination schedule.

Equine lumps and bumps can appear alike whether they’re benign or cancerous — and skin tumors can affect any age or breed of horse.

Sarcoids, most common in Quarter Horses and related breeds, can occur anywhere on the body as flat ulcers, small nodules or large fleshy masses. Squamous cell carcinomas can also be ulcerative or fleshy growths, but they’re likely to affect white or pink areas of skin. Melanomas — another of the three most common equine skin tumors — appear almost exclusively, but not only, on older gray horses, usually around the eyelids, under the tail or throat, or in the perianal or genital areas. They may be black masses or just raised lumps under the skin.

Anything that looks abnormal should be assessed by an equine veterinarian as early as possible for the best outcome.

Because horses are natural grazers, many people don’t know that seemingly benign vegetation might be dangerous.

Take grass clippings, for example. They’re so tasty that horses may bolt them down, risking esophageal obstruction. What’s more, their high digestibility causes rapid hindgut fermentation that could result in laminitis. Clippings that mold in wet weather can also increase the risk of colic.

Trimmings from certain shrubs and trees are highly toxic as well. Yew tops the list, but rhododendrons and azaleas are poisonous too. Oak and red maple are also dangerous, and there’s a long list of toxic ornamental plants and weeds.

So, be sure to do your research—and then caution your family, neighbors and gardeners not to treat your horse to anything you haven’t approved.

This spring, the US Food and Drug Administration made legally available a treatment for a parasitic disease that commonly affects fish often kept in home aquariums and outdoor ponds.

Informally known as “ich,” pronounced ‘ick,’ or “white spot disease,” this condition causes white spots on a fish’s skin or gills, lethargy and decreased appetite. Ich is highly contagious and can kill all fish in a tank in a short period of time. It’s easily introduced into water by adding new fish or using equipment from an area housing infected fish.

The FDA has added Faunamor to its Index of Legally Marketed Unapproved New Animal Drugs for Minor Species. That makes Faunamor the only legal drug currently on the market to treat Ich. It’s available over the counter as a liquid to be added to tank water as directed.

Chances are you’ve heard about the environmental impacts of free-roaming domestic cats — but that doesn’t mean our pooches are off the hook.

An Australian review of existing studies recently reported that pet dogs have a far more troubling impact on the environment than was recently known. The study calls out dogs as the large carnivore most commonly implicated in killing and disturbing native wildlife, especially shore birds. Indirect effects are rampant too, particularly involving dog waste, which affects soil chemistry and plant growth as well as leaving odors that scare off other animals.

These problems are easily remedied — if pooch parents would walk their dogs, leash them in restricted areas, keep them away from wildlife and pick up after them.

Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is the most common cause of death in senior cats. Unfortunately, it’s usually not diagnosed until symptoms are advanced. But when it’s caught early, targeted treatments can keep your cat happy and active for as long as possible.

As CKD progresses, cellular toxins build up and increased amounts of fluid are lost in the urine. These processes can be measured by blood and urine testing.

Annual testing is recommended when your cat reaches four years of age. By the age of seven, screening should be ramped up to every six months.

There’s no cure for CKD, but there are more treatments than ever before to help manage its progress and symptoms. The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner your veterinarian can develop a treatment plan for your feline friend.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently announced that, for the development of certain drugs, it will be phasing out animal testing in favor of more effective, human-centered methods — like AI-based models, organoids and organ-on-a-chip systems.

Artificial intelligence can predict a drug’s behavior in the human body. Organoids are clusters of lab-grown human cells that mimic individual organs, which can be used to assess a drug’s safety. Organs-on-a-chip are thumb drive sized translucent chips that contain tiny channels lined with organ-specific human cells. They’re designed to recreate the physiology of the organ, such as the flow of blood or air, making them exquisite models for diseases and drugs.

Not only will these systems be human-specific — they’ll save countless animals’ lives.

Aquatic animals are fascinating, and many opportunities exist for training in a variety of disciplines relating to aquatic animal health. Veterinary students at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine who hope for careers in the field can tailor their curriculum by pursuing a certificate in aquatic animal health; others, including graduate students and other professionals can hone their knowledge in areas such as aquatic animal care and conservation. On this show, Dr. Iske Larkin, director of UF’s Aquatic Animal Health program, will discuss the variety of training opportunities available to those who aspire to work with the intriguing creatures that inhabit our oceans and aquariums.