UF Health Podcasts

Veterinary literature abounds with diagnostic images of common animal species. But what if you need images of nontraditional species?

That was the problem zoo veterinarians faced in 2018 when they performed the first-ever CT scan on an eastern black rhinoceros. The scan appeared to show an abnormal sinus mass, but they had nothing to compare it to.

This has long been a problem for zoo vets. But now, the newly launched Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database allows veterinarians, wildlife biologists and others worldwide to share X-rays, MRIs and CT scans of nondomestic animals online.

So far, the database contains 1,000 images from 50 species, but it aims to include 10,000 images in two years. It looks to be a game-changer.

Sometimes, seemingly strange bedfellows create magical partnerships that reward each individual exponentially. That’s often the case with prison pet programs.

Since they began in the 1980s, these programs have helped shelters care for animals that might otherwise be euthanized. The programs allow inmates to care for dogs or cats, neither of whom judge folks for past wrongdoings. In return, inmates enjoy feelings of love, self-esteem, empathy and responsibility. The programs have improved interpersonal relationships inside prisons, increased inmates’ future employability and reduced recidivism.

Some inmates have said that taking on an animal was the first time they ever allowed themselves to care about anything or anyone. That’s a win any day of the week.

If you think fish are the perfect starter pets, think again. They rely on us for all their environmental needs, and that’s a daunting responsibility. So, let’s look at what you should do even before you bring any fish home.

First, you’ll need to research which species of fish can live together. After all, different species need different microclimates. As you set up their tank, you’ll need to factor in the right temperature, water pH — that’s the degree of acidity and alkalinity — as well as light.

It’s crucial to set up a balanced bacterial population before bringing any fish home, and that takes at least two to four weeks. Establishing that so-called biofiltration is key to controlling toxic waste levels that can be lethal to fish.

This fall, Massachusetts passed a law to protect pets at day care and boarding facilities.

Known as Ollie’s Law, the bill was inspired by the horrific case of a seven-month-old Labradoodle that was mauled by other dogs at a doggy day care. In spite of surgery and two months of intensive care, Ollie died of his injuries.

The law requires all kennels in the state to be licensed and all dogs in their care to be individually licensed. Municipalities must limit the dogs each facility can take in based on kennel accommodations and staffing. Kennels also must establish emergency protocols and report all injuries to animals or people to licensing authorities.

Hopefully, Ollie’s Law will set an example for other states to protect pets.

New research shows that housing-related pet relinquishment is one of the most common reasons for pets being surrendered to shelters. In plain English, that means that many tenants or unhoused folks often feel they have no choice but to give up their furry friends.

From 2019 to 2023, pet surrenders due to lost housing increased, while those involving landlord restrictions or conflicts declined. Over that same period, cat surrenders went up while dog surrenders fell.

So, while a pet-inclusive approach to housing may be gaining ground, housing insecurity is growing worse and has devastating consequences for both people and their pets. This points out the need for state and federal policies that recognize the value of the human-animal bond.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, recently reminded veterinarians and farmers to stop using aspirin to treat fever and pain in milk-producing dairy cows.

Aspirin is not approved for lactating dairy cows, so this is what’s called extra-label use. There are approved products, such as flunixin [flue-NIX-in], for reducing fever and pain — products that already have established withdrawal periods so that the drug doesn’t contaminate milk and meat. In addition, Vazalore [VA-zah-lore] is the only FDA-approved human aspirin product that veterinarians may use in food animals.

It’s important to remember that extra-label drug use can only happen in specific cases and requires a professional veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

The Center for Veterinary Medicine, part of the FDA, recently announced the funding of four university-based Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers. Those centers will work to develop products and programs that support animal and human health.

The centers will focus on three areas. They’ll research highly pathogenic avian influenza and its potential threat to humans. They’ll analyze the genetic manipulation of animals meant to bolster agriculture resilience, food security, and animal and human health. Finally, they’ll aim to address unmet veterinary needs in animal species that impact public health.

This effort recognizes the importance of One Health — a way of syncing animal and human health now and for future generations.

Over the next year and a half, a 17-foot sculpture of a pigeon named Dinosaur will grace a Manhattan neighborhood. Among other things, it’s a reminder that birds evolved from T-Rex and company.

Early European settlers brought pigeons to the New World as a food source. As natural cliff dwellers, feral pigeons were at home in city heights, especially as skylines reached ever higher.

In both world wars, their homing ability and visual acuity made pigeons valuable messengers. In fact, they were more honored than any other animal for saving soldiers’ lives.

As the word “pigeonhole” attests, we tend to categorize individuals  before we take the time to know them. Maybe pigeons can also remind us that there’s so much more under the surface.

When it comes to diagnosing patients, some veterinarians are like dogs sniffing out a bone.

George, a young French bulldog, was referred to the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine after outside veterinarians detected a mass in his chest. The UF veterinary oncologists sampled the mass and — while awaiting test results — started treatment for the most likely diagnosis. George responded well to therapy, even though the tests were nondiagnostic.

So, the oncologists kept digging. Results of CT and MRI scans as well as molecular testing on more samples finally revealed that George had a very rare and aggressive cancer never before diagnosed in a living dog.

George had eight happy months on treatment before the tumor won. Along the way, his case taught veterinarians, students and George’s family to never stop looking for answers.

When it comes to our pets, nailing down a diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. When signs are vague or tend to wax and wane, pet parents and veterinarians may have their work cut out for them.

 A case in point is Addison’s disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism [high-poe-adree-noh-COURT-ah-sizz-um]. This condition — which is more common in dogs than cats — involves decreased production of key hormones by the adrenal glands. Common signs of canine Addison’s disease — like vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite — often involve the digestive tract and may come and go.

These signs are also the same as those caused by other conditions, so veterinarians need to perform blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. The good news is that with consistent treatment, dogs with Addison’s disease can live a good life.