Animal Airwaves
Episodes
Even air conditioning may not keep some dogs safe
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Particularly heat-susceptible dogs, like double-coated breeds, need extra cooling strategies for protection in extreme heat. One family learned this i...
Pets and algal blooms
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Although healthy algae is an important part of aquatic ecosystems, the right conditions can promote the growth of dangerous types of algae. These harm...
Extreme heat reduces dairy cows’ production
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 p...
A promising experimental treatment for canine hemangiosarcoma
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 50,000 cases of the blood vessel cancer called canine hemangiosarcoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S. It’s invariably fatal, although rem...
Let sleeping cats lie — on their left side
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cats love their snooze time — in fact, they nap 12 to 16 hours a day. After analyzing hundreds of videos of sleeping cats, researchers found that tw...
A wounded eagle gets help from an unexpected source
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Skin grafts can provide lifesaving treatment for large soft-tissue wounds. That’s true for people and animals, and sometimes these grafts have inter...
Honeybee die-offs spell trouble
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The last half of 2024 was devastating for U.S. honeybees. Over 60% of commercial colonies were decimated — and that followed a 50% die-off the pr...
Smushy Snout Squad: Understanding and Caring for Brachycephalic Dog Breeds
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to cute canines with squishy noses and flat faces – or brachycephalic breeds of dogs – there’s more than meets the eye. These bree...
What to Consider Before Bringing a New Pet Home
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The decision to bring a new pet into your household is a big one, not to be taken lightly. Whether you’re considering a cat, a dog, or some other sp...
Eye on the Fly: What to Know About the Emerging Risk of New World Screwworm
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The New World screwworm (NWS) is forecast to reach the United States later this year. Eradicated from the country in 1966, this flesh-eating parasiti...
Veterinary Community Outreach Program Bridges Education and Community Service
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The University of Florida’s Veterinary Community Outreach Program provides valuable synergy between veterinary education and supporting local animal...
Pet Pain Decoded: How to Tell When Your Pet is Hurting
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Has your pet shown abnormal behavior lately, such as hiding or growling? Our animals can’t tell us when they’re hurting and assessing pain in our ...
Socializing feral kittens: it’s all about timing
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A position statement from the Feline Veterinary Medical Association has explained why some feral kittens respond to socialization better than others. ...
Can we fight infections without antibiotics?
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With antibiotic resistance growing all the time, researchers are looking for alternatives to fight infections — in people and animals, too. They jus...
Catching up with cataracts in dogs and cats
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A cataract is a clouding of the eye lens that, although not inherently painful, can lead to bigger issues. An early cataract is often just an incident...
Pet care plans become employee perk
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the world of competitive employee benefits packages, pet care has become a valuable perk. With 70% of U.S. workers being pet parents, pet care cost...
Urban peregrine falcons are thriving
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peregrine [peh·ruh·gruhn] falcons are one of nature’s marvels. Achieving speeds of at least 200 miles per hour in a hunting dive, they’re the wo...
With young wildlife, hands-off is best approach
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our well-meaning attempts to help wildlife, we often do more harm than good — like when we try to rescue what we assume are abandoned offspring. ...
Equine vaccinations: the basics
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vaccination is one of the best ways to keep your horse healthy. But which vaccinations are necessary? Every horse needs what are called core vaccinati...
Mycotoxicosis presents lethal dangers to horses
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
During a single month in the spring of 2025, sixteen horses in Delaware died soon after showing neurologic signs. Testing ruled out infection, and pos...
An innovative way to help horses with asthma
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most horses in the U.S. have some degree of asthma and nearly 15 percent have a severe case. But now, thanks to collaboration between a medical school...
Recognizing the threat of H5N1 avian flu
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent article in a medical journal highlighted the looming threat of the H5N1 avian flu. Virologists from over 40 countries signed on, urging globa...
How nonprofit helps animals in Indigenous communities
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dogs are an integral part of most Native American communities, but in low-income environments, veterinary needs often run up against financial challen...
Ehrlichiosis: what to know to protect your dog
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ehrlichiosis [air-leek-ee-OH-sis] is a tickborne disease, particularly affecting dogs in Southeastern and Southwestern states. Rickettsial organisms —...
Comparing and Understanding Labels: Pet Food Versus Human Food
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pet food labeling is regulated at the federal and state levels to ensure product safety, but there are key differences in how human food and pet food ...
Paw-sitive Preparedness: Tips for Animal Disaster Preparedness from UF VETS
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With hurricane season in full swing, Dr. Larry Garcia, Clinical Associate Professor and Medical Director of UF’s Veterinary Emergency Treatment Serv...
Lab Results Unleashed: Why Laboratory Testing Matters to Pet Health
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Although a clinical pathologist’s role is primarily behind the scenes, bloodwork and general lab testing are critical for disease diagnosis and prev...
Venom & Vets: An Update on Snake Bites in Pets
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Quick bites, fast action. Snake bites are one of the most common occurrences in veterinary hospital emergency rooms through the summer months, and pro...
The Canine Blood Bank: Dogs Saving Dogs, One Donor at a Time
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve read or heard about a dog’s life being saved through a blood transfusion, chances are a blood bank that collects blood and blood product...
Taking your pooch on safe enjoyable walks
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Judging by our dogs’ reactions when they hear the word “walk,” they love their outdoor time — the action, the smells, seeing other animals and...
Keeping you and your pooch safe from tularemia
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may have heard about tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, but not likely in a canine context. Tularemia is a bacterial disease that often causes...
Detecting a pet’s failing vision and providing comfort
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Like humans, our pets’ vision worsens with age. But since they can’t tell us what’s happening, we need to watch closely for behavioral cues. Pet...
The danger and spread of hantavirus
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After recent high-profile cases, hantavirus came roaring back into the headlines as a potentially deadly human pathogen. Hantavirus is spread by roden...
Protecting pets during summer celebrations
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before another summer of celebrations, certain pet-friendly precautions bear repeating. First and foremost, always keep your pet cool and well-hydrate...
Pet vaccinations: the basics
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For nearly a century, widespread vaccinations have saved the lives of countless animals. Beyond that obvious benefit, vaccinations are often required ...