Top Stories
Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team to Assist Fight Against New World Screwworm
Source: KCENTV The Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team is deploying to the Texas Hill Country to assist state officials in responding to rising cases of New World Screwworm, a dangerous parasite that threatens livestock, pets, wildlife, and the agricultural...
Colorado Regulators Hit Speed Bump in VPA Rulemaking
Source: VIN News Colorado is continuing its efforts to implement the nation's first Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role, a midlevel practitioner position approved by voters in 2024 to improve access to Veterinary care. A major issue under consideration is who...
Strategic Realignment of Proposed Chicago College of Veterinary Medicine
Source: Midwestern University Midwestern University has decided not to move forward with plans for a proposed Chicago College of Veterinary Medicine at its Downers Grove, Illinois campus. After evaluating the resources, infrastructure, clinical capacity, and long-term...
Applications for New Mexico Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Open
Source: KRQE New Mexico veterinarians willing to serve rural, frontier, and tribal communities can now apply for up to $80,000 in student loan repayment assistance through the state's Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. Administered by the New Mexico Higher...
Klobuchar Urges USDA to Hire More Veterinarians for Flesh-Eating Screwworm
Source: Star Tribune U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to hire additional veterinarians and strengthen animal health resources as concerns grow over the spread of the New World screwworm. The flesh-eating parasite, recently...
Living With Cats Not Linked To Worse Asthma in Children
Source: Health Day A large Swedish study suggests that living with a cat does not worsen asthma in children and teenagers. Researchers analyzed health data from more than 30,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with asthma or airway allergies and followed them for...
Science Confirms: Cats Help You Only When There’s Something in it For Them
Source: Scientific American New research suggests that while cats understand when humans need help, they are far less likely than dogs or young children to offer assistance unless there is a direct benefit to themselves. In a study comparing toddlers, pet dogs, and...
MSU Launches New Mobile Veterinary Clinic
Source: Michigan State University Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has launched a new Community Medicine Program featuring a 32-foot mobile veterinary surgical unit designed to bring spay and neuter services directly to animal shelters and...
Tularemia Detected in Northern Colorado: Ways to Reduce Your Risk
Source: 9 News Tularemia, a rare but potentially serious bacterial disease, has been detected in Larimer County, Colorado, after officials identified the infection in a dead rabbit near Berthoud. The disease is commonly found in wildlife, particularly rabbits and...
Toxicities and Quills Discussed in June Pet Health Update
Source: WABI 5 Veterinary emergency clinicians in Maine are warning pet owners about several seasonal hazards affecting dogs this spring, particularly toxic exposures and porcupine encounters. One of the most serious concerns is xylitol poisoning from sugar-free gum....
Using Serosurveys to Optimize Surveillance for Zoonotic Pathogens
Source: Springer Nature Link Researchers have developed a new mathematical approach that uses serological surveys, or antibody testing, to improve surveillance of zoonotic diseases in wildlife populations. The method helps identify when pathogen prevalence is most...
FDA Grants Emergency Approval for Over-the-counter Drug to Treat Screwworm in Pets
Source: Medscape The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the emergency use of generic over-the-counter nitenpyram tablets to treat New World screwworm infestations in dogs and cats as part of ongoing efforts to contain the parasite's spread. The...
AVMA Issues Statement in Response to Screwworm Detection in Texas
Source: AVMA The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is urging veterinarians to remain highly vigilant following the detection of New World screwworm in Texas. The parasite’s larvae feed on living tissue and can cause severe wounds, infections, and even...
Idaho Implements New Travel Requirements as Screwworm Spreads in Texas, New Mexico
Source: KMTV Idaho has introduced stricter animal travel requirements in response to the spread of the New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico. The parasite, carried by flies that lay eggs in open wounds, poses a serious threat to livestock, pets, wildlife, and...
Flesh-Eating Screwworm has Reached the US — a Comeback Driven by Organized Crime
Source: CNN The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite once eradicated from North and Central America, has recently reemerged and spread into parts of Mexico and the southern United States. Experts believe its resurgence has been accelerated by illegal cattle...
Major Student Loan Changes Taking Effect Soon
Source: AVMA Major changes to federal student loan repayment programs are set to begin July 1, 2026, under new regulations implementing the Trump administration’s “Working Families Tax Cuts Act.” Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan will be required to switch...
Pet Travel From the United States to Mexico
Source: USDA Traveling with pets from the United States to Mexico has become easier for dog and cat owners, as Mexico no longer requires a health certificate for these animals. Instead, dogs and cats are inspected by Mexican authorities (SENASICA) upon arrival....
How You Can Stop Your Cat From Bringing Home Unwelcome Pathogens
Source: The Conversation A new review of more than 400 studies found that cats allowed to roam outdoors are significantly more likely to carry pathogens that can infect humans than indoor-only cats. Researchers identified nearly 100 zoonotic pathogens in cats,...
Nashville Zoo Tries to Halt Proposed Data Center Over Animal Safety Concerns
Source: NBC News The Nashville Zoo is leading opposition to a proposed 69,000-square-foot data center that would be built adjacent to the zoo, citing concerns about the potential impact on animal welfare. Zoo officials worry that noise, artificial light, and...
Disney Parks Officials Thank UF Veterinarians for Helping Kendi the Rhino
Source: WCJB Officials from Disney Parks recently recognized veterinarians from University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine for their role in performing a rare and complex cataract surgery on Kendi, a 27-year-old white rhinoceros at Disney's Animal Kingdom....
People Weren’t The Only Ones Affected: North Alabama Veterinary Community Rallies to Rescue Pets From Flash Flooding
Source: Rocket City Now Veterinary clinics across North Alabama came together to protect animals during severe flash flooding caused by a storm system that dropped 3 to 7 inches of rain across Madison County. As rising waters threatened the Winchester Road Animal...
American Horses Are Obese, Too
Source: STAT News The high rate of obesity among American horses mirrors the human obesity epidemic and highlights how both may stem from environmental and dietary factors rather than individual choices. According to research, 51% of mature light-breed horses in the...
Rabid Animals Confirmed in Two South Carolina Counties
Source: WYFF The South Carolina Department of Public Health has confirmed two new rabies cases involving a skunk in Greenwood County and a raccoon in Orangeburg County. Both animals tested positive for rabies on June 4. While no human exposures have been reported, a...
Louisiana Puts Restrictions on Animals Entering State After Screwworm Reaches Texas
Source: Louisiana Illuminator Louisiana has imposed new restrictions on animals entering the state following the confirmation of five New World screwworm cases in the United States. The flesh-eating parasite, which lays eggs in wounds and body openings of warm-blooded...
Ivermectin Effective Against New World Screwworms Larval Stages (L1, L2, L3)
Source: The Focal Points As New World screwworm (NWS) cases continue to spread in Texas and New Mexico, ivermectin is emerging as a potentially important tool for prevention and treatment. The USDA confirmed the first U.S. case in decades on June 3, 2026, and...