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Evacuating horses in the path of wildfires Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

When a wildfire is bearing down, animals need to be evacuated quickly. If a horse is involved, that can only happen with advanced planning.

Every horse needs a go kit containing a halter and lead rope, feed and water buckets and at least one week’s worth of food and supplements. Also essential are a two-week supply of medications and a basic first aid kit. Key documents include photos, proof of ownership and the horse’s medical history, test results and vaccination records.

Well ahead of time, horses need to get used to boarding trailers with several different handlers. During evacuation, minimize smoke exposure and moisten hay and feed as needed.

If any horses have to be left behind, close the doors to empty barns and provide means of escape from fenced-in areas.

Plastic in blood might be causing some heart problems Sep 14, 2026

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We live in a world of plastic. Plastic production has increased from a mere 1.5 million tons in 1950 to 500 million tons today. And much of that man-made material ends up in more places than just the local landfill.

It’s in our bodies.

Now, evidence suggests they might be associated with heart attacks. A recent Italian study found that heart attack patients were much more likely to have microplastics in their blood than individuals with stable heart disease. They also had more than a control group without heart disease.

The highest concentrations and the widest variety of plastic types were found in blood drawn directly from the artery involved in the heart attack.

We can eat, drink and even breathe microplastics without ever knowing. Some pieces are as small as viruses and bacteria. And once they’re in the body, they can stay put, lodging in our organs, including the brain, and accumulating. They find their way into tissue throughout the body.

In the Italian research, scientists say smoking history was the best predictor of finding plastic in the blood of heart attack patients. Fine-particle pollution was also predictive, to a lesser extent.

Researchers believe preexisting lung and airway damage might make it easier for microplastics to gain a foothold and enter the bloodstream.

Researchers caution that more research is needed to establish a link between microplastics and heart attacks. They note their study was small.

If additional investigation confirms these findings, it will provide another argument against smoking. Avoiding the habit, however, will not be completely protective if the environment is swamped with microplastics, even in the air we breathe.

Palliative care for pets with chronic pain Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

As our pets age, their risk of chronic pain increases. Osteoarthritis affects one-in-five dogs over one year of age, and the risk increases thereafter. Likewise, up to 90 percent of cats over 10 years old have x-ray evidence of degenerative joint disease.

Consequently, the goal of chronic pain management often shifts from cure to maintaining an animal’s comfort — that is, providing palliative care. In addition to medication, veterinarians may recommend other modalities, like acupuncture, laser therapy or therapeutic ultrasound. Structured movement, which helps animals build strength, is another key part of the plan.

Palliative regimens work best when they focus on helping pets do what they love most. This may require home modifications and always demands patience and a whole-team effort.

Ibuprofen is always off limits for dogs and cats Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

It never pays to rely on the internet for veterinary advice. Every animal is different, so what works for one may not do the trick for another. Online advice often veers between misleading, or over general, to downright dangerous. Also, pet parents can waste precious time trying online remedies instead of seeking veterinary care.

Recent viral clips have recommended giving dogs or cats ibuprofen for pain. In truth, ibuprofen is toxic to all dogs and cats. In fact, if your pet ingests ibuprofen, you should contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic right away.

Be sure to run any treatment advice past your veterinarian first. Even herbal remedies can be dangerous for certain animals. Finally, animals should never be given human medications unless recommended by a veterinarian.

Food for Thought: Feeding for a Healthier Urinary Tract Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

Bladder or urinary stones that affect people can also be a problem in some dogs, cats and other mammals, including dolphins and otters. Why some animals are prone to forming stones is often unknown, but comparing diets consumed in the wild with those of animals fed by humans can sometimes provide a clue. Dr. Richard Hill, a small animal internal medicine and veterinary nutrition specialist, joins Animal Airwaves Live to discuss how nutrition and hydration can be used to reduce the risk of urinary stones from forming. Each type of stone requires different strategies to increase water intake and modify urine acidity or alkalinity and the amount of minerals and protein breakdown products in the urine. By tailoring your pet’s diet, veterinarians can often help prevent urinary stones from forming and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Protecting honey bees during hot weather Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Honey bees can withstand a relatively wide range of temperatures to maintain the brood nest — that is, the core of the hive that houses the queen, eggs and young bees. Honey bees generally fly at temperatures between 50 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. When it’s hotter, they transition from nectar collection to water retrieval used to cool the hive. At about 118 degrees, they start to lose key functions. So, how can beekeepers protect their colonies in hot weather?

The first thing is to keep water sources close to the hives, starting in the spring when bees first start flying. Colonies also need plenty of space, which may mean adding boxes above the brood nest. In addition, nothing should obstruct the entrances to hives. It’s also important to read pesticide labels, noting any temperature restrictions.

AVMA advises against feeding raw animal proteins to dogs or cats Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Once again, the American Veterinary Medical Association is cautioning pet parents against feeding raw or undercooked animal proteins to dogs and cats. These include meat, poultry, fish, eggs and milk — except for same-species milk used to nurse puppies or kittens.

Raw or undercooked animal proteins can harbor a plethora of bacterial pathogens, as well as the notorious virus that causes bird flu.

Just like us, dogs and cats are susceptible to foodborne illness. But even healthy appearing pets can have infections that endanger humans. Just handling raw pet food can also make people sick.

For every presumed benefit of feeding raw, undercooked or unpasteurized animal proteins to pets, there are even bigger risks. It’s just not worth taking the chance.

Springing clocks forward in spring might damage eyes Sep 09, 2026

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On the second Sunday of every March at 2 in the morning, the nation’s clocks collectively jump forward an hour. It’s daylight saving time. And for many, it’s a royal pain.

We lose an hour’s sleep.

Lawmakers are always talking about eliminating the time change. Implemented to conserve energy, first during World War I and then again for the Second World War, many think it’s outlived its usefulness.

Scientists say moving the time disrupts our circadian rhythm, our internal cellular clock that keeps our bodies tuned to the planet’s rotation. That has consequences for good health.

Now, scientists say moving clocks back in March poses another hazard — it might endanger good vision.

A recent study published in Scientific Reports suggests the springtime change might trigger proliferative diabetic retinopathy and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, both of which can progress to blindness.

Researchers combed health insurance data for more than 12 million people between the ages 18 and 64. They found a significantly higher risk of the conditions in the month following the time change.

Scientists also found that gaining an hour on the first Sunday of November was associated with a lower risk of these eye problems.

Blame it on our circadian rhythm.

The body releases more stress hormones when we lose sleep. Coupled with changes in blood pressure and glucose control caused by a disrupted rhythm, this can damage the eye’s sensitive small blood vessels.

The study is another lesson in the importance of our circadian rhythm, the same phenomenon that causes jet lag. Disrupt it at your peril.

Nano-arthroscopy facilitates diagnosis of canine TMJ disorders Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Like people, dogs can suffer from disorders of the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which can cause significant pain and functional problems. The canine TMJ is very narrow, so noninvasive access has been challenging. Now, veterinary surgeons are borrowing a state-of-the-art technique from human oral surgeons.

Nano-arthroscopy uses a tiny high-quality camera at the tip of a wirelike device to inspect surfaces inside the body. Use of this technology has been standard-of-care in human oral surgery for years.

For now, nano-arthroscopy can only be used as a diagnostic tool in medium- to large-breed dogs, but even smaller scopes may be coming in the future. Veterinary surgeons are also hoping to take this technology one step further and use it in treatment regimens in coming years.

Many of dementia’s risk factors are avoidable, study suggests Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Among the list of nouns no one wants to experience — food poisoning, wet socks, cancer — dementia stands on its own. The debilitating condition arrives with memory loss, confusion and trouble problem-solving. From there, it can progress to difficulty speaking and getting lost in familiar places.

It’s scary — and there’s a good chance you could do something to help prevent it.

A new study from Lund University looked at the different risk factors associated with developing the disease, like elevated blood pressure, smoking, cardiovascular disease and high amounts of lipids in the blood.

Of these, many are preventable.

Scientists followed more than 500 people who were at least 60 years old and appeared cognitively healthy. The team evaluated changes in participants’ white brain matter, which is often damaged in cases of vascular dementia, for four years.

They found that vascular risk factors, like heart disease, high blood lipids and high blood pressure, all resulted in injuries to brain blood vessels — and a build-up of shifts in the brain’s white matter.

Although these risk factors were some of the worst offenders, scientists had some good news: They were also some of the most preventable with lifestyle changes. They recommended focusing on both vascular and metabolic conditions, which, for the most part, means paying attention to movement and diet.

In this case, the takeaway is simple, albeit unsurprising: Investing in your physical health will have impacts far beyond how far you can run or how much weight you can lift.

It just might determine the course of your life.

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