As the weather warms across the US and flowers begin to bloom, patients are getting more exposure to spring toxins, ticks and other seasonal dangers to their health. In interviews with 

, Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT; Susan E. Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM; and Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM ( Parasitology), provide expert insights into a common household toxin, the increase in tick populations, and tick-associated Cytauxzoonosis in cats. The following 3 videos provide refreshes of information relevant to the season:

Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, senior veterinary toxicologist and director, veterinary medicine at Pet Poison Helpline, Schmid discusses the danger of lilies to cats. Easter lilies [or 

], in particular, are a religious symbol of the Easter holiday and are traditionally popular in the spring. Pet owners should immediately call a veterinarian if a cat has, or may have, eaten an Easter lily leaf.

https://www.dvm360.com/view/the-danger-of-household-lilies

Susan E. Little, DVM, PhD, DACVM, Krull-Ewing professor of parasitology at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, talks about her lecture 

, presented at the 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Florida. Little discusses the boom in tick populations over the last decades, as well its driving factors and the risk of tick-borne diseases in pets.

https://www.dvm360.com/view/exploring-the-rise-in-tick-populations

Treating and managing Cytauxzoonosis in feline patients

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM ( Parasitology), explained the importance of veterinarians being aware of Cytauxzoonosis. A tick-borne disease in cats, this disease is shifting in geographic range, and professionals should be aware of early clinical signs, diagnostic changes, and more.

https://www.dvm360.com/view/treating-and-managing-cytauxzoonosis-in-feline-patients

. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Horticulture-Extension. Accessed January 31, 2024. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/easter-lily-lilium-longiflorum/

Videos

In interviews with dvm360, 3 veterinarians provide expert insights into a common household toxin, the increase in tick populations, and tick-associated Cytauxzoonosis in cats. 

3 must-see videos for spring

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, discusses highly pathogenic avian influenza and the importance of enhancing biosecurity in this interview with dvm360

Video interview with Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM

: Yeah, I mean, the impact can be so dramatic, as we've seen when we look at soaring egg prices. A lot of that is due to limited availability and the fact that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is running through the flock. When it does, you're looking at depopulation or euthanasia of thousands—sometimes even millions—of birds, depending on the virus. All of a sudden, it’s going to take quite a while to regain that population and get eggs back into circulation. So, when we consider that, much of the current epidemiologic focus—and the efforts to solve this issue—are really about limiting the spread within commercial poultry operations and backyard flocks. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about wild birds. They are the reservoir. Many congregate in the Arctic or similar areas, where commingling or even antigenic mixing of the virus occurs. When they return in the fall, you end up with a whole new set of influenza strains.

That’s when the challenge becomes clear. With this virus, you get both antigenic drift and shift. Drift is when the virus replicates, accumulating small genetic variations—less tightly controlled than in the human body. Shift, on the other hand, happens when two different viruses combine their genetic material; think of the two “S”s: shift and sharing. On the human side, when you add in pigs—with their similar respiratory receptors—they become a mixing vessel for dangerous strains. So while birds are the reservoir, in poultry the focus is on limiting spread.

As we discussed, one of my friends at the USDA helped coach me on some of this, since I’m not directly involved in protein production. Thank you to that USDA friend. When examining the main risk factor, much of it centers on surface water around poultry areas because it attracts waterfowl—the natural reservoir. Wild birds come to these water sources next to where other poultry is kept. Even in enclosed situations, people can act as fomites, carrying the virus on their clothing or equipment. Ultimately, it’s all about biosecurity: maximizing proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), using dedicated boots and foot baths, controlling equipment movement between areas, and even limiting visitors. It’s damage control—minimizing spread rather than magically curing it, which isn’t likely in the near future.

I also think one of the big challenges lies with backyard producers. When you have a large flock and are trying to maximize production, it often comes down to money and numbers. Backyard producers want to partner up for help, as anything that minimizes costs now and prevents future outbreaks is beneficial. Backyard flocks can be particularly challenging; we’ve seen issues with Newcastle disease and HPAI. In backyard settings, chickens often have names—like Susie or Jill—so the term “depopulation” sounds very harsh when applied to them. A high-path HPAI outbreak might start with a few dead chickens and then progress rapidly. Chickens can go from mild symptoms to death very quickly—sometimes within a day or 36 hours. Before lab results (which may take a couple of days) come back, the flock may already have been depopulated. When we confirm it’s HPAI, it only confirms what we suspected.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic bullet. Every company keeps its R&D under tight lock and key, so while there might be something groundbreaking in the future, it doesn’t appear to be imminent. There has been some thought about natural immunity through selective breeding, which might offer benefits. However, selecting for one desirable trait can sometimes introduce an undesirable one. We’ve seen this in modern swine production, where pigs have been bred for rapid growth and heavier muscle at the expense of natural immunity. This might be an opportunity for the poultry industry, but it will take time. Much of the current focus is on upgrading biosecurity in poultry—an area where many operations could benefit from improvements similar to those in the swine industry.

Finally, regarding vaccines for poultry: to my knowledge, the only large-scale vaccination program currently in use is for ducks in France. A major reason is that unless everyone agrees it’s safe, vaccination could limit export ability. Even if vaccination became widely acceptable, influenza remains a moving target—constantly shifting, drifting, and undergoing antigenic mixing. That means new vaccines would need to be developed on a very rapid basis. There’s no easy answer.

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, explains why early detection and enhanced biosecurity are essential for mitigating the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza

Highly pathogenic avian influenza and biosecurity

Mel, a 9-year-old, male neutered Catahoula mix, initially presented with limping on his front left leg. He acutely stopped using the leg when he woke up in the morning, but throughout the day he would use the limb with a prominent limp. On physical examination, Mel was limping but not expressing pain. There was no swelling or crepitus, and he had normal range of motion in all joints. At the time, the owner elected for conservative treatment with Rimadyl.

Mel returned a month later for continued limping. He responded well and stopped limping while taking Rimadyl, but once the medication was finished, the limping returned. Radiographs were performed at this visit and there was concern for a periosteal reaction on the humerus. The radiographs were sent to a radiologist for consultation and the results were:

There was evidence of a smooth periosteal reaction associated with the cranial and caudal cortex of the proximal humerus of the left thoracic limb. An heterogeneous and sclerotic opacity was seen on the caudal aspect of the humerus.

The left and right elbow joints were normal.

Conclusion and recommendations based on findings are that chronic periosteal reaction is associated with the proximal left humerus. DDX Coccidioidomycosis, Hepatozoonosis​, less likely neoplasia. The final diagnosis requires bone biopsy. PCR for infectious diseases mentioned.

I discussed the results with the client as well as recommendations including a bone biopsy and fungal testing. While waiting for the owner to decide if they wanted to proceed, Mel developed swelling over his skull causing a droopy eye and he had epistaxis. Radiographs of the skull were taken and there was increased soft tissue opacity of the left nasal passage, increasing my suspicion of a potential fungal infection. Radiographs of his leg were also retaken, and the lesion worsened. The owners elected to pursue fungal testing at this time, which was negative. The owners then elected to pursue a bone biopsy of the worsening lesion on the humerus, as well as a biopsy of the nasal passages.

Results of the biopsies were unfortunately not very rewarding. The nasal biopsy was consistent with rhinitis with no infectious agents noted. The bone biopsy showed reactive bone with no infectious or neoplastic cells. At this time, referral was recommended but declined by the client and they elected for a trial of steroids. Mel responded well to the steroids; the skull swelling and nosebleeds resolved. He was also limping less. Unfortunately, when the owner started to taper the medication, all the symptoms returned.

About a month later, he returned for recheck. His radiographs were taken again and showed progression of his lesion on his humerus. I had an honest conversation with the client, explaining that while his initial radiographs were more suspicious of a noncancerous lesion, the progression made me more concerned about cancer. Mel was also painful from this lesion. Surgical amputation would provide not only a definitive answer of what the lesion is, but also pain relief. The owners elected to move forward with surgical removal.

The results of the histopathology of the limb were unfortunately conclusive for Osteosarcoma. The owners did not want to pursue referral for continued treatment options and elected for palliative care.

Unfortunately, Mel returned about 4 months later with labored breathing. Radiographs were taken and large masses were identified in the chest. The owners elected for humane euthanasia.

I selected this case for many reasons. It was my first leg amputation in a large dog, which was very memorable. This case was a challenging case that initially presented as a likely infectious cause, that was incidentally thrown off by an unrelated nasal passage disease as well.

I think this case is important to remember because if a dog is not improving, keep repeating the tests! So many times, I feel it is difficult for us as veterinarians to keep recommending the same test over and over. Especially when we are having to do more tests like the fungal testing, nasal biopsy, bone biopsy—and all of these tests were unrewarding. But because I was persistent in ensuring the owner returned for rechecks and that we continued to repeat testing, we were able to find a cause for the owner and more importantly, I was able to make the patient more comfortable for as long as possible.

believes through quality, preventative medicine, we can help our pets live longer healthier lives. She enjoys making lasting relationships with her clients and patients.

Articles

A 9-year-old Catahoula mix presented to the veterinary clinic with a limp on his left front leg

Case study: A puzzling limp


A working search-and-rescue team are shown in a stock image.

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization based in Santa Paula, California, that was founded in 1996. Their mission is to strengthen disaster response in America by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters.

In early 2025, SDF responded to wildfires in Southern California, that started January 7 in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, with the Eaton fire in Altadena and the Hurst fire in Sylmar. Numerous other wildfires subsequently ignited all over Los Angeles County, aided by dry conditions and driven by high-speed and erratic winds. With gusts reaching 100 mph in some areas, air support to combat the fires was severely limited or grounded altogether in the first crucial hours after the fires started, hindering firefighting efforts, and allowing the blazes to spread rapidly.

Because of the size and ferocity of these fires, Los Angeles County had asked for and received help from numerous other agencies across the state. According to the Governor’s office, approximately 7500 state personnel were on the ground in Southern California at one point, working with local and federal partners to respond to these historic wildfires. Additional personnel, equipment, and support also arrived from across the country.

SDF-trained human remains detection (HRD) teams Jon Munguia and canine partner Clifford of Los Angeles County Fire Department and live-find SDF-trained teams Josh Davis and canine Bosco, and Garreth Miller and canine Reva of California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) and Patrick Easton and canine Linus, and Eric Lieuwen and canine Ridge of California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) deployed to the Los Angeles fires along with their teammates to assist in the aftermaths of the blazes that devastated the region.

Why use dogs in search and rescue operations?

The SDF realizes that no piece of technology or person can match a dog’s speed and accuracy in finding people trapped in wreckage. This is thanks to a canine’s:

Remarkable sense of smell and ability to ignore other scents and noises- even tempting traces of food and other people involved in the search.

Unparalleled ability to safely navigate unstable and slippery and terrain.

Capacity to negotiate surfaces, while keeping focus on the job at hand.

Ability to work off-leash and get to places humans can’t safely access.

Search dog rescue mission and dog training

SDF’s mission is to strengthen US disaster response efforts by producing highly skilled canine search teams that can partner with firefighters and other first responders to search for victims of national disasters and terrorist attacks. It is one of the only organizations in the US that recruits rescue dogs, provides them with ongoing professional training and partners them with firefighters, at no cost to the departments.

The SDF National Training Center (NTC) is a state-of-the-art facility occupying 125 acres of donated ranch land that includes specially designed indoor and outdoor kennels for rest and play, training facilities for advanced dogs, accommodations and classrooms for handlers, and staff offices.

Caring for a different king of rescue dog

When rescue dogs come to the NTC from across the country, they’re placed under a temporary quarantine to make sure they’re healthy and disease-free before entering the dog’s population.

The initial screening includes a physical exam, lab work, and since these are working dogs, orthopedic radiographs to look for signs of conformation issues and degenerative joint disease.

Veterinary care at the SDF is provided by the Ohana Pet Hospital in Ventura, California. Ohana veterinarians and support staff make house-calls at the campus to perform physical exams, administer vaccinations, perform orthopedic screening radiographs, and provide other basic veterinary care for the dogs in training at SDF. Ohana Pet Hospital also performs predeployment physical exams on the search dogs to ensure they are healthy before they depart for important missions, responding to the aftermath of disasters around the world.

A disaster site is a treacherous environment. It can be noisy, dust-filled, and dark. Over the 28 years since its founding, the SDF has honed a carefully crafted set of evaluations to identify promising canine candidates. “It takes an extraordinary dog—with extreme boldness, extensive drive, energy strength and athleticism, agility and focus—to approach every training, exercise and deployment with energy and determination,” Denise Sanders, director of communications for the SDF, said in an interview. “These are dogs that love to work, and want nothing more than to be out in ruble searching”

The breeds that most likely have these qualities, according to the SDF, are Labradors, border collies, golden retrievers, and German shepherds, and mixes of these breeds. “These specific breeds are ‘air-scenting’ dogs, that sniff with their noses up in the air,” Sanders said. “When they scent a victim, you can see they whip their heads around to get into scent. You can see the dog hit upon the scent and zero-in on it. It will wheel around and zig-zag on it until it gets the strongest scent spot…The dog’s ability is really phenomenal. It is built for it.”

What does it take to successfully transfer a shelter dog to a highly trained search and rescue member?Some innate abilities and characteristics, and a lot of hand work. The process has 5 stages:

Because the SDF uses shelter dogs, timing is of the essence, as a dog seemingly ‘right’ for the job can end up on the ‘unacceptable’ adoption list for having an insatiable work ethic. “With their level of excessive energy and toy obsession, some of these dogs would not make great pets,” Sanders said. “They’re more likely to chew up a couch, than be a couch-potato.”


Assessing a dog’s innate energy and endurance is critically important, as these qualities will need to carry the dog through its career for the next 8 to 10 years. “We’re looking for laser-like focus and a huge toy-seeking drive (or a drive to hunt and search in general),” Sanders said. “The dogs at the NTC come to know that their toy is their ‘reward’ and there are the kind of dogs that will play fetch until they collapse. These dogs will not quit unless you make them, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for. We look for those qualities at the outset and continue to enhance them during the training period.”

In fact, the first thing the dog learns at the NTC is that it can bark to get the toy it loves. “The dog tends to have a lightbulb moment in which it realizes that not only can it bark for toy, but it’s also encouraged to bark for a toy- and is rewarded when it does,” Sanders said. “The dog learns that it can use what was originally concerned bad behavior to its advantage.”

As soon as this concept ‘clicks,’ the canine trainee starts picking up on the rest of its training, like locating hidden people in barrels. “We line up several barrels together, and only one contains a person. Once the dog barks at the barrel that contains the person, the toy comes out as the reward,” Sanders said.

As the dog progresses, the trainers make the challenges increasingly complicated. For example, the barrels are next spread apart, so the dog has a greater area to cover, and then the barrels are placed haphazardly throughout the training area. “Each step of the way, the dog is rewarded and told it is a fantastic dog- that it is doing great work,” Sanders said. “The dog is learning and building it’s confidence at the same time.”

The goal is eventually to get the dog on a ruble pile that’s similar to an actual disaster situation. Volunteer ‘victims’ hide in the rubble, and the dog is tasked with finding them to earn a toy.This simulation equips the dog to find people. “If the dog isn’t willing to go up on a rubble pile- especially one with precarious or uneven footing- or even footing that’s moving-for a toy reward, it won’t make it. If the dog’s drive isn’t enough, it’s not going to workout during the training. We don’t ever want to force a dog to do something it’s not comfortable with.”

The dog has to learn to mind its handler, making obedience training a necessary part of the NTC program. Whether the dog is at home, at the fire station, or the disaster site, it has to mind its manners.

Picking the right handler can be just as important as picking the right dog. “The dedicated men and women have to love the process and the training to be ready to deploy when disaster strikes,” Sanders said. “We want to ensure that they understand the commitment and have a full support network in place.”

The firefighters volunteer their off time to search-and-rescue training, with a small stipend from FEMA or the State for disaster deployment. During this time, the handler is evaluated on skill level, personality, and mannerisms, all of which are important aspects of the team.

At the end of the two-week course, the SDF’s training team passes the leash from trainer to handler. Then the firefighter takes the dog home, continuing to train under the SDF’s supervision.

After graduating from the SDF, the handler-dog team goes through an additional year of training to achieve Type-1 certification through either FEMA or the State. The process consists of a foundation skills assessment that tests the dog’s agility, obedience, and basic search skills.

The dog needs to negotiate two 10,000-square-foot piles of wood, ruble, and debris, locating victims during a certain timeframe determined by FEMA or their state. Success in these tests is that no victim is left behind, which at the end of a given disaster day is the dog’s ‘job.’

To date, SDF has trained more than 200 teams that have been deployed to 281 disasters and missing person searches. There is currently 95 SDF teams located in California, Florida, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Baha California. Still there is a shortage of canine disaster search teams in the US, as it is estimated that 450 teams are needed to adequately respond to disasters.

Search dog teams deploy to Los Angeles fires. News release. National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. January 11, 2025. Accessed March 28, 2025. 

https://www.searchdogfoundation.org/los-angeles-fires/

More than 7,500 firefighting, emergency personnel deployed to fight the unprecedented Los Angeles fires. News release. Governor Gavin Newsom. January 8, 2025. Accessed March 28, 2025. 

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/08/more-than-7500-firefighting-emergency-personnel-deployed-to-fight-unprecedented-los-angeles-fires/#:~:text=Jan%208%2C%202025-,More%20than%207%2C500%20firefighting%2C%20emergency%20personnel%20deployed%20to%20fight%20unprecedented,historic%20wildfires%20in%20Southern%20California

The Natural Disaster Search Dog Foundation teams relied on canine rescuers during the 2025 California wildfires

Search dogs provide a lifeline during disasters 

Lee Pope, DVM, shared some common compounding pharmaceuticals requests from veterinarians..

Common compounding questions

Veterinarians often have questions about compounded drugs. In an interview with 

, Lee Pope, DVM, a veterinary consultant with Revelation Animal Health, a division of Revelation Pharma, discusses some of the most common inquiries about pharmaceuticals for veterinary patients. By asking these questions, veterinarians are helping to ensure adherence to treatment plans and a more positive patient experience, leading to improved outcomes.

The following is a transcript of the video:

Veterinarians will call and say, ‘Okay, this drug, can you make it into a liquid?’ Can you make it into a chewable tablet? Can you make it into a topical? So, basically, this is what we have FDA approved or are allowed to use. But can you make it in this different formulation for me?

Other requests: Will the pet take it? So it needs to be flavored. Is this flavoring good? Do cats take this flavoring? Do dogs take this flavoring? Do they approve of it? Can it be easily dosed?’ So, just because you can make a compounded into a medication, well, if you're trying to give a cat 15 milliliters of a liquid, nobody's going to be very excited to have to do that. So can it be easily dosed? Is it a volume that we can realistically give to our patient? Can we make scored tablets to where I can easily give a half a tablet, a quarter of a tablet, without turning it into dust?

Can I use this in the office? Can I have this for office use to dispense? Now, that will vary depending on the state, so you have to check with your local regulations on that.

And the last one for that, I would say, is basically quick shipping. How quick can we get this? This patient is here today. They're sick today. We're all inpatient people now. How quick can we get this medication and get the patient started on it?

In a dvm360 interview, Lee Pope, DVM, shares what veterinarians most-often request of their patients' medications.

Susan Kogut, JD, president of Petco Love, and Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, chief veterinarian of Petco Love discuss access to vaccines, the Vaccinated and Loved campaign, and National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month

Bridging the gap in access to pet vaccines

To highlight National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month this March—an initiative created by Petco Love, a nonprofit dedicated to pet health and welfare—

spoke to Susanne Kogut, JD, president of Petco Love, and Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, chief veterinarian and board member of Petco Love, about the organization’s 

 campaign, which provides free vaccines to pets in need, National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month, and the importance of educating pet owners about preventive care.

In the talk, the gap in access to pet care was also discussed. According to Kogut, survey data from 3.35 million vaccines distributed throughout the US by Petco Love revealed that only 36% of the pet owners receiving these free vaccines reported that their pet had previously been vaccinated, underscoring the significant access gap that the organization is working to close.

In an upcoming event on March 30, 2025, Petco Love is focusing on vaccinating 1000 pets at a free drive-through pet vaccination clinic at the Wheatley Height Sports Complex in San Antonio, Texas, in partnership with San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS).

 At the event, San Antonio ACS will provide free DAPPv, HCP, and rabies vaccines, along with free microchipping services. 

Below is a partial transcript, lightly edited for clarity:

So, you know, Petco Love recognized a big gap in this country around preventable diseases that we see in pets, and really wanted to go after providing free vaccinations for underserved communities, specifically around some of the common infectious diseases we see in certain parts of the country. And so that's going to be [parvovirus] and distemper in dogs and panleukopenia in cats. So, you know, really trying to promote access to care through vaccinations with preventable diseases.

We created March as National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month back in 2022 and it was really to bring more attention and to create more awareness about the importance of vaccinating our pets. We also wanted to celebrate our 

 campaign as we sought to get millions of pets vaccinated by offering free pet vaccines.

Another kind of goal that we want to come out of both the 

 campaign and National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month is through prevention of these diseases, you know...veterinarians and shelters will be seeing less of these diseases come in. [These diseases are] a mental strain on the profession, [they’re] a financial strain on pet parents, and so, you know, while we are focused on the overall numbers, getting pets vaccinated—and that

 a key in this campaign—we can't forget about the downstream effects on benefiting both pets, pet parents, the veterinary profession, and, you know, the animal welfare industry.

Petco Love declares March as National Pet Vaccination Month, celebrates success of Vaccinated and Loved campaign. News release. Petco Love. March 4, 2025. Accessed March 26, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petco-love-declares-march-as-national-pet-vaccination-month-celebrates-success-of-vaccinated-and-loved-campaign-302390978.html

Susanne Kogut, JD, and Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, discuss access to vaccines, the Vaccinated and Loved campaign, and National Pet Vaccination Awareness Month