Animal Airwaves

When it comes to testing bear-resistant camping equipment, the bears have the last word. To be labeled “bear-resistant,” products have to pass bear-assisted tests, and the grizzlies at Washington State...

The oddest of odd animals on earth has to be the platypus. It’s a duck-billed mammal with flippers and a beaver-like tail and is one of only five species of...

While pet-proofing our homes, potential exposure to heavy metals often escapes our notice — but it can make our pets really sick. Zinc intoxication usually results from swallowing pennies minted...

Creative benefit packages are becoming more common in today’s workplace. Some companies are offering back-up care, which refers to temporary support for family members when regular care plans fall through....

Tetanus is caused by bacteria that live in soil and manure, lying in wait to infect wounds, surgical sites and umbilical stumps in horses and livestock. So, it’s important to...

Colic — or abdominal pain resulting from gastrointestinal conditions — is one of the most common equine emergencies. While it can occur any time of year, there are specific causes...

Did you know that some of the longest animal migrations in the world are the river journeys of freshwater fish? You’ve likely heard of salmon or eel migrations, but billions...

Many dogs don’t miss a trick, especially when it comes to behavior repeated right in front of them. That’s how we inadvertently teach them the very dangerous habit of opening...

Both animals and people can overdose on opioids, like fentanyl or heroine. Dogs — especially those on police K9 units — are the animals most at risk, since they explore...

Canine epilepsy, which results in chronic intermittent seizure activity, is the most common neurologic condition in dogs. While most dogs with seizures fall down, shake and foam at the mouth,...

Spring and summer are boom times for newborn wildlife like raccoons, foxes, skunks and coyotes. As they learn to navigate the world, they’re susceptible to many threats, including infection by...

For those of you pooch parents who really want to get inside the mind of your dog, Harvard University may be a place to start. Harvard’s Canine Brains Project —...

Spring may feel fresh and bright, but the dry air and surges of pollen often trigger allergies that leave our animals’ eyes irritated, itchy and uncomfortably dry. Add to that...

You may think of Toxocara, or roundworms, as parasites that only affect dogs and cats. But toxocariasis – roundworm infection – can cause serious disease in people, too. Dogs are...

Our pets love springtime just as much as we do. But even in balmy weather, we need to protect them against potential dangers. Topping the list are parasites, like fleas,...

Hanging on to your pet’s old medications can be risky, but what’s the best way to get rid of them? The safest method is to use take-back programs offered by...

Each year, thousands of animal and plant species are objects of illegal wildlife trafficking. Many affected mammals — like elephants and rhinos — are well known, but chances are you’ve...

Recently, dogs in need of critical first aid have received some positive news. Following a risk review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Mantel Technologies’ canine freeze-dried plasma —...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has had a busy first quarter of 2026 approving medications for the animals that we care so much about. In early March—and...

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Numelvi™ tablets for the control of itch associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs six months of age or older. According...

As of April 2026, New World Screwworm, or NWS, still hasn’t made its way into the U.S. But if, or when, it does, there’s a new agent to fight it....

Both people and dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies — it’s just that they’re affected in different ways. In each case, allergic individuals overreact to certain environmental substances, like pollen,...

As the weather warms, dogs and their humans have something in common — that’s the threat of Lyme disease caused by bacteria spread by blacklegged, or deer, ticks. As opposed...

Scientists have long known that cats have an uncanny ability to land on their feet when they fall. But just how they do it remained a mystery. Earlier this year,...

For bumblebees, beating the odds is old hat. After all, their ability to fly was once a mystery. Now we know that bumblebee queens can survive under water — sometimes...