Drought conditions can create two deadly dangers for a herd: water deprivation and water (salt) intoxication. Poor water quality will worsen these conditions. Water DeprivationHigh temperatures combined with a lack of fresh water or green forage can lead to dehydration and death. During a drought, a poorly managed herd may lack access to enough fresh…
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) has been providing drug testing services for livestock shows across the country for more than 30 years. The agency tests in excess of 3,500 samples for more than 90 shows across the United States annually. TVMDL’s drug testing laboratory is an ISO 17025 accredited lab with state-of-the-art…
Information that covers MCF in ruminants.
Photosensitization is a serious skin condition in horses and cattle caused by a hazardous combination of certain plants and ultraviolet (UV) light. Certain plants contain photodynamic agents, which then cause a reaction in the animal’s body that leads to ultra-sensitive skin. This condition is specific to lightly or non-pigmented animals or areas of an animal…
Most known information on Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, or pigeon fever, does not reflect current disease trends. In recent years, the disease that was once considered endemic in California and dry, arid climates in the west has spread as far north as Washington state and has been reported in such eastern states as Kentucky and Florida. Cases…
Although there have been substantial advances in benchtop hematology instrumentation for veterinary species, manual evaluation of a blood smear remains a vital part of a complete blood count (CBC). At the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), all CBCs include manual blood smear examination by a highly skilled clinical pathology technician, a clinical pathologist,…
Step 1 Choose the proper size shipping box and styrofoam cooler for the amount and size of samples being sent. Step 2 Place a cool pack in the bottom of the styrofoam cooler to keep the sample(s) properly preserved. Step 3 Place the sample in the whirl-pak. Squeeze out as much air as possible. Fold…
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) performs numerous tests using serum. Proper collection, preparation, and packaging for transportation is imperative to obtaining a quality serum sample. Serum samples that arrive at TVMDL which are hemolyzed and/or lipemic may not be acceptable for testing. Accurate results start with an ideal sample. Ideal Sample Clear…
There are four steps to safely packaging a sample to send to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). Adhering to these four steps will ensure your sample arrives at TVMDL safely. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Dermatology cases are one of the most common types of cases seen by general practitioners. A crucial diagnostic tool in these cases is the skin biopsy. They are indicated in cases that do not respond to normal therapy, pustular, or ulcerative disease, and suspected neoplasia. Before Taking a Skin Biopsy Prior treatment should also be…