Search results for “toxicology”.
John Reagor, PhD, Veterinary Toxicologist Emeritus, passed away on April 20. Reagor fervently served the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) as the agency’s toxicologist for 50 years. During his time at TVMDL he garnered a national reputation for his expertise of various toxins. He led TVMDL’s toxicology section to become one of the…
A male kitten was rescued by animal control and taken to a veterinary clinic for labored breathing, dehydration and severe jaundice. The kitten was euthanized and found to have petechial hemorrhaging and yellow fluid in the abdomen during the necropsy. Three days later, a tuna can with what appeared to be a suspect bright green…
How would you like to learn? Case Studies and Educational Materials Diseases & Diagnoses TVMDL hosts an agency podcast called Diseases & Diagnoses. Each episode covers a disease or condition and the TVMDL test offerings that can support that diagnosis. Check out the latest episodes below and listen to them on Apple or Spotify. New…
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) received serum for marijuana testing from three different dogs over a period of five days. Each case was unrelated, and the dogs ranged in age from 1 to 12 years old. Clinical history was not provided. The serum samples were processed using solid phase extraction (SPE). Detection…
In late March, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) diagnosed senna toxicosis in two separate goat herds, from west and central Texas. In the first case, a 2-month-old goat kid was found suddenly dead along with one other goat kid. A third surviving kid was reported to be clinically ill. Histologically, the heart…
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) was contacted by a client who was concerned a group of horses had potentially consumed gopher bait containing an anticoagulant (diphacinone) as the toxic agent. Providing treatment for large animals with the antidote for anticoagulant intoxication can be challenging, therefore the suggestion was made to submit samples…
Beetles found in a new batch of alfalfa hay were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for identification. TVMDL’s toxicology section can identify toxic and non-toxic beetles using microscopic examination. The beetles submitted were identified as Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae sp.) (Figure 1). Tiger beetles are characterized by having large, carnivorous mouth parts…
A forensic or legal necropsy as defined by the purposes of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is a necropsy done to attempt to determine the cause of death in cases where the death is known or suspected to be non-natural, there are suspicious circumstances, or there is evidence of foul play. They…
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are bacteria capable of photosynthesis. They play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants and other organisms. However, under certain conditions, such as warm temperatures and high nutrient levels (phosphorus and nitrogen), cyanobacteria can proliferate rapidly, leading to harmful algal blooms.…
On Fourth of July, Americans gather to celebrate with food, family, and festivities — sometimes accompanied by their loyal canine companions. Excited and playful, dogs enjoy mingling with guests and often hope to nab a bite of human food during the cookout. A sneaky swipe from the table, a scoop from off the ground or…