Beetles Found in Alfalfa Hay Travis Mays, MS, PhD 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 … [Read more...]
Gopher bait with anticoagulant detected in horses
Gopher bait with anticoagulant detected in horses Guy Sheppard, DVM and Cat Barr, PhD, DABT The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) was contacted by a client who was concerned a group of horses had potentially consumed … [Read more...]
TVMDL group authors article for Texas Equine Veterinary Association
A group of veterinarians and scientists from the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory's (TVMDL) College Station laboratory recently authored an article for the Texas Equine Veterinary Association's (TEVA) publication, The Remuda. … [Read more...]
Arsenic toxicosis in two calves
Arsenic toxicosis in two calves By Randi Gold, VMD, PhD, DACVP and Cat Barr, PhD, DABT Two hundred and forty straight stocker cattle were on a wheat and grass pasture with access to old barns filled with moldy hay, chemicals, fertilizers, and … [Read more...]
Pentobarbital in a Turkey Vulture
Pentobarbital in a Turkey Vulture Travis Mays, MS, PhD Twenty turkey vultures were found dead near the vicinity of a horse that was euthanized. One of the turkey vultures was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Guidance: Keeping cattle hydrated and healthy
It's hot and getting hotter. Each summer in Texas, farmers and ranchers are on the gambling side of the weather, hoping for an appropriate level of rainfall. Although most of the state is not currently experiencing drought-like conditions, the Texas … [Read more...]
Something’s wrong with my pet’s food!
Something's wrong with my pet's food! By Cat Barr, PhD, DABT As a veterinarian, how often do your clients think "Rascal's" food is what caused him to be sick? What do you tell them? Do they report this instance of possible food … [Read more...]
Quantitating Cantharidin levels in a blister beetle
Quantitating Cantharidin levels in a blister beetle By Cat Barr, PhD, DABT In January, an animal owner in northwestern Washington State contacted the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) regarding possible blister … [Read more...]
Suspected Anticoagulant Bait Confirmed to be Bromethalin
Suspected Anticoagulant Bait Confirmed to be Bromethalin Amy Phillips, Analytical Chemistry Technician and Travis Mays, MS, PhD, Analytical Chemistry Section Head A male kitten was rescued by animal control and taken to a veterinary clinic for … [Read more...]
Cyanobacteria: No winter break this year
Cyanobacteria: No winter break this year By Cat Barr, PhD, DABT Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) have barely taken a break this winter. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) has already had several positive samples … [Read more...]
Segmental analysis of hair for drug detection in racing horses
Segmental analysis of hair for drug detection in racing horses Travis Mays, MS, PhD The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) drug testing laboratory offers a screen for the detection of beta-adrenergic agonist drugs, … [Read more...]
Diagnostic guidance: Cantharidin poisoning in horses
When horses ingest the cantharidin toxin through hay or alfalfa contaminated with “blister” beetles, the outcome is often fatal. Toxicosis occurs rapidly; as little as four grams of dried beetles may contain fatal levels of … [Read more...]
Dogs will eat anything, won’t they?
Dogs will eat anything, won’t they? Cat Barr, PhD, DABT Four dogs were brought to a veterinary clinic when one had been seizing for several hours and the other three had begun to tremble. All four dogs had reportedly been running loose in a rural … [Read more...]
Drug screen for beta-agonists in hair and wool for livestock species added to TVMDL test catalog
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is pleased to announce the addition of a drug screen for beta-agonists in hair and wool for livestock species. Similar to retinal tissue, hair and wool have been shown to retain … [Read more...]
Possible Wilted Maple Poisoning in Mare
Possible Wilted Maple Poisoning in Mare Cat Barr, PhD, DABT A 7-year-old pastured mare suffered an acute onset of hemolytic anemia and hematuria. The blood drawn for analysis was hemolyzed and dark. The mare died about three hours after … [Read more...]
Drug Testing During the Fall Livestock Show Season
Drug Testing During the Fall Livestock Show Season Travis Mays, MS, PhD Between the months of August to December, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) performs drug testing on more than 1,000 urine, blood, fecal, and … [Read more...]
Possible Eprinomectin toxicity in a calf
Possible Eprinomectin toxicity in a calf Travis May, MS, PhD A two-month-old, 150-pound, Brahman-cross heifer calf was observed with neurologic signs following application of what was believed to be a permethrin-based insecticide. The calf died … [Read more...]
Sodium Ion Toxicosis in Cattle
Sodium Ion Toxicosis in Cattle Travis Mays, Analytical Chemistry Section Head Approximately 40 head of Hereford cows were grazing on 12 sections of land with oil production activity present. In one particular section, four to five cows were found … [Read more...]
ELISA Screening Detects Fumonisin in Corn
ELISA Screening Detects Fumonisin in Corn Travis Mays, Analytical Chemistry Section Head A 3-year-old, male Quarter horse became ataxic and kept falling over, eventually being unable to rise. The horse ultimately had to be euthanized. The onset … [Read more...]
Test to detect avermectins added to TVMDL catalog
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is pleased to announce the addition of Avermectins (LC/MS) to our catalog of tests. This test serves to assist in the detection of avermectins, such as abamectin, doramectin, … [Read more...]
Coffee Senna Poisoning in Cattle
Coffee Senna Poisoning in Cattle By Travis Mays, Analytical Chemistry Section Head Approximately 200 head of cattle were grazing on improved native Bermuda grass pastures in the Colorado River bottom. Vegetation also included a large number of … [Read more...]
Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle
Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle By Travis Mays, Analytical Chemistry Section Head Recently, seventeen cows died within twenty-four hours after consuming new hay. All of the cows died within 100 yards of the hay. A sample of the hay, along with tissue … [Read more...]
Chlorinated hydrocarbon and arsenic poisoning in cattle
Chlorinated hydrocarbon and arsenic poisoning in cattle By Travis Mays, Analytical Chemistry Section Head A herd of 14, six-month-old crossbred cattle was turned out into a new pasture. Within five days, five head died suddenly. An old barn with … [Read more...]
Bromethalin poisoning in a feline
Bromethalin poisoning in a feline By Travis Mays, MS With over 800,000 tests run annually, TVMDL encounters many challenging cases. Our case study series will highlight these interesting cases to increase awareness among veterinary and diagnostic … [Read more...]
