Spring is getting closer and summer is not far behind. As the seasons change, it’s important to be aware of the different plants that have grown or been added to your surroundings and their potential toxic effects on cattle and horses. What are … [Read more...]
Tracking transboundary and emerging diseases: Newly funded project aims to use Next-Generation Sequencing to detect bovine diseases sooner
Transboundary and emerging diseases are constant threats to the livestock industry. Even as biosafety measures have evolved, there is always the lingering peril of highly contagious or newly discovered diseases impacting animal health. Through a … [Read more...]
Cryptosporidiosis in cattle
Cryptosporidiosis in cattle Guy Sheppard, DVM and Gabriel Gomez, DVM, PhD, DACVP A seven-day-old angus bull calf with a history of diarrhea was necropsied by the submitting veterinarian. The small intestine, liver, kidney and the lymph node were … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Guidance: Rumen Acidosis (Grain Overload)
Diagnostic Guidance: Rumen Acidosis (Grain Overload) Guy Sheppard, DVM Grain is certainly an important feedstuff for livestock, but it can also be deadly if not fed correctly. Grains are rich in carbohydrates and provide energy for the animals … [Read more...]
Anaplasmosis in cattle
Anaplasmosis in cattle Guy Sheppard, DVM Anaplasmosis is a blood cell parasite of cattle with a worldwide distribution, but the disease is most common in tropical and subtropical areas. Anaplasma marginale is the most common organism involved in … [Read more...]
Bovine thrombotic meningoncephalitis
Bovine thrombotic meningoncephalitis Guy Sheppard, DVM and Andrés de la Concha-Bermejilla, DVM, MS, PhD Bovine thrombotic meningoencephalitis (TEM), formerly known as thromboembolic meningoencephalitis (TEME), is a neurological disease, primarily … [Read more...]
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Toxicity in a mature brangus cow
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Toxicity in a mature brangus cow David A. Sher, B.S, Catherine Barr, PhD, Dipl ABT, Gabriel Gomez, DVM, PhD, Dipl ACVP An adult, female, 800 lb., Brangus cow in poor body condition was submitted to the Texas A&M … [Read more...]
Testing Options for Anaplasma marginale in Cattle
Testing Options for Anaplasma marginale in Cattle Melanie T. Landis, DVM, MBA Anaplasma marginale is a rickettsial bacterium that invades the red blood cells (RBCs) of ruminants, primarily cattle, and is considered the most common tick-borne … [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...]
In-Pouch vs PBS for Trichomonas testing in bulls
In-Pouch vs PBS for trichomonas testing in bulls Guy Sheppard, DVM Over two years ago, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) approved the direct smegma sample submitted in PBS solution as an acceptable testing method for Trichomoniasis … [Read more...]
Johne’s Disease: How are cattle affected?
Johne’s Disease: How are cattle affected? Guy Sheppard, DVM The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) has seen quite a few cattle testing positive for Johne’s Disease in the last several months. Clinically affected cattle … [Read more...]
Malignant Catarrhal Fever in a 1-year-old heifer
Malignant Catarrhal Fever in a 1-year-old heifer By R. Gayman Helman, DVM, PhD, Guy Sheppard, DVM, and Meagan Schroeder, PhD A 1-year-old heifer became weak and isolated herself. Three days later, the heifer was examined by the submitting … [Read more...]
Necropsy of rare bovine conjoined twins
Necropsy of rare bovine conjoined twins By Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP and Gaya Balamayooran, DVM, PhD, DACVP Recently, bovine conjoined twin calves were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). Both the … [Read more...]
Bovine Abortion Caused by Leptospira spp.
Bovine Abortion Caused by Leptospira spp. Guy Sheppard, DVM, Gabriel Gomez, DVM, PhD, Pam Ferro, MS, PhD, and Megan Schroeder, PhD Tissue from a cross-bred bovine fetus in the third trimester of gestation was submitted to the Texas A&M … [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...]
Blue-green Algae: Keeping Pets and Livestock Safe this Summer
As summer comes to an end, animal owners should be wary of the potential threat of blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a phylum of bacteria that produce energy through photosynthesis. These bacteria are often found … [Read more...]
Helman and Monday Present at 2019 Bovine Respiratory Disease Symposium and Summer Academy of Veterinary Consultants Meeting
Dr. Gayman Helman, Amarillo Resident Director, and Dr. Jessie Monday, veterinary diagnostician, recently attended the 2019 Bovine Respiratory Disease Symposium and the summer Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC) meetings in Denver, Colorado. The … [Read more...]
MSMA (monosodium methyl arsenate) is Not for Pasture Use
MSMA (monosodium methyl arsenate) is Not for Pasture Use Cat Barr, PhD A cattle owner in eastern Texas noticed several of the 50 weaned calves in his coastal pasture had diarrhea and didn’t seem to want to eat. The pasture had been sprayed with … [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...]
Factors involved in a Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC) diagnosis
Factors involved in a Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC) diagnosis By Guy Sheppard, DVM The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) frequently works on Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) cases. Multiple factors lead to … [Read more...]
Malignant Catarrhal Fever in a 1-Year-Old Heifer
Malignant Catarrhal Fever in a 1-Year-Old Heifer R. Gayman Helman, DVM, PhD, MA, Guy Sheppard, DVM, and Megan Schroeder, PhD A 1-year-old heifer became weak and went off by herself in mid-April. The heifer was examined by the submitting … [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...]
Unusual Manifestation of Papular Stomatitis in a Feedlot Steer
Unusual Manifestation of Papular Stomatitis in a Feedlot Steer Gayman Helman, DVM, PhD, MA, Will P. Sims, DVM, MS, Gustavo Delhon, PhD A male-castrated, crossbred steer was noted to have a severe and locally extensive skin disease involving the … [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...]
Coffee senna linked to cattle deaths in Texas
Coffee senna linked to cattle deaths in Texas By Guy Sheppard, DVM and Cat Barr, PhD Since the onset of winter, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) has seen quite a few cases of intoxication in cattle that have … [Read more...]
