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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Copper Toxicity in Show Animals
Copper Toxicity in Show Animals Guy Sheppard, DVM In reflecting upon yet another major livestock show season in Texas, it is important to keep in mind the possibility of copper toxicity, particularly in sheep and goats. Sheep are particularly … [Read more...]
Salt Toxicity in Broilers
Salt Toxicity in Broilers By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MS, MVZ, DACPV Salt toxicity was recently diagnosed in a 17-day-old, meat type chicken flock. Twelve birds were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in … [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...]
Chronic lead exposure in flock of backyard chickens
Chronic lead exposure in flock of backyard chickens By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales received a phone call concerning a decrease in production and poor performance of a … [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...]
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...]
Digital toxicology added to TVMDL test catalog
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is pleased to announce the addition of digital toxicology to our test catalog. This test allows clients to submit images of potentially hazardous materials for evaluation via email or … [Read more...]
Lead poisoning in guinea fowl
Lead poisoning in guinea fowl By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD One live male guinea fowl was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. History noted the bird was bright and alert, but moved very … [Read more...]
Multiple goats diagnosed with senna plant toxicosis
Multiple goats diagnosed with senna plant toxicosis By Cat Barr, PhD, DABT, Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP, Barbara Lewis, DVM, MS, DACVP, and Travis Mays, MS In late March of this year, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory … [Read more...]
Making the case for liver sampling: Why liver biopsies are better for detecting copper deficiencies
Making the case for liver sampling: Why liver biopsies are better for detecting copper deficiencies By Cat Barr, PhD, DABT Copper deficiency has historically been problematic in Texas cattle herds with red-haired, black cows being the least of … [Read more...]
Burn-pile leads to arsenic poisoning
Burn-pile leads to arsenic poisoning By Cat Barr, PhD Fifteen crossbred calves were placed in a pasture with a burn-pile. The day after they were provided with Johnson grass hay, one calf was found dead. Two days later, three calves were walking … [Read more...]
TVMDL retires Liver Trace Mineral Panel (referral) and Lead Tissue test (referral)
Effective immediately, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) will no longer offer the Liver Trace Mineral Panel or the Lead Tissue test. With the implementation of inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) … [Read more...]
