Many producers experience issues with pre-weaning calf diarrhea. Though common, it's important to determine the cause of diarrhea to ensure the calf stays healthy and hydrated. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson speak with Nina Velasquez, a bacteriology and serology technician at the Canyon laboratory, to cover the testing options TVMDL offers producers and some of the infectious causes of diarrhea.
Jun 04, 2024•7 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Oftentimes, the diseases and health issues TVMDL assists with are related to nutrition. Livestock can look like they are in good condition, but are actually deficient in important trace minerals that can affect their overall health and production. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson discuss the importance of trace minerals and TVMDL's testing options with Analytical Chemistry Section Dr. Travis Mays.
May 07, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Happy Heartworm Awareness Month! Heartworms are a relatively common issue among dogs, however cats are also a susceptible species. Timing is key to effective testing for heartworms in all species. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Cathy Campbell chat with Serology Section Head Dr. Melanie Landis on the testing options available at TVMDL and the benefit of following guidelines outlined by the American Heartworm Association.
Apr 02, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In general, parasites are a nuisance for animal owners. However, for livestock, equine, and other hoof-stock owners the threat is broadly spread across a herd. Though difficult, managing the threat of parasites at a herd-level doesn't have to be tricky. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson sit down with Mindy Borst, TVMDL's in-house parasitology expert, to discuss the agency's testing options.
Mar 05, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a protein hormone produced by sertoli cells and granulosa cells in the testes and ovaries, respectively. Therefore, AMH is diagnostically useful in characterizing spay/neuter status, ovarian remnant syndrome, and cryptorchidism. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Cathy Campbell sit down with Dr. Malcolm Delovio to discuss AMH and the testing options available at TVMDL to assess AMH concentration levels.
Feb 06, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 9
For many Texas livestock exhibitors, January marks the beginning of "major show season". Texas is home to three major livestock shows and hundreds of county livestock shows. Many enlist the assistance of TVMDL to perform livestock drug testing services. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez visits with Analytical Chemistry Section Head Dr. Travis Mays to discuss the importance of drug testing for livestock shows and how the lab utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to drug test over 4,000 samples...
Jan 02, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Canine Herpes Virus is a significant concern for newborn puppies less than 3 weeks of age, especially those from a female dog that has not been exposed to the herpes virus and encounters the virus during the last few weeks of her pregnancy. The virus/infection can trigger abortion or neonatal loss shortly after birth as they may be exposed to the virus and lack maternal antibody protection from their immunologically naïve mother. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez teams up with Dr. Cathy Cam...
Dec 05, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Trichomoniasis is a reportable disease in Texas that can cause a slate of herd reproductive issues. Bulls are the carriers of the causative protozoa and are not likely to show clinical signs of the disease. Oftentimes, open cows and multiple early and late term abortions are the signals that "trich" is present. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Assistant Agency Director for Diagnostic Services Dr. Terry Hensley offer an overview of the disease. Dr. Megan Schroeder, assistant section hea...
Nov 07, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that is often difficult to detect. Though the virus can spread among other mammalian species, it is prominent in wild and domestic dog populations. TVMDL's newest veterinary diagnostician, Dr. Cathy Campbell discusses distemper, its clinical signs, and TVMDL's testing options – including a brand new test.
Oct 03, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 5
If an animal has a thyroid gland, it can fail. Hyperthyroidism and its counterpart, hypothyroidism, can greatly affect an animal's overall health and quality of life. Knowing the clinical signs and testing options to detect thyroid issues is critical amongst all species, but especially in cats and dogs. In this episode, Dr. Malcom Delovio, TVMDL's in-house endocrinologist, discusses what to look for to detect thyroid issues and how TVMDL can assist practitioners in evaluating hormone levels in c...
Sep 05, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Hemorrhagic disease (HD) is the collective term that describes two viruses: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease virus (EHD) and bluetongue virus (BT). Both viruses are spread by insect vectors and pose significant health threats to the state's native and domestic deer populations. TVMDL offers several testing options that assist with deer import/export, vaccine development, and in the diagnosis of sick deer. In this episode, Assistant Agency Director for Diagnostic Services and Texas A&M AgriLife ...
Aug 01, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 3
For many, anthrax isn't outside the realm of normal. Those living within the geographic triangle connecting Uvalde, Ozona, and Eagle Pass or otherwise known as the "Anthrax Zone" are familiar with this disease as it's been endemic to the area for several years. On average, TVMDL detects one to two cases from this area each year. Though anthrax is serious zoonotic disease, producers and practitioners should not be weary if armed with the correct knowledge and precautions. In this episode, Assista...
Jul 03, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is not a new threat to the poultry industry. The most recent outbreak started in late 2021. Since then, the disease has spread across the nation to every state except Hawaii. TVMDL plays a crucial role in protecting the state's poultry industry from HPAI through its involvement in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and the agency's multiple testing options. In this episode, TVMDL-Gonzales Resident Director Dr. Martin covers the disease and how ...
Jun 06, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 1
