If you’ve ever swatted a fly, it’s unlikely you wondered before or after the act, “Do flies feel pain?” Scientists think they do, in a sense. And this fact might help a species that doesn’t sport wings — humans. Australian researchers discovered that fruit flies that have lost a leg begin to behave as if they are suffering pain. Injured flies will jump frantically off surfaces that wouldn’t normally trigger their escape response. This behavior shows the fly sensing and avoiding what it perceives...
Aug 14, 2025•2 min
Some people swear by the keto diet. Others can’t make it past lunchtime without a carb-heavy snack. We know weight loss is far from a one-size-fits-all approach. Now, a new review of nearly 100 clinical trials is evaluating how certain methods measure up against each other. Of note? Intermittent fasting, where you eat within a specific window of time, might work just as well as traditional calorie counting. Researchers looked at data from more than 6,500 adults and found that all forms of interm...
Aug 13, 2025•2 min
A new survey of Americans reveals that a third of us are exhausted even after rolling out of bed in the morning. By lunch, the average person’s energy levels begin to rapidly fade. In a sense, their workday ends hours before they leave the workplace. Physicians worry that the continual grind of life in the computer age, with its endless electronic distractions and duties, takes a cumulative toll on the body. If we don’t spend time winding down and relaxing effectively, the stress builds and can ...
Aug 12, 2025•2 min
Anyone who’s struggled to stand up straight after a long car ride or felt restless while sitting through a movie knows that arthritic knees are no fun. And while more than 10% of knee arthritis patients get cortisone or other shots to relieve the pain, a new study suggests the practice may be linked to faster joint damage in the long run. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed data from more than 200 patients who were part of the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a proje...
Aug 11, 2025•2 min
Has your pet shown abnormal behavior lately, such as hiding or growling? Our animals can’t tell us when they’re hurting and assessing pain in our pets can be difficult. It’s important that pet owners are in tune with any changes in behavior, including the way your pet stands, walks or even looks at you. On this archived show, Dr. Elizabeth Maxwell, a surgical oncology specialist, will discuss why pain assessment is so important, why contacting your veterinarian is critical if you suspect your pe...
Aug 08, 2025•48 min
There are those who live to drink coffee, and those who drink coffee to live. Now, a new study suggests that a cup of joe could be doing more than just jumpstarting the day — it could be extending your life. Adults who drank one to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had between a 14% to 17% lower risk of dying early, compared with those who skipped coffee entirely. The study analyzed data from 46,000 adults ages 20 years and older, and categorized consumption based on preferences like whet...
Aug 08, 2025•2 min
There are plenty of old wives’ tales about food before bed. What to eat, what not to eat and whether you should eat all. Now, a new study from researchers in Canada is adding a point against eating cheese just ahead of going to sleep. The team of scientists studied how diets influence our dreams. In a study that included more than 1,000 participants, 40% reported that certain foods impacted their sleep. One of the standout culprits? Cheese. The dairy product was associated with some not-so-gouda...
Aug 07, 2025•2 min
Who knew a bunch of fat cats could teach us so much? These chunky cats, however, might just help us shed the pounds. Got an obese cat? You aren’t alone in overindulging your pet. Six out of 10 cats in the U.S. are overweight. Cats don’t know better. Their humans feed them, after all, and have their own problems walking by the food bowl without stopping. Researchers at The Ohio State University recently found that dieting cats undergo a significant change in the populations of bacteria in their g...
Aug 06, 2025•2 min
A position statement from the Feline Veterinary Medical Association has explained why some feral kittens respond to socialization better than others. Strong cat-human bonds are usually forged when kittens are socialized before a certain age. For companion kittens — that is, kittens already used to some human contact — that’s before nine weeks of age. If these kittens don’t have positive interactions with people before then, they may be afraid of humans for the rest of their lives. When it comes ...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
With antibiotic resistance growing all the time, researchers are looking for alternatives to fight infections — in people and animals, too. They just may have found some hope in a molecule made by pigs. Swine dysentery is a bacterial infection that causes serious clinical signs and death in growing pigs. There’s no preventative vaccine — only antibiotics to treat the disease. After years of analysis, researchers found that pigs that produce more of an immune defense peptide called pBD-5 were les...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
A cataract is a clouding of the eye lens that, although not inherently painful, can lead to bigger issues. An early cataract is often just an incidental finding on your pet’s veterinary exam — like a pinpoint lesion that’s not causing a problem. However, cataracts grow to involve more of the lens, causing a progressive loss of vision. Cataracts can cause other problems too, like increased pressure or inflammation in the eye, which can be painful. The most common causes of canine cataracts are he...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
In the world of competitive employee benefits packages, pet care has become a valuable perk. With 70% of U.S. workers being pet parents, pet care costs can take a significant bite out of wages. Balancing work with pet care can also be stressful and adversely impact employee productivity. Now, an increasing number of companies are taking note and offering pet-related benefits and pet-friendly work policies. These days, employee benefit packages may include pet insurance or stipends to apply towar...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
Peregrine [peh·ruh·gruhn] falcons are one of nature’s marvels. Achieving speeds of at least 200 miles per hour in a hunting dive, they’re the world’s fastest birds. They’ve also learned to thrive in cities, making nests high on bridges and buildings. Decades ago, their numbers were decimated by pesticides, and now they’re in another struggle. This time, the culprit is avian flu. Peregrines hunt other birds, and along the coasts, those include ducks, geese and other waterfowl — the birds most oft...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
In our well-meaning attempts to help wildlife, we often do more harm than good — like when we try to rescue what we assume are abandoned offspring. Most of these animals aren’t abandoned at all. Many wild animals leave their young alone for relatively long periods as they search for food. For example, cottontail rabbits and deer may check in with their young only every 12 hours or so. And sometimes, fledgling birds and baby squirrels fall out of their nests when their parents are away. Wildlife ...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
Vaccination is one of the best ways to keep your horse healthy. But which vaccinations are necessary? Every horse needs what are called core vaccinations to protect against highly contagious and often fatal diseases. These include rabies, tetanus, West Nile virus and equine encephalitis. In contrast, risk-based vaccinations may be recommended based on location, activities and exposure risk. Some examples include vaccination against influenza, rhinopneumonitis or Strep equi [Strĕp EE-kwee]. Be su...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
During a single month in the spring of 2025, sixteen horses in Delaware died soon after showing neurologic signs. Testing ruled out infection, and postmortem findings pointed to a toxin. Feed analysis finally revealed the culprit: fumonisin [foo-MON-ah-sin], a fungal toxin. Fumonisin is produced by mold growing on corn — that is, it’s a type of mycotoxin [my-koh-tock-sin]. Although mycotoxins can harm all kinds of animals, horses are among the most sensitive. Telltale damage involves softening o...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
Most horses in the U.S. have some degree of asthma and nearly 15 percent have a severe case. But now, thanks to collaboration between a medical school and a veterinary college, a specially designed equine respirator may help these horses while cutting down on their medications. Although human respirators cover the mouth and nose, a horse needs its mouth free to graze and drink. After considering many approaches, researchers eventually designed a respirator that covers only a horse’s nose by snug...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
A recent article in a medical journal highlighted the looming threat of the H5N1 avian flu. Virologists from over 40 countries signed on, urging global leaders to increase surveillance, boost biosecurity and prepare for person-to-person transmission. The paper’s authors cited some sobering facts. Over 995 dairy herds and at least 70 people have been infected with bird flu. Some cases have been severe and at least one person has died. Among the suggested mitigation strategies are continuous anima...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
Dogs are an integral part of most Native American communities, but in low-income environments, veterinary needs often run up against financial challenges. That’s when First Nations Vet steps in. Also known as Friends of the Rez Dogs, this nonprofit group offers free exams, spay and neuter services and wellness care — like vaccinations and flea and tick preventatives — to both dogs and cats. Even microchipping is covered. In addition, First Nations partners with Fences for Fido, which sets up fre...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
Ehrlichiosis [air-leek-ee-OH-sis] is a tickborne disease, particularly affecting dogs in Southeastern and Southwestern states. Rickettsial organisms — a genus of bacteria — spread the disease. The most common carrier is the brown dog tick, but other tick species can also be carriers. Most dogs are diagnosed in the acute stage of disease, when they may have a fever, swollen lymph nodes, bleeding disorders or neurologic signs. From there, they may clear the infection or progress to a relatively sy...
Aug 05, 2025•1 min
What’s better than butter? Well, probably a longer lifespan. A major study tracked more than 220,000 Americans over 33 years to learn about how butter and plant-based oils impact mortality. When it came down to the age-old question of buttering or not, the results were clear. Those who opted to consume butter saw a 15% higher chance of early death versus those who opted for plant-based oils like olive, soybean or canola oil. In fact, the oil-inclined participants even saw a 16% reduction in mort...
Aug 05, 2025•2 min
As the story goes, Ponce de León never found the fabled Fountain of Youth. The Spanish explorer, however, didn’t have a molecular biologist on his team. He could have used one. That’s because a modern team of them recently found that a protein released by our muscles can reverse some age-related declines in muscle and bone. As you might expect, the protein surges during exercise. The protein is composed of the cardiotrophin-like cytokine [Pronounced CAR-dee-oh-troh-fin-like SIGH-toh-kine] factor...
Aug 04, 2025•2 min
Pet food labeling is regulated at the federal and state levels to ensure product safety, but there are key differences in how human food and pet food are labeled, contributing to consumer confusion about what they’re really feeding their animals. On this archive episode of Animal Airwaves Live, Dr. Richard Hill, a veterinary internal medicine and nutrition specialist at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, explains key differences in pet and human food labeling, how to understand what to look ...
Aug 01, 2025•48 min
Ever looked at a photo of a river and instinctively known you would be able to swim in it? Or seen a trail on your drive to work and thought, “I could walk there”? It’s a neat trick our brains do without us consciously asking them to — and one that AI struggles to emulate. A new study from researchers in Amsterdam shows that our brains automatically recognize “affordances,” a term used to describe opportunities for action, when we look at scenes in the world around us. Common ways this manifests...
Aug 01, 2025•2 min
July is the peak of the heat. The month brings the scorching “dog days” of summer, a season of perspiration. When most of the northern hemisphere isn’t taking refuge in air-conditioned places, it’s a time many of us spend outdoors, at barbecues, pool parties or trips to the beach. Hence this reminder that July is also UV Safety Month. Ultraviolet rays cause most skin cancers. Groups like the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society offer plenty of tips for protecting yours...
Jul 31, 2025•2 min
The next time you curse out the driver who cut you off or mutter expletives at the speed demon next to you, consider the fact that the driver might be a sleepy teen. A National Sleep Foundation study found that the large number of teens who drive while tired poses a serious health concern. The study surveyed U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 to assess the prevalence, frequency and perceived risk of drowsy driving. They were asked if they had driven while so tired they struggled to keep their eyes open an...
Jul 30, 2025•2 min
Ulcerative colitis is one of those chronic conditions that doesn’t just cause discomfort — it can deeply disrupt daily life, with symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea and weight loss. Now, scientists may have found a surprising potential ally in the fight: the strawberry tree, a traditional Mediterranean plant more commonly known for its fruit than its medicinal power. In a recent study, researchers gave lab rats an extract made from strawberry tree fruit (likely not the strawberries you’re used...
Jul 29, 2025•2 min
Walking up a flight of stairs won’t just get you to the second floor. It might also help get you to your golden years. The elevator apparently doesn’t stop on that floor. It’s not surprising that such exercise is healthy. Carrying the groceries up to a third-floor apartment might not sound like a workout at the gym. But taking the stairs works the leg muscles intensively and gets the heart beating faster. And walking up a staircase can be a more convenient way to fit some physical activity into ...
Jul 28, 2025•2 min
With hurricane season in full swing, Dr. Larry Garcia, Clinical Associate Professor and Medical Director of UF’s Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service (VETS), is roaring the readiness alert on disaster preparedness and the importance of planning for the safety of pets before disaster strikes. Every tail, paw, hoof and claw deserves a disaster plan that includes evacuation plans, pet-friendly shelters, an emergency evacuation kit and more. Under Garcia, the UF VETS team is composed of experience...
Jul 25, 2025•47 min
Are you feeling sleepy today? Already on your second cup of coffee and still fighting a yawn? You may be inclined to think it stems from tossing and turning on your pillow for hours, but others are beginning to believe that a good night’s sleep begins first thing in the morning … during breakfast. Foods with the right nutrients can help you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night, allowing you to wake up refreshed and ready to start your day. As with many other health-related problems, ...
Jul 25, 2025•2 min
