Jb Minter, DVM, MS, DACZM, discusses the unique physical characteristics of amphibians that impact their response to anesthesia and analgesia 

Why amphibians respond differently to anesthesia and analgesia

Jb Minter, DVM, MS, DACZM, director of animal health and chief veterinarian at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, discusses the unique physiological characteristics of amphibians that affect their response to anesthesia and analgesia. The discussion is part of an interview tied to his lecture, “Navigating Amphibian Anesthesia and Analgesia,” originally presented at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, and now available on Fetch On-Demand for CE credit.

Below is the video transcript, lightly edited for clarity:

Amphibians have several unique physical characteristics, or physiological characteristics, that impact how they're going to respond to anesthesia and analgesia. One of those key characteristics is that amphibians are ectothermic, or cold blooded, which means that their body temperatures are very dependent on the external environment around them. This can result in lower metabolic rates compared to your endotherms, or warm-blooded animals, which can influence the dosing and duration of a lot of the anesthetic drugs that you may want to use for your patients.

They also have very permeable skin, so this plays a significant role in drug absorptions and eliminations. So, as you put drugs on them, they're going to be transdermally absorbed through the skin, which can sometimes lead to very unpredictable dosing and absorption rates.

They also have a pretty low metabolic capacity for detoxifying drugs, meaning that anesthetic agents may stay in their system longer than some of our mammalian species that we deal with commonly.

Additionally, amphibians have pretty unique respiratory system. So, and in addition to their lung-based respiration that you and I would have, they also have cutaneous or skin respiration. This dual respiration means that inhaled anesthetic agents must be carefully monitored to ensure that animals are receiving adequate oxygenation without causing respiratory depression.

So, they're pretty unique but they're not as difficult as everybody makes them out to be. So that's why...this talk that I'm going to be [giving] is making sure that the people that are not really comfortable seeing them just have a general overview of what it is to anesthetize amphibians and potentially provide them some type of analgesic drugs.

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Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD explains anal sac retention syndrome is and which dogs are most at risk

A brief overview of anal sac retention syndrome

In this video, Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, practicing dermatologist with the Animal Dermatology Group in Louisville, Kentucky, and star of the National Geographic Wild television series 

provides a brief overview of her session “Anal Sac Retention Syndrome: When to Treat, When to Cut,” presented at the Fetch dvm360 conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the video, Griffin explains what the condition is, what diagnosis and treatment entails, and which dogs are most at risk.

Anal sac retention syndrome is an interesting disease that as a dermatologist, I didn't really think I was going to have to do a lot of anal sac disease, and I do a ton. Because it's so multifactorial, it can be related to diet, the weight of the animals. Certain breeds are more likely to have anal sac issues. And then, because I treat a lot of allergies, food hypersensitivity and environmental allergies can cause issues with perianal pruritus and anal sac retention.

So it's really this whole kind of disease process, and we have to kind of figure out in that individual pet what the actual cause is. So, it can be a little challenging. I do like to do cytologies on my anal sac expressions to make sure that the patients don't have anal sac infection. And I do a lot of infusions and systemic therapy to treat those cases as well. So it's a whole, it's kind of a fun thing to do.

Retention syndrome is a little bit more common in smaller breed dogs. So I think about the little 'Fufus', anything that has to go to the groomer on a regular basis. So small, compact dogs and dogs that are overweight, which is a lot of our pet patients

Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, explains anal sac retention syndrome is and which dogs are most at risk

 Ticks are increasing in number and location. As ticks spread into new communities and neighborhoods, so too do their associated pathogens.

Ticks pose a risk to animal and human health, mainly through the pathogens they transmit. 

In the US, ticks transmit a notable diverse array of bacterial, protozoal, and viral pathogens.

 In the continental US and Hawaii, ticks pose a year-round risk, including during traditional winter months. In many places, especially in the northern half of the US, tick season is longer now than in decades past.

No vaccine options to protect against non–Lyme disease tick-borne pathogens. 

Although there are several commercial vaccines on the market to protect dogs from Lyme disease, there aren’t vaccines to protect dogs from other pathogens that ticks can transmit, including 

, a tick-borne pathogen that is increasingly detected in dogs.

The most comprehensive way to protect our dogs and other pets from ticks and reduce their risk of developing a tick-borne disease is by using a fast-acting tick control product.

Ticks pose an increasing health risk to people and pets, primarily as vectors of numerous bacterial, protozoal, and viral pathogens.

Importantly, many tick-borne pathogens that can infect and cause disease in dogs are zoonotic, meaning they can also infect and cause disease in humans. Because of the shared risk of encountering ticks, dogs are excellent sentinels for pet-owner tick encounter risk. Over the past several decades, the prevalence and incidence of many tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis, have significantly increased. Several vaccines are marketed to protect dogs against Lyme disease; however, vaccines to protect people or pets against other tick-borne pathogens either do not exist or are not yet commercially available (several human Lyme disease vaccines are in clinical trial). In most areas of the US, ticks present a year-round threat; thus there is no true risk-free time of year as relates to ticks and tick-borne diseases. The expanding density and geographic distribution of several medically important tick species that bite pets and people further increase the risk of encountering ticks. As ticks move into new areas, the pathogens they carry also move into these new areas. Along with the intensifying and expanding range of domestic tick species, introduction and establishment of foreign tick species into the US presents an added an omnipresent threat, highlighted by the introduction of the longhorned tick, 

 In the absence of an arsenal of tick-borne pathogen vaccines, the most comprehensive strategy to protect pets against ticks and reduce their risk of developing a tick-borne disease is the year-round use of a fast-acting tick control product.

Ticks are arachnids and belong to the same taxonomic class as spiders and scorpions. Morphologically, they have a fused head and body and possess 8 legs as nymphs and adults. Simple characteristics of the scutum (back plate) and mouthpart can be used to differentiate the tick species that commonly bite pets and people. Ticks are long-lived (2 to 3 years) and typically only feed 3 times in their life, once per life stage (larvae, nymph, and adult). The tick species that commonly bite pets and people typically rely on a variety of wildlife species (eg, rodents, birds, deer) to maintain local populations. Although ticks spend up to 2 weeks on a host when they are feeding, most of their life is spent off-host in the environment.

To survive, ticks require hosts and environments with suitable temperatures and humidity. Ticks can be found in areas with tall grass, tree canopy, or other vegetative ground cover. These types of environments help buffer temperature extremes, improve humidity, and provide habitat for the wildlife species that ticks most commonly use as hosts. Places where wildlife species are active are places where ticks are more likely to be found. A notable exception is the brown dog tick, 

, which preferentially utilizes dogs as hosts for all life stages and prefers to live in sheltered environments (eg, homes, kennels). A list of ticks that commonly bite pets and people, as well as their general US geographic distributions, is provided (

When are pets (and people) at risk for ticks?

Different tick species and different life stages of a given tick species can be active at different times of the year. However, for most of the US, tick season is now all year; this is because there is typically at least 1 tick species active at any given time of the year. Knowing what tick species are common to a given region and when they are active will inform when pets (and people) are at greatest risk of encountering a host-seeking tick and being infected with a tick-borne pathogen. Tick activity will vary by region, based on the tick species common to that area, the time of year, the likelihood of host activity, and local environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. In general, the risk of coming across a host-seeking tick is very low when the temperature is below 35 °F.

 During hotter periods, tick activity is likely to be greatest in shaded areas or during cooler times of the day. Ticks also prefer more humid areas, which they find by living in areas with vegetation or other protected habitats. Habitats and areas where wildlife species are active are often areas where ticks are more likely to be present.

The tick species that most commonly bite pets and people (

) typically utilize a diverse array of wildlife species as “normal” hosts. For the most part, pets and people are not important in the maintenance of local tick populations. The ticks in 

 are 3-host ticks, meaning they feed on a different individual host at each life stage. Frequently, as the tick progresses through its life stages, it feeds on progressively larger hosts. For example, larval ticks commonly feed on rodents and ground-feeding birds. Nymphs may parasitize a wide range of hosts of different sizes, anything from rodents to deer. Adults typically feed on larger mammals like deer and dogs. One notable exception is the brown dog tick, which prefers to feed on dogs at each life stage. However, brown dog ticks will still bite people and cats if given the opportunity.

Once a host is located, the tick will crawl to a favorable site on the host and attach using a combination of barbed mouthparts driven into the host’s skin and reinforced with glue-like salivary proteins. The attachment process can take up to 24 hours for an adult tick. The tick salivates a complex mixture of proteins to prepare the feeding site and hide from the host’s immune system, during which they may transmit pathogens. As most tick-borne pathogens are dispensed into the host via tick saliva, the longer the tick is attached and salivating into the host’s skin, the greater the risk for pathogen transmission. After the tick finishes feeding, it will detach from the host and fall back into the environment. The attachment and feeding process takes about 3 to 15 days, depending on the tick species and life stage. Once the tick detaches, it will either molt to the next life stage within a few weeks or, if it’s an adult female, she will find a protected place to lay her eggs (2000 to 4000 eggs).

Often, pet owners are unaware their pet has been infested with a tick because unfed ticks are small, and dogs don’t often give owners cues of being infested, such as itching or scratching. Because ticks are often and easily overlooked on dogs and the longer the tick is attached, the greater the risk of pathogen transmission, regular year-round use of a fast-acting tick control product is an ideal way to protect pets against ticks and reduce their risk of developing a tick-borne disease.

We care about ticks because they 1) are nuisance pests, 2) can cause direct injury (eg, anemia, paralysis), 3) can initiate allergic conditions (eg, alpha-gal syndrome), and 4) can transmit pathogens. In the US, ticks are the most common arthropod vectors of pathogens for people and pets. 

 includes a list of the most common tick-borne pathogens reported in pets and people in the US and their associated tick species. For most of the listed pathogens, the tick initially acquires the pathogen from an infected wildlife host reservoir and then maintains that pathogen through the remainder of its individual life span, capable of transmitting the pathogen when feeding on its next host. Few of the listed pathogens are passed from the female tick to her progeny; notable exceptions include many of the viral pathogens and some 

 species. An excellent resource of monitoring where pets and people are at greatest risk for 3 major tick-borne diseases—Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis—is the Companion Animal Parasite Council.

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has excellent information on the clinical signs and case incidence of tick-borne diseases for people.

 Because pets and people face similar risks of encountering ticks and contracting tick-borne pathogens, a pet testing positive for a tick-borne pathogen indicates it has been in an area with infected ticks—meaning the pet owner was also likely exposed to the same environment.

 Direct transmission of tick-borne pathogens between pets and people is exceedingly rare.

Table 2. Tick-Borne Diseases Most Commonly Reported in Dogs and Cats in the US

Unless otherwise noted, tick transmission of the pathogen occurs during the tick feeding process via tick saliva.

Transmission of canine babesiosis can also occur via direct blood-to-blood transmission or dog bites between dogs. Human babesiosis in the US is caused by 

Dog must eat an infected tick to become infected.

How can we protect our pets from ticks and reduce their risk of getting a tick-borne disease?

Below are strategies for protecting pets and people from ticks and reducing their risk of developing tick-borne diseases.

 This is not always practical or feasible, especially because more ticks are now in more places.

 The CDC outlines several strategies to reduce the risk of ticks on personal property.

 These include clearing tall grass and brush, frequent mowing, keeping playground and other outdoor activity items in sunny locations and away from unmanaged or dense vegetation, using environmental acaricides (chemical control), and restricting access to wildlife that are common tick hosts (eg, deer and mice).

 If a pet or person has been in an area where ticks are known to be active, they should perform a thorough, whole-body tick check. On dogs, around the ears, eyes, under the legs, belly, under the collar, and around the tail should be checked. On people, around ears and hairline, waist, armpits, back of the knee, groin area, belly button, and back should be checked. If a tick is found, a pointy pair of tweezers can be used to remove the tick by grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling back with steady and even pressure. Afterward, one should wash or disinfect the bite site. The tick can also be saved for testing or evidence of a tick bite.

Additional tick control options for people:

 People should dress in light-colored, unpatterned clothing to help rapidly spot crawling ticks and should also treat clothing with acaricides (eg, permethrin sprays [CAUTION: do not use around cats]). Treat the skin with repellents (eg, DEET or picaridin).

 There are many effective and safe tick control products commercially available to protect pets from ticks and reduce their risk of developing a tick-borne disease. The 3 general categories for tick-control products are as follows:

Systemic-acting isoxazoline-containing products:

 Depending on the specific product, these products may be orally administered or topically applied. These products work systemically and provide excellent full-body coverage.

 These products (eg, permethrin or fipronil) are topically applied to the pet’s skin and are distributed over the pet’s skin through dermal translocation to provide protection.

Similar to topicals, the active ingredients in these products migrate into the pet’s skin and spread over the body to provide protection.

Note: Pet owners should consult with their veterinarian on tick control product choice. As with any drug, product labels should be thoughtfully reviewed and followed.

Because isoxazoline drugs are systemically distributed, the tick must start the biting process to be exposed to the drug. Therefore, if the tick must start the biting process, a common expectation from veterinarians and pet owners is that the drug should work fast to kill ticks to prevent or reduce the chance of tick-borne pathogen transmission. Many of the isoxazoline-containing products for dogs have similar label claims regarding the time to control the most common tick species, perhaps giving the impression that the various products “work” at a similar speed to each other. An important factor to consider when choosing a tick-control product is how quickly it kills ticks, as faster elimination reduces the risk of transmitting a tick-borne pathogen. Additionally, it’s essential to assess whether the product maintains its speed of action throughout the entire dosing period—for example, does it work as effectively at the end of the month as it does at the beginning?

Recently, we completed a study comparing the speed of tick kill for dogs treated with 1 of 3 commercially available, monthly-use tick-control products containing different isoxazoline drugs: lotilaner (Credelio), sarolaner (Simparica Trio), and afoxolaner (NexGard).

 In this study, dogs were experimentally infested with 

 (Lone Star tick), a challenging tick for many tick-control products. The speed of each of these products to control 

 infestations was compared among treatment groups.

The major conclusions of this study were as follows:

For only lotilaner-treated dogs, significant 

 control began by 12 hours post treatment and post reinfestation on days 21 and 28 post treatment.

Only lotilaner-treated dogs achieved over 90% tick control by 24 hours post treatment and post reinfestation on days 21 and 28 post treatment.

At no point was the efficacy of the sarolaner combination product or afoxolaner significantly greater than lotilaner.

For new infestations during the second half of the month (day 21 and 28 post treatment) the time to over 90% tick control was achieved 24 to 48 hours earlier for the lotilaner group compared to the sarolaner combination product or afoxolaner groups.

Only lotilaner worked as fast at the end of the month as it did at the beginning of the month.

The speed of tick kill with these systemically acting drugs is imperative because the tick must start the biting process to acquire the drug and die. The longer a drug takes to kill ticks, the greater the risk of pathogen transmission. The speed of tick-borne pathogen transmission varies among pathogens. For 

, the agent of Lyme disease, based on controlled transmission timing studies in the US, transmission began after 24 hours of infestation. Between 24 to 48 hours from infestation, approximately 10% of hosts were infected. Between 48 to 72 hours, approximately 70% of hosts were infected. However, for 

, the agent of anaplasmosis, transmission may occur more quickly (between 16 and 24 hours from infestation). No studies are available on the transmission speed of US-sourced 

, but data from Europe suggests transmission may occur within 3 to 6 hours.

The bottom line is that the more quickly ticks are killed, the less likely pathogens will be transmitted.

Ticks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 16, 2025. 

Companion Animal Parasite Council. Accessed February 16, 2025. 

The Asian longhorned tick: what you need to know and what you can do. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Accessed February 16, 2025. 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/animal-health/asian-longhorned-tick

Regions where ticks live. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 18, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2025. 

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/geographic_distribution.html

Clark DD. Lower temperature limits for actively of several Ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): effects of body size and rate of temperature change. 

. 1995;32(4):449-452. doi:10.1093/jmedent/32.4.449

Tickborne diseases of the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated March 10, 2025. Accessed February 16, 2025. 

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/index.html

Liu Y, Nordone SK, Yabsley MJ, Lund RB, McMahan CS, Gettings JR. Quantifying the relationship between human Lyme disease and Borrelia burgdorferi exposure in domestic dogs. 

. 2019;14(1):111-120. doi:10.4081/gh.2019.750

Preventing tick bites. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 28, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/

Reif KE, Kollasch TM, Neilson JC, et al. Comparative speed of kill provided by lotilaner (Credelio), sarolaner (Simparica Trio), and afoxolaner (NexGard) to control 

. 2024;17(1):313. doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06363-w

Fourie JJ, Stanneck D, Luus HG, Beugnet F, Wijnveld M, Jongejan F. Transmission of 

 ticks feeding on dogs and on artificial membranes. 

. 2013;197(3-4):595-603. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.07.026

Articles

Tick Tidbits: Ticking Off the 5 W’s on These Tiny Troublemakers 

As veterinary professionals grow in their careers, they gain the opportunity to impact more than just their own path—fresh ideas can spark change across teams, organizations, and the broader industry. Recently, Evette, Pegasus Laboratories, and Hometown Veterinary Partners announced new individuals joining their team or moving up in leadership.

The following individuals are being spotlighted in this week’s “Paws and profits” column:

Eric Mueller, DVM, vice president of clinical operations, Evette

Eric Mueller, DVM, vice president of clinical operations, Evette. (Image courtesy of Evette)

Mueller’s recent appointment as vice president of clinical operations at Evette marks the company’s first-ever internal DVM, according to Evette. Mueller has more than 10 years of experience across the veterinary profession on both the clinical and business side, including small and companion animal medicine, soft tissue surgery, business ownership, employee management, and advisory roles. He has founded 2 de novo practices, designed and constructed a veterinary facility in Atlanta, Georgia, and was the chief development officer of the successor company that bought his mobile veterinary hospital.

“I’m thrilled to join Evette in this new role to address critical issues that myself and many other veterinary professionals have faced, like staffing shortages and clinical competency,” said Mueller of his new role at Evette, in a news release.

 “I’ve seen gaps in the space from both a medical and professional perspective, and I look forward to optimizing Evette’s capabilities, offering a solution no one else has delivered—in a way that will face the veterinary industry’s pain points head-on.”

Cheryl Brocki, DVM, chief veterinary officer, Hometown Veterinary Partners

Hometown Veterinary Partners has appointed Brocki as its new chief veterinary officer. Brocki has experience in mentorship, operational leadership, and helping veterinary communities thrive. She has mentored doctors of veterinary medicine, certified veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants. Brocki has also developed a veterinary university program that spans 16 institutions and 22 student ambassadors. Moreover, she holds a certification in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging that underscores her commitment to making the profession a stronger one, according to Hometown Veterinary Partners.

“Dr Brocki’s energy and dedication to veterinary professionals make her an incredible addition to our team. Her passion for mentorship and medicine will strengthen our commitment to delivering outstanding care to pets and communities, while also ensuring that our veterinary teams feel supported and empowered,” said Keri Kamba, founder and president of Hometown Veterinary Partners, in a news release.

David Martin, vice president of sales, Pegasus Laboratories

David Martin, vice president of sales, Pegasus Laboratories. (Image courtesy of Pegasus Laboratories)

Martin was recently promoted to vice president of sales at Pegasus Laboratories, a manufacturer of pharmaceutical and medical veterinary products. In his new role, Martin is overseeing the sales and customer service teams of Pegasus. Initially joining the company in 2024 as senior director of sales, Martin will be providing strategic leadership and spearheading efforts to commercialize Pegasus’ veterinary PRN products, bring new products to market, and help grow market share in his new position.

“I am thrilled to announce the well-deserved promotion of David Martin to vice president of sales,” Dave Taylor, vice president and general manager of Pegasus, said in a company release.

 “David is a proven and high-performance leader. In addition to being an excellent mentor for our sales, and customer service teams, he delivers the types of results that allow Pegasus Laboratories to grow and prosper.”

Evette appoints DVM to internal leadership team, amplifying veterinarians’ voices to help guide company’s strategic growth. News release. Evette. March 26, 2025. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326690402/en/Evette-Appoints-DVM-to-Internal-Leadership-Team-Amplifying-Veterinarians-Voices-to-Help-Guide-Companys-Strategic-Growth

Hometown Veterinary Partners appoints Dr. Cheryl Brocki as chief veterinary officer. News release. April 7, 2025.

Pegasus Laboratories promotes David Martin. News release. March 27, 2025.

New leadership moves, recognition, and achievement

Paws and profits: New veterinary and sales leadership

Horses racing at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

A colt once destined for the Kentucky Derby is missing the big race with a condylar fracture of a front leg after his jockey noticed something wasn’t right. The racehorse, Tappan Street, experienced the injury at Churchill Downs, during a workout leading up to the prestigious event in Louisville, Kentucky, and was quickly taken for x-rays. Although the fracture isn’t expected to end Tappan Street’s career, it did put him out of the race.

Veterinary professionals at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville said Tappan Street’s injury serves as a reminder that these “world-class athletes” need veterinary care to be ready for racing. “Similar to elite human athletes, equine athletes require a veritable team to keep them healthy, fit and competition ready. Veterinary medical care is an important part of this equation and can include everything from post-injury physical therapy to preventive protection against infectious diseases,” Sally DeNotta, DVM, PhD, a clinical associate professor of equine medicine and equine extension specialist at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, said in a prepared statement.

In noting their similarities to elite human athletes, DeNotta also pointed out a key difference. “The difference is that they can’t tell us that something is sore. It’s up to us to develop better ways to ID (minor injuries) before they become a problem,” she said in a 

Veterinary medicine is often on the front lines of the annual Kentucky Derby, running May 2-3, 2025, for the 151st time, at Churchill Downs. “This is a race with a lot of history in America,” DeNotta said. 

At the Kentucky Derby and other horse races, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) operates the high-profile 

 program. This program assists racetrack management with media and live coverage to provide accurate reporting of any veterinary issues that arise.

According to DeNotta, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission also has veterinarians at Churchill Downs at all times during the Kentucky Derby. “The veterinarians conduct pre-race inspections to ensure horses are healthy and sound. Those veterinarians also administer any needed medication before the race in accordance with guidelines,” DeNotta said.

However, DeNotta said, although the Kentucky Derby is world-famous and has public support, there is also public concern for the health and welfare of equine athletes and the longevity of horse racing as an industry. “There is a big push nationally and globally to ensure the horses are kept as safe and healthy as possible,” she said.

Recent veterinary science initiatives have focused on catastrophic injuries, DeNotta said. There is work being done to identify and address injuries before they end careers as well as injury risk factors such as track conditions, how horses are exercised, and medications that are administered to equine athletes. “Our goal is to conduct research that supports the longevity of the sport by promoting the health and safety of the equine athletes that make it all possible,” DeNotta added.

Photo courtesy of Brianne Lehan-UF Emerging Pathogens Institute

Sally DeNotta, DVM, PhD, a clinical associate professor of equine medicine and equine extension specialist at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, exams a horse.

DeNotta’s work includes an active study, “Effects of Repeated Furosemide Administration on Electrolyte Homeostasis and Bone Density in Healthy Adult Exercising Thoroughbreds,” for which she is principal investigator. The year-long research is funded by the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Commission (HISA).

Furosemide (Lasix) is an FDA-approved loop diuretic for human use

, but is also administered to horses to reduce bleeding in the lungs caused by exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). DeNotta said it may also help improve race performance. However, the effectiveness of furosemide for this use and the drug’s health effects on equine patients have come under public scrutiny.

“If we better understand the long-term effects of commonly used medications, we can create science-based guidelines for how to safely use these medications to treat disease and injury while avoiding negative side effects,” DeNotta said.

In her study, 15 thoroughbred horses are exercising on a high-speed treadmill. Some are receiving furosemide for 3 months while others are administered a placebo. The 2 groups are then swapped. “The drug is known to prevent and treat EIPH. We are looking at the long-term effects of electrolytes,” DeNotta said.

There are other studies focused on furosemide, which has been banned at Churchill Downs and other major racetracks for same-day use in horses under the age of 3 years. These include a large investigation ongoing in South Africa and another study on the same drug that is underway at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, and is also supported by HISA.

 is investigating the drug’s effect on thoroughbred racehorses. According to WSU, investigators are working to better understand how regular furosemide treatment correlates with increased career longevity and race participation as well as the effect of a furosemide ban on horses' careers and the number of starts for horses 2 years old.

“We hypothesize that our study will show horses that regularly get furosemide before racing have more races and longer careers than those that don’t,” Warwick Bayly, BVSc (Honors), PhD, MS, who is leading the study with Macarena Sanz, DVM, PhD, MS, said in a news release.

 “The results of this study are going to help guide the final decision on the future use of furosemide.”

Veterinarians can support the racing industry by supporting the horses that make it possible, DeNotta said. Veterinary scientists can help equine medicine practitioners better understand how medications affect racehorses by continuing to conduct research.

“It’s a team effort, keeping racehorses healthy,” DeNotta said. “The goal is to do the right thing for the horse.”

Tappan Street out of Kentucky Derby with condylar fracture. 

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/tappan-street-out-of-kentucky-derby-with-condylar-fracture/

AAEP On-Call program to provide horse health updates for Derby week racing. News release. American Association of Equine Practitioners. 

https://aaep.org/post/aaep-on-call-program-to-provide-horse-health-updates-for-derby-week-racing/

Khan TM, Patel R, Siddqui AH. Furosemide. May 8, 2023. Accessed May 2, 2025. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499921/

McCafferty C. Researchers investigate effects of furosemide on racehorses. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/researchers-investigate-effects-of-furosemide-on-racehorses

Rokyta D. WSU to study effect of controversial drug on racehorses. News release. Washington State University. April 23,2024. Accessed May 2, 2025. 

https://news.wsu.edu/news/2024/04/23/wsu-to-study-effect-of-controversial-drug-on-racehorses/

As equine veterinarians and advocates work to ensure their patient-athletes are receiving proper care, scientists work to advance therapies and better understand their physiology 

Reaching for a racing win with healthy horses and equine wellness 

Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR, discusses how veterinarians can guide clients in spotting subtle signs of feline arthritis at home

Signs a cat may have arthritis

Cats with arthritis often hide their pain, making client education on feline signs of discomfort an important step for an accurate diagnosis. In this video, Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR, founder of Canine Arthritis Resources and Education (CARE), discusses signs cat owners should watch out for that may indicate their feline companion is in pain.

Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR:

 Cats with arthritis are going to do everything possible to hide their pain, especially when they come into the vet clinic. So what that means is veterinarians actually really need to rely on the caregiver, the pet parent, to know what signs of pain look like at home. And those signs are typically going to be changes in the cat's behavior and changes in their mobility.

There are actually 6 things that have been specifically identified that correlate with arthritis pain in cats, and those 6 things are:

. It's not necessarily that the cat stops jumping up or stops jumping down or stops playing, but they alter their behavior and their body mechanics to make it easier for them, like taking multiple little jumps or angling their body.

So, talking to pet parents and cat owners about how their cats are moving and how that might have changed over time, those are the big things to look for, for signs of pain. Other things could also include urinating or defecating outside the litter box. So, it might be painful to get into the litter box. They may be over grooming or under grooming themselves, or they just might hide more often because they hurt and they don't want to be touched.