Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The parasites invade red blood cells and can trigger hemolytic anemia and systemic illness. Dogs are diagnosed more often, but cats can also be affected, especially in tick-endemic areas. Because early signs are non-specific, risk awareness and…
What It Is And How Cats Get Infected Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. Cats are exposed mainly through contact with urine contaminated water, soil, or surfaces, and through hunting or eating infected prey (especially rodents). Many infected cats remain subclinical, but they can still develop…
Understanding Theileria equi in Horses Theileria equi is a microscopic protozoan parasite that invades the red blood cells of horses, donkeys, and mules. The infection it causes is called equine piroplasmosis. Once inside the bloodstream, the parasite multiplies in red cells and can trigger anemia, fever, and reduced performance. Ticks…
Understanding Salmonella typhimurium in Chickens Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium is a Gram negative bacterium that colonizes the intestines of chickens and other poultry. It is one of the most common Salmonella types detected in poultry production and an important cause of foodborne illness in humans. Infected birds shed large numbers…
Understanding Cryptosporidium parvum in Calves Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that infects the intestines of young calves. It’s a leading cause of neonatal calf diarrhea. Infected calves shed huge numbers of oocysts in their feces, quickly contaminating pens, feeders, and water sources. These oocysts are extremely resilient resistant to…
Understanding cTnI in Canine Cardiology Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a protein found inside dog heart muscle cells that helps regulate contraction. Because it is specific to the heart, any injury to the heart muscle from disease, inflammation or trauma causes cTnI to leak into the bloodstream. In simple terms,…
Heart failure is a common condition in dogs and cats and can lead to serious clinical consequences. However, establishing a definitive diagnosis is not always straightforward, as the clinical signs are often nonspecific and may easily mimic other diseases. Symptoms such as dyspnea, lethargy, or coughing can be observed in…
Understanding BNP and NT-proBNP in Canine Cardiology The B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), is a hormone that heart muscle cells release when they are stretched or stressed. The NT-proBNP is the N-terminal portion of this peptide that has an increased half-life in blood so as a result of this, NT-proBNP…
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is a common and serious condition in both dogs and cats. Diagnosing pancreatitis is challenging because its signs are often vague and can mimic other illnesses. Fortunately, modern blood tests that measure pancreatic lipase levels specifically canine pancreatic lipase (cPL) in dogs and feline pancreatic…
Ask any calf rearer about “crypto” and you will get a knowing look. Cryptosporidiosis is a gut infection caused by Cryptosporidium parvum. It hits calves hard in the first weeks of life, it spreads like Spainsh Flu like its 1918, and it can occasionally make people sick as well. The…









