Weekly Companion Animal News: June 8, 2026

Lyme cases rising among Northeast Ohio pets

Ohio health officials report that about one in 15 pets tested in the state so far this year have been positive for Lyme disease, including nearly one in 10 pets tested in Trumbull County in Northeast Ohio. More than 200 human Lyme disease cases have also been reported in Ohio this year. The tick that carries Lyme disease is called Ixodes scapularis. Prevention is the best defense, advised local veterinarian Jennifer Kartley, recommending year-round flea, tick and heartworm prevention, along with Lyme vaccinations for dogs.

Dog daycare leptospirosis outbreak reveals public health risks: UC Davis research

A 2021 outbreak of leptospirosis that sickened more than 200 dogs in Los Angeles County reveals gaps in vaccination practices and raises concerns about the spread of the disease between animals and people, according to research led by the University of California, Davis. In the study, scientists traced the outbreak to dog daycare environments, where close contact among animals could have accelerated dog-to-dog transmission, an atypical occurrence.

Bobcat fever affecting domestic cats in Kentucky

The tickborne disease, also known as Cytauxzoonosis, is transmitted through a single tick bite and can progress quickly, says local veterinarian Adrienne Price Williams in a recent report from WBKO News in Bowling Green, Kentucky. “I do think we are seeing a merging of tickborne illnesses coming down from the North and coming up from the South, so they’re all meeting here in this area,” she said. Left untreated, the disease has a death rate of 97%, according to USA Today. A team of researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of Missouri created a vaccine for the disease, but it is not commercially available currently.

U.S. Army takes steps to integrate veterinarians into combat care for soldiers

To better prepare for the possibility of a large wartime injury rate, combat medical teams are working on ways to integrate human and animal healthcare fundamentals. At a recent demonstration, Capt. John Hutchison, a veterinarian with the Oahu Veterinary Network, said “the principles are identical, the equipment you’re seeing is human equipment, and the medications they’re using are the same, with dosaging just a little different.” He added that the initial stage of isolation is the same between a canine and human, and both undergo similar trauma assessment.

Low urine ammonia/creatinine ratio potential biomarker for canine CKD

Dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that present with a low urine ammonia-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) face faster disease progression and higher case fatality than dogs with higher ratios, according to a prospective study from North Carolina State University. The researchers identified UACR as a potentially useful, noninvasive prognostic marker in naturally occurring canine CKD. In people, there’s a clear link between reduced ammonia excretion over a 24-hour period and accelerated kidney disease, said Autumn Harris, DVM, ACVIM, associate professor of nephrology-urology at NC State. However, there hasn’t been much information about the relationship in dogs.

Can-Fite BioPharma says study validates drug’s potential for canine osteoarthritis

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. announced publication of a peer-reviewed scientific article regarding previously reported positive findings from a study evaluating Piclidenoson for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. The study showed “statistically significant improvement in mobility and pain assessments.” The drug is being developed for veterinary indications by Vetbiolix under a licensing agreement with Can-Fite.

‘When in doubt, stay out’ when encountering toxic algae

Dogs are especially susceptible to harmful algal blooms (HABs), which are more common in ponds, streams, rivers and lakes as the weather gets warmer. “’When in doubt, stay out’ is usually my go-to,” said Dr. Aly Cohen, a veterinarian with Cornell University’s Riney Canine Health Center. “You can never really tell just by visually looking at a body of water if it’s going to be a harmful algal bloom or not.” HABs can look like paint, scum or pea soup on the water’s surface. They can grow in any type of stagnant water, such as bird baths or empty containers, especially if they contain fertilizer runoff. Dr. Cohen recommends rinsing dogs off with clean water after they’ve been in or around a body of water or stagnant water, even if algal blooms aren’t visible.

ChemoTech secures loan for expansion in North America, Europe

The Swedish medical technology firm said the loan of SEK 6 million ($645,000) will strengthen its sales and marketing capacity, support expansion in animal care in North America and Europe and allow the company to reallocate funds toward continued development of its TSE platform for veterinarians. TSE, or Tumour Specific Electroporation, is intended to boost the efficiency of low doses of anti-cancer drugs, activating the immune system with fewer destructive side effects.