The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) recognized 12 staff members for their outstanding performance and accomplishments at the 2026 Staff Awards Ceremony on Nov. 5.

Winners of the Staff Recognition Award include:

• Jessica Clark, the assistant dean for finance & administration in the Dean’s Office
• Letisha Garza, an executive assistant II in the Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology
• Jennifer Gauntt, the director of VMBS Communications
• Susan Haven, an executive assistant for the Research & Graduate Studies Office
• Tina Karkoska, a project manager II in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
• Danielle McKinley, an anesthesia technician in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH)
• Heather Peck, a senior administrative coordinator in the VMTH
• Mai Ramirez, an HR generalist II for the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and the Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach program
• Katrina Sciba, a veterinary technician II in the VMTH
• Marcia Terrell, a customer service associate II in the VMTH

In addition, Melissa Moon, the compliance and quality assurance coordinator in the VMTH, received the W. Terry Stiles Service Award and Jessica Living, an executive assistant III in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, received the Pearl Enfield Staff Leadership Award.

Other VMBS staff members were also recognized with longevity awards for up to 30 years of service at the college.

The five-year longevity award recipients were Alex Gaithuma, Alexandra Jackson, Alice Yount Stockman, Alyssa Fontenot, Baylie Bookhamer, Becky Wade, Bette Brittner, Caitlin Mencino, Carlos Rosado Berrios, Courtney Franks, Cynthia Barkhurst, Dana Burk, Danielle McKinley, Diane King, Elizabeth Rakestraw, Iris de la Cruz, Jennifer Sowinski, Jessica Clark, Joe Bennett, Juna Ducheneaux, Katelynn Sharpe, Krista Ziolkowski, Lanette Jordan, Lee Pinnell, Lynsey Engel, Lyric Mahabir, Megan Striddle, Michael Hawkins, Patrick Dolan, Sarah Vaughn, Shelby Simpson, and Tori Singletary.

The 10-year longevity award recipients were Andrew Schmid, Austin Weger, Docia Charanza, Garhett Wyatt, Hannah Langenkamp, Jeanette Bayer, Jessica Smith, Josefina Kjoellerstroem, Joshua McCrackin, Julio Peraza, Kaitlyn Aczon, Kelsey Hefley, Lacey Richards, Laura Beach, Shannon Huggins, and Stephanie Hollis.

The 15-year longevity award recipients were Carol Emola, Kirsten Landrock, Mallory Worley, Rachel Garon, Susan Lobit, and Torri Whitaker.

The 20-year longevity award recipients were Dana Whitaker, Efrain Zavala, Melissa Leath, Perfecto Martinez, Rytis Juras, Sybil Camacho, Tiffany Turner, and Tracy Howard.

The 25-year longevity award recipients were Aimee Arrington, Igbal Awooda, Janet Broadhead, Mary Sanders, Sandra Jimenez, and Victor Pineda.

Finally, a 30-year longevity award was given to Cathy Green.

View photos from the event on PhotoShelter.

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A snake sunning itself on a trail or a rustle in the bushes can quickly turn an ordinary walk with your dog into an unexpected wildlife encounter. While these moments can be startling, knowing how to respond can help protect both your pet and the wild animal.

Dr. Lance Wheeler, a clinical assistant professor of small animal emergency and critical care at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explains how owners should respond when wildlife appears, can recognize when their pets need veterinary care, and can prepare before heading outside.

When Wildlife Appears

Depending on where you live and the time of year, you and your pets may encounter coyotes, deer, skunks, raccoons, hogs, snakes, toads, porcupines, and other animals when outdoors.

Supervising pets is important, even in your own yard, particularly for smaller animals that may attract predators. When walking your dog, keeping it on a leash also helps you maintain control if wildlife appears.

“Most wildlife attacks are either unsupervised or the pet wasn’t on a leash,” Wheeler said. “Leashing is so important to be able to control your pet.”

If you spot wildlife during a walk, keeping your pet close and staying calm can help prevent an encounter from escalating; the goal is to end the encounter without either animal feeling compelled to pursue or defend itself, Wheeler said.

If your dog is on a long leash, Wheeler recommends shortening it while leaving enough slack to keep your dog from pulling or feeling constricted; this will allow you to maintain control. Avoid wrapping the leash around your body or hand because sudden movements could cause it to jerk or pull you.

Next, create a safe distance between yourself and the wildlife while leaving the animal a clear escape route.

“You don’t want to excite either your pets or the wildlife because you can trigger a pursuit or a defensive behavior in wildlife,” Wheeler said. “An animal that feels cornered may respond defensively, and animals protecting their young may be especially defensive.”  

If a predator approaches a small dog, Wheeler suggests positioning yourself between the two, keeping your dog close, and slowly backing away while maintaining sight of the animal. Wildlife may want to approach a small dog, but they will not if you are blocking them.

If Contact Occurs

If your pet does come into contact with wildlife, your pet may have injuries that aren’t immediately visible.

“If you know for sure there’s wildlife exposure, I would assume that there could be some sort of injury you can’t see, and I would just bring them in for evaluation,” Wheeler said.

Snakebites, for example, may not leave obvious fang marks, so owners should seek immediate veterinary attention if a snake strikes at their pet rather than waiting for a wound or other side effects to appear.

“You do not need to risk getting close to the snake for a picture,” Wheeler said. “A veterinarian does not need to identify the species to treat the animal.”

Bat encounters require particular caution. Wheeler advises owners not to touch the bat and to seek immediate veterinary care for an exposed pet. If you’re uncertain of whether your pet had physical contact with the bat, still seek veterinary care, as bats harbor diseases that may transfer to your pet.

In these cases, ensuring your pets remain current on their rabies vaccinations will help protect them and allow the veterinary team to determine whether a booster or other treatment is appropriate after a wildlife encounter.

Finally, eating wildlife presents another concern, especially when the animal is dead and decaying. Wheeler recommends prompt veterinary evaluation when an owner knows a pet has eaten a decomposing animal.

Before Heading Outside

As with most situations, planning ahead can help minimize the impact of wildlife encounters.

In this case, preparing begins before you open the door, including familiarizing yourself with the kinds of wildlife that live in your area and when they may be most active.

If an outing takes you somewhere unfamiliar — such as while you’re on a vacation or during holidays — preparation can also mean learning about the wildlife you might encounter in that area and how to respond.

In addition, before traveling, identify emergency veterinary services along the route and at your final destination. Knowing where to go ahead of time gives you one less thing to figure out if an emergency occurs.

A wildlife sighting does not have to bring outdoor adventures to an end. The same habits that help before an encounter — supervising your pet, maintaining leash control, and understanding local wildlife — also help make the next outing more manageable.

By preparing before you leave, staying calm when an animal appears, and seeking veterinary care when contact occurs, you can keep the focus where it belongs: enjoying time outside with your pet.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to vmbs-editor@tamu.edu.

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The finding may eventually help researchers develop both  rapid stall-side diagnostic tests and a vaccine for the highly contagious equine disease.

Strangles is one of the most common infectious diseases of horses worldwide, but accurately determining whether a horse has been exposed to the bacterium that causes it can be challenging.

Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have identified a protein that could help change that.

In a new study, the researchers found that a protein they called P92 could be used to more accurately detect antibodies against Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (SEE), the bacterium that causes strangles. The discovery could improve existing blood-based diagnostic testing and serve as the foundation for new tools that make detecting exposure to the bacterium easier.

“Having fewer false-positive and false-negative results will improve diagnostic accuracy when trying to assess exposure to SEE,” said Dr. Noah Cohen, a University Distinguished Professor, Regents Professor, and the Glen Blodgett Chair of Equine Studies in the VMBS’ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. “No test is perfect, but the more accurate the test, the better the clinical decisions that veterinarians can make.”

A Common And Highly Contagious Disease

Strangles is an ancient disease of horses that occurs around the world. It typically causes nasal discharge and swelling of the lymph nodes beneath the jaw and at the back of the throat.

In severe cases, the swelling can interfere with a horse’s ability to breathe — which is how the disease earned its name. The infection also can spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain and abdominal lymph nodes, or lead to potentially life-threatening immune-mediated complications. Those internal infections can be difficult to diagnose because samples cannot always be readily collected to confirm the presence of SEE.

Serological testing offers another way to assess exposure to SEE by looking for antibodies against the bacterium in serum, the liquid portion of blood that remains after clotting. Serology can be particularly useful when collecting a sample directly from the site of infection is difficult, such as when the bacterium has spread to an internal organ. It can also help veterinarians determine which horses may have been exposed during an outbreak or assess horses that may be at risk for immune-mediated complications following exposure or vaccination.

Researchers are also interested in whether serology could eventually help identify horses that may carry SEE without showing signs of disease.

“Evidence exists that horses can carry SEE without showing clinical signs,” Cohen said. “Finding such horses is likely important in controlling persistence and spread of strangles.”

Searching For A Better Test

The existing serological test that is most commonly used in the United States detects antibodies against a bacterial protein known as SeM. Although useful, the test has limitations that can result in false-positive or false-negative results.

One challenge is that the SeM protein is also found in Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (SEZ), a close relative of SEE that is commonly found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy horses. As a result, antibodies produced following exposure to SEZ may cause a positive result even when a horse has not been exposed to SEE. Some strains of SEE also have mutations in the SeM protein that could lead to a negative test result in an infected horse.

To find a better target, Cohen and his colleagues compared strains of SEE and SEZ collected from horses in Texas, searching for genetic differences that could help them identify proteins unique enough to distinguish the two bacteria.

The researchers then collaborated with Dr. Philip Felgner’s laboratory at the University of California, Irvine, which used the candidate proteins to create a microarray — a tool that allowed the team to test how antibodies from different groups of horses responded to many proteins at once.

Using the microarray, the team narrowed the search to dozens of potential proteins and tested how antibodies from horses with strangles, horses with respiratory infections caused by SEZ, and horses with no known history of strangles responded to each. The protein P92 stood out for its ability to distinguish horses with strangles from the other groups.

“We believed and hoped we would identify a target that would be more accurate than the M protein, but in my experience, many, if not most, research efforts fail and success is rare,” Cohen said. “It was a happy surprise when our belief and hopes were realized.”

The researchers used P92 to develop a new serological test that detects antibodies against P92 and found that it was more accurate than the existing SeM-based test. Importantly, it was better able to distinguish strangles from exposure to SEZ, which can naturally live in the respiratory tract of healthy horses.  

The P92 test also relies on only one protein, which Cohen said could make it technically easier and less expensive than another strangles test developed in the United Kingdom that uses two protein targets and is not widely available in the U.S.

While the results are promising, Cohen said more research is needed to confirm P92’s accuracy in broader populations of horses. The technology has since been licensed by Southwest Veterinary Diagnostics, opening the door for the discovery to be translated into clinical use. In addition to a serological test that could be used by veterinary diagnostic laboratories, the antibody-based test could potentially be adapted into a point-of-care format for use stall-side.

Detecting SEE Stall Side

Because SEE is highly contagious, rapidly identifying infected horses is important not only for treating an individual horse but also for preventing the bacterium from spreading to others.

Horses showing classic signs of strangles can typically be diagnosed using PCR testing or bacterial culture, but those methods require samples to be sent to a diagnostic laboratory for processing, which can take days to provide an answer. Cohen’s laboratory previously developed a PCR test that simultaneously detects SEE and SEZ, which collaborators at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory adapted for diagnostic use.

To enable more rapid detection, Southwest Veterinary Diagnostics is now developing a rapid lateral-flow test — similar to an at-home COVID-19 test — designed to detect P92 itself as an indicator of SEE infection. This differs from the serological test described in the study, which detects a horse’s antibodies against P92. The lateral-flow test instead detects P92 as an indicator of the bacterium itself.

Cohen’s laboratory is collaborating with Southwest Veterinary Diagnostics to evaluate the analytical sensitivity and accuracy of the lateral-flow test, with the goal of eventually providing veterinarians and horse owners with a rapid point-of-care, or stall-side, method for determining whether a horse has strangles.

For Cohen, the effort also connects to an experience his family had about 15 years ago, when one of his daughter’s horses developed strangles after returning home from a show.

“My wife asked why there wasn’t a test like the one available at a physician’s office to diagnose strangles at the point of care or stall-side,” Cohen said.

That question stayed with Cohen, and the identification of P92 could help make that kind of diagnostic tool possible.

P92 may also have potential beyond diagnostics. Cohen is collaborating with colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine and seeking funding to investigate mRNA encoding P92, along with other proteins, as a potential component of a new strangles vaccine.

For Cohen, both possibilities point toward the larger goal of giving veterinarians better tools to control a disease that has affected horses for centuries.

“I hope they will recognize that researchers at our college are doing work to improve diagnostic tests and develop vaccines to help improve control and prevention of what is one of the most common infectious diseases of horses in the U.S. and abroad,” Cohen said.

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Arafat Rahman Oany, a doctoral candidate in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP), has received a 2026–2027 Texas A&M Dissertation Fellowship.

Oany is among 10 doctoral students selected in the fellowship’s first round of awards. Offered by the university’s Graduate and Professional School, the program supports advanced doctoral students as they complete their final research analysis and write their dissertations.

Applications are evaluated on factors including academic performance, scholarly productivity, the potential impact of the research, and a feasible plan for finishing the dissertation.

For Oany, the one-year award provides support for his stipend, tuition, and health insurance as he works toward graduating in 2027. Now in his third year of doctoral study, he said the support will ease financial pressures and help him concentrate on writing.

“It’s a kind of stress relief,” Oany said. “It’ll help me focus on writing my dissertation.”

Receiving the fellowship marked a milestone following an earlier unsuccessful application. Oany said that experience motivated him to strengthen his research experience through publications, conferences, and other professional opportunities.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Stephen Safe, a VTPP professor, Oany studies proteins that regulate ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death. His dissertation examines how targeting those proteins could help kill cancer cells in breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and rhabdomyosarcoma. The work aims to contribute to new approaches for treating aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers.

Oany was drawn to Safe’s lab by its emphasis on translating laboratory discoveries into potential treatments. Since joining the lab, he has relied on Safe’s experience as he learns to manage and complete research projects.

“He’s a really good mentor. He knows how to guide students,” Oany said. “He helped all of us in the lab and guided us on how to complete projects.”

Safe said Oany combines strong laboratory skills with the curiosity and initiative needed for a long-term research career.

“He reads the literature all the time,” Safe said. “I help him a little bit, but he helps me more just by coming up with new stuff to do.”

Alongside the fellowship’s financial support, Oany said graduate school training has helped him begin organizing and writing his dissertation. After graduation, Oany hopes to pursue a postdoctoral position and eventually a career in academia.

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In 2025, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) became one of the first programs in the country to offer a new, lifesaving treatment called hemoperfusion in large animals.

After being successfully used to treat horses at Texas A&M, the blood-filtering procedure may also soon offer veterinarians a new way to treat poisoning and other life-threatening conditions in goats.

In the first study of its kind, published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, VMBS researchers demonstrated that hemoperfusion can be safely performed in the species, suggesting the technique could expand treatment options for goats and lay the groundwork for future studies in sick animals.

Originally developed to treat severe COVID-19 cases and now commonly used in human medicine, hemoperfusion filters toxins directly from the bloodstream by circulating blood through a specialized cartridge before returning it to the body.

“Our study opens the door to many other treatments, not just hemoperfusion but also options like dialysis, that could be truly life‑changing for these animals,” said Dr. Kallie Hobbs, an assistant professor in the VMBS’ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and co-author of the study.

A Faster Answer For Fast‑Moving Toxins

Goats are naturally curious and prone to nibbling almost anything they encounter, making accidental poisoning a common concern. Once a toxin moves from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, however, it can quickly begin damaging organs.

Current standard treatments for accidental poisoning in goats work by supporting the liver, kidneys, and immune system as they gradually clear the toxin from the body. But once harmful substances are circulating in the bloodstream, those approaches may not work quickly enough to prevent serious injury.  

To assess hemoperfusion’s safety and practicality in goats, the team evaluated if the filter was able to be safely used in healthy goats without adverse side effects.

 “House goats are becoming more popular,” Hobbs said. “If a goat gets into Advil or something similar, it can become a problem. What we know from the canine and human literature is that the filter is able to remove those toxins pretty effectively.”

Surprising Benefits of Hemoperfusion in Goats

One unexpected finding emerged during the study: hemoperfusion lowered potassium levels in some goats. Potassium helps nerves and muscles function properly, but high levels can become dangerous in sick animals.

“High potassium is common in goats when they’re blocked (due to a urinary obstruction) or sick,” Hobbs said. “Hemoperfusion works by helping bring things such as potassium at abnormal concentrations back to normal, which can often shorten the time in the hospital.”

The goats also remained comfortable enough to stand and eat throughout the procedure. 

“For owners, the ability to stay standing and eating is really important, because it affects the amount of anesthesia we would need to give the animal in order to perform the procedure,” Hobbs said. “Once you start talking about anesthesia, costs climb quickly, which would make hemoperfusion unaffordable for our goat patients.”

The team is now working to determine the most efficient way to perform hemoperfusion in goats, including which substances the filter can remove most effectively.

Hobbs said she hopes the findings will eventually give veterinarians another option for treating goats with poisoning and other serious illnesses.

“For some cases where we could only offer supportive care and warn owners things might not go well, hemoperfusion gives animals a better chance,” Hobbs said. “I also think there’s opportunity for it to be used in septic goats, like those with septic mastitis or other secondary complications.”

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Great Dane known for comforting mourners, survivors, and first responders, Tonka has stood beside people through some of Central Texas’ darkest days. Last summer, a sudden emergency put his life in the hands of the people he’s always shown up for.

UPDATE: We are saddened to learn of Tonka’s passing. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his owner, Courtney Leigh, and the Austin Police Department. Our team at the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital was honored to be part of Tonka’s care and to have played a role in helping him continue bringing comfort to so many.

Dogs don’t earn traditional degrees, but if they did, Tonka, the giant therapy dog, would without question hold a doctorate in healing. 

For years, the 8-year-old, 130-pound Great Dane has been a steady presence during some of Central Texas’ most difficult moments. 

But in July 2025, when Tonka began showing signs of discomfort, his owner, Courtney Leigh, immediately took him to a local emergency hospital, which referred him to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (VMBS) Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH). 

There, Dr. Meghan Watt, who recently completed her residency in the SATH’s Soft Tissue Surgery Service, and a dedicated team of veterinary specialists quickly diagnosed

Thanks to their swift intervention and expert care, Tonka received the treatment he needed and is now back where he belongs, bringing comfort and healing to those who need it most. 

A Giant Heart, A Gentle Soul 

Tonka’s path to becoming a therapy dog began in 2017, when he joined Leigh’s home as a puppy. 

“I used to work in hospitals doing physical therapy and I saw how much comfort animals can bring,” Leigh said. “I thought that I would love to provide support for people and be able to share my dog with them because it’s rare you see a Dane involved in any type of pet therapy.” 

Leigh enrolled Tonka in obedience classes and continued advancing his training until he earned his therapy certification. By 2019, Tonka was volunteering in elementary schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, after Leigh coordinated outdoor window visits so residents could still see him, Tonka became something of a celebrity, being featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show’s Hero of the Day, People magazine, People Italy, the Dodo, and in a video from Ryan Reynolds, earning nationwide attention for his therapy work. 

In recent years, his work has expanded to supporting first responders, with Leigh now leading a therapy dog program with the Austin Police Department, where Tonka serves as a key ambassador. 

“We visit traumatic, awful places: funerals, hospitals, critical incidents such as the recent downtown mass shooting, and the 911 call center, among other crises,” Leigh said. “He’s there for them. He has such a purpose. 

“He is literally tired after a funeral, like a different kind of tired,” she said. “It’s like he takes their sadness; it’s amazing.” 

Facing A Huge Twist 

After offering comfort during the devastating July 4, 2025, flooding in Kerrville, Texas, Tonka suddenly became the one who needed care.

“He’s always hungry,” Leigh said. “But he had absolutely no interest in a treat that I offered him, which is usually telltale. He was also holding his body position awkwardly; it was just off.” 

She immediately felt his abdomen and, noticing the swelling and obvious discomfort, rushed him to a local emergency veterinary clinic. 

After hours without answers, the clinic referred Leigh to the SATH, and she and a friend drove two hours in the middle of the night to get him help. 

“We got pulled over on the way to A&M and the officer recognized Tonka,” Leigh said. “I told him we were on the way to the hospital and he said, ‘I know who he is. What do you need from me?’ 

“I started crying because he was going to escort me, but I told him, ‘I’m going all the way to A&M,’” Leigh said. “He had dispatch call me at 4 a.m. to make sure we made it.” 

Life-Saving Intervention

When Tonka arrived at the SATH, the Emergency Service immediately began evaluating him. 

“Our ER department performed X-rays and his colon was still very, very large,” Watt said. “Overnight, they performed a barium study, a procedure where contrast is injected into the colon so it appears on X-rays. That ultimately led to the diagnosis of a colonic torsion, or twisting of the colon along its longitudinal axis.” 

Tonka remained hospitalized overnight on supportive care and pain medication and was transferred to the Soft Tissue Surgery Service the next morning for emergency surgery. 

“In surgery, we opened the abdomen and his colon was five to six times larger than what would be considered normal,” Watt said. “We were able to rotate the colon back to its normal position, and fortunately, the colon wall was still healthy.”

To help prevent recurrence, the team performed a colopexy, a procedure in which the descending colon is sutured to the left body wall to reduce the risk of future twisting.

“Sometimes, if you don’t intervene quickly, you can have restricted blood flow and tissue death. If you let it go too long, the colon can perforate or rupture, leading to sepsis,” Watt said. “Thankfully, his colon was inflamed but viable, so no portion needed to be repaired.”

Tonka’s surgery lasted about two hours, and he was soon on the road to recovery.

“He was a very good patient,” Watt said. “As he started feeling better, he became brighter and more like himself.”

‘Fur’ The Love Of Tonka

Throughout Tonka’s stay, he had an entire community rooting for his recovery.

“The 911 call center for Travis County got a bunch of giant toys and made a giant card that had signatures from all the call takers, EMS, and firefighters on it,” Leigh said. “The officers were saying, ‘He’s there for us, so we’re going to be there right back for him. He’s our blue brother and we take care of each other.’

“All of the police officers privately started a GoFundMe,” she said.

The chief of Cedar Park Police Department even drove to the SATH to visit him after his surgery.

“It was unreal, the amount of people, the amount of lives, that he has touched,” Leigh said. “Three different police departments made home visits to check on him once we arrived, and a local news reporter later stopped by to do a story on Tonka’s return.”

Back In ‘Paw’-Situation

Now, Tonka has fully recovered and returned to the work that gives him purpose.

“He was out of work for a good month or so, and when he went back, it was like he didn’t miss a beat,” Leigh said. “We’re very lucky.

“The level of care and the availability of all the different departments, I can’t say enough about the confidence I have just with A&M’s reputation,” Leigh said. “I did not question the level of care he was going to get.”

Thanks to the expertise and advanced diagnostics of Tonka’s veterinary team, along with his owner’s quick action, Tonka is once again back to healing hearts in his community.

“It wasn’t his time,” Leigh said. “He had, and still has, a lot more work to do.”

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Abba is a Class of 2028 Animal Science major from Mont Belvieu, Texas. Her interest in veterinary medicine began at a young age after a local veterinarian took time out of their day to give her a tour of their facilities. Since the age of 13, she has remained dedicated to shadowing at numerous veterinary clinics across various areas of practice, including small animal, mixed animal, emergency, and equine sports medicine. Throughout high school, she was heavily involved in her local FFA chapter, where she showed heifers and market rabbits and served as a chapter officer.

At Texas A&M University, Abba has been actively involved in several leadership organizations, including Aggie Transition Camps (ATC), Animal Science Ambassadors, and the International Student Mentor Association (ISMA). She has also earned certifications as a veterinary assistant and in cattle artificial insemination to further expand her knowledge and skills within the field of veterinary medicine.

Her ultimate goal is to return to her hometown and work in a mixed animal practice, where she can give back to her community by mentoring the next generation and becoming the same kind of leader and mentor that someone once was for her. Outside of academics, Abba thoroughly enjoys working out and spending time with her friends, family, and pets.

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For many pet owners, dental care can feel like an option — something to think about only when a dog’s breath becomes unbearable, or a cat suddenly begins pawing at its mouth.

However, oral health is a core part of a pet’s overall well-being, as dental disease can cause pain, interfere with eating, and contribute to inflammation elsewhere in the body. 

Dr. Leah Taylor, a clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and board certified by the American Veterinary Dental College, shares the importance of establishing a routine for pet dental care. 

More Than Bad Breath

“Similar to people, regular care is necessary for ongoing dental health,” Taylor said. “There are many diseases that can affect the oral health of pets.”

The most common of these is periodontal disease, which develops when bacteria build up on the teeth and cause inflammation and damage to the surrounding gums and bones.

“Periodontal disease will cause gums to recede, the bone to be lost around the tooth, and, eventually, loose teeth,” Taylor said.

As the condition advances, pets may experience chronic pain, trouble chewing, and tooth loss. Owners may notice:

●      Persistent bad breath

●      Thick calculus (a hardened crust of mineralized dental plaque) on the teeth

●      Red or receding gums

●      Loose and missing teeth

“This is a painful condition and can make eating uncomfortable,” Taylor said. “It also creates an ongoing source of bacteria, which can lead to inflammation in the body.”

For small dogs, severe untreated dental disease can result in enough bone loss around the jaw to increase the risk of a jaw fracture.

Cats can develop periodontal disease as well, but they may also experience tooth resorption, a painful condition in which the tooth structure breaks down.

“When cats have one tooth with tooth resorption, it is likely that other teeth may also be affected,” Taylor said. “It is a progressive disease and additional teeth will likely be affected in the future.”

Pets will often not have changes in eating or behavior with painful conditions, which makes them good at hiding their pain. Routine and professional dental cleanings are especially important because veterinarians can avoid multiple teeth extractions.

Building A Home Dental Routine

Once owners understand the signs of dental disease, they can take steps at home to help prevent or slow its progression. Daily toothbrushing is the most effective way owners can reduce bacterial buildup and periodontal disease.

Starting when a pet is young can make brushing easier, but older pets can learn the routine when it is introduced slowly and positively.

Taylor suggests beginning by offering a small amount of pet-safe toothpaste as a treat; once the pet accepts the flavor, gradually introduce a soft-bristled toothbrush and use three swipes of the brush on each tooth.

“Owners should do this at least every other day, as plaque starts to harden into calculus that is not easily removed with brushing at that point,” Taylor said. “Brushing less than that has been shown to be ineffective in delaying the progress of periodontal disease.”

Brushing can also help owners notice changes or irregularities in the mouth that may require veterinary attention. 

Finally, dental chews and an appropriate diet can complement brushing, but they should not replace regular toothbrushing or veterinary care, Taylor said.  

Teeth For Life

Even consistent home care cannot eliminate dental disease entirely. 

“Homecare can help slow the process, but it does not completely stop periodontal disease,” Taylor said.

Professional, anesthetized dental cleanings are an important part of maintaining a pet’s oral health because they allow veterinarians to examine and treat areas below the gumline, where disease can progress unnoticed. These cleanings should happen once a year after a cat or small breed dogs turn 1 year old, or 2 years old for large breed dogs. 

During these procedures, veterinarians can take dental X-rays of each tooth and the surrounding bone, identify fractures or other abnormalities, and treat teeth that are painful or diseased.

If a pet receives tooth extractions during the dental cleaning, they generally need a soft diet for about two weeks while surgical sites heal.

Ultimately, pet dental care is a partnership between owners and veterinary professionals. Daily home care helps control plaque buildup, while veterinary examinations and professional cleanings allow veterinarians to identify and treat problems that cannot be resolved with brushing alone.

By making dental care part of a pet’s regular routine, rather than waiting for bad breath or other obvious problems to appear, owners can protect their pets’ comfort, preserve healthy teeth, and support overall health.

The post Basic to the Bone: Why Pet Dental Care Matters appeared first on Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (VMBS) Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach (VERO) program has received a three-year, $299,646 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand hands-on training for veterinary students and establish a residency program focused on herd health and preventive medicine.

Funded through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Veterinary Services Grant Program, the project aims to strengthen the rural food animal veterinary workforce through expanded cattle palpation and clinical skills camps, six additional fourth-year clinical rotations, and advanced training for veterinarians who have completed their veterinary degrees.

“The Panhandle’s expansive livestock resources provide opportunities for immersive clinical training as veterinary students progress towards graduation,” said Dr. Bonnie R. Rush, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine in the VMBS. “Through these experiences, fourth-year DVM students will become familiar with the opportunities in rural veterinary practice at the time when they are making career decisions.”

Based in Canyon on the West Texas A&M University (WT) campus, VERO gives students access to one of the nation’s most concentrated livestock-producing regions. Nearby cattle and dairy operations offer opportunities to learn about animal health and production on a large scale.

Through partnerships with WT, regional veterinary practitioners, and livestock producers, VERO connects students with hands-on clinical experiences. Practitioners and faculty provide instruction in herd health management, reproductive services, and field-based procedures, while producers provide access to livestock operations where students learn under faculty supervision.

“We want students to leave these experiences feeling confident in their skills and able to see a future for themselves in rural practice,” said Dr. Michael Kleinhenz, interim associate dean at VERO and a clinical associate professor in VMBS’ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (VLCS). “Working with veterinarians and producers gives them a chance to understand the needs of these communities and how they can contribute.”

Building Skills For Rural Practice

The expanded fourth-year offerings will give students more opportunities to develop the clinical and business skills needed to serve rural communities.

Training will include large animal practice readiness, practice management in rural communities, swine production, equine lameness, advanced bovine reproductive techniques, and ruminant nutrition. These rotations complement existing training in dairy practice, feedlot medicine, general rural practice, equine preventative care, and calf ranch management. Students will learn through a combination of on-farm activities, focused learning labs, and discussions of clinical case-based learning.

For example, the advanced bovine reproductive techniques rotation will offer experience with techniques such as ultrasound examinations of the ovaries, egg collection, and embryo transfer. The rural practice management rotation will introduce students to decisions involved in starting, buying, and maintaining a veterinary practice, including financial planning, employee management, and inventory management.

The project will also expand VERO’s summer palpation and clinical skills camp for students who have completed their second year of veterinary school, increasing capacity from 32 to 56 participants annually. Over the past four years, this camp has given students hands-on experience in cattle reproductive examinations, safe livestock handling, and herd health assessment, building a foundation for more advanced clinical training during their fourth year.

“Expanding opportunities for clinical students to train in the Texas Panhandle gives them immersive experiences in large animal practice that will benefit their careers after graduation,” said Dr. Kristin Chaney, assistant dean for curriculum and assessment in VMBS’ DVM Professional Program. “We anticipate these varied clinical experiences will build the confidence and independence graduates need to succeed as practitioners in rural communities.”

Advancing Training And Mentorship

The grant will also support a two-year residency program at VERO focused on herd health and preventive medicine, providing advanced clinical training under board certified VERO faculty as the resident prepares for board certification through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Food Animal Practice.

In addition to clinical responsibilities, the resident will help lead student rotations and serve as a near-peer mentor — a veterinarian who recently graduated and can relate to students’ experiences while offering guidance from a more advanced stage of training. Working alongside faculty and participating rural veterinarians, the resident will assist with clinical procedures, case management, and student instruction.

“Students will benefit from the resident’s enthusiasm for teaching and learning, while livestock owners and partnering veterinary practices will benefit from the resident’s knowledge of current and emerging health issues and management strategies,” said Dr. Jennifer Schleining, department head of VMBS’ VLCS.

The resident’s responsibilities will bring clinical care and student instruction together.

“A resident can offer a perspective that is especially helpful to students because the transition from veterinary school to practice is still fresh,” Kleinhenz said. “At the same time, helping students work through cases gives the resident experience as a teacher. We see this as an opportunity to support professional growth for the students and the resident.”

Supporting Rural Veterinary Care

The project, titled “Strengthening the Rural Food Animal Veterinary Workforce Through Experiential Training, Clinical Rotations, and Near-Peer Mentorship,” connects clinical training with the broader need for veterinary services in rural communities.

Food animal veterinarians help producers prevent and manage disease, protect animal well-being, and maintain a safe food supply. By combining clinical skills, practice management training, and mentorship, the project aims to prepare more veterinarians to enter and build lasting careers in rural communities. 

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Dr. Kevin Washburn, a professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, has been appointed to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues.

Through his work in rural veterinary medicine and emergency response, Washburn has seen firsthand the challenges rural communities face when disaster strikes, from the livestock and companion animals in their care to the people who depend on them. He will bring this perspective to his committee service, helping support veterinary teams during crises.

Bringing Rural Experience to Emergency Response

The Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues helps establish the credentials and training that enable teams to mobilize quickly and operate effectively when animals and their owners need help most.

“It’s an evolving committee that makes decisions dealing with emergency issues and disasters in teams of veterinarians and veterinary technicians,” Washburn said.

Washburn’s experience with the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) began during relief efforts following Hurricane Rita, which helped lay the foundation for the program. 

“I participated in the relief efforts associated with Hurricane Rita, which were the catalysts to the beginnings of what became our current VET,” Washburn said.

That early disaster response experience continues to inform his work with the AVMA emergency response team. 

As a large animal veterinarian specializing in food animal field services, medicine, and surgery, Washburn understands the logistical challenges ranchers face when managing cattle across large acreages. During a crisis, veterinary emergency teams help coordinate animal care and connect livestock producers with critical resources.

He also recognizes the defining strength of many rural areas: neighbors who step forward to help one another.

“They band together in these situations,” he said. “People may share hay, haul water to livestock, construct temporary fencing, and provide labor until animals can safely return home.”

Mentoring the Next Generation

Washburn’s work extends beyond emergency response. He mentors the next generation of veterinarians, encouraging students to consider careers in rural and underserved communities where their skills are urgently needed. 

Veterinarians are essential to the health of cow-calf operations, feedlots, feedyards, companion animals, and the local economies built around them.

Many rural regions, however, face a shortage of veterinary professionals. That leaves private practices stretched thin and producers with fewer resources nearby. 

Washburn understands those pressures personally.

“I know the struggles that private practices in rural America face because I’ve lived it,” he said. “I have also seen firsthand that rural communities have a unique struggle to access veterinary care, especially in disasters.” 

Through his AVMA appointment, Washburn brings a practical rural perspective to emergency veterinary policy while continuing to prepare future veterinarians for service where they are needed most. 

“My goal with the committee is to be able to provide a really good perspective from a rural practice standpoint,” he said.

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