The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) recognized six former students at the 2026 Outstanding Alumni & Rising Star Awards Ceremony on June 5.

The Outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed by the college and recognizes those who have reached a level of success in their professional careers that brings credit to both the individual and their alma mater. Honorees may be graduates of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional program, graduate academic programs, or biomedical sciences undergraduate program.

Established in 2013, the Rising Star Award recognizes graduates who have completed their education within the last 10 years. These outstanding former students have made significant professional accomplishments early in their careers including public service and volunteer activities that serve to positively reflect upon their alma mater.

Videos about each of the award recipients are available on YouTube and more photos from the ceremony are available on Photoshelter.

Dr. Carol K. Clark, Outstanding Alumna 

A trailblazer in equine internal medicine, Dr. Carol K. Clark has spent over three decades transforming patient care through her pioneering work in emergency and critical care, her scholarly contributions, and her mentorship of young veterinarians.

Clark earned a bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Texas A&M in 1989 and 1991, respectively. She worked briefly as a relief veterinarian before joining Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, Florida, as an intern in 1991. In 1995, she completed a residency in large animal medicine at the University of Florida and received her board certification in large animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The next year, she returned to Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital as an associate veterinarian and became a partner in the practice in 2003.

“Dr. Clark’s vision, drive, and diligence have established Peterson & Smith as a practice that achieves standards matching the highest international levels,” one nominator said. “Carol was one of the first people to engage in equine emergency and critical care in private practice, and to my knowledge, she was the first large animal internist in private practice who also did abdominal surgery in horses with colic.”

As a leader, role model, and internationally recognized expert, Clark has also influenced the broader horse industry through service, including multiple terms on the Grayson–Jockey Club Research Foundation’s Research Advisory Committee, where she has helped guide funding priorities and advance research that improves equine health and welfare; and in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, including service on the Board of Directors and as chairperson for the Retention Task Force.

“In response to declining numbers of equine practitioners, the AAEP sought to find out why. Dr. Clark chaired the task force and personally participated in extensive interviews of approximately 60 different practitioners, veterinary students, and other stakeholders,” a nominator said.

Her more than 25 peer-reviewed publications include important case studies such as the first description of ulcerative dermatitis, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia syndrome in neonatal foals and exploring the association of sequential lactate in hospitalized neonatal foals. In 2008, her diagnostic diligence led her to identify an outbreak of equine piroplasmosis in Florida, helping alert regulatory officials to a disease ordinarily foreign to the U.S.

Among her greatest accomplishments, however, has been mentoring hundreds of interns and early career veterinarians at Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital. Clark lives on a 20-acre farm in Ocala with her two horses, Ted and Copper, and her two cats, Dorito and Pickles. In her free time, she enjoys running, riding, and traveling.

To read a full version of Clark’s bio, click here.

Dr. Jeffery L. Edwards, Outstanding Alumnus

Dr. Jeffrey L. Edwards has shaped the future of veterinary medicine through his pioneering work in digital pathology, his early adoption of artificial intelligence in veterinary diagnostics, and his development of the next wave of technological advancement via “slide-free pathology.”

Edwards earned his bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Texas A&M in 1977 and 1979, respectively. He then spent two years at Austin’s Travis County Veterinary Hospital before moving to the Marianas Islands to serve in private practice and run the U.S. Navy’s veterinary hospital at Guam.

He later completed a three-year post-doctoral fellowship in comparative pathology at Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a Master of Public Health degree and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1989.

After seven years at the National Institutes of Health Primate Research Center and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, in 1996, Edwards began a 25- year career as an anatomic pathologist at Antech Diagnostic Laboratory. There, he assembled more than 40 board-certified diagnostic pathologists to serve over 20,000 veterinary hospitals and ascended to chief of anatomic pathology of North America.

He also implemented two major breakthroughs in diagnostic veterinary pathology: the first successful conversion to digital pathology and the application of AI to pathology. Both innovations led to advancements in animal health and resulted in his colleagues naming him “The Father of Veterinary Digital Pathology.”

“Through his pioneering leadership, Dr. Edwards has not only shaped the current state of veterinary diagnostics but also the global trajectory of diagnostic innovation,” one nominator said.

Since retiring in 2021, Edwards has served as an international consultant and as the chief veterinary medical officer at Smart Health DX, where he’s developing a slide- free, in-hospital point-of-care medical device for same-day biopsy results, which will revolutionize the profession.

Outside of work, Edwards has mentored the next generation of veterinary anatomic pathologists; volunteered with 4-H, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and other organizations; and spoke at the Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse following the death of his only son, Tyler, in 2015.

“Dr. Edwards has always elevated others’ contributions and helped them realize their potential,” a nominator said. “Many pathologists who benefited from his guidance now shape veterinary pathology and veterinary medicine throughout the world.”

In his free time, Edwards and his wife, Theresa, enjoy fishing and maintaining the wildlife exemption on their 10-acre College Station homestead. He’s passionate about shotgun sports and advocates for ethical and sustainable hunting.

To read a full version of Edwards’ bio, click here.

Dr. Gregory G. Knape, Outstanding Alumnus

Dr. Gregory G. Knape ’77 has built a career defined by consistency, service, and leadership in large animal veterinary medicine, distinguishing himself over more than four decades as a highly respected clinician and a trusted educator, mentor, and advocate for integrity within agriculture and youth livestock programs.

Knape learned the discipline required to care for animals and sustain agricultural operations on his family’s dairy farm in Alvin, where he took on the responsibility of milking the cows every afternoon. He enrolled at Texas A&M in 1972, joining the Corps of Cadets and rising through the ranks to serve as First Sergeant and Commander of Company M-1 while completing his education.

After earning his bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees in 1976 and 1977, respectively, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Nacogdoches before returning home in 1983 to establish Gulf Coast Large Animal Clinic. The clinic quickly became a reflection of Knape’s service-oriented approach to veterinary medicine.

“During Hurricane Harvey, his clinic became a staging area for disaster relief; supplies were delivered from across the country — some shipments coming from as far as Iowa,” one nominator said. “He and his team handed out supplies for weeks, ensuring that families and animals alike were cared for. He waded through floodwaters for days to rescue horses, exemplifying his selflessness and courage.”

In 1988, he and four other veterinarians were approached by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to develop a drug testing program for show animals — a task that would become one of his most significant contributions to the livestock industry.

“After five years of trial and error, the group created what is the gold standard of compliance for all major and local shows across the United States, which is a tremendous achievement in a highly competitive environment,” a nominator said.

Knape has served in several leadership roles within the Rodeo’s veterinary program, including chairman of the Drug Compliance Committee and, since 2003, as the official rodeo veterinarian. In this role, he directed his financial compensation toward student support at Texas A&M, which now total five scholarships endowed for over $250,000.

He also opens his clinic to Texas A&M Galveston students, veterinary technician students, and youth involved in 4-H and FFA programs; has hosted Muster for 30 years; and serves on the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine Foundation Board. In 2024, Knape was named Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Veterinarian of the Year. Knape and his wife, Cheryl, who celebrate 50 years of marriage in 2026, raised two sons, also proud Aggies. Among his favorite pastimes are chasing after his six grandchildren, ages 9 to 17; checking cattle daily; trail riding in the Texas Hill Country with his Tejas Vaquero brothers; waterskiing every chance he gets; and watching sunsets with Cheryl as every day winds down.

To read a full version of Knape’s bio, click here.

Dr. Guy A. Sheppard, Outstanding Alumnus

Dr. Guy A. Sheppard’s career exemplifies the core values of Texas A&M University and the veterinary profession — leadership guided by service, integrity, and a lifelong dedication to supporting others. For nearly five decades, his contributions have left a lasting mark on communities and colleagues across Texas and beyond.

Raised on a small farm in Abilene — where he developed perseverance, hard work, and dedication — Sheppard entered Texas A&M in 1972 and joined the Corps of Cadets, rising to First Sergeant and later Commander of Company C-1.

After earning his bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Texas A&M in 1977 and 1978, respectively, he served as a U.S. Army veterinary officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, supervising veterinary services, food inspection, and public health activities. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army Reserves in 1986.

In 1980, Sheppard moved to San Angelo, where he expanded veterinary care in the region by helping establish a small animal emergency clinic and a state-of-the-art small animal hospital. A leader in organized veterinary medicine, he also held every office within the Concho Valley Veterinary Medical Association; served extensively with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, including as president in 2006; and participated on numerous committees and task forces.

“Dr. Sheppard has repeatedly turned challenges into opportunities and has left the profession stronger than he found it,” one nominator said. “Guy is more than a successful practitioner, more than a leader in his profession, and more than a dedicated Aggie — he is a leader of leaders.”

For seven years, Sheppard served as director of Development and Alumni Relations for the Texas A&M Foundation within the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, where he built enduring relationships with students and donors. In 2016, he became a veterinary diagnostician with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), sharing his decades of expertise with veterinarians across Texas. This work earned him the TVMDL Director’s Excellence Award and the Texas A&M AgriLife Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence in 2022. He retired in 2023.

“His willingness to go the extra step to assist veterinarians with test selection, test interpretation and to talk with livestock owners about diseases their herd may be dealing with, as well as the importance of having a relationship with a private veterinarian, was always one of his highest professional missions,” a nominator said.

Sheppard and his wife, Valerie Hendrix Sheppard ’76, raised two children, Audrey and Clayton, who continue the family’s Aggie legacy. The couple lives in College Station, where they enjoy time with their grandchildren, friends, and old classmates; attending Aggie sports; and spending time at their country place.

To read a full version of Sheppard’s bio, click here.

Dr. Thomas J. Sidwa, Outstanding Alumnus

An expert in zoonotic diseases, Dr. Thomas J. Sidwa spent his public health career making the state safer for people and animals.

Sidwa earned his bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Texas A&M in 1972 and 1973, respectively, and spent 20 years in private practice before becoming the zoonosis control veterinarian for South Texas with what is now the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS); in 1994, he became assistant director of the DSHS’ Meat Safety Assurance Section, enforcing regulations to prevent foodborne illnesses.

In 2002, as director of the state’s new Oral Rabies Vaccination Program — a major public health success story — Sidwa led efforts to distribute oral rabies vaccines for coyotes and grey foxes using multiple modes of delivery, primarily aircraft.

“Dr. Sidwa played a vital role in monitoring and mitigating zoonotic disease threats throughout our state,” one nominator said. “I witnessed firsthand his expertise, mentorship, and integrity as he oversaw critical efforts to monitor, control, and prevent zoonotic diseases.”

In 2005, Sidwa took on the role he would hold for 15 years — manager of the DSHS’ Zoonosis Control Branch, which also involved serving as the State Public Health Veterinarian — for which he monitored statewide zoonotic disease cases, liaised between governmental agencies, and responded to outbreaks of West Nile virus in 2012, Ebola in 2014, and anthrax in 2019.

He also helped update the national rabies control recommendations, advocated for public health and disease control in the Texas Legislature, played an instrumental role in creating a DSHS state entomologist position, and served as operations director for Texas’ Multi-Agency Coordination Center, which responds to statewide emergencies.

“He worked several of the largest natural disasters in Texas history,” a nominator said. “Because of the magnitude of the damage and efforts to respond, impromptu decisions of major consequence were required. His calm demeanor and his creative and thoughtful recommendations were recognized and sought.”

In 2010, Sidwa earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas, drawing on his experiences for his thesis, which examined how commercial food irradiation could potentially reduce global food borne illnesses.

Now retired, Sidwa serves on the board for the Lakeway Friends of the Parks and is enrolled in the Lakeway Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy. He dedicates time each day to walking his 7-year-old Vizslas, Toby and Penny, through the green spaces he helps keep beautiful.

He and his wife, Marcia, who met at a horse stable when they were 16, have been married for 53 years; they have a son, Alec, and a daughter, Courtney, as well as four grandchildren: Nathan, Claire, Miriam, and Madeline.

To read a full version of Sidwa’s bio, click here.

Dr. Meghan E. Hermance, Rising Star

Only 15 years after graduating from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Meghan Hermance is an established trailblazer in the study of tick-borne diseases, with her research on tick-transmitted viruses providing hope for new control strategies, vaccines, and treatments.

Hermance earned her bachelor’s degree, with honors, in biomedical sciences and entomology at Texas A&M in 2011 before completing a Ph.D. in 2016 from the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she began studying the Powassan virus.

After completing a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at UTMB, Hermance moved to New York to work as a research scientist for SUNY Upstate Medical University. She joined the University of South Alabama’s Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine in 2020 as an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and was promoted to a tenured associate professor in 2025.

“Her work addresses fundamental and pressing challenges in understanding tick physiology, ecology, and the mechanisms underlying viral spread — research of clear importance to global public health,” one nominator said. “She is a researcher of creativity, perseverance, and integrity who models how curiosity and rigorous training can lead to transformative discoveries.”

At the University of South Alabama, where she also is director of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Hermance has received more than $3 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study emerging viruses transmitted via a tick species that is invasive to the U.S. Her role as an NIH grant reviewer also is indicative of the respect she maintains within the research community and the integrity she brings to her work.

In addition, Hermance is known for her outstanding teaching, mentorship, and dedication to educating the public on the dangers of ticks through media appearances. Her inclusion on Mobile Bay Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list recognizes the impact of her leadership, professional excellence, and commitment to her community.

“She has a passion and pride in her work, and her commitment to furthering research and education is clear as she speaks about her projects,” another nominator said. “I sincerely believe that Dr. Hermance will be at the core of significant advancements in arthropod-borne illnesses, and she will help support other young scientists who will also change the world for the better.”

Hermance lives in Mobile, Alabama, where she enjoys outdoor activities with her significant other, Daniel Terry, and her Basset Hound, Connie. They are often found boating or kayaking on the beautiful coastal waters as well as traveling and hosting family and friends.

To read a full version of Hermance’s bio, click here.

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Meeting new furry friends in shared spaces promises wagging tails, zoomies, and all-around excitement. But an outing alongside other dogs may also expose pets to an array of contagious respiratory infections commonly referred to as kennel cough. 

Dr. Kathleen Aicher, an assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, shares what owners on the go this summer — whether it’s taking their furry companions on outdoor adventures or dropping them off at doggy day care — need to know about canine kennel cough transmission and management.

Catching A Cough

Kennel cough — also known as contagious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) — encompasses a variety of contagious respiratory infections. 

“These infections may be bacterial in origin like Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, or Mycoplasma,” Aicher said. “They may also be viral in origin, like canine parainfluenza virus, canine influenza virus, or canine respiratory coronavirus.”

Dogs may develop an infection when they are in close contact with another infected dog in places such as:

• Boarding kennels
• Training facilities
• Dog shows
• Dog parks

Dogs that have had contact with dogs that have recently been in one of these environments are also at risk.

“These infections can either be transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog, surfaces contaminated by an infected dog, or through respiratory droplets in the air — even when the dogs have not had direct contact with each other,” Aicher said.

Because these infections are usually very contagious, it is likely that multiple dogs in a household may develop kennel cough if one develops clinical signs.

Spotting The Signs

Owners may notice kennel cough symptoms begin to develop in their pet within two weeks of exposure to an infected dog. 

Signs of a kennel cough infection include:

• A sudden onset of a hacking, harsh cough
• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge 
• Eye discharge

“Usually these dogs otherwise feel OK, with normal energy levels and appetite,” Aicher said. “Very rarely do dogs develop more severe clinical signs — such as a fever, poor appetite, worsening cough, low energy levels, or difficulty breathing.”

However, if a dog is presenting with these symptoms, they should be seen by their veterinarian promptly. 

Confirming A Diagnosis

“When a veterinarian sees a dog who has clinical signs of kennel cough, they will inquire more about history of exposure to other dogs and their environment to determine if kennel cough could be possible,” Aicher said. 

Because of its highly contagious nature, if kennel cough is suspected to be the cause of a dog’s symptoms, owners may be advised to take special precautions when bringing their dog in for evaluation. This might include entering through a separate entrance or having the veterinary staff wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect other dogs in the hospital from becoming infected. 

“Any dog can become infected with kennel cough, so this should be considered in any patient with appropriate clinical signs and a history of exposure to other dogs,” Aicher said. “Interestingly, a recent paper from the University of Minnesota described Yorkshire terriers and Cavalier King Charles spaniel as breeds more commonly diagnosed with Bordetella bronchiseptica infections.”

These findings suggest that these breeds may have an increased risk for more severe infections.

Treating The Infection

Dogs with kennel cough should be isolated from other dogs and should not be brought into public spaces with other dogs until they have recovered from their infection. 

Most dogs will recover very quickly with time and with at-home treatments such as cough suppressants. 

“Very rarely do dogs need antibiotics, which will not help with viral cases of kennel cough,” Aicher said. “Very severely affected dogs, albeit rare, may require hospitalization for oxygen supplementation, intravenous antibiotics, and, even far more rarely, may need to have surgery to remove a severely diseased lung.”

Since prevention is the best medicine, owners should talk with their veterinarian about vaccinations that are available for some of the causes of kennel cough, including Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza virus, and canine influenza. These vaccines do not protect against all causes of kennel cough but may help reduce the severity of symptoms in a dog that becomes infected. 

“Many boarding kennels and training facilities will require that dogs have received these vaccines to protect all the dogs in their care,” Aicher said. “Alternatively, owners can limit their dog’s exposure to other dogs — especially dogs with an unknown medical or vaccination history such as at dog parks. For dogs that enjoy being social with other dogs, owners could form smaller play groups or social outings with dogs of friends or neighbors.”

By understanding how kennel cough can spread and taking preventative measures when needed, owners can make informed decisions to help keep their dogs healthy, happy, and safe while socializing with other pets.

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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Whether a dog greets you with a wagging tail at the door or a cat curls up beside you with a soft purr, these moments express trust and unconditional love.

By nurturing our relationship with our pets, we go beyond basic care to create lasting, heart-to-heart connections that benefit both humans and animals.

Understanding how to bond — and its impact — can help owners support their pets and can lead to an overall better quality of life, according to Dr. Stephanie Bridges, of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Bonding Benefits For Your Pet’s Well‑Being

Connection and companionship play a powerful role in improving the mental health of both pets and their owners. Because humans and animals are naturally social, strong bonds create a stable and supportive foundation for well-being. 

“These bonds have the potential to lower overall stress for our pets by giving them a sense of security,” Bridges said.

When owners actively engage with their pets, they improve their pets’ quality of life through consistent attention and care. This bond also influences how quickly owners recognize and respond to medical or behavioral concerns, which is critical for their health.

Likewise, owners who form deep connections with their pets learn what is normal for them. Through daily routines, body language, and eating habits, owners can quickly detect when something is off, which can help owners notice changes early and seek care when needed.

How To Bond With Your Pet

Building a bond starts with spending quality time together, such as going for walks or playing, which also supports your pets’ overall physical health. 

Because animals communicate through body language and behaviors, recognizing these patterns is essential for building trust, ensuring comfort, and maintaining their health. Observing ear position, tail movement, posture, and eating habits helps owners understand how their pet feels. 

 “Learning to read a pet’s body language bridges the communication gap, allowing the owner to recognize when their pet feels safe, stressed, or needs space,” Bridges said.

Signs that a pet feels secure include:

• Seeking physical proximity
• Relaxed body posture
• Slow blinking
• Lying or sleeping on their side or with their belly exposed

By paying attention to these signals, owners can better understand their pet’s physical and behavioral baseline. Because these cues can be subtle, it is important to stay observant and responsive to a pets’ way of communicating. 

Advice For Owners With A New Pet

Bridges’ advice for strengthening a bond with a pet is to be consistent, patient, and focused on building a strong foundation. This means setting routines from day one and sticking to a predictable schedule. 

“Pets are creatures of habit and enjoy their routines,” she said. Each pet and owner develops their own rhythm– morning walks, afternoon playtime, and consistent feeding times.

She also suggests routine grooming, training exercises, and practicing basic commands to help build trust and communication. 

“Basic training advice can come from veterinarians or professional trainers and play a key role in building trust,” she said. “For complex or unresolved issues, veterinary behaviorists are available to provide specialized support and help rebuild trust.” 

By showing up for your pet, being their companion, and simply caring for them, owners can form a lifelong bond with their pets that will ensure they respond with trust and affection.

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 new canine cell line, which is commercially available, supports a national push for more efficient and ethical research.

Before testing new therapies in animals, researchers now have a more efficient starting point — lab-grown canine muscle cells that can help identify what works and what doesn’t.

Developed at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), the Myok9 cell line is a lab-grown canine muscle cell model that allows scientists to evaluate treatments in a controlled laboratory setting before moving into further studies.

The approach supports a growing national effort to reduce animal use in research while maintaining scientific progress, particularly in fields focused on developing new therapies. The Myok9 cell line is now commercially available through multiple vendors, including one of the world’s largest cell line distributors.

“The whole purpose is to first reduce the number of animals in research and create a model that researchers can easily access and test therapies before moving into animal studies,” said Dr. Peter Nghiem, an associate professor in VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and the principal investigator for the project.

A More Reliable Model For Muscle Research

The Myok9 cell line is derived from canine myoblasts — precursor, or primary, cells that play a critical role in muscle repair and regeneration, making them an important focus for studying muscle-related diseases. In the body, these cells naturally develop into muscle tissue over time.

Traditionally, researchers rely on primary cells collected directly from animals or people. While useful, those cells have a limited lifespan in the lab, typically surviving only a few rounds of replications before they stop dividing and die.

“When primary cells die off quickly, it limits how many treatments researchers can test and how long they can study them in the lab,” Nghiem said. “That can slow down the early stages of therapeutic development.”

To overcome this limitation, researchers “immortalized” the Myok9 cells by introducing a protein that allows them to replicate far beyond the normal limit; this extended lifespan makes the cells significantly more durable and easier to work with in laboratory environments.

One of the most valuable uses of the Myok9 cell line is in early-stage therapeutic testing, helping researchers identify which treatments are most promising before moving into animal studies. By screening therapies in the lab first, researchers can reduce the number of animals needed during the earliest stages of testing.

Because the cells are less sensitive to handling and experimental conditions, researchers can also test therapies more consistently in the lab.

“You can give them treatments like gene editing or gene therapy to see if it actually works,” Nghiem said. “If it does, then you can move on to the next phase of testing.”

Reducing Animal Research

The Myok9 cell line also aligns with a broader push from federal agencies to reduce animal use in research when possible.

“There’s a big push from the NIH and the federal government to reduce animals in research,” Nghiem said. “Tools like Myok9 can help with this by allowing researchers to first test therapies in a culture (dish) model before moving into animal studies.”

Researchers developing new drugs or gene therapies must answer several key questions during therapeutic testing, including whether a treatment works at the molecular level, whether it is safe, and whether it improves the disease being studied.

“With Myok9, we can reduce some of the number of animals used for the earlier stages of testing, particularly when evaluating whether a therapy is working as intended at the molecular level,” Nghiem said. “However, animal testing is still needed to comprehensively evaluate safety and whether the therapy improves disease outcomes.”

Expanding Access To Research Tools

For Nghiem, one of the most exciting aspects is the potential for the cell line to support discoveries far beyond his own lab. By providing researchers with a reliable, accessible, and ethically aligned tool, Myok9 represents a step forward in how biomedical and veterinary research is conducted — balancing innovation with responsibility.

“Because these cells are commercially available, they can be distributed to laboratories around the world,” Nghiem said. “With the click of a button, researchers can order these cells, grow them in their lab, and test their therapy.”

This availability not only supports individual research projects but also opens the door for broader scientific collaboration and innovation.

As demand grows for alternative research models, tools like Myok9 are expected to play an increasingly important role in both academic and industry settings.

“A cell line that was developed in our small lab might have a scientific breakthrough somewhere around the world,” he said.

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Walking into an operating room was a routine occurrence for fourth-year veterinary student Nicole Lehrmann. This time, however, she had a different role.

“Fourth year is a lot of watching and learning,” Lehrmann said. “We do a lot of our own research and paperwork and communicate directly with a lot of clients. But in terms of hands-on surgical skills, that is something that we don’t get a lot of when we’re doing our clinical rotations in the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMBS).”

When London, an 11-year-old female Chihuahua, came in for a mammary mass removal and a spay procedure, Lehrmann had the opportunity to take on an active role in planning and performing the surgery. 

Thanks to the Roach Family Student Community Outreach Surgical Program, Lehrmann — and many other fourth-year veterinary students — have opportunities to scrub in and perform select surgeries under the supervision of board-certified veterinarians and veterinary residents at the VMTH. 

The program was established in 2022 when Dr. Bill ‘57 and Joyce Roach committed to enhancing the education of Texas A&M veterinary students by providing opportunities to gain hands-on surgical experience while also helping community members who would otherwise not have the financial means for their pets to have surgery.

Since 2024, 17 felines and 71 canines have undergone surgery through the Roach program.

London’s Story

To qualify for the program, a dog or cat must be in need of a one-time surgery that would improve their prognosis. 

After hearing about the Roach program from a coworker, London’s owner, Javanni Owens, decided to apply.

“Hearing that my coworker had a good outcome with the Roach program made me want to try it out,” Owens said. “I decided this was something that would be good to help the students while  also helping London.”

Once London’s case was approved, Lehrmann created a surgical plan and presented it to Dr. Kelley Thieman, a professor and associate department head who oversees the Roach program, and Dr. Kiara Gilardi, a rotating intern, who supervised the case and ensured London was in the best hands. 

“We had that initial workup done and the blood work showed that she was a good candidate for

anesthesia, so we were able to do a sedated exam on the day of the surgery,” Lehrmann said. “When she wasn’t moving around (under sedation), London was relaxed and comfortable, and we were able to do an even more intensive palpation of her abdomen.”

During the exam, Thieman helped locate two additional smaller mammary masses that needed removal as well. Lehrmann then developed a plan that accounted for several different scenarios for removing the masses and closing the wounds.

“Dr. Gilardi did the spay and removed the smaller masses,” Lehrmann said. “I took the larger, cranial one because it took me a longer time. I’m a bit slower, but it was awesome.”

Lehrmann said there were no complications with the surgery, and she and Gilardi were able to remove all of the masses. London was able to return home the same day, and Owens was instructed to keep her calm to ensure proper healing of the incision site.

“Texas A&M made the process so easy and worry free,” Owens said. “Of course, we were worried about London, but they were really friendly and amazing at explaining everything. It was a weight off of my shoulders.”

Now, London’s stitches are nearly all removed, and she has resumed her normal daily activities. Owens said London’s recovery has gone smoothly, and she has received several follow-up calls from Lehrmann.

“She followed up really well and very thoroughly,” Owens said. “She even called me during the process to give me updates about the surgery and what to expect when London was released.”

The Future Is Bright

Owens said as a nurse herself, she appreciates how the Roach program gives students the opportunity  to practice with real patients when they otherwise would not.

“I was just in nursing school, so I understand wanting to practice, but it’s hard to do that sometimes,” Owens said. “That was one of the aspects of the Roach program that I really liked because I know that when I was a student, I definitely needed hands-on experience.”

As Texas A&M prepares the future of veterinary medicine, the Roach Family Community Surgical Outreach Program will remain an integral part of student experience as well as to the health and well-being of families and their pets.

“I encourage people to take a look at what procedures that we have available under the Roach program, because we have a ton of different procedures that can apply to many animals,” Gilardi said. “It’s important for people to just take a look and ask questions about things that might be a good fit for their pet with this program.”

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New research from the Dog Aging Project shows that genetic metabolic patterns tied to lifespan are strikingly similar in dogs and people, offering new insight into aging across species.

The same biological signals that help predict lifespan in humans also appear in dogs, according to new research from the Dog Aging Project — a finding that could help scientists better understand aging in both species.

In a study recently published in The Journals of Gerontology, researchers found that patterns of metabolites — small chemicals and molecules produced during normal bodily processes — were associated with earlier or later death in dogs in much the same way they have been shown in humans.

“The molecules that are risky for dogs or protective against a sooner death are very similar to those in people, showing that we share important features of aging biology, which is really interesting and rewarding,” said Dr. Kate Creevy, chief veterinary officer for the Dog Aging Project and a professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, where the work of the Dog Aging Project is generously supported by the WoodNext Foundation. “Our findings also highlight the value of pet dogs as a model for studying long-term health and lifespan.”

Looking For Biological Clues To Lifespan

Because metabolites reflect what is happening at the cellular level, researchers can use them to study patterns associated with health outcomes.

In this project, the team analyzed blood samples from dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project, a community science study that asks owners to share detailed survey information and submit physical samples from their dogs over the course of the dog’s lifetime. These blood samples were examined for metabolic patterns associated with lifespan — specifically, whether dogs died sooner or later.  

“Death is an easy outcome to understand,” Creevy said. “It is very easy to tell when a person or a dog has died, whereas other features of aging health are a bit more nuanced.”

By starting with that clear outcome, researchers can begin to work backward to identify the biological processes that influence aging, such as metabolism, inflammation, or how cells respond to stress.

“If we understand why something happened, we have a greater chance of identifying ways to change it,” Creevy said.

A Metabolic ‘Fingerprint’

To better understand those patterns, researchers examined thousands of metabolites at once to identify broader signals that could predict risk. Creevy said studying groups of metabolites provides a clearer picture of what may be happening inside cells.

“Some of my colleagues refer to it as a fingerprint,” Creevy said. “We often look at a pattern or grouping that has a relationship with better or worse outcomes rather than just looking at a  single molecule.”

These measurable biological signals — known as biomarkers — help researchers anticipate health outcomes based on what’s happening inside the body.

“Importantly, those biomarkers do not necessarily cause an outcome; when we find a biomarker associated with sooner or later mortality, we don’t know that it’s causing it,” Creevy said. “But if we understand why that biomarker is present, we may be able to identify what the cause of the relationship is.”

By identifying these patterns, researchers can begin to better understand the biological processes linked to aging — and identify potential targets for improving health over time.

Shared Patterns In Dogs And People

To determine whether the same kinds of metabolic signals appear in humans, researchers compared their findings in dogs with five large, published studies of human mortality that used similar metabolite-based approaches. In each case, the patterns linked to earlier or later death were similar.

The consistency across multiple human studies was one of the study’s most notable findings, reinforcing the idea that dogs and humans share fundamental aspects of aging biology.

“Frequently, we know a little more about this in people than we do in dogs,” Creevy said. “If we have the same targets, we’ll be able to leverage human research to benefit dogs.”

That overlap allows researchers to build on existing human research while using dogs to better understand how aging unfolds over time.

Dogs are especially useful for aging research because they share many aspects of daily life with people, including environment, diet, and activity levels. Those shared experiences make it easier to understand how lifestyle influences long-term health.

“One of the things we like most about learning from dogs as it pertains to aging is their widely varied lifestyles that mirror their owners’ lifestyles in a way that’s less true for other companion animals,” Creevy said.

For example, cats tend to have more consistent, independent lifestyles, while dogs tend to reflect their owners’ daily routines more closely.

Dogs’ shorter lifespans also allow researchers to study aging much quicker than would be possible in humans, because while humans, on average, live into their 70s, dogs, on average, live only 12-13 years, giving researchers an opportunity to observe comparable outcomes in dogs in a fraction of the time.

Made Possible By The Dog Aging Project

The study was made possible through the Dog Aging Project, a nationwide, long-term study of pet dogs living with owners across the United States. Participating owners share detailed information about their dogs’ lives, and a subset provide annual biological samples, giving researchers a unique opportunity to study aging over time.

“The owners who enroll their dogs make everything possible,” Creevy said. “The dedication and commitment of these owners to participate in research and discovery to better the health of dogs is remarkable.”

Creevy said the findings represent an important step in understanding the biology of aging, helping researchers move from identifying patterns to exploring what may be driving them.

“This is a starting point,” she said. “We’ve identified these metabolites, and now we know where to start looking.”

For dog owners, Creevy said the takeaway is simple: many of the habits that support healthy aging in people are likely just as important for dogs.

“Keeping them on a healthy diet, at a healthy body weight, and preserving mobility and cognitive health — just like we would do for ourselves,” Creevy said. “What’s good for us is probably good for them.”

Texas A&M activities of the Dog Aging Project are supported by Anthony Wood ’87 and his wife, Susan ‘89 through the WoodNext TAMU Fund, a fund of a donor-advised fund program. Guided by the Woods’ overall mission to advance human progress and remove obstacles to a fulfilling life, the WoodNext Foundation makes grants and investments in areas including scientific and biomedical research, mental health, homelessness, education, nature conservation, disaster recovery and economic opportunity.

The Dog Aging Project is additionally supported by the National Institute on Aging (U19 grant AG057377, PI Daniel Promislow), and by additional grants and private donations, including generous support from the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, Tiny Foundation Fund at Myriad Canada, and the Dog Aging Institute.

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Fleas and ticks are most active during warm, humid weather, making late spring and summer a peak time for these pests to wreak havoc on the comfort of pets and owners alike. Fortunately, there are many preventative measures owners take to safeguard their pets against an invasion of these crawling critters.

Dr. Erin Ray, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers tips for owners on choosing the best flea and tick preventive method for their pets.

Unwelcome Arrivals

For fleas and ticks to grow, seasonal conditions must be optimal for them to thrive in their environment.

“Many ticks and fleas typically slow their development or retreat into microhabitats to survive colder temperatures,” Ray said. “As the weather warms, they resume their growth and reproduction, leading to increased encounters with humans and animals in warmer climates.” 

Among the more common prevention methods that can protect pets against flea and tick exposure are: pills, topical solutions and collars, as well as chewables, which often include the added benefit of protecting against heartworms and intestinal parasites. 

However, a new prevention option is also gaining popularity for dogs: an injectable treatment.

“The injectable flea and tick control product — available solely for dogs — specifically targets the common flea and multiple species of ticks,” Ray said. “It is administered under the skin by a veterinarian and provides a slow, steady release of the active ingredient. After the injection, fleas and ticks must bite your pet and ingest the product in order for it to work.”

This option is specifically labeled for dogs and puppies over 6 months of age, according to Ray.

“Overall, the injectable treatment offers a convenient alternative that reduces the risk of missed doses and helps maintain continuous protection for your pet,” Ray said. “However, this product should be used with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurological conditions.” 

Choosing A Preventative

When deciding which option is best for your pet, owners should properly research the products.

“Each type comes with its own advantages and disadvantages — varying in safety, effectiveness, convenience, and cost,” Ray said. “However, not all products are created equal — some over-the-counter treatments can be toxic to cats and dogs, and even certain prescription products might not be the best choice for your pet.”

In addition to a pet’s health, an owner’s schedule, financial means, or specific concerns may also influence the decision. 

“When it comes to prevention, topical treatments or medicated collars are commonly used methods,” Ray said. “However, extra care needs to be taken in households with children or adults with potential health concerns to ensure they don’t come into contact with these products after application.

“In addition, when using a topical solution, be wary of the appropriate application areas — such as the nape of the neck or between the shoulder blades,” Ray said. “This can help prevent pets from licking the treatment off of themselves that could lead to potential toxicity.”

If an owner determines a collar is the best course of action, it is vital to ensure that pets cannot chew through the product.

Finally, when considering oral treatments, Ray notes that these may eliminate concerns related to bathing schedules and the risk of human exposure associated with topical products, oftentimes making them a safer and more hassle-free option for many households.

“Oral flea and tick treatments offer great convenience for pet owners, especially those that combine protection against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites in a single dose,” Ray said. “Many of the newer formulations are highly effective at controlling flea and tick populations on your pet. However, some oral products contain flavorings that may trigger allergies in sensitive animals.”

These can also be more costly per dose, and certain medications should be avoided in pets with a history of neurological conditions. 

For the safest and most effective protection, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian before using any flea and tick product — including over-the-counter options — to ensure it is suited to your pet’s species and health needs.

Environmental Considerations

A pet’s environment is another important factor to consider during flea and tick season.

“Where your pet lives and whether they travel can significantly influence their risk of encountering fleas and different species of ticks,” Ray said. “Additionally, certain activities or jobs — such as hunting dogs, outdoor cats, or pets living in wooded areas — can increase their exposure to these parasites.”

Even pets that only go outside briefly for walks or bathroom breaks can still come into contact with fleas or ticks. Humans may also inadvertently bring these pests into the home on shoes, clothing, or other items.

“Oftentimes, the environment needs to be managed for flea infestations,” Ray said. “Multiple life stages of the flea are oftentimes in furniture, cracks of floors, rugs, and where the animals spend most of their time.”

Treating an environment may include:

• Regular vacuuming
• Washing bedding frequently 
• Treating surfaces of concern with appropriate products

Taking multi-pronged preventive measures is essential in order to combat the population of these invaders. Eliminating fleas can take multiple weeks — or even months — to clear them all. 

“Please consult with a veterinary professional prior to using over-the-counter products in your house or yard to ensure appropriateness and safety for any humans or animals in the environment,” Ray said. 

Waiting until fleas and ticks are widespread can put a damper on the excitement for the summer season. To best protect pets, owners should take a proactive approach and choose a veterinarian-approved prevention plan so their pets can safely enjoy the sunny season.

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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Michael Golding’s new research suggests a father’s drinking before conception may influence the child’s risk for developmental disorders, chronic disease, and accelerated aging.

A growing body of research suggests that a father’s health before conception may play a larger role in child development than previously understood — and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) researchers are working to understand how a father’s drinking before conception may affect offspring health and development.

Dr. Michael Golding, a professor in the VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, studies how alcohol exposure may alter biological signals in sperm in ways that affect offspring development and metabolism.  

Through a new, $2.9-million grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and supported by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Golding and his team will expand their research into how parental alcohol exposure may contribute to chronic disease, accelerated aging, and developmental disorders in offspring.

“We want to understand how the memory of paternal alcohol exposure transmits to the children and then how it predisposes them to birth defects and chronic disease later in life,” Golding said.

Expanding Research On Alcohol Exposure And Chronic Disease

The study builds on Golding’s previous research exploring how paternal alcohol exposure contributes to fetal growth restriction and birth defects.

“In this phase, we want to see if dad’s drinking interacts with mom’s drinking to make things worse,” Golding said. “Do these things compound and contribute to worse health outcomes over time for their children?”

A major focus of the project is the mitochondria — the parts of cells responsible for producing energy. Golding’s team believes alcohol-related stress (stress that impacts the body on a cellular level) alters important molecular signals in sperm, disrupting mitochondrial function in offspring and potentially accelerating aging and disease development.

Golding and his team are studying how a father’s alcohol use can alter the biological information passed to his children — without changing their DNA — with the goal of one day finding ways to improve outcomes for those impacted by FASD.

“If your dysfunctional mitochondria represent a flat tire, you’re basically starting off life with a flat tire,” Golding said. “The question is, ‘how far do you get before the car starts to break down?’”

Using Mouse Models To Understand Long-Term Health Effects

Researchers will use mouse models to study how these effects develop over time, allowing scientists to examine aging, metabolism, sleep disruption, inflammation, and cognitive decline much faster than would be possible in humans.

Because mice age rapidly, researchers can observe changes that would otherwise take decades to study in people. Golding said the model allows his team to identify biological warning signs and better understand which health markers may eventually become important in human patients.

“If you try to do this in humans, it would be at least a 30- to 40-year study and it would cost millions of dollars,” Golding said. “The important thing to understand is that if you do these experiments in mice, it helps inform what we need to look for in humans.”

Golding said the findings could eventually help researchers identify warning signs earlier and guide interventions for people affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Implications Beyond Alcohol Exposure

According to Golding, the findings may eventually provide insight into how other environmental stressors — including microplastics and industrial chemicals — influence reproductive health and disease risk across generations.

“Alcohol is the easiest place to start because it’s a known bad guy,” Golding said. “Moving into the distant future, once we get this figured out, we would move on and say, ‘do microplastics do the same thing?’”

Golding hopes the work will ultimately help scientists detect risks earlier in life and develop targeted interventions to improve long-term health outcomes.

“I think there’s a notion that male alcohol use does not have an impact on the offspring, and that’s completely not true,” Golding said. “We know now, even from human clinical studies, that male alcohol use has an adverse effect on child health and development.”

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New research from Texas A&M shows how artificial intelligence can predict chemical toxicity — and reveal how much those predictions can be trusted.

People are exposed to thousands of chemicals every day — through the products they use, the food they eat, and the environments they live in — but only a fraction of those chemicals have been fully tested for safety.

Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) are now turning to artificial intelligence to help close that gap, using new tools to predict chemical toxicity and determine how much those predictions can be trusted.

The work builds on a recent study published in Nature Communications, which explores how artificial intelligence can predict chemical toxicity while also estimating how reliable those predictions are.

Dr. Weihsueh Chiu, a professor in VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, is leading efforts to advance these tools and apply them to better understand chemical safety and risk.  

“With the artificial intelligence tools we’re developing, we now have a way to estimate which exposure levels are unlikely to cause harm,” Chiu said. “These tools could play a key role in regulatory decision-making, helping regulators identify which substances require further testing, stricter regulation, or removal from the market.”

A Longstanding Problem In Toxicology

Traditionally, for scientists to determine whether a chemical is safe, they have relied on animal studies or human epidemiological research — studies that track how chemicals affect people over time — but both are time-consuming, expensive, and limited in scope.

“With rodents, there’s not enough time or resources to test everything,” Chiu said. “For human studies, people are already getting sick by the time those effects are identified.”

This creates a massive data gap between the number of chemicals in commerce and those with reliable safety data — leaving many substances largely unstudied.

To address this, researchers have spent the past decade developing machine learning models — known as quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models — that use a chemical’s structure to estimate safe exposure levels.

But while these models can generate predictions, one major limitation has been transparency.

Many traditional systems operate as “black boxes,” producing answers without explaining how they were reached — making them difficult for regulators and scientists to trust.

Chiu has previously helped address this issue through a two-stage machine learning framework designed to make predictions more interpretable.

Specifically, instead of relying on abstract molecular descriptors, the model uses familiar, real-world properties — such as water solubility, biodegradability, and toxicity indicators — to determine how these characteristics may influence its potential health effects.

This approach allows risk assessors to better understand why a prediction was made and not just what the prediction is.

The Key Innovation: Knowing What You Don’t Know

More recently, Chiu and collaborators expanded this work to include so-called “uncertainty-aware” machine learning, an approach that estimates how reliable each prediction is.

“We want these machine learning models to not only predict a number but also show how confident they are in that prediction,” Chiu said. “That confidence depends on how much existing data the model has to draw from.

“Predictions are more reliable when similar chemicals have been studied and more uncertain when data is limited,” he said. “This can help researchers identify which chemicals may require closer attention.”

For example, two chemicals may appear equally toxic on paper, but one prediction may be far less certain — meaning the potential risk could be much higher.

“Just because two chemicals have the same prediction doesn’t mean they carry the same worst-case risk,” Chiu said.

To capture this, the models generate a range of possible outcomes for each prediction, showing how certain — or uncertain — the results are.

When applied to more than 126,000 chemicals, these models revealed important patterns — not just in toxicity, but also in uncertainty.

Certain groups of chemicals — including metals, polychlorinated compounds, and PFAS — showed higher levels of uncertainty, often due to limited data or complex chemical behavior that makes them harder to model.

“These insights can help us pinpoint where more research is needed and where to focus those efforts,” Chiu said.

Rather than chasing the latest chemical of concern, this approach allows scientists to systematically identify where the biggest knowledge gaps exist across the entire chemical landscape.  

From Prediction To Decision-Making

For the researchers, using machine learning to safe or unsafe substances is just one part of the solution — through uncertainty estimates, researchers can also determine when human expertise is still needed.

Chiu described this as a tiered approach — using AI for large-scale screening while reserving expert review for high-risk or highly uncertain cases.

Although challenges remain — including limited data and reliance on previously conducted animal-based studies — the integration of AI marks a significant step forward.

As these tools continue to evolve, they could fundamentally change how scientists — and regulators — approach chemical safety, shifting from reactive testing to proactive prediction.

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Rural, wide open spaces offer a peaceful life — except when the smoke and amber glow of a wildfire loom on the horizon. Whether a wildfire is quickly approaching or has ignited nearby, large animal owners must be prepared to protect their horses and livestock. 

Dr. Kyle Johnson, a clinical assistant professor and Veterinary Emergency Team faculty member at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses methods to protect your herd and homestead against wildfires and how to safely evacuate animals during an emergency.

Environmental Safety

Creating a protected and fire-conscious environment is key in slowing down or deterring a wildfire from reaching the large animals and structures on your property. Property owners can do this by approaching fire safety in “zones.” 

“Implementing features incompatible with fire growth can give owners vital time for evacuating livestock,” Johnson said. “The goal is to create a defensible space around a barn in case of an approaching fire.”

The first zone — called the immediate zone — is the first 5 feet around the barn or structure; this area should not contain any flammable materials, such as plants, firewood, and propane tanks.

Other tips to keep in mind for the immediate zone include:

• Keeping a structure’s roof, particularly shingles, in good repair to prevent hot embers from igniting it
• If present, keeping gutters clean and free of flammable debris 
• Regularly removing cobwebs from the structure
• Ensuring electrical systems, fans, and lights are kept in working order 

“Next is the intermediate zone, which is roughly 5-30 feet from the barn,” Johnson said. “In this area, landscaping choices and routine maintenance can greatly reduce wildfire risks.”

Tips to keep in mind for the intermediate zone include:

• Choosing fire-resistant, drought-tolerant plants
• Using nonflammable groundcovers like stone or gravel instead of mulch
• Keeping grass mowed to less than 4 inches and pruning tree limbs
• Ensuring tree canopies do not extend to within 10 feet of a structure

“Finally, the extended zone extends up to 200 feet past the intermediate zone,” Johnson said. “In this area, your goal should be to limit a wildfire’s path to a structure by removing dead trees and ensuring that there is sufficient distance between neighboring trees.”

The Texas A&M Forest Service is a great resource for information about fire resistant landscaping and how to create defensible space; they also maintain both a current wildfire status webpage as well as an incident viewer tool.

“It’s important to be aware of fire conditions in your area,” Johnson said. “These tools can help ranchers and horse owners know their area’s current fire risk and allow them to see actual fire incidents in their vicinity.”

Evacuation Efforts

Despite having fire-resistence efforts in place, some wildfires may rage past defenses and infiltrate structures on your property, making evacuation necessary. 

When evacuating animals from within a barn, Johnson recommends calmly but quickly haltering and leading them toward a secure pasture out of the fire’s path or off the property altogether. 

Wildfires may also blaze through pastures full of horses and livestock, which can present additional challenges.

“When faced with a wildfire, animals will follow their natural instincts and move away from it,” Johnson said. “When an animal is pastured, however, their ability to move away is limited.”

Evacuation is the best option, but it is not always possible — wildfires are unpredictable and can move quickly across open terrain.

“In an emergency situation, many ranchers will cut fences to allow horses and cattle to move away from the fire,” Johnson said. “It’s important to speak with your neighbors to create a hypothetical plan, as the best option may be cutting a fence to allow animals to move onto a neighbor’s property.”

It’s best to avoid cutting fences that allow livestock access to roads, as this creates a hazard for both the animal and drivers.

Identifying Ownership

Once the wildfire has subsided, the next battle may be locating dispersed animals — a task made easy if they have an identifier.

“It’s critical for horses and livestock to have proper permanent identification — like microchips, tattoos, or brands — before disaster strikes so they can be returned back to their owners once the emergency is over,” Johnson said.

“There are also a variety of non-permanent forms of identification, both commercially available and homemade, that owners can use, including halter tags, plastic neck or ankle bands, and using shoe polish or spray paint to mark animals with a name or telephone number,” he said.

If ear tags or cattle brands are used, it’s important to properly register them with the county, if such a program is in place.

In addition to identification, it’s helpful to take photos of horses from all sides to ensure they are returned to their rightful owner post-disaster. 

In the midst of a wildfire emergency, horses and livestock depend on their owners to have a formidable plan to ensure their safety and well-being. Wildfire preparation is not a suggestion; it is a life-saving necessity to shield animals against flames that may reach their home.

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