Halloween poses significant risks for pets, with common dangers including candy ingestion and unsafe decorations like glowsticks. Emergency veterinary visits often spike, partly due to toxic ingredients like chocolate and xylitol found in candies. Pet owners should hazard-proof their homes in advance of Halloween by storing such items where counter-surfing dogs and cats can't get them and being cautious during walks after Halloween to avoid dropped candies, says AVMA President Michael Q. Bailey. Also be careful with costumes, make sure tags and microchips have up-to-date contact information, and consider keeping pets in a quiet, safe place until trick-or-treating is over, Dr. Bailey says.

~ veterinarian Michael Q. Bailey, AVMA president

A study of exceptional longevity in rottweilers suggests that maintaining gonadal function may reduce mortality risks associated with frailty in old age. The study, published in Scientific Reports, found that male dogs with longer testis exposure had lower mortality risks associated with frailty. The findings challenge conventional views on the health consequences of neutering male dogs as young puppies, and it highlights the potential of using data from older dogs to benefit both canine and human health research, says veterinarian David Waters, director of the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation's Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies.

About 60% of US dogs are overweight, and many pet owners don't recognize the signs of overweight and obesity, writes veterinarian Kenton Taylor. Obesity can exacerbate health issues such as respiratory problems and arthritis, but it can be reversed by modifying feeding practices, increasing exercise and reducing caloric intake, Dr. Taylor writes. However, some diseases can cause obesity and should be ruled out before changing a dog's diet.

A biomarker test developed by VDI Labs can help veterinarians detect solid tumor cancers in dogs through a simple blood test. The OncoTrio-NI test uses three biomarkers to assess cancer risk and is especially beneficial for high-risk breeds and pets with ambiguous X-ray results, writes veterinarian Cynthia Maro. A separate biomarker test can help distinguish between inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal lymphoma in cats.

Recent additions to the AVMA's Veterinary Clinical Trials Registry include studies on canine B-cell malignancies, hemangiosarcoma, atopic dermatitis, epilepsy and osteosarcoma, as well as feline chronic kidney disease and equine bone marrow aspirates.

A severe outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza has killed nearly 2,000 migratory cranes near Linum, Germany. The unusually high mortality rate among cranes is unprecedented for this migration path, prompting efforts to manage the situation and reduce the area's attractiveness to migrating birds.

When viral infections shrink a honeybee queen's ovaries and reduce her egg-laying capacity, her production of the pheromone methyl oleate also is reduced, and worker bees "smell" the weakness and begin preparing a successor, according to a study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Colonies that were given synthetic pheromone blends with methyl oleate were less likely to overthrow queens than colonies that received blends without the pheromone, researchers reported. "That could be a big deal for beekeepers," said co-author Leonard Foster.

The AVMA is seeking candidates for president-elect and vice president, with elections to be held during the AVMA Convention 2026. Nominations are also open for Board of Directors positions representing districts 4 and 11, with a deadline of Feb. 1, 2026. Various council and committee positions are available, including on the Council on Education and the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities, with application deadlines ranging from early 2026 to mid-2026.