WormsAndGermsPod Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:36:52 -0500 http://wormsandgermsblog.com en-us © 2026 WormsAndGermsPod yes ed83bceb-24ed-569c-afbf-f276306dab5b WormsAndGermsPod episodic false Our take on infectious diseases in animals, from our old nemeses to emerging diseases, with a focus on infectious diseases in pets, spread of disease between people and animals, and whatever else in the infectious disease realm seems interesting,
Brought to you by WormsAndGermsBlog.com, an infectious disease blog coordinated at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) infectious diseases, pets, zoonotic diseases, animals, veterinary WormsAndGermsPod https://storage.buzzsprout.com/dpnsy7mlgjqi47bs55qbtmjxam1m?.jpg WormsAndGermsPod http://wormsandgermsblog.com Half dose vaccination in dogs Half dose vaccination in dogs Big dog, small dog, same vaccine.

Does that make sense?

Can we, and should we, use smaller doses of vaccines in smaller dogs?

How does that impact the immune response and adverse event risk?

Like a lot of things in veterinary medicine, data are sparse, but this podcast reviews what we know, and don't know, about half dose vaccines in dogs.

]]> Big dog, small dog, same vaccine.

Does that make sense?

Can we, and should we, use smaller doses of vaccines in smaller dogs?

How does that impact the immune response and adverse event risk?

Like a lot of things in veterinary medicine, data are sparse, but this podcast reviews what we know, and don't know, about half dose vaccines in dogs.

]]> Buzzsprout-17359045 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1098 2 3 full false Flu antivirals: should we use them in animals Flu antivirals: should we use them in animals As H5N1 influenza continues to cause havoc across the world, there's continued spillover of this virus in domestic mammals. While antivirals aren't used much for influenza in animals, they might be effective in some situations.

However, should we use them?

What's the benefit and what are the potential resistance concerns?

This podcast dives into issues regarding antiviral use in animals, with thoughts about if/when/how to use them.

]]> As H5N1 influenza continues to cause havoc across the world, there's continued spillover of this virus in domestic mammals. While antivirals aren't used much for influenza in animals, they might be effective in some situations.

However, should we use them?

What's the benefit and what are the potential resistance concerns?

This podcast dives into issues regarding antiviral use in animals, with thoughts about if/when/how to use them.

]]> Buzzsprout-16954457 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0400 1301 2 2 full false H5N1 influenza and raw pet food H5N1 influenza and raw pet food As H5N1 continues its unprecedented march through wild and domestic animals, recent infections of cats have highlights concerns about risks to dogs and cats from raw diets. This quick podcast outlines the main issues and prevention measures related to H5N1 exposure from raw diets. 

]]> As H5N1 continues its unprecedented march through wild and domestic animals, recent infections of cats have highlights concerns about risks to dogs and cats from raw diets. This quick podcast outlines the main issues and prevention measures related to H5N1 exposure from raw diets. 

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-16602521 Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0500 878 2 1 full false H5N1 influenza testing in dogs and cats H5N1 influenza testing in dogs and cats As H5N1 avian influenza continues to spread, we are seeing more issues with spillover into companion animals. This episode provides some thoughts about when, why and how to test dogs and cats for this virus. It's not as straightforward as you might think.

A companion podcast to a post on WormsAndGermsBlog: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2024/12/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-testing-in-dogs-and-cats-who-when-why-how/

]]> As H5N1 avian influenza continues to spread, we are seeing more issues with spillover into companion animals. This episode provides some thoughts about when, why and how to test dogs and cats for this virus. It's not as straightforward as you might think.

A companion podcast to a post on WormsAndGermsBlog: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2024/12/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-testing-in-dogs-and-cats-who-when-why-how/

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-16344370 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500 1548 1 11 full false Do changes in antibiotic use in animals lead to changes in resistance in humans? Do changes in antibiotic use in animals lead to changes in resistance in humans? Do changes in antibiotic use in animals lead to changes in resistance in people? It's a bit of yes, no, maybe situation because it's complicated. However, there are some good data showing that what we do in animals can affect resistance in humans. 

We dug into the archives for this interesting and still highly relevant 2010 paper (see link below) about changes in the use of ceftiofur in chickens and 3rd generation cephalosporin resistance in Salmonella from people.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2874360/


]]> Do changes in antibiotic use in animals lead to changes in resistance in people? It's a bit of yes, no, maybe situation because it's complicated. However, there are some good data showing that what we do in animals can affect resistance in humans. 

We dug into the archives for this interesting and still highly relevant 2010 paper (see link below) about changes in the use of ceftiofur in chickens and 3rd generation cephalosporin resistance in Salmonella from people.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2874360/


]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-16140742 Thu, 21 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500 439 1 10 full false Using antibiotics in animals for growth promotion Using antibiotics in animals for growth promotion Our World AMR Awareness Week series continues with Dr. Weese talking about the issues around use of antibiotics in animals for growth promotion.


Here's the link to he World Organization for Animal Health's ANIMUSE program that was mentioned: https://amu.woah.org/amu-system-portal/home

]]> Our World AMR Awareness Week series continues with Dr. Weese talking about the issues around use of antibiotics in animals for growth promotion.


Here's the link to he World Organization for Animal Health's ANIMUSE program that was mentioned: https://amu.woah.org/amu-system-portal/home

]]> Buzzsprout-16136068 Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500 959 1 9 full false Antimicrobial prophylaxis in animals...it's messy Antimicrobial prophylaxis in animals...it's messy Part 2 of our World AMR Awareness Week series covers the controversial issue of antimicrobial prophylaxis in animals. 
Should we use antibiotics in healthy animals to prevent disease? 
No...except when we need to.
It's not a black and white issue....there's a lot of grey in between and understanding that great area is important. This pod tries to explain some of those issues and nuances. 

]]> Part 2 of our World AMR Awareness Week series covers the controversial issue of antimicrobial prophylaxis in animals. 
Should we use antibiotics in healthy animals to prevent disease? 
No...except when we need to.
It's not a black and white issue....there's a lot of grey in between and understanding that great area is important. This pod tries to explain some of those issues and nuances. 

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-16125765 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0500 709 1 8 full false Antimicrobial dogmas, misconceptions and barriers Antimicrobial dogmas, misconceptions and barriers As part of World AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) Awareness Week (WAAW), Dr. Scott Weese outlines some  dogmas, misconceptions and barriers that are commonly encountered in antimicrobial treatment of companion animals (and beyond). 

]]> As part of World AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) Awareness Week (WAAW), Dr. Scott Weese outlines some  dogmas, misconceptions and barriers that are commonly encountered in antimicrobial treatment of companion animals (and beyond). 

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-16098599 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0500 1142 1 7 full false Mission Rabies Mission Rabies Andy Gibson and Ian Battersby from Mission Rabies join Scott Weese to talk about canine rabies and Mission Rabies's international efforts to control this virus, that kills ~59,000 people a year.

To learn more about Mission Rabies, check out http://www.missionrabies.com

The Nature Communications paper about Mission Rabies' work in Goa, India that was discussed can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30371-y

]]> Andy Gibson and Ian Battersby from Mission Rabies join Scott Weese to talk about canine rabies and Mission Rabies's international efforts to control this virus, that kills ~59,000 people a year.

To learn more about Mission Rabies, check out http://www.missionrabies.com

The Nature Communications paper about Mission Rabies' work in Goa, India that was discussed can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30371-y

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-16028163 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0400 2665 1 6 full false Tick talk Tick talk Dr. Katie Clow joins Scott Weese for a talk about ticks and tick borne diseases in companion animals.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:
Ontario risk map: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/O/24/ontario-blacklegged-tick-established-risk-areas-2024.pdf?rev=d7dafd390245466483d51e910f02c882&sc_lang=en

eTick: eTick.ca

AEROH lab: https://aeroh.uoguelph.ca/

]]> Dr. Katie Clow joins Scott Weese for a talk about ticks and tick borne diseases in companion animals.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:
Ontario risk map: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/O/24/ontario-blacklegged-tick-established-risk-areas-2024.pdf?rev=d7dafd390245466483d51e910f02c882&sc_lang=en

eTick: eTick.ca

AEROH lab: https://aeroh.uoguelph.ca/

]]> Buzzsprout-15870966 Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0400 2316 1 5 full false Quick bite: Antimicrobial targets Quick bite: Antimicrobial targets Freshly back from the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, where antimicrobial use targets in animals were a key topic, Dr. Scott Weese provides an overview of the issues around this controversial but important area.
Do we need targets for antibiotic use in animals? What are they meant to do? Why are they controversial? What can do to make them actionable, aspirational and effective?  This quick podcast highlights those important topics. 

]]> Freshly back from the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, where antimicrobial use targets in animals were a key topic, Dr. Scott Weese provides an overview of the issues around this controversial but important area.
Do we need targets for antibiotic use in animals? What are they meant to do? Why are they controversial? What can do to make them actionable, aspirational and effective?  This quick podcast highlights those important topics. 

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-15849926 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400 867 1 4 full false Antiviral treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP): how long should we treat? Antiviral treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP): how long should we treat? Antivirals have revolutionized treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), turning it from an almost invariably fatal disease to one that's usually treatable. However, antivirals are expensive and administration can be a hassle (as many cat owners can attest to). "As long as needed but as short as possible" is what we aim for with anti-infective treatments, but what does that really mean? 
In this Quick Bite, we discuss treatment duration, highlighting a recent paper that shows we might be able to use shorter durations.

]]> Antivirals have revolutionized treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), turning it from an almost invariably fatal disease to one that's usually treatable. However, antivirals are expensive and administration can be a hassle (as many cat owners can attest to). "As long as needed but as short as possible" is what we aim for with anti-infective treatments, but what does that really mean? 
In this Quick Bite, we discuss treatment duration, highlighting a recent paper that shows we might be able to use shorter durations.

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-15727592 Tue, 10 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0400 826 1 3 full false Rabies Rabies All things rabies; a discussion with Dr. Maureen Anderson DVM DVSc PhD DACVIM.

Why do we care about rabies?
What's rabies exposure?
What do we do if an animal may have been exposed to rabies?
How do we vaccinate and can titres be used?
...and much more.

For more about rabies and other infectious diseases, check us out at http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com


]]> All things rabies; a discussion with Dr. Maureen Anderson DVM DVSc PhD DACVIM.

Why do we care about rabies?
What's rabies exposure?
What do we do if an animal may have been exposed to rabies?
How do we vaccinate and can titres be used?
...and much more.

For more about rabies and other infectious diseases, check us out at http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com


]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-15670937 Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:00:00 -0400 2671 1 2 full false Quick bite: Is MRSP zoonotic? Quick bite: Is MRSP zoonotic? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) is a multidrug resistant bacterium that's an increasing problem in dogs. But can it poses a risk to people as well? This episode will delve into the potential zoonotic disease risks from MRSP and what we can consider to assess and mitigate risks.

]]> Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) is a multidrug resistant bacterium that's an increasing problem in dogs. But can it poses a risk to people as well? This episode will delve into the potential zoonotic disease risks from MRSP and what we can consider to assess and mitigate risks.

]]> WormsAndGermsPod Buzzsprout-15642886 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 10:00:00 -0400 792 1 1 full false