🐶 Vet Innovation 2025: Using Dogs to Sniff Out Respiratory Disease in Calves – New Research on BRD Detection 🐄💨

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

🫁 Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD): A Leading Threat to Calves

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the leading cause of death in calves across the livestock industry. Traditionally, detection and treatment have been based on group-level assessments, leading to widespread antibiotic use—even when only a few individuals are sick. But what if dogs could help identify sick animals before clinical signs appear? 🐄

🐕 The Canine Scent Detection Breakthrough

Dogs have long been trained to detect human illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and even COVID-19. Researchers at Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University are now asking a groundbreaking question: Can dogs detect respiratory infections in cattle using scent alone?

This collaborative study involves:

• 🐶 Trained scent detection dogs
• 🔬 BRD specialists and animal scientists
• 📍 Cattle from the Texas AgriLife Research Center
• 🦴 Scent training expertise from canine behaviorists

🧪 Research Method: Dogs vs. BRD

In the pilot study, dogs were trained using nasal swabs collected from cattle upon arrival at the feedlot. The goal? To differentiate swabs from cattle that would develop respiratory disease within 20 days versus those who remained healthy for three months.

Training involved:

• 🐾 Seven months of progressive scent training
• 🧴 Scent profiles from confirmed BRD-positive and BRD-negative calves
• 🎯 Controlled exposure to scent samples

📉 Pilot Study Findings

The first round of research did not yield a strong positive result. Unlike diseases with more distinct metabolic markers, BRD may be more complex to detect through scent alone. However, researchers are optimistic, and a second phase of the study is now underway.

💡 Why This Matters

If successful, canine scent detection could revolutionize how antibiotics are used in feedlots. Currently, if any respiratory risk is identified in a group, the entire pen may be treated prophylactically. This results in:

• 💉 Overuse of antibiotics
• 💰 Higher treatment costs
• 🧬 Greater risk of antibiotic resistance

With trained detection dogs at the chute, producers could:

• 🎯 Target only truly sick animals
• 💵 Save money by reducing unnecessary treatments
• 🌱 Improve animal welfare and reduce resistance risk

📊 The Next Study: Optimizing Scent Discrimination

The second phase focuses on refining training methods, sample collection, and scent storage. Using dogs from the Texas prison system and professional trainers, researchers aim to determine:

• 🐶 Can dogs reliably differentiate sick cattle from healthy ones?
• 🧪 What scent compounds signal respiratory disease?
• 🩺 How early can BRD be detected before clinical signs?

🌍 A Broader Vision for Livestock Health

This study is part of a growing trend toward precision livestock farming, where individual animal care is emphasized over group-based treatment. Canine detection would become a powerful tool alongside digital thermometers, biometric tracking, and automated feeding systems.

🔬 Challenges and Considerations

Despite its potential, this innovation has hurdles:

• ⏱️ Time-intensive training
• 📦 Proper scent sample storage
• 🐾 Variability in dog performance and handler influence

But with the right investment and protocol development, the benefits for commercial beef operations could be significant.

🩺 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Using dogs to detect disease in livestock represents a bold and exciting frontier in veterinary medicine. While the science is still evolving, the potential for more humane, targeted, and sustainable care in the cattle industry is real.

As we await the next results from Texas A&M and Texas Tech, one thing is clear—our four-legged friends might just help rewrite how we manage respiratory disease in calves. 🐾🐄

📲 Curious About New Veterinary Innovations? Ask A Vet

Want to know more about scent detection, livestock health tech, or cutting-edge diagnostics? Download the Ask A Vet app and speak with experts like Dr Duncan Houston—24/7, wherever you are. 🐄💬🐶