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Winter 2013

Some items have been excerpted from Illinois in the News, a daily service provided by the University of Illinois News Bureau.

Please Note: Some Web links are short-lived by design of the publisher. In most cases, articles are archived on the publisher's Web site and can be retrieved electronically. Some articles may be archived on sites that are fee-based, and some may have re-distribution restrictions. In some cases, first-time users of a publisher's Web site may be asked to subscribe to it.

FLEA ALLERGIES IN DOGS
Farm and Dairy (Salem, Ohio; June )14 - Dr. Domenico Santoro, a veterinary dermatologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says that flea allergic dermatitis represents the most common cause of allergies in temperate climates.
http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/beware-your-pet-may-be-allergic-to-fleas/58659.html

TULAREMIA OUTBREAK IN CATS
WICD-TV Channel 15 News (June 11) - At least a dozen area cats have tested positive for tularemia, a bacterial disease spread through rabbits and rodents. Dr. Amy Kubier described the progression of this potentially fatal disease, which can also infect humans.
http://www.wicd15.com/news/top-stories/stories/cats-infected-tularemia-7514.shtml

BOBCAT KITTENS RELEASED TO REHABBER
News-Gazette (June 10) - Two orphaned baby bobcats that have been staying at the University of Illinois will be taken to a rehab center near Alton where they can get specialized care.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-06-10/bobcats-ui-care-leave-soon.html
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-06-12/bobcat-kittens-clawing-their-way-back-wild.html
Also in
* WCIA News (June 11)
http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=500342
* WICD News (June 11)
http://www.wicd15.com/news/top-stories/stories/baby-bobcats-leaving-champaignurbana-7512.shtml
* Fort Mill (S.C.) Times (June 12)
http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/06/12/2754997/2-orphaned-bobcat-kittens-undergoing.html
* Times Union (Albany, NY; June 13)
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Day-in-Pictures-June-12-2013-4598085.php
* San Francicso Chronicle online (June 13)
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/dayinpictures/slideshow/Day-in-Pictures-June-12-2013-64444.php

FUNGUS ON RATTLESNAKES
Nashville Public Radio (June 10) - Tennessee biologists have now confirmed cases of a rare fungal disease that has killed rattlesnakes in other parts of the country. One of the leading researchers on the topic is wildlife veterinarian Matthew Allender, who says the fungus that’s being discovered is often found on captive reptiles like bearded dragons. He told the University of Illinois News Bureau that finding infections in the wild is significant.
http://nashvillepublicradio.org/blog/2013/06/10/mysterious-snake-fungus-found-on-tennessee-rattlers/...

RESTRICTION ON TURTLE RACE EVENT
News-Gazette (June 4) - Dr. Matt Allender, comparative biosciences, helped test 97 turtles collected for a turtle-racing charity event in Vermilion County. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources put an end to the annual event in order to maintain and protect the turtle population. Dr. Allender said box turtles are susceptible to three contagious diseases.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-06-04/turtle-races-wont-have-turtles-next-year.html

AID TO ANIMALS IN OKLAHOMA
WICD-TV (June 3) - Supplies have been piling up in the University of Illinois veterinary medicine facility as doctors and students collect donations to help people and their pets affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma. Dr. Karie Vander Werf and students Keith True and Amanda Liesse were interviewed about their roles in the drive, which has been extended.
http://www.wicd15.com/news/top-stories/stories/outpour-support-oklahoma-pets-7448.shtml

DRUG ALLERGIES IN PETS
WCIX Channel 49 Morning Show (June 3) - Dr. Sidonie Lavergne, an expert in veterinary pharmacology, toxicology, and the immune system, talked about drug allergies in animals and why it’s important to be aware of them.

Also in:
* News-Gazette (June 3)
http://www.news-gazette.com/living/2013-06-03/expert-seeks-expand-drug-allergy-knowledge.html

MELANOMA OF THE EYE IN AN ARABIAN GELDING
The Arabian Sport Horse (June/July issue) - Dr. Amber Labelle, veterinary ophthalmologist, contributed a sidebar describing her effort to gather data about equine ocular melanoma as a result of a patient of hers that suffered from that disease.
http://issuu.com/thearabiansporthorse/docs/june-july-2013?e=6917605/2918056 (page 60)

PET OBESITY
Medical Daily (New York City, May 30) -- According to a 2012 National Pet Obesity Survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 53 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Dr. Thomas Graves, an internist at the U. of I. Veterinary Teaching Hospital, said, “If a dog, or a human being for that matter, just sits around all day – of course, it’s going to get older faster.”
http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/16050/20130530/dog-diet-pet-obesity-weight-loss-dog-exercise.ht...

MORE FOXES LIVING NEAR HUMANS
News-Gazette (May 30) - Regarding a reported influx of foxes in Oakwood, Ill., Nicki Rosenhagen, student manager of the Wildlife Medical Clinic at the University of Illinois, said "[...] they have a great food supply, and good places to live... So I wouldn't be surprised if their numbers are growing."
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-05-30/foxes-making-themselves-home-oakwood.html

DRIVE TO AID TORNADO-STRICKEN ANIMALS
News-Gazette (May 27) - Dr. Karie Vander Werf, a resident in large animal emergency and critical care, helped organize a drive for items to help horses, pets and their owners affected in Oklahoma. "I got the idea after I saw the pictures of the devastation on Facebook," Vander Werf said. "I can't go there myself because of commitments I have here at home, so I wanted to figure out a way to send stuff over there."
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-05-27/donations-sought-help-pets-tornado-stricken-oklaho...
Follow-up story:
* News-Gazette (May 31)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-05-31/organizers-report-successful-drive-help-animals-af...

TECHNOLOGY IN EQUINE ANESTHESIA
Phys Org . com (Douglas, Isle of Man, May 24) -- Technology that’s used in smartphones and other electronic devices also is being used by veterinarians at the U. of I. to help horses recover safely from anesthesia.
http://phys.org/news/2013-05-cellphone-technology-horses-recover-surgery.html
Also in:
* Nature World News (New York City, May 26)
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/2106/20130525/smartphones-help-horses-recover-surgeries.htm
* Horsetalk (North Canterbury, New Zealand, May 26)
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/05/26/smartphone-technology-aids-horse-recovery/#axzz2UQJQeifm

DOG TRAINING
Daily Republican Register (Mt. Carmel, Ill.; May 22) - Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a veterinarian with a special interest in behavior at Furnetic, a small animal practice that is part of the University of Illinois Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, strongly advocates training for all pets.
http://tristate-media.com/drr/article_9a39c490-c2f8-11e2-8785-0019bb2963f4.html

BOBCAT KITTENS AT WILDLIFE CLINIC
News-Gazette (May 21) - Two female bobcat kittens, believed to be between six and eight weeks old, were discovered Friday in a train car in the Tuscola area, said Nicki Rosenhagen, a veterinary student and ward manager at the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Center.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-05-21/rescued-bobcat-kittens-ui-clinic.html
Also in:
* WCIA 5 O'Clock News (May 21)
http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=493752
* WHLT.com (Hattiesburg, MS; May 22)
http://www.whlt.com/story/22392180/orphaned-bobcat-kittens-ride-the-rails-to-illinois
* WREX.com (Rockford, Ill.; May 22)
http://www.wrex.com/story/22392176/orphaned-bobcat-kittens-ride-the-rails-to-illinois
* Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise (May 22)
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Orphaned-bobcat-kittens-ride-the-rails-to-Illinois-45...
* Peoria Journal Star (May 22)
http://www.pjstar.com/free/x83397045/Orphaned-bobcat-kittens-ride-the-rails-to-Illinois
* Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph Herald (May 22)
http://www.thonline.com/news/iowa-illinois-wisconsin/article_e9194408-c33b-11e2-a933-001a4bcf6878.ht...

VET STUDENTS STERILIZE SHELTER PETS
Herald & Review (Decatur, Ill.; May 20) - Students from the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine have been visiting the Coles County shelter as part of their surgical training rotation. They're doing spay and neuter surgeries, procedures the shelter requires for animals that are adopted. "There are an increasing number of shelters we're going to and hope to really increase the number of surgeries the students get," said Dr. Bob Weedon.
http://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/student-vets-learn-by-doing-at-shelters/article_23d...

ANIMAL WELFARE DISCUSSED AT COMMUNITY FORUM
News-Gazette (May 18) - Animal welfare will be the focus of a free public forum at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine on May 21 at VetMed's Basic Sciences Building, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., U. Two of the speakers, Dr. Sheilah Robertson and Dr. Emily Patterson-Kane of the American Veterinary Medical Association, will focus on issues concerning companion animals, in particular dogs and cats, Robertson said.
http://www.news-gazette.com/living/2013-05-18/animal-welfare-topic-forum.html
Also in:
* WHMS-AM (May 20) Live interview with Jack Herrmann
* Steve Dale's Pet World (blog; May 18)
http://www.chicagonow.com/steve-dales-pet-world/2013/05/forums-on-animal-welfare/

FREE DENTAL EXAMS FOR SERVICE DOGS
WCIA-TV News (May 17) - The U of I is offering free oral exams for service dogs. It's part of a nationwide effort started by the American Veterinary Dental College. "[Dental problems are] something the owners can't see on the outside," said Dr. Sandra Manfra Marretta with the U of I. "A lot of people don't think to do that and without an oral exam, you don't know something is going on."
http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=492792
Also in:
* News-Gazette (May 18, page B-3)

EQUINE EYE INJURIES
Horses in the Morning (radio; May 15)- Dr. Amber Labelle, veterinary ophthalmologist, was a guest on a radio show to talk about eye injuries in horses. Note: Her segment begins around 1:06.
http://www.horseradionetwork.com/2013/05/15/hitm-for-05-15-2013-the-wheel-lynn-palm-colored-horses-a...

HOSPITAL NAMED LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER
News-Gazette (April 25) - The small animal emergency service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now one of one of nine veterinary trauma centers in the nation. The designation came from the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-04-25/ui-small-animal-clinic-named-one-nine-national-tra...
* Also in:
WCIA News (April 25)
http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=485232
AAHAnet.org (April 26)
http://www.aahanet.org/blog/newstat/post/2013/04/26/860468/Nine-US-hospitals-and-clinics-designated-...
DVM Newsmagazine (May 1)
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/Nine-veterinary-hospitals-designated-as-nationa...
News-Gazette letter to the editor (May 6)
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/letters-editor/2013-05-06/ui-vet-clinic-ready-all-contingencies....

BROKEN BONE REPAIR IN PETS
Journal Gazette & Times-Courier(Mattoon, Ill.; April 27) - Dr. Tisha Harper, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, explains that the process of fixing a broken bone in a pet starts with taking x-rays to determine where the bone is broken and how many pieces it is in. Fractures can be stabilized in a variety of ways, and the veterinarian must take into account the age of the patient when deciding how to stabilize a fracture.
http://jg-tc.com/lifestyles/veterinarian-tells-of-ways-to-mend-pet-s-broken-bones/article_07a01cf6-a...

PREPAREDNESS FOR A FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE OUTBREAK
Oklahoma Farm Report (April 16) - At a special Foot-and-Mouth Disease Symposium at the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s Annual Conference, Dr. Gay Miller, world-renowned epidemiologist who has studied the challenges of controlling FMD, said "we have capability developed so that we can, at the very minimum, marry a stamping-out approach with a vaccination approach in a way that will be effective in handling an outbreak ... with much less wastage of animal protein."
http://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/wire/news/2013/04/06095_FMDSymposium04172013b_182220.php#.UXWA40ri...

WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME IN BATS
WGLT-AM (Illinois State University radio; April 9) - Dr. Adam Stern was interviewed regarding white-nose syndrome outbreak in Illinois. He was the pathologist who identified the pathogen from samples collected in Illinois. [Note: He is introduced at 2:20.]
http://wglt.org/wireready/news/2013/04/01642_WHITE_NOSE_feature_WEB_040713.shtml

ASK THE HOSPITAL DIRECTOR
Focus (WILL-AM 580; April 5) - Dr. Brendan McKiernan was a guest on a call-in radio show, describing services at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and answering questions about animal health.
http://will.illinois.edu/focus/player/talk-with-the-veterinarians2

PREVENTING HEAT STROKE
WCIX Channel 49 Morning Show (April 1) - Dr. Tandi Ngwenyama, a veterinarian completing a residency in emergency and critical care at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, Ill., offered advice on recognizing and preventing heat-related illness for pets as the warmer weather arrives.
http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=477222

RAW DIETS FOR PETS
News-Gazette (April 1) - According to Dr. Jack Herrmann, a veterinarian on faculty at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, as well as the director of the college's Center for One Health Illinois, "The issue with raw foods is that the chance for contamination of humans and home environment is much greater than with conventional pet foods. So, it's a relative risk issue." A free public forum addressing the topic of raw foods is set for 7 p.m. April 16 at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/other/2013-04-01/pet-talk-raw-diets-have-risks.html

EQUINE EYES
Horses in the Morning (March 27) - As part of the Horse Health Report with Editor in Chief Stephanie Church, Dr. Amber LaBelle, veterinary ophthamologist, was the guest on a live radio show talking about horses' eyes. Note: Dr. Labelle's portion of the podcast begins at about 1 hour.
http://www.horsesinthemorning.com/hitm-for-03-27-2013-guy-mcclean-wheel-of-trivia-winners-and-horses...

PYRETHROID PRODUCTS AND CATTLE FERTILITY
Beef Magazine (March 25) - "The use of pyrethroid products, if used according to the label, should not interfere with cattle fertility," reports Hilari French, DVM, PhD, Resident, Rural Animal Health Management in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois.
http://beefmagazine.com/genetics/research-finds-no-bull-fertility-difference-pyrethroid-use

DOG SURVIVES TETANUS
News-Gazette (March 23) - When Nakita arrived, she had the classic signs of tetanus, said Dr. Thandeka Ngwenyama, a UI veterinary resident in emergency and critical care. "She had the classic sawhorse stance, where they're very rigid," she said. Nakita also was suffering from heatstroke, brought on by tremors. Tetanus is rare in dogs. Ngwenyama said she's only seen one other case of it in a dog at the UI veterinary hospital in her four years there.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/health/miscellaneous/2013-03-23/dogs-battle-won-now-owner-fights-ca...

VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR KITTENS
WCIX Channel 49 Morning Show (March 4) - Dr. Kandice Norrell, small animal primary care veterinarian at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, explained the guidelines from the nation’s feline medicine experts regarding vaccinations for kittens.
http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=471902

ONE HEALTH PANEL SERIES
News-Gazette (March 1) - Dr. Yvette Johnson-Walker, an epidemiologist at the College of Veterinary Medicine and panelist for the "Health Risk or Hype" community forum, said, "A lot of people think you have to travel to some place exotic to be exposed to emerging diseases," but there are risks closer to home. The forum next week will be the second in a series being presented by the college's Center for One Health Illinois.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/health/miscellaneous/2013-03-01/experts-talk-about-global-health-ri...
Also in:
* WILL-AM 580 (March 7)
http://will.illinois.edu/afternoonmagazine/player/yvette-johnson-walker-on-animal-born-viruses