Experts on animal health from the college's clinics in Urbana and Chicago share their knowledge in informative columns written for animal owners. Scan the categories and tags at left for topics that interest you. Subscribe to our weekly Pet Health Columns email.
![[Nearly one-third of US dog owners sleep with their pet]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/pc-one-health-johnson-walker-260x157.jpg)
Pet Ownership Benefits People “One Health” is a term used to convey the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. In their recent book, Beyond One Health: From Recognition to Results, coeditors Drs. Jack Herrmann and Yvette Johnson-Walker, faculty members at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, devote an entire chapter to the...
Interdigital cysts are fairly common Poor Ares was in pain. The three-year-old Doberman Pinscher had sores between his toes on all four paws when he came to see Dr. Jason Pieper, a veterinary dermatologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Ares had been licking at the bumpy sores and some of...
![[horse cough]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Madsen-horse-cough-260x157.jpg)
Many Conditions Make a Horse Cough As a horse owner, you would not hesitate to seek veterinary care if your horse shows signs of lameness, colic, choke, or other immediate dangers. But what do you do when your horse shows signs that are less clear-cut, such as a cough? There are dozens of reasons why...
![[Kristen Keller and Leo]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/pc-keller-bird-toxins-260x157.jpg)
These items are toxic to birds Bird owners, beware ! Three common household toxins—TeflonTM, avocado, and heavy metals—present deadly dangers to your feathered friends, according to Dr. Krista Keller, a veterinary specialist in zoological medicine. Dr. Keller, who sees exotic pets at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, advises bird owners to...
![[dog running outside]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pc-spinal-stroke-260x157.jpg)
Spinal Strokes May Follow Strenuous Activity With the long, cold winter coming to an end, dogs and their owners are longing to get outside and enjoy the warmth. However, a beautiful day of activity outside after a relatively stationary winter could mean an increase in dogs suffering from a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), more commonly known...
![[horse teeth]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pc-horse-dentist-260x157.jpg)
A horse’s teeth should be examined every 6 months Just like cats and dogs, horses need oral examinations from veterinarians. The health of a horse’s mouth greatly impacts its well-being, behavior, and performance. Dr. Dennis French, a professor who heads the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois, has cared for many...
![[radiograph of a dog with a bullet in its shoulder]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pc-forensics-stern-260x157.jpg)
Veterinary forensics is a growing field A forensic pathologist is a physician who specializes in determining the time, manner, and cause of death. Dr. Adam Stern, a board-certified pathologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, specializes in veterinary forensics. “In veterinary forensics, medical expertise is used to gather evidence applicable in civil and...
![[Service Dog Eye Exam]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pc-acvo-service-exam-martins-260x157.jpg)
Register Online, Then Call Illinois for Appointment Every May since 2008, veterinary ophthalmologists across the country have volunteered their time to provide free eye examinations for service animals. The annual event, which is organized by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) and Stokes Pharmacy, has provided screening for about 60,000 animals. Drs. Bianca Martins...
![[kim selting and hunter, radiation therapy]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pc-selting-hunter-260x157.jpg)
Radiation makes cancer cells unable to reproduce In the fight against cancer, doctors for people and pets have a range of weapons in their arsenal. Alone or in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy, radiation therapy is useful for its ability to specifically target tumors. Dr. Kim Selting is a board certified radiation oncologist at the...
![[Illinois veterinary students practice a physical examination]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/pc-mitek-phys-exam-260x157.jpg)
The physical examination helps prevent disease From molecular and genetic testing to advanced imaging using magnetic resonance or computed tomography, veterinarians have many tools available to diagnose their patients. Even with these technological aids, the physical examination remains the most basic yet important of diagnostic tools. Dr. Ashley Mitek, a faculty member at the University...