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.
![[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...
![[Reddington with Jane Do]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/pc-weedon-reddington-260x157.jpg)
shelters often euthanize heartworm-positive dogs Reddington probably didn’t realize it, but he was in a bad spot. Not only was the dog living in an animal shelter, he had also tested positive for heartworm disease. In many cases, those two factors amount to a death sentence. But luckily for Reddington, he found an owner and...
Plans’ Success Depends on Implementation at Home Physical rehabilitation for animals is the process of evaluating and managing patients with painful or functionally limiting conditions caused by illness or injury. Carrie Chandler-Harrison is a certified veterinary technician and certified canine rehabilitation practitioner at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. When an animal...
![[pet column - heat stroke]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pc-heatstroke-mcmichael-260x157.jpg)
Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention The approach of summer brings a spike both in temperatures and in cases of heat stroke in dogs. Dr. Maureen McMichael, a boarded emergency and critical care specialist who heads the emergency service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, urges owners to acclimate their dogs...
![[jababy gets four root canals]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pc-kling-big-cat-dental-260x157.jpg)
Teeth Similar in Structure, Different in Care Dr. Katherine Kling is a veterinarian who typically sees dogs and cats through the dentistry service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Recently Dr. Kling got the chance to use her dentistry skills on some high-profile patients: lions and tigers! She, along with veterinary...
![[microbiome dog illustration]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pc-barko-microbiome-260x157.jpg)
‘Think of bacteria as our friends’ Dr. Patrick Barko has spent the past three years studying a rapidly evolving field that he believes will soon be at the forefront in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease for people and pets. “For most of modern medical history, bacteria were treated as enemy invaders that needed...
![[kitten plays with a ball of yarn]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pc-rubin-foreign-body-260x157.jpg)
A ‘foreign body’ may pose a medical emergency Animals are very curious creatures. But, as the old adage goes, curiosity can be deadly, or at least dangerous. So it is with animals that swallow things not meant to be swallowed: Your dog snarfs down a broken or too-small toy. Your cat goes from licking a...