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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.

[surgery using the fluorescent technology to detect cancer cells]

Technology Advances Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancers in Dogs

Aug 21, 2017 / Advances in Medicine / Cancer Care / Small Animal Surgery / Dogs

This technology monitors for spread of tumors A pet’s cancer diagnosis triggers owners’ emotional strain, confusion, and uncertainty about treatment and financial decisions. Thankfully, with the help of engineers and veterinarians at the University of Illinois, cancer detection and treatment in pets—and people—is advancing at rapid speed. One of the many studies currently taking place...

[pyometra dog photo]

Infection in Dog’s Uterus Is Serious Business

Aug 15, 2017 / Disease / Emergency/Critical Care / Dogs

Pyometra is a veterinary emergency When a middle-aged, intact female dog comes into the clinic with complaints from her owner that she has been depressed and lethargic, one of the first concerns that likely pops into the veterinarian’s mind is a potential pyometra. “A pyometra is a uterine infection, and it is a true veterinary...

[Bianca Martins with cataract patient]

Cataract Surgery Restores Dogs’ Vision

Aug 7, 2017 / Ophthalmology / Dogs

Surgery significantly improves quality of life “Both people and dogs get cataracts. Cataracts are an increased opacity, or cloudiness, of the lens of the eye, causing impaired vision,” says Dr. Bianca Martins, a veterinary ophthalmologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. The lens is a hard structure that sits around the...

[Trooper the dog was born with a palatal defect]

Cleft Palate Afflicts Pets Too

Jul 26, 2017 / Dentistry / Cats / Dogs

Normal Life Possible for Dogs with Palatal Defect “Every 3 minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate” begins the heartrending appeal for donations to ensure that these children have access to the relatively inexpensive and highly successful surgical repair that will restore their smile. Dogs can also be born with...

[patient with pacemaker is very active]

Pacemakers Solve Canine Heart Problems

Jul 18, 2017 / Cardiology / Dogs

‘They are more common than you think’ The heart is essential to the body, regardless of the species. Luckily, when dogs have heart problems, veterinary cardiologists, like Dr. Ryan Fries at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, are able to keep things ticking along. Pacemakers have been used in human medicine since...

[small animal emergency care]

Behind-the-Scenes in the ER

Jul 15, 2017 / Emergency/Critical Care / Cats / Dogs

If you have concerns, bring your pet to the ER vet You’re worried, you’re weary, and maybe you’re waiting for what seems like hours. Fortunately, you and your pet are in good hands when you bring your animal to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, which is open 24 hours a day,...

[Golden Wednesdays at Illinois veterinary rehab]

Old Dogs (and Cats), New Tricks

Jul 9, 2017 / General Care / Preventive Health / Cats / Dogs

Tips for Keeping Geriatric Pets Healthy Thanks to advancing medicine, pets live longer than ever before. However, with these added years of valuable life come more age-related health problems. In her role as a rehabilitation specialist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, Kimberly Knap sees many geriatric pets—including the group of...

[ticks, fleas, heartworms are major pet parasites]

Prevent the Big Three Pet Parasites

Jul 3, 2017 / Parasites / Preventive Health / Cats / Dogs

Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Nobody wants these bugs on their pets or in their house. But the reasons for keeping these bugs away go beyond just avoiding pests. “Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes are dangerous because they can carry and cause malicious diseases,” explains Dr. Gary Brummet, who heads the small animal primary care service at...

[dog in Fourth of July parade]

Land of the Free, Home of the Not-So-Brave Dogs

Jun 27, 2017 / Behavior / General Care / Preventive Health / Cats / Dogs

No Fireworks or Fatty Foods for Fido For Americans, the Fourth of July is a day of celebration, fireworks, and finding hundreds of ways to incorporate the American flag into food, outfits, and decorations. For our pets, it’s a random hot day full of strangers and lots of good-smelling food, accompanied by inexplicable loud “kabooms.”...