Pet Columns

New Approach for Treating Corneal Ulcers in Animals

May 2, 2016 / Advances in Medicine / Ophthalmology / Horses

Eye drop-based treatment may replace surgery Eyes are amazing structures. They have adapted in different ways to suit individual species. For example, because horses are a prey species, their eyes are on the sides of their head, which enables them to achieve a visual field of 350 degrees—almost all the way around them. On the...

Eye Tissue Bank to Help Horses, Dogs

Mar 28, 2016 / Advances in Medicine / Ophthalmology / Dogs / Horses

Corneal transplants have a high success rate “The purpose of this bank is to have corneas available for patients that would benefit from a corneal graft,” explains Dr. Martins. “That includes horses with an abscess in one of the layers of the cornea as well as horses and dogs with such conditions as deep corneal...

Osteochondritis Dissecans, a Common but Complex Disease in Horses

Feb 8, 2016 / Advances in Medicine / Disease / Horses

Diet, exercise, biomechanics, and genetics all play a role in this disease “Osteochondrosis is a disease in which the cartilage at the end of long bones, such as bones in the leg, fails to develop normally,” says Dr. Annette McCoy, an equine surgeon at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. “Sometimes this...

Kidney Disease in Pets May Go Undetected Without Annual Exams

Dec 15, 2015 / Advances in Medicine / Disease / Internal Medicine / Cats / Dogs

Pets with kidney disease can live years with appropriate care Kidneys play a vital role in the body by removing harmful wastes from the blood, helping to control blood pressure, and making hormones and enzymes. Not surprisingly, then, a host of serious health problems may arise when the kidneys aren’t functioning properly. “Chronic kidney disease...

New Dog Flu Invites Closer Look at Viruses, Vaccines

May 26, 2015 / Advances in Medicine / Disease / Preventive Health / Dogs

Genetic evidence suggests the dog flu vaccine may not be effective against the new flu strain. When the cause of the 2015 outbreak of respiratory illness in U.S. dogs was identified as a strain of canine influenza virus not previously seen in this country, the news spread as fast as the flu itself. Though canine...

Hip Hip Hooray: Solutions for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

May 12, 2015 / Advances in Medicine / Small Animal Surgery / Dogs

Dogs young and old, big and small may suffer from hip dysplasia. Fortunately, a range of treatment options is available to help pets stay mobile and pain-free. “The hip is a ball and socket joint. Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the ball—a protrusion at the top of the femur, or thigh bone—does not...

Study Looks for Better Way to Detect Cardiac Blood Clots in Cats

May 4, 2015 / Advances in Medicine / Disease / Imaging / Cats

Computed tomography may prove a quicker, less stressful, lower cost procedure for cats with suspected heart disease Diagnostic imaging plays a key role in detecting and monitoring heart disease in cats. At the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, clinicians are exploring whether computed tomography (CT) could provide prognostic indicators comparable to those...

Tools of the Trade: Veterinary Rehabilitation

Mar 23, 2015 / Advances in Medicine / Small Animal Surgery / Dogs

When the therapy is fun and the patient loves doing it, results come faster. Rehabilitation comes from the Latin word rehabilitare, which means “to restore ability.” As a certified veterinary technician and certified canine rehabilitation practitioner at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Kim Knap helps pets with a variety of conditions daily using...

Ultrasound Has Many Uses in Veterinary Care

Mar 11, 2015 / Advances in Medicine / Imaging / Cats / Dogs

Ultrasound equipment may become as prevalent as radiograph machines in veterinary practices. Veterinarians use many modes of imaging, from radiographs (X-rays) to computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each type employs different methods to create images, and each is best suited to distinct bodily components. While CT and MRI units are rarely...

Early Detection Important for Treating Pet’s Heart Disease

Dec 8, 2014 / Advances in Medicine / Disease / Cats / Dogs

Heart disease is the No. 4 cause of death in dogs, according to Dr. Ryan Fries, a veterinary cardiologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. The causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of heart problems in pets can vary widely. “Congenital heart disease—ones the animal is born with—can sometimes lead to heart...