When Halloween comes, adults and kids alike enjoy the chance to dress up and eat more candy than usual. But the American Animal Hospital Association recommends being mindful of pets’ FEAR—food, environment, attire, and recovery—to keep pets safe and happy. Food Many people know that chocolate is toxic for pets. As little as one ounce of baking chocolate...
![[protect pets from toxins]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/pc-toxins-wismer-260x157.jpg)
Not sure if it’s toxic? Assume it is. Life would be much easier if pets could read the words “Warning!” or “Toxic!” on product labels. Then we wouldn’t have to worry when a chocolate bar or pack of gum goes missing. But until your pet learns to read, you should learn what to do in...
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Necropsies, the equivalent of human autopsies In every murder mystery, there is a scene where the coroner interprets markings, bruises, and injuries on the dead body to estimate a time and cause of death. What most people don’t know is that a similar process occurs in veterinary medicine. Necropsies, the equivalent of human autopsies, are...
![[smoke inhalation]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/pc-smoke-llewellyn-260x157.jpg)
Animals exposed to smoke need immediate care Visible injuries such as burns and scrapes are not the only health concerns for a pet involved in a fire. Though not obvious to the eye, exposure to smoke can cause serious consequences, according to Dr. Efa Llewellyn, one of the board-certified emergency and critical care specialists at...
![[dog on a purse - xylitol]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pc-xylitol-wismer-260x157.jpg)
To prevent xylitol toxicity, read labels Of course you aren’t going to offer your dog a stick of sugar-free gum! But did you know that xylitol, a sugar alcohol that is toxic to dogs, can be found not only in many brands of gum but also in other household items, from toothpaste to peanut butter?...
![[horse grazing]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/pc-equine-pasture-260x157.jpg)
Grass founder and fescue toxicity are problems Spring is here, and the plants are new and fresh. The pretty, lush grasses that green the countryside in April and May are young, tender, and very tasty for a horse. Unfortunately, these young grasses are also low in the fiber that horses need and are high in...
![[dog and cat lie on couch together]](http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pc-marijuana-260x157.jpg)
As of November 2014, four states had approved the use of marijuana as a recreational drug, and it appears that marijuana is becoming more widely accepted across the nation. Not surprisingly, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has seen an increase in the number of reported cases of pets eating pot: 539 calls about marijuana...