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.
![[bichon frise - allergies]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/pc-souza-allergies-260x157.jpg)
Itchiness Could Mean Allergies With winter’s dry air and cold temperatures, it’s no wonder everyone—including your furry friends—has dry skin! But unrelated to the weather, dry and itchy skin caused by allergies is a very common chronic problem in animals year-round. Dr. Clarissa Souza, a veterinarian in the dermatology service at the University of Illinois...
Improving health for people, animals, the environment Many Roles, Shared Goals For more than a decade, the Center for One Health Illinois, a program of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, has pursued a mission of education, research, and outreach to promote One Health collaborations in the state. Dr. Yvette Johnson-Walker, a faculty...
![[Dr. Stephanie Keating intubates a tiger]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/pc-keating-exotics-260x157.jpg)
Illinois Anesthesia Team Helps Exotic Felines Think your cat is uncooperative during a veterinary examination? Image if your cat weighed more than 400 pounds and had three-inch-long teeth and claws! Unsurprisingly, lions, tigers, and other wild cats must be anesthetized before they can be examined closely by a veterinarian. When it’s time for dental care...
![[Dr. Devon Hague with patient]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/pc-seizures-hague-260x157.jpg)
Seizures have a wide variety of causes Seizures in pets can be scary for pet owners. Knowing what seizures look like and what to do when they occur can help put pet owners at ease. Dr. Devon Hague, a veterinary neurologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, sees multiple patients every...
![[cow and calf]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/calf-crop-260x157.jpg)
You’ve worked hard to get your livestock bred and maintain a normal production cycle. It’s almost time for that amazing event: giving birth (or, in veterinary terminology, “parturition”). It’s understandable to be a little nervous about birthing season. After all, a year’s worth of work is at risk. The good news is that the process...
![[dog in front of decorated tree]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/pc-biehl-holiday-260x157.jpg)
Dangers Lurk in Lights, Plants, More What you think of as holiday décor just might look like playthings to your pets. “Animals will investigate anything new in their environment,” says Dr. Michael Biehl, a veterinary toxicologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. “They explore things with their mouth, which can get them...
![[dog in the snow]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pc-biehl-winterhazards-260x157.jpg)
A typical garage holds many hazards Cold weather is here. It’s time to winterize the car, pull out the space heaters, and thwart invading rodents. For pet owners, however, these common seasonal activities should be approached with caution because of the potential for hazardous outcomes for pets. Dr. Michael Biehl, a veterinary toxicologist at the...
![[Dr. Alycen Lundberg]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/pc-lundberg-cat-260x157.jpg)
Trial seeks nine cats with lung cancer Yes, cats can get lung cancer. Through a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures, a cancerous growth can arise just about anywhere in any body. For cats, the lungs are a particularly bad place to get cancer. Dr. Alycen Lundberg, a veterinary oncologist at the University of...
![[Dr. Katherine Kling examines a cat]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/pc-kling-cleaning-260x157.jpg)
Brushing needs to be consistent to be useful Did you get your six-month appointment reminder from your dentist recently? It’s important to keep up on those appointments for your dental health, and it’s just as important that our pets get their teeth cleaned as well. Dr. Katherine Kling, part of the dentistry and oral surgery...
![[cat acne column]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/pc-pieper-acne-260x157.jpg)
Animals typically develop acne in middle age Acne plagues many teenagers and even adults, but did you know that animals get pimples too? Dr. Jason Pieper, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, sees a few cases of pet acne every year. Acne occurs when a hair follicle...