Specialty Services
Each specialty service at the hospital is staffed by highly trained veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians (CVTs). Usually, clients are referred to a specialty service by their primary veterinarian. If a veterinarian referred you to our hospital, he or she will be kept informed about your animal’s condition and treatment to help ensure consistent future care.
Specialty Service Areas
Anesthesiology/Pain Management
Our top priority is your animal’s well-being and comfort.Any time your animal undergoes a test or procedure that requires anesthesia, we gather comprehensive data in advance to develop an individualized anesthetic plan specifically for your animal. We vigilantly monitor your animal’s vital signs before, during, and after anesthesia, and we deliver pain-relieving medications as needed.
We also provide a range of pain management options for animals recovering from surgery or experiencing acute or chronic pain.
Our Veterinarians
Tamas Ambrisko, DVM, DECVA, DACVAA
Stephanie Keating, DVM, DVSc, DACVAAFelipe Martins, DVM, Resident
Adrianna Sage, DVM Resident
Danielle Strahl-Heldreth, DVM, Resident
Stephanie Dantino, DVM, InternAdditional Anesthesia Staff
- Tracy Clayton, CVT
- Caitlyn Cordell, CVT
- Justin Lancaster, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)
- Kim Potempa, CVT
- Elizabeth Rappleyea, CVT
- Ashley Ratliff, CVT
- Jessica Risley, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)
- Valerie Wasinski, CVT
- Darci Winkler, CVT
Read about pain management, anesthesia, and acupuncture in animals
Cardiology
Thank you to Dr. Ryan Fries and his staff in the cardiology department for taking the time to confirm Bamboo’s diagnosis, which sadly is HCM. We are glad to at least have a better understanding of what is truly wrong with him. The staff was incredibly patient with him. We look forward to doing his future visits with you. Your program is wonderful.
Ashley B.
Our hospital offers the only interventional cardiology procedures for animals in the state of Illinois. We provide diagnosis and treatment of heart failure, heart murmurs, arrhythmia, hypertension, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, congenital heart disease, and other cardiovascular diseases.Services
- Cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram including Color Flow Doppler) for non-invasive examination of the heart structure and function
- ECG for examination of electrical activity of the heart
- Holter and event monitoring for long-term evaluation of the heart rhythm in the home environment
- Radiographs to examine the size and shape of the heart and lungs
- Pacemaker implantation
- Interventional procedures (PDA, balloon valvuloplasty, diagnostic angiography, intrahepatic shunt, vascular anomalies)
Our Veterinarians
Ryan Fries, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Jordan Vitt, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)Saki Kadotani, DVM, Resident
Jonathon Stack, DVM, Resident
Gabrielle Wallace, DVM, ResidentAdditional Cardiology Clinic Staff
Katie McConnell, CVT
Candice Simpson, CVT
Dentistry and Oral Surgery
Thanks to the dentistry and anesthesia departments! Zeke is feeling terrific after his root canal. I appreciated your attention to detail, including updates for me and great customer service.
Amy W.
Our dentistry service diagnoses and treats both simple and complicated dental and oral diseases. While we primarily see dogs and cats, we’re also trained and equipped for larger animals and exotics like chinchillas and ferrets. Dentistry services are available with or without a referral from your primary veterinarian.
In dogs and cats, periodontal disease (gum disease) is the number one diagnosed problem. By the age of just two, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease, and gum diseases lead to other problems throughout the body. For this reason, it’s very important for animals to have their teeth examined and cleaned.
Services
- Dental prophylaxis (teeth cleaning)
- Routine and advanced periodontal therapies
- Extractions, including closed, multi-rooted, and complicated surgical extractions
- Management for fractured or worn teeth (e.g., root canal, crowns)
- Jaw fracture repair
- Management of severe stomatitis
- Management of unusual oral lesions, including myositis, osteomyelitis, bone sequestra, dentigerous cysts, dental caries, malocclusions, and oronasal fistulas
- Oral tumor identification and treatment planning
Special Capabilities
- Digital radiography
- High-speed fiberoptic dental unit
- LightSpeed endodonic technology
- Osteoallograft, bone grafting for bone loss secondary to periodontal disease
Our Veterinarians
Katherine Kling, DVM
Amy Somrak, MBA, DVM, DAVDCMallory Kanwal, DVM, Resident
Additional Dentistry Clinical Staff
Misty Croy, CVTDermatology and Otology
After [Shadow’s] ear surgery he’s coming along wonderful again.
Betty E.
Does your pet shake his or her head? Have a head tilt? Stinky ears? Skin conditions are often the result of your animal’s body reacting to environmental and internal stimuli and may be caused by many different things. That’s why it’s important to see a board-certified specialist in veterinary dermatology to formulate a plan to help your animal. It’s better to treat the underlying disease now rather than wait till the symptoms turn into a serious disease with a poor or costly prognosis.
Services
We treat a wide range of dermatological issues. Common conditions include diseases such as:
- Allergic skin
- Blistering skin
- Ear
- Nail and nail bed
- Hormonal
- Immune-mediated
- Cushings
- Thyroid
- Parasitic skin
Other skin issues we treat include:
- Pruritus (itching, chewing)
- Excessive skin scaling or crusting
- Hair loss, alopecia
- Seborrhea (greasy skin)
- Skin cancers
- Bacterial skin infections
- Fungal and yeast skin infections
Special Capabilities
- Cryosurgery for treatment of small skin tumors
- Customized subcutaneous and sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy
- Dermatoscopy to evaluate skin lesions
- Intradermal testing to better define environmental allergies
- Laser surgery to treat skin cancer and chronic skin alterations
- Team approach with pathologists in diagnoses requiring interpretation of skin biopsies
- Video-otoscopy to evaluate and treat ear diseases including laser therapy
Our Veterinarians
Jason Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD
Clarissa Souza, DVM, MSc, PhDLara Tomich, DVM, Resident
Marvin (Dan) Schuldenfrei, DVM, Dermatology Specialty Intern
Trenton Ewing, DVM, InternAdditional Dermatology Clinical Staff
Sandy Grable, CVT, VTS (Dermatology)
Equine Medicine and Surgery
![[Dr. Annette McCoy, equine surgeon]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/vth-equine_surgery4.jpg)
I felt their surgeons were extraordinary. … I showed [Blondie] last year and we won almost all the classes I had her in.
Sandy B.
We care for pleasure horses, race horses, breeding horses, and more. We have two climate-controlled equine wards, two equine surgery suites with state-of-the art equipment and padded recovery rooms, and the only 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for horses in the state.
Our service is staffed by specialized veterinarians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for emergencies and by appointment for all other services, including annual wellness exams and vaccinations.
Additionally, if your horse needs the expertise of a specialist in cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, or imaging, our equine veterinarians can quickly and easily consult with one of our board-certified specialists.
Services
- Lameness and lameness locator system
- High-speed treadmill examinations
- Minimally invasive and laser surgery
- Digital radiology, ultrasound, nuclear imaging, computed tomography,and high-field MRI
- Reproductive surgery
- Therapeutic shoeing
- Mare and stallion fertility evaluation
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
- Traditional videoendoscopy
- Overground videoendoscopy
Special Interests
- Arthroscopy
- Colic
- Critical care
- Emergency medicine and surgery
- Exercise physiology
- Forensic detection of drugs
- Infectious disease
- Lameness diagnosis and treatment
- Fracture repair
- Neonatal medicine
- Neurological disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Poor performance
- Respiratory disease
- Upper-airway surgery
Special Capabilities
- 24-hour emergency medicine and surgery care
- 24-hour equine adult and foal critical care
- Computed tomography for neonatal foals without a requirement for general anesthesia in many cases
- Pulmonary function testing
- Acupuncture
- Over ground endoscopy
- Biologic therapies for orthopedic applications
Our Veterinarians
Scott Austin, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA
Jonathan Foreman, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA
Santiago Gutierrez-Nibeyro, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, DACVSMR (Equine)
Ann Kemper, DVM
Lori Madsen, DVM
Annette McCoy, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS
Matthew Stewart, BVSc, MVetClinStud, PhD, Fellow ACVSc-LA (Equine Surgery), DACVSMR (Equine)
Pamela Wilkins, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM-LA, DACVECC
Georgean Zyrkowski, DVMIlana Glasberg, DVM, Resident
Sarah Gray, DVM, Resident
Alessandro Migliorisi, DVM, Resident
Giorgia Podico, DVM, Resident
Kathryn Slaughter, DVM, Resident
Rebecca Bishop, DVM, Intern
Sarah Kooy, DVM, Intern
Kristen Stowell, DVM, InternAdditional Equine Clinical Staff
Brittany Biehl, CVT
Jacob Bough, CVT
Chelsea Foil, CVT
Celeste Kappes, CVT
Ragenia Sarr, CVT
Merinda Venatta, CVT
Claire Kaplan, TechnicianExotic Animal Care
Can’t say enough good about Dr. Ken Welle in the exotics department. He is by far the best and most skilled avian vet in the Midwest! Recently he identified an infection that my lovebird Elliott had and successfully treated it…. His ability to do blood draws on small birds with almost no stress is amazing.
Betsy C.
Our exotic/zoological medicine service provides care for lizards, parrots, hedgehogs, and just about any amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small exotic mammals.Beyond our general care service for exotic animals, our hospital offers surgery, ophthalmology, and many other specialty areas to improve the overall health of these pets. Our veterinarians will get to know you and your animal and work with you to maintain a healthy life for your animal.
Services
- 24-hour emergency care
- Wellness examinations and vaccinations
- Nutrition consulting
- Complete diagnostics and comprehensive medicine
- Reproductive procedures (sexing, spay/neuter, egg-binding) and other soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries
- Husbandry consultations
Our Veterinarians
Matthew Allender, DVM, MS, PhD
Krista Keller, DVM, DACZM
Sarah Reich, DVM
Samantha Sander, DVM, DACZM
Kenneth Welle, DVM, ABVP (Avian)
Julia K. Whittington, DVMLauren Kane, DVM, Resident
Julie Sheldon, DVM, Resident
Joanna Webb, DVM, ResidentAdditional Exotics Staff
Kim Byrne, CVT
Jenny Trail, CVTFarm Animal Reproduction, Medicine, and Surgery
Dr. Austin came out and explained my horse’s condition, “sweet itch,” which I had suspected with a realistic but sad prognosis. Came within a day of me calling and my horse was treated with vast improvement within 24 hours.
Betty U.
Our team consists of faculty veterinarians, residents, and veterinary technicians along with our veterinary students. We offer in-house, on-farm, and emergency care for livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camelids, and cervids.
Services at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Primary (routine) care. Working in our climate-controlled facility, our team members perform routine procedures such as pregnancy diagnosis, breeding soundness evaluation, vaccination, deworming, castration, and hoof trimming for all livestock species. The facility is designed for low-stress cattle handling and is equipped with a hydraulic squeeze chute and hydraulic tilt table.
Specialty care. Specialists are available to deal with challenging medical and surgical problems. Imaging modalities, including ultrasound, digital radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are available on site for our specialists. We utilize the services of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for clinical pathology (e.g., blood counts, serum chemistry), microbiology, virology, and immunology tests to aid in the diagnosis of challenging cases. Animals with serious medical and surgical issues can be housed in our facility for intensive 24-hour care.
Reproduction. Pregnancy diagnosis via palpation or ultrasound can be performed on all livestock species. Estrous cycle manipulation strategies can be developed for a variety of species. Transcervical or laparoscopic artificial insemination can be performed for all livestock species. Breeding soundness examinations can be performed for all livestock species. Semen freezing is available for most livestock species. Embryo transfer via conventional flushing or in vitro fertilization is available with advance notice.
On-Farm Services
Our team members travel in a truck designed for mobile veterinary care to perform routine livestock procedures and treat ill animals on farms throughout east central Illinois. The typical practice radius is approximately 50 miles, although exceptions are made in special circumstances.
Our Veterinarians
Brian Aldridge, BVSc, PhD, DACVIM-LA, MS, FRCVS
Benjamin Blair, DVM, PhD Candidate
Dennis French, DVM, DABVP (Equine Practice)
Edgar Garrett, DVM, MS
Courtney Hayes, DVM
Andy Hubner, DVM
Fabio Lima, DVM, MS, PhD
Jim Lowe, DVM, MS, DABVP (Food Animal)
Thomas Lowery, DVM
Tessa Marshall, BVSc, MS, DABVP (Dairy Practice)
Will Sander, DVMPhillip Peixoto, DVM, Resident
Additional IFAMS Clinical Staff
Brittany Biehl, CVT
Kristen Massey, BS, CVT
Ragenia Sarr, CVT
Amy Saupe, CVT
Rachel Stout, CVT
Merinda Venatta, CVTFarrier
All aspects of equine hoof care, including advanced therapeutic shoeing, are offered. Professional farrier services are offered at the hospital on Wednesdays; we visit horses primarily at farms/stables throughout west-central Indiana and east-central Illinois on other days.Services
- Trimming
- Shoeing
- Therapeutic trimming with veterinarian
- Horse owner hoof care clinics
Download a copy of our price list for professional services.
Trimming and shoeing performed by Midwest Horseshoeing School students, and inspected by an AFA-certified farrier, are available at the hospital on Fridays at discounted rates.
Our Farriers
Diego Almeida, CJF
Linda Markert, CJF
Steve Sermersheim, CJF TE, AWCFImaging
I have nothing but excellent things to say about this place. From the office staff to the health care professionals, [all] have always been so caring, helpful, and thorough. My Scottie had cancer and was treated here. She had her MRI, surgery, chemo, and aftercare all at U of I.
Rebecca S.
Our diagnostic imaging service is an integral part of the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities. Through the use of state-of-the-art equipment, and imaging specialists, we’re able to provide the information needed to best identify and treat your animal’s condition.
Services
- Cobalt radiation therapy
- Computed Tomography (CT) for small and large animals (equine)
- Digital radiography
- 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for small and large animals
- Nuclear medicine
- Ultrasonography
Our Veterinarians
Cintia Oliveira, DVM, DACVR
Kim Selting, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), DACVR (Radiation Oncology)
Sharon Wagner, DVM, RDCS
Additional Imaging Clinical Staff
Susan Hartman, RT(R)CT
Darleen Drake, CVT
Wesley Durbin, CVT
Jill Franzen, CVT
Taylor Kauffman, CVT
Melinda Smith, CVT
Stephanie Walker, CVT
Jeanice Ward, BS, CVTInternal Medicine
My 12-year-old dog with Addison’s disease requires a lot of care, and my experience with internal medicine was awesome from start to finish. Emily, the vet student who worked with us, was outstanding. She had reviewed Wrigley’s chart thoroughly (not an easy feat!) and was compassionate and knowledgeable. Dr. Barko was also great, and I feel very comfortable having Wrigley’s care in his hands.
Amy C.
Veterinarians on our service focus on the diseases of internal systems, including:
- Endocrine
- Addison’s disease
- Cushing’s disease
- Diabetes
- Hyperthyroidism
- Gastrointestinal
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small and large intestine
- Infectious disease
- Blastomycosis
- Leptospirosis
- Nasal aspergillosis
- Inflammatory disease
- Blood cells (IMHA, ITP)
- Joints
- Polymyocitis
- Liver and gallbladder
- Pancreas
- Respiratory system (nose, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lung)
- Urinary system
- Acute and chronic kidney disease
- Lower urinary tract disease
We’re here to find the cause of your pet’s condition with help from the hospital’s advanced diagnostic testing, veterinary pathology, and imaging capabilities, and to recommend or provide treatment.
Special Procedures
- Endoscopy
- Radioiodine therapy
Our Veterinarians
Arnon Gal, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-SAIM, DACVP
Kimberly Hooi, BVSc, DACVIM-SAIM
Jennifer Reinhart, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM-SAIM
Marcella D. Ridgway, VMD, MS, DACVIM-SAIM
David Williams, MA, VetMB, PhD, DACVIM-SAIM, DECVIM-CACarrie Cavett, DVM, Resident
Nicole Laia, DVM, Resident
Matthew Tonero, DVM, Resident
Matthew Hull, DVM, Intern
Colleen Barrett, DVM, Rotating Intern
Ross Bernstein, DVM, Rotating Intern
Christopher Bloom, DVM, Rotating Intern
Caitlin Bowen, DVM, Rotating Intern
Rebekah Brown, DVM, Rotating Intern
Jonathan Nagel, DVM, Rotating Intern
Sarah Nath, DVM, Rotating Intern
Amanda Xue, DVM, Rotating InternAdditional Internal Medicine Clinical Staff
Carrie Bubb, CVT
Sara Roy, CVT- Endocrine
Neurology and Neurosurgery
The vet called and said, ‘Something’s not right.’ That’s when we decided she needed to go to the U of I. … We did not think [Mayzie] would ever walk again at all…. But we rushed her to the U of I and everyone up there was wonderful. They just took really good care of her and they talked us through everything.
Sharon S.
Compassionate care for neurological patients and their families is of the utmost importance to us. Our neurology service provides comprehensive diagnostic testing along with advanced medical and surgical treatment options for animals with disorders of the spinal cord, brain, and neuromuscular system.
If your pet is showing these signs, consult your veterinarian to see if your pet might benefit from an appointment with our neurology team:
- Head tilt
- Circling
- Falling over
- Dizziness
- Disorientation/behavior change
- Weakness
- Seizures
Services
We treat a variety of neurologic issues. Common conditions include:
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
- Spinal cord disease
- Brain and spinal tumors
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis/encephalitis)
- Seizures
- Neuromuscular disorders
Special Capabilities
- Brain and spinal surgery
- Cerebrospinal fluid collection and analysis
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Electrodiagnostics, including electroencephalogram (EEG), brainstem auditory evoked reflex/potential (BAER), electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction velocity (NCV)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Our Veterinarians
Kari Foss, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)
Devon Wallis Hague, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)Caroline Fallon, DVM, Resident
Rachel Lampe, DVM, Resident
Hilary Levitin, DVM, Resident
Samantha Vitale, DVM, Resident
Francisco Guevara, DVM, InternAdditional Neurology Clinical Staff
Lindsey Crowner, CVT
Denise Weber, CVTOncology
My guide dog, Bart, had osteosarcoma…. We were told that he would live only 1 to 3 months unless we had his leg amputated and then he may have an additional 3 months. When we met with the doctor at U of I, we were told about the study regarding Bart’s cancer and agreed to put Bart on the trial. Bart lived a very full life for an additional 13 months. … The doctors made sure that he was comfortable and relatively pain-free throughout his battle.
Jeremy S.
![[Tim Fan with a canine patient and vet tech Rebecca Kamerer.]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rvet-july2014-timfan1-260x157.jpg)
Facing the diagnosis of cancer in a beloved pet is an emotional and frightening experience. Our oncology specialists are here to help family members navigate testing and treatment options to find the plan that works best for everyone.
Services
- Medical oncology
- Diagnosis
- Staging (evaluating the extent of the disease)
- Treatment (e.g. chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies)
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Clinical trials (cutting-edge therapies, some with financial support)
Special Capabilities
- Active clinical trials offering targeted cancer treatments
- Partnering with the National Cancer Institute to evaluate new anti-cancer drugs for dogs and cats
- Advanced equipment to assess bone health
- Computerized pressure-sensing gait analysis equipment to evaluate pain in dogs with bone disease/tumors
Our Veterinarians
Timothy M. Fan, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology, Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Laura D. Garrett, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Kimberly Selting, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), DACVR (Radiation Oncology)
Alycen Lundberg, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), PhD CandidateMatthew Berry, DVM, Resident
Mark Byrum, DVM, Resident
Dana Connell, DVM, Resident
Sunny Kao, DVM Resident
Alison Masyr, DVM, InternAdditional Staff
Tara Bailey, CVT
Jenny Byrd, CVT
Becca Guess, CVT
Rebecca Kamerer, CVTSee a list of current clinical trials.
Learn more about chemotherapy.
Read about cancer care in animals
- Medical oncology
Ophthalmology
We took our young lab-mix rescue that had an injured eye that wasn’t responding to two months of treatment. The U of I exam was so very thorough and gentle. Their care and knowledge was very detailed.
DeAnn R.
Our ophthalmology service offers comprehensive eye care for small animals, large animals, and exotic animals. We use state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose and treat ocular diseases. Once we have made a diagnosis, we’ll work with you and your animal to treat the problem and help you learn to detect eye diseases in the early stages.Services
We treat a wide variety of eye-related issues. Common conditions include:
- Corneal ulcers
- Cataract and cataract surgery
- Dry eye
- Glaucoma
- Eyelid diseases and defects
- Hereditary eye disease
Special Capabilities
- Endolaser treatment for glaucoma
- Phacoemulsification for cataract removal
- Corneal grafts and transplants
- Cyclosporine implants in horses
- Electroretinography
- Iris cyst ablation
Our Veterinarians
Bianca da Costa Martins, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVO
Kathryn Fleming, DVM, PhD, DACVOSophie Rajotte, DVM, Resident
Tatiane Villar, DVM, Intern
Elyse Salpeter, DVM, InternAdditional Ophthalmology Clinical Staff
Shari Poruba, CVT
Lorri Zoch, CVTRehabilitation
It’s been just phenomenal. It was practically an overnight turnaround. These people are so spectacular. They clearly love the animals, and the animals appear to absolutely love the team, too.
Rob G.
Our rehabilitation services are similar to the treatment approaches used in human physical therapy. Working with our rehabilitation specialists can help your animal with:- Improved post-operative recovery
- Improved quality of life
- Restored activity level and function
If you or your veterinarian think rehabilitation might help your pet, contact us. All new patients will receive a full physical, neurologic, and orthopedic exams plus various baseline measurements to help us develop a personalized therapy plan. We offer a variety of appointment options including scheduling outpatient appointments, single-day drop-off appointments, and medical boarding with rehabilitation for extended therapy. No referral is needed, although one is helpful.
Services
- Aquatic therapy (swimming and underwater treadmill)
- Land treadmill exercise and acclimation
- Cart and/or wheelchair fitting/adjustment
- Electrical stimulation
- Local hot and cold therapy
- Passive range of motion exercises
- Pulsed signal therapy
- Soft tissue massage
- Tailored home exercises
- Therapeutic exercise
- Therapeutic laser
- Therapeutic ultrasound therapy
- Weight management
Special Capabilities
- Athletic conditioning
- Dogs with chronic or neurologic conditions
- Chronic DJD
- Post-operative patients
Our Veterinarian
Tisha A.M. Harper, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA, CCRP*Rehabilitation Specialists
Carrie Chandler-Harrison, CVT, CCRP*
Kim Knap, BS, CVT, CCRP**Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
Contact
For more information on Physical Rehabilitation or to schedule an appointment, please contact our rehabilitation specialists Kim Knap or Carrie Chandler directly at 217-265-5314 or vthrehab@vetmed.illinois.eduReproduction (Bovine, Equine, Small Animal Ruminant)
For large animals, we offer breeding services, also known as theriogenology.Large Animal Services
- Artificial insemination using transcervical techniques and surgical deposition of all large animal species
- Breeding soundness examination of females and males
- Collection, freezing, storage, and shipment of semen and embryos, including epididymal semen collection and freezing
- Embryo transfer
- Post-partum, post-breeding and management of sub-fertile animals
- Routine reproduction examinations of all large animals (beef, camelids, cervids, dairy, goats, horses, sheep)
Bovine Services
- Herd reproduction record analysis and consultation, including nutritional and cow comfort
- Immunization schedules to maximize reproduction
- In vitro fertilization
- Ovum pick-up techniques
- Synchronized breeding programs
Equine Services
- Breeding management of normal and subfertile mares
- Breeding soundness evaluation of mares and stallions
- Training stallions for semen collection on the dummy
- Stallion semen freezing
- Foaling management of normal mares and high risk pregnancies
- Investigation of sub-athletic performance due to behavioral abnormalities
- Embryo collection and transfer or shipping
- Stallion semen collection, evaluation, and shipping
- Examination of pathological diseases of mares and stallions
- Assessment of pregnancy loss and abortion outbreaks
- Epididymal flush and semen freezing for dead stallions
- Ovary harvest from dead mares for ICSI
- Dystocia management
- Retained placenta and other post-partum complications
Small Animal Ruminant Services (Sheep, Goats, and Deer)
- Laproscopic AI
- Herd health plans
- Fetal sexing and counting
- Pregnancy exams
- Sync programs
- Infertility workup
Our Veterinarians
Igor Canisso, DVM, MSc, PhD, DACT, DECAR (equine emphasis)
Fabio Lima, DVM, MS, PhD (bovine emphasis)Giorgia Podico, DVM, Resident
Additional Reproduction Clinical Staff
Kristen Massey, BS, CVT
Amy Saupe, CVT
Claire Kaplan, TechnicianSurgery
Our dog suddenly fell ill. We brought him to our local vets; no one knew exactly what was wrong. We then brought him to the U of I animal clinic. They diagnosed him accurately that day and performed emergency surgery. Without them my dog would have died. I can’t thank them enough for their help and compassion.
Tricia H.
With the help of our diagnostic lab and imaging service, we’re able to diagnose your animal and offer state-of-the-art treatment options in both orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.
Orthopedic Surgery
This area focuses on surgical and medical treatments for orthopedic and neurological diseases.
Common orthopedic conditions include:
- Angular limb deformities
- Arthroscopic joint exploration
- Canine hip dysplasia
- Degenerative joint disease
- Diseases of the elbow and shoulder
- Fracture repair
- Patella luxation (dislocated knee)
Special capabilities:
- Arthroscopic joint exploration
- Fluoroscopy-guided fracture repair
- Locking plate fracture fixation
- C-arm radiology during surgery
Learn more about orthopedic surgery. Read our FAQ page.
Soft Tissue/Oncologic Surgery
This area works extensively with all small animals in our cancer care clinic and provides surgical expertise for animals with soft-tissue diseases.
Common soft tissue surgeries and special capabilities include:
- Head and neck surgery, such as total ear canal ablation and brachycephalic airway surgery, including the LATE procedure
- Thoracic tissue and organ surgery, such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and persistent right aortic arch
- Abdominal tissue and organ surgery, from hernia repair to gastropexy, pancreatic surgery, and advanced urinary tract surgery, including microsurgery
- Skin and reconstructive surgery for wounds and mass removal, as well as limb, digit, and tail amputation
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Thoracoscopy
- Laparoscopy, including prophylactic gastropexy and liver and other tissue biopsy
Our Veterinarians
Tisha A.M. Harper, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA, CCRP*
Clara Moran, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
Heidi Phillips, VMD, DACVS-SA
Marc Wosar, DVM, DACVS-SAJacqueline Cavalcanti, DVM, Resident
Kyle Chu, DVM, Resident
Christina Cocca, DVM, Resident
Hadley Gleason, DVM, Resident
Allison Putterman, DVM, Resident
Ava Song, DVM, InternAdditional Small Animal Surgery Clinical Staff
Janelle Burke, CVT
Rachel Dorney, CVT
Amanda Green, CVT
Kellie Lecher, CVT
Dana Robeck, CVT
Shawn Stevens, CVT
Amanda Widick, CVT*Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
Other Services
Grief Counseling
Client Counselor Specialist
Gail Wallis HagueThe Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers grief counseling to help clients through the process of healing. Gail Hague is a counseling psychologist with over 40 years of counseling experience. The special support of a therapeutic relationship can help anyone experiencing difficulty with the loss of a beloved animal to move forward. There is no charge for grief counseling for our clientele or for the clientele of our referring veterinarians. Please feel free to call for information about healing and support.
Hours:
Tuesday–Wednesday–Thursday
9 am–6 pm
(217) 300-3494In addition, a list of pet loss help centers can be found on the American Veterinary Medical Association website. See AVMA Important Resources for Veterinarians, under “Pet Loss Support – Grief Counseling.”
Pharmacy
We have a full-service pharmacy that dispenses medications, provides intravenous admixture service, formulates and prepares compounded medications, and advises on dosages and pharmacy calculations. As an Illinois licensed hospital pharmacy, it must comply with all relevant state and federal laws and regulations. Medications may be dispensed to clients only for conditions currently being treated by hospital clinicians. Pharmacy hours:
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.-noonPharmacists
Brian Korus, PharmD, FSVHP
Leslie Horner, RPhPharmacy Technicians
Jenny Chen, CPhT
Linda Glynn, CPhT
Kara Knox, CPhTVeterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
The University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory provides diagnostic medical testing for infectious agents, toxins, and other causes of disease in animal diagnostic samples that are submitted by veterinary practitioners serving animal owners; public officials associated with public health, law, or wildlife management; and scientists with collaborative research projects. Faculty and staff are composed of pathologists, clinical pathologists, histotechnologists, microbiologists, virologists, immunologists, parasitologists, and serologists.