![[radiograph of a dog with a bullet in its shoulder]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pc-forensics-stern-260x157.jpg)
Veterinary forensics is a growing field A forensic pathologist is a physician who specializes in determining the time, manner, and cause of death. Dr. Adam Stern, a board-certified pathologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, specializes in veterinary forensics. “In veterinary forensics, medical expertise is used to gather evidence applicable in civil and...
![[necropsies - pathology slide]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/pc-sprandel-necropsy-260x157.jpg)
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...
![[a veterinarian and technician draw blood from a cat]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/pc-whitebloodcells1-260x157.jpg)
The white blood cell count is a diagnostic tool for evaluating your pet’s health When your veterinarian runs a blood test to determine what’s ailing Fluffy, do you ever wonder what exactly all those numbers mean? A simple blood test provides a lot of information about your pet’s health status. Among other things, the blood...
![[Dr. Jamie Hebron examines a Boston terrier]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/pc-march-mrsa1-260x157.jpg)
Although unlikely, it is possible for MRSA to pass between people and pets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MRSA is one of the most common causes of human skin and soft tissue infections, and it is the tenth leading cause of death in humans in the United States. MRSA stands for...