![[black cat in a kitchen]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/pc-reinhart-fiv-felv-260x157.jpg)
Communication between owner and vet is vital Two acronyms that can be confusing to cat owners are FeLV and FIV. FeLV stands for feline leukemia virus, and FIV is feline immunodeficiency virus. Although caused by distinct viruses, these diseases have similarities: both are contagious and incurable; both are more likely to be acquired by a...
![[two puppies outside]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/pc-parvo-reinhart-260x157.jpg)
Parvovirus Is Everywhere; Vaccinate Your Dog Parvovirus, commonly known as “parvo,” is a contagious virus that can be very serious and even fatal in dogs. Dr. Jennifer Reinhart, a small animal internal medicine specialist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, explains that parvo is a problem that can be seen in...
![[sick dog canine influenza]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pc-dogflu-sullivan-260x157.jpg)
Canine Influenza H3N2 Spread Across U.S. A new strain of canine influenza made headlines in 2015 when it first appeared in the United States, sickening hundreds of dogs in Chicago. It took less than three years for that strain to spread to more than 30 other states. Dr. Drew Sullivan, director of the Medical District...
![[Culex pipiens]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pc-reich-wnv-260x157.jpg)
Mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus Mosquito season is here. Not only are the bites inflicted by these flying pests itchy and annoying, they also carry the risk of disease for humans and animals alike. Veterinarians actively monitor, treat, and seek solutions for diseases that affect human and animal health. Heartworm disease is a well-publicized and...
![[raccoon photo for pet column on coonhound paralysis]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/pc-coonhound_paralysis-wallig-260x157.jpg)
![[blastomycosis dog]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pc-blasto-dog-260x157.jpg)
Sporting dogs are at greater risk The unsuspecting victim inhales microscopic spores, which travel from the lungs throughout the body causing disease. It may sound like something out of science fiction, but the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis—the agent responsible for the systemic infection blastomycosis—is commonly found right here in the Midwest. Fungus Infects Dogs, Horses, Cats,...
![[FeLV-opens-doors-disease]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pc-rubin-felv-260x157.jpg)
Prevent FeLV by keeping cats indoors Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an agent that spreads easily between cats and has potentially lethal effects, causing a variety of secondary diseases that range from secondary infections to cancer. Dr. Stanley Rubin, a veterinarian who specializes in internal medicine at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in...
![[puppy outdoors]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/pc-zika-mitek-260x157.jpg)
Recent coverage of the Zika virus and its health impact on people and fetuses has raised questions among pet owners. The Zika virus was first identified in Africa more than 60 years ago. It is spread to people primarily by mosquito bites, and usually causes no or only mild symptoms in people. However, infection with...
![[baby bunny]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pc-bunny-aug2015-260x157.jpg)
A disease of wildlife called tularemia, a.k.a. “rabbit fever,” has been reported in every state except Hawaii, according to Kelly Rockwell, a third-year student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine who co-manages the student-run Wildlife Medical Clinic. “Tularemia has been around a long time. It is getting a lot of press lately...