![[pet tarantula]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/pc-keller-tarantula-260x157.jpg)
Tarantulas May Live 10 to 30 Years Not all “furry friends” have fur. Some people choose tarantulas as their family companion. Dr. Krista Keller, a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says big spiders need attention and love, just like a dog or cat does. “The...
![[outdoor cats can get rabies]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pc-rabies-cat-brummet-260x157.jpg)
In U.S., More Cats Than Dogs Test Positive for Rabies September 28 is World Rabies Day, a day to raise awareness about rabies virus and promote prevention and control efforts worldwide. But how much do you really know about the disease? In TV shows and movies, rabies is typically depicted as a frothing-mouth wild animal...
![[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...
It’s Not ‘Just’ a Fish Known for their bright, beautiful coloration and elaborate fin displays, betta fish, more accurately called “Siamese fighting fish,” are a common household pet. These little beauties require specific care to ensure that they stay happy and healthy. Dr. Krista Keller, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital...
![[baby bird in grass]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/pc-spring-bird-260x157.jpg)
Dos and Don’ts for a Healthy Spring April showers and May flowers aren’t the only signs of spring. There are also baby birds and hot dogs. Every spring the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine issues reminders about how to manage these animal signs of spring for the best outcomes. First, the wildlife babies....
![[pet column - heat stroke]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pc-heatstroke-mcmichael-260x157.jpg)
Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention The approach of summer brings a spike both in temperatures and in cases of heat stroke in dogs. Dr. Maureen McMichael, a boarded emergency and critical care specialist who heads the emergency service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, urges owners to acclimate their dogs...
![[curious cat]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/pc-wismer-meds-260x157.jpg)
Or make emergency veterinary visit They say curiosity killed the cat, and it gets dogs into some bad situations as well. Curiosity often leads to disaster when pets find their way to human medications such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and at-home chemotherapy. Dr. Tina Wismer, the medical director for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and...
![[reptile - iguana]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/pc-reich-reptile-260x157.jpg)
The right environment, diet for your reptile According to the most recent statistics for pet ownership in the United States, 4.7 million households kept 9.4 million reptiles as pets in 2016. With the interest in reptiles as pets expanding, Dr. Sarah Reich, a veterinarian who sees wildlife and exotic pets 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...
![[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...