Take steps to minimize risks and be prepared Perhaps the scariest thing to pet owners is when an illness or injury to their pet occurs. Now imagine that this happens at 2 am and their regular veterinary clinic is closed. What do they do? Where do they go? Dr. Caroline Tonozzi, a veterinarian at the...
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, athletic, and solitary Hedgehogs have gained popularity as pets in recent decades. Before you add one to your family, Dr. Krista Keller, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, recommends learning all you can about these animals’ unique needs. While the wild European hedgehog freely roams the...
When Halloween comes, adults and kids alike enjoy the chance to dress up and eat more candy than usual. But the American Animal Hospital Association recommends being mindful of pets’ FEAR—food, environment, attire, and recovery—to keep pets safe and happy. Food Many people know that chocolate is toxic for pets. As little as one ounce of baking chocolate...
![[snake with bite wound]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pc-keller-snake-260x157.jpg)
Feeding live prey has risks In the wild snakes can’t just order carry-in; they have to hunt for their next meal. So it’s not surprising that owners of pet snakes may believe their pets need the thrill of the chase to satisfy natural instincts. However, Dr. Krista Keller, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois...
![[the shelter medicine mobile surgical unit at the University of Illinois]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pc-weedon-spay-neuter-260x157.jpg)
It’s almost always best to spay and neuter pets By far the most common surgeries performed on dogs in the United States are spay and neuter procedures—collectively called gonadectomies—that remove the reproductive organs to prevent unwanted pregnancies and pet overpopulation. But while these surgeries are common, they are not without controversy. Misconceptions and concerns about...
![[Golden Wednesdays at Illinois veterinary rehab]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/pc-knap-goldens-260x157.jpg)
Tips for Keeping Geriatric Pets Healthy Thanks to advancing medicine, pets live longer than ever before. However, with these added years of valuable life come more age-related health problems. In her role as a rehabilitation specialist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, Kimberly Knap sees many geriatric pets—including the group of...
![[ticks, fleas, heartworms are major pet parasites]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/pc-parasites-brummet-260x157.jpg)
Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Nobody wants these bugs on their pets or in their house. But the reasons for keeping these bugs away go beyond just avoiding pests. “Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes are dangerous because they can carry and cause malicious diseases,” explains Dr. Gary Brummet, who heads the small animal primary care service at...
![[dog in Fourth of July parade]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/pc-fourth-brummet-260x157.jpg)
No Fireworks or Fatty Foods for Fido For Americans, the Fourth of July is a day of celebration, fireworks, and finding hundreds of ways to incorporate the American flag into food, outfits, and decorations. For our pets, it’s a random hot day full of strangers and lots of good-smelling food, accompanied by inexplicable loud “kabooms.”...
![[FEMA workers rescue a dog from a flooded neighborhood]](https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/pc-flooding-FEMA-260x157.jpg)
Emergency responders help all household members “You may not be able to prevent a disaster from occurring, but you can reduce its impact with a little planning,” advises Dr. Loukia Agapis, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. Your pets should be part of your plan. Dr. Agapis, who...
![[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,...