Pet Columns

Oneida the box turtle on wheels for recovery

Recent

The Case of the Egg-Bound Box Turtle
July 21, 2026

Oneida the ornate box turtle, a beloved ambassador animal at the Nahant Marsh Education Center in Davenport, Iowa, came to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a life-threatening condition: egg binding. With the…
Read More >

Categories

Species

[empty bench]

CARE Helpline Has Closed

July 09, 2018

The CARE Helpline is no longer in operation. The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine no longer offers a grief telephone support service. For an overview of grief from the loss of a pet…
Read More >

[hot weather dog]

Avoid Hot Weather Hazards for Dogs

July 02, 2018

Dehydration, Heatstroke Are Preventable Ironically, the dog days of summer—the hottest time of the year—are not always good for dogs. Dr. Jennifer Reinhart, a specialist in veterinary internal medicine at the University of Illinois Veterinary…
Read More >

[horse cough]

My Horse Has a Cough. Now What?

May 20, 2018

Many Conditions Make a Horse Cough As a horse owner, you would not hesitate to seek veterinary care if your horse shows signs of lameness, colic, choke, or other immediate dangers. But what do you…
Read More >

[Kristen Keller and Leo]

Keep Teflon, Avocado, Lead, and Zinc Away From Pet Birds

May 07, 2018

These items are toxic to birds Bird owners, beware ! Three common household toxins—TeflonTM, avocado, and heavy metals—present deadly dangers to your feathered friends, according to Dr. Krista Keller, a veterinary specialist in zoological medicine….
Read More >

[horse teeth]

Horses Need to See the Dentist Too

April 21, 2018

A horse’s teeth should be examined every 6 months Just like cats and dogs, horses need oral examinations from veterinarians. The health of a horse’s mouth greatly impacts its well-being, behavior, and performance. Dr. Dennis…
Read More >

[radiograph of a dog with a bullet in its shoulder]

Veterinary Forensics: When Crimes Involve Animals

April 16, 2018

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…
Read More >