Pet Columns

Keep Pets Safe from Holiday Hazards

Nov 14, 2020 / Emergency/Critical Care / Toxicology / Cats / Dogs

Most Problems Can Be Prevented No one knows better than a veterinarian who staffs the emergency room that the holidays can be fraught with hazards for pets. Luckily, most of the dangers can easily be prevented with some foresight and good advice. Dr. Yanshan Er, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital...

GI Upset in Cats and Dogs

Oct 12, 2020 / General Care / Preventive Health / Cats / Dogs

Consistent Diet May Help Prevent the Problem The two most common symptoms seen in a small animal general practice are vomiting and diarrhea, referred to as “GI [gastrointestinal] upset.” These symptoms can range from mild to more severe and affect dogs and cats. Dr. Drew Sullivan, the medical director at the University of Illinois Medical...

Coronavirus and Pets: FAQs for Owners

Oct 7, 2020 / Infectious Disease / Public Health / Cats / Dogs

Do pets or other animals get sick from SARS-CoV-2 like people do? This answer depends on the species. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, cats, mink, and dogs have all tested positive for the virus after exposure to a human with known or suspected SARS-CoV-2. Cats and mink are most likely to become...

Chiropractic Adjustment for Animals

Aug 12, 2020 / Pain Management / Rehabilitation / Cats / Dogs / Horses

Most Effective for Biomechanical Conditions For centuries now, many cultures have practiced spinal manipulation in people as a therapy to complement traditional medicine. It’s unclear when this practice was first used for animals, but the modern form of animal chiropractic arose within the past century. Dr. Catherine Foreman-Hesterberg, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois,...

Minimally Invasive Procedure Fixes Puppy’s Problem

Jul 1, 2020 / Advances in Medicine / Small Animal Surgery / Dogs

Treatment for Persistent Right Aortic Arch Hannah Bailey was sick. The six-month-old mixed-breed puppy couldn’t keep food down. She had lost weight. Her local veterinarian diagnosed an enlarged esophagus and suggested that her new owners take her to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Luckily for Hannah Bailey, a specialist there was...

New University of Illinois Veterinary Clinic Earns Accreditation

Jun 22, 2020 / General Care / Birds / Cats / Dogs / Exotics / Reptiles / Small Mammals

Serving Dogs, Cats, Zoological Species Veterinary Medicine South Clinic, part of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, achieved a significant milestone in veterinary care with its accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). AAHA is the only accrediting body for small animal hospitals in the United States. Hospitals accredited by AAHA meet or exceed...

Fat Cats and Heavy Hounds

Jun 13, 2020 / Preventive Health / Cats / Dogs

The Problem of Overweight Pets By most estimates, well over half of all cats and dogs in the United States are overweight. Dr. Gene Pavlovsky, a small animal veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine South Clinic in Urbana, says that those extra pounds can have serious health consequences for pets. He has suggestions...

Marijuana and Pets Should Not Mix

Jan 10, 2020 / Emergency/Critical Care / Toxicology / Cats / Dogs

Pet Poisoning Cases Get Higher In the first week that recreational use of the drug became legal in Illinois, the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital saw two cases of likely marijuana intoxication in pets. Dr. Caroline Tonozzi, a specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care who heads the small animal ER at the hospital,...

Don’t Overlook Dry Eye in Dogs

Dec 23, 2019 / Ophthalmology / Dogs

Most common eye problem in dogs Tears have an important role in keeping the eye healthy. They cover the cornea and wash away debris and infectious agents. They even have germ-fighting properties! When the eye’s tear film—the thin but complex layer of fluid coating the eye—does not contain enough tears, dogs (and people) are subject...

Traveling with Pets: Know the Rules

Dec 8, 2019 / Public Health / Cats / Dogs / Exotics

Pet travel is regulated “Most people consider pets as family members and often bring their pets with them when traveling,” says Dr. Adriana Roman-Muniz, a veterinary medical officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services. Recently Dr. Roman-Muniz spoke with students at the University of Illinois...