Pet Columns

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...

Coronavirus and Pets: FAQs for Owners

Jun 10, 2020 / Infectious Disease / Public Health / Cats / Dogs

Is there a COVID-19 vaccine for dogs and cats? There is no vaccine for COVID-19 for people or animals at this time. Veterinarians are familiar with other coronaviruses. Similar but different coronavirus species  cause several common diseases in domestic animals. Many dogs, for example, are vaccinated for another species of coronavirus (Canine Coronavirus) as puppies....

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...

I-Loc: Bone Fracture Repair Option Comes to Illinois

Nov 12, 2019 / Advances in Medicine / Small Animal Surgery / Dogs

Two Days After Surgery Deuces Was Walking Dr. Danielle Marturello, a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, brought an innovative option for fracture repair with her when she recently joined the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine faculty. Meet Deuces Deuces, a two-year-old male pit bull, came to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana...

COHAT: More Than a Pet Dental Cleaning

Sep 9, 2019 / Dentistry / Cats / Dogs

Pet Dental Care Improves Quality of Life When an animal visits the veterinarian for a dental cleaning, the procedure is often referred to as a “dental.” Dr. Mallory Kanwal, a second-year resident in the dentistry and oral surgery service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, prefers to use the term “COHAT.”...

Lumps and Bumps on My Pet

Jun 24, 2019 / Cancer Care / Cats / Dogs

Accurate Veterinary Advice Is Empowering Imagine petting your dog or cat and finding a lump, something you hadn’t noticed there before. Feeling alarmed, you turn to an online search engine, which yields lots of scary diagnoses: cancer, tumor, cyst, fatty mass. What does this all mean? And which condition does your pet actually have? According...