Pet Columns

What’s the Buzz? Birds, Horses, People Get West Nile Virus

Jul 24, 2018 / Infectious Disease / Parasites / Public Health / Birds / Horses / Wildlife

Mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus Mosquito season is here. Not only are the bites inflicted by these flying pests itchy and annoying, they also carry the risk of disease for humans and animals alike. Veterinarians actively monitor, treat, and seek solutions for diseases that affect human and animal health. Heartworm disease is a well-publicized and...

First Aid for Horses

Jul 16, 2018 / Emergency/Critical Care / Horses

Be Prepared to Handle Wounds Would you know what to do if your horse accidentally encountered a sharp edge and ended up with a cut? Dr. Annette McCoy, an equine surgeon at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, offers information that will help you be prepared so you can stay calm and...

My Horse Has a Cough. Now What?

May 20, 2018 / Disease / General Care / Horses

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 do when your horse shows signs that are less clear-cut, such as a cough? There are dozens of reasons why...

Horses Need to See the Dentist Too

Apr 21, 2018 / Dentistry / Preventive Health / Horses

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 French, a professor who heads the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois, has cared for many...

Register in April for the National Service Animal Eye Exam

Apr 9, 2018 / Ophthalmology / Preventive Health / Dogs / Horses

Register Online, Then Call Illinois for Appointment Every May since 2008, veterinary ophthalmologists across the country have volunteered their time to provide free eye examinations for service animals. The annual event, which is organized by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) and Stokes Pharmacy, has provided screening for about 60,000 animals. Drs. Bianca Martins...

Colic Comes in Many Forms

Sep 23, 2017 / Emergency/Critical Care / Horses

With quick attention, a colicky horse often recovers In horses, colic is an ambiguous, potentially dangerous, diagnosis. Dr. Annette McCoy, an equine surgeon at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says, “Colic is a description for abdominal pain. We use it assuming that the origin of the pain is intestinal, but technically...

Take Time to Grieve Your Pet

Sep 4, 2017 / Grief Helpline / Birds / Cats / Dogs / Exotics / Horses

National Pet Memorial Day Is September 10 “The death of a pet is one of the few types of loss that may not be appreciated by others as a true cause for grief,” says Gail Hague, client counselor specialist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. “Individuals who experience this type of...

Veterinarian, Farrier Solve Curious Case of Equine Lameness

May 1, 2017 / Advances in Medicine / Disease / Horses

Veterinarians and Farriers Team Up on Lameness Lameness. Technically, it’s defined as an abnormal gait of an animal. Practically speaking, lameness can mean the end of a sport horse’s career or a diminished quality of life for a pasture pony. Because lameness is challenging to manage and often requires a teamwork approach that includes a...

Medical Maggots: Old-School Wound Care Still Used

Apr 8, 2017 / Advances in Medicine / Horses

Medical maggots are germ-free Maggots have a reputation for being creepy crawlies that should stay far away from our homes and our families. But these tiny fly larvae have been used in medicine for centuries for a unique purpose. Their role is so beneficial that, despite all our advanced technology and scientific discoveries, they are...

New MRI Powers Veterinary Care

Apr 4, 2017 / Advances in Medicine / Imaging / Cats / Dogs / Horses

Faster, More Detailed Diagnostic Imaging On March 31, the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new 3T MRI scanner, the only large-bore 3T MRI scanner in the Midwest. “In physical size, the new machine is no larger or smaller than the old one,” notes Melinda Smith, an...