Our Blog
ANOTHER REASON TO SMILE: Dental Discount Extended Through March
Due to popular demand, we will continue to offer a 10% discount (and a 15% discount to all UIC students, faculty and staff) on ALL dental procedures that occur within the months of February AND MARCH! Call us to set up an appointment for your dog or cat today at 312-226-2588!
SMILE! Pet Dental Health Month Means Discounts
A healthy smile means a healthy pet.
We’re celebrating Pet Dental Health Month with a 10% discount on all dental services throughout the month of February. Bonus: UIC students, faculty and staff (with current I-cards) will receive a 15% dental discount during this time.
Call for an appointment today.
Come Next Saturday for Coffee, Cocoa & Pet Nutrition Advice
Stop by on Saturday, January 24, between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, to help us celebrate our revamped digs.
- Enjoy a coffee/hot cocoa bar (with lots of yummy toppings)
- Bring your pet in for a complimentary body conditioning score
- Get advice on pet nutrition
- Tour our facilities
- Visit with our staff
Remember to enter through our new Suite 100 entrance.
THE NAUGHT & NICE LIST: Tips for a Happy & Pet-Safe Holiday
The holiday season is a feast for the senses — bright lights and candles, mouthwatering treats and shiny, festive decor — which means it’s also filled with potentially hazardous temptations for your furry friends.
So before you extend the holiday cheer to your animal companions, check out our “Naughty and Nice” list for tips on creating a happy and pet-safe holiday.
Naughty (Keep these out paw’s reach)
- Lilies
- Poinsettias
- Tinsel
- Lit candles
- Shiny, breakable ornaments
- Chocolate
- Grapes/raisins
- Macademia nuts
- Onions
- Fatty meat, stuffing or gravy
- Bread or bread dough
- Snow melt or salt (in case we get any of that white stuff they’re predicting)
Nice (Sure bets for safely sharing the holiday spirit)
- An active toy
- A soft, warm pet bed or blanket
- Lean turkey meat
- Cat- or dog-specific treats (much safer than people food)
- Extra play or snuggle time with you
Holiday Hours
We will be:
- Open from 8-12 pm on 12/24
- Closed on 12/25
- Closed on 12/28
- Open from 8-12 pm on 12/31
- Closed on 1/1
For emergency service during the holidays, contact VSC at Illinois at 312.226.3641.
Wishing you and your animal companions a healthy and happy holiday season!
HAVE A HAPPY AND PET-SAFE THANKSGIVING
At Thanksgiving we look forward to sharing a feast with our families and friends. But should that celebration include our animal companions?
Probably not.
A typical Thanksgiving meal contains a number of foods that could put your pet’s health in serious danger.
- Onions, grapes/raisins and chocolate all contains ingredients that are toxic to cats and dogs.
- Rich fatty foods like dark meat turkey or gravy can put your pet at risk for pancreatitis.
- Bread and other yeast-filled items can cause bloat in dogs and should be kept out of paw’s reach.
- And as tempting as it may be to throw Fido a bone, doing so could cause choking or risk internal damage if a sharp piece is swallowed.
- The safest treat is a small amount of lean white meat turkey.
If your pet is nervous around strangers (or if your guests are nervous around pets), consider putting your furry friend in a separate room with a comfy blanket or pet bed. You might even let them tune into the Puppy Bowl.
Once the meal is over, show your pet some love with a long walk or a game of fetch. They’ll enjoy the extra activity and you’ll feel less guilty about the second piece of pie.
Thank you for choosing Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois as your pet’s health and wellness home.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our furry friends and their humans.
THE FALL FROLIC COSTUME CONTEST NEEDS YOUR VOTE
Help Us Choose the Paws-Down Winner!
We have 11 furrtastic entries in our Fall Frolic Costume Photo Contest and we need your help choosing a winner. Just cast your vote with a “like.” The pet with the largest number of unique “likes” will get their paws on some serious swag.
And don’t forget to share with your friends.
THE FALL FROLIC IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
Join us on Saturday, November 1 from noon to 3 pm for the 2014 Furry Friends Fall Frolic.
- Dress your pets in their spooktacular best.
- Enjoy tricks and treats for pets and their humans.
- Get a free digital pet portrait and swag bag.
- All costumed pets in attendance with be entered into our Facebook Costume contest.
- Find out more on the Fall Frolic event page.
Help us make the Fall Frolic, more social:
RABIES AWARENESS: PREVENTION IS KEY
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 55,000 people die each year worldwide due to the rabies virus. Although most of these deaths occur outside of the United States, it is still important to understand the seriousness this disease poses to humans and pets.
September 28 has been declared “World Rabies Day” to help raise awareness about this potentially fatal virus. Dr. Gail Scherba, a veterinary virologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, explains what rabies is and how to keep humans and pets protected.
“Rabies is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can be spread from animals to people. It is most often spread by a bite wound. Once saliva from the infected animal enters the body, the virus begins to invade nerve endings and then spreads to the central nervous system,” says Dr. Scherba. The virus replicates in the central nervous system, and from there will begin to infect the body’s peripheral organs.
The rabies virus targets infection of neurons as well as secretory epithelium (salivary glands). Once the virus has made its way into the salivary gland, the virus can be shed in the saliva and can be transmitted via a bite wound.
According to Dr. Scherba, the incubation period of rabies–the time between exposure to the virus and when the first clinical signs appear–varies depending on species. A typical incubation period for rabies is 10 to 90 days.
Dr. Scherba explains that there are two clinical forms of rabies, “furious” and “dumb.” In the furious form, the animal’s behavior can be altered, and the animal may become aggressive. This form of rabies also causes paralysis of the laryngeal muscles. The afflicted animal is unable to swallow, and often foams at the mouth from excessive salivation.
The dumb form manifests itself as a severe depression and the animal can have a lack of coordination and paralysis. According to Dr. Scherba, both forms of rabies can cause what is called “fatal encephalitis”–inflammation of the brain–in this case due to the virus. The encephalitis causes the animal to have seizures; paralysis will progressively worsen. The animal will eventually go into a coma, which then leads to death.
In the U.S., rabies virus is spread by wild animals, including bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons. People that are at a higher risk for contracting the rabies virus (veterinarians, researchers, wildlife biologists, people who travel to areas where rabies is prevalent, and so on) should seek prophylactic vaccination.
According to Dr. Scherba, the incidence of rabies in the United States in humans has been declining. In 2012 there was only one confirmed case of a person having rabies in the U.S., which was down from six cases the previous year.
Dr. Scherba emphasizes the importance of having a pet up to date on their rabies vaccine. “If an unvaccinated pet is bitten by a rabid animal, the pet should be euthanized to prevent the spread of rabies,” she says.
If a vaccinated cat or dog is bitten by a rabid animal, the pet would need to be revaccinated for rabies immediately and also be under a strict 45-day observation. Unfortunately, once clinical signs are observed, there is no treatment for animals with rabies; the disease is fatal.
“If a person is bitten by suspected rabid animal, it is important to report the bite to the local health department immediately,” says Dr. Scherba. Regardless of the vaccination status of the animal, the pet should remain under the observation of the owner for 10 days to detect clinical signs of rabies.
A person who is bitten by an animal that is suspected to have rabies should seek medical treatment immediately and may receive the rabies vaccination series. “Rabies is much easier to prevent than it is to treat, so every effort should be made to prevent this fatal virus in humans and pets,” says Dr. Scherba.
For more information about rabies, speak with your local veterinarian.
WE ARE FEATURED ON BTN LiveBIG!
We are honored to have our clinic and new medical director, Dr. Sullivan, featured on the Big Ten Network’s blog, BTN LiveBIG!. Read the article to learn more about Dr. Sullivan and the teaching that happens in our clinic. You’ll also learn about a high-tech feature installed within our surgical suite! View the full article.
MEET THE NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. DREW SULLIVAN
The new medical director at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois brings a great big passion for pets, and for the University of Illinois, too!
Dr. Drew Sullivan earned his undergraduate degree as well as his veterinary degree on the flagship campus in Urbana, and was part of the cheerleading team throughout his years on campus. He joined the Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois last fall, and was named to the medical director role in August.
Both he and Dr. Lindsay Seilheimer will continue to deliver high quality and low stress care for pets and their people, assisted by a dedicated team of technicians and receptionists.
Dr. Tom Graves, who formerly directed the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Chicago clinical activities, accepted a position at the end of 2014 to become associate dean at a new college of veterinary medicine in Arizona.