Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service - Dr. Nanci Richards

30/01/2026

NOTE: As of today (01/30/26) the office number 217-469-2767 has been shut down permanently.

25/01/2026

ATTENTION: As mentioned in a prior post, the business phone number (217-469-2767) is about to be terminated. The anticipated timeframe that this will occur should be within the next 7-10 days, or by early February. Instead, please contact us via the email address listed on this page or by cell phone (current, active clients have this number.) Thank you for your patience as we make this change. ~ Dr. Nanci

28/12/2025

As 2026 nears, this new year will be a year of change for Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service, and this may affect you. Please read.

As has been the case for a few years, Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service is no longer accepting new clients/patients, with the only exception being that of Camelids (Alpacas, Llamas, Guanaco, Vicuna and Camels), and this will continue. So, even if you have previously used me for veterinary care but have not been seen in over 12 months, you are not considered a current, active client (by Illinois veterinary statutes) and will not be able to re-establish service, unless you have camelids. If you are unsure reach out to me.

Moving forward into 2026, I will continue to provide veterinary care across Illinois and Indiana for camelid patients. However, for other species the area of coverage will be narrowed to Champaign County, IL, only. (Current, active clients that are affected by the change should have already received communication on this.)

I truly hope that these changes will not cause too many problems for those that need to establish veterinary care with a new veterinarian and practice.

Additionally, the office number (217-469-2767) will likely be disconnected in early 2026 due to changes with available AT&T maintenance and service. Once a date for this is known, it will be shared here.

Thank all of you for allowing me to work with you and your animals. I have enjoyed working with you and appreciate your support over the years.

May 2026 be a great year for all of us!!
~ Dr. Nanci

26/10/2025

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scientists analyzed the distribution of three potentially harmful tick species in Illinois, identifying regions of the state with higher numbers of these ticks and, therefore, at greater risk of infection with multiple tick-borne diseases.

The study found that of the three species tracked
▪️Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is most prevalent in southern Illinois
▪️Black-legged tick or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, is more common in northern and central Illinois
▪️Dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, dominates the central and southern parts of the state

🔗 Learn more and stay in the loop with current tick research in Illinois at: https://news.illinois.edu/study-identifies-hotspots-of-disease-carrying-ticks-in-illinois/

🔗 Find more information on submitting tick samples through Extension and the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Lab at https://go.illinois.edu/bitemap.

Photo Caption: Abrar Hussain, left, Rebecca Smith, and their colleagues mapped the distribution of three tick species across the state of Illinois. They compared this distribution to the incidence of tick-borne diseases in the state. Photo by Fred Zwicky.

18/09/2025

Just a quick heads up that I will be away from the veterinary practice beginning September 26th, returning on October 15th. I will only be able to respond to very limited phone, text and email messages during this time. Thanks! ~ Dr. Nanci

04/09/2025

It is hard to believe that it is September! And, as is a typical Fall for me, I already have many commitments, and my schedule is booking up very quickly.

Between now and November 1st, I only have 5 days with openings for appointments. So, if you know you need to schedule a veterinary visit, please get a hold of me sooner rather than later. Thanks! ~ Dr. Nanci

One of my most recent patients...

16/08/2025

Professional veterinary consultations and recommendations for our clients and patients, whether in person, by phone, email or even text, are a compilation of the years of training and experience of your veterinarian. Please acknowledge that our accessibility does not dilute the information that we provide. Along with this, you should expect to pay for this information. If you prefer an in-person appointment then please schedule one; otherwise, you should still expect to be billed for our expertise when we are working with you remotely.

08/08/2025

This applies to lambs, kids, cria and foals, too!

Proper navel care in newborn calves prevents infections that can spread to the liver and other parts of the body, veterinarians say. Dipping instead of spraying the navel with a 7% tincture of iodine solution, checking navels twice in the first 10 to 14 days of life, and ensuring bedding is clean an...

08/07/2025

Summer brings long days of sunshine and outdoor adventure and for many dogs, that means backyard play, long hikes, training sessions, or athletic competitions. But with rising temperatures comes a real danger: heat injury. Just as you might crave air conditioning and ice water after time outside, yo...