Eastern Prairie Veterinary Service - Dr. Nanci Richards

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...

01/07/2025

This is to let you know that I will be away from the veterinary practice, on vacation, starting this Thursday, July 3rd and I will return on Thursday, July 24th. If you have an animal situation during that time, please contact your next closest veterinarian.

13/05/2025

NOTICE: I will be away from the practice beginning Thursday, May 15th and will return on Wednesday, May 22nd.

06/03/2025

FINAL UPDATE: My cell phone is now back in my hands and appears to be working normally, so you should be able to reach me as normal.

UPDATE: I am now completely without a phone as it is being repaired. You can email me, leave a message here or call my office 217-469-2767. Please know there will more than likely be a significant delay in my response time.

My phone is not working properly currently, so if you are trying to contact me, I can accept live only phone calls right now. No texts, etc. can be viewed and I can't check email unless I am near my computer. I'm not sure if I can even access voicemails at this time, either. Sorry for the inconvenience. I will let you know when things are resolved.

27/01/2025

Please Do Not Text your vet after hours if it is not an emergency! Write yourself a note to text us during business hours if need to. Consider that once we receive the text our minds are on it and it adds to the burn out rate that veterinarians, especially those in large animal medicine who are in short supply already, are dealing with.

Though we wish our horse doctors could be there for our equine friends in any emergency, the reality is that our horses' primary veterinarian cannot be available 24/7 and still juggle the needs of their own personal lives, health and happiness.

The most significant pain point for many veterinarians is caring for their clients during regular business hours and then also being on call for emergencies after hours. For single-doctor or small practices, this traditionally has been the case most nights of the week.

However, private veterinary practices and veterinary schools have more recently focused on developing new models for emergency care which ease the strain on individual practitioners. This includes the growth of emergency cooperatives where two or more practices in a geographic area work together to share after-hours care, as well as more emergency-only practices and the use of tele-triage services to address client concerns after normal business hours.

As equine veterinarians reevaluate what after-hours care looks like for their practices, the support of their clients is critical to creating a balance that works for both parties. If your horse doctor talks with you about changes in how after-hours care is delivered, we hope you’ll welcome the adjustments. This evolution of emergency care must take place in order for equine veterinarians to avoid burnout and continue to be at their best to treat all of your equine friends.

16/11/2024

It's that time of year, folks, when between travel and meetings, I will be away from the vet practice for several days at a time. Upcoming, I will be away from the practice beginning Wednesday, November 20th and will not return until Monday, December 2nd. Please make your plans for veterinary service accordingly. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Attached is just a video of a red tail hawk that you might enjoy.

30/10/2024

Happy Halloween! 🎃

I will be away from the vet practice from Thursday, October 31st until Wednesday, November 6th.