Dr. Laura Rau-Holl

Brief summary about yourself?

Dr. Rau-Holl graduated from Michigan State University. She worked in Wisconsin for a few years, then moved to East Peoria, IL and continued to work there. She took a break from practice while her children were small, but now that they’re in school, she has decided to return. Dr. Rau is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and her practice interests include internal medicine and surgery. Dr. Rau enjoys spending time with her husband and children and most of their activities, such as biking, boating/watersports, and camping, center around family. On her own, Dr. Rau likes running/working out, cooking, and perhaps to a lesser degree, chauffeuring the kids to and from their activities. She volunteers as needed in their classrooms as well. They have a cat named Peter, fish, and two Bess beetles as pets.

What made you want to become a veterinarian?

I started college with the intention of becoming a registered nurse. My running coach gave me the book All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot with the advice “consider it.”  Raised on a working dairy farm, I always had animals around me—cattle, cats, dogs, chickens, ducks—so veterinary medicine seemed like a good choice.

What has been your most rewarding moment as a veterinarian?

I cannot recall a specific moment that sets itself apart from the others. The reward as a veterinarian, to me, comes from many different facets of the job. It is rewarding at a personal level to help pets and clients through difficult situations and illnesses. It is rewarding as a doctor to solve the health puzzles that pets can present us.

If you weren’t a vet, what would you do?

I would probably be a registered nurse as I originally planned.

What animal scares you more than any other?

Horses. They are beautiful, athletic, intelligent creatures, but I do not feel I have the “horse-sense” to interpret their body language and work with them safely. Most horses have me figured out pretty quickly, though.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

I have many personally significant accomplishments, but cannot rank any particular thing as a defining moment. Big things—certainly becoming a veterinarian was big, but at the end of the day, my family means the world to me.

What do you see as the greatest danger toward household pets?

Obesity. So many illnesses and quality of life issues stem from obesity. As a pet owner, I know that some days it is so easy to give out treats or food to make our pets happy, but most pets would be just as happy to be played with or taken for a walk.

What is the most exotic animal you have treated?

Hedgehog. I saw a couple of hedgehogs in my early days in practice. They are covered in small quills. They tuck their head in and curl up into a ball when they are frightened. Unless they could be coaxed out of their ball with some TLC, anesthesia was needed to even examine them.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Brownies. You can never go wrong with chocolate.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Disorganization. I don’t mind the presence of “stuff,” as long as there is order to it.

Name 5 things people might be surprised to know about you:

I am a farm kid. I was raised on a dairy farm in Michigan.

I am the last-born of my parents’ 6 daughters. Yes, my parents were raising crops and milking cows with all girls to help them. Better still, I am 14 years younger than my youngest sister. 

I have run from Grafton, WI to Milwaukee, WI–  26.2 miles.

I am domestic. I sew, cook, and craft.

I am a pretty decent boat driver if you ski or board–fishermen probably do not see it that way.