StemCell Therapy

FORT MEADE, Md. -- One night while Danica Goodheart worked the overnight shift at an emergency veterinary clinic in Concord, New Hampshire, a middle-aged couple emerged from the winter cold carrying a bleeding pit bull.

As police sirens flashed outside, another man walked in, clutching a wet and injured golden retriever. Goodheart, only a year removed from graduating veterinary school at Auburn University, learned that two dogs had grappled with another dog on a frozen lake.

Police had fired at the dogs in an attempt to break up the fight and a bullet hit one of the dogs.

For more than two hours Goodheart worked on the pit bull as the distressed couple sat in the waiting room. She mended and treated the bullet wound after the projectile had torn through the dog's abdomen. She also treated the second canine for hypothermia and bite wounds.

When Goodheart approached the couple in the waiting room to tell them that their pit bull would survive, their eyes welled with tears.

"I will never forget the look on their faces," Goodheart said, adding that all the late-night effort was worth it.

Now two years later, her peers say that Capt. Goodheart takes the same determined approach as a military veterinarian -- whether treating military working dogs or conducting physical fitness and weight training.

"She will put 110 percent effort into whatever she's doing," said co-worker Capt. Chelsi Blume.

A fitness junkie since her teen years, Goodheart has continued to train and keep in peak shape. She spends up to 25 hours a week in the gym.

FITNESS FOLLOWING

Her efforts paid dividends last August in her first bodybuilding competition at the Jay Cutler Classic in Richmond, Virginia. There the 29-year-old Goodheart placed first, winning the overall figure championship for women. Goodheart had only trained for four months as a bodybuilder, hiring strength coach Nic Wightman shortly after arriving at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

"I had a really good coach and a good trainer and people that supported me throughout it," she said.

It also helped that she had been in great shape prior to beginning the training. She had been an athlete most of her life, competing in Division I track at the University of New Hampshire. She had powerlifted and took part in CrossFit for four years while attending veterinary school.

Blume also has shared her emergence in the sport through social media, amassing more than 42,000 followers for her Instagram handle, "dr.danimal_111."

In addition, she has built meal plans for fellow Soldiers and friends to help them get in shape.

"She's a very caring, kind person," Blume said.

As a veterinary field services officer assigned to the 248th Medical Veterinarian Medical Detachment, at Fort Bragg, she and her seven-person staff are charged with the medical care of military working dogs that provide security services for U.S. forces in the detection of drugs and explosives.

Goodheart, a New Hampshire native, had always planned on joining the Army. But after graduation from veterinary school, she wanted to test herself in critical situations before commissioning and took the job as an emergency room veterinarian. Goodheart said it takes resiliency to meet the demands of the position, which requires veterinarians to constantly train and prepare for a variety of duties, including providing preventive medicine, outpatient care and disease control for pets at military installations. In addition to providing emergency care for military working dogs and other animals, members of the Army's veterinary Corps must prepare for deployments. They also monitor and inspect conditions of food served at Army dining facilities and could provide veterinary expertise during natural disasters and emergencies.

Even before joining the military, Goodheart had understood how to work under duress, having already dealt with the pressures of working in the ER. There she tended to injured dogs and cats and even injured animals found by roadsides.

This April, Goodheart will take part in Defender 2020 a multi-national joint military exercise that will test the Army's ability to project its capabilities from the U.S. to Europe.

Even though she won't be able to compete in this year's Cutler Classic due to mission requirements, she still continues bodybuilding training.

Even when she doesn't compete, Goodheart continues to dedicate her time to the gym, doing deadlifts, powerlifts and other exercises.

"A lot of discipline and hard work," said Blume. "(Bodybuilding) is something that she enjoys doing, but sometimes it's sacrifice giving up some of the fun and more enjoyable things, to be able to do something like that."

A 'GOOD' HEART

Goodheart had grown up on a 100-acre farm, nestled on the eastern shore of New Hampshire's Lakes Region in the small town of Meredith. There, blanketed by the New England countryside, she cultivated her love of animals. She rode a horse that she named Kodiak and competed in barrel racing while her parents bred mountain dogs.

"I was always around animals," Goodheart said. "My mother has a very strong passion for animals and instilled that in us girls."

While attending high school, Goodheart learned of the importance of military working dogs, who often must go into harm's way when searching for explosive devices. That helped spur her toward a career as an Army veterinary doctor.

In the Granite State she also participated in athletics -- gymnastics and track -- a passion that eventually evolved into weight training and powerlifting. Growing up on a farm, where her family grew fruits, vegetables and grains, also instilled a work ethic that Goodheart said she carries with her to this day.

Goodheart approaches each challenge the same way, whether building muscle in the gym or tending to an injured canine in the field.

"She's very hardworking, motivated and self-driven," Blume said

Read the original here:
Mentally and physically strong: Work ethic carries Army veterinarian - United States Army

Horses have been some of Cassidy Sabrals greatest teachers.

Cowboy, an aging breeding stock paint horse, showed her themeaning of true loyalty, waiting at the fence for her every morning andafternoon. With his devotion and eagerness to please, he taught his young teenpupil responsibility and compassion for a creature that was entirely dependenton her.

Remi, her next horse, was a thoroughbred, and through him, thefreshman animal science major learned the patience and skill required for horsetraining. Ember, her current partner in the extreme sport of rodeo, givesSabral her all with a big heart and deep trust, even as the horse struggleswith an incurable genetic muscle diseaseand together they have gone on to winnumerous awards.

[Horses] have inspired me to never give up when things getrough, Sabral said.

Under normal circumstances, Sabrals dream to become a large-animal veterinarian would likely be out of reachfinancially. But thanks to her equine-encouraged persistence and the support of one inspired donor wishing to pay it forward, that dream is on track to becoming reality.

Sabral is a 201920 recipient of the Universitysprestigious Bell Family Presidential Scholarship for students in agricultureand animal sciences. Established in 2013 by Oregon-based philanthropist Dan Giustinaand expanded this year, the scholarship now supports five high-achievingstudents annually with full tuition and fees.

Without the scholarship, I wouldnt have been able to afford college, at least with my horse, said Sabral, who competes in rodeos around the state with Ember. The scholarship has allowed me to go to college as well as continue doing what Im doing outside of school.

Raised by a single mother and her grandmother, Sabral grewup learning how to care for animals from a young age. Since she can remember,her grandmother has been active in Butte Wildlife Rehabilitation and broughthome to their small farm in Chico a variety of animals in need: dogs, cats,squirrels, raccoons, sheep, pigs, rabbits, opossums, owls, and other birds.Sabral has raised several lambs by bottle, worked on her neighbors ranchlearning basic veterinary skills, and is currently raising a steer for herfinal year of 4-H to show and sell at the Silver Dollar Fair this spring.

An active board member of the Paradise HorsemansAssociation, Sabral has worked with horses since she was 14, training them forrodeo events and barrel racinganother passion she inherited from hergrandmother. Earlier this year, she and Ember qualified for one of 10sponsorships in the California Gymkhana Associations state finals, where theycaptured first place in her favorite event, pole bending. Every dollar Sabralmakes from farm jobs and competitions goes toward caring for Ember, who has agenetic disease that causes her muscles to cramp and break down.

Finances have always been very tight for the family. Hermother and grandmother both work, but income is limited. She is also the firstin her immediate family to attend college. Because her parents had no experiencewith the application process, she turned to her grandmother, who recentlyhelped her cousin successfully apply to Butte College.

Together, they also looked for scholarship opportunities,hoping that Sabrals academic strengths in high school and her extracurricularactivities would make her an appealing candidate for support.

Earning the Bell Family Presidential Scholarship was truly adream come true.

I was really, really happy, she said. The scholarship,when I found out about itnot having to worry about paying for my tuitionwasjust amazing.

The freedom she describes is exactly what motivated Giustinato establish the scholarship endowment in honor of his lifelong friends andmentors, Tom and Dorothy Bell, and Toms sisters, Claudine Bell and Helen Head.The Bells ranched thousands of acres in Oregon and California and were deeplyinfluential in the development of Chico and the North State. They also had deepconnections with Chico State, with many family members attending school here.

The Bells had no children to carry on their lineage, soafter their deaths, Giustina established a scholarship program within theCollege of Agriculture so that their legacy would live on.

Being able to see these folks growits a wonderful feelingand something we believe in, Giustina said. I learned from Tom some of thefundamentals that were important to me in life. Its been my want to pass thosethings along to students and others in agriculture.

Tom Bell believed strongly in education, sustainability, honesty, and the importance of hard work, Giustina said.

The students in our program have those attributes, hesaid. They can come to Chico State and learn and grow as people and dont haveto worry about where their next meal is coming from. Thats so meaningful. The onlything we ask is that they carry that forward. Thats what I learned from Tomand from my father.

Initially funding the endowment for $2 million, this year, Giustina gifted an additional $1 million to ensure the legacy of his mentor and friends would live on in the lives of the students impacted by the scholarship. Bell Family Presidential Scholars are selected based on academic achievement, commitment to agriculture, leadership, and civic engagement. Recipients are awarded full tuition for four years.

Sabral actually learned of the Bell familys legacy yearsbefore receiving their namesake scholarship. Her neighbors, Dean and ElsieHightower, knew the Bells and told her stories of how the sisters took care ofone another throughout their lives, and of the familys impact on agricultureand education in the area.

Last fall, she dove straight into her major, enrolling in classes including Introduction to Animal Science and Veterinary Practices. After earning straight As in her first semester, shes excited to dig deeper into her studies this spring and continue to grow her knowledge.

I wish to represent their determination tosucceed and prosper and their dedication to helping the greater community, shesaid.

Sabral also wants to pave the way for her younger sister, Courtney,who has her own dream of becoming a nurse one day.

I want to create the opportunity to provide a better lifefor my family, she wrote in her scholarship application letter. I want toprove that college is an option for [Courtney], as well. I also want to setup a bright future for my future children.

Her long-term goal is to attend the University of California,Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to train in large animal or equinemedicine. Shes researched the entrance requirements and knows exactly what itwill take to make her dream a reality.

I really want to be a veterinarian, and [CSU, Chico is] teaching me more about the things Im really interested in, she said. It doesnt feel like busy workeverything feels meaningful.

Related

Excerpt from:
The Power of Perseverance and a Gift - CSU Chico News

At least 40 victims of the Ukrainian plane crash in Tehran were students or researchers active in Canadian universities or research communities.

Most were students returning to Canada after spending winter break in Iran, according to University Affairs (UA) of Canada. Dozens of students, professors and researchers from at least 18 universities across the country have been identified among the victims, the UA news service reported. Among the 176 killed in the crash, 140 were traveling to Canada, with a stopover in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sixty-three were Canadian citizens.

"We have learned, with profound sorrow, that several U of T students were among the 176 people killed in the crash," University of Toronto President Meric Gertler wrote. "On behalf of the entire University of Toronto community, I want to say how deeply saddened we are, and how concerned we are for the families and friends of those who lost their lives."

Newlyweds Arash Pourzarabi and Pouneh Gorji were masters students in computer science at the University of Alberta.

The university also lost Mojgan Daneshmand, a Canada Research Chair in radio frequency microsystems, who was returning to Canada with her husband, Pedram Mousavi, a professor of mechanical engineering. The couple's two daughters were also killed in the crash.

University of Alberta President David H. Turpin wrote, "Words simply cannot express the loss I know we all are feeling. On behalf of the University of Alberta, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of the victims of this tragedy."

"Ours is a closely interconnected community, and we grieve with everyone touched by this terrible loss friends, classmates, roommates, professors, students, mentors and colleagues," Turpin added.

In some cases, the victims included family members such as Dalhousie University engineering student Masoumeh Ghavi and her younger sister Mandieh Ghavi. The younger sister was an incoming student at the Nova Scotia school, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Among those killed in the crash were undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in fields including electrical engineering, computer systems technology, human and veterinary medicine, geography, finance, business, environment, geomatics, marketing and consumer studies, molecular geneticsand human resources.

"The Science Students' Association is deeply saddened by the loss of our peers in the tragic plane crash in Iran," tweeted @SSA_AES. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those affected. Our thoughts are with you as we face this very sad time."

The educational institutions impacted were the University of Toronto, University of Alberta, Carleton University, Dalhousie University, University of Guelph, McMaster University, University of Manitoba, Ontario Tech University, University of Ottawa, University of Quebec, Queen's University, Ryerson University, Saint Mary's University, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo, Western University, University of Windsor and York University.

"This is not right," London, Ontario, Mayor Ed Holder told the Western News, his voice breaking with emotion. "We should not be here this afternoon grieving the loss of these four young people. We should be celebrating their return home. Its not right."

Read this article:
Canada's Universities Mourn Their Students in Tehran Plane Crash - Voice of America

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In almost every school program, every teacher is teaching STEM in one way or another. Not just because its a hot topic or because of the down-the-road career opportunities for students; educators mix science, technology, engineering and math with just about everything because of its clear value to learning itself. Many even sneak the artsy A in there and call it STEAM.

The problem is, too many are teaching it wrong.

In particular, educators tend to show STEM to students. Or, even worse, show STEM outcomes. They demonstrate products like robots and rovers and drones, showing and telling their way through. But flying a drone in class, or even letting students do it, is not teaching STEM, its an in-class field trip. Its no more teaching STEM than a trip to a zoo teaches veterinary medicine.

Teachers tend to show and tell STEM because too many think theyre unqualified to teach the mechanics of engineering or the hard edges of technology. They think teaching is a soft skill, and even if they know theyre capable of teaching STEM subjects, too many educators feel they lack the time to learn a complicated, rapidly evolving new thing.

I train teachers every day, and they have told me this more times than I can count.

We need to dispel the belief that you need technology or a background in medicine or engineering to teach STEM. Especially in the early grades, its a stand-in for foundational skills such as logic, sequencing and creative problem solving. It is about trial and error doing things and watching them not work. Nearly all of us remember from our earliest science classes that controlled trial and error is the essence of the scientific method. This is how we learn.

The point is that teaching STEM is supposed to be dirty, messy, playful and filled with failures. Failure is how you know youre doing it right. Teaching STEM (and STEAM) is a mindset, not a specific tool or skill set honed from a specialized graduate education or an undergraduate degree in mathematics or biology. Any teacher can do it, and do it very well, without being an expert.

Letting students figure, reason and fail is a vital part of the education process and something teachers should show and encourage. Let them get their hands dirty and learn by touching and tinkering. STEM and STEAM are creation sciences, not textbooks, so dont ask students to pilot a drone, challenge them to build one. Did they learn something when it crashed? If they did, they deserve an A.

Rewarding failure may seem like an odd thing for a teacher. And it may feel like a leap of faith to jump into STEM teaching if its not your passion or your background. But its not as hard as you think. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to teach rocket science.

You can tinker and innovate; model the science and engineering behavior you want to see in your students. Be curious, be creative. Ask questions. Find help. There are lots of amazing resources and partners in and around our learning spaces that map out the discovery process and can help teachers find and leverage activities, lessons and projects that inspire students to do STEM.

You just need to be the guide.

Hilary Aylesworth is vice president of product for SAM Labs. She has a Ph.D. in educational neuroscience from Columbia University and has taught in the U.S. and U.K.

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Aylesworth: We're teaching STEM wrong but any teacher can do it right. It's about trial and error, doing things & watching them not work - LA...

You can't predict how dogs will react to a new dog. Shutterstock

Allowing dogs to greet nose-to-nose for their first introduction can prove to be dangerous for one of the pets or even their owners, Zacharias told Insider.

"It takes only a second for a bite to the face to occur if one of the dogs decides they are not a fan of the other, and even those of us with the best reflexes cannot stop this blink-of-an-eye injury from happening," she said.

You can prevent dangerous confrontations from happening by first asking the other pet owner from afar if their dog is good with other animals.

"If the owner gives their OK, guide your pet to the new dog's tail end to let them get to know each other before meeting face to face. This is a natural way for dogs to meet, rather than going nose to nose, which can be offensive to pets," said Zacharias.

If your pet is meeting someone new and you see their ears go back or their fur stand on end, you and your animal should calmly move away from the new dog.

The rest is here:
Vets reveal the 10 common mistakes people make with their pets - INSIDER

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio has been monitoring the global head and neck cancer diagnostics market since 2015 and the market is poised to grow by USD 3.41 billion during 2020-2024 at a CAGR of almost 12% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages

Read the 161-page research report with TOC on "Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Market Analysis Report by Geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW), by Diagnostic Methods (Biopsy and blood tests, Imaging, Endoscopy, and Dental diagnostics), and Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024".

https://www.technavio.com/report/head-and-neck-cancer-diagnostics-market-industry-analysis

The increasing number of cancer-related initiatives and rising popularity of immunotherapy in head and neck cancer treatment are anticipated to boost the growth of the market.

Many private and government organizations are undertaking several initiatives to prevent and control cancer by promoting cancer awareness, cancer treatment, and early cancer diagnosis. For instance, the American Cancer Society, established in 1913, has introduced global health programs and global cancer-control initiatives to facilitate early diagnosis of cancers such as head and neck cancer to save lives and minimize suffering. This is driving the demand for head and neck cancer diagnostic equipment such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging scanners, and emission tomography. Thus, the increasing number of cancer-awareness initiatives are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

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Major Five Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Market Companies:

Accuray Inc.

Accuray Inc. is headquartered in the US and operates the business under the Oncology systems group segment. The company offers Radixact, which is an intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) system. The company also offers TomoTherapy with an integrated 3D image guidance and unique binary MLC.

Apteryx Imaging Inc.

Apteryx Imaging Inc. is headquartered in Canada and offers products through the following business units: Hardware and Software. The company offers VELscope Vx System, which is a powerful device for enhanced visualization of mucosal abnormalities.

Canon Inc.

Canon Inc. is headquartered in Japan and operates under various business segments, namely Office Business Unit, Imaging System Business Unit, Industry and Others Business Unit, and Medical System Business Unit. The company offers an MR system, Vantage Titan 1.5T.

General Electric Co.

General Electric Co. is headquartered in the US and offers products through the following business segments: Aviation, Power, Oil and gas, Healthcare, Renewable energy, Transportation, Lighting, and Capital. The company offers SIGNA Pioneer - 70cm, Discovery MR750w GEM - 70cm, SIGNA PET/MR with QuantWorks, and others.

KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG

KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG is headquartered in Germany and offers products through the following business segments: Human Medicine, Industrial, and Veterinary Medicine. The company offers C-MAC FIVE S and C-MAC S USB.

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Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Diagnostic Methods Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024)

Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024)

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Global Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Market 2020-2024 | Evolving Opportunities With Accuray Inc. and Canon Inc. | Technavio - Business Wire

Periodontal disease in pets is entirely preventable yet usually untreated, affecting most cats and dogs by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental College.

Why should a pet owner care? A broken tooth can put your pet in pain.

Pet owners need to be on the lookout for tooth decay because there are few signs of gum disease, which can cause multiple problems in a pet's mouth and spread to internal organs, said Diane Delmain, feline assistant clinical professor community practice at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Warning signs

A broken tooth is incredibly common in dogs and cats, Delmain said. Teeth are tools for cats and dogs. Dogs can fracture a tooth in play biting chew toys, bones, rocks or other hard objects, Delmain said. Cats often break fang teeth when slipping while jumping on and off of things, she said.

"The problem is that animals don't always tell us they're in pain. They're tough," Delmain said.

The most obvious sign of a tooth problem is bad breath, Delmain said. It could be a sign of periodontal or other oral disease. Brown or discolored teeth and bleeding gums are also dental-health warning signs.

At the vet

Pets' teeth are hard bone shells around a core of nerves and blood vessels, just like human teeth, Delmain said. If an infection is left untreated it can lead to an abcess forming, she said.

A fractured tooth can be sealed if it's shallow, but if the fracture reaches the tooth's pulp it needs to be removed, Delmain said. A broken tooth requires a visit to the veterinarian, who can assess the situation.

While human dentistry is about saving a tooth, pet dentistry is about the comfort of the tooth, Delmain said. If a veterinarian has to remove a pet's tooth, the animal can do really well afterward.

"A nicely healed area of gum is nothing to worry about," she said.

Because two-thirds of a tooth is under the gum line, dentistry with anesthesia is necessary to get rid of plaque and tartar, for teeth cleaning and X-rays, Delmain said. Without it, dental care can be scary for a dog or a cat.

Brushing at home

Regular dental checkups by a veterinarian should be augmented by brushing at home, Delmain said. Be sure to use products approved for pets.

Just like learning a new skill, getting a pet used to toothbrushing may take time. Start by letting your pet sniff the toothbrush and paste and try to work your way up to about 30 seconds of brushing on both sides.

Pet owners concerned about their pet's oral health can look for products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, which have undergone research and testing to back up claims for home dental care, Delmain said. Look for a square label the says "VOHC Accepted" on products that help control tartar and plaque build-up.

More here:
Signs of tooth problems in pets - Galesburg Register-Mail

Animal athletes come in all shapes and sizes. Generations of selective breeding have produced genetic lines of animals that are deemed more suited to a specific athletic discipline. For example, some dogs are bred to hunt, while others are bred for agility; some horses are bred for racing, while others are bred to work with cows. The evolution of todays bucking bull athlete is no different.

Traditionally, the bull riding event at a rodeo centered on the cowboy and how well he performed atop the bull. A high score usually meant a big payday for the cowboy but little, if any, credit or reward for the bull or his owner. Nowadays, competitive bucking bull events are a common occurrence with the bulls scored on their individual bucking ability rather than the performance of, or lack thereof, the cowboy riding them.

Since the early 1990s, and perhaps before, bucking bull breeders have aimed to produce animals that display superior athleticism. Bucking bulls are judged on their speed, power, front end drop, hind end kick, ability to change direction and body rolling. Those performing in todays bull riding events are faster, stronger and more agile than bulls from years past. These athletes engage in swift, powerful movements that place unique strains on their bodies not ordinarily experienced by their non-athletic bovine counterparts; thus, these bulls can and do suffer performance-related injuries.

While the realm of veterinary medicine has not usually included the practice of bovine sports medicine, due to the popularity and growth of the sport of bull riding and competitive bucking bull events, many veterinarians find themselves providing, to some extent, just that. Additionally, the owners perceived value of these animal athletes often allows for much more thorough veterinary evaluations and treatments than for the many bulls used solely for production.

Sports-related injuries are common in competitive athletics, regardless of the species; however, the bucking bull presents some unique challenges in identifying, diagnosing and treating injury or disease. Their fractious and sometimes aggressive nature can limit the display of pain or lameness, making minor injuries impossible to detect until they become more severe. Specialized facilities with sturdy corrals and hydraulic squeeze chutes are also often required to safely examine, hospitalize, and treat bucking bulls.

The two most common areas of injury or disease in the bucking bull athlete involve the musculoskeletal system (approximately 70-75 percent) and the horns (approximately 10-15 percent). Disorders to the musculoskeletal system frequently occur in the back or hind limbs and include bone fractures, tendon or ligament strains and joint disease. These injuries are often sustained during performance or training. Horn disorders often occur outside of the performance arena either during husbandry, transport, handling or fighting with other bulls. Disorders of other body systems do occur but with much less frequency.

Regardless of the source, injury or disease in a bucking bull commonly results in a lower performance if the bull can perform all together. Veterinarians with knowledge and experience specific to the bucking bull are often called on to evaluate these athletes, correctly diagnose the injury and prescribe a treatment plan. Following treatment and rehabilitation, many of these athletes are able return to the arena, performing at or above their previous level.

The bucking bull is a unique animal athlete, and the practice of bovine sports medicine is becoming a reality for more and more veterinarians each year. Injuries to the musculoskeletal system and horns are common and may be very different from injuries sustained by the non-athletic bovine. The continuous popularity of the sport of rodeo and other competitive bucking bull events will likely call for more experienced, specialized veterinarians in the field of bovine sports medicine and rehabilitation. The OSU Veterinary Medical Hospital has many veterinarians who specialize in all areas of bovine medicine including internal medicine, surgery and sports medicine.

Read more here:
VETERINARY VIEWPOINTS: Bovine sports medicine Keeping the buck in the bull - Stillwater News Press

In this 1998 photo, Teresa Hershey works her first job in veterinary medicine as mixed animal practitioner in southeast Minnesota. Submitted photo

Idid a double pet euthanasia recently.

Two small poodles who grew up together and in old age were both very sick. I had done this only a couple of times before. The problem with this situation is the logistics. Who do you euthanize first?Do I ask the owner? That seems like a lot of weight to put on their shoulders, and I thought it would be best to decide for them.

I will euthanize Naomi and then I will euthanize Bear, I said. It was agreed that would be the order.

Once it was done, I laid the two dogs side-by-side on the table and covered them with a blanket to the chin. For some reason, it is not twice as sad to see two little bodies instead of one, but exponentially so.

My next patient after that appointment was a new puppy.Time to switch from being Doctor Death to Doctor Smiles. I do it all of the time, so I am used to it. My job is to be what the client in front of me needs right now. I suppose that is the definition of being a professional: the ability to perform your job with skill even under duress.

I recall one time when I was not successful in making that transition between a euthanasia and a puppy appointment. While examining the puppy, I started to cry and explained to the owner that I had just euthanized a pug friend and was feeling sad.

I didnt see that client again at my clinic. Who would come back to see a doctor who was crying?I wouldnt! When a client gives you money for a service, they want and deserve to have your undivided attention.

Many people dream of being a veterinarian.But soon enough, most realize it is not for them not only because of the rigors of school and the time and cost involved, but also because you have to be able to compartmentalize your day and deal with heavy things.

You have to like animals and be able to still think clearly when they are suffering. If you get too caught up in your feelings, you can become paralyzed and not perform your job well.

Of course the other extreme is also possible: where you look past the patient and only see the disease. This happened with one of my veterinary teachers.

One day when I was in veterinary school, one of my professors decided to move his bovine necropsy (autopsy) lab outside on a nice spring day.He sliced into the cow, setting her organs on the grass. He explained the pathology occurring in his subject while his boot-and-overall-clad veterinary students looked on with interest.Meanwhile, the English and history majors walking by were horrified and promptly reported him to school administrators. I can imagine the shock of my professor when he found out that public dissection is not appropriate for the masses.

Being a good veterinarian means that you can find that sweet spot between being caring and being analytical.Both are skills to be developed over time.

I am glad to be a seasoned veterinarian now.The growing pains of a young doctor are huge. Not only are you trying to figure out who you are as a person in this profession and how best to present yourself and your information,but also there is so much knowledge to accumulate about pathology, disease and what is normal.

I have been in practice for 20 years now and have diagnosed all manner of cancers, orthopedic issues, skin problems and metabolic disorders.Every once in a while, though, I will see something I have never seen before. Several years ago, a dog came into my clinic that the owner reported was just off. We have a term for this in veterinary medicine. It is called ADR Aint Doin Right. (This is a real abbreviationveterinarians use when we havent been able to pinpoint the disease.)

My ADR patient had very nondescript and subtle symptoms: moderate lethargy and a slight loss of appetite. All of his tests came back normal. When I saw the dog back three days later, he looked like a totally different animal. His face was twisted into a smile as if someone were standing behind him pulling his skin backwards. The diagnosis could now be made.This expression, called a sardonic grin, is classic for the disease tetanus and occurs because all of the muscles of the face tense up. Tetanus is fortunately extremely rare, but its effects are horrible to see and, for this dog, it was fatal.

Besides treating the animals that come through my door, I also have to treat the people.When I was in middle school and I told my mother that I wanted to be a veterinarian, she told me that was a good career choice for me because I wasnt good with people.(Note: My mother is a wonderful woman whom I love very, very much). My middle school self must not have been very pleasant to be around.

But my mother was wrong that veterinarians dont need to be good with people.Veterinarians have two customers: the patient and the person who brings the patient to your door.

Only a small portion of my job is occupied with real doctoring, like analyzing lab samples and sewing up lacerations.The majority of my job is being a human with feelings while trying to solve a problem with another human with feelings.That part is harder.

Of course, this would not be a proper article about the experience of being a veterinarian if I didnt talk about the best part of my job: the animals I get to meet.

I have a 30-pound Maine coon with a head the size of a small melon who visits me at the clinic.He is such an amazing creature that it is just an honor to be in the same room as him.

My smallest patient is a 3.5-pound Maltese who hides her head in the crook of her moms arm when I come into the room.Poor thing, everyone is a looming giant to her!

My biggest patient is a 150-pound mastiff. His jowls hang low and, after examining him, I need to sponge myself off because of the amount of saliva he deposits on me.

When the day is done, my calls are made and my notes are complete, I sit back and think, I get to come back again and do this all over tomorrow! and I feel I am very lucky to do so.

Dr. Teresa Hershey is a veterinarian at Westgate Pet Clinic in Linden Hills. Email pet questions to drhershey@westgatepetclinicmn.com.

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What is it like to be a veterinarian? - Southwest Journal

Zulqarnain Baloch,1,* Luchao Lv,1,2,* Lingxian Yi,1,2 Miao Wan,1,2 Bilal Aslam,3 Jun Yang,1,2 Jian-Hua Liu1,2

1College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Peoples Republic of China; 2Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Peoples Republic of China; 3Government College University, Faisalabad 54000, Pakistan

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Jian-Hua LiuCollege of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Peoples Republic of ChinaEmail jhliu@scau.edu.cn

Abstract: The New Delhi Metallo--lactamase (NDM) producing Enterobacteriaceae is spreading worldwide. Although the blaNDM gene has been identified in animal associated Enterobacteriaceae isolates in many countries, little is known about its occurrence in animal products in Pakistan. In this study, 13 Escherichia coli isolates were collected from chicken meat samples in Pakistan. Two isolates, 15978 and C4109, exhibited reduced susceptibility (MIC 1 g/mL) to imipenem, and carried blaNDM-5 and blaNDM-7 gene, respectively. Whole-genome sequencing and Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing revealed that 15978 and C4109 belonged to ST156 and ST167, respectively. blaNDM-7 was carried by an IncX3 plasmid that has disseminated worldwide, whereas blaNDM-5 was located on an F36: A-: B32 plasmid, which shared high identity with two plasmids carried by E. coli isolates from other countries (one from a patient in Canada). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report characterizing blaNDM-carrying plasmids from chicken meat samples in Pakistan. The dissemination of almost identical blaNDM-5-bearing F36:A-:B32 and blaNDM-7-bearing IncX3 plasmids in different countries highlights the importance of international trade and travel in the spread of antimicrobial resistance strains and plasmids worldwide.

Keywords: plasmid, animal food, carbapenemase, blaNDM

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Emergence of Almost Identical F36:A-:B32 Plasmids Carrying blaNDM | IDR - Dove Medical Press

Hope, the special-needs pig who was flown to a veterinary hospital in Pennsylvania last month to undergo an examination for her legs, is back home at an animal refuge in Caswell County, North Carolina.

The pig could not use her rear legs and was taken to New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvanias School of Veterinary Medicine in Kennett Square about an hour outside of Philadelphia Nov. 16.

About a week later, she returned home to Ziggys Refuge Farm Sanctuary after vets could not find anything wrong with the animal.

Her bone structure was all there, said Kristin Hartness, co-founder of Ziggys, located in the community of Providence. They had no idea why her legs were [spread] out to the side.

Born on a farm in Floyd, Hope was set to be euthanized when someone reached out to Ziggys. Hartness and her husband, sanctuary co-founder Jay Yontz, take care of special-needs farm animals at the 85-acre refuge.

Hartness and Yontz have been giving Hope physical therapy.

When Jay got her and started handling her and working her legs and massaging them ... all of a sudden Jay starts noticing her standing on all fours, Hartness said.

But her legs still spread out to the sides, she said.

Jennifer Miller, the Pittsylvania County resident who went on the flight with Hope in November, visited the 3-month-old pig at Ziggys on Dec. 21.

She is quite happy and very, very sassy, Miller said. She doesnt like to be held, but she is very food motivated. Shes learning all kinds of tricks. She knows how to spin in a circle to get food.

Hope will not need surgery, at least not in the near future, Miller said.

But she does drag her legs when shes tired.

She still has a ways to go, but we couldnt be happier with whats going on, Hartness said of Hopes progress.

Yontz expressed amazement at the pace of her recovery so far.

Its remarkable how she started using those legs, Yontz said.

Physical therapy has included stretching the pigs legs the way they need to go, he said.

She gets around on all fours regularly and can walk in a handstand.

A lot of times, her toes tuck under her, Hartness said. We just have to constantly work with her. The more that we do, the better she does.

On top of that, Hope is growing quickly.

Shes probably doubled in size since the flight, Hartness said.

Even Ziggy, Yontzs and Hartnesss first and much larger older pig, has warmed up to Hope a little.

She loves Ziggy ... and climbs in his bed, Yontz said. He tolerates that. Hes particular about his bed. She fits right in. Shes a lot of fun.

Crane reports for the Register & Bee. He can be reached at (434) 791-7987.

Crane reports for the Register & Bee. He can be reached at (434) 791-7987.

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Hope the flying pig back at Caswell County refuge after plane trip to Pennsylvania vet - GoDanRiver.com

After 35 years in Logansport, Dr. James Shell is passing the Shell Animal Clinic on to a new veterinarian, Dr. Andrew Bickett.

They closed the sale of the clinic the second week of December, and this past week has been one of transition. The change of hands comes after a long search by both men for the right fit.

My standards were high as I had to find someone who shared my deep love and appreciation for animals, as well as someone who has the medical skills to keep the clinic moving forward in the ever-evolving field of veterinary medicine and surgery, Shell stated in a letter he sent out to his clients.

I just felt fortunate to find someone like him to come in and take over, he said.

Bickett said he was searching for a place with the right veterinarian philosophy, standard of care and team, as well as the right community and Logansport proved right for him.

I like the kind of small town atmosphere, Bickett said.

Bickett is originally from Plano, Illinois, and hed been looking to buy a clinic that would put him closer to home than he was in central Kansas, where he worked in a small clinic after graduating from University of Illinois with his Doctorate in veterinarian medicine.

Hed looked at some in bigger cities, but they didnt seem right, he said. He wanted a place where he could get to know the community and his clients.

Bickett doesnt plan any major changes to the clinic, just an expansion of some services.

I do see exotic animals, which is something Dr. Shell didnt do a lot of, he said. That means hell take care of rabbits, snakes and hedgehogs, as well as other animals. Exotic is basically anything that isnt a cat, dog or farm animal, he said.

The clinics name will remain the same, at least for a while, and the staff will stay on. Bickett plans to update some of the equipment, but it wont be noticeable to most people, he said.

The familiar face of Archie lounging about the office will also remain the same. I inherited the cat, he said.

When Bickett first developed an interest in veterinarian medicine, it was my first dog, as it was for a lot of kids, he said. The dog had medical problems that required a lot of attention, and he regularly saw how vets did things and worked, he said.

For Shell, the call to this vocation came from growing up on a small farm and having small animals, and being in FFA and 4-H. His sister also worked for the local veterinarians office in high school and stayed to retirement, so that influenced him as well, he said.

He came to Logansport from his native Michigan in a similar situation as Bickett. He took over the clinic because it seemed like the proper fit.

During his 35 years here, hes seen clients for years and sometimes through multiple pets, and hell miss them and those working at the clinic.

Itll be a change for me, thats for sure, he said.

Shell plans to stay in Logansport, although he and his wife, Carolyn, will go to Arizona for winters and stay in their cottage at Winona Lake often. Hell be around to help at the clinic or consult with Bickett if necessary, but Shell believes that, at 70 years old, his days as a vet are over and Bickett is good for the clinic.

I dont think hes going to need my help much, Shell said.

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After 35 years, Shell Animal Clinic changes hands | Business - pharostribune.com

Submitted

TOPEKA Twenty-one scholarship winners for the 2019-20 school year were recognized during the annual Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Convention on December 4 in Wichita. A total of $23,000 was presented by the Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF) and its partners.

Three students attending the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine have been awarded $1,500 Cartridges for Cash (CFC) scholarships from Merck Animal Health and KLF.Joel Nelsonof Soldier is the son of Jerry and Jo Ann Nelson. He is a first-year veterinary student in the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.Alexis Pedrow, a second-year veterinary student, is the daughter Jeff and Teresa Pedrow of Richmond.Boyd Roenneis the son of Jason and Heather Roenne of Meriden. He is a first-year veterinary student. This award recognizes K-State veterinary school students with a career goal of being a large animal veterinarian.

Ryann Allisonof Fort Scott andKyndall Norrisof Riley each received a $1,000 CFC scholarship through KLF. Allison is the daughter of Tim and Carol Allison. She is a junior at K-State majoring in animal science with a pre-veterinary option. Norrisis the daughter of Kirk and Janice Norris. She is a senior at K-State majoring in animal science with a pre-veterinary option. This scholarship is presented to students entering or returning to a Kansas community or senior college and pursuing degrees in agriculture or a related field. CFC scholarships were funded by Mercks donation of 25 for each used Ralgro wheel or Revalor cartridge turned in to KLA.

Two K-State students each received a $1,500 Douglas A. Laue Memorial Scholarship.Shanie Adamsis the daughter of Brian and Stacie Adams from Meriden. She is a senior majoring in agricultural business.Grady Schuster, son of David and Kathy Schuster of Richmond, is a junior, also majoring in agricultural business. This scholarship is awarded to students entering their junior or senior year at K-State or Fort Hays State University and pursuing degrees in agriculture.

Gatlin Clawsonof Meade has been awarded the $1,000 Cattlemens Scholarship from GoBob Pipe & Steel and KLF. Clawson is the son of Dan and Tamra Clawson. He is a freshman at K-State dual majoring in agricultural economics and marketing. This scholarship is awarded to a student entering or returning to a Kansas community or senior college and pursuing a degree in agriculture or a related field.

Two $1,000 Hampel Oil/Mobil Delvac Scholarships have been presented to K-State students.Kinsey Griffith, daughter of John and Terry Griffith from WaKeeney, is a junior dual majoring in agricultural economics and animal science.Thomas Smithis the son of Jeff and Holly Smith from Windom. He is a junior majoring in agricultural economics with a specialty in global food systems leadership. This scholarship is awarded to students entering their junior or senior year at K-State or Fort Hays State University and pursuing degrees in agronomy, agribusiness or ag economics. Preference is given to applicants with a career goal of being actively engaged in a farming or feedyard enterprise.

Five K-State students from across the state have received $1,000 Youth in Agriculture scholarships from KLF.William A. Holemanis the son of William B. and Lora Holeman from Bronson. He is a sophomore majoring in feed science and management.Jamie Rockof Hope is the daughter of Brian and Candace Rock. She is a sophomore majoring in biological systems engineering.Courtney Sherbert, Morganville, is the daughter of Mike and Robin Sherbert. She is a sophomore majoring in agribusiness.Jordan Vandervortis the daughter of Jerry and Ingrid Vandervort of Wakarusa. She is a sophomore majoring in agricultural milling science and management.Kristopher Wagner, Satanta, is the son of Kevin and Maureen Wagner. He is a freshman majoring in agricultural economics. Funded by the KLF Club Calf Sale held during the Kansas Junior Livestock Show, these scholarships recognize students entering or returning to a Kansas junior or senior college and pursuing degrees in agriculture or a related field.

The Kansas CattleWomen (KCW) awarded $1,000 scholarships to five Kansas students.Grace Aust, daughter of Brad and Janell Aust from LaCygne, is a freshman dual majoring in animal science and agricultural communications and journalism at K-State.Taylor Dieball, the daughter of Cory and Sally Dieball from Little River, is a freshman majoring in animal science at Butler Community College.Samantha Fischeris the daughter of Dan and Connie Fischer from Silver Lake. She is a junior dual majoring in food science and industry and global food systems leadership at K-State.Katelyn Pinkstonis the daughter of Jay and Brenda Bohnenblust from Clay Center. She is a senior at K-State majoring in agricultural education.Marie Reveles, daughter of LaVerna Reveles from Hays, is a junior at K-State majoring in agricultural education. These scholarships, funded by the KCW silent auction held in the KLA Convention Tradeshow, are awarded to students entering or returning to a Kansas community or senior college and pursuing degrees in dietetics, food safety, agriculture or a related field.

Kristina Zergerwas awarded the $500 Fred H. Woodbury Memorial Scholarship through KLF. Zerger is the daughter of Tarry and Nancy Zerger of Cheney. She is a senior majoring in animal science at K-State. This scholarship is presented to a student attending a Kansas junior or senior college and pursuing a degree in agriculture. Preference is given to students residing within Chase, Franklin, Lyon, Osage or Wabaunsee county.

KLF was established in 1983 to operate solely and exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes. For information about KLF scholarship opportunities or to receive an application, contact the foundation at 6031 S.W. 37th St., Topeka, KS 66614 or email[emailprotected].

KLA is a trade organization protecting the business interests of independent ranchers, feeders and dairy farmers. Members of the association are involved in all segments of the livestock industry, including cow-calf production, backgrounding, cattle feeding, swine, dairy and sheep. The associations work is funded by voluntary dues dollars paid by its 5,600 members.

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Hays & WaKeeney natives, other KS youth receive $23000 in scholarships - hays Post

Washington State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine gets calls frequently asking for free or reduced cost services.

Dont misread this and assume these calls are exclusively for clinical services in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. While the majority are for such, still a few are from people or companies wanting free research services.

There are people around who believe that since the VTH is owned by the state, services must be free or deeply discounted. Nope. We are a fee-for-service facility like many state owned resources. And when it comes to undercutting private practices, we just dont have the ability to give away state resources like that.

We do have a program in our teaching hospital that is in perpetual need; the Good Samaritan Fund. It was started in the mid-1990s by WSU veterinary students to help animals in need of special care but whose owners could not afford treatment.

Today that mission has broadened slightly, and includes funding that may benefit accepting a very unique case that provides a unique teaching opportunity for veterinary students. Unknown ownership, or ownerless animals in need can also have an application made on their behalf.

An unknown ownership, patient might be say, a dog with no identification hit by a car. But perhaps the dog is well groomed, well fed and shows it is likely to be an owned animal. Good Sam funds, (as we refer to them) could be applied until ownership is established. An ownerless animal is one that has obviously been living at large for some time with no identification.

Good Sam funds are only awarded to treat common companion animals only at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at WSU. Because the fund is always in need, there are significant limits on eligibility and the amount of funding awarded.

Eligible patients must have a need for life saving procedures and a reasonable prognosis for good long-term recovery. Patients will be either ownerless or owned by clients that cannot pay for care because of circumstances beyond the clients control. Unowned patients must have a temperament that does not prohibit transfer to a new owner.

Animals from animal control agencies, humane societies and business entities are not eligible for funds. The reason is, they are in fact owners of the animals they hold for placement. The college does many other things to benefit local and regional shelters. It is uncommon that are we able to provide the entire $1,000 upper limit toward a case. Owners are always responsible for some portion of the final billing not covered by Good Sam.

The team that reviews each application does so quickly. They have my total respect for their difficult task where needs far outstrip the funds ability to help. You can make application beginning here: vth.vetmed.wsu.edu/good-samaritan.

On that same page, you can donate funds, too. The end of the year is near and donations are tax deductible. You might want to consider making a donation to the WSU Foundation and directing it to the Good Samaritan Fund.The Good Samaritan originated as a biblical parable in the book of Luke. A traveler was beaten, stripped, robbed and left for dead. A priest came along and avoided the man. So did a Levite. It was the third person who earned the title Good Samaritan for stopping and rendering aid in the form of bandaging and applying oil and wine to the wounds.The Good Samaritan then loaded the man on his animal and took him to an inn for care. Thank goodness for both Good Samaritans and healthy animals.

Charlie Powell is the public information officer for the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, which provides this column as a community service. For questions or concerns about animals youd like to read about, email cpowell@vetmed.wsu.edu.

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Year's end and the Good Samaritan | Life - Moscow-Pullman Daily News

From left, Drs. Jerome Masty, Sandra San Miguel and Glen Hoffsis.

An Ohio State University associate professor has been named the recipient of the 2019 AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award.

Jerome Masty, DVM, MS, Ph.D., will be recognized in early March at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges annual conference and Iverson Bell Symposium in Washington, D.C.

The Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis, is a prestigious honor in the world of international academic veterinary medicine, according to AAVMC.

Dr. Masty, assigned to the department of veterinary biosciences, teaches first-year gross anatomy, second-year neuroanatomy of the nervous system and three second-year elective classes in surgical anatomy, feline anatomy and neuroanatomy.

Dr. Masty describes his teaching approach as one that goes beyond passive listening by engaging students through interactive notes and illustrative diagrams that help students to visualize and remember how different parts of the body work together, AAVMC stated. He continuously solicits and responds to student feedback and has demonstrated a commitment to teaching excellence as a mentor to numerous instructors and graduate teaching associates across various disciplines.

Five other veterinary educators will be honored alongside Dr. Masty. They are:

Did you know a subscription to Todays Veterinary Business is free to qualified veterinary professionals? All you have to do is sign up here (and renew each year). You also can sign up to receive the Todays Veterinary Business weekly e-newsletter.

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AAVMC chooses top educators of the year - Today's Veterinary Business Magazine

Students may receive two bachelors degrees from two Nebraska schools all in the span of four years in a new biology and agriculture program.

Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced a new dual-degree initiative, the applied science degree program, earlier this month. Students may earn a life sciences degree with a concentration in biology from Wayne and an applied science degree with concentrations in agriculture and natural resources from UNL.

The degree is one of its kind between the two schools and faculty have been working on it since September 2018, said Tammy Evetovich, dean of the Wayne State School of Natural and Social Sciences.

What I love about this program is that its so flexible and innovative, Evetovich said. People can take it and do what they want with it.

Students in the program will spend three years at Wayne States School of Natural and Social Sciences and finish their last year at UNLs College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) to receive both degrees. Graduates will be prepared for jobs related to farming, ranching, parks and recreation and land management.

Participants may choose to either relocate to the UNL campus in Lincoln for the last year or finish their education online with UNL and in local lab settings at the nearby Haskell Ag Lab in Concord.

The program is part of the Northeast Nebraska Agriculture and Natural Resources Education Compact, an agreement signed in October between seven institutions, according to a previous Daily News article.

The goals of the partnership are to provide education platforms in resilient food, energy, water and societal systems in alignment with career opportunities, as well as prepare teachers and curriculum to respond to the increased need for agricultural science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educators.

Additional partnership goals are intended to encourage workforce development solutions for the agriculture and natural resources industries in Northeast Nebraska.

We really needed to think about opportunities for learners in the northeast part of the state, said Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). One of the things we were focusing on is how we can leverage the strength of each of our institutions to best suit the needs of our learners. Wayne State is an excellent institution and CASNR and Wayne State share a lot of the same goals. It seemed like a natural partnership.

Evetovich said one of the main goals of the dual-degree program is to retain young people in Nebraska, especially in agriculture and natural resources.

Agriculture is very important in Nebraska, Evetovich said. We want to keep young, talented people in our community. The last thing I want is people in this region to think they have to leave to get an agriculture degree.

Freshman Evelina Krie was a major in pre-veterinary medicine at Wayne State College until she learned about the dual-degree program, she said. She will be one of the few students starting the program in January.

Im more interested in the biology part, but I also come from an agricultural background, so I like that it suits me better, Krie said. Im still planning on going into vet school, but I wanted to back myself up with more options. I thought it was neat how it gave you two degrees in four years.

While the program wont officially be offered until the 2020 fall semester, students are working with professors to begin the program in the 2020 spring semester, Evetovich said. Interested students may visit http://www.wsc.edu/info/20446/applied_science for more information.

People are getting really excited about this, Evetovich said. (UNL) has been great to work with, and it was truly a collaboration. We are happy to place young professionals in agriculture in Nebraska. Its something I think is very special.

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Wayne State partners with UNL to offer dual-degree program - Kearney Hub

From a horned ram wandering a neighborhood to lizards abandoned by their owners, animals in need of a home are welcome at this Baton Rouge shelter.

Though dogs and cats make up the majority of the animals that find their way to the Companion Animal Allianceshelter in Baton Rouge, the organization takes in a Noahs Ark of potential companions.

We get it all, said CAA Executive Director Jillian Sergio. As long as it isnt (native) wildlife, it comes to us.

The shelter near the Mississippi River on the outskirts of LSU's campus is a safe haven for pets that people have kept and, for whatever reason, can no longer care for.

Earlier this month, a cow came in after being hit by a car, requiring it to undergo treatment at the nearby LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. And many of 25 horses that lived in the shelters outdoor pasture this year came through neglect cases across East Baton Rouge Parish, Sergio said.

A few years ago, animal control officers picked up a lemur that someone had been keeping.

The lemur was the weirdest thing, Sergio said. We dont know the whole story because it was a stray.

They transferred the animal to a zoo.

She's kept a running total of this year's odd animals being fostered at the shelter. They include: 18 pigs, 14 chickens, 12 birds, eight goats and two donkeys.

Among the strangest this year, Sergio said, was a ram that been meandering through a Baton Rouge subdivision. The shelter is still unsure where the 5-foot-tall horned animal came from.

CAA partners with Rescue Me Animal Welfare, a Walker-based organizationthat has a broader reach and can find livestock and other exotic animals a home in a different parish or another state.

There are many reasons these animals have been forsaken by their owners, but the most common one is that the owners can no longer care for the animal and take them to the shelter in hopes of finding them a better home.

Livestock sometimes get picked up by animal control agents before the owners realize they're missing.

Sadly, sometimes the animals are set loose in the wild.

Laurie Font, a science teacher at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, has fostered dozens of reptiles in the past decade and is currently caring for a 5-foot-long red tail boa constrictor that a police officer found at the side of a road.

People get overwhelmed, so they release them, Font said. A lot of the ones we get in are not in the best of shape."

Some of the cold-blooded critters she's taken in over the last decade need serious veterinary care for infections or bone problems from being malnourished.

Font uses these animals in some of her environmental classes to expose city kids to critters they may never have encountered, as well as a chance to highlight cautionary tales of irresponsible pet ownership.

Iguanas and other reptiles are cheap to buy when theyre young but tend to be a lengthy commitment and have specialized needs and diets.

Finding homes for reptiles typically isnt difficult, but requires serious owners who can take care of them for several years. A red-tail boa, for example, can live 30 years.

Stray reptiles present a greater challenge, especially for those abandoned in the wild. Because they can survive in Louisianas mild climate, Font said, they can pose a threat to the ecosystem.

Florida in recent years has seen a boom in iguanas that have wreaked havoc on the environment, gobbling up the abundant plant life there with no natural predators to keep them in check.

Concerned about a similar possibility in Louisiana, Font said, CAA been encouraging people to take their pets to a shelter if they can no longer care for them.

"There are places you can turn to help versus just letting them go," Font said. "That's just not a viable option."

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From bearded dragons to a ram wandering a Baton Rouge neighborhood, animal shelter takes in all - The Advocate

This years campaign began on World Rabies Day on Sept. 28. The program is staffed entirely by volunteers and a team of veterinarians who have already vaccinated 7,000 dogs and 1,200 cats.

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system (the bodys defense system against pathogens) to recognize and mount a response against viruses. So the next time a vaccinated dog encounters rabies, it will not develop the disease or become infectious to other animals. This is called immunity, and it stops a potential outbreak in its tracks.

Its impossible to vaccinate every single dog in the area, but once enough animals are vaccinated, the disease becomes so rare that it cannot be maintained in a population, no longer poses a threat and can hopefully be eliminated. This is how human vaccines work, too!

In addition to these critical free vaccination services, it is equally important to inform dog owners of the risk that unvaccinated dogs might pose to human health. To accomplish this, Dr. Kamau and Dr. Milnes are also conducting research to find out what people know (and dont know) about rabies.

This kind of research is called a knowledge, attitudes and practices study (or KAP study). It can help identify gaps in community knowledge and behaviors that might leave people vulnerable to disease exposure. For example, many languages refer to rabies as mad dog disease, leading to a common misunderstanding that the disease only affects dogs and people are not at risk.

The principle of One Health means that the health of domestic animals, people, wildlife and the environment are all intertwined. The global burden of rabies demonstrates just how closely our health is interrelated, and illustrates the value of veterinary medicine to human health and wildlife conservation. In short, vaccinating dogs also protects wildlife and saves human lives.

Veterinary fellows Dr. Maureen Kamau and Dr. Ellie Milnes are supported through a partnership between the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Mpala Research Centre, Kenya Wildlife Service and Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy, demonstrating the importance of this work to many stakeholders in the region.

Generous core support for the Global Health Programs training program is provided by Morris Animal Foundation and Dennis and Connie Keller.

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Stopping Rabies in its Tracks: How Canine Vaccines are Saving Lives in Kenya - Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Delaware Technical Community College alumna and adjunct instructor Autumn Cooper of Selbyville recently received the inaugural Delaware Veterinary Technician of the Year Award from the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association.

I am so honored to receive this award, Cooper said. This has been the most humbling and gratifying moment of my technician career.

The award is presented to a licensed veterinary technician who is a member in good standing of the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association, and has shown a positive contribution to the advancement of the profession and veterinary technicians in Delaware.

Cooper graduated from Delaware Tech in 2013 with a degree in veterinary technology. She earned her bachelor of science degree in business management from Wilmington University in 2018. Cooper began working at Savannah Animal Hospital in Lewes in 2013, and worked as an educational laboratory specialist at Delaware Tech from 2013-16. She has been an adjunct instructor for Delaware Tech since 2016, teaching anatomy and physiology, veterinary nursing, surgical and anesthesia nursing, and dental procedure/imaging.

Autumn is compassionate, smart, hardworking, and driven, said Lisa Garrison, veterinary technology instructor. Her passion for learning and education, and elevating licensed veterinary technologists in this profession, is commendable.I am honored to have been part of her journey from the first time I met her in 2010 as a student to now as a leader in the profession.

Veterinary medicine has been a lifelong passion for Cooper.

Like many in the veterinary field, I was blessed to grow up in a home with a variety of animals, Cooper said. I quickly learned, through routine pet care and pet emergencies, that an important part of loving an animal is making sure that it receives veterinary care.

Cooper said the education she received at Delaware Tech helped her get to where she is today.

The instructional team at Delaware Tech has been vital in propelling me to success in the veterinary field, she said. I am so grateful to my instructors, mentors, co-workers, family, friends, and God for my continued success and future opportunities.

For more information on the veterinary technology program, go to http://www.dtcc.edu/programs.

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Delaware Tech's Autumn Cooper named vet tech of the year - CapeGazette.com

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) It was a medical first in Philadelphia as human technology was used to save a dog with heart disease. Its a high-tech hearth procedure that is routinely performed on human patients. Now, for the first time in the region, its been successfully used for a dog.

Her family says Sophie has a heart of gold. Now, she also has a heart thats making history.

Shes just a joy, Sophie s owner Karen Cortellino said. It was love at first sight.

But their love story was suddenly threatened when the 9-year-old boxer fainted.

We were told even with medicine theres a high risk of sudden death, Cortellino said.

Cortellino learned her beloved rescue had an arrhythmia, the same type of erratic heartbeat thats diagnosed in people.

She had arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy, said Dr. Anna Gelzer, a cardiologist at Penns School of Veterinary Medicine.

Gelzer figured the human treatment could also work for dogs.

Sophie was the first case where weve tried to ablate ventricular tachycardia, Gelzer said.

For that, they turned to colleagues at Penn Medicine, where human heart patients are treated.

We were able to use the exact same equipment, Gelzer said.

When she explained to us that Sophie was going to have this procedure at the human hospital at HUP, I couldnt believe it, Cortellino said.

During ablation, a high energy catheter tip burns tiny portions of damaged heart tissue to restore normal rhythms.

The red dots are dots where we ablated, Gelzer said.

High-tech mapping helped guide the ablation, but it was the first-of-its-kind on a dog.

Were fortunate that things went smoothly, Gelzer said.

Cortellino says Sophie was pretty quickly back to normal with the human intervention saving her dogs life.

Its amazing. It is just completely amazing, Cortellino said.

Cortellino is hoping the risk she took with Sophie having the procedure will help other dogs in the future.

The treatment is experimental for now with a grant. The heart disease that Sophie has is common for boxers and is also prevalent in American bulldogs.

Original post:
Shes Just A Joy: Penn Doctors Save 9-Year-Old Dogs Life With First-Of-Its-Kind Heart Surgery - CBS Philly