Raising the Bar for Equine Care

Monday, February 26, 2018

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The Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital in Indiana Offers Midwest Horsemen Access to Advanced Technology

Located in the shadows of the Indiana Grand Racing & Casino outside of Indianapolis is the newly opened Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital, which offers not only the horsemen of the Hoosier State but also horse owners throughout the region access to world-class medical, diagnostic and emergency care services. The equine hospital, which began accepting patients this spring, is a part of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Among the facility’s most notable features is an Equine 4DDI diagnostic imaging system, or standing computerized tomography (CT) machine, which uses two robotic arms to migrate around the equine patient, allowing a horse to walk in and remain standing for diagnostic imaging rather than having to be fully sedated and laid down for fluoroscopy, CT and tomosynthesis.

There are only four standing CT machines for horses in the country, and one of them is located at Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital.

There are only four standing CT machines for horses in the country, and one of them is located at Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital. Photo courtesy Ed Lausch Photography.

A Vision Turned Reality

Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital

Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital is located thirty miles south-east of Indianapolis, and about 100 miles north of Louisville, in Shelbyville, Ind. Photo courtesy Ed Lausch Photography.

Purdue officially broke ground on the $8.8 million project in October 2015, but the idea behind the state-of-the-art equine hospital had been in the works for more than a decade, thanks to a number of interested parties, including longtime Indiana state senator Dr. Bob Jackman, who initially brought the idea up to Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Willie Reed.

“Once we passed the slots bill, I was convinced the horse racing industry was going to grow, bringing in more horsemen and horses— Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, everything,” said Jackman, an equine veterinarian who owns Jackman Animal Clinic in Milroy, Indiana. “I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Reed soon after he took over as dean and mentioned to him that I thought the university should consider building an equine hospital between the two tracks [Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park] because I suspected the quality and number of horses would be increasing due to the new legislation.”

Built on land purchased by the Purdue Research Foundation, the hospital was made possible thanks in part to a $3.1 million pledge that included naming rights from Centaur Gaming, the parent company of Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand. Shelby County, where the hospital is located, also contributed $2.3 million.

The Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital came as a logical complement to the school’s large and small animal teaching hospitals, which provide hands-on and classroom experience for veterinary students.

Purdue has a longstanding history of both benefiting from the success of horse racing in Indiana and pioneering advances in veterinary medicine for the benefit of high-performance equine athletes. The university’s large animal hospital was the first to perform arthroscopic surgery on a horse in the 1970s, and in 1996 they opened their Equine Sports Medicine Center, which featured a high-speed equine treadmill for diagnostic and research purposes. The creation of the Equine Sports Medicine Center came about in large part due to a provision included in the original legislation that established pari-mutuel horse racing in Indiana, which committed funding to Purdue for equine research.

Purdue University also recently announced plans to build a $35 million equine hospital on the campus of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The 76,000-square-foot hospital will include general treatment facilities, modern surgical suites, advanced diagnostic capabilities, and sports medicine and teaching space. The new equine teaching hospital will be the first of a three-phase plan, which will also include new buildings for small animal and food animal teaching hospitals.

Lead Surgeon a Horseman at Heart

Dr. Timm with a patient.

Dr. Timm Gudehus and the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital offer cutting-edge equine technology just a few furlongs from the Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Photo courtesy Ed Lausch Photography.

At the helm of the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital is Senior Veterinary Surgeon Timm Gudehus, DVM, DACVS, DECVS, who has a wealth of experience, both as a veterinarian and as a horseman. Growing up in a warmblood riding and breeding family in his native Germany, Gudehus rode show jumpers at the grand prix level before attending veterinary school in Germany and completing an internship on the backside of the Munich racetrack. He came stateside in 2006 to complete a second internship focused on orthopedics in California, and since then has served as a resident in equine surgery at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, as a staff surgeon in Auckland, New Zealand, and as the lead surgeon of one of Europe’s largest and fastest-growing equine hospitals, where his client list included Olympic level competitors.

With experience covering everything from racing breeds and sport horses to breeding stock, Western disciplines and more, Gudehus is well equipped to handle whatever case comes his way at the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital.

“Having ridden semi-professionally, I understand more than most, probably, that this is a business and that every discipline is different,” he said. “I’ve been afforded the opportunities in my career to work with everything
from polo and show jumping to Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing and breeding and the pony or riding horse that is someone’s beloved pet. Even though it’s a business, as a vet and as a horseman, you have to have that emotional drive as well, and the day I lose that I should stop being a veterinarian.”

When starting a business from the ground up, whether it’s a veterinary hospital or otherwise, key team members are often asked to wear many hats. For Gudehus, that meant serving not only as the hospital’s lead surgeon, but also as its lead communicator in an effort to create relationships with both area horsemen and potential referring veterinarians.

“I’ve spent much of my time reaching out to the veterinarians in the area and letting them know what we have to offer,” he said. “At this point, I’ve made contact with the majority of the veterinarians within a 100 or so mile radius. We are here to support them, not to compete with them. We are an additional resource available for them to use when servicing their clients.”

A Diagnostic Game-Changer

Reading the scan.

The Equine 4DDI diagnostic imaging system can scan a horse in less than 30 seconds without the horse needing to lie down or be fully sedated. Photo courtesy Ed Lausch Photography.

Since opening this past spring, the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital has performed more than 100 surgeries including everything from standing tie-backs, removal of ovarian tumors and colic surgeries to neck and other joint fusions.

“Opening a new hospital like ours is very much like a startup business,” Gudehus said. “We had a soft start and are learning what the phases and seasons of our business are going to be.”

The depth of resources housed at the facility is robust, both for emergency cases and for those whose appointments can be scheduled in advance. While its offerings include advanced diagnostic imaging, shockwave therapy, nuclear medicine, regenerative medicine, endoscopic laser surgery and specialized equine orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, the feature that sets them apart more than any other is their standing CT machine.

One of only four in the country and the only one in the Midwest, the standing CT can be a diagnostic game-changer for veterinarians.

“First and foremost, it is a step up from radiography,” Gudehus said. “The scan itself takes about 27 seconds, and with no need for general anesthesia, horses get here and in 15 to 20 minutes they walk in, walk out, done. If you
have a horse that warrants a diagnosis, or if alternative diagnostic tools provided inconclusive results, it’s a no-brainer, and the fact that we have it available right here for horsemen, it’s a game-changer.”

While Purdue’s other veterinary hospitals are teaching hospitals, the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital operates more along the lines of a traditional specialty practice, but their affiliation to the university makes them
especially eager to offer opportunities for continuing education of horse owners, trainers, caregivers, veterinarians and veterinary students to optimize the health of horses.

In October, the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital hosted its first continuing education opportunity for veterinarians and horsemen. The seminar focused on best practices for utilizing the hospital’s CT machine, with a lecture given by Tom Yarbrough, DVM, of the Dubai Equine Hospital, which also has one of the machines. A surgeon and diagnostician, Yarbrough is one of the world’s foremost authorities on the standing CT machine.

“The hospitals in the area and even as far as Ohio and Michigan can benefit from what we can offer, and we want to cooperate, not compete, with them,” Gudehus said. “My niche here is not to replace my colleagues, but to enhance what they have available to their clients.”


Writer(s): Jen Roytz, jenlroytz@gmail.com

Source: American Racehorse Magazine, 2017.

Category: In the News

Purdue Veterinary Technology Program Ranked #1

Friday, February 23, 2018

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The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Technology Program has been ranked #1 in the nation in a listing of the Top 50 Veterinary Technician Programs for 2018 published by TheBestColleges.org.  The website says to determine the best veterinary technology programs, they looked at the factors important to prospective students, especially common predictors of future success and a school’s commitment to online programs.  “This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes,” the website states.

The Purdue University Veterinary Technology Program was recognized for offering on-campus education that includes hands-on experience working with animals and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree, the Associate of Applied Science degree, and provides a Bachelor of Science completion option.  The website also highlighted the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning program that offers the Associate of Applied Science degree and incorporates 27 didactic courses and 18 clinical mentorships.

Purdue Veterinary Technology Program Director Bianca Zenor (PU DVM 2001) said the #1 ranking represents an outstanding accomplishment. “We have a great team and they’ve worked hard to achieve this,” Dr. Zenor said.

The website says all of the data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.  Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the 50 best veterinary technician programs.  The website also states that, in calculating the rankings, they look at a school’s ranking when organized by a single factor, and then average each category’s ranking to find an overall score based on a formula in which the final score is equal to the admissions rate (20%) plus default rate (20%) plus retention rate (20%) plus graduation rate (20%) plus percent of students enrolled in online classes (20%).

The Purdue Veterinary Technology Program was established in 1975 and has graduated nearly 1,400 alumni, including nearly 900 Associate of Applied Science degree recipients, about 420 Bachelor of Science degree recipients, and 78 graduates of the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning program.  In the past year, 100% of the on-campus program graduates and nearly 90% of the Distance Learning program graduates achieved a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), which is required in most states for a veterinary technician to be credentialed.  The Purdue program also is one of only four veterinary technology programs in the country housed at a college of veterinary medicine.

In addition to Purdue, the other top five veterinary technology programs in TheBestColleges.org ranking are at: the University of New Hampshire; the SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, N.Y.; the SUNY College of Technology at Delhi, N.Y.; and Johnson College in Scranton, Pa.  The website points out that figures from the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics show increasing demand for veterinary technicians and technologists, with employment expected to grow 20% over a ten year period ending in 2026.  Veterinary technicians and technologists work in such settings as private clinics and hospitals, laboratories, and zoos, assisting in the diagnosing of injuries and illnesses of animals under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.


Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu


PVM Issues Statement Supporting National Registered Veterinary Nurse Credential

Friday, February 23, 2018

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine this week issued a formal statement supporting a nationwide effort to create the Registered Veterinary Nurse national credential. This multi-year initiative by the Veterinary Nurse Initiative Coalition provides the national leadership and continuity that will be needed to effect change from state to state, since each state has its own regulations for credentialing technicians. “The leadership of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine believes it is vital that we show our support for this effort and our statement backing this initiative explains why,” said Dean Willie Reed.

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine statement emphasizes the College’s longstanding record as a leader in promoting the value of credentialed veterinary technicians as vital members of the veterinary healthcare team.  However, it acknowledges that supporters of the profession have encountered a major obstacle in conveying to the general public an understanding of the role of veterinary technicians and their essential place in the delivery of quality veterinary medical care.  “That obstacle is a matter of confusing and inconsistent nomenclature, which can and should be changed,” the statement says.

The statement goes on to explain that, in the face of changing conditions affecting the veterinary medical profession, the College is leading the way at the educational level to promote adoption of the term Registered Veterinary Nurse as a means of advancing the veterinary technology profession.  “The credential of Registered Veterinary Nurse is understood by the public and would significantly improve the awareness and recognition of the highly valuable skills these professionals bring to the veterinary team,” the statement says.  “Now is the time to work toward adoption of a single credential, state by state, throughout the nation, and eliminate the confusion that stems from the current variation of titles, which include Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT), and Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT).”

The statement concludes by firmly expressing the College’s wholehearted and enthusiastic support for the Veterinary Nurse Initiative Coalition’s pursuit of legislative amendments in the 50 states to establish the single credential of Registered Veterinary Nurse.  “We unequivocally endorse this initiative, which will enhance the stature and recognition of veterinary technicians, many of whom received their training at Purdue University, while also boosting the public’s appreciation for the value of the veterinary medical profession,” the statement says.  The statement is being distributed to the other U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine, the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, and major veterinary industry and association publications and websites.

View the official Position Statement on the Registered Veterinary Nurse Credential (PDF).


Writer(s): Purdue Veterinary Medicine News | pvmnews@purdue.edu


4th Annual Veterinary Technician Symposium to be held March 25

Friday, February 23, 2018

Vet-Tech-Symposium
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s 2018 Veterinary Technician Symposium will take place Sunday, March 25 in Lynn Hall, and the deadline for discounted early registration is approaching.  The one-day event is designed specifically for veterinary assistants, veterinary technology students, and veterinary technicians and technologists. Participants will learn practical information to use in clinical practice in a variety of topics including: anesthesiology, behavior, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, wellness, and more! Up to seven continuing education (CE) credits will be available with this event. Click here to preview specific sessions offered in both small and large animal tracks.

Register by March 1 to take advantage of early bird registration fees. An additional $10 fee will be added to all registrations received after March 1. Be sure to register as “PVM Faculty/Staff” or “Students” for special discount rates.

Click here to register today!


Writer(s): Purdue Veterinary Medicine News | pvmnews@purdue.edu


Year of the Dog Shines Light on Man’s Best Friend

Friday, February 23, 2018

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The spotlight is on man’s best friend as the start of the Lunar New Year ushers in the Year of the Dog.  Our furry friends don’t ask for much. Some food, shelter, a little outside time and some friendly pets on the head can be enough to make them happy.  But Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) would like pet owners to know about some of the lesser known treatments offered at the hospital that can be just as beneficial.

Owners aren’t the only ones who can suffer a slight injury when running around a park with Fido. Dogs can also suffer injuries and need surgery, and just like humans, dogs might need physical therapy after such a traumatic physical experience. The therapy program at Purdue has been around for more than three years, offering dogs and other animals the treatment they need.

“Just like in human medicine, we want our animals to have a good quality of life,” said Jessica Bowditch, RVT, CCRP, physical rehabilitation and neurology technician. “Dogs, just like humans, start physical therapy the day after a surgery. They can have physical therapy for muscle issues, to help them learn how to use their legs again, and just for exercise.”

The physical therapy room in the Small Animal Hospital offers an underwater treadmill for easier workouts or for resistance and cardio training; balance boards; physioballs; electric stimulation; and many other resources to help dogs get healthy.  Click here to view a short video that includes an interview with Jessica about the Physical Rehabilitation service.

Physical therapy is commonly recommended for post-operative and medically managed orthopedic patients, post-operative and medically managed neurological patients, patients suffering from muscle strains, obese patients, and dogs that want to improve and maintain agility.  Click here for more information.

The VTH also offers other innovative medical services, including hemodialysis for patients who have ingested poisonous toxins; a behavioral clinic for animals with dangerous or stressful behavioral problems; dental services for animals of all shapes and sizes; and exotic animal care for more unusual patients, such as sugar gliders, guinea pigs, chinchillas, fish, birds, and reptiles.


Writer(s): Megan Huckaby, Purdue News Service | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Category: Hospitals, Services

Surgical Equipment Donation Enhances Learning for Purdue Veterinary Students

Friday, February 16, 2018

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Purdue veterinary student Mandy Haq, of the DVM Class of 2019, uses an electrosurgical unit recently donated by Logansport Memorial Hospital, as she is helped by Dr. Kenneth Brand, a surgery resident, during the Junior Surgery lab.
Purdue veterinary student Mandy Haq, of the DVM Class of 2019, uses an electrosurgical unit recently donated by Logansport Memorial Hospital, as she is helped by Dr. Kenneth Brand, a surgery resident, during the Junior Surgery Lab.

Thanks to a connection between Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) and an orthopedic surgeon at Logansport Memorial Hospital in Logansport, Ind., third-year Purdue veterinary students now have more opportunities to learn first-hand about using electrosurgical equipment in surgery. The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine recently took possession of several electrosurgical units that were donated by the Logansport Memorial Hospital.

The story dates back to January 2017, when Dr. James Davis brought his dog Storm, a sweet 12-year-old Labrador Retriever, to the VTH for treatment of laryngeal paralysis. That’s when he met Dr. Sarah Malek, PVM assistant professor of small animal surgery. Dr. Malek performed the surgical procedure to correct the problem and Storm recovered successfully. During the course of the treatment and the visits to the VTH, Dr. Davis became interested in the correlation between veterinary orthopedic surgery and the work he does as a human orthopedic surgeon at Logansport Memorial Hospital.

Third-year Purdue veterinary students work under the guidance of faculty and residents in the Junior Surgery lab, performing neuter surgeries needed to make shelter animals more adoptable.
Third-year Purdue veterinary students work under the guidance of faculty and residents in the Junior Surgery Lab, performing neuter surgeries needed to make shelter animals more adoptable.

Dr. Malek said over time, the connection between Dr. Davis and the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has grown, given Dr. Davis’ interest and experience in training surgery residents in the past. “As both an orthopedic surgeon and a true animal lover, Dr. Davis has a genuine interest in our college’s educational programs,” said Dr. Malek. “He and I are currently working on creating learning opportunities for our surgery residents to be able to observe orthopedic surgeries in a human hospital setting in conjunction with their training at Purdue in small animal orthopedic surgery.”

Dr. Davis’ interest in the College’s teaching programs also recently resulted in donation of a large batch of bandaging and casting materials that will be used for the third-year veterinary students to learn and practice bandaging and casting skills in the small animal surgery laboratories. In addition, he made possible another contribution to the College when he offered the donation of electrosurgical units that were in excellent condition, but no longer needed at Logansport Memorial. “The Logansport hospital was replacing the units with new models, and that’s when Dr. Davis asked if I would have any use for the units in our labs,” Dr. Malek explained. “I had mentioned during our past conversations how we are always looking for a way to complete our collection of electrosurgical units in the surgery laboratories where our students can get hands-on experience using this technology.”

These six ConMed Sabre 2400 Electrosurgical Units were donated to the College of Veterinary Medicine for use in the small animal surgery laboratories through the efforts of Dr. James Davis at Logansport Memorial Hospital. The hospital was replacing the units with brand new equipment.
These six ConMed Sabre 2400 Electrosurgical Units were donated to the College of Veterinary Medicine for use in the small animal surgery laboratories through the efforts of Dr. James Davis at Logansport Memorial Hospital. The hospital was replacing the units with brand new equipment.

Thanks to Dr. Davis facilitating the transportation in early January, a total of six units were delivered and are now operational in the Junior Surgery Lab. Dr. Malek said the lab already had a number of electrosurgical units, but more were needed to meet the demand, given the number of student groups that operate during the labs, and in the past cost had been a limiting factor in trying to add more units. The newly donated units are compatible with the hand pieces already being used at Purdue, and are currently being utilized in the Junior Surgery Lab as the students perform spay and neuter surgeries free of charge for shelter dogs and cats that need the procedures in order to be successfully put up for adoption.

“Electrosurgery is an essential part of cutting tissue, controlling and preventing bleeding during procedures in both human and animal surgeries,” Dr. Malek explained. “It’s important for our students to have exposure to this equipment as over time the technology and equipment have become very user-friendly, safe for patients and cost effective for even non-referral practices. By having more opportunities to become familiar and experienced with this tool, our students will be better-prepared to enter veterinary practice.”

Dr. Malek also said that in the VTH, students participating in clinical rotations have only limited opportunities to use the electrosurgical units on their own. “We so appreciate Dr. Davis’ thoughtfulness and generosity in making this donation possible and furthering the learning opportunities for our students at Purdue.”


Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu


Texas Pet Owners Travel to Purdue Seeking Shockwave Therapy

Friday, February 16, 2018

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Honey, an 11-year-old mixed-breed dog from Plano, Texas, suffered from chronic urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Her owners traveled to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a procedure called shockwave lithotripsy, which held promise for resolving her symptoms. The VTH is one of two animal hospitals in the country that perform this procedure.

Honey, an 11-year-old mixed-breed dog from Plano, Texas, suffered from chronic urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Her owners traveled to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a procedure called shockwave lithotripsy, which held promise for resolving her symptoms. The VTH is one of two animal hospitals in the country that perform this procedure.

When “Honey” came to the Small Animal Hospital at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for treatment of a large kidney stone, her owners were relieved to find a minimally invasive treatment option for their pet. The 11-year-old scruffy-haired mixed-breed dog from Plano, Texas, had been suffering from chronic urinary tract infections and kidney stones for some time.

Honey’s veterinarian referred her owners first to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. The veterinarians there directed them on to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine for a procedure called shockwave lithotripsy that was adapted for small animals by PVM Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine Larry Adams.

Before undergoing the shockwave procedure, and despite long-term treatment for the painful UTIs and kidney stones, Honey was withdrawn and uncomfortable. The stones were multiplying and required a procedure that would resolve the problem.

“We’ve had Honey for 11 years. We call her a rock star because of her wild hair,” said owners Gracie Elder and Dr. Howard Ash. “Dr. Adams is very well-known for this procedure, so we drove the distance for her.”

Shockwave lithotripsy is the most common treatment for kidney stones in the United States, for humans and animals alike. Doctors use this method of treatment for kidney stones smaller than two centimeters in diameter. The benefits of the shockwave treatment are many. For one, the shockwave machine is operated from outside of the body, which means no surgery is needed, and thus it is usually an outpatient procedure. Also, the shockwave crushes the kidney stones into smaller fragments that can pass in the urine. Dr. Adams says the procedure’s reduced risk and high recovery rate makes it ideal for veterinary patients. Dr. Adams and the Small Animal Internal Medicine team have treated dogs from 40 U.S. states, some as small as four pounds.

Honey gazes up at her owner while in an exam room in the Small Animal Hospital. Her prognosis was good for a full recovery after she underwent shockwave lithotripsy for kidney stones.
Honey gazes up at her owner while in an exam room in the Small Animal Hospital. Her prognosis was good for a full recovery after she underwent shockwave lithotripsy for kidney stones.

“The Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital is one of two animal hospitals in the country that offer shockwave lithotripsy,” says Dr. Adams, who is co-section head of Small Animal Internal Medicine. “Shockwave is an older technology, but its advantage is that it’s a focused high-energy shockwave that delivers shockwaves through the body to the kidney stone. Shockwave is the less invasive treatment for kidney stones, compared to laser lithotripsy, which means complications, costs, risks, and recovery time are reduced.”

After her procedure, Honey travelled back to Plano, where, thanks to the procedure, she was expected to pass the remainder of her kidney stones over a period of a few weeks, yielding a resolution of her pain and discomfort.


Writer(s): Lauren Bruce | pvmnews@purdue.edu


Annual PVM Horseman’s Forum Reins in 175 Attendees

Friday, February 16, 2018

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Dr. Joe Monroe of Nutrena leads a Horseman's Forum session entitled

Joe Monroe of Nutrena leads a Horseman’s Forum session entitled “Feeding the Metabolic Horse.”

This year’s annual Purdue Veterinary Medicine Horseman’s Forum held on Saturday, February 10, attracted 175 attendees to Lynn Hall, including both youth and adult horse owners and enthusiasts. The Horseman’s Forum is a special event hosted by the PVM Office of Lifelong Learning that aims to educate horse owners and equine industry professionals about current horse health issues, ranging from basic preventative health care and husbandry topics to state-of-the-art medical advancements. Attendees came from across Indiana as well as Illinois, Minnesota, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Equine Club President Meghan Wanstrath, of the DVM Class of 2019, awards a give-away to Dakota Szakacs, a horse enthusiast in the 7th grade from St. Joseph County, as Dr. Tim Lescun looks on during the Horseman's Forum in Lynn 1136.
Equine Club President Meghan Wanstrath, of the DVM Class of 2019, awards a PVM Equine First-aid Kit as a give-away to Dakota Szakacs, a horse enthusiast in the 7th grade from St. Joseph County, as Dr. Tim Lescun looks on during the Horseman’s Forum in Lynn 1136.

The program included popular treadmill and endoscopy demonstrations by Dr. Laurent Couёtil, professor of large animal internal medicine and director of the Equine Sports Medicine Center, and Dr. Sandy Taylor, associate professor of large animal internal medicine. The forum also featured lectures on such topics as nutrition, mare reproduction, pre-purchase examinations, and equine health presented by Purdue faculty and staff as well as industry experts and Dr. Gillian Haanen, a veterinarian from the Netherlands with expertise in neonatology, gastro-intestinal, cardiology, and respiratory and infectious diseases.

The Horseman’s Forum was sponsored by Nutrena, Progressive Nutrition, Zoetis, and Haygain, which provided prizes for the giveaways and items for goodie bags. Students from the Equine Club also were on-hand selling custom PVM Equine First-aid Kits as a fundraiser. Special thanks to the faculty on the Horseman’s Forum Planning Committee for organizing the successful program: Drs. Amanda Farr, Tim Lescun, and Sandy Taylor.

Dr. Sandy Taylor gives an equine endoscopy demonstration in the Large Animal Hospital during the 2018 Horseman's Forum.
Dr. Sandy Taylor gives an equine endoscopy demonstration in the Large Animal Hospital during the 2018 Horseman’s Forum.
Dr. Jennifer Koziol, clinical assistant professor of theriogenology and production medicine, gives a talk entitled
Dr. Jennifer Koziol, clinical assistant professor of theriogenology and production medicine, gives a talk entitled “Breeding the Middle-aged Mare” at the Horseman’s Forum.

Writer(s): Helen Thimlar, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu


PVM involved in Human-Animal Bond Lecture at VMX

Friday, February 16, 2018

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Featured speaker for the Human Animal Bond Lecture at the VMX Conference, Dr. Rebecca Johnson, with her dog, Callie.
Featured speaker for the Human-Animal Bond lecture at the 2018 Veterinary Meeting and Expo, Dr. Rebecca Johnson, with her dog, Callie.

One of the popular sessions at last week’s Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) held by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) in Orlando was the Human-Animal Bond lecture presented by Dr. Rebecca Johnson and sponsored by Purdue Veterinary Medicine and Elanco. More than 80 people attended the evening presentation on Monday, February 5.

In her lecture “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound,” Dr. Johnson presented extant research on obesity in people and their companions. Further, she discussed specific issues associated with applying her research to practice as well as programmatic recommendations for modifying obesity. Her studies show that companion animals may provide a unique source of social support and facilitate motivation for exercise and other wellness-promoting behaviors.

Dr. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Dubuque, her PhD from the University of Iowa, and her masters of philosophy from the University of Edinburg, Scotland, as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. She is now the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing & Public Policy at the University of Missouri. In 2005, she founded and became director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. ReCHAI’s mission is to conduct research on human-animal interaction, educate students and the public about it, and facilitate research in the field by other faculty and graduate students. The author of many publications in peer reviewed journals and book chapters, Dr. Johnson wrote two books that are published by Purdue University Press entitled, “Health Benefits of Dog Walking,” and “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound.” Her externally funded program of research merges her work on wellness in people undergoing transitions (e.g. military veterans, older adults, prison inmates, families of children who have autism, and abused children) with the benefits of human and companion animal interaction.

Held at the Orange County Convention Center, this year’s VMX event attracted a total of 18,000 attendees.


Writer(s): Helen Thimlar, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu


PVM Alumni Gather at Reception in Orlando

Friday, February 16, 2018

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Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni (left-right) Michelle Temple (AS-VT 2014), Lisa Nichols (AS-VT 1996) and Michelle Hendrickson (DVM 2012) visit at the Purdue Alumni Reception held February 6 in Orlando during the VMX Veterinary Meeting and Expo (formerly NAVC).
Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni (left-right) Michelle Temple (AS-VT 2014), Lisa Nichols (AS-VT 1996) and Michelle Hendrickson (DVM 2012) visit at the Purdue Alumni Reception held February 6 in Orlando during the 2018 Veterinary Meeting and Expo (formerly NAVC).

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a reception for alumni at NAVC’s 2018 Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) Tuesday, February 6. The event at the Hyatt Regency Orlando attracted about 50 guests including veterinary technology and DVM alumni, who mingled with PVM faculty and staff. Dean Willie Reed also gave an update on developments at the College.


Writer(s): Purdue Veterinary Medicine News | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Category: Alumni, Our People

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