Keep Pets Safe and Happy During Independence Day Celebrations

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Between parades, visitors, vacations, and the crackle of fireworks, Fourth of July festivities are filled with celebration; but unlike people, many pets associate those festivities with anxiety and panic. Dr. Lori Corriveau, wellness clinician in the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Small Animal Community Practice, advises there are many simple ways to protect companion animals during Independence Day celebrations.

“Owners must use common sense when they allow pets to join the festivities,” said Dr. Corriveau. “For example, you should be mindful that some dogs like chasing those spinning and swirling fireworks on the ground. Others fear loud noises and you should take steps to mitigate their stress.”

Before firing off those bottle rockets, Dr. Corriveau suggests these helpful tips for lowering the stress of pets on and around July 4^th:

Before the Festivities

Make sure your pets have updated contact information on their collar or harness. Consider leaving their IDs and harness on during this stressful time, as the extra excitement could lead your pets to run if presented with an opportunity. If your pet gets loose, make sure you have a current photo to help you reunite.

Remember to never leave pets alone outdoors when anticipating fireworks in your area, even if tethered or in a fenced yard. Dogs, especially, may escape and become lost or injure themselves chewing or choking on their leashes. Keep small pets indoors, preferably in a room without windows, and keep horses in their stalls. Make sure all sharp objects are removed from these enclosures.

Before the fireworks show, put indoor pets into a small, darkened room they are familiar with. Turn on the radio or TV for distraction and noise, and reward calm behavior with high-value treats.

Exercise your pets thoroughly before the fireworks start. A tired pet is a less anxious pet and will generally be mellower during the festivities.

Speak to a veterinarian about giving a mild sedative or tranquilizer to calm the fears of an over-stressed dog, cat, or horse. Sedation is helpful to some horses and dogs, and keep in mind that noise phobia can get worse as a pet ages.

If their fear seems to be maladaptive or getting worse, consider behavioral therapy to desensitize your pet and reduce the risk of panic.

During the Festivities

Unless you know from experience that your pet is not stimulated by fireworks, do not take pets to fireworks shows. As always, do not leave a pet in a car unattended.

Keep pets on leash or in a carrier if they must be outside.

Protect animals from children, and children from animals, who may not realize that waving sparklers or setting off “safe” fireworks could upset pets.

After the cookout, check your yard and your home for food scraps, leftover sparklers, or other debris that could be harmful for your pet.

“It’s up to us to keep our animals safe and out of harm’s way,” says Dr. Corriveau. “By planning ahead and keeping their safety in mind, everyone can have a safe and happy Independence Day.”

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

DVM and Pre-Veterinary Students Experience Scientific Discovery through Summer Research Program

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Dr. Andrea Santos (right), assistant professor of veterinary clinical pathology, guides Purdue veterinary student Caitlyn Ridenour, of the DVM Class of 2021, as she works on her summer research project.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s 2018 Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program (SRP) is giving 21 DVM and pre-veterinary students first-hand experience in the realm of scientific discovery. The program provides the students with the opportunity to work on independent research projects and explore non-practice careers by being partnered with faculty members who share mutual areas of interest. The SRP involves 11 weeks (May 21 – August 5) of focused research as well as seminars, field trips, and symposia. The program has been held annually since 1991.

This year the program is hosting 15 Purdue DVM students and six pre-veterinary students from Purdue, Prairie View A&M University, Agnes Scott College, Grambling State University, and North Carolina A&T University. Dr. Harm HogenEsch, Purdue Veterinary Medicine associate dean for research and professor of immunopathology, and Dr. Eli Asem, professor of physiology in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, organize the program by matching students and faculty.

The goal of the program is to make DVM and undergraduate students aware of the opportunities to pursue research and research-related careers, and to increase the number of students that are interested in advanced training following graduation. To do this, students participate in weekly seminars on a variety of topics including: careers in academia, industry and government, lab animal medicine, ethics, scientific writing, research funding, and how to balance a career and personal life. They also have the opportunity to visit Covance Laboratories in Greenfield, Ind., and attend a joint symposium with the University of Illinois Summer Research Fellows.  The SRP kicks-off with a traditional Indiana picnic at the start of the program in May. The veterinary students will also travel to a national Boehringer Ingelheim/NIH symposium at Texas A&M University on August 2-5.

PVM faculty, staff, and students will have a chance to learn about the research conducted by the SRP participants at the conclusion of the program.  Each of the Summer Research Fellows will prepare an abstract and poster about their research to present at a special poster presentation August 1 in Lynn G119/155.

The 2018 Summer Research Program participants are as follows:

DVM Students and Faculty Mentors

• Claudine Auld – Dr. Gert Breur
• Kevin Bersch – Dr. Russell Main
• Eric Boone – Dr. Deborah Knapp
• Sara Canada – Dr. Kari Ekenstedt
• Christa Cheatham – Dr. Tiffany Lyle
• Chad Coakley – Dr. Arun Bhunia
• Jonathon Daniel – Dr. Riyi Shi
• Carly Gundlach – Dr. Maggie O’Haire
• Blair Hooser – Dr. Kari Ekenstedt
• Ashley Hopkins – Dr. Lynn Guptill
• Jessica Linder – Dr. Melissa Lewis
• Chris Mapes – Dr. Abby Durkes
• Caitlyn Ridenour – Dr. Andrea Pires dos Santos
• Caitlin Smith – Dr. Grant Burcham and Dr. Nancy Boedeker
• Levi Smith – Dr. Audrey Ruple

Undergraduate Pre-veterinary Students and Faculty Mentors

• Praise Benson – Dr. Laurent Couëtil
• Aishwarya Chitnis – Dr. Stephen Hooser
• Krista Huff – Dr. Marxa Figueiredo
• Alina Ibrahim – Dr. Sandra Taylor
• Dhara Richardson – Dr. Malathi Raghavan and Dr. Hsin-Yi Weng
• Lauren Thompson – Dr. Dianne Little

Writer(s): Rachel Nellett, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Veterinary Students take First and Fourth Place in AVMHS Essay Contest

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Dr. Jessica Zeigler (PU DVM 2018)

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine was well represented in the American Veterinary Medical History Society (AVMHS) 2018 J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest. Congratulations to Jessica Zeiger, of the DVM Class of 2018, for winning first place and Janna Draper, of the DVM Class of 2019, for winning fourth place.

Jessica’s essay was entitled, “Perceptions of Conception: The History of Artificial Insemination,” and Janna wrote about the topic, “History of Ebola and the Role of Veterinarians.” This is neither students’ first-time winning the essay contest. Jessica has submitted four essays in the past three years. In 2016 she won fourth place, she took first and second place in 2017, and during her senior year she won first place again! For Janna, this is her second prize winning entry.  Last year, she won third place.

Janna Draper, DVM Class of 2019

PVM Professor of Veterinary History David Williams, who serves as president of the AVMHS, is proud of the students and says their success reflects the College’s commitment to providing education about the history of veterinary medicine. Both students completed all five of Professor Williams’ veterinary history courses. In total, PVM students submitted seven essays to the competition this year.

The AVMHS established the annual J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest in 1991 to promote interest in history by encouraging participation from students enrolled in veterinary medical colleges in the United States, Canada, and West Indies. The contest is named in honor of Dr. J. Fred Smithcors for his many contributions to veterinary history as founder of the AVMHS, author of several books on veterinary history, as well as an educator, publisher, and editor. The winning entries are selected by a panel of AVMHS judges through a blind judging process in which the writers’ identities are kept secret. The winners receive cash prizes awarded in memory of Dr. Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence.

Writer(s): Rachel Nellett, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Student Helps Celebrate Honor Received by Greater Lafayette Kennel Club

After the Greater Lafayette Kennel Club received the American Kennel Club Public Education Award and a State of Indiana proclamation recognizing the club for its work, attendees and GLKC officers gathered for a group photo with AKC Executive Vice President Mark Dunn at Happy Hollow Park.

Pictured (left-right): State Senator Ron Alting with Blair Hoosier, PVM student and GLKC outreach committee chair, who holds the state proclamation presented to the club; GLKC President Deb Biesemeier, displaying the AKC Public Education Award; and AKC Executive Vice President Mark Dunn, who presented the award at an event June 16 at Happy Hollow Park in West Lafayette.

Purdue veterinary student Blair Hooser, outreach committee chair for the Greater Lafayette Kennel Club (GLKC), is excited to share that the club recently became the first in the nation to receive the American Kennel Club Public Education Award. The GLKC was recognized for efforts “…to engage, facilitate, and convey the ongoing importance of the relationships between people and canines through education and outreach.”

Greater Lafayette Kennel Club Outreach Committee Chair Blair Hooser, of the DVM Class of 2021, and her Papillon, can be seen representing the GLKC at events in the community like Art, Bark and Brew, held May 12 at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.

AKC Executive Vice President Mark Dunn traveled to West Lafayette to present the award at a GLKC event June 16 in Happy Hollow Park.  The AKC wanted to recognize the many ways in which the club works to engage and educate the local community, including supporting a local 4-H dog project, participating in local festivals, offering Canine Good Citizen (CGC) tests and obedience demonstrations, and hosting the AKC Patch Program.

Attendees celebrated during an informal dinner that followed the award ceremony. State Senator Ron Alting also attended and presented a State of Indiana proclamation honoring the club for its work. Several others from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and their families came to the event as well.

Blair, who is a member of the DVM Class of 2021, said it is great to have a connection between PVM and the GLKC as the relationship can benefit both. Congratulations to the GLKC!

Writer(s): Rachel Nellett, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Veterinary Student Awarded AKC Scholarship

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Julia O’Rourke, DVM Class of 2021

Julia O’Rourke, of the DVM Class of 2021, has been recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as a recipient of the 2018 AKC Veterinary Outreach Scholarship. Eleven scholarships were awarded totaling $26,000 to students pursuing veterinary studies at universities across the U.S. The scholarships recognize individuals who have actively participated in AKC events and programs and who seek to promote animal health and medicine.

Scholarship recipients were announced in a press release issued by AKC Friday, June 22. “We are very proud of these students who have shown a proven dedication to the world of purebred dogs and balanced their demanding school schedules with participation in AKC events,” said Mari-Beth O’Neill, AKC vice president of sports services. “We look forward to seeing their impact on the future of veterinary medicine.”

Writer(s): Allison Carey | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Dr. Candace Croney Featured on New TV Show about Animals

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Dr. Candace Croney, director of the Purdue University Center for Animal Welfare Science (CAWS) and professor of animal behavior and well-being, made an appearance Saturday, June 23, on National Geographic’s season 1, episode 2 of “Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things.” As host of the show, Howie Mandel narrates cute clips of animals doing odd, cute, or funny behavior while also including a splash of animal facts.

In her remarks on the show, Dr. Croney was able to provide viewers with insight about the level of pigs’ intelligence. She discussed how pigs have the mental sophistication to use mirrors, computers, and even joysticks. “Pigs are able to learn complex concepts and they can do things that we probably never gave them credit for in the past,” explained Dr. Croney, who holds a joint appointment in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology and the College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal Sciences.

Click here to watch the episode online (a sign-in with a qualifying TV provider may be required, but a limited preview pass is also offered). Dr. Croney appears about 34:25 into the show, in a segment titled “Meet the Pig Expert.” The program is produced for Nat Geo Wild, but also is carried on Fox.

Writer(s): Rachel Nellett, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Dr. Nickie Baird Selected as VMX Speaker of the Year

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Dr. Nickie Baird

Congratulations to Dr. Nickie Baird, Purdue Veterinary Medicine professor of large animal surgery, who has been selected as one of five VMX 2018 Speakers of the Year.  Dr. Baird and the other honorees were chosen by veterinary professionals from around the world through attendee feedback associated with the 2018 VMX Veterinary Meeting and Expo held February 3-7 in Orlando, Fla.  The annual convention is presented by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC).  A statement on the NAVC website said, “The NAVC is proud to honor our Speakers of the Year…With a field of 350+ exceptional and nationally renowned veterinary speakers presenting more than 1,200 different sessions, it’s quite an honor to be voted as a top speaker by event attendees.”

Dr. Baird was recognized as the Large Animal Speaker of the Year.  The announcement on the NAVC website included this statement of commendation, “A huge congratulations to those who wowed attendees with their incredible topics and talks at VMX 2018.”  The other honorees are:

• Small Animal – Audrey Cook, associate professor, Texas A&M University
• Exotics – Shane Boylan, staff veterinarian, South Carolina Aquarium
• Nurse/Technician – Megan Brashear, specialty technician trainer, VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists
• Practice Management – Betsy Choder, attorney, VetCounsel, LLC

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

Class of 2019 Interns Arrives at PVM

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Incoming PVM Class of 2019 Interns: (front row, left to right) Drs. Michael Pabon and Marianthi Gelatos; (middle row, left-right) Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Resident Mindy Anderson, Drs. Colleen Embersics and Lydia Hoeksema; (back row, left-right) Drs. Dusty Anderson, Cam Kindra, Leigh Ann Howard, and Tanner Slead. (Not pictured: Drs. Sara Ostenkamp and Ahmed Khairoun)

Purdue Veterinary Medicine welcomes the newest class of interns to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital. The interns began Monday, June 11, with an intensive orientation schedule.  A group of seven interns are at work in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital as part of the year-long clinical program rotating through medicine and surgery specialties in the Small Animal Hospital. PVM’s clinical intern program is designed to provide advanced training to qualify each intern for an approved residency program leading to board certification in a recognized veterinary specialty. The Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital, a satellite facility of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine located in Shelbyville, Ind., also welcomes an intern.

In addition to the clinical internship program, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital also offers a year-long residency position in veterinary pharmacy, named the Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Resident in honor of the donors who contributed significant funding to support the position. Mindy Anderson, PharmD, is returning to PVM to fill this position. Before completing her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy, Mindy served as chief instructional technologist in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital teaching veterinary technology and veterinary medicine students, often with her trio of corgis in tow.

Please help extend a warm welcome to these newest members of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine family!

Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Intern | Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital

• Dusty Anderson, DVM, Washington State University (2017)

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Interns | Veterinary Teaching Hospital

• Colleen Embersics, DVM, Mississippi State University (2018)
• Marianthi Gelatos, DVM, Ross University (2017)
• Lydia Hoeksema, DVM, Iowa State University (2018)
• Leigh Ann Howard, DVM, Midwestern University (2018)
• Cameron “Cam” Kindra, DVM, University of Illinois (2018)
• Michael Pabon, DVM, University of Georgia (2018)
• Tanner Slead, DVM, Kansas State University (2018)

Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Resident | Veterinary Teaching Hospital

• Melinda “Mindy” Anderson, PharmD, Purdue University (2018)

Also, joining the incoming class soon will be Sara Ostenkamp, DVM, who is completing a cardiology specialty internship, and Ahmed Khairoun, DVM, a large animal medicine and surgery intern in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Click here to learn more about the 2018 – 2019 Class of Interns.

Writer(s): Allison Carey | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Inspires Future Veterinarians at the 2018 Boiler Vet Camps

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2019 Senior Boiler Vet Camp participants with members of the PVM administration and camp counselors.

Over the course of the last two weeks, Purdue Veterinary Medicine hosted 100 campers to give them a first-hand look into the world of veterinary medicine. Unique in Indiana due to its week-long immersive, in-residence format, Boiler Vet Camp (BVC) provides participants with a preview of the roles of veterinary healthcare professionals through the contributions of a strong, broad team of faculty and staff with diverse representation, and dedicated 2^nd and 3^rd year DVM student camp counselors. BVC opens the pipeline between the college and young people by fueling the campers’ interests and getting them thinking at an early age about their future careers.

The 11^th annual Junior Camp, June 10-17, welcomed 8^th and 9^th graders who aspire to be in the field of veterinary medicine. The campers participated in a week’s worth of hands-on learning sessions including: “Cud It Out,” “Dissecting to the Heart of It,” “Fish Need Doctors Too,” “After They Are Gone,” “Welcome to the Blood Bank,” and “From Our Farm to Yours,” which highlighted the different roles veterinarians and veterinary nurses can play. They also got to visit the Indianapolis Zoo for a behind the scenes tour and Fair Oaks to explore the Dairy Farm and Pig Adventure areas. The Indiana Board of Animal Health also engaged with the students in an interactive session about regulatory veterinary medicine titled, “The Amazing Trace.” The grand finale of the busy week occurred when the campers gave team presentation to their families, fellow campers, and counselors about a real case that the campers had to evaluate and determine the appropriate treatment. This closing ceremony was titled, “Follow the Clues.”

ICU/ECC Technologist Supervisor Tami Lind helps senior campers practice “staying alive” while sticking to the beat as they learn how to properly administer CPR.

Diving right into the next camp, the Boiler Vet Camp team checked-in 50 senior campers on Sunday, June 17, for an exciting week focusing on dogs! The 9^th annual Senior Boiler Vet Camp was open to high school students in grades 10-12. This year, BVC had 29 Indiana residents participate, with the remaining campers traveling from Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia. The camp is centered on teaching the campers about the overall wellness care of dogs, especially those that come from a humane society, and the roles of veterinarians and veterinary nurses in preparing dogs for adoption. To help learn about the various aspects of wellness care of shelter animals, teams of campers cared for 10 dogs brought in by the Clinton County Humane Society and the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County. Throughout the week, campers learned dog behavior and training techniques, performed physical exams, practiced life-saving skills, and learned about diagnostic blood work and the art of surgery. The campers also got to visit the Humane Society of St. Joseph County in South Bend, Ind., to learn the ins-and-outs of running a large-scale animal shelter. Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumna Carol Ecker (PU DVM ’64), who has retired from her position as medical director of the humane society, and her veterinary team met with the campers to teach about their roles in working with pets at a large shelter and the veterinary care animals receive in anticipation of them finding new homes.

During the closing ceremony, the 50 campers gave a special presentation to demonstrate what they had learned throughout the week. Boiler Vet Camp Student Director Brent Unruh, of the DVM Class of 2020, commented that his favorite part of the whole program is, “The last day when the campers can’t hide their excitement, and the bittersweet moment of them being homesick but wanting to stay.” By the end of the program, campers are able to take-away an understanding of the breadth of the profession and available career opportunities. The exposure helps the campers know what they truly want to do with their lives and if this is the right field for them. Dr. Jim Weisman, assistant dean for student affairs, who serves as the overall camp director, expressed his hope that, “I would like to spread and expand our camps, but we have to be respectful of our resources.  The important point is we are cultivating the next generation of veterinary professionals and for me, being involved in that through these camps is an awesome experience.”

Writer(s): Rachel Nellett, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Purdue IVSA Hosts International Exchange for the Second Year

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Fifth year veterinary students from Thailand (left-right) Pimpan Lertrattanakul, Luxsamon Wonglimkittigul, and Tanarut Laudhittirut are visiting the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine through July 9 as part of an international university exchange agreement between PVM and Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Three veterinary students from Thailand are visiting the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine thanks to an international agreement between Purdue Veterinary Medicine and the Chulalongkorn University School of Veterinary Medicine (CU) in Thailand. The Purdue International Veterinary Student Association (IVSA) birthed this international arrangement in spring 2016 by creating a conversation about a potential partnership for both a cultural and educational exchange. The following year, PVM hosted three exchange students from CU, while CU hosted a group of six PVM students led by Dr. Samuel Yingst, adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology.

The Thai exchange students also got to help host PVM’s students (front, left-right) Julia O’Rourke and Maddie Bryan when they visited Thailand earlier this year.

This summer, PVM has the pleasure of hosting three 5^th year CU students: Tanarut Laudhittirut, Pimpan Lertrattanakul, and Luxsamon Wonglimkittigul. The students get to rotate through sections of the Small Animal Hospital that they are interested in, including: cardiology, anesthesiology, small animal surgery, small animal medicine, ophthalmology, and emergency and critical care. They are eager to be studying abroad, making international friends, and working with PVM’s up-to-date technology. The CU students are also excited for their upcoming trip to Niagara Falls as well as opportunities to try steak, milkshakes, and an American breakfast.  They will be here through July 9, so be sure to give them a warm welcome if you see them around!

Earlier this year, the CU Chapter of IVSA Thailand hosted a visit to Thailand for four PVM students, showing them around the country and providing them exposure to multiple aspects of Thai culture and lifestyle during times when the students were not busy in the Wildlife Rescue Center. The goal for both sets of exchange students is to obtain broad exposure to veterinary medicine from multiple perspectives as they gain a deeper understanding of the veterinarian’s role in the global community.

Will Smith, III, PVM’s director of Global Engagement, and CU veterinary students visiting from Thailand give a thumbs-up to the exchange agreement between CU and PVM.

Writer(s): Rachel Nellett, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu