Clinical Skills Lab Welcomes Life Size Palpation Cow

Two students hold model calves in front of the cow model surrounded by Daniella Buchanan and two other students in the Clinical Skills Lab
Pictured (left-right) Floyd Williams, of the DVM Class of 2022; Clinical Skills Laboratory Manager Danielle Buchanan; and Oscar Ramirez, Timothy Stohlman, and Mariana Barragan, all of the DVM Class of 2023, pose with the new cow model, which came complete with two model calves.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Clinical Skills Laboratory recently acquired a life-size palpation cow that will provide veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing students more life-like learning opportunities. The Hereford Model Dystocia Simulator, like many other animal models in the lab, was purchased through an instructional equipment grant.

The cow and horse models face the camera standing side by side
The new life-size palpation cow will be kept with the horse model in the Clinical Skills Lab.

With the model, DVM and veterinary nursing students will be able to learn about uterine palpation, and how to assist during a bovine dystocia.  The model allows students to practice placing obstetric chains and manipulating abnormal calf presentations in the birth canal.  This opportunity to practice will help students better understand techniques that can be used to successfully deliver a calf during a difficult birth.  Additionally, the model has a functional udder, which gives students the opportunity to learn how to milk a cow or perform a mastitis test. 

Clinical Skills Laboratory Manager Danielle Buchanan, RVT, VTS (SAIM) said providing students with access to a more realistic learning option is very important. “Prior to the development of clinical skills labs in veterinary schools, students had to get creative if they wanted opportunities to practice skills. Now, we have models for them to practice on providing them more opportunities to gain confidence and mastery of skills before treating a live animal for the first time,” Danielle explained.

A student practices palpation on the cow model as another students looks into the cow model from above and Danielle looks on
DVM students Floyd Williams and Timothy Stohlman practice uterine palpation and calf delivery with the cow model while Clinical Skills Laboratory Manager Danielle Buchanan provides encouragement and instruction.

Writer(s): Maya Sanaba, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

In Memory – Dr. Julie Anderson (PU DVM ’78)

A Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumna and beloved veterinarian, Dr Julie Anderson, of Rockville, Indiana, will be remembered at a celebration of life open house to be hosted in her honor by West Central Veterinary Services Sunday, April 27. Dr. Anderson, a member of the Purdue DVM Class of 1978, passed away in December at the age of 71.

Popular Veterinary Nursing Symposium Features Day of Learning and Networking

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s annual Veterinary Nursing Symposium brought more than 150 veterinary professionals to Lynn Hall recently to gain practical knowledge and insights about a diverse range of topics covering both small and large animals. Veterinary nurses (technicians and technologists), veterinary assistants and veterinary nursing (technology) students participated in the all day lifelong learning program Sunday, March 23. The attendees came from across Indiana as well as Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we are highlighting Dr. Heather Bornheim, who is a farm animal medicine and surgery clinician in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.

CPB’s Aryal Lab Members Recognized at 140th Annual Indiana Academy of Science Meeting

Two members of Research Associate Professor Uma Aryal’s lab in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology recently received noteworthy recognition during the 140th Indiana Academy of Science conference hosted in Indianapolis. According to the Indiana Academy of Science, since 1885, its annual conferences have served as the only multidisciplinary scientific meetings that take place in the state. The event on March 22 attracted hundreds of senior and junior scientists from Indiana and across the Midwest.