Dr. Steve Thompson, clinical associate professor of small animal community practice, guides Purdue veterinary students John Fetner and Lydia Hall, both of the DVM Class of 2021, in the Avian Handling and Radiology Lab held as part of the Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species Symposium. Lab participants got hands-on experience handling, performing basic sample collection methods, radiographic placement, and interpretation.
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a highly successful Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species Symposium Friday and Saturday, October 27-28. Previously called the Pet Bird Symposium, the program attracted nearly 90 registrants. Attendees included veterinarians and veterinary nurses, as well as DVM and veterinary nursing students working towards degrees at Purdue and several other universities, including University of Saint Francis, Lincoln Memorial University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Ohio State University, Iowa State University, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois, Kansas State University, and Ball State University.
Dr. Julia Becker, associate veterinarian at the Tippecanoe Animal Hospital in Lafayette, Ind., explains a handling technique to a participant in the Handling and Radiology of Small Mammals Lab during the symposium in Lynn Hall.
The symposium covered a variety of topics related to exotic companion mammal and avian care and medicine. Participants were able to engage in wet labs involving exotic mammal spay and neuter techniques, avian hematology, handling, and radiologic techniques in both small mammals and birds.
Dr. Endre Sós from the Budapest Zoo in Hungary gave the conference’s keynote lecture about rescue and conservation programs involving Hungarian small mammals. In addition, Dr. Sós also gave lectures on taxonomy, anatomy, and physiology of pet birds; physical exams; diagnostic imaging; and selected diseases of pet birds. Other speakers included Dr. Angela Lennox, Dr. Steve Thompson, Dr. Tracey Ritzman, Dr. Peter Sakas, Dr. Kristen Hill-Thimmesch, Dr. Taylor Lewis, Dr. Kimberly McMunn, Dr. Julia Becker, Dr. Stephanie Moy, Rachel Yoquelet, RVT, and Abigail Rosenblum, RVT.
The successful conference was sponsored by SAVMA Purdue, ZuPreem, Zoetis, Lafeber, and Oxbow. The lectures and wet labs provided unique information and hands-on experiences for the attendees, who received 12.5 continuing education credits for attending both days.