Vet Gazette

The 2014 Farm Bill contains several new programs and program revisions that will have an immediate impact on veterinary medicine.

Veterinary Services Grant Program
$10 million per year has been authorized for the new Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP). This program will help relieve veterinary shortages by supporting private veterinary practices engaged in public health activities and veterinarians who are participating in or have successfully completed a Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) which encourages large animal veterinarians to practice in communities that USDA designates as veterinary shortage areas. The Veterinary Services Grant Program complements the loan repayment program by helping large animal veterinarians become established in rural communities. Grants can be used to recruit veterinarians and veterinary technicians in shortage areas, expand and establish practices in high-need areas, establish mobile portable clinics and televet services and establish education programs, including continuing education and distance education.

Animal Health and Disease Research
$25 million per year is authorized for the Animal Health and Disease Research program, which now includes a competitive grants program in the three focal areas of Food Security, One Health and Stewardship. Grants can be used to conduct research to promote food security; examples include improving feed efficiency, improving reproductive efficiency, and enhancing pre- and post harvest food safety systems. Grants can also be used to support investigations into the relationship between animal and human health, such as by exploring new approaches for vaccine development; understanding and controlling zoonosis; enhancing product quality and nutritive value; and developing and disseminating to the public tools and information based on the research conducted.

Salome Malos, Amy Nations, Robin Cheung, and Elisha Ramage

Four new Certified Veterinary Technicians have joined the hospital team to help with a recent increase in the number of cases in the Small Animal Hospital. Salome Malos is working in small animal ICU. Amy Nations and Robin Cheung are ‘floats’, working in small animal ICU on the weekend and assisting where needed on weekdays. Elisha Ramage is working in small animal internal medicine. Welcome!

Faculty in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine conduct clinical trials in conjunction with research on disease, diagnosis, and treatment of animals. The following clinical trials are seeking participants:

Feline Hyperthyroidism Study
Currently recruiting untreated cats with hyperthyroidism to participate in a study on CT imaging of the thyroid in awake cats. Participating cats will receive free CT imaging and a consultation with an Internist. To participate contact bushj@onid.orst.edu. More information.

Cruciate Injuries in Purebred Labrador Retrievers

In partnership with the University of Wisconsin, OSU is collecting data for a research study on cruciate injuries in purebred Labrador Retrievers. Currently seeking participants in one of two categories:
1. Over 8 years old with NO cruciate disease
2. Under 8 years old WITH cruciate disease
Exam and radiographs will take about one hour and the dog will not be sedated. There is no cost. To participate, contact april.darby@oregonstate.edu by August 15, 2014. More Information.

Canine Laryngeal Paralysis

Currently recruiting client-owned dogs affected by, or suspected to be affected by, laryngeal paralysis. This trial evaluates the effect of a drug given during, and for 24 hours after, surgery on prevention of post-operative aspiration pneumonia. Participants receive discounted surgery and laboratory fees. You may schedule an appointment with the Soft Tissue Surgery service (541-737-4812) for an in-person consultation to see if your pet qualifies for the study. For more information please call the number above, or you may email the Soft Tissue Surgery service at sa.softsx@oregonstate.edu.

Feline Injection Site Sarcoma Study

Currently recruiting client-owned cats affected by, or suspected by be affected by, an injection site sarcoma. This trial evaluates the accuracy of pre-operative MRI and CT scan in predicting the extent of the tumor. Participants receive free pre-operative CT and MRI scans as well as discounted surgery and laboratory fees. You may schedule an appointment with the Soft Tissue Surgery service (541-737-4812) for an in-person consultation to see if your pet qualifies for the study. For more information please call the number above, or you may email the Soft Tissue Surgery service at sa.softsx@oregonstate.edu.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection for Dogs with Hip Osteoarthritis
Currently recruiting client-owned dogs affected by osteoarthritis in the hip joint. Dogs must be less than 15kgs, more than 18mths old, and have no previous surgery or injuries of the affected hindlimb.  Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is harvested using the dog’s own blood and spun down to collect a sample rich in platelets, growth factors and cytokines. This clinical trial evaluates the use of PRP in alleviating pain and improving quality of life. There is no cost for this treatment. You may schedule an appointment with the Small Animal Orthopedic service (541-737-4812) for an in-person consultation to see if your pet qualifies for the study. For more information please call the number above, or you may email louisa.ho@oregonstate.edu

Omental Graft in Miniature and Toy Breed Dogs with Naturally Occurring Radius/Ulna Fractures

Currently recruiting owners of miniature and toy breed dogs with mid-diaphyseal to distal radial fractures who are considering internal fixation treatment for those fractures. The trial will determine the efficacy of an omental graft in addition to a plate and screw fixator. The majority of imaging will be provided free of charge; surgery provided at a 50% discount. For more information, contact jennifer.ree@oregonstate.edu or wendy.baltzer@oregonstate.edu.

Dr. Kirk Miller supervises CVM students on rotation at the Oregon Humane Society Animal Medical Learning Center.

Dr. Kirk Miller is an instructor on the CVM faculty, but you may not recognize him if you’ve never been to the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) in Portland. Dr. Miller is a veterinarian at the OHS Animal Medical Learning Center, where he spends most of his work day teaching surgery skills to fourth-year students.

Students on clinical rotation at OHS spend three weeks there, half the time in medicine and half in surgery. By the time they leave, they will have performed more than fifty surgeries. “I like seeing them learn,” says Miller. “I like to see where they start, in terms of their skills, and where they end. They are kind of nervous and shaky the first day, but by the end, they are doing a great job.”

Like most faculty, Dr. Miller’s contract requires he also conduct research with the goal of publishing and advancing the veterinary profession. Not surprising, his current research project is focused on surgery in an animal shelter hospital: he is studying a new spay technique for cats.

“Traditionally, the way that everyone is taught to spay a cat, is you double ligate the ovarian pedicles, the main blood vessels to the ovaries,” he says. “For a few years now, some shelter veterinarians who do a high volume of surgery, have started doing what is called a ‘pedicle tie’. For this technique, you tie the ovary on itself with a single hemostat, much the same way we tie the testicular structure in cat neuters. It is thought that this procedure is quicker and easier in a high volume setting.”

But the procedure has not been tested and documented in the veterinary medical literature. “It is taught by the Human Alliance, which teaches a lot of shelter veterinarians how to do high quality, high volume spay and neuter,” says Miller, “but the two main questions are ‘is it safe’ and ‘is it faster’?”

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Eugenio Mannucci is no ordinary OSU Vet student. As a native of Italy, Eugenio has had quite a challenge coming to the U.S. and pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.

Eugenio grew up as the son of a military man, resulting in numerous moves as a child; however, he spent most of his middle and high school days in Viterbo,  a mid-size town just a few hours north of Rome. . During this time of his life, Eugenio had no idea what he wanted to do when he “grew up”, but spent most of his time playing basketball, and eventually switched gears toward the throwing events in track and field. He found that he had an incredible talent and went on to represent the Italian Army with his shot-put skills.

Living on base made it extremely difficult for Eugenio to pursue higher education. He struggled through an hour and a half commute, which required him to take two separate subways, then walk an additional twenty minutes to get to the University in Rome. Eventually, the trek became too much of a burden, leading Eugenio to look into his other options for an education. After talking to a friend, he considered applying to some schools in the United States and heard back from University of Idaho’s track team. He was offered a sizeable scholarship, and then proceeded to pack only one suitcase full of clothes to move to remote Moscow, Idaho.

Eugenio spent his first two months in Idaho taking an ESL class in order to pass the TOEFL English-language test. During this time, he was not considered part of the U of I track team, but was able to train for his upcoming season, due to the generosity of his coaches, who he is still in contact with today. Each day, both of his coaches stayed after regular shot-put practice to work with Eugenio and ensure that he wouldn’t fall behind. Once Eugenio passed his exam, he became a full-time student athlete pursuing a major in biology and animal science. He went on to compete at the national track and field championships and placed 15th in the nation in 2011.

At University of Idaho, Eugenio discovered his passion for large animal science. He has loved horses since riding them as a child, and learning about them in school stimulated his interest in veterinary medicine.

Eugenio is now a third year vet student and dreams to one day run his own large animal clinic. He says that he loves the OSU vet program because of the “hands on experience and small class sizes”. He lives in Corvallis with his wife and 2-year-old son Max, and couldn’t be happier with where life has brought him.

— Posted by Josey Sechrist, CVM Social Media Assistant