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New Interns and Residents Join UW Veterinary Care, School of Veterinary Medicine

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Each year, the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and UW Veterinary Care welcome a new group of interns and residents — graduate veterinarians who come here to learn from our exceptional specialists while providing top-notch clinical care and services. They are the best and brightest and bring tremendous value to the animals they treat.

Interns are veterinarians who are dedicating a year of their careers to additional training. Rotating interns work with multiple specialty services but spend most of their time in emergency and critical care, and specialty interns focus on one particular area or service. Residents are veterinarians who are training to become specialists, typically dedicating two to three years to a particular specialty area in veterinary medicine.

Here’s a look at this year’s new names and faces.

Specialty Interns and Fellows


Juliet Caviness DVM’17
Primary Care

Andrew Eitzer, DVM
Diagnostic Imaging

Changseok Kim, DVM
Oncology Clinical Trials

Michelle Piccione, DVM
Dermatology

Kelly Shaw, DVM
Large Animal Surgery

Olivia Swailes, DVM
Shelter Medicine

Sara Tolliver, DVM
Diagnostic Imaging

Deb Yannessa, DVM
Shelter Medicine

Small Animal Rotating Interns


Kyle Bartholomew DVM’17

Adam Eby, DVM

Harathi Krishnan, DVM

Rebecca McBride, DVM

Andrea Minella, DVM

Natasha Pakravan, DVM

Joey Sapora, DVM

Residents


Alexandre Ellis, DVM
Shelter Medicine

Sarah HolmanDVM
Small Animal Surgery

Rikki Horne, RPh 
Pharmacy

Casandra Jacobs, DVM
Small Animal Internal Medicine

Laura Lee DVM’17
Anatomic Pathology

Jane (JR) Lund MS’07, DVM’07
Diagnostic Imaging

Timothy Menghini, DVM
Small Animal Surgery

Cameron Ratliff, DVM
Zoological Medicine

Jessica Robertson, DVM
Dentistry and Oral Surgery

Nora Sheehan DVM’16
Cardiology

Casey Smith, DVM
Neurology/Neurosurgery

Kevin Snyder DVM’16
Ophthalmology
 
Nathaniel Van Asselt, DVM
Radiation Oncology

Elizabeth Wood, DVM
Oncology

Ask A UW Veterinarian: Tissue Issue

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The question below was featured in the Summer 2017 issue of On Call, the magazine for friends of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. This issue’s response comes from Jason Bleedorn, MS’15, clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery and board-certified veterinary medical surgeon.

Submit Your Questions
Have a question for our veterinary medical experts?
Please send them to our On Call magazine editor at oncall@vetmed.wisc.edu. We cannot guarantee responses to all submissions. For any urgent pet health issue, please contact your veterinarian directly.

Question: Why is there a one-month waiting period to repair a canine ACL tear? My dog cannot walk — why isn’t that considered an emergency? —Donna, Janesville, Wisconsin

Answer: The cranial cruciate ligament in dogs functions much the same as the anterior cruciate ligament in humans. It stabilizes the knee joint (called the stifle joint in dogs) as it rotates and bends. Cruciate rupture is a common condition in dogs, most often resulting from chronic degeneration of the ligament (unlike in humans where athletic activity is typically the culprit).

Many factors are involved in this condition, but baseline genetic risk, environmental conditions, and an animal’s proportional size and shape are commonly involved. The process typically begins with joint inflammation and small ligament fiber fraying and then progresses from partial to complete ligament failure over a variable amount of time. Dogs with a rupture may be able to bear mild to moderate weight, and pain is typically well controlled with medical therapy.

Treatment focuses on alleviating pain, maintaining mobility and muscle mass, and stabilizing the joint with surgery. Since this condition in dogs stems from a chronic degenerative process, the timing of intervention has little impact on the ultimate prognosis. Although it can be difficult to see your pet limp or show signs of pain, there is some evidence in humans to suggest that actually delaying surgical treatment for several weeks can allow inflammation to subside. This has not been investigated in dogs primarily because it is more difficult to pinpoint when their ruptures occur.

Often, diagnosis and treatment are delayed in dogs because the clinical signs may be mild at the onset and owners may not seek veterinary medical care. Surgery is often recommended for dogs with unstable (full cruciate rupture) joints or those with persistent lameness despite medical management. Ultimately, stifle arthritis is progressive with cruciate rupture despite current medical and surgical options.

Owners are encouraged to speak to their veterinarians about cruciate rupture in dogs. Board-certified veterinary medical surgeons experienced with this condition can also help guide individualized patient care.

The post Ask A UW Veterinarian: Tissue Issue appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

SVM has Strong Showing at Annual Veterinary Dental Forum

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Faculty and staff from the UW School of Veterinary Medicine’s (SVM) Dentistry and Oral Surgery training program earned several honors and awards at the 2017 Annual Veterinary Dental Forum, held on September 14-17, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee.

William Gengler, DVM, DAVDC with Sandra Manfra Maretta, DVM, DACVS, DAVDC both recipients of the 2017 AVDC Presidential Medal of Stewardship.

William Gengler, the founding section head of Dentistry and Oral Surgery at the SVM, was awarded the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) Presidential Medal of Stewardship, presented to individuals who have exhibited an exceptional sense of duty. The award recognizes individuals dedicated to caring, expanding and improving upon the precious resources entrusted to them. As past president of the AVDC, Gengler was instrumental in integrating dental education into DVM curriculum through his involvement with the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA). Since his retirement from UW, he has continued to show leadership and dedication – fostering involvement with future DVM’s and AVDC Diplomates. The Presidential Medal of Stewardship honors William Gengler’s legacy and pioneering spirit.

Christopher Snyder, clinical associate professor of dentistry and oral surgery, received the AVDC Peter Emily Service Award. Presented to an outstanding Diplomate of the College, the award recognizes leaders who further the field of veterinary dentistry with their contributions in areas of academic and research efforts, scientific presentations, publications, and community involvement in promoting a greater understanding of veterinary dentistry.

Norm Johnston, BVM&S, DAVDC presents Christopher Snyder, DVM, DAVDC with the 2017 AVDC Peter Emily Service Award for contributions in academic and research efforts while  promoting a greater understanding of veterinary dentistry.

Snyder and Cindy Bell, co-founder and former director of the Center for Comparative Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (CCOMP), along with two others, were awarded the $10,000 Academy of Veterinary Dentistry Grant to support their research grant titled, “Analysis and assessment of pulp vitality in intrinsically stained teeth in dogs.”

Stephanie Goldschmidt, who recently completed her dentistry and oral surgery residency at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and is now an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, earned several honors at the recognition event, winning two awards and a scholarship. She received the Robert B. Wiggs Outstanding Candidate Award, which is presented annually to an extraordinary veterinarian on the successful completion of an approved training program. Selection for the award is based on letters of support from mentors and residency directors and criteria such as presentations, publications, research, and overall contributions to veterinary dentistry.  Goldschmidt also earned the Mark and Debra Smith Award, which honors the author of the most outstanding and influential manuscript published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry in the past year, for her manuscript co-authored with Jason Soukup, “The influence of axial grooves on dislodgement resistance of prosthetic metal crowns in canine teeth of dogs.”  Her third honor of the evening was the Pat Frost Memorial Scholarship, awarded to outstanding candidates who have taken the AVDC certification exam.

Denise Garlow

The post SVM has Strong Showing at Annual Veterinary Dental Forum appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

Family Gift Leverages Match for $100,000 Impact on Building Project

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Toy Poodle Abby’s positive experience with UW Veterinary Care inspired a $50,000 family gift, which became a $100,000 donation to the UW School of Veterinary Medicine’s building expansion thanks to the BerbeeWalsh matching gift. (Photo courtesy Jim Brager)

In the Brager family, it is a long-held tradition to love and cherish animals. Walter and Lois Brager are no exceptions, and they preserved this heritage through the deep bond they shared with their Toy Poodle, Abby.

“The family joke is that my parents have a very large painting of Abby above their bed and only a small, five-by-seven picture of their three kids on a nightstand,” says their son, Jim Brager. “So you know the importance of Abby in the family pecking order.”

The family fondness for animals continues today with the newest generation, especially in Jim Brager’s daughter, Laura Bloomquist DVM’11, whose passion guided her to a career in
veterinary medicine. She now works as a veterinarian at St. Michael Veterinary Clinic in Minnesota.

During her training as a student at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), Bloomquist witnessed first-hand the difference that the school can make in the lives of animals. So when Abby began to show signs of congestive heart failure, Bloomquist recommended that her grandparents take her to see the cardiology specialists at UW Veterinary Care (UWVC). Under their expert guidance, the Bragers were able to manage Abby’s condition and extend her life while keeping her comfortable and happy.

“They gave my grandparents a lot of extra quality time with her,” says Bloomquist.

UWVC had handed the Bragers a precious gift, and the family found a special way to say “thank you” through the CLM Park Foundation. Stemming from a foundation originally established by Lois Brager’s aunt, Marion Park Deaver, and her husband, Harry Gilbert Deaver, the CLM Park Foundation’s board meets each year to determine the charities it will support. The board membership includes Lois Brager as well as Jim Brager and his two siblings. Bloomquist and eight other grandchildren also help identify and select worthwhile causes for the foundation.

“My parents were very pleased with the care and attention that little Abby received,” says Jim Brager. “When we had our annual meeting to discuss possible recipients for donations, we thought that the UW School of Veterinary Medicine would be a perfect choice.”

Walter Brager passed away in 2015, so for Bloomquist, the gift was a tremendous way to honor her grandfather, celebrate her grandparents’ connection to the SVM through Abby, and support her alma mater all at once.

“I thought it was a wonderful idea,” she says. “I know that the teaching hospital can always use money for equipment and supplies. And I had a great experience at the school. The professors
and clinicians were excellent, and some of my best friends today were my classmates. It was tough work, but definitely worth it. I’m just glad they gave me the opportunity to do what I’ve always dreamed of doing.”

When Bloomquist approached the SVM about a gift, she and her family learned about a new matching opportunity, one that could turn their generosity into an even larger boon for the school’s ongoing campaign for a building expansion. Themed Animals Need Heroes Too, the campaign aims to greatly expand the footprint of the crowded hospital, which sees more than 26,000 patient visits per year in a facility built to accommodate 12,000. This includes greater space for emergency and critical care, isolation areas, imaging and diagnostics, and dedicated teaching and learning spaces. The expansion also makes room for more basic and high-security infectious disease labs focused on global threats like Zika and dengue, among other major improvements.

To support this effort, UW–Madison alumni Karen Walsh and Jim Berbee pledged $3 million to match gifts of $25,000 or more toward the building campaign. The Bragers jumped at the opportunity, and a $50,000 gift from their foundation quickly turned into $100,000.

“We are very honored to participate in the building expansion, and we thank Jim Berbee and Karen Walsh for their match,” says Jim Brager. “My aunt and uncle felt very strongly about the advancement of education, so this donation dovetails well with the founding principles of their foundation. We look forward to watching the new addition progress.”

Nik Hawkins

The post Family Gift Leverages Match for $100,000 Impact on Building Project appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

Ask a UW Veterinarian: Eliminating Outside the Litterbox

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The question below was featured in the Winter 2017-18 issue of On Call, the magazine for friends of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. This issue’s response comes from Sandi Sawchuk, primary care veterinarian at UW Veterinary Care and SVM clinical instructor.

Submit Your Questions
Have a question for our veterinary medical experts?
Please send them to our On Call magazine editor at oncall@vetmed.wisc.edu. We cannot guarantee responses to all submissions. For any urgent pet health issue, please contact your veterinarian directly.

Question: What suggestions can you share regarding potential causes and solutions for a cat who is eliminating outside of the litterbox?

Answer: Even under the best litterbox management, one in four cats will stop using the litterbox at some point in their life. Finding out why involves a step-by-step process. The sooner an inappropriate elimination problem can be addressed, the greater the success rate.

Ruling out medical reasons such as sterile cystitis, urinary tract infections, hyperthryoidism, diabetes, and impacted anal glands is always the first step. A thorough physical exam, urinalysis, and stool evaluation may lead to other diagnostic tests depending on the results.

Intact males, females in heat, and cats that are socially stressed may pass urine on vertical surfaces, such as walls and windows, to mark their territory. Spaying and neutering is the first step. Using soothing feline pheromones; increasing space vertically, such as by adding cat trees; and blocking the view of peeping tom cats by keeping windows closed and covered may decrease stress and marking behavior.

Litterbox management is an im­portant next step. There should be at least one more litterbox than number of household cats. For example, a home with three cats should have four litter­boxes in various locations, preferably not near feeding stations or noisy appliances. It is important that cats have easy access to boxes, especially senior cats who may find it difficult to go up and down stairs.

Cats prefer large litterboxes at least 1.5 to two times the length of the cat from nose to rump. Think “outside the box” when hunting for an appropriate container, such as under-the-bed storage bins and cement mixing trays.

Covered boxes, although preferred by many owners, can be small, harbor odors, and make cats feel trapped.

Studies have shown that most cats prefer soft, sandy, scoopable litter over coarser litter. Manually scoop boxes at least once a day to provide clean facilities for elimination. Purchasing an automated litterbox may seem appealing, but to a cat the small litter-holding capacity and the noise made when scooping can be a trigger to eliminate on carpet. Simpler is better when it comes to litterboxes.

The post Ask a UW Veterinarian: Eliminating Outside the Litterbox appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

A Wildlife Win-Win

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From a badger to bald eagle, new partnership yields advanced veterinary care for the animals of a Wisconsin educational center – and broader learning opportunities for SVM clinical trainees.

A red fox from the MacKenzie Center in Poynette, Wisconsin, visits UW Veterinary Care for an orthopaedic exam ahead of surgery to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament. (Photo: Nik Hawkins)

As the temperature hovers around 20 degrees on a winter morning outside Poynette, Wisconsin, Christoph Mans and Grayson Doss work alongside staff of the MacKenzie Center to transport a coyote for a medical exam. Walking briskly over the snow-covered ground, they carry the sedated coyote, resting in a dog crate, to a makeshift workspace in a small outbuilding.

After placing the animal on a large table that today will serve as an examination area, they conduct a physical exam, take a close look at the coyote’s teeth, trim his nails, collect blood samples, and administer vaccines.

Examinations of a red fox and red-tailed hawk are also on the day’s agenda for Mans and Doss, clinical faculty of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) Department of Surgical Sciences and clinicians in the UW Veterinary Care (UWVC) Special Species Service. They are at the facility for a monthly visit, part of a recently established partnership between the SVM and the MacKenzie Center, an educational center about 30 minutes north of Madison that is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Since October 2016, the SVM and UWVC have been providing veterinary medical care for the wildlife in the center’s animal exhibits — a range of native mammals and birds of prey, including gray wolves, lynx, a badger, bald eagle, turkey vulture, barred owl, and great horned owl, that inhabit Wisconsin’s ecological community.

“The way I look at it, we’re arguably the best possible tool to teach kids to respect and have awe for the animals that are in their backyard,” says Kyle Coker, wildlife technician team lead at the MacKenzie Center.

Mans appreciates that the facility helps visitors build an awareness of species, such as the badger and wolf, that they may not otherwise witness in real life.

“It’s about teaching people of Wisconsin what’s actually out there,” he says. “If you don’t even know what’s in your direct surroundings, why would you care about protecting it?”

All of the animals exhibited for educational purposes were previously injured, orphaned, or raised in captivity, so cannot be released. Explaining to visitors why it’s important to keep wildlife wild, why these animals are at the MacKenzie Center, and why wild animals don’t make good pets provides another learning opportunity, notes Coker.

“Any time we have the opportunity to lead tours and work directly with the public, I think the best thing that comes from it is being able to quell myths or answer questions,” he adds.

Since October 2016, the UW School of Veterinary Medicine has been providing veterinary medical care for the native mammals and birds of prey in the MacKenzie Center’s educational wildlife exhibits, from wolves to a badger and bald eagle. (Photo: Christoph Mans)

‘A Great Opportunity for Everybody’

In 2016, 50,000 visitors explored the center’s wildlife area, museum, environmental education offerings, and more. Nearly 14,000 of those patrons were K-12 students from all over the state.

The shared educational mission of the MacKenzie Center and the SVM makes their collaboration a natural fit. The partnership helps the MacKenzie Center to provide, within a limited budget, an advanced level of veterinary care for the animals, focused on long-term preventive health management. And it allows the SVM to broaden learning opportunities for clinical trainees and students through exposure to novel species and procedures.

“It’s mutually beneficial,” says Coker. “For us, we’re able to receive an exemplary level of veterinary care. And from talking to Dr. Mans, I know it’s especially advantageous for his zoological medicine residents to get more variety in what they’re able to care for.”

In the past, veterinary medical care at the MacKenzie Center had been limited to brief visual exams of animals, annual vaccines, and emergency response as needed. Through this partnership, Mans has now instituted preventive health care plans for each of the center’s animals. This includes creating a medical records system to track the animals, reviewing their diets and vaccination and anti-parasitic protocols, and, for the first time ever, conducting thorough health checks while the animals are under anesthesia.

“In the past, we would have just restrained the animals and done a quick physical exam. Now we’re safely anesthetizing them and conducting a thorough medical exam on each animal, at least once per year,” says Coker. “It’s a night and day difference — we’re able to get ahead of things versus just reacting, and potentially treat things before they become an issue. Working with Dr. Mans and the Special Species team has been very beneficial to the center.”

Clinical instructor Grayson Doss examines a red fox in an outbuilding at the MacKenzie Center. (Photo: Christoph Mans)

Outdoor Education

Mans and UWVC zoological medicine residents (veterinarians who are training to become specialists) visit the MacKenzie Center about once a month to evaluate animals, barring constraints due to weather and the outdoor setting. For example, examinations were avoided during sweltering summer days because restraining animals could put them at risk of overheating.

In between visits, Mans also conducts frequent phone and email consultations, offering advice on everything from nutritional needs to ways to reduce and repel biting flies.

“We’ve picked Dr. Mans’ brain every opportunity we can and received advice regarding just about every facet of care here over the last year,” says Coker.

Each visit to the center begins with a blank slate, Mans explains, requiring a multitude of supplies to be packed and loaded into a minivan. “We work in an empty room there, so we need to bring everything — every syringe and needle, the right vaccines and blood tubes, dental probes for dental exams,” he says. “And then we have a box of anesthesia drugs, another box that has fluids and scales, and we bring medical records to see what happened last time.”

“It’s almost like doing field work. We have a building and electricity, but that’s about it,” he adds. “It’s a challenge; I enjoy that. And I think it helps my residents to learn that it’s not always shiny rooms that you walk into and everything is ready for you.”

Aside from the center’s wolves and lynx (additional planning is underway for these species due to the increased difficulty in handling them), every other animal and bird has now received a thorough physical exam, blood testing, and preventive health care.

Zoological medicine resident Taylor Yaw conducts an examination of a turkey vulture at the MacKenzie Center (Photo: Christoph Mans)

Specialized Service

In several instances, these exams have revealed broader health issues requiring follow-up — opportunities for additional UW Veterinary Care teams, ranging from dentistry to soft tissue surgery, to lend their expertise. For example, when it was discovered that several teeth would need to be extracted from a coyote and river otter, Christopher Snyder, clinical associate professor of dentistry and oral surgery, and Molly Allen, an anesthesiology resident, joined Mans on one of his visits to the center to conduct these procedures.

“That’s the exciting thing about this — we’re trying to make a lasting impact for all the animals by guiding the center to better nutrition, care, and enclosures, but we’re also then making an impact on individual animals,” says Mans.

The school also responds to more urgent needs, either at the MacKenzie Center in coordination with a local ambulatory veterinarian who has a longstanding relationship with the facility, or at UW Veterinary Care for cases requiring more complex equipment or services.

One of the center’s foxes, ailed by lameness due to a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee, received TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) surgery performed by Susan Schaefer MS’88, DVM’92, clinical associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, to help stabilize the knee. “He’s doing great – bouncing around the yard with the other fox,” says Coker.

The center’s second fox also visited the veterinary medical teaching hospital in September after sustaining an injury to his lower jaw, and is recovering well after the wound was repaired by Ellen Scherer, a resident in dentistry and oral surgery.

Dentistry and oral surgery resident Ellen Scherer, right, repairs a lower jaw injury on one of the MacKenzie Center’s red foxes while residents Amy Thomson and Jessica Robertson observe. (Photo: Meghan Lepisto)

Teachable Moments

Zoological medicine resident Lily Parkinson says every experience with MacKenzie Center animals has been memorable, but she especially enjoyed being part of the river otter’s care.

“I got to work with her at the center, where we discovered that ‘he’ was a she and we also discovered that she had extensive dental disease. We were then able to get our dentistry service to help her,” says Parkinson. “Next, when she wasn’t feeling well, we discovered a splenic tumor and were able to remove it. Even though the cancer didn’t have the best prognosis, we undoubtedly helped her live longer and feel better in her last days by removing her spleen.”

The chance to work in partnership with the MacKenzie Center has helped to diversify Parkinson’s residency experience, she says. “We also work at a large zoo and a wildlife rehabilitation center in our residency, but MacKenzie is specifically for teaching the public. This gives us a different set of unique circumstances to consider and a different type of patient population.”

Pursuing these types of partnerships has been made possible through the school’s recent hiring of new Special Species faculty and residents, says Mans, and he is grateful for the support that has allowed for this growth.

His long-term goal is to integrate student training into visits to the MacKenzie Center and other sites, and to establish an ambulatory service that would visit zoological and wildlife facilities in Wisconsin to offer the specialized veterinary services only available through the SVM and its three board-certified specialists in zoological medicine.

“There are places out there right now that don’t get the veterinary and preventive health care they need. That’s why we are growing — in order to make our services more available,” says Mans. “In the future, with more support, we hopefully will have the opportunity to cover more places and bring students. It’s about making our expertise and services available to the people of Wisconsin, improving the lives of the wild animals in captivity, and giving trainees opportunities to learn.”

Meghan Lepisto

Members of the public are invited to visit the MacKenzie Center’s wildlife exhibit, events, and more. For information and hours: dnr.wi.gov/education/Mackenzie

The post A Wildlife Win-Win appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

Tips to Protect Pets from Heat-Related Harms

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Corgi in summer

Pet owners should take a number of precautions during warm weather, from using caution if exercising with your dog to being mindful of hydration.

As the warmer weather of spring and summer approaches in the Midwest and other parts of the country, pet owners should be aware of several heat-related threats to pet safety. Corinne Lawson, an Emergency and Critical Care clinician with UW Veterinary Care, shares the following precautions.

Exercise: At the first sign of nice weather, the temptation to romp and explore outdoors can be hard to ignore. But doing so without proper conditioning, or amidst large temperature fluctuations or hot weather, can cause injury. “If you have a dog that is conditioned and used to exercising with you, they’re probably going to be okay on a typical run or walk. But if it’s a hot day, you need to be careful,” says Lawson.

A rule of thumb (or paw): Don’t assume that your dog is okay just because they keep pulling or running. “They will keep going because they’re having fun, especially dogs that have been cooped up in the house over the winter,” Lawson says. “Take breaks and recognize your dog’s limitations. If you’re hot and having a hard time, they are too. And if you’re going to have water, they should too.”

French bulldog in grass

Short-nosed dog breeds are less tolerant of warm temperatures so owners must pay special attention to their pet’s well-being.

Another note: Dogs don’t perspire like humans. Rather, they cool off by panting, so they must be able to open their mouth when warm. If using a Gentle Leader or similar headcollar that circles a dog’s mouth, be sure that it doesn’t restrict the ability to pant.

Short-nosed dog breeds: Bulldogs, pugs, and other brachycephalic breeds of dog with compressed noses and skulls are less tolerant of warm temperatures and can be prone to potentially fatal heat-related conditions. Tissue around the airway can become inflamed and interfere with breathing in these breeds (heard as a snorting sound). “When the dog gets hot and starts panting, tissue starts to swell, and it can actually obstruct their airway,” Lawson explains.

Owners of short-snouted dog breeds must pay special attention to their pet’s well-being during activity in warm environments. “If an owner ever starts hearing their dog’s breathing change, they need to give them a break and let them cool down,” Lawson says. And any respiratory distress, or difficulty breathing, should be treated as an immediate emergency.

Car safety: No animal should be left unattended in a vehicle during warm weather due to the fast rate at which temperatures can rise to unsafe levels. Short-nosed dog breeds are especially susceptible. “People don’t realize how warm it can get,” says Lawson. In addition, leaving an animal with the air conditioning on or the windows partially down does not guarantee they won’t get into trouble. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, on a 70-degree day, a car’s interior temperature can reach 90 degrees. And on an 85-degree day, it takes only 10 minutes for a car’s interior to top 100 degrees.

Preventing Pet Emergencies
There are a number of other considerations for keeping your dog or cat out of harm’s way. Review our recommendations for keeping your pet safe from toxic substances and other threats.

Hydration: Access to water is essential for pets when walking or traveling in warm weather. Plan ahead to not only have water with you, but to also have a few options available to offer it to your pet. “My own little dog doesn’t like drinking out of a bowl on walks, but he likes drinking out of the cap of the water bottle,” says Lawson. For other dogs, drinking out of your hand might do the trick. “If one thing doesn’t work, try another.”

Likewise, don’t presume that your dog will take a refreshment break amidst the excitement of an adventure. “A lot of dogs — my dogs included — do not want to drink water while they’re on a walk. So in warm weather I make sure we don’t walk far and I pay close attention to how they are doing,” Lawson says.

If you’re in an area with natural water and your dog is starting to get overheated, feel free to allow them to stand in the water to cool down, Lawson says. However, it is very important that you monitor your dog closely and not allow them to lay down or go in too deep (only up to the lower part of their chest). If they don’t seem to be cooling down, or start getting weak, lethargic, or having any difficulty breathing, it is very important that you get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Dog drinking water

Access to water is essential for pets when walking or traveling in warm weather.

Sore feet: In warm weather, hot asphalt can burn a dog’s paw pads, so walk your dog on grass when the option is available. If the ground is hot or of rough terrain, long walks or runs can also wear down a dog’s paw pads or cause abrasions.

“Dogs will just run and run and you don’t realize it’s a problem until they’re limping,” says Lawson. Be conscientious of the duration of walks or runs and check your dog’s paws frequently, she suggests. “If you see any sign of lameness, check their feet. If they’re starting to get raw, at that point you need to be done.” If you run or hike frequently with your dog, booties can help to protect the paws.

Insect bites: Just as with people, pets can have anaphylactic reactions to bee stings and other insect bites. Have Benadryl on hand in case your animal begins to have an allergic reaction and know the proper dose for your pet in advance, Lawson advises.

Meghan Lepisto

The post Tips to Protect Pets from Heat-Related Harms appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

Preventing Pet Emergencies: Advice from a Critical Care Veterinarian

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April marks Pet First Aid Awareness Month, a great time for pet owners to refresh their first aid skills and supplies. But beyond being prepared for emergencies, what if you could prevent a crisis before it strikes? Corinne Lawson, an Emergency and Critical Care clinician with UW Veterinary Care, recently shared a variety of tips to help keep your dog or cat out of harm’s way.

At its most basic, Lawson advises situational awareness – not putting your pet in a situation where they might need first aid. If you do have to administer first aid to your pet, they should always next be seen by a veterinarian. “The important thing — the huge thing — is that you follow up with veterinary care,” she says.

Gray cat next to Monstera plant

Corinne Lawson, an Emergency and Critical Care clinician with UW Veterinary Care, advises awareness about common household items that are hazardous to pets. For example, many plants are harmful to pets if ingested.

And if you are concerned about your pet but unsure if they require veterinary medical care, Lawson suggests you trust your instinct: Call your veterinarian or nearest emergency clinic to discuss the situation and decide if care is needed. In the meantime, be sure to observe your pet so that if anything changes, you can bring them in quickly.

Toxicities

In any season, toxicity is a concern and among the most frequent source of cases seen by the Critical Care team at UW Veterinary Care. If you suspect your pet has consumed a toxic item, contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency clinic immediately. And do not induce vomiting unless you have been advised to do so by a veterinarian’s office.

Off-limit items: Lawson advises awareness about common household items that are hazardous to pets, where these poisonous items are located, and how to prevent access for pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Website, Hotline and Mobile App is a helpful resource to learn what plants, human foods, medications, and other items are potentially poisonous to pets. “It’s important that pet owners know what is toxic,” Lawson says. “Part of the responsibility of having an animal is knowing what they should or shouldn’t have.”

Bad blooms: Many plants are harmful to pets if ingested and can cause vomiting, diarrhea or worse. For cats, lilies are especially toxic and can cause rapid kidney failure. “If you have a cat, they cannot be around lilies,” Lawson says, noting that all parts of the plant are toxic. “And don’t think that they won’t eat them, because they will.”

Dogged pursuit: Dog owners should think creatively about what things their dog might want to get into in the home and how they could access these items — counter-surfing included. “We’ve all seen the video of the beagle that moves the chair and figures out how to get on the counter to get whatever is up there,” says Lawson. Trash often contains bones and sometimes moldy food items that can be dangerous for dogs. Keep trash behind closed doors or in a secure container and dogs should never have access to a compost pile or bin. “Assume that dogs are little Houdinis that can get into or out of anything. If it smells good and it tastes good, and sometimes even if it doesn’t, they’re going to want to eat it.”

Prescription medicine bottle

All medications should be stored securely in cabinets or behind a closed door. And don’t assume that an animal can take the same drugs a human can. Lawson recommends not giving any medications to an animal without first consulting with a veterinarian.

Medicine cabinet: All medications should be stored securely in cabinets or behind a closed door. And don’t assume that an animal can take the same drugs a human can. As an example, common pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and Tylenol can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Lawson recommends not giving any medications to an animal without consulting with a veterinarian first. Special attention must also be paid to keep chewable pet medicines out of reach of animals. “Especially in the veterinary world, there are some drugs that are made to taste good; they’re like treats,” Lawson explains. “That can be problematic because animals will eat a whole bottle.”

Bag check: An often-overlooked source of pet illness is items stashed in purses or backpacks, so be aware of your bag’s contents and where you place it. For example, candy or chewing gum that contains the sweetener xylitol can be a toxic temptation for curious pups. “Not many people think that gum is a bad thing and they have it in their purse or backpack, then they come home and their dog has eaten an entire pack. That can make them very sick,” Lawson says.

Other General Safety Tips

Walking precautions: When heading out for a walk, check the fit of your dog’s collar or harness. “We have seen many cases where somebody had their dog on a walk and it slipped out of its collar and got into a fight,” Lawson notes. “A lot of dogs also get hit by cars that way.” The collar should be snug, but not so tight that it restricts your dog’s breathing. “The rule we use is two fingers should fit underneath. And make sure you can’t pull the collar off over the head.” Also use caution with children walking dogs, as dogs can easily get away. And dogs should always be under supervision if leashed outside, as chains and tethers can break or uproot.

Yellow lab in e-collar

If you do have to administer first aid to your pet, they should always next be seen by a veterinarian. And if you are concerned about your pet but unsure if they require veterinary medical care, call your veterinarian or nearest emergency clinic to discuss the situation and decide if care is needed.

Regarding dog fights: If you are walking your dog and an unfamiliar loose dog approaches, Lawson suggests you assume that the dog has the potential to be unfriendly. Either pick up your dog (if they are small) or try to get away from the situation however you can. Should a fight ensue, do your best to break it up, but be careful to avoid being bit yourself. Lacerations and puncture wounds should receive veterinary medical care. “Sometimes there can be significant damage with no to minimal outward signs of injury, so if there was a fight, having your dog evaluated by a veterinarian is a good idea,” according to Lawson.

Dog parks: The pack mentality of dog parks can lead to frequent altercations. If you and your pup visit dog parks, be aware of your surroundings and how your dog is doing with the group, Lawson says. “If the dynamics of the group make you uncomfortable, and your dog seems uncomfortable, then you should leave.”

Closed-door policy: Dogs and cats are more likely to get out of the house when visitors are present or when outdoor activities have a lot of people going in and out. Be mindful of your pet’s whereabouts and encourage visitors to be cautious by doors.

Heat-related harms: Pet owners should take a number of precautions during warm weather, from using caution if exercising with your dog to being mindful of hydration. Learn more about heat-related threats to pet safety.

Meghan Lepisto

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Back on Track

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UW Veterinary Care’s board-certified specialists in the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital provide comprehensive care to equine patients, from routine checkup to complex diagnosis

Longtime UW Veterinary Care patients Cougar and Beethoven enjoy an afternoon in the pasture behind the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital. (Photo: Denise Garlow)

On a sunny winter day, Cougar, a 24-year-old Quarter Horse, gallops around the paddock behind the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital at UW Veterinary Care (UWVC), his sorrel coat glistening in the afternoon light as he strides about the familiar pasture.

“Cougar has three speeds: fast, faster, and fastest,” says his owner, Gail Bilmar.

She first brought Cougar to the teaching hospital in 2012 when he needed specialty care for respiratory issues and was treated by Sheila McGuirk, professor of large animal internal medicine and food animal production medicine. Since then, access to comprehensive, high-level equine care has kept Bilmar regularly returning.

Every five weeks, she loads Cougar and Beethoven, a 15-year-old Paint, into their trailer and makes the three-hour journey from Libertyville, Illinois, to UWVC to see Sabrina Brounts, clinical associate professor of large animal surgery and sports medicine. “She goes over them from head to toe,” Bilmar says. “I’d rather catch things early and get ahead of any problems.”

Although she relies on her local veterinarians for urgent care, Bilmar entrusts Brounts and the full UWVC team with her horses’ routine and preventive care, from vaccinations and nutritional support to dentistry and farrier services tailored to their individual needs.

Dean (Johanningmeier), the farrier, creates special shoes for Cougar and Beethoven,” she says. “My boys are moving better than ever – good shoes make all the difference.” A difference that has Cougar running with the renewed energy of a colt again. “Cougar thinks he’s two, not 24. Why? Because of the university and the good care they give him,” Bilmar quips.

ROUTINE TO COMPLEX CARE

In 2016-17, the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital at UW Veterinary Care saw nearly 1,100 equine patient visits spanning its farrier, internal medicine, surgery, and sports medicine services. 

While the clinic serves as a primary care provider for patients like Cougar and Beethoven, for others it serves as a last chance and a place where clients turn when their animals need advanced care and diagnostic technologies that aren’t available anywhere else in the region. Every day, UWVC’s specialists, residents and certified veterinary technicians tackle complex cases in equine patients large and small – from helping a Lusitano with severe laminitis (inflammation of the soft tissue structures that attach the pedal bone of the foot to the hoof wall) avoid euthanasia by providing months of around-the-clock care to repairing the limb deformity of a miniature donkey.

Brounts, the state’s only board-certified equine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist, has helped a range of equine athletes return to their prime – from Wisconsin farm horses to a national dressage champion to international race horses. For her, collaboration is key to meeting the needs of each individual animal.

“If you look at human medicine, all the high-performance athletes have a full team behind them developing a plan that’s best for that individual to be successful,” Brounts says. “Many horses are athletes too – the same as an NFL player or NBA player – and it takes a team to keep that horse healthy.”“We try to identify the best diagnostics and research to tailor a treatment to the horse, one that will benefit it the most to get it back home, back to racing or jumping, back to dressage or eventing.”

UW Veterinary Care offers several advanced diagnostic tools and techniques such as nuclear scintigraphy (pictured), dynamic endoscopy, and flexible needle arthroscopy. (Photo: Nik Hawkins)

CUTTING-EDGE DIAGNOSTICS

UWVC is the first and only veterinary hospital in the Midwest to offer dynamic endoscopy, which allows veterinarians to evaluate airway movement and function while a horse is exercising. The tool, which uses a tiny camera to view inside the horse’s throat, attaches to the horse’s bridle and saddle pad and transmits readings to a remote tablet. It can be used without interference while a horse is moving or being ridden, which is useful for diagnosing laryngeal hemiplegia, a paralysis of the cartilage in the voice box (larynx) and vocal cords (vocal folds), and other ailments that interfere with a horse’s breathing.

“These conditions cause exercise intolerance or abnormal airway noises that can be limiting to an athletic horse’s career,” says Samantha Morello, clinical assistant professor of large animal surgery. “But the dynamic endoscope gives us a much more accurate diagnosis with which we can better plan treatment.”

The Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital is also the only facility in the Midwest to offer flexible needle arthroscopy in the standing horse. This is especially useful for evaluating the stifle – basically the equivalent of the human knee and a common location of injuries in athletic horses – with improved accuracy and shortened procedure recovery time.

UWVC clinicians are utilizing a new tool to streamline lameness exams, as well. Gathering measurements from three sensors affixed to the horse – one on top of the head, one on the ankle and one on the pelvis or rear – the Lameness Locator program makes pinpointing the affected limb much easier and calculates an objective numeric score.

“You still have to watch the animal and figure out the cause of the lameness, but it gives you a baseline number for comparison,” says Amelia Munsterman, clinical assistant professor of large animal surgery. “It’s a great way to monitor progress. Having a numeric value in the chart to compare to is a key measure – especially in cases where the patient sees a different doctor on a follow-up visit.”

Amelia Munsterman, clinical assistant professor of large animal surgery, references a chart of diagnostic acupuncture points used for equine patients. (Photo: Jeff Miller)

TREATING THE BIG PICTURE

Munsterman, who joined the School of Veterinary Medicine faculty in 2016, is board certified in both surgery and large animal emergency and critical care.

While her primary research focuses on monitoring for complications after surgery and developing methods for measuring abdominal pressure, she is also interested in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. Munsterman is certified in acupuncture, a therapy she’s found to be an effective addition to conventional diagnostic and treatment plans for equine patients.

“Horses are great because you can actually scan them, by running your finger or a pen cap over their acupuncture points. They actually ‘tell’ you what’s wrong with them,” she says. “With other species like dogs, you can sometimes see it, but horses are the best in terms of their response.”

“If a point is sensitive, they will look at you or move away from you,” she adds. “So then if I set that collection of points, I can bring them together to look at the big picture to say ‘OK, he’s telling me that his hock hurts today.’”

GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH

When they’re not treating patients, UWVC’s specialists dedicate a significant portion of their time to research in areas including tendon healing, joint therapies, neonatology, and post-operative care. Their findings inform new, advanced treatments delivered in the clinic.

For example, Brounts can now offer patients a novel method for monitoring tendon injuries that is only available at UW–Madison. Her dissertation research uses Acoustoelastography (AEG) – a technique developed in the Department of Biomedical Engineering to monitor human Achilles tendon injuries – to evaluate similar injuries in horses. Using ultrasound technology, she creates dynamic videos that show the stiffness of tendons and help measure with an objective rating how well they have healed.

“Performance horses commonly suffer injuries to their superficial digital flexor tendons, and they often re-injure them after a premature return to competition,” says Brounts. “AEG provides a simple, objective, non-invasive method for monitoring healing progress and helps take the guesswork out of deciding when a horse can safely return to competition.”

New Faculty Focus
Fernando Marqués, clinical associate professor of large animal internal medicine, is a show jumping rider, currently grouped in the second of eight total categories in Argentina. The first category is for professional riders only, with the eighth being the lowest grouping. Marqués has trained horses for more than 25 years, primarily in the show jumping field, as well as dressage. He has also been a show jumping instructor for more than seven years.

To date, she has followed the tendon injuries of more than 50 horses ranging from 5 to 30 years of age – each for a span of six month to a year – and hopes to further evaluate the average healing rates based on age groups.

GROWING TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS

Given all of this specialized technology, the space available for clinical care, along with education and research space, is reaching a critical limit. The UW School of Veterinary Medicine is in the middle of a $115 million building expansion campaign, Animals Need Heroes Too, which requires private and public support.

A top priority for UW–Madison’s 2019-21 building window, the project will enhance the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital, double the size of the small animal hospital, provide additional learning spaces, and triple the school’s research space.

Planned improvements to the large animal hospital include the addition of a covered arena that provides year-round access to lameness and neurological exams, regardless of the weather, as well as a larger and even safer isolation facility, which will be the only one of its kind in the state.

During the campaign, the hospital continues to make improvements. The large animal hospital’s reception space has recently undergone a transformation to boost staff and client comfort and an equine bay inside the clinic is being reconfigured to create a dedicated space where clinicians and students can review patient cases.

“We’ve creatively repurposed storage spaces and retrofitted rooms to squeeze the most productivity out of our current space,” says Ruthanne Chun DVM’91, associate dean for clinical affairs and UWVC director. “Despite these challenges, we’ve delivered high-quality care because of our team’s focus on serving our patients.”“It’s clear that our patients and clients will benefit greatly from the completion of this expansion, but so will our students, who are the future of the veterinary medical profession, and so will animal lovers, veterinarians, and people across Wisconsin.”

Learn more about the school’s future plans at AnimalsNeedHeroesToo.com.

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Ask a UW Veterinarian: On Shaky Ground

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veterinarian illustration

The question below was featured in the Spring 2018 issue of On Call, the magazine for friends of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. This expert response comes from Sandi Sawchuk, primary care veterinarian at UW Veterinary Care and SVM clinical instructor, and Helena Rylander, clinical associate professor and board-certified specialist in veterinary neurology.

Submit Your Questions
Have a question for our veterinary medical experts?
Please send them to our On Call magazine editor at oncall@vetmed.wisc.edu. We cannot guarantee responses to all submissions. For any urgent pet health issue, please contact your veterinarian directly.

Puzzled by Dog’s Tremors

Question: Sometimes my dog’s legs shake and tremble. It doesn’t seen to bother his attitude or activity, but I’ve always wondered why he might be doing it. – Mary Jo Koranda, Sun Prarie, Wis.

Answer: Shaking or tremors in dogs can have multiple causes that can generally be ruled in or out by a through physical examination by your veterinarian, followed by lab work if indicated.

Cold and fear generally cause whole body tremors that disappear when the dog relaxes in a warm environment. Pain – stemming from the muscles, joints, or nerves, such as with chronic disc disease – can also cause intermittent tremoring of a limb, especially in combination with exercise or exertion.

 For older patients with some muscle atrophy, perhaps secondary to disuse due to arthritis, just the act of standing for a short period of time may bring on some limb tremors because of muscle fatigue.

Although uncommon, electrolyte abnormalities, calcium imbalance, some infectious diseases, and breed-related conditions of the nervous system can cause tremors, which is why your veterinarian may want to run some lab tests.

Some breeds have age-related tremors of unknown cause, which would be diagnosed if nothing is found to explain the tremors after a thorough examination and tests. This form of tremor is benign.

Testing can also be helpful if pain medications are being considered as a therapeutic treatment.

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Neglected donkey gets artificial leg after rare amputation at UW

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When Angela Langoski took in Ferguson, a miniature donkey, at her donkey rescue center east of Fond du Lac, his front left hoof was so disfigured it had formed a large abscess. At the UW School of Veterinary Medicine, a veterinarian amputated part of the animal’s leg and a prosthetist fit him with an artificial limb. Now the gray-and-black creature who spent most of his days lying down in pain is standing, walking and developing some equine attitude.

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Donkey Receives First of His Kind Amputation and Prosthetic Limb at UW School of Veterinary Medicine

2018 New Residents and Interns Join UWVC, SVM

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Each year, the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and UW Veterinary Care welcome a new group of interns and residents — graduate veterinarians who come here to learn from our exceptional specialists while providing top-notch clinical care and services. They are the best and brightest and bring tremendous value to the animals they treat.

Interns are veterinarians who are dedicating a year of their careers to additional training. Rotating interns work with multiple specialty services but spend most of their time in emergency and critical care, and specialty interns focus on one particular area or service. Residents are veterinarians who are training to become specialists, typically dedicating two to three years to a particular specialty area in veterinary medicine.

Here’s a look at this year’s new names and faces.

Specialty Interns and Fellows


Miranda Lee
Braithwaite DVM’18

Primary Care

Melissa Gall DVM’18
Shelter Medicine

Bridget Holck DVM’18
Shelter Medicine

Eric Howlett DVM’18
Primary Care

Kara Magee, DVM
Oncology

Molly Viner, DVM
Diagnostic Imaging

Sarah White, DVM
Large Animal Surgery

Small Animal Rotating Interns


Hillary Hammond, DVM

Kaitlyn McNamara, DVM

Marjorie Owen, DVM

Alec Repasy, DVM

Danielle Roberts, DVM

Kenneth Siu, DVM

Sridhar Veluvolu, DVM

Residents


Hernan Bracho, DVM
Emergency Critical Care

Kyle Bartholomew DVM’17
Anesthesiology

Richard Brooksby, DVM
Diagnostic Imaging

Shawna Hawkins, DVM
Zoological Medicine

Andrew Eitzer, DVM
Diagnostic Imaging

Eva Frantz DVM’17
Cardiology

Alexander Geddes
, DVM
Dentistry and Oral Surgery

Martin Granick DVM’17
SA Internal Medicine

Caitlin Heaton DVM’17
Oncology

Erika Hoffeld, DVM
Anatomic Pathology

Samuel Keepman DVM’16
Oncology

Shawndrea Lennix DVM’03
Anatomic Pathology

Katherine Leonard, DVM
Small Animal Surgery

Michelle Piccione, DVM
Dermatology

Alexis Powers DVM’17

LA Internal Medicine

Alexander Saver
, DVM
SA Internal Medicine

Kelly Shaw, DVM
Large Animal Surgery

Tessa Smith, DVM
Neurology 

Mariko St James, DVM
Anesthesiology

Marilia Takada, DVM
Radiation Oncology

Drew Taylor
, DVM
Emergency Critical Care

Sara Tolliver, DVM
Diagnostic Imaging

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Pet Care: Cancer Research

Ask a UW Veterinarian: Talking Tick Prevention

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Talking Tick Prevention

The question below was featured in the Summer 2018 issue of On Call, the magazine for friends of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. This expert response comes from Juliet Caviness DVM’17, primary care veterinarian at UW Veterinary Care and SVM clinical instructor.

Submit Your Questions
Have a question for our veterinary medical experts?
Please send them to our On Call magazine editor at oncall@vetmed.wisc.edu. We cannot guarantee responses to all submissions. For any urgent pet health issue, please contact your veterinarian directly.

Question: Are the ingestible tick preventatives okay to use on tiny dogs? My dogs are under five pounds.
–Denise, Barrington, Illinois

Answer: Tick prevention is a key component of preventative medicine to keep your pet free of parasites and reduce the risk of parasite-transmitted diseases. Tick-borne disease (like Lyme disease or Anaplasmosis) is a very common problem in Wisconsin, which makes year-round administration of tick preventative even more important.

There are many options on the market these days for tick preventatives, ranging from topical spot-on products to collars, sprays, and oral medications. Newer oral products (including brands like Simparica, NexGard, and Bravecto) have been shown to be very effective and can avoid the mess sometimes involved with liquid spot-on products (such as Frontline and Advantix), which are applied directly to the skin, usually between the shoulder blades.

Oral products are very convenient for those who might hold their pets often, have small children, or have dogs who love to swim or are bathed frequently due to allergies or other skin conditions, as one concern with topical medications is that they must remain in contact with the skin for long enough to be absorbed before the pet can get wet.

On the other hand, an oral medication may not be well-suited to dogs with sensitive digestion, as some dogs may experience vomiting or diarrhea as a side effect. Other limiting factors would include the age and weight of your pet. Some oral products are not labeled for use in very young dogs (Bravecto and Simparica are for puppies six months and older) and some are only labeled for dogs just under five pounds and up, such as NexGard and Bravecto.For the tiniest of adult dogs or older puppies, Simparica is available in 2.8-to 5.5-pound doses.

As always, we recommend that you consult with your veterinarian in choosing the appropriate medication for your pet.

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UW Veterinary Care Staff Focus: Sara Branton

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“The most rewarding thing about being a technician is helping the animals and their people,” says Sara Branton, who has been a certified veterinary technician in UW Veterinary Care’s anesthesia and pain management service for four years.

SARA BRANTON

CERTIFIED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN, ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MANAGEMENT

In three words, how would you describe the UW Veterinary Care team?

Fun, dedicated, and compassionate

What initially brought you to UW Veterinary Care?

In private practice, I developed a strong interest in anesthesia. My practice, at the time, couldn’t provide the amount of anesthesia I wanted to perform. So, I decided to move on from general practice and applied at UWVC specifically because they had an anesthesia department. It was the best decision I ever made for my career.

What do you find most rewarding about being a veterinary technician at the hospital?

The most rewarding thing about being a technician is helping the animals and their people. I don’t work with clients very much, but occasionally you will see a client crying in the hallway, hugging someone that works here because they are thankful for the care they received, and it really brings joy to your heart to know you are part of something special.

What do you enjoy about the culture at UWVC? In what ways is it unique?

I find it unique that we are more like a hospital than a general practice. When I tell people about what I do and where I work they can’t believe there are so many specialties for animals. It is a really cool thing to be a part of.

What kinds of challenges do you face each day and why are they exciting to you?

Every day, either we get to anesthetize a patient, which is challenging in itself, or we get to teach students. I am definitely not a natural teacher, so that has been a challenge for me, but every day I learn better ways to teach by watching my fellow coworkers and it is definitely easier to teach when you love the topic that you get to teach.

What is your proudest/happiest moment during your time at UWVC?

My proudest moment was when I won the Zoe and Lexi Wells Veterinary Medical Technician Award (in 2017). It was such an honor to receive an award for what I do every day. It is truly wonderful to be recognized because I work with so many great technicians.

Do you have any pets at home?

Yes, I have 2 cats and 1 dog. My first pet was Jack. He is a 10-year-old domestic long hair (DLH). He’s large, vocal and very loving. He’s definitely the one in charge at our house. My second pet is Captain. I got him to give Jack a buddy. He is a 9-year-old DLH. He is quite shy but very affectionate, and he and Jack get along very well! We recently got a puppy named Ruger, who we rescued from Fetch WI. He is an 8-month-old pointer. He is definitely the baby of the family, always getting everything he wants. He is the goofy one of the group. All of our pets have brought joy to our hearts – and a little chaos too – but we wouldn’t change it for the world.

This staff focus profile is part one of a five-part series in recognition of National Veterinary Technician Week, October 14-20, 2018. Check vetmed.wisc.edu or the UW Veterinary Care Facebook page throughout the week to meet other certified veterinary technicians from the UWVC team.

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UW Veterinary Care Staff Focus: Sandra Eklof

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In her role with UW Veterinary Care’s Anesthesia and Pain Management service, Sandra Eklof works with patients large and small —  from horses and cows, to dogs and cats, to fish and rodents.

SANDRA EKLOF

Certified Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist (Anesthesia)
Years at UW Veterinary Care: 6

Explain your role at UW Veterinary Care (UWVC).

I work in the Anesthesia and Pain Management department, so I anesthetize patients to facilitate surgery and procedures as needed for all the other services in the hospital. We travel all over the hospital and work on patients from fish and rodents, to cats and dogs, to horses, goats, cows, and anything in between. I am also trained to work in the Critical Care Unit and enjoy working with the patients and staff there whenever I can.

What initially brought you to UWVC? / Why did you want to work here?

I initially came to UWVC in order to continue growing and learning as a veterinary technician, as well as to support myself better financially.

What do you find most rewarding about being a veterinary technician at the hospital?

I love the continual learning opportunities available at UWVC, as well as seeing veterinary students become more comfortable with their technical skills and clinical experience. We have state-of-the-art equipment and specialized veterinary staff to best serve our patients here.

What do you enjoy about the culture at UWVC?

I enjoy traveling to the different departments and interacting with so many different people every day.

What kinds of challenges do you face each day and why are they exciting to you?

Working with so many different people every day is also challenging, but has helped me grow a lot as a professional in my career. At times we need to get creative and think outside of the box in order to best serve our patients, and I love that we all work together in this pursuit. It is incredibly rewarding to see the animals recover from illness or injury and go home healthy and happy!

What is your proudest/happiest moment during your time at UWVC?

In 2017, I obtained my Veterinary Technician Specialty in Anesthesia and Pain Management, a two-year process that was intensive and challenging. I gained significant knowledge in anesthesia, physiology and disease processes, which helps me serve my patients better every day.

In three words, how would you describe the UW Veterinary Care team?

Dedicated, compassionate, and talented.

Do you have any pets at home?

I have three cats, aged 15-18 years, who I love coming home to every day. They keep me content and entertained at home. I also enjoy keeping aquariums and currently maintain four different aquariums. Most notably, I keep a brackish aquarium with a figure 8 puffer fish , as well as a 55-gallon planted community tank with carbon dioxide supplementation to keep the plants healthy.

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m an open book, so not much surprises people about me! I bought a small house two years ago and have grown into quite the home improvement hobbyist and landscaper.

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Wholly Devoted: Supporting Pets, Empowering People

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Tina the dog and her owner Clarence wait to see the vet at the Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services (WisCARES) clinic in Madison. (Photo: Bryce Richter)

For so many of us, a home isn’t a home without the love of a pet. So to be asked to sacrifice one for the other — keep your housing but lose your pet, or keep your pet but lose your housing — is a heartrending dilemma.

Such is the scenario, however, for a number of clients of Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services (WisCARES), a veterinary clinic supporting homeless and low-income individuals in Dane County.

“I couldn’t get rid of her,” says Hope Barajas during a visit to WisCARES in May with China, a three-year-old terrier with pristine white fur and brown brindle spots.

Barajas, who has experienced homelessness in the past, says that over the years she’s had to hide China from landlords to be able to keep her. If it came down to it, she says, she would rather be homeless again than lose her companion. “She’s like my daughter.
She’s a family member, not just a dog.”

An outreach partnership of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and the School of Social Work, WisCARES was launched in 2014 to provide veterinary medical care, housing support and advocacy, and other social services to Dane County pet owners who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or unable to pay for veterinary medical services, such as vaccinations, that are needed for access to housing.

Within Dane County, approximately 41 percent of households struggle to afford basic needs, 600 individuals are homeless, and 40,000 pet-owning families live paycheck to paycheck.

“The pets aren’t a luxury item; it’s the veterinary care that is,” notes WisCARES Director William Gilles DVM’13.

Supported by the university, grants, and private gifts, WisCARES works to keep pets with their owners, prevent surrender to animal shelters, and empower people to care for their animals and gain access to the housing, social support services, and health care they need.

“Our ultimate goal is that the family unit, including animals, can stay together and be in stable housing, getting care,” Gilles says.

Pet food and supply pantry

WISCARES’ pet food and supply pantry is a vital resource for South Madison pet owners. The surrounding neighborhood is a veterinary desert, with no veterinary clinics and minimal pet care resources.

This spring, WisCARES relocated to a 4,200-square-foot building on Madison’s south side that is five times larger than their previous location. In addition to continuing their original services, the program now also offers subsidized veterinary medical care to Madison’s lower socioeconomic population.

Mary Knight snuggles her cat, Tiny, during a visit to the WisCARES clinic.

I don’t think I could afford the services if it wasn’t here,” says Barajas during China’s exam. “I’m thankful, and she likes coming here too.”

Barajas first visited WisCARES when China was seven weeks old. As she talks with veterinary medical students at her most recent appointment, she retrieves papers from a red folder she’s brought along that contains all of her records related to China’s care. Barajas lives about a mile from the clinic and departs with a fresh supply of preventative medicine for heartworm, fleas, and ticks; dog food; and a new leash.

WisCARES’ pet food and supply pantry is a vital resource for clients, with items ranging from wet and dry foods to treats and safe toys to collars and harnesses and carriers and crates. Stocked by donations, the items not only support pet nutrition; they also aid healthy animal behavior — in addition to training resources the clinic provides — so pets don’t pose an extra risk for eviction or a barrier for leasing.

During a recent appointment, Mary Knight and her 18-year-old cat Tiny received an assortment of food for the finicky feline, who has been a patient of WisCARES for a year and a half. “She’s going to like this,” Knight says, browsing the packets while noting Tiny’s preference for pâté. Tiny earned her name as a kitten. “She was half the size of my hand; everyone kept saying she’s so tiny,” Knight recalls.

As Priscilla Marroquin DVMx’21 conducts a physical exam of the gray cat, Knight shares her gratitude while softly stroking Tiny’s back.

“Without WisCARES, I don’t know where I’d be,” she says. “I swear, if they weren’t here, I don’t know what I’d do.”

Refuge and Remedies

To date, WisCARES has served nearly 500 clients and more than 600 animals. About half have been seen multiple times; the clinic works to establish long-term, ongoing relationships.

On numerous occasions when the odds were stacked against animals and their families, WisCARES has intervened. Central to this success is a pet boarding and foster program that provides a safe, temporary place for cats and dogs to stay for up to 14 days in boarding or up to three months in a volunteer foster home environment.

“We’ve had a number of families who have been direct referrals from the humane society because they’ve been ready to surrender their animal because of loss of housing or getting evicted,” says Gilles. “We’ve been able to disrupt that cycle on a number of occasions.”

We’re learning how as veterinarians we can use the special bond people share with their pets to increase access to health services for people.”

William Gilles DVM’13

In addition to offering refuge for pets while owners secure housing or emergency shelter, the boarding and fostering is also intended to allow family members to access inpatient health care, mental health services, or treatment programs, because people often won’t leave their pets to get such care, Gilles says. “We’re learning how as veterinarians we can use the special bond people share with their pets to increase access to health services for people.”

The clinic’s work is guided by a One Health framework, which acknowledges and leverages the relationship between people, animals, and their environment. Dr. Bethany Howlett, a family medicine physician with the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, is developing additional initiatives with WisCARES around this topic.

More than 100 dogs and cats have entered WisCARES’ boarding and fostering, with over 90 percent of animals reunited with their owners.“We try really hard to make sure we get everybody back together,” says outreach coordinator Levi Sable.

A grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will allow WisCARES to expand the program at their new clinic with the installation of dog and cat kennels and a dedicated area for exercising animals and hosting visits with pets’ families.

Clinical offerings have also grown at WisCARES’ new location with a larger staff, extended hours, five days a week, broader diagnostic capabilities, laboratory testing, a surgery suite, and plans in place to provide dentistry services and X-ray imaging (with much of this equipment provided through in-kind donations). And a social work room outfitted with a couch, children’s activities, and other comforts provides a private space for sensitive conversations or, when needed, pet euthanasias.

The neighborhood surrounding WisCARES is considered a veterinary desert, lacking veterinary clinics and pet care resources, so the expanded hours and services fill a major void.

“In our old location we had limited offerings — wellness-based care, core vaccines, parasite prevention, and managing some chronic diseases,” says Gilles. “Here we have a lot more robust capability. It really expands how we’re able to manage cases.”

The clinic also hopes to serve as a referral option when Madison-area veterinary clinics are faced with clients who can’t afford recommended care.

Equal Access

Across all of WisCARES’ offerings, Gilles aims to thread new connections, free of judgement, between the veterinary profession and vulnerable communities.

Johnie, a six year old collie

Johnnie, a six-year-old Collie, stands patiently as Priscila Naula DVMx’20 and certified veterinary technician Heather Bonti deliver care at the Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services (WisCARES) clinic in South Madison.

“One thing I really want to give our clients and patients is the understanding that our profession is here to help in ways that they need our help, and not to dictate,” he says. “There are a lot of pets and people out there who don’t have any connection with the industry. And just because most veterinarians don’t see them, it doesn’t mean that they’re not important.”

For Bridget Holck DVM’18, providing veterinary medical care to WisCARES patients after establishing relationships with the owners based on trust and mutual respect, and then seeing their appreciation, is something she especially valued about her externship at the clinic this spring.

“Every person I have worked with during my time at WisCARES loves his or her pet and wants what’s best for the animal. I don’t believe financial restrictions should be a barrier to seeking veterinary medical care and I love being a part of making these services available to people and their pets,” Holck says.

Noah Hoeper, a social work major who has volunteered at the clinic for two years, echoes this. “All of our clients are so appreciative,” she says. “Having people express that they wouldn’t have been able to keep their pets without us makes me feel good. It just speaks to how our clients would rather sacrifice other things in their life than give up their pet.”

Gilles adds, “Our clients are incredibly dedicated to their animals. And because we let students form connections with clients, they’re able to see the impact the animal has on the family relationship.”

One of many animals Holck treated during her time at WisCARES was Baby Girl, a long-haired black and white cat, age eight, who had been experiencing limited vision.

“I need to know if she’s going to be okay,” the cat’s owner, Dorothy, says as the appointment gets underway in the clinic’s dedicated cat room. “My ‘baby girl’ is not even enough to describe how I feel about her.”

Registered as an emotional support animal, the cat is inseparable from Dorothy’s 10-year-old son, who has autism. “They have a great relationship, she says. “She loves her big brother.” Dorothy brought Baby Girl to WisCARES after learning from a friend about the clinic’s free and subsidized care. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to take her to a vet.”

Invaluable Experience

Students from the UW Schools of Veterinary Medicine, Social Work, and Pharmacy are an integral part of WisCARES’ daily operations, with future collaborations planned with the Schools of Nursing and Medicine and Public Health. All told, more than 100 students volunteer annually, in addition to a small staff of licensed veterinarians, a certified veterinary technician, and administrative personnel.

First- through third-year veterinary medical students lead weekly pet wellness clinics each Saturday, while fourth-year students examine patients and manage cases during two-week clinical rotations throughout the year. Social work students assist clients in accessing housing, health care, and other resources, and help address barriers unique to pet owners (for example, conducting landlord outreach and education if a building requires that cats be declawed). And pharmacy students stock medications and observe appointments. As all of these students buzz about the clinic and interface with staff, interprofessional relationships and collaborations develop.

Supporting WisCARES

Financial contributions support WisCARES’ efforts to provide Dane County pet owners with equal and consistent access to veterinary medical care, social support, and human health services.

To give, visit: go.wisc.edu/wiscaresgift.

 

The challenge of delivering exemplary care within a tight budget and technical constraints, “where you don’t have all the bells and whistles we have at the vet school,” helps students develop critical problem-solving skills says Elizabeth Alvarez, WisCARES medical director and clinical assistant professor of primary care at the SVM. “Students realize they can do a lot to help these patients and people with just their smarts and a few tests or donated medications.”

Perhaps even more important, the experience allows students to engage with a broader swath of clients and see how outreach and community service can be part of a veterinary practice.

“Students have commented that it’s been a great experience because they get exposure to something they wouldn’t in the rest of their training,” says Gilles. “And for a lot of our students, it’s exposure to something they don’t have any personal history with,” be it poverty, housing instability, or a physical disability.

“If the students don’t actively go out and get these sorts of experiences, they can go through their whole four years of vet school and never really work with a clientele that may not have very much money or are homeless or of a different ethnicity or race,” Alvarez adds.

Journaling and facilitated discussions following students’ rotations show that the message is clear: love isn’t the limiting factor for these pets and their people, but rather limited financial means or other life circumstances.

“Students will say things like ‘I can’t believe this client was willing to give up a bed at a homeless shelter because they wouldn’t take her dog, so she instead decided to live in her car because of the bond she has with her pet,’” notes Alvarez. “That part of what we’re teaching seems so much more profound.”

Holck’s experience at WisCARES, “providing veterinary medical care with limited resources to those animals who need it most,” has inspired her to seek out additional opportunities to serve low-income communities as she continues in her career.

“Veterinary medicine is about helping to preserve the bond between animals and their people, and WisCARES does just that every day,” she says.

Meghan Lepisto

This is part one of a two-part story from the summer 2018 issue of On Call magazine spotlighting UW School of Veterinary Medicine outreach partnerships that deliver veterinary medical care and other social services to pets and their people in underserved communities across Dane County and Milwaukee. Read part two, about the Pets for Life initiative.

The post Wholly Devoted: Supporting Pets, Empowering People appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

SVM Faculty, Staff and Students Share Thoughts of Gratitude

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Whether it’s teaching and mentoring tomorrow’s veterinarians and researchers, making a difference for the patients and clients of UW Veterinary Care (UWVC), advancing biomedical science, supporting classmates, or so much more, faculty, staff and students at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) make a difference in the lives of people and animals every day.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we asked the SVM community to reflect on what they are thankful for at the school. Below is a sampling of their notes of gratitude.


I was part of the first wave of faculty to join the SVM in 1983. I am thankful for the unique opportunity to be part of an exciting new academic venture, and to share the past 36 years with an outstanding group of faculty, staff and students. –
Chuck Czuprynski, professor and chair, Department of Pathobiological Sciences


I am grateful that the clinicians come from all parts of the world and it feels like this whole world works well together.
Pat O’Brien, medical technologist senior, UW Veterinary Care


I am new in phone reception/records and I am very grateful for having coworkers who are so professional. They are patient teachers and fantastic at their jobs. It has been a long time since I have been in a work environment that I feel so comfortable and supported in trying to better myself at my position. They are always sharing with each other, learning from each other, teaching each other and laughing with each other. I am very grateful that I was given an opportunity to be a part of this wonderful team at this university.
Kacey Briley, medical program assistant, UW Veterinary Care


I am grateful to be surrounded by students, faculty and staff that are always willing to offer help and are as passionate about veterinary medicine as I am!
Ellen Schneider DVM’21


I’m thankful to work with kind, dedicated and passionate veterinary medical students! It is an honor to watch them develop personally and professionally throughout their education, moving from pre-veterinary students or new first-year students at orientation to their final, clinical year and developing into new professionals. The commitment and tenacity that students bring to studying new subject areas, approaching difficult problems and exploring and learning about where they want to contribute to the profession of veterinary medicine is inspiring to me!
Lynn Maki, associate dean for student academic affairs

Alumni Give Thanks
We also asked UW School of Veterinary Medicine alumni to reflect on why they are thankful to be working in the field of veterinary medicine. Read their notes of gratitude.

I am thankful for Christina Frank with PAWWS [Personal and Wellness Support Services], Lynn Maki, and many professors at the SVM that truly care for each individual student here. I am also thankful for SAVMA, student clubs and wellness events (like massage and yoga!) to help us keep our sanity.
Jacey Spoehr DVM’21


I am thankful for being able to work in such a great place and having wonderful coworkers (teammates!), working with the students, having them share their knowledge as they learn, and their kindness every day. I wish everyone could experience this.
JoAnn Disch, program assistant, Office of Academic Affairs


I am thankful for open communication between Office of Academic Affairs staff and the students that leads to a positive educational environment; my dog, my classmates, former coworkers and current coworkers; and the opportunity to learn veterinary medicine!
Laura Martinelli DVMx’21


I am thankful for the opportunity to work with such brilliant colleagues and students who challenge me and teach me something every day
. –Jen Dreyfus, clinical instructor, anatomic pathology, Department of Pathobiological Sciences


I am thankful for the opportunity to work with an amazing group of technicians, veterinarians and researchers that strive to make a difference in both human and animal lives every day! I am also thankful that I still enjoy my job after being at the SVM for over 24 years!
Becky Johnson, clinical associate professor, anesthesia and pain management, Department of Surgical Sciences


I am thankful that my position at UW allows me to dabble in everything: I can make a direct impact on patients/clients in the clinic while also making a bigger impact on veterinary medicine through mentoring students/interns/residents and research. I get the opportunity to teach while continuing to learn myself. And I get to do this while still maintaining a good work-life balance, which is very important to me with a new baby at home!
MacKenzie Pellin DVM’11, assistant clinical professor, medical oncology, Department of Medical Sciences


I am grateful for the lovely clients, wonderful patients and brilliant co-workers I encounter here at UWVC and the SVM … and for being part of a research university and the science, knowledge and progress we promote here.
Karla Stoebig, small and large animal reception, UW Veterinary Care

The post SVM Faculty, Staff and Students Share Thoughts of Gratitude appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

A Leg to Stand On

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Previously plagued by a leg deformity, Ferguson is now standing strong with an artificial limb – the first large animal to receive an amputation and prosthesis at UW Veterinary Care

Samantha Morello walks Ferguson, a miniature donkey who had a deformed front left hoof

The crowded surgery room hums with excitement as a rotary saw buzzes through the fiberglass cast encasing the left front leg of a supremely cute, extra fuzzy, little-bit-sassy miniature donkey. More than 20 surgeons, veterinary technicians, students, and other observers have gathered to see the small but mighty Ferguson fitted with a custom-made prosthesis.

Five weeks earlier, the 10-year-old donkey’s disfigured lower left leg was amputated at the fetlock. The procedure was the first amputation with a prosthesis at UW Veterinary Care’s Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital.

Ferguson — or Fergie for short — may not know that he’s made history, but he’s certainly aware of his ever-growing fan club. During his extended stay in the teaching hospital, he gained an affinity for handfuls of sweet feed, crisp carrots, and frequent neck scratches. Now back at Holyland Donkey Haven near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, he is the object of daily adoration from both people and fellow donkeys, frequently seen scratching the neck of his equine stablemates as they return the favor — mutual grooming that he wasn’t strong enough to do pre-amputation.

Simply put, Ferguson’s leg deformity could have cut his life short. Amputations are rare in equids and other four-legged large animals due to their size and fight-or-flight nature. “They need four legs that they can run around on at all times,” says Samantha Morello, clinical associate professor of large animal surgery at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. And amputations of front limbs, which bear about 60 percent of a four-legged animal’s weight, are even more challenging and extremely rare as a result.

But Ferguson was a special case. His easygoing, sweet demeanor and his petite stature (he weighs about 250 pounds), combined with the tremendous pain he was experiencing due to the chronic leg deformity, made him a perfect candidate for a prosthetic device according to Morello.

“It’s his best shot at getting back to a good quality of life,” she said in April ahead of Ferguson’s surgery.

In the photos that follow, see this rescued donkey’s extraordinary journey.

Leg deformity in Ferguson the donkey

Above, left: When Ferguson was rescued by Holyland Donkey Haven in 2015, his hooves were overgrown and he could barely walk. Holyland brought Ferguson to UW Veterinary Care for evaluation and advice, then worked with their local farrier to reconstruct his deformed left front hoof through trimming and corrective shoeing every four weeks over several years. But in spring 2018, with the deformity still present (pictured) and causing substantial pain, UW Veterinary Care large animal surgeons determined that a partial limb amputation was the best path forward. “No less aggressive measure is likely to provide the comfort and stability that he needs in that limb,” said large animal surgeon Samantha Morello, who led the operation.

Center: Ferguson’s chronic pain caused him to walk in an irregular way that placed pressure on the skin and soft tissue at the base of his heels. This subsequently began to cause deformity in his right hoof, as well. To help realign Ferguson’s conformation and balance his weight, in March UW Veterinary Care farrier Dean Johanningmeier trimmed Ferguson’s right hoof and attached a special shoe (similar to a human orthotic). This was a critical step for the amputation to proceed. “That provided a good foot to stand on,” says Morello.

Right: Radiographs revealed that the bones in Ferguson’s lower left leg (pictured) were chronically deformed and infected and of a different density than those in his right leg. Veterinarians believe the middle phalangeal bone, which normally extends into the hoof capsule, may have been missing from Ferguson’s left leg since birth.

Abscesses in Ferguson's left hoof

Above: Holyland Donkey Haven did everything possible to manage Ferguson’s left front hoof deformity, but exposed soft tissue and abscesses were an ever-present concern and source of pain. Before his amputation, Ferguson spent the majority of his days lying down due to discomfort.

Immediately following the amputation, a mold is made of Ferguson’s left leg to plan the construction of a custom-fit prosthetic footAbove: On April 18, Ferguson’s lower left leg was amputated below the cannon bone, at the fetlock joint. Immediately following the amputation, a team from the UW Health Orthotics and Prosthetics Clinic made a mold of Ferguson’s left leg and took measurements of both limbs to plan the construction of a custom-fit prosthetic foot.

Next (not pictured), Morello placed two large stainless steel pins through the canon bone of the left front leg. These pins were incorporated into a cast placed around Ferguson’s leg for five weeks, helping to distribute weight away from the healing amputated limb, which after several weeks in a cast became the stump for Ferguson’s prosthesis.

Ferguson’s leg cast and pins are removed and he was fitted with the prosthesis

Above: On May 23, Ferguson’s leg cast and pins were removed and he was fitted with the prosthesis. Here, Amy Paulios (center) of UW Health checks the height and angle of the bottom of the artificial limb as compared to Ferguson’s right hoof. The team also ensured that Ferguson could fully flex his leg without rubbing and that the prosthesis was easy to put on and take off. “It’s a perfect fit,” Morello (left) said as the device was slid on. “It’s so cool.”

Ferguson donkey 3D bones and prosthesis

Above, left: Orthopedic surgeons at the SVM also assisted in Ferguson’s case, using the school’s 3D printer to create plastic models of the bones that were to be amputated. These 3D-printed bones, modeled off of radiographs of Ferguson’s right front limb, were placed in the left leg cast below the amputated stump to help mirror the height of the sound leg.

Right: Amy Paulios, a board-certified prosthetist, holds an early iteration of Ferguson’s prosthetic device (additional, stronger straps, along with a clamshell backing, were later added to create a cleaner, closed environment). This was Paulios’ first time producing a prosthesis for an animal. Constructed of carbon fiber and acrylic resin, it’s light to allow for easy movement, while durable enough to withstand outdoor elements. She was assisted with socket fabrication by Patrick Shea at UW Health and Beau Marek at the Hanger Clinic. “I’m proud of our teamwork,” she said.

Ferguson stands after being fitted with his prosthesis

Above: Just minutes after being fitted with the prosthesis and waking from anesthesia, Ferguson was on his feet, standing strong on the prosthetic device. “You got a brand new foot,” said Angela Langoski (far left), founder and president of Holyland Donkey Haven. Throughout Ferguson’s stay at the hospital, Langoski made the 90-minute drive to UW Veterinary Care at least twice a week.

Langoski founded Holyland in 2011 to rescue, rehabilitate, and raise awareness about donkeys. “It’s very, very rewarding to see them come alive,” she said. “They’re highly intelligent and they love attention. They’re like a dog with hooves.” The nonprofit organization places many donkeys into adoptive homes. For some others, like Ferguson, Holyland provides a lifelong sanctuary.

Samantha Morello and Kelly Shaw walk Ferguson

Above: On June 13, the day before Ferguson headed home to Holyland, Morello and large animal surgery resident Kelly Shaw took the valiant donkey out for a final jaunt. “He’s walking so well,” Morello said as she strolled beside him.

While Ferguson grazed and basked in the sun, the surgeons reflected on his journey. “It takes a special patient to be able to come through and do well,” Shaw said. “It’s a testament to Ferguson and his toughness and tenacity.”

Ferguson, a miniature donkey who had a deformed front left hoof, eats grass in a small pasture as he finalizes his recovery from amputation surgery

“There’s an inverse relationship between Ferguson’s personality and his size, and that personality has just grown with every day that he’s been recovering,” Morello added. “We knew that his attitude was going to be what saved him as much as anything else.”

Morello is grateful for the chance to assist Holyland and credits the group’s unwavering dedication to Ferguson. “It’s been an awesome opportunity for a group effort to do the right thing.”

Meghan Lepisto

The post A Leg to Stand On appeared first on University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

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