Dream Big and Achieve Faster: U. of Illinois Unveils Game-Changing Program for Aspiring Vet Techs!
At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a pioneering partnership is transforming the aspirations of students into reality. Majoring in animal sciences, these students are now on a fast track to their dream careers, thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between the Department of Animal Sciences at U. of I. and Parkland College. This unique program allows students to earn both their bachelor’s degrees and veterinary technology degrees in an accelerated timeframe of just five years – a game-changer for those eager to dive into animal-related careers without pursuing a traditional veterinary school route.
Veterinary Crisis! Iowa Clinic Overwhelmed by Stray Animals and Financial Strain
At Lake Animal Hospital in Storm Lake, Iowa, a critical situation is unfolding. The clinic, doubling as an informal area shelter, is buckling under the pressure of caring for an increasing number of strays, to the point of risking financial insolvency.
The severity of the problem was highlighted by the clinic's office manager, Charlee Hinds, in a desperate Facebook post on January 18, stating the clinic's inability to take in more animals. With every kennel occupied by nine dogs and six cats, and a noticeable surplus of large homeless dogs, the situation is dire. The clamor of these animals in the metal and concrete confines of the clinic is a testament to their distress.
Shocking Truth Behind Veterinarians' Struggle: The Hidden Emotional Toll in Equine Medicine Unveiled!
In the specialized field of equine veterinary medicine, practitioners frequently encounter a specific form of stress known as moral distress. This particular type of stress emerges when veterinarians find themselves in situations where their actions are constrained, preventing them from following their ethical beliefs and judgments. This critical issue was at the heart of an insightful presentation given by Liz Arbittier, VMD, CVA, and Page Buck, PhD, LCSW, during the 2023 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention. Arbittier and Buck shed light on the fact that moral distress in this field often springs from a variety of complex and challenging situations. These include the management of laminitis, cases where financial constraints lead to euthanasia, concerns about the well-being of clients, the ethical dilemmas associated with the over-treatment of performance horses, and issues surrounding rider safety.
What if cows could talk?
You may not know it, but cows share information every time they burp, moo, and chew that speaks volumes about their health and welfare.
Through the work of researchers in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, we may soon know more about what cows are “telling” us and be able to use that information to improve their well-being.
Facial recognition app for dogs developed to help in fight against rabies
Led by researchers at Washington State University, a team used the app to test its effectiveness at a rabies vaccination clinic in rural Tanzania where they microchipped, vaccinated and registered dogs. The technology proved remarkably accurate during a subsequent visit to surrounding villages once poor images and improperly recorded information were removed from its database. Using the app, operators identified 76.2% of vaccinated dogs and 98.9% of unvaccinated dogs.
Two northern white rhinos are left on Earth. A new breakthrough offers hope from extinction
On September 24, 2023, the BioRescue scientists and veterinarians, led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), transferred two southern white rhino embryos into Curra, a southern white rhinoceros, selected as a surrogate mother at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The oocytes used in producing the embryos were retrieved from Elenore, a southern white rhinoceros living in the Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium. The sperm used for fertilisation originated from the male Athos from the Zoo Salzburg in Hellbrunn, Austria. The oocytes from Elenore were fertilised in vitro by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and developed into blastoscysts at Avantea‘s laboratories in Cremona, Italy. For the embryo transfer in Kenya, the BioRescue scientists transferred two embryos to increase the chance of a successful outcome.