CVM and Palmer Home partner to protect horses

By Karen Templeton
MSU College of Veterinary Medicine

COLUMBUS – Regular eye exams are an integral part of animal health maintenance, so the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine is providing free eye screening to service animals throughout the month of May.
The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and animal health company Merial host the National Service Dog Eye Exam every May. Veterinary ophthalmologists, including MSU’s Dr. Caroline Betbeze, donate their time and resources to provide free, sight-saving eye exams to eligible service animals.
But dogs are not the only service animals that rely on healthy vision.
“Soon after we announced our participation in this event, we had nine horses signed up,” Betbeze said. “I was pleased to learn that these horses are part of Palmer Home for Children’s therapeutic riding program. Palmer Home is close to MSU. Examining the horses is not only good for their health, but also provides a learning opportunity for our students.” more...

Routine vet visits keep pets ready for disaster

By Susan Collins-Smith
MSU Ag Communications

JACKSON – Getting routine health care for family pets is just as important as having a fully-stocked emergency kit and a home evacuation plan when preparing for disasters.
“After a disaster, many animals must be boarded because their homes are damaged or they are injured or lost,” said Dr. Carla Huston, veterinarian and associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “In a boarding setting, animals may be exposed to other animals that are carrying diseases that may not be visually evident.” Read More....

Three MSU students chosen for prestigious UN internships

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Through separate summer internships with the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, three Mississippi State students will be helping people around the world achieve food security.
Selected to work with FAO regional offices are Victoria L. Hall of Newton, Ohio, a third-year veterinary medicine major at the university; senior business administration major Casie E. Leavell of Moody, Ala.; and junior Shelly L. Johnston of Mount Olive, a food science, nutrition and health promotion major. Read more...

Routine vet visits keep pets ready for disaster

By Susan Collins-Smith
MSU Ag Communications

JACKSON – Getting routine health care for family pets is just as important as having a fully-stocked emergency kit and a home evacuation plan when preparing for disasters.
“After a disaster, many animals must be boarded because their homes are damaged or they are injured or lost,” said Dr. Carla Huston, veterinarian and associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “In a boarding setting, animals may be exposed to other animals that are carrying diseases that may not be visually evident.”
Routine health care includes physical examinations, vaccinations and screenings for contagious parasites. Boarding facilities require pets be up-to-date on routine health care before accepting them. In a disaster situation, there are often no exceptions, Huston said. more...

Employee of the Month

Congratulations Tonya Calmes, student affairs, admissions assistant for being awarded CVM's March employee of the month.

MSU veterinarians save dog attacked by coyote

By Keri Collins Lewis
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – When Dutch, a miniature dachshund, arrived at Mississippi State University’s Animal Health Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine, he was lucky to be alive.
“Most people would have put him to sleep, but I thought he had a chance,” said Dr. Robert Shamblin, Dutch’s owner and a veterinarian for over 40 years. “He wanted to live.”
Dutch was attacked by a coyote on his morning outing with Shamblin’s wife at their home outside of Tuscaloosa.
“When he came in the house, I saw that he had puncture wounds on each side of his chest,” Shamblin said. “I wrapped him up, took him to my clinic, cleaned his wounds, gave him IVs and medication, and sutured him up as best as I could. On one side of his rib cage he was split three inches along his intercostal muscles. We sewed any tissue we could get to cover the wound.”  More....

Morgan Freeman fund for scholarships

By Keri Collins Lewis
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The generosity of one of Mississippi’s most famous residents attracts veterinary students from diverse cultural backgrounds to the Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman established the Morgan Freeman Endowment for Veterinary Medicine in 1998 to make a quality education available to young Mississippians interested in veterinary careers. Funds from the endowment are awarded to a veterinary student who meets the qualifications Freeman established to help the college aggressively recruit underrepresented minority students.  More...