Purdue Veterinary Medicine News

Veterinary School to dedicate pet tribute garden

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 10:16:00 EDT

A garden designed to let owners remember beloved pets will be dedicated Oct. 23 by the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

The Dolores McCall Pet Tribute Garden is located adjacent to the entrance to the school's small animal hospital. The dedication, which will be held at 4 p.m. at the Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine, is free and open to the public.

Nobel Laureate in genetics, cancer to speak at Purdue's Discovery Lecture Series

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, an American biochemist and molecular biologist who co-discovered gene splicing, is the keynote speaker for Purdue University's Discovery Lecture Series event on Sept. 12.

The lecture, sponsored by Discovery Park's Oncological Sciences Center, Purdue Cancer Center and other units at Purdue, begins at 3:30 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. Sharp's lecture, "The Roles of Short RNAs in Cancer and Biology," is free and open to the public.

Purdue toxicologist is new Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory director

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 12:27:00 EDT

The head of the Toxicology Section of the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has been named the new director of the state office, which is located on the Purdue University campus.

Stephen B. Hooser, a Purdue comparative pathobiology professor, succeeds Leon Thacker who has been the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) director for the past 23 years. Thacker, also a comparative pathobiology professor, is remaining at the laboratory as a diagnostic pathologist and will return to teaching Purdue veterinary classes.

State fair is showtime for Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Cats and dogs, rabbits and horses will help give lessons in animal health, including the benefits of spaying and neutering, during the Indiana State Fair.

For the 24th year, the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine is teaming up with the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association to demonstrate surgical procedures and give presentations daily during the fair, which runs Aug. 6-17 in Indianapolis.

Purdue sends equipment, students to help Humane Society shelter

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:16:00 EDT

A pilot program this summer is giving Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine students surgical experience while helping the Almost Home Humane Society prepare shelter animals for adoption.

The school has set up a spaying/neutering surgery site at the humane society's shelter in Lafayette with equipment that isn't needed on campus during the summer, said Lynetta Freeman, associate professor of small animal surgery and biomedical engineering.

Expert on human-pet relations to give Lilly lecture

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:10:00 EDT

An expert on the relationship between people and their pets will speak Sept. 17 at the 2008 Lilly Lectureship at Purdue University.

Aaron H. Katcher, a psychiatrist and professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, will speak at 10:30 a.m. at the University Plaza Hotel, 3001 Northwestern Ave. The speech is free and open to the public. It is being given in connection with the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine's annual fall conference for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Heartworm could be more prevalent in dogs, cats this year

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:43:00 EDT

A mosquito population explosion caused by recent flooding in parts of Indiana is a good reason for dogs and cats to be on heartworm medications this summer.

Steve Thompson of Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine says mosquitoes are a potential danger to dogs, cats and ferrets because they are susceptible to heartworm infection. Heartworm can be fatal if it is untreated.

Expert to train farmers to think like a cow for better handling

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:43:00 EDT

A Nebraska veterinarian and researcher will discuss techniques for handling cattle from the cow's perspective at Purdue University field day Aug. 12 in Bedford, Ind.

Rather than forcing cattle in a certain direction, Lynn Locatelli teaches a method of handling that allows the cattle to follow natural instincts.

Eighth-grade veterinarian hopefuls visit Purdue Vet Camp

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:03:00 EDT

Thirty-two eighth-graders participated in the first Boiler Vet Camp sponsored by the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Twenty-seven students from Indiana, two from Ohio, two from California and one from Texas learned about a wide range of veterinary topics - from blood transfusions for animals and horse shoeing to dissection and rabbit anatomy - during the three-day camp. Students also had a chance to present a team medical case investigation and learn about diagnosing animal diseases.

World War II veterans reuniting this weekend at Purdue

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:08:00 EDT

A tour of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine and the Armstrong Hall of Engineering will be part of what has become an annual event for World War II veterans of the U.S. Army's 250th Field Artillery Battalion.

Seven veterans who served under Gen. George Patton and were attached to one of the first units to liberate prisoners of war at Dachau concentration camp in Germany will be meeting for a reunion this weekend in the Lafayette area. It will mark the first time the annual reunion has been held north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The reunion will be the 26th for the battalion since it first held a reunion in 1964.

Mosquitoes may be early and numerous due to floods

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:45:00 EDT

Hoosiers should be extra vigilant this year to avoid mosquito bites because itching and scratching season likely will begin early due to June's massive flooding, according to Purdue University experts.

The heavy rains that hit Indiana the first 10 days of June will leave numerous areas of standing water, the breeding ground for mosquitoes, said Ralph Williams, a public health entomologist in the Department of Entomology. Initially, this will result in an influx of nuisance mosquitoes that don't transmit disease to people, but can carry canine heartworm to dogs

New technology could help prevent fractures in horses

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 14:31:00 EDT

Researchers are developing a monitoring system similar to those used by earthquake seismologists to detect tiny cracks in bones, a technology that could help prevent fractures in humans and racehorses.The new monitoring system records "acoustic emission data," or sound waves created by the tiny bone fissures. The same sorts of acoustic emissions are used to monitor the integrity of bridges, other structures and mechanical parts like helicopter turbine blades, said Ozan Akkus, an associate professor in Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.

Purdue professor receives fellowship at University of Cambridge

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 10:33:00 EDT

David J. Williams, professor and director of medical illustration and communications in Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine, has received a visiting fellowship in the University of Cambridge's Clare Hall.

Williams also will be a visiting scholar from January through June 2009 in the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine at Cambridge.

Search under way for Purdue Agriculture dean

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 10:07:00 EDT

The dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University will head the search for a new dean of Purdue Agriculture.

Willie Reed will chair the 17-member committee charged with finding a successor to Randy Woodson, the former Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture and now Purdue's provost.

Eight Belles' death points to need for research, veterinarian says

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:14:00 EDT

The euthanization of Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles moments after she crossed the finish line makes a strong case for research that could lead to the prevention of more equine deaths, says a Purdue University expert.

Leg radiographs and other existing tests could not have predicted Eight Belles would break two legs, says Dr. Laurent Couetil, a large animal veterinarian in Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine.

Cougar sightings likely to become more common in urban areas

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:14:00 EDT

A roaming 150-pound cougar shot and killed by police on Chicago's north side last month, while rare, may become a signal of more frequent cougar appearances as populations rebound and the animals seek to expand their range.

Cougars have been migrating eastward over a period of years from the Black Hills and Western states, increasing the likelihood there will be more sightings in urban areas, said Lorraine Corriveau of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Deer finds way onto campus, released back in wild

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:31:00 EDT

A young deer that found its way onto the Purdue University campus early Monday (May 19) and leaped though a window at the Lilly Hall of Life Sciences was safely caught and released back into the wild.

Purdue police officers responded to a call around 8 a.m. and found the deer in an approximately 6-foot-deep window well alongside the building. Officers called the School of Veterinary Medicine for assistance. Thomas Jaskal, a pest/rodent control technician for the Purdue grounds department who also responded, said the deer weighed 90-100 pounds.

Free eye exams available for service dogs at Purdue veterinary hospital

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:26:00 EDT

Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine will offer free eye exams May 12-16 for active working dogs.

The exams will be available at the Small Animal Hospital to service dogs for the blind, assistance dogs for the handicapped, police dogs and specially trained search-and-rescue dogs. Dogs must be active "working dogs" in their service area and certified through a formal training program or organization to qualify for the free exam.

Spring a good time to vaccinate dogs for Lyme disease prevention

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:37:00 EDT

As temperatures warm and dogs spend more time outdoors, it's a good time to think about protecting them from a potentially fatal tick-borne disease, says the director of the Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

"Lyme disease tends to spread during warm-weather months," says Leon Thacker. "Cases are more prevalent in northern Midwest states and in the northeastern United States, but there are cases reported just about everywhere in the country."

Prince Cedza Dlamini, U.N. youth spokesman for Millennium Development Goals, to visit Purdue

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:43:00 EDT

Prince Cedza Dlamini, youth activist and spokesman for the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals effort, will visit Purdue University this week to discuss opportunities for students and faculty to explore service-learning opportunities in Africa this summer and in 2009.

Dlamini, founder of the Ubuntu Institute for Young Social Entrepreneurs, will give a lecture and presentation from 4-6 p.m. Thursday (April 24) in Stewart Center, Room 306. As spokesman for the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals, Dlamini is working with international leaders on an eight-point strategy to eradicate poverty, hunger and disease in Africa within the next two decades.

New vaccine may give long-term defense against deadly bird flu and its variant forms

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:48:00 EDT

A new vaccine under development may provide protection against highly pathogenic bird flu and its evolving forms, according to researchers at Purdue University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who discovered the new preventative drug and have tested it in mice.

Unlike traditional influenza vaccines, the new vaccine could be produced quickly and stored for long periods in preparation for a pandemic of dangerous disease-causing avian influenza - H5N1 - and its variants, said Suresh Mittal, a Purdue virologist. In an earlier study with mice, he and his colleagues found that the vaccine protected against H5N1 for a year or longer. Because the studies have only been done in mice, it's not yet known whether the same results will be obtained in humans.

Coach Martin will return for the Purdue Cancer Center Challenge

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 10:56:00 EDT

Cuonzo Martin, former Purdue associate men's basketball coach and current men's basketball coach at Missouri State University, will return for the Purdue Cancer Center Challenge 5K run/walk and will present an award created in his honor for the event.

The 3.1-mile race is open to the public and will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday (April 12), starting and finishing at Ross-Ade Stadium. The registration fee is $25. All proceeds will benefit the Purdue Cancer Center. More information, including a map of the race route, is available online at http://www.cancer.purdue.edu/Purdue5K/index.html.

'Vet for a Day' theme of 45th annual Purdue Vet School Open House

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 08:37:00 EDT

Children pondering a career in animal care can pretend to be veterinarians Saturday (April 12) during the 45th annual Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine open house.

The theme for the open house is "Vet for a Day."

Purdue joins researchers in India for bionanotechnology, pharmaceuticals symposium

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 09:55:00 EST

Researchers from Purdue University will join colleagues from the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in India next week for a symposium on advancements in bionanotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

"Bionanotechnology and Pharmaceuticals: A Glimpse into the Future" is expected to draw more than 100 researchers and students from across the globe for the conference on March 13-14 in Hyderabad. Lectures, a panel discussion on transforming pharmaceutical manufacturing, and a poster session for students and researchers are planned.

Cat owners should find alternatives to decorating with lilies

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 09:07:00 EST

Because lilies can be toxic to cats, pet owners should substitute the traditional Easter flower with plants such as orchids, Easter lily cactus, daisies or violets, says a Purdue veterinarian.

Lilies known to cause kidney failure in cats include the Easter, tiger, rubrum, Japanese show lilies and the daylily.

Expert: Pet owners can avoid costly medical care through preventive steps

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:22:00 EST

Pet owners can take many smart steps to help manage and avoid costly veterinary bills, says a veterinarian at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine.

"With rising fuel costs, health-care premiums and inflation, many people are looking to save money wherever possible, but the health of your pet is not a place to wait until it gets out of control," says Lorraine Corriveau, wellness veterinarian at Purdue's Small Animal Hospital. "Despite a concern about expensive diets, medications and dental care, preventive wellness care can help prevent costly diseases."

Boiler Vet Camp to give 8th graders hands-on experience

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:08:00 EST

The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine is looking for incoming eighth-grade students to attend Boiler Vet Camp on June 18-21.

Boiler Vet Camp will give attendees the opportunity to experience veterinary school and college life at one of only 28 veterinary schools in the country and the only one in Indiana. Application deadline is March 15.

Combined viruses cause more deadly disease in pigs, researchers discover

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:40:00 EST

A pig virus that exists worldwide has become more dangerous as the virus has mutated and then combined with other pathogens, according to Purdue University researchers.

It's not known why a virus that has been known to infect swine for almost 40 years in North America suddenly started causing disease in young pigs in 1991 and then began mutating into more deadly forms. Evidence from research being conducted at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on the Purdue campus has indicated that the most recent mutation of a group of viruses called "porcine circoviruses" can cause widespread acute disease. Other pathogens can combine with the virus to increase the fatality rate significantly.

Purdue cancer research, Science Bound receive $2.5 million injection from alumni gift

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST

A $2.5 million deferred gift from a Purdue alumnus and his wife will help to arm researchers in the fight against cancer and also support the university's Science Bound program.

A $2 million gift from Peter and Sally Kay of Cincinnati will create an endowed professorship in clinical cancer research. Another $500,000 will support the university's mentorship and scholarships for students in Indianapolis Public Schools.

Purdue's Vet school to join other animal clinics with low-cost cat neuters

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:17:00 EST

In conjunction with National Spay Day USA 2008, veterinarians at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine will join other small animal clinics in the country to offer a limited number of low-cost neuters to male cats from Feb. 14 to March 17.

The "Tom Cat Special" allows cat owners to pay $10 to have their male cats neutered, an operation that normally costs between $40-60. The special service is offered in cooperation with the North Central Indiana Spay and Neuter, which will connect people with participating veterinary clinics near them.

Purdue's Small Animal Teaching Hospital gains cat specialist

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:55:00 EST

A registered specialist in feline medicine has joined Purdue University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, giving cat owners throughout the state more options for ailing pets.

Annette Litster, assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine, offers her cat specialty services in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on Wednesdays and Thursdays. She conducts follow-up care, studies medical problems of her clients and plans future research projects the rest of the week.

Report provides blueprint for cancer prevention research

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:07:00 EST

A scientific report published this month provides a blueprint to revolutionize the future of cancer prevention research.

Until now, most research on how to prevent cancer has provided information about the average person - nothing tailored for the individual.

Center for Human-Animal Bond presents 2008 Lilly lecture series

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:57:00 EST

The 2008 Lilly Lectureship Series, presented by Purdue University's Center for the Human-Animal Bond, will feature a keynote address by psychiatrist Aaron H. Katcher next week at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Alan Beck, professor and director for the Center for the Human-Animal Bond in Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine, will make opening remarks. Katcher, who is professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, will speak about the bond between people and pets and the research behind it. He also will speak at Purdue in September at the School of Veterinary Medicine's annual Fall Conference for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians in West Lafayette.

Preventing cancer a New Year?s resolution to keep in 2008

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:14:00 EST

As another year dawns, there is reason for optimism in fighting cancer before it reaches advanced stages.

Tim Ratliff, director of the Purdue Cancer Center, says the link between prevention and survival is critical in winning battles against the second leading cause of death in the United States.

Purdue veterinarian suggests top 10 holiday gift ideas for pets

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:04:00 EST

As you check gifts off your holiday shopping list, consider the gift of health for your pet, says Lorraine Corriveau, a wellness veterinarian at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine.

Here is her top 10 list of gift ideas for pets:

Purdue veterinarian offers top 10 holiday survival tips for pet owners

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:40:00 EST

The holidays are a time for families and friends, and Lorraine Corriveau, a wellness veterinarian in Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine, cautions people not to forget about their animal friends.

Corriveau offers her top 10 list to help pets and owners make it through the holidays:

Purdue research finds similarities in dog, human breast cancer pre-malignant lesions

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:10:00 EST

Pre-malignant mammary lesions in dogs and humans display many of the same characteristics, a discovery that could lead to better understanding of breast cancer progression and prevention for people and pets, said a Purdue University scientist from the School of Veterinary Medicine.

A group of scientists including Sulma Mohammed have found similarities between benign lesions that are considered to carry risk for developing breast cancer in both canines and humans. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.

Purdue Research Foundation honors faculty inventors, entrepreneurs

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:33:00 EDT

The Purdue Research Foundation on Wednesday (Oct. 10) recognized 29 Purdue University faculty and staff at its annual Inventors' Recognition Dinner in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms.

"This is the fifth year this award has been bestowed, and we are proud to say that each year there is an increasing number of our scholars and researchers who receive a patent for their discoveries," said Joseph B. Hornett, the foundation's senior vice president, treasurer and COO. "Our Office of Technology Commercialization works to help move these inventions into the marketplace and provide services that allow entrepreneurs to keep innovation in Indiana."