Caring for Kitties
and dogs, and pigs, and horses, and ...
By Kate Liebers |
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The Ohio State Veterinary Hospital is more than a clinic. A conglomeration of departments for education and research, as well as services, this hospital is an epic think tank of animal experts with specializations ranging from dermatology to neurology to oncology to "just about every other 'ology,'" said Melissa Weber, the Director of Communications and Marketing at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Weber said due to the clinic's specializations, many of the 30,000 animal visits to OSU each year are based on referrals. Patients come from all over the country to take advantage of a 24/7 facility with about 300 staff members, said Kristine McComis, Assistant Director at the OSU Veterinary Hospital.
Although the waiting room was bounding with dogs and their owners, the facility tends to animals from companion and pocket pets to livestock and horses. Alpacas recovered from their treatment in the large animal care facility, while staff pushed a gurney supporting an anesthetized horse.
Some of the recent developments at the OSU Vet Hospital reflect a trend in animal care that once was exclusively for humans.
Take, for example, the rehabilitation center in the hospital basement, where animals recover after having neurosurgery.
The surgery team at the Ohio State Veterinary Hospital
Photo: Christopher Atwood
A treadmill in a water-filled tank provides a near-weightless environment for dogs to regain muscle and mental abilities. Obese pets may use this same space to lose extra puppy pounds.
The hospital has also made significant developments in cancer treatments.
"There's always something new going on with oncology," said McComis, noting that the clinic's laser surgery options had expanded, as well as new ways to offer chemotherapy.
New and Intriguing Fields
One of OSU's most recently minted veterinarians is Meghan Herron, who practices behavior medicine. The closest thing around to a pet psychologist, Herron analyzes the wellbeing of troubled pets and rectifying the situation by not only treating the animal, but also retraining the owners.
Herron said her patients mostly consist of dogs and cats with aggression, separation anxiety, or cognitive dysfunctions (aka "doggie amnesia").
A full staff of pharmacologists is also available at the clinic to distribute any behavior modification drugs that Herron prescribes.
Herron's page on the OSU Vet College website provides questionnaires more extensive, in fact, than one reporter's own experience at a psychologist specializing in humans.
Between taking living beef to the hospital and a subjecting a cat to a behavior specialist, the unconditional love of animals is clearly considered to be rewarding, and worth the cash.
"People are investing more money in their animals as they become more like family," said McComis. "Instead of having children, some people have pets, and they're more willing to invest thousands of dollars to keep them alive and healthy - even if that means extending their lives only six more months."
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Originally Published: September 1, 2009
