Small Animal
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Laura Vega joins the veterinary college as a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine and critical care , articleLaura Vega has joined the veterinary college as a new faculty in emergency medicine and critical care, increasing the number of criticalist specialists in the emergency room and ICU and expanding the emergency capability of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Date: Nov 27, 2023 -
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After backyard snakebite, 12-year-old dog Rusty goes from swollen to smiling with care from Veterinary Teaching Hospital , articleRusty, a 12-year-old miniature American shepherd, recently faced a life-threatening encounter in his own backyard. A suspected copperhead bite left him in a critical state, but thanks to prompt and specialized care from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Rusty's story is one of resilience and recovery.
Date: Nov 21, 2023 -
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From paralysis to championships: Veterinary college supports Belle's agility comeback , articleIn a tale of resilience and collaborative care, Belle, a 4-year-old Australian shepherd, made an uplifting return to her beloved dog agility competitions after a harrowing bout of paralysis.
Date: Nov 16, 2023 -
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Golden retriever's life changed by state-of-the-art veterinary procedure , articleWillow, a golden retriever with ectopic ureters was treated at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Willow underwent a minimally invasive procedure using fluoroscopy and interventional radiology. This advanced technique corrected Willow's ureter placement, leading to a quick recovery and significantly improved quality of life.
Date: Nov 13, 2023 -
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Caring for Your Senior Pet , articleAs pet owners, we all want our furry companions to have long and happy lives, but as dogs and cats age, their needs change. Let’s look at some common health problems your pet may face in their old age.
Date: Nov 06, 2023 -
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Collaborating with veterinary surgeons in Japan to perform “mini hips” , articleOtto Lanz, professor of small animal surgery at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, recently spent six months in Japan to collaborate with veterinarians on mini total hip replacements.
Date: Nov 06, 2023 -
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Hanna Wachtel joins emergency department at Veterinary Teaching Hospital , articleWachtel recently joined the faculty of the veterinary college as a clinical instructor of emergency medicine. Wachtel will be working with third- and fourth-year veterinary students and seeing emergency cases at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Date: Nov 02, 2023 -
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For Bambi, the border collie, oral cancer clinical trial offers hope , articleBambi is enrolled in a clinical trial at the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center (ACCRC) in Roanoke. In the clinical trial, veterinary radiation oncologist Ilektra Athanasiadi aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of treating oral cancers with a device that delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor.
Date: Oct 24, 2023 -
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Staff Spotlight: Kris Wagher , articleKris Wagher is an Internal Medicine Licensed Veterinary Technician at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Kris finds the best part of her work to be the continuous learning and the supportive "work family" of clinicians.
Date: Oct 17, 2023 -
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Giving a Second Chance: The Importance of Adopting from an Animal Shelter , articleBy choosing to adopt from an animal shelter, you give a second chance to a deserving pet and contribute to the welfare of animals in need. But it's not only the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from giving a home to an animal in need. The happiness and bond between a shelter pet and its adopter is truly special.
Date: Oct 09, 2023 -
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Jada the Siamese cat saved by challenging brain surgery at Veterinary Teaching Hospital , articleThanks to a four-hour double operation, including complex brain surgery, Jada, a 3-year-old Siamese cat, is beginning to return to her old self.
Date: Oct 03, 2023 -
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Micha C. Simons joins veterinary college, bringing educational, surgical expertise , articleThe veterinary college welcomes Micha C. Simons, associate professor of small animal surgery, in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. With her practice limited to small animal soft tissue surgery, Simons covers everything from gastrointestinal surgeries to diagnostic biopsies to hernia repairs. In addition to performing surgery, Simons is excited to work with veterinary students.
Date: Sep 18, 2023 -
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Carvallo empowers Latin American veterinarians through pathology education in Guatemala and Nicaragua , articlePersonally, and professionally, Francisco Carvallo is deeply invested in spreading veterinary knowledge across Latin America. Carvallo is a native of Chile, president of the Latin Comparative Pathology Group, and vice president for Latin America with the Davis-Thompson Foundation, a 50-year-old organization dedicated to the advancement of veterinary and comparative pathology education worldwide.
Date: Sep 14, 2023 -
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Veterinary college wins AKC theriogenology grant , articleThanks to a $125,000 grant from the American Kennel Club, the AKC Canine Health Foundation, and the Theriogenology Foundation, the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is welcoming a new theriogenology resident, Gabriela Carneiro de Sousa.
Date: Sep 12, 2023 -
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Preparing Your Pet for a Disaster: Essential Tips from Veterinary Experts , articleDisasters can strike unexpectedly, leaving families and their beloved pets vulnerable and needing immediate assistance. Taking proactive measures to safeguard your pet's well-being by following a few simple steps can ensure their safety and increase the chances of a swift reunion in case of separation.
Date: Sep 06, 2023 -
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More powerful MRI enhances diagnostic, research capabilities at Veterinary Teaching Hospital , articleA new Siemens 3-tesla MRI scanner is being installed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, set to go online for full diagnostic use this month.
Date: Sep 05, 2023 -
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Margie Lee honored with national poultry research award , articleMargie Lee ’82 DVM ‘86, associate dean for research and graduate studies at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Phibro Animal Health Excellence in Poultry Research Award.
Date: Aug 10, 2023 -
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Faculty Spotlight: Rachael Carpenter , articleRachael Carpenter, Clinical Instructor
Date: Aug 09, 2023 -
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Pets Can Save Lives Too: Veterinary Teaching Hospital Blood Bank Seeks New Donors , articleAmidst the beeping monitors and busy footsteps of the bustling Veterinary Teaching Hospital, an extraordinary lifeline exists -- a blood bank, where like their human counterparts, dogs and cats regularly donate blood to support their fellow pets in the community.
Date: Aug 08, 2023 -
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The importance of vaccinating your pet , articleIt is often said that prevention is the best medicine — and that’s especially true for pet vaccinations. No pet owner wants to see a furry friend get sick, and as an added bonus, vaccinations are far less expensive than treating a disease.
Date: Aug 01, 2023 -
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In battle against pancreatic cancer, grant-funded H-FIRE study offers hope , articleThe National Institutes of Health has awarded $2.6 million to a Virginia Tech team over five years for a study of High Frequency Irreversible Electroporation (H-FIRE) for tumor ablation and immune system activation in cases of pancreatic cancer.
Date: Jul 27, 2023 -
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Unleashing Paw-some Shots: Mastering Pet Photography , articlePets hold a special place in our hearts – capturing their adorable antics and unique personalities through photography has become a popular and cherished pastime and even a profession. However, photographing our animal companions can be quite challenging due to their unpredictable antics. Here are some tips to help you get great photos of your furry, feathery, and even scaly friend from our college communications manager and photographer, Margie Christianson.
Date: Jul 06, 2023 -
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Helen the Cane Corso helps humans and animals through osteosarcoma clinical trial , articleHelen is an 8½-year old gentle giant who’s fighting osteosarcoma and, through participation in a clinical trial through the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center (ACCRC), is helping develop a new cancer treatment.
Date: Jun 29, 2023 -
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Small Animal Community Practice re-energized in its commitment to clients and students , articleSmall Animal Community Practice – CPRAC, commonly pronounced “SEE-prak” – is a clinic within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine that accepts pets from a 35-mile radius of Blacksburg.
Date: Jun 27, 2023 -
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Eye tissue from one dog used to save another dog’s eye at Virginia Tech veterinary hospital , articleClinicians with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech used corneal tissue from an eyeball lost by a dog brought into the hospital’s emergency room hours earlier, with consent from the owner, to replace that taken during a surgery to remove cancer from the eyeball of another dog.
Date: Jun 21, 2023 -
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Board of Visitors recognizes college faculty , articleMany congratulations to veterinary college faculty recognized by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors at the June 6 meeting.
Date: Jun 08, 2023 -
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5 Things You Need to Know About Microchipping Your Pet , articleMillions of pets in the United States have microchips so they can be returned to their homes if they become lost. A collar and tag with your phone number may be the easiest way for you to be reunited with your pet, but collars can slip off — and a microchip can’t.
Date: Jun 08, 2023 -
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Celebrating Excellence: Veterinary College Faculty Recognized for Exceptional Contributions and Impact , articleThe Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) hosted an awards reception honoring faculty members who have shown exceptional abilities in outreach, teaching, innovation, and advancing veterinary medicine.
Date: Jun 02, 2023 -
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Kayla Fowler Wins Bente Flatland Resident Award , articleKayla Fowler, resident in neurology/neurosurgery at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, has won the Bente Flatland Resident Award.
Date: May 15, 2023 -
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5 Fun Ways to Celebrate National Pet Month , articleDid you know that May is National Pet Month? The VMCVM is full of pet lovers (duh!), so we’re giving you five fun ideas to celebrate the pets in your life.
Date: May 01, 2023 -
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Team Tootsie: Veterinary hospital and owners help poodle walk again , articleTootsie, began to trip and fall in early 2023. Her owner, Mary Jane Barrett of Roanoke, described it as a “belly flop” as Tootsie’s legs stopped working. Tootsie’s primary veterinarian determined that Tootsie’s problem was neurological and referred her to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. By the time Tootsie arrived at her appointment at the VTH the very next day, she was unable to stand up and had to be wheeled in on a gurney.
Date: Apr 28, 2023 -
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Martha Larson honored with emerita status , articleMartha Larson, professor of radiology in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emerita by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
Date: Apr 25, 2023 -
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What Pet Owners Need to Know About Heartworm , articleHeartworm infection is a serious disease that can be fatal if left untreated. It is caused by worms that normally live in animals' heart, lungs, and blood vessels but can migrate to other tissues and organs, including the brain, kidneys, and eyes. These worms grow up to a foot long and can cause organ damage, heart failure, and lung disease. Cats and dogs can both get heartworm, though the disease looks different in the two species.
Date: Apr 12, 2023 -
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Spay clinics give veterinary students early surgery experience, help pet owners at no charge , articleSecond-year students in the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine are being afforded that rite-of-passage opportunity this semester, all while helping regional pet owners receive free treatment and vaccinations for their dogs and cats.
Date: Mar 30, 2023 -
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From big cats to Blacksburg: Li-Jen Chang joins veterinary college , articleLi-Jen Chang recently joined the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as a clinical assistant professor of veterinary anesthesia and pain management. In this position, Chang will spend most of his time working at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, one of the college’s three hospitals.
Date: Mar 27, 2023 -
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Mona Lisa keeps making smiles thanks to cancer treatment, Petco Love funds , articleWhen adopting a cat, some people pick out their new feline friend from pictures online. For Gary and Rebecca Davis, Mona Lisa—Mony for short—was different.
Date: Mar 22, 2023 -
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New clinician Songster-Alpin embraces teaching, spectrum of care , articleMary Songster-Alpin recently joined the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as a clinical assistant professor at the Small Animal Community Practice. The Small Animal Community Practice (CPRAC) is part of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, one of the college’s three animal hospitals. The Community Practice provides preventative care to small animals within a 35-mile radius of Blacksburg.
Date: Mar 09, 2023 -
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5 Poison Prevention Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe , articlePoisoning is a leading cause of injury and death in companion animals in the USA. It's essential to stay informed about the most common causes of poisoning and to take steps to prevent it. By being vigilant and taking steps to protect your pet from toxic substances, you can help keep them safe and healthy.
Date: Mar 01, 2023 -
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Faculty Spotlight: Bobbi Conner , articleBobbi Conner, DVM, DACVECC Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
Date: Feb 17, 2023 -
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Veterinary alumna Rebecca Persons joins college as clinical instructor , articleRebecca Persons has joined the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as a clinical instructor at the Small Animal Community Practice. The Small Animal Community Practice is part of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, one of the college’s three animal hospitals. The Community Practice provides preventative care to small animals within a 35-mile radius of Blacksburg.
Date: Feb 10, 2023 -
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How Dental Care Keeps Your Pet Healthy and Happy , articlePets are beloved members of many families, so it's important to ensure that they receive the proper care in order to keep them healthy and happy. One aspect of pet care that is often overlooked is oral health. It’s been estimated that a whopping 85% of cats over the age of three suffer from dental disease!
Date: Feb 08, 2023 -
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Veterinary college employs spectrum of care to improve 11-year-old dog's life after leg injury , articleWhen Sophie the Newfoundland/golden retriever mix suddenly could not stand on her hind end, owner Angela McCoy Williams of Giles, Va. took Sophie to the emergency services at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH). It was found that Sophie tore her cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in her rear right leg.
Date: Feb 02, 2023 -
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Trained in human medicine, four times bereaved by cancer, MaLora Bush finds purpose in treating pets , articleFor four close family members who died of cancer, for her three furry “babies” at home, MaLora Bush has found more than just a job she loves, but a life’s mission.
Date: Jan 30, 2023 -
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Faculty Spotlight: Brittany Ciepluch , articleBrittany Ciepluch, DVM, MS, DACVS–Small Animal Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgical Oncology
Date: Jan 25, 2023 -
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"5 Tips for Successful Dog Training" , articleTraining your dog is an essential part of being a responsible pet owner. It helps to establish boundaries, build trust, and create a positive relationship between you and your furry friend.
Date: Jan 19, 2023 -
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Former police dog Thor swallows hard for holidays, receives compassionate, life-saving care at Veterinary Teaching Hospital , articleIt’s much easier to get a cloth elf and a plush teddy bear chew toy into a dog than to get them out. But out they came, thanks to the combined efforts of more than 20 personnel at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, within the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, just before the holiday break. Thor’s care was financed by compassionate care donations through Paws of Honor and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Working & Service Dog support fund.
Date: Jan 10, 2023 -
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New animal behavior course helps students discern what dogs tell us without words , articleBuechner-Maxwell, a professor and specialist in large animal internal medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and also certified in shelter medicine, and Erica Feuerbacher, associate professor of animal science and welfare in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), together coordinate the new Companion Animal Behavior and Socialization course.
Date: Oct 26, 2022 -
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Veterinary college students help provide safe, affordable spay/neuter services to help end pet overpopulation in Southwest Virginia , articleThere is an intense focus, but also cheerfulness, amid the whir and hum in the operating room at the back of Mountain View Humane Spay/Neuter Clinic in Christiansburg, Virginia. Dogs and cats have been brought by clients, by shelters, and by the regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, performed by Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine students under the supervision of faculty.
Date: Oct 12, 2022 -
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The “Canine Instructors” Class of ‘22 , articleJust as the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) class of 2026 this Fall, it also welcomed its new participants in the Animal Care for Education (ACE) program. From August to mid-October, the veterinary college fosters dogs that come from local shelters.
Date: Oct 06, 2022 -
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Veterinary alumna returns as faculty to work with students, shelter dogs , articleErin Phoenix (B.S ‘11, DVM ’17) recently joined the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as a veterinary instructor with the Animal Care for Education team in the small animal clinical sciences department.
Date: Aug 29, 2022 -
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Cancer treatment and Petco Love funds change elderly dog’s life , articlePetco Love’s support of the Virginia Tech Animal Cancer Care and Research Center (ACCRC) in Roanoke has allowed patients to access cancer therapies and treatments, resulting in enhanced lives and more treatment options.
Date: Nov 21, 2021 -
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Physical rehabilitation enhances pets' quality of life , articleWhen Saint, a retired service dog from Saint Francis Service Dogs of Roanoke, Virginia, began experiencing mobility issues and hind limb weakness, his new owner, Krista Sinnott, was referred to VA-MD Vet Med for physical rehabilitation to improve the 11-year-old’s quality of life.
Date: Feb 15, 2020 -
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Saving Yoda , articleJustin Ganjei (DVM ’11), a staff surgeon at Veterinary Surgical Centers in northern Virginia, returned to Blacksburg to work with Veterinary Teaching Hospital internist David Grant and surgeon Sabrina “Bini” Barry to collaborate on a fluoroscopy-guided surgical treatment to save an internal medicine resident's cat, Yoda.
Date: Oct 01, 2019 -
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Feline weight-loss study , articleBecause implementing weight-loss plans for pets can be challenging, Megan Shepherd, assistant professor of clinical nutrition; Lauren Dodd, clinical nutrition resident; and sponsor Purina set out to discover how owners’ perceptions of their cat’s quality of life were influenced by adding food toys to the cats’ weight-loss regimen.
Date: Apr 06, 2019