FEBRUARY 2012 EDITION
FROM THE DEAN
He weighs not quite 1.5 kg—around three pounds—but he has certainly captured the hearts and minds of many residents of our community. Since early January a snowy owl dubbed “Qigiq,” meaning “white hawk that flies in the sky,” has been at our Wildlife Medical Clinic receiving care for a broken wing.
Qigiq has had two surgeries, five sets of radiographs, blood and wound culture tests, an ophthalmology consult, and numerous rounds of rehabilitation therapy, while consuming hundreds of mice. You can read his medical charts online here: go.illinois.edu/featured_wmc_case
All this may add up to one small contribution to the snowy owl population, yet it has one incalculable impact on the education of the student volunteers. In fact, the Wildlife Medical Clinic engages more than 130 student volunteers and is frequently cited among prospective students as one of the draws of the Illinois program.
You have an opportunity to support this worthwhile program next Saturday, March 3, at its annual Doodle for Wildlife dinner and auction, or any time by making a donation online. I encourage you to find out more below.
CHICAGO CENTER SOON TO OFFER SURGICAL SERVICES
Beginning April 1, the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine will add surgery to the list of specialty referral services available for canine and feline patients. Appointments for oncologic, orthopedic, soft tissue, and other surgeries will be offered at the West Loop location, 2242 West Harrison Street, through an arrangement with board certified surgeons from the Veterinary Specialty Center of Buffalo Grove. The Chicago Center continues to provide oncology, behavior, dentistry, emergency, and internal medicine services. For more information, call 312-226-2588.
DOODLE FOR WILDLIFE REGISTRATION EXTENDED
There's still time to join this year's exhilarating expedition to support local wildlife and the veterinary students who care for them. Join us at 6:30 pm on Saturday, March 3, at the I Hotel & Conference Center, Champaign, Ill., for the 2012 Doodle for Wildlife dinner and auction benefit for the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic.
Want an extra adventure? Come to the VIP pre-dinner reception*, where you'll get to celebrate Wildlife for Life recipient Dr. LeRoy Neitzel, mingle with Brookfield Zoo veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Langan, meet our resident raptors and animals from Miller Park Zoo, and snag a wildlife swag bag.
* Attendance at the VIP pre-dinner reception requires an additional registration fee.
And did you know that the Doodle is a family-friendly event? Register kids for the auction dinner for $15,or both the dinner and VIP reception for $30.
> Preview the auction items, find out more about the Doodle, or register now.
> Listen to the podcast of Wildlife Medical Clinic director Dr. Julia Whittington's recent appearance on WILL's call-in show about the wildlife of central Illinois.
IN THE NEWS
Wildlife Veterinarian Reports on Emerging Infections in Endangered Rattlesnakes
Dr. Matthew Allender, comparative biosciences, reported in the December 2011 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the discovery of several eastern massasauga rattlesnake with debilitating fungal infections. The snakes are eligible for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, and previous studies had not found evidence of this sort of infection. "Fungal pathogens have been increasingly associated with free-ranging epidemics in wildlife, including the well-known effects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on frog populations globally and white-nosed syndrome in bats," notes Dr. Allender. "Both of these diseases cause widespread and ongoing deaths in these populations that seriously threaten biodiversity across the United States."
> Read more in the Feb. 21 News Bureau story
Also seen in: United Press International (Feb. 21) | Scientific American (Feb. 23)
Photo of eastern massasauga rattlesnake courtesy of Dr. Matthew Allender
Mu Chapter Phi Zeta Literary Award Winner Announced
Kudos to the 2012 winners of the Mu Chapter Phi Zeta literary award competition.
Dr. Catherine Metry, (who recently completed her residency in dermatology and is now teaching in the veterinary technology program at Brown Mackie College in Louisville, KY., won in the clinical science category for Determination of enrofloxacin stability and in vitro efficacy against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in four ear clear solutions over a 28 day period. This paper was published in the February 2012 edition of Veterinary Dermatology, and was co-written with Drs.Carol Maddox, Levant Dirikolu, Yvette Johnson, and Karen Campbell.
Dr. Joanna Schmit, oncology resident, on in the basic science category for Cathepsin K Expression and Activity in Canine Osteosarcoma. This paper was published in the January-February 2012 edition of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and was co-written with Drs. Anne Barger, Luke Borst, Laura Garrett, Jackie Wypij, Zach Newmann, Tim Fan, and veterinary technician Holly Pondenis.
PET COLUMNS
- Look Into Your Dog's Goopy Eye
- Heart Murmurs Speak Volumes to Veterinarians
- Pain Management in Pets: An Owner's Guide
WORK AT VET MED
The Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine is seeking a full-time, 100% (12 month basis) open rank (clinical or tenure-track) assistant, associate or full professor in veterinary small animal surgery.
Learn about our residencies and other employment opportunities.
UPCOMING CONTINUING EDUCATION
- Canine and Feline Dental Techniques for Practitioners, May 18-19, 2012, Urbana, Ill. (ONLY 2 spots left!)
- Industrial Toxicology and Pathology Short Course, July 23-27, 2012, Champaign, Ill.
- Canine Oral Surgery Intensive Short Course, August 3-4, 2012, Urbana, Ill.
