A roaring success: LSU Vet School celebrates its 30th annual open house

Only 28 communities in the United States are lucky enough to have accredited veterinary schools. Beyond educating Fluffy and Fideaux’s future physicians, these academic centers give local pet owners access to state-of-the-art diagnostics, subspecialists, cutting-edge treatment and rehabilitation procedures and even the opportunity to participate in clinical trials.

In fact, nearly any medical service Baton Rougeans expect to find at a local hospital for their own care, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine provides for pets—from pot bellied pigs and parrots to dogs and cats.

And, while its Skip Bertman Drive lawn is a haven for hundreds of Tiger Stadium and Alex Box tailgaters, only faculty, students and clinic clients typically have access to the area beyond the lobby. However, once a year, the school invites the entire city to meet its experts and explore the latest developments in animal health care, rescue, therapy, welfare and research.

On February 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the LSU Vet School Open House offers a self-guided tour through the gross anatomy lab, equine treadmill, canine underwater therapy, cancer treatment center, intensive care units, surgery and radiology suites.

This year’s theme is Veterinary Medicine… So Much More. The exhibition displays illustrate the varied roles of veterinarians. While many visitors appreciate vets as health providers for companion animals, DVMs (doctors of veterinary medicine) also develop public policy; inspect and protect the country’s food supply; identify and prevent communicable diseases; instigate research that impacts animals and humans; and perform in an array of military duties.

Since the open house attracts future vet school hopefuls, biology classes, Boy and Girl Scout troops as well as young families, diversity has been the key to the event’s roaring success.

The corridors are lined with rescue representatives, students and faculty, eager to engage in conversation about animal-related issues, services and resources available to local owners.

Besides being fun, educational and free, Open House exposes animal lovers to the work of 80 exhibitors, a tremendous variety of domestic and exotic species, breeds and live animals they are unlikely to see elsewhere—such as Hildy the fistulated cow, who has a portal in her side so vet students can observe the digestion process.

Besides Hildy and an appearance by Mike the Tiger, the biggest draws are usually the adoptable pets brought by breed rescues, the farm animal petting zoo and the endoscopy fishing station that allows visitors to manipulate a real medical instrument to retrieve an object from a stuffed animal. Children may also bring their own injured stuffed animals to be “sutured” by vet students at the Teddy Bear Clinic.

In addition to animal encounters with rescued rabbits, rehabilitated raptors and all creatures great and small, the event includes special presentations including the parade of dog breeds and equine treadmill.

New this year are demonstrations that highlight the skills of agility and working dogs. The school also features information and presentations about its new integrative medicine program that incorporates holistic practices such as acupuncture, massage therapy and natural diets among others. And, professionals who work with the Shelter Medicine program will provide a glimpse into PenPals, an adoption and sheltering programs based at the Dixon Correctional Center.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.vetmed.lsu.edu.

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