MU Veterinary Small Animal Surgery

09/07/2022

https://mailmissouri-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/siddensa_umsystem_edu/Ea_kl-OIXFJCgonL0iOesr8Bo3OZ9SgJy0dgE56ysweWVA?e=sv5PWh

MU VHC is hosting its 2nd Annual CE event - Oct 8th, 2022. See the attached link for details. Look forward to seeing you all there!

07/18/2022

Our team is growing! Our Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation department is brand new and looking for a Veterinary Technician. If you or anyone you know is interested please reach out or apply at the link included and mention you re interested in the Rehabilitation department.
https://vhc.missouri.edu/vhc-to-introduce-new-sports.../
http://vhc.missouri.edu/employment/explore-our-technician-opportunities/

The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine is preparing to launch a new clinical service at the Veterinary Health Center.

05/07/2021

A big shout out to these two rockstar surgeons. Dr. John Winston and Dr. Ashton Story have passed phase 1 of the ACVS examination.

We are all very proud of them for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations!!!

04/06/2021

Please help us congratulate the newest Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons from our MU surgery family! Dr. Kim Aeschlimann has worked diligently to achieve this distinction that few accomplish in their career. We are so proud of her!

Did you know:
✔️ There are only 2,267 board certified ACVS surgeons in the world
✔️ It takes about 8-10 years to become a veterinarian, and an additional 4-6 years to become a veterinary surgeon
✔️ During the residency there are specific training and caseload requirements that must be met. In addition to these requirements, applicants must perform research that is published in a scientific journal and then pass a rigorous examination.

Congratulations, Dr. Aeschlimann!

03/16/2021

Moe is a 2-year-old Nigerian Dwarf Goat who was brought to the Food Animal Service at the Veterinary Health Center for straining to urinate and blood in the urine in January, 2021. Radiographs and ultrasound of Moe’s abdomen revealed a possible stone lodged in Moe’s left ureter, blocking urine from passing into his bladder and causing a dilation of the left kidney called hydronephrosis. Additionally, Moe had a stone lodged in his urethra. To further characterize the problem, a CT scan was performed of Moe’s abdomen. The CT helped to determine that there truly was an obstruction of the left ureter just before it entered into the bladder but it was unclear if it was caused by a stone or due to a stricture, a narrowing of the ureter due to trauma.

The Food Animal clinicians, faculty Dr. John Middleton and resident, Dr. Kelsey Walker, consulted with Equine Surgery faculty Dr. Megan McCracken, and Small Animal Surgery faculty Dr. Jill Luther to determine the best course of treatment to take for Moe. Ultimately, an exploratory surgery was performed to determine if the kidney could be saved by re-implanting the ureter into the bladder or by placing a ureteral stent, or if a left nephrectomy (kidney and ureter removal) would be required. Drs. Luther and McCracken performed the surgery and Moe underwent a nephrectomy. He recovered under the post-operative care of Drs. Walker and Middleton.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our Equine, Food Animal, Small Animal Surgery clinicians, as well as those on our Radiology and Anesthesia Services, Moe is doing very well at home on his farm with his small herd of 3 other goats 6 weeks after surgery. Way to go team!

01/21/2021

Drs. Skinner and Latifi from our MU Veterinary Surgical Oncology team help Brady fight cancer and return to his family.

Campus | Community Impact | Teaching and Learning Veterinary medicine team gives service dog a second chance Mizzou veterinarians help Brady the golden retriever beat cancer and get back to his family.   From back left: Employees Max Latifi and Owen Skinner, and the Fiorelli family photographed wit...

06/18/2020

Congratulations to Dr. Alicia Nye on a stellar abstract presentation at the Society of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery meeting!

Cheers to Dr. Nye and her mentor, Dr. Jill Luther, on an impactful paper entitled:

Retrospective multicentric study comparing durations of surgery and anesthesia and likelihoods of short- and long-term complications between cats positioned in sternal or dorsal recumbency for perineal urethrostomy

06/03/2020

A huge congratulations to these award recipients! These recent graduates have shown exemplary dedication and ability in the area of Small Animal Surgery!

Wishing you all the best from the surgical faculty, house officers, and technicians!

Dr. Shevaun Johnson - MU Small Animal Surgery Award
Dr. Claire Vani - Lucy B David Surgery Award
Dr. Haley Foster - American College of Veterinary Surgeons Award
Dr. Matt Iuliani - Nestle Purina Orthopedic Nutrition Award

03/16/2020

COVID-19 Updates; Postponement of non-elective procedures.

In order to protect the safety of our clientele and staff, and to conserve limited medical supplies and ensure the Small Animal Surgery Service can remain functional for emergency procedures, we will be temporarily postponing all non-essential and elective surgical procedures. This policy change is at the behest of our College of Veterinary Medicine's COVID Task Force and is in concert with recommendations made by the AVMA last evening, March 15, 2020.

We will be reaching out to all of our clients with scheduled appointments to discuss your pet's condition and appointment with you personally.

We understand the challenges this brings to you and your pet. We remain committed to making decisions that are in your and your pet's best interests while prioritizing our mission to remain open for those animals whose needs are most critical.

Thank you for your understanding, and please let us know if you have any questions.

Derek B. Fox, DVM, PhD, DACVS
Professor, Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery
Chief, Small Animal Surgery

03/13/2020

Emerging Policies regarding COVID-19 and the MU Small Animal Surgery Service:

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, and our desire to ensure consistent care to those pets in the most critical need of medical attention, our clients' safety and that of our hospital staff, we’re calling all clients with future appointments. The intention is to gather additional information and to update them on emerging policies at the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center that are based on new MVMA guidelines published on March 12. Specifically, we are asking clients the following:

• Have you or your family members currently, or within the past 14 days, exhibited flu-like symptoms including fatigue, aches, fever or cough?
• Have you traveled outside the United States or to a zone within the US that is heavily impacted by COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
• Have you tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19?

If clients answer 'yes' to any of these questions, and the condition of their animal is not urgent or critical, we will be rescheduling their appointment for a later, and as of yet, undetermined date. If the pet's needs are urgent and critical, then we are asking those clients to find a non-ill, or non-at-risk individual to bring their pet in. If they cannot, we will be taking specific precautions when those clients arrive.

Further, when clients do arrive, there are new and different policies within the hospital that are consistent with the social distancing guidelines provided by the CDC.

We appreciate everyone's understanding in these challenging times and apologize for this inconvenience, but are committed to providing a safe environment for all clients, pets and hospital staff so that we can continue to care for the most critical pets in need.

Please share and distribute this message widely to help alert all of these changes. Further, any additional changes in policy that may arise as this situation evolves will be posted here.

Thank you.

Derek B. Fox, DVM, PhD, DACVS
Professor, Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery
Chief, Small Animal Surgery
Veterinary Health Center
University of Missouri

03/09/2020

Please help us congratulate our newest board certified small animal surgeon!

Dr. Lauren Reeves completed all of the requirements to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. We are so proud of you, Dr. Reeves!

02/28/2020

One of our very own is featured in the CVM’s Faculty Friday!

Faculty Friday!
Meet Jill Luther, DVM, MS, assistant teaching professor of small animal surgery in the Veterinary Health Center. On Feb. 22, Truman State University held its this annual Women’s Leadership Conference in Kirksville, Missouri. Luther was invited to speak on the panel in the area of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). Other panel topics included Government and Community Development.

She said she was honored to speak on such topics as the greatest inspirations for the work as well as gender issues she has faced in the male-dominated discipline of surgery.

“I was in excellent company at the conference, both with the other panel members and also the high-caliber students who attended,” stated Luther. She discussed her personal experiences, and she also reported on the state of the gender differences in veterinary medicine. “The student population in veterinary schools is now over 80% female. In 2012 28% of veterinary school administrators were female, but in 2017 42% of administrators were female. Gender equity still has a long way to go, but it is improving.”

Luther says that what inspires her to stay in academia are the students and her quest for mental well-being in the profession. “Surgery was definitely my first love. But seeing how important wellness is to combat the mental health crisis in our profession keeps me motivated to keep forging ahead. No problem can be solved without open conversation and an honest interest in fixing the root of the issues rather than avoiding them.”

“Our students are not just our future leaders, but in so many ways they are already driving change at a much greater rate than previous generations. It was fantastic to get to network with students at another university and see what kinds of change they are driving.”