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College of Veterinary Medicine Advance Newsletter

WSU study aims to prevent adverse drug reactions in dogs

If not identified before surgery, a rare genetic mutation could result in your dog being exposed to dangerously high levels of anesthetic agents. Scientists at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine initially discovered the mutation in greyhounds and more recently in other common dog breeds. » More ...

Where Science Takes You

Kaitlin in a laboratory
When Washington State University doctoral student Kaitlin Witherell was a child, she frequently went to work with her scientist mother. Through her young eyes and vivid imagination, she watched her mother complete complex calculations that filled entire pages, make exotic and colorful solutions, and use alien-like equipment that seemed more magical than practical. » More ...

Cancer Care Gives New Hope

Portrait of team in the WSU veterinary teaching hospital lobby
In the spring of 2019, Karen Kernaghan noticed that her dog’s nose was bleeding. “That was the start of it,” says Karen. She took “Kiki Blu,” a 6-year-old border collie mix, to her local veterinarian Dr. Jefferson Manens of Vancouver, British Columbia. He put Kiki under anesthesia and took a biopsy of tissue in her nose. The results came back benign. Dr. Manens still suspected something was wrong, so he phoned WSU veterinary oncologist Dr. Janean Fidel. Based on his description, Dr. Fidel agreed. He took another biopsy, this time with a special needle. Kiki had cancer. » More ...

WSU’s One Health approach is a two‑for‑one stop for health care in Tanzania

A Maasai woman walking with four children and a dog.
Promoting healthcare strategies that target both human and animal populations at the same time can save money, participant time and result in a two-for-one stop for health care services. That’s according to a new study by scientists at Washington State University’s Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health. » More ...

Message From the Dean: Bryan Slinker Named Interim Provost, Bob Mealey Named Interim Dean

Portrait of Bob Mealey
In our last Advance Newsletter, Dean Bryan Slinker opened with the phrase “change is afoot.” He discussed his upcoming retirement and reflected on all the positive changes and accomplishments over the last 11 years under his outstanding leadership. Well, change is still afoot. Bryan’s plans changed on September 30 when President Schulz asked him to step in as WSU’s interim provost. » More ...

The Longest Donors: Giving Back for 45 Years

In 1966 when Norm Rantanen (’67 DVM, ’71 M.S.) was in his third year of veterinary school, he signed up for the early commissioning program with the U.S. Air Force. When the time came for him and his wife Marlene to be stationed for his first assignment with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at the Walter Reed Army post in Washington, D.C., the young couple found they needed a little financial help to make the move. They applied for the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine student loan fund and received $300. “It meant a lot to us at the time to get that money,” says Marlene. “We paid it back at $10 a month and just never quit.” » More ...

WSU pilot study to address antibiotic resistance in children

In the lab looking at a sample.
Nearly 1,000 stool samples from halfway around the world may show how to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance in developing countries. Researchers at Washington State University’s Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health will analyze the samples from Bangladesh for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes. » More ...

Helping Future Veterinary Students: The Class of 2019 Gives Back

Student are performing a simulated surgery.
When the WSU’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class of 2019 was thinking about how they wanted to give back, the choice seemed obvious: The Clinical Simulation Center . “Our class wanted to support such a great program that we are lucky to have at our school,” says 2019 class president, Lida Gehlen. “The simulation center is a great resource that taught us new skills and helped us hone skills that we are now using in our careers.” » More ...