Eye infections in horses

horse closeup photo

Eye infections are common in horses and can negatively impact training and quality of life. However, many eye infections can be prevented. Dr. Lucien Vallone, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, provided some insight on preserving your horse’s vision.

“When dealing with eye infections, early intervention is important,” Vallone said. “One way to help preserve your horse’s overall eye health is to report any changes in eye condition to a veterinarian immediately. A healthy eye should not have excessive tearing, squinting, or any ocular opacity that causes the eye to change from its normal coloration.”

Vallone said that some eye infections in horses, such as those of the cornea, can be caused by bacteria and fungi. Other serious eye conditions include tumors of the ocular surface and eyelids, with the most common tumor being squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.

Another common cause of eye infections includes Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU), a disease characterized by eye inflammation. Vallone said the damage from this disease is progressive and can lead to scarring within the eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and even blindness. This disease has no cure, but it can be treated by reducing the amount of inflammation in the eye, as needed.

Many eye infections also can be caused by hazards in the horse’s environment, such as excessive dust, sharp fence posts, or other obstacles. It is important to check your horse’s eyes daily to prevent any infection from worsening.

Without treatment, horse eye infections and diseases could lead to serious conditions, including blindness.

“Our biggest fear of not treating an equine eye condition is that we could miss the opportunity to preserve vision and comfort,” Vallone said. “Early intervention is best and can help lead to a positive outcome.”

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu .

Alumnus Discusses Research, Teaching Opportunities In Africa

Dr. Jim Myers
Dr. Jim Myers

Dr. Jim Myers, a Texas A&M alumnus in the class of 1962 who has spent more than 25 years in Africa, exchanged thoughts and discussed potential opportunities there for Texas A&M faculty, staff, and students during a luncheon on Aug. 24.

The event brought together faculty and staff members from across campus—including those from the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), Global OneHealth, the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, among others—who shared with Myers their experiences in Africa, their study abroad programs, and the research they conduct on the continent.

Texas A&M is working with Myers to develop a new study abroad course for veterinary students in Africa, with an overall goal of increasing interest in traveling there. Texas A&M is No. 1 in the U.S. in the number of students who study abroad and No. 2 among public and private universities.

Myers owns a ranch in the Waterberg district, in the northern part of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, about 50 kilometers from the border of the Republic of Botswana.

Myers discussed with faculty the culture and climate of the region, as well as the needs there that Texas A&M faculty and staff may be able to fulfill through their research and teaching efforts.

Dr. Jim Myers on tour of the Large Animal Hospital
Dr. Jim Myers and his family, with CVM staff and ambassador Priya Bandy, on a tour of the Texas A&M Large Animal Hospital.

Myers moved to South Africa in the 1990s as president of Southwestern Bell (now a part of AT&T) International Development Africa, Ltd., in an effort to develop and expand communications there. Under his leadership, the team acquired MTN South Africa in the early 1990s on behalf of the company; it was later sold. MTN remains one of the largest telecom carriers in Africa.During his visit, Myers and his 14-year-old grandson, Rory, who lives in Fredericksburg, toured the Texas A&M campus and the CVM facilities. Myers said he’s encouraging his grandson to consider attending Texas A&M, to continue the family Aggie tradition.

Myers also led a consortium, which included Malaysia Telecom, that controlled Telkom South Africa for many years.

CVM Honors Four Faculty Members During Retirement Receptions

Dr. Mike Willard
Dr. Mike Willard

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) held two retirement receptions to celebrate the long, distinguished careers of four professors who have said “goodbye” to the university after a combined 144 years of service.

The Small Animal Clinical Sciences department bid a fond farewell on Aug. 5 to professor Mike Willard, who retires after 29 years at Texas A&M and more than 37 years in veterinary medicine.

An Aggie alumnus, clinician, clinical teacher—both on the clinic floor and the classroom—and a clinical researcher, Willard focused on clinical gastroenterology, including pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. His contributions to the field also include providing more than 3,200 hours of invited post-graduate education, not including lectures at other universities, as well as contributing to more than 140 published veterinary textbooks and serving as an associate editor of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine for the past 10 years.

The Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB) celebrated the contributions of Drs. Thomas Craig, George Stoica, and James Womack during a retirement reception at the CVM on Aug. 14.

Craig, a professor of VTPB, worked in the CVM for 42 years. An Aggie alumnus, his scholarly interests included the transmission patterns and the control of diseases caused by parasites, and the pharmaceutical susceptibility of parasites, as well as drug-resistant parasites.

Drs. Thomas Craig, George Stoica, and James Womack
Drs. Thomas Craig, George Stoica, and James Womack

Womack, a distinguished professor of VTPB, worked in the CVM for 40 years, studying comparative mammalian genomics, the evolution of gene families and the genomic variation underlying disease resistance, and the genetic mechanisms in innate immunity.Stoica, a professor of VTPB, worked in the CVM for 33 years, during which time he taught in both Israel and Romania, participated in exchanges of scholars, gave international seminar presentations, and served as a reviewer of international journals. His research interests included the mechanisms of retro viral-induced neurodegeneration, the pathogenesis of brain and bone cancer, chemical carcinogens, and animal models for cancers, among many others.

“In all these years, these professors have made exceptional academic, scientific, and scholarly contributions through their ground-breaking discoveries, solving the grand challenges for which they have received several honors, awards, and accolades,” said Ramesh Vemulapalli, VTPB head.

As importantly, Vemulapalli said, the three have made a tremendous impact on the people around them.

“During their 115 years (of combined service), these professors have touched and transformed the lives of so many students, staff, and other faculty members,” he said. “They have inspired and mentored numerous students. Many of their students have become accomplished scholars, teachers, and leaders in their own right.”

To see more pictures from Dr. Willard’s retirement party, click here, and for more pictures from the retirement reception for Drs. Craig, Stoica, and Womack, click here.

PEER Fellows Bring Veterinary Science to West Texas Youth

Lynanne Graf presents to youth at Midland's Boys & Girls Club.
Lynanne Graf presents to youth at Midland’s Boys & Girls Club.

The College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (CVM) PEER veterinary student fellows recently provided STEM instruction on animal health and welfare to youth in the Midland/Odessa area.

Fellows spoke to seven different groups of campers about what veterinarians do and how to become a veterinarian through the presentation “So You want to be a Vet?”, during which the youth role-played as a veterinarian while applying principles of the scientific method to practice cases.More than 120 elementary and middle school-aged students learned about the science of veterinary medicine, while the PEER fellows enhanced their own adaptability and soft skills necessary to work in the field, during a Midland YMCA camp.

In their role as a veterinarian, YMCA campers had to determine appropriate diagnostics and treatment for a variety of patients based on their signalment and history.

“This is always what captures the student’s interest,” said PEER fellow Lynanne Graf. “It forces them to become involved and use their critical thinking skills.”

The campers also got moving with a fun game of animal freeze tag, which required them to answer reinforcement questions from the presentation, and left with fun posters and resource pamphlets to assist them as they further explore veterinary medicine and science.

“We left the event encouraged by the children’s positive feedback and many heroic stories of their local veterinarians,” said PEER fellow Jessica Haynes.

During their stay in Midland, PEER fellows also worked with 20 elementary-aged boys and girls at the Boy & Girls Club at Taylor Park, where the children learned about the important role veterinarians play in the lives of animals. Veterinary fellows also were able to get a better perspective on how the community viewed animals and their understanding of the human-animal bond.

For professional fulfillment, the PEER fellows visited six veterinary hospitals, where they discussed the benefit of PEER resources to veterinarians, staff, and clients, while also making professional connections and building relationships with the veterinary community of West Texas, which may benefit fellows throughout their careers.“This understanding helps us as veterinarians better relate to and adapt our approach to best interact with the community,” Haynes said.

The successful summer full of educational experiences for all, now coming to an end, were sponsored by the Emma Barnsley Foundation of Midland/Odessa, which funded PEER veterinary fellow training this summer.

Jessica Haynes presenting
Jessica Haynes speaks to campers at Midland’s YMCA.

Other summer activities have included outreach and education, including for fellows, themselves, to youth camps, children’s museums, schools, the Primate Center, rural Texas, veterinary clinics, Sea World, the San Antonio Zoo, and more, working with young people in Girls Scouts, GirlStart, South Texas Medical Academy, TAMU, and Houston PREP students, science and engineering students, and at risk-youth to pursue careers in veterinary science and STEM.

“This summer has given me a new perspective on the different roles veterinarians play within the community and how I can best prepare to fill all of those roles,” Graf said. “We feel more confident than ever in our ability to interact with the community and understand their specific vision of what a veterinarian should be.”

“We also feel motivated to pursue specialties after working with many specialty veterinarians throughout the summer,” Haynes added. “They enlightened us on how worthwhile it is to be able to do only what you really love to do every day.

“Providing outreach and connecting with the veterinary community through the PEER Summer Fellowship was a very rewarding experience.”

Those interested in joining the PEER team should contact Dr. Larry Johnson or visit http://peer.tamu.edu.

Lynanne Graf & Jessica Haynes contributed to this article.

Staff Recognized during Annual Awards Ceremony

2017 CVM Staff Recognition
The 2017 CVM staff recognition awards recipients were honored for their contributions to their departments and the college as a whole.

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) thanked its staff members during the Staff Awards Ceremony on Aug. 18 for the work they do in serving on the front line through customer service, with the faculty, and behind the scenes in a plethora of ways to make the college what it is.

During the annual CVM Staff Awards, 12 employees representing a variety of areas and departments within the CVM were recognized for their outstanding job performances, their dedication, and going the extra step above and beyond what is expected.

“This fabulous building doesn’t make the programs—it certainly makes it better and we love and appreciate it—but people make the programs,” said Dr. Eleanor Green, the Carl B. King dean of Veterinary Medicine. “One of my greatest joys is working with people like you, and one of my greatest regrets is that I don’t get to work with each one of you individually every day.”

The CVM staff recognition awards recipients include:

  • Tina Karkoska, business assistant II for the Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB) department
  • Tasha Miller, research assistant and laboratory management for Dr. Heather Robles-Wilson in the Small Animal Clinical Services (VSCS) Department
  • Belinda Hale, assistant dean for finance in the Dean’s Office
  • Amber Sexton, business coordinator II for the VSCS
  • Jing Wu, technical supervisor for the Clinical Microbiology & Immunology laboratory in the VTPB
  • Jill VanWhy, veterinary technician II for the cardiology service in VSCS
  • Candise McKay, veterinary pharmacy technician I in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH)
  • Norman Ellison, manager of VetMed Park
  • Josh Addison, senior software application developer in the Dean’s Office
  • Misty Skaggs, chief of staff in the Dean’s Office

Wade Friedeck, VMTH radiology lab supervisor, was honored with the W. Terry Stiles Service Award, which recognizes hospital staff who demonstrate outstanding service and support of the VMTH.

Tia Nieuwoudt, VMTH pharmacy director, was honored with the Pearl Enfield Staff Leadership Award, which is presented to a staff member who characterizes the standards of excellence exemplified by the award’s namesake, including leadership, mentorship, professional and development skills, ambition, excellent interpersonal skills, and an assumption of responsibility over and above position requirements.

“The whole purpose today is to recognize the people behind the scenes who are doing all the work; we recognize that none of the things that are successful in this college would be successful without the staff,” said Dr. Karen Cornell, event emcee and associate dean for professional programs. “These awards really acknowledge outstanding performance, accomplishment, and the idea that these recipients characterize commitment to the college—their longstanding commitment in many instances—their commitment to customer service, responsibility, and initiative.”

Dr. Karen Cornell entertains the crowd
Dr. Karen Cornell entertains the crowd as emcee of the awards ceremony.

In addition, staff members were recognized for the duration of their service to the CVM during the Staff Awards Ceremony. Longevity award recipients include:

  • Five Years: Julie Austin, Cynthia Balog-Alvarez, Amanda Bettis, Robin Callahan, Oma Chastka, Dianne Cornett, Alanna Cosgrove, Kristy Dean, Frances Ellison, Robynne Gomez, William Green, Michelle Hervey, David Kessler, Kara Moreno, Meredith Permenter, Abigail J. Rafferty, Gabriela Rivas, Cynthia K. Schocke, Angelia Taylor, Josh Treadway, Patricia Trusselle, Jill VanWhy, Stephanie Wertman, and Bruce Worley
  • 10 Years: Sylvia Aguero, Jimann Jones, David Louis Kindt Jr., Jean Marie Laird, Jennie Lamb, Heidi Murphy, Paula Plummer, Nancy Singletary, Sharkon Wright, and Efrain Zavala
  • 15 Years: Kathleen Darling, Sharon Dickerson, Scottie Flores, Wanda Hoelscher, Wallace Johnson, Dana McMahon, Harold Payne, Gay Perry, Victor Pineda, and Ashley Seabury
  • 20 Years: Amanda Friedeck, Sherri Hermes, Elizabeth Hinton, Linda McCallum, Donna Muzny, Jennifer Pivonka, and Kathie Smith
  • 25 Years: Linda Burton
  • 35 Years: Rosa Gonzalez
  • 40 Years: Noberto Espitia
  • 45 Years: Roberta Pugh

To see more photographs from the Staff Awards Ceremony, visit the CVM Flickr page.

Grad Students Take Oath During Second Annual Ceremony

students in white coats reading the oath at the Graduate Student Oath Ceremony

Master’s and doctoral students in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) reaffirmed their commitment to their work and their promise to uphold the highest professional standards during the second annual Graduate Student Oath Ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 24.

During the event, held at The Stella Hotel in Bryan, students received their white laboratory coat and an engraved magnetic CVM name tag before reciting the graduate student oath as a group.

Developed last year, the oath incorporates the Aggie core values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service with values of professionalism through ethical behavior and scholarship in biomedical research.

Current Master of Science thesis and PhD students who were unable to participate last year also joined in the Graduate Student Oath Ceremony, which included a reception and dinner.

The embroidered laboratory coat symbolizes students’ official entry into training as a laboratory scientist, and the name tag fosters recognition of their unique identity and contributions to the CVM research enterprise.

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For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of CVMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu; 979-862-4216

Game Warden and Veterinarian Couple Save Fawn

fawn being bottle-fed

When we think of veterinarians, we typically see them caring for house pets, such as cats and dogs. However, veterinarians gain experience in treating a variety of animals, including livestock, “pocket pets”—such as gerbils or hamsters—and even wildlife.

Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), explained the important role veterinarians play in animal emergencies by telling the story of Leva, an 8-week-old White-tailed fawn.

“We recently started caring for Leva at the CVM’s Winne Carter Wildlife Center,” Blue-McLendon said. “We call her our ‘miracle baby’ because she survived her mother’s fatal accident thanks to a husband and wife—a game warden and veterinarian respectively.

“The game warden, who was called to assist with the situation, found Leva’s mother with three fractured legs and severe head trauma,” Blue-McLendon continued. “Then he saw legs ascending from the birth canal and realized she was in labor. He knew the fawn was still alive because the legs were moving. With that kind of trauma, it was amazing that she survived.”

For the first six weeks of Leva’s life, she was bottle-fed and cared for by the game warden’s wife, a veterinarian who had recently graduated from Texas A&M’s CVM.

After struggling to find a rehabilitation center that would accept the fawn and help her regain her health so she could be released back into the wild, the couple contacted Blue-McLendon.

“Because of our educational permit, Leva can live here the rest of her life and will be taken care of,” Blue-McLendon said. “She’ll eventually join our herd of White-tailed deer and also interact with students who are interested in caring for wildlife.”

Though Leva was in dire need of veterinary care, Blue-McLendon reminded community members that wildlife, especially fawns, are best left alone unless they are in life-threatening danger or are injured.

“A lot of people find fawns by themselves and think they need to be rescued,” Blue-McLendon explained. “But it’s just the nature of fawns to stay hidden; most of the time, fawns are not abandoned and their mothers come back.”

The Winnie Carter Wildlife Center staff were happy to provide the kind, compassionate care that Leva needed to survive; no matter the species, a veterinarian, and in this case a game warden, can help save an animal’s life.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu .

CVM Welcomes Class of 2021

Dr. Green Welcomes CVM Class of 2021
Dr. Eleanor Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine, welcomes the CVM class of 2021.

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) held its orientation program for the incoming class of 2021 on Aug. 16.

Students were welcomed to participate in three days of scheduled activities and events to help acclimate them to life at the CVM, including meetings with their mentors, introduction to the faculty, and tours around the facility.

The orientation offered mentorship, communication, and professionalism activities. During the introduction to the college, many faculty, students, and administrators welcomed and introduced themselves to the students.

To see more pictures, click here.

Texas A&M Professor Garry Adams Receives AVMA Award

Dr. L. Garry Adams, a senior professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (CVM) Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB), was honored with the American Veterinary Medical Association’s AVMA Award during the annual conference in Indianapolis.

GarryAdams

Adams was recognized on July 22 for his contributions to organized veterinary medicine via collaboration.

“It was an indescribable honor to receive the highest award presented by the AVMA and to be supported by my peers, a pinnacle for my career, although I am far from being finished with my contributions to veterinary medicine and science,” Adams said. “As the immediate past president of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, I am forever in the debt of Dr. Sam Miller and the Texas Veterinary Medical Association for nominating me for the American Veterinary Medical Association 2017 Award.”

This is not Adams’ first recognition by the AVMA; in 2012, he received the AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award.

“Dr. Garry Adams is an extraordinary veterinary scholar who is most deserving of this prestigious AVMA Award,” said Dr. Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “He has been passionate about the veterinary profession and has been tireless in his work over his entire, illustrious career. His impacts span the research laboratory, the classroom, and organized veterinary medicine.

“Although he is ‘retired,’ his pace has not wavered at all,” Green said. “I look forward to watching for all he will continue to contribute.”

Growing up in a small town in the mountains, in a remote part of Texas, Adams always had livestock and companion animals and worked for two local practitioners who encouraged him to attend Texas A&M to become a veterinarian.

At Texas A&M, he earned his veterinary degree in 1964 and his doctorate in veterinary anatomic pathology in 1968, and then joined the faculty.

Working with the Rockefeller Foundation and U.S. Agency for International Development, Adams went to Colombia to develop diagnostics and vaccines for anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and trypanosomiasis. Along the way, he became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

He returned to Texas A&M after five years to teach pathology and continue studying infectious diseases.

Adams’ research has focused on diseases such as brucellosis, tuberculosis, and salmonellosis. In the past decade, researchers have begun to understand the interaction on more of a molecular level.

Adams has been active in the AVMA and other veterinary organizations throughout his career. He has served as a member of the AVMA Council on Research, Council on Education, and Committee on International Veterinary Affairs; on the working group that developed the concept for the AVMA Animal Health Studies Database that launched last summer; and on the organizing committee for the AVMA Global Food Security Summit that was held earlier this year.

He is engaged in the AVMA because of his commitment to the veterinary profession.

Adams has been a member of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s (TVMA) Research Committee for many years. Among other activities in organized veterinary medicine, he served on the board of directors of the American Association of Veterinary Immunologists.

“One of the most accomplished veterinary professionals in the world, Dr. Adams is also one of the nicest, most unassuming individuals I have had the pleasure of meeting during my career in veterinary medicine,” wrote Dr. Sam G. Miller Jr. in nominating Adams for the AVMA Award on behalf of the Texas VMA. “He is truly one of those people who leads by example and whose quiet confidence has helped build and strengthen the reputation of every organization that has had the privilege of his service.”

Adams lives by a “team of teams” collaborative approach to complex issues, saying that he relies on his personal, faith, academic, and professional teams.

To share some of his thoughts on collaboration in research, he published “Putting together a scientific team: collaborative science” in the September 2014 issue of Trends in Microbiology.

Adams encourages his students to stay engaged in the veterinary profession through local, state, and national associations.

“Through organized veterinary medicine, I have formed lifelong networks and continue to find inspiration from interacting with my colleagues,” Adams said.

Mobile veterinarians provide care at home

bigstock-vet-in-discussion-with-horse

Whether you are taking your animal in for their regular check-up or making an emergency visit, being evaluated by a veterinarian is a critical part in your pet’s health. But what if an animal is too sick or injured to be transported to the clinic? Some animals, such as livestock, may even require a trailer for transport. Luckily for pet and livestock owners, mobile veterinarians are there to help.

Leslie Easterwood, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained the important role mobile veterinarians play in animal health.

“The most common reason for an owner to use a mobile veterinarian is so that they do not have to transport their animal to a hospital,” Easterwood said. “There could be a variety of reasons why having the veterinarian come to the farm or home is better, such as situations where there are several animals to be treated or the owner does not have access to a livestock trailer.”

Though mobile veterinarians are available for home-visits, they may also see patients in a clinic. With each day being different than the last, mobile veterinarians are kept on their feet.

“A typical day for a mobile veterinarian may include appointments in the office with a few farm calls and even surgeries,” Easterwood said. “Some days a mobile veterinarian may not leave the office, and other days they may leave early in the morning and not return until after dark.”

Despite these veterinarians’ busy schedules, they are prepared to perform an array of procedures and surgeries for different species. Though some procedures and surgeries are best performed in the hospital setting, most routine work can be performed on the farm as well as in the hospital.

Mobile veterinarians care mostly for large animals, but there are still small animal veterinarians who will make house calls.  Easterwood added that there are also an increasing number of small animal veterinarians who are willing to make house calls for physical therapy and perform an at-home euthanasia.

But before you call a mobile veterinarian, ask about any additional charges, such as travel fees. Otherwise, Easterwood said the costs are generally the same.

No matter the species or condition of health, a mobile veterinarian can provide excellent care in the comfort of your animal’s home.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu .