2023 Wet Lab Descriptions
• Avian Handling & Sampling: Dr. Jill Heatley
Refine your avian handling skills or practice handling a cockatiel for the first time in this live animal lab. Participants will be performing physical exams, blood draws, fluid administration, and more. They will then practice diagnostic techniques and learn to prepare blood smears and perform fecal cytology. This lab is capped at 20 people and is $20.
• Ratite Handling and Medicine: Dr. Blue
Dr. Blue will be giving a lecture followed by a live animal component: a demonstration of placing a hood for restraint on an ostrich, putting an ostrich in the stall, a demonstration of venipuncture, practicing an oral exam, and practicing cardiac auscultation. Potential demonstrations on emu and rhea. This lab is capped at 20 people and is $20.
• Avian Orthopedic Surgery: Drs. Fronefield and Roset
Dr. Fronefield and Dr. Roset (both from Animal and Bird Clinic in Sugar Land, TX) will be teaching us the basics of avian orthopedic surgery. Fractures and joint injuries are common issues that a veterinarian working with birds will have to face. Students will be shown common procedures and then will have the opportunity to practice on their own cadaver. Thanks to a donation from IMEX, students will have the opportunity to practice with pins, drills, Acrylx, handchucks, and more! This lab is capped at 25 people and is $30.
• Ferret Ultrasound: Dr. Kimberly Doll
Ultrasonography is an important skill to have especially in small mammals, especially Ferrets, who can get lymphoma, adrenal disease, and insulinomas very commonly. This lab will teach Ferret handling and restraint along with ultrasonography techniques to help the clinician image these animals. This lab is open to everyone and is capped at 10 participants. This lab is capped at 10 people and costs $20.
• Small Mammal Dentistry: Dr. Todd Riggan & Dr. Fronefield
Due to the hypsodont dentition of our small mammal companions, dental disease is a common ailment of Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas, and Rabbits, leading to oral discomfort and GI issues. Working with these little critters requires a radically different approach than the dentals of dogs and cats. In this lab, students will perform a dental exam on a small mammal cadaver and learn the common dental procedures performed in these tiny mouths. This lab is capped at 20 people and costs $20. This lab will have 10 spots reserved for Dental Club members. Priority will be given to 2VM and 3VMs.
• Guinea Pig Ovariohysterectomy: Dr. Jillian Villalva
Spaying guinea pigs can have a variety of health benefits such as preventing ovarian cysts and subsequent neoplasia to preventing pregnancies in a multi-individual housing setting. Performing spay procedures in small mammals can be difficult and due to the extensive GI tract, poor tolerance of anesthesia, and post-operative complications due to the height of guinea pigs is often avoided by many practitioners. In this lab, we will discuss the benefits of alternative methods from traditional ventrally approached ovariohysterectomies, and discuss the risks and benefits of performing routine spays in this species. Students will be taught how to perform an ovariectomy using a dorsal flank approach and each student will be given one guinea pig cadaver to work with. This lab is restricted to 2VMs and above, and is capped at 20 people and costs $30.
• Snakes and Lizards: Handling, Husbandry and Medicine: Dr. Rob Coke
Our clinician for the snakes and lizards wet-lab is Dr. Rob Coke, the director of veterinary care at the San Antonio Zoo and medical director of the Species Survival Plan for Komodo dragons. Dr. Coke will provide a brief lecture over general reptile medicine and husbandry, as well as anatomy and physiology. The blue-tongued skink, green iguana, Argentine tegu, bearded dragon, and a variety of snake species will be used to learn proper restraint, physical exams, venipuncture, and other common medical procedures. Students will also learn how to practice safe medicine with venomous snakes by practicing with our non-venomous species. This lab is capped at 20 students and is $20.
• Amphibian Husbandry, Medicine, and Anesthesia with Dr. Roset and Audrey Koepp
The Amphibian Medicine and Husbandry wet-lab is taught by exotics veterinarian Dr. Kimberly Roset at Animal and Bird Clinic in Sugar Land, Texas, and Audrey Koepp, a Texas A&M graduate who specializes in the captive breeding of amphibians and consults with zoos and collectors all over the country. We will use nine different species of live animals, including Colorado river toads, tiger salamanders, red eyed tree frogs, the Yellow-banded poison dart frog and more. Expect to learn about proper handling and restraint of amphibians, how to conduct a thorough physical examination, utilize safe anesthesia techniques, and perform common procedures like venipuncture and obtaining vitals. Amphibian husbandry and care will also be covered in this wet-lab. This lab is capped at 25 students and is $20.
Turtles & Tortoises: Shell Repair with Dr. Jill Heatley
Shell trauma is one of the most common presentations for pet and wild chelonians. Our very own, Dr. Jill Heatley will be teaching our shell repair lab. Dr. Heatley will teach how to distinguish between minor and major carapace injuries, as well as proper wound care and usage of anesthesia and pain management. Students will also learn the various surgical techniques for shell repair, including fracture fixation, epoxy, and fixation application. This lab is capped at 15 students and is $30.
Aquatic Animal Anatomy, Physiology, Husbandry, and Nutrition with Dr. Taylor Yaw
Students will learn about normal non-telost fish aquatic animal anatomy and physiology through the disection of a a shark, a squid, and a starfish. In addition, students will learn about the husbandry and nutrition, as well as the importance of a thorough assessment of water quality for these non-conventional aquatic species.. This lab is capped at 20 people and is $20.
Fish Anesthesia, Diagnostics, and Sample Collection with Dr. Taylor Yaw
Students will learn all about aquatic animal anesthesia, including how to appropriately anesthetize fish using various commercially available anesthetic compounds. Students will put this knowledge into use by anesthatizing live fish using MS-222. In addtion, students will get to learn about and practice safe handling of live fish, diagnostic sample collection (i.e. phlebotomy using various blood collection sites, skin scrapes, gill clip), and perform routine diagnostics (blood smears, direct fecal smear, skin scrape cytology, and ultrasound) critical to aquatic animal physical exams. Students will also learn the importance of a thorough assessment of water quality and will use commercially available water quality test kits to measure water parameters vital to the health and wellbeing of aquatic species (i.e. pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite). This lab is capped at 30 people and is $20.
Aquatic Animal Agents of Disease, Pathology and Necropsy Techniques with Dr. Taylor Yaw
Students will learn about the common agents causing disease in aquatic species found in US and Texas waters, including parasitic spp. like ich (protozoa), anchor worms (crustacean), glochidia (parasitic larval mussels), and flukes, as well as other important bacterial spp., mycobacterial spp., viral spp., and fungal spp. By the end of this lab, students should have a working knowledge of common aquatic animal diseases and the agents causing disease, including their diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. Students will then put what they have learned about aquatic animal agents of disease and pathology into use by practicing fish necropsy techniques. This lab is capped at 30 people and is $30.
Wildlife Necropsy with Dr. Hilton
Take an investigative approach to wildlife necropsy with a post-mortem demonstration by a wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Clayton Hilton. Then try and become the detective yourself by performing your own necropsies! This lab is capped at 20 people and is $20.
Darting Practice with Dr. Cook and Dr. Derr
Learn about dart guns, firearm safety, and proper drug loading then practice your aim on the range with Dr. Walt Cook and Dr. James Derr. This lab is capped at 20 people and is $20.
Common Injuries in Insectivorous Bats with Kate Rugroden
Students will have the opportunity to learn about bat captive care from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Students will practice insectivorous bat fracture stabilization, amputation, tooth extraction, and necropsy preparation. This lab is capped at 25 people and is $30.
Comparative Ophthalmology with Dr. Vallone, Dr. Collins, Dr. Julien, Dr. Moriyon, and Jennifer Leonard
Students will receive instruction by board-certified ophthalmologist and gain hands-on experience performing exams on live animals including peafowl, tortoises, and nygerian dwarf goats. Students will practice ophthalmic exams including direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, Schirmer tear testing, fluorescence staining, and tonometry. This lab is capped at 20 people and costs $20.
Zoo Necropsy and Parasites with Dr. Verocai, Dr. Saleh, Dr. Stranahan, and Dr. Bryan
Students will be allowed to perform necropsies on various exotic and wildlife species. Tissue samples from the cadavers and feces from exotic species at Aggieland Safari will be collected and prepared for examination to look for parasitic infections during the lab as well. This lab is capped at 25 people and is $20.
• Exotic Feline Immobilization: Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon
Students have the opportunity to be involved in the process of immobilizing Fisher the Fishing Cat at the Winnie Carter Wildlife Center. Students will help with the preparation and administration of immobilization drugs and learn about the management of the animal before, during, and after immobilization. They will also assist in performing a physical exam, collecting blood for bloodwork testing, and collecting a biopsy sample for DNA. This lab is capped at 20 people and is $30.