When a federal court judge ordered the surrender and removal of more than 500 dogs and puppies from a USDA licensed breeder in Iowa, one of the many organizations that stepped were the student, faculty and staff volunteers from the College of Veterinary Medicine. “I knew that this would be a big ‘all hands on deck’ situation and I wanted to help where I could,” said Melissa Garcia Rodriguez, a third-year student. “The dogs had the potential to be in bad shape so I wanted to provide my skills as a veterinary student to help the veterinarians and be there for the dogs.” The students assisted in administering rabies vaccinations while also conducting low-stress handling and doing a few procedures. They also helped unload kennels, safely removing the dogs, assisting with examinations and drawing up vaccinations.

Insurance for your companion animals is becoming more and more popular these days. Deanna Collins, health information technician III with the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC) said insurance claims for your companion animals is very similar to your personal health insurance claims. “You should pick the insurance policy that best suits your needs for your dog or cat,” Collins said. “For instance, if your breed of choice is prone to certain diagnoses, you should research the policy so those diagnoses or possible surgeries will be covered.” Just like in human health insurance, owners should be aware of pre-existing conditions their pet has. Insurance companies will request any medical records on file once pet insurance is purchased and before any claim is paid. Collins also suggests pet owners begin to purchase insurance when their animal is a puppy or kitten. In such instances a variety of claims will be covered including illnesses, injuries, breed-specific conditions, diagnostic tests, surgeries, hospital stays, and medications.

The problem that Beauty had is fairly common. Yet if left untreated, the four-year-old Pomeranian could have been at a high risk of developing heart failure. Beauty was diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which is a common congenital heart defect in dogs. “If left untreated, most dogs will develop congestive heart failure within their first year of life,” said Dr. Michael Papon, cardiology resident. “Beauty’s PDA was small and her disease progressed much slower, but she was at a high risk of developing heart failure when she came to us.” The ISU Cardiology team performed a minimally invasive PDA occlusion on Beauty. “The procedure is usually curative and most dogs go on to live a normal lifespan without medications,” Papon said.