Helping humans by helping horses
Adam, a paint colt, was born weighing just 40 pounds, less than half the size of normal foals at birth.  He was unable to stand, could not nurse and developed colic.  His owners brought him to OSU’s Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital where he received round-the-clock medical attention necessary for his survival. To his owners’ delight, Adam continues to improve, gaining weight, running, playing and standing strong. 

But these types of successes are limited because of our facilities:

• no veterinary hospital area designated for equine critical care cases
• horses and foals are placed in various segments of the equine barn
• not isolated critically ill animals are at increased risk of infection.

If these issues are not addressed, survival rates for critically ill horses will continue to fall because of our inability to provide the best care to all equine patients in Oklahoma and the region.  Our primary mission of training veterinary students in the art and science of clinical veterinary medicine, professionalism and practice management would also be compromised in the large animal sector.  

The Opportunity
The Equine Critical Care Unit addition to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital will empower us to educate and train students in the most advanced critical care procedures.  We are uniquely positioned to provide sophisticated veterinary care to horses in Oklahoma and the surrounding states.  Partnered with our focus on equine research, the ECCU will further enhance our capabilities to provide state-of-the-art services and enhance training for veterinary students, interns and residents.  With the addition of the ECCU we will have the ability to isolate critically ill horses and foals to decrease the risks of infection, greatly improving the survivability rate for critical equine patients.  Students will receive clinical, professional and practice management instruction.  The addition will be located on the east side of the existing equine hospital.

The Investment
Naming opportunities for this $3.2 million facility range from $1.5 million to name the exterior to $500 for a tribute brick.  For $1,000, name recognition plaques are available.  Interior opportunities for naming range from $100,000 for the conference room area to a $1,000 minimum for equipment.

Progress through the Branding Success Campaign for OSU is at $373,322 for our combined facilities needs.  With a generous leading gift of $1M pledged from the Gaylord Foundation, we are challenged to significantly advance our goals.

Get Involved
Your gift can help the veterinary center improve the care we provide for horses and their owners.  Through your donation, lives—animal and human—can be positively affected for years to come.

STATS
More than $189 million – Annual economic impact of the horse industry in Oklahoma
More than 278,000 – Horses housed in Oklahoma
More than 214,000 – Number of Oklahomans involved in the horse industry
1,660 – Number of yearly equine in-hospital cases for the Boren Veterinary Teaching Hospital
1 – Total number of accredited veterinary schools in Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma – only OSU

“As an equine internal medicine specialist, intensive care is a big part of what I do on a daily basis. The new critical care facility will be a significant step forward to increase the level of intensive care medicine we provide regional horse owners." – Dr. Todd C. Holbrook, assistant professor