(January 28, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (CVHS) is home to Dr. Reed Holyoak, Bullock Professor in Equine Theriogenology, and several other veterinary specialists trained in Theriogenology (animal reproduction medicine). OSU theriogenologists offer services for all domestic animals.

West of the veterinary center complex, OSU owns a ranch (CVHS Ranch) where fourth year veterinary students receive intense training on palpation skills and specialized technical training in animal reproduction. The students gain this hands-on training utilizing donated horses living at the ranch. Many of these mares came to the ranch barren, but are now pregnant and the students will be their obstetricians.

Oklahoma and regional equine owners bring their infertility cases or problematic pregnant mares to the CVHS Ranch to receive clinical reproductive services 24/7. While it is the OSU veterinarians who work on and treat the client owned mares, the students gain greatly by observing and assisting in the many procedures and treatments offered there.

Using either fresh, frozen, or cool-shipped semen, approximately 40 mares will conceive during one breeding season on the ranch, whereas several hundred will receive semen shipped to them from the client-owned stallions currently standing at stud on the ranch. Embryo transfer, fetal sexing, fetal viability, placenta health assessment, and other advanced techniques are also available and utilized there.“We’re offering a much needed service to our clients and providing excellent learning opportunities and hands-on experience for our veterinary students,” explains Holyoak.

And for dog owners, the same services are available. Our canine friends are examined and treated at the Small Animal Clinic located at the center’s Boren Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. “We have the latest equipment to help us with our small animal cases, from computerized semen analysis (also available for bulls and stallions) to video assisted trans-cervical insemination. However, the first step in working with dogs is to make sure that both potential parents are healthy and the expectant mother’s health is maintained during the pregnancy,” advises Holyoak. “A healthy dog increases the likelihood of producing genetically sound offspring.”

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The center’s Boren Veterinary Medial Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24 hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.