OSU Veterinary Center Hosts Companion Animal 4H Teen Council

(July 27, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences hosted Steve Beck, assistant Extension Specialist, and 15 teens from the Companion Animal 4H Teen Council. Beck has organized the council to help guide the program curriculum and activities of the Companion Animal Program. The program is designed to help young people, who want to own animals and be involved in 4H, an opportunity to do that when their circumstances won’t accommodate cows, horses, pigs, or sheep.

Drs. Paul DeMars, Community Small Animal Practice, and Carolynn MacAllister, Continuing Education and Cooperative Extension veterinarian, organized three stations that the students rotated through to learn about pet health care.

Fourth year veterinary students presented information at each station. Shown above is Grace Hale as she talks about heartworms.Fourth year veterinary students presented information at each station. Shown above is Grace Hale as she talks about heartworms.

Brandy Kastl (above) talks with the teens about their pets before demonstrating resuscitation on a model dog.

Rachel Vellandi-Swanson talks with the team about dental hygiene.

The 4H students also visited the Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Department, where Dr. Cornelia Ketz-Riley discussed pocket pet husbandry, followed by a tour of the teaching hospital given by CVHS Ambassadors Kimberly Jungerman (‘12) and Bryan Eason (’11).

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.