The story of Quasimodo, a 3-year-old dog born with deformed front legs, shows the profound compassion that humans can have for companion animals. Due to his dysfunctional front legs, Quasi had to crawl to get around. His first owner decided to leave him on the side of the road in August 2014, after which he was brought to an animal shelter by a kind stranger. His new owner, Lianne Hughes, was fostering Quasi when she started raising money for the surgery that could correct his legs. Hughes was able to collect $5,000 from various people, including some whom she had never even met, and Quasi was taken to Ohio State’s Veterinary…
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Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections
Many people know that diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, but few consider the risks correlated with household pets. That’s why researchers from Ohio State and partner institutions have compiled data from more than 500 studies to obtain information on how people can reduce their chances of contracting infections from a pet. Dr. Jason Stull, assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, is a lead author of the newly released study, published April 20 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Stull said that bacterial, parasitic and fungal diseases, such as salmonella or roundworms are among the most common illnesses that people acquire from their pets. People with…
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Volunteers offer free clinical services to pets owned by low-income residents
Volunteers from Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, including students, faculty and staff as well as veterinarians from the local Columbus community helped perform spay/neuter surgeries and wellness checks to animals for Our Oath in Action Day – Ohio, a philanthropic event sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Hill’s Pet Nutrition that offers free clinical services to animals owned by low-income clients. “Through Our Oath in Action Day, we have provided…services to those in great need in Columbus, Ohio, including pet owners who are homeless, living in assisted living and those who are home-bound receiving Meals on Wheels,” said Laura Sutherland, event coordinator and third-year veterinary student. “Our…
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Researchers study survival of influenza A viruses in Ohio wetlands
Thanks to an Ohio Sea Grant-funded study, Dr. Richard Slemons and Dr. Andrew Bowman, both professors in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and directors of the Animal Influenza Ecology and Epidemiology Research Program, and their research team surveyed wetland areas in northern Ohio to monitor for influenza A viruses. The goal of the project was to determine how long certain types of influenza A viruses, such as H5N1 (A.K.A. avian flu), could survive in marshes surrounding Lake Erie if introduced by wildlife into the environment. Slemons and Bowman’s research team included staff, undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students, field assistants and a certified wildlife biologist who served as a consultant. “We…
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Longest execution in Ohio history leads state to re-examine capital punishment policies
Dennis McGuire’s 26-minute struggle to die after receiving a new form of lethal injection on Jan. 16 has left Ohio officials speculating if and how the state should reform its death sentencing practices. Douglas Berman, professor of criminal law and sentencing at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, said many people are looking at the execution protocol, and that there are already bills being advanced to consider legal changes. Berman said there is a possibility that the dosage levels of the drugs used on McGuire were not high enough. “If there’s any means to suspect he did suffer significant pain, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ohio tried a…