Comprehensive Veterinary Care at Purdue University Veterinary Hospital
Purdue University stands as a leading institution in veterinary medicine, offering a wide array of services through its Veterinary Hospital. The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital is now the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex. This article delves into the services, facilities, and impact of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, highlighting its contributions to animal care, veterinary education, and the broader community.
State-of-the-Art Facilities and Comprehensive Services
The David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex represents a significant advancement in veterinary care. The $108 million facility covers 165,000 square feet on 13 acres. The new veterinary hospital facilities include a renovated and expanded small-animal hospital and emergency care unit, a new equine hospital, and a new farm animal hospital. Following the dedication ceremony, the move-in began and the new hospitals opened their doors to patients in May and June.
The David and Bonnie Brunner Small Animal Hospital became the new home for more than a dozen specialty services:
- Internal Medicine
- Dialysis and Interventional Urology
- Soft Tissue and Orthopedic Surgery
- Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Physical Rehabilitation
- Emergency Services
- Intensive Care Unit
- Isolation
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Anesthesia
The new facilities are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a standing CT machine in the equine hospital, a rehabilitation pool in the small-animal hospital, and a hydraulic squeeze chute in the farm animal hospital. These advancements enable the hospital to provide a higher quality of care for animals.
Enhancing Veterinary Education
The new complex offers plentiful advantages when it comes to learning. A key mission of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital is to educate members of the veterinary health care team and biomedical community. The new facilities were built with students in mind. The College of Veterinary Medicine currently accepts 84 students in each class. New facilities will accommodate class sizes of 120 students, which is an attainable goal for the college.
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According to Dr. Jim Weisman, assistant dean for clinical education and clinical associate professor, the new complex allows fourth-year students to use state-of-the-art medical equipment in a space that facilitates greater clinician-student interaction. Section-specific rounds rooms offer students a "home-base" that provides ample room for independent study, peer learning, and clinician-led instruction.
Dr. Chad Brown, director of Veterinary Nursing Programs, notes that veterinary nursing students benefit directly from the more spacious treatment areas in the new complex. Increased caseloads and hospital space have allowed the veterinary nursing students more autonomy.
The spacious environment also benefits clients, according to Dr. Ellen Lowery. The individual waiting ‘pods’ in the Small Animal Hospital offer windowed seating and work areas, providing increased comfort for clients and their pets. At the Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals, there is ample space for trailer parking, and separate overhead doors to unload horses depending on the specific service.
Addressing Challenges and Meeting Community Needs
Since its opening, the veterinary hospital has served as a key resource in the community. Not only does it offer the only emergency care service in Tippecanoe County, Ind., but it also provides a higher quality of care for animals than was available before. According to Dean Willie M. Reed, there has been an improvement in the ability to serve clients, particularly through the emergency service.
Meeting challenges, such as staffing the new hospital, has been an ongoing effort. More than 80 positions had to be filled to fully staff the hospital. Some areas of the hospital could use more staff, and filling those positions has been a challenge in the current labor market.
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Impact on Patient Care and Outcomes
The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital significantly impacts patient care and outcomes.
Argo the Doberman was in trouble. Diagnosed with ventricular arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm, he could collapse and die at any moment. Although a local specialty clinic had stabilized him, his owner, Dr. Laura Strong (PU DVM ’87), knew that traditional medication wouldn’t be enough. In her search to give Argo a chance to live a longer life.
Luna, a K-9 officer with Tippecanoe County Community Corrections, suddenly faced a career-threatening injury earlier this year when a hidden bone condition caused her elbow to shatter.
When an eight-year-old shepherd-mix dog named Lucy was injured after tragically getting struck by a car, co-parents Matt and Gretchen Walker were told that she would likely never walk again. That was over three years ago, in May of 2021. The Walkers, of Brookston, Indiana, had raised Lucy since she was a puppy, and knew that her life was nothing short of worth fighting for.
Specialized Services and Expertise
The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital offers a range of specialized services, reflecting its commitment to comprehensive care.
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Veterinary Dentistry
Amidst growing recognition of the importance of veterinary dentistry as part of small animal primary care, the College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a reception this fall to showcase a new, named dental suite. Held in conjunction with the Purdue Veterinary Conference, the reception on September 19 gave attendees a chance to see the new clinical space that was funded by a generous donation from an alumna.
Toxicology
Dr. Steve Hooser, Purdue Veterinary Medicine professor of toxicology and senior veterinary toxicologist at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, warns that "Death Cap Mushrooms" can be fatal for dogs.
Ophthalmology
Dr. Wendy Townsend is a Professor of Ophthalmology at Purdue University. She provides ocular examinations and surgeries on all species of animals in the Purdue Veterinary Hospital where she works with DVM and Veterinary Technology students.
Student-Led Initiatives and Community Engagement
A student-led landscape redesign project has taken root at Purdue University, in the form of outdoor upgrades at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Originally developed by Mary Schultz, a graduating senior in the College of Agriculture’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture program, the project reimagined outdoor spaces used for animal recovery, training, and enrichment.
A Vision Realized
Plans for the new veterinary hospital have been in motion since 2007. Reed says securing funding was difficult because of other facility needs on campus. According to Purdue news reports, the university committed $35 million and the Indiana General Assembly approved a $73 million appropriation for the $108 million project. Purdue’s portion included money raised through fundraising. The new veterinary hospital is now the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex. It’s named for David Brunner, DVM, class of 1979, and his wife, Bonnie, who made the lead donation for the facility. The equine and farm animal hospitals also bear their names.
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