Patient 5000
So much has changed for Quincie Donth over the last year.
It was just a year ago that Donth, then a second-year veterinary medicine student, was preparing for a cat neuter surgery.
“I was so nervous, and now, doing this last surgery as the head surgeon, I was confident with my skills and had no hesitation throughout the procedure,” Donth said. “The confidence I have gained from this class has helped me grow tremendously as a person and a veterinarian.”
The last surgery Donth was talking about wasn’t just any surgery in Iowa State’s Community Outreach Surgical Education course. Donth, along with fellow third-year students Izabelle Krupa and Elias Manners, performed a spay on “Scotcharoo,” a kitten from the Ames Animal Shelter.
Scotcharoo was the 5,000th companion animal that has been spayed or neutered since the Community Outreach Program began in 2016. The College of Veterinary Medicine works with shelters and rescue organizations across Central Iowa to enroll patients for preventive care and elective surgeries.
Donth, Krupa and Manners formed a surgical team for the fall semester. Each served as the head surgeon, assistant surgeon and anesthesiologist on a rotating basis. For Scotcharoo, Krupa was the assistant surgeon and Manners the anesthesiologist.
But it is more than just surgeries that the trio and their fellow third-year veterinary students work on. Scotcharoo and her fellow cat patients were brought in on Monday. The medical teams provide preventive care including physical examinations, vaccines, parasite prevention, and screening for infectious diseases to their patients.
“The students also diagnose and treat common problems that can been seen in shelter patients such as ear and skin infections, eye problems, and gastrointestinal problems,” said Dr. Joyce Carnevale, clinical associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences. “Through the students’ good care, patients return to the shelters ready for adoption.”
Wednesday is surgery day and after the procedure was completed, Scotcharoo and the other patients had post operative assessments performed on the hour. By Friday the animals are returned to their shelter.
Scotcharoo came to the Ames Animal Shelter after a Good Samaritan found her in Franklin Park in Ames. She was held for a week to give an owner a chance to come forward, but no one claimed the kitten.
“We love telling our adopters and visitors about the program,” said Ron Edwards, animal control supervisor with the Ames Animal Shelter. “It provides such a great learning experience for the students and the animal benefit from the diagnostics and monitoring they receive during their time pre- and post-op.”
Students agree with Edwards’ assessment.
“This class is about more than just saying and neutering our patients,” Krupa said. “It’s about helping them however we can, whether that’s giving them vaccines and monthly preventatives, or treating their infections.
“It’s a good experience because these are all the things we will be doing when get out into practice.”
Thanks to the support of such organizations as IDEXX, Boehringer Ingelheim, Elanco, Hills Pet Nutrition, and Purina, the care Scotcharoo and the other patients receive during their week-long stay at Iowa State is provided to the shelters and rescue organizations at no cost.
“It really is a feel-good story,” Edwards said. “Animal shelters and rescues are struggling with access to veterinary services, especially due to increasing prices, and this program allows us to perform so much better for the animals and the Ames community.”
Carnevale also points out that the program has a high percentage of adaption after the animals are returned to their shelter or rescue organization.
Such was the case with Scotcharoo, who was adopted before she even came to Iowa State. Edwards says the Iowa State Animal Welfare Judging Team came through the shelter.
“One of the students fell absolutely in love with her,” he said. “They are ready to take her home once she’s recovered from surgery.”
Scotcharoo’s new owner isn’t the only one to fall in love with the kitten.
“Scotcharoo was an adorable little patient, and our group enjoyed how playful she was throughout the entirety of the week,” Manners said.
November 2024
