Moments of profound sadness have been transformed into countless times of joy thanks to the Companion Animal Fund in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Donations secured through the Companion Animal Fund have been used to help the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital’s medical team improve animal health.
Gifts to the fund have come from hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals and veterinary clinics have provided assistance to the Companion Animal Fund. This assistance honors a beloved pet or pet lover while improving the health of thousands companion animals.
The All Creatures Small veterinary clinic in Indianola, Iowa, is one such contributor.
“We have made contributions to the Companion Animal Fund since initially opening the clinic in 1992,” said Dr. Camille Telleen (’90), owner and founder of All Creatures Small. “My original partner and I were both ISU graduates and we began the practice of making contributions in honor of pets who had died as a way of acknowledging the loss to the pet’s family in a way that is lasting and meaningful to them.”
All Creatures Small and so many other frequent donations have gone directly to support improvements in animal health care. These improvements include high-tech instruments, physical improvements to add the comfort of patients, and research to provide new solutions for diseases that afflict companion animals.
A few of the recent purchases that have made a significant impact on the Hixson-Lied Small Animal patients include:
An Olympus 190 series flexible endoscope system that allows for greater visualization and precise examination of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. This will allow clinicians such as Dr. Al Jergens, professor of internal medicine, to easier identify inflammation, tumors or strictures. “The system also greatly facilitates foreign body removal, mucosal biopsies of the GI and respiratory tracts as well as feeding tube placement and stricture dilation resulting in faster recovery time of patients,” Jergens said.- A new Philips ultrasound system (pictured at the top) has provided the Emergency and Critical Care Services an increased level of imaging quality. That’s important because many emergency cases are scanned for a variety of reasons ranging from fluid in the chest or abdomen, respiratory distress, and painful abdomens.
- An ultrasonic unit and single basin sink configuration has been added to the hospital’s Central Sterilization Department. The unit will streamline instrument decontamination allowing for improved ergonomics, clearer process flow and more effective cleaning of surgical instruments resulting in high-quality in high-quality patient care across the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital.
Diagnostic imaging, a service that plays a role in every department in the hospital, has been upgraded to the FujiFilm Synapse, a technology used to view and send medical images. With this powerful system, diagnostic imaging is seamlessly accessed throughout the hospital and improving patient care.
These are just a few of the most recent examples of the significant impact of the Companion Animal Fund.
The impact is not just felt by current and future clients. In many cases, the impact has a much more personal feel to it.
“We often receive very heartfelt thanks from owners who get a letter from the (Companion Animal) fund informing them of the contribution,” Telleen said. “This is a good way to recognize an animal’s life, which pet owners recognize and appreciate.”
To make a gift to the Companion Animal Fund call 515.294.8493 or click here.
March 2025