The number of veterinary schools preparing to open within the next few years continues to grow as more universities around the country invest in animal care education. Since the start of 2024, several institutions have announced new doctorate programs in veterinary medicine (DVM) programs. They join previously announced DVM initiatives being built for future students by colleges and universities that are preparing to join the nearly 3 dozen accredited veterinary doctorate programs currently operating in the US.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is planning to open its School of Veterinary Medicine in time for students to begin learning by fall 2026. The school received approval January 16, 2024, from the Maryland Higher Education Commission and aims to help the region alleviate an unmet need for veterinary practitioners by offering a 3-year academic program. “Our goal is to use student time more effectively in order to graduate students a year earlier,” Moses T. Kairo, dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences at UMES, said in a news release.

The UMES school is poised to become the first veterinary college in Maryland as well as the first of the nation’s public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to offer a DVM degree, according to the institution. Once open, the UMES veterinary school will be only the second of all HBCUs to provide a doctorate-level veterinary education,

“Deeply rooted in our 1890 land-grant mission, this program will enable us to serve farmers, the food industry and the 50% of Marylanders who own a pet. It will also increase both the diversity of the profession and address the workforce needs of the industry,” said UMES President Heidi M. Anderson, PhD, MS, in the release.

“In terms of demand based on labor statistics, we are looking at 19% projected growth in the field over the next 7 years. Black veterinarians make up only 3% of the population in this country, indicating a tremendous need to diversify the profession,” added Moses T. Kairo, dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences at UMES, in the release.

UMES’ aims to graduate 100 students per year. A consultative visit from the American Veterinary Medicine Association-Council on Education (AVMA-COE) is expected later this year. In the meantime, Kimberly Braxton, DVM, an assistant professor and veterinarian at UMES, has been named interim dean of the UMES School of Veterinary Medicine.

Ana G. Méndez University-Gurabo (UAGM-Gurabo) School of Veterinary Medicine in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, announced it received a letter of reasonable assurance

 from the AVMA COE, and plans to open this year, in August. This letter affords UAGM-Gurabo veterinary school the opportunity to obtain accreditation within 3 years.

The school would be the first in Puerto Rico to offer a DVM degree. This doctorate program is joining existing UAGM-Gurabo veterinary technology programs for earning associate and bachelor’s degrees.

Hanover College in Indiana announced plans

 to provide veterinary medicine degree options to students. Those plans include a hybrid accelerated DVM degree-earning program with students beginning their education at Hanover in August 2026. This program will offer an online component combined with laboratory and regional clinical experiences.

Anticipated new DVM programs also include the following

 College of Veterinary Medicine is set to open in Fall 2025.

Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University

 in Harrison Township, New Jersey is slated to become the Garden State’s first veterinary medicine program. Rowan aims to welcome its first class of veterinary students in fall 2025. Additionally, Rowan's veterinary school will offer graduate programs that include a Master of Science degree and PhD in veterinary biomedical science; an accelerated Bachelor of Science/DVM pathway program; and an accelerated DVM/MBA program.

 will welcome its first class of veterinarians in fall 2026, becoming the first college of veterinary medicine in South Carolina.

 (USU) spend their first 2 years at Utah State and then finish their remaining 2 years at Washington State University where their degree is awarded. However, USU anticipates that students admitted for fall 2025 will attend all 4 years of their DVM program in Utah.

UMES vet school will be a first for Maryland and public HBCUs. News release. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. January 30, 2024. Accessed February 26, 2024. 

https://wwwcp.umes.edu/pr/umes-vet-school-will-be-a-first-for-maryland-and-public-hbcus/

Yankowicz S. First Puerto Rican veterinary school will open in 2024. 

. February 15, 2024. Accessed February 26, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/first-puerto-rican-veterinary-school-will-open-fall-2024

Yankowicz S. Hanover College helps alleviate veterinary shortage by offering a DVM program. 

. January 30, 2024. Accessed February 26, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/hanover-college-helps-alleviate-veterinary-shortage-by-offering-a-dvm-program

Coppock K. The new Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine breaks ground. 

. April 28, 2023. Accessed February 26, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/the-new-shreiber-school-of-veterinary-medicine-breaks-ground

Articles

The new academic program would be the first of its kind in the state, and the first public historically black college or university in the nation to offer a DVM-earning opportunity. 

University of Maryland Eastern Shore plans to admit first veterinary students in 2026

The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) is offering its Fellowship Program, a multi-year, hands-on clinical training opportunity in cases specifically within a discipline, at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. This first course will be focused on infectious diseases, but ACVIM intends to create more programs featuring several specialties in veterinary medicine.

These ACVIM fellowships are open to diplomates of the ACVIM seeking to add an additional level of expertise and mastery in their discipline. Qualified ACVIM diplomates are required to have previously completed an ACVIM-approved residency and passed board certification examinations in one of the college’s 6 specialty disciplines: small animal internal medicine, large animal internal medicine, cardiology, nutrition, oncology, or neurology. After enrolling in this new infectious diseases fellowship program, veterinarians will be officially credentialed as Fellows of the ACVIM followed by the particular domain of study, which in this case would look like: “FACVIM (Infectious Disease),” according to the UC Davis release.

“The ACVIM Fellowship Program represents a bold step towards redefining the boundaries of veterinary internal medicine,” said Keith Richter in an ACVIM news release. “It's a unique opportunity for passionate professionals to further their careers, collaborate with thought leaders, and drive innovation in their chosen field.”

More information about the fellowship program in general can be found 

. The UC Davis infectious diseases program will be directed by Jane Sykes, BVSc (Hons), PhD, DACVIM, professor of internal medicine with a special interest in infectious diseases. She stated, “I think a big reason why UC Davis was selected to become the first facility to host the fellowship is partly because we’ve been working toward this for many years to build an extraordinary training program. But another part of it is the unique relationship we have with the infectious disease group at the UC Davis School of Medicine. We’ve been able to study very closely how they train their fellows and then develop our program to mimic the success they’ve had.”

This 2-year training fellowship is supported by the Judith McBean Trust Foundation and will be titled, “The Judith McBean Trust Foundation Fellowship in Small Animal Infectious Disease” starting August 1, 2024.

“We are honored to be chosen to host the first ACVIM-recognized fellowship,” said Jamie Burkitt, DVM, DACVECC, co-director of House Officer Affairs and Education at UC Davis. “Dr Sykes’ and other faculty members’ backgrounds in the field, the school’s research and laboratory facilities, and the Internal Medicine Service’s expertise and caseload provide an ideal training opportunity for veterinary specialists seeking to enhance their knowledge of infectious diseases. This fellowship is an ideal fit for our house officer program and an important step in advancing specialty veterinary medicine.”

Warren R. UC Davis to be first training site of new fellowship program. News release. University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. February 21, 2024. Accessed February 23, 2024. 

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-be-first-training-site-new-fellowship-program

ACVIM launches fellowship program to advance veterinary internal medicine expertise. News release. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. September 7, 2023. Accessed September 13, 2023. 

https://www.acvim.org/docs/default-source/news-publications-documents/press-releases/fnl-fellowship-press-release0e882fff-1f86-4443-a842-b49773426a7e.pdf?sfvrsn=f7daa173_3

The first American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine fellowship program will be offered on the UC Davis campus

Internal medicine fellowship program launches at California institution

Photo courtesy of PRNewsfoto and Home With Dignity.

Home with Dignity is a mobile in-home euthanasia service for pets that currently operates in 11 cities across the United States, including Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; Colorado Springs, CO; Kansas City, KS; Kansas City, MO; Minneapolis, MN; Philadelphia, PA; St. Louis, MO; and now offering Cincinnati, Ohio.

 Founded by Jim Humphries, DVM, in 2015, Home with Dignity aims to provide a compassionate end-of-life journey in the comforting and familiar environment of the pet's own home. The company believes this helps owners say goodbye to their beloved pets in an easier way by taking out the struggle of transportation.

Humphries has been a veterinarian for 43 years and owned and operated successful practices in Texas, Oregon, and Colorado. He is an adjunct professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Having pets all my life, I not only know the incredible benefits and joy they bring us, but I also know the unfortunate heartache of loss because they leave us too soon. Because of this, I have a special interest in the new and fast-growing specialty of palliative and home hospice care, which includes a peaceful end of life.” Humphries said on the Home with Dignity website. 

“Our pets are living longer today because of better nutrition and advanced medicine and cancer therapies. Many pet owners want their pets to enjoy the remaining months they have. These pets that give us so much unconditional love, joy, and sense of family, deserve the best end to their life we can give them. That includes pain control, special nutrition, the ability to enjoy and interact with family, and just like you and I, the dignity they deserve as they reach the end of life.”

With advanced equipment and a team of skilled veterinarians, the organization is dedicated to honoring the special connection between pets and their owners with compassion and respect. Beyond offering euthanasia services, Home with Dignity provides extensive assistance to pet owners navigating end-of-life decisions, including grief resources, virtual advice, and support with aftercare options.

"Making the decision to say goodbye to your pet is one of the hardest choices pet owners have to make," said Pam Kloepfer, DVM, lead veterinarian at Home With Dignity in Cincinnati. "My goal is to make that experience as comfortable as I can for the pet owner and their pet, and part of that is choosing to grieve at home."

Originally from Cincinnati, Kloepfer relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where she earned both her undergraduate and DVM degrees from The Ohio State University. Following this, she went on to complete a 1-year small animal rotating internship at Louisiana State University, and finally, returned to Columbus and devoted 10 years to serving as an emergency veterinarian and also assisting Pet Poison Helpline as an associate veterinarian.

During her time in emergency practice, she frequently encountered pet owners grappling with the profound challenges of their pets facing life-threatening illnesses or trauma, prompting numerous discussions about pet euthanasia. Recognizing the considerable stress experienced by both owners and pets in the emergency room setting when contemplating euthanasia, she concluded that providing in-home euthanasia was the optimal choice.

Home with Dignity. Accessed February 23, 2024. 

Home with Dignity enters Cincinnati, Ohio, revolutionizing in-home euthanasia for pets. News release. Home with Dignity. February 21, 2024. Accessed February 23, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/home-with-dignity-enters-cincinnati-ohio-revolutionizing-in-home-euthanasia-for-pets-302064333.html

Our staff. Pet Poison Helpline. Accessed February 23, 2024. 

https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/about/staff/pam-kloepfer-dvm/

Home with Dignity expands its end-of-life care for more owners and pets across the country

In-home euthanasia service comes to Cincinnati

The 8-month-old female tiger cub is currently receiving extended care at the Oakland Zoo (Image courtesy of the Oakland Zoo) 

Oakland Zoo, acting as agents for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, assisted with the rescue of a female tiger found in a privately owned facility in western United States. Due to legal reasons, the Zoo cannot provide any specifics on her history before receiving care from the Zoo.

 the cub received a thorough exam, CT scan, and blood work by the Zoo staff where they determined the cub had 10 pathological fractures which caused pain and lack of mobility. This led to the cub having 50% muscle atrophy in her legs and was treated with the necessary pain medications and nutrients.

The team is also working to build her calcium and muscle growth, which can take several weeks to months. After her bones have built enough calcium, the veterinarians at Oakland Zoo will work with surgeons to help determine the next steps in her healing journey. While the veterinarians are cautiously optimistic that she will make a full recovery, although it will take time.

The injuries that she sustained are currently preventing her from performing natural behaviors like climbing and running and the keepers are working to strengthen her through specialized enrichment that is catered to her unique case.

“Seeing this young tiger enduring such obvious suffering is extremely difficult…no animal should experience life in this way. We are grateful to serve in a role that gives her hope for brighter days ahead,” said Nik Dehejia, CEO of Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1988 and works to meet the needs of animal care and wellbeing standards, conservation, education, safety, and veterinary programs. The Oakland Zoo will use its knowledge to execute the rehabilitation of this tiger cub to begin her journey to recovery.

In 2022, The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) was passed banning private ownership and public contact with big cats. The legislation, backed by the Oakland Zoo, has made it unlawful for anyone to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce as well as breeding or possessing any live prohibited wildlife species, unless an exception has been made.

 BCPSA also helped to put an end to ‘cub petting’ for profit, something that was epitomized in 'Tiger King', a popular true crime Netflix documentary that followed Joe Exotic.

Confiscated Tiger Cub brought to Oakland Zoo for long-term rehabilitation and care. News release. Oakland Zoo. February 22, 2024. Accessed February 23, 2024. 

https://www.oaklandzoo.org/news/tiger-rescue#:~:text=On%20Tuesday%20afternoon%2C%20Oakland%20Zoo,healed%20fractures%20in%20her%20bones

What you need to know about the big cat public safety act. US Fish & Wildlife Service. Accessed February 23, 2024. https://www.fws.gov/what-you-need-know-about-big-cat-public-safety-act

The 8-month-old female was found with multiple improperly healed fractures 

Tiger cub rescued from privately owned facility 

To raise awareness during National Pet Dental Health Month, Banfield Pet Hospital complied pet information from its database across more than 1000 hospital locations nationwide to assess the differences in dental health across the United States. Banfield analyzed more than 3 million pets from its database to see which states and breeds had the highest and lowest cases reported.

Oral health is significant because periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases affecting dogs, with a reported prevalence of at least 80% in dogs over 3 years of age.

 It can present in a variety of conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis, which all impact the teeth and gums.

 Overall, Banfield had 73% of dogs and 64% of cats diagnosed with dental-related issues in 2023.

 Banfield’s data also showed that cats with advanced stages of periodontal disease were 1.5 times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease and dogs were 2.3 times more likely. The veterinary hospital network also saw that dogs were 6.3 times more likely to develop endocarditis (infection of a heart valve) from late stages of periodontal disease.

"With the largest pet medical record database in the country, Banfield is dedicated to using our data to share insights to provide better care for pets and advance veterinary medicine," said Alea Harrison, DVM, chief medical officer of Banfield Pet Hospital, in the release. "Oral health is an integral part of a pet's overall health and wellbeing, and our veterinary teams are committed to partnering with pet owners to find the right professional and at-home care plan for each pet."

Banfield found the following rates of oral health issues for each breed:

The data shows that most dog breeds with oral health issues are small dogs but it is still an issue for larger breeds, as well, so all pet owners should be cautious and stay on top of their pet’s routine dental examinations.

When looking at data across the United States, Banfield found that Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York had the lowest rates of patients with dental disease, while Iowa, Idaho, and Minnesota had the highest rates.

 Banfield does not have a specific reason as to why certain states are higher or lower, however, it could be because of the breed population in a particular state or the amount of pets that receive veterinary care at a Banfield Pet Hospital in that specific state.

To combat these high rates of dental disease, Banfield has collaborated with Mars Veterinary Health and UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to highlight the significant role dental procedures play in pharmaceutical stewardship, given their frequent occurrence in veterinary clinics. This partnered research delves into the current usage of antimicrobials in veterinary dentistry, seeking new opportunities for enhancement. It also outlines the patterns of antimicrobial usage in canine and feline dentistry within primary care practice. The objective is to utilize these valuable findings to guide interventions that optimize patient care and encourage responsible antimicrobial use during dental procedures.

State of pet dental health: Significant majority of US dogs and cats have oral health issues. News release. Banfield Pet Hospital. February 16, 2024. Accessed February 23, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/state-of-pet-dental-health-significant-majority-of-us-dogs-and-cats-have-oral-health-issues-302063737.html

Enlund KB, Brunius C, Hanson J, et al. Dog Owners' Perspectives on Canine Dental Health-A Questionnaire Study in Sweden. 

. 2020;7:298. doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00298

Small Animal Dental, Oral, and Maxillofacial Disease: A Color Handbook

Banfield Pet Hospital reveals pet dental health data in each state and the specific breeds with the highest cases of dental issues

State by state dental health

Good morning dvm360 readers! We are just a few short weeks away from Fetch Charlotte, are you signed up yet? This year Fetch Charlotte is officially approved for 111 continuing education credit hours in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval, with 17 hours available to an individual attendee. Be sure to secure your spot for all the fun and education 

In the meantime, here is what was popular this week on dvm360.com:

 this week that it will be featured on the March 1, 2024, episode of the hit ABC television show Shark Tank to pitch some of their products to the Sharks to hopefully accelerate product development, expanding distribution channels, and raise brand awareness.

 Jameela, a female baby gorilla, on January 5, 2024, after the staff at the zoo as well as human medical professionals joined forces to delivery her by caesarean section, the first in the Zoo’s history.

 recently helped Myra, a show-jumping horse, after her eye infection became severe, leading to the largest equine corneal transplant that has ever been reported.

, Jason Balara, DVM, DACVS(SA), and host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discussed real estate investment and the power it holds for veterinary professionals, and their families.

To help prepare your clients for protecting their pets against toxic flowers this spring, here are some of the 

 to help teams educate clients before their pet ends up in the emergency room.

Zoo caretakers at the Micke Grove Zoo noticed that Trini, a 10-year-old female snow leopard, had a 

. The issue was then treated thanks to help from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.