THE shelter medicine program aims for healthier, more adoptable companion animals. "Homelessness kills more animals than cancer or any other disease, and kills them in the prime of life," says Kate Hurley, director of the selter medicine program at the Center for Companion Animal Health.
"Shelter Medicine at UC Davis is the first program in the world to tackle this major killer of animals, to really take it on from a veterinary perspective," says Dr. Hurley. Shelter medicine takes the following three-pronged approach:
Fundamental research
Infectious disease and behavioral problems in shelters need to be investigated to determine how to prevent them and how to manage them if they can't be prevented.
Education
Shelter animal health presents challenges common to population health (traditionally associated with livestock medicine in the veterinary curriculum), and there is an urgent need for accurate information at all levels of the sheltering and veterinary professions.
Shelter service
"As with any other clinical service, we want to offer direct patient care, and need to be working in the shelter environment to appreciate the issues," says Dr. Hurley.
"The service component of the program, co-ordinated by Michael Bannasch, RVT, is constantly evolving as we seek to provide consultative and diagnostic services specifically geared toward shelter populations and not readily available elsewhere."
The shelter medicine program offers consultation and population-based diagnostic services for shelters at the lowest possible cost. "Consultations include facility design, husbandry issues such as cleaning and housing, vaccination, and protocol development," says Dr. Hurley.
"We aim to provide shelters with evidence-based guidance on managing common shelter infections such as upper respiratory infection (URI) and diarrhoea. We also assist shelters in dealing with disease outbreaks and cruelty cases, along with providing education and outreach programs.
"Our goal is to create a model program of medical care for shelter animals - one that can provide hands-on training for veterinary students and a place for residents to become experienced shelter veterinarians. On-site service by veterinarians who can provide information about policies, protocols and successful strategies-benefits the animals, shelter organizations (public and private), students and residents - not only locally, but nationally."
"One of the most striking and satisfying things about the shelter medicine program, from the viewpoint of a veterinarian," says Dr. Hurley, "is that really simple information can have a profound effect on a shelter's ability to take good care of its animals. The shelter staff members don't need a lot of high-tech equipment - using an effective cleaning agent or making a small change in vaccination strategy can have an impact on thousands of animals."
Objectionable behavior is one of the main reasons animals are relinquished to shelters. Veterinarians have the perfect opportunity to help prevent such behaviors from developing and veterinarians familiar with shelter medicine and behavior can also guide clients who adopt animals from shelters.
Educational programs and outreach
Educational programs include post-graduate veterinary residencies in shelter medicine, veterinary school classes, student activities and externships in shelters, web-based scientific resources, and lectures to veterinary, shelter and rescue groups.
Clinical expertise
The residency program in shelter medicine gives veterinarians clinical expertise and prepares them for leadership in this emerging field of veterinary medicine. Dr. Hurley, DVM (1999, UC Davis), MPVM (Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2003, UC Davis), became the first veterinarian to complete a residency under the shelter medicine program. Sheila Segurson, DVM (1996, UC Davis), has completed two years of a three-year residency in shelter medicine and behavior.
Since 2000, opportunities for shelter veterinarians have greatly increased - at least eight recent DVM graduates from UC Davis are now practicing shelter medicine-which is helping to supply the expanding need.
Shelter medicine in the DVM curriculum
Since the program began at UC Davis, more than 200 students have taken a shelter medicine class taught by Dr. Hurley in the DVM elective curriculum. The class, also open to shelter professionals, includes several guest lecturers from different backgrounds, who promote shelter medicine and also give a realistic view of what shelter veterinarians are trying to accomplish with available resources.
Continuing education
Dr. Hurley and the shelter medicine team have given more than 30 continuing education presentations in the last year at veterinary and shelter conferences all over the nation, on topics such as the following: developing preventive medicine programs for shelters, management of outbreaks in shelters, canine and feline parvovirus in shelters, recognition and control of canine distemper and virulent systemic feline calicivirus, the veterinarian's role in recognizing and reporting animal cruelty, behavioral recommendations for newly adopted dogs, the private practitioner-technician's role in ending euthanasia as a means of population control, and vaccination strategies for animal shelters.
A shelter medicine textbook
The first-ever textbook is now available that covers all aspects of shelter medicine, including topics such as husbandry and care of various species, population dynamics, nutritional challenges, spay-neuter techniques and behavior programs. The book, Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff, was edited by Dr. Lila Miller and Stephen Zawistowski of the ASPCA. Dr. Kate Hurley, Dr. Janet Foley and RVT Michael Bannasch - all from the CCAH Shelter Medicine Program - contributed chapters on health planning, infectious diseases and diagnostic testing, respectively.
The shelter medicine program is now hosting an on-line discussion group for shelter veterinarians and staff to discuss the book and better understand the challenges of animal shelter medicine.
In November 2004, Dr. Hurley and Dr. Brenda Griffin from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, received the Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center Award of Achievement from the North Shore Animal League America for their dedication to the humane treatment of homeless animals everywhere, their efforts to determine the best methods and procedures for improving the lives of all dogs and cats, and their unselfish commitment to educating others.
