Camelid Pre-Vet

[ekchad]

I'm really curious to find others who are interested in camelid medicine and also to find out where you guys are going and why.

Sorry, I keep posting this part on other threads but I guess I need to give context to what's above: I'm undecided on Purdue vs Davis. It seems both see camelids and Purdue is starting to see more these days but I don't know which is best going to prepare me.

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[ZebraFinch]

I don't know much about the caseload of camelids at either school, but I did want to point out something about zoos in the areas. I assume that you can get a lot of exposure to camelids through the zoos in the area, so it would be important to check out the status of the zoos that the schools work with. I know Davis does work with the SF zoo, the Oakland zoo, and the Sacramento zoo. The Sacramento zoo does not have any camelids on premise, the Oakland zoo does (4 camels) but since the zoo is small and the vet hospital needs renovation there is very little veterinary work done with the camelids and the vet students that do pass through do not get very good exposure, and the SF zoo does not have any camelids.

I cannot speak for the zoos in Indiana, but there is some perspective from someone who has zoo experience in CA.

Also, do you know of any researchers who do work with camelids at either school? Both schools will prepare you well academically, but if Purdue is increasing its caseload that is a sure sign that it will also be attracting more vets/researchers who are camelid oriented, which would give you a leg up as far as networking, getting involved while in vet school, and opening opportunities up for after you graduate vet school.

 

[DVMorBust]

I know WI isn't on your list, but for those who are also interested in camelids, we've got a pretty high caseload (mostly lots of cria cases).

 

[aspiringDVM]

Try talking to royaltRF -- I know she's interested in camelids.

 

[sumstorm]

We have a professor who treats small ruminants and camelids. We recently did several ambulatory rounds to various farms and worked with over 100 alpacas/llamas and a few camels. I don't think we get many coming into the hospital, and i don't know if the ambulatory case load is included in the VTH case load.

 

[Poochlover11]

One of my good friends is interested in camelids and she is planning on applying here, at Iowa State, this fall. She raises and shows llamas. I guess I am not sure if Iowa State has much in the way of camelids-Im thinking not. And if I recall correctly she said there was only one vet in Iowa right now that specializes in camelids.

 

[cowgirla]

I think a lot of it will be what you make of the options available to you-- IE, clubs, wet labs, farms in the area, etc.

If the two schools are similar, where would you be happiest living for four years?

Most vets I know that specialize in one species or another, did internships after vet school and really concentrated hard on finding opportunities with that species, and that most of their "hands on" knowledge came after vet school.

Most vets have told me that it doesn't matter where you go, you will always get a strong education in the vet. basics, and that "every school is as good as you want it to be."

 

[twelvetigers]

We see a ton of llamas/alpacas at OKState. And, I know we've seen a few camels because I actually got to ask the 4th year if they have teeth in the front or just pads like sheep, so he tried to look and pissed the poor thing off. It started swaying its head and going, "Woop! Woop!" haha. It's hard to describe what a p-oed camel sounds like.

 

[Poochlover11]

It started swaying its head and going, "Woop! Woop!" haha.

Lol, that sounds like a police car. "Step away from the camel."

 

[cowgirla]

We see a ton of llamas/alpacas at OKState.

Woohoo!
That makes me happy

 

[absvet]

Hey! Most of my non-research experience is with alpacas. I worked with a vet in Mass and went on a trip to Peru to help start up a vaccine program last summer. The two vets I went with went to Cornell and NCState, but I'd imagine Purdue would be a good bet.

 

[Electrophile]

We've got a good camelid caseload at Missouri. There's a lot of alpaca producers in the area and their organization (MOPACA) is *REALLY* nice about paying for students to go get CE on camelids. Pretty awesome. I love small ruminants and camelids!

 

[borntoboogie]

I'm currently finishing my undergrad at UMass Amherst and have been working with the camelid program/vet for three years (same vet that Absvet did her work with). Some vet schools that are really known for their camelid programs are Kansas, Washington, and Ohio. I'm attending Kansas in the fall mostly because of their camelid program. Dr. David Anderson teaches there and is a world reknown camelid specialist (he used to teach at Ohio) I also know that Washington State vet school has a scholarship that is donated from alpaca breeders out in that area for people who are interested in alpacas.
Glad to see that there are other people who are interested in alpacas!

 

[royaltRF]

You should add Minnesota to the list too. They said camelids were their 2nd highest LA caseload.

Vet schools with a good camelid program and caseload can be pretty hard to come by and some vet schools seem to have a pretty negative opinion on them. Most schools do a wet lab from what have I have heard but it seems like the information can be pretty limited depending on what prior experience you have.

And at Iowa, they don't even allow camelids into their new LA hospital. When I was there they told me it was because they didn't have a vet on staff for them so if you want camelids, I wouldn't recommend Iowa.

My recommendations would be Kansas (meningeal worm disease), Washington (reproduction), Ohio, Minnesota.