Veterinary Students Share Their Experiences With Public at Annual College Open House

University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine students got a chance to show the citizens of Missouri what it is like to earn a veterinary medical degree during the college's annual Open House on April 21.

More than 2,000 visitors from around the state chance toured the veterinary medical teaching hospital, interacted with student exhibits explaining such medical areas as cardiology and respiratory health, saw farrier demonstrations, and milked cows.

Headliner acts this year were the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales and Purina Agility Dogs. A crowd favorite was the college's own Mule Team who gave wagon rides. Also featured were search-and-rescue dogs, horse shows, a petting zoo, and raptor rehabilitation exhibits.

The Open House is one of the largest non-sporting events on the MU campus and organized and run by veterinary medical students.

The MU College of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 28 such institutions in the nation. With more than 16,000 patients each year, it's teaching hospital is one of the largest hospitals of its kind in the Midwest.

The Open House allows us to open our doors to the public and invite everyone to learn about the endless possibilities the Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers to animals, pet owners, students, and anyone with an interest in veterinary medicine," said Jen Torrence, Open House publicity chair.

"The Open House theme, 'Kickin' It Up a Notch,' embodies this idea by providing more learning opportunities and wonderful entertainment, she said.

Sponsors of the 2006 Open House included: the MU Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association; Merial, an animal health pharmaceutical and vaccine company, the Missouri Veterinary Medicine Association, Royal Canin, VCA, the MU Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, Addison Biological Laboratory, Banfield, Intervet, and Novartis.

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