VETERINARY
MEDICINECopley Rd. Animal Clinic/Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital - Post 2562
The Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital (MVH) hosts Exploring’s only veterinary post. Dr. Keller is the Post Advisor and is affiliated with MVH. MVH is one of few clinics of its kind in the U.S., so this is a very fortunate group of Explorers. The post formed just over a year ago and meets monthly through the school year. The group visits and is visited by experts in the field of veterinary medicine.
At the very first meeting, post members observed spay and neuter surgeries first-hand. While there, a dog rushed to MVH in cardiac failure provided a sad but real-life side of the doctoring picture. In a visit to a large animal practice in Sharon Center, members saw a well-stocked mobile vet unit used to make house calls. A tour of the Cleveland Zoo veterinary facilities with a zoo vet allowed comparison to the small animal and large animal practices that members also visited on other meeting dates. A repeat trip to see more at the zoo is planned.
Post members have enjoyed an incredible variety of experiences and have heard all kinds of veterinary specialists talk on their area of expertise. Dr. Riggs, who specializes in the care of exotics, visited the group and spoke about his patients. He brought a friend with him—a chameleon. Dr. Lynn Turner talked about internal medicine and shared the case history of a patient still at the Hospital. Traveling to Brecksville to the clinic of Dr. Alice Jeromin, a specialist in dermatology, the group saw slides of the most unusual cases and viewed parasites under a microscope. In Richfield, members met Dr. Charles Parshall, a specialist in animal opthamology. After lengthy instruction on the dangers of lasers, the group used a high-powered laser to do "surgery" and artwork on a banana. Dr. Michele Messner presented animal first-aid and CPR She showed post members many different devices used to restrain different types of animals. Members practiced muzzling a friendly greyhound. At a "home" meeting at MVH, the group watched knee surgeries on video, one on a cat and one on a dog.
Post members spend time together in cars in caravan going to the different practices and places. The post’s first service project is just a few weeks away. Members are walking a mile together to earn pledge dollars for purchase of pet toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs and cats having dentals at MVH.
It’s hard to mention all the experiences the group has had in just one year’s time. Nowhere else is this diverse experience available. The Veterinary Explorer Post sends out its thanks to Dr. Keller, MVH, and all the wonderful veterinary speakers. For more information on joining, contact Dr. Fred Keller at 330.836.0481.