Pet Parenting Tips, Pet Emergency Care, Petting Zoo Highlight Veterinary Teaching Hospital Open House April 6-8

The wide world of animals and the people who care for them can be explored through lectures, exhibits, workshops and tours on April 6-8 during the annual Veterinary Teaching Hospital Open House in Fort Collins. Open house hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 6 and 7 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 8.

All events are free and open to the public.

Kids will be able to experience mock surgery by "gowning up" and preparing to do surgery on stuffed animals, while professionals and students get to show how much they know in the "Stump-A-Vet" booth. The Fort Collins Police Department’s K-9 Unit will give a demonstration and a lecture on canine training. One of the Budweiser Clydesdales will be on hand for a presentation about care, nutrition and training of these beautiful horses. Numerous booths will provide information about volunteer opportunities, community programs, veterinary education and other animal-related topics. Tours of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 300 W. Drake Road, will run continuously each day, in addition to an abbreviated hospital tour for children on April 6. Tours of the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program will be offered from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. The raptor program, located behind the hospital, is dedicated to providing medical care, rehabilitation and release to injured birds of prey such as hawks, owls, eagles and falcons.

For more information, call the Dean’s Office at (970) 491-7053.

A schedule of lectures by veterinary medicine faculty and other experts follows.

Friday, April 6

  • 10:30 a.m. "Emergencies and Your Pets" by Dr. Tim Hackett. A peek into the pulse-pounding world of emergency veterinary medicine and what you can do before you get to the ER.
  • 1:30 p.m. "A Veterinarian for the Life of Your Horse" by Dr. Josie Traub-Dargatz. Offers tips on how to be a good caregiver to your equine friend and the best way to work with your horse’s veterinarian for optimum health and long life.
  • 3 p.m. "So, You Want to be a Veterinarian?" by Dr. Sherry McConnell. Highlights what you can do to prepare for a career in veterinary medicine.

Saturday, April 8

  • 11 a.m. "Dem Bones, Dem Bones," by Dr. Anna Dee Fails. Explains the nuts and bolts of orthopaedic medicine and how your pet is constructed.
  • 1 p.m. "The Ties That Bind" by Debby Morehead. Explores the nature of the special bond that often develops between humans and animals and the benefits derived from such a relationship.
  • 3 p.m. "Pet Parenting Workshop" by Dr. Julia Brannan. A discussion of the basics of behavior in cats and dogs and what families need to know to be a good parent to their pet.

Sunday, April 9

  • 1 p.m. "Freedom or Captivity" by the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center Staff. Examines the physical characteristics required for a good bird of prey habitat and the typical behaviors of these special birds.