MAGAZINE OF THE CUMMINGS SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE FALL 2011 VOL. 13 NO. 1 veterinary medicine InsIde the eR The tough and tender stories of pets in crisis PLUS: BAD KITTY EYE SEE LYME LIGHT 29023cvr.indd 2 11/3/11 12:24 PM CASE SOLVED true hollywood story An award-winning career. A triumphant return from retirement. A battle with a life-threatening illness. A starring role in a film that’s getting Oscar buzz. In her 10 years, Bella, a wirehair fox terrier, already has seen enough drama to warrant her own sensational tell-all on the E! television network. “I fell in love with Bella at first sight,” says Lucia Hackett of the retired show dog she purchased from a breeder. Bella (or Ch Hiwire Act at Hexham CD RE SE CGC, as the title- winning terrier is officially known) and Hackett began obedience work and soon started showing, this time in the veterans’ ring. Life seemed unfailingly sunny. Then last April, Hackett brought Bella to Tufts’ foster Hospital for Small Animals with gastrointestinal issues. Veterinarians found a lump in her abdomen: a mast cell tumor, a common type of skin cancer in dogs. “I couldn’t believe Bella was so sick,” says Hackett, who lives in North Grafton, Mass. “I love this dog, and I never want to see her suffer.” Rob McCarthy, V83, a veterinary surgeon at Tufts, removed the tumor and two lymph glands, one of which was malignant. Five days later, Bella was back home.“I didn’t want her climbing stairs, so I decided to sleep with her on the kitchen floor,” says Hackett. “Later that night, she came to lick my ear. Her tail was wagging, and I think she was saying, ‘I’m home.’” Determined to be optimistic about Bella’s recovery, Hackett submitted some photos of her pet to a casting call posted online for a new Wes Anderson film. Anderson, who received Academy Award nominations for The Royal Tenenbaums and The Fantastic Mr. Fox, cast Bella in his seventh movie, Moonrise Kingdom. Four weeks after her surgery, Bella was on set in Newport, R.I., with the actors Bill Murray, Bruce Willis and Tilda Swinton. The film, about two runaways, comes out early next year. It’s already garnering Oscar chatter. Far from the glare of Tinseltown, Hackett is content to simply enjoy more time with Bella: “I hug her especially tight each day.” PHOTO: ALONSO NICHOLS 29023cvr.indd 3 10/31/11 7:01 PM contents FALL 2011 VOLUME 13 NO.1 features 6 the Landlord Ray Powell, V84, is the guardian of 13 million acres of land in New Mexico that generate $500 million annually for the state’s public schools, universities and hospitals. 8 ain’t misbehavin’ Some expert advice on transforming your “cat from hell” into a mannerly feline. By Genevieve Rajewski COVER STORY 12 inside the er Their stories are heartwarming and heartbreaking, and more than 10,000 of them play out in the emergency room of the Foster Hospital for Small Animals each year. We take you behind the scenes in this photo essay. By Alonso Nichols 20 Forces of nature 12 Even though 61 percent of folks say they would ride out the fury of a natural disaster rather than abandon their pets, it wasn’t until after Hurricane Katrina that officials began thinking about the plight of animals in these dire situations. By Genevieve Rajewski departments 2 From the Dean 3 upFront 28 PEOPLE, PLACES & ANIMALS 24 on Campus CUMMINGS SCHOOL NEWS 28 researCh THE PATH TO DISCOVERY 30 BeyonD BounDaries PROVIDING THE MEANS FOR EXCELLENCE 32 triBute On the cover: Adam Porter, V08, senior resident at the Foster Hospital ER, cradles Ozzie, the Belgian shepherd he diagnosed with a virulent lung cancer. Photograph by Alonso Nichols Back cover photograph by Alonso Nichols 29023p01-05.indd 1 11/1/11 7:43 PM FROM THE DEAN veterinary medicine First-rate responders VOL. 13, NO. 1 FALL 2011 tornadoes, a hurricane and an unusually early snowstorm Executive Editor in October reminded us to expect the unexpected in Massachusetts Deborah T. Kochevar, Dean Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine this year. Around the world natural disasters, including earth- quakes and tsunamis, have devastated animals and humans and Editor reinforced the impact of misfortune in a global economy. Genevieve Rajewski In this issue you will read how veterinarians respond to emer- Editorial Director gencies—from those that play out in the microcosm of the Foster Karen Bailey Hospital to regional and national crises in which trained veteri- Design Director nary responders render assistance through increasingly sophisti- Margot Grisar cated networks. Emergency response is about being prepared and having the right organization followed Design 2COMMUNIQUÉ by the right process. Our students benefit from learning these principles and are eager to apply their talents when regional and national emergencies strike. It is gratifying that many Contributing Writers already have participated in local emergency preparedness organizations even before they Gail Bambrick, Marjorie Howard begin their veterinary studies. Staff Photographers Our students hone their interest in service throughout their time at Tufts University Alonso Nichols by mounting campaigns to assist shelter animals, collecting supplies for and conducting Kelvin Ma research with veterinary schools in developing countries and responding generously to Contributing Editor disasters in the U.S. and abroad. The quality of our students reassures all of us that the vet- Bob Sprague erinary profession remains solidly on the right track, despite persistent national economic Editorial Advisors challenges. Shelley Rodman, Director These challenges have led to reductions in the numbers of faculty and staff, the elim- Veterinary Development and Alumni Relations ination of some programs and dwindling resources for basic, clinical and translational Joseph McManus, Executive Associate Dean research. For the sake of current and future students, there is a sense of urgency on the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine part of the profession to reverse the national trend of declining state and federal support for veterinary education. Tom Keppeler, Associate Director Public Relations The Tufts way is to address economic challenges by harnessing and enhancing creativity. A partner and leader in these efforts is the university’s new president, Anthony P. Monaco, Tufts Veterinary Medicine is funded in himself a physician and scientist. His first semester at Tufts has highlighted themes impor- part by the Edward Hyde Cox Fund for Publications. It is distributed to alumni, tant to our campus, including excellence in graduate and professional education, evidence- friends, veterinary students, veterinarians based thinking and learning, research in infectious diseases, neurosciences and clinical and key university personnel. specialties and a commitment to global health and active citizenship. To achieve our aspirations, we draw support from tuition, return on research invest- We welcome your letters, story ideas, ments, revenue from our hospitals and clinics and critical philanthropic partnerships with and suggestions. Send correspondence to: our friends. Sadly, one of our most ardent supporters, Dr. Agnes Varis, passed away this Genevieve Rajewski, Editor summer. This issue ends with a tribute to Dr. Varis that I hope you will enjoy. She was Tufts Veterinary Medicine a friend to animals and to our students and valued the many ways in which veterinary Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine medicine brings good to the world. Her partnership transformed our campus, and she is 200 Westboro Road remembered with great fondness, esteem and gratitude. North Grafton, MA 01536 or email: [email protected] Sincerely, The Cummings School’s website is www.tufts.edu/vet The telephone number is 508.839.5302. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. deborah turner kochevar, d.v.m., ph.d. dean and henry and lois foster professor Tufts Prints Green Printed on 25% post-consumer waste 2 tufts veterinary medicine fall 2011 recycled paper. Please recycle. 29023p01-05.indd 2 10/31/11 7:35 PM upfrontPEOPLE, PLACES & ANIMALS sWat team Pooled expertise strengthens response to outbreaks of infectious disease By Genevieve Rajewski he northeastern united states is known as a hot spot for The genesis for the network was the infectious diseases that sicken both animals and people. West Nile Cummings School’s Seabird Ecological virus and Lyme disease made their first U.S. forays in the region, Assessment Network (SEANET), which dis- andT Eastern equine encephalitis and rabbit fever infect wildlife and sporadically patches volunteers to monitor the welfare of claim human lives. seabird populations along coastal northeast- Despite its vulnerability, the Northeast did not have a designated wildlife ern United States and Canada. team to investigate potential disease outbreaks—until the Northeast Wildlife Citizen-scientists combing beaches Disease Cooperative was established earlier this year. Administered through the over hundreds of miles in many states and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, the organization pools the expertise Canadian provinces can detect patterns of of veterinarians, scientists and wildlife managers throughout the region to detect, seabird mortality. However, SEANET can- investigate and manage outbreaks of infectious diseases. not provide data on disease outbreaks in ILLUSTRATION: JON CANNELL fall 2011 tufts veterinary medicine 3 29023p01-05.indd 3 10/31/11 7:35 PM UPFRONT other species or in other ecosystems, says the lab to get data to decision makers faster. With so many people living