Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Hosts 30th Annual Open House

A chance for insight into the fast-paced, high-tech world of cutting-edge veterinary medicine is available at the Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s annual Open House. The event will be from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4 at the hospital at 300 West Drake Road.  

The day will feature tours of the hospital, about 15 displays put together by students about animals and animal health, a petting zoo, activities for children, and demonstrations and lectures from leading veterinarians at the university and animal professionals. Most of the booths offer fun, hands on activities for children including anatomy, exotic animals to look at and touch, balloon animals, and medical equipment used on animals available for them to touch and examine.

Adults can pick up information about pet care and animal behavior.

This is the 30th year of the open house, which attracts about 3,000 people each year.

Tours, student exhibits and animal information exhibits, the petting zoo and mock surgery for children to dress as veterinary surgeons and perform operations on stuffed animals will be available during all hours of the open house. The last tour starts each day at 3:15 p.m.

A schedule of events follows:

Friday, April 3

– 9 a.m. "Equine wound care," lecture by Dr. Dean Hendrickson, director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and an equine veterinary medicine expert

– 10 a.m.  Demonstration by Larimer County Search and Rescue Dogs

– 11 a.m. "Aquatic medicine: Veterinarians treat fish too," lecture by Dr. Terry Campbell, exotics veterinarian at CSU

– 1 p.m.  "Weird and wacky: Exotic animal medicine," lecture by Dr. Matthew Johnston, exotics veterinarian at CSU

– 2 p.m.  "So you want to be a veterinarian," Sherry Stewart, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs in the College of Clinical Sciences

– 2 p.m.  "Hands for Horses" demonstration by Polly Webb, equine sports massage therapist, CSU equine hospital

Saturday, April 4

– 9 a.m. "Comparative orthopedic research: How sheep are helping people," lecture by Dr. Simon Turner, orthopedic veterinarian at CSU

– 10 a.m. "Basic Hoof Knowledge: What you need to know about your horse’s feet!" demonstration by Dr. Shawn Olson, equine veterinarian at CSU

– 11 a.m. "Common diseases of wildlife in Colorado," Dr. Laurie Baeten, veterinary resident at CSU

– 1 p.m. "Cancer in Pets," Dr. Deanna Worley, veterinary surgical oncologist at CSU

– 2 p.m. "The Bird Experience" demonstration of free flying birds from all around the world, presented by the Northern Colorado Bird Center

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