On Nov. 2, Cal Poly Pomona’s Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences hosted Poly Pet Spa Day in the Animal Health Sciences building (67).
Poly Pet Spa Day is a clinic where students can bring in their cats and dogs for various services at an affordable price. This past weekend’s clinic sold out, with the department treating 100-200 animals, but those who missed their chance can anticipate the next clinic in April.
According to the clinic’s Eventbrite website, to book an appointment costs $5. Services offered for dogs included vaccines for distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus (DHPP), Bordetella and rabies, and a 4Dx Plus test which screens for heartworm, lyme, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. Cats could receive vaccines for feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia (FVRCP), leukemia and rabies, and a SNAP FeLV/FIV test which screens for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. Each vaccine or test was $10. Also offered were free toenail trims and anal gland examinations.
Rabies vaccines are highly encouraged as they are required by law. “In general, vaccines should be a priority since infectious diseases can cause animals to be very sick and even die,” said Joanne Sohn, animal health science program director and doctor of veterinary medicine.
Lauren Bruno | The Poly Post
This year the department offered a new service where pet owners could purchase microchips for their furry friends for only $20. This is a useful service to take advantage of, as microchipping can be used to help find a pet if it get lost.
“We … provide this low-cost/free service so our CPP community can see the value of having the animal health science program at the university,” Sohn said. “It has become very popular and is now permanently held twice a year.
“We started this event five years ago so our veterinary technician (veterinary nursing) students could get hands-on experience with animals. This includes animal restraint, giving injections, drawing blood, performing nail trims and expressing anal glands. This is a classic learn-by-doing experience,” Sohn said. “Students perform all the services except the physical exam.”
When the event first started, it was funded through a Special Projects for Improving the Classroom Environment (SPICE) grant. All of the money earned at each pet spa goes toward the next one. “This would include supplies such as vaccines (or) tests …. If we get free tests from IDEXX Laboratories we will often offer free blood testing so that our students can get more experience with blood draws,” Sohn said.
Pet owners are still encouraged to take their pet to a veterinarian for physical exams, but this event is intended to be a supplement to regular veterinarian visits.
The next Pet Spa Day is scheduled for April 18, and spay, neuter and dental procedures will also be offered.
