UC Davis’ Orphan Kitten Challenge Helps Vet College students Be taught Whereas Saving Lives

Via a number of hands-on studying initiatives, the UC Davis College of Veterinary Medication goals to arrange college students for future careers as animal medication practitioners. And certainly one of their initiatives not solely provides vet med college students hands-on expertise but additionally saves the lives of tiny kittens who might need in any other case perished within the wild. The Orphan Kitten Challenge provides these little ones an opportunity to seek out their eternally happiness.

As a part of the UC Davis’ Entry to Care Program, the OKP runs as a non-profit foster-based rescue managed by college students. And whereas these college students are gaining observe with real-world eventualities that can make them extra skilled upon commencement, the OKP is about a lot extra. Merely put, these future veterinarians are saving lives.

The Orphan Kitten Challenge at UC Davis

Rescuing kittens since 1988, the Orphan Kitten Challenge takes in deserted neonatal kittens underneath the age of 4 weeks outdated. As soon as rescued, kittens endure an entire examination with challenge coordinators and college students. The little ones are then positioned in foster care with college students or neighborhood volunteers. Whereas in foster care, the infants are hand-raised and bottle-fed, making them well-rounded kitties who will slot in purrfectly of their new properties.

However earlier than the little ones discover their new properties at 10-12 weeks outdated, they’re vaccinated, FeLV examined, spayed or neutered, and dewormed. And relaxation assured, kittens are by no means used for invasive analysis or euthanized as a result of they haven’t been adopted. Kittens merely stick with the OKP till their eternally house is discovered.

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Arms-On Studying for Future Vets

A few of the neonatal kittens within the OKP’s care arrive in essential situation, and their care affords vet med college students an opportunity to study whereas saving a life. And as we already know, there are at all times kittens in want of assist. In a single week alone, the UC Davis College of Veterinary Medication reported the OKP staff took in “seven kittens with a wide range of ocular and musculoskeletal points.”

These excessive instances enable college students to deal with particular instances not often skilled throughout scientific rotations. For instance, one of many week’s seven kittens had suffered extreme leg and hip fractures. And the toddler’s remedy “supplied coaching for orthopedic surgical procedure residents and college students by way of the Fracture Program, in addition to college students locally surgical procedure rotation.”

“One other kitten had an contaminated eye that required elimination, which was carried out within the Group Surgical procedure Service, in addition to remedy for a rolled-in decrease eyelid.”

Just like the Orphan Kitten Challenge, the Fracture Program and Group Surgical procedure Service are a part of UC Davis’ Entry to Care Program. This initiative not solely furthers scientific observe for college kids but additionally gives veterinary care to underserved communities and pet mother and father with obstacles to care for his or her fur youngsters.

And since these kittens purchase glorious care by way of OKP and different UC Davis packages, they’ve obtained a preventing probability on this planet! However look after kittens is pricey. And as a non-profit program, the Orphan Kitten Challenge is at all times in want of assist!