Thursday, May 9, 2013
Tufts' wildlife clinic director explains why you're seeing more of the cute critters around Grafton and beyond.
Have you spotted foxes around town? Several Grafton residents have reported sightings of red foxes and their young offspring, known as "kits." And that's not unusual, says the director of the wildlife clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. "Red foxes are increasing in population all over, including suburban areas," said Flo Tseng, director of the wildlife clinic. "Mating season is usually early spring, and females are pregnant for 50-51 days before giving birth. So, you're likely to see youngsters out there." Grace Elizabeth Quist took photos of these kits Tuesday morning on Barbara Jean Street; other readers have reported seeing them off Stratton Road, as well. "Kits are youngsters, and they're not as smart about being …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The hospital is one of only nine hospitals nationwide to meet the criteria.
Press release from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine The American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) has approved the Tufts Foster Hospital for Small Animals (FHSA) at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to be provisionally designated as a Veterinary Trauma Center in a new initiative designed to improve treatment outcomes of animal trauma cases. The Veterinary Trauma Center designation is part of an effort by the ACVECC Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) to create a network of lead hospitals that will seed development of trauma systems nationally. FHSA is one of nine hospitals approved for the new designation. These hospitals will work collaboratively to define high standards of care and …
Friday, March 29, 2013
Brandon Rivard's dog, Hank, was hit by a car on Sunday, but compassion and concern helped save the dog's life.
Hank, a six-year-old black German Shepherd, gets to go to Hovey Pond with his "dad" Brandon Rivard pretty often. The river that leads out to the pond is directly across the street from Rivard's house in North Grafton, on Worcester Street. Hank loves to swim and romp around in the water, and they spend a lot of time around water and on boats. So when Rivard held a family get-together this past Sunday, Hank got caught up in all the commotion and wandered back across the street to visit with some of the guests who hadn't headed down to the river. That's when a car slammed into him, right in front of Rivard's house. When Rivard ran out to get to Hank, about two minutes after the accident, there was already a crowd of people trying to help and …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Researchers at the Cummings Veterinary School in Grafton examined 'Bully Sticks.'
Bully sticks, a popular dog treat, could be contaminated by bacteria and loaded with calories, according to a study published in the most recent issue of the Canadian Veterinary Journal. Researchers analyzed the caloric density and bacterial contamination of these treats, also known as "pizzle sticks," which are made from the uncooked, dried penis of a bull or steer. "We were surprised at the clear misconceptions pet owners and veterinarians have with pet foods and many of the popular raw animal-product based pet treats currently on the market," said Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN, professor of nutrition who is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary NutritionFreeman. "For example, 71 percent of people feeding bully sticks …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The cub is scheduled to be released into the wild this week.
A black bear is recovering in Grafton after being found orphaned and thin. The male bear, which had probably been orphaned, is being treated at the Bernice Barbour Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts. Katherine Cinnamond, assistant director of public relations for Tufts University, told the Grafton Daily Voice the bear, which was found weighing 15 pounds, is eating and now weighs a healthy 40 pounds. The bear will be released back into the wild on Wednesday. Experts hope he will instinctively hibernate for the winter.
Monday, December 24, 2012
"To an animal control officer, this is the best Christmas present I could have received."
Dan Chauvin, animal control officer for Millbury, Sutton and Northbridge, thought he was going to have to deal with an animal case with a sad ending. Instead, it turned out to be his favorite Christmas story. Early in the morning on Nov. 5, he got a call to Church Street in Whitinsville to assist an injured screech owl. Chauvin found that the little owl was unable to stand or open its eyes, and was bleeding slightly from an impact wound that appeared to be caused from a collision with a car. He gingerly placed the owl in a crate to transport it to Tufts University Wildlife Clinic, where they quickly took the bird in. "They took the owl, and I did not check back with clinic, as I didn't want to hear the bad news that it had died," said …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
A young reindeer was treated at Tufts for knee surgery.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
-
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Information courtesy of Katie Cinnamond, assistant director of public relations, Tufts University Just in time for the holiday season, faculty clinicians at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals (FHSA) at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University report that Willow, a one-and-a-half-year-old reindeer, is in stable condition after undergoing knee surgery on Thursday, Dec. 13. The young female reindeer is now back home for the holidays and is resting comfortably in the onsite zoo hospital at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. She was transported from Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Mass., where she resides with two other reindeer, to the Cummings School after suffering from a luxating patella. A luxating patella is a condition caused …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
A stray with a broken leg gets a second chance, and hopes to have a home by Christmas.
Last week, Grafton Patch reported that a dog, "Amelia," was listed on craigslist as needing help or she would be euthanized. With an apparent broken leg, the poster was trying to find help for the stray. Concerned people answered the call. Amelia, now named "Star," is now at the Fitchburg Animal Shelter awaiting a forever home. "We don't have much of a story on her," said Amy Egeland from the shelter. "Someone brought her in to Tufts; he found her out in the street. She was limping at that time. We are going under the assumption that she was hit by a car." Before coming to the shelter, veterinarians at Tufts operated on her leg. Amelia then was taken in by Broken Tail Rescue, which in turn urgently called Fitchburg Animal Shelter. "I had …
Friday, September 14, 2012
A great horned owl brought in to Tufts from Millbury died during the night.
A great horned owl that was brought in to the Wildlife Clinic at the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine died during the night. Daniel Chauvin, animal control officer in Millbury, got a call from a homeowner on Stowe Road two days ago. A great horned owl roosted on a stone wall near the caller's house, and wasn't moving. Chauvin visited the site, which is in a heavily wooded area, and walked up to the animal. Alert but lethargic, Chauvin knew the owl needed help. "We knew it was sick when you could walk up to it and it made no attempt to fly away," said Chauvin. "It just spread its wings and walked. It was an adult great horned owl. I captured it with a net and handled the bird with heavy gloves, placed it into a cage and transported it to…
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
It is opening the first nutrition clinic for pets in the country.
Who doesn't love a rolly, polly, pudgy puppy? It's how they are supposed to be right? Wrong. Beyond the cuteness are serious health risks, which is why the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is opening the first obesity clinic for pets in the country, according to the Examiner.com. The school will have three nutritionists to work with future vets and teach them the ins and outs of proper feeding. According to examiner.com, between 60 and 70 percent of pets would qualify for this clinic. Some issues caused by animal obesity include diabetes, orthopedic problems and possible shortened life expectancy.
42.24718
-71.677369
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA
/articles/tufts-aims-focus-on-pet-obesity
1014205
/locations/7762324
Kim Wescott
11:05 am on Thursday, April 4, 2013
Nice story. Compassionate passersby trying to help; an unfortunate driver who cared enough to stop; and the amazing coincidence of those veterinary students who 'just happened' to be driving by at exactly the right time. And yes, we are fortunate to have such an amazing animal hospital right here in our town - two of my pets have been emergency patients there over the years and the folks at Tufts… more ›