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The AHC offers a number of support services for the benefit of our clients and patients; however, the clinicians and caregivers in many of these areas do a great deal of their work “behind the scenes,” so you might not meet them during your visit. Rest assured, however, they are a vital part of our team, doing their part to ensure that your animal receives the highest quality care!
Anesthesia
The MSU CVM Anesthesia section provides sedation, general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and acute pain management to many patients requiring surgical or diagnostic procedures each year, servicing both the large animal medicine and small animal medicine services of the hospital. Dogs, cats and horses are the most common patients; however, rabbits, birds, cows, pigs, lions and tigers have all been anesthetized by the service! The team is led by two board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists.
The anesthesia team is also responsible for teaching the concepts and applications of anesthesia to second- and third-year veterinary students and veterinary technology students. They work closely with the orthopedics, neurology, rehabilitation and oncology services to provide an interdisciplinary approach to pain management.
We have compiled a list of FAQs to help address any concerns you might have. If you have additional questions after reviewing this info, please contact the clinician in charge of your pet’s care.
Anesthesia Team:
Anesthesiologists
- Robert Meyer, DVM, Dip. ACVAA, Professor
- Kristen Fizzano, DVM, Dip. ACVAA, Assistant Clinical Professor
- Simone Hinz, DVM, BSc, Assistant Clinical Professor, Service Chief
- Camila Lins Mascarenhas, DVM, Assistant Clinical Professor
Residents
- Grace McBride, BVM&S
Technologists
- Shelbi Doucette, CVT
- Gracie Holder, CVT
- Nancy Pounds, CVT
- Stacy Taylor, CVT
- Carrie Waddle, CVT
- Dom Campbell, CVT
- Heather Morgan, CVT
- Marina Brown, CVT
- Nydia Nesbit, CVT
- Kiera Jones, CVT
Diagnostic Imaging
Diagnostic imaging is crucial for the accurate diagnosis of many common conditions and diseases, and it also often plays a role in helping determine an appropriate treatment strategy. The AHC Radiology Service assists clinicians in the AHC with these efforts by offering small and large animal radiography (X-ray), digital fluoroscopy, small and large animal ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and Magnetic Ressonance Imaging (MRI). They also provide veterinary and veterinary technology students the training and hands-on imaging experience they need upon graduation.
All patients in the department are referred to by one of the clinical services in the AHC, such as surgery or internal medicine; clients cannot make appointments directly with radiology themselves. If images are ordered of your animal, your AHC clinician will discuss the findings with you after consulting with one of our radiologists.
The AHC Radiology Service also offers consultation services for referring veterinarians, meaning your veterinarian can send us radiographs of your pet for interpretation by one of our radiologists. A veterinary radiologist is a veterinarian who has completed advanced training in a three-to-four-year radiology residency program after graduating from veterinary school and has passed a board examination.
We have compiled a list of FAQs to help address any concerns you might have. If you have additional questions after reviewing this info, please contact the clinician in charge of your pet’s care.
Examinations and Procedures Offered:
- Radiographs
- Thoracic (chest), abdominal, and musculoskeletal radiographs (x-rays) for small and large animals
- Radiographs for submission to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- Contrast studies
- Gastrointestinal barium studies to evaluate the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine
- Urinary iodine studies such as excretory urography for kidney and ureter evaluation, cystography for bladder evaluation, and urethrography for evaluation of the urethra
- Myelography for evaluation of the spinal cord
- Fluoroscopy for real-time evaluation of the esophagus, trachea, and more
- Ultrasound
- Abdomen
- Thorax, including echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart)
- Musculoskeletal, including tendons and ligaments
- Eyes
- Ultrasound-guided aspirates and biopsies
- Computed tomography (CT) for evaluation of diseases of the skull, nose, spine, limbs, ears, thorax, and abdomen
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluation of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system
We also provide consultation for referring veterinarians.
Info for Referring Veterinarians:
Our radiologists are available for interpretation of radiographs of your patients. To send images for referral:
- Please label all images with the name of the referring veterinary clinic, patient name and date of examination.
- Digital images should be sent in their DICOM format. Veterinarians may contact our technical staff for instructions on submission. Call 662-325-1351 for more information.
- Please complete the referral form we send to you with as much patient information as possible and submit it along with the images through email to ahc@cvm.msstate.edu or fax it to (662) 325-4596.
- If sending hard copy radiographs, please mail the films and the completed referral form to the following address:
- Diagnostic Imaging Service
Animal Health Center
P.O. Box 6100
Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Diagnostic Imaging Service
Radiology Services Team:
Radiologists
- Alison Lee, DVM, MS, DACVR, Assistant Professor, Service Chief
- Marc Seitz, DVM, Dip. ABVP, DACVR, Assistant Clinical Professor
- Catana Capps, DVM, DACVR, Assistant Clinical Professor
House Officers
- Tom Campbell, DVM
- Leonard Jordan, DVM
- Charlee Sturkie, DVM
- Ali Diamond, DVM
Technologists
- Beverly Stevens, CVT
- Emily Hopson, CVT
Diagnostic Imaging Intern
- Grant Ford-Hodges, DVM
Pharmacy
The Animal Health Center Pharmacy is licensed by the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy as an institutional pharmacy. As a support service of the hospital, we contribute to the mission of MSU CVM in providing teaching, research, patient care and community service. The pharmacy team is also responsible for teaching pharmacology concepts and applications to third- and fourth-year veterinary students and veterinary technology students as well as fourth-year pharmacy students rotating with the pharmacy. From large to small animal and specialty compounds to allergen therapy, our staff are here to ensure your pet receives excellent pharmaceutical care.
The pharmacist provides clinical pharmacology consultations for faculty, staff, students, local veterinary practitioners and community pharmacists upon request.
The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 8 am until 5 pm with emergency on-call service available after hours. To reach us, please call 662-325-1252.
Pharmacy Team:
- Erica Wassack, PharmD, FSHVP, FACVP, Senior Clinical Pharmacist and Service Chief
- Katherine Raines, PharmD
- Ryder Ward, PharmD
- Lindsey Doss, CPhT
- Lauren Langford, CPhT
Rehabilitation
Members of the AHC rehabilitation services team offer a comprehensive program combining traditional physical applications with current therapies to help minimize or reverse functional impairment. These therapies are professionally designed to meet the specific needs of each patient to improve mobility, manage pain, increase strength, and ultimately improve the quality of life for your companion animal.
All consultation and treatment services are available by appointment only; a referral from your regular veterinarian or veterinary surgeon for rehabilitation is required.
It is important to bring any relevant radiographs or medical records to your appointment. Your veterinarian can also fax or email medical records prior to your appointment.
Benefits of Canine Physical Rehabilitation:
- Reducing pain
- Promoting healing
- Restoring and/or maintaining movement
- Building muscle mass
- Increasing cardiovascular fitness
- Combating obesity
- Improving physical condition in sporting & working dogs
- Training for use of carts and braces and other such equipment
Canine rehabilitation adapts different manual techniques and modalities used by physical therapists in human patients and applies these same techniques to dogs. It can promote a more rapid recovery from neurological or orthopedic disorders and surgery, helping to avoid complications associated with prolonged rest, as well as help prevent obesity and improve physical and cardiovascular fitness.
Modalities Offered Include:
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation is the therapeutic application of a controlled electric current. This modality is effective for the treatment of various orthopedic and neurologic diseases to assist with the management of acute or chronic pain, accelerate healing, and to delay muscle atrophy.
Therapeutic Laser
Low-level laser therapy is a painless treatment that uses clinically tested wavelengths of light to stimulate natural biological processes leading to faster healing and pain relief. Cells in the body absorb laser energy that stimulates the body to release pain relieving compounds, increases circulation and energizes the cells to participate in the healing process. Many times laser therapy can take the place of pharmaceuticals and surgery to treat long-term, degenerative diseases.
Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercise is an essential and noninvasive form of treatment designed for use in a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. These activities strengthen specific muscles, increase flexibility, minimize pain, develop coordination and body awareness, as well as improve movement quality. Each patient receives a home therapeutic exercise plan so owners can be involved in their companion’s healing and physical wellness.
Hydrotherapy
Our underwater treadmill has many benefits and is effective in rehabilitation for post-operative orthopedic surgery, neurologic injury and osteoarthritis pain relief. Exercise in water can improve strength, endurance, and joint function while minimizing pain in a safe, supportive environment.
Game-Ready Ice Compression
The game ready unit promotes vasoconstriction and helps reduce inflammation and edema, while allowing gentle compression.
Ground Treadmill
Walking on the treadmill helps with gait retraining and encourages initial weight-bearing following surgery.
Shock Wave Therapy
Shock wave is an acoustic wave which carries high energy to painful areas and tissues for both acute and chronic conditions. The energy promotes regeneration and reparative processes of the bones, tendons and other soft tissues.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound is an effective treatment for rehabilitation conditions such as restricted range of motion, pain, muscle spasms and wound healing.
Rehab Team:
- Michaela Beasley, DVM, MS, CCRP, MBA, DACVIM (Neurology)
- Michael Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS
- Ruby Lynn Carter, CVT, CCRP
- Catherine Barton, CVT
- Justice Steele,CVT
To the AHC Rehab Team there is little in life more rewarding than helping a non-ambulatory patient go through the process of recovering and regaining normal function. Knowing they help patients reach the milestones necessary to return home to their families and previous lifestyles makes their daily duties worthwhile.
All rehab patients are referred back to their primary care veterinarian for routine veterinary care.
