The practice of veterinary medicine is changing all the time. It’s more than just new technology in the animal operating room. The Fayette County School System features a ‘one of a kind’ full service vet clinic on its new agri-science campus. The clinic opened Friday. Students can get an up close look at various procedures. On site vet, Dr. Jim Martin says not all students will end up at an animal clinic in the years ahead.“With all the programs in agri-science, is that I think that homeland security is gonna take a lot of veterinary positions and the military, the government,” said Martin.
Martin treats large and small animals. He hopes this school program will open up some eyes to the world of large animal medicine.
“We have like 90 counties that have like maybe one large animal vet. We have 30 counties that have zero. So, there’s a program in Kentucky to help pay all the tuition if someone will come back and go to those areas,” added Martin.
The University of Kentucky has an agreement with Auburn University for a number of slots in the Alabama vet school. Veterinarian Lynn McMaine hopes Kentucky’s budget problems don’t impact future spots.
For us it’s one of the things that we as veterinarians ask for all of the time, please continue the slots that you have. If you can increase them, that would be great, but please continue the slots you have with Auburn. But, with the additional veterinary schools that are around, there are still…..it’s competitive….but there’s still a lot of opportunity,” said McMaine.
While there is substantial need for large animal vets across Kentucky, veterinarian Lynn McMaine says there’s still a need for small animal vets.
“There are still a lot of pets out there that don’t receive regular veterinary care. So, there is still plenty of work to be done,” explained McMaine.
Students are the Fayette agriscience complex will be able to get a first hand view of surgeries on animals in the vet clinic.
