PU addresses growing need for more vets

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - With a shortage of veterinarians nation-wide, Purdue University is taking steps to address the growing need for more.

At the Austin's Dairy Farm Dr. Mark Hilton is teaching Purdue Students how to check to see if a cow is pregnant.  These two students will graduate from Purdue and spend their careers working with large animals.  But, Hilton said many other students are choosing to focus only on small animals.

"Most of the veterinarians that are retiring now were doing either some or all food animal or large animal work.  60 to 80% of the students are doing totally small animal practice, so people that are retiring are leaving a void for the food animal industry, so we need more veterinarians to go into food animal practice," said Hilton.

There are only 28 veterinary schools in the United States and the need for vets is growing.

"It would be very expensive to start a new veterinary school.  I don't even know the time when we've had a new veterinary school. It's been at least 15-20 years since a new veterinary school has started," said Hilton.

At the Veterinary School of Medicine, Purdue is looking to increase enrollment by 20% in the next two years.

"We're trying to identify needed resources to change, modify, some of our existing facilities.  So we can accommodate the increase.  This is our part in trying to meet this national need," said Willie Reed.

Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed said some predictions indicate the demand for veterinary services will increase about 35% by 2016.

"There's a critical need of veterinarians practicing large animal medicine, specifically food animal medicine.  This really is becoming a national security issue.  Our food veterinarians are on the front lines and they will be the ones to detect foreign animal diseases that could really threaten our livestock and poultry populations," said Reed.

Reed said if there are fewer veterinarians, human health is at risk.

"Veterinarians play critical roles in food safety, food security, and aspects of public health, especially in controlling diseases," said Reed.

He said the shortage of vets is having a bigger impact in rural areas.

"Small farmers, farmers who have a limited number of animals are unable to find veterinarians to supply needed services to maintain the health of their animals," said Reed.

Reed said increasing enrollment isn't the only way Purdue is addressing the problem.

"We are reaching out to middle school students, high school students, telling them about the opportunities available in veterinary medicine and particularly the need for more large animal veterinarians," said Reed.

Reed said increasing enrollment shouldn't cost the university any money, since increased enrollment means more students will pay tuition.