WATERBURY – A weekend seminar on Veterinary Infrared Thermography (IRT) will be held Friday, June 11, through Sunday, June 13, at Tiekyo Post University’s Drubner Center (exit 17 off I-84) in Waterbury.

Dr Donna Harper, a veterinarian from New Mexico who is certified by the American Board of Thermology, will be conducting the seminar. There will be two evening sessions, which are open to the public. The purpose of this seminar is to introduce the use of infrared thermography in veterinary diagnostics to the public and prospective students alike.

Session I (Friday and Saturday at 7:15 pm) will cover information appropriate for the general public and will include a live demonstration on Saturday. Session II (from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday with a prerequisite of Session I) will cover general information on how to conduct an acceptable infrared examination on animals. And Session III (9 am to 4 pm on Sunday) will be directed toward veterinarians or sponsored veterinary technicians, and will cover the use of IRT in daily diagnostics, as well as image interpretation and case presentations.

Dr Harper has experience with a wide variety of companion animals, but specializes in work with competition horses. Infrared thermography is being used to evaluate lameness and neurological problems in small animals; however, its most widely known use is in the field of equine medicine. Areas where IRT is being effectively used include preventative medicine and prediction of soundness; diagnostics and treatment; and prognostics and rehabilitation.

The entire process is quite similar to using a digital camera to take photographs and then displaying the resulting pictures in a software program on your computer. These IR software programs have the added ability to allow the thermographer to manipulate the images in order to gain additional information about thermal patterns in each image. The end result is a report that details the abnormalities found in the infrared images that were taken. Knowing the location of these abnormalities helps the veterinarian diagnose what has happened to the horse being examined.

For further information and prices, contact Carole Baker at Teikyo-Post University at (203) 596-4631 or email: cbaker@teikyopost.edu.

Scholarships Available

Riders take note! Teikyo Post University is granting scholarships to students who ride on the Equestrian Teams. Any full-time student, whatever their major, is eligible.

While there is an Equine Management program offered at TPU, it is not required that team members select this major – and there are 25 majors to choose from. This means that riders can get help with their college tuition while doing what they like best – ride!

There are two teams at TPU – the first is under the auspices of the Inter-Collegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and is for hunt seat riders. The format is interesting because it allows riders of all skill levels to compete as classes range from Beginner Walk, Trot up to Open-Flat and Over Fences.

Teikyo Post has supported an IHSA Equestrian Team for many years and competes in Region 1 against UConn, Wesleyan, Johnson & Wales, Connecticut College, Salve Regina, University of Rhode Island, Trinity, Roger Williams and Brown Universities. The team has practice every week and TPU covers all competition expenses, so this is a great chance to get extra riding and competition experience at no cost.

The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) is only a few years old, but is proving very popular.  TPU fielded a team for the first time last year and is planning a strong team again this year. Teams of four riders ride tests from Introductory to First Level, also riding horses supplied by the host college.

This time they ride the selected horse for 10 minutes before going in to compete.

Any student interested in getting more information about TPU Team Scholarships should contact Donna Warner at 203-596-4696.

Or e-mail Dwarner@teikyopost.edu.