The University School of Veterinary Medicine held its 29th annual open house Saturday for visitors, relatives and prospective students alike.
The event featured an array of animal-related activities. Scattered along the halls of the Vet School, spectators could find a number of animal-petting booths to appease pet enthusiasts.
Some petting exhibits featured the standard domestic dogs and rabbits, but a petting zoo featuring pigs, goats, ducks and horses also attracted guests. The open house boasted an exotic-animals petting room with snakes, lizards and various exotic birds.
Emily Harrington, a first-year vet student and volunteer in the exotic animals room, volunteered to bring her own rabbit to showcase at the event.
The theme of the event was “One World, One Medicine — Human and Animal Health.” The school’s website defined the theme as a movement to create equal and collaborative efforts between veterinary and human aspects of medicine.
“This is just a good way to show the public what we do,” said Ginger Guttner, the Vet School’s public relations coordinator.
Guttner said there were at least 200 Vet School student volunteers at the event and more than 4,000 visitors to the open house.
Mike VI was present at the open house, welcoming visitors at the entrance of the event.
  Video: Vet School Open House
 
The Baton Rouge Police Department was also present to showcase its K-9 unit with a live demonstration from attack dogs.
The open house featured a fistulated cow, which allowed children and adults to don rubber gloves and slide their hands into a pre-made hole leading to the cow’s stomach.
Many volunteers were on site to encourage visitors to get past the “gross-out factor.”
Among other exhibits, the open house featured a demonstration of the school’s small animal endoscopy equipment, using a bowl of candy to demonstrate the technology’s use.
Similar to an episode of a medical television show, participants could be seen close up as they grabbed at candy much like a surgeon would use the equipment to operate during surgery.
 
 
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Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at [email protected]