Animal Health and Sciences

Congratulations to Dr. Akhilesh Ramachandran on receiving the 2020 Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award! Established in 2018, the award recognizes faculty members granted tenure at Oklahoma State University within the previous three years. Recipients must demonstrate a strong potential for continued contributions to the University and to his/her profession in the areas of instruction, research and creative activity and/or extension/outreach.

Veronique Lacombe, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, DECEIM, has been asking the same question since she was a child growing up in the south of France, “Why?” The board certified veterinarian, whose research impacts human health, is a professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Educated at the oldest veterinary college in Europe, the National Veterinary School of Maisons-Alfort near Paris, France, Lacombe’s innate curiosity drove her to learn and to discover new knowledge.

Lameness is the most common ailment that horses suffer. In fact, lameness is estimated to cost U.S. horse owners more than $1 billion every year.

Bovine Respiratory Disease generates an estimated $800 million to $900 million annually in economic losses within the U.S. cattle industry.

Although the United States has not had foot and mouth disease (FMD) since 1929, it’s still affecting livestock elsewhere around the world — and that could return it here. According to the World Animal Health Organization, FMD circulates in 77 percent of the global livestock population, including in areas in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America. Bringing FMD to the United States would paralyze our agriculture and significantly impact our economy.

Having discussions about scours management with a large animal veterinarian now will save time, energy and dollars later, and it improves overall animal welfare.