Atlantic Veterinary College celebrates re-opening of expanded Veterinary Teaching Hospital

The Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI celebrated the re-opening of its expanded and renovated Veterinary Teaching Hospital today marking a new era of veterinary health care for Atlantic Canada.

'The Atlantic Veterinary College's Veterinary Teaching Hospital is the only full service veterinary referral hospital in Atlantic Canada,' said Dr. Donald L. Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College. 'We take great pride in providing exceptional care for our clients and their animals, and an outstanding education for our veterinary medicine students.'

Approximately 10,000 square feet was renovated and added to the veterinary hospital at a cost of $3.2 million. The upgrade included increasing the number of surgery rooms; an expanded anesthesia, induction and recovery area; an Intensive Care Unit and isolation ward; a family consultation room; clinical conference space; rooms dedicated to dentistry, special procedures and exotic animals; and an improved bovine loading area.

Each year more than 5,000 companion animals and approximately 750 large animals from throughout the Atlantic region receive care at the College's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Many of these animals are referred to the Atlantic Veterinary College by veterinarians from throughout the Atlantic provinces.

The Atlantic Veterinary College's Veterinary Teaching Hospital provides comprehensive treatment and care through specialties such as veterinary cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, surgery, herd health, internal medicine, theriogenology and community practice. This expertise is delivered by a team of clinicians, technicians, interns, residents and veterinary students.

Senior veterinary students spend their final year of training in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital working directly with clients to gain valuable hands-on experience.

'In addition to better care for client animals, improvements to the hospital translate directly into enhanced training and learning opportunities for our soon-to-be veterinarians,' explains Dr. Reynolds.

The Atlantic Veterinary College is committed to excellence and innovation in education, research and professional services. Funded by the four Atlantic provinces, the Atlantic Veterinary College is the only veterinary college in eastern Canada and north of Boston. Since 1990, the College has trained more than 1,100 veterinarians - the majority of which work and live in Atlantic Canada.