The Barometer Online

Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Contributed Photo Oregon State University veterinary students Brian Dugovich and Craig Seyler perform a physical exam on a dog during last year's Nicaragua trip.

Students in OSU's International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA) will go to Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua this December to provide veterinary care and public education.

"As far as we know, just from speaking to the local residents, there's really no consistent vet care there," said Austin Bell, a third year veterinary student who traveled to Central America last year with the IVSA group and will return this year.

"It's all free," said Jessika Lais, a second year veterinary student who will go to Nicaragua this December. "Get in line with your animal and we'll work as quickly as we can."

The students will perform several procedures for local pets, such as de-worming, basic vaccinations, wound treatment, physicals, neutering and spaying.

The opportunity for free veterinary care a necessary help for Nicaragua's pets, as they may otherwise receive no treatment and become extremely ill or die. In addition, people in Nicaragua still heavily depend on their pets as livestock and forms of transportation.

According to the CIA World Factbook, Nicaragua's GDP per capita - the sum of the goods and services a country divided by its population - is $2,800, compared to $45,800 in the United States.

"In a country as poor as Nicaragua, a lot of the people are still relying on their livestock," Bell said. "People are still riding their horses around and using cows to till the fields."

Eight OSU veterinary students traveled to Nicaragua and Costa Rica last December. The experience helped the decision to return to Nicaragua this year.

"From what we saw down there, people were actually very concerned about their animals," Bell said.

The 10-day trip will cost each student approximately $2,000, though any unused money from the students' fund raising can be split to help with student's cost.

In addition to cash donations, the students are also accepting donations of towels, blankets, exam gloves and other supplies that will be used during medical procedures.

Supply donations are necessary, given that the working conditions are often very basic.

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