PRESIDENT: Audra Sutter VP: Natalia Martinez SECRETARY: Kristen Hanlon TREASURER: Gabriela Iglesias Mendoza EVENTS: Megan

McCarthy HISTORIAN: Katie King ADVERSTISING: Andrew Vidot

Fall

9/17 - 10/2

2013

Education DVM, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., 1980 MS, Veterinary Anatomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., 1976 BA, Biological Sciences, Pre-Veterinary, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., 1975 BA, Biolgoical Sciences, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo., 1973 Honors and Awards US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Directors Conservation Award, 2008 Research Interests Preventative medicine program development, conservation and endangered species research in sirenians, cetaceans, and sea turtles. Clinical research to improve preventative medicine programs including nutrition, diagnostic and treatment protocol improvement and development. Current research projects include: nutritional evaluation and components in cetaceans, manatees and sharks, whole blood ele-

ment analysis in marine animals as a diagnostic tool, manatee milk analysis, and use of thermography as a diagnostic tool. Educational seminars within and between departments. Recent Publications Intestinal and cloacal strictures in free-ranging and aquarium-maintained green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).Echocardiographic evaluation of clinically healthy Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus

People with diabetes may have a new way to indicate their blood sugar level is too high or too low, by turning to our trusty canine friends, after researchers have found that dogs can help with hypoglycemia monitoring. The study, published in PLOS ONE, is the first of its kind to analyze whether trained dogs can accurately and consistently serve as an "early-warning system" to monitor blood sugar levels for their owners and notify them when the levels are too high or low. For the research, 17 dogs were trained by Medical Detection Dogs - a UK charity that works with researchers and universities - to warn their owners when their blood sugar levels were "out of target range." Researchers then collected data from the owners to analyze whether the dogs were accurately able to respond to their owners' hypoglycemic levels, and also whether the owners experienced better blood sugar control and wider benefits. The results show that all 17 owners reported positive outcomes, including:

Fewer paramedic calls Fewer unconscious episodes Improved independence. Additionally, the owners' data showed that the dogs notified them with "significant accuracy" during times of both low and high blood sugar. Lead author Dr. Nicola Rooney says: "Despite considerable resources having been invested in developing electronic systems to facilitate tightened glycemic control, current equipment has numerous limitations." "These findings are important as they show the value of trained dogs and demonstrate that 'glycemia alert dogs' placed with clients living with diabetes, afford significant improvements to owner well-being, including increased glycemic control, client independence and quality-of-life, and potentially could reduce the costs of long-term health care."

Sniffing out blood sugar

The study authors note that although dogs respond to their owners' high or low blood sugar levels, they cannot be entirely sure how they do this. They cite odor cues as the most likely explanation, saying: "It is likely that dogs detect changes in the chemical composition of their owners' sweat, or breath (including products of ketosis), using their acute sense of smell."

"These findings are important as they show the value of trained dogs and demonstrate that 'glycemia alert dogs' placed with clients living with diabetes, afford significant improvements to owner well-being, including increased glycemic control, client independence and quality-of-life, and potentially could reduce the costs of long-term health care."

Sniffing out blood sugar

The study authors note that although dogs respond to their owners' high or low blood sugar levels, they cannot be entirely sure how they do this. They cite odor cues as the most likely explanation, saying: "It is likely that dogs detect changes in the chemical composition of their owners' sweat, or breath (including products of ketosis), using their acute sense of smell." They say their study confirms that trained detection dogs perform above the chance level, which is the level that would be expected if random choices were made. Dr. Nicola Rooney adds: "Some of the owners also describe [that] their dogs respond even before their blood sugars are low, but as they start to drop, so it is possible that the dogs are even more effective than this study suggests." She says that further research is needed in order to determine how the dogs "carry out this amazing task."

To learn more about the ever growing veterinary field, visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Upcoming Events

These are the dates of our upcoming meetings, a more updated schedule with the description of each meeting will be found online on the Facebook page or our website. Please note that any of these dates, times, or activities are subject to change.

September 28th

Unleashed, uncorked, and unframed Meeting 3: Dr. Bruce

Exotics and herpetology

A charity gala volunteering opportunity, reserve your spot on our facebook

October 2nd October 16th October 19th October 26th November 30th

Meeting 4 Jungle Adventure Volunteering Day Freedom Ride Volunteering Day Meeting 5

Ranked 2nd in the nation for veterinary schools, this west coast school offers a wide variety of research and experience

Important Contacts
ADVISEMENT

SHADOWING

OPPA: The Office of Pre Winter Park Veterinary Hospital is Professional Advising also offering shadowing opportuniwww.oppa.ucf.edu ties. The shadowing will be set up Building 7G, Room 203 to allow for 1 student per six week (407) 823-3033 session. There is a three step screening process: UCF Pre-Health Advisement Office: (1) Interview with Frank Lohttp://med.ucf.edu/phpao/ giudice. Health & Public Affairs I, Room 124 (2) Participate in a group orienOrlando, FL 32816-2360 tation tour and interview at W.P.V.H. (407) 823-2670 (3) Submit a personal stateFrank Logiudice: Undergraduate ment. Coordinator and Instructor Dr. Brian Martin is interested in frank.logiudice@ucf.edu having students shadow with him Office: Biology building 301 while he is (407) 823-2495 performing spaying and neutering University of Florida College of Vetproce dures fro Brevard County Anierinary Medicine mal Control. Any student who is http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/ interested should meet with Frank EXPERIENCE Logiudice (BL 301c). Hands-On Wildlife Safari The Tuskawilla animal hospital now info@handsonwildlife.com is allowing Pre-Veterinary students 4983 Brook RoadKissimmee, FL shadow. To contact, please email or (321)624-9252 call at: (407) 699-1500 TuscaanBack to Nature Wildlife Refuge inihosp@aol.com fo@btnwildlife.org 18515 East Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32820 Fallin' Pines Critter Rescue, Inc. http:// www.fallinpinesrescue.org/ 23643 Christmas Cemetery Rd. Christmas, FL 32709 (407) 568-7988 Freedom Ride http://www.freedomride.com/ 1905 Lee Rd, Orlando, FL 32810 (407) 293-0411