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The College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University will be host of the 15th annual Mid-Western Exotic Animal Conference, Nov. 1-2, at K-State.

Kansas City, MO - "Although the conference is geared toward the veterinarian, we also are directing it toward the veterinary student," said Dr. James Carpenter, veterinarian and K-State professor of zoological medicine. "As a teacher and a mentor, I want students to become more interested and excited about the field of exotic animal medicine."

This year's conference is focused on companion birds, reptiles and small exotic mammals like rabbits and ferrets. Experts will present updates on medicine, diagnostic techniques, anesthesia and analgesia, and surgical procedures used in a variety of exotic animals.

"Exotic animal medicine is the most rapidly growing field in veterinary medicine, and one that is rapidly becoming an integral part of many companion animal practices," Carpenter said. "While traditional veterinary medicine is concerned with approximately eight species, exotic animal veterinarians are generally expected to be proficient in the care, husbandry and medicine of hundreds of species."

The conference will feature classroom learning combined with interactive discussion and hands-on activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to either participate in a wet lab where selected surgical procedures will be performed on lizards, or join in on a master class that will focus on normal and abnormal behavior of small mammals like rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs.

Source: K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine