University of Minnesota launches Animal Trauma Center

The University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center announced in March that it has launched its Animal Trauma Center, based on the human model for clinical trauma care.

The VMC created the Animal Trauma Center to provide comprehensive team care for treating canine and feline trauma patients and addressing other serious animal emergencies.

The hope is that other large veterinary medical centers and teaching hospitals will adopt the same model, said VMC associate clinical specialist Dr. Kelly E. Hall, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Dr. Hall said, "By working collaboratively with leaders in the veterinary trauma field throughout the country, advancements in trauma care will be shared between centers rapidly, assuring the most severely injured patients have access to the most advanced therapies."

The VMC Animal Trauma Center has the capabilities to treat trauma patients with injuries such as those resulting from vehicle accidents, major falls, bite wounds, and smoke or chemical inhalation. Most of the region's police departments rely on the VMC to provide care for canine officers who sustain injuries in the line of duty.

"Just as in human medicine, not every practice or emergency clinic needs the ability to handle trauma cases—but a large metro area can benefit from having a designated center to serve the region," said Dr. David E. Lee, VMC director.