VERT - Veterinary Emergency Response Team

About VERT
The UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team was formed in 1997 after the Yuba County floods. The unit functions as a source of veterinary response in horse or large animal accidents, and technical large animal rescue, including equine helicopter rescue. We also respond to veterinary disaster and emergency response for Yolo or adjacent counties, involving multiple species.

Volunteers are UC Davis veterinary faculty, veterinary residents, veterinary students, and UC staff. We coordinate with Yolo county Animals Services, Yolo County OES, other agencies upon request including Yolo County Sherriff, Fire Departments, California Veterinary Medical Association, and humane organizations.

In January of 2008, the UC Davis VERT expanded to become part of the Medical Reserve Corp (MRC). The MRC is a civilian volunteer organization sponsored by the Office of the Surgeon General. As a MRC, UC Davis VERT can be mobilized for large-scale human health needs, such as wide-scale vaccinations, and to provide assistance in national disasters.

Our Experience & Skills
We have training and experience attending to large animals injured in trailer accidents, falls from a cliff, downer animals, and helicopter evacuation when transport by land is unfeasible due to weather, floods, or terrain.

Our Equipment
VERT is equipped with a two-horse trailer fully equipped with a two ton winch, a glide and 2 slips for moving down horses on the ground, and lifting technology including the Large Animals Lift (LAL) and the UC Davis Anderson Sling.

Community Education
VERT is working on a curriculum to provide training and fee based classes to train in large animal rescue techniques, safe animal handling in emergencies, and disaster planning for beloved pets. Stop by our VERT booth to see videos from past rescues, VERT helicopter airlift training footage, and chat with the students and Veterinarians from the UC Davis Large & Small Animal clinics.

Web Address: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vmth/large_animal/equine/default.cfm

University California Davis - School of Veterinary Medicine
Large Animal Clinic Speakers:

Dr. Julie Dechant is an Assistant Professor in Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Saskatchewan before completing an internship in private practice in Canada. Dr. Dechant then completed a 3-year combined residency and masters degree specializing in Equine Surgery at Colorado State University. She received her board certification in Large Animal Surgery in 2001. Dr. Dechant was on faculty at University of askatchewan and Oklahoma State University before joining UC Davis in 2004.

Talk Description: Dr. Dechant will discuss what you can do to help your horse when life-threatening illnesses/injuries strike, such as colics, lacerations or stepping on a nail. She will also go over what you should have in your emergency first-aid kit to prepare for the unexpected.

Dr. Dominic Dawson, DVM, DACVIM received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis in 2005. She completed an internship at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital in Snohomish, Washington in 2006. She then finished a residency in Large Animal Medicine at Cornell University in 2009. Dr. Dawson joined the veterinary faculty at UC Davis in 2009, specializing in Equine Internal Medicine.

Talk Description: Dr. Dawson will discuss vaccinations and deworming, then will open the discussion for questions and answers.

Dr. Sarah le Jeune, DVM, DACVS, DECVS, CVA is originally from Belgium and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Liege (Belgium) in 1999. After completing a residency in Equine Surgery at UC Davis, Dr. le Jeune became a board-certified surgeon and has been a member of the UC Davis Equine Surgery faculty since 2003. Throughout her veterinary career, Dr. le Jeune has had an interest in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. Since becoming certified in veterinary acupuncture by the Colorado State University, she has integrated acupuncture and TCVM into her equine practice.

Talk Description: Equine Acupuncture

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