Canada - University of Guelph - Ontario Veterinary College
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The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is the oldest veterinary school in North America. Located on the campus of the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, the OVC is one of five Canadian veterinary schools that offers the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Other veterinary colleges in Canada include the University of Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan, the Université de Montréal and the University of Prince Edward Island.
About Us
The OVC was established in Toronto in 1862, by Andrew Smith, a graduate of the Royal School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh. In 1922, the college moved to Guelph and became a founding college of the University of Guelph in 1964. Since then, the OVC has grown with the University of Guelph.
Education
The OVC offers a four-year bachelor's degree in biomedical science in addition to the DVM degree. Students apply to the four-year DVM program after a minimum of four full-time university semesters. There are 120 seats available in each year of the program, with 105 seats available for Ontario residents and 15 for non-Canadians. The college also offers internship and residency programs as well as Diploma, MPH, MSc, PhD and DVSc programs at the graduate level. The college is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Current Research
The Ontario Veterinary College conducts research in various fields of veterinary medicine, including food and companion animal medicine, equine medicine, health management and environmental health. There are facilities for animal-based and laboratory-based research including a 12,000 sq. ft Laboratory for Translational Biomedical Discovery, Intensive Care and surgical facilities and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and spectroscopy facilities. The OVC focusses on research that develops animal models for the investigation of human disease.
The OVC also boasts the Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation (ICCI), which is dedicated to providing comprehensive cancer care for companion animals and unlocking the deadly secrets of the disease for the benefit of all species, including humans. The ICCI takes an integrated approach to cancer studies that cannot be matched in a human health care environment. It entails collaborative research of more than 30 cancer investigators from at least a dozen departments across the University of Guelph: cancer biologists, veterinarians, chemists, mathematicians, computer scientists, toxicologists, psychologists and others who represent Guelph’s unique capacity to broaden the scope of research and deepen our understanding of cancer.
There are a large number of agri-food and health management projects underway at present. This research is supported by the OMAFRA contract and many external groups, like the Ontario Cattleman’s Association, Poultry Industry Council, the NSERC Industrial Partnership Program, pharmaceutical companies and many more. Food safety research is an area that the OVC is primarily focused on as well. Another ever expanding field of research at the OVC is non-foodborne zoonoses, as well as International ecosystem health projects being carried out in Nepal and the Western Amazon lowlands. Public Health has long been at the core of the OVC, leading to the establishment of the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses on campus.
Most of the Small Companion Animal research on campus is funded by the OVC's Pet Trust. It is Canada’s first charitable fund entirely dedicated to advancing the health and well being of companion animals. There are over 50 individual Pet Trust funded projects active at any time, most often association with clinical doctorate (DVSc) projects. The projects span the range from basic to applied, and represent virtually all of the specialty discipline areas, including work into the role of veterinarians, client communication skills, etc.
More Information is available at The OVC Research page
Clinical Services
The OVC Teaching Hospital offers medical and surgical care for small and large animals, while training future veterinarians in a challenging clinical environment. It is a major window to the community for OVC and the University of Guelph. Primarily a referral hospital, the VTH treats approximately 16,000 companion animal, equine, domestic farm animal and exotic species each year. The field services also provide primary care for ruminant and swine clients on farms throughout the region. The teaching hospital is at the core of the college, providing learning opportunities as well as advancing the field of veterinary medicine through clinically-based research and clinical service.
A new addition to the OVC is the Hill's Primary Healthcare Centre, opened in 2010. primarily funded by the Ontario government and Hill's Pet food. The new facility is designed as a stand-alone veterinary hospital for routine vaccinations, spays and neuters and other wellness visits. It is designed to provide students educational experiences in all aspects of primary health care, from surgical and technical skills to business and communication skills to preventive medicine, nutrition and animal welfare and behaviour.
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