Germany - Free University of Berlin Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
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The Department of Veterinary Medicine is a prestigious center of research in veterinary medicine and veterinary care services. It is one of only five sites in Germany offering veterinary education and training. The research activities of the Department’s 20 academic and clinical units take an interdisciplinary approach and are part of a worldwide network
About Us
Founded in 1790, the Tierärztliche Hochschule Berlin has been authorised to award doctorates on the 5th September 1910. The first twelve veterinarians recieved their diplomas in january 1911.
Education
The veterinary research performed within the Department traditionally focuses especially on food safety and product quality in foods from animal sources. But animal welfare and the yield, health, and reproduction of livestock are also studied within the Department, along with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, skin, and kidneys in animals.
Current Research
All 20 academic and clinical units (WE1–20) are involved in a number of different subject-specific research projects alongside their extensive teaching assignments within the course of study in veterinary medicine. This enables us not only to provide students with the generally established base knowledge applied in the field, but also to inform them of innovative developments and cutting-edge technologies.
The department seeks to promote the formation of effective networks, both within the Berlin/Brandenburg academic and scientific community and as part of international cooperative research projects. This is an area of particular focus in considering future appointments. We support our junior researchers in designing innovative projects and applying for funding, thereby contributing to the establishment of academic and scientific networks.
The vice dean for research supports communication between academic staff and research groups and documents all current research activities within the department.
The basis of the overview provided by the office of the vice dean for research is data from various sources, including the annual self-evaluation performed by the Department of Veterinary Medicine (performance-related allocation of funds), the successful European evaluation (EAEVE) performed in 2008, the 20 scientific institutions’ self-depictions on the Internet, internal department data on research activities, and current Freie Universität statistics as well as the department’s database of publications.
In the context of the new SFB 852 "Nutrition and Intestinal Microbiota Host Interaction in the Pig" (DFG 2009) our scientists will help to discover details about the impact of nutritional factors on the intestinal microbiota and the host reaction in pigs.
Clinical Services
The Equine Clinic of Freie Universität is staffed 24 hours a day and has five departments: Orthopedics and Surgery, Internal Medicine, Imaging, Reproductive Medicine, and Ophthalmology.
Besides teaching and research, the clinic offers a diverse and extensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic options for horses and other equines. The clinic regularly organizes advanced training for Germans and international participants.
The clinic is also a recognized training center for veterinarians and residents of the following European Colleges: ECVS, ECEIM, ECVDI, ECAR, ECVO. The associated shoeing smith school (Hufbeschlagschule Berlin) is nationally certified and offers statutory introductory and preparatory courses with subsequent regulatory inspection for becoming certified as a shoeing smith.
The Clinic for Ruminants and Swine with its six departments addresses animal health issues in cattle, small ruminants, and pigs. The research done at the Clinic focuses mainly on aspects of animal welfare and the improvement of animal health in the livestock sector.
Animal patients from surrounding farms suffering from surgical and internal diseases can be treated at the Animal Hospital in the Clinic for Ruminants and Swine. Outpatient care is available for the farms in the region. The Diagnostic Service deals with problems in livestock animals and can be consulted by independently working veterinarians. The Swine Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic available to commercial and private owners of swine.
The Animal Reproduction Clinic consists of three divisions: small animals, horses, cattle and small ruminants. The small animals group is specialized in the breeding of dogs, cats, and rabbits. Within this division specific tests and treatments are done for male and female animals. Veterinary obstetrics is also available. The division provides consulting services and training for veterinarians and breeders and regularly conducts clinical trials on practical issues concerning dogs, cats, and rabbits.
The cattle and small ruminants group advises cattle-holding farms with problems in the field of animal health, fertility, and fertility management. A particular focus is on udder health, which plays a prominent role in the production of milk. The team advises veterinarians and farmers, focusing on the causes of problems at farms.
Besides its activities in teaching and research, the Small Animal Clinic is actively involved in patient care: about 20,000 dogs, cats, and exotic animals are treated there every year. The Small Animal Clinic has 16 divisions including surgery, cardiology, dermatology, and dentistry. The Animal Hospital has a station for dogs and cats, an intensive care station, and a separate station for animals from shelters. The inpatients are cared for around the clock.
The clinic has an in-house pharmacy, as well as a blood donor service for dogs and for cats. Outside its regular office hours, the clinic provides a 24-hour emergency service, where animals with sudden life-threatening diseases can be treated.
The clinic has an advanced radiation therapy device available for use with small pets which, among other things, makes possible the precise irradiation of tumors.
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