This document is a transcript from a webinar given by Dr. Aylin Atilla, an assistant professor of small animal surgery at the University of Calgary. In the webinar, Dr. Atilla discusses her background and career path to becoming a veterinary surgeon. She also outlines the training required to become a veterinarian and specialist. Dr. Atilla then reviews some common health issues and emergencies veterinarians treat in pets and examples of surgical procedures. The webinar aims to provide information about veterinary medicine and specialists.

1. Does your pet have hidden health
issues?
Aylin Atilla VMD, MS, Diplomate ACVS-SA
Assistant Professor, Small Animal Surgery
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary

2. Welcome!
 Webinar series by University of Calgary scholars
 Information presented is a summary of the
scholars’ research
 Please submit questions throughout the duration of
the webinar
 Keep the conversation live on Twitter during the
webinar using #exploreUCalgary

3. Welcome
 Grew up in Medicine Hat, AB
 Bachelor’s in science at Cornell
University in Ithaca, NY,
 Veterinary School at the
University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia, PA
 Internship at Cornell University
 Small Animal Surgery Residency
at Auburn University
 Private Practice in the DC metro
area and in Calgary before
starting at the University of
Calgary in 2013

4. Veterinarians
 How do we become veterinarians?

5.  Quiz:
• How many years of study after high school does it take
(on average) to become a veterinarian?
• 2
• 4
• 6
• 8

6. What is a veterinary specialist?
 Quiz:
• How many years of training (minimum) after vet school
does it take to become a specialist?
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

7. Areas of specialty in veterinary
medicine
 Surgery
 Internal Medicine
• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Neurology
 Emergency and Critical Care
 Ophthalmology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Pathology
 Clinical Pathology
 Zoo Medicine
 Theriogenology
 Anesthesia
 Behavior
 Animal Welfare
 Dentistry
 Lab Animal Medicine
 Microbiology
 Nutrition
 Pharmacology
 Poultry
 Preventative Medicine
 Sports Medicine and Rehab
 Toxicology

8. Where do specialists fit in?
 Part of the team

9. When might you see me?
 Referral from your veterinarian
 Emergency

10. Questions:
 What have you taken your pet to the vet for (other
than routine vaccines and checkups)?
 Do you have cats or dogs at home and how many of
each?

11. Most common pet health issues
 Skin
 Dental
 What should you do?

12. Foreign body

13. Gastric dilatation and volvulus

14. Back surgery

15. Biliary obstruction

16. Urinary obstruction

17. Summary
 Emergencies happen
 Remember to stay safe!
 We are capable of a lot in veterinary medicine

18. Thank you
Sign up for other UCalgary webinars,
download our eBooks,
and watch videos on the outcomes of our scholars’
research at
ucalgary.ca/explore/collections

19. Other webinar topics
For ideas on other UCalgary webinar topics,
please email us at
exploreucalgary@ucalgary.ca