2 August 2005

Animal diet plans, behavioural tips and whale songs will be on show at The University of Queensland’s Open Day this Sunday (August 7).

UQ’s Small Animal Clinic and Veterinary Teaching Hospital at St Lucia, will be open to the public from 9am offering a day of guided tours, free veterinary information sessions and interactive displays.

The guided tours depart the front of the Clinic every half hour and include live surgery, ultrasound, endoscope and radiograph displays and an inspection of the Clinic’s fauna ward where sick and injured wildlife are treated.

The tours will be complemented by a series of information sessions presented by the Clinic’s own veterinary experts.

They will cover a range of common and quirky animal topics such as first aid and veterinary emergencies to whale songs and behaviour training.

Animal behaviour expert Dr Cam Day will discuss the paranoid behaviour of peculiar pets and there will also be tips on caring for your cat or new puppy.

Resident whale expert Dr Michael Noad will be on hand to discuss his research on whalesongs.

UQ’s Small Animal Clinic superintendent Peter Rolls said it would be an eye-opening day for pet owners, animal lovers and others interested in animal health and welfare.

He said there were displays of what to do for injured wildlife and pet obesity and some visitors may even be able to adopt some of the clinic’s animals.

The Clinic is at Therapies Road via Chancellor’s Place, St Lucia.

The Vet School will have a stand at the UQ Centre and its Head of School Professor Lloyd Reeve-Johnson will give public address about veterinary sciences at 2.30pm in the Parnell Building, room 234.

Visit: www.uq.edu.au/opendays/ or contact the UQ Vet School (3365 2784) Media: Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619)