MICHIGAN ANIMAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
2144 COMMONS PARKWAY, OKEMOS, MI 48864 www.michvma.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES IN ORDER TO ADVANCE SCIENCE TO BENEFIT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS.

TO ALLOW THOSE WHO LOVE ANIMALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE TO IMPROVE ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

THE MAHF BOARD OF TRUSTEES MET IN JUNE AND EVALUATED SEVERAL EXCELLENT PROPOSALS. TRUSTEES AGREED TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR THREE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECTS:1. IS BRINE FINE? EFFICACY OF A SATURATED SALT SOLUTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FORMALIN FOR STORAGE OF ANATOMY SPECIMENS:FORMALIN IS A KNOWN CARCINOGEN THAT HAS BEEN A STAPLE FOR MAINTAINING SPECIMENS FOR TEACHING VETERINARY ANATOMY FOR MANY YEARS. STUDENTS ARE INCREASINGLY RELUCTANT TO SPEND TIME DISSECTING CADAVERS AND EXAMINING PROSECTIONS DUE TO THE NOXIOUS NATURE OF FORMALIN, ESPECIALLY AS SIDE EFFECTS CAN INCLUDE DIFFICULTY BREATHING, RASHES, BURNING SENSATIONS IN THE EYES AND THROAT, NAUSEA, CHEST TIGHTNESS AND HEADACHES. TO REDUCE THE FORMALIN EXPOSURE, THE ANATOMY DEPARTMENT AT MSU CVM HAS UNDERTAKEN STORAGE OF SPECIMENS IN A SATURATED SALT SOLUTION - ESSENTIALLY BRINING OUR SPECIMENS TO PRESERVE THEM. THE SATURATED SALINE SOLUTION WILL OFFER A SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT IN REDUCING EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL CHEMICALS - ONE THAT WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS IN MICHIGAN AS WELL AS ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.2. CONTROLLING MASTITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE WITH ANTIOXIDANT VITAMIN D THERAPY:THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY EFFICACIOUS MASTITIS THERAPIES THAT REDUCE THE DAIRY INDUSTRY'S DEPENDENCE ON ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG USE. MASTITIS IS THE MOST DEVASTATING DISEASE AFFECTING ADULT DAIRY COWS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ECONOMIC LOSSES OF APPROXIMATELY 2 BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY. VITAMIN D IS RECOGNIZED AS AN ANTIOXIDANT MICRONUTRIENT IN HUMAN MEDICINE. IN RECENT YEARS, THERE ALSO IS COMPELLING EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT INTRAMAMMARY VITAMIN D TREATMENT CAN REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF MASTITIS. THE HYPOTHESIS OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT TREATING COWS WITH VITAMIN DDURING MASTITIS WILL REDUCE OXIDATIVE STRESS AND HASTEN THE RESOLUTION OF DISEASE. THE RESULTS FROM THESE PROPOSED STUDIES WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON DAIRY HERD HEALTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING THE FIRST EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONTROLLING LOCALIZED OXIDATIVE DAMAGE TO MAMMARY TISSUES DURING MASTITIS. 3. THE MAZUNTE PROJECT:THE MAZUNTE PROJECT IS AN INTERNATIONAL SPAY/NEUTER, SURGERY, SHELTER MEDICINE EXTERNSHIP FOR MSU CVM STUDENTS IN OAXACA, MEXICO. THE PROJECT WORKS WITH THE NATIONAL TURTLE CENTER IN MAZUNTE, MEXICO. THE MAZUNTE PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO HELP CONTROL THE FERAL DOG POPULATION BY PROVIDING VETERINARY HEALTH CARE IN VILLAGES ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST OF OAXACA. FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS WERE BE PROVIDED IN 2018.

THE COMPANION ANIMAL FUND WAS CREATED TO SUBSIDIZE NON-ELECTIVE VETERINARY CARE FOR PETS WHOSE OWNERS WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO AFFORD IT. SOME OF THE GROUPS MOST DEPENDENT ON COMPANION ANIMALS OFTEN EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING TREATMENT IN THE CASE OF UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO INADEQUATE FINANCES. THUS, MAHF CREATED THE COMPANION ANIMAL FUND TO HELP PET OWNERS WHO HAVE INCOME UNDER THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, ARE ON MEDICAID OR ARE ON WIC (WOMEN INFANTS & CHILDREN) GET THE NECESSARY CARE FOR THEIR BELOVED ANIMALS.

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