Science Thursday

Did you know that there are more than 79 million pet cats in the United States? While these furry friends share some similarities with dogs (and people) they have anatomy and physiology that make them unique. This means they have specific biological needs and get their own set of unique diseases — as veterinarians, we can’t just treat them like “small dogs.” This creates some challenges for veterinarians (physical, behavioral, pharmacological and financial) when it comes to working with cats. (PS. The cats think we are working “for” them, not “with” them.)

About Our Speakers

Drs. Jody Gookin and Adam Birkenheuer are both professors of internal medicine at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The have completed DVM degrees, specialized training in small animal internal medicine, and PhD degrees. They’re both experts in the area of feline infectious diseases. They have each published over 100 scientific papers and book chapters. Most importantly, they are both pet owners (cats and dogs) that are committed to improving the health and lives of our faithful companions. Drs. Gookin and Birkenhauer are also part of the NC State Comparative Medicine Institute, where faculty work on research discoveries that help both pets and people facing a variety of illnesses including infectious disease.