Improving diagnostic facilities and the quality of veterinary services will enhance animal health and production in Iraq and will also decrease the likelihood of disease transmission to and from Iraq. Suggestions are also offered for improving veterinary diagnostic facilities and the quality of veterinary services. This article provides insight into the status of veterinary medical education and veterinary services in Iraq before and after the 1991 Gulf War and gives suggestions for improvement and implementation of new programs. In addition, there is a need for the improvement of veterinary diagnostic facilities, as zoonotic diseases are always highly probable in this region. Although Iraq has an estimated 5,000-7,000 veterinarians, there is a need for quality veterinary services and for more veterinarians. This will satisfy the country's increased demand for competent veterinarians in both public and private sectors. Thus, if undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs are improved, the veterinary medical profession will attract more competent students. Understandably, improvements to the quality of veterinary education and services in Iraq will be reflected in a healthy and productive animal industry, better food quality and quantity, fewer zoonotic diseases, and more income-generating activities in rural areas.

There are four veterinary colleges in Iraq, which have been destroyed along with the veterinary services infrastructure. In the 1980s, the successful poultry industry managed to produce enough table eggs and meat to satisfy the needs of the entire population at one time, the thriving fish industry produced different types of fish for Iraqis' yearly fish consumption. Iraq is an agricultural country with a large population of animals: sheep, goats, cattle, water buffaloes, horses, donkeys, mules, and camels. Increasing ex-pectations of the pet-owning public coupled with the recent advancements of training opportunities available for vete-rinary students, graduate DVMs and certified veterinary technicians make veterinary dentistry an emerging practice-builder among the most successful small animal hospitals. Through the efforts of organizations such as the American Veterinary Dental So-ciety, The American Veterinary Dental College and The Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, many veterinarians have been able to advance their skills in dentistry and improve animal welfare. Graduate DVMs can attend a variety of continuing education courses and even choose to specialize in veterinary dentistry in both small animals and horses. Students receive instruction in dental anatomy during their di-dactic curriculum and later experience clinical cases. Primary areas of focus are on client education, the treatment of periodontal disease, dental prophylaxis, dental radiology, endodontics, exodontics and pain control. That trend is changing as nearly every one of the 28 US Colleges of Veterinary Medicine offers some level of small animal dentistry during the four-year curriculum. As recently as the 1990â€™s, veterinary curriculums contained little or no dental training. Industry support has further assisted the small animal veterinarian in providing quality dental treatments and prevention. Strengthening of the human-animal bond and the increasing education of the aver-age pet owner, have fostered a heightened awareness of periodontal care in dogs and cats.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)įull Text Available Periodontal disease is among the most prevalent canine dis-eases affecting over 75% of dogs.

Scott steckler vmd