The Master of Science Seminar and Examination of Emilee Kate Lacey

Biography

Emilee Lacey is in her final year of the combined Master of Science in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences and Large Animal Medicine Residency program at Virginia Tech. Emilee completed earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at The Pennsylvania State University before completing her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to complete at internship at Sports Medicine Associates of Chester County in Pennsylvania and will be returning to equine private practice at Palm Beach Equine Clinic as a Large Animal Internist this summer. Emilee’s research project was inspired by her interest in pharmaceutical management of critically ill patients, and she hopes to continue to contribute to the veterinary field of research in her future career. In her free time, Emilee enjoys hiking with her four dogs and husband, reading books in the sunshine with her three cats, riding her horse, and scuba diving.

Funded by

• VMCVM Office of Research and Graduate Studies
• American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Foundation’s Research Grant

Awards and Academic Achievements

• Outstanding Research Abstract, VT BMVS Graduate Research Symposium, May 2025
• Merck Large Animal Award, University of Pennsylvania, 2021
• Banker’s Jet Scholarship Award Recipient, University of Pennsylvania, 2021
• Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Award Recipient, University of Pennsylvania, 2019
• Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Student Marshall, May 2017
• Commencement Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Top 1% of Students, 2013 - 2017
• American Society of Animal Science Undergraduate Scholarship Recognition Award, 2015 and 2016

Lay Language Abstract 

Inappetence is a common clinical problem in South American Camelids (camelids), often secondary to underlying disease. Inappetence in camelids can lead to further illness, including weight loss, metabolic derangements, and liver disease that can be life threatening. Providing nutritional support to anorexic camelids is critical to improve likelihood of survival but is challenging in practice. Forced feeding via placement of an orogastric tube is stressful to the animal and has a high risk of complications. Increasing voluntary intake in inappetent animals is also challenging, as it relies on novel feed selection and decreasing environmental stress. Few therapeutic appetite stimulants have been reported to be used clinically in camelids, and none have been critically evaluated. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant drug used in dogs and cats to treat nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and clearance (pharmacokinetics) of mirtazapine has been evaluated in dogs, cats, and horses and shows species-specific pharmacokinetic differences. The pharmacokinetics of mirtazapine have not been evaluated in alpacas and needs to be better understood before instituting therapeutic use. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of a single-dose of orally administered mirtazapine in healthy adult alpacas and to compare concentrations of mirtazapine at two venous sample sites after oral administration.

Publications

Lacey EK, Harvatine KJ, Dechow CD. Short communication: Diet Digestibility measured from fecal samples and associations with phenotypic and genetic merit for milk yield and composition. J Dairy Sci. 2020; 103(6):5270-5274.

Presentations

Pharmacokinetics of Mirtazapine in Healthy Adults Alpacas, Abstract Presentation, VT BMVS Graduate Research Symposium, May 2025

Clinical Approach to Ataxia in the Sport Horse, VMCVM Hospital Seminar, March 2025

Regulation of Appetite, VMCVM Hospital Seminar, September 2024

Presentation, International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium, September 2024

Pharmacokinetics of Mirtazapine in Healthy Adults Alpacas, Abstract and Poster

Pharmacokinetics of Mirtazapine in Healthy Adults Alpacas, Abstract Presentation, VT

BMVS Graduate Research Symposium, March 2024

Starvation and Refeeding Syndrome, VMCVM Hospital Seminar, January 2024

Metritis in Dairy Cows, VMCVM Hospital Seminar, September 2023

Equine Neonatal Azotemia, VMCVM Hospital Seminar, April 2023

Pregnancy Toxemia in Sheep and Goats, VMCVM Hospital Seminar, November 2022

Examination Graduate Committee

Major Advisor/Chair:

Katherine E. Wilson, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM)
Equine Section Chief and Clinical Associate Professor of Large Animal Internal Medicine
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Graduate Advising Committee Members:

Jennifer L. Davis, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM), DACVCP
Professor of Clinical Pharmacology
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology

Harold C. McKenzie, III, DVM, MS, MSc (Vet Ed), FHEA, DACVIM (LAIM)
Professor of Large Animal Internal Medicine
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Hollie H. Schramm, DVM, DABVP
Veterinarian
Revivicor, a United Therapeutics Company