Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Animal Hospital handled more than 30,000 cases throughout 2025, reaching a remarkable level of activity. The hospital, which serves an average of 85 patients per day, reported that this number rises to as many as 150 cases during the summer months.

Patient volume increases in summer

Prof. Dr. Didem Pekmezci, a faculty member of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the OMU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, evaluated the increasing patient volume throughout the year, stating:

“According to 2025 data, we treated 30,850 cases. This corresponds to an average of 85 patients per day. During the summer months, this number can rise to between 120 and 150 due to cases of cats falling from heights.”

Continuous care for stray animals

Emphasizing that services for stray animals are also a key responsibility of the hospital, Pekmezci noted that first interventions for street animals brought in by citizens are carried out at the OMU Animal Hospital.

“Necessary operations are performed in our modern operating rooms, and after treatment is completed, the animals are transferred to shelters,” she said.

A moving treatment story

Pekmezci also shared a case that deeply affected the hospital team, highlighting the chemotherapy process applied to a cat patient:

“We were administering chemotherapy to one of our feline patients. Later, we learned that the owner was going through the same process. After receiving their own treatment, the owner would bring their cat for treatment as well. This struggle affected us deeply, and the process is still ongoing.”

Ondokuz Mayıs University Animal Hospital continues to contribute significantly to animal health in the region by providing healthcare services for both owned and stray animals with its modern infrastructure and expert staff.