Lowville vet featured in web series

LOWVILLE — Local large-animal veterinarian Dr. Peter Ostrum has been featured recently in a new reality series called “Veterinarians On Call.”

The webisodes are the brainchild of producer John Courtmanche, who paired with Dan Carey of Essex Television Group to bring the series to YouTube. The program is sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health.

Dr. Ostrum was interested in working on the series to “shed light on modern day agriculture practices,” he said.

He said he wanted to “educate the public,” adding “most people don’t grow up on farms” as they did in previous generations.

It’s not just the public; most future veterinarians won’t grow up on farms, either, he said.

Dr. Ostrum said the videos may attract more young people to consider a career in veterinary science and, in particular, the care of large animals.

He is one of five veterinarians from the United States selected to take part in the series, which focuses on food animals such as cattle and pigs.

Mr. Courtmanche said Pfizer suggested professionals who not only were knowledgeable, but would be well suited in front of the camera.

Dr. Ostrum, also known from his childhood acting days as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film, “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” was a natural choice.

The webisodes were an instant hit, as Mr. Courtmanche predicted, with almost 20,000 views in the first two months.

Because of the popularity, Mr. Courtmanche already is expanding the series.

Now featuring small animal vets and mixed animal practices, the camera crew arrived in Lewis County to do more filming in the area and at Countryside Veterinary Clinic.

They will be edited and ready for viewing in the spring, with locally filmed episodes featuring a pregnancy check at the sale barn, a herd check at a horse farm and office calls at the clinic.