DIRECT REFERRAL PHONE NUMBER
To contact the VMTH regarding referrals:
530-752-4050 (direct referral line)
or
The VMTH now has several referral coordinators that you can reach directly, rather than using the main VMTH phone line. As valued referring veterinarians, you now have direct access to a team of dedicated client service representatives at the VMTH – rather than using the main telephone number that is used for the general public. We strongly recommend that you utilize these highly trained contacts to enable a faster and more efficient referral process. Our referral coordinators have intimate knowledge of their services and can facilitate your needs and also connect you with a veterinarian should you need consultation on a case.
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UC Davis Veterinary Surgeons Named ACVS Founding Fellows
Three surgeons from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine recently joined a growing list of faculty members at the school who are Founding Fellows or Fellows in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and other specialty colleges.
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Veterinary Genetics Laboratory Maintains Highest Level of Accreditation
The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory recently maintained the highest level of that can be achieved by testing laboratories. The ISO/IEC 17025 annual accreditation was renewed by the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board, the largest multi-disciplinary accreditation body in the western hemisphere, with more than 2,500 organizations accredited in approximately 80 countries.
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Dr. Ashley Hill Named Associate Dean for Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Operations and Director of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at UC Davis
With this position, Dr. Hill becomes a member of the SVM’s senior leadership team, reports directly to the Dean, and ensures that CAHFS meets its mission to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic services for the State of California on behalf of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The position is the chief administrator for the diagnostic enterprise and is responsible for the professional, academic, and ethical affairs of CAHFS, as well as its financial health and operational efficiency.
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Dr. Boaz Arzi Recognized as World Expert
Dr. Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC (OMFS), was recently rated as a top-ranked expert in the field of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) research by Expertscape. Based on Expertscape’s PubMed-based algorithms, Arzi placed in the top 0.076% of 14,428 published authors worldwide on TMJ from 2011-2021, encompassing the spectrum of medical research (human and veterinary).
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Dr. Maria Soltero-Rivera recently joined the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service as an assistant professor, effective October 1, 2021. Dr. Soltero-Rivera earned her DVM from Cornell University in 2008. She then completed a one-year small animal surgical internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2009), and a one-year small animal rotating internship at Long Island Veterinary Specialist (2010). Dr. Soltero-Rivera completed her three-year residency in Dentistry and Oral Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in 2013. Since 2015, she has held positions in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, has worked intermittently as a staff veterinarian at the VMTH, and more recently as Area Medical Director at VCA for the Northern California area. Dr. Soltero-Rivera’s research interests and expertise are in the pathophysiology of feline chronic gingivostomatitis. |
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Assessing a Treatment for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats
Dr. Katherine Skorupski is assessing the safety, ideal dose, and effectiveness of a new therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cats. STAT3 is a signaling molecule known to function abnormally in many SCC tumors in cats and people. The study will explore whether a STAT3 decoy may be able to shut off STAT3 function and slow or stop this cancer in cats and people. Participation in the trial will take 5 weeks and will include diagnostic testing and IV-administered doses of the STAT3 decoy throughout the study. The final visit will consist of a brief recheck exam and tumor measurement.
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Dose Escalation and Toxicity Profile of Cancer Drug Mustargen
Dr. Amandine Lejeune is conducting a trial to evaluate the optimal dose and side effects of Mustargen, also known as mechlorethamine, when given as a single agent. Mustargen is a highly effective drug for treating canine cancers and is often used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. However, administration of Mustargen as a single agent has not been documented. Mustargen given along with other chemotherapy agents is associated with side effects such as gastrointestinal upset and bone marrow suppression. Enrolled dogs will attend two study appointments that are one week apart and will include blood sample collection and urinalysis. They will receive an intravenous infusion of Mustargen at their first appointment.
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Assessing an Activity Tracker to Monitor Dogs with Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis
Dr. Krystle Reagan is assessing whether a commercial dog activity and health tracker (Whistle Fit) can be effectively used as a remote monitoring tool. Immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) is a debilitating disease that results in joint inflammation and intense pain. The study’s first goal is to determine if the tracker can be used as a remote monitoring tool to aid in the recognition of disease remission and secondarily to determine if the tracker can detect relapse of disease. Dogs who have been diagnosed with IMPA in the past 7 days may be eligible to join. Owners are responsible for attending 5 visits at UC Davis over 6 months.
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Investigating How Stem Cell Therapy Can Treat Equine Synovitis
Dr. Larry Galuppo is investigating the use of stem cells to treat a mixed group of horses with equine synovitis, a painful and debilitating condition that can require long recovery times and often can recur due to incomplete healing. A form of stem cell therapy, where stem cells are extracted from the umbilical cord blood, has come to the forefront in recent years as a potential therapeutic option for joint injury. This cell therapy may help decrease inflammation and regenerate damaged tissues associated with synovitis. If the proposed stem cell treatment will prove to be beneficial, it may revolutionize the treatment options for horses with synovitis. We are looking for horses diagnosed with synovitis.
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Novel Treatments for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome in French Bulldogs
BOAS is a condition that can lead to severe respiratory compromise. It results from multiple anatomical abnormalities, at the back of the throat that can lead to a narrower than normal airway. Most short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds are affected to some degree. Surgery is recommended in many cases, and Dr. Philipp Mayhew is conducting a study to compare two surgical approaches, traditional soft palate resection (TS) and a folded flap palatoplasty (FFP), to treat the overlong and thickened soft palate. The study will last 3-4 months, and all enrolled French Bulldogs will undergo surgical procedures. Patients will have a post-operative follow-up visit to assess the patient’s progress.
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Upcoming Continuing Education Events |
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Due to developing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, including adhering to physical distancing and limiting public gatherings, the UC Davis Center for Continuing Professional Education is currently altering its course offerings to webinar only.
We look forward to welcoming you to these CE events moved online:
Please contact us with any suggestions or questions you might have regarding our programs.
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UC Davis Resumes Don Low Fellowships
Following a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the Don Low/CVMA Practitioner Fellowship will once again be offered at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. The advanced training program for veterinarians provides 20 days of in-depth continuing education in multiple specialty services. The fellowship can be completed on a flexible basis and earns the participant up to 100 hours of CE credits. Applications are now being accepted for the 2022-2023 academic year (deadline: January 7, 2022).
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Latest Research Achievements |
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VIRC Wins Regenerative Medicine Research Awards at National Conference
UC Davis’ Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures (VIRC) recently attended the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association Conference at Colorado State University’s C. Wayne Mcllwraith Translational Medical Institute. VIRC’s award-winning presence at the conference included five podium lectures and three research poster presentations.
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Unlocking the Genetic Code to Disease
What determines your dog’s reddish coat or their long, fluffy tail? Genetics — or the study of how particular physical traits are passed from parents to offspring. This scientific field also applies to understanding disease inheritance.
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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Make no bones about it, the researchers at the UC Davis J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory are a team. They’re the first to point out that the collaborative environment, along with help from supporters like the CCAH, are key to translating science to improved patient care.
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NCI Renews UC Davis Comparative Oncology Program as Part of Its “Comprehensive” Cancer Center Designation Renewal
UC Davis’ comparative oncology program, a partnership between UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center and Veterinary Medicine that combines human and companion-animal oncology, has been included as part of the renewal of UC Davis’ status as a “comprehensive” cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. Comparative research is considered crucial to advancing the understanding of tumor biology, speeding development of therapies, and giving hope to both people and their pets impacted by cancer.
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Common Household Noises May Be Stressing Your Dog
Researchers have found that people may not recognize that their dog is stressed when exposed to common household noises. While it’s well established that sudden loud noises, such as fireworks or thunderstorms, commonly trigger a dog’s anxiety, a new study finds even common noises, such as a vacuum or microwave, can be a trigger.
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Most Dog Breeds Highly Inbred
Dog breeds are often recognized for distinctive traits — the short legs of a dachshund, wrinkled face of a pug, spotted coat of a Dalmatian. Unfortunately, the genetics that give various breeds their particular attributes are often the result of inbreeding. A recent study shows that the majority of canine breeds are highly inbred, contributing to an increase in disease and health care costs throughout their lifespan.
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Equine Surgeons and Ophthalmologists Help Return Champion Racehorse to Winner’s Circle
Thanks to UC Davis equine specialists in surgery and ophthalmology, Camino Del Paraiso is back to his winning ways after what could have been a career-ending injury. On his way to a shoeing early in the year, the champion racehorse was spooked when being led to the farrier shop at his Golden Gate Fields stable. He smashed his head into a barn wall and took a severe fall. His handlers could see damage to his left eye and called for the onsite veterinarian, who informed them that if they wanted to save the eye, they needed to get to the UC Davis veterinary hospital immediately.
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Dog Enjoys Family Vacation After Cancer Treatments
Bubbles, a 10-year-old male boxer, was brought to the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Emergency Room following an inability to maintain his coordination accompanied with weakness in his hind limbs. Critical care specialists in the ER referred him to the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service for further evaluation. Following examination and an MRI, a tumor on Bubbles’ spinal cord was discovered.
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Dedicated Team Points Equine Athlete in Right Direction
The past two years have been difficult for Ravella, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare and dressage athlete. She battled multiple lameness-causing injuries that nearly permanently sidelined her, but because of a diligent rider/handler, a caring owner, and a dedicated veterinary team, she is on the road to recovery with a bright athletic future. And more athletes like Ravella can look forward to similar results with coming advancements to UC Davis’ treatment facilities for equine athletes.
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Pioneering 3D Minimally Invasive Surgery
Louie, an 8-year-old male Boston terrier with Cushing’s disease, was cured after undergoing the world’s first laparoscopic adrenalectomy on an animal utilizing 3D technology at the UC Davis veterinary hospital. The pioneering surgery was made possible by generous CCAH donors who enabled the purchase of a three-dimensional scope used for minimally-invasive surgical procedures.
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Surgery Saves Puppy in Congestive Heart Failure
When George William, a now 6-month-old wirehaired pointing Griffon, was brought to his first veterinary appointment as a new puppy, a heart murmur was discovered. His general practitioner told his owners that it was very serious, and they needed to take George William to the Cardiology Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital. Cardiology residents Drs. Ashley Walker and Ashley Sharpe worked with faculty members Drs. Joanna Kaplan and Marisa Ames to diagnose George William with a patent ductus arteriosus, a birth defect that causes heart failure.
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A Dog’s Tale of Her Journey Back to Health
Sadie Mae, a Catahoula/Rottweiler mix, narrates a tale of her journey through cancer treatments. Along the way, she tells you of her relationship with her owner and the care she got at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.
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Champion Show and Breeding Goat Saved from Cancer
Social Issues, a 7-year-old Saanen doe goat, has a rich history as a champion show goat and a valuable member of owner Scott Bice’s small genetic show herd, Vineyard View Dairy Goats. She has won “Best Udder in Show” at the California State Fair several times and is also a national champion. Her milk has been used for products of Bice’s sister’s company, Redwood Hill Farms, makers of goat yogurt and kefir. But when Social Issues was recently diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) on her udder, her future was in jeopardy.
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Radiation Therapy Successful in Treating Dog’s Rare Cancer
Charlotte, a 7-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, was always a happy and healthy dog. Last summer, her owners Lannis and Jamie Pope noticed a small (but growing), discolored dot on her nostril that seemed to cause her nose to run excessively. After taking her to their primary veterinarian, where it was determined to be cancerous after a basic lab result, the Popes sought an advanced diagnosis from the oncology specialists at the UC Davis veterinary hospital.
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Honor Your Patients and Make a Difference |
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The Center of Companion Animal Health and the Center for Equine Health are grateful to the veterinary clinics for their donations to the Companion Animal Memorial Fund and the Equine Tribute and Memorial Fund. Participating veterinary clinics and practitioners honor their patients and clients who have recently lost an animal. Each year, hundreds of clinics contribute through memorial gifts for clinical health research to improve treatment for diseases affecting their clients’ animals. If you’d like to learn how to become a participant, call our Office of Advancement at 530-752-7024. Thank you.
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Is your clinic looking to hire? Our 4th year students and recent graduates would love to hear from you. We have resources on our Career, Leadership and Wellness Center website to will help you post jobs and connect with us about advancing your clinic. Please discover the website’s job board. Center Director Janel Lang can help you navigate it. Contact her at jalang@ucdavis.edu or 530-752-5130.
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