Spring 2023

Updates for Practicing Veterinary Professionals

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine kicked off a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of its 1948 opening. On Friday, April 28, Alumni & Friends Weekend started with many events, including tours of clinical spaces. The anniversary will also be the main focus of the Spring issue of the school’s Synergy magazine. Read more about some historical aspects of the VMTH and the origins of our House Officer Program. Clinical activities are featured prominently in a Top 10 school accomplishments section, and a look to the future of veterinary medicine at UC Davis will be featured in the upcoming Fall issue.

In April, Dean Mark Stetter launched the monthly video series “Mondays with Mark.” Each month, he connects with the SVM community via a video message to share brief recent highlights from the school. The videos provide a glimpse into a variety of aspects from across the school, including the VMTH, in hopes that the short video segments will augment the existing internal communications and help the school community feel better informed about the incredible programs and work happening within our world. In the inaugural episode, Dean Stetter gave an update on the VMTH’s house officer program. For the May episode, he showcased the VMTH’s new ER/ICU, with a tour from Small Animal Clinic Director Dr. Kate Hopper. In the June episode, Dean Stetter shared the exciting news about our new endowed chair for the VMTH's Access To Care Program. We look forward to more VMTH mentions in the video series. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive the next episode of “Mondays with Mark.”

VMTH Opens New ER/ICU

The VMTH opened its new small animal Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit on May 3. The new ER/ICU occupies the old space and incorporates adjacent space, for a total of approximately 1,600 square feet, nearly double the 900 square feet of the old ER/ICU. While the level of emergency care has improved over the decades, the physical space of the ER/ICU has remained the same since the building opened in 1970. With the expanded space, the new facility will optimize patient care and increase student training opportunities. As we all know, the new space is much needed. Admittances to the ER have more than doubled since immediately before the pandemic. Historically, the ER caseload has increased tenfold since 2013, seeing an average of more than 900 cases per month in 2022, with some months seeing more than 1,200 patients.

School Retains #1 National Ranking

U.S. News & World Report named the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine No. 1 in the nation in its most recent rankings of professional and graduate programs. Veterinary school rankings come out every four years, and this marks the third consecutive time UC Davis has been on top.

Large Animal Clinic Provides Care at Red Bluff Round-Up

Faculty, residents, staff, and students from the Large Animal Clinic recently served as the on-site veterinary team during the 102nd Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeo. The event is the largest 3-day rodeo in the world and is a major stop on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit. This is the second year in a row that the LAC was selected to be the official on-site veterinary team for the rodeo. They team cared for 12 emergencies in horses, including a laceration, a mild colic, a colitis case, and lameness issues. Their work garnered a shout out on national television during Cowboy Network’s coverage of the event.

Dermatologist Dr. Catherine Outerbridge Wins National Award

Congratulations to Dr. Catherine Outerbridge on winning the prestigious Kral Award from the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology at its recent Annual Business Meeting. In nominating Dr. Outerbridge for the Kral Award, her colleagues described her as a highly regarded instructor whose profound knowledge of dermatology, as well as her enthusiasm for her career, are evident in her daily activities. Previously, the Kral Award was won by UC Davis’ Dr. Stephen White in 2020 and Dr. Peter Ihrke in 2013.

UC Davis Veterinarians Care for Newborn Orangutan

Many hospital services came together recently to assist Dr. Jenessa Gjeltema and her team at the Sacramento Zoo to help Indah, the zoo’s 19-year-old Sumatran orangutan, care for her newborn male. Dr. Gjeltema and the zoo’s veterinary team members consulted with the VMTH’s Surgery, Internal Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Diagnostic Imaging, and Pharmacy Services in order to provide the best care for Indah and her infant. Indah came to the zoo in 2017 as a planned mate for the zoo’s male orangutan, Makan, as part of the Species Survival Plan. With only 79 Sumatran orangutans in human care in the United States, and populations of wild orangutans rapidly declining, every birth is a monumental success for the species.

Everything You Need To Know About EHV-1



It happens every year. First, it’s a 2-year-old that’s feverish and coughing. Then, a pregnant mare loses her foal. A week later, a seasoned sport horse becomes incontinent, falls down, and never gets back on his feet. Suddenly, you have a barn full of horses with fevers—and it seems like as soon as one gets better, two others get worse. If you’re lucky, none of the animals have moved to other locations recently where they might infect other horses. What’s going on? Quite simply, an infectious microbe has declared war. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), also known as equid alphaherpesvirus-1, has awakened from the depths of its hiding place in the immune or nervous tissues of one horse, replicated, and spread out of control among horses on your premises and beyond.

Dr. Kate Hopper Wins Prestigious Emergency/Critical Care Award

Dr. Kate Hopper, director of the Small Animal Clinic, was recently awarded the 2023 Zaslow Distinguished Service Award from the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS). This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication while making significant contributions to VECCS and the practice of veterinary emergency and critical care. This award is chosen by the VECCS Board of Directors to honor a VECCS member who has given selflessly to grow and support the organization.

Assessing a Treatment for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats



This groundbreaking study is aimed at combating oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cats. This aggressive cancer relentlessly infiltrates the bones and soft tissues of the mouth, posing significant challenges for surgical intervention in feline cases. Existing treatments have shown limited efficacy in managing this condition. STAT3, a signaling molecule found to exhibit abnormal functionality in SCC tumors, holds the key to potentially disrupting the disease's progression. By studying the STAT3 decoy, researchers aim to explore its potential to deactivate STAT3 and impede or halt the advancement of this cancer in cats. This comprehensive investigation will evaluate the therapy's safety, determine the optimal dosage, and assess its effectiveness as a groundbreaking treatment for oral SCC in feline patients.

Evaluating Biotherapeutic for Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs



The rise of antimicrobial resistance presents a significant challenge for both human and animal health. A particular area of concern lies in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs. Antibiotics, the go-to approach for combating UTIs, run the risk of inadvertently fostering the development of resistant bacterial strains. The search for alternative, effective therapies has become paramount to addressing this pressing issue. Researchers are enlisting the aid of dogs in their quest to reduce the selection of bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics. Canines who have experienced multiple clinical UTIs within a 12-month period, as well as those afflicted with UTIs caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, are eligible for enrollment in this innovative study. A comprehensive evaluation will be conducted to determine if your dog is eligible for the study, including a thorough physical examination. In addition, bloodwork will be performed to assess overall health, and an SDMA test will be conducted to rule out kidney disease. Furthermore, an abdominal ultrasound will be conducted as part of the screening process.

Oral Antiviral Therapy for Cats with Wet and Dry Form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis



UC Davis continues its groundbreaking research for cats battling Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). FIP, a devastating and fatal disease, has long posed a significant challenge due to the lack of FDA-approved treatment or vaccine. However, a glimmer of hope emerges as researchers explore multiple antiviral drugs that show promise in reducing virus replication in cats with FIP. We are currently enrolling cats confirmed to have effusive and dry types of FIP.

UC Davis Research Shows Success of Surgery to Correct Chylothorax in Dogs

When Kitsune (Kit), a 7-year-old Shiba Inu, was lethargic in 2019, her owner Gayle Brock knew something was wrong. She brought her typically energetic dog to their primary veterinarian, but Kit was ultimately referred to specialists at the UC Davis veterinary hospital where she was diagnosed with idiopathic chylothorax. Kit needed a corrective surgery called a thoracic duct ligation. This procedure is often done via an open surgical approach, and historically the procedure has a low success rate of around 50%. UC Davis offers a minimally invasive approach using thoracoscopy to correct the problem and thanks to recent technological advancements and refinements to the procedure, success rates closer to 90% have been achieved.

Donor Support Fosters Passion for Research

Early in her veterinary studies, Dr. Sarah Michalak knew that she wanted to pursue research, but she needed a mentor to direct that passion. She found one in Dr. Sara Thomasy, an ophthalmology professor with a long history of mentoring both undergraduate and DVM students. Together, they embarked on a research project through the school’s Students Training in Advanced Research (STAR) program, which involved Michalak taking the lead on a CCAH-funded clinical trial testing the efficacy of a topical medication for a canine eye disease.

Electrical Shock Procedure Corrects Horse’s Irregular Heartbeat

Transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) once again offered for horses at UC Davis after a decade of absence

Rio, an 8-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding, became the first patient in more than a decade to receive a TVEC at the UC Davis Large Animal Clinic. The procedure was successful, and Rio’s heart was shocked back into a regular (sinus) rhythm, confirmed by a post-procedure electrocardiogram. A follow-up echocardiogram several days later revealed improvement of previous findings.

Oral Surgeons Correct Kitten’s Severe Cleft Palate

Chouchou, a male Persian kitten, sure fell into the right hands when Hannah Shaw agreed to rescue the newborn. Shaw, founder of the Orphan Kitten Club and affectionately known as the Kitten Lady, agreed without hesitation when a local veterinarian called her and asked if she was up for the exceptional task. Born with a severe cleft palate, Chouchou faced an uphill battle to survive, and Shaw knew the complexities it would take to get him to the point of being able to undergo corrective surgery.

PetSmart Charities to Name Endowed Chair at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with $6 Million Gift

PetSmart Charities will name an endowed chair at the veterinary school for $6 million. Establishing the chair in Accessible Veterinary Care will leverage UC Davis’ breadth of research strengths to continue to build innovative, compassionate care for all pets, ensure hands-on clinical training for veterinary students, and develop research models that can scale nationwide. Programs at UC Davis also reach historically excluded rural and urban communities. UC Davis has delivered innovative, low-cost veterinary care models for years, including Knights Landing One Health Center Veterinary Clinic’s service to residents in a rural community located 20 miles north of campus.

Philanthropic Fund Helps Dog Beat Cancer

Scruffy, an 11-year-old male Australian shepherd mix, brings joy each day to owners Elizabeth Wright and Steve Harding, who rescued him as a puppy. They adore Scruffy and consider him a cherished family member and their best friend. Late 2021, they became concerned when Scruffy began having nosebleeds and brought him to see his primary veterinarian, who removed a foxtail from his right nostril and discovered a mass in his left nostril. Further tests determined that the nasal mass needed treatment.

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